the cross and openness

“the more exposed i see that i am by the cross, the more i find myself opening up to others about ongoing issues of sin in my life. (why would anyone be shocked to hear of my struggles with past and present sin when the cross already told them i am a desperately sinful person?) and the more open i am in confessing my sins to fellow Christians, the more i enjoy the healing of the Lord in response to their grace-filled counsel and prayers.”
-milton vincent, a gospel primer

hiding our failings from God or other people isn't healthy or needed. the refuge provided for believers in the cross frees us to learn and grow together, be open, and cultivate healthy ways of relating to Him and each other.

for you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.

let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You.

i was once a trainwreck.

"Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. . . it is the greatest wonder that i ever heard of that God should ever justify me. i feel myself to be a lump of unworthiness, a mass of corruption, and a heap of sin apart from his almighty love. i know and am fully assured that i am justified by faith which is in Christ Jesus, and i am treated as if i had been perfectly just. . . who can help being astonished at this? gratitude for such favor stands dressed in robes of wonder."
-charles spurgeon

even though i was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, i was shown mercy because i acted in ignorance and unbelief. the grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners— of whom i am the worst. but for that very reason i was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life

more cowbell

"we want to hear happy, cheerful inspirational thoughts that make us feel good. this is why to get a crowd today, we need a cowbell, a musical saw or a talking horse to have some fun and a little bit of entertainment for those are are bored with the simple, plain word of God. nobody wants to hear about discipline or pain."
-a.w. tozer, the crucified life

three precious words

saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. he went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to jerusalem. as he neared damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "saul, saul, why do you persecute me?"
"who are you, Lord?" saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

i waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

anchored and whole

"without hope, people are only half alive. with hope, they dream and think and work."
-charles sawyer

with hope, we recognize we will one day be complete and are now being made complete.


we have this hope as an anchor for the soul.
my whole being waits for the Lord, and in his word i put my hope.