Deeper Grace

"I asked Justin Holcomb what is the Holcombs’ desire in providing Rid Of My Disgrace.  “You want something to happen out there in people’s lives.  What is the one impact you long for most of all?”  His beautiful answer:
“The disgrace that results from sexual assault has a way of grinding people down and heaping huge burdens on them.  Because of it people feel lonely, filthy, worthless, repulsive, hopeless, and unwanted.  Our hope is that God will use the clear Gospel message of the book to eliminate that disgrace and its effects.  What victims need is for God to be strong when they are weak and to be close to the brokenhearted.  We want people to experience God fulfilling his promises to them.  We pray that God uses the book to apply the grace from Jesus deeper than the wounds people have experienced.”
With the tsunami of sin, and its abuses of all kinds, slamming us today, may our churches be safe havens where violated people experience the deeper grace of Jesus in the gospel."

Deeper grace is a post from: Ray Ortlund

“Do you want to be healed?”

“He that . . . wants relief must come to Christ himself.  He must not be content with coming to His Church and His ordinances or to the assemblies of His people for prayer and praise.  He must not stop short even at His holy table or rest satisfied with privately opening his heart to His ordained ministers.  Oh no! . . . He must go higher, further, much further than this.  He must have personal dealings with Christ Himself.  All else in religion is worthless without Him.  The King’s palace, the attendant servants, the richly furnished banqueting house, the very banquet itself — all are nothing, unless we speak with the King.  His hand alone can take the burden off our backs and make us feel free. . . . We must deal directly with Christ.”
J. C. Ryle, Holiness (Old Tappan, n.d.), pages 266-267.

If we go to church just to be with one another, one another is all we will get.  And it isn’t enough.  Eventually, our deepest unmet needs will turn to anger at one another.  Putting community first destroys community.  We must put Christ himself first and keep him first and treat him as first and come to him first and again and again.  He can heal as no other can.  Can, and will.  If we come to him.

 [HT: Ray Ortland]

The Truth Without Photoshop by Official P4CM Poet Janette...ikz

Resist [Satan], firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:9

Starve Satan with Prayer

"Satan dines on what we withhold from God."
Francis Frangipane, The Three Battlegrounds.

I have noticed that, the things I do not share with God in prayer often become sources of bitterness and anger... pride.  Recently I have felt God giving me the desire for something that I never before wanted.  In fact, a long time ago I decided that this "good thing" just wasn't for me and I did not want it.  Now that I had these conflicting desires, my next move should have been to my knees in prayer.  I thought about this new desire.  I rationalized about it but I did not bring it to God.  I didn't want to talk with Him about it.  I said I didn't want this desire, and there is no foreseeable fulfillment of it so there is no sense in discussing it.  

My rebellion began to stir up confusion, anxiety and bitterness which then convicted me to believe there is sense in discussing it.  Even if it makes no sense to me God has a plan and He wants me to talk to Him.  God was giving me a godly desire and in return I was giving Satan a foothold.

I Will Help You

I will help you.  Isaiah 41:10

“Let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: ‘I will help you.  It is but a small thing for me, your God, to help you.  Consider what I have done already.  What! not help you?  Why, I bought you with my blood.  What! not help you?  I have died for you; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less?  Help you!  It is the least thing I will ever do for you.  I have done more, and will do more.  Before the world began I chose you.  I made the covenant for you.  I laid aside my glory and became a man for you, I gave up my life for you; and if I did all this, I will surely help you now.  In helping you, I am giving you what I have bought for you already.  If you had need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it to you; you require little compared with what I am ready to give.  ‘Tis much for you to need, but it is nothing for me to bestow.  Help you? Fear not!  If there were an ant at the door of your granary asking for help, it would not ruin you to give him a handful of your wheat; and you are nothing but a tiny insect at the door of my all-sufficiency.  I will help you.’

O my soul, is not this enough?  Do you need more strength than the omnipotence of the United Trinity?  Do you want more wisdom than exists in the Father, more love than displays itself in the Son, or more power than is manifest in the influences of the Spirit?  Bring here your empty pitcher!  Surely this well will fill it.  Haste, gather up your needs, and bring them here – your emptiness, your woes, your needs.  Behold, this river of God is full for your supply; what can you desire beside?  Go forth, my soul, in this your might.  The Eternal God is your helper.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon.  Style updated.

“I will help you” is a post from: Ray Ortlund

How May I Pray for You?

A couple weeks ago, my pastor preached about an old passion.  A passion for global missions.  In this sermon he reminded us of the command to share the gospel with those different and far off.  Our action in this is to: go, send or disobey.

As I thought and prayed over my life - health, wealth, talent, gifts, passions and current calling - I came to the conclusion that I am (at least for now) a "sender".  Currently, I am ministering to youth with autism who are very much different and (emotionally/socially) far off.  After an out of the blue blessing yesterday, I am even more sure that this is where God has called me to minister; however, I do want to remember my brothers and sisters across the globe.

Today I checked my "Stats" and found that there are people across the globe reading this blog!  People in Malaysia, Russia and all over Europe (and the U.S.).  So I would like to ask my brothers and sisters that are far off (from me), how may I pray for you?  God has given me the gift of encouragement and I would very much like to share that with you.  

Are you struggling in a community that is not accepting of Christ?  I would like to pray for you.  

Are struggling for joy?  I would like to pray for and encourage you.  

Are you considering Christ?  I would like to pray for you and answer any questions you may have. 

Seriously.  

I would be blessed to pray for you specifically.  You can put your request in the comment box below.  Or if you prefer, you can e-mail me (click on view my complete profile and then click on e-mail).  

Even if you don't contact me, please know that there is a community of believers in West Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. that is praying for you.

May the comfort of Christ overflow into your life.

Unbelief Prayers

"My Savior Christ, before You healed the blind men who cried out for Your mercy, You asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" After they replied, "Yes, Lord," You touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you." (Matt 9:28-29) Father, clearly my faith impacts what You are willing to perform in my life. Please help me to believe that You are able."

So there is no misunderstanding, let me clarify: just because God has not answered, "yes," to your prayer, does not mean you lack faith.  If you are praying in faith, praying with expectation, within God's will and He says, "no," or "not yet," this does not mean you lack faith.  The Apostle Paul had great faith, yet when he asked for the thorn in his flesh to be removed God answered, "My grace is sufficient."

Where some pray faithlessly, others pray in faith and God desires for your faith to grow.  He is sovereign and knows what is best for each of us.  Keep praying my friends and believe He is able.

"Father, Your Word says that if Your disciples believe, they will receive whatever they ask for in prayer. (Matt 21:22) Lord, as You mature my faith, also teach me how to pray and what to ask of You in prayer. I have so much to learn. Keep teaching me, Father."

Prayers from Beth Moore's, Praying God's Word: Breaking Free From Spiritual Strongholds