More from Calvin – Reforming the Church

A new friend of mine recommended that I read Calvin’s “The Necessity of Reforming the Church”. So, I am slowing going through it, reading and re-reading. Honestly it’s been a while since I picked up something that is so weighty, thus I see my need to retrain my attention span (or maybe it’s just that [...]

Read Full Post »

John Piper – Ever-Existing, Never-Becoming, Always-Perfect

This morning I was reading from Bob Kauflin’s book Worship Matters and I came across this wonderful quote by John Piper on the the ever-existing, always-perfect God. So here ya go…
From all eternity the ever-existing, never-becoming, always-perfect God has known Himself and loved what He knows. He has eternally seen His beauty and savored what [...]

Read Full Post »

Reginald Heber – Holy, Holy, Holy!

Holy, holy, holy!
Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
- Reginald Heber

Oh that my eyes would see; that my mind would taste of the perfect nature of the triune God. [...]

Read Full Post »

His Favor is upon us

I was reading this morning from the Psalms and this verse caught my eye and brought comfort and hope to me.
For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
You cover him with favor  as with a shield.” – Psalm 5:12
What a great peomise to hold on to. As you may know we have been going through [...]

Read Full Post »

Calvin Quoted #3 – Resembling God

There is nothing in which men resemble God more truly than in doing good to others.”
- John Calvin

It isn’t faithfully reading the Bible, praying, going to church, etc. No, it’s doing good to others. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39. This is the very way Jesus lived.

If Jesus Christ told us, [...]

Read Full Post »

The Worship Leader

So I’ve been enjoying reading Bob Kauflin’s book, Worship Matters, which is directed to worship (in song) leaders.  Yes, I guess that’s what we have to call them. The truth is that all who are involved in the church service are our leaders in worship, that is, the preacher, the one who prays, the one [...]

Read Full Post »

John Piper on the Soul’s Delight

Here’s a scary bur realistic quote for us all… Chew on it and go to God in repentance.

The true dimensions of a soul are seen in its delights. Not what we dutifully will but what we passionately want reveals our excellence or evil.”
- John Piper, The Pleasures of God

As I read this, I found even [...]

Read Full Post »

Sharing, Sharing, That’s what Christians do…

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
-Hebrews 13:16

After hearing of our great hope, of the “kingdom that cannot be shaken” -Heb 12:28, and the “city that is to come” -Heb 13:14, we are exhorted to “not neglect to do  good and share what [...]

Read Full Post »

If it had not been for the Lord…

Just thought I’d share this Psalm with you all today…
Psalm 124
 1 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,”
         Let Israel now say—
 2 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
         When men rose up against us,
 3 Then they would have swallowed us alive,
         When their wrath was kindled against [...]

Read Full Post »

The Gospel

I’m trying to prepare a devotional that i’ll be sharing this coming week on what gives a Christian power to press on in the midst of hardship. If you know me you probably know my answer. It is the Gospel!!! Now, being that this is a gospel centered Blog, and that the gospel is the [...]

Read Full Post »

May Jesus Dwell in our Hearts

Well, I guess it’s been quite a while since I last posted… If you didn’t know we are on furlough in California for 2 months and thus it’s a little harder to keep up with blogging… But enough excuses…
In Ephesians 3:14 -21 Paul prays for the Ephesian church that Christ would dwell in their hearts [...]

Read Full Post »

Hard Times are for our Good

I was reading this morning on the Desiring God Blog, an article entitled, “Bad Times are Good for Missions” and I absolutely love how Piper sees God’s sovereignty in the midst of hard times. Obviously right now America as well as the rest of the world is going through economic uncertainty, but our God is [...]

Read Full Post »

How will God be Worshiped?

How can God be worshiped? This morning I was reading from David’s song of repentance from Psalm 51, and I came across this verse that brought me to meditate upon what God desires from us. Verse 17 says:
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not [...]

Read Full Post »

Princes Shminces…

It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in princes.
Psalm 118:8-9
Oh how easy it is to put our confidence in men; in those who appear to be mighty or wise. We are often short-sighted, and can’t see beyond what [...]

Read Full Post »

Who is Like Him?

“Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
You stretched out Your right hand;
The earth swallowed them.
You in Your mercy have led forth
The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength
To Your holy habitation.”
Exodus 15:11-13
These verses are taken from [...]

Read Full Post »

Revival!!!

Today I finished the last sermon in Dr. Lloyd Jones book “Revival” and I wanted to share a little bit of what encouraged me. His last sermon was taken form the text Isaiah 64:1 “Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence.” [...]

Read Full Post »

I Want to be Rich!!!

“There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.”
- Proverbs 13:7
So the logical conclusion to this proverb is that material possessions have nothing to do with whether we are rich or poor.

One who has great possessions can still be poor due to the fact that [...]

Read Full Post »

Memorize Scripture!!!

Memorize Scripture!!! That was the encouragement I received over the last week… As I listened to John Piper’s radio program the other day, I was encouraged by an interview in which he stressed the importance of memorizing scripture. The word of God is a sword which we need to carry with us in our head, [...]

Read Full Post »

I Lack Nothing!

Needing an encouragement to get me going today I turned to the Psalms. I love how the psalmists always make radical affirmations connected to the greatness of God. Today the John 3:16 of the Psalms was the verse that made my heart leap with joy… Yes, Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall [...]

Read Full Post »

Power to Forgive!

As Christ’s people we are called to love one another. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:39 I am sure that you have all realized that your neighbors are sinners. Maybe they have gossiped about you, stole from you, lied to you, persecuted you, or just treated you without respect. Now at [...]

Read Full Post »