Remember

Published on January 28, 2010 at 11:06 pm | Permalink | 0 Comments

A Prayer

Wise Prophet, help me to take these coins of Unmerited Favor given to me and invest them where you see fit.

Holy Father, guide me as I crawl down the path of righteousness set before me.

Compassionate Gardener, water my life with your Word that I may grow.

Faithful Lord, teach my heart to trust in your Proven Eternal Love.

Almighty Savior, redeem me from this curse within.

Only Emanuel, open the eyes of my soul to behold in full purity your Gospel, and may I never loose sight of it.

- Oh My God, continue in me the Good Work *you* began, until it is finally complete.

All Glory be to God,
Amen.

Published on January 2, 2010 at 2:34 pm | Permalink | 0 Comments

God IS Sovereign

Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - December 30th

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

Look at David's Lord and Master; see his beginning. He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Would you see the end? He sits at his Father's right hand, expecting until his enemies be made his footstool. As he is, so are we also in this world. You must bear the cross, or you shall never wear the crown; you must wade through the mire, or you shall never walk the golden pavement. Cheer up, then, poor Christian. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. See that creeping worm, how contemptible its appearance! It is the beginning of a thing. Mark that insect with gorgeous wings, playing in the sunbeams, sipping at the flower bells, full of happiness and life; that is the end thereof. That caterpillar is yourself, until you are wrapped up in the chrysalis of death; but when Christ shall appear you shall be like him, for you shall see him as he is. Be content to be like him, a worm and no man, that like him you may be satisfied when you wake up in his likeness. That rough-looking diamond is put upon the wheel of the lapidary. He cuts it on all sides. It loses much--much that seemed costly to itself. The king is crowned; the diadem is put upon the monarch's head with trumpet's joyful sound. A glittering ray flashes from that coronet, and it beams from that very diamond which was just now so sorely vexed by the lapidary. You may venture to compare yourself to such a diamond, for you are one of God's people; and this is the time of the cutting process. Let faith and patience have their perfect work, for in the day when the crown shall be set upon the head of the King, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, one ray of glory shall stream from you. They shall be mine, says the Lord, in the day when I make up my jewels. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.

Published on December 30, 2009 at 10:21 am | Permalink | 0 Comments

Formation of my Faith

Growing up has certainly been an adventure, and one filled with many surprises. Some good and some bad, I see the proactive work of God in them all. For instance, college has opened up my eyes to the unstable, ever changing standards of the world, and the hodgepodge of "right and wrong" that is merely empty opinion. This mindset had hijacked my own heart in several instances and has tempted me to view my own standards with uncertainty and wondering "does it really matter?" In every instance, I had been presented with the opportunity to trust and obey God, or follow after my own often shallow and deceitful heart.

Oh but I was stalled by the most evil of temptations! My dubious heart and attitude had led me to question not only my own motives but the motives of my God! And indeed, this bold move had led to even more uncertainty as I'd come to doubt the very essence of Christianity, teetering on the edge of atheism or agnosticism. Oh the horrible sinking feeling that comes when you think your God is dying, when you think all that you've ever desired to live for, and strive to please, is not but wishful thinking and chasing after the wind. How could I be saved from the dark paths of my mind, and come to trust in my God with unwavering faith, hope, peace, and love?

It is here that I was presented with many options. Do I seek out answers in science (which many claim is our only most reliable source of truth, and would give me something to base my unstable soul on; or so they say), blindly have faith in my feelings and desires (which would keep me superficially happy, though still unstable and would sometimes send me into a depression), or is the answer not found in anything I could do or feel or think?

After examining science, it is clear that even man's greatest creation cannot offer the stability I was looking for. Theories and hypothesis, laws and ex-laws, offered only limited and temporary certainty, until the next one came along the old was proven "false" or "incomplete" or “inconclusive.” I realized that to base my life on something so much more subject to change would only confuse me, and lead me down the vain path of seeking out knowledge to fill the (many) empty spaces in my head, and would not offer any certainty or peace, for “knowledge puffs up” (but “love builds up”) (1 Corinthians 8).

My own feelings did not help either. Though my heart tells me God is there, sometimes is doesn't, and it rarely speaks truth to my soul. Often times it simply tells me what I want to hear; what would make me "happy." On the other hand, I did not really know what I wanted to hear, for my mind was so confused about everything. As a result, I was thrown into a great depression. Yet again my heart had failed me.

