Terms of Engagement

"We want God on our terms, but we don't get God that way. That's how we get false religion. It's pick and choose. It's cut and paste. The end result is a false god we've created in our image.

You only get a relationship with God on His terms. You can take it or leave it, but you cannot change the rules of engagement. and you don't want to!"

  -Mark Batterson, All In: You Are One Decision Away From A Totally Different Life, page 25

That Simple...and That Difficult

"The longer I follow Jesus, the more convinced I am of this simple truth. God doesn't do what God does because of us. God does what God does in spite of us. All you have to do is stay out of the way.

It's that simple. It's that difficult.

Stay humble. Stay hungry.

If you aren't hungry for God, you are full of yourself. That's why God cannot fill you with His Spirit. But if you will empty yourself, if you will die to self, you'll be a different person by the time you reach the last page of this book...."

-Mark Batterson, All In: You Are One Decision Away From A Totally Different Life, page 21, (Italics in the original)

Who's Following Who

"Most people in most churches think they are following Jesus, but I'm not so sure. they may think they are following Jesus, but the reality is this: they have invited Jesus to follow them. They call Him Savior, but they have never surrendered to Him as Lord. And I was one of them. trust me, I didn't want to go anywhere without Jesus right there behind me. But I wanted Jesus to follow me, to serve my purposes, to do my will."

-Mark Batterson, All In: You Are One Decision Away From A Totally Different Life, page 16 (Italics in the original)

All In and All Out

"The word consecrate means to set yourself apart. By definition, consecration demands full devotion. It's dethroning yourself and enthroning Jesus Christ. It's the complete divestiture of all self interest. It's giving God veto power. It's surrendering all of you to all of Him. It's a simple recognition that every second of time, every ounce of energy, and every penny of money is a gift from God and for God. Consecration is an ever-deepening love for Jesus, a childlike trust in the heavenly Father, and a blind obedience to the Holy Spirit. Consecration is all that and a thousand things more. But for the sake of simplicity, let me give you my personal definition of consecration.

Consecration is going all in and all out for the All in All."

-Mark Batterson, All In: You Are One Decision Away From A Totally Different Life, page 19 (Italics in the original)

The Ultimate Disenthrallment

"The key to the Christian life begins with confronting and amending the self, rather than indulging it. This can only be done through grace, which enters upon our yes and moves and grows on the intentional breeze of willingness. Because those are the only things that count - our intentions and willingness- worthiness does not enter in.

But willingness only comes with humility. It comes when we can say, 'Thy will be done,' and then actually surrender, instead of preparing a treaty, complete with expiration date.

Such surrender is the ultimate disenthrallment and the banisher of all idols, even the super idols."

 - Elizabeth Scalia in  Strange Gods: Unmasking the Idols in Everyday Life., page 116

Burn My Bridges...And Dance Within the Flames

Lyrics to "Hold Me Close" by Kim Hill

(Love this song. Need these words. Expresses my heart)

I'm ready to stop running, let myself be caught
Stop pretending, let myself be known
I'm ready to stop hiding, let myself be found
Held safe and sound, in Your loving arms

So hold me close in Your arms of mercy
Look inside, show me what You see
Touch my life, and I will stop my searching
And find that place in You, that waits for me

Whatever I held onto, I'm ready to let go
Burn my bridges, and dance within the flames
All of my wrong choices have lead my heart back home
To the love that swallows up my pain

I can see You've been there all along
You've reached into my recklessness
And filled me with Your song

© 1998 Word Music / Integrity's Hosanna! Music / ASCAP / All rights reserved

All of It, All of Me

"My humanity, my sin, it's all me.  And I need Jesus to love me like I really am: brokenness, wounds, sins, addictions, lies, death, fear...all of it.  Take all of it, Lord Jesus.  If I don't present this broken, messed-up person to Jesus, my faith is dishonest, and my understanding of faith will become a way of continuing the ruse and pretense of being good."

     - Michael Spencer, Mere Churchianity, page 149

Purposed

As is canvas to the artist, and to potter is the clay

I was made to please Another, and to learn to walk His way.

For in dying there is winning: I will lose my life this day

to be found in Him forever, faithful come what may.

For you are worthy, Lord of Glory to be worshipped and adored!

For your pleasure I am purposed, for your glory Sovereign Lord!

----------------------

This is part of a song I wrote 20 years ago. I can't remember the rest of it, and I probably got some of the words wrong, or at least not as originally written. If anyone who knew me back in Maryland in the 80's has the words to this song, please let me know!

To the Cross I Look...

There's another song that I have been meditating on a lot the past few weeks- humming the tune to myself, repeating the words over and over in my mind. The Song is Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle:

To the cross I look,
to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing

For on it my Savior
both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken,
wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift,
undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

Bridge:
In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness