Confessions

Okay, I'm not about to blog my deepest darkest sins on the internet.....but I will confess that I've found the ways of the world are still so deeply embedded in my flesh that to rid myself of them.....would leave me in a pile of scrappy skin and bones.

My heart is motivated more by the desires of the flesh sometimes rather than a heartfelt pursuit of pleasing the Lord.  

ie....I love to excercise when I think about how good I will feel with more muscle in my body......

"oh, THEN" I say "I will be able to focus more on the Lord, when I have more energy."

OR - my incessant list making......sure, being an organized wife will be a blessing to my husband....but when was the last time I rose early to get chores done so that my evening could be spent reading the scriptures - so instead of being in God's presence as my motive......my desire to feel like I've accomplished much (though ignored the word) is my 'goal'

I miss Him. 

"He who gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is He whose trust is in the Lord." 

No need to tell Him 'hi' for me....I'm going to pay a visit tonight. :) 

Press on for the prize friends ~ 

up out, 

jen

Question my salvation ? YES
If FEAR is the beginning of wisdom.....

What do we say about the light and breezy services happening at so many churches.
Yes, I'm still a bit perturbed about Osteen, and others like him who think that the Gospel is some self-esteem "have heaven now" garbage....but over and above that even.

Wrestling MUCH when I was first saved in 2000 - over this "fear of the Lord" I went around asking people what they thought that it meant. MOST people said "reverence" or "awe of God" with a smile on their face and a pretended profoundness. Okay well, I was a baby Christian asking other baby Christians what it means to "fear Him who can cast soul and body into Hell"
When we had just had the wrath removed from our heads - it really didn't make sense that a believer should fear the God their Father..........none of us could grasp this concept it seemed.

Well, in March of 2005....I found myself paralyzed after a sermon called "The present effects at trembling at the wrath of God." http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2005/

I sat in the pew for about an hour that night after he finished speaking.........in shock that I feared the one whom I love and pray to......and the fear was mingled with joy to be on this side of his wrath.......comforted also, by the words of my pastor :
"I said a few moments ago, If you know God for who he really is in the greatness of his holiness and justice and wrath and grace, you will tremble in his presence. And this is not something you will grow out of. In fact the immature must grow into it."

Three facets of knowledge have contributed to produce joyful fear and trembling in my life and the lives of many dear brothers and sisters that I know and love.

* The more we know truly- what we deserve, due to our inability forsake sin without the grace of God and to do righteousness

* The more we know GOD himself, His CHARACTER and HOLINESS.......that we've sinned against the one who deserves infinitely and absolutely, our obedience and loyalty and love, the more we realize how much we deserve hell.

* The more we understand the WAYS of God and the foreshadows He has given to show us that the cross was where He was headed throughout the entire course of history.....the more we understand the IMMENSENESS of the meaning and reasons and precious beauty of Calvary.

Sidenote:
I HIGHLY recommend checking out the YouTube posted on this blog called
"ARE YOU SAVED?"-
http://denyyourselfdaily.blogspot.com/

Every believer should examine themselves........regularly.
RC Sproul said yesterday on the radio broadcast, reiterating the command to "make our calling and election sure"
That many will say "LORD, LORD" to Jesus.......implying a personal relationship with him......just as there are some people who walk around after a one time meeting a celebrity and act as though they are intimate friends with them. So also, many professors of Christianity have 'met' Jesus and think that on judgement day simply saying "Jesus died for my sins" is some sort of password that will remove the wrath of God and excuse them of the wicked and lukewarm life they lived here on earth.

Press on to know and love and fear the Lord our God......

"Listen to the way the Bible says it so paradoxically, and yet, all true saints know what these words mean.
Psalm 2:11, “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”
This fear is shot through with joy.
Isaiah 11:3, “And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.”
This fear is full of delight.
Nehemiah 1:11, “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer . . . of your servants who delight to fear your name.”
This fear is what the saints delight to experience."

We thank God for your ministry of His word Pastor Piper.
In Christ Jesus by His merciful doing,
Jen2

Proverbs 11:25
"The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."

Man, Solomon was wise.......(by God's granting his prayer for it. :)
It is so true that when you share truth with a brother or sister in the Lord to encourage and refresh them - God blesses YOU with what comes out of your mouth........so oddly phenomenal !

The tongue being a powerful thing......can do damage as well.........much.........
Which leads me to my second ramble..........Um.....Joel Osteen. Sigh.......surely a bit ignorant, and thus, why is he deemed "America's Pastor" ???????

