The Deeps

Lord Jesus,

Give me a deeper repentance,

         a horror of sin,

         a dread of its approach;

Help me chastely to flee it,

   and jealously to resolve that my heart

     shall be thine alone.

Give me a deeper trust,

   that I may lose myself to find myself in thee,

     the ground of my rest,

     the spring of my being.

Give me a deeper knowledge of thyself

   as Saviour, Master, Lord, and King.

Give me deeper power in private prayer,

   more sweetness in thy Word,

   more steadfast grip on its truth.

Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action,

   and let me not seek moral virtue apart from thee.

Plough deep in me, great Lord,

     heavenly Husbandman,

   that my being may be a tilled field,

   the roots of grace spreading far and wide,

   until thou alone art seen in me,

   thy beauty golden like summer harvest,

   thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.

I have no Master but thee,

   no law but thy will,

   no delight but thyself,

   no wealth but that thou givest,

   no good but that thou blessest,

   no peace but that thou bestowest.

I am nothing but that thou makest me,

I have nothing but that I receive from thee,

I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.

Quarry me deep, dear Lord,

   and then fill me to overflowing

     with living water.

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions  Page 75

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

HIMSELF

Albert Benjamin Simpson (1843-1919) was one of the most important Christian workers of his day. He was an ardent soul-winner and was active in raising up new believers and in training Christian workers. He began his service as a Presbyterian minister, but later resigned after realizing the inherent frustrations in trying to serve the Lord within the denominational framework. He wrote over 70 books on the Bible and the Christian life. His many hymns and poems are full of inspiration and truth. He was the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

HIMSELF

     by A. B. Simpson

Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word.
Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.

Once 'twas painful trying, Now 'tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost.
Once 'twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast;
Once 'twas constant drifting, Now my anchor's cast.

Once 'twas busy planning, Now 'tis trustful prayer;
Once 'twas anxious caring, Now He has the care.
Once 'twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says;
Once 'twas constant asking, Now 'tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working, His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me.
Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He's mine;
Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine.
Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored, Safe within the vail.

 

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Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Family Worship: Why? & How?

"As goes the home, so goes the church, so goes the nation.  Family worship is a most decisive factor in how the home goes. 

Family worship is not the only factor, of course.  Family worship is not a substiture for other parental duties.  Family worship without parental example is futile.   Spontaneous teaching that arises throughout a typical day is crucial, yet set times of family worship are also important. Family worship is the foundation of biblical child-rearing."  - Joel Beeke

"It is highly honorable to family-worship, as a spiritual service, that it languishes and goes into decay in times when error and wordliness make inroads into the church." - James W. Alexander (1804 - 1859)

Jason Helopoulos has written a series on Family Worship at the Gospel Coalition Blog.  I have included links to the two articles below.

WHY?

Most evangelical Christians are aware of the importance of secret and corporate worship, but fewer have even heard of family worship. What is family worship? It is pretty simple. Tonight, sit down with your family on the couch or at the dinner table. And then . . . pray together, read the Bible together, and sing a great hymn of the faith together. There are many reasons for doing family worship, but let us just mention a handful.

Click here to continue reading: 11 Reasons To Worship With Your Family

HOW?



Few of us who grew up in homes that practiced family worship. So let’s look at a few practical helps that may aid our families in this new journey.

Click here to continue reading: The What, When, and How of Family Worship

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"As for me and my house,
we will serve (worship) the LORD"
ah

Redeemed How I Love to Proclaim It

"Fanny Cros­by was prob­ab­ly the most pro­lif­ic hymn­ist in his­to­ry. Though blind­ed by an in­com­pe­tent doc­tor at six weeks of age, she wrote over 8,000 hymns."  "She was born in the little community of Southeast, in Putnam County, New York on March 24, 1820." "Happy Birthday, Aunt Fanny!"

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.
Galations 3:13 NKJV

Redeemed How I Love to Proclaim It

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.
 
Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose law I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.

I know there’s a crown that is waiting,
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.

_____

What a great song of testimony!  I hope you have a testimony of how Christ has redeemed you. If you do not you can find out more about God's plan of redemption by going here.

"His child and forever I am"

ah

FROM THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 19, 2011

Tom Elliff Elected President of SBC International Mission Board (IMB)

By a unanimous vote, Thomas (Tom) D. Elliff was elected International Mission Board president March 16 by IMB trustees meeting in Dallas.

Elliff, 67, a longtime pastor, Southern Baptist Convention leader and former missionary, will lead one of the largest evangelical missions agencies in an era of rapid change at home and around the globe.

