Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Love

Rolling in the Deep

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Life can be rather shallow. We are consumed with the latest electronic gadgetry, bigger houses, and nicer cars. Being seen in the right clothes or the right shoes can make or break our entire day. Image is everything, and we spend a great deal of time and money to make certain the person we present is the one we want others to see as opposed to who we truly are.

Rolling In the Deep

Our conversations lean to the superficial, and are often confined to 140 characters or less. There is a serious lack of depth to many of our lives. Is it any wonder that we struggle to comprehend the depth of a Holy God? [Read more…] about Rolling in the Deep

Working From the Inside Out

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As I progress through studying the Old Testament, I continue to be transfixed by the succession of Kings of Israel who did evil in the sight of the Lord, contrasted with those who did what was right. Time after time a ruler is appointed who does not follow God, only to be saved by the occasional rise to power of one who fears the Lord and does everything He commands; they did not turn to the left or to the right but followed the Lord with all their heart.

Working from the Inside Out

Photo courtesy of Sarah Vaughan

Despite years of recent history where they could see disastrous results when they turned from the Lord and favorable blessings when they followed Him, still the people continually returned to doing evil. The good kings would come to power and destroy the temples created for foreign gods, the high places that had been built up for worship, and they would put to death those who were leading others to live in a manner contrary to God’s commands. In a word, they were zealous for the Lord. [Read more…] about Working From the Inside Out

Visiting Those in Prison

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All around the world, there are people who have been imprisoned for no other reason than the fact they placed their faith in Jesus Christ. While it can be hard to fathom for us in the West, it remains a certain and dangerous reality for millions of our brothers and sisters. Their faith and courage are inspiring to me, and I wonder if I would have the same resolve if faced with similar circumstances.

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I am very thankful that I live in a country that, to this point in my life, has allowed me to follow Christ without risk of imprisonment or torture. Still, we must remember those who daily endure hardships and persecution we can scarcely imagine (Hebrews 13:3).

[Read more…] about Visiting Those in Prison

The Resurrection

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This is my favorite day of the year. People gather at sunrise singing and rejoicing that Jesus has risen from the dead. The excitement is just as real today as it was 2,000 years ago. What must it have been like to see the empty tomb, the large stone that had sealed it, tossed aside? It all came together on that day. Everything Jesus had been teaching suddenly made sense. He had said He would rise again on the third day, and now He had. The angels in Heaven rejoiced and sang; the people on earth were in awe and full of excitement. For followers of Christ today, we celebrate the ultimate victory secured by our Savior. Jesus didn’t just defeat sin on the cross; He defeated death by rising again.

Just as the angel told Mary to go tell the disciples, the message still resonates today. This is truly the good news! The death of Christ paid for our forgiveness; His resurrection bought life eternal for all those who believe and follow Him. His death brought sorrow, His resurrection brings joy. Instead of a life that ends in death we can now look forward to healing. Our entire faith is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. By rising again, He provided the way for us to be born again. It was one thing for Him to sacrifice Himself for our sins, but by rising from the grave He defeated death and provide an escape for us as well. When Christ left this world He promised to go and prepare a place for us. Because of Him, we too will defeat death and spend eternity in His presence.

Today is a day to celebrate. For followers of Jesus, this day should kick off a season of renewed enthusiasm for, and commitment to, the mission of Jesus. He defeated death and returned to Heaven so that His Spirit might go with each of us in all we endeavor to do in His name. When we feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, He is there. When we visit the sick and those in prison, He is there. Death could not hold the Son of God; that power is now available to each of us who follow Him. Don’t waste what has been given to you; in His strength, seize every opportunity to reflect the glory of God to everyone you meet. Take a genuine interest in their lives and be the hands and feet of Jesus. This is why He died, so that we might live a life that overflows with His love.

Don’t make the mistake of considering Easter just another holiday. Recognize the significance of what this day means; it is the single most pivotal day in the entire history of humanity. Satan was defeated and he no longer has any power over us. Jesus has overcome, and through Him, we too can surmount any obstacle. Nothing is bigger than death and death no longer poses a challenge. We are free to run and tell the world about His love and His mercy. Rejoice in His resurrection; rejoice in what He has done in your own life. Revel in the thought of spending eternity with Him.

This is the day that Jesus set himself apart from anyone else that ever lived. No one else ever raised themselves from the dead. No one who has ever died and come back to life has avoided death again at a later time. Only Jesus can claim either of these achievements. In so doing, He proved He was who He said He was – the only Son of God.

Lest I Forget

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On her 2005 album, “If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something”, Rebecca St. James wrote a beautiful song entitled “Lest I Forget”. The song’s melody is at once haunting and peaceful. I have often used the song to enter into a state of contemplative worship. The words are both simple and powerful.

I sit in silence here
I’m filled with wonder once again
I’m overwhelmed by Your beautiful love
Now I, I’m falling to my knees, so grateful for the grace You give
The love I need I’ve found in you

I recently wrote about finding some time to just sit in silence (see “Taking Time to Breathe”). This is such an important discipline, to shut out all distractions and focus solely on the Lord. When was the last time you simply marveled at the wonder of God? The Creator of the universe has chosen to collaborate in writing the history of the world with the likes of you and me. He has redeemed us from the life we deserve and instead has promised us eternal life in Him. We consistently rebel against Him, fall repeatedly into the same temptations and yet He is always eager to welcome us back into His arms. No other love on earth can match the amazing love our Father has for us. Take some time to think on His wonder, His love, and His glory. I guarantee it will drive you to your knees in awe. God has provided everything we will ever need in the person of Jesus Christ.

Lord, You wept tears of blood for me
You hung in agony so deep
Carried my sin away for good

It is a newer tradition in my household to watch the movie, “The Passion of the Christ” on Good Friday each year. Put aside the controversy that surrounded the film and more recently its producer, and concentrate on the depiction of suffering that Christ endured for us. It is so difficult to watch. Who would do such a thing for the life of someone not yet even born? Jesus would have known that I might spend my whole life rebelling against Him, yet He chose to sacrifice His life for mine, just for the chance that I could one day experience His love. He wept tears in my place and withstood torture that I can scarcely imagine. He did this so I might live. His only motivation was a love so outrageous that I will never fully comprehend it.

Lest I forget
All of your goodness
The blood you have shed
The cross I now remember
Lest I forget

I don’t ever want to take for granted what He did for me. I never want to lose the wonder of His love and mercy, and I refuse to overlook the price He paid. Our busy world affords us little opportunity to slow down and ponder the majesty of God. It is important to the health of our soul and our relationship with Christ that we do so. In all of our hurry we must take some time to get alone with Him and reflect on His glory and remember exactly what He went through on our behalf. It’s not a feel good story that is often articulated from our pulpits. There are far easier passages of Scripture on which to meditate and study. Without the reality of the cross though, nothing else would matter. Everything hinges on the sacrifice of Jesus for an undeserving world. We must always keep His life and death at the forefront of our minds. I could never repay what He has done for me. All I can do is obey Him and follow the instructions He gave. Nothing I can do will ever be enough to return the love He lavished on me. He died for me, so I am compelled to live for Him. I will always vividly remember the cross… lest I forget.