Monday, March 23, 2015
wow its so strange how God always amazes me by making my faith so relevant to life! i was just blogging last night about how i was feeling really happy/sad/conflicted, and i just came across an article on the emotions of the Christian life!
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-sing-sad-songs-when-i-don-t-feel-sad
"Our emotional lives are too complicated to either be entirely happy or entirely sorrowful. At every moment of our day, thoughtful review reveals reasons to either rejoice or mourn. When you grieve over circumstances or mourn over sinful tendencies, lament responds by recognizing those evils and bringing them to the only One who can help.
Ecclesiastes 4:1 says "I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one the comfort them".
Simply watching the daily news or interacting with the cities in which we live provides innumerable opportunities for lament. While each circumstance differs in proximity to you, every instance of sin should make us grieve... In this sense, we are grieved because we are caught between Eden and New Jerusalem...
No matter the size of your church, it is almost certain that someone (or perhaps several people) have had a week of difficulty... The apostle Paul calls us, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep". Corporate lament encourages Christian sufferers that their church family stands with them as they await the Lord's rescue."
But the amazing thing is that the article did not just stop there! It went on to talk about the fact that
one day, all weeping will be turned to joy!
"God has promised to restore this broken world. He has promised to heal his people and bring their sad tears to an end. Sorrow, therefore is never the believer's ultimate destiny, but rather our temporary experience...
Because of the sin and brokenness of our hearts/ in our church and world, we have reason to lament. Most of all, because of the love of our rescuing God, we have an invitation to bring our mournful sadness as protest and appeal to our God. The God who invites our laments can rescue us. And he most certainly will."
avoid the aliens;
4:12 PM