The greatest mission challenges, he said, are the world’s overwhelming spiritual lostness and the urgency of mobilizing churches to take the Gospel of Christ to all peoples.  CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.

The Will of God and The Word of God by Tom Elliff


St. Patrick: One of the Greatest Missionaries Who Ever Lived by Mark Driscoll

I am a servant of Christ to a foreign nation for the unspeakable glory of life everlasting which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ Patrick

My family name was originally O’Driscoll until it was changed a few generations ago by relatives hoping to more fully assimilate into American culture after immigrating from Ireland. Though I was raised Irish Catholic, I knew virtually nothing about Saint Patrick other than the green beer, parades, shamrocks, leprechauns, and drunken Red Sox fans that celebrated in his honor every March 17th. Technically, Saint Patrick is not even a saint, as he was never canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. Additionally, Patrick was not even Irish. Rather, he was a Roman-Britain who spoke Latin and a bit of Welsh. Patrick was born around 390 A.D. When he was roughly 16 years of age he was captured by pirates and taken to Ireland on a ship where he was sold into slavery. He spent the next six years alone in the wilderness as a shepherd for his masters’ cattle and sheep. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.

A Story of Rescue in Japan by Randy Alcorn

As I’m sure many of you are, Nanci and I have been burdened for the people of Japan. We’ve been praying for people there, especially the believers, that the gospel could be spread in the midst of devastation.
With so many heartbreaking reports of death and loss, this news story telling the rescue of a baby girl is a wonderful glimpse of God’s mercy and saving grace: CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.

Come People of the Risen King by Keith & Kristen Getty

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Soli Deo Gloria

ah

ST. PATRICK'S LORICA (BREASTPLATE)

Cecli F. Alexander
(a translation of the Gaelic poem, St. Patrick's Lorica)
1889

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

---

A PRAYER FOR THE FAITHFUL

May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
- Against the snares of the evil one.

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!

May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore.
Amen.
-- St. Patrick of Ireland


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Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Patrick of Ireland was a remakable man,  from slave to missionary, church planter, etc. He loved the people of Ireland. He wanted them to know his Lord.

Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Blessed Assurance

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.   Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:22-23 (ESV)

Fanny Crosby

1873

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels, descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest, Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

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If this is not your story click here to find out how it can be! 

For the Glory of God Alone
ah

FROM THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 12, 2011

What Bob Dylan Got Right by John Piper

In 1979 Bob Dylan recorded the song "Gotta Serve Somebody." For those who listen with biblically informed ears the refrain echoes Paul and Jesus:

Paul: "You are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness" (Romans 6:16).
Jesus: "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other" (Matthew 6:24).

Dylan's refrain:

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed,
You're gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord,
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

This is one of the truest songs Dylan has written. John Lennon was so angry with it that he wrote an obscene counter-song, "Serve Yourself," which was so bad, Yoko Ono published an apologetic explanation of it in 1998.
To celebrate Dylan's getting this truth so right, I have written new lyrics, not because they are better, but because they are updated for my religious world.  Click here to continue reading.


Secret Church: How To Study The Bible by David Platt

TREASURE IN OUR HANDS
By David Platt

I want us to read Psalm 19: 7 through 11 together. You have got it listed there on the front page of your notes. Let’s read this out loud together.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;

the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward. (ESV)

We have a treasure in our hands with the Bible. The Word is Perfect. It is Perfect. This book and the words contained herein is Perfect. The Word is Relevant. We are going to see all these things unfold tonight. The Word is Good. It is very, very good. The Word is Clear. The clear is not hard to understand. I hope that we see that tonight. The Word is Eternal. It lasts forever. Heaven and earth pass away. My Words will never pass away. The Word is True. And here is the deal. The Word is Available. It is available.

And I want us to pause for a second here and remember that we are indebted to a guy named Jerome. I don’t know if you realize it or not, but Jerome has had a pretty big impact on your life. Jerome back around 400 AD took the Bible and he translated it into Latin. It is a huge moment where the Bible was being translated into another language and being made available to more people, then came along a guy named John Wycliffe. John Wycliffe took that Latin translation and he began to translate it into English. He was accused of being a heretic. He suffered persecution for his willingness to take the Bible and put it into the language of the common people. Those who got it were threatened for even pulling it out. Then came a guy named William Tyndale. Tyndale took Wycliffe’s translation of the Latin and made the first translation of the English from the Greek and the Hebrew and the Latin, pulling them altogether. He intended to complete the whole Old Testament and the New Testament, but he didn’t finish the Old Testament. He died in 1536. He was executed and his body was burned because of his commitment to translate the Bible. His associate John Rogers completed his work of the Old Testament. His associate John Rogers was martyred. The point is this. The Bible we hold in our hands is a result of men and women who have laid their lives down to give it to us. Far be it from us today to take this Word and leave it on our door steps or on our chest by our beds at night and not dive into it and see what it means for our lives. We have a treasure that is in our hands called the Bible. It is worth giving our lives to study it. This is the Bible that we have.


