tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72577308821312929782024-03-05T07:18:01.275-05:00not unto usKatherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-27305206684853300632011-12-08T23:59:00.003-05:002011-12-09T00:01:43.443-05:00it should be enough.<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Goudy Old Style', serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Jesus is mine and all is well, but I want</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">And sway by the swaying wants of men.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Love is mine and truth is real, but I feel <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Less comfortable than before. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%;tab-stops:385.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%;tab-stops:385.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"">Song and story are mine, but true glory<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%;tab-stops:385.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"">Is not weighty and I think the beauty is me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%;tab-stops:385.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"">Goodness is mine and my hands are full, but I<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%;tab-stops:385.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"">Grasp the wind and must still learn <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%;tab-stops:385.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"">That no one else will do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%;tab-stops:385.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Here, the heart knows unsettledness: Place evades my certainty<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">And friends marry friends while I still long for that.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Another tomorrow came, and I have been carried by <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Another will, but it all seemed so statically silent<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Instead of brilliant with the news of my dreams come true.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Grace, astonish again<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">When I lean again to feel that it is not<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-7819595324865547272011-12-03T18:38:00.005-05:002011-12-03T18:40:43.075-05:00saturday's coffeehouse.<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >Most often, it’s my favorite. Early for the prime corner, I plan to drink my fill of the evening;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But this time’s not the same, from the start.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >Customary paper-covered tables for crayon scrawling;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But something about a pencil and journal page is (oddly) more appealing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >3-per-table tea lights, someone’s floor lamp - the glow is sweet;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But the performers up there are almost buried in their shadows.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >Good song - Sufjan is a genius of a man. And I had no idea you were such a beast at that instrument.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But most talent doesn’t dazzle. Do they think they are singing in unison right now? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >I ask a friend why her face is heavy; <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But the crowd’s din is deafening, so she draws a schoolgirl’s hearts and initials to say she misses someone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >Time for coffee, if I can get to it;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But it’s watered-down or something. I drink it anyway, the donut might have helped.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >Eye contact with deep eyes across a black-diamond-level maze of tables, chairs, and oblivious others;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But he probably wasn’t even looking at me. Psh… silly me. Of course not.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >Time to sit and listen again - or try;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But the instruments are too loud and I just want the busy room to hush. Even a murmur would be nice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >Someone’s announcing a trivia question for a prize – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But either no one’s listening, or no one keeps track of celebrity baby names anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >So many pretty people in trendy clothes. I especially like the rolled-up plaid look,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But that’s all of the boys tonight. Just one big blur of flannelled men. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >I finger my new beaded bracelet with the silver tree clasp. After 22 years, Daddy’s still my Valentine. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But that doesn’t mean I don’t long for another one. Some days more than others. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >Attempted conversation. I laugh a lot, of course. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But it might not be real this time. I just can’t make my life sound interesting enough. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >A new arrival picks up the burnt orange Crayola; will this be another friendly doodle contest?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >But his face speaks a more serious intent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >I glance down, and see curiously written amidst the table’s sad, scribbled mess: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" > CHRIST WAS BROKEN FOR YOU. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >Next to the most beautifully most Emptied and Alone on a tree. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >Strangely stunned, I am drawn beyond the noisy place to the Truth on the next morning’s table.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"" >The image of true fullness lingers as I leave,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" >Running to drink deeper.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-48077051896595428062011-05-09T12:19:00.001-04:002011-05-09T12:22:54.436-04:00Divided.<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 32px;"><i>Ezekiel 13:14</i></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">The house stands gleaming, but underneath<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">It’s split, creaking and shaky.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Most walls are shredding from rot<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Underneath the smeared whitewash of a false peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">But no one seems to notice.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">The other rooms offend,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">But it’s a holy blood that soaks them deep,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Throbbing life into the uncovered filth,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">And whispering of future glory<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">When the age of war is done and the pretty dead walls are broken,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Leaving only the true ones forever –<o:p></o:p></span></p>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-76697488027355842832011-05-02T16:03:00.001-04:002011-05-02T16:11:59.935-04:00resurrection<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Goudy Old Style', serif; line-height: 32px; ">The dust weeps.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Torrents cannot heal its rending, for<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">The Curse fingers its way past elements.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">All the breathing fight and collapse,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Souls sighing thunder over the state of things.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Grasped pleasures dissolve to cold ash<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">As time takes and pain shakes<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">What was only meant for here<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">And now – in this dismal labor room,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">The sweaty, straining City groans loud for<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:200%;font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">The last re-making. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-59514296621591818382011-04-26T18:51:00.000-04:002011-04-26T18:52:04.038-04:00the Only for the Nothing.<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Goudy Old Style', serif; ">The sanctuary’s rigid pew kept me still,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">But my stormy mind refused to hush. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Thoughts were taken captive by an old friend I thought I’d moved past,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Who seemed to like these Sabbaths best<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">To bring bitterness to precious things.