Lily Among Thorns

Eternal life starts...NOW?

2012-01-27T00:19:00.002-05:00

(These are notes taken from a Paul Washer sermon that I listened to back in October and was reminded of today, so I looked it up and enjoyed it just as much as the first time I heard it. This was really helpful to me living in the here and now as I think about heaven and my future in Christ and eternity. I hope you find it helpful too!! It's good stuff.)

1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Eternal life is not just a future thing. Those who believe in the Son HAVE eternal life. Eternal life is that we might know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
Eternal life is not so much a QUANTITY OF LIFE(even though it is that)...not just a long long time. But, eternal life is a QUALITY of life. A quality of life that has been absolutely changed by a Person that has been brought into that life- the Person of God. And that's why eternal life starts NOW.

A good illustration:
Speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven...
Imagine you're standing on a train platform...and a train is coming. The engine is right at the platform...so you can say that the train has arrived. But at the same time, you must say that the train has not YET arrived because all of it's not here...and at the same time you can say that the train is ARRIVING. That's the Kingdom of Heaven, the whole idea of eternal life and everything that God is doing in your life. That's what it's about.
When you come to know Christ, there is a sense in which the Kingdom has arrived and you have eternal life. But also in it's fulness it's still coming...You've got it, you've got the first-fruits of it- the indwelling of the Spirit, the presence of God, different works of God in your life...so it has come. But it's still coming and one day it will come in it's fullness when Christ returns and the resurrection and the new heavens and the new earth!

We learn things so that the quality of our life is transformed and the quality is only transformed in the Person of God, in the Person of Christ.
joy unspeakable and full of glory!! That's what it's about- the quality of your life.

Year's End Prayer

2012-01-01T15:41:00.000-05:00

O Love beyond compare,
Thou art good when Thou givest,
when Thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With Thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.
I bless thee that Thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If Thou hast appointed storms of tribulation,
Thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see Thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify Thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for Thy use.

~The Valley of Vision

Christmas Is For Those Who Hate It Most

2011-12-24T18:07:00.001-05:00

Taken from The Gospel Coalition Blog
Matt B. Redmond
Christmas Is for Those Who Hate It Most

We are by now accustomed to hearing about how Christmas is difficult for many people. The story of Scrooge and his—ehem—problems with this season is no longer anecdotal. It is now par for the course. Maybe it always has been. Maybe the joy of the season has always been a thorn in the side of those who can scarcely imagine joy.

Not too long ago, I heard from someone about how difficult Christmas would be because of some heartbreak in their family. There was utter hopelessness and devastation. Christmas would be impossible to enjoy because of the freshness of this pain. It's been a story very hard to forget.

I get it. I mean, it makes sense on the level of Christmas being a time in which there is a lot of heavily concentrated family time. The holidays can be tense in even the best of circumstances. Maneuvering through the landmines of various personalities can be hard even if there is no cancer, divorce or empty seat at the table. What makes it the most wonderful time of the year is also what makes it the most brutal time of the year. My own family has not been immune to this phenomenon.

But allow me to push back against this idea a little. Gently. I think we have it all backwards. We have it sunk deep into our collective cultural consciousness that Christmas is for the happy people. You know, those with idyllic family situations enjoyed around stocking-strewn hearth dreams. Christmas is for healthy people who laugh easily and at all the right times, right? The successful and the beautiful, who live in suburban bliss, can easily enjoy the holidays. They have not gotten lost on the way because of the GPS they got last year. They are beaming after watching a Christmas classic curled up on the couch as a family in front of their ginormous flat-screen. We live and act as if this is who should be enjoying Christmas.

But this is backwards. Christmas—the great story of the incarnation of the Rescuer—is for everyone, especially those who need a rescue. Jesus was born as a baby to know the pain and sympathize with our weaknesses. Jesus was made to be like us so that in his resurrection we can be made like him; free from the fear of death and the pain of loss. Jesus’ first recorded worshipers were not of the beautiful class. They were poor, ugly shepherds, beat down by life and labor. They had been looked down on over many a nose.

Jesus came for those who look in the mirror and see ugliness. Jesus came for daughters whose fathers never told them they were beautiful. Christmas is for those who go to "wing night" alone. Christmas is for those whose lives have been wrecked by cancer, and the thought of another Christmas seems like an impossible dream. Christmas is for those who would be nothing but lonely if not for social media. Christmas is for those whose marriages have careened against the retaining wall and are threatening to flip over the edge. Christmas is for the son whose father keeps giving him hunting gear when he wants art materials. Christmas is for smokers who cannot quit even in the face of a death sentence. Christmas is for prostitutes, adulterers, and porn stars who long for love in every wrong place. Christmas is for college students who are sitting in the midst of the family and already cannot wait to get out for another drink. Christmas is for those who traffic in failed dreams. Christmas is for those who have squandered the family name and fortune—they want "home" but cannot imagine a gracious reception. Christmas is for parents watching their children’s marriage fall into disarray.

Christmas is really about the gospel of grace for sinners. Because of all that Christ has done on the cross, the manger becomes the most hopeful place in a universe darkened with hopelessness.
In the irony of all ironies, Christmas is for those who will find it the hardest to enjoy.
It really is for those who hate it most.

The Jesus I Need

2011-10-22T21:04:00.007-04:00

A lot of you know me, yet I'm pretty sure very few of you have heard my testimony. You might think that I can say that the Lord kept me free from the world because I was raised in a Christian home, was homeschooled and very involved in church and church camps, was highly active in my youth group and went to 2 years of Bible college plus stayed a third year to work on staff at that Bible college.
You might guess that the Lord saved me at a young age and spared me from a lot of things that many young people go through. Well, I guess I could say that I am very blessed to have been raised in a Godly Christian home where my parents were careful to protect us from worldly influences. I can say that God did spare me from quite a bit just from placing me in this home.
Yet, I still have a deceitful heart and was led astray for some time. This led me into a time of deep guilt and great saddness and even depression. But you know what! God used that sinful time in my life to draw me to Himself in a way I never knew Him before. I can relate to the woman in Luke 7:47 where Jesus says that she loved much because she was forgiven much. God has to bring us to the point where we realize our desperate need for Him before we can understand His forgiveness and His great love in a way that changes us never to be the same again. I wish that I didn't have to learn the hard way. In no way am I glad that I sinned against my Lord. This is how God did it for me, and I am so thankful that He used my disobedience to cause me to fall in love with Him in a way where I'm not sure that I would have otherwise. Thank you, Father!
I was listening to this John Waller song, and it just made me cry because I realize that this is the Jesus that I have and the Jesus that saved me!
He didn't save me because of anything I did or could ever do. He saved me because He is a God of grace and love and mercy and EVERYTHING else!

JOHN WALLER
THE JESUS I NEED

She was desperate
Down to her last hope
Now she crawls on her hands and her knees
Through a crowd on a dusty road
If she could touch Him
She knew He could make her well
Reaching and straining she touched His garment
Healing fell

Chorus:
And this is the Jesus I want
Friend of the broken and weak
What He did for her
I know He'll do for me
This is the Jesus I want
Giver of life and peace
Still today He's reaching out to you and me
This is the Jesus I need

Verse 2:
Tormented
He had lost his mind
There was nothing but evil and anguish
There in those cold, dark eyes
But the day would come
Everyone would know
That the words of this Jesus
Could set free the captive
And make them whole

Chorus:

Bridge:
More than a story book fable
He is alive and He's able
To rescue anyone who believes

Chorus:
And this is the Jesus I want
Friend of the broken and weak
What He did for them
I know He'll do for you and me
This is the Jesus I want
Giver of life and peace
Still today He's reaching out to you and me
This is the Jesus I need

What Are You Hanging Onto?

2011-08-27T11:39:00.002-04:00

These are some of my thoughts just after the earthquake that we experienced on Tuesday and can also be applied to the hurricane that is on it's way up the East coast...

After the earthquake on Tuesday, people were saying that I will never experience that again in my lifetime. But nobody can guarantee that. We cannot predict that it will or will not happen. Only God knows. This was an opportunity to share with others how I believe that there IS a God and that He controls all things.

I had a few Spiritual conversations with my co-workers and with customers that afternoon, but there was one conversation in particular that inspired me to write this- or at least to title it as I have. This lady in my drive thru said to me after our talk of the earthquake, "If it happens again, hang onto something!" My reply was, "Oh, I am! I'm hanging onto something!" She was driving off before I had the chance to explain how that something that I will hang onto and AM hanging onto is God. He is my Rock.

"On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God." Psalm 62:7

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Blizzards, Tornados, HURRICANES, and other natural weather-related disasters...These are some of the things that man cannot control no matter how hard they try. How should we feel about this? Well, I don't know about you, but I praise God that I know Him. I know the Almighty God who controls all things. NOTHING happens outside of His will or Sovereign plan for His glory and for the good of His people.
He is our peace amidst the storms of life.
For me, I am actually more at peace knowing that nobody can control these things but Him. Who better to trust than the Lord!

In Matthew 8 we read about how Jesus and His disciples are on the boat during a storm. While Jesus is asleep the disciples are terrified of the great storm in the sea that is rocking their boat and threatening their lives. They run to Jesus to awaken Him and to ask Him to save them because they thought they were going to perish. I love Jesus' response to His disciples, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then Jesus rises up to speak to the winds and to the sea. The Bible says that Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and that there was a great calm. It says then that the men marveled saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey Him?"
In Matthew 14 we read about Peter walking on the water. Peter gets out of the boat to walk on the water toward Jesus and everything is fine until he looks around himself and becomes afraid because of the wind. This is when he starts to sink and cries out to the Lord to save him. Jesus immdediately reaches out His hand to Peter and takes hold of him saying, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Then they get into the boat and the winds cease.

In both of these stories, we see that without faith in Jesus the people were terrified. Jesus is the only one who can rid them of their fears and calm the storms.
Not only does He calm the storms around us, but even more He calms the storms within us.
Matthew 11:28-30 says:
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

He will give you rest. Nothing and no one else can.
Sooo...who or what are you hanging onto?

Put your trust in Him and Him alone. He will give you the peace that you need and long for. Not just peace amidst the storms around us but also peace amidst the storms and trials in life.

Isaiah 26:3-4
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."

Psalm 62:5-8
"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us."

The Christian Life is Like a Yo-Yo?

2011-08-21T21:44:00.001-04:00

"I once heard a very helpful illustration of what the Christian life should look like from counseling professor David Powlison. He said the pattern of Christian life and growth is like a yo-yo: up and down, up and down. That is pretty depressing, but also pretty true. One day I feel as if I have sin beat; the next day I feel as if I am back at the beginning.

But there is more, Powlison said. The pattern of Christian life and growth may be like a yo-yo, but it's a yo-yo in the hands of someone walking up a flight of stairs. That is a much more encouraging image. In the day-to-day, we are acutely aware of the yo-yo feeling, the ups and downs of the battle against sin. But we miss the larger picture of growth and maturity that God is graciously working in us- He is carrying us up the stairs. Even our low points now are higher than our high points used to be."

Taken from "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley.

Temptation: Fighting the Urge

2011-08-16T21:53:00.009-04:00

disclaimer: I am still editing this note before an official publish.
There is a lot of Scripture I need to add...

What I have written below has been taken from one of CCEF's small booklets of resources for personal change. I haven't copied it word for word, and much of the booklet is left out. I highly recommend getting your hands on this if temptation is something you find to be overcoming you and really hindering your walk with the Lord.

I found it to be very helpful for myself and felt the need to share it on my blog so that others might be helped as well.
This is a topic that each and every one of us struggles with daily.
Please take the time to read it.

"I can resist anything but temptation" -Oscar Wilde

How many times have you tried to change a behavior or attitude only to find yourself doing the same thing again?
Each of us faces some kind of temptation every day. And, even though our temptations are different, our struggles are similar. We all have daily battles with temptation that stretch into monthly and yearly wars.
Can these battles against your particular temptation be won? God, in His Word says, "Yes."

