Friday, January 31, 2014

His Soul is on a journey... but to where?

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt 10: 28    

I have a very good catholic friend. I kept the "c" lower case because he really doesn't attend
mass that often and I am not sure he would consider himself a practicing Catholic. I met this friend as a co-worker at my last part-time job and in the course of conversation he indicated
that he does not feel a close relationship with God.

This is a wonderfully generous and kind individual who is fun to talk with. He had
a rather troubled childhood, became a reading specialist and taught until retirement. We spend at least one day per week over breakfast, usually solving a crossword puzzle
together.

He is a believer in reincarnation and says that there used to be reincarnation in the Bible
but it was taken out. He has examined past life experiences through a seer and believes
that he has been through many lives, each time choosing to come back to work on some
weakness in order to become a better person. As the title suggests, he believes that his
soul is on a journey.

Well, I am worried about this friend of mine! I can certainly agree that our souls, an
integrated part of our being, will some day be on a journey. I begin to differ when it comes
to WHO is in control of that journey. When one suggests that he is a part of a decision
about the whereabouts of the soul, I believe he is in danger of removing God from
the equation. In a way, this is dangerously close to claiming that the person IS God.

I guess I believe that you can't have it both ways. Either God is sovereign, His word is
truth and His plan for our souls is in His holy hands, or one is most likely NOT going to
ever have a relationship with God. 

So I am left with respecting this friend as a friend but not having any confidence in what
he seems to be saying about the journey of his soul. Did I mention that Satan is very
deceptive. That he seeks souls who wander away from the reality of this God created
universe? That one must be overly cautious about what one allows as doctrine.. to the
extent that a wrong turn could begin a journey whose eventual destination might be
eternally destructive?

He's my friend... and I am very very concerned about him. I think I will continue to
pray! 

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The more you pray... the more you will pray!

 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  Matthew 6: 6-8

Prayer is one of the most fascinating aspects of a Christian's life; the chance to speak freely
and openly with God with the expectation that He is listening and will answer in His way and
in His time.

When I first began to pray, I found it very uncomfortable, even when praying silently by
myself. Being asked to pray in front of others was also very intimidating, at first. I think
that some of this may be the realization that we really come to the Father a bit soiled, to
use a phrase. Why would a Holy God take the time to listen to a sinner? Another aspect,
in my path, was knowing what to pray. I did not wish to treat God like a celestial vending
machine; yet, it seemed that my prayers were often selfish and, more often than not,
given when something was wrong or troubling. Fortunately, I was in a church Sunday
School class where the teacher provided ample opportunities for me to pray. Slowly
I began to be able to do so with more ease and confidence.

The biggest step came when I transitioned from just talking- to realizing that there was
Someone on the other end. It just hit me one day that I was in communication with a
Sovereign God that wished me to pray my heart to Him. I used the fact that I have a key
the church to drive up and kneel in the sanctuary while praying. 

I believe that the Holy Spirit plays a major role in transitioning a new Christian into a
comfort level with prayer. He also has the ability to "change" ones words into ones that
are more acceptable to God; he translates our words into ones glorifying Jesus and God
even as we are speaking them.

So this blog is meant to encourage all to pray, often. I do not want to lower its significance
by calling it a habit, but I do believe that each and every prayer leads to both an ability
to pray more confidently and comfortably and a desire to do so.

Isn't it glorious that our God wants to listen? Can you imagine a more wonderful way to
communicate? Go ahead, pray and pray some more! Pour out your heart, needs and love
for Him. He's listening!

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

A New Heaven and a New Earth

I suppose one could generalize and state that anytime something is redone or done over
it frequently results in something better. 

When God was done creating at the end of the sixth day, he declared that what had been
created was Good. If God says it was good and it pleased Him, I am thinking that there
isn't much room for questioning that. Of course the problem is that evil and sin crept
into this world and it was spoiled. That moment began a cycle toward eventual judgement
upon this world which will take place on that final day when the Lord returns to
claim His creation. All will be judged and all evil and sin will be removed.

Revelation discusses a New Heaven and a New Earth where God once again dwells with
His people as their God. There are descriptive passages from John's visions that may or
may not be symbolic or metaphorical, but I believe all can be certain that God will once
again create something new and Good.