I almost had to yak as I listened Joel being interviewed on his thoughts about the Rep. candidate for the presidency - Romney. Stating that "Romney says that Jesus is his lord and I would say that yes, he is a Christian" (check it out for yourself at http://www.equip.org/ Jan 14th broadcast of Hank Hannagraff)

So on my little pink blog, I plead - Pastor Osteen, brother - you are accountable to God - more than a lay person for what you say......you have a responsibility to your flock and to all of the vulnerable people fumbling around in the dark who watch your television 'evangelism' - TO KNOW SOLID DOCTRINE.
I'm not saying Joel isn't a believer, but I'd say that he's playing with fire. Bad doctrine hurts people. And I'm just a 7 year old believer and even I know that Mormons / Latter day saints - ARE not Christians.
They have a different Jesus..........period.

So, then I got to thinking.................we've got a racial supremecist (could be just a rumor) an unbelieving woman, and a mormon in the running for the presidency....it's looking like THE true Christ is preparing our country for the final judgement. I don't pretend to know the day or the hour.......only fools do that.
But when you consider the sins of our country.......murdering babies as the wicked countries that were judged by God previously.......the homosexuality AND the heterosexual immorality and sensuality......greed......despising authority..........heartlessness, foolishness......false religions and 'new age' thoughts.......coming from "PROFESSING" believers !
Our country is a smoke in God's nose....................I'm ashamed of what we've become..........the USA. We have so many precious freedoms........gifts of God........democracy, local fire depts and police - hospitals with excellent technology and physicians with wisdom from God......food abounds........heat in the winter, air conditioning in the summer..........oh, the time is drawing near.

To any who do not know this Jesus, I recommend that you prepare for the day of reckoning - it's coming. Forget the world, and everything in it, it's all going to perish.......as will all who do not repent. It is SHEER mercy that there IS STILL TIME TO REPENT......

"The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor, sent me to heal the broken hearted. Bring freedom to the captive, sight to the blind, break the chains of the oppressed - for this is the YEAR OF THE LORD.
First time he came - we ripped his beard and beat his back up
Next time he comes - he'll have a flaming sword with eyes on fire!
First time he came - we pierced his hands and feet and hung him up -
But the next time he comes - he'll be on a white horse and I'LL BE WITH HIM !"
~ lyrics by Disciple, inspired by God's Holy Word. Praise the Lord!

In the Lord - brothers and sisters - we need to keep our gaze upward.......so that we don't turn to the right or the left.....but hope in GOD who is mighty to save those who cast themselves on mercy ONLY through what Jesus has accomplished. For "He himself bore our sins in His body on a tree."

Burdened, lightly - thanks be to Christ,
jen2

Lessons of the law

Is it just me or are traffic tickets encouraging ?

It's not that some other round-head wasn't speeding right past you doing at least 10 miles over your speed - and that HE SHOULD HAVE been the one who got the ticket....it's much more like.......well, I was speeding too.....and......it really doesn't matter what 'dude' was doing...I know I'M guilty........and whew.....I'M getting disciplined for it.

It's a matter of God's amazing kindness in his Sovereignty and Fatherhood.......I guess the shepherd analogy works here too.....I remember my pastor saying something that stayed with me - that back in the day - if a shepherd had one sheep that just kept running away....he'd break it's leg to keep it from being able to run. He'd cause PAIN in it's life to keep it ultimately safe....close to himself where no wolves would dare try to snatch that precious little sheep, stupid though he be.

But when God disciplines*........He ONLY disciplines His OWN children (Prov 3:12) so that "we will not be condemned along with the world" 1 Cor 11:32
WHAT A sorrowful joyful thing it is to be chastised by our Father.....it is surely one way to know that we are His own. Deep down, we do not want to displease Him......and he will smack our back side until we GET IT......that something we're doing wrong we are not examining closely enough....not taking into account the Name we're dragging through the mud.
All the while our Father is saying "THIS. HERE. This area I need you to take heed to change, and regard my Name as HOLY in this area of your life that has not yet been brought under submission."

Think of the bum deal it is for those who go their whole lives in blissful sin and consequence free debauchery and never know the firm hand of Fatherly love.

This is how we rejoice in the trial of being disciplined. Though we were in the wrong, He does not forsake us. He will not tell us that what we did was okay, but He will say "I love you too much not to use the rod. You are mine, and I want you to be Holy."

To know the Father's character is better than life.........
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
Is 26:3

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

* I believe discipline and punishment are different......though I have NO scripture to back that up yet. :) Punishment is final is seems and discipline is for those whom God wishes not to punish for eternity. This is totally a random slice....and I'll need to look at my concordance.
brb....in 3 days er so