Newt Gingrich And A Lesson From King David by Michael Youssef

While I am not in the business of endorsing candidates, this blog is designed to help people see events and situations not so much from a personal standpoint, but a biblical one….this one is no exception.

A number of years ago, I gave a series of messages on the life of King David of old. I entitled the series, “A Portrait of a Champion.” One of the messages in that series was called, “Champions Know How to Repent.” Even a great champion for God such as King David messed up “royally” and had to repent. ...

This brings me to Newt Gingrich. While many people have, and will continue to throw stones at the former Speaker’s past marriage failures, I am glad that Newt is a man who knows how to repent. After all, isn’t that all that each of us can do? ... Click here to continue reading.


11 Reasons To Worship With Your Family By Jason Helopoulos

Most evangelical Christians are aware of the importance of secret and corporate worship, but fewer have even heard of family worship. What is family worship? It is pretty simple. Tonight, sit down with your family on the couch or at the dinner table. And then . . . pray together, read the Bible together, and sing a great hymn of the faith together. There are many reasons for doing family worship, but let us just mention a handful.  Click here to continue reading.

_____
Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Come To Jesus

Come To Jesus

When a person turns to Christ

empty—that they may be filled;

sick—that they may be healed;

hungry—that they may be satisfied;

thirsty—that they may be refreshed;

needy—that they may be enriched;

dying—that they may have life;

lost—that they may be saved;

guilty—that they may be pardoned;

sin-defiled—that they may be cleansed;

confessing that Christ alone can supply their need—

then they come to Christ.

This, and nothing more than this, is coming to Christ.

~ J.C. Ryle

Tract: Come!

copied from jcrylequotes.com

_____

Soli Deo Gloria

ah

Sin...exceeding sinful

Morning ...  March 11

Romans 7:13
Sin . . . exceeding sinful.


13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
Romans 7:13 (ESV)

13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Romans 7:13 (KJV)

Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least. By degrees men get familiar with sin. The ear in which the cannon has been booming will not notice slight sounds. At first a little sin startles us; but soon we say, "Is it not a little one?" Then there comes another, larger, and then another, until by degrees we begin to regard sin as but a little ill; and then follows an unholy presumption: "We have not fallen into open sin. True, we tripped a little, but we stood upright in the main. We may have uttered one unholy word, but as for the most of our conversation, it has been consistent." So we palliate sin; we throw a cloak over it; we call it by dainty names. Christian, beware how thou thinkest lightly of sin. Take heed lest thou fall by little and little. Sin, a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin, a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doth not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual droppings wear away stones? Sin, a little thing? It girded the Redeemer's head with thorns, and pierced His heart! It made Him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent, and abhor the least appearance of evil. Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be "exceeding sinful."

____
Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Simplify Family Worship - Take the First Step and Start

Simplify Family Worship - Take the First Step and Start

(This was posted July 28, 2010 on Baptist Press, written by Don Whitney)

A man who is like a spiritual father to me began what he called a "family altar" with his wife before they were married, and has faithfully continued the practice through the arrival of children and grandchildren for more than 50 years. Sadly, it seems that few men among even the best evangelical churches today could speak of daily family worship in their home.

In the minds of some, active church involvement eliminates the need for family worship. For others, Bible reading, prayer and singing praises to God together as a family have been crowded out by the television, the Internet and a non-stop schedule that makes even meals together a rarity.

But the father (and in his absence, the mother) of the family has the responsibility from God to provide spiritual leadership for his household. As He did with Abraham, the Lord wants every father to "command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord" (Genesis 18:19). Each one should raise his children "in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). Every husband should love his wife as Christ loves His bride -- the church -- and follow Christ's example of washing his wife with "the washing of water by the Word" of God (Ephesians 5:26).

While it isn't the only way, the simplest method of applying all these texts in a steady, practical way is through daily family worship. This is how generations of Christians have understood them. For instance, both Baptists and Presbyterians in the 1600s saw this biblical teaching, and incorporated identical language about the expectation of family worship into the most influential confessional statements in their respective histories. To this day, many churches still maintain (at least officially) that, "God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and truth; as in private families daily."

