Friday, May 30, 2008




Isaiah 40:26
“Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of His might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.”

Whenever I see pictures of the stars and the heavens that the Hubble Telescope has taken I am usually overcome with awe of our incredible God! God made and put in place every single star and has a name for each one!!! AND not one is missing because God is strong in power. Absolutely amazing.
There are stars and galaxies out there that we are just learning about and some we probably don’t even know about yet! What a blessing our technology is because we can see,now, more than ever, the extent of God’s creation!!! He continues to reveal Himself to us and an unbelieving world!
I’m going to take time today to stop and ponder His greatness in creation and then remember and THIS is the God who so loved the world that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

God, who placed the stars in the heavens, keeps them , and then has a name for each of them, saved me. WOW!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

John 12:42-43
“Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”

Gulp.

Oh Lord, please put to death in me, any remaining remnants of the fear of man. I want my desire to be for YOUR glory above all else.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

JESUS WEPT
John 11:35
“Jesus wept.”

One of my many prayers before God is that He would help me love Jesus more.

Today, as I read the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, in this tiny and short little scripture, my affections for Jesus were increased.

The bible tells us how Lazarus had been dead for 4 days, how Martha and Mary, Lazarus’s sisters, had been grieving and weeping at the loss of their brother. Each of the sisters expressed to Jesus, “Had you been here, he would not have died.” As Jesus observed the death of his friend and the grief of his family, even though he intended to raise him from the dead, he wept. Jesus wept with those wept. (Romans 12:15). When I read that this morning I was overcome with how Jesus is intimately involved with our tragedies and sadnesses.

I just read a blog this morning by a pastor who was trying to make sense of the tragedy of the death of Steven Curtis Chapman’s daughter. The pastor unfortunately wasn’t able to square it away with himself… he talked about how this death wasn’t fair, where was God, how could he let this happen? I felt so bad for this pastor for he apparently doesn’t have an understanding of God’s sovereignty and love. If I knew this pastor personally, I would tell him when He asked where was God? I would say, “He was weeping with the Chapman family, for God is compassionate and weeps with those who weep.
Now, THAT increases my love as I think of the almighty God understanding our griefs and sorrows.
(May God comfort the Chapman family).

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

BLESSED ASSURANCE
John 10:26-30
“…but you do not believe, because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

What an encouraging scripture telling us of the assurance of salvation. There was a time that I really struggled with this… but no more. The beauty of truly understanding that GOD, Himself, initiates salvation is also the TRUTH that God keeps us saved. HE keeps us from falling away(Jude 24,25). GOD’s power guards us through faith (1 Peter 1:5). Doesn’t this just make you bow down in joy and gratitude before God? It does me. I am excited to meditate on this scripture today and be encouraged in God’s Word. Let’s abide in this scripture today! I’m pretty sure it will bring us joy!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
(by Frances Crosby, 1873)

Monday, May 26, 2008




My mother’s heart today, on Memorial Day, is tender as I think about all the men and women in the history of this country who either sacrificed their lives for our freedoms or were willing to sacrifice their lives.
I think of my son who spent 15 months in Iraq. Thank you LORD for bringing him safely home. My heart is so proud of him and yet as his mom my heart also breaks at the horrors of war that he had to be a part of, that he had to witness, that he had to participate in. I think of his sadness today as he remembers his friends that were killed before his very eyes. I think of those wives, moms and dads, brothers and sisters and children and friends that have to suffer through today because the wounds of losing their family members are way too raw.
Please pray for all the sons and daughters and their families today who are “remembering” and are so sad. Pray for God’s comfort to be real to them and for God to give to them the ultimate comfort of the gift of faith so they will repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
(photo by democracycellproject)

Sunday, May 25, 2008

John 8:28b-30
“…I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And He who taught me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him. As He was saying these things, many believed in Him.”

Jesus, thank you for always doing the things that are pleasing to the Father and THANK YOU for crediting this righteous obedience of YOURS to me! Thank you for working in my heart so I could respond by faith to your atoning work on my behalf. Oh Lord God you are indeed worthy to be praised! Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to believe!

Friday, May 23, 2008

© 2007 Tucker Photography.(Left to right Will Franklin, Maria, Steven, Shaoey, Mary Beth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily)


1 Thess 5:17
"Pray without ceasing."

1 Thess 4:13
"But we do not want you to be uninformed brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope."

From the moment I heard about the tragic accident in the Steven Curtis Chapman family, My heart was bent towards prayer for them. Isn't that funny? I don't even know them personally ... but how kind of God that when we hear of the suffering of a brother and sister in Christ we immediately feel connected somehow. At least I do.


