Today I am blogging about why I appreciate my pastor in response to Abraham Piper’s offer to enter our pastors into a drawing for a free registration to the Desiring God Pastor’s conference! Good luck Mark!

Why I Appreciate my Pastor

I appreciate Pastor Mark Mullery of Sovereign Grace Church in Fairfax for several reasons:

1. First and foremost I appreciate him because of his dedication in keeping the cross central to all his preaching. He always brings everything back around to the gospel and how to apply it practically in our lives.

2. I appreciate Mark’s expository preaching.

3. Mark’s incredible humility is evidence of God’s grace at work in his life and the life of our church. When my husband and I visited this church almost 5 years ago we were won over by the humility of not only Mark but the rest of the pastors as well. Mark models humility and it trickles down to the rest of the staff and into the body of believers that go there. When we first began to attend this church we were taken aback by the kindness of the people who went there. At first we attributed it to the fact that we were new. Then, I uncharitably assumed it wasn’t real. As time wore on I realized that this kindness was indeed real, it was evidence of God’s grace at work in this church and that it was modeled and taught from Mark and through the rest of the pastoral team.

4. When I tell Mark I feel so blessed to be part of this church he says, “Me too!” He loves his church!

5. He regularly and humbly honors members of the pastoral team and members of the church giving glory to God for their service.

6. I appreciate how Mark loves great books of sound doctrine, not for the sake of reading or just to accumulate knowledge but for the purpose of directing our gaze to Jesus and the cross and to Scripture

7. I appreciate Mark’s genuine emotion when he is overtaken by the love of Jesus Christ through the gospel.

8. I appreciate his humble leadership

9. I appreciate that Mark has his fellow pastors preach often.

10. I appreciate all my pastors!! Each brings to the table his own unique gifts.

grumble...grumble...grumble...grumble...grumble...

James 5:9
"Do not GRUMBLE against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door."

grumble = to murmur or mutter in discontent; complain sullenly.

Are there any grumblers out there besides me? Are you like me? If someone annoys me or I get frustrated with someone I may not grumble to their face but I will sometimes go home and grumble to my spouse or to myself! BUT! this scripture clearly warns the believer to NOT grumble ... grumbling is not only complaining or being discontent with someone, it is actually judging someone! I confess that I am a closet grumbler! Sometimes I'm not so closeted about my grumbling!!

I admit to a bit of fear striking my heart as I read this scripture. Even if I committ no other sin (which of course I have), I deserve to be judged on this one alone!!! The scripture is clear that grumbling will bring judgement.

So, what is my hope?

JESUS! He alone is my hope.

I am assured that because I have received Christ and turned to Him in faith and repentance that this sin has been covered by the blood of my Savior and has been forgiven. Jesus has clothed me in HIS righteousness and I can stand before God, not as my judge but as my Father! wow! Romans 8:1 tells us that, "therefore, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus." THIS is GOOD NEWS!

So then, do I continue to grumble because it's been covered by the blood of Jesus? NO! I do not want to trample on grace. I want to turn from this fairly consistent sin in my life but I do so with the help of GOD Himself! I am not a slave to this sin or any other sin in my life because I have been set free from slavery to sin and am now a slave to righteousness. I know that as I surrender to God in humility and repentance that He will change me. I want to serve Jesus by not grumbling and complaining.

oh LORD! I need your help! I don't want to grumble against my brothers and sisters or anyone anymore! Again, it is my tongue that shows what is in my heart. Change my heart oh Lord! I am hopeful and even sure that You are at work in me and I am grateful.

THERE IS A REDEEMER!

by Keith Green

There is a Redeemer,

Jesus, God's own Son,

Precious Lamb of God,

Messiah, Holy One,

Jesus my Redeemer,

Name above all names,

Precious Lamb of God,

Messiah,

Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my Father,

For giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit, '

Til the work on Earth is done.

When I stand in Glory,

I will see His face,

And there I'll serve my King forever,

In that Holy Place.

Thank you oh my Father,

For giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit,

'Til the work on Earth is done.

There is a Redeemer,

Jesus, God's own Son

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Psalm 32: 7
“You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.”

Psalm 143:8
“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

To whom or what do you lift up your soul to?
To fear?
To worry?
To impatience?
To approval of man?
To your children?
To self?
To your husband?
To your finances?
To your hobbies?
To your busy-ness?
To your ministries?
To self?
To food?
To exercise?
To tv?
To books?
To church?
To anger?
To self?
To perfectly clean homes?
To your job?
To health?
To your bible study?
To self?

