Idols- Is God Your Everything?

Every sin stands as an idol, going before the Lord your God... Are you willing to fight against every idol in your life, to worship and love YHWH-God alone?

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! :)

I am so thankful that we are able to celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ! But I can't help but think about the cross. The precious redeeming blood of Jesus- the one who's birth we celebrate today- covers me and allows me to stand justified before the Lord! For that, I am thankful. He was born to die and redeem His captive children!

"Forever etched upon my mind, is the look of Him who died, the Lamb I crucified. And now my life will sing the praise of pure atoning grace that looked on me and gladly took my place."

Thank You, Jesus!!!

Jesus, my only Hope

Jesus, My Only Hope- Sovereign Grace

I come into Your presence
With nothing in my hands
I only bring thanksgiving
For Jesus, God and Man
I cast myself on mercy
I cast myself on love
I trust Your gracious promise
To wash me with Your blood

I will not fear Your judgment
For me, no wrath I dread
For it was spent on Jesus
Poured out upon His head
When Satan’s accusations
Make my poor heart afraid
I hear my King declaring
“Father, that debt is paid”

Jesus my only hope, my only plea
My righteousness, my Great High Priest
Who intercedes for me before the throne
Jesus, I trust in You alone

I can't think of much more to say about Jesus than what this song says about Him. He is my only hope, plea, righteousness, Great High Priest, my Intercessor... He is my King!!! My life only has meaning in Him and through His cross! I am rejoicing in His redemption! :) I am so thankful for the pure, atoning blood of Jesus, that covers me from head to toe in His righteousness!!! Praise God!!! :)

Romans 7

"O law, Christ is my righteousness, my treasure, and my work; I confess, O law, that I am neither godly nor righteous, but yet this I am sure of, that he is godly and righteous for me." - Luther

Love Based Repentance

“In fear-based repentance, we don’t learn to hate the sin for itself, and it doesn’t lose its attractive power. We learn only to refrain from it for our own sake. But when we rejoice over God’s sacrificial, suffering love for us – seeing what it cost him to save us from sin – we learn to hate the sin for what it is. We see what the sin cost God. What most assures us of God’s unconditional love (Jesus’s costly death) is what most convicts us of the evil of sin. Fear-based repentance makes us hate ourselves. Joy-bases repentance makes us hate the sin.”
- Timothy Keller

Jesus is not safe, but He is good.

"Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in His garments of strength?-- 'I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.' Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like the one who treads in the winepress? 'I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come. I looked but there was no one to help, and I wondered there there was no one to uphold; Therefore, My own arm brought salvation for Me, and My own fury, it sustained me. I have trodden down the peoples in My anger, made them drunk in My fury, and brought down their strength to the earth." --- Isaiah 63:1-6

"Who is this- friend or foe? Why is His clothing spattered red? Has He been treading grapes in a winepress? Has He been making wine? Could the explanation be that simple and assuring? No. He has been taking vengeance on His enemies. He's been fighting for redemption. And He's done is all alone- not with a great army, but all by Himself. We didn't help Him. We don't even see Him until His victory is already complete. Look at Him out there, the way He's approaching us marching in the greatness of His strength. He's not even tired. He's energized, He's awesome, He is terrible in His wrath."
- Raymond C. Ortlund

Jesus- the Lion- is not safe, but He is good.

"Do not call conspiracy all that this people call conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and Let Him be your dread." - Isaiah 8:12,13

How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds

in a believer's ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,

and drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,

and calms the troubled breast;

'tis manna to the hungry soul,

and to the weary, rest.

Dear Name, the rock on which I build,

my shield and hiding-place,

my never-failing treasury,

filled with boundless stores of grace!

Jesus! my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,

my Prophet, Priest and King,

my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,

accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
and cold my warmest thought;

but when I see thee as thou art,

I'll praise thee as I ought.

Till then I would thy love proclaim

with every fleeting breath;

and may the music of thy Name

refresh my soul in death!

What Makes You Differ?

“Christian! the only thing that makes you differ from the vilest being that pollutes the earth, or from the darkest fiend that gnaws his chains in hell, is the free grace of God!”

- Octavius Winslow

He Holds The Keys!

“He laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the Living One; and I was dead, and look! I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and Hades’” (Revelation 1:17-18).

Literally, Jesus says, ‘Stop being afraid..’ Why? Because Jesus Christ has walked into the gaping jaws of the greatest enemy there is. On the cross he let all the powers that threaten to undo us have their unrestrained way with him. He let death take him captive. And then he burst out of the prison and carried away the prison keys!”

- Darrell W. Johnson

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden. cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield yo; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burden bear

May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer

Rapture, praise, and endless worship will be our sweetest portion there!