Prayer Resolutions

My Prayer Resolutions for 2015

1. In all things Christ.
2. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight my rock and my Redeemer.
3. May each of my students feel secure and loved in room 109 every day the rest of the year.
4. May those I love commit themselves to the service of my Savior with all their hearts.
5. May the Lord give me another gloriously beautiful year at The Acres.
6. May the Class of 2015 commit themselves to the way of excellence in all things.
7. May I touch at least one life each day with a sense of His love.
8. May I be filled with boldness, unashamed of the Gospel.
9. May I with patient confidence wait on the Lord.
10. May I be constantly reminded that life is sacred--for the Spirit lives within me.
11. May the sorrows of life reflect the depth of His joy.
12. May I find the balance between my earnest expectation to see His face and the earnest desire to complete the ministry He has called me to fulfill.
13. May I rely fully on His grace and His strength.
14. Even so. come Lord Jesus.

Abiding

To abide in Christ--to live a life that radiates His presence in your life--one must accept--embrace--the "pruning" that replaces more and more of you with more and more of Him. No matter how severe the heartache that comes with the "cutting away," the richness of a sense of His abiding presence in your life will overwhelm the sorrow with His incomprehensible joy. Can there be a greater testimony than the one given His disciples by the enemies of the cross? "They have been with Jesus."

Hearing

The Christian must live a life that reflects his or her allegiance to Christ--a life that reflects "Christ in you, the hope of glory." And the Christian must be "ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account of the hope that is in you." Faith comes by hearing. Hearing comes by the Word of God. May the Spirit constantly remind us that everyone we meet every day of our lives will live somewhere forever. And may we, like Paul pleaded, intercede for each other that we be given the necessary boldness to speak. If Paul needed such intercession, how can we not embrace such a need? Or doubt the efficacy of such prayer?

Confident Faith

And the angel said to her, "for nothing will be impossible with God."

And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord: be it done to me according to your word."

May that be my daily prayer of confident faith.

Grace

A Reminder
Tamar: Probably a Canaanite. Seduced her father-in-law because he wouldn't have one of his sons marry her and provide her with a child. One of her illegitimate sons is in the lineage of Jesus. Grace.

Rahab: A Canaanite. A prostitute. Citizen of Jericho. "Scheduled" to die when the walls came down. By her testimony everyone was terrified of the God of Israel. But only one said, "I know that the Lord has given you the land . . . The Lord your God, He is God in heaven and above and on the earth beneath." They all feared Him; one reverenced Him. One by her courage said, "I am on the Lord's side." She and her entire family were saved--when the walls came down. And she is in the lineage of our Savior. Grandma Rahab. Grace.

Ruth: A child of Moab. Moab--a child of incest. Moab a descendant of Lot--Abraham's nephew who chose to leave Ur of the Chaldees to follow the Lord with Uncle Abraham. Ruth married a man who obviously was raised by a righteous, God-fearing mother. Her name was Rahab. Yes, that Rahab. Her son, Boaz. Ruth--great-grandmother of David--is in the lineage of our Savior. (Now you know as well why David kept fleeing into Moab when Saul was chasing him. Kinfolk.) Grace.

Bathsheba: Jewish? Probably. But she married a Hittite. Adulterous. The son of adultery died. The second son--Solomon. Bathsheba is in the lineage of our Savior. Grace.

And read through the list of those kings found in Matthew. Far, far from flawless. Manasseh is called the wickedness king Judah ever had. He sacrificed some of his sons to the gods, practiced witchcraft, put an idol in the temple. Related to Jesus. All--each--of those kings were a part of God's plan of redemption. Grace.

I think we should all be incredibly grateful that our family tree is not written down for everyone to see. Doubtless, we have some monsters on those limbs.

We are indeed saved by a grace that is greater than all our sin. We are indeed all saved by a grace that can transform evil into eternal good. We are all saved because before the cross we have admitted how desperately we as the chiefest of sinners can only be redeemed by such marvelous grace. Grace--the gift of God's love.

Reverence Him with your life--be unafraid of collapsing walls. Praise Him with your lips. Rejoice in your Boaz. Not a Boaz? There's more than enough grace and an eternally gracious Lord eagerly desiring to lavish you with eternal grace. His heart's desire is to include you in the lineage of His Son on the other side of the "Tree." The "born again" adopted side of the "family." It's not "full" yet. Humble yourself before the mighty--yet gracious--hand of the Lord. Repentance is the path to grace. The only path.

And family members of the sovereign God of grace. Remember--always--grace is triumphant! Our suffering Savior is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

And our loving Father.

Grace.

A Christmas Verse

A Christmas verse: John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life."

Dwight Moody put it this way:

"For God--the greatest Lover
so loved--the greatest degree
the world--the greatest number
that He gave--the greatest act
His only begotten Son--the greatest gift
that whosoever--the greatest invitation
believes--the greatest simplicity
in Him--the greatest person
should not perish--the greatest deliverance
but--the greatest difference
have--the greatest certainty
everlasting life--the greatest possession"

So great salvation!

The sinners confession: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the greatest."

The sinners testimony: "If God can save me, He can save anyone."

"If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved!"

The God of infinite love, infinite grace, infinite mercy--the God who cannot life--swears by Himself that that is infinitely true.

Wait

Sometimes God makes us wait because we are so spiritually exhausted from chasing after what we want that He has to stop us so that He can renew our strength.
Sometimes God makes us wait because we've forgotten how deceptive walking by sight can be.
Sometimes God makes us wait so that we'll remember who is in control--and how much we need Him to be in control.
Sometimes God makes us wait because there's so much more we need to learn--experientially--in order to soar on faith's wings when the next storm arrives,
Sometimes God makes us wait because we don't have the faintest idea what we really need, and we're too spiritually arrogant to accept that truth--let alone admit it.
Sometimes God makes us wait because we would be in deep trouble if we actually "caught up" with what we were chasing. Too often we pursue fool;s gold. How devastating would it be if we found out that what we think would make our life rich would actually spiritually impoverish us?
Sometimes God makes us wait so that we will learn that Father knows best.
Sometimes God makes us wait so He can thrill us once again with His perfect timing--and thus remind us of His wisdom and love.
Sometimes God makes us wait because in our selfishness we fail to look around at those He has put into our life that need us where we are.
Sometimes God makes us wait so He can immerse us in His perfect peace.

Always God makes us wait so that we can get in step with the Master and in agreement with His perfect plan for us--and thus find ourselves trusting in His perfect plan for those we love.

Wait on the Lord.

More Than You Can Ask Or Think

Sometimes in my spiritual arrogance I want to ask God when am I going to see that "more than you ask or think" promise. That's when the Spirit gives me a spiritual elbow in the side--a hard one--and reminds me:
You were born in the 20th century in the United States
You were born into a Christian family
You grew up in a real community with real neighbors who looked out for everybody
You lived right down the street from your cousins who have been lifelong friends
You have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters that you love dearly
At 68 years old you are still in fairly decent health--I mean, you woke up this morning and had enough energy to go to work.
You have been given the gift of teaching so that you get to spend all day interacting with young people and on occasion, touching their lives for Me
You were given the privilege to take care of Mom during the last few years of her life--no doubt, just what Pop would have wanted. And she even enjoyed putting up with you.
Your sisters still spoil you way more than you deserve
For ten years you've been blessed to live in a beautiful spot just perfect for the things you love and enjoy. And who else has a pond for an aquarium full of gold fish.
And you've got great Christian neighbors--without Dennis' help you'd spend half the winter shoveling a long, long, long, long driveway.
When Mom went Home and you needed "work," God opened the door so you could get back in the classroom. Ministry instead of "work." And you know how you loved the class of 2014!!! And are falling in love with the class of 2015.
And for absolutely no reason you can possibly imagine, I, in love, called you, redeemed you, am daily sanctifying you, and when it's time for you to go Home, you'll be spending eternity with me lavished with my love. In a place so marvelous that I can't begin to describe it for you so that you could grasp its magnificence--it's "more than you could ask or think."

Yes, Lord. Everyone of those gifts is "more than I could possibly ask or think." Thank You. And forgive my arrogance--again.

