Well, actually I literally am moving from one house to another sometime in the near future but that's a post for another day.
Today I'll stick to the fact that I moved my blog over to wordpress!
Follow this link to keep up with my crazies.
Hannah
in Him
Friday, December 5, 2014
It is so easy to convince people that life is wonderful.
It is so easy to hide all that you've ever been ashamed of.
And it is so easy to fill your struggling soul with perishable nonsense.
I'm sitting in a middle-class, heated and well lit living room. My family's Christmas tree is up and I'm typing on an Apple computer. Lazily, kitties are wandering in and out of the many rooms of my house and a warm cup of tea is at my fingertips. The kitchen is full of food and my room is overflowing with stuff.
How worthless.
What do any of these lovely, withering things have to do with soul?
What do they have to do with the condition of my heart?
And praise Him!because I am completely without both.
And because of that fact, tonight I'm taking comfort in James 1:12...
It is so easy to hide all that you've ever been ashamed of.
And it is so easy to fill your struggling soul with perishable nonsense.
I'm sitting in a middle-class, heated and well lit living room. My family's Christmas tree is up and I'm typing on an Apple computer. Lazily, kitties are wandering in and out of the many rooms of my house and a warm cup of tea is at my fingertips. The kitchen is full of food and my room is overflowing with stuff.
How worthless.
What do any of these lovely, withering things have to do with soul?
What do they have to do with the condition of my heart?
Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
Psalm 31:11-12
This scripture tells me one thing,
I am dying because of my sin.
And no matter how I try to hide it, it will always be ready to throw me into the pit of despondency. (Like that Pilgrim's Progress reference, eh?)
Even amidst this precious time of year the ugliest and darkest parts of our hearts are scraping their way to the surface, blindly enslaved to selfish fear that leads only to unfaithfulness to our Lord.
Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was in a besieged city.
I had said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from your sight.”
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
when I cried to you for help.
Love the Lord, all you his saints!
The Lord preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord!
Psalm 31:21-24
I am relieved and aghast to announce that the love, grace and mercy of my Father
does not depend on my good deeds or faithfulness.
And because of that fact, tonight I'm taking comfort in James 1:12...
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,
for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life,
which God has promised to those who love Him.
And tonight this scripture isn't even about me.
This scripture is all about the abundant forgiveness that is mine in Christ!
Do you think it's possible for me to remain steadfast under trials?
Absolutely not;
I have years of failures and unrighteous anger to prove that to you.
I stand underneath the wings of my Savior, held up by His reliable and undeserved love.
The Lord, my righteous and holy God is the One who prepares me to receive this crown of eternal unity with Him.
Because apart from Him, there is no life.
Yet it seems strange that this unity is offered to those who love Him.
Who can love the Lord sufficiently?
His standard is perfection and I fall plainly short of that.
I find it's all about Him again.
He is the gracious One who empowers me to love and covers me when I fail.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:17
But God...
Friday, November 21, 2014
I am void of grace and mercy.
The goodness I have convinced myself that I posses, continues to transform into polluted garments. (Isaiah 64:6)
Now more than any other period in my life am I aware of the depravity that dwells in me.
Oh how deep my impurity and unholiness runs.
I am so quick to speak, so quick to become angry, so quick to think the worst.
It's so easy to judge others on how they're not providing, not giving, not obeying the Lord.
Their misery soon runs over into my misery and a mess is created.
Sometimes I feel more like a child of wrath than a new creation. (Ephesians 2:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
I submit to the passions of my flesh daily. Whether this be in the form of unrighteous anger or unbiblical guilt.
This sin gives way to hopelessness which gives me the feeling that I am blowing away in the wind. (Isaiah 64:6)
This sin gives way to hopelessness which gives me the feeling that I am blowing away in the wind. (Isaiah 64:6)
"BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:4-10
But God...
He is not like us. (Numbers 23:19)
He is not quick to judge, but He is the righteous judge. (Psalm 7:11)
He is not quick to become angry, but He is jealous for His name. (Isaiah 48:9-11)
He is not quick to speak, but He speaks only the truth. (Titus 1:2)
He is not quick to become angry, but He is jealous for His name. (Isaiah 48:9-11)
He is not quick to speak, but He speaks only the truth. (Titus 1:2)
Oh the hope that is found in the Savior! Though my misery and the misery around me is thick, sticky and foul He is not.
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Numbers 23:19
This passage in Numbers is generative to my dried up, hopeless heart.
God keeps His word, God is not like us, God is not hypocritical or moody.
He says what He means and He means what He says.
That doctrine of truth is exactly what encourages and pushes me closer to the Lord.
It's what puts air in my lungs after a discouraging and tearjerking week.
I can rest safely and securely in the arms of my Savior and His promises.
And He promises to not leave me in my mess.
He promises to catch me before the wind dissolves me.
(1 John 1:9, Micah 7:18, Hosea 6:1-3, 14:4-7, Isaiah 1:18)
So because Numbers 23:19 is true, Ephesians 2:4-10 is also true.
And if the life, mercy, grace, forgiveness and abundant love given and shown in Ephesians is true...
He can preserve me through anything.
Flee
Friday, October 10, 2014
Starting today I'll be posting weekly about my experience with my interaction with the book The Pilgrim's Progress. Can I just say that I am so stinking excited! I've only read the first chapter or two and the Holy Spirit is already using the Biblical truth in this book to change me. All quotes are taken directly from the version of Pilgrim's Progress that I'm reading, The Pilgrim's Progress In Modern English by John Bunyan annotated by L. Edward Hazelbaker.
The first chapter of The Pilgrim's Progress focuses on the protagonist, Christian, realizing the hopeless depth of his sin (referred to as his burden). His reoccurring question is
"What shall I do to be saved?"
During the first couple of pages, Christian is in a state of madness. He is so deeply disturbed by the realization of his and his family's certain destruction that his altered behavior causes his family to become worried that he's going crazy. His family doesn't really believe what Christian is telling them about their undeniable destruction and begin trying different methods to cure him of his "madness".
First, they just stick him in bed and hope he will wake up "normal". Unfortunately for them, Christian is so upset about his epiphany that he stays up all night crying and becomes more distressed. As Christian begins expressing his worries to them, Bunyan says his family becomes "hardened to his words." Trying to persuade him to abandon the madness, his family begins treating him harshly and with bad tempered behavior. They laugh and make fun of him, they criticize him, and sometimes they ignore him. This treatment causes Christian to retreat farther into prayer and scripture.
One day as Christian is reading his Bible and praying in his fields a man named Evangelist approaches the still sorrowful Christian, who once again, is asking "What must I do to be saved?"
Then I looked and saw coming toward him a man named Evangelist, who asked, "Why are you crying?" (P. 2)
Evangelist inquires about Christian's distraught state. Christian's answer is potent, to the point, truthful, and completely biblical.
He answered "Sir, I realize by reading the Book in my hand that I am condemned to die and after that to come to judgement. I find I'm not wanting to do the first, nor am I prepared to do the second." (P. 2)
In the scene that follows Christian explains that he is "not fit to go to judgement" and also reveals that he's scared of death because he's afraid the heavy burden on his back (sin and unrighteousness) will cause him to fall into hell.
But somehow, Christian is a bit hopeful that there is some way to escape what he deserves. And thankfully for all of us, who deserve exactly what Christian does (DEATH), there is a way.
Evangelist hands him a letter that reads very simply
"Flee from the coming wrath." (Matthew 3:7)
This one sentence nearly made me cry. Objectively, this is just some good advice. Your city and everyone in it will be destroyed, so flee.
Great, thanks for the heads up.
But this sentence is the gospel explained in one of the simplest and rawest forms I've ever seen.
We're told about the righteous wrath of God that will judge all and God says flee! Flee with Me to safety, back to where I intended you to live, in my presence and reflecting My glory.
Compare the letter to scripture with me. Romans 1:18 talks about God's wrath against the unrighteous (Christian and every other human who has ever lived). We know that everyone is unrighteous apart from Christ because we are below God's standard of perfection.
That is direct. If you sin you deserve to die. Somehow our culture has watered this vital truth and warning down to "Yeah, sin is bad but God is gracious!" Well yes, but God is also a perfectly just judge. And a just judge does not allow a sin to go unpunished. Our offensive sin demands the just punishment of death and condemnation to hell. We are born with this sentence and we cannot escape it without trusting in Jesus' fulfillment of God's standard of perfection.
So it's no wonder that the burdened Christian is desperate to find a way to escape this righteous wrath. If God's wrath will justly kill all unrighteous, Christian and his family will surely die.