You can't win a war against an enemy that you don't understand.
Soo...
Where do our temptations come from?
It's easy to think that our temptations come from our circumstances...
James tells us in his book that we succumb to temptation because of what's inside of us(what we want, desire, don't want, fear, etc...) not from what's outside of us(our circumstances).
In the first portion of James chapter one, James tells us that God sends circumstances into our lives to test us, so we will grow in grace. James also says that God never sends these circumstances to trap us.
So what makes the difference? It's the inner condition of the person in the midst of the circumstance.
JAMES 1:14

No external circumstance makes you sin. You sin because what you want leads you into sin.

What are the elements of temptation?
-The world
-The flesh
-The devil(1 Peter 5:8)

Be aware of your enemy and his schemes. The way the devil works is quite simple. He uses the external world and your sinful inclinations to trap you into sin. Then he accuses you of being a helpless case.
Thankfully the Spirit says something completely different.

Understanding all the elements of temptation is critical in helping you fight temptation.

STAGES OF TEMPTATION
Another important truth about your temptation is that they don't just appear in your life- they come in stages.

from James:

first stage is seduction- "He is dragged away and enticed"
...begins with your desire life.
You want something more than you want Christ.
You believe you need something in addition to Christ to be happy, satisfied, or okay.
It could be ANYTHING.

second stage is conception- "after desire has conceived"
When temptation moves to this stage, the initial desire is lodged deep in your heart.
What you want is becoming more important to you than your relationship with God.

third stage is birth- "it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death."
The end result of your desire for something besides Christ is being caught in full blown sin, both in attitude and action.

At any time during these stages, you can run to Christ and repent and learn from your failure how to stand against temptation instead of giving in to it.

Practical strategies for change.
Fighting against temptation begins by noticing what's happening underneath the surface of your life every time you give in to temptation.

Here is an important truth to remember as you struggle with temptation:

You don't behave your way into sinful responses, so
you can't behave your way out of sinful responses.
You worship your way into sinful responses, so you
must worship your way out of sinful responses.

Worship has everything to do with our temptations because whatever we worship(whatever is most important to us)changes our behavior.

In moments of sin, something else is more attractive to you than God and His love for you.
You are worshiping something or someone besides God.

Admit to God that your behavior is the result of forgetting your identity in Christ and finding your identity in what you believe you need besides Him.
Don't be discouraged...Name what it is that has captured your heart instead of Jesus, confess your sin to God, and ask for forgiveness. Remember 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Remind yourself that even though you have loved something more than God, Jesus is still completely committed to you. He lived, died, was raised, and sent His Spirit for you. Right now He is praying for you, and one day He will come to rescue you completely. You are not a slave to sin; instead, you belong to Christ. He is far more committed to you than you are to yourself.
He is far more satisfying and attractive than anything else in this world.

Christian change only happens in relationship with God. So getting to know Jesus as your friend, brother, and Savior will change your desire life and give you the power to resist temptation.

A fall into sin develops over time.
Every day a ware is raging for your heart and affections. In any given hour of your day, there are many things that can take your gaze off of Christ. Be vigilant in the little moments of your life. This is where the battle will be won or lost. Your goal should be to cultivate a normal, regular, moment-by-moment awareness of your relationship with God and your need for His grace and power.

So live wide awake.

Knowing Jesus better will lead you to live a vigilant, hopeful life as you face temptation every day. Genuine fighting of temptation begins as you take your eyes off yourself and readjust your gaze on Jesus and what He has done and is doing in your behalf.
Don't lose heart; look to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith(Hebrews 12:2).

Are you lonely?

2011-08-04T21:30:00.004-04:00

“Aloneness doesn’t have to mean loneliness; it can actually be the path God uses for my soul to find its rest in Him."

The Gospel Coalition Blog posted this today. It will be helpful for anyone who has struggled or is struggling with loneliness. As a single, this was a good reminder for me that marriage isn't ever going to be what fills any measure of emptiness that I might feel. Only God can fill and satisfy.

Lonely Me: A Pastoral Perspective

The Rich Single Life

2011-06-25T18:26:00.011-04:00

These are some thoughts I've had floating around in my head lately that I've somewhat placed together here to hopefully encourage others.

I recently finished reading a book by a pastor, Andrew Farmer called "The Rich Single Life." It's not a book on HOW TO get married, but how to best glorify God during your time of singleness. It was encouraging to me as I am in this moment of waiting on the Lord for a husband (should it be His will for me to be married in this life). Sometimes it can get very discouraging being 28 and still single watching all of my friends getting married and now having their second or third child. Not only that, but now "kids" younger than me are getting married!

This pastor says, "You'll always have the gift of singleness as long as you're single. When you get married, you wont need it anymore." I like that. :-) He also says, "Singleness & marriage can be viewed as parallel states- each having their own particular joys and sorrows."
I have many reasons to be thankful that I am still single, one being that I am not married to the wrong man as I very well could have been had I gotten married when I wanted to be married. By the grace of God, He did not allow that to happen. So for that I am thankful. Also, I have had opportunity to become close to several older married couples and observe their relationships with one another as well how they raise their children and their interaction with them. A few of my closest friends are married, and I've been able to see firsthand that it doesn't get better or easier in life just because you're married. As I quoted from this book, marriage and singleness DO both have their joys and sorrows. They both have their good and bad times. It's just as easy to be discontent being married as it is being single. Another blessing for me today is being able to spend time with my parents and sister. We have been able to become closer and grow together and get to know each other in ways not everyone gets to experience if they're married and have moved away from home.

Also from the book: "The gift of singleness can make certain things possible that being married could not do." I was very encouraged by this book! It helped me to think through the stage that I am in where the Lord has placed me for this particular time. I've examined my own life and considered the different things that I am using my "free" time for. Am I using it purely for myself? Am I using it wasting away in sad thoughts of how I wish I were married? Am I forgetting all the blessings that the Lord has placed in my life? Something else that stands out in my mind that I remember reading in this book is how flexible singles can be. This is the time of my life that I can be most flexible to do whatever in the world I want to do. How can I best glorify God today?

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34

One more very important thing that was noted in this book that I had never considered in this way before...
"Singleness is not just a gift to the individual believer, it's a gift to the body of Christ, and always has been." Farmer goes on to name several individuals who lived most of their life(or at least a good portion of it)as a single. Many of these people were missionaries who were able to do particular things that someone who was married wouldn't quite have the time for.
I've seen in my own life how the Lord has placed opportunities in front of me of things I can do because of my flexibility that I wouldn't be able to do otherwise. One of these things is babysitting. I don't do it often enough, but when I do it's just as much a blessing to me as it may be to that family. It has provided opportunities to get to know families and children in ways I wouldn't otherwise. This reminds me of the section of Paul's passage in 1 Corinthians about singleness.

1 Cor. 7:32-35 "I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord."

closing thoughts...

So not only do I have all of the blessings I've already named, but MOST IMPORTANTLY I have more time to spend with the Lord. As I meditate on that for a moment...am I really using my time for Him? Have I secured my undivided devotion to the Lord? Who or what am I devoting my time to? Will I one day look back and think of all the time I've wasted that could've been spent with the Lord in His Word or on my knees in prayer? Did I pass the time doing meaningless things that I could have been spending drawing nearer to my precious Savior?

Yes, I still struggle with being content with where the Lord has placed me; but it's a comfort knowing that God is in control and He won't keep me single a day longer than He has planned. He knows me better than I do and what is best for me. I have to trust Him. I must ask Him moment by moment to remind me of this and to help me rest in Him and live for His glory and not for my own pleasures and desires.

After all...it's not about me. It's about Him!!

The Jesus Storybook Bible

2011-06-13T23:33:00.002-04:00

I thought this was really beautiful. It's an excerpt from Joshua Harris's book, "Dug Down Deep" as he is quoting from one of his children's books.

The Jesus Storybook Bible
by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should do and shouldn't do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what He has done.

Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you'll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean.

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne, everything to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this story is—it’s true.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle—the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.

Every Race is Runnable

2011-05-30T16:15:00.002-04:00

By Ray Ordlund:
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2011/05/29/every-race-is-runnable/

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

The amazing believers of the past — their lives make this undeniable statement: Every race is runnable.

We think, “My life is more than I can bear. God is asking too much of me. I’ve grown and changed and repented all I can. So, I’ll settle down. I’ll manage a church-going status quo. I’ll even call it ‘faithfulness.’” But that isn’t faithfulness. Not as Hebrews 11 defines living by faith. Not by a mile.

If we are feeling weighed down and exhausted, the problem isn’t Jesus. He is unfailingly an energizing presence. Nor is the problem the race he has called us to run. The problem is something else, even something non-sinful and allowable, but it prevents us from running an unleashed, all-out race. Getting clean rid of it, because our hearts are reaching for the promises of God — that is living by faith.

Living that way, we’ll be surprised at how near the Lord is and how much we can keep growing. Life will become an adventure again.

Purification

2011-03-21T19:12:00.002-04:00

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

Purification

Lord Jesus,
I sin-
Grant that I may never cease grieving because of it,
never be content with myself,
never think I can reach a point of perfection.

Kill my envy, command my tongue, trample down self.
Give me grace to be holy, kind, gentle, pure, peaceable,
to live for Thee and not for self,
to copy Thy words, acts, spirit,
to be transformed into Thy likeness,
to be consecrated wholly to Thee,
to live entirely to Thy glory.

Deliver me from attachment to things unclean,
from wrong associations,
from the predominance of evil passions,
from the sugar of sin as well as its gall;

that with self-loathing, deep contrition, earnest heart searching
I may come to Thee,
cast myself on Thee,
trust in Thee,
cry to Thee,
be delivered by Thee.

O God, the Eternal All, help me to know that
all things are shadows, but Thou art substance,
all things are quicksands, but Thou art mountain,
all things are shifting, but Thou art anchor,
all things are ignorance, but Thou art wisdom.

If my life is to be a crucible amid burning heat, so be it,
but do Thou sit at the furnace mouth
to watch the ore that nothing be lost.

If I sin wilfully, grievously, tormentedly, in grace
take away my mourning and give me music;
remove my sackcloth and clothe me with beauty;
still my sighs and fill my mouth with song,
then give me summer weather as a Christian.

Grace

2011-03-19T21:35:00.001-04:00

Hungry for God's Word? Why or why not?...

2011-03-19T18:37:00.000-04:00

Reckless Abandon: Hunger For God’s Word
Taken from “A Man Worth Waiting For” by Jackie Kendall

Reckless abandon impacts every aspect of a person’s life, including his or her relationship with those things that entertain and distract from eternal focus.

It astonishes me how many Christians watch the same banal, empty, silly, trivial, titillating, suggestive, immodest TV shows that most unbelievers watch- and then wonder why their spiritual lives are weak and their worship experience is shallow with no intensity. If you really want to hear the Word of God the way He means to be heard in truth and joy and power, turn off the television on Saturday night and read something true and great and beautiful and pure and honorable and excellent and worthy of praise. Then watch your heart un-shrivel and begin to hunger for the Word of God
I think we followers of Jesus need to be as concerned about the famine reflected in the souls of too many of God’s children.

Philippians 4:8 ”Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

KNOW what you NEED to do to LIVE for Him and DO IT!

2011-03-19T17:20:00.004-04:00

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." Ephesians 6:11

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1,2

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

Little children, guard yourselves from idols!

2011-02-27T19:29:00.002-05:00

"And He said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'" Matthew 22:37

questions to consider:

-WHAT MUST I HAVE FOR LIFE TO BE MEANINGFUL AND HAPPY?
-WHAT ARE MY THOUGHTS, DESIRES, LONGINGS, AND EXPECTATIONS?
-WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF MY JOY?
-WHAT IS THE PRIMARY LOVE IN MY HEART?
-WHAT AM I TRUSTING IN TO MAKE ME HAPPY?
-AM I LOVING THE LORD OR SOMETHING/SOMEONE ELSE?

Power of Christ in me

2011-01-23T00:20:00.000-05:00

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Morning by Morning

2011-01-16T23:04:00.000-05:00

LAMENTATIONS 3

21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him

26 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

I Surrender

2011-01-16T16:22:00.002-05:00

I Surrender
by Leslie Ludy

Lord, I know You see this fear in my heart
Of what my future holds
I feel You softly ask if I can trust You more
And give You control
So I kneel before You now
And I offer everything
Come and be the Lord of all
All I am or ever hope to be

I surrender, I surrender
To the One who loves me more than life
I surrender, I surrender
Here is my heart
I open it wide
To the One who cannot be unfaithful
I now offer You all that I am
I surrender, I surrender
From this day on
I'll be in Your hands

I've been living for myself
And now I want to live for You alone
Come and help me when I'm weak
And when my path seems so unknown
You will be beside me still
I know You want whats best for me
So when I want to take control
Lord, please come and help my unbelief

It's not for me. It's all for You.

