Sunday, March 24, 2013

Stellar Global 3

Just thought I'd share 3 messages on missions! Three killer messages at that by John Piper, David Sitton, and David Platt! Whether you aim to be a missionary overseas on not, I encourage you to check out these messages; and I pray that he will stir your hearts for His glory to be displayed to the ends of the earth!

David Sitton

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/missionary-martyrs-fools-for-jesus-for-the-nations#.TmzkJ-6hdfU.facebook

John Piper

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/doing-missions-when-dying-is-gain

David Platt

http://t4g.org/media/2012/05/divine-sovereignty-the-fuel-of-death-defying-missions-2/



 I do hope that these messages are a blessing and encouragement to you my brothers & sisters!
May His glory be displayed through His people to the ends of the earth!

grace & peace,
Joshua A. Taylor

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Oh How I Abhor Sin!

 Enter Cathy, a lady in her mid to late 60's and her 7 year old granddaughter Ariana from Missouri, who me and a friend talked and shared Christ with while down in Florida last week. Our conversation with Cathy was about 2 hours long, and it mainly her sharing about her life story. She shared about her rough upbringing of abuse and such....in detail. Then she proceeded to share with us how she's seeing history repeat itself with her granddaughter. I dare not even share in detail what Ariana has to and is going through; all I can say that pierced my heart. It just absolutely to hear about what both Cathy and Ariana have to and still are going through. My heart aches for them.

 Then there's been a recent tradgey. A family friend (especially one to my 20 yr old brother) took his own life. I won't share his name in order to respect and honor his family. I didn't know the kid all too well, but well enough for his death to prick my heart. My heart goes out to his family & friends.

 My heart is torn over these 2 instances. Seeing the pain, sorrow, animosity, hate, bitterness, brokenness, and so on has led me to just burn with anger. Yes, my heart burn with a righteous anger over sin; over all that is evil and wicked! I state with sincereity from my heart along with the apostle Paul," Abhor what is evil;" (Romans 12:9). The things that I listed above are of the effects of sin; either from yourself or from others. I've been burning and disgusted with sin and the way it perverts, destroys, and kills! Oh, how I just want this world to rid of sin, and of all that is evil and wicked!
  Yet, there is a light at the end of the tunnel! There is a hope that I hold onto! Oh, yes there will be an end to pain, suffering, brokenness, evil, and sin! That because Christ Jesus who came to crush the curse of sin and power of the grave by the substitutionary death at Calvary is coming again to bring utter restoration. To right what has be wronged; do away with Satan, His angels, sin, and death once and for all! This familiar passage in Revelation 21 gives comfort, hope, and a glimpse of that day.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." ~Revelation 21:3-4

 Thanks be to God through Christ Jesus our Lord! Yes, let us praise God for the perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ who has set in motion, with a bang, the restoration of all things! So we cry out along with the apostle John,"Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev 22:20).