Monday, June 28, 2004
Thursday, June 24, 2004
I'm Engaged!
Yes, you read that title right, as of last week Wednesday night I am officially engaged to Tim Wiersma. I know this might seem quick after only dating for two and a half months, but we figured, we know now, why wait? ...we're actually quite pleased with this decision especially after realizing just how much work there is involved in planning a wedding... We're both very excited to be taking this next step in our relationship, and while there are nerves as well and to be expected, we do not doubt that God has been leading us from the start, is doing so in this decision, and will continue to do so as we go on to share our lives together.
(...for those of you who are no doubt wanting the whole story, I'm working on that...)
(...for those of you who are no doubt wanting the whole story, I'm working on that...)
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Clinging to His grace
So it was my birthday this week, the big 2-1. Can't say that I really feel all that different, but it was fun to reminisce throughout the day over the past year and think about how much I've changed. All in all it was a good day, beginning with a surprise breakfast and ending with a trip to see Mamma Mia in Toronto...my boyfriend spoils me. :) Granted, it was a little odd having my first birthday away from home, but since we took care of all the usual birthday traditions over the weekend it wasn't too bad.
The past couple of weeks have had me contemplating forgiveness and God's grace. Particularly in the last few months I have become increasingly aware of the sins in my life, and I must admit I find it frustrating to no end that even though I realize it every time I fall, it doesn't seem to be enough to keep me from falling again and again. Last night I was reading in Romans and I found a number of passages that I've been clinging to:
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." 3:21-24
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." 5:1-2a
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us." 5:6-8
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." 8:1-2
I have no choice but to hold fast in the knowledge that God has saved me purely through my faith in Christ, for clearly I can not be saved on my own merit. Add it to my list of sins that I so often forget this and think that I'm "basically a good person". I am not, rather it is only the precious blood of Jesus shed for me on the cross that can wash me clean and save me from the wrath of God. He alone can set me free. Would that I not forget this so easily...
The past couple of weeks have had me contemplating forgiveness and God's grace. Particularly in the last few months I have become increasingly aware of the sins in my life, and I must admit I find it frustrating to no end that even though I realize it every time I fall, it doesn't seem to be enough to keep me from falling again and again. Last night I was reading in Romans and I found a number of passages that I've been clinging to:
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." 3:21-24
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." 5:1-2a
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us." 5:6-8
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." 8:1-2
I have no choice but to hold fast in the knowledge that God has saved me purely through my faith in Christ, for clearly I can not be saved on my own merit. Add it to my list of sins that I so often forget this and think that I'm "basically a good person". I am not, rather it is only the precious blood of Jesus shed for me on the cross that can wash me clean and save me from the wrath of God. He alone can set me free. Would that I not forget this so easily...
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
The Return...
So I'm finally posting again after being disconnected from the Internet for so very long a time. It has felt like an eternity since I've been able to sit down at my computer and have the time to type something up about what's the deal these days.
The deal these days is work. And that's about it... I pretty much have no life as I am quite exhausted by the time I get home every day, so all I can do is take a shower, eat some food, and veg out for the few hours I have before I need to go to bed in order to rest for the next day of work. I'm coming to the conclusion that if I want to have a life, I must use my weekends for sleeping, and get used to going to work on six hours of sleep or less. Curse that 5:45am wake-up call.
Work itself is unbelievably boring. I have the very great honour of performing mindless labour all day long, including such meaningful tasks as moving one-gallon pots from point A to point B, fertilizing said pots with a little scoop on the end of a long stick, and of course we must not forget that oh-so-high calling of weeding. This does however, leave me with countless hours to be spent silently pondering the mysteries of life. No joke. I really do ponder the mysteries of life, such as, why am I here? What does all this mean? How can I glorify God by pulling out these weeds? Is getting up at 5:45 every morning to do this really worth the money I'm being paid for it? I've yet to come up with an answer to any of these questions, but you can clearly see I have entirely too much time to be thinking about...stuff...
On that happy note, I think I will end this message here. Perhaps now that my computer is up and running I will be able to make more of an effort to blog something more often, probably something along the lines of whatever happens to be occupying my thoughts at work...
The deal these days is work. And that's about it... I pretty much have no life as I am quite exhausted by the time I get home every day, so all I can do is take a shower, eat some food, and veg out for the few hours I have before I need to go to bed in order to rest for the next day of work. I'm coming to the conclusion that if I want to have a life, I must use my weekends for sleeping, and get used to going to work on six hours of sleep or less. Curse that 5:45am wake-up call.
Work itself is unbelievably boring. I have the very great honour of performing mindless labour all day long, including such meaningful tasks as moving one-gallon pots from point A to point B, fertilizing said pots with a little scoop on the end of a long stick, and of course we must not forget that oh-so-high calling of weeding. This does however, leave me with countless hours to be spent silently pondering the mysteries of life. No joke. I really do ponder the mysteries of life, such as, why am I here? What does all this mean? How can I glorify God by pulling out these weeds? Is getting up at 5:45 every morning to do this really worth the money I'm being paid for it? I've yet to come up with an answer to any of these questions, but you can clearly see I have entirely too much time to be thinking about...stuff...
On that happy note, I think I will end this message here. Perhaps now that my computer is up and running I will be able to make more of an effort to blog something more often, probably something along the lines of whatever happens to be occupying my thoughts at work...
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