2010-11-07T15:28:00.009-05:00

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness!" Psalm 115:1

I hope when you read this, that you can follow my thinking as I've typed it out. It's all really good stuff that the Lord has been revealing to me and reminding me, and I felt led to share it on my blog. It's pretty long but I believe worth reading. :-)

Think about these two questions:
What is the meaning of life?
How can I have a meaningful life?

These could seem like difficult questions to answer, but really it's quite simple. At least my explanation of it is going to be simple. I suppose one could make it more in depth than I am going to. Others could really answer these questions completely wrong and go way off track and certainly make it difficult in their own mind. But I do believe that God is clear in His Word as to how we can give ourselves and others the answers to these two questions.
We're going to approach it from the assumption that the person asking these questions is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me start by saying that I have been asking myself these questions lately. I've been thinking about my own life and how it would be different than it is if I had it the way that I think would be perfect. Like...I would, for instance, certainly be married and have a few kids by now, etc...(for example). So then I thought about how I have prayed for these things, but God's plans for me have obviously been different than what I expected. And yet, looking back I can see all that God has done in my life during these years that I would've liked to have been married, and I am VERY thankful to have had these years to grow in the Lord as I have and may not otherwise had I been married. So God has allowed me to see how, to this point, He has worked everything out for my good according to His purpose. He has shown me specifically how He has been faithful to that promise in my life even with things not going according to MY plans.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD." Isaiah 55:8

So...in saying that, I have realized that we can't exactly make our own plans and go for it and get what we want just because we want it. So in that sense, to have a meaningful life isn't something that we can plan out for ourselves what we think would make us most happy and then be ambitious and go for it.
We can pray for these things(and we SHOULD), but what is our desire behind the prayer for those things in our life(whatever they may be)? With my personal example for instance...WHY do I want to be married? WHY do I want kids? Because I think that's what is going to make me happy? If that's the case, then my motives behind praying for them are totally wrong. If I think that they are what will bring ultimate meaning to my life, then I am wrong to even ask for them from God.

Where am I going with this?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that WE are not what brings meaning to our lives. And THINGS are not what give us meaning. Other PEOPLE aren't our meaning. It's not even about us at all. It's all about Him. EVERYTHING is about Him including our salvation. We are here to glorify Him. That's it. That is the meaning of our lives and that is our purpose on earth.
Simple, huh?
We figure out what brings glory to God and we live our lives accordingly. We can start by being in the Word, in prayer, and spending time with the body of Christ. Also, as a lot of you have heard this most quoted statement made by John Piper: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." So we glorify Him the most when we are content in Him, finding all of our fulfillment in Him, and making every move in our life in order to please Him because we love Him.

For me, I have begun to understand this more even when it comes to petitioning the Lord for something that I desire in this life. Am I asking for whatever I am asking for because I want to have my desire fulfilled for my own benefit? OR am I asking the Lord to fulfill this request so He can be more glorified in my life by granting that request? And WOULD He be more glorified if I were to receive it? And another very important question, will I still glorify and bless His name should He so choose to NOT give me what I've asked for?

This can really pertain to anything in our lives. Any decision we make- including the seemingly simple/mundane things in life. We've got to ask ourselves, "Am I asking for or doing this for the glory of God?" "Will I glorify God if I choose to go that route?" "Will God be glorified through me if I speak to this person about that thing that I feel I should say to them?" etc...

Today the Lord led me to this passage in Psalms and again reminded me that it's not about us. It's about Him.

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness!" Psalm 115:1
The Psalmist goes on to talk about how our God is in the heavens and He does as He pleases. He is exalted over other gods. We are reminded to trust in the Lord and fear Him for He is our help and our shield. Then the Psalmist states how He will bless us- those who fear the Lord.
So...for His glory, He does as He pleases. For His glory, He blesses us. For His glory, He saves us. Yes, for His glory Christ Jesus died on the cross. All for His glory, He created us to glorify Him and love Him.

The meaning of life is to glorify God.
To have a meaningful life, we do our best to glorify Him in all that we do.
So we must ask ourselves, "Am I giving God the glory?"

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

We glorify God by being happy in Him.
God is all that we need. In Him is complete fullness and joy. ("You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11)
This is why Jesus Christ died, to bring us to God.(1 Peter 3:18)
So His love for us is revealed in that He would give His own Son to bring us to Himself because He is what we need more than anything else.

Oh Father, help me to live a life that will make much of You and much of Your Son. I am nothing without You.

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness!" Psalm 115:1

Praying For My Death Sentence?

2010-10-14T22:48:00.007-04:00

Last night I listened to another Paul Washer sermon, "Pray And Be Alone With God." Washer made a statement that really made me think hard. Here it is:

The most dangerous prayer you could pray:
Praying to be like Jesus Christ is practically calling a death sentence upon yourself.

What did He mean by that? At first I was a little bothered because isn't that what we're supposed to pray? And isn't that what sanctification is all about? And isn't it what I've been praying?
Then as I thought about that last part, how it is what I have been praying, I really began to understand what Paul Washer meant by death sentence.

I think when we pray that God will make us more like His Son, sometimes we forget what this entails. We are praying for and expecting the outcome of being like Christ yet not necessarily for the means of what it will cost us to become like Him.

Calling a death sentence upon yourself...

"...If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

God did not spare His Son suffering and death. He surely will not spare us whatever it takes to make us more like His Son. If we really truly genuinely want to be more like Christ, and that is our prayer, we can't be expecting a life of comfort and ease.
We must die. Die to self. Death is the way to life.

"For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His." Romans 6:5

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it." Mark 8:35

And let's not forget this verse...

"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death." Philippians 3:10

The True Gospel- Paul Washer

2010-10-07T20:41:00.006-04:00

Notes taken from a Paul Washer sermon that I was listening to earlier this evening...

There was so much more to it, but this part really stood out to me and I had to post it on my blog. If for no other reason, to remind me of what I heard because it is so directly related to my own testimony and I have to continue to remember it.

When I think of when the Lord first revealed to me how much He has forgiven me, I am brought once again to my knees. We have to be constantly daily reminded of the Gospel and what Christ did for us. It keeps us forever grateful to Him and more passionate about sharing Him with others because of what He has done for us. I know I don't deserve what He has done for me. My sin is great. But His death on the cross was more than great enough to pay the price for my sins to save me from the penalty of being separated from God forever.

Until you understand the depths of the sin of man, you cannot understand the glory of God in the Gospel.

Example: where did all the stars go this afternoon? You couldn't see them because there was so much light. You couldn't see their glory. You couldn't find them. But when the pitch black darkness of the sky appeared, the stars came out in the fullness of their glory. In the same way, we cannot understand the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ until it is set against the pitch blackness of our own sin.

loves much because forgiven much(Luke 7:47)

We don't love Christ as much as we should because we do not realize how much we've been forgiven.
And we don't realize how much we've been forgiven b/c we don't see the full darkness of man.
sinful depravity...the more we see it, the more we see the glory of Christ.

We look at our sin so that it might lead us to Him.

"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
Genesis 6:5

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

All Things Crucified

2010-10-03T15:12:00.006-04:00

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

Taken from Milton Vincent's "A Gospel Primer":

The Gospel is not simply the story of "Christ, and Him crucified"(1 Cor. 2:2); it is also the story of my own crucifixion. For the Bible tells me that I, too, was crucified on Christ's cross. My old self was slain there, and my love affair with the world was crucified there too. The cross is also the place where I crucify my flesh and all it's sinful desires. Truly, Christ's death and my death are so intertwined as to be inseparable.

God is committed to my dying every day, and He calls me to that same commitment. He insists that every hour be my dying hour, and He wants my death on the cross to be as central to my own life story as is Christ's death to the Gospel story. "Let this attitude be in you," He says, "which was also in Christ Jesus...who became obedient unto death, even death on a cross."

Crucifixion hurts. In fact, its heart-wrenching brutality can numb the senses. It is a gasping and bloody affair, and there is nothing nice, pretty, or easy about it. It is not merely death, but excruciating death.

Nevertheless, I must set my face like a flint toward the cross and embrace this crucifixion in everything I do. I should expect every day to encounter circumstantial evidence of God's commitment to my dying' and I must seize upon every God-given opportunity to be conformed more fully to Christ's death, no matter the pain involved.

When my flesh yearns for some prohibited thing, I must die. When called to do something I don't want to do, I must die. When I wish to be selfish and serve no one, I must die. When shattered by hardships that I despise, I must die. When wanting to cling to wrongs done against me, I must die. When enticed by allurements of the world, I must die. When wishing to keep besetting sins secret, I must die. When wants that are borderline needs are left unmet, I must die. When dreams that are good seem shoved aside, I must die.

"Not my will, but Yours be done," Christ trustingly prayed on the eve of His crucifixion; and preaching His story to myself each day puts me in a frame of mind to trust God and embrace the cross of my own dying also.

Thankfully the Gospel teaches me that dying is not an end, but a beginning also. For after Christ too up His cross and died, God raised Him from the dead, exalted Him to the highest heaven, and drew Him into His bosom. These facts surrounding Christ's resurrection stand as proof positive that God will not leave me for dead, but will raise me similarly, if I would only allow myself to die. Indeed, on the other side of each layer of dying lie experiences of a life with God that are far richer, far higher, and far more intimate than anything I would have otherwise known.

In God's economy, death is the way to life. "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it," Jesus says, "but whoever loses his life for My sake, he shall find it." Indeed the more conformable I am made to the death of Christ, the more I experience freedom from sin and taste the power of the resurrection of Jesus Himself. The path to such power is achieved with each incident of dying to myself and reckoning myself dead to sin.

The more I contemplate the Gospel, the more I understand that this "word of the cross" stands as a blueprint for my own life story. The death that Christ died is the death to which I also am called, and the death to which I am called is my entry point to union with Christ and life at its fullest. So, come what may, I'll let no one take this death from me!

No Greater Love

2010-09-27T23:12:00.004-04:00

What is love?
Ask any person this question, and they will have their own description of what love is to them.
The worldly definition of love would probably have to do with mushy gushy emotional, romantic, feelings and affections toward another.
Some may define love as a commitment.
As we read in 1 Corinthians 13, love is many different things such as patient and kind.
1 John 4 tells us that God is love.
So...how does that answer our question- what is love?

I think to know what true love is, we must look to Christ. He is love(1 Jn 4). His love for us gives us a real picture of what true love is. This also will help us to understand what true love is NOT and how we are to understand the meaning of love.

I thought about this today as I sat in my chair at work staring out my big window at the rain falling from the sky and the cars passing by. We have been singing "Through the Precious Blood" on Sunday mornings at my church for the past several weeks. It meant a lot to me yesterday and today I was really meditating on the words to this song. There was one particular phrase that I pondered for quite some time. It says, "For just one reason Christ was crucified." I thought about this...He died in obedience to our Heavenly Father and to bring glory to Him, but His death was for His bride. He died for me. He died to save me from my sins. He died for me. Why? For me, really understanding this has given me a fuller meaning to Christ's death on the cross and of His love for me. Think about it...

(I took these from some notes I had written awhile back from a Paul Washer sermon on the cross of Christ.)

When all have forsaken you, here comes the One who has your name carved on the palm of His hand!

There are people out there who will spend $40,000 for a car. That's almost a house! But I don't think there's anybody out there who will buy a car for $40,000 in order to fix it up. You don't do that. If something is wrong with your new car, you immediately take it back to the dealer and have them take care of it.

Christ spent His love to buy a bride that was ugly and that He would have to spend countless hours fixing up. Now that's love.

He buys you out of the ditch, your own filth, with His own blood with the intention of cleaning you up!

Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
He spilt His blood!

When He went to the cross He knew exactly what He was going to suffer.
That is love.

As I often do, I am including a song that directly relates to Christ's love. Think about Him going to the cross for you knowing what He was going to suffer and why He was suffering it.
That is real love.

