Last weekend Holly and I decided to go on a day trip to Duluth for some "cake time" together. If you don't know what cake time is, check out 1 Kings 19:4-6...
But he (Elijah) himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.
Basically, "cake time" is a term used here at BCOM to refer to down time, time spent just relaxing and resting to replenish your energy after stressful times.
So after a few stressful weeks here at BCOM, Holly and I thought it would help to get off campus and enjoy a day together away from Bloomington. So we made the 3 hour trip up to Duluth and spent the day there just relaxing and exploring.
We had lunch at a place called "Top of the Harbor." It is a restaurant that sits on top of a tall hotel, so it has a great view of Duluth and Lake Superior. But what is really cool about it is that it spins! It rotates slowly so that you can see the whole town while you are eating. It was pretty sweet. Here is a picture taken from the restaurant...
After that, we just spent the day checking out the town. We spent some time hanging out at Canal Park, which had a beautiful view of both the town and of Lake Superior. We got some great pictures there.
The trip was an absolute blast! I definitely wish it could have lasted longer, but Holly and I had a great time just chillaxing and spending some quality time together. We are planning on going back again once it warms up a little more.
So this morning I woke up to a random text from Holly's mom (Jodi Wagner). It had 1 Peter 4:19 in it.
Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Jodi definitely has the gift of prophecy. I've seen it active in her many times throughout my relationship with Holly. Her prophetic words have had a strong impact in Holly's life, my life, and in that of our relationship. Therefore, I'm taking the verse she sent me quite seriously.
The context of this verse is about Christians who are suffering for the name of Christ. So I am led to believe that sometime in the near future I will be suffering for His name. So I am asking that whoever reads this blog prays for me. Pray that I will have the boldness of the Spirit. Pray that I will be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove (Matthew 10:16).
So we will see what happens. Whatever awaits me, I know that the Lord will never leave me nor forsake me.
Praise the LORD.
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.
He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.
--Psalm 113
Sometimes I sit down and just wonder how in the world people can worship other gods. It makes no sense to me. I look at the god of Islam and how brutal and unloving he seems to be, especially to the "infidels." I look at the gods of the eastern religions, like Buddhism and Hinduism, and I see powerless idols who require human aid to be able to "live."
But then I look at my God. I look at Yahweh/Jehovah, and there is no comparison. What other God strongly desires a personal relationship with His people? The whole theme of the Bible is how much God desires to dwell with man. He walked in the cool of the day with Adam. He dwelt in the tabernacle and, later, the temple of Israel. He personally came to earth as a human to dwell among us. Now His Holy Spirit dwells with the spirits of those who believe, and His ultimate goal is to bring heaven down to earth to fully dwell with man forever.
I don't see Allah or Mohammad desiring to be with their followers. I don't see the gods of the east having intimate relationships with those who worship them.
Who is like our God? There is no comparison.
