From "Respectable" To Vile

“Help,Lord,for the godly man ceases to be,for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.” (Psalm 12:1-2)

Honesty is not something I would say I "struggle" with. In fact, as Christians, it probably wouldn't even make the "top 5 list" of sin we are battling. Dishonesty, lying, or any evasion from the truth, seems to find itself on the list of those 'respectable' sins. But what we often fail to realize is that God sees dishonesty, lying, or whatever you want to name it, as far worse than we often do. Yes sin is sin, but lying makes it in his list of 7 abominations. That is a pretty weighty thought. "There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers." (Proverbs 6:16-19). That word abomination in this context means loathsome, detestable, hateful or vile. Those don't sound 'respectable' to me. And if lying is viewed as so vile in the eyes of the Lord, we must fight to recognize it in our lives, and fight against it, for the glory of His name.

What Christians have failed to realize is that lying is not merely that, telling a lie. It encompasses so much more. Lying involves everything from omission of the truth to exaggeration and everything in between. There have been countless arguments over the years as to if telling a lie is every acceptable, maybe in the context of a surprise birthday party, or for the protection of family if there is danger present. But I would encourage you to move away from the "what-if" scenarios, and move to the command of Scripture. Instead of asking where the line is, look at the black and white meaning found in Scripture, and rather strive for obedience and the pursuit of holiness. The bottom line is that lying is a sin, and if God calls it that, we must too. There never is an "acceptable" time to lie, to exaggerate, or to avoid the truth.

I can think of many times when I have embellished a story, left out an important detail, or simply sat by and listened to untruths without correction. In all of these scenarios, I have sinned. I have committed what God calls an abomination. And although I am forgiven, by the grace of God, it does not negate the fact that in most of those cases I failed to even recognize what I was doing as sin. The truth always wins in the end. There is no getting around that. Your lies will find you out, light will shine in the darkness, and the consequences of creating your own fantasy will be much more costly than speaking the truth immediately. Not only are you disobeying God when you lie (in any form or fashion) you are bringing discipline and chastening from His holy hand upon yourself.

There are countless passages in Scripture that speak to Truth-telling. Here are just a few:

Exodus 20:16
Exodus 23:1-7
1 Peter 2:12
Matthew 15:17-19
John 8:44
Psalm 58:3
Proverbs 19:5
Psalm 63:11
Ephesians 4:25
I Corinthians 13:1
Ephesians 4:29
Proverbs 3:3
James 3:5-6
I Peter 4:11
James 3:17-18; 4:8

You will be face with the temptation to lie, exaggerate, evade the truth, etc., almost every day. Whether that involves an actual explicit lie to make yourself look better, to cut corners at work, to be quiet when truth is misaligned, to withhold the truth because of fear of man, and the list goes on...We must strive to see this 'respectable' sin as anything but, as God does, vile and repulsive. And fight it head on!

Treasure Prayer

Prayer is an often neglected spiritual discipline. It somehow finds itself on the back-burner until we lay our heads on our pillows at night and find ourselves forgetting in the morning at what part of our prayer we fell asleep. Although we may "talk" to God throughout the day, throwing out quick requests or pleas, the precious privilege of purposeful, private prayer seems to be taken for granted.

I recently had the opportunity to read a work from Andrew Murray about the power of prayer that left me encouraged and exhorted to a prayer revival in my own life. In his work, he explained the privilege we have to come before the Almighty knowing He hears and answers. His encouragement came from biblical texts such as James, that remind us that prayer truly is powerful. I suppose it is for this very reason that it is often neglected. It could be the very reason that we push it aside, find such great temptation to be done in those quiet moments with distractions looming in our mind, and fail to come before the Father as often as we should. The enemy, prowling around like a lion, finds great pleasure in working to make sure that Christian prayer is weak, short, and simple. Even he knows its true power. “We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth.”

In prayer, a loving Father listens. Murray puts it this way, "The great thing in prayer is to feel that we are putting our supplications into the bosom of omnipotent love.” And the more we pray, the more our prayers become His prayers. “God cannot hear the prayers on our lips often because the desires of our heart after the world cry out to Him much more strongly and loudly than the our desires for Him.” Our desires will be His desires. And remember He answers! “Ask and you shall receive; everyone that asks receives. This is the fixed eternal law of the kingdom: If you ask and receive not, it must be because there is something amiss or wanting in the prayer. Hold on; let the Word and Spirit teach you to prat aright, but do not let go the confidence he seeks to waken: Everyone who asks receives....Let every learner in the school of Christ therefore take the Master's word in all simplicity....Let us beware of weakening the word with our human wisdom.”

Christian, treasure the privilege of prayer, you can never be on your knees too often.

Change Your Perspective

My days during the week are consistently similar. Although the evenings at time take shape differently, the majority of my day is a pattern of the same. I've thought a lot about this recently, and the temptation there is for me, or anyone for that matter, to find themselves trapped in a routine, forgetting to be mindful of God's constant working in even the mundane. We usually look forward to the weekends, often because these are the days we get to fill with what we want to do, or maybe just because we get that extra hour of sleep, or a chance to catch up on all the housework. Our weekdays can often become a vicious cycle of the norm. We fix our eyes on the end of the week, hoping each day would only go by quicker. But wait...what if we're missing something. What if the mundane is actually just as precious, purposeful and enjoyable. What if the problem is our perspective?

The fact of the matter is life is a vapor, we aren't guaranteed tomorrow; and in a world as chaotic and ever-changing as ours, this ought to burden our hearts. James writes in chapter 4, verse 14: "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." But do we really believe this? Because if we did, it would radically change our perspective. In light of eternity, how should we live? Below are just a few encouragements that I believe will help you change your perspective about the mundane, everyday days, and help you refocus on reality.

You're Alive for a Reason!
It is a measure of grace that you woke up this morning, and another that you are breathing this very second. In God's infinite wisdom and design, He purposed that you would be alive today doing whatever it is that He has entrusted to you (going to school, working, keeping a house, raising kids, etc.). His work with you isn't finished. He is still at work in your life conforming you into the image of Christ. And He still has things He wants to accomplish through you. Stop and give Him thanks for your very life, for the ability you have been given to go to school, to work, to raise a family, or whatever the case may be. And remember it's not by chance you're alive today, there's a reason...glorify Him in ALL you do!

You're Alive Forever!
As a child of God you have been given a hope that is imperishable and unfading. You, like me, might anticipate what it will be like to meet Jesus face to face, and that very thought often drives you to living for Him. In those moments in life where you are downcast, burdened, or feel as though things might be mundane, stop and remember the TRUE LIFE you have eternally. Use each and every opportunity here on earth, whether it be teaching your children about the Father's love, or conducting a business meeting, as a chance to glorify God. See each circumstance as purposed by your Father in heaven for your good and His glory. Store up for yourselves treasure in heaven. Use your life, both the mundane days, and the 'amazing' days to honor Him, knowing that both pale in comparison to one day with your Maker.

You're Alive Today!
As James said, our life is a vapor, and we aren't guaranteed tomorrow. One of Jonathan Edward's resolutions reads, "Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life." This is a pretty challenging and powerful way of thinking that will no doubt transform your living today. If you change your perspective from tomorrow to today, everything changes. You must refocus your mind on what is reality, and that is today. You have only been given today, nothing else, and because of that you must decide to make the best use of the time you have been entrusted with. Use each opportunity for the glory of God. Redeem each moment. In those mundane moments, find joy in knowing Christ has purposed them just for you. Look for teachable moments with your children. Look for opportunities to share the gospel with your co-workers. Look for God-honoring ways to study, do homework, or prepare a project. You're alive today, rejoice in the day the Lord has given you, and redeem it for His glory. After all, it may be your last.

