fixed our hope on the living God October 5, 2008

1st Timothy 4:9 – 16

It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.  For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.  Prescribe and teach these things.  Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.  Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.  Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.  Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.  Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

but still i hear You call me May 14, 2008

a written plan You do not have for me
nor a step-by-step treasure map

clarity I do not know
but still I hear You call me through the fog of doubt

I lean in toward You
listening for Your voice
but have I let the darkness of a busy life drown You out

keep calling me I ask
I want to follow only You
I want to take the step
that of faith into Your plan

help me close my eyes and take the leap
rip away the fear that stops me
take away the voices of reason and replace them with truth
and lead me faithfully to the place where I know that You know that I know You want me to be

yes Lord – take me there

the cost of it all May 7, 2008

So what is the cost of it all?  The cost of following Jesus?

Matthew 16:24-25  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. . . .”

It is not easy.  It is the cost of comfort.  It is the cost of releasing fear.  It is the cost of letting go of security.  It is the cost of our own desires. 

and yet . . .

It pays for a life with Jesus.  It is blessing and joy.  It is freedom.  It is the honor of doing God’s work.  It is the pleasure of being in his presence.  It is the practice of Faith.  It is seeing the impossible be possible.  It is assurance of the God who made all things.

It is worth it . . . now Lord, please help me to see past the cost and embrace into the vision you have for my life.  Amen

Irresistible Beauty April 19, 2008

Father God – Have mercy on us - call us to You.  Allow us to see Your irresistible beauty, Your truth, Your Son Jesus, Your compassion, Your ways.  God – help us to come to You when You call us.  Lord, help us to wait quietly only for You.  For in You there is life;  abundant life – a life where we hunger no more.  Amen

A Certain Servant March 9, 2008

2 Corinthians 3: 1-6

Are we starting to brag about ourselves again?  Do we need letters of introduction to you or from you, like some other people?  You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.  You show that you are a letter from Christ sent through us.  This letter is not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.  It is not written on stone tablets but on human hearts.  We can say this, because through Christ we feel certain before God.  We are not saying that we can do this work ourselves.  It is God who makes us able to do all that we do.  He made us able to be servants of a new agreement from himself to his people.  This new agreement is not written law, but it is of the Spirit.  The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Where do we get our worth from? 

Do we rest in the certainty that comes from God alone?

Do we recognize and embrace that God makes us able to serve?

Are we yielding to His Spirit?