March 14, 2012

Grace For Today, And Not A Drop More

I was encouraged by this post today, and if you haven't already read it would highly recommend it to you. Grace For Today, And Not A Drop More

"My grace is sufficient for you..." 2 Cor. 12:9

HT: Thoughts On The Way


The Mountaintop

As I was reading the other night, I was struck by this verse in Mark. It says that the disciples "came to Him" when Christ "called those whom He desired" to Himself. I thought about how sometimes I hear the same call but am afraid to go up the mountain because Self begins to speak to me and talk me out of the journey. The following is an account of such a time and promises that have helped me in the battle.


"And He [Christ] went up on the mountain and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him."(Mark 3:13)


He, my Beloved, has gone up to the mountain, am I willing to follow?

The way is steep and treacherous; it may end in death!

But my Beloved has called me. I have heard His voice, and I must go!

But surely you could wait. Surely He will come down and meet with you here, as He has in the past.

No, He desires my company now. If He did not, He would not have summoned me, He would not have called me to come up. I will go to Him though seven deaths lay in between! He will uphold me and will not allow me to fall headlong. He will not allow me to be forsaken(Ps. 37:24-25).

But you lack strength, and you'll have to leave everyone and everything you ever knew. You may be humiliated along the way. What if you are forsaken? What if you get to the top and He's not there? 


Self, you are right; I haven't the strength to climb this mountain, but the Lord is my strength and I shall be helped (Ps. 28:7) I shall not be left for He has promised me that He shall never leave me nor forsake me (Deut 31:8). Though I am leaving all behind, I know He is my portion (Lam. 3:24). Though, I am laid low what is that to the infinite glory I shall have when I am with Him on the mountaintop? What pleasure is there here that would keep me from the One whom my heart loves most? No, I shall not worry about my self-preservation. I shall care only about the glory of my Lord.

But...

NO, I shall not listen to you any longer; you care not for my good but only for yourself. I know that where my treasure is, there my heart shall be also (Matt 6:21). My heart is on that mountain, and I shall reach the top!

March 10, 2012

Beams of Heaven


Beams of Heaven, as I go,
Through this wilderness below,
Guide my feet in peaceful ways,
Turn my midnights into days;
When in the darkness I would grope,
Faith always sees a star of hope,
And soon from all life’s grief and danger,
I shall be free some day.

Oftentimes my sky is clear,
Joy abounds without a tear,
Though a day so bright begun,
Clouds may hide tomorrow’s sun;
There’ll be a day that’s always bright,
A day that never yields to night,
And in its light the streets of glory
I shall behold some day.

Harder yet may be the fight,
Right may often yield to might,
Wickedness awhile may reign,
Satan’s cause may seem to gain,
There is a God that rules above,
With hand of power and heart of love,
If I am right, He’ll fight my battle,
I shall have peace some day.

Burdens now may crush me down,
Disappointments all around,
Troubles speak in mournful sigh,
Sorrow through a tear stained eye;
There is a world where pleasure reigns,
No mourning soul shall roam its plains,
And to that land of peace and glory
I want to go some day.
~Charles Tindley





March 05, 2012

Biblical Manhood and Biblical Womanhood cont'd

Here are the rest of the sermons from the Biblical Manhood and Biblical Womanhood Series by Ryan Fullerton

Part 4: Singleness
            Q&A

Part 5: Marriage- After this message the men met with Ryan to discuss the pursuit of purity.

Part 6: Parenting