In the Aftermath...

The words of this song resonated in my spirit from the first time I listened to it.  The imagery is simply beautiful.

The Son of God came to earth giving up everything He knew for what He treasures most…us.  We are His prized possession. He lived perfectly while here without sin, teaching us through this life how we are to live.  Jesus was beaten and crucified to make a way for us to be with Him eternally.  It is so hard to imagine that the Son of God who was there at the beginning of this earth, set the stars in their places, chose to be sacrificed so I could walk in freedom. 

In that moment of glorious surrender was the moment You broke the chains in me.  Lifted out of the ashes I am found in the aftermath.  And in that moment You opened up the heavens to the broken, the beggar, and the thief.  Lifted out of the wreckage, I find hope in the aftermath.

We were once lost but now we are found in Christ. 

I challenge each of you reading this to remember back to that moment when Christ lifted you out of the ashes and what he has done.  Remember your love for Him who rescued you and remember the wreckage you walked away from because of Him.  As you remember, rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. (Phil 4:4)

The Word of God has Spoken....

Seriously It has spoken and continues to speak to us today (Heb 4:12). It is so hard to comprehend that God himself loved us enough to take on flesh and live among us.  He gave up living in the pure unadulterated perfection of heaven to dwell among a fallen people, in a sinful world, all because we are His treasure.  He came with the sole purpose of creating a way for us to fellowship with Him eternally.  What we view as His darkest hours here on earth was necessary for that to happen.  And because He has conquered death He has also conquered our dark times (which pale in comparison).  The battles we face have already been won.  

The Word of God has Spoken...

Every time God speaks (in both the Old and New Testament) people were changed.  

• Moses at the Burning Bush (He was transformed... when the people saw him after he came down from the mountain they didn’t recognize him.  Moses’ face glowed with the glory of God.)
• Paul was changed on the road to Damascus.  Blinded from the glory of God and became a pillar in the christian faith.
• Isaiah was changed when God touched his lips with the coal and his sins were atoned for.

These are just 3 examples.  God speaks to us today as well, through prayer, during times of worship, and through His word.  Remember, the word of God is living and active and will change you.

Never Once...

So God will speak to you it is just a matter of making sure that you listen.  Sometimes it just doesn't sink in until a day or two later that He, the God of the Universe, has spoken to you.  I am going through so much right now.  Thoughts and feelings are running rampant in my head and heart.  These thoughts have consumed me... keeping me up at night and causing a lot of heartache.  As I pray though this I am reminded of the lyrics to Matt Redman's song "Never Once"

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God you are faithful

God is faithful to fulfill what he has promised.  Even when it doesn't look like it will ever happen God is faithful.  He is constantly constant, always who He says He will be, and will always do what He said He will do.  

God has promised me specific things and I know I need to wait on Him to complete them.  It is however hard and heartbreaking when it looks like those things are falling apart all around and there isn't even a glimmer of that promise anymore.  

God's faithfulness is immense, reaching to the heavens (Psalm 36:5) and undending, continuing through all generations (Psalm 100:5).  The God we worship is immeasurably faithful even to the very end.  That is a reason to worship.  GOD IS FAITHFUL.

Perfect Timing

So change is not easy nor is it without pain.  That is exactly where I am at right now.  In the midst of change and a lot of it.  Having to get used to a whole new season in life is NOT easy.

This is taken from my morning devotional.  Perfect timing if you ask me...

"God who keeps our fires burning, burning throught the darkest night."

Sometimes life around us can develop a really negative and cynical tone.l  It could be a discouraging news story or a conversation about 'what's wrong with the world' - but you don't have to venture too far to find a dreary outlook or hopeless mindset.  As worshippers of Jesus it's improtant we don't let this attituden seep inoto our hearts and minds.  We're not to be escapist Christians who keep themselves from the reality of the world, and nor are we to sing a merry song over and above all the pain and noise in a nattempt to ignore it or drown it out.  No.  We must engage with the issues of the day and run headlong into the culture around us.  But at the same time we're called to maintain a different nimdset inthe midst of it - never losing hope, never giving up on joy, and becoming bright-thiniing worshippers, full of truth-filled optimism.

Towards the beginning fo Psalm 18 it is clear that the writer is not living an easy or hassle-free existence.  But still his confidence is in God:
"You O Lord keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." (vs. 28)

God will keep your fires burining, and He will keep the dreams he gave you alive.

***Taken from "Devotions from Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons"

My Passion

Most passions of this world come and go like an emotional roller-coaster.  Following the latest trend or new idea is cool for a time then the wind blows in a different direction and something else comes to take its place.  This should not be the case with regards to our passion and devotion to Christ.  We are raised to new life with Christ... forgiven and free.  

This morning I read that "Passion is the degree of difficulty we're willing to go to achieve the goal."  What a simple yet powerful definition for this word.  This definition takes us past the emotions, the goosebumps and butterflies.  It lets us know that it is a tough optimistic enthusiasm that we must possess to achieve the goals that God has placed in our hearts.    

Christ is our perfect example of this kind of passion.  He lived His life knowing what he was to endure on the cross yet, He was spurred on by His love for us... his treasure.  Let our worship to Him have that kind of passion, where we are going after Him with every ounce of our being no matter what.