Hannah and I have now been married for six and a half months, and just enjoyed one of many "firsts" together this week: our first thanksgiving together. Since "the two have become one," we also began to figure out how this Thanksgiving would work... Would we spend it with her family? Would we spend it with my familiy? What about Christmas? How are we going to rotate? The list goes on....
What I found to be so great was that we ended up being able to see both sides of the family. Hannah was able to convince my parents and brother to drive out to Deer Lodge, TN to have Thanksgiving lunch with her side of the family. Then after that, we all would head to Jonesborough for Thanksgiving dinner with my side of the family.
Since Deer Lodge is way out there, Dad, David, and I loaded up some guns to shoot once we got there. Once we had filled up our bellies on turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and all the other goodies, the men headed outside to shoot paper plates and playing cards. The only problem was that as soon as we stepped outside, the temperature dramatically dropped - and within half an hour we even saw a small snow flurry - but that didn't stop us. We shot our .22 Remington lever action, Smith and Wesson .22, my Ruger, and even got to burn some rounds with a Glock 9mm. Once we cleaned up our mess, our hands were frozen, but it was fun letting my brothers in law shoot my Ruger.
Then, we had to rush off to head to Jonesborough to make it for Thanksgiving dinner. The only problem was... we didn't know there was a time difference when we made it to Deer Lodge. Thus, we showed up an hour late to Thanksgiving with my family. But that was okay - we quickly ate and sat down to enjoy some time with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents - the whole lot. It has been a few Thanksgivings since we have been able to make it, so I really enjoyed getting to see everyone.
We hung out and talked and talked, and (regrettably) had to head back home to Knoxville as it got late. But it was such a blessing to be able to make it out to both Deer Lodge and Jonesborough. I was so blessed this Thanksgiving. Sure, we spend many hours driving, but it was worth it to spend that time with family. Wouldn't trade it for anything.
So now that we've enjoyed our first Thanksgiving together, next month will bring the first Christmas together! And I must say, I'm very, very excited.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Why I Love the Old Hymns
I love the old hymns, and have grown especially attached over the last few years to several of them. (Many of them are written below, if you wish to see them) In these particular hymns, the message of the cross, the gospel, is clearly explained. That is, there is only one way to attain righteousness in the sight of God, which is through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
I could try to be a good person, but I cannot keep it together well enough. Even on my best days, I fall short of God's perfection. But praise God that in His mercy and love He provided a way. While the world was still in sin, God sent His only Son Jesus to be born of a virgin, so that Jesus would live the perfect sinless life we cannot. Then Jesus Christ was crucified, and there he took on Himself the sin of the world. There, He paid the price we could not pay; He paid the debt He did not owe.
As He died, He called out "It Is Finished!" His work was complete, and it is still complete. All that God requires for a sinner to be made righteous is to believe in Jesus. All God requires is that a sinner puts his/her faith in what Jesus accomplished on the cross, and God looks upon their sin no more.
That is the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that is the beauty of God's love, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us that we might be restored to a relationship with God. Jesus Christ bore our sin and shame so that we could stand before God the Father without either. And it has nothing to do with our accomplishments, but everything to do with what Jesus accomplished for us.
Will you believe? Will you put your faith in Jesus? You don't have to wait until you're a better person - in fact, you can't even become a better person. The only righteousness that God considers in His perfection - and that is given as a free gift by God Himself. Willl you receive that gift by faith? It is all that God requires, to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead so that you would have life and peace. Only faith in the Son of God can make a person right with God, and God has made that completely free. The blood of Jesus that washes away our sins has been made available - the question is, will you believe and receive it?
========================================
"Jesus Paid It All"
I hear the Savior say, "Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in me thine all in all."
(Chorus)
Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
Lord, now indeed I find Thy power, and Thine alone
Can change the leper's spots, and melt the heart of stone.
(Chorus)
For nothing good have I whereby Thy grace to claim -
I'll wash my garments white in the blood of Calvary's Lamb.