This is where it is fun to imagine what that place would be like. When I look at the
many glorious and beautiful things about this fallen world that proclaim the creative hand
of God, I am amazed. I am a sun lover. (a son lover, as well!) Sunrises, sunsets, warm
sunshine that seems to immediately nourish the soul, I cannot get enough of that star.
The seasons, the weather, the stars at night, the sounds the emanate from nature,
the breeze, the sea and water in general...you get the picture. And speaking of pictures,
can you just imagine being able to take a good camera anywhere in this beautiful
world and shoot pictures? New Zealand comes to mind, immediately. 

Well I just have a feeling that the New Heaven and the New Earth will be exponentially
more breathtaking and wonderful. When we die, fall asleep and are reborn into a
resurrected body, we will inhabit such a place in the very presence of our Lord, Jesus
Christ. We know what will not be there: sin, sadness, death, tears, fear, loneliness...
so we can all just wait, anxiously and with great hope for the chance to open our
eyes onto a new and glorious existence. Worth the wait. 

What a remarkable reason to share the gospel of our Lord, His way, the only way,
to the Father. We do not want anyone to miss the curtain rise on this new, glorious
place. Praise God!

Friday, January 24, 2014

Is it really YOUR life?

..Oh, we are not as strong, as we think we are!
  Rich Mullins

You would have to be pretty old or a fan of British early 60's rock to remember the
Animals' song, "It's my life."  I remember it most vividly being played in a subterranean
bar on the campus of the Ohio State University called the North Heidelberg. The song
is a blues/ rock mantra about being able to do what we want with our own life. That
theme is still prevalent in our society especially in ads that suggest that something will
improve our lives if we eat, use, drink... it.

Well, we are born here into this world with a set span of years and each of us has
been granted a path of life which makes us individuals unlike everyone else, unique, as
it were. We have also been granted the ability to makes decisions, some call it free
will. Society establishes points in our years when we become independent of our parents
and strike out on our own paths.

However, we are created beings. This life that we live belongs, if you will, to our creator...
we are His. I think this calls into question the whole concept of our ownership of this body,
this soul, this life. 

When an artist paints a landscape and the work comes to a creative end, he or she will
sign that piece of art, usually in a bottom corner establishing who it is who brought this art work into existence. 

Our lives are embossed with the signature of our sovereign God. He is the one who created
us, breathed life into our nostrils, began the beating of our hearts. We have been given a
name known only to Him that we will hear and recognize when we are brought into His 
holy presence. Yes, "our" life is really His life. 

This realization establishes some very different goals for one who understands the reality
of the life we live. Suddenly it becomes important to acknowledge and be thankful for
each day we live, to actively praise and glorify He whom we belong to, to live this
life gratefully in light of the grace and love He has shown for us. We are His because this
is the way life is supposed to be lived.

So throw open your arms and accept the reality that you are a cherished member of the
family of God! Embrace Him and Love Him with all your heart and soul. The way it is
supposed to be! God's way!

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Not so much...anymore

2 Cor 5: 17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

One of the most wonderful things that can happen to a person associated with Jesus
is change. These changes aren't necessarily sudden, some may not even recognize, at
first, that they are happening or progressing..but they are. They are changes that are
being done to us, not by us, so as in our salvation, we are not responsible or 
capable of making these changes on our own. It's a passive thing, meaning something
being done to us almost in spite of ourselves.

I read, somewhere, that really looking into oneself and assessing is a bit like looking
into a fun-house mirror; we aren't really accurate at self-assessment so others may be
more aware of these new changes than we are.

These changes are ones that are being enacted by the Holy Spirit in a process called
sanctification, bringing us more in line with the likeness of Jesus Christ, our Lord. It's a
goal, a challenge that, in my opinion, is not finished during our lifetimes. No one can
be like Jesus, no one ever was or will be. Yet, we are changing, thanks be to God, in ways
that make us more like the humans we were actually created to be.

Depending on who one is, these changes may not look the same. One change that probably
runs across the board is recognition of sin. No more excuses. No more ignorance when
we do something sinful...we are convicted immediately by the Holy Spirit. Along with the
recognition is the sudden desire to avoid, to repent, to turn away to not repeat. We
also become more aware of the frequency of our sin. 

