05

Nov

fellowship of a round piece of precious metal

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The last two months have been very (maybe insert words like “difficult/trying/hard”?) insightful.

I expect trials.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds….” James 1:2

I just didn’t expect the various ones that were chasing me down.

(My trials are like grains of sand compared to the loss of a dear friend’s spouse. I’m sure she would echo the bullets below. I love you, Diane. And I’m praying for you ceaselessly.)

What pulled me through and caused growth and failure and repentance and changed desires and new relationships and modified other relationships?

3 things:
1. God’s Word
2. Prayer
3. True Fellowship

The first two are obvious to a Christian. The last one has escaped me so often. I’m glad the Spirit opens the eyes of our hearts to remember what the Lord says in His Word. He provides the right people at the right moment.

There are a handful of brothers and sisters who have faithfully pushed me towards holiness. God bless you. I’m forever grateful. I hope I can fulfill the reciprocal nature of Proverbs 27:17.

I’m finishing one book, The Next Story by Tim Challies, and am near purchasing another one, True Community by Jerry Bridges. Here are a few “principles” I am learning are essential for what it means to be a true biblical friend:

- one who prays for his brother…and tells him that he is doing so
- one who puts away his cellphone (dare I say, turns OFF his cellphone!) to have a real, face-to-face, courageous, selfless conversation with someone who is secretly hurting and struggling
- one who encourages his brother with Scripture (verbally, in person or over the phone; via text message or email or Facebook; or, whoa, Pony Express!)
- one who exhorts his brother when he is sinning
- one who confesses his own struggle with choosing sin over holiness and seeks prayer and counsel and accountability because none of us are perfect and we’re all broken and we all need Jesus
- one who gives of his own valuable time to just be there to listen or hang out and pray

Having said all of these things, I’m far from perfect. Here are two sections of Scripture that are challenging me today:

“For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:19-25

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

Is there someone you need to reach out to? (I received a phone call near the end of my writing this post. I was tempted to rush through the call so I could complete this novel, but the Spirit gently reminded me that I had better be selfless and not a Pharisee. Praise the Lord for immediate “practice what I preach” moments.)

199 days ago Short URL Comments

Life/Reflections/Scripture

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06

May

please pray for my friend

God is in control.

He loves us as His own children.

He brings trials in our lives to test our faith in Him.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Hannah’s Blog

Please pray for Hannah!

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

1113 days ago Short URL Comments

Friends/Prayer

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08

Dec

the real reason

HOLY CHILD WHO CHOSE THE HEARTS OF MEN

Holy Child who chose the hearts of men
To be His favoured home
Leaving heaven’s gates for Bethlehem
God came to call His own
Now to us the highest King is born
Behold the Royal Son
Glory kneels to mend all that is torn
The promised Child has come

Joy and pain as man He knew on earth
No place to lay His head
As a servant He embraced this world
And on a cross He bled
Having borne the deepest grief of man
He rose to heaven’s throne
Now I’m sheltered in the Father’s hand
I stand by grace alone

May the gift of God amaze us still
The triumph of all time
As His child I kneel to Heaven’s will
To make His purpose mine
Though this road be scarred with trial and pain
It’s paved with lavish grace
Knowing Him will be my greatest gain
My hope the Saviour’s face

Keith & Kristyn Getty
Copyright © Thankyou Music 2004


I’m immensely encouraged by this doctrine-packed hymn for the Christmas season. It is truly a celebration of the incarnation. Not merely focusing on the physical birth of Christ, the hymn writers point to the real reason for the incarnation – Why did Christ come to earth? To die. To sacrifice His life. He took my place.

I hope you are encouraged by this Christmas hymn as I was. The following are just a few notes on observations I made from the lyrics to this Christ-honoring hymn:

The first verse makes a great emphasis on the sovereignty of God and on His faithfulness in keeping His word. The Old Testament is full of prophecies of the coming Messiah. Christ fulfilled every single one!

The second verse shows Christ’s manhood and servant heart. The sacrifice He paid on my behalf is immeasurable. He “bore the wrath reserved for me. Now all I now is grace.” (All I Have is Christ, by Sovereign Grace) The lyrics also point to assurance and security. Nothing can take me from the Father’s hand. I am forever His child. His great love will never go away. (Romans 8) Grace alone – Sola Gratia! (Incidentally, this is the topic for the next Sola Conference at my home church. Follow the link to see a preview of coming attractions: 2010 Sola Conference. Go to the media section to view a short film portraying the doctrine of grace alone.)

The third verse points to how believers should live in light of Christ’s birth and death.

I am no longer mine. I am here to do the will of God.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’ Luke 9:23

As hard as life may seem, I will never suffer as much as Christ did. He grants me the grace each day to live for Him. Life is short; so make the most of every moment of time, to the glory of God. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

Every moment of my life needs to be focused on Christ. (Hebrews 12:1-3) I want my strongest desire to be Christ – to know Him more, to walk as He walked (1 John 2:5-6), to rest in His promises.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

1263 days ago Short URL Comments

Reflections

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20

Nov

speechless yet again

Disclaimer: I’m keeping the title the same, but I will have you know I had no intent of posting so many words when I started this article! I am not trying to mislead anyone through some “form of cruel irony.” (Movie reference?) ;)

This post finds its roots in a book I was reading on humility. The author suggested an avenue of further study: the incommunicable attributes of God. What a great way to learn humility – being humbled by the knowledge of a great and powerful God!

