5/30/08
It's interesting to actually be able to post something this morning rather than a recap of the days events later in the evening. (This is a pic from inside the hotel.) Some of the family are playing golf. Others are out and about. So I finally have some time alone to myself just to kind of relax and start off the morning slow. As usual, I really dislike sleeping in, so I got up early in the morning and went for a short jog along the beach (part of the hotel property) and afterwards went to the gym for a good workout. Then I got cleaned up, and here I am - reading and blogging. A little later today, we'll be off to Waimea Canyon and then over to Poipu.
A couple of lessons learned on this trip so far: 1) get a backup camera. I took some underwater shots with my camera a couple days ago, and the pictures came out fine, but afterwards my camera is out of commission. I tried cleaning it out and even getting a new battery, but alas... it's gone. I think it's still under its manufacturer's warranty, so I'll have to go through the hassle of sending it in. BTW, the waterfall shots from yesterday were from my sister's camera. So, I ended up buying a new camera at Costco. 2) When applying sunblock, be sure to apply it everywhere. Kayaking yesterday was fun (kayaked up the Wailua River and hiked over to the Uluwehi Falls - aka "Secret Falls"), but I left myself exposed to a lot of sun. I covered my face and arms with sunblock pretty liberally, but uh... I left some other parts uncovered. Not a pretty sight. Hopefully it won't get too bad. Anyway, hopefully I'll have more pictures later today. For now, enough blogging and more relaxing.
"A great sin cannot destroy a Christian, but a little sin can make him miserable." This is one of the quotes from this morning's selection from Spurgeon's "Morning By Morning." This is such a great reminder that no matter how far we sin - no matter how great in magnitude - as a Christian, God's grace is even much more greater to forgive. (Don't worry. I'm not saying that I've committed some great horrific sin or anything like that.) Of course, this doesn't give us license to sin. "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"(Romans 6:1-2) But God is faithful to forgive us of our sin, no matter how great. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."(1 John 1:9)
The second part of Spurgeon's quote is just as strong as the first part. "A little sin can make him miserable." He refers to it as "the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards."(Song of Solomon 2:15) Even just the little nagging sins that remain from the remnant of our sin nature can bring misery and sadness. Those things that are small in significance can hinder your fellowship with Christ. It can be a distraction in your ministry and in your fellowship with the brethren. Oh how we need to guard ourselves from "great" sin and rid ourselves of the "small" sins. "...let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us."(Hebrews 12:1)
Being in Hawaii for the last couple of days and enjoying the sun, sand, water, weather, activities, relaxing, etc, you wouldn't think that one would be in need of encouragement... yet here I am. I'll be vague in regards to what this suffering is, but I praise God that it's not suffering for the sake of sin, nor temptation. "For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong."(1 Peter 3:17)
5/27/08
As I look down the aisle across from me, I see my parents, my brother and his girlfriend and my sister and her boyfriend, and that feeling of anxiety rises up again, and once again God calms my heart as I read through Spurgeon's "Morning By Morning." The passage for today (ok, it was yesterday's, but I didn't get around to reading it) was Psalm 55:22: "Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." What a reminder to just lay my burdens at His feet and to trust in Him. Our burdens are heavy to us, but to Him it is light and easy. "We labor to take on ourselves our weary burden, as if He were unable or unwilling to take it for us." He is more than able to carry our burdens, and He gladly carries them for us. "He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God's hand is very likely to be tempted to use wrong means to help Himself." We try and find our own way - figure it out in or own, and thus forsake God and not trust in His provision and His means. Lord, forgive me of this and draw me even closer to Yourself. "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."(Isaiah 26:3)
(On a side note, as I write this, the in-flight movie that's playing right now is "27 Dresses." God sure has a sense of humor, doesn't He?
