Hope Is Coming For Me

If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
Then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared

Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

Am I lost or just less found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become


Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming 


C.S. Lewis Song
Brook Fraser

Memorize This!

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song... Is. 12:2

Imagine

Imagine you are standing in a huge convention hall filled with people. The atmosphere is one of utter joy with people high fiving, whistling, shouting out loud, and hugging each other. The room is lined with occasional doors for entry. As you look around the hall you see friends and family who return your gaze and laugh with tears in their eyes as they see you. But also there are people from every tribe and nation. All laughing and rejoicing. Suddenly, you notice your deceased friend and run and hug him, shouting for joy. A song of worship begins to rise from the front of the hall as the Lamb stands in now approachable light. Worship flows from all in attendence, hands raised, tears flowing down cheeks. The volume of voices rises to shake the auditorium as the unbridled worship escalates. Out of the corner of your eye some movement grabs your attention. As you turn to look, a door attendent slowly closes the door to the hallway. Peering in through the closing entryway is the face of your friend, in a grimace of fear and sadness, disappearing as a ship sinking at sea; the door closed and locked....never more to be opened.

Longing

‎"Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think of some foreign country,or first take up some subject that excites us, are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would be ordinarily called unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. Iam speaking of the best possible ones. There was something we grasped at, in that first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. I thinkeveryone knows what I mean. The wife may be a good wife, and the hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a very interesting job: but something has evaded us. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
-CS Lewis

Suffering

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16,17

What does it mean to suffer with Christ? Romans chapter 8 alludes to three things.

1. One form of suffering is in killing sin in our bodies. We are exhorted to set our minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5,6). We are not called to live according to the flesh but to put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:12,13). These activities are Spirit empowered and enabled but require action and struggle on our part.

2. A second form of suffering is found in enduring difficult circumstances in a faithful and God honoring manner (Romans 8:18). This is done with the help of looking to the hope of future glory (vs. 18; 2 Corinthians 4:17,17). As Christ, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, we also look to the joy set before us in order to endure (Hebrews 12:2). These circumstances could be anything from difficult family situations to martyrdom for our faith.

3. Third, we suffer with creation as it groans waiting to be redeemed (Romans 8:19-23). Creation's futility initiated by the sin of man including the breakdown of our bodies and minds, disease and natural disasters.

We are children of God, heirs of God and co heirs with Christ provided we suffer with him as above. The reward far, far outweighs the burden.

Always Remember....

I am totally dependent on the finished work of Christ alone—not on my performance—as the basis for all my blessings, especially the blessing of being accepted by God as a beloved adopted son.
                                                                --Jerry Bridges

Hell

If there be really a hell of such dreadful and never-ending torments, as is generally supposed, of which multitudes are in great danger—and into which the greater part of men in Christian countries do actually from generation to generation fall, for want of a sense of its terribleness, and so for want of taking due care to avoid it—then why is it not proper for those who have the care of souls to take great pains to make men sensible of it? Why should they not be told as much of the truth as can be?

Jonathan Edwards, The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God

Loving Jesus

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Deut. 6:5

Do I love Jesus more than sleep?
Do I spend time with him each morning?
Do I love Jesus more than TV?
Do I spend time with him at night?
Do I love Jesus more than money?
Do I give generously?
Do I love Jesus more than control?
Have I surrendered the outcome of
my life to him?
Do I love Jesus more than my reputation?
Do I sin in protecting myself?
Do I love Jesus more than my plans?
Do I get angry when he changes them?

Grocery Store Worship

It is incomprehensible that people, including myself, can walk through the produce section of the local grocery store and not consider the existence, goodness and magnificence of God. I was there today again. Frequently, I run through that area grabbing apples, lettuce and tomatoes...hurrying on to the next section, hoping to get home as soon as possible. But occasionally, I stand in amazement looking at what God has raised from dirt, water and sun. All for us to enjoy and for our nourishment. Consider the orange. From a seed a tree grows. The tree uses the soil to create a brilliant orange ball protected by a thick skin. Inside is a fantastic fruit good for eating or for drinking, it's extracted juice. It is sweet and delicious, hanging ready from a branch for one to pick. Out of nothing. By coincidence....by a conglomeration of random occurrences? I think not. Almighty God has made these things! In his power, glory and goodness they are piled in aisles at the local ACME for us. Let us gaze in wonder and consider the greatness and goodness of God...even at the local market.

The Vase

Imagine you are an artist, one who works with pottery and glass. As you lay in bed, you dream of a vase, a beautiful vase with deep blue floral designs on the sides, an unusually shaped mouth and a textured lower third. The design excites you. It is unique and truly beautiful to you. So, you begin to plan to create this vase. You choose the appropriate clay and paint and organize the tools necessary for it's sculpting. Then you begin to lovingly mold and shape the formless lump into that about which you have dreamed. You put the vase in the kiln to, in the heat, firm up your work so it is ready for use and display. In completion, it is exactly as you had planned. Striking, beautiful and pleasing to you. Because you dreamed of this vase's creation and then gave it life, it is dear to you, something at which you enjoy gazing and that you long to protect and to keep near by. This is a good word picture of how God feels about those he has saved. For those in Christ, God (the artist) thinks of you as this vase - planned, beautiful, pleasing, wanted and loved.