The reality is you aren't given the promise of another day on this earth. In light of that Truth, you must change your perspective on each day. You must remind yourself that each day is purposeful, precious, and providential. You must seek to find opportunities to redeem the time, redeem the situation, and bring glory to God. Look for opportunities to be taught by His grace, and be thankful for the work He is doing in and through you. There is no such thing as a purposeless day in the eyes of our Maker, but do we really live that way? We must change our perspective!

Why Do I Work Unto Him?

There is a debate going on in modern evangelical Christianity with regards to the Gospel. I'm not talking about whether or not you are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone, but rather what place the Gospel should take in the Christian's life. It is something that has brought about heated discussions, confusion to some, and has become a topic of study now in my own spiritual pursuit, and for that, I am beyond grateful, because what has transpired in my own life has been such a blessing.

I have been a Christian for about 20 years. By the grace of God alone I was brought to repentance and faith as a child. It was by the Spirit's work of regeneration that my eyes were opened to the reality of my own sinfulness and the precious gift of grace. Although at such a young age I didn't fully comprehend every facet of what it meant to follow Jesus, I knew I was a sinner and I knew only He could save me from that. I am so thankful for the regenerating work of salvation in my heart at that moment in time and for the love the Father had for me, outside of who I was, to reach down and save a wretch like me.

From that moment, I have grown in grace through the work of sanctification. I have been through trials and testings and by the grace of God have come through them more deeply in love with my Savior and more like Him. All of it, a work of His grace.

Recently, I have become more and more aware of what it means to be sanctified and how I believe the Bible teaches that occurs. Although entirely held responsible for what I do in the Christian life, is it my doing? Sanctification that is. Being a performer, I will admit that at times I have tried to merit the favor of God in my pursuit of holiness (never to gain salvation, but that I might be more well loved or liked by the Father). But, the more I study the Word of God, the more I see the danger in that thinking, and the error. Jerry Bridges puts it well, "As I see it, the Christian community is largely a performance-based culture today. And the more deeply committed we are to following Jesus, the more deeply ingrained the performance mindset is. We think we earn God's blessing or forfeit it by how well we live the Christian life. Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace." But do I behave that way as if I really believe it?

If I have NOTHING to do with my salvation, does that mean I have NOTHING to do with my sanctification. Well, yes and no. We are commanded in Scripture to work:

"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor 7:1)

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling..." (Philippians 2:12)

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22)

"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul." (1 Peter 2:11)

BUT...why are we working? Or how are we working? Again, Jerry Bridges puts it well, "So sanctification involves hard work and dependence on Christ; what I call dependent effort. And it will always mean we are dissatisfied with our performance. For a growing Christian, desire will always outstrip performance or, at least, perceived performance. What is it then that will keep us going in the face of this tension between desire and performance? The answer is the gospel. It is the assurance in the gospel that we have indeed died to the guilt of sin and that there is no condemnation for us in will motivate us and keep us going even in the face of this tension. We must always keep focused on the gospel because it is in the nature of sanctification that as we grow, we see more and more of our sinfulness. Instead of driving us to discouragement, though, this should drive us to the gospel. It is the gospel believed every day that is the only enduring motivation to pursue progressive sanctification even in those times when we don't seem to see progress. That is why I use the expression "gospel- driven sanctification" and that is why we need to "preach the gospel to ourselves every day."

You see, it is the GOSPEL that teaches us to live Godly lives. When we stop each and every day and remember the Gospel here are some things we recognize...

- The REALITY of God's LOVE for us WHICH in turn motivates a response of love towards Him
1 John 4:19 "We love, because He first loved us"

- The POWER the Gospel gives to us to obey Him
Titus 2:11-12"For the grace of God has (P)appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age."

- The PRIVILEGE it is to come to Him in prayer knowing because of Christ He hears us
Romans 8:34 "Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us."

- The VALUE of the Word of Truth which is LIVING and ACTIVE and changing our hearts
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

- The PRECIOUSNESS of the message of the Gospel that alone can bring others to Himself
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."

- The NEED for HIS grace each and every moment of every day
2 Corinthians 12:9 "And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast [a]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

- THE SECURITY we have in the FINISHED work
John 10:28 "and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."




IT IS ALL ABOUT THE GOSPEL. You are saved through the power of the Gospel, you are sanctified through the power of the Gospel, and you will be glorified through the power of the Gospel. The Gospel isn't just for the unbeliever, it is for everyone. We as Christians need to hear it just as much as the unbeliever next to us. We need to be motivated by it, humbled by it, amazed by it, nourished by it, encouraged by it, convicted by it, shaped by it, changed by it, in awe of it, continually. You see, saving grace, true saving grace, empowers a person for the rest of their life. It's life altering, because it is life giving. You can never hear the Gospel enough, you will never exhaust the study of it, and you will never be out of the need of His grace. Work, by all means, unto Him and for Him, but please, I urge you to examine WHY you are working, and make sure it is simply in response to Him and what He did on that cross, because you love Him more than life itself, after all, He gave His life for you.

The Saint's Guarantee

The precious doctrine of eternal security is vital in the believer's walk. Jude encourages the believer with these precious words:

"To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you...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, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (v 1-2, 24-25)

As with anything in life, the guarantee seems to be of much importance. When we purchase a new car, TV, or home, we want to know what the guarantee is; without it, it's just not worth the investment. And although I hate to compare salvation to the purchase of a new car, there is some insight we can gain from the picture painted- when we are called to Christ, He commands us to deny ourselves, to give up our lives, and to live solely for Him, without a guarantee, it would be hopeless. You see, if we are somehow responsible for keeping ourselves in the love of Christ, if we could somehow loose our salvation, it would be a scary walk of faith. Almost as if we were walking on egg shells. You see if we could lose our salvation, we simply would. Our total depravity would demand that. But if you are truly of Him, if you are truly saved through the work of Christ, if you have come to Christ through repentance and faith, you can't loose your salvation because you didn't do it! You love Him because He FIRST loved you!

But what about those who were at one time walking in the faith and now have gone astray? John answers that question in 1 John 2:19- "They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us."

Listen to what John MacArthur has to say on the issue, "And I'll tell you this. If the Lord can't hold on to me, what hope is there? If salvation isn't God's work, then I'm not going to get there. Do you understand that? If it's not His work and He doesn't hold me, and He doesn't keep me, and He doesn't preserve me, I won't make it. If God doesn't save me, I can't save myself. If He doesn't sanctify me, I can't sanctify myself. And if He doesn't glorify me, I can't glorify myself. If He doesn't keep me, I can't keep myself. I'm not good enough to save myself and I'm certainly not good enough to keep myself. I will never be worthy of salvation. I wasn't in the past, I'm not now."

Although you are being sanctified, and renewed daily, and are sinning less and less, you are never sin-less this side of heaven, and therefore you are never the one meriting God's favor in the work of salvation...EVER! His sacrifice is continually paying the price. We continue to violate God's Law. We continue to be, to one degree or another, idolatrous. We continue to be wicked. And believe me, the list is sufficient to condemn us all. How could we ever keep our own salvation? The thought is absolutely ridiculous.