Thank you my Lord Jesus!

At the Cross
by Hillsong

Oh Lord You've searched me
You know my ways
Even when I fail You
I know You love me

Your holy presence
Surrounding me
In every season
I know You love me
I know You love me

Chorus
At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Your Glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?

You go before me
You shield my way
Your hand upholds me
I know You love me

Chorus
At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Your Glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now

You tore the veil
You made a way
When You said that it is done

And when the earth fades
falls from my eyes
You stand before me
I know You love me
I know You love me

Chorus

My Boast- My God- His faithfulness!

2010-09-26T22:28:00.005-04:00

"Thus says the LORD, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD."
Jeremiah 9:23-24

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

LAMENTATIONS 3

21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him

26 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

My Jesus

2010-09-19T16:54:00.008-04:00

"Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works." Psalm 73:25-26,28

I'd like to share some of the songs that have been on my heart lately...

All That Thrills My Soul
hymn by Thoro Harris

Who can cheer the heart like Jesus
By His presence all divine
True and tender, pure and precious
O, how blest to call Him mine

Chorus
All that thrills my soul is Jesus
He is more than life to me
And the fairest of ten thousand
In my blessed Lord I see

Love of Christ so freely given
Grace of God beyond degree
Mercy higher than the heavens
Deeper than the deepest sea

What a wonderful redemption
Never can a mortal know
How my sin, though red like crimson
Can be whiter than the snow

Every need His hand supplying
Every good in Him I see
On His strength divine relying
He is all in all to me

By the crystal flowing river
With the ransomed I will sing
And forever and forever
Praise and glorify the King

Enough
by Chris Tomlin

All of You is more than enough for
All of me for every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
Worth living for
Still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for
All of me for every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough

You're my sacrifice of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know
You're my coming King You're everything
Still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for
All of me for every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough

Absolutely
by Starfield

Lover of my soul
I want to tell You
Only You have all of me
I cannot contain my adoration
I'm in love so desperately

No one is as lovely as You are
There is no one else who has my heart

Jesus, You have me completely
Every breath I breathe
I am absolutely in love
Jesus, I am Yours forever
All of me surrenders
I am absolutely in love with You

Down upon my knees
I'm lost in worship
Humbled by Your majesty
What is there to say
But how I love You
Thank You for forgiving me

No one is as lovely as You are
There is no one else who has my heart

Jesus, You have me completely
Every breath I breathe
I am absolutely in love
Jesus, I am Yours forever
All of me surrenders
I am absolutely in love with You

None But Jesus
by Hillsong United

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

When You call I won't refuse
Each new day again I'll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will

So when You call I won't delay
This my song through all my days

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

All my delight is in You, Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You, Lord, forevermore

Only Jesus
Sovereign Grace Ministries
By Doug Plank

Father of grace, You’ve sacrificed
Your only Son for us, the crucified Jesus
Enlarge our hearts to love Your Son
O grant to us the grace to walk with Him always
To make Him our great delight
Bringing worship with our lives

Only Jesus! Only Jesus!
Give us Jesus, we cry
Only Jesus! Only Jesus!
The Pearl of greatest price

Spirit of grace, You’ve shed Your light
Upon our darkened eyes, unveiling Jesus Christ
Come change our hearts, conform our ways
To honor Jesus’ Name, His glory our refrain
Let His love compel our own
As we worship at His throne

Jesus, our great Savior,
Lord of heaven, Son of God

Longing Heart
by Jeremy Camp

What can separate us
From the love of Jesus Christ
Nothing this world can even change
The thought I once was lost
But now been given grace
It's a mystery that I will not chase

You are all this heart is longing for
Jesus, You are all my soul is pleading for

What can separate us
From the love of Jesus Christ
Nothing in this world can even change
The thought I once was lost
But now been given grace
It's a mystery I will not chase

I don't understand it
How You love the way You do
Even when I've fallen
You always lift me up to You

You are all this heart is longing for
Jesus, You are all my soul is pleading for

What have I to offer?

2010-09-11T13:00:00.002-04:00

"...I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing." (2 Samuel 24:24)

The Lord told King David to go and raise up an altar on the threshing floor that belonged to Araunah the Jebusite. When the king asked Araunah if he might buy it(the threshing floor), Araunah begged him to take it, as a gift, along with his oxen for an offering and the threshing sledges for fuel. "No," said the king, "...I will not offer to the Lord my God whole-offerings that have cost me nothing..."

In the same way, God has asked us to offer everything to Him. I have been writing very similar posts on my blog lately. My most recent was about surrender and how God asks for everything. I also posted back in August about how we're to lay everything at His feet.
As you can see, God is really teaching me what it means to give Him everything. Romans 12:1 says, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." God has also been reminding me that I am not my own for I was bought with a price(1 Cor 6). Jesus Christ paid the ransom for my life with His own blood, therefore I am His. So my life should be lived in every way to glorify His name. To live in every way to glorify His name, we have to give ourselves to Him. And I have chosen this 2 Samuel passage for my post today to point out something very important about giving ourselves to Him. When we give ourselves, we have to give Him everything. If we give Him everything BUT...that one thing that is so hard to give up...then we aren't truly giving Him EVERYTHING. In fact, we must give to Him FIRST the things that are most difficult and in the context of the 2 Samuel passage, the things that are most costly- what we treasure the most.
I believe that He blesses us with wonderful gifts because He loves us. But then we have the opportunity to GIVE those wonderful gifts back to Him because we love Him.

What is the hardest thing for you to let go of? What do you treasure the most? What do you think of all the time? What consumes most of your time and energy. What does your heart long for? Where do your affections lie?
Think about this long and hard and ask yourself, "Am I giving this to the Lord?" And if not, "Am I willing to give this to the Lord?" Should the answer still be no, then I suggest asking the Lord to enable you to give this to Him. He will hear and respond to your prayer if it is your heart's desire.

He sacrificed what was most important to Himself for us out of His love for us. We need to be willing to give everything back to Him. It belongs to Him anyway.

Don't just give to Him what is easy to let go of. Give to Him what is the most difficult thing to give. You will never regret it.

"...I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing."

Surrender

2010-09-10T07:48:00.004-04:00

Die to self and live to God...

Matthew 16:26
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, '"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.'"

What kind of a God is it who asks everything of us?
The same God who "...did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all; and with this gift how can He fail to lavish up us all He has to give?"

Romans 8:32
"He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?"

HE GIVES ALL.
HE ASKS ALL.

Oh Lord, let this be my prayer today...

Surrender
by Jeremy Camp

Purify this tainted soul
I'm tired of living life a fool
Soften up this heart in clay
To be a servant this I pray
A reflection of You I long to be
So Your kingdom I will see

I Surrender to Your throne
I Surrender to Your throne
And I will make my heart Your home
Oh I Surrender to Your throne

I've taken things I've thought my own
Only to reap what I sow
You've given back the years I've fought
An Ending love and grace You brought
Eternal hope and peace You bring
And forever unto You I will sing

Forever unto You I will sing

And I surrender
And I surrender
And I surrender now

Soften up this heart in clay
To be a servant this I pray

My Lord, I Did Not Choose You

2010-09-02T22:51:00.003-04:00

My Lord, I Did Not Choose You
(Verses by Josiah Conder (1836), Music and chorus by Devon Kauflin)

My Lord, I did not choose You
For that could never be
My heart would still refuse You
Had You not chosen me
You took the sin that stained me
You cleansed me, made me new
Of old You have ordained me
That I should live in You

Jesus, You have saved me
And taken all my sin, all my sins away
Jesus, You have called me
Before the world began, to glorify Your name
I was without hope and dead inside
But You chose to save my life

Unless Your grace had called me
And taught my darkened mind
The world would have enthralled me
To Your glories I’d be blind
My heart knows none above You
For Your rich grace I thirst
I know that if I love You
You must have loved me first

Jesus, You have saved me
And taken all my sin, all my sins away
Jesus, You have called me
Before the world began, to glorify Your name

Jesus, You have saved me
And taken all my sin, all my sins away
Jesus, You have called me
Before the world began, to glorify Your name
I was without hope and dead inside
But You chose to save
I was without hope and dead inside
But You chose to save my life

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Thank you Lord for choosing me and saving me. Thank you Jesus for taking all my sins away. My heart's desire is to live for You and glorify Your name!!

At His Feet

2010-08-19T07:50:00.003-04:00

Today's daily reading from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:

Come to Me . . . —Matthew 11:28
SELF-AWARENESS

God intends for us to live a well-rounded life in Christ Jesus, but there are times when that life is attacked from the outside. Then we tend to fall back into self-examination, a habit that we thought was gone. Self-awareness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of our life in God, and self-awareness continually produces a sense of struggling and turmoil in our lives. Self-awareness is not sin, and it can be produced by nervous emotions or by suddenly being dropped into a totally new set of circumstances. Yet it is never God’s will that we should be anything less than absolutely complete in Him. Anything that disturbs our rest in Him must be rectified at once, and it is not rectified by being ignored but only by coming to Jesus Christ. If we will come to Him, asking Him to produce Christ-awareness in us, He will always do it, until we fully learn to abide in Him.

Never allow anything that divides or destroys the oneness of your life with Christ to remain in your life without facing it. Beware of allowing the influence of your friends or your circumstances to divide your life. This only serves to sap your strength and slow your spiritual growth. Beware of anything that can split your oneness with Him, causing you to see yourself as separate from Him. Nothing is as important as staying right spiritually. And the only solution is a very simple one— “Come to Me . . . .” The intellectual, moral, and spiritual depth of our reality as a person is tested and measured by these words. Yet in every detail of our lives where we are found not to be real, we would rather dispute the findings than come to Jesus.

The Lord is continually teaching me to lay everything at His feet including the very gifts He has given to me in answer to my requests. He gives to us that we may give back to Him. You may wonder why God would give you something so wonderful just to ask for it back...He wants us to trust Him. If we can't trust Him with the gifts He Himself has given us, how can we trust Him at all?

I think of Hannah in 1 Samuel who prayed for years to the Lord to give her a son.
"And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."

She poured out her soul to the Lord and He soon gave her a son, Samuel. She goes before the Lord again in prayer,
"For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD."

She gives back to the Lord what she had prayed for.

This must be our pattern as well. We can trust the Lord with our lives and with what is most dear to our hearts.

Lay everything down at His feet.

I'm Alive

2010-08-08T14:59:00.003-04:00

I enjoy getting out in the "fresh" air to run regularly when possible. I use this time to clear my mind, think, pray a LOT, and listen to music. I have a few songs that I particularly enjoy running to, and I wanted to share one on my blog that has a lot of meaning in my life.
The song is called "Alive" and is written and sung by Rebecca St. James. I believe that we're never truly alive until we know Christ, and when we do truly know Him we are very alive and He becomes what we most long for on this earth.

How true these lyrics are that it's only when we let go of what we most want in this life and embrace Christ that we find true joy and life. I praise God for giving me a new heart to know Him and to want Him so much. Through Him we can leave our past and ourselves behind and become completely alive in Him leaving us so fulfilled that we no longer crave earthly pleasures as we once did.

1 Corinthians 15:22
"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."

Romans 6:11
"So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 2:4-5
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved."

2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Mark 8:34-36
"And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?'"

"Alive"
By Rebecca St. James

I always wanted to be free
‘Til I was bound and then
I always wanted my own way
‘Til I saw that I find my life when
I lose it

You make me come alive
You make me come alive
I found the secret
It’s only when I let go of what I want in this life
You make me come alive

I used to think that me, myself and I were all that mattered
But You’ve shown me all this world can give
Cannot compare to the joy that comes from
Giving away

And as I follow after You
Now I need to
Leave my past, myself behind
This I will do

I always wanted to be free
‘Til I was bound and then
I always wanted my own way
‘Til I saw You
‘Til I saw You

I also found a video if you're interested in hearing the song. :-)

As I was typing, I realized that I also have to share another song because it goes along so well with what I've posted. This is probably my favorite running song because it has awesome lyrics and it is perfect to run to!

Romans 8:1
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Colossians 2:13-14
"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."

