Sunday, August 25, 2013
deep calls to deep
It's a new year. Time to stand on lessons of the past, and hope for transformation of the moment. It's been a deep season under the breakers. It's time to ride the waves again.
I've heard deep call to deep. It's terrifying and gorgeous all at once. I've wept the tears of hopelessness to learn that God was always faithful. I've begged for restoration and received it. I've been washed in the waterfalls of grace. I know who wins.
Camp season was good and hard. So much brokenness thrown into the light. So much pain surrendered at the Cross. But, not everyone is brave enough to let go of their familiar hurt. Sometimes, the breakers must continue so we can finally let go.
As school starts, I'm excited instead of ready. I know the waves come, so I want to enjoy them.
Ephesians 5
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
We just spoke of deep calling to deep, Bill and I. I love the way the Spirit does that!
ReplyDeleteI am happy for you and happy for your students.