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a February 4th, 2009

  1. Proud of being ugly. . .

    February 4, 2009 by Nate

    Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder if God can actually use me. All I see are the flaws, the sin, the brokenness.

    But all the scars, the weaknesses, the sin—everything that should be holding me back highlights God’s incredible power.

    Paul wrote these words to his church campus in Corinth:

    [God] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

    Look in the mirror. Find the flaws. Find the weakness. Everything that you think is holding you back from reaching your potential as a child of God.

    And know that He won’t take them away from you. Instead, He’ll transform them into something useful for His kingdom.

    So look in the mirror and be proud of the ugliness. Because the more ugly you’ve been, the more beautiful God can be.

    If you let Him.

    Category Personal, Scripture Musings, Spirituality | Tags: | 1 Comment

  2. Does this make you angry?. . .

    February 4, 2009 by Nate

    This makes me sad and upset. I feel like this is doing more harm than good. I found it in an actual Q&A section of a website:

    Q – What does the Bible say about things like mystics, mediums, psychics, conjurers, witches, tarot readers, palmists, astrologers, clairvoyants, etc.?

    A – REPENT OF IT NOW!
    . . . .

    Q – What happens if I don’t turn from my sin, repent and accept Jesus?

    A – YOU WILL BURN ETERNALLY IN HELL.

    Q – I want to change, but how can I?

    A – You must first realize that YOU are lost. (You are lost if you have not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior (John 3:18). You must then repent toward God. To repent means “to turn”. Turn with your heart to God. Turn from unbelief in Jesus to belief (placing your trust) in Jesus. You must believe that Jesus died for YOUR sins, and died as YOUR substitute. Your faith (trust) must be in Jesus Christ. You must ask God in prayer, in your own words, from your heart to forgive you and to save you. This must be a genuine and sincere prayer, not just the act of repeating some words provided for you. “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” (Acts 16:30,31).

    TURNTo God (With your heart; with faith and sorrow for your sins and unbelief).

    TRUSTIn Jesus Christ (With your heart; Trusting Him with your eternal soul; Wanting and willing to receive Him as your own personal Savior.)

    TALKTo God (From your heart in prayer; in your own words; express your sorrow for sins, and desire for forgiveness, and for Him to save your soul.)

    Maybe I’m just skeptical, but I doubt a lot of people (if any at all) responded positively to this. It’s a little embarrassing actually.

    Category Church, Social Justice | Tags: | 1 Comment

  3. Modern hymn of the week. . .

    February 4, 2009 by Nate

    “In the Cross Alone I Glory” by Brian Petak

    In the cross alone I glory
    Recognition laying down
    Greatest treasures count as worthless
    Standing next to heaven’s crowns
    Standing next to heaven’s crowns

    In the cross alone I glory
    Ever reaching for the prize
    Pressing on and laying hold of
    That for which my Savior died
    That for which my Savior died

    In the cross alone I glory
    Nothing of my own to give
    Only that which Christ has offered
    For my soul that I may live
    For my soul that I may live

    In the cross alone I glory
    Holding fast the Word of Life
    Toiling not in vain but being
    Poured out as a sacrifice
    Poured out as a sacrifice

    Never will I seek the glory
    That was never meant for me
    Always heavenward reflecting
    All to Jesus to receive
    All to Jesus to receive

    In the cross alone I glory
    Nothing of my own to give
    Only that which Christ has offered
    For my soul that I may live
    For my soul that I may live

    Category Music | Tags: | No Comments