"I'm Alive"
by Jeremy Camp

I felt so overwhelmed with guilt
I don't know how many times that I'd fight it
Well, I tried it and barely survived it
I fell in the nearest pool of shame
Took the blame and everything that surrounds it
Well, I found it and I drowned in it

Oh, I never thought I'd erase this
Or replace this feeling now
Oh, but my whole life changed
When You saved me and forgave me now

I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again

I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again

I lost everything I had
But I'm glad 'cause I would never have found you
Well, it rings true, the words that spoke through
You've given more than I can say
And I know that I could never repay You
But I thank you, I can't wait to embrace You

Oh, I spun around for a long time
And I always felt so blind
Oh, I never thought I could feel it
Well, I feel it now

I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again

I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again

Oh, I can feel it now every time I turn around
Knowing I have been set free from the pain and misery
Oh, I will make the most of this hope I have

I'm alive, I'm alive like I've never been
Been revived from the lies that were deep within
It's the past now, it's the past
'Cause Christ has given life where I'll never thirst again

I want to be more like Jesus

2010-07-31T17:23:00.010-04:00

Yesterday morning while spending my time with the Lord in the early morning, I was in Matthew and really meditating on Jesus’ character and thinking about how much I long to be like Him. He was perfect (still is!) and while He was on earth lived a perfect sinless life as a man always obeying the Father and every moment of His life loving God with all of His heart, soul, mind, and strength. I thought about how we, as Christians, are to be striving every day as hard as we can to be more and more like Him.(And I might add that this is certainly possible, but only with His help. So we need to be relying on Him and trusting in His strength to enable us to be as He wants us to be.)

This process is called sanctification.
“Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.”

How can we be more like Jesus?

Here is what came to mind as I was praying for God to make me more like His Son.
Something that happened at work just over this past week popped into mind. I have worked at this particular job for over three years now. I spend more waking hours with these people than I do with my own family at home. I often hear them commenting on how they know each other SO well and how they spend more time with each other than they do their own husbands. Well…I find myself also now finishing their sentences, hearing some of their favorite phrases come out of my own mouth, and knowing exactly what they are thinking in a particular situation just by an expression on their face or one look in their eye. A couple of days ago one lady said something, and I made a comment back. Then she said, as she often does, “You know me so well.” My reply was simply, “Yeah, it’s kinda scary sometimes.”

So as I was praying, I thought of this and realized just how much more I need to spend time with my Savior. Think about it. The more time we spend with someone, the more we become like that person. The more we observe them, talk with them, really LISTEN to them, and even think about them…the more we find ourselves so connected to them and becoming like them(even in our thinking).

Isn’t this how it should be with Jesus? I found myself crying out to God just pleading with Him to give me a hunger and thirst for His Word and for righteousness.
We need His help, and we need to do our part! Ask God to reveal Himself to You and to open your heart to desire Him more so you may know Him better and become more like Jesus.

Here is another verse that came to mind:
"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is." 1 John 3:2

When Christ comes back to bring His children home, it says that we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is. God promises that when Christ returns He will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body(Phil 3:21). Well, this is because we will see Him! We won’t be made fully perfect until that day comes, but as we eagerly await that day we can strive to be more like Him by spending time with Him in prayer and meditating on His Word. God has given us His Word to reveal Jesus to us today, and through His Word we can see Jesus and know Him. The more we see of Him and spend time with Him, this is how we can become more and more like Him each day until that final glorious day when we will really truly see Him and be made perfect just as He is.

I am reminded of the hymn “Take Time to be Holy”.
I chose just a few key parts of the hymn that really go along with what I have written.

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be.

By looking to Jesus...We become like Him by looking to Him. Fix your eyes and your heart on Jesus and spend the time with Him that you must. Study Him, talk to Him, sing to Him, worship Him, think about Him throughout your day, & really truly LISTEN to Him when you pray.
There is no greater thing. He is our treasure. He’s the pearl of greatest price. He’s the one we must sell all that we have for. He is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life.

I want to, I need to, be more like Jesus.

Clear the Stage

2010-07-13T00:51:00.004-04:00

Clear the Stage
by Ross King

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze
If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols
Chuck the pews and all the decorations too
Until the congregations few then have revival
Tell your friends that this is where the party ends
until you're broken for your sins you can't be social
Then seek the Lord and wait for what He has in store
and know that great is your reward so just be hopeful

Cause you can sing all you want to
Yes you can sing all you want to
you can sing all you want to
And don't get me wrong, worship is more than a song

Take a break from all the plans that you have made
And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper
Beg Him please to open up His mouth and speak
And pray for real upon your knees until they blister
Shine the light on every corner of your life
Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open
Then read the Word and put to test the things you've heard
Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken

Cause you can sing all you want to
Yes you can sing all you want to
you can sing all you want to
But don't get me wrong, worship is more than a song

Anything I put before my God is an idol
Anything I want with all my heart is an idol
Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol
Anything that I give all my love is an idol
We must not worship something that's not even worth it
Clear the stage and make some space for the One who deserves it

Cause I can sing all I want t
Yes I can sing all I want to
I can sing all I want to
And still get it wrong, worship is more than a song

And you can sing all you want to
Yes you can sing all you want to

Are We Still Running?

2010-07-10T20:04:00.002-04:00

This post is taken from The Daily Spurgeon which I receive in my e-mail. It really hit me because I've been realizing lately how my passion for Jesus has been lacking from what it was at this time last year up until not very long ago. It is easy for us to be drawn away from our first love by other things when we aren't spending the time with Him that we so need to be.

Hosea 13:4-6 says, "Yet I have been the LORD your God Since the land of Egypt; And you were not to know any god except Me, For there is no savior besides Me. I cared for you in the wilderness, In the land of drought. As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, And being satisfied, their heart became proud; Therefore they forgot Me."

Ask yourself this question:
Am I so enthralled by something else or distracted or satisfied in other things so much that I have forgotten my Lord?

Charles Spurgeon "Are We Still Running?" Taken from THE DAILY SPURGEON:

Think, beloved, each one of you who are Christ’s, how much you may have backslidden of late. Have you not become lax in prayer? You maintain the habit of it, and you could not give that up, but you have not that power in prayer you once had. You still read the word, but mayhap the Scripture is not so sweet to you as it was aforetime. You come now to the communion table, you have not learned to forsake the assembling of yourselves together there; but oh, the face of the King, in his beauty, have you seen that as once you did?

Perhaps you still are doing a little for his cause, but are you doing what you once did or all you might do? Instead of going on unto perfection, is not your growth stunted? Must you not confess that you are not a runner towards heaven so much as a loiterer in the road thither? Do these accusations evoke no confessions? I fear the most of us, if we came to search, would have to say, “I do remember when the love of my espousals was upon me, and my heart was warm with love to Christ; but now, alas! how slow are my passions in moving towards him! O that I could feel once again the glow of my first love, and that my spirit did rejoice in him as on the day of my conversion.”

I want to encourage you all as well as myself to fight our fleshly desires to do anything BUT spend time with the Lord. For if we live according to the flesh we will DIE(Rom. 8:13).
Let's pray and ask God to help us to confess, turn our back on our sin, and for Him to renew our passion and desire for Him. We must pray and meditate on His Word!

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6:6-9

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
Joshua 1:8

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night." Psalm 1:2

A book that I would recommend for you to read(& I plan on reading again soon) would be "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan about God's love for us and being wildly in love with Him.

The importance of preaching the Gospel to YOURSELF daily

2010-07-09T00:25:00.004-04:00

Hi. I pretty much copied and pasted this from a blog post that I wrote back in September. I am being reminded of how much I need this in my own life, so I wanted to share it again on my blog to also remind you of something so incredible and so important in the Christian life. Please take the time to read this and meditate on the Gospel and what it means to you personally...

These truths that I am posting below are some that have really changed my life. Over these past YEAR I have especially been drawn closer to the Lord in realizing more fully all aspects of the Gospel and what it REALLY means. As I think about what Christ did for me, I can't help but want to pour out my life to Him. In remembering these things daily, I am filled more and more with a passion to love and obey God and resist temptations that come across my path.
So I have found that as is preached in the sermon which I have taken notes from and posted below, and also in the book that I am mentioning in this note how important it is for us as Christians to preach to ourselves daily the Gospel.
Please take the time to read through this and buy the book if you are able because it is such an awesome tool designed to get you "launched in preaching the Gospel to yourself and rehearsing its benefits."

NOTES TAKEN FROM A SERMON BY PASTOR JOHN PIPER
The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ the righteous one died for our sins and rose again eternally triumphant over all of His enemies so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe but only everlasting joy.
That's the Gospel!
You never never NEVER outgrow your need for the Gospel!!!
Don't ever think of the Gospel as that's the way you get saved and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else.
No. We are strengthened by God every day through the Gospel till the day we drop.

You never outgrow your need to preach to yourself the Gospel.

1 Thessalonians 5:9,10
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him."

Don't try to be strong in your own strength. It WILL NOT be there when you need it. Only one strength will be there when you need it- the strength that God gives according to the Gospel.
Don't put it off.
--------------------------

Also I am HIGHLY recommending this book for all believers to have! It is so good!!!
The name of it is "A Gospel Primer for Christians." It's written by Milton Vincent. This book gives reasons why we should rehearse the Gospel daily and then gives and overview of the Gospel in several different forms including poetry and prose. Throughout the book it has noted the verses that go along with each statement in the book. It is loaded with Scripture!

If you have any questions or comments, let me know.
May God bless you and encourage and strengthen you as you capture the meaning of preaching to yourself daily the Gospel!

To Know Him

2010-06-07T22:07:00.005-04:00

"Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26

I begin with these particular verses on a post about knowing God because how can we really truly pursue a knowledge of our Lord without a desire for Him? He puts this desire in our hearts and will fulfill that desire as we seek Him and draw near to Him finding our fulfillment and satisfaction in Him alone. Probably the most popular quoted John Piper line would be, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
I hope that as I share on my blog what the Lord has laid on my heart personally, that it will also bless those who read it and encourage you to really desire Him more and to really treasure Him and count everything as loss compared to knowing Him.
A line from another one of my favorite songs came to mind just now as I am wrapping up this post by adding all of this at the beginning:
"Knowing You Jesus, knowing You. There is no greater thing."
The Lord is really shaping my heart to make this statement true in my own life. I pray that He will do the same in yours because there is truly nothing better in life...absolutely nothing.

"We cannot know Him unless He speaks and tells us about Himself. But in fact He has spoken. He has spoken to and through His prophets and apostles, and He has spoken in the words and deeds of His Son. Through this revelation, which is made available to us in holy Scripture, we may form a true notion of God; without it we never can." J.I. Packer
This is our only source. We must study our Bibles and meditate upon Scripture.

"People who know their God are before anything else people who pray." J.I. Packer

"What were we made for? To know God.
What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God.
What is the "eternal life" that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God.("This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3)
What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and contentment than anything else? Knowledge of God.
("Thus says the LORD, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23,24)" -Packer

“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 6:3

Knowing God...really knowing God...It's more than knowing about Him.
"Taste and see that the LORD is good." Psalm 34:8a
You cannot know the real quality of something until you have tasted it!
And I have learned from experience that this world has nothing to offer.
Once you get even a small taste of the LORD, nothing else will ever satisfy. You will only want more of Him.

Philippians 3:7-10
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
OH THAT I WOULD KNOW HIM!

This is one of my favorite songs by casting crowns that fits this post just perfectly(scroll down to the bottom for a video of the song). Think about how true the words of this song are and ask God to make them true to your heart.
To know Him is to want to know Him more!!!

"To Know You"
By Casting Crowns

To know You is to never worry for my life
To know You is to never give into compromise and
To know You is to want to tell the world about You
‘Cause I can’t live without You

To know You is to hear Your voice when You are calling
To know You is to catch my brother when he is falling
To know You is to feel the pain of the brokenhearted
‘Cause they can’t live without You

More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I’m reaching for, I live my life to know You more
I leave it all behind, You’re all that satisfies
To know You is to want to know You more
To know You is to want to know You more

To know You is to ache for more than ordinary
To know You is to look beyond the temporary
To know You is believing that You’ll be enough
‘Cause there’s no life without You

All this life could offer me
Could not compare to You, compare to You
And I count it all as loss
Compared to knowing You, knowing You

All this life could offer me
Could not compare to You, compare to You
And I count it all as loss
Compared to knowing You, knowing You

And I count it all as loss
Compared to knowing You, knowing You

Thy way, not mine, O Lord

2010-05-25T00:14:00.002-04:00

The previous entry that I posted was a song by Kutless called "I'm Still Yours".

