4 Month Old Andrew

Andrew turned four months old this week. Our friend Tiffany Dupree took this picture of him. Sweet little guy!

Pulled from the Comment Section

My mom wrote this in the comment section of another post. I wanted to make sure everybody had a chance to read it.

There is something I want to add to this thread in the hope that it may help someone else who is standing in a difficult place. I have lived long enough to stand in many difficult places. God has taught me how to trust Him through those times. And I have found that no matter what comes, He will always get me through it if I'll depend upon Him and TRUST Him.

Hard places come upon us for many reasons. Sometimes they are self-inflicted. Other times, it's just the fallen world we live in, as this song describes. But we are given the promise that all things work together for our good if we love Him and are called according to His purpose.

I have stood in more hard places than some people and less than others. We don't all have the exact same blessings and we don't have the exact same hard places. But in every hard place, I have clung to the promise that God is using everything -- including the hard places -- for my good.

All that to say this. It is so tempting to put our hope in a certain outcome and pray for specific events to take place. But if my specific requests had always been answered, I would have missed out on some of the biggest blessings God had for me. God knew best. I did not.

Just now as I was washing down my patio and contemplating today's hard place, I found myself pinning my hopes on a specific outcome. And I felt like God spoke to my heart and said, "Do not put your hope in a specific outcome. Put your hope in ME and in my promise that all things, including this, are for your good."

I know I still have many struggles ahead of me. God will have to remind me of this again because I am weak. But His strength is made perfect in my weakness and nothing can separate me from His love.

I wanted to share this in the hope that someone else reading what God is speaking to me will hear His voice today, too.

There are hurting people all around us, all the time. Whatever place we find ourselves walking in, others have walked in it or will walk in it. It's so easy not to be tuned in because we're so focused on whatever our own particular situation is at that moment. One of my present prayers is that I will be more focused on the pain of others than on my own fears. I can't tell you I am a shining example of that today. But I know that would not even be my heart's desire without the Holy Spirit being present and at work in my heart.

Hymn of the Day - Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken

Here is another song about the City of God and another reminder that this broken world will be made right.

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
by John Newton

Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
He, Whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

See the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love.
Well supplies Thy sons and daughters,
And all fears of want removes.
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst to quench?
Grace which like the Lord, the giver,
Never fails from age to age

Blessed inhabitants of Zion,
Washed in the Redeemer’s blood;
Jesus, Whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to God
’Tis His love His people raises,
Over self to reign as kings
And as priests His solemn praises
Each for a thank offering bring.

Savior, if of Zion’s city,
I, through grace, a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy Name
Fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show
Solid joys and lasting treasures
None but Zion’s children know.

Revelation 22:1-4

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Feeling the Fall and a Song of the Day - No Abiding City by Sandra McCracken

Rebecca and I have commented several times lately on how we can feel the fall. The effects of sin are all around us. Stories of sickness, disease, unmet hopes, unrealized dreams, and disharmonious relationships have been around every corner. This world is broken. Our relationships, our bodies, our hopes and dreams. It is all broken.

The gospel promises a day where all the wrongs will be made right. Jesus died not only to redeem his people, but to redeem his creation. There is an appointed time when the brokenness will no longer be a part of the story. This song is one of my favorites that point to the coming kingdom and reminds me this world isn't the end of the story.

No Abiding City by Sandra McCracken

Oh, sweet home of love and peace
Where pilgrims tired and troubled rest
Into the hope of Zion lean
Where in Jesus’ arms we will fall at last

Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here

Addictions empty promises
This broken world cannot satisfy
A sweeter song redemptions bliss
Is sealed for us in paradise

Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here

Sprit heal our neighborhood
Until your kingdom work is done
Teach us what is just and good
As we look for the city which is yet to come

Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here

A city filled with and light
God the builder and the architect
When our faith is turned to sight
Oh, I cannot imagine it

Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here

Why I Am a Calvinist by Phil Johnson

I cannot tell you how much I used to hate the doctrine of election. I made it a goal to prove all Calvinists wrong. In recent years my beliefs have been turned upside down. It has been the sweetest experience of my life. Seeing the pure grace of God has blown my mind. This series by Phil Johnson is an excellent summary of the doctrines of grace. Here are the links.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Conclusion

No One is Good

Romans 3:10-12

as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands;
no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one.”