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Fierce attempts to be at rest and humble fell bloodied again, and grinning arrogance gained a decided seat.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Every try reeked of my unwelcome guest, dead to me – but we still held hands, tighter today it seemed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">No goodness this way. Let go.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Black sin-love was laid ugly and bare in the familiar good law, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">And I wept over soul poverty with heavy confessions of need. I prayed to feel it, and it hurt, of course.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">“It is sweet to be nothing” is truth, but only as the aftertaste <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">Of choking down this bitter pill – to ruin my heart-lean on anything plus.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">I learned it again today and I only learn it hard.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">It’s a Gospel of an Only,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif"">And it’s only for the Nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-29180780661481566862011-01-25T13:06:00.003-05:002011-01-25T13:11:26.140-05:00venture no. 5<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It takes shatterings.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Many heavy shatterings, because<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The hallowing needs to hush them. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Loud, lying lovers – reveling in jactation;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Fraudulent food their famine feast. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The breaking came and showed beauty to the <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Abysmally satisfied. Tenderness wrecked all imitations<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Of the real gem –it wasn’t you after all.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Look, this –yesterday’s fallow flounderer now<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Heaves for heaven. Sleepless seeker<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Silenced by a strange undoing of death<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By death. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Still we beg more <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Crushing –flint-faced ruin races to<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Win over the widening white. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Just – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rend more busy shadows hard embraced for <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A true sort of quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-2677678674908228162010-12-11T19:19:00.001-05:002010-12-11T19:20:46.935-05:00incarnate.<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">A strange grace invaded</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>this marvelously ruined city.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Highest glory is with us,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>the God-man, breathing our <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sin-poisoned air and loving the<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>stumbling, the simple, all who <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dare not lift their eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Our fathers coveted the sight.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Fainting hearts running to the child<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>whose blood would mercy-seat<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Us to the King. [we hated but who yearns<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>still.]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Enfleshed, God inhabits darkness, tastes <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>weakness. Knows<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Need. Temptation will be no stranger<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>to the forever firstborn, entering<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Time to be the Fulfiller of wallowing<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>humanity. To hush the <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stubborn, bring near what we distanced.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Branch, stooping lower than <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Eyes were anticipating, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>obeyed, [never scorning]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>delivered, [idol-bound exiles]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>redeemed [HIS].<o:p></o:p></span></p>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-42971816066755059782010-11-27T12:53:00.001-05:002010-11-27T12:53:39.373-05:00lovely fury.<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I felt frigid chills as she drew<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">My eyes to the angst-ridden scene.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The air was not cold, but the warmth <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Had escaped this chaotic mess.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Unkempt undergrowth dashed by the entangled<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Branches of poor-postured trees.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In greenless grey, this bleak wilderness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Whispered the approaching bitterness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Of winter.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Had we come a few days sooner<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There would have been vibrance<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">And delight in fall’s rich texture.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">But she sensed a beauty that begged us to linger.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It was the grim desolation that pleads another garment -<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This one of white so white no bleach could compete.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">And we knelt to the grace that <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Brought order to our disarray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-20251588067851446922010-11-19T00:08:00.003-05:002010-11-19T00:11:38.615-05:00a constant.<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">The somber hush falls, naked limbs scrape the sky.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Yesterday’s color seemed eternally bright<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>In a brilliance we forgot, this season’s might.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Black flocks forebode, we feel despair as they fly<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In frantic formation, never ceasing their cry;<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>And they are restless and stirring before comes the night<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>We might not be ready, but the time must be right<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For this sudden change. In the questionings why<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">We must silently wait. This death will not stay,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>For a time will return for the budding of gold.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">And change whispers something of a higher way,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>As ever-constant Truth has wiser tales to be told.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">And every season of grief and of fear in the fray <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Cannot shatter the trembling lambs in His hold. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-70395748049781805212010-09-30T12:39:00.000-04:002010-09-30T12:40:22.212-04:00mirrors.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b><i><br /></i></b>the morning glass greets me with a frown as<br />again<br />i search it for my meaning.<br />what do i read?<br />am i pretty today?<br />“your hair is not gathered right,<br />and black would turn more heads,”<br />it whines,<br />devouring minutes,<br />never smiling, always pointing.<br />faults changing and shallow,<br />it is never pleased.<br />i can’t stay any longer.<br />the image there is not the fullness<br />is not forever<br />is not even mine.<br /><br />a looking-glass of paper beckons<br />from the corner<br />i search it for my meaning.<br />what do i read?<br />i see heavier faults in me<br />past the skin<br />but constancy and hope.<br />that what these eyes can see<br />withers with the weeds.<br />that the forever Treasure is hard to chase<br />but His face is beauty.<br />they think they will see it<br />on the screen,<br />in this tangible glass.