(Chorus)
And when before the throne I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died, my soul to save," My lips shall still repeat
(Chorus)
==================================
"Nothing But the Blood"
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Chorus)
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other found I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon this I see - Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing, this I plea - Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Chorus)
Nothing can for sin atone - Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done - Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Chorus)
This is all my hope and peace - Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness - Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Chorus)
=====================================
"Are You Washed in the Blood?"
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
(Chorus)
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are you garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you walking daily by the Savior's side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
(Chorus)
When the Bridegroom cometh willl your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
(Chorus)
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
(Chorus)
======================================
"Glory to His Name"
Down at the cross where my Savior died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within,
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His name!
Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin,
I am so glad I have entered in,
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;
Glory to His name!
Come to this fountain so rich and sweet;
Cast thy poor soul at the Savior's feet;
Plunge in today and be made complete;
Glory to His name!
I could try to be a good person, but I cannot keep it together well enough. Even on my best days, I fall short of God's perfection. But praise God that in His mercy and love He provided a way. While the world was still in sin, God sent His only Son Jesus to be born of a virgin, so that Jesus would live the perfect sinless life we cannot. Then Jesus Christ was crucified, and there he took on Himself the sin of the world. There, He paid the price we could not pay; He paid the debt He did not owe.
As He died, He called out "It Is Finished!" His work was complete, and it is still complete. All that God requires for a sinner to be made righteous is to believe in Jesus. All God requires is that a sinner puts his/her faith in what Jesus accomplished on the cross, and God looks upon their sin no more.
That is the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that is the beauty of God's love, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us that we might be restored to a relationship with God. Jesus Christ bore our sin and shame so that we could stand before God the Father without either. And it has nothing to do with our accomplishments, but everything to do with what Jesus accomplished for us.
Will you believe? Will you put your faith in Jesus? You don't have to wait until you're a better person - in fact, you can't even become a better person. The only righteousness that God considers in His perfection - and that is given as a free gift by God Himself. Willl you receive that gift by faith? It is all that God requires, to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead so that you would have life and peace. Only faith in the Son of God can make a person right with God, and God has made that completely free. The blood of Jesus that washes away our sins has been made available - the question is, will you believe and receive it?
========================================
"Jesus Paid It All"
I hear the Savior say, "Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in me thine all in all."
(Chorus)
Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
Lord, now indeed I find Thy power, and Thine alone
Can change the leper's spots, and melt the heart of stone.
(Chorus)
For nothing good have I whereby Thy grace to claim -
I'll wash my garments white in the blood of Calvary's Lamb.
(Chorus)
And when before the throne I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died, my soul to save," My lips shall still repeat
(Chorus)
==================================
"Nothing But the Blood"
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Chorus)
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other found I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon this I see - Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing, this I plea - Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Chorus)
Nothing can for sin atone - Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done - Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Chorus)
This is all my hope and peace - Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness - Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Chorus)
=====================================
"Are You Washed in the Blood?"
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
(Chorus)
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are you garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you walking daily by the Savior's side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
(Chorus)
When the Bridegroom cometh willl your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
(Chorus)
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
(Chorus)
======================================
"Glory to His Name"
Down at the cross where my Savior died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within,
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His name!
Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin,
I am so glad I have entered in,
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;
Glory to His name!
Come to this fountain so rich and sweet;
Cast thy poor soul at the Savior's feet;
Plunge in today and be made complete;
Glory to His name!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Full Quote From Yesterday
This is taken from the preface of the book God's Pursuit of Man by A. W. Tozer.
"Perhaps a word of warning would not be amiss here: It is that we beware the common habit of putting confidence in books, as such. It takes a determined effort of the mind to break free from the error of making books and teachers ends in themselves.
