A Prayer

Lord, you are wonderful.
Forgive me for my sinfulness.
You are almighty. All powerful. Creator and sustainer of heaven and earth.
Who am I that you consider me?
You are majestic, dazzling, beautiful and terrifying. High and lifted up. Enthroned above all you have created.
Yet your love for me is steadfast.
You are pure. White hot sinlessness. Without the smallest hint of imperfection.
You have made a way for my incredible mess to be yours.
Your are eternal and transcendent of time and space.
I am a dot on an endless beach of time and people.
Yet you know me by name. You look at my heart and see my thoughts.
O how great is your mind O God, infinite in it's capabilities.
And sometimes, in my folly, I presume that I know something about you.
Even as I seek you I sin.
How can you O great God put up with me?
It is only by the righteousness you have given me in Christ, by his blood.
Jesus is my Lord, savior, God, brother, hope and salvation.
I have done nothing.
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His steadfast love endures forever.
I am loved because of who God is and not because of who I am.
Lord you are my help and my shield, my strength and my hope.
What can I possibly desire that is more worthy that you?
You are the pearl of greatest price. You are priceless. All the riches, glory and pleasure in the world are dung in comparison to you.
Why? Why do I seek dung?
Forgive me O Lord.
To be with you is to experience the eternal shalom; the way "it" should be.
To be without you is to experience anti-shalom. Cursed ground and life with death.
O Lord let me be with you. Show me your glory. I can do nothing. I am nothing.
You are everything!
I love you O Lord.
Amen.

Piper On The Centrality Of Scripture

We are a people of the Book. We know God through the Book. We meet Christ in the Book. We see the cross in the Book. Our faith and love are kindled by the glorious truths of the Book. We have tasted the divine majesty of the Word and are persuaded that the Book is God's inspired and infallible written revelation. Therefore, what the Book teaches matters…

There is no salvation from sin and guilt and condemnation and hell apart from faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; Romans 10:13-17; 1 John 5:12). And there is no other authority besides the Scriptures to show you who Christ is and to give you his Word. So don't leave the Bible, children. Don't leave the Bible, young people. Don't neglect the Bible, dads and moms. Don't ignore the Bible, single people. Under God, the "sacred writings," the Scriptures, are the greatest treasure in the world. They alone make us wise unto salvation through Christ. O don't neglect this Book!

John Piper on the centrality of scripture.

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2525_essential_piper_the_centrality_of_scripture/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+DGBlog+(DG+Blog)

Riches

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”  Revelation 3:14-22

Observations:
1. Jesus knows our works. (Hebrews 4:13)
2. Anything less than full commitment to Jesus disgusts Him. (Luke 14:27)
3. Wealth* can blind us to our real position and circumstances. (Matthew 6:24)
4. The appropriate response from the Laodicean position is to be zealous for Christ and repent.
5. We are called to seek treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:12,13) and revelation from God (Ephesians 1:18). [Revelation 3:18]
6. We need to listen for Christ's voice and respond to commune with him.
7. There are unspeakable riches for those who overcome.

* I would define wealth as having few needs. Most people in the US are wealthy.