O LORD, make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah (Ps 37:4-5)
After a lengthy pause, I feel compelled to write again because I realize more than ever that my time and opportunities to exalt Jesus are short and few. The Spirit is pressing, always pressing, so I must avail myself of every outlet He places in my life. And, the events of the past week have cemented in my mind that waiting on or depending on others to carry the ball that God expects me to carry is foolish and sinful.
The ache of my heart is that we would all know and grasp (deep in our hearts) that the gospel must drive everything we do. And the gospel must be explicit (kudos to Matt Chandler Explicit Gospel). Jesus, fully God and fully man, perfect in every way and deserving only God's favor and blessing, took on our rebellion and sin and unrighteousness. He hung on the Cross. He absorbed God's just and holy wrath. He endured true separation from his infinitely loving Father. All of this was on our behalf. We, through no effort or merit of our own received forgiveness and peace and reconciliation. We are no longer rebels or traitors or slaves. We are sons and daughters because of the grace of God manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. In short, Jesus died so that we might live.
Everything (no hyperbole here) hangs on this. How I think, how I act, how I love & treat Sally, how I parent my kids, how I do my job all need to flow from the truth and the reality of the gospel in my life. If it doesn't, its a game and a sham. The same goes for how we do church and how we approach ministry. Church is not an add on to the gospel. It must be an outflow and direct expression of the gospel. Our ministries should not be something we do simply because we know the gospel is true. They should be fed and fueled and be a profound picture of the grace of Christ and the mercy of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
I cannot promise the future frequency of these posts, simply because I want them to be prayerfully considered and Spirit driven. Above all, I want them to be gospel centered, Christ exalting, and God honoring. And, by God's grace, they will be a blessing to any who may read them.
To God Alone be the Glory
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
He's Alive!
Take a moment to pause and consider how much of our faith and life depends on these two words:
He's Alive!
Have a great a glorious Easter!
To God Alone be the Glory.
-------------------------
Alive - Natalie Grant
Who but You, could breathe and leave a trail of galaxies and dream of me?
What kind of Love is writing my story till the end with Mercy’s pen?
Only You.
What kind of king would choose to wear a crown that bleeds and scars to win my heart?
What kind of Love tells me I’m the reason He can’t stay inside the grave?
You. Is it You? Standing here before my eyes, every part of my heart cries
Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! Alive! Hallelujah, Risen Lord, the only One I fall before
I am His because He is alive.
Who could speak, and send the demons back from where they came with just one Name?
What other heart would let itself be broken every time till He healed mine?
You. Only You could turn my darkness into dawn; running right into Your arms
Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! Alive! Hallelujah, Risen Lord, the only One I fall before
I am His because He is
Emmanuel, the promised King the baby who made angels sing
Son of Man who walked with us, healing, breathing in our dust
The author of all history, the answer to all mysteries
The Lamb of God who rolled away, the stone in front of every grave
Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! I am His because He is alive.
Alive!
He's Alive!
Have a great a glorious Easter!
To God Alone be the Glory.
-------------------------
Alive - Natalie Grant
Who but You, could breathe and leave a trail of galaxies and dream of me?
What kind of Love is writing my story till the end with Mercy’s pen?
Only You.
What kind of king would choose to wear a crown that bleeds and scars to win my heart?
What kind of Love tells me I’m the reason He can’t stay inside the grave?
You. Is it You? Standing here before my eyes, every part of my heart cries
Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! Alive! Hallelujah, Risen Lord, the only One I fall before
I am His because He is alive.
Who could speak, and send the demons back from where they came with just one Name?
What other heart would let itself be broken every time till He healed mine?
You. Only You could turn my darkness into dawn; running right into Your arms
Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! Alive! Hallelujah, Risen Lord, the only One I fall before
I am His because He is
Emmanuel, the promised King the baby who made angels sing
Son of Man who walked with us, healing, breathing in our dust
The author of all history, the answer to all mysteries
The Lamb of God who rolled away, the stone in front of every grave
Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! I am His because He is alive.
Alive!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Why Don't We Talk Like This?
But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me (Gal 1:15-16)
Is it just me, or do we who are disciples of Christ have a hard time talking like Paul? Our words, our tones, our attitudes all seem to point in the opposite direction of what Paul's is saying. He is continually pointing to Christ. We like to point more to ourselves than to the Father or the Son or the Spirit.
I will admit that God is not absent from our vocabulary. But seriously reflect on how you speak about Jesus or the Spirit or our Father. I'm guessing it is usually in reference to yourself. "God helped me get through this crisis. The Spirit anointed me to preach a great sermon. The Father allowed me to perceive the truth of this passage" All of these thoughts are fine, as far as they go, but in each one, I am the center and God rotates around me.