If God was the author of this one sentence letter, that gives a person a whole different view of the Creator who up to this point has been know for the punishment He must enforce on His creations who sin. A God who punishes and a God who warns a creation to flee His own wrath seems a bit like an oxymoron. But God, who is perfect in every way found a way to be perfectly just and perfectly merciful with absolutely no contradiction. This letter contains the hope and truth that Christian needed: That there is in fact a way to flee the righteous wrath of God. In order to no longer be condemned you must be counted pardoned or acquitted. It is possible for Christian to claim this pardon if he is born again into the perfection and holiness of Christ. Someone must be punished for Christian's sins but it doesn't have to be Christian. If he accepts the work and person of Christ he can be pardoned and therefor flee the coming wrath.
So really, this one sentence letter Christian receives is not simply good advice, it is a personal invitation from God for His beloved creation to flee His wrath and return to that which he was intended for: relationship with and glorification of the Creator.
After reading the letter, Christian is told the manner in which he must flee is by quickly making his way to a Narrow Gate that is not visible from where they stand. Instead of pointing out the gate Evangelist tells Christian to "keep that light in your eye and go up directly toward it. Then you will see the Gate. When you knock on the gate, you'll be told what you must do." (P. 3)
This is good news. Christian is unexpectedly given the answer to his most desperate question, "what shall I do to be saved?" He's told the way to flee the coming wrath and his response is arresting.
He fled. He didn't even stop to consider how dangerous or wearisome, he only saw the priceless redemption and free gift of salvation from that which he deserved. Christian was trading his condemned death for eternal life and he saw the eternal ramifications of the situation.
Christian just bought that field. He "sold" all he had (his family, his friends, his home, his luxuries, his status) and he quickly and intentionally bought the field that would yield him an eternal treasure.
As Christian is running, two friends chase him down, Obstinate and Pliable, and try to convince him that he's a crazy idiot for leaving everything behind. But Christian tries to explain the value of what he is furiously chasing.
Obstinate is less than impressed and considers the Book (the Bible) "nonsense". He tries one more time to convince him to go back with them but Christian refuses and quotes Luke 9:62. As Obstinate is preparing to leave his crazed friend, Pliable reveals that if all that Christian says is true than Pliable is inclined to join his quest. Obstinate quickly gives up on both friends while Christian encourages Pliable to join him.
In the closing paragraph, Obstinate sulkily returns home while Pliable and Christian continue towards the Narrow Gate.
This is the third time I've read this 4 1/2 page chapter and my head is still spinning. It is rightly entitled The Pilgrim Begins His Journey. This chapter certainly encompasses the beginning of every "pilgrim's" journey.
sin + just punishment = death
1 condemned human + God's warning + Christ's salvation = Eternal life/the means by which to flee
This chapter points me continually to one overwhelming characteristic of God the Father: His mercy.
Mercy is deliverance from judgement.
Mercy is not receiving something you deserve.
Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
Ephesians 2:4-7 perfectly collects the thoughts presented in chapter one...
The first chapter of The Pilgrim's Progress focuses on the protagonist, Christian, realizing the hopeless depth of his sin (referred to as his burden). His reoccurring question is
"What shall I do to be saved?"
During the first couple of pages, Christian is in a state of madness. He is so deeply disturbed by the realization of his and his family's certain destruction that his altered behavior causes his family to become worried that he's going crazy. His family doesn't really believe what Christian is telling them about their undeniable destruction and begin trying different methods to cure him of his "madness".
First, they just stick him in bed and hope he will wake up "normal". Unfortunately for them, Christian is so upset about his epiphany that he stays up all night crying and becomes more distressed. As Christian begins expressing his worries to them, Bunyan says his family becomes "hardened to his words." Trying to persuade him to abandon the madness, his family begins treating him harshly and with bad tempered behavior. They laugh and make fun of him, they criticize him, and sometimes they ignore him. This treatment causes Christian to retreat farther into prayer and scripture.
At this point in the book Christian's problem is his sin and the cost of it: destruction and judgement that will condemn him and his family to hell. Adding to his problem is his family and friend's unwillingness to believe or trust him. His distress mirrors the hopelessness of those without Christ, which was or may still be all of us at some point in life.
Then I looked and saw coming toward him a man named Evangelist, who asked, "Why are you crying?" (P. 2)
Evangelist inquires about Christian's distraught state. Christian's answer is potent, to the point, truthful, and completely biblical.
He answered "Sir, I realize by reading the Book in my hand that I am condemned to die and after that to come to judgement. I find I'm not wanting to do the first, nor am I prepared to do the second." (P. 2)
In the scene that follows Christian explains that he is "not fit to go to judgement" and also reveals that he's scared of death because he's afraid the heavy burden on his back (sin and unrighteousness) will cause him to fall into hell.