Do you trust in fear?
In worry?
In impatience?
In the approval of man?
In your children?
In yourself?
In your husband?
In your finances?
In your hobbies?
In your busy-ness?
In your ministries?
In yourself?
In food?
In exercise?
In TV?
In books?
In church?
In anger?
In yourself?
In perfectly clean homes?
In your job?
In health?
In your bible study?
In yourself?

We might look at these and say, “of course not!” .. but do we?
All of the things I mentioned above are good things (well, except fear and worry and anger, impatience…) but are these worthy of lifting up our souls to??? What do you spend your time doing? Do you spend time worrying or when worry comes upon you do you spend your time talking to God about it? Do we trust in our bible studies? Or our pleasant circumstances?

Can you imagine the psalmist singing this:

Pleasant circumstances you are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble, you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

Or

Approval of man you are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble, you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

Or

Self you are my hiding place; I preserve me from trouble, I surround me with shouts of deliverance.

Or

My children you are my hiding place; my children preserve me from trouble, they surround me with shouts of deliverance.

Does your money speak of steadfast love in the morning? How about the approval of man? Or Worry? Do these things loves us steadfastly?

It seems so absurd, doesn’t it ? To insert our pet idol in the place of God in these psalms? Yet isn’t that what we are doing when we bow down to our idols? Aren’t those the things that we sometimes lift up our souls to?

May we be convicted today but not discouraged because the psalmist is praying and he says,
“LET ME HEAR OF YOUR STEADFAST LOVE…” Do you find yourself spending more time thinking about and paying attention to your idols? Ask God.. ask HIM to tell you of His steadfast love! Confess your sin.. repent of it.. ask God for help! He DELIGHTS to give it!! Don’t try and buck yourself up! Ask God for help! Beg HIM to show you HIS steadfast love and ask HIM to show you the way to go and He will do it!!!

My soul rejoices in the promises of God. His children are assured of His sanctification and making us more like Jesus. ONLY God is to be trusted ! ONLY God is our hiding place. ONLY God delivers us. ONLY GOD has steadfast love for us! Let us lift up our souls to GOD alone!

REJOICE AND BE THANKFUL!

Hebrews 13:20,21

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working is us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Thank you Lord God, for you are THE God of peace who brought my Lord Jesus from the dead!!! My Jesus, my shepherd by the blood of the eternal, never ending, eternal covenant… it is YOU who equips me with EVERYTHING good so I may do your will. YOU work in me what which is pleasing in YOUR sight through Jesus Christ! Lord, thank you that YOU do not leave me high and dry and but YOU oh GREAT GOD demand obedience from me and then in your non exhaustive mercy and kindness you equip me with EVERYTHING good so that I may do what is pleasing to you. I am amazed that you supply to me what you demand from me. Your kindness knows no bounds. Reading this scripture this morning increases my love and affection for you. Thank you for applying your word to my soul today. Amen.

As I read this chapter in Isaiah this morning I was overwhelmed at the gospel written here. The writer tells us that God was angry and then turned His anger away that he might be comforted.
oh praise the ONE who satisified his just wrath toward sinners by sacrificing Jesus!
I rejoice this morning for God has indeed turned his anger away from me because He poured it out on Jesus instead!! And then! God comforts me!!! GOD gives to us what we need to enter in relationship with Him. He gives us what we need to be adopted into the family of God!
It is indeed with JOY that I draw from the wells of salvation!
As you read this scripture today from the Old Testament may you see how full of grace it is and sing praises unto the God of our salvation!


Isaiah 12

"You will say in that day:
I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.

Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song
and He has become my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
And you will say in that day:

Give thanks to the Lord,
call upon His name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that His name is exalted.

Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

Hebrews 11:13 “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.”

I love this scripture. I love the entire chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews. It serves to remind me of the faithfulness of God!
Have you ever become impatient with God as you wait for something? Have you prayed for something and it seems as though God is silent in response? When those times happen to me I want to remember this Scripture. These faithful saints died not having received the promises of God but had faith that the promises of God would be fulfilled. They understood that this world is not all there is. They understood that this world was not their home. That is so beautiful to me.

