katie rose writes

I've been at home for two weeks now. The last place I ever thought I'd return to after a full year away again, post-2012's home stay. I had everything all planned out...again. Funny how "all planned out" very, very rarely ever turns out the way "we plan." But not only are God's plans different and higher than our own; they are better. There's no getting around that fact. And though, for you, they ever seem better in the moments and the minutes that you are living now, they will be. Our God is the God of redemption. Of making worse better. Of taking sickness and healing it. Of taking darkness and lightening it. Wait and watch for it, my friend. Habakkuk recorded this best: "For the vision still awaits its appoint time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (2.3) Habakkuk saw his world crumbling, darkness closing in as political forces rallied against all thin...

Doesn't it always seem to be the case that when the work finally gets going and the sovereign hand of God finally gets moving--to our tiny and doubtful perspectives, at least--that then comes the opposition. then comes the enemies. then comes the road blocks that make you question absolutely every single move and decision you are trying to make? (yes.) Even those who aren't trying to look at things with the eyes of faith would say the exact same thing. Those who are, even more-so, though, because we have a ruthless enemy and deceiver who wants to keep us entrenched in just enough doubt and fear that the first half of john 10.10 comes to fruition: our dreams are stolen our passion is killed and the work of God in our lives [seems] all but destroyed. But the second half of that verse gives great hope. Jesus stepped into the midst of the enemy's schemes and said, "No." Life flooded in, even through his death on a roman cross, like the unfolding of th...

This whole chapter is so full of rich promises stemming from challenges Jesus is giving to his disciples. It's not "don't do this or that", or "do this because I said so"--it's "Do this, know this, react in this way, because it is the way of the father, it is what I myself have followed and modeled for you, and because it is the way of fruit, of joy, of love, of peace (even in the midst of hatred), and of truth. It's what I've called you to, and it's worth it." It's hard to believe, from this side of the first Easter, that by this point, Jesus knows he is headed to the cross. More than likely, he was struggling himself to believe the words which he was saying. But John has made Jesus' devotion to the father's will the clearest message to both follower and opponent alike. It is a beautiful example to follow, and his words here highlight, for me, a simplicity that we often miss. We are (I am) so quick to jump headfirs...