Run

The Christian life is a marathon. And we often find ourselves gasping for air, limping along on a strained hamstring, or perhaps, even wondering if we missed the marker and have somehow gotten off the course. What's the solution? I think Hebrews 11, the great faith chapter, gives us some clues. First, we are surrounded by the "been there, done that" crowd. It's described as the crowd of witnesses watching us run. You can read all about them in the Old Testament. (And you should!) People just like you, running the race, getting tired, getting hurt, feeling all alone on the course. Do you know what they all found out? His faithfulness is new every morning. Walk with God and one day you'll look around, and you'll be with Him in glory. Go down to Egypt and lie a little bit out of fear, He'll find a way to turn it into a blessing. Laugh to yourself about the absurdity of His promises, He'll fulfill them anyway. Think you are all alone? He'll take your hand and whisper, "Looking for Me? Been here all the time. Just lean on Me until you catch your breath. I'll give you rest." They discovered that tired, wounded, or confused, He delighted in them. No one was cheering louder for them in the grandstand than He was. And do you know what the second great truth was that they discovered? It's the one that kept them going no matter what their circumstances, no matter how steep the hill on the race Home. The marathon of life is nothing compared to the victory lap. Keep running--even if it's at limp speed. You'll never forget the hug the "Coach" will give you when you limp across the finish line and fall into His loving embrace. And He'll even tell you "Thank you" for relying on His strength to get you Home." And He'll replace that old worn out body with one that will last forever--in fact, one just like His. Run on!

Balance

Meekness is not weakness. See Moses. It's a balance between a heart filled with compassion for people and a heart committed to the glory of God in every facet of one's walk--including interacting with people.

Balance: Total compassion. Total commitment.

Ready

How to be ready for His coming:

Pray. Pray. Pray.
Love God's people fervently even when they are struggling in their walk--like you.
Show hospitality to strangers--without complaining about it. Everyone after all is a stranger at times.
Use your gifts "as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Don't you dare try to steal His glory Who gave you not only the gift, but the strength to use it, and the opportunity to put it to use for Him.
Rejoice in the midst of suffering. Entrust your soul to the faithful Creator. Do what is right. Even if it means more suffering.

Simeon

I often wonder about Simeon. He had been faithfully serving the Lord for years. One of the very few who had his theology right--he was looking for a suffering Savior. Did he know that day as he made his way to the temple that that would be the day he would encounter the Savior? Can you imagine the emotions? Did he know that he would encounter him as a little child--just days old? How long had he been there that day waiting--pacing back and forth his eyes on everyone who entered the temple doors? Seemed like just seconds, I imagine. And how many "Bible scholars" had smirked at his teaching. You know he shared it. I mean, he stood up in the middle of the temple, held His Savior in his old gnarled hands and shouted "For my eyes have seen Thy salvation!" And I imagine the Jewish gatherers were a little confused if not angry at the words '"A light of revelation to the Gentiles." But, of course, they were moved by "and the glory of Thy people Israel." And then to hand Jesus to His mother, to look into the face of that young girl and have to tell her--and I have no doubt that there were tears of sympathy for her in his old eyes (God has no hard-hearted followers--at least, not "righteous and devout" ones)--"He will pierce your own soul. He will reveal those who truly have a heart of love toward God." I wonder how many times Mary remembered those words and saw that old tear-stained face in her memory? I'll bet I know one day she remembered them. Simeon--God's "bond-servant." Simeon--an old man ready to go Home, knowing His Savior had come. Simeon--a man overcome with the peace that the God of promises and the God of Hope alone can give. Wouldn't you love to have a film of that moment, of the look on his face and on Mary's face and on Joseph's face? A film of the wonder on the faces of those in the temple hearing such a cry from an old saint? And Anna in her eighties who heard the testimony "running" out the door to tell everyone she met--her Bridegroom had come. And you know Simeon sang the hallel as he danced his way home. Thirty years or so later that little baby all grown up would sing those psalms as he walked with His friends from an upper room to a dark garden to a cross to become "a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel." As He walked willingly to become old Simeon's Savior.

Life

Life isn't fair. No one gets what they truthfully deserve. Thank You Lord.
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Holy--as God is holy. Saints. Those who have been set apart. Aliens and strangers. Pilgrims passing through.

And yet so eager to be accepted, to fit in, to be as much like the world as we can possibly be.

"If the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men." (Jesus)
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Living the good life!

"Let him who means to live life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
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A Life of Grace:

Patiently waits expectantly for God's best to be done.
In the midst of turmoil and struggle, exudes a confident, quiet, restful spirit knowing that the God who is in control always does what is best.
Demonstrates a life that finds its delight in Him--His love, His wisdom, His will. A life that makes those around them God-conscious--including, especially, themselves.
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 Success: Doing all that I do in a way that glorifies Him--makes His presence known. Felt.

A Prayer for America

My prayer for America:

May the whole counsel of God be taught from our pulpits and in such a way that when lives are transformed the only possible explanation will be the working of the Holy Spirit--not the eloquence nor the brilliance nor the manipulations of the teacher.

May the leaders of our country--at every level--come under the sound of the Gospel and be regenerated and transformed by the saving work of the Spirit in their lives. And may the transformation be obvious to all--whether or not they like the transformation.

May there be an "epidemic" of intercessory prayers for our godly moms, daughters, and grand-daughters.

May the church understand that revival has absolutely no chance of happening through the wielding of political power.

May we recognize that the only economic system the Lord can bless is a system based on compassion for the needy, justice, and the equality that Paul urges in II Corinthians 7-8. (There is a world of difference between working to make a living and working to make a profit.) And since such a system will never be adopted by a government, may each church make such giving a priority. And may it be left hand right hand in practice.

May our Christian educators understand that if we send into the world the most brilliant students ever and they have no heart for God, we have done the devil's work. May we have a deep commitment to excellence and a deeper commitment to commending a life of faithful obedience no matter what.

May our students who have the gift of creativity invade our culture's "entertainment" and artistic circles--with their parents' encouragement.

May Christians understand that there are only two "races" of people in the world--God's people and those who are not. And we are called to love them both as deeply as He loves us.

In judgment may God remember mercy and always save a remnant for Himself. May the world never run out of Daniels.

Gracious Lives

We are commanded to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." That, of course, is impossible if I am not a person of grace. When I hold grudges, harbor bitterness toward others for past wrongs, or complain to God that my current circumstances are unfair--I have no grace in my life to grow. How can I grow in grace and the knowledge of Him when I refuse to forgive as He forgave, refuse to submit to His will as He submitted to the Father's will, and refuse to cast all my burdens on the One who is perfect grace? How can I grow up into the image of the Grace Giver when I refuse to be a grace giver? Impossible.
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We have lost track I think of a dynamic truth--the Church is the body of Christ. There is not the Church in India, the Church in Africa, the Church in Russia, the Church in North America, but only the Church. The predominately Gentile believers in the first century took offerings to help meet the needs of the predominantly Jewish believers in Jerusalem. They, in fact, insisted that offerings be taken to meet those needs. Why? Because it was a mutual--shared--need. If anyone had a need in the early church--the church at its purest--everyone had a need. Thus, everyone else's need was my responsibility to meet. If I was hungry, wouldn't I use my resources to feed my body? Well, the church is hungry. Shouldn't we be using our resources to feed the Body? If I was hurting, wouldn't I do all I could to ease my body's suffering? Well, the church is hurting and in pain. Shouldn't we be using all our resources to help the Body and combat its suffering and pain? In the body of Christ it is never "them." It is always "us." I'm afraid the "eye" is saying to the broken "foot" "Your needs mean nothing to me." It should mean everything to me. One of the greatest evangelistic "tools" of the early church was the great love they showed to one another. Deeds love. When the Apostles preached of the love of God, no one who observed the church doubted that God was indeed the Lover of His people. May the Church, the Body of Christ, embrace the mutual responsibility for all its "parts" scattered throughout the world. When we tell the world that God so loved the world that He gave . . . When we tell the world that Jesus lovingly and willingly gave Himself for others . . . May the world by looking at our actions toward one another be unable to question, let alone deny, that God is indeed love.

"Anyone who claims to love God whom He cannot see but does not love his brothers and sisters in Christ whom he can see, is a liar. The love of God is not at home in his heart."

Thankful Day 5

I am thankful for "Christ in you, the hope of glory," for the sanctifying work of the Spirit gives us:

The empowerment to love--an unwavering commitment to obedience, an unwavering confidence in the Spirit's work in other people's lives; an unwavering spirit of ready forgiveness no matter how deep the hurt.

The unexplainable presence of joy--a sense of comfort in the deepest trials, a sense of hope in the deepest darkness; a sense of strength no matter the weight of the daily cross; a melodious symphony in the heart in the cymbal-soloed cacophony of each day's challenges.

The overwhelming confidence of peace--an assurance in the heart that the victory through the finished work of Christ has already been won; a persevering heart to fight the good fight until the end; an untroubled heart when all circumstantially looks lost; a restful heart knowing the certainty of the room prepared for each one of His children in the Father's House.

