Christmas Prayer

Father God, 

As we approach Christmas Day, we humbly thank you that Christ was born; our true hope; our true love and Father what a radical gift. Because Christ came into this world we can know that he came to save completely, to intercede for us, to atone for our sin, to restore us to you and as such we praise you and say Halleluiah!

Father, B. B. Warfield once said: “The Glory of the incarnation is that it presents to our adoring gaze, a true God-man; one on whose almighty arms we can rest and to whose human sympathy we can appeal.” 

Father, this Christmas we just praise you for your glorious plan of redemption which sent a child that is our wonderful counselor, our mighty God, our Everlasting Father, our Prince of Peace; a child who is named Immanuel – God with us! Father, you sent us a true God-man in whose almighty arms we can rest; where we can find peace! 

Father, may your name be proclaimed, may Jesus become more and more famous...Lord, give us ears that your word might touch our hearts, that your word might refresh, that we might be transformed; all to your glory. 

Abba Father, we love you and pray in the most beautiful name of Jesus Christ...Amen!

On Earth Peace...

Luke 2:14 
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

We are looking at Peace this week during advent and as such I have been dwelling a little on this verse and this word Peace. 

Lexicon: Strong's G1515 - eirēnē 

Peace of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is... 

I love that; peace being the tranquil state of the soul...a state on possible with salvation by Grace through faith in Christ; a peace that comes with the good news of Jesus. 

John MacArthur explains it so well:

"On earth Peace...what kind of peace? Salvation Peace...peace between man and God, among those whom God has chosen to delight in. And so the angels are praising God because He has chosen to delight in bringing salvation peace to sinners." 

So thankful for the Peace of God, Salvation Peace, Shalom, Eirene, May our souls find that tranquil state only possible through Christ...Immanuel – God with us! 

Grace and Peace!

Word became Flesh

John 1:14 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

I just love that Scotty Smith describes John 1 as the opening movement of a grand symphony. The birth of Christ is certainly that! It is through this opening movement that we come to see Immanuel – God with us. 

This is the Incarnation or the term used to describe what happened when the eternal Son of God, "became flesh" as he was miraculously conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary. In the incarnation, the divine nature of the Son was perfectly united with human nature in one divine Person. This person, our Jesus was "truly God and truly man." 

As you continue to think about this (pray about it) I become a little overwhelmed that my Lord and Savior would leave the perfections of heaven to enter the world to go from the glory of Heaven to a manger – a trough for animals, would willingly enter the world to experience the lowest, the worst, the least; just for us. 

Verse 14 says he made his dwelling among us and that he came from the Father full of grace and truth. Amazing! Spurgeon said of this verse that Christ is not just the picture of grace and truth, but that Christ is the reality of grace and truth!   And to me it is that reality that lets us see; lets us experience grace and truth, lets us experience forgiveness, redemption, restoration; lets us know the love of God as His children. 

This special season my heart is so full of thanks, I am filled with adoration, a thankful heart for what has come through the birth of Christ while at the same time I am expectantly hopeful for all that is to come with His return!

Grace and Peace!

Advent Thoughts

As we approach the first Sunday of Advent, I have been thinking a lot about just that...Advent. Advent is taken from the Latin word adventus and means “coming.” The Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, which was used to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. 

To me this season, this Church tradition reminds us to celebrate all that Christ has done for each of us and also helps us to position our hearts expectantly and hopefully for Christ to return and make all things new. It is an amazing perspective and allows us to contemplate the new heaven and the new earth where all will be made right. 

George Whitefield wrote a sermon for Advent called Contemplating Christmas and in this sermon he said: 

“What, shall we not remember the birth of our Jesus...No, my dear brethren, let us celebrate and keep this festival of our church with joy in our hearts: let the birth of a Redeemer, which redeemed us from sin, this Savior’s love never be forgotten! But may we sing forth all his love and glory as long as life shall last here, and through an endless eternity in the world above! May we chant forth the wonders of redeeming love and the riches of free grace, amidst angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, without intermission, forever and ever!” 

Father, this Advent season may we all look forward with thankful hearts, with love, with an expectant hope for all that has been done and all that will be done. Amen! 

Grace and Peace!

Thanksgiving Prayer

Father God, In Philippians you tell us: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And Father that is amazing to me, that we can come to you about anything, and thru prayer we can express our thanks, we can present our requests, we can have a relationship with the creator of the universe. 

So Father, as we move thru this thing called life, let us know that we do not have to be anxious about anything, that no matter what you are there with us; and mostly let us be thankful that because of all Christ has done for us we can know, that you love us, that we can come to you in prayer anytime and for anything and that we can have a real and heartfelt relationship with you.

