Saturday, December 27, 2008

If They Persecuted Me...

Christian Today released an article telling of recent persecution of Chinese Christians. Reading the article stirred up a few thoughts in me:

Jesus said, "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). Although Christians in America have not faced persecution of this magnitude, the persecution fever is spreading, and will likely be here sooner than we think. I wonder how "American Christianity" will deal with this.

All too often we take for granted the great freedoms we have in America. This should be a continual reminder for thanksgiving and prayer. We ought not to neglect such freedoms, but take advantage of them and work while it is still daylight. "We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work" (John 9:4). "And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest" (Luke 10:2).

We ought to bear with our suffering brothers and sisters in prayer. "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer" (Romans 12:12).

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

Luke 1:31-33
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Luke 2:9-14
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

Monday, December 22, 2008

100 Car Pileup

Many motorists traveling in Michigan on I-94 took part in a 100 car disaster which claimed the life of one man and injured others. South Bend News Station WNDU covered the story here.


This horrible crash occurred in the post area I recently transferred from. Working a different shift and in another post area I did not have to respond to this incident. It is a tremendous grace that many more people were not hurt.

A Commission to Pray

Luke 10:2
And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Surely this is a commission to pray from Jesus. His words here, as well as in many other places, all too often fall on deaf ears (myself included). He says pray about something and though I'm familiar with this I haven't been very obedient to this instruction.

This life affords us many opportunities to see how plentiful the harvest is. With such an abundant harvest where are all the laborers? The lack of laborers is likely evidence of our prayerlessness. May He grant us the grace to change and to be obedient to his instructions, commissions, and commands.

Pray earnestly

to the Lord of the harvest
to send out laborers
into his harvest


Friday, December 19, 2008

While We Sojourn

Check out John Bird's blog, While We Sojourn, where he posted a recent interview with me regarding Unbreakable Joy.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

"Evidences of God's Work in the Soul"

"Some of the evidences of God's work in the soul,
are: a lively interest in the things which concern
our eternal welfare, a trembling at God's Word
and being suitably affected thereby, hatred of sin,
loathing of self, and a childlike love for the Lord.

Ah, we never prize Divine grace so much--as
when we have been afflicted by indwelling sin.
It is a sense of our pollution and filth--
which moves us to turn again to the Fountain
open for sin and for impurity!"

- Arthur Pink, "Experimental Preaching" 1937

Monday, December 15, 2008

Freedom from Baggage

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.



HT:RO

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Fighting & Being Carried

Sometimes in the battle of life I feel like I'm fighting well. Other times I feel like I'm just being carried by my Father who is strong enough to get me through - kind of like this:

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Training, Striving, Hoping, & Pressing On

Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Memorization Motivation

"You may doubt that you can do this, especially if you are older. But ask yourself this question, If I offered you $1,000 for every verse you memorized in the next week, how many do you think you could memorize? Yet God says of his word in Psalm 19:10-11, "They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward." The real value of the word is far greater than $1,000 a verse. The question is, Do you believe this? Believing this will be the crucial motivation you need."

Check this out: recommended weekly memory verses for 2009.

Here's a little more motivation.

HT:JT

Thursday, December 4, 2008

A Treacherous & Treasonous Exchange

Romans 1:23b
exchanged the glory of the immortal God for...

Romans 1:25

...they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Sin is exchanging the infinite glory of God for things infinitely less glorious.

Adam and Eve exchanged the truth that God is ultimately sufficient for the lie that something else could fulfill them, that something else was better for them. In the process they worshiped and served the creature - self rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!.

David exchanged the truth that God is ultimately satisfying for the lie that a temporary pleasure is greater than the infinite One. In the process he worshiped and served the creature - himself rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!.

Judas exchanged the truth that God is the ultimate source of value for the lie that finite treasure is more precious than infinite treasure. In the process he worshiped and served the creature - himself rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!.

What have you exchanged His glory for?

We're all guilty here. Have you repented?

If not, what would you continue to exchange His glory for?

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Come and SEE

Just finished listening to Piper's recent excellent message, We have found the Messiah. The glory of Christ displayed therein is simply magnificent.

Monday, December 1, 2008

December Movie Giveaway

This month I will be giving away my favorite movie Amazing Grace. This is a wonderful movie based on the true story of William Wilberforce and his battle against the slave trade.

Having been so moved by the life of Wilberforce I must also recommend his book, Real Christianity, and Piper's biographical message on William Wilberforce.

To enter for this giveaway just leave a comment on this blog post. A winner will be determined by drawing at the end of the month.

Here's the trailer:

CD Giveaway Winner

Congratulations MWH you won the CD giveaway for the month of November, Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God. I'll get it to you as soon as possible.