Well, amen! Nor am I! Christian sees and understands the truth that he is unfit for judgement because he will be judged for his unrighteousness and sin and this judgement will result in his ultimate condemnation and death.
Evangelist hands him a letter that reads very simply
"Flee from the coming wrath." (Matthew 3:7)
This one sentence nearly made me cry. Objectively, this is just some good advice. Your city and everyone in it will be destroyed, so flee.
Great, thanks for the heads up.
But this sentence is the gospel explained in one of the simplest and rawest forms I've ever seen.
We're told about the righteous wrath of God that will judge all and God says flee! Flee with Me to safety, back to where I intended you to live, in my presence and reflecting My glory.
Compare the letter to scripture with me. Romans 1:18 talks about God's wrath against the unrighteous (Christian and every other human who has ever lived). We know that everyone is unrighteous apart from Christ because we are below God's standard of perfection.
"They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." - Romans 1:29-32
That is direct. If you sin you deserve to die. Somehow our culture has watered this vital truth and warning down to "Yeah, sin is bad but God is gracious!" Well yes, but God is also a perfectly just judge. And a just judge does not allow a sin to go unpunished. Our offensive sin demands the just punishment of death and condemnation to hell. We are born with this sentence and we cannot escape it without trusting in Jesus' fulfillment of God's standard of perfection.
"God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day." - Psalm 7:11
"For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us." - Isaiah 33:22
So it's no wonder that the burdened Christian is desperate to find a way to escape this righteous wrath. If God's wrath will justly kill all unrighteous, Christian and his family will surely die.
Unless he can somehow escape it.
If God was the author of this one sentence letter, that gives a person a whole different view of the Creator who up to this point has been know for the punishment He must enforce on His creations who sin. A God who punishes and a God who warns a creation to flee His own wrath seems a bit like an oxymoron. But God, who is perfect in every way found a way to be perfectly just and perfectly merciful with absolutely no contradiction. This letter contains the hope and truth that Christian needed: That there is in fact a way to flee the righteous wrath of God. In order to no longer be condemned you must be counted pardoned or acquitted. It is possible for Christian to claim this pardon if he is born again into the perfection and holiness of Christ. Someone must be punished for Christian's sins but it doesn't have to be Christian. If he accepts the work and person of Christ he can be pardoned and therefor flee the coming wrath.
So really, this one sentence letter Christian receives is not simply good advice, it is a personal invitation from God for His beloved creation to flee His wrath and return to that which he was intended for: relationship with and glorification of the Creator.
Sorry for beating this horse to death but the importance of this gospel exposing letter is immeasurable.
After reading the letter, Christian is told the manner in which he must flee is by quickly making his way to a Narrow Gate that is not visible from where they stand. Instead of pointing out the gate Evangelist tells Christian to "keep that light in your eye and go up directly toward it. Then you will see the Gate. When you knock on the gate, you'll be told what you must do." (P. 3)
This is good news. Christian is unexpectedly given the answer to his most desperate question, "what shall I do to be saved?" He's told the way to flee the coming wrath and his response is arresting.
"So in my dream I saw the man begin to run. He had not run far from his own door before his wife and children, having seen it, began to cry after him to return. But the man put his fingers in his ears and ran on, crying, "Life! Life! Eternal life!" So, not turning to look behind him, he fled toward the middle of the plain."
He fled. He didn't even stop to consider how dangerous or wearisome, he only saw the priceless redemption and free gift of salvation from that which he deserved. Christian was trading his condemned death for eternal life and he saw the eternal ramifications of the situation.
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life." - Matthew 19:29
"For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." - Galatians 6:8
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." - Matthew 13:44
Christian just bought that field. He "sold" all he had (his family, his friends, his home, his luxuries, his status) and he quickly and intentionally bought the field that would yield him an eternal treasure.
As Christian is running, two friends chase him down, Obstinate and Pliable, and try to convince him that he's a crazy idiot for leaving everything behind. But Christian tries to explain the value of what he is furiously chasing.
"...everything you would forsake is not worthy to be compared with even a little of what I'm seeking to enjoy. If you'll go along with me and obtain it also, you'll do as well as I. There's enough for everyone and more left over where I'm going." (P. 4)
Obstinate is less than impressed and considers the Book (the Bible) "nonsense". He tries one more time to convince him to go back with them but Christian refuses and quotes Luke 9:62. As Obstinate is preparing to leave his crazed friend, Pliable reveals that if all that Christian says is true than Pliable is inclined to join his quest. Obstinate quickly gives up on both friends while Christian encourages Pliable to join him.
