This morning I was reading over a short devotional and came across this quote:
"My sins are many, but oh, it is nothing to Jesus to take them all away. The weight of my guilt presses me down as a giant's foot would crush a worm, but it is no more than a grain of dust to Him, because He has already borne its curse in His own body on the tree. It will be only a small thing for Him to give me full remission, although it will be an infinite blessing for me to receive it."
It is easy for me personally to be more aware of my sin than focused on Christ. It is easy for me to turn my thoughts inward and focus on my own sinful heart than look outward and upward to Jesus Christ. I think we all need to make it a habit early in life, if we take our Christian life serious, to make sure that every time we sin or we are aware of a pattern of sin in our lives that we don't dwell on it or remain in it but seek Jesus immediately. We are open and honest with Him as we approach Him in humility knowing that He already knows our condition. We cast ourselves and our sins onto Him and ask Him to take them away. I John 1:9, "If we confess (say the same thing as God about our sins) He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
This morning if you are aware of an ongoing pattern of sin please turn immediately to the Savior. Go to a quiet place, get on your knees and unburden your heart to Him and ask Him to cleanse you and fill you with His will for your life and seek the help of the Holy Spirit for the change Christ would have you to make. I want you to know I am fighting the same battles (I Corinthians 10:13) and am always here to help you in your pursuit of Christ.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
My Mondays
On Mondays I try to obey I Timothy 4:16 - "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." You guys know how much I talk on Sundays and it would be very easy to forget it all on Monday. Yet, if what I say on Sunday doesn't make a difference on Monday I am guilty of not obeying James 1:22 - "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." One person says that we can become guilty of becoming "professional sermon" listeners. We are so good at hearing and yet not good at applying it to our lives.
In order to attempt to practice what I preach I spend time on Mondays reviewing the lessons from the day before and try to strategically apply them to my life. For instance, one of the main lessons from the two sermons on Friday night and Sunday morning was that on the cross God the Father exchanged His Son for my sin; God the Father crushed His only begotten Son for my sins. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
For me to apply that work I must do a little thinking, with the help of the Holy Spirit, on the reality of my own sinfulness. Sin is defined in the Bible as lawlessness. I sin every time I break God's Word in word, thought or deed. That means God crushed Jesus for my unhelpful words to my friends, my laziness at serving my wife at home, my lack of devotion to prayer and most importantly for my failure to love God with all that I am and my neighbor as myself (The Great Command). Thinking about the reality of my sin and then remembering why Jesus died makes me thankful for God's continuing love and also makes me want to stop my sinning. I can't think about My Savior being crushed for my sins and then willingly continue in those things for which He died and stop and pray and honestly tell Him how much I love Him and how thankful I am for what He has done for me.
Mondays are a great opportunity to reflect on what we are learning from God's Word and apply it strategically to our lives. If we are not doing this then we need to re-examine the reason for coming together on Sunday mornings. My prayer is that we would not become "professional sermon" listeners, but spend time strategically thinking of ways to practice the truths we are learning from God's Word.
Is this a regular practice for you or when do you stop and think over what you are learning?
In order to attempt to practice what I preach I spend time on Mondays reviewing the lessons from the day before and try to strategically apply them to my life. For instance, one of the main lessons from the two sermons on Friday night and Sunday morning was that on the cross God the Father exchanged His Son for my sin; God the Father crushed His only begotten Son for my sins. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
For me to apply that work I must do a little thinking, with the help of the Holy Spirit, on the reality of my own sinfulness. Sin is defined in the Bible as lawlessness. I sin every time I break God's Word in word, thought or deed. That means God crushed Jesus for my unhelpful words to my friends, my laziness at serving my wife at home, my lack of devotion to prayer and most importantly for my failure to love God with all that I am and my neighbor as myself (The Great Command). Thinking about the reality of my sin and then remembering why Jesus died makes me thankful for God's continuing love and also makes me want to stop my sinning. I can't think about My Savior being crushed for my sins and then willingly continue in those things for which He died and stop and pray and honestly tell Him how much I love Him and how thankful I am for what He has done for me.
Mondays are a great opportunity to reflect on what we are learning from God's Word and apply it strategically to our lives. If we are not doing this then we need to re-examine the reason for coming together on Sunday mornings. My prayer is that we would not become "professional sermon" listeners, but spend time strategically thinking of ways to practice the truths we are learning from God's Word.
Is this a regular practice for you or when do you stop and think over what you are learning?
Monday, March 17, 2008
Contemplating The Castle
Yesterday was a first for the Gillen family at "The Castle." These are some quick afterthoughts for consideration:
1. The castle is an attempt to kill off an overcrowded universe
2. The castle is trying to set the record for the thinnest meat patty in the world
3. The castle is a non-prescriptive drug for afternoon siesta's
Any other thoughts would be welcomed under the comment section.
Hope all is well,
Blake
1. The castle is an attempt to kill off an overcrowded universe
2. The castle is trying to set the record for the thinnest meat patty in the world
3. The castle is a non-prescriptive drug for afternoon siesta's
Any other thoughts would be welcomed under the comment section.
Hope all is well,
Blake
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Castle
All students are invited to attend lunch at the castle after church this Sunday morning. We will be dining at the castle from 12:15-1:15. Can anyone say, "Slider contest!"
Hope to see you there,
Blake
Monday, March 10, 2008
Welcome Students
Hey Guys,
I hope now that you have the address to this website you will check it out often. I am trying to download some pictures of upcoming events and want to use this as a way to keep in touch throughout the week. Please comment anytime and hopefully we can use this to keep in touch.
Take care,
Blake
P.S. "If you're going to do something stupid be smart about it!"
I hope now that you have the address to this website you will check it out often. I am trying to download some pictures of upcoming events and want to use this as a way to keep in touch throughout the week. Please comment anytime and hopefully we can use this to keep in touch.
Take care,
Blake
P.S. "If you're going to do something stupid be smart about it!"
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