grace that is greater
than all our sin
march 29, 11'
sunday morning my early service at grace baptist was ultimately renewing.
i segued in a bit late and missed the hymns with the congregation, which i don't like to miss, but even through all of that--it was still a gorgeous experience.
the choir sang a beautiful peace that gave you shivers of delight the entire whimsical time.
the alto section was strong and in my opinion that is what makes a choir.
all four glorious parts are so important.
but the alto's---have such a hard part.
and they are beautiful.
when you hear every dazzling part; you become electrified--in every aspect of the word.
during greeting time i was overwhelmed with blissful blessings as i was sweetly acquainted again with the people that i go to church with that always instantly make you happier, with hugs and grand gestures.
and in this act of beauty and blessing, i am grateful and thankful to God for putting me in this spot, area and church.
at this time.
i found my favorite couple that i always sit with every morning after they come down from singing in the choir and then we all sat on that familiarized pew together.
like a happy family.
she always pats my dress as she sits and admires it in a classy expression.
she writes me short and sweet little words on her bulletin to pass to me throughout the service, but intent to pastor brad we both still are.
intent, focused, engrossed and drowning in the splendor that he preaches.
the truth that he preaches.
the passion that he bellows.
the love in which he spreads.
the love in which he has.
the love in which he feels.
the love in which he reflects.
[all so magical to me as i listen---soak in--God is there---and i feel him.]
everything about this service was beautiful.
he started out about our salvation.
then about things that are not very important, that we as humans make important.
then about the separation between heaven and hell---and when hell is in your future and a part of the pathway in which you walk; they are going to want a part of Jesus Christ--even when.
and even then.
to wrap yourself into things of this world is a part of neglect.
and how men will not admit today if they are lost.
it's a sense of pride.
pride is huge.
pride is sin.
the devil is blinding men, and in result they have sins that they do not want to get rid of.
but what they don't understand is that they will not have that particular sin--that they can't seem to get rid of-or want to leave--in death.
in heaven or in hell.
we should make preparation for what is to come!
this sermon seems so simple.
the simplicity that i complained about when i first moved here.
i wanted more "meat."
i wanted more---and i wanted to learn more.
i didn't want to listen to the things that i already knew.
my focus was lost.
i prayed.
i asked God to show me things in a new light through sermons that i may have already heard.
i asked God to open my perspective, my eyes and my ears to His words and thoughts.
and man! did He open them.
it's not about what i want to hear.
or what i want to learn.
every sermon is a precious gift.
every verse or message that God lays on my pastor(s) hearts is precious.
no matter what it is.
and being opened to His truth, and His messages through my pastor(s) sermons, has given me the ability to learn.
to see.
differently.
to gain within a new golden perspective.
i am so blessed.
even if i had already heard that simple message in relation to others, before.
or along that similar line.
God shows me something.
i am wearing my humility within golden vines upon being rained on; while walking in mud.
i am rejuvenated.
i am in Georgia--and i am closer to Him.
the way that i want to be and the way that i want things to go.
He has somewhat reclaimed me.
there is a reason for everything and i am seriously sure that He has brought me here to draw closer to Him.
my faith is soaring in the clouds of renewal.
my love for Him is a never ending pour of delightful colors in a beautiful dim light.
my soul is refreshed in the glow of His righteousness.
and meanwhile in all of His perfection and praise--i am glued to the severity of my pastor's passion for souls to be saved.
i have that passion.
i share that passion.
and i want to shout this emotion and truth with him--to everyone lost and broken.
i want to share with the lost that they are not alone.
and the gospel that they need to hear.
in the midst of all of my thinking, my sweet friend writes on her bulletin that the man sitting in front of us in the pew was not saved.
sitting directly in front of me.
and then to pray for him---as i was also going to simultaneously write.
great minds think alike.
during the invitation, we stood up as pastor Brad was pouring his plea to the lost to come to Jesus.
cracked voice so lovingly--
and the piano was playing, "savior, savior....hear my humble cry."
and for the fourth sunday in a row we, as a congregation, sang this beautiful chorus together, heads bowed and eyes closed and i was filled with a spiked love as my hand was being covered in ms. melanie's loving hand.
wrapped together.
this feeling i can not even describe.
then those who are saved and who wanted to, walked to the altar to pray.