Because the work is solely of God, and because HE is the one keeping us in the faith, there is no way to lose that precious salvation, rather, you are kept forever. Remember Romans 8, Nothing can separate us from the love of God. No one can ever condemn us. No one can ever lay any charge to God's elect. Nothing can ever happen that doesn't turn out to our good because whomever the Lord chose, He called, justified, glorified. "Rest, dear Christian, and join the celebration of verse 25. "To the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time...that's past...now...that's present...and forever...that's the future...amen, so let it be." All credit goes to the only God. There's only one. The only God who is our Savior. The only God who is our Savior through Jesus Christ. The only God who is our Savior through Jesus Christ who is our Lord. To Him be all glory, majesty, dominion and authority. None left for anyone else including us. We are there because He kept us. He preserved us and He presented us." (John MacArthur)

What's the point if there is no guarantee? The value of salvation is in the guarantee, you are kept forever, BY HIM! Let me close and encourage you with a word from Spurgeon: "And when I heard it said that the Lord would keep His people right to the end, when I heard it said that Christ said, 'My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand.' When I heard that said, I must confess...says Spurgeon...that the doctrine of the final preservation of the saints was the bait that my soul could not resist. It was sort of life insurance, an insurance of my character, an insurance of my soul, an insurance of my eternal destiny. I knew I couldn't keep myself but if Christ promised to keep me, then I would be safe forever and I longed and I prayed to find Christ because I knew that if I found Him, He would not give me a temporary salvation as some preach. But eternal life which could never be lost, the living and incorruptible seed which lives and abides forever for no one and nothing could ever separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Contend for the Faith

"Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." (Jude 3-4)

The book of Jude has been one of great encouragement and yet strict warning for me. As I have studied the book and gained more and more insight into its meaning and importance, I have found myself plumbing the depths of weighty matters.

Jude is a concise book written to warn and call those in the faith to contend for that very faith, although originally intended to encourage about our common salvation, We are challenged to be alert, to be quick to recognize, and to discern frightening realities within our own churches as the audience of Jude's letter was too. Apostasy was very real, and easily overlooked. It had become a 'Truth War', as John MacArthur likes to refer to it. There has been in infiltration in the church of people who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ. And although apostasy was nothing new, Jesus himself discussed it in the Gospels with the parable of the seeds, it was a burden on the heart of Jude, and a threat to all believers.

In order to really understand what Jude is getting at, one must understand what he means when he speaks of apostasy. Apostates were not those people who had never heard the truth and lived their day to day life in sin. John MacArthur explains it well, "When you talk specifically about an apostate, you're talking about someone who has received the light but not the life, the seed but not the fruit, the perhaps the written Word but not the living Word. It is a willful and deliberate rejection of the truth after the truth has been heard." What is frightening about these people is that they get into Christianity, they get into the church, and they hide themselves, often unnoticed. Apostle Paul tells the people in Acts 20:28, "Be on guard for yourselves and all the flock." You've got to be on guard. Why? "Because after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock." And here's the danger. "From among your own selves men will arise speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them and therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I didn't cease to admonish each one with tears."

But how do they defend themselves from this dangerous enemy? How do we? Well he says, "I commend you to God and the Word of His grace which is able to build you up." The only way one is going to be able to discern an apostate is if they are in the Word, and know it. "Apostates go away from the truth, they don't necessarily go away from the church. Apostasy has plagued the church not only in individual situations, but in massive ways. Roman Catholicism is an apostate form of Christianity. Liberalism is an apostate form of Christianity. Neo-orthodoxy is an apostate form of Christianity. And every cult and ism and chism that's come along in the name of Christianity that deviates from the true gospel is an apostate form. Every preacher who doesn't preach the truth is an apostate preacher."

Jude loved the people whom he wrote to, calling them beloved, and because he loved them so, he was willing to tell them the truth. A much needed warning, a great exhortation, and a compelling for each one and us today. So, because of the danger of apostasy, Jude says, "I have to write...I have to write." The question is will we obey? Will we take heed? Will we do the hardwork of diligently studying the Word of God and become experts in the truth so we might contend for our faith!

Repent, Remember and Rest!

Being sanctified doesn't always "feel" good. Let's face it, even though we "know" and "believe" that the test, trial, or refining that we are going through is going to produce Christ like character in us and turn out for our good, in the moment, it's tough. And the Lord, in His love and mercy, tends to sanctify us in areas in which we are least comfortable with in order to REMIND us of our dependence upon Him. I say all of this, because the Lord is refining me in an area that I believe many Christians struggle with, that is with the "unknown". This lack of knowledge displays fruit in fear, worry, anxiety, stress, burden, and the list goes on. And at the root, is a heinous sin, I am ashamed to admit...distrust in the sovereign God.

You see, it is more complicated than it seems. In my mind, and with my lips, I would never doubt God's goodness, His plan, or His provision. I have seen His faithfulness displayed in countless ways that have humbled my heart to always trust. And yet, there seems, at times, to be a disconnect between my head and my heart. What I know, doesn't translate into what I do. More specifically, in how I respond to uncomfortable circumstances in my life.

As of late I have been mediating on the following verse ( and passage in context ) in Matthew from the lips of Jesus himself,
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (v34)
I have learned a lot from this passage, and during this season of sanctification in my life, both from the Word and from commentaries on it. I want to share a couple principles with you in regards to worry, the unknown, and the like, in hopes that it might strengthen and encourage you to press on.

(1) REMEMBER who your Father Is: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" -Matthew 7:11

Growing up, I had no reason to fear or worry about where I would lay my head at night, when my next meal would be, or if I'd have clothes to wear to school. Why? Because I had unwavering trust and confidence in my dad as my provider. This childlike faith goes hand in hand with the faith we as Christians are called to and enabled to have with our Father. My earthly father doesn't even compare to my Father in heaven, and yet I fail to remember who He is. I forget that He is sovereign, in control, and working everything together for my good and His glory. And although I may not think I have forgotten, the reactions I have in certain situations, or the doubts I experience, are evidence of the reality of my faithlessness. When tempted to worry or fret, stop for a moment, and REMEMBER who your Father is. If He has saved you from eternal damnation, why would you fear He won't provide exactly what you need for today.

(2) REMEMBER His Faithfulness"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." -1 Corinthians 1:9

It doesn't take long after starting in Genesis to see the faithfulness of God displayed. All throughout the Old and into the New testament, the Scriptures are filled with an unending story of God's perfect faithfulness. And if you look back on your own life you see the evidences of it even more personally. His faithfulness, as Scripture says, "reaches to the skys". It is amazing to see it in action, and it is consistently perfect. That is an incredible Truth that brings me so much joy and so much comfort! In moments of despair, confusion, and uncertainty, REMEMBER the faithfulness of God throughout all generations and in your life too.

May you see the sin in the fruits of your unknown circumstances, repent, remember and REST in the One who is faithful!

"Children of God... will you not bear witness, that, through all your trials and troubles, the faithfulness of your Savior's love has been the “very joy of your hearts?” You have had many crosses and losses – has He ever deserted you? You have been in severe afflictions, and have seen the flowers of many a “sweet hope” wither and decay – did your Friend desert you then? Others may have proved faithless – all other help may have failed you – friendship’s help, promised help, expected help – all, all may have been but as the foam upon the billow, as the footsteps in the sand – but, has Christ ever failed you? Could you, in the darkest and the saddest hour of your grief, say to Him? “Lord, You have promised what You did not perform.” Will you not bear witness concerning the past? – “Not one good thing has failed, of all that the Lord has promised – all has come to pass.” -John MacDuff

Job's Example

"This is the essence of God’s sovereignty; His absolute independence to do as He pleases and His absolute control over the actions of all His creatures. No creature, person, or empire can either thwart His will or act outside the bounds of His will."

