Wrath

07 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by Seeking Peace in disciple, wrath

The file cabinet felt it. My wrath. Lack of sleep. High stress. Things not going right. Explosion.

It happens to me now and again. It’s been awhile as I’ve learned to cope with life better and as I’ve learned to see obstacles in my life differently. Last night, it was unjustified anger targeted to the closest thing I could find at the moment.

I really, really wonder what God’s wrath looks like. Look at this beautiful world he created and see all the horrific things that man does and try to convince me that God doesn’t get angry. I think too many people today want to see him as the warm, fuzzy grandfather who indulges his children’s silliness. While I want him to treat me that way, I just can’t believe that is always the case with God.

Children abused. Let’s not get angry, especially you God. Rape, murder, emotional violence, manipulation…let’s not get angry. Especially you God.

I don’t have the answers, just questions. I’m no great theologian, just a guy who knows how I feel sometimes when I’ve taken all I can take and know it leads to extreme anger. Do I think God hits inanimate objects for stress relief? I doubt it but sure think he has better impulse control than I do. Still, I get angry about the silliest things. If someone hurt one of my babies…I shudder to think what I might do.

I believe God’s wrath is real. I believe people who ignore his love and choose to walk outside his direction will be judged. Do I think he’s sending someone to hell for littering? Not so much. Do I think he’s going to punish those who do bad, bad things to people without care for anyone or anything. I do. I don’t know what it will look like and I don’t have much desire to figure it out…that is God’s business. I just want to live in his mercy and grace, be a better disciple today than I was yesterday and the day before and the day before that and reflect Christ-likeness to someone today.

Grace and peace.

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Smart

14 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by Seeking Peace in denying self, disciple, peace

≈ 1 Comment

If you get a chance to see Flower Mound Marcus play basketball this year, jump on it. Marcus Smart may be an NBA player one day.

I’m borrowing another gem from Rick Atchley.

“Athletes deny themselves things that are not wrong but are not smart. So do disciples!”

Denying myself is hard. There are things I enjoy, things that make me feel good, things that brighten my spirits, things…and I want them and, at times, get them when I can. However, denying myself at times would make me a better person and certainly smarter for the endeavor.

I want to be a disciple. I want to follow Christ and his example and the desires of God’s heart for my life.

Grace and peace.

The Motions

31 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by Seeking Peace in disciple, fan, follower, Idleman, Matthew West, not a fan, The Motions

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Matthew West sings a song, The Motions that helped me during tough times of life (as documented in older posts here and here). It’s a song I’ve gone back to lately as it helps spur me out of my doldrums. Enjoy it and then read on…var gaJsHost = ((“https:” == document.location.protocol) ? “https://ssl.” : “http://www.”); document.write(unescape(“%3Cscript src='” + gaJsHost + “google-analytics.com/ga.js’ type=’text/javascript’%3E%3C/script%3E”)); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(“UA-12356560-1”); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}

I’ve started a new book, not a fan by Kyle Idelman. I’m just a few chapters in and I already know it is one I will be recommending, if not buying, for my friends. It’s challenging and it is calling me back to my desire to go through life as a follower of Jesus, not just a fan. I want to be a true disciple regardless of the costs – the lost relationships, the questions and criticisms of people who don’t understand (or don’t want to understand), the denial of things I would enjoy but that will use my time and resources that could be better used for the kingdom.

Lord make me a servant, Lord make me like you. It’s easy to sing, harder to live. I pray I will be strong enough to live the hard life, the best life.

Grace and peace to you.

Leftovers

31 Thursday Mar 2011

Posted by Seeking Peace in disciple, living, love

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As I write this, I’ve just finished preparing the Wednesday Bible study at work from Frances Chan’s Crazy Love. This week we covered the chapter titled “Serving Leftovers to a Holy God” and it has convicted me again that I so often go through my day focused primarily on me and a little on God. The Holy God.

I really want to be a better son and a better disciple. I really want people to see my faith in my life, in my actions. I really want to give God all that I have, the very best of me, each day and all day. I know his mercy and grace cover me, I know his love for me abounds but I simply want to return love to him, to let him know that I cherish being his child more than anything else, to live boldly and be a light shining in this world to glorify him.

I want to live for God’s glory, I want to be light in a dark world, I want to give God all that I have. That is my prayer.

Grace and peace to you.
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