Abuse of the Cross

A few weeks back I went to an MCO(Medical Campus Outreach) conference.  The topic was engaging brokenness.  Something the speaker was telling us has recently recurred to me.  He said that the only way to abuse the cross of Christ is by not coming to it and by not bringing your dirt and filth and worries and problems and pains.  The only way to abuse the Cross is not to use it and not to believe that it is capable of fixing your mess.  I all too often think, "I screwed up and now I have to fix it."  This is not the Gospel.  But functionally it's how a lot of Christians live their lives, they say "Ok now I'm a Christian, I'm on my own."  I believe it is all too easy to get bogged down in the sin of this world and find yourself battling with self and saying "I should know better!"  But the truth of the matter is, we still sin, we still need Jesus.  Why this is SO hard for me to grasp, I don't know...but I do know that when God looks at me, He sees perfection, and that is my motivation to continue forward...that is how I've looked to God ever since the day I became a Christian.  Now my sin does in fact create that separation between myself and God again, but I need to repent and trust again, and MOVE FORWARD! Not get bogged down in my past sins.  Here are two songs that have been very integral in me moving past my failures.

This is "How He loves us" and the line in particular that I cling to is:  "I don't have time to maintain these regrets when i think about how He loves us."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWgeUrD4MHI

This is "Hindsight" by John Reuben and the more I listen to it the more I hear what my heart feels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKaHaUGNhQ0


enjoy

Run

He saved me from self destruction,

From the world’s corruption,

My sick heart’s had reconstruction,

My mind is clear, on things above

Feet running that race of love

Eyes fixed, on what can’t be seen

Soul washed the whitest clean

My strength is found in Utmost Joy

The castle falls

As I sit and watch the world I built,

Crumble round me, I feel the weight of guilt

Darkness surrounds me, quietly yet violently

I can't stop it, my life asunder

The storm threatens in thunder

I can't escape this fear I’m under

No amount of work, no toil or strain

Can save me from this pain

My life shatters, my heart breaks

Nothing matters, all my mistakes

My life shatters, my body aches

Nothing matters, but highest stakes

The pain sears worse than fire,

My soul aflame, with broken desire

I know there’s peace, there’s care

I just gotta find it, find it somewhere

I know I can’t, I’m just chasing air

I am worthless, without purpose

I am useless, falling amiss

Ignorance, it used to be bliss

Peace is coming, and already came

He’s taken away my shame

My life He’s here to renew, to reclaim

In Him I have clear direction, a clear aim

My purpose He gave,

I am now a joyful slave

He’s the potter, I’m the clay

My pain He took away

My purpose is this

And I don’t want to miss

To see His love

And show to all below and above

Make me stand

I only have one problem, sin
I know in the end it can't win.

But sometimes i believe it's lies,
O Lord please hear my sighs.

You know i cant do this on my own
Please let your paths be known.

Give me the wisdom that i need
the Boldness to make decisions with speed
To be a man after you're heart

Not after my own selfish greed

My God you know I'm weak
Be my strength, hold my hand
And when i can't, make me stand

Joyfully

Lord I pray for wisdom, that the path I’ve chosen

Is the one you’ve planned for me

The one that’s for my life been woven

That you would guide my direction

Using my desires and affection

Tempered with wisdom and discretion

Lord I pray you go before me

Tearing down mountains and making paths

Give me peace and serenity

My heart be found in you first and foremostly

That I would delight in you joyfully!

Grace is Great!

Definition from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/grace

a.

the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.

b.

the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.

c.

a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.

d.

Also called state of grace. the condition of being inGod's favor or one of the elect.

Romans 5:1-2b "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand."

Romans 11:6 "And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace."

Grace is a gift...it can't be earned, just received by faith. This Grace is received through faith in Jesus Christ who allows us peace with God.

Titus 2:11-12 "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,"

So not only does this Grace provide us with Salvation(peace with God) it also is a teacher. It teaches us to put off the old and put on the new, even when surrounded by the evils of this present age. So it is by faith that we say no to the worldly passions and live self controlled upright lives.

1 Corinthians 15:10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."

This grace is evident in Paul's life...through his work ethic and the way that he spread the Gospel...he says that it wasn't him doing it but this grace that was with Him. Paul seems to be boasting a little here at this work, and he can, because it was done by Grace!

1 Peter 4:10-11 "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the Glory and the power for eve and ever. Amen."

By using our gifts and talents to serve others we become distributors of God's Grace...and apparently God's grace has various forms. It seems that what we possess as talents are also part of God's grace, whether it be speaking or serving.

Now then, verse 1 Peter 4:11 seems to tie back in well with Romans 5:1-2. Because it is by Christ that we have received the grace through faith, and so without Jesus we would not have received Grace to distribute. If then we have gifts, it is by Christ and his power, and if we use them to serve others then this is to Christ's Glory!

My True Brother

Once a month all the young adult small group Bible study groups meet and have a large meeting. We have been going through a study by Tim Keller. In this particular session, he recounted the story of the prodigal sons. In the end he called Christ our True older brother...this got my mind thinking about my brother in light of this. You see my brother is nine years older than me. He has always been one that I've looked up to and desired to be like. Athletic, strong, confident, and successful at what he attempts. When he got a Mustang when he was 15, I wanted one too, when he got a Jeep, I wanted one too. Even after I became a Christian, I realized, I still wanted to be like my brother, or at least wanted his approval. One thing I love to do is work out and try to take care of my body, I think this may have originated in trying to be more like my brother. One thing I have never done like my brother is how he has had many many girl friends. But I did notice a while back, probably 2 or 3 years ago, is that even when choosing a girl that I found attractive, I wanted my brother to approve. Even if he never knew, I would imagine what his response would be to her. But now, I realize that I have a True Older Brother, who I truly want to imitate. I also want to do what pleases him, and take actions He would approve of, because I already have his approval!