I am far less prone to emotional bursts... anger, jealousy, envy. My old road rage
has fizzled, for the most part. I find myself shocked when a curse word even enters my
mind, let alone exits my mouth. I am more patient, though this is one that I must
continue to pray about. 

I worry less; I don't have expectations that I must run things. I understand that I am
not in charge. I find it easier and more natural to pray. I take great joy in worshiping
God in song and word. I find it comforting and inspiring to read God's word. I enjoy the
people at church and want what is best for them.

More than these, I have a deep love for God, the trinity. I want to learn as much as
I may about Him and increase the quality of my relationship with Him.

Yes, lots of changes. Beneficial ones. Ones that I am blessed to understand are
happening to me. I need them!!! I appreciate them! God be praised!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Predestinally soul searching

Romans 8:29 — “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestine to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Read 2 Peter 3 ESV

The whole issue of predestination is a complex one. It's one of those things that is debated
and not fully understood or agreed upon. One thing that is for sure...the Bible states that
God predestined. He foreknew that certain souls would be saved.. would not perish as lost.
R. C. Sproul is very emphatic about the issue; he simply states that the Bible teaches
predestination. 

There are also Bible verses that would seem to indicate that God does not want to lose
one single soul to eternal destruction. 

Thus, we have a situation and there are a lot of "maybe's" that can be thrown out there
concerning these issues. Is God limited, somehow, in numbers when it comes to reaching
out, majestically, and drawing a soul inward? Could it be that the whole "free will" issue
comes into play, allowing unfortunate souls the right to reject the gospel? (Scary) Can folks
who have been lost find salvation in their lives at the latest minutes?

Well, my personal experience is that someone like me, who spent many unfortunate
years ignorant of the bases for salvation, can come to know and love Jesus after
having been separated for many years. This is Grace at its finest. It is God reaching out
and claiming one for His kingdom when that soul was completely undeserving of being
made righteous. 

Evangelism would suggest that there is great work to do on many levels to teach
the gospel to people, one soul at a time. Whether we come to work on someone
through the guidance of the Holy Spirit or whether we reach out to someone we
love in the hopes that they might find salvation, it's a monumentally important
aspect of a Christian's life and walk.

I know one thing; I am never going to allow those I love to slip by without prayer
and effort. I owe them that; I owe God... everything!!!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Limitless

All space and time unfolds before the face of God.

We all, I believe, try to increase our understanding of who God is and what He is like.
It's a part of our respect, admiration and love for the blessings He has graciously given
to us, His children. 

He certainly does not hide His identity! His word, the Holy Bible, reflects His being
as does His creation. The sheer awesomeness of God keeps us grasping for the best
understanding we can possibly have, given the fact that we are people and He is
God. 

The one word that might sum up our Heavenly father is the word...limitless!
We live a life full of limitations. Physical laws such as gravity limit our ability to
move about, physical limitations on our senses limit our ability to see, hear... etc.
We have as limited ability to think and understand. We are limited by life span;
we are born and at a time known only by God and will pass on from this earthly existence.
Even our imaginations, our dreams and our expectations have limits.

But not God! He is eternal. He is omniscient. He is omnipresent. He is Holy. He
is truth. He is love. He is the alpha and the omega, He is sovereign. He is faultless.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, but the point is clear and important. He is without
limitation. This, thankfully, on a practical level, means that He is very much capable
of constantly being aware of each of us...each hair on our head.. each tear that falls.
He knows what we need even before we ask Him. He has reached out to us,
through His loving-kindness and offered His son as propitiation for our sinfulness.

How amazing is our God! How blessed are we to be His adopted children!

Monday, January 13, 2014

I wrote this blog on purpose!

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  Rom 8: 38  

Let's assume, if we may, that you who are reading this little blog have reached the
point of realizing that apart from the guidance, grace and love of God, our lives
really are purposeless. Part of worldly-centered purposes is the problem that such
purposes are both un-fulfilling and temporary. 

That raise at work, that promotion, the bigger house, faster car, bank balance, even
that family that we love, will someday be cast apart by marriages and eventual death. 
The things of this world that we sometimes strive for will not pass the test of time. We,
also, can have all or most of these things and be left, at the end of the day, with hearts
and souls that are incomplete... missing something.

