Get a Grip

My church has a business outreach which includes a group that meets very early in the morning once each week. It is a time of prayer, fellowship and study. It really helps me put things in perspective. Currently, we are readying a book titled “Respectable Sin” written by Jerry Bridges. It is an introspective journey for Christians. A journey that helps us see the plank in our eye rather than the specks out in the world.

It has been a great study and one that has just reaffirmed our totally broken natures and our need of a savior. It also proves that our Christian walk will be long, the road to maturity will be at times difficult, but there is hope. I recently came across a sermon from C. H. Spurgeon and in it Spurgeon says; "Sanctification completed is our salvation perfected: purity without spot will be our Paradise Regained".

Paradise regained is somehow so encouraging to me on my walk. My pastor and good friend recently told the story of his days working in a youth camp in Colorado. In this camp he learned to repel and his job was to show campers how to repel. During this time he became convinced he was a very good climber.

On a day without campers, the seasoned climbers in the group asked him to join them on a “technical” climb. Things were going great until they reached a very difficult stretch, very high, one where all you have is your rope and some cracks and bumps to grasp. Suddenly my friend realizes his predicament and panics. He freezes, he can’t breathe, he can’t move. This tiny rope is all that is between him and disaster.

He stays frozen for what seems like forever, when he hears a voice calling his name. This voice says breathe, relax, everyone has been in this position before. He finally looks up and it is his friend, his guide smiling down to him. This friend says; “I’ve got your rope. I will not let you fall”. Suddenly the panic subsides, he begins to breathe, his hands relax and the climb continues – successfully I might add. My pastor says; isn’t it comforting to know that Christ is much like this guide on our Christian walk. Christ has our rope and will not let us fall.

Spurgeon’s sermon was on Psalm 37:39 which tells us; The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

Let’s all take comfort that though our walk will at times be difficult, what a stronghold we have. May we all breathe, relax and continue our Christian climb with a guide that words can’t possibly describe.

Grace and Peace!

Whatever

Blogging is a very interesting thing. It allows a new method of communicating while also allowing for a space to express desires, thoughts, doubts, beliefs and a range of emotions. This blog is now entering its 6th month and it remains a drive of mine, a desire to share. The original intent was to blog with grace filled messages – restoring thoughts if you will (get it?).

I truly believe it has been as much a blessing to me as I learn and grow by way of this modern mode of communication and creativity. I believe blogging can provide just one more way to think about, learn about, worship and praise our God in heaven…as we remember in Philippians; 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

So this blog for me helps me work through the whatever and helps me to think about these things. I think for me that I have come to realize that this is another outlet of praise. I must confess I have very limited musical talent (just ask my family), but I do have a joyful noise to make and this site provides a path for that noise. As we see in Ephesians 5; 19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. This path for my noise allows me to make a melody that comes from the heart.

Which really gets to the point. Blogging helps me grow in understanding, to mature as a Christian, and to make a melody of praise to the Lord from my heart. I will end this blog with Psalm 150;

Let Everything Praise the LORD
1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

With every breath may we all praise the Lord!

Grace and Peace!

Who is Like You?

I am in a good place this morning. I have this internal “glow”. This morning I have such clarity. I can see and feel my God and this morning I take such comfort in the circumstances of life recognizing and taking solace in the complete sovereignty of God.

As we can see in Exodus 15:11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

Now the question will be what do we do, how do we react when our place, our circumstances put us in a position where our clarity is not so good and our “glow” seems distant? Which direction does this take us? You know, life is full of these times and the question really is where will we turn? Who will we trust? The circumstances of life cause deep emotions, and how we react to these emotions become important.

I am continually amazed by the revelations I get in the times I turn to God. Christ provides the answer. I recently was reading Matthew 26 and the emotion of the garden just hit me full force. Can you see it?

36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Do you see the example Christ provides in the most trying of circumstances? He turns to our most gracious heavenly Father in prayer and reminds us; yet not as I will, but as You will. He reminds us that trusting God will not always be easy, trusting that God does have a plan for His glory and our ultimate good!

Father, who is like You?

Grace and Peace!