Yes, all these great saints who have gone before us had such a great faith but do you think that they drummed up this great faith on their own??? Of course not!!! Romans 12:3 tells us that God assigns faith to us. He opens our eyes to see and by His grace we believe. Mark 9:24 shows us a father who brought his son to Jesus and asked for a healing for his son crying out to God that he believes but to help his unbelief! Over and over again scripture shows us the weak faith of many of the people of God and the faithfulness of God to show Himself. God is faithful to help us in our unbelief! He delights to do so!
Is your faith weak? Do you struggle with unbelief? Confess this to God in repentance and ask Him to increase your faith! Remember it is not our weak faith that brings us peace and comfort, but it is God’s faithfulness that brings us comfort and peace in our times of waiting.

I believe Lord! Help my unbelief!!!

Hebrews 9:24 “For Christ has entered not into holy places made with hands which are copies of true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”

Wow! On our behalf. Jesus has entered into heaven and is in the presence of God on our behalf!!!! Jesus stands righteous before God in my place. This gospel truth just blows me away. Other scriptures tell us that Jesus intercedes for us before the Father. Why would I EVER want to rely on myself or my works when I have JESUS in the presence of God on my behalf!? Do not let the amazing-ness of this gospel truth escape your thoughts today. Grasp it, hold on to it and if you are finding yourself less than amazed then ask God to help you be stunned at the beauty of Christ standing in the presence of God on your behalf! Let it stun you. Let it penetrate a chilled heart today. It is absolutely amazing!

James 3:7-8 “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

Ugh. Have you ever vowed that you would not say what you wanted to say to someone and then unbeknownst to your conscious mind the very words you have resisted saying come tumbling out? Yep… I had a day like that yesterday. The very thing I didn’t ever want to say to someone I said. There was not one second of gratification in it, there was instantaneous remorse. If I could have grabbed the words in the air I would have and stuffed them back into my mouth but no, instead my sinful words full of this deadly poison came out. ugh. After about 60 seconds of internal disbelief at what I just said I turned to this person I poisoned with my sinful tongue and asked for forgiveness. Of course, I was graciously forgiven… but the memory of my words definitely linger in my mind and most likely linger in the mind to whom I spoke these words.

Two things come to mind as a result of my harshly spoken words:

1. I am so grateful that Jesus died for my sins and that His blood covers these sins. I am much more aware than I was yesterday of my deep, deep need of Jesus. Apart from Christ I would die. I need the power of the gospel in my life. I need God’s amazing, powerful grace to change my heart. I can resist using my tongue for evil only so long before my sinful cravings overcome my desire to remain silent. That is why I need a heart change and I am HOPEFUL because this is what God promises! I am so grateful that God showed me my sin INSTANTLY! It assures me that the Holy Spirit is in me and I can still hear Him. Thank you Jesus!!! I am assured of God’s forgiveness and His continued sanctification!

2. I am newly aware of how I should not be hasty in judging other Christian’s words! I am sure that we all at one time or another say things we wish we didn’t say! I love this following quote by Jonathan Edwards…


“Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others, and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.”

I hope that when I hear someone sinning with their tongue that instead of judgment and criticism that I would remember my own failings and sinfulness that comes from my mouth and seek God’s mercy for my own tongue!

Can anyone related to me today?

Ezekiel 42:20

“He measure it on the 4 sides. It had a wall around it, 500 cubits long and 500 cubits broad, to make a separation between the holy and the common.”

I have been reading through the book of Ezekiel and honestly, it’s been difficult. In the past few chapters as the author writes about cubits and lengths and heights and all the measurements of the temple I admit to stifling many yawns. This morning I breathed a silent prayer saying that I know that EVERY word of Scripture is given to us is God breathed and useful for living. I prayed that God would help me see it. The prayer was maybe one nano second long.

And then…. BAM! I read the last part of this verse, “to make a separation between the holy and the common.” WOW! .. I read that and was reminded that God is HOLY, so perfectly HOLY that nothing can be in His presence other than righteousness and holiness… that pretty much counts EVERYONE out! the common, must be separated from the holy. And then I am reminded of the gospel. Oh, the precious, precious gospel! The good news that CHRIST DIED FOR MY SINS and NOW I can be in the presence of the HOLY because Jesus exchanged my sin for his righteousness! WOW! Jesus made a way for me to be in the presence of the holy. No more separation. Thank you Jesus.

So, in the midst of bleary eyes and yawns in what seems to be the most excruciating longest book in the bible God opened my eyes to this nugget of a scripture and replaced my bleary eyes with teary eyes and yawns with shouts of joy for there is no more separation between God and me! I am his child and He is my Father. Oh Lord, thank you.