If you have opportunity, take the time now to read the lyrics. It's a pretty powerful song that I was introduced to on a trip to TN a few weekends ago to see my little sister graduate. At the time when I first heard the song, the Lord was really molding this piece of clay for His use by way of a rough situation in my life. I was realizing at the time that even if I knew that God was taking my very life from me, that I would still be lifting my hands and praising Him because He's the one who gave me my very life and all of the things in it. My faith was truly being strengthened, and I have found that God uses the most difficult times in our lives to draw us even nearer to Himself. Because of this, I have (believe it or not) found myself asking Him for suffering and for trials if that is what it will take for me to stay near to Him and grow stronger in my faith.

God has not hesitated to answer my prayers for difficult times. And now amidst another difficult moment, I am reminded that I ASKED GOD FOR THIS. I did. So I praise you Lord for being a God who gives and takes away.
And I am reminded of Psalm 23 where David says,
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
He is with me! And there is no place else that I would rather be than near to my Heavenly Father.

And so, I am reminded of a favorite song that I enjoy listening to when I find myself really wanting something and not quite giving it to the Lord. I think of Jesus in the Garden when He prayed, "Not my will but Yours." May we make this our prayer as well because His will is so much greater than ours and He knows us so much better than we know ourselves and has only good planned no matter what we are going through even when it seems dark.
We need only to give ourselves to Him...our desires, our hopes, our dreams, our plans, our decisions, our futures, our everything. And He will bless.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." -Romans 12:1

Thy way, not mine, O Lord
However dark it be
Lead me by Thine own hand
Choose out the path for me, for me

Smooth let it be or rough
It will still be the best
Winding or straight, it leads
Right onward to Thy rest

I dare not choose my lot
I would not, if I might

Choose Thou for me, my God
So I can walk aright

Take Thou my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill
As best to Thee may seem
Choose Thou my good and ill

Not mine, not mine the choice
In all things great or small
Be Thou my guide, my strength
My wisdom and my all, my wisdom and my all

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Worship

If I Lost it All

2010-05-21T00:02:00.002-04:00

I'm Still Yours
by Kutless

If You washed away my vanity
If You took away my words
If all my world was swept away
Would You be enough for me?
Would my beating heart still sing?

If I lost it all
Would my hands stay lifted
To the God who gives and takes away

If You take it all
This life You've given
Still my heart will sing to You

When my life is not what I expected
The plans I made have failed
When there's nothing left to steal me away
Will You be enough for me?
Will my broken heart still sing?

If I lost it all
Would my hands stay lifted
To the God who gives
And takes away

If You take it all
This life You've given
Still my heart
Will sing to You

Even if You take it all away
You’ll never let me go
Take it all away
But I still know

That I'm Yours
I'm still Yours

I am Nothing

2010-05-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

I Am Nothing
by Jeremy Camp

Seems I'm always in this place,
Where the things I seem to take,
Are the things I wish would fade
I always purpose in my heart,
To do things the right way,
Then I realize I'm still clay
And this piece that's being shaped,
Will be a beauty You create

I am nothing without Your love
I'm unworthy but Your death has been enough
I'm completed by Your touch,
But I feel like I've been given so much
So I thank You,
I thank You

I wouldn't even face,
All the troubles of the day,
If it wasn't for Your grace
Sometimes I even wait,
To see if I'm awake,
Seems so good I can't relate
And Your every word I crave,
And I'm grateful for every breath I take

I am nothing without Your love
I'm unworthy but Your death has been enough
I'm completed by Your touch,
But I feel like I've been given so much
So I thank You,
I thank You

When feeling all my shame,
You won't let it stay,
I sail away into Your love

I'm taking every day,
To give my life away,
It's the only way I know

I am nothing without Your love
I'm unworthy but Your death has been enough
I'm completed by Your touch,
But I feel like I've been given so much
I am nothing without Your love

You are everything
So I thank You,
I thank You
Lord, I thank You
Thank You

PSALM 42

2010-05-01T03:02:00.002-04:00

Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.

8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”

10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

Looking back and reaching forward

2010-04-24T15:10:00.006-04:00

Today I have had some time to read back in many of my old journals. If you aren't a journaler, I would highly encourage it. I have found that journaling is a beautiful way to write out my thoughts and prayers to the Lord. I like to keep track of the things that He is teaching me each day and what He is doing in my life.
I have kept a journal since before high school, so I have quite a few. It has been interesting to see how much I have grown over the years and see what God was doing at particular times in my life.
I want to share a poem that I found in an entry at the end of 2003. I believe that my knowledge of God at the time was mainly head knowledge. I understood a lot of the Bible having been raised in a Christian home, as well as having attended 2 years of Bible college, but my heart wasn't yet completely His.

journal entry 12/28/03:
I can write on these pages so easily and freely. I can't talk to anyone this way. I don't know if I ever will.

I feel as if I'm just existing.

EXISTING AM I

Existing am I
Here on this earth
Knowing how little
My life has been worth
Not much was accomplished
As years have flown by
And that's just it
Existing am I

Only God can prove to me
Why I'm on earth
Only God can truly show
How much I am worth
He did in fact already
By sending His Son
That I could exist
May His will be done

At the time of writing this I can remember just being "stuck" in habitual sinful patterns and feeling depressed.
We are here on earth more than just to exist. It has taken me years to understand what this really means...and I am still learning every day. I thank God that there is more to life than merely "existing" or just surviving from one day to the next. I also thank Him for saving me and giving me eternal life. To think that Jesus Christ came to die that I might be saved truly does show me how much I am worth to God! Now, by His grace and with His strength, I am able (among many other things) to love Him, live for Him, serve Him, praise His name, and give Him glory!
The old has gone, the new has come.(2 Cor. 5:17)
"One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead."(Phil. 3:13b)

If you don't yet know Him,
come to Jesus Christ. He is everything and all you will ever need.
Today is the day of salvation!(2 Cor. 6:2)

"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

2010-04-23T21:12:00.003-04:00

The Lord used this Psalm to encourage my heart this morning. As you read it, think about what it means to you personally as you are reminded of what the Lord has done for you.

PSALM 103

A Psalm of David.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;

3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;

4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;

5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

6 The LORD performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

14 For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.

17 But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,

18 To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.

19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.

20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!

21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.

22 Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Verse 2 says to “forget none of His benefits.” The following verse begins with the “benefit” of His forgiveness of sins. I love how David starts out with this because forgiveness of sins is of greatest importance. If we had everything but God’s forgiveness, we would have nothing worthwhile. But if we DO have God’s forgiveness then everything else is promised (as we also find in Romans 8:32). All of these undeserved gifts are from the Lord and we see His character in verse 8 which we also find in Exodus 34, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin…” It is especially beautiful to me to think of the Lord’s forgiveness. I love verse 10 which talks about how He hasn’t dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquity. He doesn’t give us what we actually deserve! As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (vs 12). Thank you Father!

How sweet to think about God as our Father having compassion on His children (vs 13). He knows our frame, He knows we are but dust and that our days are like grass (vs 14,15). But His lovingkindness is from everlasting to everlasting (vs 17)! So for those of us who FEAR HIM it says that God’s lovingkindness is forever. He is sovereignly ruling from His throne on high(vs 19) and is faithful to all of His promises.

Oh Lord that I may fear You and tell of Your wondrous works. Thank You for such promises in Your Word. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

What do we deserve?

2010-04-08T09:02:00.000-04:00

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." Ephesians 1:3

I wanted to share something from Milton Vincent's book, "A Gospel Primer."
"A Gospel Primer" is a book that focuses 100% on the Gospel reminding us how we need to preach the Gospel to ourselves every day to be centered on what Christ has done for us that we may experience the life-transforming power that comes from the work of the Gospel in our own hearts as Christians.

We NEED to meditate on the Gospel and preach it to ourselves. We never outgrow our need for it! We cannot be strong in our own strength. The only strength that will be there when we need it is the strength that comes from the Gospel.

What I wanted to share here reminds us of what we actually deserve from God, and in remembering this we can only be grateful for what we do have even if it doesn't seem to be fair to us at the time. We are told to give thanks in all circumstances(1 Thess. 5:18), and how can we not when we are focusing on the Gospel and being reminded of what we actually deserve and would be receiving had it not been for God's love for us in sending Christ Jesus to die on the cross for us to bear upon Himself the wrath that we deserve.
Thank you Lord Jesus!

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him." 1 Thess. 5:9,10
"and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." 1 Thess. 1:10

I pray that this encourages us all in the Lord as we face the difficulties and the blessings of our day.

"A Gospel Primer" by Milton Vincent
-Thankfulness Enriched by Relief

The more absorbed I am in the Gospel, the more grateful I become in the midst of my circumstances, whatever they may be.

Viewing life's blessings as water in a drinking cup, I know that I could discontentedly focus on the half of the cup that seems empty, or I could gratefully focus on the half that is full. Certainly, the latter approach is the better of the two, yet the Gospel cultivates within me a richer gratitude than this.

The Gospel reminds me first that what I actually deserve from God is a full cup churning with the torments of His wrath. This is the cup that would be mine to drink if I were given what I deserve each day. With this understanding in mind, I see that to be handed a completely empty cup from God would be cause enough for infinite gratitude. If there were merely the tiniest drop of blessing contained in that otherwise cup, I should be blown away by the unbelievable kindness of God toward me. That God, in fact, has given me a cup that is full of "every spiritual blessing in Christ" and this without the slightest admixture of wrath, leaves me truly dumbfounded with inexpressible joy. As for my specific earthly circumstances of plenty of want, I can see them always as infinite improvements on the hell I deserve.

When I look at any circumstance that God apportions me, I am first grateful for the wrath I am not receiving in that moment (The empty part of the cup never looked so good!). Second, I am grateful for the blessings that are given me instead of His wrath. (Life's blessings, however small always appear exceedingly precious when viewed against the backdrop of the wrath I deserve.) This two-layered gratitude disposes my heart to give thanks in all things and it also lends a certain intensity to my giving of thanks. Such a Gospel-generated gratitude glorifies God, contributes to my peace of mind, and keeps my foot from the path of foolishness and ruin.

The mark of a Godly person

2010-04-03T19:40:00.003-04:00

UNGODLINESS

In his book “Respectable Sins”, Jerry Bridges talks about how he believes that ungodliness is the root cause of our other sins.

I would like to share just some of what he speaks about in this particular chapter on “the sin of ungodliness” in his book.

He says that we’re all guilty to some degree of being ungodly.

As a Christian, we don’t normally think of ourselves as being ungodly.
Ungodliness describes an attitude towards God.
Ungodliness may be defined as living one’s everyday life with little or no thought of God, or God’s will, or of God’s glory, or of one’s dependence on God.
The sad fact is that many of us who are believers tend to live our daily lives with little or no thought of God. We may even read our Bibles and pray for a few minutes at the beginning of each day, but then we go out into the day’s activities and basically live as though God doesn’t exist. We seldom think of our dependence on God or our responsibility to Him. We might go for hours with little or no thought of God at all.
We make our plans without recognizing our utter dependence on God to carry them out. That is one expression of ungodliness.

All of life is to be lived out in the presence of God with an eye pleasing to Him.
Everything we do is to be done to the glory of God. That is the mark of a Godly person.

1 Cor. 10:31 “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

What, then, does it mean to do all to the glory of God? It means that I eat and drive and shop and engage in my social relationships with a twofold goal. First, I desire that all that I do be pleasing to God. I want God to be pleased with the way I go about ordinary activities of my day. So I pray prospectively over the day before me, asking that the Holy Spirit will so direct my thoughts, words, and actions that they will be pleasing to God. Second, to do all to the glory of God means that I desire that all my activities of an ordinary day will honor God before other people.

Matthew 5:16 “"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

If everyone you interact with in the course of an ordinary day knows that you trust in Christ as Savior and Lord, would your words and actions glorify God before them?
How far do we go in a positive direction to seek to glorify God before others? Do we consciously and prayerfully seek His glory in all we say and do in our most ordinary activities of the day? Or do we actually go about those activities with little or no thought of God?

