See the donkey, bearing Mary,
See the dark and barren stall,
See the Christ Child, squirming, crying,
See the God who made us all.
See the shepherds, breathless, frightened,
See the sky alive with song,
See the travelers with their presents,
See King Herod’s rage grow strong.
See the Teacher, squatting, speaking,
See the crowd that mutters, eats,
See the broken-hearted mother
Hug her son whom Jesus treats.
See the leaders, growing darker,
See the hatred in their hearts,
See their Maker, quiet, moving
Toward the storm that broils, starts.
See the friend betray his Master,
See the frenzy of the crowd,
See the Sovereign Jesus, silent,
Waiting there with head bowed.
See the fear in Pilate’s actions,
See the mocking soldiers laugh,
See them beat Him, bruise Him, break Him,
As He ripped the veil in half.
See the angels, vast, unnumbered,
Poised to smite the crowd below,
See the Father, silent, bidding
Evil men to crush their Foe.
See the soldiers, laughing, gambling
For the tunic, smooth and whole,
See the broken body bleeding,
By His wounds to save their soul.
See the realms of darkness shouting
As they view the death they crave,
See the silent women, weeping,
Bringing spices to His grave.
See the first soft lights of morning,
See the radiant Son arise,
See the claws of death are broken,
See the King has won His prize.
See Him, and in seeing, trust Him,
Let His coming be for you
Not just Christmas, glib and happy,
But awesome pardon, life made new.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sovereign God
Yesterday’s sermon talked about God’s sovereignty even over resistance to Jesus and His work. (Read or hear the whole thing here: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2009/4438_It_Is_the_Spirit_That_Gives_Life/)
God is sovereign over enemies.
God is sovereign over traffic.
God is sovereign over weather.
God is sovereign over health.
God is sovereign over schedules.
God is sovereign over governments.
God is sovereign over conversations.
God is sovereign over temperaments.
God is sovereign over families.
God is sovereign over misunderstandings.
God is sovereign over motives.
God is sovereign over computers.
God is sovereign over forgetfulness.
God is sovereign over inclinations.
God is sovereign over inconveniences.
God is sovereign over ideas.
God is sovereign over needs.
“Stilled now be every anxious care;
See God’s great goodness everywhere;
Leave all to Him in perfect rest:
He will do all things for the best”
(Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart, p. 206).
“Do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek first His kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:29-31).
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
“Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
“Do not fret because of evildoers; be not envious toward wrongdoers… Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing” (Psalm 37:1, 8b).
God is sovereign over enemies.
God is sovereign over traffic.
God is sovereign over weather.
God is sovereign over health.
God is sovereign over schedules.
God is sovereign over governments.
God is sovereign over conversations.
God is sovereign over temperaments.
God is sovereign over families.
God is sovereign over misunderstandings.
God is sovereign over motives.
God is sovereign over computers.
God is sovereign over forgetfulness.
God is sovereign over inclinations.
God is sovereign over inconveniences.
God is sovereign over ideas.
God is sovereign over needs.
“Stilled now be every anxious care;
See God’s great goodness everywhere;
Leave all to Him in perfect rest:
He will do all things for the best”
(Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart, p. 206).
“Do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek first His kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:29-31).
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
“Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
“Do not fret because of evildoers; be not envious toward wrongdoers… Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing” (Psalm 37:1, 8b).
Friday, December 11, 2009
How Secure Are We?
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will,
but the will of Him who sent Me.
“This is the will of Him who sent Me,
that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing,
but raise it up on the last day.
“For this is the will of My Father,
that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him
will have eternal life,
and I Myself will raise him up on the last day”
(John 6:38-40).
As a recent sermon at my church underscored, God’s supreme, sovereign will is the boulder of confidence that our salvation is secure.
Christ was single-minded in His purpose: to fulfill the Father’s will.
The Father’s will is comprehensive: that of all that He has given Jesus, not one thing (body, soul, spirit) be lost but that Christ raise it on the last day.
And who in the universe could thwart the Father’s decree and the Son’s doing of it?
“I give eternal life to them,
And they will never perish,
And no one will snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all,
And no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one”
(John 10:28-30).
Please read or listen to the sermon in its entirety: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2009/4398_Behold_Believe_Be_Raised/)
but the will of Him who sent Me.
