Indescribable

My daughter is home from college and we have had a great time. She brought with her a DVD featuring Louie Giglio called Indescribable. I must admit that I was a little leery of this; thinking that this was part of the Passion movement and geared toward a much younger audience. However, I was wrong. What a beautiful message; a beautiful way of putting all things into perspective; to “right size” them and to remind us of proper response. I am reminded of Nehemiah 9:5-6.

5 And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting." "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you

Louie (I hope he doesn’t mind me calling him Louie) does a great job using the heavens to remind us our place and our true scale in the scheme of the universe. He shows how the heavens serve to remind us how truly indescribable our God is. He reminds us how big, great and glorious God is and some circles might use the words sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, … However, you say it you must admit, we should all be in awe of a God that is so indescribably gracious, good and loving to us and who so indescribably sacrificed and suffered so that we might live for all eternity. So as we see in 2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Louie uses the picture you see on this blog; it is an image taken by the Hubble Telescope of the core of the Whirlpool Galaxy and scientist calls this the X-Structure. Look closely, can you see it? Can you see how much God loves us?

Daniel 12:2-3
2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Father, thanks and praise be to you creator of the heavens and the earth! Father, may we all awaken from the dust of the earth and see the stars of your heavens and may we shine like your stars forever!

Grace and Peace!

Perfect Love

At times I struggle with the fear of God, doubts, my worthiness (how could God possibly love me?) and what that really means. I don't have doubts about my beliefs or faith, but doubts about do I believe enough or am I doing enough (and I am not going down the path of God's grace and our good works). I also have doubts about judgment day. Anyway I was recently reading 1 John 4 and just got so encouraged, it was like a light for me.

15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

I believe God is love and perfect love will drive out fear and God and His love are certainly perfect. You also know I can't (for some reason) just stop there. I found a commentary from Mathew Henry that described it this way.

"There must be a day of universal judgment. Happy those who shall have holy boldness before the Judge at that day; knowing he is their Friend and Advocate! Happy those who have holy boldness in the prospect of that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge's appearance! True love to God assures believers of God's love to them. Love teaches us to suffer for him and with him; therefore we may trust that we shall also be glorified with him, 2Ti 2:12. We must distinguish between the fear of God and being afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and veneration for God. Obedience and good works, done from the principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who unwillingly labors from dread of a master's anger. They are like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly. It is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts, fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. Let heaven and earth stand amazed at his love. He sent his word to invite sinners to partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of the happy change wrought in them, while they give him the glory. The love of God in Christ, in the hearts of Christians from the Spirit of adoption, is the great proof of conversion."

I know my love is far from perfect, but I do know I have a friend and advocate in Christ and we can all take comfort in God's perfect love. "If we endure" and work through all our doubts, fears and temptations, God's love will be there for us. Just think...Holy Boldness again. I hope you all have a great day!

Father, heaven and earth do stand amazed at Your love and I do too!

Grace and Peace!

Have You Ever Had One Of Those Days?

Wow, what a day! Have you ever had on of those days; a day where nothing goes right, a day where you may even feel distant from God, a day full of the 4Ts – trials, tribulations, turmoil, and temptations? Have you ever had one of those days where you don’t know what to do or where to turn?

Well two things; first, we are not alone we all have days like this (James 1:2 - 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds) and second, we do have a place to turn (2 Peter 2:9 - 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment).

I recently was dwelling in "one of those days" and I stumbled across Psalm 40:1-3:

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Father, we thank you for lifting us out of our mud and mire, for providing a firm place to stand and with praise may we all put our trust in you!

Grace and Peace!