I Can't Wait!

Yesterday was Easter Sunday. We had a wonderful morning worship service at Brownsville Baptist Church followed by an afternoon of celebrating and visiting with people that we care deeply about. But what stands out for me yesterday was an experience that I think we don't have often enough.

Our church hosted an Easter musical called "Forgiveness at the Cross." The choir and the drama team did a fantastic job...but that is not the point. The final scene from the drama featured the risen and glorified Christ seated on His heavenly throne being exalted and worshiped by multitudes of people clothed in white, gathered around the throne and singing His praises.

While I know that we cannot even begin to imagine Jesus' glory to be revealed at that time, the scene gave us a hint of what we can expect. In that moment, one thought kept ringing in my mind: "I can't wait!"

I want to increasingly long for that day when Jesus will be glorified before all people. I want to be motivated by anticipation for that moment. And, I want to be God's instrument to bring more and more people to worship around that throne on that day!

"Lord, move in my heart that I would long to see Jesus high and exalted on His throne! Use me for your purposes, to bring more people to that wondrous day!"

He must increase, I must decrease!

JasonPS

Are you desperate?

Sin is as close to us as our own skin and we can easily become comfortable with this ever present enemy. After all, how do we consistently wage war against our very own flesh? We have to always be in a state of desperation! Not desperation in the sense of not knowing where to look for the answer or to whom to turn for relief. Instead, we know that our only hope for overcoming sin is in Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit dwelling in us. But here is the rub: When we feel strong in ourselves or become confident in our own mastery over sin or comfortable with this sin or that hint of immorality, we have already begun to loose the battle.

I have been there... If you are a believer, then you have been there, too. We have to be desperate! We have to desperately depend on the grace of God to give to us the righteousness that we cannot achieve for ourselves. We have to desperately plead for Jesus to overcome sin in our hearts. We have to desperately walk in the Spirit each day, knowing that the moment we stop leaning on His strength, we will fall.

I have a couple of friends that are caught in this battle right now. They know that they are being beaten by sin and the consequences of their choosing sin are looming. But they are not desperate yet. They like the sin just enough that they don't want to take the drastic measures that will protect them. I am praying for desperation for them and for me. I don't ever want to forget that I am powerless without Jesus and that when I go into battle poorly equipped or in my own strength, I am doomed.

Hebrews 12:4 says, "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood."

What about you? Are you desperate in your struggle against sin? Are you desperately clinging to Jesus for victory over the sin that is never far from you?

"Lord, I have no power on my own. I have no righteousness on my own. I am desperate for you, for your presence in my life, for your power to bring victory to my struggle, and for your glory to be displayed through me."

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

My Wife is Awesome!

God has blessed me beyond measure with an amazing wife!

I can't even begin to tell you all of the ways that she is better than me or scratch the surface on how wonderful she is. This business of selling our home and most of our possessions, leaving behind our friends and family, and moving across the country to take on the role of a pastor is a big deal and Melissa is feeling the weight of it all. Still, she plows right along doing a fabulous job of being a mother and a wife and a friend.

Have you read Melissa's blog about the move? serving-in-seattle.blogspot.com

I have really enjoyed reading her thoughts and hearing her ideas. I have a new appreciation for who she is a woman and as a child of God. She stretches me to be better than I am!

"Lord, thank you for blessing me with such a wonderful wife! She truly does make me stronger and fills my gaps. Your wisdom and providence are beyond compare!"

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS