"Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears."

- Hebrews 12: 3-17

How I Feel Right Now

About CG.

"The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know.""

- Ezekiel 37: 1-3

Lord I do not know what the future holds; and I know that if You do not do the work, all the labour will be for naught. I believe; help me overcome my unbelief...

The One Steadying Constant

Amongst the rapidly changing fads and fashions of a church chasing after that magical "silver bullet" to all their problems.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

- Hebrews 13:8

1 Cor. 15:58

Saw this verse reference at the end of a HeartCry missionary report and it is just so beautiful.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Lamentations

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, therefore I will hope in him."
The LORD is good to those who wait for him,to the soul who seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;
let him put his mouth in the dust— there may yet be hope;
let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,and let him be filled with insults.

For the Lord will not cast off forever,
but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion
according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.

============================
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins?
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!
Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:
"We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not forgiven."

- Lamentations 3: 21-33, 37-42

Quick Thought on Youth Min

"Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish."

- Psalms 146: 3-4

As I was meditating in the office today (sort of), I thought back to this Psalm which I read today. How much of what we do in Youth Ministry, or any ministry for that matter, is all about looking for the latest fad or "messianic" youth leader to come and raise us up from our doldrums. Where or whom do we ultimately place our trust in with regards to the salvation of the souls of the youths in our youth mins.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever

- Psalms 146: 5-6

While we come up with activities and programmes to attract and engage youths, let us beware of putting our faith in fads and trends that come today and are gone tomorrow. And while we thank God for leaders who have been blessed with charisma, let us be watchful lest they draw youths unto themselves rather than point them towards Christ.

The Lord is faithful and He has promised to build His Church. "Remember Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:8)

My Divine Assurance from YMLC

"The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made....The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing."

- Psa. 145:8-9, 14-16

Wanting to truly trust in the Providence of God

Taming One's Desires

Both we and our fathers have sinned;
we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.
Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,
did not consider your wondrous works;
they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,
but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
that he might make known his mighty power.
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry,
and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
So he saved them from the hand of the foe
and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
And the waters covered their adversaries;
not one of them was left.
Then they believed his words;
they sang his praise.

But they soon forgot his works;
they did not wait for his counsel.
But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,
and put God to the test in the desert;
he gave them what they asked,
but sent a wasting disease among them.

- Psalm 106: 6-15 (Bold mine)

Oh to wait upon the Lord and for His timing. How wildly do my desires and temptations rage. Surely he who acts in haste will repent at leisure. The Lord will provide, has He ever failed? He gives His children good gifts, and not one spiritual blessing does He withhold.

Will you not tame my wandering eye and lustful heart? Indeed my flesh is too weak. So often have I wandered off that narrow path and into the castle of Giant Despair. Will the Lord forgive again? Surely you are slow to anger and abounding in love and mercy.

Be merciful to me O Lord, a sinner.

An Encouragement

Saw something in church on Sunday that was so encouraging. Nothing really fancy, but it is amazing how God plants so many little blessings in life.

"When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul." - Psalm 94:19

How Then Shall We Live?

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

- 2 Peter 3:11-13

Something That Just Struck Me

In Singapore you often hear the phrase "You can do anything you want as long as you don't get caught."

BUT

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

- Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

- Hebrews 4: 11-13

Emphasis mine.

Remember Remember the 19th of December

To my shame.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

- 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27

You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

- 1 Thessalonian 1:5b-7

The Question of Reason

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him"

— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

- 1 Corinthians 2: 6-16

How is it that two similar people may be exposed to the same Truth and yet have two completely opposite responses to it? Both may be very intelligent people, but when faced with who God is, one responds in fear and adoration while the other dismisses any notion of God with disdain. What separates the one from the other?

Sometimes I wonder at the use and effectiveness of reason in apologetics and/or evangelism today. This is not to say that one should not use reason nor that Christianity is an unreasonable Faith, but do we place too much trust in the use of reason?