The worst thing a book can do for a Christian is to leave him with the impression that he has received from it anything really good; the best it can do is to point the way to the Good he is seeking. The function of a good book is to stand like a signpost directing the reader toward the Truth and the Life. That book serves best which early makes itself unnecessary, just as a signpost serves best after it is forgotten, after the traveler has arrived safely at his desired haven. The work of a good book is to incite the reader to moral action, to turn his eyes toward God and urge him forward. Beyond that it cannot go."
"Perhaps a word of warning would not be amiss here: It is that we beware the common habit of putting confidence in books, as such. It takes a determined effort of the mind to break free from the error of making books and teachers ends in themselves.
The worst thing a book can do for a Christian is to leave him with the impression that he has received from it anything really good; the best it can do is to point the way to the Good he is seeking. The function of a good book is to stand like a signpost directing the reader toward the Truth and the Life. That book serves best which early makes itself unnecessary, just as a signpost serves best after it is forgotten, after the traveler has arrived safely at his desired haven. The work of a good book is to incite the reader to moral action, to turn his eyes toward God and urge him forward. Beyond that it cannot go."
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
I Have Returned With A Thought
My beautiful wife and I have finally moved into our townhome. She has turned it from a somewhat stinky and semi-rundown place into a relaxing place to call home. Next week, we will have internet up and running in our home, which will reconnect us with the world!
It really has been 'detrimental' to be removed from the internet. So much of our lives center around technology in this age, it really has a huge impact when it disappears. But now, we will have contact with the outside world via the internet once again - I am hoping to return to the blogging world somewhat consistently during this school semester.
Which reminds me... I wanted to share something I read this morning in A. W. Tozer's God's Pursuit of Man. It was simply in the preface, but powerful nonetheless. I will summarize...
Tozer warned against treating his book as a revelaion in and of itself - warned against taking what a preacher or a book said and treating it as the end of it. Rather, he described his book as an outflowing of what God had done in him, and hoped it served as a signpost - not a destination. For the signpost only helps point you in the right direction, and when you've arrived, which has greater value? The signpost, or the destination? The signpost points towards the valuable, and the destination is the value.
Having read that, I've pondered it much today - and hope to ponder it more. But for now, I will remember the wisdom in the preface. Preachers, teachers, and books can only do so much in ones life - the real change happens when the individual takes the journey for himself/herself. That is when it becomes real - that is how it has happened in my life. Freedom came when I experienced Jesus for myself. Hearing and reading how Jesus changed others - that was a great signpost. But now I have met Him, and long to know Him more.
As the scriptures say (paraphrased), "We run the race to gain the prize" - and the prize at the finish line is Christ Himself. He is the destination, and there is nothing greater.
More to come later!
It really has been 'detrimental' to be removed from the internet. So much of our lives center around technology in this age, it really has a huge impact when it disappears. But now, we will have contact with the outside world via the internet once again - I am hoping to return to the blogging world somewhat consistently during this school semester.
Which reminds me... I wanted to share something I read this morning in A. W. Tozer's God's Pursuit of Man. It was simply in the preface, but powerful nonetheless. I will summarize...
Tozer warned against treating his book as a revelaion in and of itself - warned against taking what a preacher or a book said and treating it as the end of it. Rather, he described his book as an outflowing of what God had done in him, and hoped it served as a signpost - not a destination. For the signpost only helps point you in the right direction, and when you've arrived, which has greater value? The signpost, or the destination? The signpost points towards the valuable, and the destination is the value.
Having read that, I've pondered it much today - and hope to ponder it more. But for now, I will remember the wisdom in the preface. Preachers, teachers, and books can only do so much in ones life - the real change happens when the individual takes the journey for himself/herself. That is when it becomes real - that is how it has happened in my life. Freedom came when I experienced Jesus for myself. Hearing and reading how Jesus changed others - that was a great signpost. But now I have met Him, and long to know Him more.
As the scriptures say (paraphrased), "We run the race to gain the prize" - and the prize at the finish line is Christ Himself. He is the destination, and there is nothing greater.
