Monday, September 20, 2010

Good Gracious God

I invite you to joyfully repent of your doubt in the goodness of God, trying to add something to Jesus, and point you back to the reality of the cross and the operation of the Holy Spirit. 

Repentance is the way back to the freedom in the gospel. 

Steve Brown said, ‘Repentance simply means agreeing with God about what needs to be changed in your life . . . 
Repentance means nothing more nor less than agreeing with God about who you are, what you have done, and what needs to be changed’ 

Steve Childers adds, ‘So repentance should not be seen as merely changing our external behavior but primarily as a willingness to pull our heart affections and our heart trust away from our idols’. 

"Come home prodigal child!”  Dr. Tom Wood

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

On and On We Go

Love, I have waited for you 
And love, I was wounded for you 
Won't you look into my eyes 
Through the pain and through your pride 
And find I am true 
You're the one I can't deny 
And I'll never leave your side 
I gave my life for you 
So what are you waiting for? 

On and on we go 
Come love take my hand 
On and on we go 
Time and time again 
On and on we go 
Back to where this all began 
Come love take my hand 

Life is waiting for you 
And life I have given to you 
Tell me what else can I do 
What more have I left to prove? 
That I am what you need 
Still I will hold on to your heart 
Through the chaos and the dark 
When your eyes fail to see 
So what are you waiting for? 

On and on we go 
Come love take my hand 
On and on we go 
As you run away again 
On and on we go 
Back to where this all began 

Broken I was for you 
Broken I'm still for you 
My broken heart breaks for you 
Broken I'm over you 

On and on we go 
On and on we go 

On and on we go 
Come love take my hand 
On and on we go 
Time and time again 
On and on we go 
Back to where this all began 
Come love take my hand 
Come love take my hand 
Come take my hand


-Tenth Avenue North

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Severe Grace

The grace of God is love freely shown towards guilty sinners, contrary to their merit and indeed in defiance of their demerit. It is God showing goodness to persons who deserve only severity, and had no reason to expect anything but severity. We have seen why the thought of grace means so little to some churchpeople—namely, because they do not share the beliefs about God and man which it presupposes. Now we have to ask: why should this thought mean so much to others? The answer is not far to seek; indeed, it is evident from what has already been said. It is surely clear that, once a man is convinced that his state and need are as described, the New Testament gospel of grace cannot but sweep him off his feet with wonder and joy. For it tells how our Judge has become our Saviour.
- J.I. Packer “Knowing God”

Monday, July 12, 2010

You Are More: 10th Avenue North

There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide


She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love"


But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?


You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.


Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight


She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try


But don't you know who you are?


You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.


You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.


'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to


This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.


You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.


You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.


You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Best Friend: Pride

Hello, my name is Pride...
I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment becasue you deserve better than this.
I cheat you of knowledge because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing because you're too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.
I cheat you of vision because you'd rather look in the mirror than out of a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship because nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you out of love because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.
I cheat you of God's glory because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride.
I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you.
Untrue, I'm looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry... if you stick with me you'll never know.

Daaaaaaaaaaaggom!!! Some powerful mess right there! Ugh.... knife to the heart! ;)