Heaven should be way sweeter than the world. Heaven should be more desirable than the world. If Christ is not becoming increasingly sweeter, and heaven filling more and more of my thoughts, it might be a sign that I am satisfied with this world. This world is hell for a believer exactly because we do not see Jesus face to face. For a believer, earth will be as close as hell because we are not in the very presence of the Lord now. For an unbeliever, earth will be as close as heaven because of the many graces that they receive without acknowledging the Creator. I pray that I would not be satisfied with this world. This world is crap without my Jesus. He is the only one that can satisfy. He is the only one in whom I see rays of hope, happiness, and love. I want to see my Jesus. I want my soul to be satisfied in Him alone. What a friend I have in Jesus!

Every time I hear whispers of the gospel, my heart rings with joy. My human nature tries to please God by WHAT I DO, but when I remind myself WHAT HE HAS DONE, I am convinced that there is no other Savior as beautiful as MY Jesus. I want the whole world to see the beauty of MY Savior. I grieve that I live in this God-ignoring world. I grieved that I do not give more attention and love to my Savior. So many times I make Christianity a religion rather than a relationship through what Christ has accomplished on the cross. Jesus tells me not to grow cold, or he will remove my lampstand as he speaks to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2. God, burn this fire and increase it and ignite it for your name's sake. I have been praying this for awhile I know you will answer this because I desire that YOUR NAME MIGHT BE GLORIFIED. DO this for your name's sake.

"Let Him who boasts, Boasts in the Lord"

Lord, help me pray. Help me see the importance of prayer. Help me communion with You and to be fervent in seeing Your kingdom come and Your will be done. Please ignite a passion in me for Your name's sake. Be my treasure. Give me eyes to see your infinite worth. Help me see the rays of your infinite glory shining through your Son on Calvary. The Son hangs on a cross, displaying infinite mercy and infinite justice. Move in your people. In Jesus Name, Amen.

I was reading Luke this morning, and was once again reminded that following Christ means committing your whole life to him. Judgment is soon coming to a world in rebellion against him. People make many excuses so that they would not follow the Savior. EVERYTHING has to be invested in the kingdom. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. God also commands me to be merciful to those who cannot repay me back. God you have to burn in me a passion for your name's sake. I also read that no one can follow Christ unless he hates his own father and mother and brother and wife and anything else that will not exalt Christ in one's life. This does not mean literally hate your parents, but it means that you cannot love your family or anything more than Christ. Where is my heart? What do I love? Is Christ the love of my life? Does my time show it? Does my actions show it? Does my love for other believers show it? Does my money show it? God, please remove any inconsistencies in my life. Show me the reality of the kingdom. Those who would follow Christ must take up their crosses daily and renounce all things daily for the sake of the Kingdom of God which is coming in glory.

Here was an interesting insight I heard on the radio this morning as I was driving to school. I should begin to cultivate faithfulness and give thanks in all circumstances. God is working out is good and sovereign plan. Here are some things I am thankful for:

I have been revived by God to love and serve His people. I was being overcritical awhile back, but after the nine marks conference, God renewed my passion for the local church. I am so thankful that God has placed me at CFBC. We have problems, but God's glory is still seen in the warm grandmas, young children, passionate and goofy youth. God brings so many diverse people into the church. Ephesians talks about how God bought people through his Son's blood that he might unite both Jew and Gentile together. The gospel will be proclaimed through the context of the local church and love for other believers. The gospel will be glorious as diverse people love one another (john 13:34).

1. Jesus suffered for our propitiation (the appeasement of the wrath of God), we suffer for the propagation of the gospel so that his propitiation and his love might be made known.

Here are some of my reflections on 1 John and how do I really know that I am a Child of God.

I was really blessed this past weekend to listen to Mark Dever and Rick Holland teach on what a healthy church looked like. Especially the encouragement to preach the Word and be faithful to the Word of God. Why is the word of God so precious? Because it is by the Word we are sanctified. It is the hearing of the Word that helps our "spiritual eyes" to see Christ and his magnifecent work on the cross. We are a hearing culture that desperately needs to hear the voice of God in the midst of of darkness, suffering, and sin. I also learned about church membership, discipline, and discipleship. Church membership is extremely important for the church because it will help distinguish who are God's true sheep. Another interesting insight was to plead or beg people on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. A theology of hell will help see the gravity of sin and the glories of the cross. Spurgeon said that people who are going to hell must go to hell leaping over believers holding onto their knees pleading for them to be reconciled. A very graphic image. So how am I going to apply what I learned at this conference?

A person who strives after his dreams, dreams that seem impossible, will be successful even though he fails. God, please fulfill your good purpose in me. Display Jesus Christ as glorious!