Father, as we stop and reflect on this special day, help us to do so with thankful souls, help us to sing praises to you, help us to express our love because you first loved us. And not just this day, but let this be the first of many days that are grounded in our thankfulness; thankful that you are in our lives and thankful that we are your children. 

Father, this Thanksgiving Day no matter our circumstance, no matter our standing, no matter what help us with thankful hearts to know your great love. Abba Father, we love you and pray these many things in the most beautiful name of Jesus Christ – Amen! 

Grace and Peace!

I am He!

John 4:23-26 

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” 

We recently used this passage as our call to worship and what a beautiful passage it is. This is where Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman and they have a great discussion concerning the temporal and the eternal. During this encounter Jesus explains, reveals and demonstrates. He shares that as Scotty Smith describes; “The Gospel is bad news before it is good news. The living water of grace is sweet only to those who know the bitter taste of their sin.” 

So when we truly recognize our desperate condition, our need of saving we can then and only then realize that Jesus alone is our only hope. And once we do get it, once we do accept this; it is then that we taste the true, eternal and living water. As we taste, as we are rescued, as we are saved, as we are born again, it seems to me that the reaction should be an eruption of worship. 

Again there is instruction here. Jesus tells us that worship matters, but it is not a matter of where we worship, or worship is not a matter of our position in the world, but it is the what (God) and the how (in spirit and truth) that are important. As with this woman from Samaria it is so tough for us to recognize that it is Jesus that should be central in our worship, not the music, not the preacher, not what we like, but Jesus and his amazing grace.

At the end of this passage, Jesus adds the exclamation point to our worship. Jesus rightly reminds us, instills in us the object and nature of our worship. Jesus says to us all; “I who speak to you am he.” 

Grace and Peace!

The Seed

The path or journey to a saving faith in Christ can be mysterious, it can be so personal, it can be long or short; however, there is one thing I am sure of, it is a work of God! I think of 1 Corinthians 3:5-6: 

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 

I know that although my path was over 40 years long there were many seeds along the way. One of my fondest memories as a kid and definitely a seed was that of my grandfather reading his Bible. I remember that he took time daily to ready his Bible, during good times, and troubling times, even when the grandkids were visiting, no matter what was going on, he made the time. 

I also remember that he didn’t seem to mind if I came in his room while he was reading. I could ask him what he was reading and he would take the time to tell me, to explain, to plant the seed. Now I will admit it took a bunch of watering along the way, but God caused the growth according to his timing and his perfect plan. 

I am so thankful for that seed (and others) and I have to tell you that now it is amazing how much I love to read my Bible; how much it means to me to see God revealed, to see His magnificent and incredible plan of redemption, to see the love of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to see the work of the Holy Spirit, to see Grace, to see the actual and literal Word of God!

As Jesus tells us in Matthew 4:4: 

But he answered, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Amen! 

Grace and Peace!

Prayer of Praise!

Father God, as I was reading this week, as I prepared to study your most remarkable attributes; I must confess that I was awestruck by your practically indescribable power. Father, you literally breathed life into creation and that just blows my mind. And at the same time you love us. In fact, John tells us you are love and that too just is almost too amazing. 

Amazing that the ultimate in power loved us first and loves us still; that our Father in Heaven loves us and loves us despite our blemishes and shortcomings. Amazing that your majestic and eternal power contains within it the most wonderful and constant love for us.

Father, You love us so much that by your grace we have been saved. You love us so much that you would send your Son to rescue, to secure, to restore us to all eternity.

Father, thank you and we pray that this amazingly good news would be our first thought, our paradigm, our world-view and as such would guide our lives, our worship and praise of you. So Father we do pray that our worship; our praise will always be spirit filled and full of our love to you. 

And Father we pray for our community that more and more people would come to know your absolute power and love, and would come to know your tender mercies. Father, we pray that we will be a community in awe of your greatness, your grace and your love and that we would share that good news with those around us. We pray that we would welcome all that we encounter, that we would love as you love us. 

Finally Father, we thank you for your God breathed word. We pray your spirit will be with us all.  Abba Father, we love you and pray these many things in the most beautiful name of Jesus...Amen!

How Can It Be?

The older I get (maybe I should say the more experienced I get) the more I am astonished by the love of our God, the love of our Lord and Savior! There is a new (at least new to me) song out by Lauren Daigle called "How Can It Be" and it has this line... "You gave your life to give me mine...how can it be?"

