moved

I moved up the street.

ken stoll—aka recovering self-help junkie

mercy that covers me

I’ve seen the darkness

And it saw me

But here in the light

Where the dark can’t see

There is a sweet glow of mercy that covers me

Now I am found

But once was lost

And there in the gutter

Where the wheels came off

There was a sweet glow of mercy that covered me

It picked me up

And set me right

Brought me day

And killed my night

Mercy’s there at every turn

Mercy gives what I can’t earn

Gonna let that sweet glow of mercy

Yeah, that sweet glow of mercy

Gonna let that sweet glow of mercy cover me

I’ve been known to run

But I can’t hide

I can’t get away

From the light inside

There is a sweet glow of mercy that covers me

I have fun

I got fast

But when the pull

Of this life has passed

There will be a sweet glow of mercy that covers me

 

-Gary Chapman, Sweet Glow of Mercy 

trust

People with their minds set on you,
   you keep completely whole,
Steady on their feet,
   because they keep at it and don’t quit.
Depend on God and keep at it
   because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.
Those who lived high and mighty
   he knocked off their high horse.
He used the city built on the hill
   as fill for the marshes.
All the exploited and outcast peoples
   build their lives on the reclaimed land.

-Isaiah 26:3-6, The Message Bible

giving back to God

What can I give back to God  
      for the blessings he’s poured out on me?
   I’ll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!
      I’ll pray in the name of God;
   I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do,
      and I’ll do it together with his people.
   When they arrive at the gates of death,
      God welcomes those who love him.
   Oh, God , here I am, your servant,
      your faithful servant: set me free for your service!
   I’m ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice
      and pray in the name of God.

-Psalm 116:12-17, The Message Bible

trusting in the fruits

Henri Nouwen’s daily devotional titled Trusting in the Fruits was worth passing along today.

We belong to a generation that wants to see the results of our work. We want to be productive and see with our own eyes what we have made. But that is not the way of God’s Kingdom. Often our witness for God does not lead to tangible results. Jesus himself died as a failure on a cross. There was no success there to be proud of. Still, the fruitfulness of Jesus’ life is beyond any human measure. As faithful witnesses of Jesus we have to trust that our lives too will be fruitful, even though we cannot see their fruit. The fruit of our lives may be visible only to those who live after us.

What is important is how well we love. God will make our love fruitful, whether we see that fruitfulness or not.

Pascal’s prayer—make it mine

I ask you neither for health nor for sickness, for life nor for death; but that you may dispose of my health and my sickness, my life and my death, for your glory… You alone know what is expedient for me; you are the sovereign master, do with me according to your will. Give to me, or take away from me, only conform my will to yours. I know but one thing, Lord, that it is good to follow you, and bad to offend you. Apart from that, I know not what is good or bad in anything. I know not which is most profitable to me, health or sickness, wealth or poverty, nor anything else in the world. That discernment is beyond the power of men or angels, and is hidden among the secrets of your providence, which I adore, but do not seek to fathom.

-Blaise Pascal, French philosopher (1623-1662)

funny stuff

Once in a while while traveling through blogdom I run across an author or a page that just makes me think—I got to pass this along. 

It happened last night.

This guy is hilarious and his running list of stuff Christians like is enough to make the stodgiest among us crack a smile if you ask me—and maybe even experience one of those belly laughs.

Three posts in particular that really had me laughing were holy quotes at the end of emails (#366), the dude that drinks the water and gets sick (#371), and asking for money at church (#367).

http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/

                       

the quiet

I Needed The Quiet 

I needed the quiet, so he drew me aside
Into the shadows where we could confide
Away from the bustle where all the day long
I hurried and worried when active and strong
I needed the quiet, though at first I rebelled
But gently, so gently, my cross he upheld
And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things
Though weakened in body, my spirit took wings
To heights never dreamed of when active and gay
He loved me so greatly he drew me away
I needed the quiet, no prison my bed
But a beautiful valley of blessings instead
A place to grow richer, in Jesus to hide
I needed the quiet, so he drew me aside.

-Alice Martenson

Your grace alone must save us

            

By Grace Alone

            

Out of the depths I cry to You,
Lord, hear my voice of pleading;
Bend down Your gracious ear, I pray,
Your humble servant heeding.
If You remember each misdeed,
And of each thought and word take heed,
Who can remain before You?
Only by grace, by grace alone.

 

Your pardon is a gift of love,
Your grace alone must save us,
Our works will not remove our guilt,
The strictest life would fail us.
Let none in deeds or merits boast,
But let us own the Holy Ghost
for He alone can change us:
Only by grace, by grace alone.

 

Though great our sins and sore our woes
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our utmost need it soundeth.
Our kind and faithful Shepherd He,
Who will set all His people free
From all their sin and sorrow:
Only by grace, by grace alone.

           

-Martin Luther (1483-1546)

               

don’t stop believing

Scattered words and empty thoughts
seem to pour from my heart.
I’ve never felt so torn before.
Seems I don’t know where to start.
But it’s now that I feel Your grace fall like rain
From ev’ry fingertip, washing away my pain

‘Cause I still believe in Your faithfulness.
‘Cause I still believe in Your truth.
‘Cause I still believe in Your holy Word.
Even when I don’t see, I still believe.

Though the questions still fog up my mind
with promises I still seem to bear,
Or even when answers slowly unwind,
It’s my heart I see you prepare.
But it’s now that I feel your grace fall like rain
From ev’ry fingertip, washing away my pain…

Well, the only place I can go is into Your arms
Where I throw to You my feeble prayers.
Well, in brokenness I can see that this was Your will for me.
Help me to know that You are near, yeah,

‘Cause I still believe in Your faithfulness.
‘Cause I still believe in Your truth.
‘Cause I still believe in Your holy Word.
Even when I don’t see, I still believe…

-Lyrics by Jeremy Camp, I Still Believe