<br />but they will see beauty,<br />they will see<br />Him<br />in a girl that finds her meaning in a cross<br />and loves.</span>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-78584894890701258172009-07-30T19:52:00.002-04:002009-07-30T20:42:06.904-04:00He came forward.They came with lanterns. Certain He was hiding himself in the darkest corners of the garden on this blackest of nights. He had to know they were after His life.<div><br /></div><div>They came with weapons. Expecting inevitable resistance from His followers if not from Him. Their fingers itched to have Him bound and taken to trial. Then He would see who was really in charge.</div><div><br /></div><div>But how wonderfully they were mistaken. They stopped dead in their tracks.</div><div><br /></div><div>He did <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">not </span>hide. Even though He fully and perfectly knew all that was about to happen to Him. Even though He had just moments before been near death itself as He stared into the cup He was about to drink. Even though He cried to the Father two times for an alternative and heard nothing but silence from heaven. The most agonizing night. And the greatest agony to come in merely hours.</div><div><br /></div><div>He did <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">not </span>flee. He came forward. Though He staggered in His soul, contemplating the work He had to do. He perfectly obeyed His Father. He loved Him. He was faithful to do what He had to do in order to fulfill the plan of redemption They had made together before time began. He knew His hour had come. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">He came forward.</span> Because He loved sinners.</div><div><br /></div><div>He did <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">not </span>resist. The obedient Son asked the soldiers who they were seeking. When they shouted His name, He came forward and said He was the One they were looking for. They did not even have to search. </div><div><br /></div><div>Before the men could even seize Him, they fell to the ground. Astonished. What? Who IS this man? His very words made them tremble. They could not even remain standing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, He asked them who they sought. Again told them that He was the One they were after. Once the soldiers made it to their feet again, they bound Him and led Him to face it. Man's greatest act of injustice in all of history. Yet God's greatest display of justice and mercy for all the world for all of time. The cross.</div><div><br /></div><div>Who was this Man that willingly handed Himself over to certain death? Certain wrath? The greatest human suffering possible? Unimaginable pain and separation? The horror and shame of the cross?</div><div><br /></div><div>Who was He?</div><div><br /></div><div>The only Man who was stronger than death. The Man who was God himself in the flesh. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Man who saw our need. And gave Himself to be our Savior. Died in weakness, rose again in power. To be our peace. Our righteousness. Our HOPE.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the only One who can save me. The only One who can save you.</div><div><br /></div><div>He is Jesus Christ.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let us worship and be amazed.</div><div>He was willing to go to the cross. He is willing to save sinners still!</div><div>What a Savior!</div>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-56732938077321637562009-07-23T19:23:00.006-04:002009-07-30T19:51:34.289-04:00knowing? or being known?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dg1EwqhtVnv10BCClpc7-9KCA81rXBoJI4pongtbZwzTkyog4Xe4pj2tIozsk05cqaWGqjqzi65DG1gJR2ei1XQe-zLuKdmI6MVnV8m6xNkXMv-PNym_dT50bFDhNwIl7V0fWdgq8Dc/s1600-h/coffee.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dg1EwqhtVnv10BCClpc7-9KCA81rXBoJI4pongtbZwzTkyog4Xe4pj2tIozsk05cqaWGqjqzi65DG1gJR2ei1XQe-zLuKdmI6MVnV8m6xNkXMv-PNym_dT50bFDhNwIl7V0fWdgq8Dc/s320/coffee.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361804764346774674" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"> </span></div>"What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it --</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the fact that</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">He knows me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-size:small;">I am graven on the palms of His hands.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal;font-size:13px;">I am</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:13px;"> never</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal;font-size:13px;"> out of His mind.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal;font-size:13px;">All my knowledge of Him depends on His sustained initiative in knowing me.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal;font-size:13px;">I know Him, because He first knew me, and continues to know me.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal;font-size:13px;">He knows me as a friend, one who </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">loves me</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal;font-size:13px;">; and there is no moment when His eye is off me, or His attention distracted from me, and no moment, therefore, when His care falters.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal;font-size:13px;">This is a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">momentous knowledge.</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">unspeakable comfort</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> -- that sort of comfort that energises, be it said, not enervates -- in knowing that God is constantly taking knowledge of me in love, and watching over me for my good.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;">There is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tremendous relief</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"> in knowing that His love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">worst</span> about me, so that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">no discovery now can disillusion Him about me</span>, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">and quench His determination to bless me</span>.<br /></span></span></span></span><div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There is, certainly, great cause for humility in the thought that H</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">e sees</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> all the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">twisted things </span>about me that my fellow-men do not see (and I am glad!), and that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He sees</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> more<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> corruption</span> in me than that which I see in myself (which, in all conscience, is enough).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;">There is, however, equally <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">great incentive to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">worship</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">love</span> God</span> in the thought that, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">for some </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">unfathomable reason</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;">, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">He wants me as His friend</span>, and desires to be my friend, and has </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">given His Son to die for me</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"> in order to realise this purpose."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">-J. I. Packer <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knowing-God-J-I-Packer/dp/083081650X">Knowing God</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Photo by<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/"> Stuck in Customs</a></span></div></div></div>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-6417047235369684812009-07-06T10:19:00.011-04:002009-07-07T10:22:20.467-04:00repent of my repentanceDo you realize that our very acts of sorrow over sin and repentance before God are often in need of repenting of? It can be very easy to find ourselves listening to the lie that we are doing what God desires when we repent - which is true in and of itself. God does clearly command us all to repent of our sins, and it pleases Him when we come to Him seeking pardon. But far too often, our motives for repenting are themselves ungodly. <div><br /></div><div>Examine your prayers of confession for a moment. Do you have an overwhelming sense of the vileness and danger of sin, as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581346492">John Owen</a> puts it "as represented in the blood and cross of Christ", always abiding with you? Is your motive a <a href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Corinthians+7%3A10">godly grief</a> over sins that the Savior has spilt His blood to pardon - sins that He has already buried in the ocean of His mercy?