feelings.events.memories

first of two weeks to relax and get a hold of life before school starts is drawing to a close. it certainly has been difficult maintaining the discipline that i want to achieve, reaffirming the God-given precedent that "work is good". work was never designed to be excessive, but designed to make sure that man isn't idle (2 thess) and that man will provide for himself (like Jesus urged his disciples to do). yearning for holidays so that i can sleep in more and watch himym and tbbt endlessly isn't particularly godly. sloth in fact. (reminder to self)

bible reading has been rather stop-start this week, pledged to begin deuteronomy at the beginning of this week and have only made is to 3.5 chapters. it's sin that keeps me from reading, that keeps me running away from food i really need. but i thank God that i managed to read some bible this week, aside from the stuff that i am prepping for BS.

one thing that struck me today was in between deut 3 and 4. the end of deut 3 was just a sad plea by moses, asking God to let him into the promised land, to go back on his rebuke and let him in. even though this might seem harsh, for all that moses had done (by grace), moses had disobeyed God at marah and had to pay the consequences. however, unlike the earlier moses in exodus, we see that he does not sulk, he does not complain, but instead he continues to perform his duty as a prophet, urging Israel to obey God, unlike what he himself did with God.

what a striking example for leaders and followers alike, that despite knowing his lot with God, he continues to press for obedience and loyalty to the one true God. was it because of an acknowledgment of grace? an acknowledgment of God's character? one can only begin to speculate at this point. (haven't read any commentaries about it).

but i am reminded of this. stick to his promises. God is faithful. i am not. stick to it.

was reading a book about dealing with pornography and sin. and am reminded of this

"hold captive every thought" 2 Cor 5:17. praying that i will have the courage to hold captive every thought, and not let thought nestle and grow into action, like it did with adam and eve, like it did with david. looking unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.

Phil 2:5-11.

Have this mind among youselves, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of man

and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death

even death on a cross.

therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name above all names

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth

and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

amen, come Lord Jesus.