Salvation is of the Lord!

 "I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him."- Ecclesiastes 3:14

 Oh my goodness! What a verse! This verse has been rockin' me for the past couple days! So mind blowing for sure! Although this verse says "WHATEVER God does....", I can't but help to let this verse personally gravitate me to meditate on it in regards to the redemption and salvation of sinners. Especially my salvation and redemption through the blood of Christ! So here's what come to mind when I meditate on this passage.


That salvation is of the Lord.
That He who began a good work in me will complete it at the coming of Christ.
That I've been saved by grace through faith; with nothing I could've done to contrubute, and in turn boast about it.
That it's impossible to undo the work that the Lord has already done.
That nothing separate me from Him and the love that He has for me .
That I may make my boast in Him alone.
That I walk in a manner that worthy of and pleasing to Him.
That I may stand in awe and worship Him.


 These are just some of things that come to mind as I meditate on this dandy and stellar passage. I pray that these truths and this passage encourage and bless you as well.Yes! Praise God for what a GREAT salvation He has given us!




 

Say Whaaaat!?

We all hear things that friends and family say to us or just say in general that we don't expect them to say. I like to call them, "Say Whaaaat?!" quotes. Just thought I'd share with ya quotes from friends and family. Things  said that made me do double takes, left me rolling on the floor cracking up, or just left shocked and speechless. Enjoy.

1) "Josh, next time eat more calm and civilized." - Joseph (8 yr old bro)- while having lunch at Arby's after church

2) "Wait. Are you adopted?!"- Michelle (a best friend)

3) "Aren't you adopted Josh?"- Jess (a friend)

4) "Hey Joe! Hey Joe!"- Jasmine (5 yrs old sis)
    
    "What Jazz?"- Joseph- Joseph

    "You know that you're a sinner, but Jesus died for you."- Jasmine

5) "You know Austin. I just feel like that Lord is calling me to wait until I get married to move down to Louisville." -Me (I said this jokingly).

 "Then you'll never move down to Louisville then!" - Austin R. ( a best friend)

6) "Josh? Do you ever get blacker in the summer?"- Lauren H. (a friend)

7) "So Josh, are you going to Somalia soon?"- Josiah K. (a friend)

8) "Man Josh. Your voice sounds like deep rich chocolate!"- Josiah k (after hearing my voice for the 1st time after vocal chord surgery)

9) "Josh! Your black!?"- Matt H.(a friend) (after realizing, after the longest time of knowing me, that I'm half black)

10) "Hey brother! Oh wait. You're not my brother!" Joel M. (a best friend) -after I answered his brother's phone.

Gonna Write a Book Ya'll

 So a good friend of mine has sold me. After telling me, or to put it more correctly, persuading me to write a book; I've decided I will. A book about what? Hmmm. Not sure yet. That has yet to be determined, but I sure do have some ideas floating around in my head. Like:

1.) a book on the grace of God

2.) a book on evangelism

3.) a book on the gospel (there's a lot of those tha have been written though)

4.) a book about learning and talking biblical doctrine and theology and living it out

 These are just a couple ideas floating around in my head. So pleas pray that Lord will show me what he wants me to write about.

Why write a book?

 Why write a book? That is a good question. Maybe a better question would be what is the motivation behind wanting to write a book? Well this is  my motivation: "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing" 1 Thessalonians 5:11. I want whatever I write about to be a blessing to the body of Christ. To encourage and buildup the body all to praise and glory of God!

 So I'll keep you guys posted and updated on this. I'm excited to see what the Lord will have me to write and share with the body of Christ, with you all!

grace & peace,
Teazey

We Are Friends

We are friends

Brothers in Christ

Brother and sister in Christ

We have this partnership in the Gospel

We have the same faith

The Faither

The same Savior & Lord

The same goal

And same end 

 What happened though?
How did it come to this?
Was it something I said?
Something I did?


Come now
Let's figure this out
Let's clear the air
Let us reason together


Let us put away
Any envy, jealousy, and bitterness
Let us cast aside
Any pride, selfishness, or self-boasting


And instead let us
Clothe ourselves with
Humilty, meekness, and patience
Also with
Kindness, gentleness, and love


Not to mention
Let us forgive each other
Where forgiveness is needed
Having in mind
That our Lord
Has forgiven us in Christ


After all this
Let us continue to run 
This race together
Fighting the good fight
Striving side by side
For the faith of the Gospel

Let there be encouragement 
And mutual upbuilding
Sharpening & rebuking
Reminding one another
Of the promises & truths
In God's Word 


All this for building up
The body of Christ
For sake of 
Christ & the Gospel
And the glory of God


Yes! 
By the grace of God
We are friends! 

The Gospel Brings Humility & Joy

What should ultimately create humility and joy within me?

God, my God

You are the Creator

Of the universe

You are GREAT

Holy,Holy, Holy are You

Heaven & Earth

Are consumed with

Your Glory

I'm merely human

finite,weak, and frail

A wretch

And sinner am I

A trangressor

Of Your law

Therefore deserving

Of Your wrath

But You sent Your beloved Son

Jesus Christ

The Lamb without spot or blemish

To suffer and hang on the Cross

Bearing all my sins

And took the wrath in my place

Dying in my stead

Yet rose again the 3rd day

\

May this, the Gospel, bring me to my knees broken in humilty. May it consume my heart will with an aggresive and inexpressible joy!







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



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!