It is evident, through Scripture and history, that our God is a jealous God who loves us dearly. Left to ourselves, we would make haste to worship lesser things in exchange for the One, Real, All-Satisfying God of Abraham. And yet, God will do much (and has done much by virtue of the cross) to draw us to Himself for just a moment so that we might taste His goodness once more and be left thirsty for more. This is truly the loving discipline of our Heavenly Father. Exult in His discipline! For from it, we only get closer to the one we love, God. 

Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant - I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You. Yet I still belong to You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

Come on, REST! 

The instant cure of most of our religious ills would be to enter the Presence in spiritual experience, to become suddenly aware that we are in God and God is in us. - A. W. Tozer

Dang. Not sure about you, but I’m sick of knowing of God’s presence in theory. My prayer for us is that we would come to know God’s presence actually every moment of our days. 

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18).

Enough said.

Jam sesh the night be for my bro’s wedding. Never figured out how to post it up until now. haha. 

Guitar: Cam Olson (sister-in-law’s brother)

God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. - C. S. Lewis. Mere Christianity, 84

If Lewis is right, which I undoubtably believe he is, then what are we doing when we try to run on something other than God Himself? Or to continue in Lewis’ thought, what are we doing when we are seeking “happiness and peace” (Lewis 84) in things apart from God?

Professing to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man…(Rom. 1:22-23).

To seek happiness and peace in things other than God Himself is to exchange His glory for something much, much less. Simply, it’s idolatry. And not only that, it’s stupid (lacking intelligence or common sense). Why is it stupid? (1) Because the Bible says it’s stupid (Rom. 1:22), and (2) because that happiness and peace we seek in those other things (idols), quite frankly, does not exist! Lewis continues, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing” (Lewis 84).  

I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good besides You’ (Ps. 16:2).

Okay, so now that we know that true, unadulterated “happiness and peace” can only be found in God, now what? We seek after God!!! He is our joy; He is our peace!

• “Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy are in His place” (1Chr. 16:27).
• “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Ps. 16:11). 
• “Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes shall say, ‘All mysprings of joy are in You’” (Ps. 87:7). 
• “For [Jesus] Himself is our peace“ (Eph. 2:14). 
• “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 3:15). 

Those are few among many Scriptures that have something to say concerning true joy and true peace. Both are found in God, and in God alone. To be honest, I’ve been really stupid lately. haha. But His grace is so good. I’m so forgetful, but He always reminds me that He’s the only one that gives me peace. And I’m certain that He will have to remind me over and over for the rest of my life! And I have reason to believe that He loves reminding me! 

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me (Rev. 3:19-20). 

Jesus Christ Himself was saying this to His church in Laodicea who were fooling themselves in seeking satisfaction, joy, peace, happiness, what have you, in temporal circumstances and things (Idolatry). But He still loved them! Therefore, He reminded them of there depravity apart from Him and offered them the greatest gift ever given - Himself.