I Come by the Blood

Jerry Bridges, in The Discipline of Grace, page 54:

To live by the gospel, then, means that we firmly grasp the fact that Christ's life and death are ours by virtue of our union with Him. What He did, we did. This is the only sense in which we can understand Paul's bold statements in Romans 8: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (verse 1); "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (verse 31); and "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies" (verse 33). 

These statements by Paul are objective truths; that is, they are true whether we grasp them or not. So often, however, we find it difficult to believe them. Because of our frequent failures before God, we do feel under condemnation, we do not feel God is for us but rather must surely be against us, we do think He is bringing charges against us. At such times we must preach the gospel to ourselves. We must review what God has declared to be true about our justification in Christ. 

You are the perfect and righteous God 

Whose presence bears no sin

You bid me come to Your holy place 

How can I enter in

When Your presence bears no sin?

Through Him, who poured out HIs life for me

The atoning Lamb of God

Through Him, and His work alone

I boldly come

I come by the blood, I come by the cross

Where Your mercy flows

From hands pierced for me

For I dare not stand on my righteousness

My every hope rests on what Christ has done

And I come by the blood

You are the high and exalted King

The One the angels fear

So far above me in every way

Lord, how can I draw near

To the One the angels fear?

Through Him who laid down His life for me

And ascended to Your side

Through Him, through Jesus alone

I boldly come

(c) 1994 Sovereign Grace Worship

What a lavishingly kind God!

I sing because I'm happy

I sing because I'm free

for His eye is on the sparrow

and I know he watches me

ahh, ahh, ahhh...

Jesus is my portion

he sets me free!

(c) Page CXVI

stream this and other songs on their SoundCloud. 

This is a particularly pretty one. :)

photo: sky at Jeannette's outdoor wedding 9/17/11

Let Go & Caste Myself On Grace

What allows me to let go and not be consumed with seeking my own good (someone's got do it afterall, right!)? How can I die to myself and have a tender heart of love and service to others, genuinely desiring their good over my own? How do I move from fear and self absorption to faith? What frees me to acknowledge my sin and repent; what gives me the desire to know grace and be gracious to others?

Only the work of God upon my dark heart.

Because God is for me and not against me, I can lay down the pursuit of self. Christ has already secured my ultimate good and is continually interceding on my behalf. I can leave my self interest behind, knowing that the almighty God has and is working for my good. He will take care of me. So I am free to forget about myself and simply look to him and to the interests of others.

I was reminded tonight of just one of the things I have opportunity to be thankful to God for. This year he has shown me new ways in which Crossway Church really is my family. Not until I walked through certain things could I see just how many extra brothers, uncles, sisters and aunts I truly have. And it's something special, to be counted as a joy and be thankful for, that brings out everything from protective older brother impulses to tender motherly understanding and affections.

God often uses his people to do his work and to reflect himself. Why should I ever feel I am alone? He is here, and he is for me. So let go of self striving and live in the freedom of his grace that releases you to walk in obedience, humility, and love. I cannot live in a gracious manner until I let go of self and throw myself entirely on the grace of God. There is no life to be found apart from it. By grace alone are my blind eyes opened so that I can see and treasure my Lord.

photo: L Howell at MU; 8/25/11

In this together

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 
- Romans 12:15

Sometimes you do both on the same day.

9/11/01 - terrorist attack

9/11/11 - friend's wedding day

photo: 8/13/11

Hunger for God

Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by your name,

O Lord, God of hosts.

-Jeremiah 15:16

photo: family hunting cabin -Tioga County, PA - 8/13/11

How long, O LORD?

"How long?" is asked fifteen times in the Psalms. Who better is there to ask than the Author of time, in whose "book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them?" (Psalm 139:16)

"It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." (Lamentations 3:26)

This week has been very rainy, and today there was some severe flooding. Summer is going out with a bang, including a recent earthquake and hurricane - very untypical for Lancaster county. Sometimes seasons can change so dramatically, and have very different feels to them. I have been grateful for that tangible reminder through the weather. Ultimately, God decides if, how, and when the seasons turn.

One of my favorite ways to practice waiting quietly on the Lord is by singing worship songs to myself in my day. Oh, that sounds fun! I will look forward to that tomorrow.

Brutally Honest and Free

I've started to read The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges, and I'm eating it up. Chapter one contains this:

The gospel applied to our hearts every day, frees us to be brutally honest with ourselves and with God. . . . We can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be, because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross.

 "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32

Free to be Glad

C.H. Spurgeon for Aug. 25:

When Jesus comes into the heart, he issues a general licence to be glad in the Lord. No chains are worn in the court of King Jesus. . . . Loose the chains of thy neck, O captive daughter, for Jesus makes thee free.

God is so good

He took my sin

Now I am free

He's so good to me

"God is so good" by unknown author