The Gift.

I have a Father who gave me a gift, the gift of His Son

His Son gave me an even greater gift, He gave me his life

He gave me His blood, and through His blood He took away all the things of old

His blood canceled the old covenant, and established a new covenant.

This is my Father's gift, the gift of a sacrifice, an eternal sacrifice.

My faith in this eternal sacrifice is my gift to you, I give it all to you

A faith that believes in the unseen, a faith that flows with assurance

A faith that comes from ownership, the ownership of an inheritance

A faith that grows day by day, a faith that never fades away

A faith that fills my heart, a faith of unceasing love

Father thank you for your gift, thank you for the new covenant

I have claimed my inheritance, I am taking ownership of it

My heart is filled with joy, because I know that I am yours

I am part of the everlasting family, the eternal kingdom

Because of your gift, the gift of your blood

Father my heart is heavy with the weight of those who do not know

For those who do not understand your gift, for those who where never told

And Father for those who picked up your gift, but then put it down

How could anyone walk away from such a sacrifice, or refuse such a gift

My heart is heavy, as I think of eternity without them

My heart is broken, I feel Your pain, I feel the pain of Your loss

Father I know Your heart is broken for these lost souls,

The pain of losing someone for a life time is bearable

But the pain of losing someone for eternity is unbearable

Father how your heart must ache, as You cry for Your lost ones

Father will my prayers relieve Your pain, will my tears ease your heart

The task of rescuing these lost souls seems to much, can it even be done

Do I have enough faith to press on, enough faith to believe in the impossible

I think about your gift and say yes, I have enough faith to press on

Enough faith to rescue lost souls, enough to believe in the impossible

Hebrews

Hebrews was written to the persecuted Christians in Rome. This is what their situation looked like they had the wrath of Rome coming at them from one side, and the wrath of God from the other side. All they needed to do to escape the wrath of Rome was to not confess their faith in Jesus, and all they needed to do to escape the wrath of God is to confess their faith in Jesus. This group of Christians were in a hard place, the temptation to end the persecution from Rome was very strong, but they also realized the consequences of turning away from God. So how do they stop the persecution from Rome but still keep their faith in God. Turn back to the old covenant. In the old covenant they would not have to confess the name of Jesus, and since this is how their ancestors worshiped God, it should still work for them. Problem solved. But the author of Hebrews knew that this was not so. He knew that when Jesus died on the cross his blood canceled the old covenant and established the new one. The old covenant is nothing but an empty shell and it would no longer save them from the wrath of God. The author of Hebrews wrote this very eloquent argument to the Roman Christians instructing them in the Supremacy of Jesus and the new covenant.  The old covenant was based on rules and regulations, and was a lot of work to keep. In his argument the author compares Jesus to the pillars of the old covenant, the tabernacle, angels, priesthood, the law, sacrifices, the prophets. Jesus has supremacy over all of these. With the old covenant God only dwelled in one place, spoke through the the prophets, and only one person once a year was allowed to enter his presence. But when Jesus died for us and established  the new covenant, anyone anywhere can enter God's presence, he speaks to all of us, and he dwells in all of us. God is everywhere and is available to everyone. I think the first four verses is a good summary of the point of the book.  Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent then theirs. Hebrews 1:1-4.  This is what the author was telling his audience, do not turn away from Jesus, because through Jesus is the only way to gain eternal life.

Expressions of God.

From on high You looked down, what You saw caused You fierce pain

It brought tears to Your eyes, tears that form a river as they flow down Your face

A river that formed an ocean upon the sea of glass, that lay at Your feet

The great rumblings and peals of thunder, could not drown out Your cries of anguish

For what You saw broke Your heart, from its very depth pain exploded

You saw the oppression of the poor and needy, You saw the abuse they received

You heard the cry of the unborn life as it was ripped from its mothers womb,

You saw the child as he was taken from her mothers arms and sold into the arms of pleasure

You heard the cries of the forgotten, overlooked, and unwanted, a cry that deafened Your ears

Your beloved needed deliverance, they needed rescued, the oppression must come to an end.

You looked down from on high, and what you saw brought a smile to your face

You saw him standing there with staff in hand, watchful as a hawk over his flock

You looked in his heart and what You saw brought great joy,

You saw his strengths, You saw his weaknesses, You saw him for who he is

What you saw brought a smile to Your lips, and laughter to Your heart.

You said to yourself this is what I need, he is the one I want, I will use him

With him I can do mighty deeds, through him I can change a nation

He is bold, courageous, and strong, he can rescue my people, he will end the oppression

He is humble, caring, and obedient, his heart is mine, I will speak through him

For I saw the oppressed, I feel their pain, I have not forgotten them, I will not abandon them.

Through one humble shepherd, you delivered the poor and needy from oppression

Through him You brought protection to the unborn, and returned the child to arms of love

Through one heart, through one voice, You made a difference, You changed lives

You did not have to change Your deliverer, you used him as he was, for who he is

You do not call the perfect, but the imperfect, You use us as we are, for who we are

Father, no longer will I believe I have nothing to give, for I have much to offer

No longer will I hide behind fear of failure, fear of imperfection, for You perfect me

You created me with gifts, and talents, You created me in your image

You desire to use me, to use me as You used the Shepherd, You can use me as I am

Father, use me as You desire, I commit myself to your will.