I was reminded yesterday that I must pray for those that are suffering. It is a mystery to me how God uses the prayers of the saints, but He does. I know that I can pray for the Chapman family, as so many others in the christian community are doing' and God uses these prayers to accomplish His purposes.


One thing that is encouraging to me is that we know that any suffering that comes into the life of the christian is not without purpose. God has a purpose for all things and we can trust Him in that. I can't even imagine the pain of their grief right now. They are swimming in sadness.

Molly Piper (John Piper's daughter in law) wrote on her blog yesterday about what the Chapman family can expect in the days, weeks, months to come. Molly writes with knowledge for she and her husband had their baby die last year. She said that tidal waves of pain will wash over them again and again and then she said,
"I’m not trying to be pessimistic or say that God is not there. He’s the tidal wave and he’s the light at the top and he’s the fresh, cold air that their lungs will scream for."
She knows the pain of grief and YET she grieves with hope. She knows her God.

So, today i will continue to pray for the Chapman family. I encourage you to do so too. They need our prayers.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Father, not Judge!

John 5:24
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life."

What a gospel- loaded Scripture! There are so many things to meditate on from this one scripture alone but the phrase that stands out to me this morning is, "He does not come into judgement."... WOW! As a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ I will not come into God's judgement!!!! Jesus came into judgement FOR ME, and therefore I will not have to. JESUS stood before God who judged Jesus for MY sins so I will not be judged for my sins. Therefore, my relationship with God is NOT with Him as my judge, but I have the honor, the privilege and the humbling joy of relating to God as my FATHER. Incredible! My mind can hardly put it's arms around this beautiful truth! Thank you Jesus!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

LOOK TO GOD!


Is 31:1
" WOE to those who go down to Egypt
1)for help
and
2)rely on horses,
3)who trust in chariots because there are many
and in
4)horsemen because they are very strong,
BUT DO NOT
1)look to the Holy One of Israel
or
2)consult the Lord!

This scripture was the very first verse I read this morning and it hit me between the eyes. The word "WOE" means to experience deep distress and misery. Yikes! Doesn't it seem counter-intuitive for a nation to be miserable if they depend on their military might? Doesn't that usually give us comfort and hope for victory or protection? How about us, in America, in post 9-11 living? Don't we feel comfortable in knowing that we have an incredible Homeland Security? Is this where our peace and comfort should come from? Not according to this scripture.


The bible says that WOE, misery and distress and trouble will come upon the ones who look to power and might for their protection and help INSTEAD of looking to the ONE, instead of consulting the LORD, the very ONE who gives us the horses, the horsemen and the chariots.. the Homeland Security, the military might .... It is GOD who saves, not our power and might.


I have begun to get a little worried about the direction that the elections are taking. It looks like Obama just may be our president. Yesterday I watched a video of Obama speaking to Planned Parenthood and he was just so callous when speaking of the unborn. It literally made me get teary eyes and frightened at what his presidency may bring to our country.


THEN... I read this scripture this morning. Although i am to be responsible in my voting, I am not to look to my president for my safety and hope. EVEN if THE perfect candidate were to become president who was pro-life, took perfect care of the poor, had THE perfect health plan etc ec... STILL I would be wrong to feel safe because of HIM/HER. Woe would still be mine if I looked to the perfect candidate rather than God!

My eyes must look to the Holy One of Israel, I must remember to consult the Lord. Let's pray for one another as the elections heat up. I can get caught up in it all and I want to REMEMBER to look to God and no where else!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

DEAL or NO DEAL?


Psalm 90:14
"Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."

2 things stand out for me this morning as I meditate on this scripture:

1) We can call upon God and ask him to satisfy us! The mystery of God is that God himself gives us this love for Him. HE initiated our salvation, HE gives us the faith to turn to Christ in faith and repentance and we can and should ask God to satisfy us with Himself and His steadfast love.


I know I have had "dry" times in my walk with the Lord where I feel far from God, or I am not especially aware of His presence. I tried to "force" myself to love Him more or be satisified in Him more but that just doesn't work all the time! Yes, we are responsible to read His Word and this will draw us near to Him but how often have I read His word and... nothing.


I have found that the very best thing to do is to go to God in honesty and tell him that I feel far from Him, I ask him to satisfy me with HIS steadfast love.... God WILL answer that prayer!

