This is the lyrics to a song on the new Reilly album that has been really encouraging to listen to. It challenges me to remember who God is and that he is faithful and good in all things, especially when I don't get what's going on with school stuff or why things aren't happening as I'd want them to. Maybe you are struggling with doubts and fears about the future, or a circumstance that is incredibly painful and you're wondering "what the junk is going on!?" Remember who God is and how he has been faithful in your past, remember the gospel and let that comfort you. He does love you, he has you in his hands and is working ALL things for your good.
I know you need arms around you
A place to rest to forget your troubles
Remember his grace, that's held you, Remember his love
I know you fear what you don't know
Can you choose faith without understanding
Remember his grace, that's held you
Remember his love
When nothing seems right and faith is weak
Listen for the voice that brings the hope you seek
He is the Lord
Just take a deep breath it won't be long
Just believe and sing a brand new song
He is the Lord
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
"wait"
I stole this from a good friend, so uber cool:)
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate…
and the master so gently said, “wait.”
“Wait? You say wait?” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!”
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
“By faith I have asked, and I’m claiming your word.
My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to wait?”
I’m needing a ‘yes’ a go-ahead sign.
Or even a ‘no,’ to which I’ll resign.
You promised, dear lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask and we shall receive.
Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:
I’m weary of asking! I need a reply.
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
as my master replied again, “Wait.”
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, So I’m waiting…. For what?”
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine…
and He tenderly said “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
I could give all your seek and pleased you would be.
You’d have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint.
You’d not learn to see through clouds of despair;
you’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there.
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence are all you can see.
You’d never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of my heart.
The glow of my comfort late into the night
the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you ask
from an infinite God who makes what you have last.
You’d never know would your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
but, oh, the loss, if you missed what I’m doing in you.
So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft my answers seem terribly late,
my most precious answer of all is still…. Wait
-Russell Keller 1933-2000
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate…
and the master so gently said, “wait.”
“Wait? You say wait?” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!”
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
“By faith I have asked, and I’m claiming your word.
My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to wait?”
I’m needing a ‘yes’ a go-ahead sign.
Or even a ‘no,’ to which I’ll resign.
You promised, dear lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask and we shall receive.
Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:
I’m weary of asking! I need a reply.
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
as my master replied again, “Wait.”
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, So I’m waiting…. For what?”
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine…
and He tenderly said “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
I could give all your seek and pleased you would be.
You’d have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint.
You’d not learn to see through clouds of despair;
you’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there.
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence are all you can see.
You’d never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of my heart.
The glow of my comfort late into the night
the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you ask
from an infinite God who makes what you have last.
You’d never know would your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
but, oh, the loss, if you missed what I’m doing in you.
So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft my answers seem terribly late,
my most precious answer of all is still…. Wait
-Russell Keller 1933-2000
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The apostle Paul, an encouragement to us all
This morning my pastor preached on Colossians 1:24-2:5. While there is much I have yet to sift through and think about, there was something that God "beat me over the head" sort of speak. God has been revealing to me more and more over several weeks an attitude of smug superiority regarding my salvation and today i got convicted again. As I was pulling up into church this morning I happened to see a guy who I knew not to be a believer, and had spoken to him once before. My first reaction was surprise since I didn't expect to see him again. As my mind wandered I thought more about him. and then the all-too familiar thought creeped in: "I really don't see him becoming a Christian". What was I basing this on? Simply the way he looked, that he never listened, that his "brain wasn't wired that way".
My pastor began by talking about paul's background how this guy who was deeply educated in the law and Jewish tradition completely missed that Jesus WAS the messiah prophesied. Leaving for home I started to think what it was like for Christians who knew Paul when he was Saul. Who lived in fear of death by this man who made it his purpose in life to stamp out every christian from the face of the earth. It occurred to me how many people in that time period who were like "that Saul, I really don't see him becoming a Christian". I'm sure people prayed for him and I'm also sure there were people as cynical as me about him, and what happened? Saul encountered Jesus! The gospel penetrated his hard heart and he became one of the greatest missionaries ever, passionate for knowing Christ and shepherding the word.
It seems I have yet to get it through my thick arrogant heart that "it is by GRACE you have been saved through faith. And this is NOT YOUR DOING it is the gift of GOD". How many of us know someone that we are like "yea ____ can't become a Christian" ? We need to see this attitude as sin, because not only are we saying God is not mighty to save but implicit in this little nugget of cynicism is a positive belief that you were saved because there was something about you that turned God's desire. That you brought about the great change that's in you. Not God. Let's let Paul be an encouragement to us, to pray hard about ANYBODY and continue to preach the gospel. We are on an equal playing field in God's eyes. Let's be reasonable, none of us should should be saved at all, the fact that i am or you are saved is a ridiculous miracle. Let's remember that we serve a God who is mighty to save and it has nothing to do with us. It's all about him who has mercy.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
My pastor began by talking about paul's background how this guy who was deeply educated in the law and Jewish tradition completely missed that Jesus WAS the messiah prophesied. Leaving for home I started to think what it was like for Christians who knew Paul when he was Saul. Who lived in fear of death by this man who made it his purpose in life to stamp out every christian from the face of the earth. It occurred to me how many people in that time period who were like "that Saul, I really don't see him becoming a Christian". I'm sure people prayed for him and I'm also sure there were people as cynical as me about him, and what happened? Saul encountered Jesus! The gospel penetrated his hard heart and he became one of the greatest missionaries ever, passionate for knowing Christ and shepherding the word.
It seems I have yet to get it through my thick arrogant heart that "it is by GRACE you have been saved through faith. And this is NOT YOUR DOING it is the gift of GOD". How many of us know someone that we are like "yea ____ can't become a Christian" ? We need to see this attitude as sin, because not only are we saying God is not mighty to save but implicit in this little nugget of cynicism is a positive belief that you were saved because there was something about you that turned God's desire. That you brought about the great change that's in you. Not God. Let's let Paul be an encouragement to us, to pray hard about ANYBODY and continue to preach the gospel. We are on an equal playing field in God's eyes. Let's be reasonable, none of us should should be saved at all, the fact that i am or you are saved is a ridiculous miracle. Let's remember that we serve a God who is mighty to save and it has nothing to do with us. It's all about him who has mercy.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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