When God wants to drill a man, And thrill a man, And skill a man When God wants to mold a man To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart To create so great and bold a man That all the world might be amazed, Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects Whom He royally elects! How He hammers and hurts him, And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay that Only God understands; While his tortured heart is crying And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks When his good He undertakes; How He uses whom He chooses, And with mighty acts induces him To try His splendor out- God knows what He's about.
Yo! This Thursday is going to be a special night. Brody, the camp director of Snowbird, will be a key note speaker at W.W. This night is going to be super fly so be sure to invite your friends. The meeting starts at 8:00pm.
~Derek
p.s. Feel free to bring some food to share if you would like. You are also invited to pray with us before the meeting from 7:00pm-7:30pm. Woot!
'May all other affections die out, all other promises disappoint, and all other hopes fail. Maybe then we will collapse on Him again, as if for the first time, as we remember that He is the only one who can satisfy our ever restless souls.' -Derek Webb
I like this quote. I think it is a reminder that all else is going to fail and fall short. It also introduces the question: Why do I think I can find something else that can satisfy me? Why do I accept cheap substitutes for the love of God?
I know the truth. I know that Christ is the only thing that will satisfy me. So since I know the truth, why do I ever think that I will find happiness anywhere else? The truth is this: I do not trust the heart of God.
My friend Jeremy gave a message this winter, and in it he talked about why we trust in ourselves. Why we think we can find something besides God that is going to fill us up. It goes back to Satan; that figure that we so seldom talk about in the church today. Satan, the Great Deceiver, leads us astray. We believe his lies.
"'When Satan fell he introduced a doubt into the human heart, the doubt was simply this: can you trust the heart of God?' So often the doubt lingers. I can't trust God to give me what I need. I can't trust God to give me life. So I have to go out and get it on my own." - Jeremy Absher (first quote by Oswald Chambers)
If I look at my life, and I'm sure if you look at yours you will see this is true. We believe Satan's lies; believe that maybe God doesn't really have my best interest at heart. That just maybe if you really want something you have to go out there and get it. As people like to say, God helps those who help themselves. (By the way, it doesn't say that anywhere in scripture.) So maybe if we really want to have life and be happy we have to do it on our own because God doesn't have MY best interest at heart.
There it is. My best interest... That's really what I'm worried about isn't it? That God isn't going to do what is best for me. My selfishness overwhelms me sometimes. I want everything to work out my way, because come on. Who is really most important? The universe revolves around me doesn't it? It's not true, but at least that's how I look at it sometimes. Let me tell you the truth though. You can trust the heart of God. He does want what is best for you.
Passage John 10:10: 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Jesus came to give life; and not only life, but life to the fullest. Does that sound like someone who doesn't have your best interest at heart? Does that sound like God is holding out on you. The purpose of him coming was to give life. And not only an abundant life on this earth, but eternal life!
Passage John 17:2-3: 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Passage John 3:16-17: 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Let me encourage you. God wants to fulfill you. He came to give you eternal life. We have all fallen for cheap substitutes in our lives. But that is not the end of the story. We truly can trust the heart of God! He came to give eternal life. If you have found yourself, as I so often have, looking for something besides God to fill you up; come back to your first love.
Passage Luke 15:20: "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
Like the father in Luke 15:20, God is waiting. He is waiting for you to come back to Him so that He can throw His arms around you and kiss you. He is waiting to welcome you home. He is waiting to give you the life you always wanted. He is waiting for you to collapse on Him so that He can satisfy your restless soul.
'May all other affections die out, all other promises disappoint, and all other hopes fail. Maybe then we will collapse on Him again, as if for the first time, as we remember that He is the only one who can satisfy our ever restless souls.'