2) the result of being satisfied with God's steadfast love is rejoicing and gladness!!! Now that's a good deal!!!

Monday, May 19, 2008


Catch the FOXES, the little FOXES!

Song of Solomon 2:15
"Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom."

This weekend the local news reported that 2 people in Fairfax County, in two different locations, were bitten by a rabid fox! Each person was going about their daily routine, one was taking out the trash, the other was mowing the lawn, when unprovoked the fox attacked them. (Each individual is fine and undergoing rabies shots). This scared me. Our house is up against a wooded area and I always see foxes and families of foxes. They walk right through our front yard!
Fear prompted me to be more alert as I go to the mailbox, go to my car, etc. It is a good thing to be more alert right now if there seems to be rabies in our local foxes! I believe it is a good fear if I let it motivate me to safety and watchfulness. I have begun to pray for the children who play in the neighborhood, that God would protect them from the foxes.

THEN, I remembered this scripture. Am I just as vigilant in my life against sin? Do I allow the "little sins" (the little foxes) to spoil the vineyard (my walk with God)?
Am I as careful and watchful for the sin that creeps into my life as I am right now as I walk out my door? Am I guarding my soul the way I am guarding my body right now? Am I in prayer for my neighbors and their salvation the way I am praying for God to protect them from an animal? Am I as aware of the sin that crouches at my door the way I am watchful for a fox to be near my door? Do I go about my daily routine not aware of the sins that affect my soul? How vigilant am I ???

Last night I heard an audio clip of John Piper pleading with his listeners to make war against sin!! He was so passionate in his pleadings that we must battle our sin. If we don't kill sin, it will kill us! We must battle sin and put it to death! And we can because as believers sin is no longer our master! JESUS is our master! Amen!!!

The sum of my meditations on this topic is this: Oh Lord! Help me to make war against my sin! Reveal to me the "little sins" the ones that I don't even notice so that I may, by the power of the Holy Spirit, battle them and put them to death! I am encouraged Lord, that because you love me, you will help me. The battle belongs to you O Lord, victory is promised because Jesus spent his precious blood to ransom me and I am forever secure. Oh Lord, catch the foxes the little foxes that spoil my vineyard. I need your help! In Jesus... for HIS glory. Amen.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

O HAPPY DAY!
John 1:16
"And from HIS fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."

"Glorious God, I bless Thee that I know Thee. I once lived in the world, but was ignorant of its Creator, was partaker of Thy providences, but knew not the provider, was blind while enjoying hte sunlight, was deaf to all things spiritual, with voices all around me, understood many things, but had no knowledge of Thy ways, saw the world but did not see Jesus only. O HAPPY DAY, when in Thy love's sovereignty Thou didst look me, and call me by grace. THEN did the dead heart begin to beat, the darkened eye glimmer with light, the dull ear catch Thy echo, and I turned to Thee and found Thee, a God ready to hear, willing to save.
(Valley of Vision, pp edition, p 62)

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Is 40:28-31

Have you not known?!
Have you not heard?!

THE LORD
is the EVERLASTING GOD, the CREATOR of the ends of the earth.

He does not:
faint
or
grow weary;
His understanding is unsearchable!

He gives:
power to the faint
And to him who has no might:
He increases strength.

Even youths shall faint
and
young men shall fall exhausted;

BUT THEY WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD:
shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not be faint.

I pray the reading of this Word today finishes out my week with a joy in the mightiness, faithfulness and mercy of God as I look to HIM, as I seek HIM, as I wait for HIM to give me strength! Oh what a mighty God we have! Such compassion, such tenderness, such generosity in giving us what we need to endure! The JOY of knowing that God initiated this salvation and the knowing that HE keeps it and gives us strength to endure gives me joy inexpressable!

Friday, May 16, 2008

more STRENGTH

Psalm 73:26
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

This is such an encouraging scripture!!! I have nothing to add to it accept to say that I am grateful to God that it is not my heart nor my flesh that is my strength for these things will indeed fail, instead, my strength comes from God who will never, ever fail and who never changes. That is such good news!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

THE TENDERNESS OF JESUS

Is 40:11
He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather His lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom and gently lead those that are with young.

