but there's something about words that especially captures my attention. quotes in particular have this uncanny ability to say mountains within a few phrases, to cut to the heart in one sentence. at the beginning of my freshmen year i started a "quotable quotes and verses" poster that i had hoped would carry on throughout my time in college. whenever i read/heard a quote from somebody (famous/anonymous/friend...didn't matter) that absolutely blew my mind or spoke eloquently to what i was going through..i'd write it on that poster.
so, i've kept that to myself pretty much for the past two and a half years. but then recently i thought, "hm, i have a blog. a very sad blog that has been ignored since the summer pretty much ha. hey, why not share some quotes." and so here starts a new phase of this blog...from india to quotes. smooth transition huh.
anyway, these quotes won't just be outtatheblue type quotes. they're ones that are going to be relevant to my life. and maybe, i'm hoping, relevant or thought-inspiring for whoever reads. and for whoever doesn't mind reading less eloquent writing, i'll be sharing my response/agreement/disagreement/application to these quotes as well :) fun stufff...
ok with that intro done :P here is my first quote. the topic is on the identity of christians as children of God.
"We are children, perhaps, at the very moment when we know that it is as children that God loves us--not because we have deserved his love and not in spite of our undeserving, not because we try and not because we recognize the futility of our trying, but simply because He has chosen to love us." -Frederick Buechner
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what struck me first was the line, "...and not because we recognize the futility of our trying." it put into perspective the utter nothingness i can show or bring to God that would influence his love for me. one thing that has become apparent to me as i learn more about the God of the Bible, is that a fuller understanding of Him, must be preceded with an openness from me. and openness most often requires humility, a letting go of what i hold onto as more worthy or better than.
here's the twisted-ness that happens though. just because i know that humility is the attitude that allows for a relationship to happen, does not mean that that knowledge ensures that God loves me. it's mind-boggling to think about at times. but what a slap in the face! what a reminder to me of the unmerited love of God...that seriously, logically, i will never understand. and what a reminder that mere knowledge of certain truths means nothing. no matter how good those truths are.
the quote is especially relevant these days especially after coming back from urbana, a large christian conference i went to over winter break where definitely...a lot of very good knowledgeable things were presented to me. what an easy temptation for me to think that i am better now, or that God and i are tighter, just cuz i received certain pieces of good information about Him.
dang it, so right now i was just reminded of why i don't like blogging sometimes. i always feel like there is so much more to explore over certain topics, but writing it all out takes too long or i get lazy. hm. and i also realize that readers of this blog reaches a wide variety of audiences...so my language may resonate with some more than others. well! if you're curious enough, i'd be open to longer discussions over these things. anyway, with that said, hope you enjoyed the quote. til next time :]
mmm thats so true. i think christians subconciously think that the more we say to ourself "we don't deserve" God's love," the more we do. we say "make us humble!" "we're such sinners!" blah blah blah...when Jesus loves us regardless!
ReplyDeletereminds me of how in American churches we always sing solemn, meditative worship songs, but in developing/poor countries Christians sing joyful songs of praise, victory and liberation. when will we get over ourselves, recognize Christ's conquering love and give him back the praise? w00t for Jesus!