"Wonderful, beautiful is what you see
When you look at me
You're turning the tattered fabric of my life into
A perfect tapestry"
I am in awe of God's amazing sovereignty in my life. He is my master planner. I look back through the last few years of my life and whilst I was in it... there was a lot of chaos, pain, and struggle as I went through the difficult process of growing up. But now I can look back and see His hand in everything. How he has shaped and formed me into the person that I am. How he has been faithful all along. It reminds of the above lyrics. Through the tattered messed up moments, God has and still is weaving a beautiful beautiful picture... and what is it of? Simply his mercy and grace to an undeserving sinner.
I am excited about the future. I know there is going to be sorrow along the way. I know I will mess up time and time again the blessings that God has given me. I know there will be things I regret. But what amazing incomprehensible joy as a Christian that at the end of my life, I can look back through the chaos, the pain, the regrets and say... because of Christ in me... everything makes sense. His grace and mercy has made something beautiful out of the chaos.
And one day soon when He calls me home, I will stand before Him overflowing with joy, knowing that because of Christ in me, I can face that judgment seat unafraid. Why?? Because it was all finished at the cross. His glory, amazing grace and mercy shine more brightly through all my weakness and failure.
We need to remember and be encouraged by this amazing truth: There is always reason for the Christian to rejoice, despite the sin, suffering, and battles that we daily face. Sometimes the battle wages hard and fierce, but the victory is already won :) Through Christ the end result is already determined. So rejoice today fellow believers!!
Friday 18 January 2013
Friday 4 January 2013
The battle and the rescue
Read this small devotion today out of the book "Whiter than Snow" and just had to share it :)
"I am a mess of contradictions; I don't want to be, but I am. I preach a gospel of peace, but my life isn't always driven by peace. I talk about a Jesus who alone can fully satisfy the soul, but I am often not satisfied. I celebrate a theology of amazing grace, but I often react in ungrace. Even in moments when I think I am prepared, I end up doing what I didn't want to do.
Irritation
Impatience
Envy
Discontent
Wrong talk
Anger
Self-focus
These are not the fruits of the new life, they are not the way of grace. When I step out with a desire to do good, evil follows me wherever I go .There is this war that rages inside of me, between a desire for good, and sin that is anything but good. There are times when I feel like a prisoner, held against my will. I didn't plan to be mad in the grocery store, but that guy made me mad. I didn't plan to be discontent, but it just enveloped me in the quietness of the car. That discussion wasn't supposed to degenerate into an argument, but it did. I am thankful for God's grace, but there is daily evidence that I'm still in need of help.
The battle inside of me cannot be solved by:
Theology
Stratgeies
Principles
Techniques
Plans
Preparation
Helpful hints
Outlines.
I have been humbled by the war I cannot win. I have been grieved by desires I cannot conquer. I have been confronted by actions I cannot excuse. And I have come to confess that what I really need is rescue.
So have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. According to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. I embrace the rescue that could only be found in you. Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
"I am a mess of contradictions; I don't want to be, but I am. I preach a gospel of peace, but my life isn't always driven by peace. I talk about a Jesus who alone can fully satisfy the soul, but I am often not satisfied. I celebrate a theology of amazing grace, but I often react in ungrace. Even in moments when I think I am prepared, I end up doing what I didn't want to do.
Irritation
Impatience
Envy
Discontent
Wrong talk
Anger
Self-focus
These are not the fruits of the new life, they are not the way of grace. When I step out with a desire to do good, evil follows me wherever I go .There is this war that rages inside of me, between a desire for good, and sin that is anything but good. There are times when I feel like a prisoner, held against my will. I didn't plan to be mad in the grocery store, but that guy made me mad. I didn't plan to be discontent, but it just enveloped me in the quietness of the car. That discussion wasn't supposed to degenerate into an argument, but it did. I am thankful for God's grace, but there is daily evidence that I'm still in need of help.
The battle inside of me cannot be solved by:
Theology
Stratgeies
Principles
Techniques
Plans
Preparation
Helpful hints
Outlines.
I have been humbled by the war I cannot win. I have been grieved by desires I cannot conquer. I have been confronted by actions I cannot excuse. And I have come to confess that what I really need is rescue.
So have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. According to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. I embrace the rescue that could only be found in you. Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
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