Wonderful Grace of Jesus

A few weeks ago we sang the hymn "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" at our church. I had never heard it before, and was blown away by the content of the song. I encourage you to meditate on it. Don't skip over the refrain, read it each time it comes up. My favorite part is where it says, "Broader than the scope of my transgressions, Greater far than all my sin and shame." It reminds me of 1 Tim 1:12-17 where Paul talks about his life before he was a believer. He describes himself as a "violent aggressor" (1:13) and then calls himself the "worst of sinners" (1:15). Paul definitely was the worst of sinners. So many people try to identify with Paul in this, but to do so would be a mistake. In a sense, Paul is setting himself up not as an example of the power of God's grace and patience, but as the example of God's grace and patience. Let me ask you a question, Have you killed hundreds upon hundreds of men, women, and children because they bear the name of Christ? Have you, like Sadam Huessien and Hitler, filled mass graves of those you have slaughtered? Before you were a believer, were Christians afraid of losing their lives when you came to town? Don't get all doctrinal on me and say, "Total depravity! My heart is just as black as Paul's was." In a theological sense this may be true, but here Paul is not referring to the doctrine of total depravity (sometimes we tend to over theologize passages and end up missing the main message of it). Paul is setting himself up as the "worst of sinners." Paul's rebellion against God went so deep that he was actually torturing and killing Christians by the droves. AND YET! he says, "the grace of our Lord was more than abundant" (1:14). What a wonderful example we have in Paul. God's grace was not merely sufficient to cover his sins, it was "more than abundant." It more than covered his sins. If it more than covered Paul's sins, could it not more than cover your's as well? Surely if God's grace is more than abundant to cover the sins of mass murderer, it is more than abundant to cover your sins as well! What is your response to this news concerning God's abundant grace? Look at how Paul responds to it, "Now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever, Amen" (1:17).

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!

REFRAIN: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise His name!

Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned, saved to the uttermost;
Chains have been torn asunder, giving me liberty,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!

REFRAIN: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise His name!

Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power, making him God’s dear child.
Purchasing peace and heaven for all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!

REFRAIN: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise His name!

A Hymn from the Lord

Not much is new since I last posted. The Baby is still working on his sucking, gagging, and swallowing. The nurses say that he still has a long way to go. But he is still progressing everyday. I will list some things that Kristal and I would like ya'll to pray about: 1. Pray that the Lord would grant James the complete ability to eat orally on his own so that they don't have to place the g-tube in his belly. 2. Pray that James gets good nurses and doctors. 3. Pray that we would be able to take him home soon. 4. Pray that Kristal and I would get enough sleep--this is difficult because Kristal has to pump throughout the night and so our sleep gets interrupted quite often. Also, I have never had problems sleeping, but for some reason the past two nights I have had the hardest time falling asleep. 5. Pray that we would get good naps during the day. 6. Pray that Baby James would not have any more seizures. They took him off the seizure medicine and so there is that possibility. 7. Pray that Kristal and I would not worry ourselves sick watching every little movement of Baby James thinking that it is a seizure. This really is an issue because babies do not have seizures in the same way as adults. Baby seizures are less pronounced--mostly they look just like tense baby movement--which all babies have. This is a big concern. 8. Pray that the Lord would continue to grow Kristal and I during this time. 9. Pray for the salvation of our doctors, nurses, and those we are in contact with. I have a funny story about one of the nurses we had the other day. I was reading the Bible to James. We read the book of Ephesians and the first two chapters of Acts. When I was about half way done the nurse came over and said, "Do you really think he is enjoying that serious stuff." I answered, "Of course, it is the Bible." She said, "Why don't you read him Dumbo or something?" I said, "I think this will do, thanks though." She then was trying to convince me to stop reading the Bible. She gave up because she saw that I was not giving in. Well, a few hours later I was reading John 9 where Jesus heals the man born blind to Kristal and the Baby. If you haven't read that story lately you should go read it. It is absolutely amazing. It is also funny because the man who was healed has some sarcastic remarks. Well, we were laughing about it. The same nurse came over and said, "Are you making fun of the Bible?" Then we got the opportunity to share the story of the man born blind with her. After we shared a bit of it to her she got all frustrated and said, "Why don't you just read Dumbo?" Right after she said that I just kept on reading. I guess that wasn't funny. Ok, I am bad at telling stories. O well. As my mother always says, "get over it." I got the opportunity to talk to another nurse last night. He husband is part of the ecumenical interfaith counsel. This is a big clue that she has a skewed view of things. It was a short conversation, but she is going to be our nurse again today so please be praying.

I woke up this morning with a hymn on my mind. It is from Fernando Ortega's cd "This Bright Hour." The Hymn is entitled "O Thou In Whose Presence." Really meditate on the words of this hymn--it is excellent.

O Though, In whose presence my soul takes delight
On Whom in affliction I call
My Comfort by day, and my song in the night
My hope, my salvation, my all

Where dost though dear Shepherd resort with Thy sheep
To feed them in pastures of love?
Say, Why in the valley of death should I weep
Or alone in this wilderness rove?

Oh why should I wonder an alien from Thee
Or cry in the desert for bread?
Thy foes will rejoice when my sorrows they see
And smile at the tears I have shed

He looks and ten thousand of angels rejoice
And myriads wait for His Word
He speaks and eternity filled with His voice
Re-echos the praise of the Lord

Dear Shepherd I hear and will follow thy call.
I know the sweet sound of Thy voice
Restore and defend me, for Thou art my all
And in Thee I will ever rejoice