There is something so comforting knowing that God IS sovereign. It seems as if this attribute is one I remind myself of almost daily. In moments of confusion, in moments of despair, in moments of pain, and in moments of sheer happiness, I am reminded of the precious Truth that THE LORD IS SOVEREIGN. I rejoice in this Truth because I know that NO MATTER WHAT, there is NOTHING, and NOBODY, that can thwart His plan. That is an incredible thought. To know that no act of Satan, no sin of man, no groan of creation, NOTHING, happens apart from the sovereign hand, design, and will of our good God.

The story of Job is such a perfect reminder for this very reality. Having the Word of God gives us the privilege of hearing the conversation between God and Satan and seeing the role of God's sovereign hand in the trials that befall this righteous man. We look and marvel at the story, we know the beginning and the end, but Job only knew the moments as they played. I often wonder what Job must have been thinking while God watched and smiled at his faith and Satan was frustrated over and over again. Here is a man who had it all, spiritually and physically speaking. He seemed to be living a life abundantly blessed, and for the glory of God alone; and then in a matter of moments, everything was taken from him, every earthly possession that is. Yes his faith was tested, yes despair set in, but his trust in a sovereign God kept Him clinging to the faith He held so dear. We hear this in Job 42:2 “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. " Through it all Job held on KNOWING His God was sovereignly in control of every detail of every circumstance, no matter how baffling or confusing it seemed in the moment.

I want to have faith like Job. I want to see God's sovereignty as a Truth that is unshakable. I want to KNOW and trust His perfect plan no matter what comes my way, believing that He is working all things together for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28). If God weren't sovereign, my faith would be empty, my hope destroyed, and the promise of eternity in question...but because HE IS sovereign, my faith is strong, my hope is sure, and the promise of forever with my Jesus is eternally secure. I rejoice in His sovereignty, more than most any other thing about my God, for it is by this Truth that I rest completely in Him.

A Reflection and Looking Ahead

"And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." -Colossians 1:17

2011 has been a year where my cup has overflowed. God has blessed me beyond comprehension with some wonderful gifts, and the most precious gift I could have ever received aside from my salvation, my incredible husband, made just for me. And the way in which He answered prayers, like that for a husband, were above and beyond all that I could have imagined or hoped for (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Throughout this year God has not only blessed me abundantly, but has, in His love, sanctified me in a variety of ways. I have seen His hand reveal areas of weakness in my life, and have felt the Spirit's strengthening power to run this race harder. This year my prayer was two-fold with regard to my own sanctification; that I might know Him better and that I might comprehend the weight of the Gospel more. I am an eternity from the total fruition of these prayers being answered, but can truly say that He has allowed me to see Jesus as more glorious and great this year, and He has made the Gospel more real in my life. For that, I am so thankful.

As I look back on this year, I am humbled and in awe of God's faithfulness. I wonder why I ever distrust such a perfectly sovereign and good God. Despite the suffering, trials, and daily battles I have faced, I have realized more than ever the goodness of the Great God we serve! His immutable faithfulness is dumbfounding, characteristics that I never grow weary of praising Him for.

I believe as Christians it is a good thing to look back over the year, whether full of blessing or trial, and stand in awe of our great God. When you begin to examine the days of the year, you can't help but find yourself thanking Him for His constant love, steadfast protection and provision, and grace in your life. You see more clearly His sustaining power in all things in your life. And recognize that it is by His grace you were given another year.

And as we reflect and bring Him glory, we prayerfully anticipate the next year, 2012. There are countless unknowns and the great possibility that we may see Him face to face this year! There is a vital need to pray, to entreat the mighty God, and expectantly hope in this year, knowing that whatever His will is for it will be good, perfect!

I am beyond excited for 2012, despite the unknowns, because I have a great Father in heaven who holds all things in His hands! It is another year to know HIm more, to bring Him more glory, and to enjoy the good gifts (like my sweet husband), that He has blessed me with!

Thank you Jesus for 2011, I trust you with 2012!

The Gospel's Power to Humble

The human heart, by nature, is selfish and proud. Although it may be disguised at times in self pity or selfishly motivated humility, we must admit that being humble does not come "natural". And in a country and culture where self-worth, self-esteem, and pride is esteemed, being humble is all the more of a struggle. Yet, for the Christian, it is a command. Jesus himself called for a denial of self in order to be one of His disciples. And He goes further in summing up all the commandments into two; love Him first, and then love others...making you and me, number three. I'll be the first to admit that both of these characteristics that should define a Christ follower are struggles for me daily. My flesh is weak and although the Spirit is willing and able, I so often fail to draw from Him, and end up falling prey to my own fleshly wants and desires. I find myself like the Apostle Paul in Romans 7 saying, " For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing" (v19). And yet there is one thing that can humble me to my knees, one thing I must meditate more and more on, and preach continually to my heart- The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As Christmas comes this week I have been daily reminded of the Gospel. I can't think of the little baby in the manger without immediately thinking about the man on the cross. I am dumbfounded when I recognize the weight of what happened during the transaction that day. And I am humbled beyond understanding when I recall the events of Christ's birth, life, and death. The God of the universe, coming to earth as a baby, in a stable? It sounds foolish. And then He goes further, purposefully planned, and dies the most heinous death possible, never once opening his mouth in rebuke or wrath. That kind of humility is out of this world, it is perfect in every way. It demands my worship, adoration, living.

And the message as Paul calls it in 1 Corinthians 1:18, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God", is truly the most humbling. It forces a sinner to their knees, to a recognition of the true state of self, and to a humbling reality that there is no hope within the human race. It demands repentance. And yet, while devastating the pride of the individual and humiliating the person to their knees, it offers the sweetest of promises, the greatest of joys, and the most wonderful of hopes. It is humbling, but in the most satisfying way. A salvation that is solely His to give and freely ours to cling to. How precious, how great is this Truth.

My heart's hope is that this Christmas season will spur on a year of continual reflecting on the Gospel message. It is the only message that will bring about true humility as we live for Him each day, and enable us to selflessly live a life for the glory of His name!

A Sobering Reality

Death is a sobering reality, a reality we often forget. We often live day by day with a sense of immortality in our minds. And although we aren't to live in fear, there is a Truth Scripture exhorts us towards, a Truth that reminds us of where our focus must be during all of life's seasons.

In Ecclesiastes 7:2, the wise Solomon speaks this weighty words:

"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart."

I can remember it like it was yesterday. Before I even got to the hospital I knew, I knew I would never see my grandpa this side of heaven again, and the pain of that was unbearable. I don't think I have ever cried so hard in my life, a sort of weeping that pains every fiber of your being, my heart literally hurt. And yet, in the midst of it all, I had an indescribable peace and joy that I couldn't explain. It didn't remove the pain I was enduring, or stop the tears I shed for days, but it shifted my focus from the temporal to the eternal. In that season I was struck head on with a reality I had never had to face before, that reality that Solomon speaks of in Ecclesiastes 7, that death is real, and for every person that ever walks the face of this earth.

In the midst of all the tears I was reminded of two crucial things; his salvation (and mine), and the reality of the Great Commission. The joy and burden of both weighed heavy on my heart. It was almost if I had been jolted into the realm of reality I hadn't wanted to face. The fact that I didn't have "forever", and the need for purpose in my pursuit of this life. Why was I here? Merely to bring glory to God through the exclamation of His precious and powerful Gospel, the hope that is found in Jesus Christ alone. My grandpa had been saved for less than a year when He went home to be with His Savior. He had heard the Gospel countless times in his 60 some odd years and rejected it again and again, and yet by the sovereign hand of the Almighty, He had been sustained, God's patience had endured until the day He was given eyes to see and a heart to respond. The power of the Gospel was displayed in the death of my grandpa. There was true joy in knowing I would see Him again.