This thought just grabs me. Jesus gave his life to give me mine. He gives his all for me such an undeserving one. He gave his life that I might have real life not just a life of worldly and temporary things. He gave his life that I might experience and know real love, that I might be restored, renewed, redeemed, re-born, that I might have a real life for all eternity. 

In Mark 10:45 Jesus tells us; "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Oh, how he loves us (to borrow from David Crowder). And I guess to keep the musical influence going it brings to mind a hymn written in the 1700s by Charles Wesley. 

The title is "And Can It Be That I Should Gain" and it contains these lyrics...

"And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood! Died he for me? Who caused his pain! For me? Who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? "

Amazing Love Indeed! 

Grace and Peace!

Rejection

As part of our Church plant, we have started new community groups. I must say our group is really coming together, really starting to care for one another, really starting to experience what Bridges calls true community. I am so encouraged. 

We are in the middle of a study called Gospel Centered Life, the study is one I have done on several occasions, but each time I get a little more from it. Our group is really opening up and really sharing and I think that is just wonderful, it is real growth.

We just completed a discussion of Mission. In the study the author defines mission as "anything that brings gospel-centered renewal/redemption to people, places and cultures." Our discussion was wide ranging and we admitted that while some will be called to missions in far away places, sometimes all our mission requires is for us to walk across the street. 

That lead to a heartfelt discussion on why we hold back. There were reasons, concerns and they were varied; however, there was one thing everyone could relate to: fear of rejection. We discussed the real need for building relationship, but the bottom line was we need to trust Christ more. 

It occurred to me that Christ didn’t fear rejection for us and as such we can remain confident, we can trust, we can be assured that Christ will never reject us. So there is no reason to fear the rejection of a neighbor, because Christ will never reject us...He will always be there for us and we should share in that comfort, that love, that acceptance, that good news. 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Deuteronomy 31:6 

Grace and Peace!

Motivation for Life

You know I am just more amazed by grace with each day. I know that sounds strange or impossible, but it is true. With each day I just come to realize, understand and appreciate (and these words are not strong enough) that I am only saved by grace, saved because Christ loved me. 

I am reading another book on grace written by Jerry Bridges in 1994; “The Discipline of Grace.” In it there is much insight into this thing called grace. There is great discussion on the human condition and our deep need for challenge, duty and obligation; our performance mindset.  In the preface, Bridges notes that any “pursuit of holiness must be motivated by the grace of God; else it can become oppressive and joyless.” That really made me think about just what motivates us. 

Obligation and duty just never succeed as a motivator for a lifetime, and really do become oppressive and joyless but I think that it truly is human nature for us to feel this sense of duty and obligation. Is there a way to break these oppressive and joyless chains? Jack Miller says we can by “preaching the gospel to ourselves every day.” I love that and so desperately need that. I need to remind myself that I was so loved by Christ; despite all my doubts, fears, failures; despite my worst and darkest actions; despite my arrogance and pride; despite my ever apparent un-worthiness, that He would pay the ultimate price, He would lovingly sacrifice all so that by the grace of God I might be rescued, restored, and become a child of God for all eternity. 

Again, I don’t have strong enough words, but can you see how my motivation might change? It might change from duty and obligation to love; love for my rescuer and my savior. And that love might become so overwhelming that it might be shared, that it might become my motivation! Bridges says that “preaching the gospel to ourselves every day gives us hope, joy, and courage! Amen! (I know too many exclamation points, but I got excited)

Again, Bridges points out that it was not duty or obligation that motivated the Apostle Paul, rather it was “his constant heartfelt awareness of Christ’s love for him.” That was his motivation. So what would that look like if it was truly our motivation? I think Galatians 5:6 tells us – it is our faith expressing itself through love – love for the Father, love for the Son, love for the Holy Spirit and love for one another!

Father, please let the constant heartfelt awareness of Christ’s love become our motivation for a lifetime. Father, as it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:14; Let Christ’s love compel us. 

Grace and Peace!

Sola Scriptura

 John MacArthur defines the Reformation principle of sola Scriptura as having “to do with the sufficiency of Scripture as our supreme authority in all spiritual matters.  Sola Scriptura simply means that all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture.” 

If we are to embrace sola Scriptura, then it would seem to me that it would be pretty important to spend time reading Scripture, learning from Scripture, and growing as a result. I sense in all honesty I should be spending more time reading and studying my Bible. If we carry that a little further, we should all be able to see just how important a dedicated study of the Bible, the very word of God should be. 

