from & for

"For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed

from faith for faith,

as it is written, "The righteous should live by faith."

Romans 1:17

bread for today

During my time in the Philippines, I've been waking up with the dawn. Literally. I really enjoy the early morning, but waking up while it is still dark outside is early even for me. Instead of fighting frustration for an hour before breakfast is ready, the Lord has been good to guide me towards greeting the sunrise over the South Sea with a cup of coffee and the Psalms. This morning Psalm 103 poured refreshment and perspective in front of me to walk in today. This Psalm beckons one into praise from the onset, appropriating our affections towards the hope of our souls.

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

he will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

twelve stones

The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' then you shall let your children know,'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.' For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea,which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever." .Joshua 4:19-24

The book of Joshua has been intertwined in a lot of what I have learned this past year. As this portion of scripture rotates through my mind, it has challenged me to think about how I remember the Lord's faithfulness in my life. Every thought yields nothing short of love covered in grace. In light of the cross, the only thing I can do is surrender my life to the one true God who has reconciled me back to himself. The cross is overwhelming. The empty tomb is life-giving. And the truth that comes from a Risen Savior is worth giving my life for. From the details of my heart, to the Jordan River- God's desire was, and is, for the world to know His sovereignty. It is easy to intentionally think back and remember His mighty hand on Easter Sunday. But what about everyday? After an entire nation walked between a parted river at flood stage, on dry ground, the Lord called them to remember. So do I really need reminding? Absolutely. And I am left with the question: what will my twelve stones look like?

in light of my last post...

Now to him to is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. .Ephesians 3:20 & 21