Amos

As we studied Amos this week one thing that really stood out to me is how God uses us for who we are. He does not in any way ask us to change into something we are not. This is a different way of thinking then the thinking of this world. I am sure we have all found our self in a place, or situation where you felt as though you  had to change, or stop being  yourself in order to do what is asked, expected, required, or demanded of you. We are told what to do and how to do it. You are given no freedom to express yourself, or use your skills. God created us all different and He takes great delight in our uniqueness. There maybe times when you really do have to do something a certain way. Somethings really can only be done one way. The problem is when we are told that every thing must be done one way, with no room for change or creativity.
The lyrics to this song by Harry Chapin is a great illustration of this.

The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said... It's not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

Well the teacher said.. You're sassy
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me.....

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

The teacher put him in a corner
She said.. It's for your own good..
And you won't come out 'til you get it right
And all responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
She said...Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let's use every one

But that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen. 

This is not what God wants He wants you to be creative, and have freedom to use your skills and talents. The book of Amos is full of examples of how God used Amos' skills. The prophecies that Amos spoke over Israel are filled with expressions of nature and illustrations of farming and shepherding. This is what Amos did he was a shepherd and farmer. These are the skills and talents that Amos had, and God used them to speak to a nation. Just like God you need to recognize and use your skills and talents, then call and point out others peoples skills. Sometimes all you need is a little help and encouragement to be yourself.

The wounded Heart.

O the agony of My heart, the unceasing pain, the unhealing wound

My heart is torn apart, my anguish is unbearable, the pain incurable

My heart is overwhelmed with grief, the weight I can not bear

From the depths of My heart I moan, in anguish I cry out

My cries fall on deaf ears, on harden hearts, and unseeing eyes

From my suffering I cry to God, I plead in desperation

When will this trial end, when will the oppression cease

Why are you torturing me, have I not done what was commanded

Why are you punishing me, the weight of your hand I can not bear.

Has Your heart grown cold, is it void of love, has it become a desert

What have I done to deserve this punishment, this unfair discipline

You say You are just, and with justice You reign, then why this punishment

You said you loved me, You said You cared, but all I see is discipline

Where is your love, where is your compassion, why are you so unfair

All I feel is Your wrath, I am surrounded by your fierce anger

Why do you hate me, why must I suffer this punishment

I am frightened of Your wrath, of Your anger, of Your aggression

In my fright I turned away, in panic I fled, in despair I live

In desperation I call out to you, where is your compassion

Where is your mercy, your grace, your love, why can I not feel it

You heard my cries, and answered me

Look deeper what you see is not, what I see

Open your eyes, do not be deceived, take it all in

Do not let your perception of me blind you

I looked beyond my blindness, this it what I saw.

O the agony of My heart, the unceasing pain, the unhealing wound

My heart is torn apart, my anguish is unbearable, the pain incurable

My heart is overwhelmed with grief, the weight I can not bear

From the depths of My heart I moan, in anguish I cry out

My cries fall on deaf ears, on harden hearts, and unseeing eyes

I saw the agony my sin caused Your heart, the deep wound it made

A pain beyond anything I could bear, an anguish that would kill me

A brokenness I will never understand, the depth of Your pain is unfathomable

My heart moans with the impact of this love, this stead fast love

I cry out to you from the depth of my heart, for the pain I inflict upon you.

I see Your steadfast love for me, where I was blind before

I see Your love for a nation that broke Your heart

Father, I commit myself to you, I give my heart to you

Break me for what breaks You, use me as you will

My heart has found its place, it belongs to you.

Jeremiah

As we have been studying the old testament these past few weeks I have been struggling to see how the old testament God and the new testament God are the same God. In the old testament God is angry, strict, and unloving. He is killing people left and right, and is someone to be feared. But in the new testament He is loving and caring, He is no longer killing people, He is a God you turn to in love and admiration. How is He the same God? As we where studying Jeremiah this week, I saw the old testament God in a new way. I had asked myself what does Jeremiah see in God that I do not. Jeremiah was devoted to God, he wept with God over the sins of Judah, he delivered God's message of judgment to His people over and over and over again, even though he faced persecution for doing so. If God was as wrathful as He seemed to be why was Jeremiah doing this, was he doing it out of  fear of God or love for him? I believe it was love. I think Jeremiah experienced God's love for His people in a way I never have. He understood that God was not punishing his people, but their sin. Our sin hurts God, it makes a deep wound in His heart, because it separates us from Him. God desires nothing more than to be with us, He is so in love with us that He can not bear the thought of losing one of us. It is out of this love that God inflicts His wrath upon our sin. Because of our stubbornness God often has to take drastic measures to get us to stop sinning and flee from it. Sometimes this means God has to do things that break His heart, it may mean that He has to wipe out a nation, so that another can survive. He may have to cause plagues and great suffering to come upon His people. And every one of these things breaks His heart. God weeps over our stubborn, disobedient, deceived souls. He loves us with an everlasting steadfast love. And this is what Jeremiah saw in God's judgment, this is why he wept with God, over the sins of Judah.