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

- Romans 1: 18-23

God's works are plainly seen. From the largest galaxies in the universe to the smallest components of the atom; from the amazing complexity of the human body to the tiny crystal-like structure of snow-flakes, there is much in the natural world that will and should fill the human mind with awe and wonder. Who could create such things in all their myriad shapes and sizes and beauty. Such is the sin of men that they would do everything in their power to disown the God who made them rather than bow the knee in worship.

Why does one believe and the other disbelieve? Why does one who, upon seeing and hearing of the sinfulness of men and of their utter depravity and hopelessness, turns and throws himself upon the mercies of Christ while the other does all that he can to convince himself of mankind's "inherent" goodness and lack of need for a saviour? Is the one who disbelieves "wiser" than the who believes? Is the one who believes of a more gullible nature? Surely not, for there are men with great minds and mighty intellects that have responded in faith to the Gospel and there are multitudes of men of low learning who have spat and trampled upon the Blood of Christ.

So what then separates those whom respond in faith and those who do not but grace?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

- Ephesians 1: 3-6

This was done so that no man should boast of himself, but that if he should boast, to boast in the Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 1:31)

How then do men believe? No doubt God is a God who uses reason (cf. Isa. 1:18) and the Apostle Paul himself reasoned with those in the synagogues or marketplace (cf. Acts 17:2,17, 18:4,19), but I've come to realize the limits of Reason. One could provide 101 reasons for the resurrection of Jesus Christ or for the infallibility of Scripture, but they can no more turn a man to Christ unless God, in His Mercy, opens his eyes and understanding to spiritual things.

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

- 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5

To Him who is able to save and save to the uttermost.
Soli Deo Gloria

Thanksgiving

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

- 1 Corinthians 1: 4-9

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

- Ephesians 1: 15-16

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

- Philippians 1: 3-5

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

- Colossians 1: 3-5a

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

- 2 Thessalonians 1:3

I really thank God for the internet, even though it is abused,corrupted and all manners of vile stuff is placed in it. Why so? Because through it one can read of countless stories and testimonies to the manifold grace of God. In (nearly) all of his letters to the churches, the Apostle Paul begins in offering thanks to God for the grace given and displayed in those churches even though some were in great disarray (Corinth) or were churches which he had never visited and of whom he has heard of their faith only through hearsay (Colossae).

In that day and age when communication from one end of Asia Minor to the end could take months, the Apostle Paul was ever ready to glorify God for even the smallest evidence of His Grace and Power working in a people. How much more than should we, who through the mere click of a button are able to read and know about the mighty works of God from across the globe, give Him even more praise.

I was reading this story from the HeartCry Newsletter that made me stop and marvel at the beauty of a simple child-like faith.

It has been a joy to receive an uninterrupted flow of testimonies about how God has shown Himself strong on behalf of our HeartCry family in Eastern Europe. In spite of high taxes and a rising cost of living resulting in privation, our brothers and sisters have been supernaturally sustained. Earlier this year, one of our missionaries from Moldova wrote:

“One evening when the children had the flu we decided to have a vapor inhalation. I remembered the way we did it when I was just a little child. We took a brick and made it very hot in the fire. We placed it under a table on which we had put a blanket and we poured tea on the brick and breathed the hot air. We did the same with the children. We even prayed under the table. My little son Felice prayed and thanked God for the day. When he finished, the other children whispered ‘Amen’. Then he continued: ‘Lord we thank You for the brick’.”

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

- 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Oh how ungrateful we are of God's exceedingly great mercies and Grace which He has given unto us. We sing that His mercies are new every morning, but do we consider them with reverence? Every breath of air that we breathe, every beat of our heart. The sun that sets in the West returns to rise in the East once again. The rains that fall, not to wipe out sinful humanity, but to bring life and produce from the earth.

Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
- Isaiah 40:16

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A dedication to those whom through your blog writings and your life, I am very much encouraged and spurred in much (godly) jealousy to desire to know more about Christ and the Power of His Resurrection.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge

- 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

John 17:1 & Proverbs 19:21

2 fantastic verses for my life.



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The Reason Why Original Sin Is No Longer Believed In

From Asiaone

Children are inherently innocent, psychiatrists and psychologists believe.

However, when do children become aware that certain of their actions are deviant or even evil?

