"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." ~ Proverbs 31:30

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

In the Presence

My hands flailed wildly as I tried in vain to illustrate the way I felt.

How do you even begin to describe something that perplexes your spirit?
How do you put into words something that blows your mind?

I was lost in conversation with a friend.  We were originally talking about some painful circumstances going on around us, and for some reason I can't explain, the moment the conversation got to the most painful portion, God awakened my heart to His love.  I was overwhelmed!

All of a sudden, I felt very unworthy, and I wanted nothing more than to break down and cry.

I had the sudden urge to lay prostrate before my Savior!  What kind of love drives you to do something like that?  What kind of love brings you to your knees in utter consternation?

Now, I know Jesus, but one thing I simply can't wrap my mind around is why He took a brutal scourging for me.  Or why He tried to carry that cross beam on His freshly wounded back for me.  Or why He lay there in submission as wicked looking nails were driven into the thick flesh of His palms and the bones of His feet... for me!!!

I heard it once said that if someone were to sacrifice their life for me, could I doubt that they loved me?

I don't doubt the love of my Lord, what I don't understand is why

"What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?"  Hebrews 2:6

I mean, do you know who Jesus is???  This same Jesus redeemed my soul from hell and brought me into His presence. Into His presence???  Does He not realize what I am???  My mind continues to be blown. 

"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.  After making purification for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs." Hebrews 1:3-4

My eyelids began to blink rapidly.  I was awestruck as all of a sudden salvation became much more precious to me, and something I promised Jesus I would never take for granted.

"For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering."  Hebrews 2:10

Thank You, Jesus, for being who You are and for rescuing me from myself, even though I can't quite wrap my mind around Your love.

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from his reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Saturday, March 17, 2012

With Abandon

He wants some angry young men
With fire in their eyes
Ones who understand what Jesus gave
Ones who have grown weary of the world and all its lies
Ones who won't forget they've been delivered from the grave
Rest assured when Jesus comes again
He'll be looking for some angry young men


If you love Jesus, shouldn't you feel some fire, some hint of passion, to share Him with others?  Shouldn't there be a niggling in the back of your head, a prick in your soul, telling you to live a life that compels people to ask what's different about you?

That's just it, these things should be the case.

Unfortunately, most of us want to hide in our shells of conformity and remain unnoticed by the world around us.  We don't want to cause a stir, and we most certainly don't want to draw attention to the way we live our lives.

We often make excuses as to why we don't live any differently today than we did 10 years ago when we first accepted Christ.

You'll be tempted, tried, and tested
There'll be wars the devil wins
But God's love is not a license to lie there in your sins
He understands the human heart
His mercy is complete
But his grace is not intended
As a place to wipe your feet
Rest assured when Jesus comes again
He'll be looking for some angry young men


So where is the passion, my friends?  If the love of God has truly gotten a hold of you, your life should be shaken upside down, never reverting to your old ways.  Passion should drive you onward!  His love should spur you on to do the right thing, never becoming complacent.  Don't compromise what you believe just to make your unsaved friends feel comfortable.  Christianity is uncomfortable, always pushing you outside your comfort zone, forcing you to walk the straight and narrow, cutting yourself on sharp, jagged rocks.


Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."


If you draw the line at discomfort, your faith will be short lived.
In fact, one might even question your salvation.

Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."


As Christians, we should be on fire for God!  We should care about speaking the Truth, tempered with love.  There should be a spark in our eye as we speak about God.

So let's chase after God with abandon, leaving nothing on the table, so that on Judgement Day we will get to hear proceeding out of our Master's mouth those beautiful words, "well done, good and faithful servant."