You’ll Provide For Me

O Lord, You care for all the earth
The flowers and the birds
You provide their daily bread
How much more You have cared for me
You met my greatest need
When Christ hung on the tree
So I know that You’ll provide for me
So God, I trust in You
I trust in You, I trust in You
In whatever I may face
I will trust Your sovereign grace
I will always trust in You
O Lord, when all my hopes and plans
Are taken from my hands
And I cannot see the way
I will rest in Your sovereign plan
And bless Your gracious hand
I know Your promise stands
That I’ll see Your goodness in this land

Words & Music by Stephen Altrogee. © 2005 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI). All Rights Reserved

Lunacy

Unbelief does terrible things to people, like turn them into raving lunatics.

Don’t believe me? Look at what it did to the Israelites. They had been rescued by God from the hand of Egypt and were on the verge of entering the Promised Land. But when Israelite spies brought back reports of enemies on steroids, the Israelites had a total meltdown. They said:

Because the LORD hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. (Deut. 1:27)

This is crazy talk. The Israelites were God’s chosen, beloved, precious people. He busted them out of Egypt, water-bombed Pharaoh and his army, led them through the wasteland, fed them with bread from heaven, and promised to bring them into a land of rest. God was good to Israel. God loved Israel.

But the sin of unbelief always leads to faulty thinking about God. In the face of the enemy, Israel’s faith in God evaporated. Suddenly they viewed God through the lens of unbelief, a lens which made God appear to be cold, unloving, and hateful. Israel failed to believe God’s promise, which led them to doubt and accuse God.

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Work = Imitation

“When we work, create, and order, we are imitating our God. God loves to see His creatures imitating Him.” - Stephen Altrogee

Source: Does Your Job Really Matter?

More Blessings Than Grains Of Sand

Stephen over at The Blazing Center, gave out a great challenge today.

When was the last time you pressed the “pause” button of life and took stock of God’s mercies toward you? It’s so easy for us to become fixated on the one thing that’s “wrong” in our lives that we miss the staggering heaps of divine blessing strewn about us.

Here are just a few of the ways that God has abundantly blessed me:

• Salvation. I could never move on from this. This one thing makes my life full of joy. It colors everything in my life. Without it, I would be running full tilt towards Hell. Happily enjoying a life from the God I hate. But, God being rich in mercy, snatched me from my sprint and redeemed me. He changed my heart. I do not hate God, I love Him! I do not run away from God, I run to Him. I don’t walk away ignoring Him, I sit at His feet and listen. Wow!!! His mercy leaves me speechless.
• My Parents. People have thanked me from time to time for one thing or another. People have encouraged me on aspects of my life or character. I smile and thank them. What they’re not thinking about, is that there’s only two reasons I am the way that I am. First (and foremost), God. Second, the best parenting a girl could ask for! If there’s anything good in my life, you can take to the bank it is because I was taught it, watched it modeled, or heard it prayed. My parents are my best friends and my heros!!!
• My Siblings. I do not think it is possible to have a better brother and sister than I have! Jimmy and Katie are such a huge blessing. They make me laugh when I need to lighten up. They kindly “yell” at me when I’m being stupid. They push me to try things and do things I never would have tried (or don’t want to do). They love me and care for my soul. They’re also a ton of fun!
• My Church. Sovereign Grace Church is the dearest place on earth. It is such a joy and privilege to be apart of this church. And I think it’s the best thing ever, I get paid to serve them! Ha! What a great job!!!
• My Friends. I could write an epistle about my many friends through the years. God has always blessed me with friendships. No matter where we have lived, I’ve always made at least one new friend. Now, I have so many. God has blessed me and put me into an amazing singles group. I have a couple of accountability partners. They laugh at me, laugh with me, cry with me, encourage me, spur me on, slap me upside the head when I need it, push me to do things I don’t want to do, and even embarrass me from time to time. I’m so grateful for them all!
• My Car. I vowed that I would never own a station wagon. (Yet another example of why you don’t tell God you won’t do something!) It’s turquoise inside and out and it’s had it’s share of car repairs. But, it has been a huge blessing!!! It has great “get up and go”. It can hold as much church stuff as a truck (well, almost). It has a great AC system. And the speaker system is fantastic (for an “old persons” car)!!!! It has a sun roof and a 6cd changer. God has been so kind.
• My House. I LOVE our house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a beautiful, one story, ranch-style home.
• My Acres. I can’t believe that I live on 15 acres! I am constantly awed by the landscape and animals we get to see.
• My Music. What’s my favorite thing? Hmmm…don’t know if I could come up with just one favorite. But, music is really close. I love music, absolutely love it! God has blessed me with a computer to listen to it on. An iPod to play it on. And a car to blast it out. It’s not uncommon to see me driving down the highway singing along. Probably a funny sight.
• My Books. I also love to read. God has given the ability to see and to learn to read. He has given me the finances to purchase and enjoy tons of books. I really need to find some way to store all my books.
• My Puppy. Chica is a daily source of laughter for me. It amazes me how God looks for ways to bless us and bring joy to our hearts. I’m convinced He gave us Chica for that reason. She’s the silliest dog, but makes me smile constantly.
• My Health. I can walk. I can breathe. I can raise my hands. I’ve never broken any bones. I never had to use my medical insurance until last year. I take minimal medication. Boy, I have it good.

Thank you heavenly Father for blessing me so abundantly. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. You are so good and faithful. There is none like You!!!

Identified With Christ

Today you are in Christ, united with Christ, identified with Christ. Because you are in Christ, God is committed to pouring out his grace on you today. 

- Stephen Altrogge

Being Anxious...

But Jesus says, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Mt. 6.34).

Jesus doesn’t say don’t be concerned about tomorrow or plan for tomorrow, but not to be anxious, worried or fearful about tomorrow. If we’re anxious about tomorrow, we’re really thinking that God won’t be there, he won’t be faithful, he won’t supply grace. But for Christians, there will be grace. So rather than being anxious, cast your cares on Jesus, ask him for whatever you desire, and thank him for the grace he will supply.

- Mark Altrogee

He's My Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (PS 23.1)

Charles Spurgeon says of this verse, “The sweetest word on the whole is my. He does not say, ‘The Lord is the shepherd of the world at large, and leads forth the multitude as his flock.’ If he is a shepherd to no one else, he is a shepherd to me.”

What a wonderful truth! Every Christian can say, “Jesus Christ, the Sovereign Lord, has taken upon himself the task of being MY shepherd. He’s dedicated himself to providing ME with green pastures and still waters. He’s resolved to restore MY soul when I’ve fallen in sin or when I’m weary. He’s committed to guide ME in paths of righteousness for his glory. He’ll never leave MY side, no matter how deep the valley or how dark the shadow of death I must pass through.”

Who needs a personal trainer when the Lord is their personal Shepherd?

Jesus knows each of his sheep personally. He knows us by name. He’s intimately acquainted with our hearts, our hopes, our sins and struggles, and will carry us through to the end. No one can snatch us out of his hand.

What a great and glorious Savior we serve. He doesn’t care for us because we’re good enough, smart enough, and doggone it people like us. We’re singularly unlovable, but Jesus shepherds us because he’s so great and good.

-Mark Altrogee