</div><div><br /></div><div>Or do you repent because you fear what God will do to you if you don't? Fear what the consequences of your sins will be? Do you repent out of some sense of necessity, as if the work of repentance must be done continually in order to maintain your state of salvation? Or merely out of a desire to ease your bothered conscience, with little or no concern for Christ and the way your sins have slighted and grieved Him? I think Tim Keller puts it best:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"R</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">epentance out of mere fear is really sorrow for the consequences of sin, sorrow over the </span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">danger of sin — it bends the will away from sin, </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">but the heart still clings</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. But repentance out </span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">of conviction over mercy is really sorrow over sin, sorrow over the grievousness of sin</span></span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> — it </span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">melts the heart away from sin. It makes the sin itself disgusting to us, so it loses its attractive </span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">power over us. We say, ‘this disgusting thing is an affront to the one who died for me. I'm continuing to stab him with it!"</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You see what is being said here? If our repentance is not done for the simple fact that we have seen what our Savior has done in His rich mercy, and are continually and humbly beholding our</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">sins in the horror and offensiveness of the cross, we have not really repented! "The heart still clings" to sin if we are merely sorry for our sin for any other reason.</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So let us fix our eyes upon Jesus Christ - and leave them there. Let us be in continual awareness of our sin and His grace as displayed on Calvary. For how can there be any drop of arrogance, any self-centered prayer, any love for another, when we truly and rightly behold the beautiful Savior who died there for us?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And let us also behold this same Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father. For He did not stay on the cross. He rose again. And "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/r/arisemys.htm">ever lives above, for me to intercede</a>"! His perfect righteousness covers my every sin - yes, even those polluted prayers. His blood speaks a better word.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">May this be our prayer today: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> (taken from the Valley of Vision)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">O God of Grace,</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and hast imputed His righteousness to my soul,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">clothing me with a bridegroom's robe,<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">decking me with jewels of holiness.<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But in my Christian walk </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am still in rags</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">;</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">best prayers are stained with sin</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">;<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">my penitential tears are so many impurity;<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin;<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I need to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">repent of my repentance</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">;</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I need my tears to be washed</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">;<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I have </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">no robe</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to bring to cover my sins,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">no loom to weave my own righteousness;<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am always standing clothed in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> filthy garments</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and by grace am always receiving </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">change of raiment</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">for Thou dost always </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">justify the ungodly.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am always going into the far country,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and always returning home as a prodigal.<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">always saying, Father, forgive me,<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and Thou art always bringing forth the best robe.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Every morning let me wear it,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">every evening return in it,<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">go out to the day's work in it,<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">be married in it,<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">be wound in death in it,<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">stand before the great white throne in it,<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">enter heaven in it shining as the sun.<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Grant me </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">never to lose sight</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> of the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">exceeding sinfulness of sin,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the exceeding righteousness of salvation,<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the exceeding glory of Christ,<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the exceeding beauty of holiness,<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the exceeding wonder of grace.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-55600143058847951972009-06-15T10:10:00.008-04:002009-06-15T17:07:10.861-04:00what is your life?The first thought I had of it came in church yesterday morning. The congregation heard the account of a woman in the hospital who was given a maximum of two days to live. She wanted a chaplain to come and talk with her. In God's merciful providence, the hospital could not get a hold of the chaplain on call. So they called the deacon from our church. He went in to see her, and the woman, barely able to talk, told him that she wanted her sins to be forgiven. "What does it mean to be a Christian?" she asked him. By God's grace, he told her the good news of Jesus Christ and prayed with her. This woman found the rest she was searching for - in the Savior. Merely hours before it happened... <div><br /></div><div>That afternoon, several families from our church went to visit the local nursing home. As I played the piano and the children sang songs about the Gospel, my heart was filled with hope. Here we were in a room filled with so many lonely people. Those who did have family visiting were accompanied by their guests. Even staff members were present, or would peek their head in the room out of curiosity. I don't think I had ever seen the room that full. I could barely make my way through the maze of wheelchairs and beds. All of them were there eager and glad to hear our songs and the message of the Gospel. What a glorious opportunity! After we were through singing, I made my way around to say hello to some of the residents. As I held their frail hands, and gave them a smile and a greeting, I felt an overwhelming sense of the eternal importance of what we were doing. I had done this countless times before, but never felt such urgency, such joy in giving joy to others. I prayed that their eyes would not just see cute children and kind people, but the beauty of Christ and the glory of the Gospel. This could very well have been the last time I would have seen some of these familiar faces. Praises be to God for the opportunity to show His love and sing of the hope of the Savior. These dear people are soon to face it...</div><div><br /></div><div>At home that evening, my family gathered in the living room to listen to an excellent <a href="http://sgm.edgeboss.net/download/sgm/next/2009/next09.4_mahaney.mp3">message</a> by CJ Mahaney. One of my sisters and I had heard it given a few weeks ago at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.thisisnext.org">Next</a>, but it was the first time to hear it for the rest of the family. Pastor Mahaney spoke on a topic <a href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=of+first+importance&src=esv.org">of first importance</a>, the death of Christ. He quoted Charles Spurgeon: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">We cannot think of that death too often."</span> Then he went on to proclaim the glories of the forsaken Savior and what it meant for Him to be cut off from His Father, and be left to drink the cup of God's wrath <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">alone. