I'm so thankful for St. Augustine 1600 years ago.
I've just become extremely intrigued to read the biographies of old pastor dudes. St. Augustine was a beast. But wait, let me "slow my roll," he was a true man. I've only just begun to unravel the inspiring words from him, but I can't wait to learn more a man that lived in 300 AD. (I never thought I would have this desire when I was in 6th grade dancing around my bedroom listening to "underdog" by Audio Adrenaline with a few lamps on for soft lighting.)
"How sweet all at once it was for me to rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!...You drove them from me, you who are true, the sovereign joy"-Augustine
Every man needs to read Augustine. I'm only beginning...
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
His love quiets your soul
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. -Zephaniah 3:17
I've got to be honest, I never thought I'd be so attached to a verse in Zephaniah, but this is the reason why I'm reading through the minor prophets. I need these uncovered verses to jump out at me, but, of course, I believe this is the power of God's word.
I'm so thankful. Today God is with me like he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He's God whom saves the dreaded sinner such as I, and he will continually rejoice with gladness over us as we seek him. His love quiets us. How will God quiet our worried, anxious, and nervous minds? With his love he will quiet us.
For a long time now, there has been a lot on my mind, but during this time I'm trying to stay focused on Christ. His grace, mercy, goodness, and love are immeasurable and great. I wish to sit in the shadows of the Cross all the days that I live in hopes to gain a better view from the front row of his majesty. How can I love thee more? How can I be closer to thee?
Yesterday I realized I might be perfectly content being able to read scripture all day long, but a closed room wouldn't be good enough so I'd need to be reading from the top of the tallest building just so I can be closer to God in Heaven. My God has brought me through so much in my life, much less the last few months, and I wish I could at least kneel beside him to give him the glory and praises he requires. The Almighty God, King of my soul, is the love that quiets my soul.
I recently had to tell a friend our contact should be minimal because I thought our close communication was distracting them from knowing God to the fullest. The conversation saddened my heart to know I'd have to eliminate our personal communication, but, no matter what the cost, Christ must always be magnified and sought first in our lives. This makes me think of Paul when he said, "For me to live is Christ and die is gain." Our lives must soak up Christ. But death does not frighten my main goals because death is only a celebration to be closer to Christ. While I know Christ is being exalted in our dedication to follow after him, I'm just praying for the time when I can rejoice with my friend again. When we talk again I know it will be full of joy and peace because it will be all God. Not just God's will, but our minds will be seeking His name. What is better? I choose to sacrifice today so we can rejoice in the future with Christ further magnified than he was before. O How he love us.
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
I've got to be honest, I never thought I'd be so attached to a verse in Zephaniah, but this is the reason why I'm reading through the minor prophets. I need these uncovered verses to jump out at me, but, of course, I believe this is the power of God's word.
I'm so thankful. Today God is with me like he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He's God whom saves the dreaded sinner such as I, and he will continually rejoice with gladness over us as we seek him. His love quiets us. How will God quiet our worried, anxious, and nervous minds? With his love he will quiet us.
For a long time now, there has been a lot on my mind, but during this time I'm trying to stay focused on Christ. His grace, mercy, goodness, and love are immeasurable and great. I wish to sit in the shadows of the Cross all the days that I live in hopes to gain a better view from the front row of his majesty. How can I love thee more? How can I be closer to thee?
Yesterday I realized I might be perfectly content being able to read scripture all day long, but a closed room wouldn't be good enough so I'd need to be reading from the top of the tallest building just so I can be closer to God in Heaven. My God has brought me through so much in my life, much less the last few months, and I wish I could at least kneel beside him to give him the glory and praises he requires. The Almighty God, King of my soul, is the love that quiets my soul.
I recently had to tell a friend our contact should be minimal because I thought our close communication was distracting them from knowing God to the fullest. The conversation saddened my heart to know I'd have to eliminate our personal communication, but, no matter what the cost, Christ must always be magnified and sought first in our lives. This makes me think of Paul when he said, "For me to live is Christ and die is gain." Our lives must soak up Christ. But death does not frighten my main goals because death is only a celebration to be closer to Christ. While I know Christ is being exalted in our dedication to follow after him, I'm just praying for the time when I can rejoice with my friend again. When we talk again I know it will be full of joy and peace because it will be all God. Not just God's will, but our minds will be seeking His name. What is better? I choose to sacrifice today so we can rejoice in the future with Christ further magnified than he was before. O How he love us.
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Cross 1st
Daily seeking the Gospel is essential to living a Cross centered life.
How do you keep the flame of gospel passion burning brightly in the drizzle of real life? Preach to yourself, memorize the Gospel, pray the Gospel, sing the Gospel, review how the gospel has changed you, study the Gospel.
Make the Cross your focus, but I know many times we can get caught on "grey" issues of the Bible. Here is a quote from C.J. Mahaney about this...
"Regardless of your personal opinion about the Rapture or the Millennium, it's undeniable that in Scripture the work of Christ at Calvary still takes center stage. His Second Coming is the culmination of the victory He accomplished over death and hell at the cross. Jesus didn't instruct His disciples to concern themselves with the details of when and where He would return. They were to watch and pray, but their primary preoccupation was to be exulting in and proclaiming the good news of His death and resurrection."
How do you keep the flame of gospel passion burning brightly in the drizzle of real life? Preach to yourself, memorize the Gospel, pray the Gospel, sing the Gospel, review how the gospel has changed you, study the Gospel.
Make the Cross your focus, but I know many times we can get caught on "grey" issues of the Bible. Here is a quote from C.J. Mahaney about this...
"Regardless of your personal opinion about the Rapture or the Millennium, it's undeniable that in Scripture the work of Christ at Calvary still takes center stage. His Second Coming is the culmination of the victory He accomplished over death and hell at the cross. Jesus didn't instruct His disciples to concern themselves with the details of when and where He would return. They were to watch and pray, but their primary preoccupation was to be exulting in and proclaiming the good news of His death and resurrection."
Monday, September 7, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
You are my God
This morning I was going back through some verses I tweeted while reading in Hosea last month. This verse captivates me...
"And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, "You are my people'; and he shall say, 'You are my God." Hosea 2:23
This might be the greatest thing man could ever say. "You are my God." After seeing lost person after lost person continue to deny the deity and all satisfying glory of knowing Christ Jesus, tears come down my face when I can hear the lost finally say to God, "You are my God." For it is not us who saves people but Jesus Christ and the work of the Spirit in the tri-unity.
We merely talk, but through the grace of God we are given the opportunity to share through him.
May you today you say in your heart, "You are my God." This is evidence of your life laid down before the Father. What a glorious thought!
"And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, "You are my people'; and he shall say, 'You are my God." Hosea 2:23
This might be the greatest thing man could ever say. "You are my God." After seeing lost person after lost person continue to deny the deity and all satisfying glory of knowing Christ Jesus, tears come down my face when I can hear the lost finally say to God, "You are my God." For it is not us who saves people but Jesus Christ and the work of the Spirit in the tri-unity.
We merely talk, but through the grace of God we are given the opportunity to share through him.
May you today you say in your heart, "You are my God." This is evidence of your life laid down before the Father. What a glorious thought!
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