Week 7

The more we know about it, the more we study the stars or the rocks or the whales or the volcanoes, the more we ought to praise God, summing up in articulate speech, the inarticulate praises of all creation (193)

There is nothing more humbling to me than to gaze into the sky on a dark clear night in the middle of a forest and see the vastness of a sky full of stars.  When I feel far from God, or overlooked, I like to sit and ponder this idea that the creator of the universe created me.  I love what Wright is saying here.  When we stop to see what God has created, we can't help but praise him.  It's like the amazing sunsets that we get here in AZ.  There are times where you just can't help but stand in awe of the beauty.  I know Wright says "we ought to praise God," but I think we can't help but praise Him when we take the time to take in His handiwork.

Maybe the challenge is taking the time to actually settle in enough to enjoy God's creation.  How often I find myself rushing here and there.  I get so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I forget to enjoy what God has given me.  Then my sweet little boy reminds me when he becomes enthralled with a lizard on the wall, a flower on a plant, or a stick in the grass.  Or my husband stops me and says come look at this sunset.  I am so thankful God has placed people in my life who help me to pause and savor these moments.  

Week 6

I am not sure if I agree or disagree with the statement Wright makes when he says, "To worship without using the Psalms is to risk planting seeds that will never take root." (165).  It is hard to argue against Wright.  The Psalms are amazing.  I think they belong in our services, but it feels like he is saying without them it is frivolous or shallow to do anything at all.  I see their value and sanctity but I do not think its all for not without them.  Perhaps I would feel differently if growing up the tradition of worship I knew was more reflective of his perspective.  My curiosity is definitely piqued at this point.  It would be fascinating to attend a service that reflected Wrights perspective on the Psalms.  Finding a service like this would be the difficulty I imagine.  

Yikes this is late: week 5

"That life is constantly praising its maker by being, particularly and peculiarly, what it is."  (pg. 120)

"The glory of God, said theologian Ireneus, is a human being fully alive." (pg. 135)

These two statements caught my eye this week.  In essence I think they are saying the same thing.  When I am who God created me to be, He is glorified.  I find a lot of freedom in this.  God created me in his image, yet I have my own unique quirks and characteristics that make me who I am.  God in his infinite wisdom designed me so that the more I become who He created me to be, the more He is honored.  I think maybe this is one of the reasons that people spend so much of their lives searching for who they really are.  One of the most tragic things for me growing up in the church has been seeing the people I looked up to and admired fall apart.  Perhaps this happens when people pursue what they want to be instead of who God made them to be.  Life is a work in progress, growing and learning more about myself is part of the process.  It isn't bad when I discover new things about myself, the problem is created when I step outside of what God has created in me.  The amazing thing that I love about all of this is:  the more I know God, the more I am able to see who he created me to be.  Growing closer to God, pursuing God unravels his intention for me.  I am allowed encouraged even to rest in who my creator made me to be.  To be at peace with who I am, I don't have to strive after who I think I should or could be, as long as I simply rest in His presence. Who God has created in me will rise to the surface.

This book is sometimes hard to read because it takes a lot of concentration and time, but I am enjoy learning how the Psalms are woven throughout the Bible.  It's a little intense trying to keep up, but it's pretty amazing that we have access to this amazing Word of God.  Not to mention all of the resources we have at our fingertips to further understand the Bible.  I can't imagine what life must be like for those who do not own a Bible.  It makes more sense to me why back in the day they spent so much time in the temple learning about and memorizing the Torah.  I forget how spoiled I am.  I would be clinging to every word if I wasn't able to just go back and read it again another day.  I need to live a little more like my life depends on this "good book" because in all actuality, my life does depend on these words.