so i got an e-mail thanking me for posting about dave barnes back in november... i get some free stuff for it...
and here are some links about dave.... to order music and other cool stuff
2 CD's + DVD - http://www.musicspace.com/referral.asp?tracking_id=dbblog&type=P&product=MS2933&partner_id=dbblog
2 CD's + DVD + T-shirt - http://www.musicspace.com/referral.asp?tracking_id=dbblogtee&type=P&product=MS2934&partner_id=dbblogtee
Check out more news and info at the brand-new website www.davebarnes.com.
you should check him out... he's wonderful!
i'll post something real soon...
EM
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
redefining faith
Romans 4:20-21
20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, [Abraham] did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
an existing definition of faith: believing in something that is unseen
a new definition of faith: being unwaivering in one's belief that God will fulfill His promises— that He will perform with glory all that He has promised and more.
and this definition of faith is what gives us our righteousness...
believing in something unseen is just the beginning— it's believing there is a God, but that isn't what saves us.
believing that God has fulfilled and will continue to fulfill all that He has promised— our redemption, justification, salvation, sanctification, glorification, and every blessing in the "more than we could ever ask or think" category— is what saves us.
saving faith is gift, it's just after grace...
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, so no man can boast.
i don't see the wind, but i know it's there.
saving faith in God is much more than believing it's there... it's trusting in His plan and His promises.
so have faith...
to do something.
to not do something.
to move on.
to wait.
to stop.
to start.
but have faith that He will always keep His promises— all of His promises!
selah!
EM
20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, [Abraham] did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
an existing definition of faith: believing in something that is unseen
a new definition of faith: being unwaivering in one's belief that God will fulfill His promises— that He will perform with glory all that He has promised and more.
and this definition of faith is what gives us our righteousness...
believing in something unseen is just the beginning— it's believing there is a God, but that isn't what saves us.
believing that God has fulfilled and will continue to fulfill all that He has promised— our redemption, justification, salvation, sanctification, glorification, and every blessing in the "more than we could ever ask or think" category— is what saves us.
saving faith is gift, it's just after grace...
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, so no man can boast.
i don't see the wind, but i know it's there.
saving faith in God is much more than believing it's there... it's trusting in His plan and His promises.
so have faith...
to do something.
to not do something.
to move on.
to wait.
to stop.
to start.
but have faith that He will always keep His promises— all of His promises!
selah!
EM
Monday, February 18, 2008
two roads diverged in a yellow wood
"I went astray from the straight road and woke to find myself along in a dark wood... Death could scarce be more bitter than that place! But since it came to good, I will recount all that I found revealed there by God's grace." (Dante's Inferno, 2-3, 7-9)
while i don't think, in any respect, that Dante's Inferno is going to be a theologically sound description of salvation, sanctification, and glorification, Dante said something wonderful...
straying from the straight and narrow road, the one less traveled, leads into the dark wood... only the dark wood doesn't look as dark as Dante portrays it... in reality, the road to hell is a dark road leading only to darkness, but it's like the Matrix— it looks like something really great, and pleasing, but it's not.
but also like what Dante says, "all that I found revealed there by God's grace," is a glorious freedom out of the matrix of sin— out of deception into the light.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I once was fatherless,
a stranger with no hope;
Your kindness wakened me,
Awakened me, from my sleep
Your love it beckons deeply,
a call to come and die.
By grace now I will come
And take this life, take your life.
Sin has lost it's power,
death has lost it's sting.
From the grave you've risen
VICTORIOUSLY!
Into marvelous light I'm running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way
My dead heart now is beating,
My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs.
Now I'm free. now I'm free!
