May 18, 2009

Worlds Apart

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy. ~Psalm 99:9

I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. ~Jeremiah 10:23

John Piper's known for saying, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." I like that. And I like this song. To me, it says well what it takes to be most satisfied in Christ.

Worlds Apart
Jars of Clay
(this is the third song on my playlist)

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of One who loves
More deeply than the oceans
More abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love You- take my world apart
To need You- I am on my knees
To love You- take my world apart
To need You- broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did You really have to die for me?
All I am for all You are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart

I look beyond the empty cross forgetting what my life has cost
And wipe away the crimson stains; dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need You now, I owe You more each passing hour
The battle between grace and pride I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
Take the selfish, take the weak, and all the things I cannot hide
Take the beauty, take my tears; the sin-soaked heart and make it Yours
Take my world all apart, take it now, take it now
And serve the ones that I despise, speak the words I can't deny
Watch the world I used to love fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross forgetting what my life has cost
So wipe away the crimson stains, dull the nails that still remain
So steal my heart and take the pain; take the selfish, take the weak
And all the things I cannot hide; take the beauty, take my tears
Take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray…take my world apart

May 1, 2009

Abraham Samuel

Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow... ~ Isaiah 1:17



It's a boy!!

What?? It can't be! We've only sponsored girls. We're a women's ministry! It makes sense to sponsor a girl!!


That is a rough draft of the converstion that ensued at my work when we received information on the new girl we were sponsoring through Compassion International. For years we had a relationship with, Meri (how much do you love her name!). Late last year God opened the door for us to sponsor a new child as Meri seasoned out of CI's program. When our package came in the mail we were sooo pumped to meet her through her letters, photographs, colorings, and information.

So how surprised were we when Abraham Samuel popped out of our envelope! Well, we didn't hesitate to sponsor Abraham Samuel...and a little girl Johanna! Y'all, she's the sassiest thing ever and we love her!

Yet there is a special fondness in my heart for Abraham. I just love this little fella. One day I'll fully describe how God has uniquely used this boy in a world far away to minister His truths to my heart. Abrahams letters are dear. His background and current situation touches a deep, real place in my heart. I long to play kick ball with him, smell the air he breathes, pour Christ's love out in person, share a meal with his family...share Jesus with his family. And so my heart's cry for the millions of Abrahams and Johannas and Meris, and their families, is best summed up in the ever so eloquent words of...

Paul a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and tobarbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. ~Romans 1

These blogs are sweet to follow http://compassionbloggers.com/trips