So, that being said, what are our purposes?

Enjoyment of God's creation....   We have been born into a world created by God, a
world that He called Good. Despite the emergence of sin and the fact that the world remains
broken, it is a beautiful place with many things to enjoy. The blessings we enjoy are 
plentiful: places of beauty to visit, a world full of plants and animals that amaze, a
family structure also created by God that permits us to enjoy and value loved ones
and friends, the list goes on. 

Bringing glory to God...  In appreciation for these blessings and especially for the
grace of salvation given to us by a loving God, we are here to glorify God by our
actions, words and deeds. He is an integral part of  our lives, drawing enjoyment
from our dependence upon Him, our prayerful communications with Him and our
journey toward being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. He is totally worthy
of our constant efforts to glorify Him and love Him.

Causing a ripple....  We are here to love each other as commanded by Jesus. We,
through the way we treat those around us, can create a ripple effect that can
lead those who are lost toward redemption. Little things, that some might see as
insignificant, might bring light into lives as we shine the love of God in our walk.
Bringing a lost soul to God represents an event that could lead on to unknown
benefits of an exponential nature,

So live life fully. You have a purpose in the days that you live. You definitely can make
a difference..an eternal one!

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Need to watch Them pronouns!

 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”  Exodus 3: 14

I me me mine  Well, George Harrison sang about them. They are pronouns that are
best excluded from our vocabulary and our thinking. First person pronouns such as
these smack at pride and self-worth. All of us came into this world naked and
helpless and we will leave in exactly the same manner baring the return of Lord
Jesus prior to our earthly passing. 

"Mine" is a pronoun that suggests that there are earthly things that belong to us. Not
so much. Anything we have in this world is a result of the grace of God and doesn't
actually belong to us. Any possessions that we have in this lifetime do not go with us
at our passing. If you've ever been on the earthly end of a probate hearing, you know that
things can get very very ugly when it comes to the sorting out of the "things" one leaves
behind. That's just another really good reason to avoid the collecting of "stuff" during
life.

We is one first person pronoun that can work for good. It suggests that one is not alone
in this worldly walk. Jesus made it crystal clear that any person wishing to enter the
Kingdom of God MUST be reborn with water and the spirit. When that moment occurs
the spirit of God enters into our lives forever, becoming our counselor and intercessor
between us and God. It's a shared existence that represents the best possible scenario
for those of us living in a broken world.

He brings to mind our God. The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is our King,
supreme, sovereign, regal and in charge. He is the creator of all and is able to manage
all things to the culmination of His good plan. He makes no errors. He tells no lies. He
knows us completely. He loves us as His own child. He wants to be in relationship with
His children and takes pleasure when they praise and glorify Him.

So... take it from an old English teacher. Keep track of those pronouns for a spell....
what do you hear and see? 

As Rich Mullins wrote and sang.. Oh we are not as strong, as we think we are!
Praise You, Father God!

Friday, January 10, 2014

God's Providential Deliverances

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6: 8

In his book, Praying Backwards, Bryan Chapell makes the statement that All time and
space exist before the face of God. Isn't that fascinating to try and comprehend? In
essence, it means that He can see and work out events throughout time, simultaneously
because He is God. 

Well we cannot have it both ways. We either look at our lives, the events that occur,
the people we meet and love, our individual life story and chalk it up to fate, karma,
coincidence, haphazardness... stuff just happens... OR.. we realize that there is a purpose
and reason behind all the things that occur. God is sovereign. That means that He is
in charge and in control of all things past, present and future.

All of us, I am sure, can look back at past events that just happened a certain way and
realize that, above and beyond our own individual efforts to see things done our way or
to control outcomes, things happen as if they were meant to happen or the way they
needed to for results to work out. Not that everything works out the way we wish. Yet,
we see God working to bring His outcomes.

Chapell also points out that there are providential "deliverances" that we are simply
not aware of.  Things happen to us and around us that may affect our safety, our
jobs, our relationships that go on outside of our realization they are occurring.  God is
simply doing what He and only He can do. He is affecting the world He created in
His ways according to His plan. We can go to Him, humbly, in the name of His Son and
petition Him with our desires, our problems and our hopes. He has called upon us to
do this. Yet we must remember, above all, that it is His will that must be done, not our
own. 

