What wonders from You have I tasted
Blessings without measure or compare
Use me so my life is not wasted
So with others Your blessings I share
I am forever tempted to stray
Fleshly pleasures seek to end my life
Preserve me as I look to that Day
Where there is no more sorrow or strife
Secured in Your shielding of my fate
Teach me to find my life's work for You
To replace the temptations so great
And live well as one of Your few
10 December 2008
03 December 2008
Thoughts from the Psalms, 13
How long O Lord must I seek?
All is dark, all is bleak
How long O Lord will You tarry?
Doubts grow heavy that I carry
Come O Lord, show my ignorance
Dash my doubts, bring Your presence
Come O Lord, I will bless Your name
Proclaim Your works, increase Your fame
All is dark, all is bleak
How long O Lord will You tarry?
Doubts grow heavy that I carry
Come O Lord, show my ignorance
Dash my doubts, bring Your presence
Come O Lord, I will bless Your name
Proclaim Your works, increase Your fame
26 November 2008
19 November 2008
Thoughts from the Psalms, 11
My soul is troubled, tempted by offers
To escape. Many routes lay open, paths
For the coward. My foundation threatened,
Seemingly shaky, "avoid this battle
Pretend all is well," each temptation screams
But this must be fought, must be confronted
To renew and prove my trust, for the Lord's
Throne has not been left vacant, my God is
The righteous and just ruler. Walk in Him
Knowing He will lay waste to the wicked
But smile on the righteous, the pure in heart
Will see His face and return joyous praise!
To escape. Many routes lay open, paths
For the coward. My foundation threatened,
Seemingly shaky, "avoid this battle
Pretend all is well," each temptation screams
But this must be fought, must be confronted
To renew and prove my trust, for the Lord's
Throne has not been left vacant, my God is
The righteous and just ruler. Walk in Him
Knowing He will lay waste to the wicked
But smile on the righteous, the pure in heart
Will see His face and return joyous praise!
12 November 2008
Thoughts from the Psalms, 10
Since pursuing You, life is turbulent
With each trial, my way, sent
Here another, You step back
To reveal all the ways that I lack
I know that this is Your time to shine
But forgetful, I treat this part as mine
Teach me to look to Your strength first
And consider mine as worst
To always walk near You, this I yearn
So to trust in You, I must learn
Not knowledge abstractly taught
But practiced, through toil bought
With each trial, my way, sent
Here another, You step back
To reveal all the ways that I lack
I know that this is Your time to shine
But forgetful, I treat this part as mine
Teach me to look to Your strength first
And consider mine as worst
To always walk near You, this I yearn
So to trust in You, I must learn
Not knowledge abstractly taught
But practiced, through toil bought
04 November 2008
Thoughts from the Psalms, 8
There was nothing, all was void
Then there was at Your breath
Creation birthed by Your command
Hints of glory all about
From the dust was culled man
Made uniquely to know You
Given reign o'er all so good
Wonder sparked for such love
Then there was at Your breath
Creation birthed by Your command
Hints of glory all about
From the dust was culled man
Made uniquely to know You
Given reign o'er all so good
Wonder sparked for such love
29 October 2008
Thoughts from the Psalms, 6
Darkness seeks a hold
Obscures Your name from mind
In every which way I'm pulled
Struggle to keep on Your path's line
Each offered path will beckon
But I've traveled there before
Know how later each will darken
Yet leave me still wanting more
So I pray, while still sane
Shine Your glory, light my way
Fill my mouth with Your refrain
And hedge my path, so I'll not stray
Obscures Your name from mind
In every which way I'm pulled
Struggle to keep on Your path's line
Each offered path will beckon
But I've traveled there before
Know how later each will darken
Yet leave me still wanting more
So I pray, while still sane
Shine Your glory, light my way
Fill my mouth with Your refrain
And hedge my path, so I'll not stray
22 October 2008
Thoughts from the Psalms, 4
Father, instruct me
In Your ways, remind me of
Your deeds, encourage
To continue on in You
Steadfast, rooted in Your Word
In Your ways, remind me of
Your deeds, encourage
To continue on in You
Steadfast, rooted in Your Word
15 October 2008
Thoughts from the Psalms, 3
Enemies swarm around
God is hope in this testInstill fear, quaking ground
God calms weary to restWeapons drawn, evil grins
God is shield, none can bestPerfect strength, so He wins
God be praised, we are blessed!
