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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Are You Living in Amazing Grace?


I'm sure as you read the title, the words of "Amazing Grace" came to your mind. It may be the original verses or the more contemporary, either way the message remains the same.

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see..."

Since 1760 this hymn has been around the globe. People have sung it in Cathedrals, Country churches, Mega churches, house churches, in their homes and even in their vehicles. The message is clear but I believe due to the tradition of singing this song, it has become stale among church goers today. We often sing this song without thinking about the meaning.

You see this song was written in past tense and present tense..."I once was lost". Being lost means to be separated from God because of our sin nature. "But now I am found". This means you are now reconciled to God through the precious blood of Jesus because of God's amazing grace! If we sing this song and still live in the "past tense" of being lost, there is no amazing grace to experience...

Yes, God's grace is extended to ALL people but if you don't confess Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead(Romans 10:9)then you are not "found"/saved. You are still living in a "lost" position of life eternal. The lie that has ensnared people all over the world, especially "Christians" in the United States is: "As long as you prayed a prayer and asked Jesus to come into your heart, you are saved. You don't have to change to way you live to be His child." This is only partial truth.

The Truth is, if a person truly repents and asks Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, there is change in their lifestyle! He loves you so much and accepts you just as you are but refuses to leave you just as you are. It won't come all at once but it will happen. Why? Because the Holy Spirit has taken residence in your body and has given you the Spirit of Christ.(Read Ephesians 5)

I believe too many have prayed a prayer out of fear, just as I did when I was younger because I didn't want to go to hell when I died. There was no evidence of Jesus in my life, no life change, no remorse when I sinned, etc. I lived how I wanted to live until I was 28 and I realized my sin separated me from Holy God. I repented and gave my life to Christ. I then started living in the "found" position of life, because the Holy Spirit made His home in me and convicted me of sins.

When I hear this song, no matter where I am, I am truly thankful for His AMAZING GRACE, that saved a wretch like me! How about you? Are you living in His Amazing Grace?

Monday, July 18, 2011

Enter in and WORSHIP!



Psalm 100:3-5
"Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."

During a church service, our praise team did an awesome job of leading us in worship. There's just something about being in corporate worship, in the Lord's presence! It truly is a miracle that we can worship freely in our country! But an even greater miracle is the fact that we can enter His courts with praise, and we are not limited to when we enter into worship.

The Lord spoke to my heart saying, "My gates are wide open and I invite all to enter into my courts with praise and thanksgiving, but few accept the invitation. There are those that truly enter in, with their hearts full of rejoicing simply because I am their Lord and Savior! Then there are those who are standing outside the gates peeking in, they claim I am their Savior, but they seem to say I am not worthy of their worship as Lord of lords and King of kings."

How sad to know that few will enter in to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Many are satisfied with worship outside the gates of His courts...until a person truly surrenders ALL and realizes Jesus is ALL they need, they will remain outside the Gates of Splendor!

Where will you worship Him?He has invited you to enter His gates, so what are you waiting for?

Thursday, July 7, 2011

I Am a Byproduct of Your Affair

I am a Byproduct of Your Affair
Selfish is my name, satisfying the flesh is my game

I cause you to look out for #1
I cause you to satisfy your fleshly desires
I cause you to ignore those in need
I cause you to love yourself more than you love others
I cause you to have a cold and indifferent heart toward the Truth
I cause you to want more and more
I cause you to throw out all morals
I cause you to think of Jesus as a slave driver
I cause you to believe Jesus' yoke is heavy

You see I am a byproduct of your affair with the prince of this world, the Prince of Darkness. Those "stuck-in-the-mud's, goody-goodies, holier-than-though, born-again Believers" say I am the reason for sin. That's what they think.
It's fun being ME, Selfish,then there is no need to care what others think, especially God. If you are like me then you will have a fun, thrilling, adventurous, exciting, better life. Not dull and boring like that "narrow" road Jesus talks about. I don't mind if you want to call yourself by my name...the more the merrier!! Although it might get confusing, everyone going around saying, "Hey, Selfish how ya doing?" But since we don't care what others think, then whoopy doo. We will just live in a world full of Selfish people.

Yours Truly,
Selfish