The Faithfulness of God

As I was thinking about today, and how it marks the end of a year, and the beginning of a new year, I began to think about the faithfulness of my God throughout this past year. Never once has He not been faithful. Every single time that I have called out to Him daily in this past year -- be it a large or small matter -- He has proven Himself to be a faithful, ever-near, covenant-keeping, peace-giving and hope-giving God. He says in His Word to us that He will never leave us or forsake us. He is our Hope. He is our Peace. He is our Joy-maker. He is our Strength. He is our Wisdom. He is our Confidence. He is our redemption. He gives grace. He gives mercy. He shows kindness. He is forgiving. He is all-knowing. He is our sufficiency for anything, anywhere, anytime. As we end and begin a new year, let's remember that He is the Beginning and the End -- He is the First and the Last -- the Alpha and Omega.

And, He is faithful. Always.

I pray that you are blessed as you reflect and remember His faithfulness to you throughout 2006. Let's give Him thanks. And, know that He is YOUR Hope for this new year -- your Hope of Glory, and the Message of Hope to those who are perishing in the world around us. May we be messengers of His faithfulness and hope throughout 2007 as we abide in Him and in His Word.

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..."

An odd and very short story...

It's been a while since I've updated anything, but don't worry, I am still alive. Finals and the ICF Christmas party/outreach has kept me pretty busy these past two weeks in Seattle. I am home now back in Wenatchee, though, and it has been great joy and delight to be with my family -- those whom I love the most (i.e. Christine... there are you happy?! Oh, sorry, Rebekah.... you too...). Anyways, the three of us Milnes girls were sitting at home this evening waiting for our brother to come back, and while we were waiting, we decided to be creative. Enjoy.

Once upon a time, there was a day in the farmyard when pigs and cows thought that you could find treasure by humming the tune of “Yankee Doodle.” The dogs ate spaghetti while listening to Bach’s musical masterpieces, as the cows mooed to Charles Parry’s “Jerusalem.” This was a most eventful day indeed, for the horses danced to the tune of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” and the goats ripped shirts with their teeth to the tempo of the “Irish Washerwoman.” The chickens pecked to the tune of Handel’s “Messiah,” and the geese quacked “William Tell’s Overture.” The cats meowed to “Melody in F” by Rubinstein, and the sheep tangoed to none other than Albeniz’s “Tango.” The ducks walked in circles in time with Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” and the pigs performed ballet in the barnyard to Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz from Swan Lake.”

The farmer could only watch.

A short story by Emily, Rebekah and Christine… who are on an academic break right now.

It happened again. I was walking across campus today for my last day of class before finals. And, while wading my way through the massive sea of students crossing Red Square all at the same happy moment to get to the next class, I saw face after face. And, as I saw these faces and these students pass me, the compassion of my Jesus rose up in me. How long until I see a desperate hunger and cry rise up on that campus for the living Jesus Christ? How long until my Buddhist, Atheist and "not-quite-sure-what-I-am" friends on that campus cry out along with me, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner"?

The Heart of God

Lately I've been studying the books of the minor prophets in the OT. I haven't been reading them in the order that they are in the OT, though, so right now I'm at the beginning of the list in one of my favorites -- Hosea. Everytime I revisit this book, I feel as though I am getting a glimpse at the heart of my Father, and that He is changing my heart in the process with a greater appreciation for His salvation. Oh, the great, great kindness and mercy of God is on full display throughout this book. How our unfaithfulness today, like Hosea's wife, breaks His heart. It always amazes me that even though I was a sinner and unfaithful to Him, He was faithful to forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness when He took my place at the cross.

Here's a couple verses that have stood out to me this time through -- rather than respond to His kindess and faithfulness, instead I read verses that say of people:

"They consecrated themselves to that shameful idol, and became as vile as the thing they loved" (9:10)

"Ephraim has sold herself to lovers" (8:9)

"Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day" (12:1)

"... they [the priests] exchanged their GLORY for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness." (4:7)

"Israel's arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the Lord his God or search for Him" (7:10)

"They sow to the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up" (8:7)

"The more I called out to Israel, the further they went from Me." (11:2)

But in spite of this great insult and offense to His grace, see what Father says:

"I long to redeem them" (7:13)

"HOW CAN I GIVE YOU UP, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within Me; ALL MY COMPASSION is aroused." (11:8)

"It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them." (11:3-4)

"I AM the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but Me, no Savior except Me." (12:4)