“This is the will of Him who sent Me,
that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing,
but raise it up on the last day.
“For this is the will of My Father,
that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him
will have eternal life,
and I Myself will raise him up on the last day”
(John 6:38-40).
As a recent sermon at my church underscored, God’s supreme, sovereign will is the boulder of confidence that our salvation is secure.
Christ was single-minded in His purpose: to fulfill the Father’s will.
The Father’s will is comprehensive: that of all that He has given Jesus, not one thing (body, soul, spirit) be lost but that Christ raise it on the last day.
And who in the universe could thwart the Father’s decree and the Son’s doing of it?
“I give eternal life to them,
And they will never perish,
And no one will snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all,
And no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one”
(John 10:28-30).
Please read or listen to the sermon in its entirety: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2009/4398_Behold_Believe_Be_Raised/)
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Humility and Glory
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come.
He is the image of the invisible God,
The firstborn of all creation.
For from Him all things were created,
Both in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Visible and invisible,
Whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities,
All things have been created through Him and for Him.
Who, although He existed in the form of God
Did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
But emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,
And being made in the likeness of men.
He Himself likewise also partook of the same,
So that through death He might render powerless
Him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
And might free those who through fear of death
Were subject to slavery all their lives.
He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
He was despised and forsaken by men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,
And like one from whom men hide their face,
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried,
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions;
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals,
For You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood
Men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom and might
And honor and glory and blessing.”
And every created thing which is in heaven
And on earth and under the earth and on the sea
And all things in them, I heard saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be blessing and honor and glory and dominion
Forever and ever.”
And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen,”
And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Who was and is and is to come.
He is the image of the invisible God,
The firstborn of all creation.
For from Him all things were created,
Both in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Visible and invisible,
Whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities,
All things have been created through Him and for Him.
Who, although He existed in the form of God
Did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
But emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,
And being made in the likeness of men.
He Himself likewise also partook of the same,
So that through death He might render powerless
Him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
And might free those who through fear of death
Were subject to slavery all their lives.
He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
He was despised and forsaken by men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,
And like one from whom men hide their face,
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried,
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions;
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals,
For You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood
Men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom and might
And honor and glory and blessing.”
And every created thing which is in heaven
And on earth and under the earth and on the sea
And all things in them, I heard saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be blessing and honor and glory and dominion
Forever and ever.”
And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen,”
And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Going to the Lions
Last night I dreamed that I was one of the Christians being sent to the lions. It was bizarre (as dreams are… we were in a swimming pool), but the emotional effect still lingered with me when I woke up.
What good is God when you’re staring death in the face? What does He offer for the last moments of life-whether the end comes by lions, cancer, a firing squad, a car accident?
A few initial thoughts:
• “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones” (Psalm 116:15).
• “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight—we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).
• “I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
• “But I am had-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better” (Philippians 1:23).
• “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7b).
• “And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).
• “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37… to be continued).
• “For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
• “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him” (Romans 5:9-10).
• “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is , the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
• “’O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
I may continue this theme down the road... The Bible is thick with promises for the end.
What good is God when you’re staring death in the face? What does He offer for the last moments of life-whether the end comes by lions, cancer, a firing squad, a car accident?
A few initial thoughts:
• “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones” (Psalm 116:15).
• “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight—we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).
• “I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
• “But I am had-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better” (Philippians 1:23).
• “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7b).
• “And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).
• “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37… to be continued).
• “For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
• “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him” (Romans 5:9-10).
• “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is , the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
• “’O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
I may continue this theme down the road... The Bible is thick with promises for the end.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Mercy to the Prodigal People
“’Yet even now’ declares the LORD, ‘Return to Me with all your heart and with fasting, weeping, and mourning, and rend your heart and not your garments.’
“Now return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil. Who knows whether He will not turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, even a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?...
“’Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust’” (Joel 2:12-14, 25).
Surely we see how prodigal are our hearts (prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love). Consider how powerful in mercy the Lord is—He not only receives back the repentant, but He is able to restore the loss we’ve suffered as a result of years of rebellion, sin, and discipline.
“Now return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil. Who knows whether He will not turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, even a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?...
“’Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust’” (Joel 2:12-14, 25).
