My malady, my monster, my foe, my viper

(A Puritan Prayer)

Blessed Lord Jesus,
Before Your cross I kneel and see . . .
the heinousness of my sin,
my iniquity that caused You to be made a curse,
the evil that excites the severity of divine wrath.

Show me the enormity of my guilt by . . .
Your crown of thorns,
Your pierced hands and feet,
Your bruised body,
Your dying cries.

Infinite must be the evil and guilt--
which demands such a price! Sin is . . .
my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper,
born in my birth,
alive in my life,
strong in my character,
dominating my faculties,
following me as a shadow,
intermingling with my every thought,
the chain which holds my soul captive.

Sinner that I am, why should . . .
the sun give me light,
the air supply breath,
the earth bear my tread,
its fruits nourish me,
its creatures serve my needs?

Yet Your compassion yearns over me,
Your heart hastens to my rescue,
Your love endured my curse,
Your mercy bore my deserved stripes.

Let me walk humbly . . .
in the lowest depths of humiliation,
bathed in Your blood,
tender of conscience,
triumphing gloriously, as an heir of salvation.

(Grace Gems)

The twists, bends and uncertainties of life, constantly keep us reaching out for Christ, and clinging to Him more then ever. They keep us dependant upon Him. He disturbs our soft worldly smooth pattern of life, moves us out of ruts that we get in. Because of His great mercy and grace, He is constantly molding, breaking and when necessary, crushing our hearts of stone, to save us from ourselves. But He does not do this just to keep us in line, or under His authority like a taskmaster, but because He has loved us with a love that is undeniably and unfathomably so great and pure and strong, we will spend a lifetime trying to understand it, and never come close to fully understanding it. But the one and most important purpose for making and conforming us to the image of Christ, is for the ultimate glory of God, who alone is worthy of all the praise a worship we can give, from our hearts, and with our very lives.

Mike

I've always been facionated with the creation that surrounds me all the time. God created such a beautiful world we live in. And a lot of times it's so amazing and beautiful, it steals the breath right from my chest. I'm left wondering at how He could have made it all, it's just so awesome! But then I stop and think, if God's creation is this beautiful breath taking world, how much more beautiful and breath taking, and awesome must the creator be.

And we have the privilage of having a personal relationship with this creator, what an amazing privilage we have. Don't wast it. Persue Him, and you'll find Him.

Mike