He has risen!!!

Glorious King, Magnificent one, Savior of the world. Almighty One, I praise you for the victory found in you. Tonight we had a blessed time of fellowship over at our good brothers house. It was a time of growing and exploring. It was a time of fellowship, real fellowship. I am so excited to see what the Lord will do through this group of men seeking the Lord. It's funny, in reality my day was horrible. A time of repentance this morning in which the Lord truly reminded me of how disgusting sin is and how I had willingly walked into what He despises. After a few, well quite long moments of mourning, He did comfort. It was such a blessed time, not the disobedience, but the discipline of my Father and yet the gentle touch of His grace to comfort me after I had appropriately dealt with my pride, lust, and lack of neediness. It is when I lose the eagerness in my prayer of my need for Christ that leads to my fall. It is so amazing though, that while we do not willingly live in sin, that when we transgress our King has mercy upon us. Lord, I pray your hand be over my studies and over my witness these next few days when I go to Austin. Father, may I stand upon the gospel that accords to godliness, as I witness to other peers of mine at the Abbott Conference. King Jesus, heal me, guide me, and give me a focus to honor you through my studies. HE HAS RISEN!!! HE HAS RISEN INDEED!!!

Feeling Needy

I hate the feeling of brokeness. Walking through the campus looking into eyes of the lost wishing nothing but for them to come to know the King I know, but only to be looked at hastly and even cursed. Then I sit and complain quietly to myself and then I am reminded that on this day, Hindus across India our rising up to remove the name of Christ from their presence. Gospel for Asia contacted our church yesterday and notified us of the effort to remove the Gospel. Kidnappings, abuse, persecution, and the list that goes on and on has risen greatly these last few weeks. I heard of one missionary who would not let anyone in his home for he did not want those who he was ministering to, to know his very own family was dying of starvation. I complain of persecution, I complain of suffering, or of having a broken spirit. Yes, I only know what I am exposed too, but what a ridiculous and very selfish thought. The conviction that followed nearly broke me as I bursted into tears. I have came before the Lord more times than I can remember these last few weeks with outpouring tears. Some of joy and thankfulness, but many more of mourning. Some of which have roots to my sin and others to the roots of the lost. Why, I feel almost diminished as a man to weep like I have.

King Jesus, you are good, King Jesus I praise you for you have freed me from death. Lord God Almighty, thank you for your grace and mercy. King Jesus, rain your righteousness upon me so I may walk proclaiming the gospel for Your Kingdom.

A Gift to Give

I never wrote of the amazing prayer meeting we had the Wednesday before my last entry, but it was beautiful. The Lord did a good work. Later in the evening I met a agnostic guy named Randy Pike. Randy and I spoke for about an hour that night. We covered an array of subjects and Lord willing I gave some great answers to some very hard questions.

This past week was quite the adventure. I had three tests and was absolutely exhausted, but Randy and I managed to find a time to grab lunch. Matt Stewart, a good brother of ours, came along and it was quite the lunch. We walked all of the way through the bridge diagram and gave a very clear gospel presentation. At one point, Randy said, "I am not going to read the Bible, I have already read it." I responded quickly then with then I am just wasting my time. It is only through the word that anyone can come to Christ and if they can not accept that fact there is a hardening of the heart that cannot be broken. I explained how he had idly read the word of God. He jumped at this saying he had not, but then I explained how that had to be the case otherwise he would be a believer. It was a blessed time. I was able to communicate hard truths to him with a grace that is necessary for it to be received. It was great example of why we have to stand on the hard truths of the bible. We cannot share a half gospel. A half truth is not the whole truth therefore its no truth! I have never shared the gospel with such clarity. We showed how we are called to obey and how obedience is a fruit of salvation not a requirement for salvation, but in a manner that did not diminish grace but showed how glorious and awesome our King is. We have a King that reigns in victory and a King that breaks chains of bondage. Why is this victorious King not spoken of with the power that comes in His name. The prince of this world, the father of lies has deceived professing Christians into the thought that we cannot walk in victory. The frustration it brings to my mind when one argues there is no victory. I cannot put my understanding into words, the little understanding I have of things, but I can do all I can and that is to continue to share the gospel which comes by word of mouth. Share with many in hope to save a few. A beautiful gift I have to give, but a gift so few choose to receive. Lord bring those who need watering on the seeds planted in their hearts across my way. Bring spiritual children to my path so I may nuture them, challenging them raising them up to be disciples to go into the world.