"Who is HE of whome such gracious words are spoken? He is THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Why doth He carry the lambs in His bosom? Because He hath a tender heart, and any weakness at once melts His heart. The sighs, the ignorance, the feebleness of the little ones of His flock draw forth His compassion. It is His office, as a faithful High Preiest, to consider the weak. Besides, He purchased them with blood, they are His property. He must and will care for that which cost Him so dear. Then He is responsible for each lamb, bound by covenant engagements not to lose one. Morever, they are all a part of His glory and reward." (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, May 14 evening)

I read this quote from Spurgeon last night before I fell asleep and my soul was stirred with affection for Jesus as I considered HIS tenderness towards me. I love Spurgeon's words that say any weakness at once melts His heart. Jesus knows how weak we are, that's why He died for us!!! We are weak in sin, weak in living... we are just plain weak! Jesus sees our weakness and cares for us. This scripture is precious because it shows the tenderness of God. Spurgeon continues to say how carrying one in His bosom implies a very intimate relationship. Today I am reveling in my God who is a NOT a God far off, but a God very near. So near I think I hear His heartbeat.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

I AM WEAK!


2 Cor 12:9-10

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

In keeping with the theme of strength this week I see this scripture as such an encouragement.
My weaknesses showcase the glory and beauty of Christ for in my weaknesses HIS power rests upon me and makes me strong, makes me persevere. Jesus is glorified when, I, in my weakness, rest in His amazing grace. As we saw earlier this week in 2 Timothy, we are strengthened by God’s grace and in this scripture we are told that His grace is enough!!
Then, Paul, in his humility is willing then to be content in whatever it is that exposes Paul’s weaknesses and illuminates the grace and power of Christ as HIS strength rests upon us!

I don’t know about you, but I am quick to flee from those things which show my weaknesses. Insults, hardships, calamities… we see these as our enemies… but today I am thinking that it is these things which expose my weakness and gives me the opportunity to depend on Christ for my strength. He is glorified and my faith is increased as I once again see God’s faithfulness in strengthening me by His grace. Now, I’m not saying we stand defiantly in the face of hardships and say, “BRING IT ON!”… but instead humbly bow before the Lord and admit our weakness and seek HIS strength.

Thank you Lord that your grace is sufficient for me! For when I am weak, THEN I am strong. Amen.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

STRENGTH


1 Chronicles 16: 10-12

“Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord, rejoice! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works of the Lord that He has done, His miracles and the judgements He uttered….”

I’m still thinking about strength in the Lord. Yesterday I pondered that God tells us to be strong in him and then we see that we are strengthened by grace and in today’s scripture I see that we are to SEEK strength. This implies an action on our part!! We are not to remain impassive and wait for God strength to fall down upon us, but we are to seek it! How?? We seek his presence.. how? We remember the wondrous works of the Lord that he has done. We remember his miracles. We remember the judgements that He has uttered. And how do we remember these things? From HIS WORD! Oh praise God for the scriptures. We have the privilege of having the works, the WONDROUS works of God written down for us. We must, must, must immerse ourselves in the reading and study of God’s Word. As we read God’s Word and remember who He is and what He has done, we will be strengthened! Our faith will increase and be strengthened. We have to make the effort to sit down, open the bible and READ!

Thank you Lord for giving us the bible. Forgive me for those times that I take it for granted or see the reading of your Word as some kind of task or box that I check off. Once again I see that you tell us to be strong in You, you tell us to see you and your strength and then you give us your Scriptures to teach us and strengthen us! Thank you O God for strengthening me through your Word.

Monday, May 12, 2008

BE STRONG in the LORD!
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of HIS might.

2 Timothy 2:1
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

These scriptures encouraged me today. We are told to be strong in the Lord in HIS strength and then we are told that we, ourselves, are strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus. I am reminded that I am the weak one and JESUS is the strong one! I have had opportunity this passed week to rely on the strength of Jesus many times… as I struggled against sin, as I struggled with the flu, … each time I called out on God and he gave me strength… strength to resist sin and strength to endure in my illness. I am in awe of how much God loves us. He doesn’t make demands of us and then leave us to ourselves to do them. He GIVES us what we need to meet his commands. God’s Word tells us to be strong in the Lord and then tells us that we are strengthened by GRACE! What a kind, generous and gracious God!

Thank you Lord for giving my YOUR strength and grace to rely on! Thank you that I do not have to rely on my own strength for I have none. I have only weakness but in YOU I am strong! Thank you for giving to me ALL I need to be strong in You.