Surely we see how prodigal are our hearts (prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love). Consider how powerful in mercy the Lord is—He not only receives back the repentant, but He is able to restore the loss we’ve suffered as a result of years of rebellion, sin, and discipline.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Answered and Unanswered Prayers
I feel very thankful this morning for some small but very tangible mercies that I’ve seen in the past couple days:
• My husband Ben is taking classes for his teaching degree. He has class on Thursdays (and is not a skipper), but next Thursday we are hoping to have an open house to celebrate Christmas, see some friends, and hopefully reach out to our neighbors. I figured he would just get there barely in time for the start—but he came home from class yesterday and said the professor told them they don’t need to come to class next week!
• Per the last note, we have school to pay for and are trying to save pennies here and there. So last night I was making muffins from scratch. I was working fast, and without looking closely at the recipe, and alas-- I added three times as much baking soda as I was supposed to. I had already put in a couple more ingredients by the time I noticed, so there wasn’t much I could do but scoop out some white powdered stuff and hope the mis-measurement wouldn’t ruin the batch. I stuck them in the oven and prayed (like my friend Grace always says) to the Great Chef, the One who made the very properties that cause leavening to expand in baked things… and asked that He would just touch those little muffins and make them okay. And Ben commented twice about how good they were when we had them for supper.
I look back at those vignettes and nearly feel silly for how trivial they seem. Why should anyone even care?
Here are two reflections, and perhaps others will contribute others:
1) What are the things that most frequently break my sense of peace, prompt me to turn sour and frustrated, strain my ability to commit my way to the Lord?
Not generally calamities, but irritations. My life has been mostly free of tragedy and horror—but it is continually broken by a series of interruptions, errors, and inconveniences, insignificant and menial in themselves, but often forceful enough in their impact to disrupt my heart.
Would I not, then, expect that the realm in which God is pleased to work would extend to fully encompass these kinds of irritants? And—if that is the case, and it surely is—does it not honor Him and strengthen my “faith muscles” when I learn and learn again to turn those slight things over to His care quickly, immediately instead of worrying them like a bone and snapping at anyone who crosses my path in the process?
Lord, let me learn (and remember)!
2) What about the times when I pray… and Ben gets home late and/or the whole recipe flops and gets dumped in the trashcan? (Both experiences I have had.)
Here, I believe, is when I often turn functionally atheist. I respond to the human factors with selfishness, frustration, and (under it all) a fundamental faithlessness that God is the same good God as when the muffins turn out beautifully.
The same inclination that feels embarrassed even to put in writing those two minor answers to prayer above—this same inclination drives me to utterly disregard me deeply-held conviction that God rules all things, answers all prayers, and always “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28… that most quoted, most loved, and most hated verse, but that’s for another post).
But isn’t this the seed-form of the greatest crises of faith we are ever likely to have?
Stated in curtest form, I reject the stated truth of God’s nature, character, and ways and bow to the god of emotion, empirical evidence, and personal perception.
Perhaps these moments are really God’s gift to us of small, simple “training wheel” lessons of faith: “the conviction of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).
And I am convinced that His desire is to honor the trust of the one who clings to the promise in the stupid moments of irritation, interruption, and seemingly insignificant disappointment.
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:5).
“The eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth, that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chron. 16:9a).
Lord, You’re faithful. Always faithful. Please let me trust You more fully, less dependent on emotion and circumstance. And thank You for the countless times You bend low to bless and smooth the way for this weak heart.
• My husband Ben is taking classes for his teaching degree. He has class on Thursdays (and is not a skipper), but next Thursday we are hoping to have an open house to celebrate Christmas, see some friends, and hopefully reach out to our neighbors. I figured he would just get there barely in time for the start—but he came home from class yesterday and said the professor told them they don’t need to come to class next week!
• Per the last note, we have school to pay for and are trying to save pennies here and there. So last night I was making muffins from scratch. I was working fast, and without looking closely at the recipe, and alas-- I added three times as much baking soda as I was supposed to. I had already put in a couple more ingredients by the time I noticed, so there wasn’t much I could do but scoop out some white powdered stuff and hope the mis-measurement wouldn’t ruin the batch. I stuck them in the oven and prayed (like my friend Grace always says) to the Great Chef, the One who made the very properties that cause leavening to expand in baked things… and asked that He would just touch those little muffins and make them okay. And Ben commented twice about how good they were when we had them for supper.
