Enormous Love

This, my dear ones, is Natural Tunnel in Duffield, Virginia. The picture here hardly does it justice. We were looking down upon it from a great height. There is a ski lift that will take you down for a closer look. If you peer in closely, you can see a set of railroad tracks just big enough for a toy train. What I am saying is that this cavern is immense.

My parents and I went to visit it when Steven and I lived in Kentucky. I love going new places with my parents; they always have interesting perspectives.

My dad said (and here I am directly quoting) "If God picked up the earth like a bowling ball, that's where His thumb would go." My mom and I laughed, of course, but I have always remembered that...God's thumb hole.

What a big God we serve. What are our problems in the face of His awesome power? I say this to you, and to remind myself also. God made us, He loves us, and He's in control.

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95:1-5

He loves you, beloved.

The Origin of OCD

Sunday I woke up looking like this. I'm always a Flock of Seagulls fan first thing in the morning. Little did I know that I'd discover that I'm a Pharisee!

Steven preached a sermon from Matthew 15, where Jesus criticized the Pharisees for making little rules and rituals into huge "sins." In this case, the Pharisees thought that you were sinning if you didn't wash your hands properly before eating. Basically, you might as well commit murder if you didn't follow their laws, it was just that serious. I was a little confused, because I always thought that it should be the law, cleanliness is next to godliness and all that.

Why not?

I'm learning new things about myself. I'm a compulsive hand washer. I chew the skin around my nails (I recently discovered this is a form of OCD called dermatophagia. *warning: clicky only if you don't mind being grossed out by icky pics.* Steven thinks I should just put my hands in something gross so I'm not tempted to bite them, but then again, there's the hand washing. Of course, if you knew some of the things that I know, you'd be a hand washer too. Things like the lady with herpes in her eye. Things like all the bacteria crawling on your skin right now! Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all would strive to be a little cleaner? Now, be a good child and go wash your hands.

Feel better? I know I do.

A Little Recap

Steven's been preaching a series out of the book of Matthew. Yesterday he talked about the portion regarding murder. Do you realize that according to the Bible, if you hate someone, you're guilty of murder? Check it out:

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca*,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. [Matthew 5:21-26]

Also, he related the story of a man who had a great debt. The man he owed ordered that he and his wife and children be sold to repay the debt. The debtor begged and pleaded with the man to be merciful and mercy was granted. The debt was forgiven. A little later, this same forgiven man saw another man that owed him just a few dollars. He grabbed him by the neck and started to choke him, demanding that his money be paid right away. When man number three begged for forgiveness, it was denied. He was thrown in prison until he could repay the money. When the first man heard about this, he was angered and reinstated the original debt. (from Matthew 18)

The same is true with us. Jesus paid it all when he granted us salvation. We owe Him more than we could ever repay, and yet he asks for nothing. How dare we refuse to give forgiveness to others in the face of such mercy as we have been shown?

*That word, "Raca," according to Steven, means stupid or ignorant. Basically degrading someone as low as they can be degraded.