So, then, for me to even suggest that either my heart or mind could bring me this peace I so desperately needed was absurd, and a waste of precious hours that belonged to God, though I do not think all of it was in vain, for I have learned many theories and ideas for the existence of God, but though powerful, in and of themselves they cannot save any man.
Only one thing was certain, and that is that this stability I was looking for could not be self-created. I could not save myself from my dark and doubtful heart or foolish and deceived mind!

How could I be saved? How could I find peace? How could I come to know God, if indeed He even existed?

The answers came pretty suddenly, though not in the way I expected (no fire from heaven, or profound knowledge). For one, I believe I have been a Christian since I was at least 12, and in the past have had a burning desire to know and obey God. Not exclusively out of fear of punishment or desire for the reward, but simply out of love for Him.

It's interesting, God does not seem to be so concerned with simply proving His existence to his children, for what good would that do? As I have written above, neither my mind nor heart could truly help me. Besides, "even the demons believe..." But oh what a mystery, the demons believe, "and they shutter", for they are aware of the awesome power of God's wrath (James 2:18-20). But again what a mystery, for God does not seem to even be concerned with proving His power to those who are His in wrath, but instead He shows us His love! Why? Oh "Lord who am I that I should come to know, your tender voice, assuring me? This wondrous love will never let me go" (Song O Wondrous Love by SGM). This is an even greater mystery to my mind than the existence of God.

So how did God prove His love to me, and thus His very existence? Is it not in the very Gospel of Christ? For 2000 some odd years ago God sent His son, who suffered the ultimate separation from God, a separation far worse than I have ever or by the Grace of God will ever suffer, and He did so because of my sins and inability to please and love God. As Jesus died He felt the horrifying pain of His Father turning His back on Him, made evident with his exclamation “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46). In a way, Jesus experienced that sinking feeling on the cross, but magnified more than I can ever imagine. Of course, I could object that these words were never spoken, or even that Jesus never lived, but history proves otherwise (see http://www.existence-of-god.com for a few popular arguments).

God has proven His love to me in countless other ways. Six years ago, God moved on my heart, and revealed its hopeless condition to me. Six years ago, God opened up my eyes to see the truth of the Gospel, and set my heart on fire. Today, I have seen the goodness and love of God in my life and the lives of my closest friends in countless ways. In every way, God has been the driving force; working proactively in our lives for our good (see Romans 8:28).
This is yet another aspect of the Gospel that amazes me! God Himself sustains and leads me, and will uphold me when my mind and soul gives way! I am reminded of Psalm 23, where David declares:

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
….
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever”! (v2-3; 6)

This truth not only puts to rest my mind, but also offers strength to endure hardship, and to stand strong and do what pleases God in the face of the challenges and temptations of the world, and to depend wholly on God! Again, Hebrews 13:5-9 and 20-21 portrays our good God as the great Shepard, and offers strength to do what’s right and to have peace in God:
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
…
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

This passage in particular brought me to my emotional knees, for in it God is clearly portrayed as our source of peace and confidence, and moreover as our strength to do what pleases Him. I was especially affected by the last part, which refers to the resurrection of Christ as an example of God’s proactiveness (if that’s even a word) and as an encouragement to please “the God of peace.”

For a brief example of how God has been proactive and kind in my own life I point to my parents, and primarily to my dad. My dad has been incredibly persistent, to a degree that I sometimes (foolishly and sinfully) considered “evasive,” but as I now see as the goodness and mercy of God to an undeserving and ungrateful sinner like me. My dad’s determination to see that I am dependent on God is, undoubtedly, a gift from God, and an incredible sign of love on the part of God and my dad. In my struggles, my dad has never ceased to point me to the cross, and he is the source behind my use of many of the scriptures above. So I want to take this time to acknowledge this, and to simply say thank you for never giving up on me and working as a living example of God’s love for me, as someone I can “consider” and “imitate,” and I love you even more for that!

Oh but it is not over, and as I bring this unintentionally long note to a close I want to encourage those who are struggling with this now, whether it be doubt of God’s existence, love, or simply weakness in doing His will; stand strong, oh beloved sons and daughters of God, and never ever forget that your God loves you, and indeed cherishes you. Never forget what He did, and never forget that He now works in your life, and “that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Take heart, and have faith. Remember the words of Jesus: “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7). God loves you!


Taste and See That the Lord Is Good (from http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Psalm+34)
[1] Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.


Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)


“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)

Published on March 18, 2009 at 1:23 pm | Permalink | 0 Comments