A theologian is not one who grasps the truth but who has been grasped by the truth and transformed.

--Frederica Mathewes-Green

A theologian is not made by 'understand, reading, or speculating,' but by 'living, no rather by dying and being damned.'

--Doctor Luther

I'm currently much appreciating his bluntness.

So, CHOOSE today and each day. CHOOSE to embrace life, CHOOSE to believe there is purpose in everything, CHOOSE with passionate determination to hold to TRUTH ~ God is GOOD and He is working for your best, CHOOSE to step out of your comfort zone and bless someone else, CHOOSE to continue to give your best and CHOOSE to rest & be satisfied in that.

(a very dear friend)

Prayer for the Second Week of Lent

Father of light,
in You is found no shadow of change but only the fullness of life and limitless truth.
Open our hearts to the voice of Your Word
and free us from the original darkness
that shadows our vision.
Restore our sight that we may look upon Your Son
who calls us to repentance and a change of heart,
for he lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL)

Delaying the Inevitable

So, once again, here I sit. In front of my computer. With an outline to finish and miles to go before I sleep. (Sorry, I couldn't resist). Well, maybe not miles--perhaps kilometers? or even meters? And here I sit, thinking of how inadequate I am for the task of being a college student, of being a friend, of loving Christ. It seems like no matter how many times someone tells me I'm wonderful or beautiful or intelligent or worthy of being loved or of being friends with, I still cannot accept it in my innermost being. Silly, and irrational, isn't it? And I know these are lies. But they're terribly easy lies to believe. That's no excuse, I know. They're comfortable lies. Lies that allow me to stay tucked in my shell, never reaching out and making myself vulnerable to my friends, never really loving my neighbor as I love myself. Never really accepting the fact that I am, in some measure, valuable to my friends and family, perhaps even classmates, but most importantly to my Father and Creator.
So, here are some antidotes to these lies:

I was created out of love, to love and be loved by God, to know and be known by God.

I was created in the image of God--somehow I am a unique expression of the character and beauty of God.

No one can steal me out of your hand.

You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same.

Dust of the earth, but Thine we are.

You love Your children freely and generously; You are merciful and graceful toward them.

And God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.

What am I, that I might be called Your child? What am I, that You might die that I might live?

You know my innermost being Lord, even better than I know myself!
What a beautiful God!

At the risk of wearing out my welcome, at the risk of self-discovery, I'll take every moment and every minute that You give me