The Infant came to raise the dead

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (Gen. 2:7)

Breathing Out and Breathing In
A.B. Simpson

Jesus, breathe Thy Spirit in me,
Teach me how to breathe Thee in,

Help me pour into Thy bosom

All my life of self and sin.

I am breathing out my own life,
That I may be filled with Thine;

Letting go my strength and weakness,

Breathing in Thy life divine.

Breathing out my sinful nature,

Thou has borne it all for me;
Breathing in Thy cleansing fullness,

Finding all my life in Thee.

I am breathing out my sorrow,

On Thy kind and gentle breast;
Breathing in Thy joy and comfort,

Breathing in Thy peace and rest.

I am breathing out my longings,

In Thy list’ning loving ear,

I am breathing in Thy answers,
Stilling every doubt and fear.

I am breathing every moment,
Drawing all my life from Thee;
Breath by breath I live upon Thee,
Blessed Spirit, breathe in me.

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. (Ezekiel 37:1-2)

He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." Again He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.' "Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 'I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.'"

So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life."'"So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezekiel 37:3-10)


When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (Acts 2: 1-2)
And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. (Acts 2: 3-4)

Therefore, we ask that we may know what we love, since we ask nothing other than that you give us yourself. For you are our all: our life, our light, our salvation, our food and our drink, our God. Inspire our hearts, I ask you, Jesus, with the breath of your Spirit. -AmenColumbanus' Prayer

Faithfulness and Obedience

« Soutiens-moi selon ta promesse, afin que je vive, et ne me rend point confus dans mon espérance! » -Psaumes 119 :116
I know that God is faithful even when He asks is to do things that are counter intuitive.
“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of righteousness that comes by faith” –Heb. 11:7
Noah was in the middle of the desert. It took him 140 years to build the ark. I’m sure that people thought he was crazy.
“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going” –Heb. 11:8
Abraham was 75 years old when he left Haran. God promised Abraham that He would make him into a great nation; yet, his wife Sarah was barren. Abraham seemed crazy I’m sure.By faith, “Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who had spied out the [promised] land... spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel saying, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us – a land which flows with mild and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them”
-Num. 14:6-9Even though people thought that they were crazy Joshua and Caleb still believed the promises of the Lord God and they did enter into that good land.
“In the pursuit of holiness Christians are often called on to perform duties that appear unreasonable and even absurd to an unbelieving world. A Christian farmer in Kansas is a case and point. When wheat is exactly ready to be harvested, it is important that the work be completed quickly lest bad weather arise and damage the crop or reduce its quality. Because of this, harvesting is often done on a seven-day-a week schedule. But this particular farmer, believing Sunday should be observed as the Lord’s Day, would never work his harvest crew on Sunday, even when an impending storm threatened. To his neighbouring farmers this action appears strange and unreasonable. Interestingly enough, however, over the years this Christian farmer was the most prosperous in his area. Like Abraham, he obeyed by faith what he believed to be the will of God, even though such obedience must undoubtedly have been difficult at times” – Jerry Bridges “The Pursuit if Holiness”Lord,
In your mercy, please give us faith like that. -Amen

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

1Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?"
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
(NIV)

Himself

Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word.
Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.

Once 'twas painful trying, Now 'tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost.
Once 'twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast;
Once 'twas constant drifting, Now my anchor's cast.

Once 'twas busy planning, Now 'tis trustful prayer;
Once 'twas anxious caring, Now He has the care.
Once 'twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says;
Once 'twas constant asking, Now 'tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working, His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me.
Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He's mine;
Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine.
Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored, Safe within the vail.

By A.B. Simpson

Thank-You.

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for His is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting. -Psalm 106:1

The, “images of build, extend, promote, and establish stand in sharp contrast to the biblical language used to define the relationship of church to the kingdom of God”.
Instead we are to; “receive, enter, seek and inherit”.
–The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit, Craig Van Gelder -

Lord,
Thank-You that Your kingdom is something that we can recieve and enter,
something that we can seek and inherit.
How lovely You are, how lovely.
And we give You thanks.
-Amen

My Hearts Cry

So here is the cry of my heart. This is the song that I've been singing in my soul. Enjoy.



