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”
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
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.
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! ;)
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! ;)
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Simpleness
Outside my window... is a cloudy day on the town square as cars rush past, reminding me of how fast pace life is in this country, and how time is the #1 value for Americans :(
I am thinking...exhaustion has gotten the best of me, in every sense of the word, in every part of me...seen and unseen.
I am thankful for...a few close friends that I can be real with; ones that love me no matter what. I am also thankful for the same time zone! Love the same time zone of Mexico!
From the kitchen...garlic pepper is my new favorite seasoning and food allergies are wearing on my nerves! :o/
I am wearing...black dress pants, purple camisole, and black dress shrug. Ann Taylored from head to toe, what can I say, she keeps me lookin good.
I am creating...an egg shell masterpiece, well, in the beginning stages at least.
I am going...to Cheddars tonight with a couple of my best girlfriends and Tennessee this weekend to visit my bestest friend
I am reading...The Shack, again. :)
I am hoping...God is as trustworthy as He proclaims to be
I am hearing...my heart beat get just a lil faster as I begin to question the last one above, AH! and my boss rustling papers in his office.
Around the house...it's quiet; and a peaceful retreat from the craziness of the world.
One of my favorite things...cuddling sweet babies and playing with children
A few plans for the rest of the week: post images to my photog, burn CD's for clients, mail CD's, work up a wedding day itinerary, drop off wedding CD and head to Tennessee.
These simple thoughts were borrowed from The Simple Womans Day Book, check them out here http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
I am thinking...exhaustion has gotten the best of me, in every sense of the word, in every part of me...seen and unseen.
I am thankful for...a few close friends that I can be real with; ones that love me no matter what. I am also thankful for the same time zone! Love the same time zone of Mexico!
From the kitchen...garlic pepper is my new favorite seasoning and food allergies are wearing on my nerves! :o/
I am wearing...black dress pants, purple camisole, and black dress shrug. Ann Taylored from head to toe, what can I say, she keeps me lookin good.
I am creating...an egg shell masterpiece, well, in the beginning stages at least.
I am going...to Cheddars tonight with a couple of my best girlfriends and Tennessee this weekend to visit my bestest friend
I am reading...The Shack, again. :)
I am hoping...God is as trustworthy as He proclaims to be
I am hearing...my heart beat get just a lil faster as I begin to question the last one above, AH! and my boss rustling papers in his office.
Around the house...it's quiet; and a peaceful retreat from the craziness of the world.
One of my favorite things...cuddling sweet babies and playing with children
A few plans for the rest of the week: post images to my photog, burn CD's for clients, mail CD's, work up a wedding day itinerary, drop off wedding CD and head to Tennessee.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing... I love photography and I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS LIL BOY! He makes my heart smile! :)
Friday, March 12, 2010
Extended Escape Vacation
Yes, it's been way way too long since I've sat down to write, process, or much less think. Sometimes in life, because of various circumstances, extended escape vacations are necessary. My escape vaca usually consist of exercising, movies, going non-stop with friends, work, photography, and church, etc., etc., etc. These lil escape vacas sometimes are simply survival mode in life for me, yet at other times they are pure defiance.
As I 'settle back in reality' from my vaca, I am beginning to truly appreciate the Hound of Heaven. See, even though I take vacations in my head, heart and life; my God, my Savior, my ever faithful Redeemer NEVER takes a vaca from me. Not only does He always work 24/7, overtime, all the time, on my behalf; He pursues me, leaves His 99, hunts me down, breaks into my nice lil peaceful, unrealistic escape vaca...takes me by my left hand and brings me back to a loving, but difficult reality with Him. I'll have to tell ya, this isn't an easy task at times (I mean who honestly wants to return from vacation!?!?!)... sometimes my feisty nature kicks and digs my heels in trying to make it as hard as possible for Him to bring me back, and then at other times, like this time, He softens my heart and just has to barely touch my hand and I come.
Either way, no matter what my response; the best part is He never gives up on bringing me home...He's so faithful not to leave me to myself. No matter how long I'm gone, no matter how much fight I give Him, no matter what... He faithfully brings me home. Praise God for that, because left to myself, I am the epitomy of the wandering sheep. Beside that verse in Scripture should be my picture. This one cute lil dumb Linz lamb keeps turning and going to frolic in a neighboring pasture over and over and over and over...well you get the point!