I am reading a great book called “Taking God at His Word” by Kevin DeYoung. It is a book that provides a little detail concerning the authority and the sufficiency of Scripture. In it DeYoung states: 

"The scriptures are our spectacles (to use Calvin's phrase), the lenses through which we see God, the world, and ourselves rightly. We cannot truly know God, his will, or the way of salvation apart from the Bible..."Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the word of eternal life" (John 6:68). There is no other book like the Bible. It reveals a different kind of wisdom, comes from a different source, and tells of a different love." 

I love that image of using the Bible as our lens to view God and all he has created as the path to truly know God. Acts 17:11 tells us: 

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” 

Father, help us be of noble character and help us examine the Scriptures; your precious Word every day. 

Grace and Peace!

Carry Burdens

Galatians 6:2 

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 

I have been thinking about this verse quite a bit. In Galatians 5 Paul reminds us that we are to serve one another in love and that then entire law can be summed up as love your neighbor as yourself. 

This word burden in Greek means heaviness, weight, trouble; it means to impose upon one difficult requirements. So if we are serving one another in love there will be times where we enter into difficulties with those we love, there will be times when we absolutely must help bear the weight of some trouble. 

As I think about this more and more I see that Christ was the ultimate example of this. Because he loved us, he carried our “burden” to the cross. I am amazed and a little emotional when I think of the weight, the heaviness of the cross that Christ literally carried for me; because of me. The weight of my brokenness, my selfishness, my pride, my...well you get the picture. And all because Christ loves us so much! 

When I am thinking clearly I can see that because of the weight of the cross that Christ carried to rescue me, to restore me, how can I not carry another’s burdens out of love? 

Tim Keller says; “You cannot help with a burden unless you come very close to the burdened person, standing virtually in their shoes, and putting your own strength under the burden so its weight is distributed on both of you, lightening the load of the other. So in the same way, a Christian must listen and understand, and physically, emotionally, spiritually, take up some of the burden with the other person.” 

What a beautiful picture of having a relationship based on Christian love for our neighbors. To love them enough to get close to them; to share in the weight of whatever the load; Jesus, thank you for loving us so much that you would carry the ultimate burden for each of us. 

Abba Father, help us to get close to our neighbors, to listen, to understand, to physically, emotionally, and spiritually take up some of the burden. To love as Christ loved us. 

Grace and Peace!

Divided Attention

Now I am sure you have all heard the phrase “can I have your undivided attention.” That thought; undivided attention has had, well, my attention lately. I have been thinking about how busy I am (or appear to be) and how my attention, my focus is so divided. I try to do what seems to be 1000 things so my attention span is about 10 minutes. 

Kevin DeYoung in his book 'Crazy Busy' describes it like this; “on most days, my responsibilities, requirements and ambitions add up to much more that I can handle. It has been since I was a teenager, and only seems to be getting worse.” Can any of you relate to that? 

Well as I continue to dwell on my divided attention, I must confess that this even affects my Christian walk. I know God deserves my undivided attention, but at times I find it so hard. I am so ashamed that even during times of prayer some other thought will enter this absolutely privileged conversation and off on another task I go. Shouldn’t our focus be on Christ and all he has done for us? 
 
This divided attention could get a person down, but there is hope. Romans 8 tells us that; “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

And while that passage is so hopeful and encouraging that nothing; not even my divided attention can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ, it does also provide to me a remedy. Because of that great love, I am drawn more and more to Christ, and isn’t that the answer...more of Jesus! 

DeYoung wraps it up so well... “What is wrong...is to live a life with more craziness than we want because we have less Jesus than we need.” 

Father, forgive me my divided attention and inch by inch and step by step help me to focus on the Cross, and all that was done out of your great love for me. Help me to love you more and more each day. Help us all to find more Jesus and less clutter; help us give you our undivided attention. 

Grace and Peace!

Community

 Something you hear a whole bunch about in Christian circles is this thing called community. I wonder if we truly understand just what this  means for us a “community of believers.” I know at our Church we are really trying to make sure we have an environment of community, yet what does that look like? 

To begin we probably should understand the biblical meaning of this word community. Jerry Bridges wrote an entire book on this subject and points to 1 John 1:3 (NEB) – “What we have seen and heard we declare to you, so that you and we together may share in a common life, that life which we share with the father and his son Jesus Christ.” 

So in this verse we can see that community is sharing a common life. Bridges points out that this phrase in Greek is the word Koinonia and can mean many things like fellowship, sharing, partnership, but is much deeper than our typical view of these things. I think we tend to view community as an activity; go to community group, bring a covered dish to a fellowship lunch...you get the picture. 