"Thank you for waking me from my sleep, and for taking me off the way of destruction. Thank you for showing me the truth about my sin and the glories of Your grace. Thank you for rescuing me Lord, and for setting me free."
selah
EM
while i don't think, in any respect, that Dante's Inferno is going to be a theologically sound description of salvation, sanctification, and glorification, Dante said something wonderful...
straying from the straight and narrow road, the one less traveled, leads into the dark wood... only the dark wood doesn't look as dark as Dante portrays it... in reality, the road to hell is a dark road leading only to darkness, but it's like the Matrix— it looks like something really great, and pleasing, but it's not.
but also like what Dante says, "all that I found revealed there by God's grace," is a glorious freedom out of the matrix of sin— out of deception into the light.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I once was fatherless,
a stranger with no hope;
Your kindness wakened me,
Awakened me, from my sleep
Your love it beckons deeply,
a call to come and die.
By grace now I will come
And take this life, take your life.
Sin has lost it's power,
death has lost it's sting.
From the grave you've risen
VICTORIOUSLY!
Into marvelous light I'm running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way
My dead heart now is beating,
My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs.
Now I'm free. now I'm free!
"Thank you for waking me from my sleep, and for taking me off the way of destruction. Thank you for showing me the truth about my sin and the glories of Your grace. Thank you for rescuing me Lord, and for setting me free."
selah
EM
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
tomorrow is a new day, with no mistakes in it
It's not that unusual when everything is beautiful
It's just another ordinary miracle today
The sky knows when its time to snow
You don't need to teach a seed to grow
It's just another ordinary miracle today
Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own
Isn't it remarkable'
Like every time a raindrop falls
It's just another ordinary miracle today
Birds in winter have their fling
And always make it home by spring
It's just another ordinary miracle today
When you wake up everyday
Please don't throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
Cause we are all a part
Of the ordinary miracle
Ordinary miracle
Do you want to see a miracle'
Its seems so exceptional
Things just work out after all
It's just another ordinary miracle today
The sun comes up and shines so bright
It disappears again at night
It's just another ordinary miracle today
It's just another ordinary miracle today
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
tomorrow is Valentine's Day...
some people call it SAD... single's awareness day
but it's not.
it's just a day, just another ordinary day. but it's one where the common, misinterpreted representation of love is expressed...
love is a miracle. real love is a miracle... because it's the grace of God. it's selfless. it's powerful. it's vulnerable. it's scary. it's tangible.
but it's not pink and red.
maybe it's roses.
maybe it's x's and o's.
maybe it's a night out.
it all depends on your love language...
but it's not February 14th
it's a verb... an action/being verb. meaning it's something you -do-, but always.
tomorrow is a miracle. just like every day.
love is a miracle. just an ordinary miracle.
but it's a job. a hard one. and one that we are called to do every day.
"Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own"
give some of your life away. that's what love is about.
Saint Valentine (and actually there are many of them) is a martyr.
so Valentine's day is about sacrifice.
love is a sacrifice. but love is grace.
Galatians 5:1,13-15
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
today was "To Write Love On Her Arms" day... if you had forgotten that, or didn't even plan on doing it, i challenge you to do it tomorrow. only don't write it on your arms, write it on your life.
selah
EM
It's just another ordinary miracle today
The sky knows when its time to snow
You don't need to teach a seed to grow
It's just another ordinary miracle today
Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own
Isn't it remarkable'
Like every time a raindrop falls
It's just another ordinary miracle today
Birds in winter have their fling
And always make it home by spring
It's just another ordinary miracle today
When you wake up everyday
Please don't throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
Cause we are all a part
Of the ordinary miracle
Ordinary miracle
Do you want to see a miracle'
Its seems so exceptional
Things just work out after all
It's just another ordinary miracle today
The sun comes up and shines so bright
It disappears again at night
It's just another ordinary miracle today
It's just another ordinary miracle today
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
tomorrow is Valentine's Day...
some people call it SAD... single's awareness day
but it's not.
it's just a day, just another ordinary day. but it's one where the common, misinterpreted representation of love is expressed...
love is a miracle. real love is a miracle... because it's the grace of God. it's selfless. it's powerful. it's vulnerable. it's scary. it's tangible.
but it's not pink and red.
maybe it's roses.
maybe it's x's and o's.
maybe it's a night out.
it all depends on your love language...
but it's not February 14th
it's a verb... an action/being verb. meaning it's something you -do-, but always.
tomorrow is a miracle. just like every day.
love is a miracle. just an ordinary miracle.
but it's a job. a hard one. and one that we are called to do every day.
"Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own"
give some of your life away. that's what love is about.
Saint Valentine (and actually there are many of them) is a martyr.
so Valentine's day is about sacrifice.
love is a sacrifice. but love is grace.
Galatians 5:1,13-15
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
today was "To Write Love On Her Arms" day... if you had forgotten that, or didn't even plan on doing it, i challenge you to do it tomorrow. only don't write it on your arms, write it on your life.
selah
EM
Saturday, February 9, 2008
grace means not getting what you've earned
If you could love me as a wife
and for my wedding gift, your life
should that be all i’ll ever need
or is there more i’m looking for
and should i read between the lines
and look for blessings in disguise
to make me handsome, rich, and wise
is that really what you want
i am a whore i do confess
but i put you on just like a wedding dress
and i run down the aisle
i’m a prodigal with no way home
but i put you on just like a ring of gold
and i run down the aisle to you
so could you love this bastard child
though i don’t trust you to provide
with one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side
i am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers less wild
that i would take a little cash
over your very flesh and blood
i am a whore i do confess
but i put you on just like a wedding dress
and i run down the aisle
i’m a prodigal with no way home
but i put you on just like a ring of gold
and i run down the aisle to you
because money cannot buy
a husband’s jealous eye
when you have knowingly deceived his wife
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Luke 15:32
32'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"
when derek webb released the album that this song was on, lots of christian music stores would carry it because of this song, which talks about whores and bastard children, and another in which he calls himself a "damned mess."
but derek kept these words in, because they are biblical.
this song speaks of how we commit adultery every day— every day that we decide that something else is more important than God and deserves more of our love, we deny God His rightful place as #1.
this song is amazing to me... "i am a whore i do confess, but i put you on just like a wedding dress, and i run down the aisle..." and you don't send me back. even though we have rejected God, He still loves us— we have committed adultery against the most High and He has forgiven us, with no strings attached. he doesn't make us prove our worth before He will accept us, He makes us worthy. We sinned against Him, and yet He is the only way to forgiveness.
even more amazing... even when we are saved, washed clean by the blood of Christ, we still sin. we hold onto the things of this world, we love things more than Him, we have our many idols, and we think we are better than we really are... but He still loves us. even when we take cheap things of this world over the riches of His grace, He keeps pouring it out.
and when we finally realize how faithless and sinful we are, and we are all broken and dirty, He gives us clothes of white and rings of gold, and says "My love, you are forgiven. And you are blessed."
"Lord, keep me on my knees, and not on my feet. Keep me running down the aisle to You, and not running around with the things of this world. Thank you for Your life, that You gave so i could come home. Forgive me for being fascinated with the cheap souvenirs of this world, and show me the awesomeness of Your love— Your love of a jealous kind, and the amazing gift of Your grace. Make me more and more amazed by the blessing of Your grace!"
selah
EM
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reach out to me
Make my heart brand new
Every beat will be for You
For You
And I know You know
You touched my life
When You touched my heavy heart and made it light
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
and for my wedding gift, your life
should that be all i’ll ever need
or is there more i’m looking for
and should i read between the lines
and look for blessings in disguise
to make me handsome, rich, and wise
is that really what you want
i am a whore i do confess
but i put you on just like a wedding dress
and i run down the aisle
i’m a prodigal with no way home
but i put you on just like a ring of gold
and i run down the aisle to you
so could you love this bastard child
though i don’t trust you to provide
with one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side
i am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers less wild
that i would take a little cash
over your very flesh and blood
i am a whore i do confess
but i put you on just like a wedding dress
and i run down the aisle
i’m a prodigal with no way home
but i put you on just like a ring of gold
and i run down the aisle to you
because money cannot buy
a husband’s jealous eye
when you have knowingly deceived his wife
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Luke 15:32
32'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"
when derek webb released the album that this song was on, lots of christian music stores would carry it because of this song, which talks about whores and bastard children, and another in which he calls himself a "damned mess."