Also, I recently re-read something by A. B. Simpson that deeply resonated with me:

"Years ago a friend placed in my hand a little book which became one of the turning points in my life. It was "True Peace." It was an old medieval message, and it had but one thought--that God was waiting in the depth of my being to talk with me if I would only get still enough to hear Him. I thought this would be a very easy matter, so I began to get still. But I had no sooner commenced than a perfect pandemonium of voices reached my ears, a thousand clamoring notes from without and within, until I could hear nothing but their noise and din. Some of them were my own voice, some of them were my own questions, some of them my own cares, some of them my own prayers. Others were suggestions of the tempter and the voices of the world's turmoil. Never before did there seem to be so many things to be done, to be said, to be thought; and in every direction I was pulled and pushed and greeted with noisy acclamations and unspeakable unrest. It seemed necessary for me to listen to some of them, but God said, "Be still, and know that I am God." Then came the conflict of thoughts for the morrow and its duties and cares; but God said, "Be still." And then there came the very prayers which my restless heart wanted to press upon Him; but God said, "Be still."
As I listened and slowly learned to obey, and shut my ears to every sound, I found that after a while when the other voices ceased, or I ceased to hear them, there was a still small voice in the depth of my spirit. As I listened, it became to me the power of prayer, the voice of wisdom, and call of duty; and I did not need to think so hard, or pray so hard, or trust so hard, but that the "still, small voice" of the Holy Spirit in my heart was God's prayer in my secret soul, and God's answer to all my questions."
In the morning when you rise, may the Lord God bless you with the stillness of spirit to listen to His voice and the courage in your heart to respond.

GIVE US JESUS.

10 minutes and 32 seconds

Please turn on your speakers and watch this video. May it challenge you and bless you dear ones. Love.

How He Loves Us

As you listen to this song my prayer is that you would catch just a glimpse of how much God loves you. You are precious in His sight; His delight is in you.

Hold Fast

As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:9-11
The following is an excerpt from my journal, it was written June 23, 2009. During that season of my life I was working full time at a Pregnancy Care Centre:
At work we had a client come in for baby clothes. And, as she was picking them out she noticed big rubber-made containers on top of the shelves marked “winter clothes”.
Now, currently, the clothes on the shelves are considered summer clothes. We switch the clothes out according to season.
Anyhow, after spotting them, she turned to me and said, “I come from a warm region and I still find it quite cold. Can I look through those bins?”
Now, when she asked this question, every single inch of me wanted to say, “yes”. Her request was legitimate; she wanted her child to be as warm and comfortable as possible.
However, even though I wanted to say, “yes”, I understood something that she did not.
First, getting those tubs down is a huge task and each one is filled with clothing that has been carefully folded and placed perfectly so that the lid fit on. Folding, switching, and tubing the clothes is a tremendous task that takes lots of time and effort.
What is more, I know that even if we took every tub, turned it upside down and sifted through it, it was highly unlikely that we would find anything more appropriate for her child than what was already placed on the shelves.
So, I said “No”. Even though it broke my heart and I know she couldn’t fully understand. Then I quickly followed with an, “I’m sorry”, and I was.
And, her response amazed me. She said, “That’s okay. We must not always get what we ask for.”
I think I understood a lot about God’s heart for us in that moment.
Sometimes we ask God for things and He says, “No”, because only He can comprehend the magnitude and the measurable outcome of our request.
Keeping the clothing in the tubs, out of reach, was the best thing. So, I said, “No”, even though it broke my heart.
They will be taken down when the season is right.

We shall come one day to a heaven where we shall gratefully know that God’s refusals were sometimes the true answers to our truest prayers.
–P.T. Forsyths “The Soul of Prayer”"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."
Luke 1:38a

The Way They Held Eachother

A woman and her young daughter were destitute

and traveling to another country

where they hoped to find

a new life.

Three men stole them while they were camping.

They were brought to a city

and sold as slaves; each to a different

owner.

They were given one minute more together,

before their fates became unknown.

My soul clings to God like that,

the way they held

each other.

By: Mirabai

St. Augustines Prayer

This is one of my favorite prayers. May it encourage you.

God of our life,
There are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down;
When the road seems dreary and endless, the skies gray and threatening;
When our lives have no music in them, and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage.
Flood the path with light, turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise;
Tune our hearts to brave music;
give us the sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age;
And so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to your honour and glory. -Amen

Hey unfaithful...

Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” -Matthew 9:10-13 (NKJV)


Gran Doktè nou,
Pawòl ou tankou alkòl.
Lè l’tonbe sou maleng
le boule e li fè mal,
men se sèlman lè sa l’touye
mikwòb.
Si li pa boule, li pa fè anyen.

Our Great Physician ,
Your Word is like alcohol.
When poured on an infected wound,
It burns and stings,
But only then can it kill germs.
If it doesn’t burn, it doesn’t do any good.
-“God is no Stranger” A Haitian book of prayer

Love is not a fight.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
-1 Cor. 13 (NIV)

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. -2 Cor. 7:1 (NASB)

Everything.

Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. –Colossians 1:25-29


Well friends, below I've written a prayer which was born out of my utter depravity and God's grace and power in my life. I hope it will bless you.

O Eternal God,
Here am I.
A gypsy,
a pilgrim.
A thief
hidden
in the heart of a Redeemer.
Conflicted thoughts,
empty hands.
Battle scars,
undone plans.
I am a misfit
and I give myself to You.
Broken,
contrite.
I am a fool.
Beyond logic,
reason.
Ignorant,
out of season.

Please,
distance me
from my lingering pride.