08 October 2008
01 October 2008
Thoughts from the Psalms, 1
Before I met God, life was a lazy
Stream carrying me on varied paths:
Straight and twisted, slow and racing
Never resisting, accepting life's happenings
Now He is my guide, revealing the true
Nature of this river. Some currents
Need be resisted; others, used
With care, follow His lead, His way is sure and pure.
Stream carrying me on varied paths:
Straight and twisted, slow and racing
Never resisting, accepting life's happenings
Now He is my guide, revealing the true
Nature of this river. Some currents
Need be resisted; others, used
With care, follow His lead, His way is sure and pure.
26 January 2008
Six Things
So apparently I've been tagged for another meme by Michelle.
The rules for this meme are:
(1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules in your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
The rules for this meme are:
(1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules in your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
1. There is a letter which makes a relatively common sound that I cannot pronounce well. Mockery when I was younger taught me to avoid the sound which has resulted in some unusual sentence structures in my speech that I don't even really think about now. I've since learned what the problem is specifically -- I don't curl the tip of my tongue to make the proper sound and instead end up with the sound of the letter "i". The most obnoxious part of this problem is that the letter and corresponding sound can be found in my last name, so generally when I introduce myself I will only give my first name.
2. Often while walking about, I entertain myself in the age-old game of trying to avoid stepping on cracks. I try to plan ahead and measure my pace to match up to the cracks ahead so that it does not look too unnatural. Unusual rules regarding doorways and tile have crept in to make usually nondescript areas more interesting to walk in. As such, I identified closely with this comic.
3. I have trouble making myself content with not knowing things which are fairly easy to learn. So whenever a topic comes up in conversation where there is a general lack of knowledge of how something works or where something originated, etc, I make a mental note about it. There is a decent chance that if you are involved in such a conversation with me, the next time you see me it will not be unknown for me. Most of the time I won't share that, though, unless it comes up again naturally. (For example, recently two people in a group setting were using quotes from a movie they had seen, but they were unwilling to admit their source. I probably would not have been willing to admit the source either ;) ).
4. Somewhat related to the previous, Chain Emails are a significant time waster for me. Not in the usual sense, I refuse to send them on, so I get them with less regularity, but I feel compelled to research their contents and often Snopes is not sufficient for me. Now my mom and sister send 2-3 of these to me a week asking if they are true.
5. I always have a pen with me. I carry it in my pocket and thus have lost a few over the years, so I've settled on a fairly cheap, but (in my opinion) good quality pen. So far not so interesting, but I've noticed that I gain a fair amount of anxiety and, well, neurosis whenever I lend it out. I can't let it out of my sight for anywhere near a minute. I get more anxious the further it gets from me and calm only returns when it is safely back in my pocket. The times I've accidentally left it somewhere have launched full-scale searches the likes of which might suggest I had lost an heirloom rather than a $2 pen. There are a few other quirks about my pens: there is always a backup at home in case my current, even if it is new, begins to falter in performance, I put the cap on as it is pictured (pen name aligned with clip) in the above link whenever I write, and I'm reluctant to throw away these pens until they are definitively out of ink, so my house is littered with pens of questionable dependability (low on ink).
6. I generally err on the side of caution, balking at change, and stick to the habits of what works. I think the only area this is not true in the least is food. I suspect it has something to do with being allergic to a great many foods and so there is a willingness to explore the more unusual types of food that do not overlap with those allergies. Whenever I spot something unusual on a menu, it is hard to resist trying it out; I generally don't bother trying to resist. I think the most unusual thing I've ordered is boiled chicken feet.