Again true biblical community goes much deeper. Bible commentator William Hendriksen said “Koinonia, then is basically a community relationship.” So community is a relationship not just an activity. As believers we are called to something much deeper than Church activities so that no matter what we are going through, we have people there to surround us, to help, to comfort, to show compassion, to love us. 

Gregg Matte calls it the very important ministry of presence. It is being there in this thing we call life. What would that look like? Matte uses an illustration about a little girl that once lost her playmate who lived down the street. She told her mom that she was going to her friend’s house to comfort the grieving mother. After an hour the little girl returned. Her mom asked, “What did you say to make her feel better?” The little girl replied, “Nothing, I just crawled into her lap and cried with her.” This is just a beautiful picture of community being there especially during what Matte calls “the gut punches of life.”

Galatians 5:6b tells us: "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." So if we are in a loving relationship with Jesus then it can’t help but be expressed through being in a loving community relationship and what better place than as a Church. You know as we come alongside others as part of community they don’t remember what you said or necessarily even what you did. They remember you were there. 

Francis Schaeffer reminded us “We must never forget that the final apologetic which Jesus gives is the observable love of true Christians for true Christians.” 

Father, help us to share in a common life with you at the center. Amen! 

Grace and Peace!

Be Free

We are working our way through Galatians and today we were in chapter 5. The sermon today just moved me. In just the first few verses we see the remarkable; we see that by grace we are saved; we see that Jesus (and his finished work) plus nothing equals everything (borrowing from Tchividjian). 

As beautiful as this is it is so hard for broken humans to rely on this, we just need to be doing something. Many times it is Jesus plus something – it is as our Pastor said this morning Grace but... Galatians clears this up for us. In verse 2 Paul cries out (screams) “Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no use to you.” This is a remarkable statement and Martin Luther says of this verse that if we try to add to grace, add something to justification other than Jesus, that Jesus becomes “utterly useless” to us. 

He is not saying that Christ is useless but that the finished work of Christ, the loving sacrifice is of no use to the one trying to earn/prove his way. Wow, so verse one tells us; “It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” So if we rest in Christ, if we rely on His magnificent and perfect sacrifice, we are free from the chains of performance, from the chains of circumstance, from the chains of our brokenness.... Wow again! 

Verses 5 and 6 wrap this up for us; verse 5 telling us that, “by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.” That when we have faith we patiently, but eagerly await. This phrase has the overtone of persistence and we eagerly await with hope. This is not the modern kind of wishful thinking hope, but a confident assurance kind of hope – hope with certainty in the promise or the accomplishment - the only uncertainty in this kind of hope is the timing so we eagerly await.

Then verse 6 is to me our application – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Oh my! So none of our efforts to impress, none of our traditions in and of themselves, none of our striving for perfection has any value at all and the only thing that counts is heartfelt faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ and if we truly have that kind of faith we see it expressed in love. Love for Christ, love for each other and love for our neighbors! 

Amen!

Grace and Peace!

Church Plant Emotions

Well, we are a few months into our Church Plant and I got to tell you there is a great deal of effort required. More than I thought, but I love it. We are growing closer and closer to God and closer and closer to each other. 

There are also a number of emotions involved. You arrive early to set up and there is always this great hope. Time approaches and some days you are so encouraged by our worship. Some days only a few show up and it can be discouraging. 

I have found on the discouraging days that at some point God moves and you just know that God is in this thing. It is a great lesson in reliance; reliance not on our efforts, but on God. I find myself humbled and grateful. 

I think about Christ on the cross and how alone he was and what a great work, a new thing, a new way, water for the thirsty. I am not sure this is making any sense, but know that I am greatly encouraged about Harbor Community Church. That because of the finished work of Christ it will become a safe harbor for the thirsty, the tired, the lonely, the hurt, the confused, the needy, the hopeless; people just like me. 

And we will find in Christ all we need, eternal hope! I may be proof texting a bit, but found a passage in Isaiah that kind of fits this so well. Isaiah 43:19, 20b-

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland...because I provide water in the desert. 

Father, thank you for the blessed privilege of serving you; thank you for eternally quenching our thirst; for our water in the desert; thank you for doing a new thing! 

Amen...

Grace and Peace! 

Gates

In John 10:9 Jesus tells us; “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” I have been thinking about this for a while and particularly hanging on the word gate. 

In our world gates have many uses; they provide access to an area, they separate one place from another, they can protect, they provide the entrance or the way into. I believe that only begins to touch on what Jesus means. 