then----out of unfamiliarity our pastor was asking us to sit as this is the part where we are supposed to exit ourselves out of the sanctuary as the service sweetly closes.
and there was a humble, elderly-wanting to reach our hearts in discernment-man standing in front of us.
a surprise to us at the moment in which it happened, but needed (to this man)--a testimony for us to listen to as i prayed for it to reach the lost more gratifyingly so.
and the man in front of me.
he was simple.
strong and sweet.
he said that being saved is important.
what we all needed.
and that the pastor just got done telling us!
it's what we need to do---commands the Lord.
he was right on and said that a second altar call was in order.
so we all did it again.
i saw the man in front of me---
i saw his wife crying.
i saw her take her hand in his.
i saw a man try to sway the lost man to come to Jesus.
i saw him standing firm.
i saw the back of his partially bald head.
i observed his plaid shirt.
i did not see any flinch.
i did not see or feel an energy that had reached him.
but i felt a certain type of energy.
he did not budge.
and then i began to cry.
i don't even know who he is.
i don't know his name, nor have i seen his face.
and his lost soul drenched me with sorrow.
i pray that Jesus will reach His hand out to Him and touch him in a way that he so desperately needs.
why can't people understand that we can not get through life without Jesus??
we can not live life profoundly, or ultimately with a purpose so amazing, without Him.
why do people continue to do so?
why do men pick their sin over Christ?
because the devil is just that good.
the devil is just that powerful.
he has a way of allowing the lost and defeated to think that his ways are golden, and the only way.
the only wonderful thing about this, is that Jesus has the power to cover his deceitfulness.
not just to cover, but to get rid of.
his false love for the lost and their sins they drown in.
Satan does not care about us.
i pray for that man to turn to God and leave his pride, sins and darkness at the cross.
i pray.
lovingly.
because God is the only way.
and as the tears ran down my cheeks that darkly lit sunday morning, my longing grew intensely.
my love grew more, if that's even possible.
my desire peaked a new round from dusk to dawn.
because God is the only way.
He is our ultimate and only healer.
our only light from the darkness.
savior, savior,
hear my humble cry;
while on others thou art calling,
do not pass me by.
amen.
than all our sin
march 29, 11'
sunday morning my early service at grace baptist was ultimately renewing.
i segued in a bit late and missed the hymns with the congregation, which i don't like to miss, but even through all of that--it was still a gorgeous experience.
the choir sang a beautiful peace that gave you shivers of delight the entire whimsical time.
the alto section was strong and in my opinion that is what makes a choir.
all four glorious parts are so important.
but the alto's---have such a hard part.
and they are beautiful.
when you hear every dazzling part; you become electrified--in every aspect of the word.
during greeting time i was overwhelmed with blissful blessings as i was sweetly acquainted again with the people that i go to church with that always instantly make you happier, with hugs and grand gestures.
and in this act of beauty and blessing, i am grateful and thankful to God for putting me in this spot, area and church.
at this time.
i found my favorite couple that i always sit with every morning after they come down from singing in the choir and then we all sat on that familiarized pew together.
like a happy family.
she always pats my dress as she sits and admires it in a classy expression.
she writes me short and sweet little words on her bulletin to pass to me throughout the service, but intent to pastor brad we both still are.
intent, focused, engrossed and drowning in the splendor that he preaches.
the truth that he preaches.
the passion that he bellows.
the love in which he spreads.
the love in which he has.
the love in which he feels.
the love in which he reflects.
[all so magical to me as i listen---soak in--God is there---and i feel him.]
everything about this service was beautiful.
he started out about our salvation.
then about things that are not very important, that we as humans make important.
then about the separation between heaven and hell---and when hell is in your future and a part of the pathway in which you walk; they are going to want a part of Jesus Christ--even when.
and even then.
to wrap yourself into things of this world is a part of neglect.
and how men will not admit today if they are lost.
it's a sense of pride.
pride is huge.
pride is sin.
the devil is blinding men, and in result they have sins that they do not want to get rid of.
but what they don't understand is that they will not have that particular sin--that they can't seem to get rid of-or want to leave--in death.
in heaven or in hell.
we should make preparation for what is to come!
this sermon seems so simple.
the simplicity that i complained about when i first moved here.
i wanted more "meat."
i wanted more---and i wanted to learn more.