The settled practice of patience--the humility to see oneself in others and their struggles; the quietness to trust the timing of the Creator of time; the confidence that God will lovingly do whatever is necessary to make His children more like Him.

The unwavering loyalty of kindness--a tenderheartedness toward friend and foe alike--and equally; a deep desire to show to others the unconditional love that He has shown to His children; the courage to risk one's heart to further disappointment and betrayal.

The Shepherd's commitment to goodness--a longing to bring back "the one" no matter how treacherous the searching; a longing to set an example worthy of following; a longing to lead the lambs to still waters and quiet pastures; a longing to be used in the restoring of shattered souls.

The step by step walk of faithfulness--the understanding that one has been saved to glorify the Savior through good works; the understanding that the disciple's call is to a daily following; the understanding that He alone is one's strength and help in the day of trouble

The malleable softness of gentleness--the wanting to penetrate with His love the hard of heart; the wanting for a humility that spontaneously stoops to lift up lovingly those who have stumbled; a wanting to be broken into the likeness of His sweet servant's spirit by the pressures and testings of life.

The steady surrender of self-control--an eagerness to cast aside personal goals, wanted things, and self-centered interests as trivial; an eagerness to embrace the responsibility to keep another brother from stumbling; an eagerness to go deeper into the Spirit's calling--beyond self-denial to the denial of self; an eagerness to be so saturated with the Word that the Spirit's filling becomes a supernaturally natural way of life.

I am thankful for the sanctifying work of the Spirit in the life of His people. May we never grieve His heart; quench His fire, or despise His purging of the "old me."

Until that day when we shall see Him and the transformation is made complete.

Thankful Day Four

I am thankful that I have been regenerated. I have passed from death to life--born again into an eternal life in the presence of God. The power of God has made me a new creation. Old things have passed away. All things have become new.
I am thankful that I have been redeemed by the blood of The Lamb. No one else could have paid the price to buy me back from my slavery to sin. No other price could have covered the debt. And He paid it willingly--because of love for me.
I am thankful that I have been justified. He has not only nailed my sinful self to His cross, but He has replaced my sinfulness with His righteousness. My life is hid in Christ. When I see Him, I will be like Him!
I am thankful that I have access to the very throne of God. The veil has been torn in two. My prayers are mingled with the incense of the prayers of all His children--a constant sweet savor to my Father. He has omnipotent power and infinite resources to meet my every need. His heart attitude toward me overflows with grace and mercy. He is the God of Help.
I am thankful that I have the Righteous Advocate--my Savior--to daily, moment-by-moment--defend me before the Father. "I have paid the price, Father, for his sins. He is your son now--my brother--a joint heir of all the things you have given Me."
I am thankful that I have been given the Spirit to seal me until the day of redemption--who can break that seal? To pray on my behalf in agreement with the will of God for my life. To guide me into all truth and then to energize me so that I might lead a life of obedience to it. To sanctify me--lovingly transform me--into His image through the cleansing, pruning power of the Word. To saturate my life with grace and truth.
I am thankful that I am secure in His inescapable love. Nothing that happens to me in this life can separate me from His love. Death cannot separate me from His love but instead will transport me into His very presence--I will see Him--face to face. No power--natural or supernatural can separate me from His love. Neither the most powerful men nor mightiest angels can separate me from His redeeming love. No amount of space can separate me from His love--if I ascend into the heavens, He is there. If I descend into Sheol, He is there. If I ride the dawn, sail on the farthest sea, He is there. His right hand will lead me. If I flee into the wilderness in failure, He is there to call me into His loving grace of restoration. No amount of time can separate me from His love. "With a love that cannot cease, I am His and he is Mine." "Loved with everlasting love."
I am thankful that in a world filled with unspeakable evil and heart-breaking sorrows, a world that causes my heart to cry out "how long"? He softly comforts, "Trust Me. I am too wise to make a mistake. Too loving to be unkind. I weep with those who weep. My heart is grief stricken at man's evil. Be my hands and feet to the sufferers around you and remember: you see things from the vantage point of the moment; I see things from the vantage point of the infinite. I will make all things beautiful in My timing. Rejoice in Who I am. Do good. Can't you trust the wisdom that before the world was even created--before time began--perfectly planned the redemption of your soul? Can't you trust the love that willingly, joyfully, endured the horrors of the cross for your sins that you might be saved?"
I am thankful that He has given me so many things to enjoy--a loving family, loving, patient friends, a beautiful world, gifts to use for His glory--to make His presence known, this day to rejoice in.
I am thankful that unfathomably He has made me one of His "majestic ones in whom He delights." He has adopted me into His family because He wants to spend eternity lavishing me with His love.
I am thankful.
And His heart's desire is to do the very same for you.

Thank You Day 3

Thank You Lord for The Acres

I spent much of my life dreaming of life in a cave. Ten years ago the Lord gave me one.

I love the quietness. Oh, the birds sing all day. And hoot all night. The wind whistles, moans, rustles, claps--and loves to slam the door on the shed. And, wow! what it can do with a snowstorm!

I love the solitude. Oh, people drop by and visit once in awhile. I get to chat with my neighbors from time to time. The neighborhood dogs howl at the creatures of the night and kill skunks on my front patio. Occasionally they try to out siren a siren. Successfully in my opinion. Once in awhile my gun goes off when a rabbit or squirrel just happens to be traveling by. Mean spirited gun!

I love the beauty. And the place has such a multitude of "environments." Bright meadow. Glorious wild flower fields. A stand of trees. A bog. A pond. Lots of shady areas and dappled shade areas as well. The variety of the gorgeous is amazing. And though I have added a great deal to the beauty--and continue to do so--it came lustrous. The magnificent pine in the very front and the ones around the house; the ancient maple at the bend of the driveway; the old apple tree, the loveliest of dogwoods and the red crab apples up near the house; the quartet of white crab apples besieging the pond; the wildness of the pond and bog and wild area; the fern, bleeding heart, magic lily rock garden up by the house, and of course, The Sentinel--the beauty of impressive starkness. The Acres came beautified. Myriads of wild violets of every color, spring beauties galore, hawkweed's orangeness, monkey grass in the bog, a wild area full of dozens of unique beauties--all were here long before I came. And, no doubt, will be here long after I'm gone. The birds and the butterflies have prior claim as well. I am an interloper.

It is a perfect fit for my nature. As Wendell Berry would say "My place on earth." And, Lord willing, will remain so until my place on earth is empty. A gracious gift in my old age from the Father who is the Ancient of Days. And "above what we ask or think," it was the ideal place for Mom to spend her last few years on her journey Home. She loved it as much as I do. The unforeseen gift wrapped up in a gift. So much grace in life!

Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to find a quiet, lovely place to mediate on your beauty, your still voice, and your abundant goodness to the undeserving. I celebrate this gift you've given me every day. Thank You.

I love the quietness. I love the solitude. I love the beauty.

Thank You Second Day

I hope I'm not being too personal this Thanksgiving time.)

I am thankful that God has a sense of humor. Way back in the dark ages--1946--he brought a quiet, shy, timid soul into this world; a soul that loved solitude, tended toward melancholy, was, early on, "addicted" to the beauty of God's creation. Oh, a lover of learning as well. A year in a cave with a pile of books would be heaven on earth indeed. Then, he called him to be a teacher. (He can never recall a moment in his life when he was not sure that he would be one of those things.) Think of it. Take a quiet, shy soul and put him in an environment where he would be surrounded by hundreds of teenagers--and every forty minutes or so, they all get up and move chaotically to another location as noisily as humanly possible. Perfect fit for a timid lover of solitude, don't you think? I'm sure his guardian angel spends the whole day chuckling. Brokenness was essential too--such a stubborn, selfish person to deal with. But there is no greater gift than brokenness.

The lessons learned--slowly? And multiple times. (See "slow learner" in the dictionary of disciple types.)

He has learned that God can do anything with someone who will accept His calling--no matter how much he grumbles about it at times. (Still struggling with that stubborn, selfish thing.)
Teenagers are easy to love. (By the way, they have a greater sense of brokenness than old folks seem to realize.)
Teenagers love you back--faults and all.
It's astounding what you can learn from teenagers.
By God;s grace you can live a quiet life in the middle of utter chaos.
If such a creature somehow makes a difference, it can only be the grace of God and thus, to God's glory alone. Who but God can use a square peg in a round hole?

Thankful that the God of infinite patience has a sense of humor. (I wonder how often that guardian angel goes from chuckle to guffaw?)

