Well, the past few weeks have been rough to handle. It was all capped off today when it seems like things are hitting an all time low. It's a long story, and I'm sure you don't enjoy pity parties anymore than I do...
It's amazing how we can be so cenetered on our circumstances and forget one of the greatest promises of Scripture: 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.'
The more I pray and meditate on the Word, the more I am beginning to realize that it is my attitude about life that is disfunctional, not God's sovereignty. Nothing about Christ has changed...He is just as perfect, wonderful, amazing, as He was yesterday and will continue to be this way on in to eternity. So though today, I feel disappointed with the hand life has dealt me I can be confident that His mercies are new every morning...so with that, I look forward to waking up tomorrow morning to the same Savior I have for the past 9 years. For even when we are faithless, He remains faithful.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
In These Changing Times...
It was astonishing to me to see history unfold before my eyes last night. I hope you all got a chance to participate in last night's historic election. It seems like our nation is in a drastic state of change.
In light of all that, I was encouraged this morning as I read Psalm 102:25-27:
"Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end."
What a word from the Lord! I am think of Daniel who reminds us that 'it is He who changes the times and epochs, who establishes Kings and removes them' (that may be a Julian paraphrase). Though our government may change, thought policies may come and go, though politicians may rise and fall from power, may we never forget that we serve the unchanging Ruler of the universe who is Lord over all authorities, goverments, and yes, even politicians. His will for us is clear. I can think of at least a couple of things:
'This is the first and greatest command...that you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself''
'Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you, and lo, I am with you even until the end of the age'
I see no reason not to continue in these things. So I encourage you: pray for your leaders; share the good news of Jesus Christ in your communities; invest your resources into the business of Christ, namely, making disciples; strive to fall more deeply in love with the Savior and allow that love to overflow into the lives around you; be reminded that in these changing times you serve and live for the unchanging Lord of creation, that His Spirit dwells within you and that in this, you can rest and be satisfied.
May He continue to get all the glory from our lives.
In light of all that, I was encouraged this morning as I read Psalm 102:25-27:
"Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end."
What a word from the Lord! I am think of Daniel who reminds us that 'it is He who changes the times and epochs, who establishes Kings and removes them' (that may be a Julian paraphrase). Though our government may change, thought policies may come and go, though politicians may rise and fall from power, may we never forget that we serve the unchanging Ruler of the universe who is Lord over all authorities, goverments, and yes, even politicians. His will for us is clear. I can think of at least a couple of things:
'This is the first and greatest command...that you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself''
'Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you, and lo, I am with you even until the end of the age'
I see no reason not to continue in these things. So I encourage you: pray for your leaders; share the good news of Jesus Christ in your communities; invest your resources into the business of Christ, namely, making disciples; strive to fall more deeply in love with the Savior and allow that love to overflow into the lives around you; be reminded that in these changing times you serve and live for the unchanging Lord of creation, that His Spirit dwells within you and that in this, you can rest and be satisfied.
May He continue to get all the glory from our lives.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Beggars...
This was posted on Piper's blog yesterday to celebrate the start of the reformation.
Hopefully Luther's words will always echo true in our lives...that we always find ourselves begging for grace at the foot of the cross.
491 years ago today, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg.
He wanted to debate the sale of indulgences with his fellow university professors. So he wrote in Latin.
But a nameless visionary translated the theses into German, carried them to the printing press, and enabled their dispersion far and wide. Luther ended up with more than he bargained for, but he proved to be no coward in defending the discoveries he was making in Scripture.
First Thesis
The truth of Luther’s first thesis would reverberate throughout his lifetime, even finding expression in his last words.
His first thesis reads,
When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said “Repent,” he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.
All of the Christian life is repentance. Turning from sin and trusting in the good news that Jesus saves sinners aren’t merely a one-time inaugural experience but the daily substance of Christianity. The gospel is for every day and every moment. Repentance is to be the Christian’s continual posture.
Last Words
Almost 30 years later, on February 16, 1546, Luther’s last words, written on a piece of scrap paper, echoed the theme of his first thesis:
We are beggars! This is true.
From first thesis to last words, Luther lived at the foot of the cross, where our rebellious condition meets with the beauty of God’s lavish grace in the gospel of his Son—a gospel deep enough to cover all the little and massive flaws of a beggar like Luther and beggars like us.
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