romans 8:28

A very misunderstood verse. And most often taken out of context. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

What is the good? The next verse tells us: being conformed to the likeness of God's Son—becoming more like Christ. It's like James' description in the first chapter of his book: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." And earlier in Romans, chapter 5 to be specific, Paul says that we rejoice in our sufferings because they produce perseverance, which produces character, which leads to hope.

This is much bigger and ultimately, much better than "good" just being good things we want to happen. This is much more comforting than being told that the loss of a loved one or the loss of a job is hey, all going to work out "for the best." Romans 8:29ff comforts us in our grave situation of the hope and shelter we have in Christ—He has chosen us, justified us, glorified us, and loves us with an unbridled passion—nothing can separate us from His love, nothing that happens to us or comes against us, not even death. And before the famous, misunderstood verse comes the assurance that even though, through our weakness, we don't know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us!

What a great verse this truly is!

worship quote

"Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose—and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin."
– William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury (1942-1944), from Readings in St. John's Gospel

france, ahoy!

I'm going to France! Yesterday I purchased my plane tickets, so it's official. I will be traveling with my friends Monica and Lydia to Paris and Macon. We have some friends who live in both cities. In Macon, we'll be staying at Le Chateau de Saint Albain. Pretty cool. We leave September 14 for 10 days. I can't wait!

update

I promised I'd let you know what happened with the drive-in. I didn't go. Maybe next time.

However, this weekend I did run in a 5K race on a kind of spur of the moment whim. I had originally planned to run it, but then Friday night decided against it. I was too tired and didn't want to get up that early to run. Then the unthinkable happened—I awoke at 6:40am! So, I figured, what the hey. It was the hardest 3.1 miles I've ever run. In the grass and up and down hills. It was crazy, but I finished and didn't walk any of it!