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">He drained the cup dry, leaving us not a drop to drink. He experienced wrath so that we might experience grace. He was forsaken so that we might be forgiven by the Father... He screamed so that we might sing nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ. He was forsaken so that we might never be forsaken." </span>What astounding mercy!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">Then he spoke about the </span>dying<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "> Savior. And I was reminded again of this fact. It comes to all men. The repeated phrase in Genesis 5 "...and he died" will one day be said of every one of us. Will one day be said of me. And because of the Savior's death, I need not fear death. Why? Because when I die,<span class="Apple-style-span" style=""> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"the next face [I will see], and the next voice [I will hear], will be the Savior's!"</span> Because He drained the cup of God's wrath dry for me, I know that only </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">grace</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""> remains. All because of His... DEATH</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">.</span></span></span></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">We do not know what our futures hold. But there is one thing certain to happen to all of us... It is the one thing that happens to everyone. Yet it is the one thing we treat as if it will never happen. Or something that is still a long way off. Yet James tells us... "What is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; ">your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (<a href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=james+4%3A14">James 4:14</a>)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "> What does this mean? It doesn't matter if we live to be a hundred years old, or if we died this very day. Our lives will be over before we know it. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">So then, the question remains...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"How then shall I live?"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Are we living and breathing to display the only true and lasting treasure - Jesus Christ? Are we people who are constantly surveying and <a href="http://www.thisisnext.org/blog/grace_came_shining_through">pointing others</a> to His wondrous cross - His death that makes all the difference in this life and the one to come? Are we counting all earthly things as loss because of the <a href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=surpassing+worth">surpassing worth</a> of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord? Are we using our material blessings to show that these things are <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">not </span>our treasure - Christ is? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; ">Or are we storing up for ourselves treasures on earth? Things that may bring us temporary pleasure, but in the end mean <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">nothing </span>when we come to stand before God?</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Don't waste your life!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; white-space: pre; font-family:Arial;font-size:10px;"><object width="500" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oBJzUnxiKwA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oBJzUnxiKwA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="315"></embed></object></span><br /></span></div>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-89524009670896748292009-05-31T15:05:00.009-04:002009-06-15T10:03:33.277-04:00equally skilled.<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">He had just heard the voice of the Lord utter curses. Curses against His covenant-breaking, justice-hating, evil-loving people. A sort of divine lawsuit followed by a sentence of judgment. The people of God did not delight in the law of their Lord, the only true Counselor, but gave themselves over to hear the counsel of wicked earthly kings. As the psalmist declared, their end would be certain downfall.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The prophet Micah knows this. And he mourns in misery. He felt as though he had just arrived at the fields after a harvest, and there were not even any leftovers. Nothing to satisfy his craving for godliness. Where were the godly people? Gone. Vanished from the earth. The only people remaining walk only in wickedness. Their hands continually set on doing what is evil. And to do it </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">well</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. "They all lie in wait for blood." Those in high places seek bribes. There is no concern for what is just and good.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Both of our hands are equally skilled at doing evil... at bribing the judges... at perverting justice... Both of our hands.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Micah warns that the judgment day is close at hand. Where to put his trust? Not his neighbor. Not his closest friend. Not even his precious wife. Trust no one. The son hates his father. The daughter hates her mother. Enemies dwelling with enemies in the very same household. But Micah's mourning turns to quiet confidence. He waits in expectation for the Lord to act.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Both of their hands are equally skilled at doing evil... at bribing the judges... at perverting justice... Both of their hands.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"Aha! There he goes! He will never stand, the fool!" is what the enemy cries. If only they knew. They will soon. Yes, I fall. But I will rise again. Yes, I sit in darkness. But the LORD alone will be a light to me. I am to patiently bear His indignation towards me for the wrongs I have done to His name. Then He will plead my case. He will bring me to light and just vindication. Now the enemy sees. The one who mocked "Where is the Lord your God?" will be covered in shame and trampled in the streets.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And our remnant </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">will</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> be preserved... our walls will be built... our kingdom established... many nations will flock to our City, while all else will surely become desolate. Were we so strong and wise that we turned ourselves around to become a faithful and holy people, who now love justice and right? No. Our hands were </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">equally skilled at doing evil. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We needed a different pair of hands.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Both of HIS hands are equally skilled at outrooting evil... at judging the judges... administering justice... Both of His hands.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">His hands are like none other. For He is like none other. Micah's lament ends in exuberant joy...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> "Who is a God like you? Pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old." --Micah 7:18-20</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Both of His hands are equally skilled at showing me mercy... at loving the loveless... administering justice... Both of His hands.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Both of HIS hands.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Italicized lines taken from Jon Foreman's excellent song "Equally Skilled". Listen to it <a href="http://new.music.yahoo.com/jon-foreman/tracks/equally-skilled--51844789;_ylt=ApQYSTRLLL_5NcoeImIRmosPxCUv">here</a>... </span></span></div>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-90040712236773570492009-05-18T10:34:00.011-04:002009-06-15T10:03:51.040-04:00seek first.<div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">But seek first the kingdom of God</span>." Matthew 6:33<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A verse I have known since childhood. But something that only challenges me more at time goes on. No, it is much more than a challenge. It is extremely </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">hard</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. A battlefield. My every waking moment seems to be spent on relentless pursuit of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">my </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">kingdom. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> "righteousness". </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">not</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> mine. I have no claim on anything good that I possess. Every fiber of my being belongs to the King of a better kingdom. My only righteousness is that of Christ. He has covered my filthy rags with his spotless, seamless garment of radiant purity. The King cannot turn me away, for "my life is hid with Christ on high".