Tonight during council time at Awana, I reminded the clubbers of several things that I felt were important when facing difficulty and hardship. The first reminder is that we are loved. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" There is NOTHING that shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. The second truth is that we are part of a plan, as Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us: "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The third truth is you are never alone. Zephaniah 3:17 states, "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love." Of course, the last words in Matthew's gospel are the memorable words of our Savior, who said, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." Young or old, well or ill, joyous or despairing, we should remind ourselves daily of these three truths: we are loved, we are part of a plan, we are never alone.
Medical update: Our cup is overflowing with praise to God Who is our Help, our Deliverer, and our Shield, because the 7th MRI results today revealed that the image was clear. All praise, glory and honor to our Heavenly Father for His lovingkindness and help.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Beyond All Measure
Fernando Ortega has a beautiful song with these lyrics,
"How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He would give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure.
How deep the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory."
Who could ever contemplate or imagine the intimacy of the Father's and Son's relationship? They are one. Who could ever imagine the deep pain of having this relationship interrupted? Maybe a preposition within the original Greek will help us understand better. John 1:1 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God..." The word "with" means face to face. John could have selected a different preposition for the word "with." It is "meta" which means "in the midst of." "Sune" means "in closest association." "Para" means "by the side of" but "pros" means Jesus was facing God the Father, acting with God and acting in closest intimacy and fellowship and communion with God the Father. This was interrupted when "He who knew no sin became sin for us." So when Ortega asks how deep is the Father's love for us, his reply is totally correct in that it is vast beyond all measure. This should elicit praise from the believer without interruption for all eternity.
Acknowledgement and medical update: I wish to thank people who have read my blog faithfully and apologize when I haven't submitted an entry in a timely manner from the previous one. Your prayers also mean the world to me, as my 6th MRI was clear of tumor activity. My 7th MRI is right around the corner and we've asked our Heavenly Father for another clear. I praise God not only for my salvation, but for my saliva, which continues to be a relief to the dry mouth condition. I also praise Him for repair of the liver, as the last bilirubin measurement was 3.7! Enzymes dropped somewhat. Have a blessed and safe Labor Day. Love, Chris, McCook, Nebraska
"How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He would give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure.
How deep the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory."
Who could ever contemplate or imagine the intimacy of the Father's and Son's relationship? They are one. Who could ever imagine the deep pain of having this relationship interrupted? Maybe a preposition within the original Greek will help us understand better. John 1:1 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God..." The word "with" means face to face. John could have selected a different preposition for the word "with." It is "meta" which means "in the midst of." "Sune" means "in closest association." "Para" means "by the side of" but "pros" means Jesus was facing God the Father, acting with God and acting in closest intimacy and fellowship and communion with God the Father. This was interrupted when "He who knew no sin became sin for us." So when Ortega asks how deep is the Father's love for us, his reply is totally correct in that it is vast beyond all measure. This should elicit praise from the believer without interruption for all eternity.
Acknowledgement and medical update: I wish to thank people who have read my blog faithfully and apologize when I haven't submitted an entry in a timely manner from the previous one. Your prayers also mean the world to me, as my 6th MRI was clear of tumor activity. My 7th MRI is right around the corner and we've asked our Heavenly Father for another clear. I praise God not only for my salvation, but for my saliva, which continues to be a relief to the dry mouth condition. I also praise Him for repair of the liver, as the last bilirubin measurement was 3.7! Enzymes dropped somewhat. Have a blessed and safe Labor Day. Love, Chris, McCook, Nebraska
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