Maybe today we need to begin to put God back in the center of our lives. Maybe today we can begin to give Him the glory He rightly deserves. Maybe today we can begin to see, and articulate that we rotate around Him and anything we do or say or think is at His good pleasure and by His magnificent grace.
To God Alone be the Glory
Is it just me, or do we who are disciples of Christ have a hard time talking like Paul? Our words, our tones, our attitudes all seem to point in the opposite direction of what Paul's is saying. He is continually pointing to Christ. We like to point more to ourselves than to the Father or the Son or the Spirit.
I will admit that God is not absent from our vocabulary. But seriously reflect on how you speak about Jesus or the Spirit or our Father. I'm guessing it is usually in reference to yourself. "God helped me get through this crisis. The Spirit anointed me to preach a great sermon. The Father allowed me to perceive the truth of this passage" All of these thoughts are fine, as far as they go, but in each one, I am the center and God rotates around me.
Maybe today we need to begin to put God back in the center of our lives. Maybe today we can begin to give Him the glory He rightly deserves. Maybe today we can begin to see, and articulate that we rotate around Him and anything we do or say or think is at His good pleasure and by His magnificent grace.
To God Alone be the Glory
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Stones to Flesh?
And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” (Ezk 37:3)
I recently read about the stirring of the gospel in Iran. Could there be a harder place for the gospel to penetrate? Yet, God's words in Ezk 37 and John 3 should constantly remind us that the Spirit moves where He wills. He can put flesh on the driest of bones and He can breathe life into the deadest of men.
Can we each pause here and consider our own spiritual journeys? Where has God breathed life into your spiritual deadness and brought light into your spiritual darkness? Praise Him! Thank Him! Explode with joy over what you have graciously received without any action of your own (You & I contribute as much as dried bones in the desert).
Now, can we turn the corner and plead with God to do it again? We all have situations or scenarios (Iran, for example, or the abortion epidemic, or the salvation of a spouse or parent or child) where everything seems hopeless. If we are spiritually alive, the Spirit is pressing on you, in some way, to cry out to God for something that is beyond hope for the expansion and extension of the kingdom of Christ. If you are unsure where to start, maybe you can begin with Lk 11:13.
Father, we need you more today than ever before. We need the gospel to be real to us today. Take the scales off of our eyes and help us to see, really see, the greatness and the goodness of all that Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross. And, I plead that you would give us fuller access to the Spirit in alignment with Jesus' promise in Lk 11.
Father, there are many things in many lives that appear to be spiritual dead ends. Like the dry bones of Ezekiel, we cannot do anything to make a lasting, permanent change. But you can. You can breathe life into whichever situation you choose. So, we humbly ask that you would consider our situation and glorify yourself so that the gospel of your Son may shine all the brighter. I offer this all in Jesus' name. Amen.
To God Alone be the Glory
I recently read about the stirring of the gospel in Iran. Could there be a harder place for the gospel to penetrate? Yet, God's words in Ezk 37 and John 3 should constantly remind us that the Spirit moves where He wills. He can put flesh on the driest of bones and He can breathe life into the deadest of men.
Can we each pause here and consider our own spiritual journeys? Where has God breathed life into your spiritual deadness and brought light into your spiritual darkness? Praise Him! Thank Him! Explode with joy over what you have graciously received without any action of your own (You & I contribute as much as dried bones in the desert).
Now, can we turn the corner and plead with God to do it again? We all have situations or scenarios (Iran, for example, or the abortion epidemic, or the salvation of a spouse or parent or child) where everything seems hopeless. If we are spiritually alive, the Spirit is pressing on you, in some way, to cry out to God for something that is beyond hope for the expansion and extension of the kingdom of Christ. If you are unsure where to start, maybe you can begin with Lk 11:13.
Father, we need you more today than ever before. We need the gospel to be real to us today. Take the scales off of our eyes and help us to see, really see, the greatness and the goodness of all that Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross. And, I plead that you would give us fuller access to the Spirit in alignment with Jesus' promise in Lk 11.
Father, there are many things in many lives that appear to be spiritual dead ends. Like the dry bones of Ezekiel, we cannot do anything to make a lasting, permanent change. But you can. You can breathe life into whichever situation you choose. So, we humbly ask that you would consider our situation and glorify yourself so that the gospel of your Son may shine all the brighter. I offer this all in Jesus' name. Amen.
