Our Awesome God

Your love is extravagant 

Your friendship it is intimate 

I feel like moving to the rhythm of Your grace 

Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place 

Your love is extravagant 

Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin 

No greater love have I ever known You considered me a friend 

Capture my heart again

~"Your Love is Extravagant" by Darrel Evans (Song by Casting Crowns)

God is awesome.

So why do we have to say "capture my heart again"? Shouldn't it be "You have already captured my heart and now it's yours for eternity"? Yes, in a certain sense, but the reality is more like "You have captured my heart, but I have forgotten just how much purpose your love brings to my once-filthy heart, so would You capture it again...and again...and again?" It sounds like a sad truth, but it is in fact one of the many things about us that makes God so awesome: the less capable we are of finding God's love extravagant, the more His grace opens our eyes to the truth of His sacrifice on our part. So as long as we are in search of His glory, God will continue to reveal Himself to us in new ways. As long as we seek to do His will with joy and utter satisfaction, He will honor it one way or another. It pleases God to satisfy us with Himself. And the comforting part about it is that He is the only one who can intimately know and have a friendship with each and every person that lives, has lived, and will live on this earth.

God's love covers our sin. What does that mean exactly? It means that our righteousness comes from Jesus alone. When we stand before the judgment seat of God someday, nothing we have ever done will get the slightest bit of merit. Only what is sinless will remain, and if Jesus is within us, he will remain as our first and only righteous identity. That is true grace, incredible love, and one simply awesome God for you!

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. ~2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

Something < Eternal

Sin and truth have no place together and are in fact near opposites. All that sin is is false security, pleasure, indulgence, hope, and joy—all of which can never satisfy apart from God. So many people around us practice these false comforts all the time. Even Christians. Even ourselves! And these things often lead to sin and/or departure from God’s truth. When we get to the place where we recognize the areas in our lives that hold some sense of identity apart from Christ, even in the smallest way imaginable, and we seek out God’s wisdom and help in changing our desires to focus more on Him—only then can we truly thrive, and only then can we justifiably judge others for the purpose of discipling them, helping them, and pushing them on toward a renewed relationship with Christ. This is part of the reason why it is so important to be in constant fellowship with other Christians.

As long as we continue hoping in and trust God's truth, there will be no room for sin in us, but as soon as we give in to sin, we are declaring "a different gospel" by our actions and we are then suppressing God's truth. So it is good to be discerning in order that we might realize the areas of our life where false joy has the opportunity to lead to sin. Standing firm on God's truth makes us stand out because nobody realizes the difference between living for God and living for something non-eternal. Let us never turn from the true hope we have, and may our joy be always be found only in Christ. May we spur one another on and not allow our brothers and sisters to live and strive for anything less than eternal.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ~Romans 1:18-19 (ESV)

Anti-Anxiety Disorder

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. ~John 16:33 (ESV)

Not too many people are like this (and I have no intention of bragging here except on the name of Jesus), but I believe I have been gifted with something you might call anti-anxiety disorder. It means that I don't generally react to tragedies, sudden life-changes, financial crises, surprise trauma, etc., at least not the way most people would. I take it as it is. God's in control, right? Of course, the only reason I call it a disorder is because I'm in the minority (and of course I have my own ways of failing to trust God, if it looks a little different), but God offers everyone this selfsame disorder: His peace.

Nothing but encouragement can come to us as we dwell upon the faithful dealing of our Heavenly Father in centuries gone by. Faith in God has not saved people from hardships and trials, but it has enabled them to bear tribulations courageously and to emerge victoriously. ~Lee Roberson

Is it possible that living for Christ means more than giving your life (your career, your income, you successes and failures) to Him? What if the things life gives you only effects who you end up ministering to? If we are all called to bring God's kingdom to reality, then it shouldn't matter where we end up in life or where we are right now. God is in control, true, but that doesn't always mean he "orchestrated" things to happen in your life a certain way. Sometimes things just happen and God calls us to react rightly according to how Jesus would. If everything about us is to be an example to unbelievers, then there should be no surprise big enough in life that would allow us to break down and give up. Rather, let us stand strong and train ourselves to react to tragedies with love and peace, pointing to the greater cause and not focusing on our depression.

Not of this World

It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and look—he eats; but he awakes, and his soul is still empty; or as when a thirsty man dreams, and look—he drinks; but he awakes, and indeed he is faint, and his soul still craves: so the multitude of all the nations shall be, who fight against Mount Zion. ~Isaiah 29:8 (NKJV)

"It is significant that the sleeping men are dreaming only about eating and drinking. In the same manner, those whose interests and desires are centered in this world only will find all their objectives have turned to nothingness." (Quote by Henry Morris)

"The fact is that this world is not the real world, but only a temporary world which, like a dream, will soon fade away in the light of God’s eternal day when we awake in His presence to experience the world as God intended it." (Quote by Henry Morris)

So take a moment to consider what your dreams often consist of. What are they founded in? If they are not founded in the next life and don't necessarily have eternal value, why not? True satisfaction is guaranteed by God to be found in putting our hope and joy in the things of heaven. If it can be said of you that you are not of this world...except when you play too many video games or wear too much makeup or pursue school more than God, or a million other things...then maybe you should reconsider how you can find joy in things that will last--before they fail you!

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. ~1 John 2:16-17 (ESV)