Friday, May 09, 2008

1 John 1:9

“if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Is that not the best news you could hear today? Even if we can’t see a specific sin in our lives (which I would find almost impossible to believe), then there are the sins that we don’t even know we’re doing!!!! I love Psalm 19:12 which says, “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.” Our hearts are deceitful at best and will lie to us about our sins, telling us there are none where there are some!!! We have some hidden faults!
How kind and gracious of God to forgive us our sins that we confess and we can go to him and know that he will reveal to us our hidden sins and bring us to a sorrowful repentance. We don’t have to go digging for sin.. all we have to do is ask God to show us our sins and he will do it because He is for us not against us.
Oh Lord, thank you that you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank you that because my heart is deceitful you will show me my hidden sins. Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for this good news today. I fall on my knees and cry, “HOLY.”

Thursday, May 08, 2008

John 3:29-30
“The one who had the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase but I must decrease.”

“We exist to glorify Christ. If someone else can do it better, let them. Let’s rejoice when others surpass us spiritually. God will be glorified and we’ll be filled with joy.” Stephen Altrogge

There just isn’t any room in the Christian life for competition or jealousies. There is no room for exalting self… we must glorify Christ! Not ourselves!
Like John the Baptist, I must decrease. CHRIST must increase.

You must read Stephen Altrogge's blog about this scripture. It was excellent!

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

REMEMBER

Psalm 77: 9-15

“Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up his compassion? Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; your have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your peoples, the children of Jacob and Joseph.”

In this psalm, the psalmist feels as though God is not listening, not hearing. He felt forgotten by God and then in the very next sentence he knows what to do! He reviews the great works and wonders of God. He reminds himself and God of all the works God has done! I believe the psalmist is encouraged when he reviews what God has already done.

This is a good lesson for us! When we feel that God is far off we must immediately review what He has already done!
We must preach the gospel to ourselves! It will serve our souls well to remember the great works and wonders of our God and it will glorify him as we do this!

How Great is our God??

Tuesday, May 06, 2008




WHAT SHOULD I DO?



1 Peter 4:19

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

I have a godly Christian friend who teaches in a local school system. Her job requires that she tests A LOT of children to assess their progression in their studies. The county has a firm date for beginning and ending this testing. Many of my friend’s colleagues encouraged her to begin the testing before the official beginning date and told her to put lie about the date. My friend refused to do so. She said it would be lying to do so and she didn’t want to lie. She was criticized, told that she would have a hard time finishing. My friend felt pressure, but she stuck to the godly way. I think she endured suffering in that she was aware of what people were thinking about her and saying about her. Although this suffering wasn’t unbearable, and does not compare at all to the sufferings some of our brothers and sisters in this world have to endure for their faith, it was a small suffering but she endured. She did good, while trusting her faithful Creator.

So, I began to think what “little” things do I have to endure while doing good? Is it saying no to certain movies or tv shows? Is it not chuckling at the off color joke? Is it not entering into gossip or judgement about someone?

Oh God, help me to choose to do good while entrusting myself to you, my faithful Creator!

By the way… my friend began the testing when she was supposed to and finished on time. Praise the Lord!

Monday, May 05, 2008

GOD IS FOR US!


Psalm 56:9b
This I know, that God is for me.

Romans 8:31-33
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us?

When I am reminded that God is for me it gives me such comfort! God demands righteousness from us but HE gives it to us through Jesus Christ! God tells us to be holy as He is holy but he doesn’t leave us to our own devices to be holy, HE works in us to make us holy! Sometimes we get discouraged when God reveals sin in our lives. We shouldn’t be!! We should be repentant and sorrowful, but not discouraged! Because God is for us we can be assured that He shows us our sin to help us defeat and kill that sin in our lives! He doesn’t show us our sin to condemn us for there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) but he does so to make us more like Jesus!!! God is for us! He will complete in us what he has begun! I am praising God for this today!

Sunday, May 04, 2008

THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!

2 Timothy 1:9

…who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

This little verse is packed full of gospel truths but what hit me square between the eyes this morning was the phrase, “not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace” …
I am reminded this morning of God’s grace and kindness in saving me. I did NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, to deserve or require Him to save me. He did so because of his purpose and grace. That’s it! HE DID IT and He did it before anything we see now, existed! WOW! Before I even was born, before time began, God saved me because of his purpose and grace. THAT is worthy to think and ponder on today!