We are His children so He knows us like no one else can. He is aware, always, of our
circumstances and our needs. It is desire to do what is best for us.. and He always will
because He is our God!





Thursday, January 9, 2014

God, if you please....may I please You!

Psalm 19:14
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (NIV)

Alistair Begg's great book, Made For His Pleasure, begins with a wonderful story
about Mr. Begg watching his 8-yr-old son play soccer. He describes the haphazard nature
of the youngsters running about with energy, but without apparent purpose, on the 
soccer pitch. Then, amazingly, his son makes a move and ends up driving the soccer
ball into the net. Alistair's reaction is probably very similar to the one any of us has had
when observing our little one do something successful in any arena...We feel very happy
and pleased for the child! 

It's a classic parent-child happening. We, as parents, want what is best for our children;
we care about their well-being because they are our children. We take a great deal
of pleasure in seeing them happy and successful.

Well, as hard as it might be to imagine, the Majestic God of this Universe, omniscient and
omnipresent, is pleased when His children do and say the things that bring glory to Him. 
When, for example, God becomes aware of something we do that shows our continuing
transformation into someone more like His son, Jesus, He is pleased! When we are able
to pray openly and honestly, seeking Him with confidence and appropriate honor,
He is pleased. When we are able to cast off worldly treasures and desires in order
to do things whose basis is glorifying Jesus, God, because He loves the Son, is pleased!

The bottom line is that now that we have been adopted into the family of God by
the glorious work of Jesus at the cross, we are given purpose in our lives; the purpose
being to do that which glorifies and pleases He who breathed life into us. We aren't
prefect in this goal. We have a wondrous spirit that dwells within, that helps us in
this regard. It is altogether appropriate that we place the desire of pleasing God
at the very top of our priorities. 

We read His word, we pray to praise and glorify Him, we ask Him for what we need
that is in line with His good plans and we love Him with all our energy and passion!

Praise you, Father God!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

The Wondrous Spirit of Holiness

Isaiah 11:2 - And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD...

Yes, we have a spirit within us because we have been given this gift as a member of
the body of Jesus. He is a spirit person so we won't find him in an x-ray or a scan. I am
learning more about this member of the Trinity; the one that is in constant contact with
us, as the Father and Jesus reside in Heaven. The more I learn about Him, the more 
glorious and important He is to all of us.

In reading a book by Bryan Chapell called Praying Backwards, I have come to
understand, a little more clearly, more of the things the Spirit does for us, often
in ways we do not perceive. The book, obviously, is about prayer, God's invention-
the first Wireless Communication System. Praying is a wonderful gift given us by the redemptive work of Jesus that allows us to be allowed to petition God, to ask, seek
and knock with the assurance that He is listening, will answer and is pleased when we
come to Him in prayer.

The problem, it seems, is that people like me are basically ignorant when it comes to
how to pray and what to pray for. The apostle Paul admitted that even he was not sure
about correct prayer. One overlying answer seems to be that we tend to mold our
prayers into our will instead of God's sovereign will.  Well, we are blessed because this
Spirit within us intercedes and molds out prayers into ones that are acceptable to God
and that fit His providential will and purpose. He is our divine translator! He understands
God because He is God. What a wonderful person to rely on.

This spirit is also essential in helping us attack our sinfulness. He is the one who
allows us to recognize our sins; in a real sense, He is our second conscience, if you will,
challenging us by making us aware when we sin. Left to out own devices...well, you
know how that works. 

I'm still in the early stages of learning about this wonderful counselor and am looking
forward to being more aware of Him. 

Isn't it so amazing that the more we learn about God, about Jesus and about the
Holy Spirit, the more amazed we are and the more we love the Trinity.

Praise and Thank our Majestic Lord God!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

I know now, God, that you will not see ME!

But if we walk in light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of
Jesus, His son, cleanses us from all sin.  1 John 1:7

It's a truly daunting scenario! The Bible tells us that we will, at the day of judgement,
be called upon to account for each and every sin we have committed. Now that's a
situation that we cannot and will not avoid; it is God's promise and there are no
broken promises when it comes to God's word.