I look back at those vignettes and nearly feel silly for how trivial they seem. Why should anyone even care?
Here are two reflections, and perhaps others will contribute others:
1) What are the things that most frequently break my sense of peace, prompt me to turn sour and frustrated, strain my ability to commit my way to the Lord?
Not generally calamities, but irritations. My life has been mostly free of tragedy and horror—but it is continually broken by a series of interruptions, errors, and inconveniences, insignificant and menial in themselves, but often forceful enough in their impact to disrupt my heart.
Would I not, then, expect that the realm in which God is pleased to work would extend to fully encompass these kinds of irritants? And—if that is the case, and it surely is—does it not honor Him and strengthen my “faith muscles” when I learn and learn again to turn those slight things over to His care quickly, immediately instead of worrying them like a bone and snapping at anyone who crosses my path in the process?
Lord, let me learn (and remember)!
2) What about the times when I pray… and Ben gets home late and/or the whole recipe flops and gets dumped in the trashcan? (Both experiences I have had.)
Here, I believe, is when I often turn functionally atheist. I respond to the human factors with selfishness, frustration, and (under it all) a fundamental faithlessness that God is the same good God as when the muffins turn out beautifully.
The same inclination that feels embarrassed even to put in writing those two minor answers to prayer above—this same inclination drives me to utterly disregard me deeply-held conviction that God rules all things, answers all prayers, and always “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28… that most quoted, most loved, and most hated verse, but that’s for another post).
But isn’t this the seed-form of the greatest crises of faith we are ever likely to have?
Stated in curtest form, I reject the stated truth of God’s nature, character, and ways and bow to the god of emotion, empirical evidence, and personal perception.
Perhaps these moments are really God’s gift to us of small, simple “training wheel” lessons of faith: “the conviction of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).
And I am convinced that His desire is to honor the trust of the one who clings to the promise in the stupid moments of irritation, interruption, and seemingly insignificant disappointment.
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:5).
“The eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth, that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chron. 16:9a).
Lord, You’re faithful. Always faithful. Please let me trust You more fully, less dependent on emotion and circumstance. And thank You for the countless times You bend low to bless and smooth the way for this weak heart.
The Humility of Jesus
Considering Christmas brings us to look at the inconceivable humility of God joining the world of flesh.
This sermon by Mark Driscoll deepened my worship of the One who "did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the nature of a servant, being made in the likeness of man":
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/its-all-about-jesus/its-all-about-jesus-humility
This sermon by Mark Driscoll deepened my worship of the One who "did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the nature of a servant, being made in the likeness of man":
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/its-all-about-jesus/its-all-about-jesus-humility
Thursday, December 3, 2009
O Holy Night
I love the Advent season, and one of my favorite aspects is the beautiful hymns that stir so strongly in the recollection of Jesus’ first coming. My very favorite is “O Holy Night”—a song that I have found moves me deeply each year.
See how these words (not in their given order here) so strongly paint the portrait of a bleak, sin-darkened world, a single beacon of hope coming in Christ, our only conceivable mediator with a holy God.
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
“He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
“The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
“Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
“Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O holy night, O night divine!
“Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
O holy night, O night divine!”
O Jesus, melt my heart with the humility of Your advent. Let the power and beauty of Your coming press me to my face again, to my knees, on my face before the One who came “so that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death… [and] make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb 2:14, 17). Thank You, Jesus.
See how these words (not in their given order here) so strongly paint the portrait of a bleak, sin-darkened world, a single beacon of hope coming in Christ, our only conceivable mediator with a holy God.
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
“He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
“The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
“Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
“Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O holy night, O night divine!
“Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
O holy night, O night divine!”
O Jesus, melt my heart with the humility of Your advent. Let the power and beauty of Your coming press me to my face again, to my knees, on my face before the One who came “so that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death… [and] make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb 2:14, 17). Thank You, Jesus.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Treachery of Us and the Tenacity of God
I started reading in Hosea yesterday. What a commentary on the fickleness and vileness of human hearts:
God speaks:
“I will strip her naked and expose her as on the day when she was born. I will also make her like a wilderness, make her like desert land and slay her with thirst. Also, I will have no compassion on her children, because they are children of harlotry. For their mother has played the harlot; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’…
“For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil and lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal…
“I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one will rescue her out of My hand…. I will destroy her vines and fig trees, of which she said, ‘These are my wages which my lovers have given me.’…I will punish her for the days of the Baals when she used to offer sacrifices to them and adorn herself with her earrings and jewelry and follow her lovers so that she forgot Me” (Hosea 2:3-13).