It makes want to sing this song:

Thank You For Saving Me
Thank you for saving me,
what can I say?
You are my everything,
I will sing your praise.
You shed your blood for me,
what can I say?
You took my sin and shame,
a sinner called by name.
Great is the Lord,
Great is the Lord,
For we know your truth has set us free,
You've set your hope in me.
Mercy and grace are mine,
forgiven is my sin,
Jesus my only hope,
the Saviour of the world.
"Great is the Lord" we cry,
God let your kingdom come,
Your word has let me see,
thank you for saving me!
Written by Martin Smith ©1994 Curious? Music UK

Saturday, May 03, 2008




By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org :


Can I take the Lord's Supper if I've had a bad week spiritually?
Listen Download Podcast

Download: Audio
By John Piper May 2, 2008

The following is an edited transcript of the audio.
Can I take the Lord's Supper if I've had a bad week spiritually?
It depends on the transaction of the moment, not the quality of the week gone by.
Nobody brings a successful week to the Lord's Table, period. Nobody. We all call into question—and rightly—the effectiveness of our devotions or the quality of our communication with our kids. It's never been perfect. Therefore, we bring to the table our sin.
That's the point of the table. It is a recognition of our sin.
However, what you do in preparation—when you take stock of yourself—is that you confess all known sin. You do Psalm 19: "Cleanse me of hidden faults, and hold back your servant from presumptuous sins."
So you pray specific confession for the sins you know, you pray general confession for the sins you're unaware of, and you receive afresh the cleansing, the application of the blood of Christ (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").
Now, after you've appropriated afresh the work of Christ and are enjoying that forgiveness, you eat. And you eat worthily, not because you had a good week, but because you have a great Savior and are united with him by faith and are renouncing all those sins.
That's what I encourage our people to do. "Set it right with God now, in these next three minutes." And then as the trays come we celebrate that, we remember the foundation of that forgiveness, by eating.

Friday, May 02, 2008



ASSURANCE and ANSWERED PRAYER



Psalm 35:3b
“Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

“David knew where to obtain full assurance…” Spurgeon went on to pray as perhaps David did when he asked God to say to his soul that HE is his salvation… “Lord, I have sinned; I deserve not thy smile; I scarcely dare ask it; but oh! Say to my soul, even to my soul. “I am thy salvation. Let me have a present, personal, infallible, indisputable sense that I am Thine, and that Thou art mine.” (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, evening-March5)

I fell upon this scripture this morning in my bible. I had written this quote from Spurgeon in the margin next to this scripture. For a time I struggled with assurance of salvation. I purchased so many books on the subject of assurance and would be encouraged for a while but still had a nagging fear in my mind. Then I read this devotion by Spurgeon and thought to myself, ‘I will pray this prayer. I will ask GOD for HIS assurance.” Needless to say God answered my prayer and gave me a deep seated assurance that I am HIS and HE is mine.

As one who LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to read great books of sound doctrine it is often to those that I go to seek some piece of truth. It is so kind of God to give us these resources to teach us sound biblical doctrine. But I realize, now, that in reading these books I have a responsibility to allow these great books to direct my eyes back to God’s Word. I believe most authors desire to do that, to direct our eyes to the cross, to the word of God. Spurgeon’s great little devotional directed my eyes to Psalm 35 and it was there that God prompted me to pray and ask God for assurance!

So, this little scripture reminds me of 2 things today:

1) How sweetly God answered my prayer to be assured of HIS salvation! He showed me that David, himself, needed that assurance and that it is from GOD that I should seek that assurance.
2) That God has given us great resources to teach us but we should not let those be our primary source of learning about God but we must allow them to direct our eyes to the Word of God.

I’m still a bibliophile, but I know that it is God’s Word, first and foremost that will teach me.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

NO CONDEMNATION!
WE ARE
COMPLETELY FREE!


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

This morning on the blog, OF FIRST IMPORTANCE , todays quote is:






CJ Mahaney, THE CROSS CENTERED LIFE, 39,40 :
“Because of the gospel’s power, you can be completely free of all condemnation. Not mostly free, COMPLETELY free! Don’t buy the lie that cultivating condemnation and wallowing in your shame is somehow pleasing to God, or that a constant, low grade guilt will somehow promote holiness and spiritual maturity. It’s just the opposite! God is glorified when we believe with all our hearts that those who trust in can never be condemned. It’s only when we receive his free gift of grace and live in the good of total forgiveness that we are able to turn, from old sinful ways of living and walk in grace-motivated obedience.” (CJ Mahaney, THE CROSS CENTERED LIFE, 38-40)

I am reveling and resting in the good of the gospel and the greatness of God today! THIS is good news!!!!