He Died

He died. He really died. The nerves in his feet were torn. His body was unimaginably abused. Not only do we have silence, we have a reality. This man changes reality. He has CHANGED our reality. One gaze into his death changes an onlooker's countenance, a bystander's thoughts. This man can change the least loved and the most hurting that have never heard this before. His death never ceases to change people forever.

Isaiah 65:1-2 says, “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’ All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations.”

Wow. The words blow me away. My heart aches on top of that. This really puts me in the dust. Not only are those who have no knowledge of God sought ought by Him, but I too am guilty of not offering every moment to seeking Him. What of my imagination? I have pursued it and it has led me away from reality.

The only true home and place of belonging is where God is. It’s a moveable home with joy and purpose. It's a home with a hero who has experienced death before, who has already saved his children from a death they could have had. Our God can move people to action. Only Jesus has died a death that God reveals as the one death on the face of this earth to have the POWER to make one clean. A death can make a person CLEAN?! This is truly profound.

The Power Of The Cross

This is a beautiful song by Keith and Kristyn Getty. This song is a great song for this season of the year as we celebrate Christ's death and resurrection. May power of cross become very real to you this Easter season as well as the rest of the year! God bless!

The Word

In the beginning was The Word,
And the Word was with God,
And the Word was God.

Think about it...in the beginning, there was God, and nothing besides God. John 1 goes on to say that all things were made through God, and without God, there was nothing. Starting to get the picture?:) Let's keep reading...

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men! And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." These are verses that we have memorized, quoted many, many, many, many times, and heard all of our lives! Do you realize what that means? That means you have THE WORD in your hands, in your mind, and at your constant disposal! If the Word is God, then that means we have God...His thoughts, His actions, His words, the most supreme, awesome, wonderful, magnificent power written down for us to understand, and in our minds!

Don't take The Word of God for granted! When you read Jesus' words, don't skim over it because you know it so well...LOVE IT! Soak it in, realizing that IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Love it enough to make sure others have heard it as well. To the world, The Bible is foolishness, but to us it is the power of God! Be bold enough to share this Power, and then sit back and be amazed at what God can do when we hand over the controls!

Salting our speech

Have you ever taken a bite of something that was really bland and then reached for the salt shaker? I know I’ve done that a few times! Some things just don’t taste very good until they’re seasoned with a bit of salt. It’s not that they’re bad, but something is missing. Once you add the salt, everything comes together and you can fully appreciate Mom’s good cooking.

Our words are often the same way. Colossians 4:6 says Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. That sounds odd! How do we salt our words? Well, in Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells us that You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Salt, in context, is what differentiates us from the rest of the world. What makes us different from the rest of the world? Jesus! Salting our words is like sprinkling the good news in our speech. Salt your conversation by telling people about Jesus, sharing your love for Him, and praising God for what He has done. Just like we are supposed to let our light shine in a dark world, we are also supposed to season our speech with God’s grace.

When my mom was growing up, my grandma had signs hanging all over the house. My mom remembers one in particular that was in the kitchen. “Let my words be well seasoned, because I may have to eat them later.” To eat one’s words is never fun. I certainly don’t enjoy it very much. I never realize how many unintelligent things I say until they come right back at me, and they do not taste good going down. But, if we season our words with salt, they would taste a lot better! Wouldn’t it be great if, instead of hearing some unkind thing you said thrown back at you, someone came up to you and said, “You’re the one who told me about Jesus”? We’re all going to have to “eat our words” someday. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36). Let’s not let our words be idle. When I have to answer to God for every little word I’ve spoken, I would like to here Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). I want the words of my mouth to be acceptable in His sight (Psalm 19:14). I know I fail often and say things that are not pleasing to Him, but with God’s help, I can please Him. Let’s start seasoning our speech today!

Having a heart for people

I've been reading through the book of 1 Corinthians in my devotions this past week. I've been learning so much - I could share a lot ;). One of the many things that has stuck out to me is Paul's heart for people. He heart's desire was that the Gospel would be proclaimed and that people would be saved. He wanted to edify, strengthen, and build up Christians. This theme was very clearly portrayed in chapters 9 and 10. In chapter 9 verses 1-23, Paul shares how he put others and their need for salvation and spiritual growth before his own personal needs. He willingly gave up his "rights" so that the Gospel could go forth more effectively. He humbled himself and had no regard for his own standing but was always reaching out to every type of person so that he might win them for the Gospel. In chapter 10 and verses 23-33, Paul tells that, in order that people would grow spiritually and be built up, he did not participate in some activities; even though they were lawful activities. Paul's heart's desire was for people. He didn't seek his own profit, but the profit of others (10:33).