Somehow, though, many men have gotten the idea that family worship is complicated, or that it requires time-consuming preparation. But it need not require any more preparation than your personal worship of God. And the entire experience can be reduced to three simple elements: read, pray, sing.

-- Read. The centerpiece of family worship is the Bible. Read a passage of appropriate length for your family, making any impromptu comments that come to mind. Those with younger children should emphasize the narrative portions of Scripture, and possibly the Proverbs. Eventually, most seem to work up to about a chapter a day, reading consecutively through a particular book of the Bible. I recommend that you ask a few questions to determine comprehension, or just ask the children to repeat what they remember.

-- Pray. Let the words of the passage you read suggest matter for prayer. The husband/father should pray, and perhaps one or all the rest of the family members. Most days this will be brief.

-- Sing. Use a hymnal and sing a cappella, or sing along to a recording, or let a family musician lead the way. Sing as little as one verse, or for as long as the family enjoys it.

Any order of "read, pray, sing" is fine. It doesn't have to be long to be effective. Be patient with the interest and attention span of the younger ones. Remember that you're not only fulfilling a responsibility to God by leading family worship, you're also introducing your children to Him. In these moments together, your children can see your love for God and for His Word, and some of the most teachable moments of their childhood will occur.

So start family worship in your home today. It doesn't matter when you have worship. For some, early morning is best. For others, it's mealtime, and for still others, it's bedtime. Just start. Whether you've been married 50 years or newly engaged, just start. Keep it simple, and keep it up.

 ----
Don Whitney is associate professor of biblical spirituality at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and author of several books. This column is excerpted from his book, "Simplify Your Spiritual Life." Visit his website, biblicalspirituality.org, for information about his book "Family Worship."

 

_____

Soli Deo Gloria

ah

Paradoxes

Paradoxes

O CHANGELESS GOD,
Under the conviction of Your Spirit I learn that
     the more I do, the worse I am,
     the more I know, the less I know,
     the more holiness I have, the more sinful I am,
     the more I love, the more there is to love.
O wretched man that I am!
O Lord,
     I have a wild heart,
     and cannot stand before You;
I am like a bird before a man,
How little I love Your truth and ways!
I neglect prayer,
     by thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly,
     by knowing You have saved my soul.
Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be an evangelical hypocrite,
     who sins more safely because grace abounds,
     who tells his lusts that Christs blood cleanses them,
     who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell, for he is saved,
     who loves evangelical preaching, churches, Christians, but lives unholily.
My mind is a bucket without a bottom,
     with no spiritual understanding,
     no desire for the Lords Day,
     ever learning but never reaching the truth,
     always at the gospel-well but never holding water.
My conscience is without conviction or contrition,
     with nothing to repent of.
My will is without power of decision or resolution.
My heart is without affection, and full of leaks.
My memory has no retention,
     so I forget easily lessons learned,
     and Your truths seep away.
Give me a broken heart that yet carries home the water of grace.


Taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), p. 72.

_____
Soli Deo Gloria
ah

Desert Song

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,

and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord

and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17 (ESV)

 

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Cor 15:57 (ESV)

Desert Song

Brooke Frazier

 

Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sowDesert Song by Hillsong United

The Story Behind Desert Song

_____

Soli Deo Gloria

ah

 

FROM THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 5, 2011

HELL, NEIGHBORS, PUBERTY, MARRIAGE, LIFE & PRAYER

• HELL: A REAL PLACE!

"Rob Bell’s forthcoming book Love Wins has already raised perennial questions about universalism, exclusivism, the love of God, and heaven and hell. Every day more voices lend their opinions on the growing controversy—most recently Brian McLaren, Albert Mohler, Scot McKnight, and Mark Galli of Christianity Today among them. The mainstream media, including The New York Times and CNN, have even taken notice.
The book, then, affords Christians the opportunity to revisit the biblical teaching on these weighty matters. Actually, the controversy demands that we seek together how to understand and fit together the Scriptural testimony of God’s character. What did Jesus himself say about God’s wrath and hell? Why did Jesus go to the Cross? And what’s the best way to relate this teaching to a skeptical culture? How do we love our neighbors by relating this news to them?" Justin Taylor

Rob Bell - Universalist? by Justin Taylor

 Two Thoughts on the Rob Bell Brouhaha by Kevin DeYoung

 

Universalism As A Lure - The Emerging Case of Rob Bell by Albert Mohler

Heaven, Hell and Rob Bell: Putting the Pastor In Context by Mark Galli

Pastor Stirs Wrath With His Views on Old Questions - New York Times

"If there no eternal punishment, then WHY IN THE WORLD....did Jesus INTENTIONALLY walk to the cross to suffer and die?"  Matt Carter

THE BIBLE SAYS:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. ...
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels... 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Matt 25:31-33;41;46 (ESV)

13  "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matt 7:13-14 (ESV)

• WHO ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS?