Thank You

I am thankful that I was raised in a home where love was action not words.
I am thankful that I was raised in a home where even though we didn't have much there was never the slightest hint that we didn't have more than enough.
I am thankful that I was raised in a home where music was always just waiting to happen. And usually not too long.
I am thankful that I was raised in a home where church was a highlight of the week, a family "outing"--and no one seemed to mind that church was on Sunday night and Wednesday evening too.
I am thankful that I was raised in a home where the beauty of God's creation was always viewed as extraordinary.
I am thankful that I was raised in a home where Christ reigned and the Word was adored,

Sometimes it is all too easy to forget to say "thank you" for all those blessings that you did absolutely nothing to earn or deserve. I was immersed in God's grace as a child. My life is a miracle of His love.
Thank You Father.

Ready

Those who are ready for His coming .. . .

Daily arm themselves with faith, hope, and love.
Rejoice that the purpose of God was to rescue them from His wrath, to provide salvation for them through His Son, and to live together with them forever.
Encourage and edify other believers at every opportunity.
Show a deep appreciation for those He has placed in authority over them. Esteem them in love.
Live in peace with one another.
Admonish the undisciplined.
Encourage the fainthearted.
Help the weak.
Be patient with all men.
Repay evil with good. And with interest.
Pray without ceasing. Covet intercessory prayer.
In every thing give thanks.
Don't quench the Spirit by despising teaching or by living on memories.
Examine everything to see if it is indeed good. And then, if it is, grab hold and don't let go.
Abstain from even the appearance of evil.

"Lord, make me as holy as you can make a sinner saved by grace." Thank you that You who called us will be faithful to bring it to pass.

"Even so, come Lord Jesus."

Excel Still More

Paul praised the church at Thessalonica for a host of things. And then said, "excel still more." Is your heart's desire to please God more and more? Paul defined spiritual ambition this way:
To be unnoticed
To mind your own business
To work
To walk properly before the unsaved.

Excel still more.

The Law of Arrogance

If God isn't finished with you yet, what makes you think that He's finished with anyone else? "Love one another and so fulfill the law of Christ." Criticize one another and so fulfill the law of arrogance.

A Prayer

A prayer:

Omnipresent God of love make your presence clearly evident to all those that I love and cherish--even if they don't want you to.
Omniscient God of infinite wisdom, constantly remind me of how spiritually stupid I am without your Spirit's guidance and instruction.
Omnipotent God of matchless power remind me of my utter weakness and my reliance on your empowering grace.
Faithful God of infinite lovingkindness bring those I love who are wandering back to the narrow way by any means necessary.
Holy God of infinite righteousness never cease pruning away the filthy rags of my self-righteousness by replacing it with your life-changing beauty.
Eternal God of immense patience help me to wait on you unafraid of any imagined future.
Immutable God of changeless character help me to trust your promises no matter what lies my circumstances might try to get me to believe.
Caring Father of infinite riches help me to rest in the truth that I have all I need. And much more.
Merciful God who has nailed my condemnation to your cross cause my spirit to celebrate your inescapable love.
Personal God who loves each sparrow and each lily remind me often that you willingly love me, your new creation, so much more than them--and teach me to be content with knowing experientially that I am yours and you are mine.

"O God, my God, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Ministry

Paul's definition of ministry: "But we became gentle in the midst of you, as a nursing mother tenderly cherishes her own children."

Do those to whom God has sent me to minister think of the word "gentle" when they think of how I interact with them? Do they believe that I tenderly cherish them as if they were my own children? Do they know that I am not just sharing with them the living gospel but also my very soul because they are dearly beloved?

Spirit make it so.
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Paul's definition of ministry: "just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one or you as a father would his own children, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."

Do I, as if I am their father, daily exhort, encourage, and implore each one to whom God has called me to minister--yes, each one! And do I exhort, encourage, and implore them to walk worthy of "the God who has called them into His own kingdom and glory"? Do they know that that is the goal--the goal--of my ministry? Do they know that what thrills my soul is to know that my "children" are walking in the truth, walking worthy?

Spirit, make it so.

Practice His Presence

Joseph--probably my favorite Bible person--always knew he was in God's presence. And acted accordingly. What does that look like? A work of faith--obeying God confident that the outcome of your obedience will be to His glory and for your good--and, more importantly, for the good of all His children. A labor of love--obeying God no matter how difficult it is because you have a deep awareness of His love for you. A steadfastness of hope--persevering obedience knowing that such obedience builds proven character--a character that exults continually and confidently in His redeeming love for a sinner like you.
And now abides these three: faith, hope, love. And the greatest of these is love.
Practice the presence of God.

Imitators

Paul's testimony: "Become an imitator of me and of the Lord." Are you living a life others can imitate? Are you living a life where tribulation deepens your joy, not undermines it? Are you living a life of kindness, forgiving others as Christ forgave you? Are you content? Does having a little or a lot have absolutely no affect on the humbling realization that you are totally dependent on Him? Are you thankful that that is so? Are you not just a proclaimer of God's truth but also a demonstrator of God's truth?
May God's Spirit so control us that we can become examples.

The Mind of Christ

The faithful mind: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

The submissive mind: "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself."

The spiritual mind: "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ."

The secure mind: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, well-pleasing, and perfect."

Are you being conformed or transformed? Being faithful no matter your circumstances? Being submissive toward those God has put into your life so that you might minister to their needs? Thinking spiritually in a world totally dedicated to thinking materialistically? Resting your security in who He is and in His promises or in your own ability to solve your problems?

The mind of Christ: I give up my rights and my reputation and the freedom to do what pleases me in order to pour myself out for others as a bond-servant--a love energized servant--of everyone in need. Till death.

Fear and Trembling

To serve the Lord "with fear and trembling" is to serve Him with a deep reverence that is heart broken when I know I have disappointed His faithful love. It is to daily whisper the prayer "Lord, keep me from grieving the Spirit that resides within my heart."

Reflections on Relationships

I can only give out to those around me what I allow the Spirit of God to work into my life. It's always an inside out obedience. I submit to the Spirit, and He replaces some of me with more of Him. And then, and only then, can I bear much fruit.
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Submission: Using the strength that God has given me to enable all those that I love to become all that God intends for them to be.
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The complaining, murmuring, disputing Christian sends this message to the world: My God and Savior can't be trusted. He's really not as loving and good as I've been telling you He is. Just the message they need to hear, right?
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When I am struggling to find joy in my life, the solution is usually fairly obvious. Selfishness. The only way to make room in my heart for His joy is to follow His example and pour myself out for others.
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God commands us to work diligently at being sure that our handling of His Word is accurate. In order to do so, we must not be quarrelsome but kind to all who oppose the truth, patient when wronged by them, and gentle toward them even as we strive to correct their attacks on the gospel message. Our hearts longing must be for repentance in their lives, and our hope and confidence must be in the Spirit's exclusive ability to bring about such a change of heart.
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 No one can prove to us--or to himself--that he is trustworthy if we don't trust him.
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 Our inner strength springs from a grace-filled heart for others.

A Teacher's Task

There are three goals of teaching: to build within each student the ability to love from a pure heart, to act from a good conscience centered in God's truth, and to develop within them a genuine faith--a faith that spontaneously obeys God in all things. Try accomplishing those things without total dependence on the Spirit.

The Good Fight

How does one "fight the good fight of faith"?

Flee materialism--live a godly life of contentment. That's as rich as a man or woman's life can become.

"Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. "Take hold of eternal life" . . . "Take hold of that which is life indeed." Hang on tightly with both hands to His promise to meet all your needs.

There is no greater threat to the child of God than the love of money--"some longing for it have wandered away from the faith."

Flee. Pursue. Americans will call you a fool. God will call you a good and faithful servant.

"Fight the good fight of faith."

Never

Remember in all those times of our lives--Peter by the fire, Thomas in his doubting, the prodigal son in his loneliness and despair, Mary crying in the garden, Paul broken-hearted over Demas--if we will just be still and listen, we will hear His whisper: "I will never let you go."

Meditate

He washed my sins away.

Just sit quietly somewhere and meditate on those words.
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"In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody, with heaven's harmony. In my heart there rings a melody, there rings a melody of love." What is the melody that is ringing in the chambers of your heart? I bet your friends can tell. Your enemies?

"I love the song that Jesus gave me . . ."

Reflections on Prayer

"Above all that you ask or think" is not an aberration. It's standard operating procedure for our Lord.
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The prayer I pray most often and most fervently is that every student who walks into my room will feel safe--academically, personally, emotionally, and spiritually. If I ever cross your mind, feel free to join me in prayer.
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Make a list of all the people that you love.

After each name record how many times this week you prayed for him or her.

