I love that you posted that Jeremiah verse after I had been meditating on it in prayer. I had looked up the Bible lexicon meanings of each Word (which is fascinating) and had been meditating on when this Promise was given, and the horror the Israelites were about to face. Did you know that the Word future can also mean "survivors" and "descendants"? I love thinking of the descendants in Jesus' day, receiving the fullness of that Promise 💖
Like you, I love the Old Testament and my eyes are opening to see more and more of Jesus in it, as I take steps into the Catholic Church and faith, also. Oh the riches that are ours in Christ Jesus, who loves to give us more and more of Himself.
Anna I love this! I need to get better at studying the lexicon meanings because they bring a whole other dimension to the scriptures. Thank you for sharing!
Yes yes yes! Especially because the message of the false prophets was, essentially “Don’t worry - this won’t last. God’s about to do something spectacular to turn your situation around.”
How much time have people lost frozen in place because they are expecting a miracle to change their circumstances? We get so consumed looking for and chasing after the monumental changes of tomorrow that we neglect the small and the simple joys that God is offering us here and now.
Ooof. Paula. Feeling convicted. Even as I write about enjoying simple pleasures, I find myself looking for the "miracle moment" of an unknown tomorrow. As if that ever helped anyone. Thank you! Love this!
"What if leading quiet lives, finding joy in the work of our hands, enjoying time with our loved ones, and praying for all really is enough?" Definitely going for the 'fourth option'. Fabulous post - thanks Christina
If there was an option for multiple likes on a post, this one would be it! Thank you for saying what needed to be said amongst the weeds of a difficult few days 🙏🏼 You are an amazing writer, Christina! 🩷
Liking the OT God better than the New is a fine preference, but the OT mostly [not all] tells how Good related to His people when they were the Jews. Now that His "people," His "kingdom" is not Hebrews or a specific plot of land in the Middle East, but rather the human heart, things are different.
Yes, it's the same God, but we have different rules for relating to Him now. [I didn't invent any of this. It's all there in the prophecies.] I suggest this is why many are so frustrated by politics- God promises to change His NEW Kingdom, [us,] but not necessarily the old one.
That said, I really like the direction you're suggesting. As a man, it seems to offer two different struggles: one, to follow this but still make a living: two, to convince my wife, family, and other associates that's it's OK.
Hi Gavin. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts here! I totally agree with you that contextualising the OT under the old covenant is really important. It's worth mentioning that I certainly don't like the OT better than the NT – rather, this post was in response to a phenomenon that I encountered a lot growing up where the God of the OT was treated as totalitarian, completely unrelatable, and cruel. I grew up in a church culture that really seemed to treat the OT God as if He was a different God entirely, and there was an aversion to studying the "uncomfy bits" of the OT for that reason. But what I've found as I study my Bible more is that not only is it the same God, but He drips with just as much compassion and love as the NT God. If anything, the OT just brings further richness and context to the covenant of the NT. I hope that makes sense. :)
P.S. I hear you about following these principles of simplicity and rest while still trying to make a living. I'm not even under the same societal pressures as men, and even I feel that tension. Bless you!
Oh my gosh this is so beautiful, Christina. I needed this reminder. 😭
Thank you so much, lovely one! Be blessed!
I love that you posted that Jeremiah verse after I had been meditating on it in prayer. I had looked up the Bible lexicon meanings of each Word (which is fascinating) and had been meditating on when this Promise was given, and the horror the Israelites were about to face. Did you know that the Word future can also mean "survivors" and "descendants"? I love thinking of the descendants in Jesus' day, receiving the fullness of that Promise 💖
Like you, I love the Old Testament and my eyes are opening to see more and more of Jesus in it, as I take steps into the Catholic Church and faith, also. Oh the riches that are ours in Christ Jesus, who loves to give us more and more of Himself.
Anna I love this! I need to get better at studying the lexicon meanings because they bring a whole other dimension to the scriptures. Thank you for sharing!
Yes yes yes! Especially because the message of the false prophets was, essentially “Don’t worry - this won’t last. God’s about to do something spectacular to turn your situation around.”
How much time have people lost frozen in place because they are expecting a miracle to change their circumstances? We get so consumed looking for and chasing after the monumental changes of tomorrow that we neglect the small and the simple joys that God is offering us here and now.
Ooof. Paula. Feeling convicted. Even as I write about enjoying simple pleasures, I find myself looking for the "miracle moment" of an unknown tomorrow. As if that ever helped anyone. Thank you! Love this!
"What if leading quiet lives, finding joy in the work of our hands, enjoying time with our loved ones, and praying for all really is enough?" Definitely going for the 'fourth option'. Fabulous post - thanks Christina
Thanks so much, Catherine!
This is a fabulous post. How we navigate our lives. Live them!! To the fullest.
Thank you so much for reading! 🥹
Love this so much. I can feel your love radiating through this. Now, I'm going to the supermarket to buy camembert. Jokes. 😳😝
I mean I would totally approve 😂
Thank you for taking me deeper into something God has already been saying to me. I appreciate this essay more than you know! Keep writing…🫶🏻
Thank you so much, Miranda! Bless you!
If there was an option for multiple likes on a post, this one would be it! Thank you for saying what needed to be said amongst the weeds of a difficult few days 🙏🏼 You are an amazing writer, Christina! 🩷
Mackenzie you've honestly made my day with this comment. Thank you so much!
🥰
Liking the OT God better than the New is a fine preference, but the OT mostly [not all] tells how Good related to His people when they were the Jews. Now that His "people," His "kingdom" is not Hebrews or a specific plot of land in the Middle East, but rather the human heart, things are different.
Yes, it's the same God, but we have different rules for relating to Him now. [I didn't invent any of this. It's all there in the prophecies.] I suggest this is why many are so frustrated by politics- God promises to change His NEW Kingdom, [us,] but not necessarily the old one.
That said, I really like the direction you're suggesting. As a man, it seems to offer two different struggles: one, to follow this but still make a living: two, to convince my wife, family, and other associates that's it's OK.
Hi Gavin. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts here! I totally agree with you that contextualising the OT under the old covenant is really important. It's worth mentioning that I certainly don't like the OT better than the NT – rather, this post was in response to a phenomenon that I encountered a lot growing up where the God of the OT was treated as totalitarian, completely unrelatable, and cruel. I grew up in a church culture that really seemed to treat the OT God as if He was a different God entirely, and there was an aversion to studying the "uncomfy bits" of the OT for that reason. But what I've found as I study my Bible more is that not only is it the same God, but He drips with just as much compassion and love as the NT God. If anything, the OT just brings further richness and context to the covenant of the NT. I hope that makes sense. :)
P.S. I hear you about following these principles of simplicity and rest while still trying to make a living. I'm not even under the same societal pressures as men, and even I feel that tension. Bless you!
This is a drum I’ve been playing for a while. Love what you’ve added to the song.