Walking with Jesus

But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”        ~ Romans 10:6-11 ( ESV )   This song has been in my heart for years, probably since the first time I head it. It was the reason I bought the CD (back in the day before iTunes or even MP3 players). It was the reason I went to their concert when they were here in town several years ago. It's a si...

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,   nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,   that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’      ~~~ Acts 17:24-28 ( ESV cf .NASB )    

   Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; f or whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.   For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel... I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."   John 5:19-20,30

  Psalm 139:1-10 : "O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.   If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me."      To be known by God ... to realize that God understands who we are and still loves us. He knows our sins, our secrets, our shames, our shambles... and He still gave His only Son to die for us on the cross...

  Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.     This song has been my prayer today, my  plea. I am counting on the reality that God alone is able to speak the words my heart so desperately long to hear. Only He can fill the empty place that lies behind the fullest or the emptiest of lives. We are all incomplete, partially immortal, frustrated in our lack, created to be made whole by Jesus. Some of us just know our need better than others. We see the fraying edges of our lives, the hem of our very selves unraveling like the fringe of an old blanket.   Take a moment and watch this video. Listen to the words. Listen to the cry of a heart in need of God's redemption. That heart is yours. It is mine as well. Maybe (in its longing) it is something like God's heart for us as well. It belongs to all of us. God knows who we are. He feels our pain....