Those last two rules for this meme are not going to be kept. Especially because I currently read only three personal blogs that are still active and one of them tagged me for this. Galant is out there writing, but not posting; perhaps tagging him would wake him. I'm less sure I want to distract Gem with yet another meme, as fun as her quirks are. But if she sees this, she is welcome to either consider herself tagged or to have eluded my reach per her imagination of the game. A similar invitation can go to Jaclyn.
2. Often while walking about, I entertain myself in the age-old game of trying to avoid stepping on cracks. I try to plan ahead and measure my pace to match up to the cracks ahead so that it does not look too unnatural. Unusual rules regarding doorways and tile have crept in to make usually nondescript areas more interesting to walk in. As such, I identified closely with this comic.
3. I have trouble making myself content with not knowing things which are fairly easy to learn. So whenever a topic comes up in conversation where there is a general lack of knowledge of how something works or where something originated, etc, I make a mental note about it. There is a decent chance that if you are involved in such a conversation with me, the next time you see me it will not be unknown for me. Most of the time I won't share that, though, unless it comes up again naturally. (For example, recently two people in a group setting were using quotes from a movie they had seen, but they were unwilling to admit their source. I probably would not have been willing to admit the source either ;) ).
4. Somewhat related to the previous, Chain Emails are a significant time waster for me. Not in the usual sense, I refuse to send them on, so I get them with less regularity, but I feel compelled to research their contents and often Snopes is not sufficient for me. Now my mom and sister send 2-3 of these to me a week asking if they are true.
5. I always have a pen with me. I carry it in my pocket and thus have lost a few over the years, so I've settled on a fairly cheap, but (in my opinion) good quality pen. So far not so interesting, but I've noticed that I gain a fair amount of anxiety and, well, neurosis whenever I lend it out. I can't let it out of my sight for anywhere near a minute. I get more anxious the further it gets from me and calm only returns when it is safely back in my pocket. The times I've accidentally left it somewhere have launched full-scale searches the likes of which might suggest I had lost an heirloom rather than a $2 pen. There are a few other quirks about my pens: there is always a backup at home in case my current, even if it is new, begins to falter in performance, I put the cap on as it is pictured (pen name aligned with clip) in the above link whenever I write, and I'm reluctant to throw away these pens until they are definitively out of ink, so my house is littered with pens of questionable dependability (low on ink).
6. I generally err on the side of caution, balking at change, and stick to the habits of what works. I think the only area this is not true in the least is food. I suspect it has something to do with being allergic to a great many foods and so there is a willingness to explore the more unusual types of food that do not overlap with those allergies. Whenever I spot something unusual on a menu, it is hard to resist trying it out; I generally don't bother trying to resist. I think the most unusual thing I've ordered is boiled chicken feet.
Those last two rules for this meme are not going to be kept. Especially because I currently read only three personal blogs that are still active and one of them tagged me for this. Galant is out there writing, but not posting; perhaps tagging him would wake him. I'm less sure I want to distract Gem with yet another meme, as fun as her quirks are. But if she sees this, she is welcome to either consider herself tagged or to have eluded my reach per her imagination of the game. A similar invitation can go to Jaclyn.
31 December 2007
What Price Was Payed?
I can see them falling
My vision clouds pink
The drops much deeper.
Yet again the cost
Of my life increases
What price was payed?
That drug lifts me up
To great heights, to plunge
Me to greater depths
Plumbing forgotten caverns
In search of dark treasure
What price was payed?
From within, groaning and tears
Light seems far from me
Turn back to find His
Pierced hand reaching, lean
Into His sweet embrace
What price was payed?
As a child hand in
Hand, "Lead on my Lord,"
The path clear: into the light
Always in view, stands
Dripping wooden silhouette
What price was payed?
My vision clouds pink
The drops much deeper.
