A morning prayer...

...inspired by this morning's worship service.

My God, I contemplate Your works and I am left bewildered.

I think of Your glory and am left dumbfounded.

How am I to describe the God of mercy who turned His face from His own perfect sacrifice, only to make that same face shine on me, both a stranger and an enemy?

You are a God that shows both justice and compassion. Not in a single moment in the history of man, but throughout eternity. I am left small, resting on the grace of a great God.

Amen

Pics of the New Baby

Here are pictures of my brand new baby.


This is her room. Yes, all the equipment is for her.


She has CDH and she is on an ECMO (heart/lung bypass).
There are only four hospitals in California that offer ECMO.


Pray. For more information click here. Soli Deo Gloria.

A Recent Prayer

My God and my Lord,
To You alone I pray
Because you alone created every thing

It was You that came down to save me
It was You that created a heart of life in this once dead man
It was You that gave me eyes that see and ears that hear

You saved me not from the consequences of my sins
You saved me from the consequence of my sin nature
You saved me from the consequence of Your righteous judgment

Lord please forgive me for seeking pleasures other than You
Lord please forgive me for my pride that boasts in things other than You
Lord please forgive me for the passions that fail to glorify You

You gave me all that I have
You gave me my wife and my children
You gave me the ring in my ear, Master

By Your grace alone I stand before You
By Your grace alone I stand as head of my house
By Your grace alone I stand in the gap

With Your outstretched arm You have crushed Your enemies
With Your outstretched arm You have terrified whole nations
With Your outstretched arm You have lead me with steadfast love

Into Your arms I place all I have
Into Your arms I place all I fear
Into Your arms I place all my trust

Amen

You have not...

From the beginning of our difficulties with this pregnancy we have wanted the help and prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ. I want the people I worship with involved in my life. I am blessed with a healthy church family. We have often been asked by our church family to give updates on Cadenne Hope. That is a relatively easy request to fulfill. But at this past concert of prayer I came across a request that was not so easy, One of the elders simply asked, "How are you doing?" I answered, "Tired." I went on to mention a couple of reasons why, none of which seemed adequate. Now that I have been able to reflect upon it a little longer, I think I have a better answer. I have been anxious. And sinfully so.

I continue to be anxious even though I know Matt. 6:25-34 tells me I shouldn't be anxious. I know that my God is the God of Israel, the God that provided even after their sinful unbelief in the wilderness. He was still faithful to His people. How often will I fret about material provisions instead of seeking His righteousness? (Philippians 4:6) He has always proven Himself faithful to His own. In this, my "wilderness experience", I find myself tempted to side with the ten spies, those that thought the taking of the promised land was beyond their abilities. They were right. Joshua and Caleb say as much in Num 14:5-10: "the Lord is with us".

In every sense is not that enough? If God is for me, who can be against me? I can see how He has cared for both the birds and George Muller, surely I fall some where between those two. I wish to live out the trust I profess in God, that His love would cast out this fear in particular.

Remember: Fear God.

One of my Elders preached straight to my heart last Sunday.You can listen here (warning: direct link to a 20mb file).

This sermon inspired this prayer.

My Lord God, You scare me.
I have been overwhelmed by Your power.
As you have humbled kings You have humbled me.
Fearing You is the beginning of wisdom.
Please forgive me for being a fool.
Your might has crushed cities and nations.
Yet I have been a coward in front of mockers
rather than being awestruck before you, my God.
You have broken me. I am Yours.
I thought too little of You, Lord. I thought You smaller than You are.
I have read the Prophets say, "From You there is no hiding place,"
But acted as though I could hide evil in the darkness of my heart.
To lay prostrate before You would be to esteem myself too highly.
If it was not for your mercy I would be unable to stand.
I am terrified by your wrath. Only Your arm can save me.
Yours is the glory so great that to see it would be death to the sinner.
Forgive me.

Recommended listening; Stavesacre, Zzyzx Scarecrow(iTunes link)