Make a list of all the people you love.
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A morning prayer: Lord, help me through my life and my words to prove the old song true: "Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all."
"For me, to live is Christ."
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An evening prayer:

Thank You Lord for another day in Your care--another day safely on the journey Home.
Thank You for those You have placed in my life as my encouragement, as agents of Your love. May I never take them for granted--not even for an hour of each day You give me.
Thank You for those I found easy to love today. Thank You for those I found difficult to love today and the grace to do so. (So many people remind me of myself.) I pray You will keep me from being too much of a rascal to love--and if not, thank You for those in my life who will love me anyway. Starting with You. Thank You that loving is such hard work--what a blessed reminder of the majesty of Your love.
Thank You for the simple things of this day--food and taste buds; leaves still changing, an insane cat, a still house, a soft rain--even if it was cool, songs in my heart, Your Word in my life--even when, especially when, it's the quiet voice of conviction
Thank You for the need for prayer and for its reminder of our utter dependence on You our promised Strength.

Thank You. This was "the day," and I rejoice in it--what a marvelous gift.
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A morning prayer:
Help me Lord put my armor on this morning. Give me the grace to rest in its protection and not my human strength. May the Sword be effectively used to resist the enemy--knowing He will flee from the Spirit's wielding.
Give me patience--with those in my life to whom you have called me to love. And with myself when I do stupid stuff instead of edifying others.
Give me wisdom--I'm not too bright on my own, though I often in my arrogance assume so.
Give me joy to combat my weaknesses. So often, I confuse them and think they are a strength.
May my thoughts today be an unceasing prayer--that my words might glorify you.
Help me to see the majesty of ordinary things--such love gifts you give us, and I take them too often for granted.
May I be quick to forgive, quick to ask for forgiveness--slow to anger.

May I spontaneously reflect You in all that I do.
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 Our prayers should include our personal needs, adoration, intercessions, and thanksgivings. And we should intercede for all men from those in authority to those we love and adore. Such prayer is transformational. Such prayer will enable us to live "a tranquil, quiet life in all godliness and dignity." Yes, prayer has a direct influence on our behavior, on our ability to do what is "good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior."
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For my children by birth and by faith I echo Paul's prayer for his child in the faith--Timothy:

I pray that you will rejoice in the "promise of life in Christ Jesus"--the promise of grace that is greater than all your sin; the promise of mercy that has delivered you from all condemnation; the promise of peace that in the storms of life will calm your restless soul and set you on the Rock.

I pray that you will never neglect the gifts that God has given you. Don't become apathetic--indifference, a lack of loving obedience, can grieve the heart of your God who loves you so wondrously.

I pray that you will never be afraid--trust and obey in all circumstances in the presence of all the people you interact with. Let people know--lovingly, gently, and humbly--through your life and through your words that you are on the Lord's side. Fear will sap your love, your spiritual power, and your sound judgment. What can man do to you?

I pray that you will never be ashamed. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe. We know whom we have believed; we have confidence in His ability to guard our hearts for all eternity. He stands before the Father and defends us. Let us stand before men and defend Him.

I pray that your faith will be sincere, spontaneous, and without hypocrisy. Remember failure and struggle are not hypocrisy. Selfishness in service for Him is hypocrisy.

I pray that you will serve Him from pure motives, for His glory and not your own.

I pray that you will live a life of integrity, be a man or woman whose word is totally reliable, whose "yes" is "yes" and whose "no" is "no.".

I pray that you will faithfully pray the same things for me.
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 "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Ask. The supply is infinite. He only gives good gifts. He knows what you need. Ask.

History

A biblical view of history:

God is in control--every second.
Sin is a fact. If you don't believe that, you have no chance of understanding history.
History is linear. God commenced it and will bring about its end.
The possibility of redemption is a fact. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved-whoever you are.
You are a vital part of God's plan. Be steadfast.

Diligence

Diligence: Doing what God has called you to do because you are convinced that it is God who has placed you exactly where you are at precisely this moment in time and eternity.
Diligence produces the following: a life of moral excellence, a growing experiential knowledge of God through your circumstances, self-control in your circumstances, perseverance in your circumstances, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love toward those who are in your circumstances with you. Diligence transforms you inwardly and that inner transformation changes your external behavior. What you believe becomes a lifestyle not a creed.

The diligent will find their lives being constantly enriched by those spiritual blessings.
Diligence will destroy the complacency and apathy that kills Christ-like love.
A lack of diligence will afflict you with the worst kind of blindness: a short-sighted, self-centered focus on what you believe is best for you--and those you've been called to love and serve--right now. This is the blindness that Christ compares to being in a darkened room and thinking you are standing in the floodlights. Paul calls it "walking blindfolded in a world of illusion"--the same blindness that infects the ungodly. And you wonder why people can't see Christ in you; why you've lost a clear vision of God's will for you and for those you love. Diligence will keep you from stumbling in the darkness of a selfish life.
And you wonder why it is so difficult to be diligent? Why the enemy hates diligence? Why the enemy wants you to believe that what you have been called to do is "just not worth it," just not making a difference anyway"? He's a liar!
Diligence is evidence that I am trusting in the wisdom of God's will for my life. Diligence is the evidence that I really do want to become more like Him.
Diligence is necessary for the vision God wants to give me into who He is and what He desires to do for others through me--the vision that if I lack it, my work for Him will shrivel up and perish in the muck of complacency and apathy.
Diligence and godliness are synonyms.

Be careful

Be careful. Be sure your faith is in what He has revealed and not in what you believe. I can't think of anything more subtly dangerous than faith in myself.
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Be sure your understanding of God is complete. Yes, He is love, compassionate, kind, tenderhearted, forgiving. But He's also righteous and just.

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All too often the enemy gets us to doubt that who we are at this moment is exactly the person God needs in the situation in which He has placed us. There's a reason He only made one of you. He loves who He made you to be.
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Nothing is more spiritually debilitating and frustrating than trying to deepen one's relationship with God solely on the basis of a second-hand relationship to the Word. We must have an active relationship with God's Word.

The Need for Trials

There are some truths related to trials that we--I--occasionally forget.
First, all trials that come into my life are need based. God has a specific purpose related to my spiritual maturity and related to my ability to know Him more deeply that is immersed in the trial He plans into my walk. For example, when God puts me in a situation that creates in my heart and mind a fear of the future, a fear of my needs being met, it is undoubtedly because I need to grow in my confidence that He is the God who holds my future in His hands--lovingly. I have been relying--am still relying--on my ability to, independently of God, meet my own needs. So as my loving Father, He simply makes that impossible. He invites me to really trust fully in His promise to supply all my need. He invites me to really trust fully that He is the God of "more than you ask or think." Knowing my stubborn independence and self-reliance, He moves in my life so that I will develop a genuine faith in what I believe in my head but, not yet, in my walk--that He can always be trusted. He wants me to cast all my cares on Him to thwart the intimidating roar of the lion. He wants me to take the winds of adversity and soar on the eagle wings of faith.
And if I struggle with trusting my children and grandchildren to His care, undoubtedly, it is because I have not yet learned to love unconditionally. I have not yet learned to advocate faithfully in intercessory prayer. I do not yet embrace with my walk that He loves my children and grandchildren so much more than I could ever love them. Such a trial makes me a better lover and a more fervent man of prayer. The trial is designed to be transformational, not punitive. He wants nothing more than for me to reflect more of His image to the world He sent me to. His trials--each and every one of them--have as their central purpose not a desire to push me away from Him in petty self-pity, but a desire to draw me closer into His heart, more confident in His incalculable love, and more trusting in His unfathomable wisdom.
And that leads me to another aspect of suffering that I must always remember. Suffering is the evidence of genuine faith. All those who are truly His children have been given the transformational blessing of trials. All those who are truly His children are reminded through trials--should be reminded--that He is the God of love. The God who loves them--who always loves them. And our trials are evidence to others of the genuineness of our faith in the God of love--the God who wants to love them through every trial that they are experiencing. Our faith to see the possible in the impossible . . . Our faith to recognize the victory in the failure . . . Our faith to embrace the need to rely on the strength to endure found only in the weakness . . . And our faithfulness to radiate the joy that comes through humble submission to His love and to His wisdom--all are designed to be compelling evidence to a lost world of the genuine love of Calvary's cross and the undeniable power of the empty tomb. Our faith in difficult times says to the world that it is worth it to follow Him through the valleys of life's shadows--no matter how deep the valleys or how deep the darkness. Many, I believe, will be in Heaven because a child of God in the midst of difficult times gave evidence through a life of joyous trust that Jesus' love is the realest truth on earth--and in heaven.
May God's Spirit enthrone these truths on my heart every day. And may my response be days filled with joyful praise that He loves me enough to keep working at transforming me into His image and that He loves me enough to assure me that I am His--and that He trusts me enough to use my life as evidence to a suffering world of His redeeming, trustworthy love. The love that calls to them: "Come unto me and I will give you rest."