To God Alone be the Glory
Monday, March 12, 2012
When there are no words...
O God, you are
my God; earnestly I seek you;
my
soul thirsts for you;
my flesh
faints for you,
as
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the
sanctuary,
beholding
your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is
better than life,
my
lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I
live;
in
your name I will lift up my hands.
My
soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and
my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and
meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and
in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your
right hand upholds me.
To God Alone be the Glory
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Wonderful, Merciful Savior
Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb
Could rescue the souls of men
Oh you rescue the souls of men
Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way
Oh, we hopelessly lost the way
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for
Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/selah/#share
To God Alone be the Glory
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb
Could rescue the souls of men
Oh you rescue the souls of men
Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way
Oh, we hopelessly lost the way
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for
Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/selah/#share
To God Alone be the Glory
Friday, March 9, 2012
Compassion for the unconverted.
We endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. (1 Cor 9:12)
We ought to feel compassion when we think of the wretched state of unconverted souls, and the misery of all men and women who live and die without Christ. No poverty like this poverty! No disease like this disease! No slavery like this slavery! No death like this: death in idolatry, false religion, and sin! Ask ourselves this: Where is the mind of Christ, if we do not feel for the lost? I lay it down boldly, as a great principle, that the Christianity which does not make a person feel for the state of unconverted people is not the Christianity which came down from heaven hundreds of years ago, and is embalmed in the New Testament. It is a mere empty name. -- J.C. Ryle
What can I add to Ryle's words except these two things. First this is part of the heart beat of the whole Bible. Look at Jesus having compassion on on the sheep without a shepherd (Mt 9:36-38) , praying for the recalcitrant Jerusalem (Lk 13:34-35) and inviting all who are weary and heavily ladened to come to him (Mt 11:28-30). Look at Paul, with his whole view of the Church being one of giving up our rights for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom. (1 Cor 9:19:23). Look also at the whole outward spiral of the the book of Acts. Men (and women) were continually taking the gospel out beyond their own borders. This heart beat is summed up in Acts 17:16 and Rom 15:20. On top of this, the OT prophets had the same burden. Ezk 33:11 is but one example.
The second thing is this. I am incredibly convicted. The Spirit has pressed Ryle's words like a knife against my throat. As my heart beats for Christ, does it also beat for His people? And, if it beats for his people, does it beat for the those who are not yet his people? There are many reasons why I fail this test. None of them are legitimate.
Father, in the words of a song I've recently heard, "I want my heart to look like your heart". Allow me to rejoice with those who rejoice in you and grieve with godly grief. Open the eyes of my heart to see the lostness of those who have not yet given their lives to Christ and move me to do what you would have me do to be an ambassador for the kingdom of your Son. Amen.
To God Alone be the Glory
We ought to feel compassion when we think of the wretched state of unconverted souls, and the misery of all men and women who live and die without Christ. No poverty like this poverty! No disease like this disease! No slavery like this slavery! No death like this: death in idolatry, false religion, and sin! Ask ourselves this: Where is the mind of Christ, if we do not feel for the lost? I lay it down boldly, as a great principle, that the Christianity which does not make a person feel for the state of unconverted people is not the Christianity which came down from heaven hundreds of years ago, and is embalmed in the New Testament. It is a mere empty name. -- J.C. Ryle
What can I add to Ryle's words except these two things. First this is part of the heart beat of the whole Bible. Look at Jesus having compassion on on the sheep without a shepherd (Mt 9:36-38) , praying for the recalcitrant Jerusalem (Lk 13:34-35) and inviting all who are weary and heavily ladened to come to him (Mt 11:28-30). Look at Paul, with his whole view of the Church being one of giving up our rights for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom. (1 Cor 9:19:23). Look also at the whole outward spiral of the the book of Acts. Men (and women) were continually taking the gospel out beyond their own borders. This heart beat is summed up in Acts 17:16 and Rom 15:20. On top of this, the OT prophets had the same burden. Ezk 33:11 is but one example.
The second thing is this. I am incredibly convicted. The Spirit has pressed Ryle's words like a knife against my throat. As my heart beats for Christ, does it also beat for His people? And, if it beats for his people, does it beat for the those who are not yet his people? There are many reasons why I fail this test. None of them are legitimate.
Father, in the words of a song I've recently heard, "I want my heart to look like your heart". Allow me to rejoice with those who rejoice in you and grieve with godly grief. Open the eyes of my heart to see the lostness of those who have not yet given their lives to Christ and move me to do what you would have me do to be an ambassador for the kingdom of your Son. Amen.
To God Alone be the Glory
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