Callousness of heart

Sometimes it's hard not to become hard-hearted. To see the ever increasing frequency and intensity of disaster in the world.

I was just alerted of a terrible earthquake that struck Pakistan today - very close to the Bibleless People Group for whom I have been praying for over 3 years.

Lord, have mercy !

In Christ Alone

These words really spoke to me last night at 'The Gathering' at Perimeter Church.


"In Christ Alone" lyrics by Stuart Townsend and Keith Getty


Lyrics:
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid
Ground,firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell! No scheme of man!
Can ever pluck me from His hand!
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!

A prayer

"Dear Jesus,
Oh, Lord, sometimes the idea of eternal conscientious torment for those who deny you is such a grevious thing for me to bear. Oh, Lord, that it was not this way! Oh Lord, Oh Lord, that even Lucifer could serve a finite number of millions of years in the lake of fire and then be completely annihilated !

It's strange to me, Oh God, that your justice views sin as an infinite crime against your Holiness and worthy of an infinite eternal sentencing. This is very hard for me to think about, Jesus.

I pray that you'll someday help me be more ok with this than I am now. Right now, I sit here and shudder. I know many who belittle your gifts and scorn your Lordship. I think it would take a Rapture-like event to get some of their attention.

Oh, that they would not have to hit rock bottom 1st! But, LORD, I pray that you do whatever you need to do to this side of heaven to allow for them to acknowledge you as Savior and as LORD. That they could share with me the blessing of your love, redemption, and mercy. That they would understand their own lostness and need for a Savior. That the offense of the cross would disappear and that heartfelt thankfulness would reign in its place.

But even if I never understand this stuff, you're still a good God and your steadfast love endures forever."

Love you Jesus,
Your Ramblin' Dan