Sunday, May 24, 2009

a lovely sunday

what a great day spent with church family and friends! we have been attending Calvary Baptist Church in Plainfield, Indiana for a little bit over a year now and can definitely say we've found our Indiana church home. (You will always be in our hearts, Willow!) during sunday school, john and i were both urged further on toward pursuing missions in china. it is very encouraging to see God continuing to lead us in the same direction.

we were also blessed to be able to spend some time with our small group tonight at pastor marks' house. it is always encouraging to see how God has intervened in the lives of those around me and saved them their sin and the ultimate consequence of that sin, hell. i am so very thankful that God saved me from the assumption that i was going to heaven which i had received from growing up in a lutheran church. it was hard for me to get over the fact that just because i had been baptized and gone through confirmation and usually attended church i was actually NOT on my way to heaven. both of those things are works and works do not merit eternal life (as opposed to eternal death).

thankfully, God saved me at the age of 15 as a junior in high school. at that time i decided i was going to live my life for Christ since He gave His life as a ransom for mine. my father-in-law then baptized me (by immersion) after my sophomore year of college. how great is our God!

we've been learning a new song at church and i just absolutely love the lyrics:

"Speak, O Lord"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

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