The Cost of the Cross

As I walked through valleys dim And suffered earthly loss I thought I had learned the price It was to take up my cross And then one valley deep and dark I fell upon my knee The cross I carried weighted down Seemed too much for me I looked back at where I’d been And counted every loss With tears of pain and agony I cried “What more could be the cost?” In a quiet answer, in a sweet voice I heard Him so near “I haven’t asked you to give up much Your vision isn’t clear.” And then I felt the cross get lifted As He picked me up, “Let’s take a look, but first I give You water from my cup.” Deep I drank from Living Water To quench this thirsty soul Deep I sank into the arms Of the One who makes me whole When I was rested, free from despair He whispered once again, “Let’s take a look my child at just What you think you’ve given…” And so He turned me around To the pathways I had trod And began to show me clearly What it meant to follow God. “You see there child, “ came that voice So gently to my ear “I had to strip away some things That you thought were dear, There were things you thought were good But kept you fast in sin, Then there were choices that you made Apart from my plan, And even then I called to you But you would not hear So when you fell and cried to me I again brought you near And, yes my child there was Some loss but only by your choice There’s always heartache when You don’t follow my voice So though it has seemed painful These things had to go For Only then could you see love And of grace ever know.” Then He handed me the cross I could not bear alone With gentle hands he steadied me, With grace His eyes shone He began to lift the chains I had added to my cross Burdens that hindered me And caused His kingdom loss Fear and worry heavy there With guilt and shame And countless others lifted He Far too many to name “These,” He said, “Were never yours But you would not let go, You see I paid for all this So very long ago The cross you carry did cost much – The blood of THE LAMB Sent from your loving Father The Great I AM When I said to count the cost Of taking up this cross I was not talking about any Earthly loss I wanted you to understand To follow is not cheap You should not take lightly the cost It was no ordinary sheep. My blood refines the soul of man, Sets the captives free It is this blood that cries out And draws the sinner to me” With tears I understood What I had loss was my gain It was all for my good Every joy and every pain. When I looked back I could see Just how grace had covered me And that grace was give To set this captive free.

Hopelessy Lost Our Way

Our praise team sang a song by the group Selah called Wonderful, Merciful, Savior on Sunday. This has long been one of my favorites from this group. The words have always struck a cord in my heart causing me to stop and reflect on our Lord.

However, this week it hit me different. At one point they sing: You offer hope when we've hopelessly lost our way, Oh we've hopelessly lost our way.

Before upon hearing this portion of the song I have reflected on my own sinful nature and the propencity to stray from God's word. But on this day with a crushing weight in my heart I looked up and out and over our congregation and I began to wonder as a Christian people have we, like Isreal, hopelessly lost our way? Have we forgotten the one True God? Have we allowed social and religious decorum and personal pride to stifle the movement of the spirit? Have we become terrified of what the spirit might do if unleashed in our lives and in our church so much so that we have relegated Him to a hidden corner of our lives. Restricting him to just being a quiet voice of conscience, a small still voice of God's prodding us to the more abundant life? Have we become satisfied with our religion, our church attendance, our service within the church to such a point that we have justified this limitation?

This is not a unique problem but is of widespread epidemic proportions. The alters across America have long been dry of the tears of the people. The rebellion of religion has pacified and lulled the modern Christian into a dangerous state of feeling close to God without a true submission to His will. We have broken the church into denominations, and religious institutions - each clinging staunchly to a few verses and claiming to be the true religion. Yet Christ belonged to no denomination, no religious organization. In fact the first church was that of believers each seeking God's will and all working together toward a common goal and resting on the solid promises and layed out by a Redeeming Savior.

The Kings Food

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the King's food, or with the wine that he drank. Daniel 1:8 (v. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better..)

So what does the "king's food" look like today? Have we fallen into a complacent Christianity that allows for the "king's food" - or are we driven as the early Christian - driven to our knees to seek the face of the Lord, impelled by the spirit to live out a life like Christ, inspired by our faith the walk the road of Jesus - unimpressed with the world, not worried about what others think, but living only to bring glory and honor to God. What "king's food" have you allowed into your life (language, conversation, television shows, secular music, entertainment, drink, etc) under the guise that "it's not really that bad", or "I don't want to be judgmental"?

Daniel and his friends resolved to refuse the King's food - an active decision. They then depended on the strength of the Lord to preserve them. They were driven to their knees in worship and they sought His face. They did not preach their resolve to others, they did not boycot, they did not take a political office or demand attention. But their actions turned the King's world upside down, their actions turned into the testimony of God's work for they were found ten times better.