So what's the point of all of this you might ask? The point is that we MUST refocus our minds and hearts on the eternal. We must realize that death is imminent for all men and we don't know the timing of the Almighty for each individual, it could be today, it could be tomorrow, or it could be in 50 years from now. But regardless, as believers we have been given a commission, to use TODAY to be a light for Him, to take the opportunities to share His Truth, to pray for the lost and unsaved in our midst, and to trust the God who is mighty to save. Marvel at the life you have been given because it is the grace of God, and only that, that sustains your every breath. Stand in awe of the salvation which He has graciously given you, and don't take that for granted. Be reminded in life and death of the reality of the temporary and the eternity of the eternal...and live for what is imperishable not for what moths and dust will destroy. Think on these things regularly, and never lose sight of the hope on which you stand.

And for the unsaved, let death be a wake up call to you. Recognize the reality that you are hanging by a mere thread over the pit of hell and it is but by the mercy and grace of God that you still live and breath. KNOW that He is ready to save you, His love seen through the Gospel of Jesus Christ enables your sin to be forgiven and for the perfect righteousness of Christ to be put on your account. In a moment your destiny can change. Don't believe the lies of the enemy that you have more time. Time is in the hands of the One who made you, and death is real, and never timely. I plead with you to repent, to turn from your sins and to put your trust and confidence fully in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Your eternal destiny depends on it...

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter,and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

An Infant God?

"Why did Jesus have to be God?"...I think as believers we have all faced this question, especially during Christmas. For whatever reason, people have a really hard time understanding how on earth a baby in a manger was the God of the universe, the One who created everything! It might be easier to believe He was God when He was out and about performing miracles, or even when He rose from the dead, but when He was lying in a manger? When he was a toddler walking around the home of Mary and Joseph? As a school aged boy playing with his friends? Was He really God, and did He even have to be at that point?

Well think about this for a moment...

A perfect, holy, Creator, God makes man who in turn is also blameless and living in perfection. In the sovereign plan and design of that holy God, man falls, disobeys, and sin enters the ENTIRE human race. From that point on, there is no longer fellowship between the two (God and man), it seems from the perspective of creation, to have forever been marred. YET, God had a greater design, a more perfect plan then anyone could fathom. His glory would be displayed in an indescribable and unfathomable way. God would make a way, a way for man to restore the relationship, to be cleansed from their iniquity forever, and to enjoy eternity in heaven with Him. The solution? Jesus Christ, His perfect Son, God in the flesh.

The incarnation of Christ baffles the human mind. In order to save us God had to become man. The Son assumed a genuine human nature in order to: perfectly obey God’s law (in order to fulfill the covenant of works), suffer and die on the cross as a vicarious atonement and rise again victorious over Satan, sin and death. It is a tremendous blessing to us that the Mediator will forever and ever be both God and man. For eternity we will be able to look at the scars in our Lord’s hands, feet and side. His glorified human body will be an eternal testimony to His supreme love; the love that caused Him to descend from the room of heaven to the filthy manger in Bethlehem and the painful road to Golgotha.

So there you have it, the answer to an age old question. Was Jesus God in that manger...yes, and more importantly, did He have to be...yes. He CHOSE to submit, to love, to redeem, to reconcile, to restore, and to one day glorify.

As we reflect this month on the true Christmas story, stop and marvel at the reality of the incarnation...be amazed once more, glorify the risen Christ with the angels in heaven, and remember why it had to be, and more importantly why He did it.

Kept

When I spend time studying the Word of God, I tend to be drawn to passages in Scripture that are very practical; whether that be exhortations from the epistles, or commands from the Lord Jesus Himself-I like application, application pertaining to how to live a holy life (what to do). And, although application to my pursuit of holiness is a necessary and fruitful aspect of studying the Word of God, I often times neglect some pieces of Scripture that remind me of Gospel Truths. I forget to spend time meditating on the cross and the power of the Gospel and all that it means for me, a child of God. My work towards holiness sometimes becomes more of habit or have to rather than of love and get to. The Gospel, for the believer, is the precious Truth that must be meditated upon continually, lest we forget.

Psalm 46:10 is one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture- "BE STILL/CEASE STRIVING, and KNOW that I AM GOD!" This powerful sentence has ministered to me in the deepest of valleys and on the highest mountain peaks during my walk with the Lord. I have found a common theme in my life, no matter where I am...HE IS GOD, YOU ARE HIS, REST IN THAT. There is power in that reality. Knowing that the favor and love of God I experience was eternally mine through the work of Christ is incredible. Nothing I do, or don't do is going to increase or decrease the love I receive. The work He did on the cross, accomplished it all, it is finished. He chose me from before the foundation of time, He called me as I walked this life, and He will never let me go!

As I started thinking about this and spent time reflecting on the cross, I remembered a message I heard from C.J. Mahaney from the small book of Jude. In it he read the following:

"Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,

To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by[a] Jesus Christ:

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 1-2, 24-25)

His message? You WERE called, you ARE loved, and you WILL FOREVER BE kept by Christ. Reading this passage in Scripture brings so much joy and peace to my heart. HE called me, because HE loves me (not because of some amazing person I was or would be), because He saw me through Christ and the cross. And it is HIM, and HIM ALONE who will keep me from falling, from stumbling...He alone will be the one who will bring me before the Father, Christ alone, and present me as blameless, BECAUSE OF HIS WORK ON CALVARY. So what then? Jude's response is right on- TO GOD OUR SAVIOR BE ALL GLORY AND MAJESTY AND POWER FOREVER!!!

We often tend to gauge our favor with God based on how holy we are or how obedient we are being. But are we obeying Him because we want Him to love us more, because we have to, or because that's what a Christian does?? OR are we obeying Him because we love Him? Because we are simply responding to the Gospel, to the cross?

I guarantee if we spent 5 minutes every morning reflecting on the work of Christ on the cross, excavating the depths of Truth in the Scriptures pertaining to this, our days would look very different. When you are aware of the Gospel, you walk differently, you talk differently, you love differently. When you are aware of the cross, you are humbled and amazed and can't help but respond with adoration, glory and honor to the King.

So I challenge you, as I have myself, to spend time each morning reflecting first on the cross before you get into your day, or even before you get into other parts of Scripture pertaining to life; ask the Lord to make you more aware of the Gospel, the power it truly has, and what it has done for you. Dig deep into the Truth of the ultimate love story on Calvary and ask the Lord to help you to see more clearly. The reality of the Gospel is something that should never become old and should continually spur praise and thanks, it should be continually in focus as we live our lives for Him!

Thanks Giving

Although every day should be a day of "thanksgiving", this time of year seems to draw up more gratitude then any other time. Giving thanks seems to be the message from every corner of society for a short week in November. The lists people compile always seem to include similar things, things we daily take for granted, and yet for a moment, stop, and recognize the reality of the blessings they really are. If we honestly took ten minutes to reflect on our own life and compile a list of blessings, we'd find that ten minutes wasn't enough time, the list could go on and on and on.