After listening to a sermon (yeh, He's definitely brought me back! ha!) this week from Hosea, my fav book of the Bible, I was convicted again. I think actually I may be related to Gomer! haha The Lord has been steadily showing me how wretched, deceitfully sinful, adulterous, and whoringly wicked my heart is. I'm full of the mess! He can ask me to do a simple thing and I quickly balk, or He can simply withold something precious that my heart wants and I balk. Basically, given any chance, with any circumstance that goes against what I want, I balk. Whew! how does He ever put up with me?!
One thing I was reminded of in the sermon was how patient, loving, kind, faithful, long-suffering, understanding, did I mention how loving He is?! Just as Hosea continually purchased back his unfaithful wife; the Lord has purchased me for Himself through His blood and continually pursues my heart, bringing me back to Himself, holding me by His righteous right hand, loving me over and over again in ways I KNOW I don't deserve.
A lot of times this is a reality that's hard for me to accept because I don't feel worthy; I feel ashamed; I feel like how could I ever come before Him, how could I face Him after leaving Him, rebelling against Him, and running off to frolic in other pastures?
The Answer: The Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, faithful Redeemer, and true Bridegroom ONLY loves whores! I know, sounds harsh right?, but it's the Truth. We are all a Gomer relative in our hearts, in our blood, in our very being, I know I am. What a deep, refreshing relief to know that I am much worse off than I can ever realize, but His love for me is deeper than I can ever know, and HE DOES REALIZE how whoringly wicked I am, yet loves me still! And He will continue to be my Hound of Heaven that hunts me down and brings me back from a vaca over and over and over and over and over and over... well you get the point!
Thank you God for ALWAYS pursuing my heart, even from before time!
As I 'settle back in reality' from my vaca, I am beginning to truly appreciate the Hound of Heaven. See, even though I take vacations in my head, heart and life; my God, my Savior, my ever faithful Redeemer NEVER takes a vaca from me. Not only does He always work 24/7, overtime, all the time, on my behalf; He pursues me, leaves His 99, hunts me down, breaks into my nice lil peaceful, unrealistic escape vaca...takes me by my left hand and brings me back to a loving, but difficult reality with Him. I'll have to tell ya, this isn't an easy task at times (I mean who honestly wants to return from vacation!?!?!)... sometimes my feisty nature kicks and digs my heels in trying to make it as hard as possible for Him to bring me back, and then at other times, like this time, He softens my heart and just has to barely touch my hand and I come.
Either way, no matter what my response; the best part is He never gives up on bringing me home...He's so faithful not to leave me to myself. No matter how long I'm gone, no matter how much fight I give Him, no matter what... He faithfully brings me home. Praise God for that, because left to myself, I am the epitomy of the wandering sheep. Beside that verse in Scripture should be my picture. This one cute lil dumb Linz lamb keeps turning and going to frolic in a neighboring pasture over and over and over and over...well you get the point!
After listening to a sermon (yeh, He's definitely brought me back! ha!) this week from Hosea, my fav book of the Bible, I was convicted again. I think actually I may be related to Gomer! haha The Lord has been steadily showing me how wretched, deceitfully sinful, adulterous, and whoringly wicked my heart is. I'm full of the mess! He can ask me to do a simple thing and I quickly balk, or He can simply withold something precious that my heart wants and I balk. Basically, given any chance, with any circumstance that goes against what I want, I balk. Whew! how does He ever put up with me?!
One thing I was reminded of in the sermon was how patient, loving, kind, faithful, long-suffering, understanding, did I mention how loving He is?! Just as Hosea continually purchased back his unfaithful wife; the Lord has purchased me for Himself through His blood and continually pursues my heart, bringing me back to Himself, holding me by His righteous right hand, loving me over and over again in ways I KNOW I don't deserve.
A lot of times this is a reality that's hard for me to accept because I don't feel worthy; I feel ashamed; I feel like how could I ever come before Him, how could I face Him after leaving Him, rebelling against Him, and running off to frolic in other pastures?
The Answer: The Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, faithful Redeemer, and true Bridegroom ONLY loves whores! I know, sounds harsh right?, but it's the Truth. We are all a Gomer relative in our hearts, in our blood, in our very being, I know I am. What a deep, refreshing relief to know that I am much worse off than I can ever realize, but His love for me is deeper than I can ever know, and HE DOES REALIZE how whoringly wicked I am, yet loves me still! And He will continue to be my Hound of Heaven that hunts me down and brings me back from a vaca over and over and over and over and over and over... well you get the point!
Thank you God for ALWAYS pursuing my heart, even from before time!
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