In keeping with its presuppositions, a Christian view states that fear primarily has to do with our relationship with God (and the fact that we are not God). Since God alone is sovereign over all things and since we are dependent creatures, we are not sovereign. We do not even control ourselves, let alone the world around us. We live in a world that is unpredictable: we cannot guarantee that our spouses will still be with us at the end of the day or that our children will be alive. In the midst of this uncertainty, God’s penetrating and potentially liberating response is “trust me.” Indeed, that is ultimately His response to most of our fears. But rather than asking for a blind trust, God allows us to see, through His mighty historical acts recorded in the Bible, that He is trustworthy.
Ed Welch

jack <3

(via nydiot)

(Source: spiritualinspiration)

(Source: bewareofmpreg, via nydiot)

this is kinda random&#8230; my parents got a chance to come up to philly area and play with their pastor friends yesterday and today. so, i was able to see them and spend the day with them (even if it meant skipping a class&#8230; oops!). although they left hours ago and i had finished class, i texted them to see if they got home okay. when my mom texted me back, i teared (while i was driving&#8230; oops again!). a little over a week ago, i got really, really sick. i had a fever for almost a week (yet i didn&#8217;t know for a majority of that time that i was sick). i remember being miserable and thinking during that time whether or not to go home but i didn&#8217;t want to worry my parents nor skip school and work. today i got somewhat sick again, and i knew my mom was kinda worried for me. she wanted to buy me food, but i didn&#8217;t want her to spend money when i knew we were all in a financial tough spot. i&#8217;ve done nothing to gain their love or praise (actually i deserve their hatred and curses for being such a unfaithful and disobedient daughter), but yet my parents are so good to me (especially in hard times). not because they&#8217;re necessarily any better than other people but i truly know and feel God&#8217;s love through them, unconditional and everlasting and encompassing. God, You are so faithful to them, through them, to me. it&#8217;s funny how several years ago i hated them and how a couple years ago i didn&#8217;t care much for them but now i love and miss them not just a little bit but so much that it hurts&#8230; but i know You have a purpose for me here. Father, thank you, truly thank you for my parents. excited for the day i go home to see them again&#8230; and my siblings.

this is kinda random…

my parents got a chance to come up to philly area and play with their pastor friends yesterday and today. so, i was able to see them and spend the day with them (even if it meant skipping a class… oops!). although they left hours ago and i had finished class, i texted them to see if they got home okay. when my mom texted me back, i teared (while i was driving… oops again!).

a little over a week ago, i got really, really sick. i had a fever for almost a week (yet i didn’t know for a majority of that time that i was sick). i remember being miserable and thinking during that time whether or not to go home but i didn’t want to worry my parents nor skip school and work. today i got somewhat sick again, and i knew my mom was kinda worried for me. she wanted to buy me food, but i didn’t want her to spend money when i knew we were all in a financial tough spot.

i’ve done nothing to gain their love or praise (actually i deserve their hatred and curses for being such a unfaithful and disobedient daughter), but yet my parents are so good to me (especially in hard times). not because they’re necessarily any better than other people but i truly know and feel God’s love through them, unconditional and everlasting and encompassing. God, You are so faithful to them, through them, to me. it’s funny how several years ago i hated them and how a couple years ago i didn’t care much for them but now i love and miss them not just a little bit but so much that it hurts… but i know You have a purpose for me here. Father, thank you, truly thank you for my parents.

excited for the day i go home to see them again… and my siblings.

How blessed it is just to be a follower of Jesus! Really, isn’t being a good follower the very heart of being a leader? And isn’t our leadership often lacking just because we have weakened in followership? I know that is my own experience repeatedly. I get overly concerned over how to be a better leader, but Jesus is concerned about making me a better, more humble follower.
Jack Miller
from jaehee. clutz, funny, lovely.

from jaehee.

clutz, funny, lovely.

(Source: brisasmith, via jaeheeleee)

happy ash wednesday.

while i myself have not decided to give up anything this year, i hope to be more diligent and conscious in spending my personal time with my Father especially in my waking moments every day. i’m thankful that there are now a lot of brothers and sisters who participate in the season of lent by giving something up. however, i urge you siblings that during this time, in the absence of these things, you pursue and run towards the one true motivation of our lives: to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever!

Outward signs of revival can mean many things. Some come out of our own emotions and frustrations and do not mean that the Holy Spirit has done a permanent work. I have seen people — and I know you have — who felt that they had the Spirit and didn’t need to study the Word. Never let people think that is a true filling with the Spirit. A true work leads men into the Word, gives a very tender conscience about obedience to God’s will, and much humility.
C. John (Jack) Miller
Marital faithfulness is the service of the Lord not simply because God has commanded it, but because it manifests love that springs from God’s redeeming love. That vision of serving the Lord touches the deepest springs of motivation for the Christian. In loving others we manifest our love for Him who first loved us.
Edmund Clowney