But then Thanksgiving ends and Christmas and then the new year rolls around and the attitude of gratitude fades from society almost immediately, and unfortunately, even amongst Christians. We find new reasons to complain and daily disappointments and frustrations seem to fill our lives once more. What a terrible truth this is. What a terrible witness to the world we become.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that thanksgiving seems to fade from the Christian as it does from the world, but rather the reality of that thanks is often forgot. Think about it this way for a moment...the house you gave thanks for is now a source of complaint because of the constant fixings it needs; or maybe the job you gave thanks for becomes a source of discontentment when you don't receive the raise you had so hoped for; or the thanks for a healthy body seems to be forgotten when the sniffles come around. How often we forget, and how often we neglect to realize HOW MUCH we should be giving thanks. As believers, it should continually be on our lips.

I too have fallen prey to forgetting and have found myself yet again this season reminding myself of the need for continual thanksgiving in my life, every moment of every day. As I sat and thought about the list I could compile I realized that what made my #1 spot was something that despite the lack of anything else in this world would and should fuel thanksgiving in my heart for eternity...the GOSPEL. And because I have heard it so many times, I admit, I often neglect remembering the realities and beauty of it, so I began to preach it once again to myself...

The reality that In the beginning GOD...created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) is mind boggling. And then God, the Maker of the universe, the always existent One, created man in his image. And when man, under the sovereign plan and will of God, chose to disobey, to sin, to pridefully believe he knew better than the perfect God, God wasn't surprised. In fact, He had a beautiful story that had just begun to unfold. Through the sin of one man, all were now born into sin...me, you, every individual who has ever crossed the face of this earth. Although a moralistic society can curb some of the wickedness of man, all are depraved, and as Romans 3 says, "There is NONE who do good, no not one". And the Bible goes on to teach us that because of this reality of sin, all are headed for eternal destruction, all deserving hell. A holy God must punish sin, and no matter what the sin, how small or how great, one sin makes you entirely imperfect, and demands punishment.

Yet this holy, majestic, all powerful, God of the universe who could NEVER be in a relationship with any individual who was imperfect exhibited the most PERFECT LOVE we will never comprehend. In His grace, in His mercy, in His love, He made a way for the relationship between himself and man that had been marred by the reality of sin, to be made new, to be made right. It wasn't through the "good" he saw in certain individuals, or the good works that they did for him. It wasn't through the religious rituals that certain people performed. It wasn't through anything that any person could ever do...nobody could EVER merit the favor of God!

Instead, in His perfectly divine love, He did the unthinkable...what you and I would never do, He gave up the most precious thing to Himself...His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. His love went a distance we can't even fathom. Jesus Christ, came down in human form, humbling himself in ways we can't even comprehend, and lived a perfect life we could never live; never once sinning. And then, He faithfully submitted himself to the will of the Father and was nailed to a cross of wood. The physical pain was brutal, unfathomable, gut wrenching awful; but that wasn't even close to the emotional and spiritual turmoil He endured. For a brief time, which must have felt like an eternity, He was cast out of His Father's presence as he bore the WRATH of the Almighty God FOR ME...for you. HIS FATHER CRUSHED HIM ( "Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, " -Isaiah 53:10). For every sin I ever would commit, He paid the price, undeserving of it all, in fact He deserved only glory. And during that time, He thought of me, even though I wasn't born yet (2000 years ago). He had planned to call me to be His, not because I was some amazing person, in fact I was the exact opposite, a vile and wretched sinner. He had planned to call me simply because He chose to love me, and to glorify Himself through His redemption of me. As Hosea 13:14 says, I will ransom them and redeem them from the grave! WOW...

And then in His glory He conquered sin and death once and for all and rose victoriously from the grave! And it was finished, redemption for the souls of His children had been accomplished. What an incredible Truth! 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, "But thanks be to God, which give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.".

And He caused me to believe, to repent, and to put my faith and trust solely in Him. For that I am eternally grateful. For the Gospel, for the cross, for my Jesus...this is EVERYTHING to me. Oh how grateful I am. Oh how often I neglect to remember the weight of it all.

As believers, our lives must be marked with thanksgiving 365 days a year, not just during Thanksgiving, and that thanks must always start with the Gospel. When you stop and remember, and marvel once again at what the Lord Jesus did for you, how can you not give thanks!!

"For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." -Ephesians 2:8-9

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the one he loves." -Ephesians 1:4-6

"...because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." -Hebrews 10:14

"But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed. " -Isaiah 53:5

"For if, by the trespass of the one man (Adam), death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." -Romans 5:17

Commissioned

I'm humbled. I'm amazed. I'm strengthened. I'm dependent. I'm encouraged. I'm hopeful. The excitement inside of me is overwhelming at times. The fact that the Almighty chooses to use me is dumbfounding. I am nothing apart from Him, and yet it is HIM who lives in me and enables me to do and be what I could never be on my own. It is in the littlest of victories that I find myself reminded of how powerfully sovereign our good God is and how providential His workings are.

As believers we have been commissioned with a task that is IMPOSSIBLE. We have been told to "make disciples", a feat no human can achieve. And yet, God commands. It is a challenge, at times a daunting reality, and yet there is promise-promise that God DESIRES to use YOU (if you are His child) as the very tool that brings sinners to repentance and faith. And I'll say it again, I'm humbled.

What amazes me even more about this Truth is that HE provides the platforms, the opportunities, the relationships, the words, the grace and the means for it all. He ordains the opportunities, we simply obey.

If I am honest I have to admit I have failed to take many of those opportunities. There have been many times when the Spirit was tugging on my heart to speak Truth to a lost soul and my pride and fear has kept my mouth silent. I've walked away ashamed. And although God doesn't need me to bring someone to Himself, the disobedience in those acts is unexcused.

But then, there are those times when you have been praying for an opportunity, praying for the soul of an unsaved friend, family member, coworker, employer etc., and God opens the door of opportunity and you take it. The Spirit enables you to speak and seeds are planted. Joy overwhelms you, excitement fills your heart, and the result is peace. Although most of the time those conversations don't end with an automatic conversion, there is rest in knowing that the Word was spoken and God is at work and HE has the power to save! Only time will tell if the seeds take root and grow, but trusting a sovereign God brings such satisfaction in the waiting.

There is joy in knowing the Spirit provided you with the strength to obey the commission and take the opportunity. And continued joy and fervent prayer as you trust the providence of His hand. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 3: 5-7 which says, "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." We are simply called to be faithful, to go out and speak, to take the sovereign opportunities, and then to trust and pray knowing God is at work.

Be amazed at the commission you have been given fellow believer, it is nothing to take lightly or for granted...it is a gift, a high calling, a true joy to be used as a tool in the Redeemer's hand.


"The Redeemer turns rebels into disciples, fools into humble listeners. He makes cripples walk again. In him we can face life and respond with faith, love, and hope. And as he changes us, he allows us to be a part of what he is doing in the lives of others. As you respond to the Redeemer’s work in your life, you can learn to be an instrument in his hands.” -Paul David Tripp

Complaining

Every time I read about the children of Israel in the Old Testament, I am so amazed by HOW MUCH they complain and HOW QUICKLY they forget! It is almost unbelievable. It seems like a few days don't pass without something they "need" or something they are frustrated by. My heart goes out to Moses and Aaron, as they attempt to lead a people who are so quick to speak negatively about everything, how frustrating it must have been. And yet, the more I read about this stubborn and forgetful nation, the more and more I see how I so often resemble their behavior in my own life; oh how often do I complain?!

Complaining is such a common part of our culture and our own lives that we as Christians often forget what it truly is. Complaining is not to be overlooked or accepted, but rather must be viewed as God views it...as sin. Every complaint, whether big or small, is an offense to a holy God. It is a selfish belief that you know better, that God has not given you what He knows to be the best for you and what is good for you, but rather that He has messed up in some way. What may have seemed like such a "respectable'' sin, is in reality, revealing the wickedness of our flesh.

