Exhausted Yet Refreshed.

It's 2am ish and I am tired. But it is that sucky tired where you are too tired to sleep. It is a good thing I don't have class tomorrow.

This past weekend I was able to go to Lighthouse's 2nd all church retreat. Being able to attend that retreat was such a blessing. I was able to spend time with Elyse (I think that is the most days we've slept together in the same room haha) and I was able to get to know more people in the church (honestly, I've almost been there for a year and there are still those times when I'm pretty sure I'm seeing someone for the first time). More than that though, retreat provided me a weekend to rest (maybe not in terms of hours of sleep) and reflect on God's goodness in my life. Time just keeps flying by and it's been difficult to stop and remember God's grace in salvation, the past year, and in everyday life.

The theme of the retreat was Above and Ps. Nam gave six strong messages on how to live our lives in light of the next. I really liked Ps. Nam. His messages were clear and I especially liked how he didn't give us application points and how he referred back to the original languages for grammar. Without the application points you really have to work and allow the text to convict you. I think it makes messages heavier and more personal. All the grammar made me miss Greek a lot. There is so much information that is all subtext! Maybe I will go steal Machen from home.

I think the three big things I am taking away from retreat are that 1.) the Gospel is applicable not just at the point of justification, but also through sanctification, to glorification and into Eternity, 2.) I should welcome suffering, not just if God brings about a trial in my life, but I should pray for suffering if it will bring about sanctification, and 3.) my Anchor holds within the veil.

So Christ centered--the preaching, worship (I love the hymns!), even the kids' songs were straight up Scripture (how do you like them apples, M&M choir??)

It was a good weekend even with the raw spam and being uncomfortably close to other people in the church.

Caring Love

ALL-SUFFICIENT KING,

When I come into thy presence I see the glory of thy perfections, the throne of eternal and universal empire, the ten thousand times ten thousand who minister to thee.

Impress my mind with the consciousness of they greatness, not to drive me from thee but to inspire me to approach thee; not to diminish my confidence in thee, but to lead me to admire thy great condescension.

Thou has been mindful of me and visited me, taken charge of me from birth, cared in all conditions for me, fed me at thy table, drawn the curtains of love around me, given me new mercies every morning.

Suffer me not to forget that I look for yet greater blessings--a hope beyond the grave, the earnest and foretastes of immorality, holiness, wisdom, strength, peace, joy; all these thou hast provided for me in Christ.

I grieve to think how insensible I have been of the claims of thy authority, and the endearments of thy love; how little I have credited thy truth, trusted they promises, feared they threats, obeyed thy commands, improved my advantages, welcomed thy warnings, responded to thy grace; but notwithstanding my desert I yet live.

May they goodness always lead me to repentance, and thy longsuffering prove my salvation.

-Valley of Vision.