but derek kept these words in, because they are biblical.
this song speaks of how we commit adultery every day— every day that we decide that something else is more important than God and deserves more of our love, we deny God His rightful place as #1.
this song is amazing to me... "i am a whore i do confess, but i put you on just like a wedding dress, and i run down the aisle..." and you don't send me back. even though we have rejected God, He still loves us— we have committed adultery against the most High and He has forgiven us, with no strings attached. he doesn't make us prove our worth before He will accept us, He makes us worthy. We sinned against Him, and yet He is the only way to forgiveness.
even more amazing... even when we are saved, washed clean by the blood of Christ, we still sin. we hold onto the things of this world, we love things more than Him, we have our many idols, and we think we are better than we really are... but He still loves us. even when we take cheap things of this world over the riches of His grace, He keeps pouring it out.
and when we finally realize how faithless and sinful we are, and we are all broken and dirty, He gives us clothes of white and rings of gold, and says "My love, you are forgiven. And you are blessed."
"Lord, keep me on my knees, and not on my feet. Keep me running down the aisle to You, and not running around with the things of this world. Thank you for Your life, that You gave so i could come home. Forgive me for being fascinated with the cheap souvenirs of this world, and show me the awesomeness of Your love— Your love of a jealous kind, and the amazing gift of Your grace. Make me more and more amazed by the blessing of Your grace!"
selah
EM
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reach out to me
Make my heart brand new
Every beat will be for You
For You
And I know You know
You touched my life
When You touched my heavy heart and made it light
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Thursday, February 7, 2008
oh brother, where art thou?
Proverbs 18:24
A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
anne of green gables is my favorite movie ever... it's a story of someone who truly understands the place of friends and how to keep her "bosom friend" close even when everything around her is pulling people away.
i hate change.
i hate new people.
i hate losing old ones.
i hate that i say hate, when i should be saying afraid of.
i have somehow become content with not having my bosom friend(s)... with not being able to find my kindred spirit(s)... no doubt, they do exist. but, unlike high school, real life pulls you apart, and forces you to change, and stretch the bonds of friendship.
there is One who never changes.
He is always there.
"Like David in the psalms, make me. When i am weak and weary, let me cry to you, O Lord; let me accept Your gift of eternal best friendship! Let me remember that You are all that i need when i am surrounded and by myself. You fill me when i am empty, and You lift me up onto high places, when others could only prop up my injured feet. You bless me of tangible reminders of your love, like those i have as my friends; but You, and You alone, are there to hear the desires and the fears of my heart. You alone make me soar on wings like eagle's and encourage my heart when i am in the deapths of dispair... to You alone i can run whenever i fear!"
to you who are my kindred spirits...
you have blessed my life, more than you'll ever know. you have been more than a friend to me... you help me fight off my enemies, even if sometimes you bring them with you to my door. you test me, allow me to fail, and help me figure out how to do better, even when you don't even realize it.
and you force me to trust my Best Friend, and intentionally and unintentionally remind me of his sovereignty and grace.
selah
EM
A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
anne of green gables is my favorite movie ever... it's a story of someone who truly understands the place of friends and how to keep her "bosom friend" close even when everything around her is pulling people away.
i hate change.
i hate new people.
i hate losing old ones.
i hate that i say hate, when i should be saying afraid of.
i have somehow become content with not having my bosom friend(s)... with not being able to find my kindred spirit(s)... no doubt, they do exist. but, unlike high school, real life pulls you apart, and forces you to change, and stretch the bonds of friendship.
there is One who never changes.
He is always there.
