Tuesday, May 29, 2012

What Does the Gospel Do?

What does the Gospel do?


The Gospel
Makes the blind see
The deaf hear
And cleanses the leper
Heals the wounded
Raises the dead to life
And sets the captive free

The Gospel
Redeems and saves
Pardons and forgives
Delivers and liberates
Reconciles and restores
Justifies the ungodly
Makes the enemy a friend

The Gospel
Renews and recreates
Giving new hearts
With new desires
Giving new motives
Also aims and goals

The Gospel
Changes everthing
Turning things
Upsidedown and insideout
Transforming lives
Hearts and minds
Communities and relationships

The Gospel
Humbles us
As children
God's children
And exalts
Our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ

The Gospel
Does all these things
And much more
All to the
Praise, glory, and honor
Of our GREAT God




Wednesday, May 23, 2012

This Freedom Song is Marching On!

 There's another line in Chris Tomlin's song "White Flag", that has got me thinking of the Cross, the Gospel, and Scripture. The line is, I believe, is the 2nd prechorus of the song; which goes like this: This Freedom song is marching on! Now, what is the freedom song, I would strongly believe that it is the Gospel itself! Here are some passages of Scripture that come to mind when I here that line in the song:

"And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jeruselem, and the were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, the apostles.....Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word."~ Acts 8:2&4

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of  of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life."~ 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

"and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation,"~ Romans 15:20

"because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing--as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,"~ Colossians 1:5-6

 Yes this word of truth, the gospel, is being advanced to this day liberating those who are bound by the chains of their sin and depravity! It is "delivering people from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of Christ." (Colossians 1:13). Yes, to this day this freedom song is marching on!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

All I Need is Jesus

Take me to a place
That is new
And unfamiliar to me
That is fine
Because all I have
Is Christ
Take away my
My sight
My hearing
Or even the ability
To use
My arms and legs
That will be alright
Because all I have
Is Jesus
When darkness surrounds me
And my enemies
Have me against the wall
With no allies
Or friends beside me
That will be okay
Because all I have is Christ
If my family
And dear friends
Were to ever be taken
From me
And I left
As it may seem
All alone
I will have no worries
Because all I have
Is Jesus
Go ahead
Take anything
And everything from me
I will not
Lose heart
Or wallow in despair
For all I know
And all I have
Is Christ Jesus
My Savior & Lord
He's all I need
He's more than enough
He is sufficient
All satisfying
My treasure I've found
Hidden in the field
My reward
For fighting
The good fight
My prize
For finishing the race
Yes!
All I have is Christ
All I need is Jesus