For the Godly person, God is the center and focal point of his or her life. Every circumstance and every activity of life, whether in the temporal or spiritual realms, is viewed through the lens of this God-centeredness. However, such a God-centeredness can be developed only in the context of an ever-growing intimate relationship with God. No one can genuinely desire to please God or glorify Him apart from such a relationship.

1 Timothy 4:7b “…discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.”

Our goal in the pursuit of Godliness should be to grow more in our conscious awareness that every moment of our lives is lived in the presence of God; that we are responsible to Him and dependent on Him. This goal would include a growing desire to please Him and glorify Him in the most ordinary activities of life.

God is mine, and everything is mine.

2010-03-29T20:02:00.005-04:00

Read these passages of Scripture and then what I have posted taken from "Knowing God" by J.I. Packer. This is God's covenant promise to Abraham which is also promised to those of us who are his descendants and "heirs according to promise" through our faith in Christ Jesus.

Take time to really meditate on what this means for you personally as a child of God. Praise and thank God for all that He is and all that He promises through His Son! We have all hope in Jesus and can live a victorious life all because of Him! Behold our King!

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise."
Galatians 3:26-29 (Nasb.)

"Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.
I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.'
Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,
'As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations.
No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.
I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.'"
Genesis 17:1-7 (Nasb.)

All Christians inherit this promise through faith in Christ. What does it mean? It contains everything. "This is the first and fundamental promise," declares Sibbes, the Puritan; indeed, it is the life and soul of all the promises." Brooks, another Puritan, opens it up as follows:

That is as if He said, "You shall have as true an interest in all My attributes for your good, as they are Mine for My own glory...My grace," saith God, "shall be yours to pardon you, and My power shall be yours to protect you, and My wisdom shall be yours to direct you, and My goodness shall be yours to relieve you, and My mercy shall be yours to supply you, and My glory shall be yours to crown you." This is a comprehensive promise, for God to be our God: it includes all. "God is mine, and everything is mine," said Luther.

Strength lies in prayer

2010-03-13T20:28:00.007-05:00

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” - Psalm 126:6.

We must go fresh from the mercy-seat to the field of service if we would gather plenteously. Our truest strength lies in prayer. I am persuaded, brethren, that we are losing much of blessing which might come upon the church through our negligence in private supplications. I cannot pry into your prayer-closets, but I believe that in the conscience of many of you, there will be an affirmative voice to the change I lay against some of you; ye have restrained prayer before God. Your restraining of prayer, if you seek to serve God, is binding your own hands and cutting the sinews of your strength. As you could not expect to be vigorous if you denied yourselves food, so neither can you hope to be strong if you deny yourselves prayer. Get close to God, for strength flows out of him. Keep at a distance from him, and you lose all power and become weak as water. “He that goeth forth,” must mean, then, that he has stood before the mercy-seat, that he has told out the story of his wants where the blood is sprinkled, and then has gone forth in the power which prayer alone can bring from heaven to scatter his precious seed among men.
(The Daily Spurgeon)

I am currently focusing a lot on studying prayer and asking the Lord to strengthen my prayer life and to teach me to pray. It began with a cry out to God to increase my faith. I have found that my faith has grown by reading and meditating upon the Word of God, but even more so that faith thrives in the atmosphere of prayer.
God wants us to pray to show our trust in Him and dependence upon Him. I have come to see just how much prayer is a means of increasing my trust greatly in the Lord as I lean on Him, wait for Him, and watch as He answers my prayers. Prayer also has brought me into deeper fellowship with Him that I have never before experienced. I see that I have a long journey of growth ahead of me, and it's quite an exciting adventure getting to know the Lord in a way that I never thought possible for myself.
Prayer for the Lord to increase your faith is a great way to start! Then it's time we do our part in seeking the Lord, studying Scripture, and devoting ourselves to prayer.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2
The Lord longs for us to seek Him, and will enable us to do so if we desire Him and ask Him to help us and to increase our faith.
I like how Spurgeon put it, "Get close to God, for strength flows out of Him." I have experienced this(only by His grace) and know how true it is. There is nothing better in life than knowing God!

"The man who would know God must spend time with Him." A.W. Tozer

All I Have Is Christ

2010-03-07T16:18:00.012-05:00

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26

We sang this song during our worship today in church. The lyrics are beautiful. Please take the time to listen to this video, and may the words be your prayer as well!

“All I Have Is Christ”
By Jordan Kauflin

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will.
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still.

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross.
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me.
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose.
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Nearer than ever to home!

2010-02-25T19:52:00.001-05:00

You have been nearly shipwrecked, but you are not wrecked. The storm has been very furious, but above all the billows Jehovah’s power has kept and preserved you. Your feet had almost gone, your steps had well nigh slipped, but the divine power interposed in everlasting grace, and to this day - a wonder unto many, but especially a wonder to yourself - you are still on the road towards the celestial city, and you are nearer to it than when you first believed.

(Charles Spurgeon- The Daily Spurgeon)

CLING to the Bible!

2010-02-21T21:22:00.003-05:00

I got this from a sermon I listened to today. I was reminded again just how very important it is for us as believers to be in God's Word constantly and to be meditating on it day and night. I have learned the hard way how easy it is to stumble even over the smallest things when I neglect to spend time in the Scriptures. So brothers and sisters, cling to the Word of God and allow Him through it to renew, mold, and shape your every thought and decision in life rather than being conformed to the world that surrounds you.

We don’t live in a culture that is friendly to Christianity…
It’s demonic, earthly, & sensual and wants to rip to shreds everything that has to do with the bride of Jesus Christ.
If we don’t cling to the Bible- we’re gone.

We are vulnerable to defeat and injury if we do not arm ourselves with the Gospel from head to toe- DAILY!

Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."

2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Joshua 1:8 ""This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."

Oh, To Have A Grateful Heart!

2010-02-05T19:49:00.008-05:00

Recently the Lord has really been reminding me again of all that He has blessed me with. I read Leslie Ludy's book, "The Lost Art of True Beauty" over my vacation last week and found it to be really good and very Christ-centered (as are all of the Ludy books). It was helpful for me at this time to be reminded of what really matters in this life and how important it is to be beautiful in God's eyes and to be completely consumed with only Him above all else- caught up in Him alone- living a life fully surrendered to Jesus Christ.
I really wanted to share this small section of the book that really spoke to my heart about having a heart of gratitude.
As you read this, I pray the Lord speaks to your heart as well about all that He has blessed you with. The most precious gift that He has given is the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ- and that alone should stop us in our tracks the moment we feel the temptation to grumble and complain about some earthly struggle or inconvenience.
Thank You Heavenly Father for the cross and for Your many blessings promised to us because of Jesus Christ. Every day is an opportunity to discover more of You!

Cultivating Gratitude from "The Lost Art of True Beauty" by Leslie Ludy:

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:14,15)

And yet, how many of us think nothing of griping and complaining when things don't turn out exactly as we want? As Americans, we've been trained to "demand our rights." The message, "Get what you deserve! Fight for what you want! Have it your way!" is all around us. And all too often, we fall for it.
We believe we are entitled to comforts, security, money, popularity, and happiness, all the while forgetting we are utterly undeserving of even the very least of God's amazing blessings. Instead of being flooded with gratitude for everything He's done for us, we become sullen, depressed, or demanding when any of our "rights" are threatened. We are all too much like the nine healed lepers who never returned to give thanks to God:

When He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine- where are they?"Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:14-18)

Like the nine ungrateful lepers, we take the benefits and blessings of Christ and then go our way, entirely forgetting that everything we have comes from Him, that we deserve nothing but death, yet He has given us life.
We must live each day in light of the cross. When we remember the unfathomable sacrifice our heroic Lord has made for us, we are far less apt to gripe, complain, whine, and demand. Rather, we live in humble awe of the incredible gift of what He has done. We shine with gratitude and thanks. We radiate with the beauty and jubilance of someone who's been given a second chance at life. Petty gripes and complaints no longer seem important in light of His immeasurable gift to us.

How Beautiful

2010-01-31T17:37:00.002-05:00

How beautiful are the arms which have embraced Christ,
the hands which have touched Christ,
the eyes which have gazed upon Christ,
the lips which have spoken with Christ,
the feet which have followed Christ.
How beautiful are the hands which have worked the works of Christ,
the feet which treading in His footsteps have gone about doing good,
the lips which have spread abroad His name,
the lives which have been counted lost for Him.

-Christina Rosetti

PeAcE

2010-01-11T21:23:00.004-05:00

In Acceptance Lieth Peace

by Amy Carmichael

He said, “I will forget the dying faces;
The empty places,
They shall be filled again.
O voices moaning deep within me, cease.”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in forgetting lieth peace.

He said, “I will crowd action upon action,
The strife of faction
Shall stir me and sustain;
O tears that drown the fire of manhood, cease.”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in endeavor lieth peace.

He said, “I will withdraw me and be quiet,
Why meddle in life’s riot?
Shut be my door to pain.
Desire, thou dost befool me, thou shalt cease.”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in aloofness lieth peace.

He said, “I will submit; I am defeated.
God hath depleated
My life of its rich gain.
O futile murmurings, why will ye not cease?”
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in submission lieth peace.

He said, “I will accept the breaking sorrow
Which God tomorrow
Will to His son explain.”
Then did the turmoil deep within him cease.
Not vain the word, not vain;
For in acceptance lieth peace.

"Whatever your circumstances, and however difficult they may be, the truth is that they are ordained by God for you as part of His overall plan for your life. God does nothing, or allows nothing, without a purpose. And His purposes, however mysterious and inscrutable they may be to us, are always for His glory and our ultimate good." -Jerry Bridges

Lord, I am willing to-
Receive what You give,
Lack what You withold,
Relinquish what You take.

YESTERDAY

2009-12-31T07:57:00.004-05:00

(today's reading from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers)

Yesterday
You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard —Isaiah 52:12

Security from Yesterday. ". . . God requires an account of what is past" ( Ecclesiastes 3:15 ). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.

Security for Tomorrow. ". . . the Lord will go before you . . . ." This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our "rear guard." And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.

Security for Today. "You shall not go out with haste . . . ." As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.

----------------------

Funny thing…I posted this just before I headed out for work this morning. I was planning to add more to it but didn’t quite have the time. Well, in my hurry to get to work on time I rushed out the door. It was raining and sleeting this morning (as I had already been warned by my sister about the slipperiness of it all and to take my time going to work because the roads were icy). Well, there I went out the door rushing to my car because I hadn’t left as early as I’d originally planned. My bags in one hand and umbrella in the other…in my heels, I stepped onto the sidewalk and bam! My rear end hits the ground and my umbrella flips inside out. It wasn’t painful, but rather funny in my mind knowing how silly I must’ve looked. Perhaps God is the only one who was watching, but He also was speaking to me as well. SLOW DOWN. YOU SHALL NOT GO OUT WITH HASTE…Another reminder from the Lord straight to me.

God has been using my current circumstances to teach me to wait on Him. He’s been strengthening my faith through struggles; and I can’t say I always react as I should in faith and in joy, but God is very patient and loving. When I try to hurry things because I think it must be right or I don’t have time, He lets me “slip on the sidewalk” and reminds me to be still and listen to His voice. The Lord also uses these “slip-ups” to speak to us I believe…We learn from our mistakes as Oswald Chambers said about our yesterdays, “He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future.” In my icy sidewalk situation I was also reminded to take it slow on my way to work so I didn’t end up in a greater predicament like running my car off the road or something much worse than a bent umbrella and a wet bottom. :-)

You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard —Isaiah 52:12

I thought about this particular verse from Isaiah throughout my day and just thanked God for going before me and coming behind me. We may not always understand what He is doing, but He is in control. We must follow His leading as He goes ahead of us as our shepherd. We must let Him back us up as we wait on Him and His timing. He is God. :-) I am so thankful that He is my God! How awesome He is!

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5,6

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." Psalm 18:32

The most wonderful message ever to be heard!