Charlie Sheen Is My Neighbor by Jim Daly

Admittedly, we don't have much in common. We were born years apart, he to parents of great means and me to parents grasping to make ends meet and an alcoholic father in search of meaning itself. We've been going our separate ways ever since. I'm happily married. He's not. I enjoy a warm and loving relationship with my boys; the courts dictate when he sees his. I attend church. He doesn't. It's not that he doesn't believe in God. I think he's like a lot of people today. He probably believes in Him, but doesn't really know who He is.  Click here to continue reading.

THE BIBLE SAYS:
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Matt 22:37-40 (ESV)

See also The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-38 (ESV)

• PUBERTY & DISCIPLESHIP

What The Puberty Talk Can Teach Us About Discipleship by Russell Moore

A friend of mine is about to take his son on a road trip, to talk about the birds and the bees. His son, just a bit older than my boys, is within the horizon of hitting puberty. The father is going to get away with him on a retreat and talk about what’s going to be happening to him in a year or two, and how to handle these changes as a Christian. As I talked with my friend about his plans for the retreat, I wondered why this paradigm doesn’t continue in our churches throughout the Christian life.  Click here to continue reading.

THE BIBLE SAYS:
19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matt 28:19-20 (ESV)

• MARRIAGE: One Man, One Woman, For Life

Evolutionary Law by Cal Thomas

President Obama has said his view of same-sex marriage is “evolving.” Apparently he thinks that the law should be based on a kind of Darwinian jurisprudence that allows it to “evolve” and become whatever the ruling politicians at a given moment say it is (or isn’t). Click here to continue reading.

THE BIBLE SAYS:
4 He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."
Matt 19:4-6 (ESV)

• CHOOSE LIFE

Top 10 Reasons To Be An Optimistic Pro-Lifer by Trevin Wax
Those of us who believe unborn children deserve human rights can be encouraged. Though we still have many hurdles to overcome before we arrive at the place where all human life is legally protected in the United States, we can be optimistic about the end result. Here are 10 reasons why:  Click here to continue reading.

THE BIBLE SAYS:
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Psalms 139:13-17 (ESV)

• PRAYER

Seven Specific Prayers by Tom Elliff

Over the last few weeks, many of our friends have asked how they could pray for us in a specific fashion. You cannot imagine how such a request blesses our heart, especially since all things come by prayer. So I thought it might help to share with you seven specific prayers we pray each day. Thanks, so much, for praying with us.  Click here to continue reading. 

NOTE: Tom Elliff has been nominated to serve as the next president of the International Mission Board (IMB).

THE BIBLE SAYS:
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Col 1:9-14 (ESV)

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Soli Deo Gloria

ah

FREEDOM

O Holy Father, thou hast freely given thy Son

O Divine Son, thou hast freely paid my debt,

   O Eternal Spirit, thou hast freely bid me come,

   O Triune God, thou dost freely grace me with salvation.

Prayers and tears could not suffice to pardon my sins,

   nor anything less than atoning blood,

   but my believing is my receiving,

   for a thankful acceptance is no paying of the debt.

What didst thou see in me?

   that I a poor, diseased, despised sinner

     should be clothed in thy bright glory?

   that a creeping worm

     should be advanced to this high state?

   that one lately groaning, weeping, dying,

     should be as full of joy as my heart can hold?

   that a being of dust and darkness

     should be taken like Mordecai from captivity,

       and set next to the king?

     should be lifted like Daniel from a den

       and be made ruler of princes and provinces?

Who can fathom immeasurable love?

As far as the rational soul exceeds the senses,

   so does the spirit exceed the rational in its

     knowledge of thee.

Thou hast given me understanding to compass the earth,

   measure the sun, moon, stars, universe,

   but above all to know thee, the only true God.

I marvel that the finite can know the Infinite,

   here a little, afterwards in full-orbed truth;

Now I know but a small portion of what I shall know,

   here in part, there in perfection,

   here a glimpse, there a glory.

To enjoy thee is life eternal, and to enjoy is to know.

Keep me in the freedom of experiencing thy salvation continually.

from The Valley of Vision page 56

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Soli Deo Gloria

ah