Rememberance

"To Have and to Hold;  In sickness and in health;  For richer or poor;  To Love and to Cherish;  To honor and protect;  For better or for worse;  Till death do us part."

  Odds are if you are married, you and your spouse exchanged some version of a vow.  It may have contained some or none of the above, but none the less- a vow.  If you're a hipster, you may have created a super awesome, heart wrenching, emo- dashboard confessional vow that forever rocked the world!  Or you may have gone old school or traditional.
  Why do we not step back and remember our vows?  (And when I say "we" I'm pointing my huge pointer finger right in my own face).
  Mighty big words up there in that vow, mighty easy to say on that special day- mighty tough to live on a measly fall day and the dishes need done.  Mighty tough to live if we don't pause and remember.  Pause long enough to let our vows challenge us.
  How I need to pause, remember, and let my vows challenge me.  How about you?

Julia Johnston

Today I was introduced to a song writer that has penned over 500 songs. Pastor Wes Humble referred to Julia Johnston in a sermon he preached mid-Augus 2011. The song he shared is called "He Ransomed Me", it's such a great lyric! I've never heard it sung, but reading it aloud is good enough, and I would like to pass it on:

There’s a sweet and blessed story

Of the Christ who came from glory,
Just to rescue me from sin and misery;
He in loving-kindness sought me,

And from sin and shame hath brought me,

Hallelujah! Jesus ransomed me.

From the depth of sin and sadness
To the heights of joy and gladness
Jesus lifted me, in mercy full and free;
With His precious blood He bought me,
When I knew Him not, He sought me,
And in love divine He ransomed me.

By and by, with joy increasing,
And with gratitude unceasing,
Lifted up with Christ forevermore to be,
I will join the hosts there singing,
In the anthem ever ringing,
To the King of Love who ransomed me.

Hallelujah! What a Savior,
Who can take a poor, lost sinner,
Lift him from the miry clay and set me free!
I will ever tell the story,
Shouting glory, glory, glory,
Hallelujah! Jesus lifted me.

"When I knew Him not- He sought me."

Have a Great Day!!

Sinking Sands outside the Kingdom

My hope is not and  never will be in a political machine.  I thank God, that my hope and future is in Jesus Christ- not the republican or democrat parties.

Since the election, I've heard, read and seen many disappointing comments towards "other" people.  To be honest-at times I've been ashamed at "Christian" responses toward Mr. Obama, and the election.

Sure, I don't agree with many of Mr. Obama's stances, but on the other hand-I can't say that I agree with the alternative on all of his as well.  My point is beyond this; my spirit has really been burdened by the sharp, unloving, and relentless attacks on the "others."  

Kingdom followers- we must live and love as pursuers of Jesus Christ.  Jesus lived under and near the one of the greatest political influences of all time.  How did He live and love the world He walked in?

On Christ the Solid Rock I will stand, all other ground is sinking sand......

www.neueministry.com/2008/11/a-reply-to-dobsons-letter/

A word on Fear, by Don Miller

Don Miller is an author that I respect quite a bit.  Recently on his blog, he posted some thoughts on 'fear', and how he is trying to live beyond the grips of fear.  Here are some of his thoughts:

"But none of my heroes are controlled by fear.  The commandment most often repeated in scripture, in fact, is "do not fear."  Fear is often something unrighteous trying to keep you from doing something good."

-Don Miller