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Why then does this earthly life only seem to get harder? Why am I so unable to further the Kingdom I love, the Kingdom where my heart rests? The more He grows me, the more I see how much farther I have to go. How frequently I fail. How much sin still must be wrestled with and defeated. How much I still cling to my kingdom and the fleeting pleasures of this world. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This grip must be broken.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This world is not my home. I am a stranger and a pilgrim in this barren land. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"I am weak, but Thou art mighty. Hold me with Thy powerful hand." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This must be the cry of my heart. I know I have nothing to offer the kingdom but feeble hands. Can he use the weak and wounded? The frailty of being in the flesh weighs me down, calls me to take the easy road again. I must say no to its pleas. I must "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14). </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Yes. He is able. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For His kingdom to be established in me, mine must be destroyed. And this battle will not end or become easier while I yet live on this earth. The more ground I gain, the more opposition I will face. This is why it is so hard. But also why it is so good.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">By grace alone, the King of Glory who rescued me will indeed make me into His likeness and bring my salvation to completion. He will not break this bruised reed but will bring glory to His name through me!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Until that day...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">His Kingdom must be the cause my heart beats for</span>.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Let it come in my heart and in this world.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And may He use me as He sees fit.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For here we have no lasting city. But we seek the city that is to come</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">." </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Hebrews 13:14</span></span></span></div>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-33248759429168635822009-01-06T22:12:00.003-05:002009-06-15T10:01:25.225-04:00Owen on The Means of Mortifying Sin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaT0__I-kOMbyO6H38LINrMWB0KLvqEj31ccCfe5XsjEB-nDqmYqJzX9g0uwgLxsqDJGrtZmyNWZxevedFtiTuCiehGVd0V9kRQ98xQKsKQNA87FeFVMaYNJArWqmfy9F4RwtIw90mn8/s1600-h/1581346492m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaT0__I-kOMbyO6H38LINrMWB0KLvqEj31ccCfe5XsjEB-nDqmYqJzX9g0uwgLxsqDJGrtZmyNWZxevedFtiTuCiehGVd0V9kRQ98xQKsKQNA87FeFVMaYNJArWqmfy9F4RwtIw90mn8/s320/1581346492m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288388888454296146" /></a><br />"Let, then, your soul by faith be exercised with such thoughts and apprehensions as these:<br /><br />I am a poor, weak creature; unstable as water, I cannot excel. This corruption is too hard for me, and is at the very door of ruining my soul; and what to do I know not. My soul is become as parched ground, and an habitation of dragons. I have made promises and broken them; vows and engagements have been as a thing of naught. Many persuasions have I had that I had got the victory and should be delivered, but I am deceived; so that I plainly see, that without some eminent succor and assistance, I am lost, and shall be prevailed on to an utter relinquishment of God. But yet, though this be my state and condition, let the hands that hang down be lifted up, and the feeble knees be strengthened. Behold, the Lord Christ, that has all fullness of grace in his heart [John 1:16], all fullness of power in his hand [Matt. 28:18], he is able to slay all these his enemies. There is sufficient provision in him for my relief and assistance. He can take my drooping, dying soul and make me more than a conqueror [Rom. 8:37].<br /><br /><i>'Why do you say, O my soul, my way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Have you not known, have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint." (Isa. 40:27-31).'</i><br /><br />He can make the 'dry, parched ground of my soul to become a pool, and my thirsty, barren heart as springs of water'; yea, he can make this 'habitation of dragons', this heart, so full of abominable lusts and fiery temptations, to be a place for 'grass' and fruit to himself (Isa. 35:7).<br /><br />So God staid Paul, under His temptation, with the consideration of the sufficiency of his grace: 'My grace is sufficient for you' (2 Cor. 12:9)Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-37019492510153688862008-12-19T19:07:00.003-05:002009-06-15T10:00:16.543-04:00Big Changes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOMQ6mtNFvyLtD0NGGsqFGJUb2UVLsbgYnrCDezNy9Vbe2tXKT9TQV7ARBBWZbXulVlykC4O_J2Bxn9aBxa1bQcOD7lNuuncrZLMH4pok53Gv-bYJmC5wssG_sHOtp317rJfIPbiJJJU/s1600-h/506854983_138e9198c4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOMQ6mtNFvyLtD0NGGsqFGJUb2UVLsbgYnrCDezNy9Vbe2tXKT9TQV7ARBBWZbXulVlykC4O_J2Bxn9aBxa1bQcOD7lNuuncrZLMH4pok53Gv-bYJmC5wssG_sHOtp317rJfIPbiJJJU/s320/506854983_138e9198c4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281658453587090882" /></a><br />I am here to announce that I received a letter in the mail on Monday. It was an acceptance letter into the one and only college I have applied to since I left my local community college last year. It is the college that I looked at first when I even began considering college several years ago. Through all of the schools I have looked into, this one has always stood out. It is Grove City College in Grove City, PA. Yes, it is far away from home (over 7 hrs.) but it is indeed a wonderful school and I trust my experience there will be a much needed and very sanctifying challenge. <br /><br />My classes start Jan. 19th... Just over 4 weeks away. This means plenty of preparation in not-so-much time. I will be able to start scheduling classes next week, which is very exciting. My last day of working at Chick-fil-A (at least until summer) will be Jan. 3rd. Soon I will be packing my boxes and bags to embark on the journey to the beautiful campus that will be my home for much of the next 4 years, Lord willing. I still cannot believe this wonderful blessing. God has been so gracious, and I am so thankful that He answered the prayers of many (which I am also very thankful for) that I would be accepted. I am thrilled to see what the Lord has in store as I go to study His Word in depth, make new friendships, experience a new way of life, and by His grace honor and glorify the name of the Savior!<br /><br />Yes, I have my share of fears and doubts. But they soon lessen immensely when I think of the King and His goodness. Why should I fear change when the God who holds my life is Himself unchangeable? What a comfort to know that He is always faithful and full of steadfast love no matter what our situations in life. Blessed be His name! May He alone be glorified in me as I embark on this new (HUGE) change.<br /><br /><br />P.S. Did I mention that on the Friday of my first week at the college, one of my favorite singer/songwriter will be performing there with Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek? Guess who??<br />(photo by jrossol. picture of crawford hall, administrative offices at GCC).Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-54782592320072592812008-12-09T19:19:00.003-05:002008-12-09T19:38:48.226-05:00What is Required?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLM2Cs9KxvJNKJIpGwj_wVYdYK6aJQ0nqPVfRw1Xy4BOgFA_ycnr267KN2Xrbfes-aH45a0MDXG9CDmYV9Q6Ja98GS8VVYB-Kuh-6HhLNWFJtvHJPM8nPq-HBt-UFYTpBno-Cb1kDuS0/s1600-h/p234.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLM2Cs9KxvJNKJIpGwj_wVYdYK6aJQ0nqPVfRw1Xy4BOgFA_ycnr267KN2Xrbfes-aH45a0MDXG9CDmYV9Q6Ja98GS8VVYB-Kuh-6HhLNWFJtvHJPM8nPq-HBt-UFYTpBno-Cb1kDuS0/s320/p234.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277954415079908402" /></a><br /><br /><br />"Q. 160 - What is required of those that hear the word preached?<br /><br />A. It is required of those that hear the word preached, that they...<br /><br />1. ...attend upon it with diligence, preparation, and prayer. <em>Do you spend time in prayer prior to church, asking the Lord to help you be fight distraction and be attentive? Do you set the distractions, cares, and anxieties of the world aside for these moments of teaching? Are you disciplined in getting the rest and nutrition your body needs so that your mind is able to focus? Do you listen eagerly and humbly to the Words of God being taught?</em><br /><br />2. ...examine what they hear by the Scriptures. <em>Do you keep constantly in your mind that the words before you are our God's words to us, as if it were a letter from Him? Do you consider the message of the preacher and recall to mind or search for related verses to help you gain even better understanding and Biblical discernment? Do you continue investigating after church?