Judges

Needed at outlet after reading Judges.

Judges is so sad to read. The continual unfaithfulness of Israel. God provides appointed Judges to deliver Israel in righteousness, but they are full of faults. God is supremely faithful, Israel continues to be superbly unfaithful. This is what happens what everyone does what is right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25).

Israel needs a truly righteous human King. 

I am just like the Israelites. I am continually unfaithful. I need a truly righteous human King. And I need to stop doing what is right in my own eyes, but in that of God. Thank goodness I have a truly righteous divine human King. I need Jesus.

Thankful For...

Making a record of things I am truly thankful for... because there really are so many things to be thankful for.

Today: Activities I Enjoy

1) Batting Cages
The whole experience of swinging the baseball bat and making contact (...okay... sometimes making contact) is exhilarating. Such a fun, stress-relieving, thought-provoking or even thought-clearing, endorphin-releasing, enjoyable activity. I love it.
Very thankful for hand-eye coordination (the little that I have), able body & arms that swing, and the fun I can have doing this even when alone.

2) Jogging (...that being no more than 5 miles).
What?! Really?! Jogging in nice weather is amazing. Nice weather like tonight beckons me to run. Of course... at my own pace... with plenty of breaks.... with nice music or a good sermon. Nothing makes me more thankful for my legs and able body than jogging. I know that one day I won't be able to run as I do now. Trying to enjoy it now while I can. Feels so free and relaxing (except for when your side aches). Feels good.

3) Eating
Need I say more?! I may have no sense of smell, but my my am I thankful for tastebuds and a big belly that can hold large quantities of delicious food. I am not promoting gluttony... I am just promoting good food... the heavy eating and savoring of food that makes your tastebuds extremely happy. Wow.

4) Reading
Trying to get back into fiction books (working slowly but surely). But the genre of choice for me has definitely been biographies (of people and events). Boring you say?? No way! I don't know whose lives and stories you've been reading about...but the lives and stories of people I've read have been absolutely fascinating. There are lots to learn from these people who have passed. The life of Jim Elliot, Charles Spurgeon, Corrie Ten Boom, Denver Moore & Ron Hall (much less known), Chris McCandless... endless list.
Thankful that I can learn from these lives. Thankful that I have eyes (small as they are) that see words on pages. Thankful for a brain that takes in information and processes it and learns from it.

There is much to be thankful for.

Blessings.

Healthy bones. Good muscle movement. Legs that work. Arms that lift. Hands that write. Fingers that type. Knees that bend. Toes that keep me balanced. Shoulders that carry weight. Back that doesn't give out. Eyes that see clearly. Brain that works sharply. Mind that thinks often. Heart that's still teachable. God-given inner-drive.

Better use them now while I still have them. Such great gifts of youth. Not wasting them. Thanks God.

Sunday take-aways

Mark 10:42-50
(verse 42)
You are either steering someone towards Christ, or steering someone away. Those are the only two options.

(verse 43, 45, 47, 48)
A doctor doesn't hesitate to cut off or amputate a limb if it means saving his patient's life. He doesn't think twice if he knows it will save from destruction.

(verse 49-50)
The way to avoid steering others away from Christ to the fires of hell is to salt yourself and set yourself ablaze on fire as a living sacrifice of service to the king and to each other.

Very blessed by the baptism testimonies.