'Children are born innocent. Their experiences, environment and society will shape the way they interpret and understand their surroundings and what they think is right or wrong,' said

Ms Silvia Fontanella, a psychologist at VA Psychology Centre.

Because of this strongly accepted belief in the inherent innocence of children, the recent case of a nine-year-old boy described as 'fixated on sex' caught the media and the public's attention.

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

- Genesis 6: 5-6

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.

- Psalms 51:5

For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth. The children of Israel have done nothing but provoke me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the LORD.

- Jeremiah 32:30

[A]s it is written:

"None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one."

- Romans 3: 10-12

We often are taught that man becomes a sinner when he sins. The Bible teaches that man sins because he is a sinner.

- Ted Tripp

Something I've Been Thinking About

Legalism and the Christian School Movement (from SharperIron)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

=================================
Scenario 1

You are just about to start your bible study lesson for a care group consisting of much younger believers than you. As the rest mill about waiting for things to get started, you notice one of the girls who had just come in wearing an outrageously low-cut top, which barely covers her cleavage. How would you deal with her?

A. Tell her expressly that she should never wear anything less than a dress that covers her completely from head to toe.
B. Tell her that such immodest clothes are unbecoming and that in future she should dress up.
C. During your bible study preach about lust, modest dressing and causing others to stumble.
D. Ignore it.

Scenario 2

You are a preacher in a local church and recently there has been shown on TV a wildly popular series that depicts loose sex, rebellion against authority, blasphemy, violence, etc..... Do you,

A. Rail against it and forbid all your members from watching TV ever.
B. Speak out against it and inform your members that they should not be watching said series.
C. Speak out against the acts themselves without mentioning the series.
D. Ignore it.

Now in considering both scenarios (and admittedly they could be refined further in so many ways), one could easily dismiss option A as over-reacting (though there are those who do choose that option). Choosing option D would probably constitute a dereliction of duty for any man called to shepherd God's flock. And so we're left with either option B or C.

The issue at hand is this. To what extent does God's Word govern our lives with regards to rules and regulations? To some, any mention of the words "Don't do ____" immediately results in cries of legalism. Granted, the dangers of falling into a legalistic spiral are all too real when one employs such language.

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" ( referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

- Colossians 2: 20-23

And no doubt that there are some "rules" which the Apostle himself does not consider of much importance.

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

- Romans 14: 5-6

But what then should we make of "biblical" rules? No doubt the Bible itself does contain "rules" and "regulations" imposed upon men. One thinks of the ten commandments and it's prohibitions. One thinks of the many exhortations and instructions left by Paul in his epistles.

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

- Ephesians 5: 3-4

Now some will say, "Oh these are but biblical guidelines. After all the Bible doesn't talk about drugs or smoking or internet pornography or racy TV programmes per se does it? We can't regulate these since there is no direct biblical basis against these." But surely there is enough biblical warrant to say that, while not dealing explicitly with such issues (especially since most weren't really invented till centuries later), such things are, in essence, evil or sins in the eyes of God.

I guess my current train of thought is this. How do we apply the biblical "guidelines" in our day and age? Are these applications then binding for all future ages? What then of past applications of these "guidelines"? When we decry the sex and violence in a certain TV show, and implore/persuade/tell others not to watch it, are we being legalistic? When we draw up a "list" of things which are not becoming/helpful/edifying for a believer (though what would be on that list would be highly contentious), are we then guilty of producing an "extra-biblical" set of rules? Or is it merely a personal list, dependent solely upon the whims and fancies of the individual (Watching this show is ok cause I can filter out mentally all the sexy bits). Should a pastor warn his flock of certain things or activities which would be harmful to them, or would that place a legalistic burden upon them?

On Assurance part 1

The question of the assurance of one's salvation is something I highly suspect is of much vexing interest to many believers. And surely any person would be completely justified in being concerned for his eternal destination would he not?

I was raised and immersed in a (almost) completely Wesleyan/Arminian heritage since I was young, though my theology and soteriology has taken quite a decisive swing to a more Reformed/Calvinistic position in recent years. However, the question of assurance remains as pertinent to both the Arminian and the Calvinist. While both may disagree on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, both still grapple with the question, "How do I know if I am (truly) saved?" And both do come to similar, but not identical, conclusions.

