"Little Miss Flawless" by Me

One afternoon as I drove home feeling so defeated, I was cut off by a little white car that displayed "Little Miss Flawless" in large letters across her back window. I instantly felt it was so appropriate that I should be driving my BIG BLACK SUV. I wondered if someone had plastered "Miss Flawed" across my back glass!! Many times in my walk, I am discouraged by this ever-present awareness of sin in my life. As I prayed to God about this in my quiet time, He allowed me to see it as a new abundant grace! For those that view themselves as flawless or righteous according to their own understanding, are in as much danger of hell fire as the Pharisees were. Jesus described their condition as, "ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!" (Mark 4:12) (Wow! Don't you love to see exclamation points in scripture?!? I take these as moments that Christ is saying, "I want you to hear this loud and clear!") The grace that I have come to know just in being able to see unrighteousness (however, little the world says it may be)in my life is a God-given grace. And then when God takes scripture and "penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Heb. 4:12) I see my sight into spiritual things as evidence of the love of Christ and His Lordship in my life. Even by grace, is my desire to honor, please and glorify God. "Despair turns quickly to victory when a broken heart is laid on the altar before God." (C.S.Lewis) And that is worship!!!

Building Up of The Church

In the book "Does Grace Grow Best In Winter", it states, "Our suffering aids the maturity of the whole body of believers". This sheds a much different light on our struggles in this life. Do we love the church enough to suffer in a way to "work maturity in the whole church"? I pray that in my suffering, that I would magnify Christ in such a way that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope not only in me through the Holy Spirit but also in the rest of the body. "This is to say, God ordains, by the Spirit and by faith, for our suffering to bring about in the church the purposes of Christian affliction. These purposes are: Christ in us, the hope of glory, and every one of us being made mature in Jesus Christ". If I fail to magnify Christ in my suffering, I not only fail Christ, but I fail the entire body. Lord, may I walk in a way that is pleasing in your sight.

Grace That Is Amazing

I am continuously amazed by Grace. For years I have regurgitated the words to Amazing Grace in slow methodic rhythm, never pondering the words or their meaning until recently. But with my now regenerate heart, I am able to sing those words with such overwhelming emotion. For it was grace that made my eyes see, that taught my heart to fear, that relieved my fears, that brought me this far, that found me, that saved me and that one day will take me home!! I have seen Grace as living and active in my life and in the lives all around me. I have never been so aware of it's presence and never been so amazed by it's working in, and through, and around me! Grace is a gift from God! Grace.....well, it's just......Amazing!!

A Lesson In Humility

As I bathe this blog in prayer, I focused on a sermon on Humility (http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2009/4183_Greatness_Humility_Servanthood/ - thanks Bro. Jon Rushing).
I have not made this blog open for other followers in the faith and do not plan to do so until I feel that God has prepared my heart to be in line with His on this project.

My prayer for this blog would be:
1) that I would use it to serve others
2) that I would give God all the credit and all the glory
3) that I would acknowledge all that I do as a gift of God
4) that I would see that God governs the beating of my heart
5) that I would always affirm my total dependence on God through my weakness
6) that I may only boast in Jesus Christ and that I may make the gospel
the roots of all I say and do.

I pray that I never take for granted the greatness of this journey I am on. It is only by grace that I have been called, and only by grace that I am able to follow. Lord, may my once blind eyes fully see your glory. Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from your law. (Psalms 119:18)

A New Beginning

Welcome to my new blog site! This experience will be as new and surprising for the one reading it, as the one writing it. In starting this blog, I do not claim to be an expert or highly learned in any area. But what I do hope to provide is a candid and honest view of the things I see and experience in my Christian walk. I will share my view on books read, puzzling questions that arise as I am studying and growing in the Word, struggles and conflicts that plague us all, amateur writing and poetry, scriptures passages, quotes, etc. etc. etc. I hope as I walk this path by faith and strength of the Spirit, that my life will only bring glory to Our Lord Jesus Christ who makes each moment possible. May my purpose be The Gospel and nothing less. Therefore, with difficulty, trials, confusion and pain when I am tossed Head Over Heels In The Faith, may I arise with my feet on the Rock of My Salvation. I love you all my friends!