Grace

"But God who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." -Ephesians 2:4-7

Christ's Return

        This past week, I have really been pondering about Christ's return. It will be the most incredible event ever! I thought about how that I should long for Christ to come for me. He will come for His bride. Yet, often I live my life not thinking about how my Heavenly Prince will come for me. He has promised to return. We don't know the hour or the day, but we do know He is coming. The reason I have been pondering this more lately is because I thought of a parallel at work. The regional manager was supposed to be coming this week. We always keep the store really clean, but we especially made sure everything was in perfect shape since we knew she was coming. We didn't know when she was coming, but we cleaned the store from top to bottom. She didn't ever come last week, but we know she will sometime. That's kind of like Jesus coming back for us. He will come and we must be ready!!       Why aren't we sharing the gospel with our lost friends if we know He is coming back? Why are we living apathetic lives without passion for our Savior? What's the point of looking forward to His return, if we're doing nothing to prepare for His coming? How can we neglect Christ's coming if we can be prepared for other things in our lives? I should live everyday as if Jesus were coming back. I imagine I would waste a lot less time. I feel compelled to live my life with a burning passion for sharing the gospel. I want to be ready for my Savior's return!!!!

The Doctrines of Justification and Sanctification

As David Platt explains it, "Justification is the gracious act of God by which He declares a sinner righteous only through faith in Jesus." However, sanctification is:"Sanctification is the process by which God transforms our lives into the image of Christ." The difference:"Justification is an instantaneous event; sanctification is a gradual process.

Justification is a one time event, not a process. Sanctification on the other hand is a process of pursuing holiness and becoming more like Christ. Of course we will sin because we are human. Yet, I believe it is only natural after being born again that we desire to be more like Christ.

I believe it is possible for a Christian to fall away, yet not possible to lose their salvation. When saved, always saved. The way I see it, if one is a believer and he or she falls away then God will bring him back to Him. If one never ever desires to pursue holiness and be like Christ, quite bluntly I wonder if they were ever converted in the first place.

"Is sanctification permanent?" Yes, from the moment Christ saves someone, sanctification is a process. It will not be made complete in this world. (1 John 1:8-10) (Romans 7:18-19) The great paradox is that although we have a sinful nature, we should strive to become more and more like Christ. Sanctification is running towards holiness and saying, "Because Christ died for me, I want to be more like Him! I want to behold His glory!" It's a way of life that demonstrates though none go with me, I still will follow!! It's not a drudgery of avoiding sins because it makes one more righteous. No, it's a transformation that God does, just like in justification. (1 Thess. 4:3-7) Our righteousness is as filthy rags to God. It is only by His grace alone, we can behold His glory and be conformed to the image of Him.
Here's a quote from John Murray on sanctification: Indeed, the more sanctified the person is, the more conformed he is to the image of his Savior, the more he must recoil against every lack of conformity to the holiness of God. The deeper his apprehension of the majesty of God, the greater the intensity of his love to God, the more persistent his yearning for the attainment of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, the more conscious will he be of the gravity of the sin that remains and the more poignant will be his detestation of it......Was this not the effect in all the people of God as they came into closer proximity to the revelation of God's holiness?

The American Drought

We're dry like the grass from the drought
Send Your rain
Don't withhold a drop
We are thirsty and broken
How we need to hear Your voice
We're thirsty for You God
Like a dying plant, we are slowing fading
The leaves are turning brown
Send Your rain, Father to drown us out
Let revival fall on this place
Lord Jesus, America is in a desperate awful drought
We fall on our face and cry out for revival
This nation needs You
We have turned our back from you
But oh how we must humble ourselves to You, to turn from our wicked ways
Turn America upside down for You
Revive us
Revolutionize our culture
Transform us to Your likeness
Like the leaves that turn brown we are fading
Oh Lord, stir our hearts and convict with Your Spirit
Send the rain
Jesus, please send revival upon us
We look up to You and pray

-Stacie (2008)

Fight the Good Fight

What is right?
Is my life built on a rock?
What is wrong?
In a whirl, life seems to go faster everyday
What do I love?
If it weren't for God, I would fall in every which way
What should I stand up for?
Time spins
The bell buzzes like a bee
Always ringing in my ear
The second hand seems to tick faster everyday
Spiraling, I keep spinning
Oh how I need Jesus to help me
I need His love to guide me when there is no light
I need to carry his candle when it is dark
I must read His Word
In a whirl, my life goes
Am I coming?
I should stop and prepare for war
Am I going?
I must study His life manual
Will I try to do it all on my own strength?
Or will I rely on God that's living inside of me?
The one who will never leave me nor forsake me
So I can know how to use my two-edged sword
I fight the good fight of faith with God on my side
The light is my Father
For His breath and love letter guide my crooked steps
They lead me unto the way everlasting
Into the light of day
My night time becomes as bright as the sun
I follow the light
I take up the sword
Fighting the good fight of faith
Pursuing love, godliness, and righteousness
Are you prepared for war?
With God and His Word, we will experience victory
Fight the good fight of faith!!

Written by Stacie in 2007