Ephesians 2

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—
6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Underestimated

Never underestimate the power of God's word.

I had an opportunity last night to study Scripture with a few teenage girls. It was a spur of the moment chance to share God's word with them, but God was faithful. He removed me so His glory could be shown. God drew me to Romans 12, and we talked about the marks of a Christian life, and how we must turn to God to be able to live in a godly way. We were able to apply the Scriptures to their lives and pray that the Holy Spirit would strengthen and encourage them. The teenage years are arguably some of the hardest years of our lives, regarding temptations and worldly behavior. But I am confident that the word of the Lord and the working of the Holy Spirit can overcome and deliver.

A Must Read on Biblical Manhood

I found this on a blog titled Pyromaniacs: Setting the World on Fire. I think Johnson makes some very good points about the state of the church in relation to biblical manhood.

Here is the link:
Sissification of the Church

311

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
Amber

Brainstorm
Take me away from the norm
I got to tell you something
This phenomenon
I had to put it in a song
And it goes like
Whoa amber is the color of your energy
Whoa shades of gold displayed naturally

You ought to know what brings me here
You glide through my head blind to fear
And I know why

The working of the Holy Spirit

This week I have again been reminded of how the Holy Spirit is working out the gospel in my life. I opened my mouth this weekend and said something sinful to a friend. This happens quite often with me, and I'm sure some of you can identify with this. Anyway, I was able, through the prompting of the Spirit, to apologize and ask forgiveness. I was contemplating how humbling it is to ask someone for forgiveness, and was forced to remember that my life is not about me. My life is for the glory of God. My friend responded with unmeasurable mercy, which is a wonderful picture of the mercy our God extends to us through His Son. Thank you Holy Spirit for working in my sinful heart that I "have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace" (Eph 1:7).

Isaiah 42

⁵Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
⁶"I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
⁷ to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
⁸I am the LORD; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
⁹Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them."

The Office quote

Michael: Why do you keep a diary?

Dwight: To keep secrets from my computer.