</em><br /><br />3. ...receive the truth with faith, love, meekness, and readiness of mind, as the word of God. <em>Do you treat God's words to us as precious eternal and absolute truths, or do you treat it as if it is any other book? Do you spend your time in God's word trying to fit/allow for your current situation, or do you humbly feed upon God's word, willing for your sin to be exposed and dealt with accordingly? Do you seek to find Christ in every page, or do you carelessly skip through the "boring parts"? </em><br /><br />4. ...meditate, and confer of it. <em> Do you spend time frequently thinking back to God's word and its given application, and seek to apply it in every area of your life? Do you spend time discussing what you have learned with others? Do you seek further help if you are uncertain in some areas? </em><br /><br />5. ...hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives." <em> Do you daily strive to live and walk in obedience to Scripture? Do you continually seek its guidance for your every step? Do you make God's law your delight?</em><br /><br /><br /><br />...question/answer taken from the Larger Catechism of the Westminster Assembly. italicized comments mine.Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-54161136002874364762008-12-01T17:33:00.004-05:002008-12-09T19:39:51.110-05:00Who Is This?Who is this, so weak and helpless,<br />Child of lowly Hebrew maid,<br />Rudely in a stable sheltered,<br />Coldly in a manger laid?<br />’Tis the Lord of all creation,<br />Who this wondrous path has trod;<br />He is God from everlasting,<br />And to everlasting God.<br /><br />Who is this, a Man of Sorrows,<br />Walking sadly life’s hard way,<br />Homeless, weary, sighing, weeping<br />Over sin and Satan’s sway?<br />’Tis our God, our glorious Savior,<br />Who above the starry sky<br />Is for us a place preparing,<br />Where no tear can dim the eye.<br /><br />Who is this? Behold him shedding<br />Drops of blood upon the ground!<br />Who is this, despised, rejected,<br />Mocked, insulted, beaten, bound?<br />’Tis our God, Who gifts and graces<br />On His church is pouring down;<br />Who shall smite in holy vengeance<br />All His foes beneath His throne.<br /><br />Who is this that hangs there dying<br />While the rude world scoffs and scorns,<br />Numbered with the malefactors,<br />Torn with nails, and crowned with thorns?<br />’Tis our God Who lives forever<br />’Mid the shining ones on high,<br />In the glorious golden city,<br />Reigning everlastingly.<br /><br />-William How<br /><br />Such a fitting reminder of the One we must fix our eyes on this Christmas and every day...Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-9400541704689456582008-11-20T18:23:00.007-05:002008-11-22T15:17:48.444-05:00The Mercy SeatThe following description is found in James Montgomery Boice's excellent book <em>Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?</em>. The ladies of our church are reading through and discussing it together. This portion is found in the chapter called "Christ Alone" which we discussed on Wednesday night. It was such a wonderful time of sweet fellowship and worship of our great Savior. It is my hope that you too will be left standing in awe before the precious blood of Christ that covers us at the mercy seat.<br /><br /><br /><br />"This brings us to one of the most beautiful pictures of the work of Christ in all of the Bible: the ark of the covenant, which was kept within the Most Holy Place of the Jewish wilderness tabernacle and was the focal point of Israel's worship.<br /><br />The ark was a wooden box about a yard long, covered with gold, and made to contain the stone tables of the law that Moses had received on Mount Sinai. (The first set of tables had been broken, but a new set had been written.) This box had a cover called the mercy seat, and upon the mercy seat, at each end, facing each other, were statues of cherubim (angels) whose wings stretched upward and then outward, almost meeting directly over the ark. In a symbolic way, God was imagined to dwell above the ark, between or over the outstretched wings of the cherubim.<br /><br />As it stands, <em>the ark is a picture of judgment,</em> intended to produce dread in the worshiper through a disclosure of his or her sin. <em> For what does God see as He looks down upon earth from between the outstretched wings of the cherubim? Clearly, he sees the law of Moses which each of us has broken. He sees that he must act toward us in judgement. God cannot ignore sin; sin must be punished.<br /><br />But this is where the mercy seat comes in, </em> and this is why it is called the <em>mercy</em> seat. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the Jewish hight priest entered the Most Holy Place to make propitiation for the people's sins. Propitiation is the very word which (in Greek) was used to translate "mercy seat". Moments before, the high priest had offered (in the outer courtyard of the tabernacle) a sacrifice for his own sin and the sins of his family. Now he took the blood of a second animal, entered the Most Holy Place, and carefully sprinkled the blood of that sacrifice upon the mercy seat, which was the ark's covering. What is symbolized now? <em>Now, as God looks down from between the outstretched wings of the cherubim, he sees not the law of Moses which we have broken but the blood of the innocent victim. He sees that the punishment has been meted out. Propitiation has been made, and his love goes out to save all who come to him through faith in that sacrifice.</em><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjqijU8sBwcKqfipupQh7euYnIrXPj5fjq5NkBLp2fQnB4HkT2xyFMrhElUrlD3bbn0uSLHFhLGQk72QCCXjXA8xBapbzXQpyM4z2z4EM-lPDZSpRxX1MYdpF1es0xto_PbHV6RZ8A9E/s1600-h/tLuk1811Dore_ThePhariseeAndThePublican.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjqijU8sBwcKqfipupQh7euYnIrXPj5fjq5NkBLp2fQnB4HkT2xyFMrhElUrlD3bbn0uSLHFhLGQk72QCCXjXA8xBapbzXQpyM4z2z4EM-lPDZSpRxX1MYdpF1es0xto_PbHV6RZ8A9E/s320/tLuk1811Dore_ThePhariseeAndThePublican.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271576722901720514" /></a>Jesus told a parable about two men who went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee; the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up to pray - as everyone would have agreed he should do: "Come here, Mr. Pharisee. Stand up where we can all hear you. Be quiet, everyone. The Pharisee is going to pray."<br /><br />And pray he did. He prayed a magnificent prayer - about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like the other men - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." (Luke 18:11-12). The Pharisee was not lying. He really did give a tenth of his income to the temple. He really did fast twice a week. He was not a thief or an adulterer. Moreover, I am sure others would have concurred in this evaluation. Here was an outstanding man, a credit to his community. The point of Jesus' parable depends on recognizing that <em>if anyone could hope to be accepted by God on the basis of his character or good works, it was the Pharisee.</em><br /><br />Then there was the tax collector. He "stood at a distance" - where he belonged. Jesus said of him "He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner'" (v. 13). And why not? He <em>was</em> a sinner. He had plenty to beat his breast about.<br /><br />It is had to imagine a greater contrast than the one between these two men: moral versus immoral; noble versus base; proud versus shameful; self-confident versus cringing. Yet when the Lord ended his story, he reversed the judgement every one of his hearers had been making and declared: "I tell you that this man [the tax collector], rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (v. 14). No cinematic melodrama or dime-store novel ever had a more surprising ending than this parable.<br /><br />Why did the tax-collector, rather than the Pharisee, go home justified? It is true that the Pharisee was a sinner. He was a sinner in spite of his self-righteousness. But so was the tax collector. The only differences between the two men were that <em>the tax collector knew he was a sinner, while the Pharisee did not know it; and the tax collector approached God, not on the basis of his good works (which he did not have), but on the basis of God's provision, symbolized by the mercy seat and the propitiation that took place there.</em> The tax collector's prayer literally reads, <em>'God, be "mercy-seated" to me, the sinner.'</em><br /><br />The prayer is worth exploring. The first word of the prayer is 'God'; the last word is 'sinner'. This reflects what happens when a human being becomes aware of the true God. <em>When a person becomes conscious of God, he does not proceed unchanged in his supposed 'righteousness', as the Pharisee did. Rather he becomes conscious of sin, and the more so the closer to God he comes. We know that the tax collector knew God because he knew he was - and did not hesitate to describe himself as - a sinner.</em><br /><br />Then, between the beginning of the prayer ('God') and the end of it ('me, a sinner') are the words 'be mercy-seated to me.' This shows that <em> the tax collector also understood propitiation. He knew that between the presence of the Holy God (who looked down in judgment upon the law which he had broken) and himself there had to come the blood of the sacrificial victim. He was coming to God on the basis of the mercy already provided by God through the sacrifice. The tax-collector was saying 'Treat me on the basis of the blood sprinkled upon the mercy seat.' No one can be saved without propitiation."