Love you

The one I love most and myself on a long walk at Blue Spruce park. (We stopped for a photo-op on this clear, crisp day.)

Parc Guell

One of the places that I visited with my friend Nikki in Barcelona was "Parc Guell," or Guell Park, named after artist and architect Antoni Gaudi. His works are incredible, including the design and partial construction of the Sacred Family Cathedral, Batllo house, and Mila House (all located in Barcelona, Spain).

God is kind to give people (like architects) gifts for us to enjoy.

Giving thanks

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

On a day designated for many to give thanks, I am grateful for the many blessings that God has bestowed upon me. There is much that I have been given, foremostly the gift of Jesus and His blood which has cleansed my sins. In Christ, there is nothing that I don't have. Though I am also blessed with food, clothing, shelter, love, and many other comforts, I want to have a heart that says, "God, even when I have only you I rejoice." Oh Lord, please make me this way! Please allow me to be content in all things, giving thanks in all things, and declare that you truly are all that I need. Give me a joy that only you can provide.

Life

“The more we dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard the more noble our lives become. Nothing puts life into men like a dying Savior.”
- Charles Spurgeon

The path

"This road that we travel, may it be the straight and narrow

God, give us peace and grace from You, all the day"

-Jars of Clay, "This Road"

Oh, to always follow the path that God desires for us! Did you ever wonder why humans rebelled in the first place? Why when the serpent tempted Adam and Eve did they choose to disobey God? I guess it just shows the extent to which we all desire what is best for ourselves, and our inner sinful nature. They gave up the road of perfect obedience and joy for what they thought would be pleasing for a short time.

Though we who know Christ now are continually being transformed into the likeness of Him, we can fall into selfishness, laziness, and apathy toward God and the path that He has laid out for us. Only He can keep us on the path of righteousness, so ask Him today to give you more love for Him, a greater love for His word, and more faith for what He may have in store for you. Only when we obey Him and are seeking Him will we find the most joy and peace. God just made us that way.

the freeness and the riches

Loved When Enemies
“God loved us when we were dead in sins. There is no fact which seems to be so staggering to faith. Such action is so utterly at variance with all the feelings which we experience, or witness in others.
Our love is excited by what we deem lovely; our hearts are warmed by the charms of extraordinary worth and grace; we turn with disgust from the hideous deformities of vice and iniquity; we loathe and reprobate the dark features of undisguised evil. Who ever loves that which is altogether hateful?
Such is the manner of man. How different the manner of our God! He loves us with a great love before one particle of divine grace enters our souls; while we are one mass of loathsome iniquity; while we hate Him and His holy law, and manifest our complete alienation from Him by every word and work. What a wondrous thought is here! Oh, for more grace to see it distinctly, and to realize it abidingly! God has greatly loved us, when we were nothing but sin, when we did nothing but sin.
Whence then sprang this love? Surely from nothing belonging to us. It sprang entirely from His own nature, which is Love. ‘God is Love.’ He loved us because it was His will to love us. We may search and reason until all our powers fail, and we shall find no motive or cause outside of God Himself. Let us then adore our God, and the freeness and the riches of His love! Who is a God like unto Him, who so greatly loved us, vile, hateful sinners! What an instance of God-like grace!”
- Henry Law, Meditations on Ephesians

You never let go

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

Your perfect love is casting out fear

And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life

I won’t turn back

I know You are near

And I will fear no evil

For my God is with me

And if my God is with me

Whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus: Oh no, You never let go

Through the calm and through the storm

Oh no, You never let go

In every high and every low

Oh no, You never let go

Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on

A glorious light beyond all compare

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus:

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Matt Redman's "You never let go"

Are you real?

"Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self."

C. S. Lewis, from Mere Christianity

Music in the sinner's ears

"Jesus! the name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease; ’Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ’Tis life, and health, and peace. He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me."

...vs. 3 and 4 of "O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING," by Charles Wesley. Originally a poem written in the late 1730's, this hymn has been widely sung among believers across both hemispheres; it also happens to be one of my favorites. One might ask, "How can a revamped poem from the 18th century be so enjoyable?" Basically, it is because its words rephrase biblical truths and convey much hope to a sinner like me. To be reminded of the power of Jesus Christ who has canceled our debts against Him, set us free from our bondage to sin, made us totally clean before God, all by the shedding of His perfect blood is certainly good news to my ears and my heart.

If you are tempted to feel sad, to fear, to be depressed, discouraged, or disappointed, look to these truths and to the work our Savior has done. Pray that God would allow you to see more closely the things that He has done in your life, and what He will yet do. In this, He will charm your fears, your sorrows will cease, you shall have great joy, and peace will be added to your portion. Thus far, God has not yet failed in this, and His word tells me that He never will.

Ashley

Please continue to pray for a little girl named Ashley, who is suffering from various illnesses and medical complicatins. She and her family are struggling as they are all separated right now (some in Nebraska and some in Texas) during her treatments. Pray that God would heal her, and that her family could live together under the same roof again. Pray that they would have faith and not lose hope. Pray that God would make himself known to all those around her, and that he would receive glory in all things. http://ashleyadamsjournal.blogspot.com/

Joy that is inexpressible

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

1 Peter 1: 3-9

A little child is easily quieted and amused with gaudy toys and dolls and rattles, so long as it is not hungry; but once let it feel the cravings of nature within, and we know that nothing will satisfy it but food. So it is with man in the matter of his soul. Music and flowers and candles and incense and banners and processions and beautiful vestments and confessionals and man-made ceremonies of a semi-Romish character may do well enough for him under certain conditions. But once let him 'awake and arise from the dead', and he will not rest content with these things. They will seem to him mere solemn triflings and a waste of time. Once let him see his sin, and he must see his Saviour.
J.C. Ryle

Weddings

Why do we get all tingly and emotional at weddings? Is it because of the music? Does it remind us of that spectacular moment when we found our own true love? Or is it because it's usually just so darn hot in those ceremonies?! In any case, I like them. Congratulations Rex & Lisa.