Saturday, December 25, 2010

For to me, to Live is Christ


I’m sitting here with friends, it is Christmas morning the gifts have been opened the coffee has been poured and the egg casserole was good. But still in me there is loneliness. I know that I am loved in this place, but for some reason I feel alone and that loneliness has been growing the past several months, even as I read the word of God I still feel alone. I now must face my deepest fear, the fear that even though I am loved, this love my not be enough to comfort the pain of my heart. I now understand what Paul meant when he wrote in the book of Philippians 1:21-23 (For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.) You see there is no one or no thing that can replace my desire to see Him, my God, my Savior, my Lord. After many attempts to find someone or something to fill the void in my heart, I have come to understand that no one or no thing can do it, that the void can only be filled by the one who made me. It is God alone that can make me whole. I love this life only but I now know that one day I will see Him (Jesus Christ) and only then will I have the peace and joy that I so desperately seek. Yes this Christmas morning I have come to understand that I not only need a savior, but I want to be with him. I am only in this world to tell others of what he has done, to share with them His great love, and to encouraged them to turn to Him. I am not here to love the world more then Him and with that I now can say as Paul “what than shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” But for now my heart also feels God has much to do with me here. Both to work on my own self, which there is so much too work on and to encourage all of you all to do the same. So that we will complete what he has for us here, for His glory and our betterment.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

AWE


There are few words in the English language that can make one stop and think of something or someone bigger than ourselves. But the word "awe" is one such word. Just think about it, when was the last time your were in awe? Was it a star filled night, your first glance of the Grand Canon, the birth of your own child, lighting flashing, or an eagle flying. Yes when you think about it, it is always something out side of your self. We are never in "awe" of ourselves, I believe this is true so that we take our eyes off of ourselves long enough to see the greatness of the God who created all that bring us to a point of awe. For me the story of the birth of a baby, two thousand years ago, a guiding star, three kings, angles singing, and an angel announcement (I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people) is an awe moment. There is nothing in me that gets why a good God would come to save me. Why he would come as a child, be born in a manger, not in a palace, live a a sinless life die on a cross for me. I'm am taken back every time I think of the story, and I'm in awe of what God has done for me. There are few things that can bring one to a point of awe, but it is most sad when the one thing that should does not. God is always worthy of Awe because of who he is and what he has done for us.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Revelation of Love

Love lights the darkness
And casts out all fear
Here in this present darkness
Perfect love is near

But how can I find it?
How can I see this love that sets me free
How can I find God
Or when will He find me?

A revelation of love is what my heart needs
A fresh break through the lull of my complacency
Just to be amazed by the Babe who came to bring restoration
God open my eyes to see and receive love's revelation

Love invites repentance
In the light of His grace
True love brings the Kingdom
True love is God's face

But how can we find it?
How can we see this love that sets us free?
How can we find God?
When can we see our King?

A revelation of love is what our hearts need
A fresh break through the lull of our complacency
Just to be amazed by the Babe who came to bring restoration
God open our eyes to see and receive love's revelation

When the blood and the cross and a zeal for the lost
Cannot bring us to our knees
God break our hearts once more
With the story of a baby King

A revelation of love is what this world needs
A fresh break through the lull of our complacency
Just to be amazed by the babe who came to bring restoration
God open our eyes to see and receive love's revelation

God open our eyes to see and receive love's revelation

Song by Jeff Polen check out his Music at Polenband.com of Jeffpolen.com