In the closing paragraph, Obstinate sulkily returns home while Pliable and Christian continue towards the Narrow Gate.
This is the third time I've read this 4 1/2 page chapter and my head is still spinning. It is rightly entitled The Pilgrim Begins His Journey. This chapter certainly encompasses the beginning of every "pilgrim's" journey.
sin + just punishment = death
1 condemned human + God's warning + Christ's salvation = Eternal life/the means by which to flee
This chapter points me continually to one overwhelming characteristic of God the Father: His mercy.
Mercy is deliverance from judgement.
Mercy is not receiving something you deserve.
Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
Ephesians 2:4-7 perfectly collects the thoughts presented in chapter one...
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
The Awkward
Sunday, October 5, 2014
It's always a bit difficult and awkward to start posting again after long such stalemates.
Every time I remember and return to my blog I ask myself the same questions...
Does this even matter?
Why bother if no one reads it?
What if you misinterpret scripture and lead someone astray?
Why bother when you can't posses enough self-control to regularly blog?
But I've been able to come up with a few answers.
Blog because you love to write.
Blog because if nothing else, it helps to refocus you to Christ and His purpose for your life: His glorification.
Once I get past these rather sticky roadblocks I hit another one...
what do I write about, though?
I don't always have a good answer to this one. Mostly I sheepishly answer...
my life.
This really isn't that stupid or bad of an answer.
I absolutely adore blogs where the main purpose is simply to share life with other people, in a community.
But for me, "my life" was code for me.
And obviously as a born again, Christ following, changed Christian an egocentric life or blog is exactly what the Father has planned for me.(please do not underestimate the amount of sarcasm I will use)
But this time around I'd like to throw a curve ball and nip the egocentric blog posts in the bud right from the get-go. Instead I hope to intentionally discover how God will allow me to write in a Christocentric way. This will require complete trust in His perfect timeline.
Currently this will be made manifest at least in my postings about my thoughts, study and analysis of a book I'm currently reading with my sisters and brother-in-law: The Pilgrim's Progress.
While I study it with them I'll also post about it here.
Hopefully this will not only facilitate Christocentric writing but also aid me in really digging into Pilgrim's Progress and not trusting or distrusting every word I read.
It feels good to be back writing, even this simply introductory post.
So here's to hoping the awkward stage of transitioning back into the blogging world is smoother than past experiences.
- Hannah
Every time I remember and return to my blog I ask myself the same questions...
Does this even matter?
Why bother if no one reads it?
What if you misinterpret scripture and lead someone astray?
Why bother when you can't posses enough self-control to regularly blog?
But I've been able to come up with a few answers.
Blog because you love to write.
Blog because if nothing else, it helps to refocus you to Christ and His purpose for your life: His glorification.
Once I get past these rather sticky roadblocks I hit another one...
what do I write about, though?
I don't always have a good answer to this one. Mostly I sheepishly answer...
my life.
This really isn't that stupid or bad of an answer.
I absolutely adore blogs where the main purpose is simply to share life with other people, in a community.
But for me, "my life" was code for me.
And obviously as a born again, Christ following, changed Christian an egocentric life or blog is exactly what the Father has planned for me.(please do not underestimate the amount of sarcasm I will use)
But this time around I'd like to throw a curve ball and nip the egocentric blog posts in the bud right from the get-go. Instead I hope to intentionally discover how God will allow me to write in a Christocentric way. This will require complete trust in His perfect timeline.
Currently this will be made manifest at least in my postings about my thoughts, study and analysis of a book I'm currently reading with my sisters and brother-in-law: The Pilgrim's Progress.
While I study it with them I'll also post about it here.
Hopefully this will not only facilitate Christocentric writing but also aid me in really digging into Pilgrim's Progress and not trusting or distrusting every word I read.
It feels good to be back writing, even this simply introductory post.
So here's to hoping the awkward stage of transitioning back into the blogging world is smoother than past experiences.
- Hannah
time
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Golly...it's been so long since I've blogged I'm not sure I remember how;)
Suddenly, Christmas is well on it's way and a bunch of changes have packed themselves into what's left of 2013.
This year has presented me with so many challenges and changes and these things have brought me to tears way more than I'd like to admit.
