Pilgrim's Progress

Out of My Depths in His Depths, Part 4

Maybe just a hint of fromage about this one, but I liked the idea. Might revisit it later.

Out of My Depth in His Depths, Part 3

 

It's good to have the creative tools again :o)

Out of my Depth in His Depths, Part 2

"Out of my depths in his depths". Hmmm. That says it, really. That's my life. Carried on currents that are too deep, too wide, too strong, too vast, too wonderful ... I guess this has been a regular theme of this blog ... trying to get a handle on it, make sense of it, understand it, visualise it.

As the years tick by, I feel the weight of my decisions, choices, mistakes, roughness and unfinishedness like never before. But somehow, surrounding it all, I'm granted glimpses of the awesome greatness in which this little life is completely swallowed up. In Him. Always and forever. There is nowhere to run to, so I may as well lie back and get carried along.

Behind me, in front of me,
I am encircled.
You place your hand upon me.
Too wonderful is this knowledge for me
Too far above, I cannot grasp it.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I run to evade your presence?
If I rise up to the heavens, you are there.
If I make my bed in the ocean depths, look! There you are!
If I mount up on the wings of the dawn,
If I come to rest on the sea’s farthest shore,
Even there, your hand will lead me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say “surely I’ll find cover in the darkness,
And my day will become night”,
Even the darkness is not dark to you,
For with you night is day, and dark is light.

(Psalm 139:5-12; my own "translation" - using the Lexham Hebrew Interlinear Bible)

P.S. I hope to be able to do some artwork on this when my new computer arrives tomorrow ... woohoo! Finally, I can start CREATING again after 2 months of computer failure ...

One for the Road: Part 3

What kind of day\month\year\life are you having? Pick a number ...

• 5: I've asked God for stuff, now I'm waiting
• 13: God's vanished, but I'll trust him nonetheless
• 25: My hope is in you, God, but don't delay too long
• 27: I'm not throwing in the towel just yet
• 40: Phew! God's still there after all
• 42: Why does my heart feel so bad?
• 63: I'm so thirsty for you
• 73: Where else is there? Being near God is all that matters
• 84: I'm coming home to you, God, though I don't know the way
• 88: Darkness is my closest friend
• 91: You are my shelter
• 103: Everything in me join in praise to God
• 116: Be at rest once more, because God has been good to you
• 126: It's painful now, but joy is coming
• 139: I am surrounded, completely surrounded by You, God
• etc ...

These are some of my favourite Psalms ... prayers for the journey.

What's your number today?

The Search for the Real Self, Part 3

This animation will feature in DREAM worship soon. We're exploring identity and self-image at DREAM in the City on Thurs 23rd March. (Click here or on the icon for an animation - about 17K, Requires Flash Player 8)

I am confident that we will get to our real core ... it's a long journey of many steps, but each step deeper into God reveals a little more of who we truly are.

But as each of beholds the glory of the Lord with our faces uncovered, we are transformed into the likeness of the one we behold, becoming more glorious each time we look. All this is the work of the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18; paraphrased from the Greek text)

Out of my Depth in His Depths

I went to Bible College 6 years ago, and have never felt "in my depth" since. But I've felt particularly out of my depth this last week. Life has moved very fast, and gone very deep ...

... swept up in job-seeking process that is largely outwith my control
... facing deep things in myself I don't understand
... sensing a renewed call to courageously pursue what God has laid on my heart, whatever it costs, wherever it leads, and whatever reaction it provokes in those around me

But there is a deeper current underneath it all, carrying me along. Whatever depths I've got myself into, humanly speaking, are over my head. But they are completely swallowed up in his depths.