The Calvinist says he is saved based upon the eternal electing decree and unconditional Love of God and His effectual calling evidenced by continuing faith and fruitfulness in his life, whilst the Arminian would say that he is saved for now by his responding, out of his own free will, to God's offer of salvation and his present ongoing faith and fruitfulness in his life. Now one would of course soon realize the fundamental difference in both statements though their latter ends may be identical. One bases his security fundamentally upon God's Sovereign and Eternal decree for His elect, while the other bases it upon his conditional obedience to God and His Word. However, I hope not to digress into a debate upon this doctrine, but rather, I hope to focus on that portion of similarity and of which is the topic of this post.

Now ultimately, as my friend once put it, both positions lead to the same conclusion in answering the question, "How do/can I know if I am (truly) saved?" Whether one is a Calvinist or an Arminian, one would be led to answer it is by the evidence of good works, increasing Christ-likeness, fruits of the Spirit, etc... Now such evidence is the logical outworking of what is described in the Bible as the new birth or, to put it in a more theological term, the doctrine of regeneration.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it.....We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

- Romans 6: 1-2, 6-7

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

- 2 Corinthians 5:17

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

- Ezekiel 36: 25-27

Now of course there is a third position (becoming increasing popular here I suspect) that simply dismisses the question of assurance by labelling any call for self-examination or searching of spiritual fruit in one's life as a legalistic add-on to a gospel of grace. "Just believe in your heart and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and you shall be saved!" is their reassuring cry. Now is that statement true? Yes. Do I believe it? Most definitely! Is it the full story? Not quite. To simply focus on this one verse and build your entire theology upon it, while ignoring the rest of Scripture is a sure recipe for spiritual ship-wreck. One would be wise to remember our Saviour's own words in Matthew 7.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"

-Matthew 7:21-23

Surely this should give us sufficient warning against spurious professions of faith. Was it not said, men are justified by faith alone, but true faith is never alone? Now one should never ever confuse the work of Justification and the work of Sanctification. However, one cannot also claim the work of one without the evidence of the other. For those whom God justifies, He also sanctifies.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

- Romans 6:22

Let us beware, lest we presume upon the Grace and Love of God (cf. Rom. 2:4) and let us heed the Apostles' exhortations.

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

- 2 Peter 1:10

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

- 2 Corinthians 13:5

You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

- Isaiah 26: 3-4

Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of REFRESHING may come from the PRESENCE of the Lord

- Acts 2:19

You are made to find your ultimate joy not in being significant but in knowing the infinitely significant one.

- John Piper

Here in the silence I say a prayer
Though I've never seen you somehow I know you're there
You're in the faces of the people that I meet
You're as silent as the Earth beneath my feet
So if I should complain that all I have is not enough
Forgive me, I've been given so much

And I am blessed, every time I look into my baby's eyes
I think of all the friends who've touched my life
I realise in a world where some have more and some have less
I have love and I am blessed

So many changes this world can put you through
Sometimes it's hard to find a way if a heart can get confused
But then I hold you and it all falls into place
You've given me what time cannot erase
So when I'm feeling down or feel sorry for myself
I look around and it's easy to tell

That I am blessed, every time I look into my baby's eyes
I think of all the friends who touched my life
I realise in a world where some have more and some have less
I have love and I am blessed

Every time I look into my baby's eyes

I realise I think of all the friends who touched my life

And I am blessed (I am blessed)
Every time I look into my baby's eyes (I look into your eyes)
I think of all the friends who have touched my life
I realise (I realise) you've given me such peace and happiness
In this world where some have more and some have less
I am loved
And I am blessed

A Question

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

- Psalm 43:5

2 weeks.

A lot can change in 2 weeks.

Am I really who I say I am?

Father forgive, for indeed I am too weak.



You are forever in my life
You see me through the seasons
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness
And I look to You


And I wait on You

I will sing to You, Lord
A hymn of love
For Your faithfulness to me
I'm carried in everlasting arms
You'll never let me go
Through it all