All the matters...

Today was the first Sunday in 8 weeks that I got to be in worship and hear the sermon. For the past two months I have either been sick (3 weeks) or teaching during church. I love teaching and playing with all of the kids, it just takes its toll when I have to miss corporate worship and fellowship. The only thing that has sustained me in these past weeks is my personal worship and study of God's word. Reading has become more important to me recently. My mind has been stretched and challenged. My heart has been hurt and healed. It has been unbelievable.

I gave a friend of mine John pipers book Pierced by the Word for Christmas. He has been reading and commenting on each chapter in his blog. It has been reminding me of the great things I learned while reading it earlier this fall and has challenged me to look at it again.

Today I read 'Be Not Mere Shadows and Echoes.' It speaks to my heart about how I should be living this life! He is the only given in the universe and we are derivative. We cannot exists without Him. Here is a hard one for me to understand-He made me (us) to enjoy and display HIS glory-so that I will have a life that lasts forever in His presence. It was a reminder that I am to glorify God in all I do. When I look back on other entries I see that I mention that a lot. Its because I need to be reminded day in and day out and when I remember it gets me thinking.

"So whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
This is why I am here, this is why I was born, and this is why God spared my of cancer...Twice. I am here to make much of God. Piper calls it "to image-forth His excellence. Not to fulfill this purpose for human existence is to be a mere shadow of the substance we were created to have. Not to display God's worth by enjoying Him above all things I do, is to be a mere echo of the music we were created to make." How sad to live a life being a mere shadow and echo of what God created me to be. Living a life that will glorify God will be wonderful. My life will be worth something, there will be legacy, and an impact will be made of Christ's kingdom. "And what you leave behind will not be a mere shadow or echo, but a tribute on earth, written in heaven, to the triumphant grace of God."

So-How do I go about glorifying God? How do I glorify God even when my dog wakes me up at the crack of dawn, when scheduled teachers don't show up on Sunday morning, when people hurt my feelings, when I am sick, when loved ones die, when life is hard? How do I glorify God when life is good? How about when I get what I want and all seems well...will I remember to glorify God? The only way I can be sure to glorify God is all I do is stay close to Him... and that is all that matters.