I will resolve this day to quietly seek the Lord by refusing the King's food. I will not be conformed to this world but will be transformed by the renewing of the spirit.

Thoughts on Titus

Titus 2:1-15 Men and women of courage - where are you? The question is not "if I should" it is "How should I". When we have an experience with Christ and grow in the Lord we are to "teach what is good and so train the young women (and men)...." (v.3-4). Our churches whither and our families suffer when we neglect the upkeep of the garden that God has placed before us. The seeds do not sprout into plants if they are not watered, there roots do not go deep if we do not prepare the soil and remove the rocks, they will be over come by the weeds (world) if we do not come along and weed the garden (removing false doctrines, training them in righteousness, edifying and encouraging). (* Also see the Parable of the Seeds) We must be about the Father's work within the local body of believers preparing those God has entrusted us with, all the while working the fields of this world too. For how are those in the church to grow if the workers never help them? The Ethiopian Eunich asked the same "How am I, unless someone teach me?" So Men and Women of the Faith of God - where is your courage to take up the task that God has appointed - are you willing to invest and train this generation?

The Author

Hebrew 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...

How often do we look at our life and think that things could be better if we did things differently. Often times not even consulting God on our decision - but rather doing what we consider the best option for us.

This verse speaks of the fact that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He set out a redemptive plan that includes a new life in him. He is the one who has written our story before the beginning of time. Like any good author of this world Jesus has carefully written our stories, following us through hardship, heartbreak, joy, and forgiveness to the end of our story. Unfortunately along the way we often decide we do not like the story that is laid out before us. And not knowing the ultimate outcome we decide to re-write certain parts. Ripping the pen and paper from the master author's hand and handing it over to the world or the enemy to write out a part of our story. In this we shortcut the beauty of the story the master author has before hand laid out. We miss the designed story he has for us and ultimately miss some of the blessings that were set out for our lives. During this time the Author of Salvation stands at our side ready to take over our story when we decide to trust him with it again.

Think back on the last good novel you read. The earthly author lovingly unfolded a story that surrounded major characters. The author laid out the details and through the story the reader follows as the character goes through trials and hardships, triumphs and defeats and ultimately the ending is good - though granted sometimes sad. But in the end we see that the story laid out shines brightly and we at the end have a connection to those involved.

In much the same way our story is written out by The Author of Salvation - and he has made one for each of us that will ultimately shape us into an image of Him. We must therefor trust our story in the hands of the Author of Salvation even in the times that we do not fully understand our story. We must trust him in the times of heartbreak and trials that he is working out a greater purpose. We must give him the thanks for the times of joy when all works out. We must commit to leave the pen in the hands of the Author who has our best intent in His heart. The one who said that He knows the thoughts he thinks toward of us and they are of peace and an expected end.

My hope is that at the end, my story is one that is captivating because the Author of Salvation shines through on each page. May this also be your endeavor as you seek God's will - trust His authorship in your life and know that He is writing a beautiful story across the years of your life. Let Him shine on each page.

Princess

Fairy tales and princess things
shining armor and golden rings
My heart has set sail
On my own fairy tale
I'm a princess, daughter of the king
For whom the angels dance and sing
My knight in shining armor bright
Was none other than Jesus Christ
Clothed in white I now stand
On solid rock in shifting sand
A chosen treasure, loved, adored
Set aside for my Lord
My story has yet to unfold
But to this truth I shall hold:
I have a happy-ever-after
Filled with love and gently laughter
Because of blood that was shed
That redeemed me from the dead.

In times of Trouble

In the midst of tumultuous waters
as the ship is battered by waves
Still I cling to this hope and security
Jesus is faithful, Jesus saves
When the dark night presses in
as it overpowers the light
Still I cling to this promise of truth
Jesus has won this fight
When my faith is shaking and weak
When shattered, bruised and alone
I hold to the stronghold of life:
Jesus has called me His own
When the light breaks through
dispelling this night
I'll remember the ancient truth
that Jesus is light
When lifted, restored and set right
when this heart is repaired
I'll remember this: The Good Shepherd
My Jesus has cared
When waves cease to beat
on the battered ship that's broken
I'll remember those precious words:
"Be Still" that were spoken
On the mountains so high
or now in the valley of loss
I'll cling to my hope of salvation
and always remember the cross.