At the Cross

Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed
Lyrics by Isaac Watts; Music and Chorus Lyrics by Bob Kauflin

Alas and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I
Was it for sins that I had done
He groaned upon the tree
Amazing pity, grace unknown
And love beyond degree

My God why would
You shed Your blood
So pure and undefiled
To make a sinful one like me
Your chosen precious child

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glories in
When Christ the mighty Maker died
For man the creature’s sin
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear Cross appears
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness
And melt my eyes to tears

Listen here. (Click on the song to hear a sample. All Sovereign Grace Music on sale for $6 or less through tomorrow, February 28.)

Homeward Bound

Today is the 2 year anniversary of 3m Highway! (Thank you for your readership.) I thought a post on character and a tribute would be fitting. I think Dad would agree that the character of his sister is a great lesson for our life.

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"If at least one person has been brought to know Christ through my suffering over the past 21 years, then it has all been worth it." A quote (as I heard it) from a Godly woman, my dear Aunt Debbie.

Is there some character trait in you that stands out? Is this trait of worth? You see, there is a dominant character trait (among others) that everyone sees in Aunt Debbie and it is of a righteous worth. It is a trait of humility. It is a trait of service. It lacks self. It is, well...love.

Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth: (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Of those who know my Aunt Debbie, if you take each part of the above scripture, does it not describe the mission of her life; the grace of God woven throughout her being? She has suffered long. She is so very kind and giving of herself. As far as I've known her, she has never seemed to be an envious person. She does not praise herself, nor is prideful, but she serves others quietly and humbly. She does not behave in such a way that would bring her heavenly Father, nor her earthly family, dishonor. She does not seek her own; she has always done for others and has always been genuinely interested in the lives of others. She is not easily provoked (except maybe the time that I spent with them in the summer and I refused to eat my brussel sprouts). She does not keep account of evil of others, but forgives a wrong done. However, she does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rather encourages others in holiness. Above all, she rejoices in the truth of the gospel, of Jesus Christ. She has beared much in her years of earthly suffering, all the while believing in all things, hoping in all things and enduring all things. All because she is love and has been made love by a loving and gracious God.

As I quoted in a recent post of a sermon by Don Fortner, we have all led a checkered life. It's been full of pain, disappointment, heavy burden, but it has all been meant for good. The past 20 plus years of pain, treatment, blood transfusions, elation at remission and devastation of recurrence has every single bit been meant for good. How can there be any good in such things as these? Is the good something that we can see immediately? No, not necessarily. We know that to God, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day. We do not know the fruits of this joyful woman's plight, but I know there are some. Why do I know this? Because of God's promise. Because of God's promise of good. Because it is said in scripture that love never fails. Never means forever, even after this earthly journey comes to an end.

We do not know how many days are left for Aunt Debbie on her earthly pilgrimage. We do know that as the tears burn our cheeks at the thought of continuing on our journey without her daily encouragement, service and love, we will join her again. Afterall, all who are in Christ are homeward bound...and what a rejoicing there will be on that day.

I am so thankful to you, dear servant, wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend, for blessing me (all of us) with your love that will never fail. You are amazing and we love you! I am so thankful to our precious Savior, for bestowing His righteousness on you. I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit working through you and giving you endurance on your earthly ministry. May we all have a character trait that is of worth, that brings God glory and others good, as you have.

Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (for we walk by faith, not by sight); we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him. (2 Corinthians 5:6-9)

And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

But by the grace of God I am what I am: (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.
(Philippians 4:4)

When I Survey

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Issac Watts, 1707

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Only Good

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose.

I look at you and see the checkered lives that God has given you... and that which lies before me.

Here is the sweetest, softest pillow I know for my soul.. my God rules the universe for me...for me...for me...for my everlasting good.

I just read the 105th Psalm: God would allow the heathen to do Israel no wrong.

What? No wrong? They tried to destroy them everywhere they went. Yet, He allowed the heathen to do his people no wrong.

You see, what God brings to pass all your days on this earth does you no wrong, but only good...only good...only good.

It's often painful. It's often difficult. It's often a heavy burden. But it's only good.

Our God rules the universe and overrules all evil for our good and even overrules the evil of our own nature, the evil of our own behavior, the evil of our own rebellion and makes it good for us.

Thank you, blessed God for your good providence. We see something of the wonder of God's amazing grace. By grace are you saved.

~Snippets from a recent sermon by Don Fortner. Click Judah, Tamar & the Purpose of God to listen to the sermon in its entirety.


Oh give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; Make known among the peoples his doings. Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvelous works. Glory ye in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah. Seek ye Jehovah and his strength; Seek his face evermore. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, O ye seed of Abraham his servant, Ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is Jehovah our God: His judgments are in all the earth. He hath remembered his covenant for ever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations, The covenant which he made with Abraham, And his oath unto Isaac, And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a statute, To Israel for an everlasting covenant, Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance; When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it. And they went about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people. He suffered no man to do them wrong; Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm. (Psalms 105:1-15)

Lead Me in Thy Way

"Thou shall not kill" is the sixth commandment.

Jesus taught during his ministry that hatred toward an individual is the same as killing.

Killing implies more than just physical death. In human relationships, we can kill another's hopes, dreams and spirit by discouragement and destruction of their character.

The value of human being is continually being reduced today. Americans are growing towards total acceptance of killing. Abortions are received without any sorrow. Now our society is accepting mercy killing of the elderly.

Life is too precious to destroy.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain! Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalms 139:1-24)

Commandment for Parents and Children

The first commandment of God dealing with relationships among people has to do with the home; that institution first made by God! The first three chapters of the Bible deal with creation. The ultimate of God's creation is man. He then made woman from man and thus started the first home.

"Honor thy father and mother."

There is much that relates to this command. As children, we are to love, respect and obey our parents. That of course is a difficult task! Also implied is that the parents perform in a fashion that merits the honor. As parents, we have an obligation to meet the needs of our children. Those needs are not limited only to physical, but also emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Far too often I have not been understanding of your needs and for that, I'm sorry.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-4)

Oh, how true it is and easy it is to provoke our children to anger. Oh, Holy Spirit. help us to watch our tongues for Christ's sake! Amen.