Category Archives: Uncategorized

Pray and Don’t Lose Heart 2

26 Thursday Nov 2009

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

One of the most frustrating things I think I’ve ever encountered as a Christian is praying for someone who seems to only drift further and further away from you in the process.  No explanation, no anything.

God is merciful, though.  Other friends of mine who are seemingly far from God are brought near by the Spirit’s work and come to repentance.

I’m thankful that our great God and Savior is one who brings sinners near…even me.

And yet, I need to hear the Savior’s call…”pray and do not lose heart.”  So often, I lose heart.  These words are an encouragement to me.  I love that Christ has given his Church this wonderful encouragement.

The Glorious Worship of the King 2

02 Monday Nov 2009

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Worship is serious.

Not only does what I sing reflect my worship, how I live does too.  How does my worship glorify the King to Whom All Glory Is Due?

There are two things I could do at this point in the post.

  1. Navel-gaze.  I could tell you either about how all I do to safeguard the music at my church (namely, the lyrics) so that Christ might be honored in a biblical way, OR I could tell you about how nothing I do could ever be good enough to match the purity of the God to whom I sing.
  2. Extol Christ.

Continue reading →

Pray and Don’t Lose Heart 1

29 Thursday Oct 2009

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Luke 18

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'” 6And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Continue reading →

The Gospel in the 103rd Psalm

28 Wednesday Oct 2009

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repays us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

–Psalm 103:10-13, ESV

Continue reading →

Is it fair?

26 Monday Oct 2009

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

I am in love with someone.  This will not go anywhere because he and I both have said it won’t.

One of my friends thinks I should find a girl to date.  I don’t think that would be fair to a girl since my heart wouldn’t be hers…at least, not for a while while I sort through my love for another guy.

This doesn’t seem fair…but am I shutting myself off to meeting a girl that I would delight in?

Owen continued

25 Sunday Oct 2009

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Will not a due apprehension of this inconceivable greatness of God, and that infinte distance wherein we stand from Him, fill the soul with such a holy and awful fear of Him, so as to keep it in a frame unsuited to the thriving or flourishing of any lust whatever?  Let the soul be continually wonted to reverential thoughts of God’s greatness and omnipresence, and it will be much upon its watch as to any undue deportments.  Consider Him with whom you have to do, –even “our God is a consuming fire;” and in your greatest abashments at His presence and eye, know that your very nature is too narrow to bear apprehensions suitable to His essential glory.

from On The Mortification of Sin in Believers, page 70.

Continue reading →

Fighting Sin 3

23 Friday Oct 2009

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Continuing, paraphrasing from Owen:

When a man fights against a lust in his life only with reasons relating to the punishment due to it, the lust has grabbed hold of his will and there is an excess of naughtiness. [Ed note:  “Naughtiness” is Owen’s word, not mine!] This type of man does not oppose anything which seduces his heart to sin, with the exception of cases where he fears the shaming of others or punishment of hell from God.  If such a punishment were removed, he’d indulge gladly.  I’m sure I don’t see the difference between this state and actually living out that sin in a daily fashion.

Continue reading →