Ephesians 4:29

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

That sure is a tall order! Oh how my desire is that the words that fall off my lips would always be encouraging and full of grace!!! It amazes me how one word of criticism can wipe out a paragraph of kind words. We tend to remember the harsh words spoken, we tend to be affected by the corrupting words that are said to us. Is that what I want people to remember about the words I speak? Of course not! And it’s not just the words we speak TO someone but this scripture applies to the words we speak ABOUT someone to include people we don’t even know!

This scripture applies to how we speak to our spouses, our children, our friends, our colleagues, our parents and the words spoken ABOUT them. It also applies to words we speak about politicians, celebrities, etc. The words we speak about someone corrupts the person who is hearing our words. Corrupt words are so damaging to the speaker, to the hearer and the ones spoken about.

When our family first started attending our church (Sovereign Grace Church in Fairfax, VA) I was taken aback by the kind words spoken by pretty much everyone we came in contact with. At first I thought that everyone was this kind with their words because we were visiting. As the kindness continued I then figured it was because we were still “new”… then I had the uncharitable thought that they didn’t really mean it!!!!!!!!!! As we continued to stay at this church and eventually became members, I realized that not only where these kind, grace filled words spoken, but they MEANT THEM! These people were sincere in what they spoke! Is everyone there perfect and without sin in their words? Of course not ! But I can say with honestly that kind and encouraging talk prevails there! Grace filled words and thoughts and actions are greatly encouraged at my church. I am so thankful God brought me there!

As I began to associate with these people and as I surrendered my mouth, tongue and heart to God in this area I found that He began to help me be kinder in the words I spoke. Trust me, I have a long way to go but God has certainly been changing my desire to really want to speak grace-filled words. When I don’t, in God’s kindness I feel his conviction almost immediately.

So, let’s pray that we continually seek God’s help in speaking grace filled words to one another and about one another.

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

No matter what our circumstances this scripture is true and will always remain so.

I’m not suggesting we minimize anyone’s struggles or sufferings, but what a difference when we view our circumstances with our eyes on Jesus!!!!!!

So, no matter who is President of the USA, no matter what the economic condition of the country OR personal life… JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday, today and forever. Presidents serve 8 years at the most, money comes and goes, jobs come and go… but JESUS never changes. HIS truth remains the same. The Gospel is good news through all circumstances!

Rejoice today in the God that never changes!!!

My reasons for writing this blog is to keep my eyes as well as the reader's eyes focused on the cross of Jesus Christ. Today, I want to congratulate President Elect Obama. I did not vote for him but I desire to be gracious in my response to the election outcome. Senator McCain was very very gracious in his concession speech last night and I believe, we as Christians, must be gracious as well. We do not have to support Obama's pro-death policies, you do not have to like his economic strategies or health care options, but we must, as Christians, respect him and pray for him. So, that I will do. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we WILL be able to be respectful and prayerful for our new president.

I have to say, that as I watched the response from the American people I was driven to tears at the historic moment this is in the history of America. Of course there was much hoopla but as I observed the tears streaming down the faces of many older people who never thought they'd live to see a black president, I wept with them. It was a beautiful moment and I felt the weight of their joy.

Following is a link to Al Mohler's blog. It is a great read and great encouragement.
http://www.albertmohler.com/

Let us remember to pray for President elect Obama, for our country and for God's mercy.

Psalm 55:5-8
“Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”

I love reading the psalms. David is as real as you and I. His life is laid out before us in the Scriptures. We read about his sins and his struggles and his fears as well as his victories. Psalm 55 expresses David’s anguish and fear! He uses some very powerful words such as “horror” and “overwhelms”… these words describe a man who is in trouble and all he wants to do is escape!

One thing David knew was that his refuge was in God. David expressed his fears and his woes and usually came around to declaring that God is the one in whom he finds refuge and safety.
I know I have felt this way at times and you may be feeling this way today!

I encourage you to turn to Jesus for HE alone is our safety and our refuge. Jesus is our way of escape! He is our way to God, Jesus is our way to escape the just wrath of God we deserve for our sins and Jesus is the one to whom we give our cares and burdens to for HE carries them for us.

I heard a song by Steve Green this morning, BE AT REST. It is so beautiful ! May these lyrics bring you back around to the cross today.

Be At Rest

Be at rest, be at rest once more
O my soul,
for the Lord has been good
Be at rest, be at rest once more
O my soul, o my soul

Be at rest once more
For the Lord has been good to you
For You, O Lord
Have delivered my soul from death
My eyes from tears
And You, O Lord
Have delivered my feet from stumbling

Words and Music by Jeremy Johnson© 2005 Van Ness Press, Inc. / ASCAP