The Sunday school class I usually attend was cancelled this week; so I jumped over to the younger class instead. And it was so cool to sit in on their discussion of God's glory--from Exodus, to 2Corinthians 3! With Psalm 19 in mind, our youth pastor asked the huddle of students, "When you're on a mountain, do you think about how big you are?" When you stand in the ocean, are you impressed with your own vastness? When we look at a sunset, are we fixated on how beautiful we are? No. Because even the heavens declare the glory of God..."
Matthew Christian Harding thrusts a similar thought (from Job) into his fairy tale, The Peleg Chronicles, saying, "If God can play with the most powerful dragons [leviathan] as if they were a little bird, and yet they are so fierce to us, then how can we be prideful before our God? He has said about Himself 'who then is able to stand before me? Who has preceded me? Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.' So, I think it is very loving of Him to help us see how insignificant we are by creating such fearsome beasts, so that we might humbly reach out to accept his grace, mercy, and love."
I love that! What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You visit him? It's amazing, isn't it, that you can stretch through the Bible for ages and still find more about God's glory?!
Hope your week is above-lovely, whatever it finds you doing! (I also hope you'll forgive the excess of italics in this ramble!) Christmas has somehow appeared on my calendar, which is strange since I'm mentally still in November...but may your rest-of-advent be joyous, considering Jesus, humble as Man, even unto the cross. Praise God; it's amazingly, wonderfully, glorious!
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. --Psalm 115:1
Amen! I continually have to be reminded that growing in Christ is not to find out more about my "inner self", but to learn more about my infinite God!
ReplyDeleteAnd.... our family owns the Peleg Chronicles (actually, Melody and I gave them to some of the kids as Christmas gifts last year), but I have yet to read them :) They might make it onto that elusive "To Read" list for 2014!
Thanks for sharing Kaitlin! As I write I'm looking out at the Ocean ( from our beach house) and I completely agree with you about the vastness of God. He is truly amazing, to not only control and create everything, but also to care about us so much that He died to save us from our sins. And who are we to deserve such kindness? Oh for a greater dose of great fullness to Him who alone can satisfy our deepest longings.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Same here about feeling like you're still in November. I really am not prepared for Christmas so soon. I feel like we should still be looking forward to Bible Bee:)
(The server in Texas is a bit goofy right now...so if this replies ten times...that's why!)
ReplyDeleteGrace--YES! I know what you mean! It's not about introspection, but magnifying Jesus.
Oh, fun! I've only read the first one ("Foundlings"--because it was free!)--but it was completely permeated in Scripture. I was really impressed! There were definitely some intense/slightly scary parts, but it was on-the-whole a satisfying read. (It can be so hard to find good Christian fantasy! This was pretty bueno!) ...But, it DOES have a cliff-hanger-of-an-ending...so if it goes on your list, you'll probably want to make time allowances for the sequels, too. :)
Elanee--your comment brought Psalm 16:11 to brain! :) You've said it all so perfectly...I can only add "YES!"
Oh, gracious. I hope you don't feel lost-in-time-travel too long! It's completely awkward over here, because I'm still referring to 2010 as "last year," and STILL dating papers as "2012." :)
Hey Kaitlin!
ReplyDeleteI actually got to read all three of the Peleg Chronicles in a day or so over Christmas break - you are definitely right about the cliffhanger - in both the first and second volumes! They were REALLY excellent - I absolutely loved all of the biblical themes woven throughout, and was really challenged in several areas as I read! It also gave new meaning to the book of Job, since that was the only inspired Scripture they had back then - amazing lessons were learned from that one book, and we have 66!
God bless you :)
Grace--oh, AWESOME! I was impressed with the depth grabbed from Job, too! It was handled so masterfully... So I shall now have to carry on with them, sometime! :) The Lord bless you, too!
ReplyDelete