Now there is going to be a real problem accounting, one at a time, for the sins I have
committed in this lifetime. They are too many and too varied to even begin to
remember or consider. Yet, there I will be.. and you, as well, whether you happen to
believe in Jesus Christ or not. Time won't be an issue because time isn't a factor to
a God who is not under the limitations of time.

Well, it took some time, but I have come to understand and appreciate the ramifications
of the work Jesus did at the cross. He completed  and paid the ransom for all those many
sins that have been a part of my life and, unfortunately, even with my best intentions, will
continue, at some pace, until that judgement day. He paid the price, and in so doing, 
made it possible for a wondrous moment.

When our Almighty God looks upon me, and all those who have accepted the need for
the savior, Jesus, and who believe upon Him and call Him Lord, He will not see me. He
will not see a trembling, needy, fallen, sin-riddled soul. He will, instead, be gazing upon
the pure righteousness of His glorious son, Christ Jesus. He won't see me; He will see
Blessed Jesus. 

Talk about a miracle, talk about a gift, talk about Grace...it's the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It's the one and only way to be assured of Life everlasting in the presence of God, Jesus
and the Spirit.

Thank you, God! All praise and glory to You!


Friday, January 3, 2014

Yes, GOD loves as only HE can love!

 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  1 John 4: 8

Rob Bell's book, Love Wins, is one that I read when it first came out, and I found it
very positive and encouraging. I have also found that there are those who do not
feel positively about the message of the book, those who fear that we risk looking at
God as a "God of Love" and forgetting His other attributes. 

The gospel message, as an important example, is based on the fact that God hates
all sin, He is Holy and without sin. This puts us humans in a precarious position
because we all sin. It is a part of a fallen nature that dates back to the original sin.
Therefore, to be somehow acceptable to a God that cannot accept sin, we have the need
of a savior, Jesus, who came into the world to defeat Satan, death and provide a
sacrificial atonement for our sin. We, as sinners, can only be acceptable to God as
righteous if we accept this payment by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour,
repent and love God with our heart, soul and mind.

So where does this leave us with God's love? 

  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16

It seems to me that being created in the image of God means that we share emotions
common to God. To accept God as loving, does not ignore His other attributes. Each
of his attributes is a "maximum" attribute. He is fully and completely transcendent,
 Holy, majestic, omniscient, omnipresent...the list goes on. 

Despite His true hatred for sin, aware that we, His creation, are mired in sin, He
has provided a way for atonement. He has provided a means to be welcomed into
His presence and family as adopted children. He has offered up His son to be
sacrificed, as the only possible propitiation for our sinfulness. To me, this
shows His amazing gracious LOVE.

It is best that we not look at God as a God of Love at the expense of forgetting
His wrath toward sin, His coming judgment on the earth...but it is also a bit
frightening to allow this to shade our acceptance and appreciation for the emotion
He invented and has shone in our direction...His Glorious LOVE!


Thursday, January 2, 2014

Lord, wake US up!

"Wake Me Up"  Josh Wilson


Where have I been all my life?
What have I done with my time?
What ever happened to me?
How long have I been asleep?

Wake, wake me up, wake me up,
Wake me up inside.
Light up my heart with a spark
From Your burning light.
God please just wake me up

I wanna rise from the dead
And feel this heart beat again
Don't wanna waste one more day
Lord do whatever it takes

A good Christian friend brought this song to my attention over the holidays, and I am
blessed to have heard it. 
Disclaimer: This is one that will stick in your head, big time!

What made this all the more meaningful, is that it speaks to my life story; years of being
without any real knowledge of Jesus, the gospel, the Bible and God. When I realize that
sixty years of my life went by before a combination of God's grace reaching out to me and
my daughter taking me to a house church in Oxford,Ohio brought me to the knowledge
of the light of Jesus, it is frightening. I was truly ignorant; the kind of ignorance that can
lead to eternal existence away from the God of this universe. 

So I have a prayer that I would offer in the name and to the glory of what Jesus does
for those he has reached out to. I humbly pray that it would be in the will of God to
reach out to anyone reading this blog who has not taken to his knees and asked
Jesus to be his Lord and bring them into the family of those who love Jesus as their 
Lord and savior. Wake them up, God. bring them, I pray, to the peace and grace
that can only come when they become part of the shepherd's flock.

Wake us up, please precious Jesus!