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500 posts, some crazy, some serious, about Christ and You!
English: Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Devotional Thought of the Day:
13 If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. 14 Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. 2 Corinthians 5:13-14 (MSG)
27 God’s plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God. Colossians 1:27 (TEV)
This is my 500th post. That’s kind of bizzarre.
Thinking about it is odd, especially when I look at the stats and realize people from all over the world have come here, read a blog or two. Some have even followed the blog.
I’ve thought about stopping writing a number of times, or just putting sermons up – which is how I started blogging. The writing, spiritual journaling is something that happens, so why so share it? I pray that its blessed some of you other there.
Some have been a little crazy, or self revealing, and the thoughts not well put together. Others are more serious, nearly prophetic in calling us to realize what we do in our lives, and how it relates to God and those Jesus died for along with you and I.
Many have quoted a pretty crazy and serious pastor named Martin Luther, who didn’t like Christians being identified with his name.
Even more have quoted a Catholic priest/evangelist/pastor named St Josemaria Escriva.
Both of these guys had a heart for Christ’s work, for His love and mercy being revealed to others. A heart I long to develop in myself, in my congregation, in the pastors I long to work alongside. Not a mindset that is mission, but a heart that sees people who are struggling with life and with great love comes alongside them and helps them know Christ is with you!
For both those who trust in Christ, and those who do not yet understand why He is worthy of investing your life in, need to know that. That I hope and pray is the outcome of this blog… that this sinner, justified by the love of God, has writtent words to edify and challenge you. That it has done what those verses up there have said. That you know Him, and know of the glory you will share Him, because He loves you.
That’s why this blog is here… and I would love to have some feedback, if it’s blessed you, if it’s helped you see Christ’s love. If its helped you know Him, if its made you think about your relationship with Him, that He’s drawn you into. So if it has been a help in life – please leave me a note below. It will encourage me to write the next 500..
Thanks and God Bless!
Dt
Related articles
- Having a Crisis of Faith? Come Join us! (justifiedandsinner.com)
- Encountering others on Holy Ground. (justifiedandsinner.com)
- The Heart of Theology & the Heart of Ministry is the Heart of Christ (justifiedandsinner.com)
Post 100! A Challenge..rejoice in trials
Devotional thought of the day:
Wow, it’s post 100, averaging some 20 hits, plus those 40 that are subscribed by email. Every continent has seen my blog – including countries that are amazing to me. Some blogs have gotten a ton of hits – the most about my death 20 years ago, some have have only received 3 or 4. I guess, as I look back – some were good (praise God for those) and some…well sucked. (Blame me.) What to talk about on #100? The following quote stuck out in some reading yesterday.
“To follow Christ—that is the secret. We must accompany him so closely that we come to live with him, like the first Twelve did; so closely that we become identified with him…. But do not forget that being with Jesus means we shall most certainly come upon his cross. When we abandon ourselves into God’s hands, he frequently permits us to taste sorrow, loneliness, opposition, slander, defamation, ridicule, coming both from within and from outside. This is because he wants to mold us into his own image and likeness. He even tolerates that we be called lunatics and be taken for fools.” de Prada, Andres Vazquez (2011-04-18). The Founder of Opus Dei: Volume III, The Divine Ways on Earth (The Life of Josemaria Escriva) (Kindle Locations 7632-7638). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
There are days I wish that our Lord wouldn’t permit so many trials in the lives of the people I pastor (whether they are part of my congregation or those…that would be..yet…) TO be honest, it can get very tiring to watch, to spend time in prayer for, to try and stand by their side, (when they let me know they are going through it.) While our confidence is in God, it is in such times that such confidence is shaky, not in God, but in us. Yet the closer we are to Him, the more dependent it seems the more burdens we have to endure, the more challenges we come across…..
As I serve and observe people going through such times, as my heart breaks for them, I have found something out. Theologically speaking, this becomes a “first commandment issue”. Can we let God be God? Can we give to our Father the recognition that He does reign over us, but to accept that in His reigning, it is His responsibility to make these things a blessing, something good for us, even as we do not see it? Can we say, not my will, but thine, realizing that it means we are not just ceding what we are going through, but as well – ceding complete control over how it works out?
That is what Jesus had to do at the cross – ultimately – in His humanity He had to entrust Himself to the Father, and know that it was the Father’s plan to do something wonderful.
In trusting the Father, in the midst of trials, in hearing the Holy Spirit’s comforting voice, in realizing we have been united with Christ’s death and resurrection, the outcome of the trial is one thing we don’t have to concern ourselves with.
And trusting in the Father, knowing His promises, we can dwell in His joy and in His peace…
Knowing that He has promised us life, we can cry, “Lord have mercy!”… and rest in the sure knowledge of His love.