More to come later!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Only Your Mercy
Here's the lyrics to another song that has been echoing in my soul lately. "Echoing in my soul..." It almost sounds dramatic, but it has been nothing less than reality. It paints the picture of what the Lord has made abundantly clear to me lately, that it is only by His grace that I am saved. I have added nothing to His finished work on the cross - it was sufficient for my salvation.
All He required of me was faith - to believe and trust in the sacrificial love of Jesus, to believe that His blood shed on the cross would pay the debt of all my sin. And by those wounds I have been made right with God - by His wounds I have been healed.
It is only by His doing that I am who I am - a sinner transformed into a saint. Not meaning I am perfect, but that I belong to Him. I am His beloved bride He gave His life for, and in return I have given Him mine. He has proven Himself trustworthy; He withheld nothing in order to purchase my freedom from sin, not even His own life.
It was His life and death that freed me from sin; this song reminds me that it was all because of Him. "We love Him because He first loved us."
(p.s. - this one too sounds much better with music, but the words still speak to me)
Only Your Mercy
Only Your mercy, only Your grace
Only Your Spirit, brings us to faith
O what a wonder that You chose us first
Not by our merit but Your perfect work
Only Your goodness, only Your love
Only Your pardon, poured out in blood
Your righteousnes exchanged for our sin
Oh what a Savior oh what a friend
Jesus we long to worship You
And give You all glory and praise
All that You are
All that You have
We have received by faith
All He required of me was faith - to believe and trust in the sacrificial love of Jesus, to believe that His blood shed on the cross would pay the debt of all my sin. And by those wounds I have been made right with God - by His wounds I have been healed.
It is only by His doing that I am who I am - a sinner transformed into a saint. Not meaning I am perfect, but that I belong to Him. I am His beloved bride He gave His life for, and in return I have given Him mine. He has proven Himself trustworthy; He withheld nothing in order to purchase my freedom from sin, not even His own life.
It was His life and death that freed me from sin; this song reminds me that it was all because of Him. "We love Him because He first loved us."
(p.s. - this one too sounds much better with music, but the words still speak to me)
Only Your Mercy
Only Your mercy, only Your grace
Only Your Spirit, brings us to faith
O what a wonder that You chose us first
Not by our merit but Your perfect work
Only Your goodness, only Your love
Only Your pardon, poured out in blood
Your righteousnes exchanged for our sin
Oh what a Savior oh what a friend
Jesus we long to worship You
And give You all glory and praise
All that You are
All that You have
We have received by faith
Friday, July 24, 2009
At the Foot of the Cross
Here are the lyrics to a song from high school - it has always stuck in my memory, but I could never remember the lyrics. More than that, I could never find them when I searched for them. I had an inclination, and went searching one last time, and I found them. Here they are... (It sounds better with music, but I still love the words)
At The Foot of the Cross
Beneath the cross of Jesus, Lord, I would spend my days
In the shadow of the One who ransomed me
May I not become familiar with its marvelous good news
But live my life with it always in my view, oh
At the foot of the cross, Lord I bow down and worship
Overcome by so great a love
At the foot of the cross I will cherish all Your mercy
All Your goodness, Your wisdom, Your pow’r
At the foot of the cross.
Upon the cross of Jesus, Lord, I would fix my eyes
For it always will remind me of these truths
My iniquity seems endless yet greater still your grace
And I will glory in the cross throughout the ages, oh
At the foot of the cross, Lord I bow down and worship
Overcome by so great a love
At the foot of the cross I will cherish all Your mercy
All Your goodness, Your wisdom, Your pow’r
At the foot of the cross.
At The Foot of the Cross
Beneath the cross of Jesus, Lord, I would spend my days
In the shadow of the One who ransomed me
May I not become familiar with its marvelous good news
But live my life with it always in my view, oh
At the foot of the cross, Lord I bow down and worship
Overcome by so great a love
At the foot of the cross I will cherish all Your mercy
All Your goodness, Your wisdom, Your pow’r
At the foot of the cross.