</em>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-49855698067467013872008-11-14T18:41:00.003-05:002008-11-14T18:52:58.005-05:00O Little Town of BethelehemI know, I know... Christmas music already?! It's not even Thanksgiving yet! BUT I saw this video on a blog today and I really liked it! It is a new version of the classic Christmas hymn "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Alli Rogers. I was a bit skeptical as I began watching, since many old and wonderful hymns have been written into horrible new tunes. :) But not all new tunes are bad... there are some excellent ones that I believe truly capture the meaning of the words even better than the original tunes. I think this one is very lovely. And Alli Rogers' voice and guitar-playing only add to the beauty. :) <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uOGLGI1WbB8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uOGLGI1WbB8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-52175877642392494532008-11-06T22:54:00.005-05:002008-11-07T08:28:52.466-05:00Post-Election True and False QuizI first saw this on the Founders Ministries Blog (founders.org/blog) and thought it was a very fitting reminder of where our hope must lie both now and forever... Not in any man or any power of man, but in Christ alone and in the power of His gospel! <br /><br /><em>True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order - (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.<br /><br />True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks be to our great God! Although the days ahead seem grim and uncertain, we need not despair. Our God will never change, and He rules faithfully over all. Lift up your eyes and behold the wondrous Savior! His glorious Word is our only certainty and the foundation of our hope in the midst of these storms and shifting sands. <br /><br />"Neither need we fear crosses, or sigh, or be sad for anything that is on this side of heaven, if we have Christ." <br />"The floods may swell and roar, but our ark shall swim above the waters; it cannot sink, because a Savior is in it."<br />-Samuel Rutherford "The Loveliness of Christ<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBG6arG3TeN_MHcLqs_NBJv-oU7rE1JLJDB7IVNArbKUGtj5ZQymfm3VGx4qeJxqXkmcXnE2Z4_SOsBcXa04rsihjcqW4-sR2rMet_7CEBYZ0LbzoEelBSIQtJ4cCaNS22Fy2huhypaE/s1600-h/Romans8_28.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBG6arG3TeN_MHcLqs_NBJv-oU7rE1JLJDB7IVNArbKUGtj5ZQymfm3VGx4qeJxqXkmcXnE2Z4_SOsBcXa04rsihjcqW4-sR2rMet_7CEBYZ0LbzoEelBSIQtJ4cCaNS22Fy2huhypaE/s320/Romans8_28.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265906534796276226" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />P. S. Please remember to pray for our nation, our president-elect, and the unborn children who are being slaughtered every day. It is every indication that nothing will be done to stop abortion or reduce it in any way while we have a President Obama. He has promised Planned Parenthood to lift all restrictions that are currently placed on abortions, as well as enact the Freedom of Choice Act. We must continue to speak for those who have no voice and fight against this horrendous "silent holocaust" that is taking place. May God hear our cries for justice and mercy upon these children!Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-48484141887468634232008-10-28T20:16:00.006-04:002008-10-28T20:45:25.615-04:00I Recommed These Blogs...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzp1WdMoyNsWqyK6W31VMe7DxVpZIGjiBLCV9iz41WOlEmA6mOqxfH79r12VRlUCZKFe1-wHYUkhOJOGmKneZq9AU0Gv_Mf7fdBc4GrEtzCs8bpKY-_ph1O4NGr0wccqO_LwsZ2nEuRk/s1600-h/blogging.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzp1WdMoyNsWqyK6W31VMe7DxVpZIGjiBLCV9iz41WOlEmA6mOqxfH79r12VRlUCZKFe1-wHYUkhOJOGmKneZq9AU0Gv_Mf7fdBc4GrEtzCs8bpKY-_ph1O4NGr0wccqO_LwsZ2nEuRk/s320/blogging.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262370159811572450" /></a><br /><br />1 - (therebelution.com) The Rebelution by Alex and Brett Harris. If you have not yet checked out this amazing movement by 2 very godly young men committed to God's word, then you are surely missing out! They direct the main thrust of their message towards teens, but it is surely not just for teens! The material you will find on this site, whether written by the Harris twins or others, is excellent, gospel-centered, and will prove beneficial to people of any age. As a matter of fact, today marks Alex and Brett's 20th birthday. The most recent post, "Turning Twenty", was a great reminder that the Do Hard Things message does not end once you stop being a teenager. But rather, the struggle has only just begun. Brett's article contained some very encouraging words for those of us about to enter or just begin the twenty years. <br /><br />2 - (firstimportance.org) - Of First Importance: Living Each Day in the Good of the Gospel. I recently stumbled across this neat blog run by three Christian men from BC. Each day is posted a cross-centered quote to help its readers "remember what's of first importance - the gospel of Jesus Christ". As their "About Us" page states, "We’ve all spent far too much time looking inward instead of upward (Col 3:1), only to futility and despair. This blog was born out of our own need to live each day in the good of the gospel." It does our souls good to be reminded every day of the blood of the Savior that was poured out for our salvation and redemption! Today's quote by Charles Spurgeon is particularly good.<br /><br />3 - (theblazingcenter.com) - The Blazing Center: Connecting God's Truth With Real Life by Mark and Steven Altrogge. A truly wonderful blog by a father-son duo with a love for the gospel and the glory of God. Each post is good to feed and meditate upon, and no matter what the topic, it seems as if every post is consistently brought back to "the blazing center" (the Cross of Christ). The latest post - "5 Surefire Ways to Ruin Your Devotions" may be a bit humorous but it sure is convicting.<br /><br /><br /><br />What blogs do you enjoy reading?Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257730882131292978.post-85833216046806430412008-10-21T20:57:00.005-04:002008-10-24T18:28:17.085-04:00Pray for Election Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS064D8tbfHihul00gCDejTw_15RMvppbkjale6kh-nTxb6tA3a-yhKfKXw6L8vZlLiuiJ3tV2XrifVTizaHfdLBukpmZte6QtyJnAAp1fWc1YWfpKRBWRGMLePf1AiFKP68t1YIPjo3I/s1600-h/election-day.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS064D8tbfHihul00gCDejTw_15RMvppbkjale6kh-nTxb6tA3a-yhKfKXw6L8vZlLiuiJ3tV2XrifVTizaHfdLBukpmZte6QtyJnAAp1fWc1YWfpKRBWRGMLePf1AiFKP68t1YIPjo3I/s320/election-day.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259777014400665282" /></a><br />As I'm sure all of you know, Election Day is only two weeks away as of today. As Americans, we face a huge decision. As Christians, we face an even greater challenge of being biblically discerning as we cast our votes. And for many voters, including first-time voters like me, the uncertainties of what lies ahead for our nation can often seem overwhelming and even terrifying. I hope you will join with me in prayer for this day and for our nation in the days ahead.<br /><br /><em>God of the Nations, We praise you for your eternal sovereignty and goodness. We thank you that not only do you hold the world in your hands, but you hold our hearts in your hands. We think of your words to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 5:21 "the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will" and we rejoice! Father, in this time and always, may our eyes be continually upon You. As we look around us and see what looks to be a nation that has forgotten You and is only going further into destruction, help us to look to You, O God, the sovereign King, and remember that You work ALL things together for good to those who love You. (Romans 8:28). <br /><br />We lift up to you all of Your people in this nation. We pray that you would help us to earnestly seek the wisdom and discernment that is from You and Your Word as we prepare to enter the voting booth. Thank You for the privilege and freedom we have as a nation to choose our own leaders. Let us not take this privilege lightly, but carefully and soberly consider the issues at hand. We pray that all who vote would not go into the polling places blindly, O God, but that all would realize the crucial importance that each individual vote plays in the outcome of this election and the future of our nation. But remind us again that ultimately the decision is Yours. Give us strength to be faithful with what You have entrusted to us.<br /><br />We also pray for those who are running for the office of president, and other various leadership positions in this nation. We pray for much wisdom and humility to be imparted to them. Lord, save those who are lost and are seeking this position merely for selfish gain. Turn their hearts around to serve the only one true Living God and to forsake their idols of fame and wealth. May they seek Your glory and the good of this nation before their own interests.<br /><br />O Savior, our souls take great comfort in knowing that our hope does not lie in feeble man. But our hope is in You and in Your cross. Whatever Your glorious will may be for our nation in these coming days, give the hearts of us Your children great delight in our Savior, our only true and everlasting hope both for now and for eternity to come! All glory be to your holy and glorious name! Amen.</em>Katherine Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711188093783101451noreply@blogger.com0