Where Did That Come From?

The last post came as a result of several things.

Number one, I've been thinking and learning and studying about sin lately. By this I mean, my sin, my sin in relation to God, and the way not being right with God affects my relationships with other people. At the end of all this comes the glorious reality that yes I am a sinner. But, I am a sinner saved by grace, through faith, unto good works which have already been prepared for me to do!

Number two, Justin Taylor posted that Chronicles verse and it stuck with me.

Number three, I watched John Piper's sermon on Broken Hearted Boldness the other night.

Take This To Heart

Things can and do get pretty crazy sometimes.

The pressures of this life really are too much to bear.

We're called to be perfect; but we're not.

There are so many things we could and should be doing; but we don't.

When we take time to honestly examine ourselves in light of God and His Word, we're led to broken heartedness....Even our best is garbage compared to His holiness.

But, there is hope. God delights in forgiving His people. It is through this forgiveness that they are conformed to the image of His Son. This miraculous thing and the lives that come out of it give Him glory because on their own, His people would look just like the rest of the world.

In Christ, we can be bold.

May this be the attitude of my heart and the posture of my life.

2 Chronicles 20:12

"O our God...We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

Check out the whole chapter.

Living the Discipline Life: Balance in 2010

I have written this as my personal goal for 2010:

Be more disciplined in all areas of life. Basically to be diligent to have a well balanced schedule.

So, this pretty much covers everything. It's a tall order to fill and one that I plan on working on for the rest of my life.

I made advances last year and I want to keep them up, but I also want to make new advances this year. And the year after. And the year after that.

Living a Disciplined Life: The Essentials

To do any of this requires a few things.

Motives

Goals

Perseverance

If our motives are not right, our goals will not be right, and perseverance will be non-existent.

John Piper explains how these three things tie together quite well.

When a disciplined life comes this way, it will last. It will be a joy. It will manifest the fruit of the Spirit.

Study the Word. Get to know God.

Set specific goals. Get accountability.

Continue in prayer asking God to give you the grace to meet the goals you've set.

Watch as your life begins to show forth the glorious fruit of the work of God in your life.

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

Philippians 2:13

Living a Disciplined Life: Year by Year

This year, God has led me to take part in the discipline of journaling.

For me this is not merely a prayer journal, a Bible study journal, or a personal journal. It's a combination of all three. So far, I've been writing a mix of things. Basically I just want to have a place where I record what's happening in my life. It's a place where I reflect on the many areas of my life looking for appearances of God and His Truth. I hope to use this as a tool to keep track of all that He teaches me and what my life looks like because of it!

Basically, it looks a lot like this blog!

Living a Disciplined Life: Day by Day

Earlier this year, I started a series on discipline. Oddly enough, I never got around to actually posting the posts I had written or finishing writing the series. I finally decided where the series would take us. I've spent the last few months figuring out what this discipline would look like in my everyday life.

I asked YOU where God has led you to be more disciplined. Now, I'm going to share where He has led ME to be more disciplined.

Last year, I worked on two main things, which are really just one thing:

Planning to read.

I enjoy reading, but then again, it's something I have to force myself to do. No sooner do I sit down with a good book that I realize there are about ten other things I could be doing. Seriously, it can take me weeks to finish one book unless it's for school and I have no choice but to read the book in a timely manner or get behind.

But, after being in college for a year and spending much time reading, I realized that it is not only possible to get through books in less than a month (or two, or three...), but it's also much more enjoyable and beneficial.

So, I started a list of books I hoped to get through in the year of 2009. I made it through most of them! I also added books that I had to read for school or decided to read along the way. This list helped me to keep track of what I was putting into my mind and inspired me to keep moving so that I could get onto the next book.

The other part of my reading, was that I wanted to spend more time in God's Word.

For most of the year I worked through a "through the Bible in a year" plan. When fall came around, I came across some knew knowledge. The Bible can be read by the average person in about 90 hours. I realized that if I read the Bible for one hour every day I could get through it once every 90 days or so!

I'm still working on this, but my goal is to spend at least one hour each day reading God's Word in addition to my regular time of meeting with Him to study, pray, and listen.

It Was Implied...

but, not made explicit and that can be a problem!

In the two previous posts I talked about how I got to where I am as a Christian.

I talked a lot about regular men and their ministries.

I talked about their faithfulness to God and His Word.

I left out the major aspect of how I became a Christian and why I endure.

The Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Word of God: Holy Bible.

It is through this Word that God speaks to me. It is through this Word that I have known Him.

God used regular men anointed and inspired by the Holy Spirit to write His Word.

