always dying and yet ever living

This is the latest and greatest read. David's mom bought it for me. Ann Voskamp has an interesting writing style, but I'm getting more comfortable with it. She talks about nature a LOT, which can get a little to feathery for me, but her points are well thought out and very inspiring. I know my friend Emily had written about this one in her blog too, and the cover had enticed me. Afterward, when I went home, the Good Book was reading it for book group. So this one has been dancing with me, and has finally made its way into my lap.


Tonight I sat down with my book, and told God he could speak to me if he'd like, because that'd be nice (: I read part of 2 Kings, and got a whole lot of this: ______ becomes King. He does what is evil in the Lord's sight, and doesn't repent. _______ gets assassinated and said assassin takes over. Said assassin does what is right in the Lord's sight, except he lets his people worship other gods. Then said assassin dies, and his son takes over. His son does what is evil in the Lord's sight, and we start over. Alright God, time to switch to my leisure reading... 2 Kings is depressing me and I may fall asleep. Just being honest, you want me to be honest right. If it's any consolation I really enjoyed from Joshua til right about now.


Anyhow I started reading in A Thousand Gifts, and came upon this really neat concept. The author references Luke 17:17-19

Luke 17:17-19

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸ Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

This is out of context, so might want to go into your bible, or hit up biblegateway.com to check out the entire chapter. However, this passage is right after Jesus heals 10 lepers. Only one comes back to thank him. What Ann notices, is that Jesus says (after he has already healed the man) that his faith has healed him. Why this reiteration of healing? Ann tells us that the greek word used her is actually Sozo which means salvation. This is a second healing, a more impacting healing. The healing that matters. Sure our lives can fall perfectly into place, we can be healed from struggles of all kinds. It seems though here, as Ann indicates, that thankfulness and praise of the God WHO heals leads to our salvation. Our salvation isn't the physical healing. Interesting. Thoughts?


Lord, please help us to be thankful for your presence in our lives and the lives of others. Whisper into our souls and stir up a thankful heart, ones that invokes songs of praise, smiles, and a humble perspective. 


Blessings.