The very gifts of God we use against Him and refuse to see Him as the giver of every good thing (see James 1:17).
He did judge and chasten His people Israel. But He did not put her away forever. Hosea tells the story of the tenacity of God, His undeterred pursuit of His unfaithful bride.
“‘Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her…. It will come about in that day,’ declares the LORD, ‘that you will call Me Ishi [my husband] and will no longer call Me Baali [my owner]. For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, so that they will be mentioned by their names no more….
“‘I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD’” (Hosea 2:14-20).
God speaks:
“I will strip her naked and expose her as on the day when she was born. I will also make her like a wilderness, make her like desert land and slay her with thirst. Also, I will have no compassion on her children, because they are children of harlotry. For their mother has played the harlot; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’…
“For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil and lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal…
“I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one will rescue her out of My hand…. I will destroy her vines and fig trees, of which she said, ‘These are my wages which my lovers have given me.’…I will punish her for the days of the Baals when she used to offer sacrifices to them and adorn herself with her earrings and jewelry and follow her lovers so that she forgot Me” (Hosea 2:3-13).
The very gifts of God we use against Him and refuse to see Him as the giver of every good thing (see James 1:17).
He did judge and chasten His people Israel. But He did not put her away forever. Hosea tells the story of the tenacity of God, His undeterred pursuit of His unfaithful bride.
“‘Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her…. It will come about in that day,’ declares the LORD, ‘that you will call Me Ishi [my husband] and will no longer call Me Baali [my owner]. For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, so that they will be mentioned by their names no more….
“‘I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD’” (Hosea 2:14-20).
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thanksgiving 2009
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried.
He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest… to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love towards those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us;
God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve and strips the forests bare.…
In His temple, everything says, “Glory!”
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Trust in Him at all times, O people. Pour out your heart before Him.
I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
And He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow;
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Praise Builder
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Praise-Builder
Do you ever use form prayers? Consider this exercise in building prayers of praise that we talked about in this week’s staff meeting.
“O (name of God) I will (verb) You for Your (attribute of God) and because You (act of God)."
Shepherd
|
worship
|
compassion
|
pardon all our iniquities
|
King
|
praise
|
lovingkindness
|
heal all our diseases
|
Savior
|
sing to
|
patience
|
redeem our life from the pit
|
Righteous Judge
|
bow before
|
righteousness
|
crown us with steadfast love and mercy
|
Master
|
adore
|
justice
|
satisfy us with good so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s
|
Keeper
|
exult in
|
comfort
|
redeem the life of Your servant
|
Hiding place
|
exalt
|
holiness
|
are slow to anger
|
Redeemer
|
delight in
|
trustworthiness
|
do not deal with us according to our sins
|
Advocate
|
magnify
|
sovereignty
|
know our frame and are mindful that we are but dust
|
Mediator
|
bless
|
graciousness
|
work righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed
|
Lord of lords
|
shout to
|
kindness
|
have removed our iniquities from us as far as the east is from the west
|
Messiah
|
remember
|
omniscience
|
knit me together in my mother’s womb
|
Comforter
|
proclaim
|
might
|
do not crush the bruised reed or snuff out the smoldering wick
|
Creator
|
extol
|
orderliness
|
were pierced for our transgressions
|
Warrior
|
give thanks to
|
authority
|
have done wonderful things
|
Consuming Fire
|
exclaim
|
unchanging nature
|
are able to make all grace abound, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, we may have an abundance for every good deed
|
Jesus
|
cry to
|
forgiveness
|
care for me
|
Holy One
|
declare to
|
majesty
|
will dwell with us, and we shall be Your people
|
Bridegroom
|
speak of
|
generosity
|
give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost
|
Refuge
|
meditate on
|
happiness
|
raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the ages to come You might show the surpassing riches of Your grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus
|
What combination most stirs your spirit?
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