Sunday, August 14, 2011

Made Complete in Grace


All I Need I Already Have


“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
II Corinthians 12:9

I think we all struggle with something. Whether it is a physical infirmity, as was probably the case with Paul, or with events in our past, or with feelings of incompleteness. The list can go on and on.

Grace in Christ tells us we’re already complete in Him.
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Being
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus”
Romans 3:23-24

We are complete in Him.

Reading Psalm 139 completely just fills my heart. To know that
from the very beginning, God knew us and thought of us.
What incredible love. God knew in and of ourselves we
could never do enough to merit Heaven, so Jesus freely paid
the price for us – He did it all – we are complete in Him.
I find comfort and deep joy knowing that God loves me so completely.
There is liberty in realizing and understanding that there’s nothing
I can do to earn Salvation – Christ paid it all. But, to live, to love
Him – that’s what I can do – to make my life a reflection of His
Love so that others may know – that is what I can do.

Psalm 139
1O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.



Wednesday, August 10, 2011

My Heart's Song




I started this blog with the intention of giving myself something to be more accountable to in my walk with the LORD. And, to share my faith and journey in getting to know God more. I came to know Jesus as my Savior when I was a teenager. My dad was in the Navy and I grew up in various places – but for the most part in Southern California.
While we lived there, folks did not take us to church, but they did allow us to attend neighborhood Vacation Bible Schools and attend a Baptist Church through their bus ministry.
When my dad retired we moved to South Carolina, where my extended family lived. It was a joy to be near my Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Frank – they were two who kept contact with us so far away – they loomed large in my young life.
Uncle Frank was a Deacon at Florence Baptist Temple and greatly influenced my parents to send us five children to their Christian school.
That summer we moved to SC. I attended a camp in the mountains of North Carolina, The WILDS. It was there, on a rainy Thursday night that I realized that God loved me so much to send His only son Jesus to die on the cross to pay for my sins. I saw myself, His love and
was overcome with tears of joy! I fell in love with Jesus that night
and have grown to love and to trust Him more and more over the years.

Over time I came to know and to appreciate the music ministry of Steve Green.
He has stayed true and honest in his music –in his worship and praise of our God.
I love it when artists can take your heart’s longing and yearning and put it into
words and into music.
This song seems to be the theme of my heart’s desire. I hope you're encouraged today and if you don't know the LORD yourself, I'd be glad to share with you how you can. Blessings to you!

Oh, I Want To Know You More

Just the time I feel
that I've been caught
in the mire of self.
Just the time I feel
my mind's been bought
by worldly wealth.
That's when the breeze begins
to blow I know,
the Spirit's Call.
And all my worldly wanderings
just melt into His Love.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
To feel Your Heart and know Your Mind,
looking in Your eyes stirs up within me,
cries that says I want to know You
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.

When my daily deeds
ordinarily lose life and song,
my heart begins to bleed,
sensitivity to Him is gone.
But the Gentle Arms of Jesus
warm my hungering to be whole.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
And I would give my final breathe
to know You in Your Death and Ressurrection,
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more...




I hope you're encouraged today and if you don't know the LORD yourself, I'd be glad to share with you how you can.

Blessings to you!