Here is a song that I wrote in appoximately ten minutes music and all during my devotional time at the snow retreat. I was reading in 1 Corinthians and it was talking about wisdom given by the Holy Spirit and other things that we recieve because of the Holy Spirit. Paul was making a distinction between those who have the Spirit and those who don't by refrencing and Old Testament passage that says, "What no eye has seen, or ear has heard nor the heart of man imagine, what God has prepared for those who love him..." The distiction Paul made was that believers recieve the joys of Heaven. So here are the lyrics to a great anticipation for heaven:
What no eye has seen or ear has heard
Nor the heart of man imagined
What God has prepared for those who love Him
I long for that day
When I can be face to face
With the One who rescued me
(Pre-Chorus)
Come O Lord and take me from this helm
As I wait O God, I wait for you now
(Chorus)
I Have walked this earth with no where to go
I have seen all the things that are fleeting
Now I sing from the joy that comforts me
"Oh how I long to be home with You!"
How long O Lord
Must I wait to see your face?
I wait with great anticipation
I am weak and frail
But you are my strength that holds me
Firm, enduring till the end
(Pre-Chorus)
(Chorus)
(Pre-Chorus) 2x
(Chorus)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
REPENT
I had the privledge of retreating from the everyday life for a week to fellowship with my highschool and church and learn from the Word of God. The theme of the retreat was REPENTANCE seeing sin for what it really is. I think its hilarity that everytime I hear the theme of a retreat, I think I already know what to expect. I tend to prove myself wrong in many situations and this one is no exception. Here are a couple things that I have gleaned:
I. The Joy of Repentance
I have always thought of repentance as me saying sorry for doing something wrong. But as I have learned, its much more than that. Repentance isn't just saying sorry for something I did wrong or turning away from the sin. Repentance is turning completely away from sin, putting your sin towards your back and turning to God. Just think of the joy that one receives when his face is in line with God's. It's impossible to not have joy if one is facing God. And what's even greater is that God is the one who calls us to repentance. God is the one who is turning us around so that we can face Him. Without His grace we would still be drifting farther away from Him and closer to our sin. Another aspect of joy that comes with repentance is when another person repents and becomes saved. At the retreat God saved six people. Two of them are pretty close to me, and for them to become saved totally made my heart skip. I praise God that now they are my brother and sister rather than just friends. There's a joy that believers share with other believers and with heaven when one repents.
II. What Sin Really Is
Sin is more than doing something thats wrong. Sin is a sick and disgusting obstacle that blocks our view from God. Sin hinders us from growing closer to God. Not does only sin hinder us from God, it offends God as well. Sin is grotesque in the eyes of God. So if sin is what keeps us from God, then why do we still go back to our sin? Sin is so easily obtained and so enticing that in and of ourselves we want to sin. We were born to sin. We already entered this world as sinners. When I don't desire God, I desire sin. Sin is so easy to do. I can sin just by my thoughts. That's why it is so important to "Guard Your Hearts" from sin and destroy sin. The greatest thing is, is that God keeps us from sinning. Once we are directed towards God, He is faithful and just to complete a good work in us. We still go through seasons of sin, but once God has called us to repentance, He will forgive us of those sins. He has given us the Holy Spirit so that we can continue to repent when we fall into sin. It's not the same repentance of salvation, but a repentance that allows us to turn from sin and turn to the King.
III. REPENT!!!
Yes it's true that it is only God who allows someone to repent, but if God is working in you, don't let yourself be what's blocking you and a relationship with God. It's easy to wait and put God off, but trust me, there is a greater joy awaiting in heaven then what's here on earth. God is better. Scripture says that if you are to be saved you must REPENT. You must deny your self and turn away from your wickedness and turn to the only One who is good and faithful and just and willing to forgive and love. You must believe that Christ is the Son of God and that He died for your sins on the cross. You must committ your life to God and grow in a relationship with Him. With God there is a feast that awaits us in heaven. There is a greater joy and a greater peace. Think of a King calling his lost servants who are traveling towards town away from the castle to come and be in the presence of the King and come partake of a marvleous feast. Wouldn't you rather be feasting in the presence of the King rather than staying in the town's bar? God is so much greater than what the world has to offer. I have to say it's so hard for me to say no to things and people especially because I love God more. I would rather spend a minute in the presence of the Lord than spend a lifetime with my best friend. With God there is a greater joy that only is given by God. So REPENT!
I. The Joy of Repentance
I have always thought of repentance as me saying sorry for doing something wrong. But as I have learned, its much more than that. Repentance isn't just saying sorry for something I did wrong or turning away from the sin. Repentance is turning completely away from sin, putting your sin towards your back and turning to God. Just think of the joy that one receives when his face is in line with God's. It's impossible to not have joy if one is facing God. And what's even greater is that God is the one who calls us to repentance. God is the one who is turning us around so that we can face Him. Without His grace we would still be drifting farther away from Him and closer to our sin. Another aspect of joy that comes with repentance is when another person repents and becomes saved. At the retreat God saved six people. Two of them are pretty close to me, and for them to become saved totally made my heart skip. I praise God that now they are my brother and sister rather than just friends. There's a joy that believers share with other believers and with heaven when one repents.
II. What Sin Really Is
Sin is more than doing something thats wrong. Sin is a sick and disgusting obstacle that blocks our view from God. Sin hinders us from growing closer to God. Not does only sin hinder us from God, it offends God as well. Sin is grotesque in the eyes of God. So if sin is what keeps us from God, then why do we still go back to our sin? Sin is so easily obtained and so enticing that in and of ourselves we want to sin. We were born to sin. We already entered this world as sinners. When I don't desire God, I desire sin. Sin is so easy to do. I can sin just by my thoughts. That's why it is so important to "Guard Your Hearts" from sin and destroy sin. The greatest thing is, is that God keeps us from sinning. Once we are directed towards God, He is faithful and just to complete a good work in us. We still go through seasons of sin, but once God has called us to repentance, He will forgive us of those sins. He has given us the Holy Spirit so that we can continue to repent when we fall into sin. It's not the same repentance of salvation, but a repentance that allows us to turn from sin and turn to the King.
III. REPENT!!!
Yes it's true that it is only God who allows someone to repent, but if God is working in you, don't let yourself be what's blocking you and a relationship with God. It's easy to wait and put God off, but trust me, there is a greater joy awaiting in heaven then what's here on earth. God is better. Scripture says that if you are to be saved you must REPENT. You must deny your self and turn away from your wickedness and turn to the only One who is good and faithful and just and willing to forgive and love. You must believe that Christ is the Son of God and that He died for your sins on the cross. You must committ your life to God and grow in a relationship with Him. With God there is a feast that awaits us in heaven. There is a greater joy and a greater peace. Think of a King calling his lost servants who are traveling towards town away from the castle to come and be in the presence of the King and come partake of a marvleous feast. Wouldn't you rather be feasting in the presence of the King rather than staying in the town's bar? God is so much greater than what the world has to offer. I have to say it's so hard for me to say no to things and people especially because I love God more. I would rather spend a minute in the presence of the Lord than spend a lifetime with my best friend. With God there is a greater joy that only is given by God. So REPENT!
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