Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? -Job 6:12, ESV
“Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night? Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he till the valleys behind you? Will you rely on him for his great strength?” (Sorry for being a sloppy writer! This will be my last post before we hit tomorrow to Florida. I should return with my craziness by next week.) And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”(Revelation 10:4, NIV) I woke up early to take the SAT. I can explain later, but it wasn’t too grueling as I thought, even though I had the Reasoning only. Before I hit the sack, lemme post something up… I must’ve had the song in my head. (I wanted to post “Yele”, the one Wyclef Jean sang, but it was in Creole/French.) Anyways, I’m relieved that this week has ended, and all the pressures (SAT, science project) have died out. Thank You, Jesus. Organizing a bit for next semester, but knowing consciously that I’ll leave to FLORIDA for the week! I can’t wait to see the family! Blessings y Bendiciones, Joe P.S.: Please explain…? (Been thinking about this…) The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (Exodus 16:3, NIV) In my geometry class, I learned about logical reasoning and conditionals. A conditional is an if-then statement (e.g.: If a city votes against drilling holes in the Alaska wildlife, then its citizens are mostly Republican.). However, its converse follows the same if-then statement backwards (e.g.: If a city’s citizens are mostly Republican, then they are against drilling holes in the Alaska wildlife.). A conditional may have a truth value, and it may be true or false. The conditional may be false, but the converse may be true. If both conditional AND converse are true, they are combined using a biconditional with if and only if (e.g.: A city votes against drilling holes in the Alaska wildlife if and only if its citizens are mostly Republican; is it true?)
I do not mind the value of conditionals and biconditionals. However, I do not see them with good eyes when it comes to the things of God. I look at the desert, where the Israelites suffered –for their own good at the end- during four straight decades. They were hollering infinite “If only’s” and complaining –REAL killers of the power of the Mighty! “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand…!” This time, per verse, they were complaining about the food. “If only…” “If only…” “If only!”… Seeing how “if and only if” as a way of limiting God has made me view things differently about stuff. If you are a Christian, then you are going to Heaven, but if you are going to Heaven, then you are a Christian? If Jesus is the Savior then He died for us, but if a man died for us, then He is Jesus the Savior? If God is holy, then He has big standards, but if God has big standards then He is holy? Wait a minute! These conditionals I don’t view well definitely speak a truth…for us who believe! On one side, they show a complaint which is not pretty; on another side, they will always be true with Jesus, in any way or matter. Let us try how it looks with each conditional… If God is love, then I am glad to be alive. If I am glad to be alive, then God is love. God is love if and only if I am glad to be alive! I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NLT) I am a conservative, but not as much in certain issues. When it comes of seeing long-time friends in MySpace, it is a different ordeal. Sometimes, I have to try to hold back and resist and desist from putting down a friend. (These moments fill my mind with unlimited “forgive me’s”.) Whereas I may feel shocked while seeing how they’re doing, it still surprises me to see them what they’re wearing, how they act, what they have…
Call me whatever you want (“alarmist” is preferred, thank you), but this is why I write about overcoming. As much as I must learn to overcome faults and difficulties, I also must overcome myself for Jesus. Another experience I bring: I’m still struggling in Musicianship. I have complained about my stunning obligation to fix (using the verbs have, must, etc., those obviously referencing to any complete self-force), and I’ve thought how I’d measure up over them. Most of them are in the school choir, others play the piano or other things. (Some even vie for Music majors at college!) In the midst of all this talent, should I care? Yes, but to overcome, not to strenuously despair and crumble as of habit. None more than insecurities are portrayed. It seems that I may need to overcome myself, overcome my classes, overcome in my life, and overcome with Jesus. He overcame sin, He overcame life, and He overcame death! Overcoming what we know in life will take extra work, drawing out our sins and fighting for our lives will only be possible by Jesus. But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. (Psalm 3:3, NIV) In this point in my life, I should’ve expected more of myself, especially when it comes to talking to people. I will not tell you what happened, yet said snafu held an absurd, complex, connection with Kleenex, runny noses and tampons. Oh, the last word still rings me apart! It is, moreover, that I do not know as of yet to handle my jokes. What a good servant, what a faithful Christian!
In other questions of abhorrent stupidity, I also have to prepare soon to make-up for an SAT test soon, for the first time, and another work. I also feel frustrations in Music class, and I’m having the common cold. It is NOT a great way to start winter! Be it that I still must face stupid decisions for my many sins, or just that I’m depressed for my own shortcomings in life, God is so gracious to let me repent and start over. Letting go is the hard part, looking up and answering my call as part of the Redeemed of Christ. It is many a day where I still look heads-down when I walk. Maybe it’s still time for me to learn. It’s also hard to appear with a straight-up countenance of happy when you’re bogged down to death (sometimes literally), but God still shows His love to us. He still lifts us up in grace, He still takes down all of our sins and troubles, and He will throw it to the sea. (How much I need encouragement!) He still roots for us in Heaven, and in the deeper of our hearts. |
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