His Faithfulness

Follow my little sister! http://danamariieee.tumblr.com/ http://danamariieee.tumblr.com/

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 20:30:45 -0400

Follow my little sister!

http://danamariieee.tumblr.com/

Photo

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:03:05 -0400

Two Heart Checks for the Social Media Christian

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:43:00 -0400

Hey guys! I just want to give you two things to think about. And this maybe to some, including me, a quick heart check.

1. There is a huge difference between posting quotes from pastors that you know everyone likes and “radical”, crystal clear “Christianese” statuses/posts and actually living the things that you post and “like” in real life. The gospel and the trustworthiness of the Word of God is best communicated through the conduct of your life in front of actual people.

2. Posting or sharing a really cool sermon clip (even from Driscoll, Piper, Chan or whoever), gospel-centered songs, quotes from pastors that you know everyone enjoys, or the pages from the latest book you’ve been reading does not justify you not reading your Bible.

Please, don’t think in anyway that I have fulfilled these two things that I am warning you about. I continue to pray that the grace of God will grow me to love and delight in his Word. And I pray the same for you. Please don’t try to find cleaver, petty excuses for you not to spend real devotion time with the Lord. It’s true that quotes from pastors are both enlightening and inspiring, the book you’ve been reading is great and has really taught you a lot, and the sermon clip you recently watched made you see something about God or about relationships with others in a way that you have never seen before, but absolutely nothing can replace your personal communion and devotion with Jesus Christ himself.

Being a social media Christian won’t profit at all; but growing in your relationship with God and with others in real life will profit your ministry on any social media outlet as an actual Christian.

See how much Mark Driscoll loves John Piper? Hahahaha, this is...

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:09:25 -0400

See how much Mark Driscoll loves John Piper?

Hahahaha, this is cute.

"All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem,..."

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:04:07 -0400

““All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.””

- All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

"It’s not if pride exists in your heart, it’s where it exists. Kill it."

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 02:16:57 -0400

““It’s not if pride exists in your heart, it’s where it exists. Kill it.””

- C.J. Mahaney

"Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will."

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:22:43 -0400

““Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.””

- Jonathan Edwards

Dang, what makes the Bible so: incredibly inspiring, insightful, uplifting, enlightening,...

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:42:00 -0400

Dang, what makes the Bible so: incredibly inspiring, insightful, uplifting, enlightening, encouraging, comforting, and just so overall edifying? Oh yeah, that’s right, it’s because Jesus is the inspiration for it and it’s all about Jesus!

Jesus, Thank You - Sovereign Grace “Lover of my soul, I...

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:29:40 -0400

Jesus, Thank You - Sovereign Grace

“Lover of my soul, I want to live for you.”

If you can’t expect to look at the sun that illumines the earth for just a minute, how can you...

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:09:11 -0400

If you can’t expect to look at the sun that illumines the earth for just a minute, how can you expect to look at the Son who causes the sun to shine its light at all?

"You better watch out what you say before people start blogging about you."

Sat, 28 May 2011 14:02:17 -0400

““You better watch out what you say before people start blogging about you.””

- Mark Driscoll

Reblog if you're a cat. You'll gain at least 50 new followers.

Mon, 23 May 2011 20:53:00 -0400

"As sure as God puts His children in the furnace he will be in the furnace with them."

Mon, 23 May 2011 20:50:40 -0400

““As sure as God puts His children in the furnace he will be in the furnace with them.””

- Charles Spurgeon

First and the Last Cover - (Hillsong) by...

Mon, 23 May 2011 01:10:14 -0400

First and the Last Cover - (Hillsong) by ctippinsmusic

“God our hope and our salvation, worthy of all our praise. Be our light everlasting; great is your name, Jesus the first and the last.”

Dear Lord Jesus,

Sun, 08 May 2011 13:01:28 -0400

Thanks for giving me the best mom in the world. If I were able to choose my own mother, I’d obviously make the wrong decision, but you know what’s best for all your children even who should mother them. Thanks for giving me a woman that I see everyday strive to match your character. Thank you for the great work that you’re displaying through her:

Love - If there’s one person that I’ve sinned more against in the world it’s been against the woman who God used in delivering me into this world. But her loving and gracious heart has always found somehow to look past all my imperfections and stayed faithful to her calling to be my mom.
Joy - The source of my mom’s joy is the cross. It’s an amazing thing to sit down with her Lord, and you know how much she’s marvels at what you’ve done for us. The joy that she has for you is contagious, and that’s probably why I can’t shut up about you now. I love seeing her everyday, but I know her ultimate show isn’t going to be in the world, but it’s when we’ll be in your kingdom. Can’t wait for that day.
Peace - Because I’ve sinned against my mom countless number of times, I deserve her righteous wrath. That may sound funny, but it’s true. But I think this is a unique way that she displays your character Lord, she offers peace before she unleashes her judgement. She’s not quick to chastise, yell, or scream, but she offers the comfort, love, and affection that only the best mom in the world can offer.
Patience - Lord, I don’t even think I can find the words to describe the tremendous amount of patience that my mom displays towards me. I don’t deserve her sweet and tender heart, but she exercises a great deal of patience towards her young rebel. And I love her so much for that.
Kindness - She’s unspeakably kind. At this point in my life I don’t even think that my future wife will be able to match the kindness of my mom. I guess I can say she still treats me and everyone else like we’re still babies.
Goodness - The imputed righteousness of Jesus is definitely marked in her heart. This woman, who I gladly call my mother, serves everyone and anyone. She has an amazingly good heart, not because of anything that she has done or anything that she’s capable of doing, but only because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross in her behalf and in the empty tomb. Lord, your Good News has made her a great mom.
Faithfulness - She’s faithful, faithful, and her mercy never ends. Just like you Lord, she has never given up on being dependent on you nor has she ever given up on me. The faith and heart that you have given her is one that can never run out of hope in you. She definitely is a woman who “lives as she is free, not using her freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as a servant of God.”
Gentleness - Again Lord, she still treats me like a baby. I don’t know how else to say it. I’m graduating this year, and she still kindly and amazingly makes breakfast for me without complaining, does my laundry even when I get mad at her for doing it, irons my clothes for Sunday, and you know everything else. When I deserved to get a good slap across my face, I probably deserve the belt, she embraces me instead. She really does express the true meaning of what Paul said, “Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.” Although I sin against her and you relentlessly, her gentle grace is always offered toward me. I really can’t ask for more of a Christlike mom.
Self-control - This one truth is implied in all the other characteristics of the fruit of the spirit and the heart of my mom. She knows to hold herself back not just from punishing me, but from her own sin. It’s amazing how she’ll admit to me what she’s been tempted with, but because of the power of Christ she’s able to “resist from the Devil”. I love my mom’s heart in every aspect, but more than anything else, her war against sin. My mom is a sinner like everyone else, but she displays a hatred for darkness everyday before my eyes. And that’s more than I can ever ask for in a mom.

So thanks Lord for giving me my wonderful Mom. I just pray that you’ll craft my heart to be more like yours so my mom would be more pleased with me. Help me to grow in love, service, and appreciation for her everyday. I love you, because your perfect love is displayed through how she loves me. May all the honor and glory be to the Lamb who was slain for all of us, mothers and children. In Christ’s matchless and perfect name, Amen.

Greet your moms a Happy Mother’s Day for me. And although I may not know them personally, let them know that I’m thankful for them and that I love them very much. Grace to you!

The Prince of Preachers Wonderfully Speaks of the King

Sat, 07 May 2011 20:02:00 -0400

One of the things that I greatly appreciate more than anything is when my siblings in the Lord quote remarkable ministers. But one man, in particular, makes my heart sink deeper into loving Jesus more, and that minister is no one other than the Prince of Preachers himself, Charles Spurgeon. Every word that is recorded for us from Spurgeon is simply remarkable. His sermons, books, and lectures are next to the scriptures in my opinion. Obviously with the thought that nothing will match the power and conviction of sacred scripture. But I do praise our Lord for giving us men who unceasingly points us back to the cross of Christ even hundreds of years after their death. The power of Christ and his gospel is amazingly displayed through men like Spurgeon.

“Jesus is the Truth. We believe in Him, —not merely in His words. He Himself is Doctor and Doctrine, Revealer and Revelation, the Illuminator and the Light of Men. He is exalted in every word of truth, because He is its sum and substance. He sits above the gospel, like a prince on His own throne. Doctrine is most precious when we see it distilling from His lips and embodied in His person. Sermons [and songs] are valuable in proportion as they speak of Him and point to Him. A Christ-less gospel is no gospel and a Christ-less discourse is the cause of merriment to devils.” - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Bin Laden's Death: How Should We Feel?

Mon, 02 May 2011 20:34:00 -0400

Bin Laden's Death: How Should We Feel?:

Few of the many incontrovertible facts in relation to the recent events are these:

God is sovereign.
Osama Bin Laden is dead.
However, terrorism will continue to live on.
Christ will continue to display his sovereignty as the evil of terrorism continues.
Christians are to live in patient prayerful dependency as our Lord carries out his perfect will.

“Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish my purpose.’” (Isaiah 46:10)

ANTHEM: Strategies for Fighting Lust

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:34:27 -0400

I have in mind men and women. For men it’s obvious. The need for warfare against the bombardment of visual temptation to fixate on sexual images is urgent. For women it is less obvious, but just as great if we broaden the scope of temptation to food or figure or relational fantasies. When I say “lust” I mean the realm of thought, imagination, and desire that leads to sexual misconduct. So here is one set of strategies in the war against wrong desires. I put it in the form of an acronym, A N T H E M.

A – AVOID as much as is possible and reasonable the sights and situations that arouse unfitting desire. I say “possible and reasonable” because some exposure to temptation is inevitable. And I say “unfitting desire” because not all desires for sex, food, and family are bad. We know when they are unfitting and unhelpful and on their way to becoming enslaving. We know our weaknesses and what triggers them. “Avoiding” is a Biblical strategy. “Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness” (2 Timothy 2:22). “Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:14).

N – Say NO to every lustful thought within five seconds. And say it with the authority of Jesus Christ. “In the name of Jesus, NO!” You don’t have much more than five seconds. Give it more unopposed time than that, and it will lodge itself with such force as to be almost immovable. Say it out loud if you dare. Be tough and warlike. As John Owen said, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” Strike fast and strike hard. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” ( James 4:7).

T – TURN the mind forcefully toward Christ as a superior satisfaction. Saying “no” will not suffice. You must move from defense to offense. Fight fire with fire. Attack the promises of sin with the promises of Christ. The Bible calls lusts “deceitful desires” (Ephesians 4:22). They lie. They promise more than they can deliver. The Bible calls them “passions of your former ignorance” (1 Peter 1:14). Only fools yield. “All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter” (Proverbs 7:22). Deceit is defeated by truth. Ignorance is defeated by knowledge. It must be glorious truth and beautiful knowledge. This is why I wrote Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ. We must stock our minds with the superior promises and pleasures of Jesus. Then we must turn to them immediately after saying, “NO!”

H – HOLD the promise and the pleasure of Christ firmly in your mind until it pushes the other images out. “Fix your eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1). Here is where many fail. They give in too soon. They say, “I tried to push it out, and it didn’t work.” I ask, “How long did you try?” How hard did you exert your mind? The mind is a muscle. You can flex it with vehemence. Take the kingdom violently (Matthew 11:12). Be brutal. Hold the promise of Christ before your eyes. Hold it. Hold it! Don’t let it go! Keep holding it! How long? As long as it takes. Fight! For Christ’s sake, fight till you win! If an electric garage door were about to crush your child you would hold it up with all our might and holler for help, and hold it and hold it and hold it and hold it.

E – ENJOY a superior satisfaction. Cultivate the capacities for pleasure in Christ. One reason lust reigns in so many is that Christ has so little appeal. We default to deceit because we have little delight in Christ. Don’t say, “That’s just not me.” What steps have you taken to waken affection for Jesus? Have you fought for joy? Don’t be fatalistic. You were created to treasure Christ with all your heart – more than you treasure sex or sugar. If you have little taste for Jesus, competing pleasures will triumph. Plead with God for the satisfaction you don’t have: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14). Then look, look, look at the most magnificent Person in the universe until you see him the way he is.

M – MOVE into a useful activity away from idleness and other vulnerable behaviors. Lust grows fast in the garden of leisure. Find a good work to do, and do it with all your might. “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord” (Romans 12:11). “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Abound in work. Get up and do something. Sweep a room. Hammer a nail. Write a letter. Fix a faucet. And do it for Jesus’ sake. You were made to manage and create. Christ died to make you “zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14). Displace deceitful lusts with a passion for good deeds.

Fighting at your side,

Pastor John

"When you have achieved your dreams say ‘I have pursued Christ’, but when your dreams..."

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:17:37 -0400

““When you have achieved your dreams say ‘I have pursued Christ’, but when your dreams fail say ‘Christ is better.’””

- Pastor Ed Gonzales

With stress having it’s rising upheaval on many of us in recent days it’s obvious for us...

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:56:12 -0400

With stress having it’s rising upheaval on many of us in recent days it’s obvious for us to recall the ultimate cure: the grace and mercy of Jesus. If you’ve been struggling with absolutely anything I encourage you to place your burden on him who cares everlastingly exponentially for you. Continue to work for the glory of his good name.