The first attribute I chose to study is God’s sovereignty.

[Sovereignty = Supreme power, authority, and/or excellence]

God’s sovereignty is unique. He alone is sovereign over all things.

I’m not writing to present a fancy theological viewpoint on God’s sovereignty…that has already been done by several learned godly men and I know I wouldn’t present the topic as well as them. My main purpose here is to post a few comments about an article I read by Barnhouse on the sovereignty of God.

Much of Barnhouse’s article discusses God’s sovereignty in light of His choosing certain people to save. We were all enemies of God…equally wicked and lost in His sight. He chose to save some and condemn others. It is by nothing we were or could be that He chose to save us.

Another major theme throughout the article was God’s sovereignty over health and diseases. God has a plan and a reason for bringing trials into the lives of His children. One of the best Biblical examples Barnhouse uses is the man who was blind from birth. The disciples ask Christ, “‘Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?’ and the Lord Jesus said, ‘Neither: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.’” Barnhouse continues, “Do you mean, you say, that God Almighty let a man be blind for thirty or forty years so that Jesus could perform a miracle on him? Certainly.”

For reasons outside of our finite knowledge, God chooses to allow some people to go through severe trials. I know a few brothers and sisters who are going through very difficult and painful health issues. I pray that God will give them the grace and strength to allow these trials to stretch their faith in Him. As easy as it would be to grumble and complain about the “unnecessary difficulty” added upon this already complicated life on earth, God truly deserves honor and praise for the trials He places in our lives. We are to trust in Him with all our hearts. (Proverbs 3:5-6) He is our sovereign; we are His slaves.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:18-39

How is THAT for perspective?! I need to be reminded of this constantly.

I am very grateful for the health God has given me. I recognize that it is a gift from His gracious hand. But God owes me nothing. Should He choose to take away my good health tomorrow morning, He would be completely right to do so. May I always remember Job’s response to the Lord’s work in his life:

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21

One final remark – God is sovereign over the direction of my life.

At this stage of my life there is a lot of uncertainty.

I don’t know what career I want. I don’t know if I want to stay where I am. I don’t know whether I should remain single or not. I don’t know what tomorrow holds.

The trouble with these statements: “Ah! Pronoun trouble.” (Looney Tunes, anyone?) :)

I find a huge relief in being reminded that God is in control…He is sovereign. I’m not here for me. I’m a slave of Christ…I’m here to serve Him. I am to deny myself, take up my cross daily, and follow Him!

What is required of us is that we be so yielded to God that we can understand the nature of the place where He has put us, the nature of the assets He has put at our disposal; and that we should say to Him, “Lord, I would be faithful as I am, where I am, for Thee.” (Barnhouse, “The Sovereignty of God”)

1281 days ago Short URL Comments

Reflections

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06

Aug

Real faith…put to the ultimate test

Good Morning America just aired an exclusive interview with the Steven Curtis Chapman family on the loss of their youngest daughter, Maria Sue. Maria was struck by the family vehicle in the driveway.

Robin, from GMA, asked the family how they could get through such a difficult loss. Their answer: faith! They live with an unwavering hope. They still have questions, but they do not question their faith!

They still grieve the loss of little Maria, but they know that God has made her whole. They are certain they will see her again one day in heaven!

Continue to pray for the Chapman family during this trial in their lives.

[See my family's adoption blog, http://operationcherryblossom.wordpress.com]

http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/

http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/

http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/jim/2008/05/marias-memorial.html

1751 days ago Short URL Comments

Reflections

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04

Dec

One Wintry Night: “Reprise”

I wanted to fill everyone in on the “juicy” details of the concert in my first post, but if you didn’t notice, I was writing it pretty early in the morning…thus the lack of coherence and true need for sleep! ;-)

The concert was obviously AMAZING! But the music itself was not the only inspiring aspect of the concert.

One part of the concert focused on a dialogue and duet between David and his sister, Sherri Proctor. (Sherri fills the roles of vocals and keyboard in the band.) Last year, after the Christmas tour, Sherri found out that she had developed breast cancer. This brought about a very trying process for her family and the band. In the fall of 2007, after finishing up chemotherapy and radiation, Sherri found out that she was cancer-free! God was very good to Sherri in healing her from the cancer…and from the concert, we could tell that she definitely gave God the glory for it!

Click on the link below to see a picture of the duet….

David and Sherri

Before intermission, David also spotlighted his sponsor for the tour, World Vision. David agreed to sponsor 1,000 children from Ethiopia. The statistics he shared with the audience were shocking. The specific village these children came from suffered from food insecurity (not knowing where their next meal was going to come from), dysentery, HIV (AIDS), lack of purified water, and lack of education. [81% of the village are below the poverty level; 41% of the adult population suffer from the HIV virus!] David asked the audience members to help him out by sponsoring a child for a small amount each month. It was very touching to see how many people volunteered to be so generous!

After the concert, right before we got to meet David, a mother and daughter were talking to him. Apparently they had a relative, probably the father/husband, who was going through a pretty severe trial. They asked if David would call him on their cell phone to encourage him. Obviously I only heard David’s side of the conversation, but what I heard was very touching. I’m sure the man on the other end was ever grateful for David’s kind and encouraging remarks. David said something to the man that really could apply to all of us regarding trials, “Trust God through the hard times…later on, you’ll be able to look back at them and laugh!”

Praise God for men like David Phelps, who use their gifts (given to them by God) to ultimately glorify Him!

1997 days ago Short URL 1 Comment

Concert

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