Paul, in Philippians 2:14 says, "Do EVERYTHING without complaining or arguing."

The word complain in the original language is the word goggysmos which means: a murmmer, muttering, a secret debate, a secret displeasure. Interesting that the Old Testament describes the complaints of the nation of Israel as "murmers or muttering", it simply was a constant complaining.

The believer must ask himself/herself...do I complain? I would venture to say that the answer from 99.9% of you would be yes, and for the majority of you it would be a daily struggle. We complain about the weather, about waking up, about traffic, about the spilled coffee, about the service we received at the store...and the list goes on. Complaints become a normalcy in our speech, in our attitude, and in our heart. This is unfortunate, and I beg you to examine your heart, examine your thoughts, examine your behavior, and measure it to the command of the Lord; do you do EVERYTHING without complaining? If you have answered no, then you are not alone, I stand beside you and admit my weakness in this area, as shaming as it is. But there is great hope in the Gospel of Jesus and the power of the Spirit living within.

So what are we to do to battle the sin of complaining?

RECOGNIZE and REPENT
As with all sin, we need to recognize it. If we don't call sin sin, we will fail to notice it more and more in our daily lives and begin living in consistent disobedience to the Lord. We must pray for a sensitivity to the sin in our lives and call it what it is. Once we recognize it, we can then repent of it. God calls us to repent, to turn away from, the sin that so easily entangles us. We must pray and fight to notice complaining in our lives and repent of it when it happens.

REMEMBER
A great way to guard against the constant complaining is to remember the faithfulness of God in our own lives and in the lives of those in the past (like that of the nation of Israel). The more we remember His goodness, His providence, His faithfulness, ultimately His character, the less likely we will be to complain.

GIVE THANKS
Gratitude should be a mindset for the believer. We have SO much to be thankful for and yet we instead take things for granted. We need to turn our complaining into thanksgiving. Instead of recognizing the cup as "half empty", let us see it as "half full". A heart full of gratitude leaves little room, if any, for complaining.

With that said, may our hearts be full of joy and thanks continually, through the power of the Spirit living within us. Let our light shine before men through the way we speak and behave. In a world full of constant complaints, may we be one who gives constant thanks!

The 3 P's of Prayer

Prayer is vital to the Christian. Just as someone who is living must breath, someone who has been made alive in Christ MUST pray; not out of duty or obligation, but rather as a natural response to a humbling and awe-inspiring Gospel. If we are honest with ourselves, many of us, myself included, will admit that our prayer life is not consistently where it should be. There seems to be a desire, and yet in those precious moments when we sit down to focus and talk to our Savior, the phone rings, the baby starts crying, or the to-do list for the day comes into our minds. And then there are those moments where we actually DO focus, and begin praying and yet fail to pray in accordance to the Father's will. Our agenda takes a front row seat to what God wants, and somewhere in the midst of it all the focus has been taken off of Christ and put on us...what a shame.

So the next time we go to sit and talk with our Father, let's realize what exactly is going on and seriously evaluate our own prayer lives according to the Word of God. Here are three things God has really impressed upon my heart in relation to my own prayer life...I hope they will encourage you in your pursuit of your own understanding of yours.

(1) PRIVILEGE of Prayer

Stop for a moment and recognize WHO you are talking to when you pray...are you humbled? When a child of God comes to the foot of the Father's throne, he/she is in the presence of the One who created ALL the universe. What an astounding thought. What a privilege. We not only get to talk to the King of Kings, but HE listens and responds. What an amazingly incredible reality that is for the child of God. Each time we come into His presence in prayer, it should bring us to humility; like Isaiah we should recognize who we are coming before and rightly worship. And beyond that, we should express never ending gratitude to Christ for the intercession He provides so that we CAN come before the Father in prayer. We have a one-way line of communication...what a privilege. I love the Psalmists recognition of this powerful truth as displayed in Psalm 116:1-

"I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy."

Oh believer, what a privilege we have...the Lord hears us!

(2) PURPOSE of Prayer

Why do we even pray? Often we pray because of OUR wants or needs, and although there is nothing wrong with this, this must not be our focus. Prayer was never intended to be a one way communication to the "santa claus" in the sky, instead, it was meant to be a vital life line to our Father in heaven to sustain us during our earthly pilgrimage. We pray for the glory of God, we pray that His will might be done, and we pray to communicate with Him! Our hearts should be like that of the disciples in Luke 11:1:


". . . one of His disciples said to Him, ’Lord, teach us to pray . . ."

Oswald Chamber said it well, "God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person’s inner nature." May we pray that we would be conformed more into the image of Christ and desire more of what His will each day.

(3) PATTERN of Prayer

There is so much we could say about "how to" pray. The Bible is full of examples of what to pray for and how to pray, and although these are useful resources and encouraging exhortations, I believe Jesus himself gave us a very specific command when it comes to prayer, and precious promise in that he says in John 14:4,

"Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!"

This verse, and similar ones, have been taken so far out of context to give people the assumption or assurance that they can ask God for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING they want and as long as they say "in Jesus name", they are guaranteed it. What foolish and sinful thinking. Jesus is not commanding or promising anything of the sort, instead, he is teaching the disciple that prayer should be focused on HIS WILL. When we ask God for something, it should be directed toward the glory of HIS name and the purposes of His plan, not our own. We can rest assure that when we pray in this way, HE WILL DO IT!

So believer, let's throw off everything that hinders us or distracts us from this precious privilege and purposefully pray according to the pattern laid out in Scripture...and then stand back and watch God work!

Find Rest in HIS Solution

We live in a society with 'quick fixes' and 'microwave solutions'. We like 'how tos' and 'three easy steps' for everything. And if a book, movie, or even a sermon doesn't captivate our attention or benefit us in 5 minutes or less, we turn it off, either physically or mentally. And somehow we have allowed that mentality to infiltrate our thinking as believers, even when it comes to fighting sin and running the race we have been called to. The problem is, it doesn't work. And because it doesn't work, we find ourselves discouraged, beaten, and sometimes defeated. And this my friends, is exactly where the enemy wants us to be; because let's face it, if he can't win our souls, he will make sure that we are as ineffective as possible to win another. So what do we do, to fight the temptation when things get tough?

During Jesus' earthly ministry, He spoke often about the "Christian" life. Two statements, seemingly opposing, yet perfectly harmonious, teach us exactly what we need to renew our strength as we run this race.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus says to His disciples...

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."

This is COUNTERCULTURAL today, just as much as it was back then. There is no denial of self proclaimed in modern society, in fact it is the exact opposite. BUT, we must come to realize it is EXACTLY the fuel we need to ignite our passion, to spur us on, and to aide us in fighting the good fight. When we realize that we have been called to DENY ourselves, we are immediately pointed away from within and towards Christ. There is no pleasure principle here, there is no comfort, but radical obedience and humble following. When we focus on the Truth of this, we realize that it isn't easy, in fact it goes against EVERYTHING not only our culture is telling us but also what our body, our flesh, is telling us.

When the fight of sin is hard- we can find strength in knowing the Spirit is working in and through us, and know we are doing exactly what we are called to do- DENY SELF!

When the trials in our lives are discouraging- we can find joy and hope in knowing that God is sovereign and working in and through it to make us more like Christ as we DENY ourselves, our comforts, wants, desires, in order that His glory might be shown.