Growing Old

Great things about growing old:

As the body decays, the soul is enriched.
Looking back, it is impossible to count all the blessings that He created in my life out of my worst yesterdays.
The Challenge: I'm still here. He obviously has something for me to do for His glory. And He'll supply the power to do it. And then tell me "Thank You." Imagine that! Despite my past record, He has confidence in His ability to still use me. And wants to!
Gray hairs--according to Him--a sign of all the wisdom He's given. (I wonder what fewer hairs is a sign of?)
The Word that I've hid in my heart, His Spirit has miraculously transformed into spontaneous behavior that reflects His grace--the grace that specializes in weakness.
So many truths that I knew in my head I now know by experience. You know, like, God is so good. I will never leave you nor forsake you. When you are faithless, I will be faithful. My love for you is inescapable. I can go back into your yesterdays and saturate them with My goodness and mercy. I took care of all your tomorrows yesterday. And I will know at least one more: "Yes, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for He will be with me."
I cherish the gift of each day.
I've got my eyes on the sparrows and the lilies of the valley.
Following Him--no matter what--brings a daily joy that is incomprehensible.
And I am so much closer to seeing Him--face-to-face.

As the body decays, the soul is enriched.

Revolutionary Behavior

Peter as Nero began his vicious persecution of the church falsely accusing them of burning down--destroying--Rome gave this advice to the scattered seed of faithful believers: "Your conduct among the surrounding peoples in your different countries should always be beautiful, always be good and right, so that although they may in the usual way slander you as evildoers, yet when disasters come they may glorify God when they see how well you conduct yourselves. Obey every man-made authority for the Lord's sake--whether it is the emperor, as the supreme ruler, or the governors whom he has appointed to punish evildoers and reward those who do good service. It is the will of God that you may thus silence the ill-informed criticisms of the foolish. As free men you should never use your freedom as an excuse for doing something wrong, for you are at all times servants of God."

As hostility toward Christ--and thus toward His followers--increases, Peter says we need to live a beautiful life, submitting to those in authority even if they are doing the exact opposite of what their duties are before God. You cannot be a servant of God and do otherwise. You cannot glorify Him and do otherwise. Without submitting to those in authority, you cannot turn slanderers into those who recognize and acknowledge His character. Anything else is an "excuse for doing something wrong." How beautiful is your life--in His eyes?

"You should have respect for everyone; you should love our brotherhood, fear God and honor the emperor."

Hunger

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness."

"O, taste and see that the Lord is good, How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for the living God, when shall I come and see the face of God?"

"Like new-born babes, long for the pure mild of the Word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted of the kindness of the Lord."

"But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as from the Lord, the Spirit;"

The Word reveals God's thoughts, God's loves, and God's will for our lives. You will not grow to know Him more fully unless you are immersed in the Word. Healthy Christians are hungry Christians. Healthy Christians are daily being transformed into His image.

The Necessity of Repentance

Jesus said: "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Genuine faith requires a change of heart--a change in the things you love; a change of mind--a change in the way you think and a change in the things you meditate on; and a change of direction--a change in one's purpose from pleasing self to serving others and thereby pleasing Him. If no change has occurred, no repentance is evident . . .
The Savior said, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

No growth. No life.

Blessed

Regeneration: God has made me who was dead in my sins, alive with Christ.
Justification: God has taken away my sin and replaced it with His Son's righteousness.
Redemption: Christ has paid the full price to purchase me out of enslavement to sin and to free me to seek first the kingdom of God.
Propitiation: Christ sacrifice atoned for all my sin by bearing the wrath of God that was rightfully mine to bear.
Sanctification: The Spirit is daily transforming me back into the image of God; setting me apart to be holy because He is holy.
Mercy: God's mercy guarantees that I will never receive the condemnation and punishment that I so undeniably deserve.
Inheritance: God has made me a join-heir with Christ.

Grace: All of these riches are mine eternally because it was the sovereign pleasure of God to give them to me even though I could never merit one of them for a second of eternity."
"Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings eternally!!!"

Abel

"It was because of his faith that Abel made a better sacrifice to God than Cain, and he had evidence that God looked upon him as a righteous man, whose gifts He could accept. And though Cain killed him, yet by his faith he still speaks to us today."

What does Abel say to us today?

Faith is necessary to pleasing God.
Faith--that God is and that He is worth seeking--gives understanding.
The sacrifice of the righteous man is well-pleasing in His sight.
The faithful should expect acts of animosity from the self-righteous.
There are consequences: Adam and Eve understood "you will surely die." Cain understood that sin separates, that the eyes of the Lord are everywhere beholding the evil and the good, that ignoring God's plea for repentance and letting sin fester in one's heart is catastrophically destructive. Abel discovered that death is the doorway to life. He was the first to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
You can kill the "messenger" but the message still speaks. Forever.
God rewards the faithful. Think of how long God has been using Abel's testimony to reach out to men.

Essential Prayer

The necessary--essential--prayer for the beginning of each day: "Nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done." Essential.


Paul implores us to be "striving together for the faith of the gospel."
He testifies, "And for this purpose--that we may present every man complete in Christ--I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me."
The word "striving" is the same word translated "agonizing" in the telling of our Lord's praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.

That's why that prayer for each day is so essential. If we are going to strive--agonize--together for the faith of the gospel, for the ministry of presenting those we love and serve complete in Christ, we must pray with Him. "Not my will but Thine." Only then can I access "the power which mightily works within me."

Principles

Reminder: Five simple principles to live by:
The Principle of Submission: Submit to the governing authorities; they have been established by God.
The Principle of Relationships: In humility, consider others better than yourself.
The Principle of Purity: Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; honor God with your body.
The Principle of Suffering: Jesus proved the meaning of obedience through the things that He suffered.
The Principle of Obedience: To obey is better than sacrifice.

Opinions

Never try to live up--or down--to someone else's imagination of who you are or who you should be. Stay in the Word, be sensitive to the Spirit's affirmation, and be eager to surrender to the Spirit's call to transformation. Be who He created you to be and respond to who He is making you to be. No one else's opinion matters.

The Walk

If your Christian walk is easy, something is wrong.
If your Christian walk is a joyful struggle, something is right.
If your Christian walk doesn't appear to be making a difference, quit playing God.
If your Christian walk is making a "seeable" difference, humbly thank Him, The work is His, you know?
If you love those who love you and love Him, that's good. If you love those who are apathetic toward Him and you--and antagonistic toward the Gospel, that's Christ-like love. You'll never meet a sinner, He didn't die for.
Again, a worthy walk has nothing to do with what an intellectual, spiritual giant you think you are. It has to do with how well you live everything you know. And that's impossible without the Spirit's empowering. And that's impossible without a life saturated in God's Word and dependent on prayer.
The Christian walk can only be taken one step at a time.

Difficult Circumstances

Paul tells us the necessary approach to difficult circumstances:
Covet the prayers of others. And then have confidence in God's desire to answer their prayers for you.
Intercede for them--with thanksgiving.
Rest in The Priority of victorious Christian living: "To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Focus on the needs of others. Embrace opportunities given to you by the Savior to touch the lives of others.
Keep walking worthy of your life in Christ. Let there be no imbalance between what you know of Him and your obedience to all that you know.
Don't sweat the opposition--the critics. He alone is the One to please. Your walking in prophets' shoes: "In the same way they persecuted the prophets who came before you." What a privilege He's given you! And responsibility to keep on sharing "Thus says the Lord."
Rejoice!