Yet again the cost
Of my life increases
What price was payed?
That drug lifts me up
To great heights, to plunge
Me to greater depths
Plumbing forgotten caverns
In search of dark treasure
What price was payed?
From within, groaning and tears
Light seems far from me
Turn back to find His
Pierced hand reaching, lean
Into His sweet embrace
What price was payed?
As a child hand in
Hand, "Lead on my Lord,"
The path clear: into the light
Always in view, stands
Dripping wooden silhouette
What price was payed?
01 August 2007
Offering Value
This is a good day to reflect on where I am. Similar to the effect of birthdays and New Years, this day marks two years following the day I finally surrendered to Christ.
When I started this site I was regularly writing of things I believed God was teaching me. I didn't have an outlet or community to share with and so used this hoping that something might be found useful to another. Over time I drifted from there to being focused on the need to produce new things to post here. I tried different things for inspiration and gave myself artificial due dates. There were some lapses marking sin or depression or simple writer's block. In the last few months I've found myself looking back at previous posts to find truths I wish I had known and applied in the previous week. I was posting things which I promptly forgot and never applied. Clearly I wasn't learning what I claimed to be learning. If what I was writing did not teach me, how could I teach another? I know there was truth in my writing, but I believe I lost insight in much of it.
So with this past month's break to think about where I've been and where I am, I've come to conclusion that it is better to allow posts to come at their natural pace. Not bound by a predefined schedule, but released after effort, time, and consideration. To only post here what is of worth. It will be up to me maintain the discipline of continuous writing that practice requires, but that will become a background activity. I expect in practice this will mean posts will be even more rare.
As far as I can tell there are now only two or three regular readers out there. So to you, I offer apologies again for any perceived loss. If that number ever changes for greater or less I will no longer know, as I have now disabled my counter software so that I will no longer fret or be anxious about who might be lurking out there or who may be finding their way here.
Tringard "Josh Martin"
When I started this site I was regularly writing of things I believed God was teaching me. I didn't have an outlet or community to share with and so used this hoping that something might be found useful to another. Over time I drifted from there to being focused on the need to produce new things to post here. I tried different things for inspiration and gave myself artificial due dates. There were some lapses marking sin or depression or simple writer's block. In the last few months I've found myself looking back at previous posts to find truths I wish I had known and applied in the previous week. I was posting things which I promptly forgot and never applied. Clearly I wasn't learning what I claimed to be learning. If what I was writing did not teach me, how could I teach another? I know there was truth in my writing, but I believe I lost insight in much of it.
So with this past month's break to think about where I've been and where I am, I've come to conclusion that it is better to allow posts to come at their natural pace. Not bound by a predefined schedule, but released after effort, time, and consideration. To only post here what is of worth. It will be up to me maintain the discipline of continuous writing that practice requires, but that will become a background activity. I expect in practice this will mean posts will be even more rare.
As far as I can tell there are now only two or three regular readers out there. So to you, I offer apologies again for any perceived loss. If that number ever changes for greater or less I will no longer know, as I have now disabled my counter software so that I will no longer fret or be anxious about who might be lurking out there or who may be finding their way here.
Tringard "Josh Martin"
04 July 2007
Time for a break
I have taken a lot of breaks unintentionally in the past from posting here. But this month I have decided to take an "official" break while I ponder the intent of this site. It has certainly strayed from what I described at the start and thus I feel as though I need to rebuild a vision of what this site means to me.
I will return August 1st with the results of this month and what I intend, whether this site should continue or not.
I will return August 1st with the results of this month and what I intend, whether this site should continue or not.
13 June 2007
Still More Grace
Thank you Lord for letting me see
Baring my heart's deceit
I weep for the sin which abounds
More than I knew hides here
It conceals itself in noble
Pursuits; desires, righteous,
It hides in matters, gray; what more
Lurks still, hidden in me?
