MercyMe

About 7 or 8 years ago, when "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe first came out, it was on the mainstream radio and I immediately fell in love with it.  (If you haven't heard it, I recommend you listen to it, the words really get you thinking.) I remember a time back then when my daughter Alyssa and I were pulling up in the driveway, probably coming home from softball or soccer practice, and this song came on. We sat in the car and sang it together. I will never forget that moment.    

I am not sure if she remembers that moment or not, but last week for my birthday she and Tyler bought my wife Kathy and I tickets to see them in concert.  I thought it was interesting how that came around in full circle.

The concert was last night, and they were awesome. We will definitely be looking for them again when they come around.

Romans 12:1

Paul, in Romans 12:1, urges us as believers in Christ, "to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God"

Paul's reference to sacrifice here is that we give ourselves COMPLETELY to the Lord. In the Old Testament, they killed and sacrificed animals to God. 

 Many in the church today go to church services on Sundays for 2 hours and feel they have GIVEN their time. That is their weekly duty, then they go about their week feeling good about themselves.  These people usually go to church because it make them feel good, it gives them a sense of peace. 

Now their is nothing wrong with feeling good and encouraged after attending church services. But when your purpose is to go to church to feel good and feel encouraged your are RECEIVING spiritual nourishment. 

Paul is exhorting us to sacrifice, to GIVE COMPLETELY, our bodies to Christ. In the Old Testament, they did not just offer up a leg or a thigh from the animals. 

We are to worship the Lord on Sundays and once we receive the spiritual nourishment. We are to go out the rest of week and be servants for God. 

Yes, we are commanded to go to church on Sundays. But if that is where your obedience to God ends, I think that you need to re-examine your heart. 

In Luke 9:23 Jesus says "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "

Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer

We sang this song in church today, that really got the tears flowing in me. The timing of this song really has coincided with some emotional times that are going on in my life right now.



I am reminded of James 1:2-3 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

As believers, we can have confidence that God brings or allows trials into our lives to build us up or to strengthen our faith. Make no mistake, God tests our faith to prove and to increase the strength and the quality of our faith.  It gives us an opportunity to show that our faith is genuine.

God is going to bring trials into our lives in order to increase our faith.  If we, as believers, are able to submit to the trials that we encounter and endure the trials with a Godly peace knowing that He is in control;  then we can be assured that the promise of James 1:12 will be awaiting us.  "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him"

It is comforting to know that as I experience trials in my life, I can rely on the assurance that God is in control.

Stirred Again to Value Jesus

A post from one on my favorite blogs.




Stirred Again to Value Jesus

MY REPENTANCE

In the scriptures, we are commanded to examine ourselves  (2 Corinthians 13:5) As I continually examine myself, I find myself convicted of how awful a sinner that I am.  As most of you know and have seen, I often tend to share the passion the I have for the Lord. I can sit and speak for hours on the what the Lord is doing in my life. One would think that is a good thing, right?  However, many times, I start out with sharing my passion out of love for others, but then it often turns into an issue of pride. My initial intention is to follow the commands of the Word of God. (2 Corinthians 5:20) However, often without realizing it, my fleshly pride comes into play usually when what I am saying is resisted or scoffed at.    So what starts out as love often turns into the sinfulness of pride.  

  I am thankful that God is patient with me. As I continue to grow and mature in the faith, I am determined to let the Lord work  in me in a way that is pleasing to Him. I am not only going to stumble at times, but I am going to fall and fall hard. It is only by the blood of Christ, that I can continue to move forward in my walk.

I have been aware (and often reminded) of 1 Corinthians 13:2....If I have.....all knowledge; and if I have all faith , so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

Until recently, I have truly believed that the conversations that I have with my Dad were out of love and a strong desire for him to know Christ. I am now aware that even though that these conversations started out with that intent, they deteriorated into me trying to make a point. (my pride)  This deterioration and the way I responded to others has caused some family members pain and sorrow and for that I am truly sorry.  I ask for your forgiveness here, and I will do so also in person when I see you. 

I am thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ who continues to mold me into the person that He wants me to be. I am also thankful for my wife, Kathy, who patiently allows me to struggle through these issues, while at the same time lovingly prods me in the right direction. I am also thankful to my brothers in Christ whose wise counsel has encouraged me to be more Christ-like. 

As I mentioned above, I have been aware of 1 Corinthians 13:2.  As we continue to read, v 13: 4-7, these verses explain what love looks like......That is where I have been lacking. The Lord convicted me of that truth recently. This is where I struggle. This is where the Lord is working on me at the moment. 

As I move forward in my walk,  I am reminded of Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be  served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Bible

I found this website that I thought could be useful. From what I understand, the ESV is a very good translation. I like the audio section especially for pronunciation of some of the tougher names and words.

esvonline.org

Judgment without Mercy

James 2:12-13 (New International Version)

¹²Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

This verse was discussed at a recent lunch I had with a very dear friend who is an encouraging believer. We have many freedoms in Christ, such as the music we listen to, the books we read, the beverages we drink. Yet we are commanded in the bible to lead a life that is Christ-like. Jesus was more often than not a compassionate and merciful teacher. I certainly know that I can be judgmental, but shudder to think if I don't show mercy- then God will show me no mercy on my judgment day. It's good to know God's word tells us that mercy triumphs over judgment.