i didn't want to listen to the things that i already knew.
my focus was lost.
i prayed.
i asked God to show me things in a new light through sermons that i may have already heard.
i asked God to open my perspective, my eyes and my ears to His words and thoughts.
and man! did He open them.
it's not about what i want to hear.
or what i want to learn.
every sermon is a precious gift.
every verse or message that God lays on my pastor(s) hearts is precious.
no matter what it is.
and being opened to His truth, and His messages through my pastor(s) sermons, has given me the ability to learn.
to see.
differently.
to gain within a new golden perspective.
i am so blessed.
even if i had already heard that simple message in relation to others, before.
or along that similar line.
God shows me something.
i am wearing my humility within golden vines upon being rained on; while walking in mud.
i am rejuvenated.
i am in Georgia--and i am closer to Him.
the way that i want to be and the way that i want things to go.
He has somewhat reclaimed me.
there is a reason for everything and i am seriously sure that He has brought me here to draw closer to Him.
my faith is soaring in the clouds of renewal.
my love for Him is a never ending pour of delightful colors in a beautiful dim light.
my soul is refreshed in the glow of His righteousness.
and meanwhile in all of His perfection and praise--i am glued to the severity of my pastor's passion for souls to be saved.
i have that passion.
i share that passion.
and i want to shout this emotion and truth with him--to everyone lost and broken.
i want to share with the lost that they are not alone.
and the gospel that they need to hear.
in the midst of all of my thinking, my sweet friend writes on her bulletin that the man sitting in front of us in the pew was not saved.
sitting directly in front of me.
and then to pray for him---as i was also going to simultaneously write.
great minds think alike.
during the invitation, we stood up as pastor Brad was pouring his plea to the lost to come to Jesus.
cracked voice so lovingly--
and the piano was playing, "savior, savior....hear my humble cry."
and for the fourth sunday in a row we, as a congregation, sang this beautiful chorus together, heads bowed and eyes closed and i was filled with a spiked love as my hand was being covered in ms. melanie's loving hand.
wrapped together.
this feeling i can not even describe.
then those who are saved and who wanted to, walked to the altar to pray.
then----out of unfamiliarity our pastor was asking us to sit as this is the part where we are supposed to exit ourselves out of the sanctuary as the service sweetly closes.
and there was a humble, elderly-wanting to reach our hearts in discernment-man standing in front of us.
a surprise to us at the moment in which it happened, but needed (to this man)--a testimony for us to listen to as i prayed for it to reach the lost more gratifyingly so.
and the man in front of me.
he was simple.
strong and sweet.
he said that being saved is important.
what we all needed.
and that the pastor just got done telling us!
it's what we need to do---commands the Lord.
he was right on and said that a second altar call was in order.
so we all did it again.
i saw the man in front of me---
i saw his wife crying.
i saw her take her hand in his.
i saw a man try to sway the lost man to come to Jesus.
i saw him standing firm.
i saw the back of his partially bald head.
i observed his plaid shirt.
i did not see any flinch.
i did not see or feel an energy that had reached him.
but i felt a certain type of energy.
he did not budge.
and then i began to cry.
i don't even know who he is.
i don't know his name, nor have i seen his face.
and his lost soul drenched me with sorrow.
i pray that Jesus will reach His hand out to Him and touch him in a way that he so desperately needs.
why can't people understand that we can not get through life without Jesus??
we can not live life profoundly, or ultimately with a purpose so amazing, without Him.
why do people continue to do so?
why do men pick their sin over Christ?
because the devil is just that good.
the devil is just that powerful.
he has a way of allowing the lost and defeated to think that his ways are golden, and the only way.
the only wonderful thing about this, is that Jesus has the power to cover his deceitfulness.
not just to cover, but to get rid of.
his false love for the lost and their sins they drown in.
Satan does not care about us.
i pray for that man to turn to God and leave his pride, sins and darkness at the cross.
i pray.
lovingly.
because God is the only way.
and as the tears ran down my cheeks that darkly lit sunday morning, my longing grew intensely.
my love grew more, if that's even possible.
my desire peaked a new round from dusk to dawn.
because God is the only way.
He is our ultimate and only healer.
our only light from the darkness.
savior, savior,
hear my humble cry;
while on others thou art calling,
do not pass me by.
amen.
