meditations on grace abundant

Sometimes I picture a little Von in my head, just running around doing my merry thing. But when I get stuck in a persistent sin, it’s like little Von is trapped in a glass ball, like Rhino the hamster from Bolt.

I picture myself running into the glass wall again and again, trying to get out. But to no avail. That’s when I sit down and cry and ask myself, “Why? Why?! I’m supposed to be set free in Christ. Why can I not let go of sin?”.

And that’s where Romans is so encouraging. If Paul can write this and feel like this, then I am not alone. And as he says in the final verses, when we see our helpless state, we can’t help but praise God. 

“We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”

(Romans 7:14-25, NIV) 

Camp was awesome. I’m still recovering but is it enough to say that it was awesome because it just was?

Highlights:

• being family together
• Bible studies - getting steamrollered with how much the Gospel matters to all of life and how much potential there is in living it out more!
• Vince & Naomi organising prayer and worship night and getting to thank God with brothers and sisters that I don’t normally pray with. And to pray for brothers and sisters in countries in which it’s much much harder to be a Christian.
• time to D&M with my big bro… and my housemate. Funny how we don’t do these things when we’re actually at home.
• James running around like a madman because someone stole his underwear (by the way… I don’t know why anyone would want to touch someone else’s underwear. Weird.). I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard since… Vince had his Pokebattle on Union Court.

2009 was a year of miracles.

It was a year that started off with wondering how in the world I could look after a bunch of youth barely younger than myself. It was a year that started off with me being very aware of my own inabilities and insufficiencies.

It was the year my dad got sick. It was a year in which I really got to know my sister. It was the year my brother became a Christian. It was the year my mum started going to Bible study again.

It was a year of God speaking through His Word and His children.

It was a year of learning to trust in God for everything — all my hopes, dreams, desires. And finding out that His plan was much bigger than my own.

It was a year of redemption and renewal.

It was a year of heartbreak and tears.

It was the year of driving 900 km listening to ‘Forget and Not Slow Down’. It was the year of ‘Hello Hurricane’.

Listening to ‘Hello Huricane LIVE’ brings back all these memories. Preparing to leave for camp reminds me of everything I was feeling then. 

Oh God, please don’t let me live in the past, but be full of hope for what the future holds.

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way.

- All the Way My Savior Leads Me, Fanny Crosby

I tried to highlight the words that were especially pertinent, but ended up highlighting most of the song. So just… enjoy. :)

“Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:16-21, NIV) 

” “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” (Isaiah 55:1-2, NIV) 

“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35, NIV)