Reflections on Worship

Giving is a necessity if I am going to worship God. It is "a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. It is impossible to be like Him without being a giver. "For God so loved the world that He gave." We don't give because we doubt His promise to supply all our need. Not giving is the antithesis of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please Him.
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Have a pastor who keeps on reminding you of "the same old truths"? He probably graduated from Paul's seminary: "To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you." Be thankful you have a pastor who is interested in your spiritual safety. Keep your guard up.
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The minute I believe that I have nothing more to learn of Christ, I have become an arrogant, foolish man. Stagnancy is the enemy of intimacy. 
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Disharmony in the church is not a time to pick sides, but a time to do everything necessary to unite the body by reminding them they're on the same side. His.
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The peace of God in our hearts is unattainable without thanks-filled prayer and expectant supplication.
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 God promises us the gift of suffering. Fringe benefits: Encouragement, tender persuasion, fellowship, affection, compassion, joy, humility. God's gifts always come in the most wondrous "wrapping paper."
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 Ideas the world hates: sacrifice for others, discarding my rights, humility, disregard for my reputation, poverty, submission, obedience, servanthood. Those are precisely the activities that characterized the life that Christ lived and the life that He desires for us to live.
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 Paul spent two years under house arrest. Outcome: Some of Rome's elite soldiers and some of Nero's household found Jesus as their Savior. See your circumstances as the opportunity God intends for them to be.
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 Paul's question for us: "Why do you keep holding on to that huge pile of rubbish that keeps you from knowing the surpassing value of Christ Jesus your Lord?"
What's the huge pile of rubbish? Confidence in your flesh instead of total reliance on the Spirit for truly righteous living.
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 Yes, He still deeply loves you.

Safe

I've had this little chorus stuck in my head all day long:
"Safe am I. Safe am I, in the hollow of His hand.
Safe am I, Safe am I, in the hollow of His hand.
No foe can harm me; no fear alarm me, for He keeps both day and night.
Safe am I, Safe am I, in the hollow of His hand."

I love the simple truth--safe in the hollow of His hand. Perfect love casts out fear.


Safe am I.

Being Confident

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a work in you will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ."
God is working today in the lives of those we love--in the lives of those He loves.
God is working today in your life.

He doesn't waste a day. We must be sensitive to those things He wants to teach us this very day to make us more like Him. We must pray every day that He will open the eyes and hearts of those we love to His hand at work in their lives. We must remember that much of our growth is preparation time. He knows our future trials and the opportunities that they bring into our lives to glorify Him. Each day He is preparing us for what's coming. And it may be years before the time comes that we will use what He teaches us today in service for Him. He worked with Moses for eighty years; Paul for at least ten from his conversion to his assignment. Don't take this day for granted. Pursue His presence. Look for His hand at work. Intercede for those you love.

Relationship

Service does not lead to a deepening relationship. A deepening relationship leads to genuine, worshipful service, spiritual insight, and lifelong obedience.

That's either a difficult truth to learn or a difficult truth to embrace--or both. At the dinner they held after Lazarus was raised from the dead, most of the people were there to see Lazarus. In fact, the pharisees--who would have claimed to have a deep relationship with God--were trying to come up with a way to kill Lazarus. Never underestimate the arrogance or the mindless denials of those who refuse to believe in our Savior--despite the evidence. Especially the religious ones. (Remember what Abraham told the rich man in Hades? Even if one returns from the dead, they will not believe.) [And I always find it interesting that the beggar's name was Lazarus.] 

Martha, of course, was still in the kitchen serving--but not complaining this time.

Mary, who had chosen "the one necessary thing"--sitting at His feet. learning from Him, and deepening her relationship with Him, came to the feast to see only one person--her Savior. And in loving, sacrificial worship, she anointed Him--as He testified--for His death. She knew. He had told her. And having seen her brother raised from the dead by His power--I have no doubt she knew for certain now--that death would not hold her Resurrection and the Life. He had told her that as well--just as He had told His disciples; who were clueless. Their focus was on who gets the best "jobs" in the kingdom.

Service does not lead to a deepening relationship. A deepening relationship leads to genuine, worshipful service, spiritual insight, and lifelong obedience. And when the disciples finally, fully realized who He was--"my Lord and My God"--"Lord, you know that I love you--and embraced that relationship--"devoting their lives to prayer and the teaching of the Word"--they, too, became genuine, spontaneous, sacrificial servants of God--to the death. Genuine obedience always continues until death.

Choose the one necessary thing. and each day He will grow "still sweeter than He ever was before." And from a deepening love relationship with Him will flow a life that is "a living sacrifice consecrated to Him."

He Sees

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."
It doesn't say He hears my words and knows my thoughts; it says He sees them.

"You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the Lord."
The omnipresent God sees everything.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good."

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."
May God grant me a sense of His presence in the inner man. Then, I will fear the Lord and with the wisdom He gives me, my life can be a continual act of worship, a living sacrifice.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

Making a List

An assignment for an autumn Sunday:
Make a list of all the circumstances from your past that brought (may still be bringing) you sorrow, disappointment, loss, anger, pain, confusion . . .
Make a list of all your current circumstances that are causing you sorrow, disappointment, loss, anger, pain, confusion . . .

Now, go to a quiet place and pray this prayer for each thing you listed: My loving Master and Sovereign Lord, thank you for all the circumstances you have brought or allowed into my life. All of them. I know that each one was necessary for me to become more like You. I know that each one was essential if I was going to be a channel of blessing to all those you are bringing into my life today--all those who need to be touched by your love through me. Thank you for loving me enough to mold me into your image--no matter the cost. It cannot compare to the price You paid to purchase Me.

My heart's desire is to be like You.

"It will be worth it all when we see Him."

Standing on the Promise

The verses I cling to during my most difficult struggles are Romans 8:35-39. It is the truth that brings peace to my struggles, stifles the fears in my heart and mind, lifts my sagging spirit and places my feet on the Rock.
There have never been any circumstances in my past that were, or are, capable of separating me from His eternal love.
There are no circumstances that have entered my life today that can separate me from His love.
There will be no circumstances in my future that can for a moment separate me from His love.
Death will not separate me from His love but take me into His arms. I will see His face!!
My careless sins--my thoughtless actions--from my heart of iniquity will not separate me from His love.
My deliberate acts of disobedience will not separate me from His love.
When others betray my love callously or malevolently--even those who have sworn in God's presence that they would not do so--I will not be separated from His loyal, faithful, comforting love. He cares for me. Always. From His heart of compassionate, tender-hearted empathy, He weeps with me.
No earthly power can separate me from His love.
If I ascend to the heavens, behold, His loving presence is there.
If I descend into the abyss of death, His loving right hand will hold me close. I cannot flee from His love--even if in my petty anger and self-pity I want to.
On my darkest days, darkness and light are alike to Him. His love makes the night as bright as day.
No supernatural power can separate me from His love. The mightiest angels cannot separate me from His love.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing--can ever, for the blink of an eye, separate me from the love of my Savior.
"Jesus, Thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love Thou art!"
"Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord, overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword, standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises I cannot fall, listening every moment to the Spirit's call, resting in my Savior as my all and all, standing on the promises of God."
Hurting tonight? Struggling with sorrow and disappointment? Worried about tomorrow's tears? Stand--rest and be still--trust in the promise of His inescapable love. And you will know--experientially--that He is God. Your God.

Distributors

We must remember that we do not "manufacture" the fruit of the Spirit in our life. Only He can do that. But He doesn't do it so that people can look at us and say, "Oh, how spiritual he or she is." No, He transforms us into His likeness that we might show--lavish on others--His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, His kindness, His goodness, His faithfulness, His self-control. The purpose of "fruit trees" is not to look pretty--it's to feed, enrich, and nourish others. And what happens to fruit that just hangs on the branch? Exactly. Be a "distributor" of the fruit--the life--of Christ that is in you. Contribute to the spiritual health of those God has put into your life for you to "feed." And how many days do they need to "taste and see that the Lord is good"?

A Prayer Request

Praying for a Christian friend going through difficult times? May I suggest a prayer request? Pray that the Savior will fill them with His joy. If joy can empower Nehemiah and his friends to rebuild the walls of the city of God in the face of the resistance and conniving of a hateful enemy. . . If joy can empower Paul imprisoned for the cause of Christ to exclaim "I have learned to be content in all things." I can do anything through Christ who is my strength." "My God will supply all my needs according to His riches". . . If joy can empower our Savior to endure the cross, despise the shame, and finish the work God the Father sent Him to do . . . What could be more necessary and empowering in your friends life and struggles than the outpouring--"inpouring"--of God's joy into their life and circumstances?

"The joy of the Lord is our strength."

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."

"Until now, you have asked nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full."

Reflections on Simple Things

 The Christianity that makes a difference majors in the smallest acts of love. Acts anyone could do, but few choose to do. Why is it that we always think it's the spectacular that gains God's approval? By doing so, we waste a multitude of opportunities to simply touch people's lives with the spectacular love of Christ.
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Have a desire to make a powerful impact on the world for Christ? Close the closet door and become committed to intercessory prayer.
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Ever wonder whose life you can touch with a word of encouragement? Everyone you come into contact with tomorrow will cherish such a word. Yes, everyone.
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Don't just believe in the power of love. Be loving.

On Those Days . . .