Wow! I mean, Paul really had it all together in this area! So, what does this mean for me? The application is found in chapter eleven verse one: "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." Here are some things that I found that I need to apply to my own life:

• I need to be seeking the benefit, growth, edification, and salvation of others. Do I truly look for ways that I can bless and build up those around me? Do I genuinely search for ways that I share the Gospel with unbelievers? Do I intentionally seek to strengthen believers in their walk with the Lord?
• Even if a certain activity isn't wrong for me to do, I need to consider how it will edify and be helpful. "Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being" (chapter 10:24). Do I do what I do just because I want to? Just because I can? or Do I sincerely seek other people's well-being and how I can edify and strengthen them?
• My heart's desire needs to be "How can I edify and build up others?" not "How can I serve and make myself more happy?"
• In witnessing, I need to humble myself and not worry about what how funny or foolish I might appear. I need to "lay down my guard" and give up my "rights" so that I can effectively share the Gospel. For me, I know that I struggle with worrying about what other people will think about me. "Will they think that I'm not 'cool'? "Will they think that I'm foolish?" I need to love people more and fear people less. I need to cultivate true compassion for the lost. I need to care more about their souls than what they think about me. What really matters; their souls? or my status?

So, these are few things that I've been learning lately. I hope that you've been able to glean some helpful insights and encouragement from it as well! Grace be with you all!

I Am Your Shield

When her family was going through some difficult times, Rachel Wissmann wrote this song to encourage them. The words are a beautiful reminder of God's loving care for His children. This song has encouraged my family a lot--I hope it is a blessing to you all!

I AM YOUR SHIELD

My child, are you discouraged by the sorrows of the day?
Does it seem that life is crumbling? The skies have turned to gray.
Don't forget I gave you promises to guide you every hour
In the moments of you heart break, let me show you My great Pow'r!

And I will be your Shield when the battle rages on.
And I will be your Light when the way ahead is dark.
I will be your Strong Tower and guide you every hour,
just place your life completely in My hands.

I know it won't be easy. I never said it would;
but My grace will always be there; My plans for you are good.
Remember that your weaknesses are perfect in My sight.
Only when you yield them to Me can I turn them into Might!


And I will be your Shield when the battle rages on.
And I will be your Light when the way ahead is dark.
I will be your Strong Tower and guide you every hour,
just place your life completely in My hands.

And someday you will understand why I sent this trial.
And someday you will see the end and know it's all worthwhile.

And I will be your Shield when the battle rages on.
And I will be your Light when the way ahead is dark.
I will be your Strong Tower and guide you every hour,
just place your life completely in My hands.

( check out the Wissmann's website at http://wissmannfamily.com/ for more songs )

It doesn't get any better than this

“It doesn’t get any better than this.”

My pastor says that almost every Communion Sunday, and this week was no exception. And, as usual, it was true. It doesn’t get any better than when we are in the presence of a holy God worshiping Him and remembering what He has done for us. Those moments are sacred, and in the sacred, we feel God with us. We long for that...for a holy God who is with us. We know that He, the great I AM, the Holy One of Israel, has come and is with us. Like Moses before us, we stand on holy ground. We stand in the presence of God and know that He has forgiven us and we can approach the throne of grace with confidence (con < L. “with,” fidence=fidelis <. L. “faith;” we can approach with faith). And during Communion, we remember our God. We taste and see His goodness, and we know that we are forgiven. How can it get any better? It doesn’t–it doesn’t get any better than to know that Jesus has washed us with His own blood and presents us blameless before God. It doesn’t get any better than to remember that and rejoice in it with other believers.


Jesus promised that where two or three are gathered in His name, He will be there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). Isn’t that what church is? A time when many gather together in His name to worship Him? And does that not mean that He will be there with us? We are in the presence of God. In His presence is joy. Joy complete and full there in the presence of God. No wonder Sundays are so full of joy. We are with God. Does it get any better?