One thing we should all be able to agree on is that there will be something different on the other side of the gate. I remember having a job where we sold and installed fencing and gates. Our customers were mostly families and there were many reasons they wanted fences – privacy, the look, separation of property – but the most common reason was safety for their children. They wanted something different for their families once inside the gate.

Isn’t that what Christ is telling us? He is the gate into the safe pasture. In verse 11 he adds clarity saying, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Only by coming through the gate can we experience the true safety, the radical love of the Shepherd, the total protection, and the transforming restoration as a child of God. 

Greg Matte explains; “Gates make a huge difference. There are gates at stadiums, gated communities, gates at airports and gates on ranches. There is a difference between life with Christ and life apart from Him. Life is vastly different on the other side of a gate.” 

Abba Father, thank you that through Christ; through our Gate, our lives can be transformed. That through that Gate we can be restored, rescued, protected, and loved like never before. 

Father, thank you for all Christ did so that our lives can be vastly different.

Grace and Peace!

Final Approach

A final approach in aviation is the last leg of the flight; it is where the pilot has aligned the plane with the runway and is descending to the ground. I don’t know about you, but with me the final approach always has a little apprehension and a little nervousness associated with it. And when down there is; at least for me, a small sigh of relief. 

I was reading in Hebrews and in chapter 4 there is an approach and at first glance there might still be this apprehension and nervousness, but the writer of Hebrews says...not so. 

Hebrews 4:16 

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 

That is so encouraging to me...that I can approach the throne of grace with confidence...with confidence that no matter what I will receive the mercy of our great and loving God; with confidence that no matter the need I will find the grace I so desperately desire... 

How can we not celebrate, how can this not drive us to worship our great God with joy and thanksgiving. How can we not love God and how can we not share that love with others? 

Grace and Peace!

Creation

Psalm 19:1-2
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

We recently took a trip out to Colorado to visit our daughter who was working at a summer camp for Young Life.  It was amazing, it was beautiful in many ways.  I was struck by the beauty of creation.  

I was so thankful.  I was also so very encouraged by the work of Young Life and at the time of our visit they had 480 teenagers there for a week of fun, nature, and Jesus.  It did my heart so much good to see all the excitement for Jesus and to see the Gospel presented in such a relevant and loving way. 

I guess if we just look around we can truly see.

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

You know we truly are without excuse!

Grace and Peace!

What are you afraid of?

I was listening to Christian Radio on the way home and in the afternoons they sometimes interview Christian artists or authors. This particular day they were interviewing Bethany Hamilton; the surfer from Hawaii that was the survivor of a shark attack in which she lost her arm. Survivor is an understatement as she went on to be national surf champion and is still competitive today. 

There was a movie about her life, she has written a book and continues to surf and speak. It was a very interesting interview and some of the questions were deep and some were just fun type questions. One question or should I say answer to a question just stopped me in my tracks. The question while intended to be playful ended up being very...ah...interesting. 

The question was; “what are you afraid of” and knowing what we know about Bethany you might guess at some of the answers and right away she said this could be a playful question or a very deep question and playfully she was afraid of spiders. Well guess what me too! She then shifted and said that the thing she is most afraid of in the deep bottom of her soul is that she doesn’t love God with her whole heart. 

That just caused such an emotional reaction for me, tears welling up I said to myself “me too!” In Matthew 22:37 Jesus says; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Wow that is incredible when you think about it. And as broken as I am is this even possible? So as I was contemplating this and the brave answer this young lady gave; this answer that had such an emotional impact on me, dare I say this answer that convicted me; something marvelous occurred to me; that is what is so amazing about grace! We (I) can love God with our whole heart through Christ...Tullian Tchividjian reminds us; “God's love for us does not depend on our love for God. Our love for God depends on God's love for us.” And God is love...

Our God is so amazing – and by His grace we are forgiven of our shortcomings, our inabilities, our sin and they are all wiped clean, erased, forgotten by the finished work of Christ! Amen! Spurgeon once wrote; “I sin like a man, but He forgives like a God.” And I am so thankful! 

Romans 8:1-2 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 

Father, thank your for your amazing Grace...thank you for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and thank you for your Spirit who gives life. Father, we believe, help our unbelief... 

Grace and Peace!

Circumstances

I have been thinking about worship lately. There are times when I am just so joyful and my worship is heartfelt. But, there are times when troubles, fears, circumstances seem to weigh me down and my worship seems; well a little less worshipful. 

When I really stop to think about this I realize that our God is always faithful, always loving, always there and as such we should rejoice; we should be joyful despite our circumstances. 

