Graced Again

“If I could see into the depths of my own heart, I would discover a desire for nearness to Christ that’s actually stronger than my desire for either becoming a better person or enjoying a better life. And I am invited to come, just as I am, to walk through the thick door that now remains open into the literal presence of God. My broken heart is now free to do what I most want to do; to rest, to relax in an acceptance I did not earn and cannot lose, to plead a guaranteed mercy, and to collapse into extravagant grace. And as I do so, my heart will stir with a passion to please the One who pulled me out from under the crushing Law of Linearity. I will now be free to live better, not to make my life run more smoothly, not to arrange for additional blessings, but centrally to please the One who set me free from pressure.”



-The Pressure’s Off, Larry Crabb

Gone With the Wind Christmas

The Christmas season seems to start months in advance and feels like it comes around earlier and earlier every year. The tree goes up, lights and ornaments sparkle, decorations add to the wistfulness of the season. Goods are cooked, gifts are bought, presents are wrapped, and trees are loaded with surprises. The anticipation of it all boils up in overflowing excitement for one day... 

 Gifts are opened, wrapping paper scattered, excitement spews, laughter fills the room. The day, has finally come, gifts are finally unveiled, toys are finally 'mine' and play begins. Fun is finally underway. Tummies are finally full of Betty Crocker Scott cooking. There's a brief, momentary satisfaction in it all. 

 The happiness and high of Christmas seems to hover like a mist in the air as the 'fun of Christmas' lingers. Then in an unexpected instant, it's as if the wind blows and the sparkly high of Christmas is gone. Whisked away as the wrapping paper is gathered and trashed, the kids move on from toys to 'I'm hungry', the fun of a bead war is ended in Wyatt's victory, the yummy food is gone, decorations must come down, the sparkle fizzles...

 The sparkly high is brief, the happy laughter dies down, the mist of excitement isn't as thick, the family goes their separate ways, kids get sleepy, the new wears off quick, work days come back around, and what's left? 365 days to wait until the next 'Christmas high' blows through.

 In all of the excitement and holiday high, it's awe-mazing to see how the glittery 'things' of Christmas don't ever last. They come and go. Just like a vapor, a wind, a happiness that once caught...disappears. 

 As I sit and reflect in the fizzleness of the days after, I am reminded once again that the only Gift that never grows old, the only high of joy that remains, the only fullness that stays, the only true satisfaction that isn't swept away... is the gift of a baby in a manger. A baby that was given, lived, suffered, died, and gave everything, for me. A gift of a God baby that gave His life, to give me life, peace and hope for an eternity. He's the gift that gives again, again and again. The gift that doesn't fizzle, is always underserved and last forever and ever. Praise God for His true gift of everlasting Love in His Son on Christmas. Now that gift you don't have to wait 365 days to enjoy again...His grace is new every morning! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Merry Christmas

Freeing Failure

“The main thing we learn from a serious attempt to practice the Christian virtues is that we fail.  If there was any idea that God had set us a sort of exam and that we might get good marks by deserving them, that has to be wiped out.  If there was any idea of a sort of bargain—any idea that we could perform our side of the contract and thus put God in our debts so that it was up to Him to perform His side—that has to be wiped out….everyone has the idea of an exam or of a bargain; the first result of real Christianity is to blow that to bits.”  
- CS Lewis

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

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