All I Have Is Christ- Sovereign Grace

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

A Prayer.."The Potter's Hand" -Hillsong United

Beautiful Lord, wonderful saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are held in Your hands
Crafted into Your perfect plan

You gently call me, into Your presence
Guiding me by, Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord
To live all of my life through Your eyes

I'm captured by, Your Holy calling
Set me apart
I know You're drawing me to Yourself
Lead me Lord I pray

Take me, Mold me
Use me, Fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hands
Hold me, Guide me
Lead me, Walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand

Preach the Word in and out of Season!

I don't know how to really start blog entries, so here is something I read from R.C. Sproul's book, The Truth of the Cross.

Sproul was asked this question, "How does today's postmodernism affect the popular understanding of the atonement?" Sproul answers that postmodernism mentality of "sensuous culture," is influencing the church to steer away from objective. Sproul states, "Since about 1970, we have adopted a 'sensuous culture' that is all about feelings, about relationships, about everything subjective. Even truth itself is regarded as subjective rather than objective. Therefore, truth is whatever you want it to be. This is the most narcissistic generation in history of the human race. Driven by these changes, churches are rushing to alter their approach to the culture, adopting the use of sound bites, entertainment, and that sort of thing. They are forgetting that the power is in the Word of God, not in methods, and that the Word is addressed in the first instance to the mind. The Word was intended by God to be intelligible, and only as we understand it does it get into our bloodstreams and into our hearts, and show up in changed lives" (Sproul 164).

Crazy huh? Yet also very scary. If the Word isn't preached, then we really don't know God. The scary thing is if we don't know who God is as He has revealed Himself to us through the Scriptures, then we might think we know God, but on the day we see Jesus we hear the words noted in Matthew 7: 21-23. YIKES! SCARY! My point is I agree with Sproul's remark. Let the Word do the work, ya dig? WORD! hehehe get it?

I'll leave now with wise words from my Pastor. "Read the Word and do what it says."

Lord, I pray I would be a man that loves you and your Word. I pray that you would mold me to be a Psalm 1 man in humility and grace. I pray that I would not only be a hearer of the Word, but a doer as well. I thank you for Christ. I thank you for the many blessings poured out into my life, though I am far from receiving such unmerited favor. Thank you! In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Remembering sins for the right reasons part 2...

I wanted to quickly jot down a blog before I forget. Currently, retreat has been convicting me to recognize God's glory in evangelism. God's glory doesn't just manifest itself in evangelism, but in all facets of life, however, I see that in evangelism God's glory is what we ought to keep in mind. Despite all the gifts bestowed upon us at the time we are saved (i.e. going to heaven, eternal life with Jesus, etc.), which is an understatement as well, the Gospel is revealing God's glory to the world in Jesus Christ. God's primary desire is to be worshipped. I was designed to worship God.

Eph. 2:9 shows that God was rich in His mercy to save me, you, and the rest of the elect because He is receiving glory through that facet. That is awesome! God's glory is enough.

More to come...

Remembering sins for the right reasons..

Read Eph. 2: 1-10


I found myself reading Ephesians 2 and the before and after picture sets the right mindset that I should have when I look back at my sins. When I read this passage the first three verses set the dark back drop. Then God really speaks volumes in verses 4-10. What hits me the hardest is in verses 4-5. "4 But, God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--.." This is mind blowing for me, it really is. Dead people can't do anything to make themselves alive. Dead people are helpless. So when God chose to make me alive in Christ. It's huge. God didn't have to, but He did. The right mindset I ought to have when I recognize sins in my life is to have a posture of godly sorrow. Wordly sorrow is just another form of pride and self pity. It robs God of the glory He deserves. The godly sorrow posture fixates the gaze to the Cross, leads to repentance, and places faith in the promises of God, which allows and encourages us to live radical lives for the sake of the kingdom. Results of godly sorrow, a life characterized by 180 degree turn from sin and towards God in words and action. 2 Cor. 7: 10-11 warns me that worldy sorrow produces death, while godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation, which is life in Jesus.

So when I look back on the old self, I'm very thankful for God saving me from my own dug up grave. =] "Praise praise the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit three in One."

Application:
1. Examine myself
2. By faith, repent
3. Renewal. Rom. 12:1-2
4. Make friends and share the good news.

Lord, I pray for love, boldness, and wisdom to share the Gospel to those who are perishing.


What I'm thankful for: Melissa and her encouraging words matched by deed =], SD being a nice place, losing my wallet so I can go to the DMV and then go to work late....its so I can read more and finish blogging, watching 24 with all my roommates, and catching up with Anthony and Richard.

Hope and Promise

Reflections...

So I haven't blogged in a while, but I figure the time is right to start up again. I had a chance to study through Peter's epistles during the Christmas break and I find myself turning back to it on multiple occasions. Particularly, 2 Pet. 1:3-4. So what have I learned..

1. God has given us power for life and godliness
2. This power is accessed through an intimate knowledge of Jesus
3. By God's glory and excellence He has given believers precious and great promises

So what are these promises? Sanctification, new life in Jesus, heaven, glorification, and the list goes on.

4. These promises help us to no longer be enticed by sin.

My response..God is good!