Rich?

It's true, God blesses us! Sometimes monetarily, but significantly more so spiritually - specifically His son. His redemptive grace. He is our treasure, our gain, what we live for and die for. He is what we should seek. He is what is everlasting not momentary like the home we live in and the car we drive, the health we have. He is the saving gospel message that draws men to God - not our earthly prosperity - no, those things are counted loss in light of the greatness of knowing Him.

Where is your treasure?

"world is not impressed when Christians get rich and say thanks to God. They are impressed when God is so satisfying that we give our riches away for Christ's sake and count it gain."
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

Prosperity Gospel

Much of this post is credited to John Piper, whom I quote thoroughly in the latter part of this entry. And my reason for it is because he says it right. I do not have the ability to communicate the way he does - but I feel it is so important to blog about, so I am therefore basically copying and pasting within my own frame.

What I am about to type comes from a compilation of either one or a couple messages formed into a youtube video. I am still not brave enough to post it on my blog. My confession is because this "gospel" has had an individual effect on me... and I am just not courageous enough.

This post is a big step. I am nervous. But I am more thankful for the beauty of the true gospel and it's healing effects in my life.

The Prosperity Gospel

The health, wealth, and prosperity gospel, is not the gospel. If it were.... then Jesus preached a different gospel. If the gospel is: God wants you rich, then why was His Son Jesus poor? If God's people don't wear tattered clothes, and they should be able to drive the finest cars, and never suffer - they why, why did Jesus instruct his followers to "take up their cross and follow him" ? To take up a cross, was to DIE to yourself and to take on a life of suffering for Christ's sake. When Jesus took up the cross, he suffered and died.

It is no fluke that Jesus used those words. The ones who gave their lives to follow Him suffered. They died. They did not "prosper" in the way the prosperity gospel say we are supposed to. But, oh how they were rich in Christ, being fully satisfied in Him in the midst of earthly loss. They were beaten, murdered, hung, stoned, and imprisoned for Christ, and God was glorified. He was not glorified if after Jesus died his followers were wealthy and safe. Stephen, "a man full of God's grace and power," was stoned to death for preaching the truth! How many of us are living that kind of life? And how many of us are out there grasping to the things the prosperity message claims to be the gospel and to be our right as Christians.

As Piper puts so plainly:

When was the last time any American, African, Asian ever said "Jesus is all satisfying because you drive a BMW?"NEVER

They'll say, "Did Jesus give you that?"

"yeah"

"Well I'll take Jesus!"

That is idolatry! That's not the gospel. That is elevating gifts above giver.

This is what makes Jesus look beautiful.... is when you smash your car and your little girl goes flying through the windshield and lands dead on the street and you say, through the deepest possible pain you say:

"God is enough"

"God is enough. He is good. He will take care of us."

"He will satisfy us. He will get us through this."

"He is our treasure."

"Whom have I in heaven but you, and on earth there is nothing that I desire but you. My flesh and my heart and my little girl may fail but you are the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

That makes God look glorious. Glorious as God! Not giver of cars or safety or health.
God is most glorified in you, when you are most satisfied in Him.

[Thanks to Piper for his words]

I included a video of John Piper speaking on this "gospel" below.

one good christmas cd

I must confess that I am not really a fan of to much christmas music... i dunno, I kinda feel bad about it.

But, I am a huge fan of Andrew Peterson's cd Behold The Lamb of God

Just awesome, it is so biblically correct in telling the Christmas story from beginning to end..... and did I mention it sounds so good too?

I like the new trendy music out there, but I have deep appreciation for those that stay close to scripture.

I just listen and my heart gets excited and am reminded in every verse the beauty of Gods sovereign plan to send His Son here, for the purpose of living to die for the world. I am thankful.

This is a early "Merry Christmas"

Prayer requests and the weight of our decison

I have prayer requests... meaning, if you think of it- PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE THINGS :o)

• labor - I am excited and equally as nervous about it. I'm not sure what to expect and would love the Lords relaxing touch as I endure. As well as reflect on the representation of how weighty my sin is and its reason for the pain of childbirth. Then in turn God amazing saving and sustaining grace!
• That the Lord would comfort, protect, and sustain me during labor and give Jonathan wisdom on how to help, comfort and encourage me through it.
  
• That our baby would be kept healthy during the remaining pregnancy and safe during labor/delivery.. I am sure it is pretty intense being squeezed through such a small space, welcome to the world little fella!
  
• That God would set His love on our little one and save him
• That our little boy would grow to be a man of the word!
  
• That as parents, God would give us the grace to bring him up in the ways of the Lord - and learn from examples set around us.
  
• As parents, we would be sensitive to God's will for our little boy's life and parent him according to it.

These are the desires of Jonathan's heart and mine. Aside from the excitement of having a baby, and him being so cute and little and lovable: there is huge purpose and meaning behind bringing a child into this world.
Our dear friend Gary put it in perfect terms when he said: "There are few things we can do in this life to impact eternity. One, would be to lead someone to Christ - and two, would be to bring a life into this world."

That is the weight of it!

Not to scare people out of having children - but to encourage! Let that encourage you, to have an impact on eternity by raising up sons and daughters to see the beauty of a Sovereign Holy God who's grace is sufficient. What an impact and beautiful evangelism.