O, Father, in Christ
consume me.

Let Your Spirit
bloom in me.

You are the Fire.
I AM
ashes without you.

You are the Light.
I AM
withered without you.

In fear
trembling…

Here am I.
Christ
in me.
The hope of glory.

You’re my everything.

Amen.

"There is an appointed time for everything" Ecc.3:1a

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. -Ecc. 7:8

Judges 13-16

So, some dear friends of mine showed me this the other day. It makes me laugh hysterically. I hope you enjoy it! Love.

Do not be afraid.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. –Matthew 28: 5-6

“Heaven about is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green,
Something lives in every hue,
Christless eyes have never seen.
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
Flowers with deeper beauty shine,
Since I know as now I know
I am His, and He is mine.”

–Jim Elliot

Si donc vous êtes ressuscités avec Christ, cherchez les choses d’en haut, où Christ est assis à la droite de Dieu. Attachez-vous aux choses d’en haut, et non à celles qui sont sur la terre. Car vous êtes morts, et votre vie est cachée avec Christ en Dieu. Quand Christ, votre vie, paraîtra, alors vous paraîtrez aussi avec lui dans la gloire. –Colossiens 3 :1-4

I am no longer my own, but Yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low by You.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine and I am Yours. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth, Let it be ratified in heaven. -Amen

(Community Response: A Covenant Prayer. Adapted from John Wesley's Covenant Service)

True Love

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-Hebrews 12:2

« Après qu’il aura chassé tous tes ennemis devant toi, comme l’Éternel l’a dit. »
-Deutéronome 6 :19

A Crisis Man

So currently I’m reading “Shadow of the Almighty: Life and Testament of Jim Elliot”. Jim was a missionary martyr (Read his bio here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Elliot). Anyways, almost everything that I’ve read about the life of this dear saint has really challenged me. Especially, the way that he prayed and walked according to his convictions.
Two of His prayers have really touched me today, so I’d like to share them with you:
1) “Fix my heart wholly, Lord, to follow Thee, in no detail to touch what is not mine”
2) “Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a mile post on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another in facing Christ in me.”
The latter has inspired a prayer/poem that I’d like to share. (Please note: C.S. Lewis’s description of the woman of noble character in his allegory “The Great Divorce” has also heavily influenced this poem.)
Father,
Please keep
every man my brother
in our friendship
challenged
to be
a better brother, father, lover.
And make
every woman my sister
in our encounter
encouraged
to be
a better sister, giver, lover.
And let
every child in my presence
find
a mother.
And, fill me
with Your truth;
truth
sets people free.
So that all may see
Christ Jesus
who makes His home
in me.
Amen

Great is Your love and Your faithfulness...

So recently I made a video documenting some of the things that I've learned during the last eight months in Québec. Please feel free to check it out:

In other news, my dear friend Julie wrote a blog post on March 29th which I found to be startling. See here:http://julieslifejourney.blogspot.com/
Since I know Julie well as a woman of the Lord, I'm taking it very seriously. As should you.

And finally, I would like to share with you some of the lyrics to my new favorite love song.
It's Leeland's, 'Theif in the Night':

Great is Your love and Your faithfulness
It’s Your faithfulness that carries me
Many times I’ve run away
Forsook Your love and all Your grace
Still You call out my nameYeah,
You still care that I be saved
So I’ll sing the glories of Your name
Your awesomeness I will proclaim
Until You come, until You come and…
Take Your bride away
Like a thief in the night
Like a thief in the night
You’ll take us away
There is no one that can fill this void
Like You fill this void in my heart
My life is just a human one
But You pick me up and call me son
Speak, Lord, I am listening Yes,
Your child will serve faithfully

St. Augustines Prayer

Currently in my devotional life I'm going through a book called "Ancient Christians Devotional: A Year of Weekly Readings". It is really quite good. Originally I picked it because it was edited by Thomans C. Oden, a man who wrote three very excellent books on systematic theology, and I'm finding it quite insightful. It includes weekly Bible readings that follow the Christian calendar and each reading is accompanied by the writings and prayers of the early church fathers.
Anyways, I think that my favorite part of working through this devotional book is reading the prayers. For each week there is an opening and a closing prayers to pray through each day. And I love praying through these prayers. It is so incredible to me to think that followers of Christ have been praying through these same prayers for hundreds of years, and now I get to be a part of that...
And now I would like to invite you to be a part of that too. Below is my favorite prayer for this week. I hope it blesses you the way its been blessing me.
Love.
O God, the light of the hearts that see you, the life of the souls that love you, the strength of the minds that seek you; from whom to turn is to fall, to whom to turn is to rise and in whom to abide is to stand fast forever: grant us your blessing as we offer up our confessions and supplications, and though we are unworthy to approach you or to ask anything of you at all, hear and forgive us, for the sake of our great High Priest and only Mediator, Jesus Christ you Son. Amen