For an article, lenghthier than that of my typical blog (and written by someone more learned than myself), navigate to the URL below.
http://www.granta.com/Archive/92/How-to-Write-about-Africa/Page-1
(Thanks, sarah.)
As for this space, let it be consumed by a thought on an excerpt from the 63 Psalm.
Psalm 63:5-8 ESV
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
First off, observation.
Satisfaction, praise, and soul adherence stem from remembrance, meditation, and the support of the Lord's right hand.
Next, interpretation.
One evening last week, while the women we had invited from the States were still at the house, we had fried chicken for dinner. Now, I do not know whether the chicken was somehow enhanced by the ambience of all the great teaching ability in the room, or whether we were just hungry. This I do know: that chicken was GOOD! When we had all taken our seats, no one in the room said a word for a noticeable amount of time; that should tell you how much we were concentrating on the meal in front of us. We went (at various stages of voracity) from the crispy, flavorful skin through the tender meat, to the bone. Some of the more experience of us ventured even into the gristle and marrow. Our goal was not just taste, it was complete participation in the goodness set before us.
In the fifth verse (first grouping), notice what is David is saying about his experience of God's goodness to him. He is satisfied as with fat and rich food. That is just like the experience we had that night. David is implying that the hand of God is more than a cursory puddle of help from which we can skim a bit off the top. No! It is rather a piece of fried chicken, into which we should delve, as in a purposeful undertaking to search for our ultimate satisfaction. We would not do justice to God if we stayed on the surface. Satisfaction is not compromise. The only way to be satisfied in God is to taste and see that our Lord has proven Himself good. God is good like THAT!
Finally, application.
I will take the time to go deep into the person of God, to find and cling to my soul's satisfaction. I will not allow myself to be petted by the shallow desires of lust, self-pity, pride, and self-reliance. I will read the word of God for what it is...fat and rich food!
Now, you.
I challenge you to take God as seriously as God takes Himself. Taste. See that the Lord is good. Good in full. The fullness of good. Then share that goodness.
http://www.granta.com/Archive/92/How-to-Write-about-Africa/Page-1
(Thanks, sarah.)
As for this space, let it be consumed by a thought on an excerpt from the 63 Psalm.
Psalm 63:5-8 ESV
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
First off, observation.
Satisfaction, praise, and soul adherence stem from remembrance, meditation, and the support of the Lord's right hand.
Next, interpretation.
One evening last week, while the women we had invited from the States were still at the house, we had fried chicken for dinner. Now, I do not know whether the chicken was somehow enhanced by the ambience of all the great teaching ability in the room, or whether we were just hungry. This I do know: that chicken was GOOD! When we had all taken our seats, no one in the room said a word for a noticeable amount of time; that should tell you how much we were concentrating on the meal in front of us. We went (at various stages of voracity) from the crispy, flavorful skin through the tender meat, to the bone. Some of the more experience of us ventured even into the gristle and marrow. Our goal was not just taste, it was complete participation in the goodness set before us.
In the fifth verse (first grouping), notice what is David is saying about his experience of God's goodness to him. He is satisfied as with fat and rich food. That is just like the experience we had that night. David is implying that the hand of God is more than a cursory puddle of help from which we can skim a bit off the top. No! It is rather a piece of fried chicken, into which we should delve, as in a purposeful undertaking to search for our ultimate satisfaction. We would not do justice to God if we stayed on the surface. Satisfaction is not compromise. The only way to be satisfied in God is to taste and see that our Lord has proven Himself good. God is good like THAT!
Finally, application.
I will take the time to go deep into the person of God, to find and cling to my soul's satisfaction. I will not allow myself to be petted by the shallow desires of lust, self-pity, pride, and self-reliance. I will read the word of God for what it is...fat and rich food!
Now, you.
I challenge you to take God as seriously as God takes Himself. Taste. See that the Lord is good. Good in full. The fullness of good. Then share that goodness.
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