Upon the cross of Jesus, Lord, I would fix my eyes
For it always will remind me of these truths
My iniquity seems endless yet greater still your grace
And I will glory in the cross throughout the ages, oh
At the foot of the cross, Lord I bow down and worship
Overcome by so great a love
At the foot of the cross I will cherish all Your mercy
All Your goodness, Your wisdom, Your pow’r
At the foot of the cross.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Psalm 121
Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
=====================================================================================
(By the way, I wish I could have heard David and the other psalmists play these songs. Wouldn't that be amazing.)
Just like David confesses in Psalm 124, the author of this song declares the Lord is the source of help. The first line, "I lift my eyes up to the hills," is the physical portrait of the psalmists need. In desperation the psalmist is pondering, wondering, searching the skies as he is searching his own heart. In need of help, where can the psalmist turn?
"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." How sure is the psalmist of this help? Listen to this...
"He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." Nothing occurs to which the Lord is oblivious to. He takes no break from watching over us; he takes no naps and no coffee breaks. He is constantly watching, keeping in tune with out situations.
Again, "The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night." All twenty four hours in the day are protected by God. Nothing escapes his view, and nothing is out of his reach. As Isaiah 59:1 "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear." Twenty four hours of the day, we have a God who knows our situations and deepest needs - and His arm is not too short to save. Anything is possible for our God.
Here's a note from the New Spirit Filled Life Bible - "The Hebrew word for keeps (preserves) is used six times in this song, dramatically emphasizing the care of God (see Jude 24)." The translation I posted here uses the word "watches" instead of keeps or preserves. But the point is still made. The Lord is constantly watching out for his people, to keep and preserve them. "The Lord is my shepherd," David writes in the 23rd Psalm. His aim is to protect and preserve.
Lastly, the Lord's eye is on us forever more. "The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore." As the children of God, we have a lifetime, even eternal, shepherd who guards our lives. If only we would lift our eyes up to the hill of the Lord and ask for help, and then it would be given freely! His eye is constantly on us; why don't we simply ask for him to intervene on our behalf. If we thought we needed his help, then surely we would.
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
=====================================================================================
(By the way, I wish I could have heard David and the other psalmists play these songs. Wouldn't that be amazing.)
Just like David confesses in Psalm 124, the author of this song declares the Lord is the source of help. The first line, "I lift my eyes up to the hills," is the physical portrait of the psalmists need. In desperation the psalmist is pondering, wondering, searching the skies as he is searching his own heart. In need of help, where can the psalmist turn?
"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." How sure is the psalmist of this help? Listen to this...
"He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." Nothing occurs to which the Lord is oblivious to. He takes no break from watching over us; he takes no naps and no coffee breaks. He is constantly watching, keeping in tune with out situations.
Again, "The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night." All twenty four hours in the day are protected by God. Nothing escapes his view, and nothing is out of his reach. As Isaiah 59:1 "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear." Twenty four hours of the day, we have a God who knows our situations and deepest needs - and His arm is not too short to save. Anything is possible for our God.
Here's a note from the New Spirit Filled Life Bible - "The Hebrew word for keeps (preserves) is used six times in this song, dramatically emphasizing the care of God (see Jude 24)." The translation I posted here uses the word "watches" instead of keeps or preserves. But the point is still made. The Lord is constantly watching out for his people, to keep and preserve them. "The Lord is my shepherd," David writes in the 23rd Psalm. His aim is to protect and preserve.
Lastly, the Lord's eye is on us forever more. "The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore." As the children of God, we have a lifetime, even eternal, shepherd who guards our lives. If only we would lift our eyes up to the hill of the Lord and ask for help, and then it would be given freely! His eye is constantly on us; why don't we simply ask for him to intervene on our behalf. If we thought we needed his help, then surely we would.
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