Teach me to love, desire Your Grace
I see how much I need
Just for what You have revealed here
Set my focus on You
Turning my eyes and heart to see
Only You, Your holiness;
I want to desire Your goodness
Daily filled wanting You
To grow in Your grace, not for sin
To grow still more; but Grace
To walk in Your ways, righteousness,
Grace to live, pleasing You.
----------------------------------------------------
Learning from Piper's second message at New Attitude 2007 - Discerning What Pleases God: Personal Obedience (available to listen to and download here)
Baring my heart's deceit
I weep for the sin which abounds
More than I knew hides here
It conceals itself in noble
Pursuits; desires, righteous,
It hides in matters, gray; what more
Lurks still, hidden in me?
Teach me to love, desire Your Grace
I see how much I need
Just for what You have revealed here
Set my focus on You
Turning my eyes and heart to see
Only You, Your holiness;
I want to desire Your goodness
Daily filled wanting You
To grow in Your grace, not for sin
To grow still more; but Grace
To walk in Your ways, righteousness,
Grace to live, pleasing You.
----------------------------------------------------
Learning from Piper's second message at New Attitude 2007 - Discerning What Pleases God: Personal Obedience (available to listen to and download here)
06 June 2007
Prayer for Healing
On Monday and Tuesday, Focus on the Family aired the majority of a message given by John MacArthur on the National Day of Prayer last month in which he used Romans 1 to say, "I'm convinced, beyond doubt, that in the same sense, God has abandoned America" (that sense being as God giving Israel over to their idols as is in, for example, Judges 10:6-7).
----
One day, all will bow down
Seeing Your holiness; worship
Will be the World's response.
This nation I call home has strayed
Far, embracing the world
In pursuit of sin, seeks pleasure
Forgetting You, their God;
Please restore us, work in the hearts
Of this nation to turn
See Your holiness, You are good
Through Your work alone can
We see, turn, and walk in Your ways
I long for Your return
But I desire that this, my home,
Would be looking for You
That day, All seeking to worship.
----
One day, all will bow down
Seeing Your holiness; worship
Will be the World's response.
This nation I call home has strayed
Far, embracing the world
In pursuit of sin, seeks pleasure
Forgetting You, their God;
Please restore us, work in the hearts
Of this nation to turn
See Your holiness, You are good
Through Your work alone can
We see, turn, and walk in Your ways
I long for Your return
But I desire that this, my home,
Would be looking for You
That day, All seeking to worship.
31 May 2007
New Attitude 2007
So I was at the New Attitude conference this past weekend. A tremendous experience that I hope to write about more. For now, as a first step in collecting my thoughts, I transcribed the notes I took during the trip. Since I took those notes with the intention of sharing them with those I know, I thought I might share them here as well. You can access them at:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcjn2vrv_33f5m63t
I actually arrived late Thursday and used the day and a half before the conference to explore the downtown area some. That is also recorded briefly in my notes.
There are others that took notes live (or at least posted more immediately) including Challies.com, the Rebelution, and Boundless Line. They surely took more comprehensive notes than I. Finally, all of the talks have been made available for download for free, here.
The theme this year was on Discernment and the sessions included:
My starting place for application is with Piper's second message. There are things in that which I believe address some of the issues I've been struggling with lately.
If you do (or don't) read my notes and have questions and comments, feel free to leave them here and I'll respond as able.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcjn2vrv_33f5m63t
I actually arrived late Thursday and used the day and a half before the conference to explore the downtown area some. That is also recorded briefly in my notes.
There are others that took notes live (or at least posted more immediately) including Challies.com, the Rebelution, and Boundless Line. They surely took more comprehensive notes than I. Finally, all of the talks have been made available for download for free, here.