This brings to mind Habakkuk 3:17-18 

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 

So no matter what, we can rejoice in our Lord and Savior...Abba Father, we love you and trust you. May we always rejoice and joyfully worship you. 

Grace and Peace!

Grace

Isaiah 55:1 

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 

I get so excited when I think clearly about the Grace of God; when I can truly wrap my mind around it! There are those that say too much emphasis on grace will lead to licentiousness (license to sin) and antinomianism (free from moral law). I say not! An improper appreciation for Grace could lead to such things, but also push toward what Bridges calls the “swamp of legalism.” An emphasis on following rules rather than all Christ did.

On the days when I am so clear about grace; all it does is cause me to be in awe of our Great God...it causes me to love more and more because He first loved me. 

Robert Capon was an American Episcopal Priest known for the theme of God’s Radical Grace. He once said; “May we always run the risk of overemphasizing grace, for it is a risk that will never be realized.” 

To that I say Amen! 

2 Corinthians 12:9 

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 

Grace and Peace!

Freedom

We are continuing to study Galatians at our Church. It has been a great journey with a ways to go. This week we will be looking at Chapter 2:1-10. 

Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 

6 As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.  8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Cephas, and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. 

Here Paul is telling us that; as Pastor Tullian Tchividjian would say, Jesus plus nothing equals everything. The Gospel gives us freedom. Or that, by grace though faith in Christ alone provides for our salvation. And the Galatians were on that slippery slope of adding regulation/tradition/ceremony to the salvation equation. The beauty of the Gospel is that 'all that' has been fulfilled in the finished and complete work of Christ. At times, it is hard for us as broken humans to understand or grasp this. Do we possibly see some of this in some of our denominational battles? 

Martin Luther wrote; “the true Gospel teaches that works are not the ornament or perfection of faith, but that faith of itself is God’s gift and God’s work in our hearts, which justify us because it takes hold of Christ our Redeemer. Human reason has the law for its object, thinking, ‘I have done this; I have not done that.’ But faith in itself has no object but Jesus Christ, the Son of God, given up to death for the sins of the whole world. It does not say, ‘What have I done? In what have I offended? What have I deserved?’ It says, ‘What has Christ done? What has He deserved?’ He has redeemed you from you sin, from the devil, and from eternal death. Faith therefore acknowledges that in this one person, Jesus Christ, is forgiveness of sins and eternal life.” 

Can you see the freedom the Gospel offers? And while our freedom is a gift from God there is truly a heart transformation that should occur and an attitude of gratitude (isn’t that cute). And out of that gratitude a desire to become more and more like our savior. So while there is freedom in our salvation, over time there will be a grateful obedience to Christ. So the Gospel tells us we are free; free from sin, free from works, free from ceremony, free from regulation and free to worship, free to be transformed, free to follow and obey our loving Savior with what Keller calls a “grace-gratitude motive”. 

Grace and Peace!

Galatians

Our new church; Harbor Community, is starting a series on Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. I am excited...more so than usual and looking forward to studying along with our Pastor. This is a book I have read many times, but I get this feeling this time is different; that there will be more. God’s word is that way you know; it provides a lifetime of learning, growing, discovering. 

Just to delve into it a little; Hendriksen reminds us: “ ‘The Epistle to the Galatians is my epistle. To it I am as it were in wedlock. It is my Katherine.’ Thus spoke Luther, who considered Galatians best of all the books in the Bible. It has been called ‘the battle cry of the Reformation,’ ‘the great charter of religious freedom,’ ‘the Christian declaration of independence.’ It is important because in any age it answers the basic question asked by the human heart: ‘how can I find happiness?’” 

Tim Keller says; “The book of Galatians is dynamite. It is an explosion of joy and freedom which leaves us enjoying deep significance, security, and satisfaction – the life of blessing God calls His people into.” 

And finally, Martin Luther wrote; “I hope you are not ignorant of the meaning of grace and peace, seeing that these terms are common in Paul and are not now obscure or unknown. We have undertaken to explain this letter not because it is necessary or because there is anything very hard in it, but so our consciences may be strengthened against heresies yet to come, and so we will keep on repeating things that at other times we teach, preach, sing and write about, for if we neglect the truth of justification, we lose everything...These two words, grace and peace include all that belong to Christianity. Grace releases sin, and peace makes the conscience quiet.”

How would it even be possible to not be excited? As Paul writes in Chapter 1:3-5... 

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen! 

Grace and Peace!