When we lack desire to run hard- we can remind ourselves that it is not about US, but rather all about DENIAL of our desires, wants, and feelings.

The thought of denial, although tough, is actually incredibly motivating and powerful to the believer...REMIND yourself of it daily!

Secondly, Jesus says the following in Matthew 11:30,

"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

What?! Didn't you just say that the Christian life was all about denial, and that seems HARD, not easy. Yes, exactly. But what we must come to realize is that what Jesus is speaking here is not what you might think-being a Christian is not EASY from a wordly standpoint. But our eyes must not be fixed on the world, on what is temporal, but rather on the eternal, we must be heavenly minded. The yoke Jesus calls us to "bear" is one that is lined with love. Matthew Henry said it well when speaking of the "yoke" believers bear, "Such is the nature of all Christ’s commands, so reasonable in themselves, so profitable to us, and all summed up in one word, and that a sweet word, love. So powerful are the assistances he gives us, so suitable the encouragements, and so strong the consolations, that are to be found in the way of duty, that we may truly say, it is a yoke of pleasantness. It is easy to the new nature, very easy to him that understandeth, Prov. 14:6. It may be a little hard at first, but it is easy afterwards; the love of God and the hope of heaven will make it easy."

And the burden...light? You might be thinking, you have no idea what burden I have had to bear, or am bearing. But Christian, Jesus is not negating the fact that you may suffer affliction for His precious name, but rather that it is light and momentary- as the Apostle Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians where we read about the lack of comparison of the trivial trials on earth to the glory we will one day behold; or in Philippians 1 where we read, "to live is Christ and to die is gain". Our eyes must always be fixed on the eternal, never the temporal, and in the hope and glory that is to come!!

Here we can be encouraged, no matter where we may be in life, with the precious promise, that the life you have been called to is easy because Christ is leading and carrying you along the way!

So believer, find rest for your soul...we don't need a quick fix, or a how to in three easy steps...we simply need the Words of our Savior to find peace and instruction in the midst of it all, to live a life that is for Him and for His glory. Find rest in His solution...the cross of calvary, and run towards Him!

"The truths Christ teaches are such as we may venture our souls upon. The affections find rest in the love of God and Jesus Christ, and meet with that in them which gives them an abundant satisfaction; quietness and assurance for ever. And those satisfactions will be perfected and perpetuated in heaven, where we shall see and enjoy God immediately, shall see him as he is, and enjoy him as he is ours. This rest is to be had with Christ for all those who learn of him." -Matthew Henry

The GOODNESS of God

Do you ever have those moments when the reality of God's goodness hits you like a ton of bricks?! You stand amazed, humbled, and so thankful. If I'm honest, these moments are not as often as they should be and result in a lack of true, heartfelt gratitude and praise to the King. And yet, as I ran around today chasing after a precious little one year old in the rain, I stood humbled, and dumbfounded at how blessed I truly am. This inspired me to make a list, to count my blessings so to speak...obviously it isn't comprehensive because I could go on for pages and pages, but it is just a start and it has left me praising God in a way that He deserves, but in a way I can neglect.

In sharing with you 'my' blessings, I pray that you might be encouraged or inspired to look around, look inside, and reevaluate the goodness of our Lord in your life, and too glorify Him with all that is within you. For as Jerry Bridges said so well, "Thankfulness to God is a recognition that God in His goodness and faithfulness has provided for us and cared for us, both physically and spiritually. It is a recognition that we are totally dependent upon Him; that all that we are and have comes from God."

10 Things I'm Thankful For:

(1) Salvation- It all starts here with my new birth as I was given the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the heart to respond...for this I am eternally grateful.

Ephesians 1:3-6 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."

(2) Sanctifying Grace- The ongoing work of the Lord Jesus in my life, DAILY!

Romans 6:22- "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life."

(3) My Husband- The second greatest treasure in my life. For His love, leading, friendship, and encouragement I am so thankful!

1 Corinthians 11:7- "For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man."

(4) The Body of Christ- My true family, the ones who I will spend eternity with, who encourage, spur on, and compel me to love Christ more.

Romans 12:5- "so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."

(5) Creation- Every sunset, every raindrop, every mountain, ocean, and flower...I truly am amazed by it all. It is such a picture of the beauty of Christ.

Isaiah 40:26- "Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing."

(6) My Job- I get to spend my days with a precious 16 month old who reminds me to "stop and smell the roses". He reveals to me the intelligent design of our mighty God, the reality of our sinful condition apart from Christ's saving work, and the powerful witness we have in all the world. Not to mention he is pretty darn cute and can always make me smile :)

Matthew 5:16- "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

(7) Kindred Community Church- It is a gift to attend and serve at a church that teaches the unfailing Word of God with boldness and conviction.

Colossians 1:17-20- "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."

(8) My Blood Family- I am so grateful for my parents who raised me to love and fear God and for a little brother who spurs me on!

Ephesians 6:4b- "...bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."


(9) Provision- From a roof over my head to the shoes on my feet, God takes care of my little needs and then some!

Matthew 6:26- "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

(10) Enjoying Life- I am so thankful that God has given us good things to enjoy, gifts, such as vacations, and walks on the beach...thank you Lord!

James 1:17- " Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

May your hearts be refreshed by the goodness of God!!

He Does ALL Things Well

I have been so excited to write this blog since I received the devotional from "grace gems" last week. There are some things in God's economy that send my mind into a whirlwind because no matter how hard I try to comprehend them, well, I just can't. One of those is the providence of God. Isn't it amazing how God works in the lives of His children?! It excites me every time I think about it. I can sit down and think back on the last 24 years of my life and see God's providential hand in so many things, some of which I totally understand now, and some of which I don't fully grasp, but know and trust happened because of His providence. I guess you could call those a mystery.


I think I get so intrigued by providence because I am a very curious person by nature. I like to KNOW, and I like to try and put all the pieces together and figure out what's going on in every situation. God, in His love for me however, has decided that in order to humble me and keep me dependent upon Him, the way I figure out things will never be the way they really are, well most of the time anyway. You see, He wants us, His kids, to remember Romans 8:28 constantly, in EVERY situation and outcome of life-"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God--to those who are the called according to His purpose." Easier said than trusted. His providential hand is enacting EVERY event of your life, down to the smallest detail to make it WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD for you. What good? The Christ likeness He is molding you into.

The original language in this passage is quite unique. When Paul says we "KNOW" he is speaking in definitive terms. It isn't an "I hope so" or "most of the time" it is a FOR SURE. When he says "ALL" it is comprehensive from the largest to the smallest, EVERYTHING! And as the great puritan John MacDuff said, "And they all work together in the most complete and beautiful harmony. The various wheels in the great machine of divine Providence, may appear to be opposed to each other; and yet every movement is directed by infinite wisdom, and tends to the accomplishment of the end proposed. And what is that end? "For good to those who love God." What an incredible Truth! This reality, although incomprehensible, should drive us to our knees in worship and leave our hearts at peace, in rest, trusting the all powerful and perfectly sovereign and GOOD God!

Providence is a glorious reality, a precious promise that we as believers can cling to in a world or even a life that seems to be filled with confusion and broken puzzle pieces. God is at work, ALWAYS, and in EVERYTHING, for YOUR GOOD!

"And when the books will be opened;
and when all the mysteries of Providence will be solved;
and when the whole of our own history will be explained;
and when all the turnings of the wilderness will be accounted for;
and when all the dangers to which we have been exposed will be made clear;
oh, we shall then be astonished beyond measure! And if its greatness will allow us to give expression thereto--our adoring cry will also be, "He has done all things well!""