Time has seemed to simply slip through my fingers, and the harder I tried to grasp on to it, the faster it went.
Sitting in the little church pew stuffed between my two sisters, one engaged to be married in April, the other recently dating, I started wondering why time goes so quickly.
The answer hit me like a ton of bricks and I'm fairly certain I gave a little gasp because I couldn't believe how stupid I've been not to see it.
Time goes quickly because our time is short here.
This year has been tough, filled with lots of decision and trouble.
Sometimes its felt like I could just give out.
So it's like Paul was talking right to me in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Or rather the living and active words of God entered my heart and made sense.
Everything we see around us is temporal: lasting only for a time; not eternal; passing.
Even these bodies we inhabit are passing, only the things we can't see will last forever.
So guess what that means...
this time on earth wont last forever.
As a matter of fact, our time on earth is just a very small, slight portion of our lives.
Eternity is...well, eternal.
So why do I expect my time to just stretch leisurely on forever?
Leisure time comes in Heaven, after I've done my work here on earth.
In conclusion, I've decided to try to allow God to change me so that I remember to set my eyes on the things eternal and stop complaining that this time is going so quick.
What makes me think that something so much more amazing and brilliant isn't waiting for me once this earthly life comes to an end?
Because I've received Christ as my savior, it totally is.
I'll cherish this precious time on earth, but I will also zealously look forward to what's waiting in heaven for me.
In light of me learning to love this gift of life here are some photos that fill in the gap between my last post and now.
My sisters and I at Trick-or-Treat day at work this past Halloween. Side note - Our last name is Maske so we got masks and became "The Maske'd girls". Win.
xo,
Hannah Dorothy
Suddenly, Christmas is well on it's way and a bunch of changes have packed themselves into what's left of 2013.
Where has the time gone?
This question actually brings up something I was thinking about as I sat in church last Saturday.
This year has presented me with so many challenges and changes and these things have brought me to tears way more than I'd like to admit.
Time has seemed to simply slip through my fingers, and the harder I tried to grasp on to it, the faster it went.
Sitting in the little church pew stuffed between my two sisters, one engaged to be married in April, the other recently dating, I started wondering why time goes so quickly.
The answer hit me like a ton of bricks and I'm fairly certain I gave a little gasp because I couldn't believe how stupid I've been not to see it.
Time goes quickly because our time is short here.
This year has been tough, filled with lots of decision and trouble.
Sometimes its felt like I could just give out.
So it's like Paul was talking right to me in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Or rather the living and active words of God entered my heart and made sense.
Everything we see around us is temporal: lasting only for a time; not eternal; passing.
Even these bodies we inhabit are passing, only the things we can't see will last forever.
So guess what that means...
this time on earth wont last forever.
As a matter of fact, our time on earth is just a very small, slight portion of our lives.
Eternity is...well, eternal.
So why do I expect my time to just stretch leisurely on forever?
Leisure time comes in Heaven, after I've done my work here on earth.
In conclusion, I've decided to try to allow God to change me so that I remember to set my eyes on the things eternal and stop complaining that this time is going so quick.
What makes me think that something so much more amazing and brilliant isn't waiting for me once this earthly life comes to an end?
Because I've received Christ as my savior, it totally is.
I'll cherish this precious time on earth, but I will also zealously look forward to what's waiting in heaven for me.
In light of me learning to love this gift of life here are some photos that fill in the gap between my last post and now.
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| Me and my precious friend from summer camp at our last Breakaway. (youth conference) Senior year:(! |
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| Steph, Abi, Katie and myself at a Granger Smith/Earl Dibbles Jr. concert this Fall. YEEYEE! |
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The pumpkins we made this year! (I'm lower right with a TARDIS, Abi's middle with a YEEYEE, Brian [Lizz's fiance] is the only dude with a Superman and Lizz is working hard upper right)
Our cupcakes...mmm.
MY cupcake...ahhh:)
My sisters and I.
The gang.
Hey, I was seventeen. Still am actually.
 
Cupcakery.
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| Abi and I on my day of birth:) |
Hannah Dorothy
s e n i o r
Thursday, September 19, 2013
It's hard to believe that I'm even writing this post.
Like where did the time go?
I really can't comprehend.
Anyway, here are a few senior photos from my first session with my sister.
xo,
Hannah Dorothy
Like where did the time go?
I really can't comprehend.
Anyway, here are a few senior photos from my first session with my sister.
Hannah Dorothy