"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 --and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7

The Christian Commitment

I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, by guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go 'til He comes, give 'til I drop, preach 'til all know, and work 'til he stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have not problem recognizing me -- my banner will be clear!

                                                                                              -- Bob Moorhead --

Lord, let it be true of me.

The Vase

Imagine you are an artist, one who works with pottery and glass. As you lay in bed, you dream of a vase, a beautiful vase with deep blue floral designs on the sides, an unusually shaped mouth and a textured lower third. The design excites you. It is unique and truly beautiful to you. So, you begin to plan to create this vase. You choose the appropriate clay and paint and organize the tools necessary for it's sculpting. Then you begin to lovingly mold and shape the formless lump into that about which you have dreamed. You put the vase in the kiln to, in the heat, firm up your work so it is ready for use and display. In completion, it is exactly as you had planned. Striking, beautiful and pleasing to you. Because you dreamed of this vase's creation and then gave it life, it is dear to you, something at which you enjoy gazing and that you long to protect and to keep near by. This is a good word picture of how God feels about those he has saved. For those in Christ, God (the artist) thinks of you as this vase - planned, beautiful, pleasing, wanted and loved.

"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 --and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7

The Power Of God

I meditated on the power of God this morning in prayer. He is before all things, all being created by him. The laws of creation (gravity, thermodynamics, etc, etc) are all subject to him. He created them. He sustains them, and he can at any time suspend them. Miracles mainly are just a temporary suspension of the laws of God currently in force. They are surprising because the laws that govern our lives are so ingrained in us, we take them for granted. But imagine the miracle of gravity itself being created. God has made everything out of nothing, and everything is subject to him. There is nothing outside his control. There is nothing that thwarts his plans. He is an unmovable force achieving his purposes without concern (worry) for anything or anyone that might oppose him. Not only that but his power is sufficient to handle all opposing forces in combination. There is no comparison to make between the power of God and any created thing. It is all nothing when weighed in the balance in relation to him.

Sadness

It has been a troubling twenty four hours for me. Difficult times in a relationship with one I love have led me to great sorrow. That nagging ache sits in my heart as I long for God to make things right. I cannot. I have too little power, and I am too sinful and fallen to succeed. Yet I long so for a "righteous community" with my loved one. I have prayed for God's intervention vigorously, but not vigorously enough. It has been a long time waiting...waiting on God who can intervene in his lovingkindness. Lord, do not leave it this way. Not because of any righteousness on my part but because of your great mercy Save.

Silence

The discipline of silence is the price we must pay to get to know God." AW Tozer

Sin

Whoever is truly humbled — will not be easily angry, nor harsh or critical of others. He will be compassionate and tender to the infirmities of his fellow-sinners, knowing that if there is a difference — it is grace alone which has made it! He knows that he has the seeds of every evil in his own heart. And under all trials and afflictions — he will look to the hand of the Lord, and lay his mouth in the dust, acknowledging that he suffers much less than his iniquities have deserved.

John Newton, from his letters, Indwelling Sin And The Believer

The World

As the world is weary of me so am I of it. John Knox

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-is not from the Father but is from the world.
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

If I Could Counsel Myself...

If looking back on life I could give counsel to myself regarding a walk with Jesus, some things I would recomend:

• read atleast one chapter in the Bible everyday
• focus on worship, listening, and meditating on scripture in prayer
• spend alone time with God in prayer everyday
• in addition to reading the Bible each day, get involved in a same sex small group Bible study that meets regularly and remain involved
• be involved in Christian community year round
• preach the gospel to self daily
• be vulnerable with others and merciful to others
• be charitable regarding nonessential theological issues
• get to know pastor and treat him like a normal human being
• memorize as much scripture as possible
• do not get into debt as it could influence your ministry direction in the future
• remember God is protector of reputation, provider and giver of every good gift

The Wilderness

"You will never find Jesus so precious as when the world is one vast howling wilderness." Robert M McCheyne

Right now I am having a wilderness moment. I feel I have failed in many ways as a father, in my profession and in being a light for Christ. My band of brothers in Christ seem distant and disinterested in striving for the kingdom in the way that seems right to me. So I feel rejected in a way. Yet in another group of brothers and sisters, I have failed to be consistent in doing community. I am on the verge of a funk as I sit on my couch pondering things. Sad. But from the wilderness I have always.....always been rescued by my beloved savior Jesus Christ. So here I will sit and wait on him.

Causes Of Spiritual Declension

• Formality in holy duties, under the constant outward performance of them.
• Vehement engagements in the affairs of life.
• An over valuation of sinful enjoyments.
• Growth on carnal wisdom.
• Neglect of daily mortification of such sins as men are naturally disposed to, with a secret influence from the prevalent temptation of the days in which we live.

--John Owen, The Glory Of Christ