On those days when I wake up in the morning exhausted in every way . . . On those days when the physical thorns that God has given to me because He knows the depth of my pride have frayed my soul and my pity-party is worthy of an Oscar nomination . . . On those days when my spirit groans at the thought of fulfilling my calling--my heaven-given vocation, even for one more day . . . On those days when my spirit is darker than the sunless morning that greets my awakening . . .On those days when I cry out in my rebellion that I want to live my life, my way . . . I find there is only one cure: to go and to do what He has ordained for me to do. Then, at the end of the day, I look back and my heart and soul and spirit are amazed. . . It was a good day. Despite my spiritual malaise and self-centered complaining, the God of the Universe, the God of patient love, has used me to do His will. The truth, once more, resounds in this old heart: His "strength is made perfect in weakness." "His grace is sufficient."

"I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned unclean. O how marvelous! O how wonderful! And my song shall ever be.  O, how marvelous! Oh, how wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me."

Working

A Reminder:
Sometimes when God is working it's like the sunrise--you can't miss it.
Sometimes when God works, it's like the lightning in a storm--intermittent flashes of His power.
Sometimes when God works it's totally dark and silent--there is no evidence at all to be seen of His power.

But remember--He is always working. Faith rejoices in the times of silent darkness and waits patiently for the sunrise.

The Contemplative Walk

The Christian walk is a contemplative walk. Everything you do must be filtered through His presence living within you. The Spirit's "input" must become spontaneous. Our thoughts, His thoughts. Our actions, His actions. A sense of His presence must dominate our every step. "Set your affections--give your heart--to the heavenly things."

To Follow Him

To follow Him brings criticism. The world cannot know you; the way of the cross is foolishness to them.
To follow Him brings conflict. "They have hated Me; they will hate you. In the world you will have trials"
To follow Him demands the bearing of a cross. Suffering is a gift He bestows on every child of His.
To follow Him brings difficult choices. Denying oneself is never easy.
To follow Him brings challenges: Mountains loom ahead on the road of faithfulness.
To follow Him brings cleansing. Transforming encounters with the pruning shears of the Word are vital to abiding in The Vine.

To follow Him leads to this encounter: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
To follow Him brings this promise: "Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. Lo I will be with you every moment of the journey."
To follow Him brings this assurance: "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me . . . You will find rest for your soul."
To follow Him brings this resolution: "My Word will be the lamp to your feet; the light to your path."
To follow Him brings this encouragement: "Faith as little as a mustard seed can banish the highest mountains."
To follow Him leads to this unfathomable future: "When you see Me, you will become like Me. Your mortality will become immortality. Your corruptness will become incorruptible. Just so will you ever be with Me."

"If anyone would be My disciple, let Him deny Himself, take up his cross, and follow me."

"It is sweet to know as I onward go, the way of the cross leads Home."

Clay Pots

Remember whose clay pot you are.

Be pliable in the Potter's hands.
What He breaks He lovingly re-forms into another vessel fit for the Master's work. More lovely and more fit for the Master's work.
Rejoice in the vessel He has formed you to be; you're perfect for His eternal purpose.
Clay pots don't have legs. Be content where He puts you. Trying to walk off the "shelf" is never a good idea.
The glory that He has placed within you--His presence--is what makes you beautiful; yes, you are beautiful to Him who is molding you into His likeness. "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me."
The glory that He has placed within you makes you just as vital and just as important to His work as every other clay pot that He has ever fashioned. Ever.
You are the clay; He is the Potter. Hands off. (That goes for His other pieces of clay, too.)

Sing. Pray: "Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.

Enemies of the Cross

"For many walk, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, whose glory is their shame, who set their minds on earthly things."

Paul was not weeping because there are enemies of the cross. He knows that the message of the cross is eternal and invincible. Its permanence rests on its source: the sovereign good pleasure of the will of Almighty God. The message of the cross is the very power of God--omnipotent God. Even death and hell cannot defeat the transforming message of the love of God so undeniably demonstrated on the cross. Paul's heart is breaking for the life that is the outcome of opposing Christ's love--the message of the cross. Their future: destruction. Their present day life: controlled by unquenchable appetites. Their impact: the building of monuments to their shameful behavior. Their treasures: earthly, temporary, worthless achievements.
What have they cast aside? "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform our lowly body into conformity with His glorious body by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." What loss for the enemies of the cross!!!

If our hearts are not broken in sorrow for the enemy, if we are not on our knees pleading with God to open their eyes to the truth of the cross, we know nothing of the love of God. "For God so loved the world . . ."

To Abide

To abide in Christ you must cultivate a sense of His presence--a sense of His unwavering love for you in all that He does and allows. To abide in Christ you must have a unquenchable desire to do His will each and every day. To abide in Christ you must have an immeasurable trust and confidence in His daily goodness being lavished on your life--the greatest goodness being the Spirit's continual cleansing of your life through the power of the Word. To abide in Christ is to be empowered to love all others steadfastly, to be enriched by His joy in every situation, to be encouraged by the answers to your prayers, to be drawn into a deeper, more dependent, humble thankfulness for His intimate transforming work in your life. "He who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit."

Soldiers

Remember whose soldier you are today:

Be sure you begin your day prayerfully putting on the whole armor--of God. Truth. Righteousness. Peace. Faith. Salvation. You'll need every part of it. Self manufactured armor is of no use whatsoever.
Sharpen your sword.
Remember who the enemy is--and isn't. Your neighbor you love as Christ loves you. Resist the enemy and he will flee from you. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Endure hardship. A soldier's life is the life of the tent. After the battle you go Home. And rest.
Stand firm. Stand still and see.
Don't become entangled with the things of this world.
Fight the good fight of faith.
Be on the alert.
Remember your fellow soldiers in persevering prayer.
Be strong in the strength of His might. Be strong and very courageous.
Do not fear or be dismayed. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. The Lord of Hosts. Mighty in battle.
Not to the strong is the battle, but to the true and the faithful victory is promised through grace.

Reflections on Maturity

Christian maturity--the worthy walk--is easily "measured." How much of a gap is there between what I believe and what I live?
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Never underestimate the power of intercessory prayer. To do so is to underestimate the grace and love of God.
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"But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream"

Justice is seen in the way I treat others.
Righteousness is seen in the depth of my obedience to God.

May justice and righteousness be the Niagara Falls of my life. 
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The message of the false teacher begins with these two words. "Follow me." Never "Follow Him." 
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 God isn't interested in your credentials. He's interested in your faithful commitment to follow Him wherever He leads you. And for you to stay there until He leads you someplace else.
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 The failures and successes of my past and the plans and fears I have for my future must never undermine the faithful obedience necessary for a victorious Christian walk today.



 

Today's Assignment

Remember whose ambassador you are today:

May the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be pleasing in His sight.
May your good works glorify your Father in Heaven--make His presence a reality in the place where He has assigned you.
May you always look on those around you and be moved with compassion.
May you hold forth the word of life--live a life of righteous obedience to His commands. Reflect your heavenly citizenship.
May you seize the opportunity to tell those around you of the marvelous things He has done in your life through your relationship with the Son.
May you entertain angels.

May Christ be seen in you.

To the Praise of His Glory

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for giving us through Christ every possible spiritual benefit as citizens of Heaven! For consider what He has done--before the foundation of the world He chose us to become, in Christ, His holy and blameless children living within His constant care. He planned, in His purpose of love, that we should be adopted as His own children through Jesus Christ--that we might learn to praise that glorious generosity of with His which has made us welcome in the everlasting love He bears toward the Beloved. It is through Him, at the cost of His own blood, that we are redeemed, freely forgiven through that full and generous grace which has overflowed into our lives and opened our eyes to the truth. For God has allowed us to know the secret of His plan, and it is this: He purposes in His sovereign will that all human history shall be consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in Heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Him. And here is the staggering thing--that in all that will one day belong to Him we have been promised a share (since we were long ago destined for this by the One who achieves His purposes by His sovereign will), so that we, as the first to put our confidence in Christ, may bring praise to His glory! And you too trusted Him, when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. And after you gave your confidence to Him you were, so to speak, stamped with the promised Holy Spirit as a guarantee of purchase, until the day when God completes the redemption of what He has paid for as His own; and that will again be to the praise of His glory."

Citizens of Heaven
Before the foundation of the world He chose us
Holy and blameless children living within His constant care
In His purpose of love adopted as His own children
Welcome in the everlasting love He bears toward the Beloved
At the cost of His own blood redeemed, freely forgiven
In all that will one day belong to Him promised a share
Stamped with the promised Holy Spirit as a guarantee of purchase

TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY!!!!