The theme this year was on Discernment and the sessions included:
- Josh Harris - Teaching an introduction to the topic
- Mark Dever - Discerning Our Doctrine, on handling conflict in the church and how to recognize when to divide and when to agree to disagree (and disagree well)
- Al Mohler - Discerning Your Culture, how to live in the world, but not of it
- CJ Mahaney - Discerning Our Hearts, on recognizing idols our hearts create (hint don't trust yourself)
- Eric Simmons - Practical Discernment, how to approach those "gray" areas in life
- John Piper - Discerning What Pleases God: Himself, classic Piper message
- John Piper - Discerning What Pleases God: Personal Obedience, Proper and improper ways to approach obedience to God
- CJ Mahaney - Take It Back, Conclusion and things to consider for how to take back so much and begin to apply it
My starting place for application is with Piper's second message. There are things in that which I believe address some of the issues I've been struggling with lately.
If you do (or don't) read my notes and have questions and comments, feel free to leave them here and I'll respond as able.
11 April 2007
Fear the Lord
Lord, I long to be full in You,
Not seeking fulfillment in any other thing
That I will not want
But learn fear; doing good
Fleeing evil, seeking You always
Broken before You
In the many trials to come
Seized by conflicts of mind or world
You alone, not I, can save
Give to me a heart of worship
Continual worship to You, my King
You are great, alone are worthy.
------------------------------------------
Reference: Psalms 34, particularly verses 8-10
Not seeking fulfillment in any other thing
That I will not want
But learn fear; doing good
Fleeing evil, seeking You always
Broken before You
In the many trials to come
Seized by conflicts of mind or world
You alone, not I, can save
Give to me a heart of worship
Continual worship to You, my King
You are great, alone are worthy.
------------------------------------------
Reference: Psalms 34, particularly verses 8-10
10 April 2007
This Day
I long to be clothed
In Your Holiness, shining
Your qualities out
Developing an inward
Change to show You to the world
This day, let me be
Disciplined before You, not
Serving my pleasures
Rather, living a life in
Your control, to Your glory.
This day, let me show
Compassion to those I meet
Forgetting anger
Frustrations over others'
Faults only obscures my own
This day, let me be
True to my word, diligent
In my works and plans
As You are faithful to mold
Me into Your perfect work
This day, let me not
Sin, striving for Your model
Of the perfect life
Shaping my character to
Yours and pointing to Your strength
This day, let me show
Your grace, caring for those who
Do me the most harm
Loving those least deserving;
You loved me: least deserving.
This day, let me let
Slide peeves and annoyances,
With blessing, honor
For You forgive me when I
Fall short of what pleases You.
This day, let me be
At peace in trial, drawing
Others to Your gifts
For it is then that my life
Declares You as its ruler
This day, let me sing
Your praises, dance without care,
And rejoice in You
For You bless my life more than
I could ever hope to share
This day, let me love
Without ceasing, loving You
And all those I meet
Discouraged, mourning, joyful
All need still more of Your love.
-----------------------------------
Based on the list found in Galatians 5:22, 23
In Your Holiness, shining
Your qualities out
Developing an inward
Change to show You to the world
This day, let me be
Disciplined before You, not
Serving my pleasures
Rather, living a life in
Your control, to Your glory.
This day, let me show
Compassion to those I meet
Forgetting anger
Frustrations over others'
Faults only obscures my own
This day, let me be
True to my word, diligent
In my works and plans
As You are faithful to mold
Me into Your perfect work
This day, let me not
Sin, striving for Your model
Of the perfect life
Shaping my character to
Yours and pointing to Your strength
This day, let me show
Your grace, caring for those who
Do me the most harm
Loving those least deserving;
You loved me: least deserving.
This day, let me let
Slide peeves and annoyances,
With blessing, honor
For You forgive me when I
Fall short of what pleases You.
This day, let me be
At peace in trial, drawing
Others to Your gifts
For it is then that my life
Declares You as its ruler
This day, let me sing
Your praises, dance without care,
And rejoice in You
For You bless my life more than
I could ever hope to share
This day, let me love
Without ceasing, loving You
And all those I meet
Discouraged, mourning, joyful
All need still more of Your love.
-----------------------------------
Based on the list found in Galatians 5:22, 23
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