"Like David in the psalms, make me. When i am weak and weary, let me cry to you, O Lord; let me accept Your gift of eternal best friendship! Let me remember that You are all that i need when i am surrounded and by myself. You fill me when i am empty, and You lift me up onto high places, when others could only prop up my injured feet. You bless me of tangible reminders of your love, like those i have as my friends; but You, and You alone, are there to hear the desires and the fears of my heart. You alone make me soar on wings like eagle's and encourage my heart when i am in the deapths of dispair... to You alone i can run whenever i fear!"
to you who are my kindred spirits...
you have blessed my life, more than you'll ever know. you have been more than a friend to me... you help me fight off my enemies, even if sometimes you bring them with you to my door. you test me, allow me to fail, and help me figure out how to do better, even when you don't even realize it.
and you force me to trust my Best Friend, and intentionally and unintentionally remind me of his sovereignty and grace.
selah
EM
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
and the verdict is...
so... i can't bring myself to delete my xanga (i think it's just one of those wonderful high school things i just can't seem to let go of...) so i have decided the best way to keep it and not waste it or my lovely new blog...
xanga is for my sunday message re-caps... so i don't forget what i was supposed to remember. and maybe for random outbursts of favorite songs or "literature" that i need to... er... explress.
mi blog es por... oh wait, you all speak english... my blog is for random epiphanies of knowledge, great achivements/moments from my mundane life, and doctrines i grasp (or grasp at) through my quiet times... and so i can comment on everyone else's since you all know i love doing such...
i have a feeling, though, that song lyrics and page breaks (of some sort) will not disappear from either sites... to reassure any of you who might have been wondering *since i'm so sure you were*
ok...
now i should go study for my test... and sleep. both wonderful things indeed...
EM
xanga is for my sunday message re-caps... so i don't forget what i was supposed to remember. and maybe for random outbursts of favorite songs or "literature" that i need to... er... explress.
mi blog es por... oh wait, you all speak english... my blog is for random epiphanies of knowledge, great achivements/moments from my mundane life, and doctrines i grasp (or grasp at) through my quiet times... and so i can comment on everyone else's since you all know i love doing such...
i have a feeling, though, that song lyrics and page breaks (of some sort) will not disappear from either sites... to reassure any of you who might have been wondering *since i'm so sure you were*
ok...
now i should go study for my test... and sleep. both wonderful things indeed...
EM
Sunday, February 3, 2008
grace in the valley
2 Corinthains 12:5-10
5 About this person I will boast, but about myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. 6 Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me 7 because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, 9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
His grace is sufficient... even for my weakness. that one thing that i cannot get rid of... that sin that i will battle for my entire life.
people have those. they're usually personality traits that we display sinfully. like, if you have a tendency to be a good leader, good at planning, and always seeing the positive outcome, even before you begin... you probably have a problem being trusting and patient.
i do.
if i -can- do it myself... why not? i'll do it better anyways, right? well, maybe when it comes to making my bed the right way, but in every important thing in my life, my planning is insufficient and my trust is in my own, inadequate, misrepresented self.
but His grace, HIS grace is sufficient. He is sufficient beyond my own human constraints. even though, for the rest of my life, i will have to choose every day to trust in Him, He has more than enough grace to help me do that.
and for every day i try to do it on my own, He has more than enough grace (and patience) to show me my inadequacies and the superiority of His abundant grace.
When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ
Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley
In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed
in the valley of my weakness, Your great power is revealed.
selah
EM
5 About this person I will boast, but about myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. 6 Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me 7 because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, 9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
His grace is sufficient... even for my weakness. that one thing that i cannot get rid of... that sin that i will battle for my entire life.
people have those. they're usually personality traits that we display sinfully. like, if you have a tendency to be a good leader, good at planning, and always seeing the positive outcome, even before you begin... you probably have a problem being trusting and patient.
i do.
if i -can- do it myself... why not? i'll do it better anyways, right? well, maybe when it comes to making my bed the right way, but in every important thing in my life, my planning is insufficient and my trust is in my own, inadequate, misrepresented self.
but His grace, HIS grace is sufficient. He is sufficient beyond my own human constraints. even though, for the rest of my life, i will have to choose every day to trust in Him, He has more than enough grace to help me do that.
and for every day i try to do it on my own, He has more than enough grace (and patience) to show me my inadequacies and the superiority of His abundant grace.
When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ
Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley
In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed
in the valley of my weakness, Your great power is revealed.
selah
EM
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)