Rot

The depth of the sin within me is unmeasurable. I can turn from absorbed in thinking about the Holy Spirit to wanting to destroy my fellow man in a moment. The festering muck in my heart is hidden deep inside, hard to find when I hide it well. Sometimes so well that I am deceived into believing it is mopped up and clean. Only to ooze out or like a volcano explode forth from within as magma under pressure, hot with anger and passion. I then watch the smoldering remains of the destroyed infrastructure shattered under the weight of my sinfulness creak and totter, ready to collapse at any moment. The rot of who I am in the flesh festers like meat in the sun with maggots at work. The stench in the humidity suffocates me as I long to be different. Wishing for a breeze to blow the stink away. It never ends... the things I do. I don't want to do them. No. But although in Christ I do not have to give in to my sin, I so often do, returning to my vomit without explanation. Tears in the corners of my eyes as I consider that I have nothing to offer my king, so good, white against the blackness of my soul. Who am I Lord to even be considered by you? I want to quit, to be taken to be with you but cannot imagine ever being in your presence with the deep, deep depths of filth in my heart. O Lord have mercy on me a sinner. A terrible sinner. Amen

King Asa

I awoke this morning thinking of Judah's King Asa. Not sure why. I hadn't read about him recently. But my thoughts went to Asa's actions at the end of his rule. Asa had been a godly king seeking in many ways to glorify God early in his life. However, later on Asa when challenged militarily by Israel turned to Syria to rescue him instead of his Father in heaven. (This was in stark contrast to his actions earlier in life when he turned to God when militarily threatened resulting in God's deliverance). Asa looked to himself and worldly powers to help him rather than God. I went to work and at noon lunch turned on the radio to hear David Jeremiah speaking about Asa's sin...the exact text I inexplicably awoke thinking about (2 Chronicles 16:1-9)! What is fascinating to me is how this pertains to my life. I have been under incredible stress for a number of reasons not the least of which is a water damaged basement and an insurance company that refuses to cover the damage. (In my opinion, the insurance company is being negligent but the story is too long to go into). I spent the last 40 hours chasing down insurance people, protesting, arguing my case and considering legal action. This was all done without any significant discussion with God (a few prayers "tossed up" here and there). Then this Asa things pops up...."out of the blue.' The bottom line in all this is that I need to look to God for my deliverance. He is my provider and protector. I need to ask him for help and depend on him for any deliverance I receive. Obviously, God is not obligated to get my basement taken care of at present. But if i really believe in an all powerful God who loves me, why am I stressed to the hilt seeking my deliverance elsewhere? I repent of my unbelief great God. I pray you would "save" me in this situation, but if not, I will worship you forever no matter what is your decision. I will rely on you in this to provide and protect. Your will be done. Amen

Prayer

Lord,
You are magnificent, holy, pure, powerful, beautiful, terrifying, wrathful, righteous, just, merciful, full of loving kindness, eternal, all knowing. You are the creator and sustainer of all things. Sovereign Lord of all; in control of all; above all. Never surprised. Never thwarted. Never worried. Never unsure. Never unfaithful. Never dishonest. Never tired. Never frustrated. You are my God, my savior, my creator, my sustainer, my provider, my protector, my benefactor, my Lord, my friend and my brother. O Lord I praise and worship you!
Amen

God's Redeeming Love

It is a marvelous, wonderful thing to contemplate, that God has come down in the flesh in order to rescue and redeem us, and opens his heart here to show us his wonderful concern for us and his amazing love with respect to us.
--Martyn-Lloyd Jones

Perfection

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:14

This verse is speaking of the offering Christ offered on the cross. By this sacrifice Jesus perfected believers for all time in God's sight, righteous and justified. Finished. Yet while the "perfection" is completed, the sanctification process is ongoing and in process. So we think of ourselves as righteous, justified, completely forgiven and loved by God as adopted sons and daughters. We participate in the sanctification process not to earn a better place with God, but because of the good place with God we have already been given.

The Glory And Majesty Of God

And above the expanse over their heads there was tthe likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face.
Eze 1:26–28 ESV

Observations:
1. The throne projects God's sovereign rule over all things and all people. This vision is given to Ezekiel in Babylon and reveals God's authority and power everywhere on earth (and in the heavens), not just in Israel.
2. One wonders if the likeness of a human appearance suggests a pre-incarnate "appearance" of Christ. As Exodus 33:20 suggests God cannot be seen and live, Christ may be the form of God viewable in this case as he is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15) and the radiance of God's glory (Heb 1:3) and in him the fullness of the deity dwells in bodily form (Col 2:9).
3. The rainbow is seen in Revelation chapter 4 as well. Is this a reminder of the promises and faithfulness of God?
4. Most importantly this vision reveals that God is completely "Other", set apart, powerful. He is to be worshiped and held in awe. He is to be feared and loved. He is to be honored above all things because he is uncreated and above all things.

Abide With Christ

To abide in Christ means to keep up a habit of constant close communion with Him–to be always leaning on Him, resting on Him, pouring out our hearts to Him, and using Him as our Fountain of life and strength, as our chief Companion and best Friend. To have His words abiding in us, is to keep His sayings and precepts continually before our memories and minds, and to make them the guide of our actions and the rule of our daily conduct and behavior.

~ J.C. Ryle

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John, volume 2, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1987], 116, 117. {John 15:7-11}

Forsaken?

David cried out in his messianic Psalm, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1). Christ cried the same thing from the cross (Mark 15:34). Yet, God promises to "never leave or forsake" us (Hebrews 13:5). How should we consider these verses? The first situation is a perceived but false impression. The Father had hidden his face from David and Christ in his humanity but not forsaken them. Hebrews 13:5 IS REALITY as it is God's promise to us...and his promises never fail. God may sometimes hide his face from us. We may be dry and distant and in less intimate communion for a time, but he never leaves or forsakes us.

Prayers Unheard

God does not listen to the prayers of the purposely, persistently sinful.

Psalm 66:18
Isaiah 1:15
Isaiah 59:2
Jeremiah 14:10-12
Lamentations 3:42-44
Micah 3:4

Empowerment

Work on, dear friend, and wait on, for it is no business of yours to correct your Maker’s arrangements. He who placed you where you now are, knew what he was at. Look at your infirmities with another eye. No longer allow them to distress you; but the rather glory in them because they afford room and space for the divine power to rest in you and work by you. Listen no more to the wailings of your trembling flesh, which cries, “Alas, I am weak,” but hear the voice of him who saith “I am God Almighty.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

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