My Christmas Prayer

Do your expectations of Christmas often leave you more stressed than blessed?  A few years ago, while quickly sliding down that stressful path towards Christmas, I wrote down a prayer to help me focus on a God-glorifying Season! I just “happened” to come across this prayer again, and realize I need to pray it again–TODAY! Perhaps, you want to [...]

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One Clean Heart Needed

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.”  Psalm 51:10
“Could there be a more fundamental prayer request than this? Could there be anything more essential than this?
“We need grace to transform what we love, what we crave, and what we serve. And what’s the bright and golden promise of the cross of Jesus Christ?  It’s [...]

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A Monument of Grace – You!

“A monument of grace, a sinner saved by blood..”  John Kent, 1803
When I wrote earlier that I long to be a ‘monument of grace,’ I realized that such a declaration could sound prideful or be misunderstood.  On the contrary, given the context of the hymn and Scriptures, a monument of grace is not an invincible statue or unattainable standard.  Rather, as [...]

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A Monument of Grace

“You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and He who believes in Him shall not be disappointed!”  I Peter 2:5, 6
We are called with [...]

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A Sacrifice of Praise

“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips that give thanks to His name.”  Hebrews 13:15
Hymns, songs, and spiritual songs are sacrifices of praise we can continually offer to the Lord in honour and thanksgiving for His personal sacrifice for us!  Charles [...]

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Save the Bulls

“Save the bulls.   Honor Maximus.  He won the battle.”
 
I love this quote from the film, The Gladiator.  It was uttered by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, to his son, Commodus, who conveniently “missed the war,” a deadly and terrifying battlefront in ancient Germany.  Commodus flippantly condoleses,  ”Father, congratulations!  I shall sacrifice a hundred bulls  to honour your triumph,” hoping to gain his father’s favour, or possibly [...]

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For the Cross

Good Friday…
When I was young, the name of this day used to strike me as odd. The betrayal, the loneliness, ridicule, beatings, and crucifixion Jesus Christ underwent didn’t seem very good.  The day, to me, was sad, grievous, remorseful, and dark… anything but good.   But, as I grew up, and my understanding of God’s love [...]

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The Cost

Hurrying home…mindless chores, anxious thoughts, speeding past
               the Cross, hung with red purple cloth
love, flows mingled down
stops my course-less, wandering mind
brings me face to face
with Truth
amazing grace
life meets death
         meets life
vapor to substance
nothing matters
        but Him.
The cost, His life,
mine.

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Released!

“Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To Him who loves us, and released us [...]

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Every Man – Casting Crowns

Wow, I love ‘Casting Crowns’–they just keep blessing us with beautiful words, intense lyrics and the message of Good News for Every Man–Hope in Jesus!  May this YouTube video of their recent hit (from the album, The Altar and the Door) encourage you and draw you into prayer for those who still need to hear.
 
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