2009-12-09T07:31:00.003-05:00

Another word to you all from my book "Knowing God." I actually read this chapter about God incarnate(in human form) a couple months ago. But it is something that I went back and reread because it has everything to do with the Christmas season for this is what Christmas is all about.
It is all too easy for us to get wrapped up in the world's definition of Christmas when we are surrounded by it every day everywhere we go. Let's take the time to meditate on our Savior and the reason why we even have Christmas and why we as Christians may have true "joy" in our hearts as we celebrate the birth of our Lord. May we be reminded of what it meant for Him to come to earth to die, and let's pray that the Lord will use us to share this hope with others who are in need of salvation.
Merry CHRISTmas!
~

"The Word became flesh." (Jn 1:14) God became man.
The Christmas message rests on the staggering fact that the child in the manger was- GOD.

The baby born at Bethlehem was God made man. The Word had become flesh: a real human baby. He had not ceased to be God; He was no less God than before; but He had begun to be man. He was not now God MINUS some elements of His deity, but God PLUS all that He had made His own by taking manhood to Himself.
ALL THIS WAS FOR OUR SALVATION!

He became poor. We see now what it meant for the Son of God to empty Himself and become poor. It meant laying aside of glory. It meant love to the uttermost for unlovely human beings, that they through His poverty might become rich.
The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity- hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory- because at the Father's will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.

We talk glibly of the "Christmas spirit," rarely meaning more by this than sentimental jollity on a family basis. But what we have said makes it clear that the phrase should carry a tremendous weight of meaning. It ought to mean the reproducing in human lives of the temper of Him who for our sake became poor at the first Christmas. And the Christmas spirit itself ought to be the mark of every Christian all the year round.

The Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor- spending and being spent- to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others- and not just their own friends- in whatever way there seems need.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5

That I may know Him

2009-11-27T21:59:00.006-05:00

I want to share something from a book that I am reading right now by J.I. Packer called "Knowing God."

What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set for ourselves in life? To know God. What is the "eternal life" that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God. "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3) What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and contentment than anything else? Knowledge of God.
"Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD."(Jeremiah 9:23.24)

And Paul says in Philippians,
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death."
Philippians 3:7-10

"Lord take my eyes off this world so I see You. It is my desire to truly know You and to count all else as loss that I may gain Christ!"

ONE PURE AND HOLY PASSION
Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after you
To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in the truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you

"O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:8)

I realize that knowing Him can only happen by spending time with Him and reading His Word and praying for help from the Holy Spirit to interpret His holy Word and draw me to Himself.
We need Him to help us know Him!

There is nothing better in this life than to know Him!

"Oh Lord, that I may know YOU..."

Blessed because He was cursed!

2009-11-14T22:14:00.005-05:00

Numbers 6:24-26
"The LORD bless you, and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace."

This is a blessing that my father uses to bless us as his children before we go to sleep each night(when we are home). It is a privilege to receive this blessing from my dad and also a joy to think that God has and WILL continue to bless me as He has promised in His Word. Tonight I have been reflecting upon the cross of Christ Jesus and the reason that we as His children can even be blessed at all.

Think about this:
(taken from a sermon by Paul Washer on the cross of Christ)
The Lord blessed you because the Lord cursed Him.
The Lord keeps you because the Lord let Him go.
The Lord makes His face shine upon you because the Lord took His presence away from Him.
The Lord is gracious to you because He was just to the one who bore your sin and He crushed Him.
The Lord lifts up His countenance on you because the Lord took His countenance away from Him.

"Every good and perfect gift that we have is a result of a deadly horrid cross that killed Him!"

Wow...I am not sure that I will be able to look at this blessing in the same way anymore. How we need to remember every day what Christ did for us on the cross and how we can only be and we certainly ARE blessed because of Him.
Let us fill our affections with the cross of Christ.

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Corinthians 5:21

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered." Psalm 32:1

He spared not His own Son for me

2009-11-11T22:25:00.004-05:00

I have been working on memorizing Romans chapter 8 at work for some time now. It is a slow process, but I have the first half of the chapter down really well. Today at work I was copying the last part of the chapter from my Bible to an index card to make it easier to look at and review while I am working. Verse 32 especially stood out to me as such an amazing verse. I just love this whole chapter and the whole book of Romans and the whole Bible for that matter :-), but listen to this verse.
Romans 8:32
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Wow. To think about this is so precious to me. If God was able to give up His only Son whom He loved so much for me, then He must really love me. And if He gave up His only Son that I might live, He certainly isn't going to withhold anything else from me. He gives grace and more grace each and every day! If He gave up His Son, how much more has He given and will continue to give! What a promise full of hope for us in so many ways. Salvation is the greatest gift of all, but He doesn't stop there. He continues to offer forgiveness and blessings time and time again.

Thank you dear God for NOT sparing your own Son that I might be spared and that anyone who repents of their sins and believes in Jesus Christ may also have eternal life with You.

Something from Puritan pastor John Flavel:
"'He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all; how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?' (Romans 8:32). How is it imaginable that God should withhold, after this, spirituals or temporals, from His people? How shall He not call them effectually, justify them freely, sanctify them thoroughly, and glorify them eternally? How shall He not clothe them, feed them, protect and deliver them? Surely if He would not spare His own Son one stroke, one tear, one groan, one sigh, one circumstance of misery, it can never be imagined that ever He should, after this, deny or withhold from His people, for whose sakes all this was suffered, any mercies, any comforts, any privilege, spirtual or temporal, which is good for them.

Also Psalm 84:11 tells us this,
"For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly."

When You're In Love

2009-11-05T00:07:00.004-05:00

When you are truly in love, you go to great lengths to be with the one you love. You'll drive for hours to be together, even if it's only for a short while. You don't mind staying up late to talk. Walking in the rain is romantic, not annoying. You'll willingly spend a small fortune on the one you're crazy about. When you are apart from each other, it's painful, even miserable. He or she is all you think about; you jump at any chance to be together.

In his book "God is the Gospel" John Piper essentially asks whether we are in love with God:
The critical question for our generation- and for every generation- is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied in heaven, if Christ was not there?

How many of you will read those words and say, "You know, I just might be okay with that"? If you are deeply in love with God, you know you could never be satisfied in heaven without Christ.

(Taken from "Crazy Love- Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" by Francis Chan)

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands." Psalm 63:1-4

HIS LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE!

"Jesus is Alive" by Shai Linne

2009-10-13T00:25:00.004-04:00

I am not usually into rap music, but Shai Linne has truth-filled and very clearly spoken and such Gospel-presented lyrics. You may not enjoy rap music either, but his lyrics really do make him worth listening to. Check it out!

A stranger in this world desiring a heavenly homeland!

2009-10-01T01:41:00.003-04:00

As I walked from my car across the deserted parking lot toward the bank where I work, I had many thoughts running through my mind. There was a cool breeze blowing on this lovely fall morning. I glanced up at the beautiful blue sky full of fluffy white clouds. Cars zipped by me on the nearby highway...But my mind was elsewhere. I thought about how my time on this earth is so short, and how I am just passing through. I thanked God for my life and how many blessings He has given me and continues to give. God has lately been giving me this inexpressible joy that reaches far beyond the worries and cares that I face each day at Artisans' Bank or elsewhere. A passage from Hebrews crossed my thoughts about halfway to the front door.

"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:13-16

If only I could fully explain the joy that filled my soul as I considered the fact that this world is not my home. I am a stranger on this earth. It's actually quite encouraging to think about that when I realize all of the sin and disgusting things that are going on in this world. To be able to remember that God has prepared something better is something so awesome to rest my hope in when things around me or in the news or whatever can be so disturbing and evil.
I also remembered that the world does not know me because it does not know Him and therefore they can't truly understand why I can be so joyful in the midst of trouble...or how I can be so "nice" even when I am sick and tired. It brought such thankfulness into my heart to think that God has brought me so far along from where I used to be. All to the praise and glory of Himself! It is only by His grace that I am who He has made me to be today. And I hope and pray that He continues to do so each and every day! ("And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Phil 1:6)

These are a few of the verses that are encouraging to believers as we think of who we are in this world and how we don't belong to this world. One day we shall be with our Lord in Heaven. Oh how I long for that day!

"Who gave himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:14
(through Jesus Christ we are delivered from this evil world...though we may be in the world now, we are not of it nor do we belong to it...encouraging to think about even seeing the evil all around us)

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:4,5
(In believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, we overcome the world by our faith. His power is so awesome! And He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think!! (Eph 3:20))

“If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:19
(Considering what this verse says, I almost hope that the world shows it's hatred toward me because that means that they see Him in me. If the world doesn't hate us or dislike us, then we must be doing too much to fit in with them as if we need their approval or acceptance.)

"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." John 17:14-16
(We are NOT of the world. How encouraging to think that Jesus asks for the Father to keep us from the evil one! Though we long for Heaven, we shouldn't forget our purposes that God has given to us while we are here on this earth.)

"Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4
(Am I a "friend" of the world?)

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27
(I actually have this very verse posted right in front of my face at my desk at work! I love it because we are guaranteed to have trials and troubles and tribulations here on earth. But we need not be troubled in our souls because Jesus gives us a peace to get us through these worldly struggles and we need not be afraid of anything this world dumps on our shoulders. The power that God used to raise Christ Jesus from the dead is available today to us as believers. The God of the Bible is still the God of today and He desires to show us that power if we would only trust Him and believe!)

Praying for God's will

2009-09-26T01:11:00.001-04:00

(Taken from Pastor Rick's blog)

Our prayer should seek the will of God (1 John 5:13-15). Powerful prayers are prayers for God’s will. God’s will is found in His Word. God’s will is found by knowing Him richly. How exciting to pray knowing that God is going to grant these requests. When we don’t know what God’s will is, we should acknowledge that (James 4:13-15). This is not a lack of faith, this is humility. Let us pray according to the will of God.

Waiting

2009-09-16T23:07:00.000-04:00

“Waiting is an art form.

There is a kind of waiting that is good for the soul, it builds it stronger, purges it of all trifling thoughts, purifies the expectations, makes one more like Jesus Christ, and builds a mighty faith within.

And there is another kind of waiting that deteriorates the souls, it turns one inward to self-pity, gross imaginations of impending disaster, anxiety and fear, discouragement, and ultimately despair.

Ironically, the decision lies in our court as to which one of these two kinds of waiting we will experience.

The term that best describes this stretch is, “holy expectation.” Our God is doing a wonderful work that all the earth may know that the Almighty Jehovah is faithful and true.”

-Eric Ludy-

"While I'm Waiting"
(lyrics by John Waller)

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

"I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope." -Psalm 130:5

The importance of preaching the Gospel to YOURSELF daily

2009-09-12T18:06:00.000-04:00

These truths that I am posting below are some that have really changed my life. Over these past summer months I have especially been drawn closer to the Lord in realizing more fully all aspects of the Gospel and what it REALLY means. As I think about what Christ did for me, I can't help but want to pour out my life to Him. In remembering these things daily, I am filled more and more with a passion to love and obey God and resist temptations that come across my path.
So I have found that as is preached in the sermon which I have taken notes from and posted below, and also in the book that I am mentioning in this note how important it is for us as Christians to preach to ourselves daily the Gospel.
Please take the time to read through this and buy the book if you are able because it is such an awesome tool designed to get you "launched in preaching the Gospel to yourself and rehearsing its benefits."

NOTES TAKEN FROM A SERMON BY PASTOR JOHN PIPER
The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ the righteous one died for our sins and rose again eternally triumphant over all of His enemies so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe but only everlasting joy.
That's the Gospel!
You never never NEVER outgrow your need for the Gospel!!!
Don't ever think of the Gospel as that's the way you get saved and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else.
No. We are strengthened by God every day through the Gospel till the day we drop.

You never outgrow your need to preach to yourself the Gospel.

1 Thessalonians 5:9,10
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him."

Don't try to be strong in your own strength. It WILL NOT be there when you need it. Only one strength will be there when you need it- the strength that God gives according to the Gospel.
Don't put it off.
--------------------------

I am HIGHLY recommending this book for all believers to have! It is so good!!!
The name of it is "A Gospel Primer for Christians." It's written by Milton Vincent. This book gives reasons why we should rehearse the Gospel daily and then gives and overview of the Gospel in several different forms including poetry and prose. Throughout the book it has noted the verses that go along with each statement in the book.
If you have any questions or comments, let me know.
And God bless you and encourage and strengthen you as you capture the meaning of preaching to yourself daily the Gospel!
Love,
Rachel