One of the benefits of being a teacher is occasionally being home by Oprah (feel free to reread that sentence with the appropriate sarcasm).

Today Oprah had a young woman on her show that had successfully hidden her pregnancy from her parents by starving herself and not gaining a pound. The night the baby was born she stabbed him in the chest, wrapped him in towels, placed him in a bag, and had her boyfriend throw him in a quarry. The story is one of the most tragic and heart breaking I have ever heard.

The comment the girl made that astounded me the most was, “I am a good person who did a bad thing.” She was telling the world that she stabbed a baby boy she had starved and hidden, thrown him in a lake, and managed to keep it to herself for six years, but she was a good person.

She is not a good person. She is a murderer, a liar, and a coward. I am telling you, when OPRAH doesn’t think you’re a good person, you are not a good person. The condition of the girl’s heart speaks volumes about the condition of all our hearts. Sin has made us unable to be humble before God and to always find a way to justify ourselves. Saddam Hussein went to the gallows justifying himself. Adam told God he ate the fruit because of Eve. Everyone has an excuse. Everyone justifies themselves. Everyone believes they are innocent.

I have two favorite quotes that came from the same sermon. I don’t know who originated the quotes, but both came from Tim Keller’s sermon on the Prodigal Son.

“Your sin is not the main thing keeping you from God. It is your damnable good works.”

“The difference between a Christian and a Pharisee is the Christian has repented for his goodness.”

I want to tell the girl she is not a good person. I want to tell her I’m not either. I want to tell her no one is. Our only hope is to quit hanging onto our own goodness and grab hold of Christ’s righteousness.

C.S. Lewis once said Christ didn’t die to make bad people good. He died to make dead men live. Our condition is not bad. It is dire. We are not sick. We are dead.

The words and commandments of Christ are terrifying. He calls those of us who hate murderers. Those of us who do good things to be noticed by men are liars. Those of us who pursue the riches of the world instead of the riches of heaven are cowards.

We are all going to stand before the judgment seat of a perfectly just and holy God. On that day, no one will be able to claim an ounce of goodness. When we are face to face with Goodness we will crumble in awe. Our only hope is to crumble now.

Romans 9:33

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Those who do not fall on the rock will be crushed by it. Run to your Savior today. Leave your own filthy rag righteousness and cling to his perfect holiness. Only those who do will stand on that day.

Hymn of the Day - Father Long Before Creation - Chinese Hymn

Father, Long Before Creation
Words: from a Chinese Hymn. Translated: Francis Johnson.

Father, long before creation
Thou hadst chosen us in love,
And that love so deep, so moving,
Draws us close to Christ above.
Still it keeps us, still it keeps us
Firmly fixed in Christ alone.

Though the world may change its fashion,
Yet our God is e’er the same;
His compassion and His covenant
Through all ages will remain.
God’s own children, God’s own children
Must forever praise His name.

God’s compassion is my story,
Is my boasting all the day;
Mercy free and never failing
Moves my will, directs my way.
God so loved us, God so loved us
That His only Son He gave.

Loving Father now before Thee
We will ever praise Thy love,
And our songs will sound unceasing
’Til we reach our home above,
Giving glory, giving glory
To our God and to the Lamb;
Giving glory, giving glory
To our God and to the Lamb.

The Unbelievable Gospel

Sin strikes at God and says,

"I don't care what You said, I'll do what I want." It is God's would be murderer. Sin would un-God God if it could. Sin defiles the conscience. Sin is irrational and forfeits blessing. Sin is painful-it hurts. Sin is damning. Sin is degrading it mares the image of God and man. Like Samson, it cuts the locks of purity and leaves men morally weak. Sin poisons the springs of love and turns beauty in leprosy. Sin defeats the mind, the heart, the will, the affections and it has made a whole world of people-all of mankind- children wrath by nature; objects of God's wrath. Sin brings man under the domination of Satan and his sick sin system, which he controls. Man and the world is a slave to sin, open rebellion and defiance to God and a slave to Satan." (author unknown)

This quote makes this verse even more unbelievable.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus always did what pleased the Father. Yet he willingly took the just punishment deserved by those of us who do not.

