Josh September 24th, 2006
I am tired of being such a selfish wretch. I have nothing which to offer our Lord. And yet He has given me everything. What have I done with it, but spurn His blessings? He has been so incredibly patient with me, molding me, making me, and how do I respond? With more sin! I detest the way in which I shake my fist in the face of the Almighty. What a fool! So here I am, yet again, in a place of recognizing the great residue left behind by the old man who is on my back. Who will rescue me from this body of death!!??
Who? The Lord God, mighty to save! He alone is my Rock, and my Redeemer! In Him will I praise! In Him will I glory and boast! The Most High has visited this worm of a man and has taken his cold heart of stone and made it a heart of flesh, that I might see my dreadful condition and cry out to Him alone Who shows mercy to sinners!
O, God! How I have tested you time and again! But in Your mercy You always carry me. You leave me feeling desserted that I might recognize my need and utter dependance of You. Save me from myself, Father. You are exalted, Lord, above all things.
No merit I earned, No value I had
Nothing which I could bring
Just plain, filthy rags, A cold empty heart
And a man at the end of himself
It was by grace that You set Your seal on me
It was by love that You set me free
And this was all by Your Own sovereign decree…
That You…You…You redeemed.
Josh September 23rd, 2006
From Proverbs 30:
The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. 3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know! 5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Amen.
Josh September 23rd, 2006
Proverbs 29:11
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
May I keep this in mind while at work today.
Proverbs 29:26
26 Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.
May my trust be continually in you alone, Lord.
Josh September 19th, 2006
Proverbs 28:5
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
This explains a lot in the so-called “punishment” (lack thereof, rather) which the evil men who run countries inflict on the criminals who have committed great evils such as murder, rape, molestation, etc. We need those who seek the Lord to overrun these offices, and acknowledge the crown rights of King Jesus. May it be so!
Josh September 19th, 2006
Proverbs 27:7
One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
It’s possible to eat so much of something good that we begin to take for granted not only that very thing, but that we grow weary of all things, and are disgusted by the “simpler” things. But of those who are not as providentially blessed as we are, everything is seen as a gift of life. Beware the good things in life, lest you have your fill of good things and despise them.
O, Lord, that You would keep me humble, and always aware of my great need for You. May I never be filled with blessing to the point I take Your kind hand of providence for granted and not be grateful for all the things You so freely give.
