Monthly Archives: August 2012

A Call To Arms

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Ephesians 6:12
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

I’m posting today to ask my readers to keep me and my family in prayer. I’ve heard it said that you can tell how effective your walk is by whether or not you’re under attack. For a while now the enemy has been very comfortable with my walk, much to my shame. I’ve been struggling with some issues and I guess he spotted my resolve and maybe decided to attack before victory could be had. I received news today that rocked my world, robbing me of something very precious to me. I’m sorry if I’m being cryptic, but giving out details now will only cause more harm than good.

If there is any good news in this, it’s that the enemy has already lost. While I’m in pain, I will overcome because as Philippians 4:13 says; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  My resolve to finish well has only been further set – my course will be straight, my focus sharp. As the line in the worship song at church today said, “my hope is in the Lord”. I will put on the armor of God every day, and if I don’t finish with a few dents and dings then I didn’t live this Christian life to the fullest.

Beauty Complete

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Beauty of the Cross by Jonny Diaz

“The beauty of the cross is that there’s One who has redeemed my soul
The beauty of the cross is that I’m finally free and letting go
The beauty of the cross is that Your grace has found me just as I am”

One of the priveleges of being a father is also one of the most stressful things as well; watching your children grow up. As they grow older they seek more independence, and make more of their own decisions. As a parent you give them  more room to learn from their own victories and mistakes. Sometimes, you agree and sometimes you don’t.

This past year my daughter attended her junior prom. She went dress shopping with her friends, and came home with a dress of her liking. My wife called me to inform me she got a great deal at an expensive boutique, off the clearance rack. It was a bargain! When I got home and saw the dress I thought to myself, “I can see why it’s on clearance! Who would want that?” I bit my tongue, and on the night of her prom my daughter came out, and she looked absolutely stunning. It wasn’t because of the dress that she was beautiful, it was because of her beauty that the dress looked good. I didn’t see the big picture.

The same thing can be said for the cross. When you look at it alone, there’s hardly anything to inspire thoughts of beauty. In fact, I would venture to say that by itself it’s downright bleak. It’s when you think of the sacrifice that our Saviour Jesus Christ made on that rough piece of wood that the beauty shines through. The cross is barren without Jesus – He makes it’s beauty complete. I’m grateful that the Father saw the big picture.

Father, thank you for giving us a glimpse of beauty complete – thank you for Jesus!