Look again at the gospel. May God give us the grace and the faith to obey out of gratitude. Jesus has taken our sin and our punishment. He has given us his obedience and righteousness. He has made us holy. He has set us apart and made us ambassadors for his name. Let us take serious the call to obey walk worthy of our call.

Spurgeon Quote and a Hymn of the Day by Martin Luther

"I sometimes wonder that you do not get tired of my preaching, because I do nothing but hammer away on this one nail. With me it is, year after year, ‘None but Jesus! None but Jesus!’ Oh, you great saints, if you have outgrown the need of a sinner’s trust in the Lord Jesus, you have outgrown your sins, but you have also outgrown your grace, and your saintship has ruined you!" C.H. Spurgeon

Psalm 130 - From Depths of Woe by Martin Luther

From the depths of woe I raise to Thee
The voice of lamentation;
Lord, turn a gracious ear to me
And hear my supplication;
If Thou iniquities dost mark,
Our secret sins and misdeeds dark,
O who shall stand before Thee?
O who shall stand before Thee?

To wash away the crimson stain,
Grace, grace alone availeth;
Our works, alas! Are all in vain;
In much the best life faileth;
No man can glory in Thy sight,
All must alike confess Thy might,
And live alone by mercy
And live alone by mercy

Therefore my trust is in the Lord,
And not in mine own merit;
On Him my soul shall rest, His word
Upholds my fainting spirit;
His promised mercy is my fort,
My comfort and my sweet support;
I wait for it with patience
I wait for it with patience

What though I wait the live-long night,
And ’til the dawn appeareth,
My heart still trusteth in His might;
It doubteth not nor feareth;
Do thus, O ye of Israel’s seed,
Ye of the Spirit born indeed;
And wait ’til God appeareth
And wait ’til God appeareth

Though great our sins and sore our woes
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our upmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is He,
Who will at last His Israel free
From all their sin and sorrow
From all their sin and sorrow

Watching Joshua Love

From Early in the Morning by Andrew Osenga

These days, they are a river
That we’re all floating down
Every loved one, every neighbor
In Tennessee, in my hometown

So let us not take this for granted,
Let us not waste the second hand
But let your love rage like a lion
And let your heart break like a lamb

This verse of this song reminds me of my son. The little guy has one of the sweetest and most loving temperaments I have ever seen. He is constantly talking to strangers. Last week he tried to kiss the checkout lady at Kroger. She jumped out of the way. This week (we are in Florida) a little girl walked up to the pool. Joshua tried to hold her hand, hug her, and kiss her. Three strikes and he was out. He cried and climbed in Rebecca's arms.

It is hard to see his soft, little heart break. I pray that the rejections that are going to come don't harden him and make him scared to love. We all have some hurt, some wound that has calloused our hearts and made us hard. I can't exactly put into words what I feel for Joshua when I see his attempts at love end in a way he doesn't anticipate. It makes me ache and hope it doesn't leave him scared and afraid.

I want him to have love that rages like a lion and a heart that breaks like a lamb. I want him to put his heart out there and take the chances that true love requires.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” -- CS. Lewis

The only source for love stronger than fear is found in Jesus. The only true safety this earth can offer comes from our Maker. He is the Lion and the Lamb. His love is terrifying, demanding, jealous, and raging. His heart was crushed, pierced, sorrowful, and broken.

The Scroll and the Lamb

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Look and see the Worthy, Conquering Lion. Look and see the Broken, Sacrificed Lamb. Don't be afraid. Love, even though it is going to break your heart.

One little side note. This is two posts in a row that involve Andrew Osenga's new record, 'The Morning.' I HIGHLY recommend this album. I cannot stop listening to it and am struck and inspired by the lyrics each time through. I am adding a link to Andrew Osenga's website. Check him out.