FOOD FOR THOUGHT
(01/25/2009)
THE
YEAR OF THE COW
Cindy Hong
For many years I knew two things. I knew that Jesus
loved me because the Bible told me so. And I knew that Chinese New Year
meant that no matter its deficit, my piggy bank would receive a bailout
to jump start itself again. I no longer receive the red stimulus packages,
but I've experienced first hand God's love over and over again. This is
our God who involved himself in history and ruled over Chinese dynasties
and Israelite kingdoms. We watched history being made this week with a
new administration. But what is history really than His story working
itself out in the details of our lives? The famous Shang Dynasty ruled
over China as Moses crossed the Red Sea . God's story through Confucius
unfolded at the same time the temple was being rebuilt in Jerusalem after
the exile. This is our God who has done great things for us, filling us
with joy (Psalm 126:3). This is our God who reigns in Christ and relates
to us through Christ. This is our God who did not exempt us from suffering,
but is with us through the suffering. No matter the changes and challenges,
the sad times and happy times, the easy and tough times, God is there.
And because this is our God, may our hearts never be so hardened that
we are not wowed by his awesomeness. As we celebrate Chinese New Year
and eat fish, dumplings, noodles, and oranges, may they point to the real
feast and prosperity that describes the life we have with Him. May we
be wow-struck by His magnificence, because in all things, He is in it,
He is bigger than it, and He is with us in it. May this year be characterized
by a wow-ness that can only point to God. May we never get over the fact
that He rescued us through Christ, that He gives us a hope and future,
a faith to believe against all odds, and a love that surpasses all. That's
plenty to give us a wow-filled year and leave us w ith
o ut w ords.
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