As I went to church this morning, I went there very defeated. It has been a long week with LOTS of up and downs, and spiritually, I was not where I should have been. During the song service, the Lord got a hold of me like gravy on rice...and I was sincerely broken. Our song service began with the hymn "Because He Lives." That is when the softening began. Because He lives I CAN face tomorrow - even with an autistic son, even with a hurting back, etc. etc. It was all I could do to get the words out without weeping. The next song we sang was "The Power of the Cross" - As I sang that song and really focused on the words, my heart truly began to break and I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. Here's the chorus - The power of the cross, Christ became sin for us, took the blame, bore the wrath, we stand forgiven at the cross. The chorus alone will do you in when you really focus on what that song is saying. It really put a new light on my petty situation...my problems that are really nothing more than inconveniences. Then this verse really broke me - Oh to see the pain, written on your face, bearing the awesome weight of sin (MY SIN!!!) Every bitter thought, every evil deed, crowning your bloodstained brow...What a love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross. Now that is brutal and wonderful all at the same time, and I praise God for our worship service this morning. We ended the song service with "Change my Heart Oh God" and I knew that is exactly what my prayer needed to be. I excused myself to our cry room and out loud recommitted my life to Christ, begged for forgiveness of my harden heart, and praised Him for the power of the Cross and the fact that because He lives, I can face tomorrow!!!!! And I was brutally reminded that the only way for Him to change my heart and for me to be more like Him, was to genuinely spend time with Him in prayer and Bible study. So my commitment starts NOW!! I will soon begin sharing a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss entitled A Place of Quiet Rest - Finding Intimacy with God Through a Daily Devotional Life. I have come to a real place in my life where I understand more than ever that that is the key - a personal consistent quiet time with the Lord. I encourage anyone out there to joing me in this commitment. In Christ Alone!!!
WOW!! You are so right! What a great worship service it was. The sermon was what did me in though. I have really been dealing alot with the fact that our country is really heading in the wrong direction and that I need to step it up for Christ and really be more of a light in this world than just another every day person. I was really convicted this morning and cannot wait for your study...It seems that its just me and you on my study so hopefully you can reel in some more folks. Even if its just us...I cant wait!!
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