Seeing Clearly

I have been reading through Romans and have found Chapter 2 very concerning. This is a chapter on God’s judgment and the timing seems well just perfect as Easter approaches. 

Understanding the Cross, the ultimate and final sacrifice can be a little intimidating, but it is so vital. It is vital to see the finished work of Christ as our only hope of salvation. So how does this all relate to Chapter 2 of Romans? 

Well I think Paul is breaking down our self-righteousness trying to get us to see clearly our desperate need of rescue. Commenting on this passage, Tim Keller says; 

“All face judgment, and all deserve wrath. It is only from this ground that we are able to look at the cross and see it clearly. We cannot appreciate who Christ is unless we first acknowledge who we are.” 

Father, this Psalm Sunday...Thank you that you are God and thank you for your plan for salvation through the finished work of Christ. Father, help us all to see clearly our desperation, help us to know and appreciate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the sacrifice made. Amen. 

Grace and Peace!

Relationships

There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless - a miserable business! Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 

There is so much in this passage, we see that we need relationship, we need fellowship, we need to serve together, to persevere together, to do this thing called life together. In other words we need Church and a Church family. But there is so much more... 

In this passage from Ecclesiastes the “preacher” shows us the need we have for relationship. Even in this world where we will be continually let down, make mistakes of our own, and generally just mess up, we need and desire relationship. It is also so import to note the link to the gospel, to notice that while we may be forsaken in some of our worldly relationships, we know that our Savior was most certainly forsaken in His worldly relationships all the way to the cross, yet he loves us still and promises to never leave or forsake us. (See Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5) Amazing! 

Father, thank you for your amazing word, thank you for relationships and mostly thank you for Jesus who will never leave us or forsake us. Now that is a relationship! 

Grace and Peace!

A New Church

 Our new church will begin worshipping in our home at the Y this Sunday. There is much excitement, thankfulness and true hope. 

Our Pastor is doing a sermon covering Colossians 2:1-7 

I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 

This is a great passage for a new church. Paul wrote this particular letter to a particular new church and in it encourages us all to explore the wonders of the Gospel. About this particular passage the Theologian N. T. Wright says: 

“While the process of knitting together the church into a united body clearly includes the growth of love, it also includes the growth, on the part of the whole community, of that proper understanding of the gospel which leads to the rich blessings of a settled conviction and assurance. Living in a loving and forgiving community will assist growth in understanding, and vice versa, as truth is confirmed in practice and practice enables truth to be seen in action and so to be fully grasped. All of this promotes the encouragement, comfort and strengthening of the heart, regarded metaphorically then as now as the seat of affections and the mainspring of action.” 

Abba Father, I pray that this new church; Harbor, will grow more in love, will grow more in size (for your glory), but also grow in proper understanding of the gospel. I pray we will live in a loving and forgiving community, that your truth will be affectionately seen in our actions and that our hearts will overflow with thankfulness. Amen and Amen... 

Grace and Peace!

Awe

Psalm 19:1-4 

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. 

Well, spring is upon us and along with it comes daylight savings time. This helps me to enjoy one of my favorite things; the amazing sunsets we have around here. We are so fortunate that where we live affords such great sunsets over such a colorful body of water. 

It reminds me of a word that some may consider old fashion, but one that is certainly less used; the word is awe. I think that is has become less used, less prominent because of a new term; crazy busy. You know; just the busyness of life these days. 

Awe is an amazing concept and the word means an overwhelming wonder, admiration and/or respect; to be inspired mightily. On my good days when I am able to think clearly when my days are uncluttered, I still experience awe. I am clearly in awe of creation and the beauty we find in nature, but there is more to awe. I am in awe of a creator that so love me that he was willing to sacrifice all to restore a relationship with me. I am in awe of a savior willing to sacrifice everything just to rescue me. I am in awe of a counselor and comforter that walks with me daily. 

Awe is a condition of the heart – I think we need more of it. It is enjoying and being content in life, it is taking a deep breath and recognizing all we have going for us and it is knowing that it is ok to be happy! For the basketball fans out there Jim Valvano understood this. He understood this and it had nothing to do with his amazing career as a basketball coach. 

Valvano fought a heroic battle against cancer and after being given only a few months to live he said this; “I urge you all to enjoy your life. Every precious moment you have on this earth. Spend each day with some laughter. Don’t be afraid to feel...to get your emotions going. Be enthusiastic, because nothing great can be accomplished without enthusiasm. Live your dreams.”

I read somewhere that “all you have is now.” May we all be amazed, overwhelmed with wonder, and inspired mightily; may we all experience life in awe. 

Grace and Peace!