God continues to use regular men who are walking in the anointing of the Holy Spirit to preach His Word.

So now you know. Regular men were involved, but the real power in my justification, regeneration, and sanctification is God, Himself.

Who Are Those Men?

I mentioned men that I am thankful for.

But I never told you who they were.

I want to do that now; it won't be an exhaustive list, but I'll try my best to give you a pretty good idea of who they have been.

The best part is, I've never met most of them. Yet, God has used them to change my life.

In the Beginning:

I have come to a place where I've realized that these men helped me build the elementary principles of my Christian walk. I don't agree with everything they have to say, but God did use them in my life.

David Wilkerson - Read his books and was challenged to live by faith.

James McDonald - I listened to his radio broadcast nearly every day for several years. Staying true to God.

Woodrow Kroll - I also listened to his radio broadcast nearly every day for several years. Having a good and godly days. Building my life on the Bible.

Digging Deeper:

2006 - Present

These are men who challenged me to DIG for truth in God's Word. To make sure that everything is tested against God's standard.

Basically, to know God and to make Him known.

R.C. Sproul - God's holiness.

John Piper - Truly loving God and living an unwasted life.

Marcus Grey, Lecrae Moore, Tedashii Anderson, William (Tripp) Barefield III, Amisho Lewis -Music can be more than just a catchy beat and "clean" lyrics.

Matt Chandler - The gospel changes people, not by "behavior modification", but because it shows them God and builds hearts and minds that see God and mirror Him.

CJ Mahaney - Living a Gospel Centered life.

J.I. Packer - Knowing God.

A Ministry Close to Home (if you know me and want to know which one I'll tell you)- I exist to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Dr. Paul Jehle - Education is a ministry of making disciples.

Dr. Jay Adams - Dealing with sin.

For some dead guys: George Whitefield, J.C. Ryle, John Owen, Charles Spurgeon, Jonathon Edwards, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Matthew Henry, Martin Luther King Jr., ...

There have been others for sure.

Do you want to know what makes each of them special to me?

Their faithfulness in preaching God's Word, from God's Word.

These are men who are in love with God.

These are men who have shown me the face and God.

God has used them to help me love Him.

For that, I am eternally grateful!

Thank You

"I've been a Christian for quite a few years.

Victory in faith, but I've failed in my fears.

I've heard a lot of words that have tickled many ears;

that's why I praise God for the WORD and being here."

Lecrae in "Joyful Noise"

I have listened to this song a million times....I've heard it live...I've worshipped through it, especially the chorus.

It was just this morning that I actually stopped and really thought about what this verse was saying.

I have been studying Colossians lately. Especially Colossians 2:8:

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

What keeps us from being slaves to ourselves, the world, and sin?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, communicated through the Bible (Word of God) and made clear by the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit.

The point is, I've been exposed to the lies of this world. People have tried to tickle MY ears with them.

Yet, I am where I am at today, namely, free from them.

So, I thank God for the understanding I have received.

I thank God that I have not been taken captive.

I thank God for His grace, His mercy, His power, His love. I thank God for HIM.

I thank God for men who preach and live by His power and grace.

God has used them to disciple me.

Words of Wisdom

I came across this verse today.

I actually heard it quoted earlier in the week, but the person who quoted it did not say that it was from the Bible.

1 Corinthians 8:2

If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

In other words, no matter what you think you know,

there's always room to know more and

to know what you know more clearly.

Say that ten times fast!

In the Word

I am in the middle of writing a research paper and I came across this verse from Genesis 18:19. It's nothing extremely profound, but it really stuck out to me today.

In the past year or so I've really been in awe of the fact that I am known by God. So often, we glory in knowing God. Don't get me wrong, knowing God is wonderful. BUT, it's only possible for me to know God because He knew me first.

For more info on this, you can check out J.I. Packer's "Knowing God". Here's a brief line on it.

All of that sort of builds up to why I am was so excited over this verse.

In Genesis 18:19, God says,

"For I have known him (Abraham), in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."

What a great reminder that our salvation is not merely about us. God has a mission that came way before us and extends way beyond us. God knew Abraham so that he would be used to instruct others who would know God and live like it.

God knows me for the same reason.

Sitting In the Pew

I came across an article this morning and thought that I would share it with you all!

Those of us who are not preachers will be told what to look for in a great preacher as well as what to strive for as a listener.

For those of you who are preachers, you will be encouraged too!

Check It Out

"We do not grow by getting beyond the Gospel, but by going deeper into it."

*NOTE: I do not endorse everything that you may come across on the site where this article is found. I have ONLY seen this article and so have no idea what else is believed or taught there!*