Sunday, January 22, 2012

Song (I Am New) and the Hopeful Truth Behind It

As I listened to Jason Gray's song I Am New today, I noticed how thoroughly Scriptural the lyrics are. He speaks of being made new, no longer who he was and not even who he thought he should be. "I am new!" he proclaims. Forgiven, beloved, hidden in Christ. Made in the image of the Giver of Life. And, in Him, righteous and holy. Reborn and remade. Accepted and worthy. New!

Enjoy the song and the Scriptures behind it that give it meaning and fill us with hope.

New!
Dr Mari

Forgiven: "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you." (Acts 13:38)

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." (Ephesians 1:7)

Beloved: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34)

"Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.” (John 14:21)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Hidden in Christ: "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3)

Made in the image of the Giver of Life: "...for in the image of God has God made man." (Genesis 9:6b)

Righteous: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One man the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19)

"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Romans 6:18)

"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

Holy: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." (1 Corinthians 6:19)

"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight." (Ephesians 1:4)

Reborn & remade: "In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'" (John 3:3)

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." (1 Peter 1:23)

Accepted: "God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us." (Acts 15:8)

Worthy: "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Luke 12:7)

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." (Ephesians 4:1)

"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers." (Revelation 17:14)


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Pet Therapy: Calvin & Hobbes Humor to Lighten Your Week

Have a wonderful week!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

African Children's Choir

While reflecting on the fact that Jesus came for all of us on Christmas day - for every person from every nation - I came upon this video of a Children's Choir from Uganda. These orphaned children first sing Light of the World in their native language and then in English. Here's the chorus of this beautiful song of praise:

Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, 
Here I am to say that You're my God.
You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, 
altogether wonderful to me. 

In the New Year, let us worship the One who is worthy of praise!
Dr Mari

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, 'I am the light of the world. 
Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” (John 8:12)

Monday, January 2, 2012

A Light has Dawned

In a few days, we will celebrate Epiphany, which commemorates the manifestation of Christ's divinity to the nations as represented by the Magi. These wise men came from the East bearing gifts for Jesus, a King born in humble surroundings. His unusual birth drew not only wise men from afar but humble shepherds from nearby fields, reminding us that He came for us all.

In 2 Peter 1:16-19, the apostle encouraged his fellow believers with these words, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, 'This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.' We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.

"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."

In Revelation 22:16, Jesus calls Himself "the bright Morning Star." The prophet Isaiah spoke of this coming light hundreds of years before Jesus' birth, saying, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:2)

As the world-changing birth of Jesus drew the lowly shepherds and the wise men, so His light draws us now to come near, to know, and to worship Him. The bright Morning Star still shines in our hearts, dispelling all darkness and revealing the truth about ourselves and about God.

As Peter reminded believers of the certainty of their faith, encouraging them to stand firm and to remember their own epiphanies in coming to know Christ, so I invite you this week to recall your own moments of profound insight and revelation. May this inspire you to recommit your life to the One who gave everything - even His life - that we may know Truth and live.

May the light of Christ continue to shine brightly in our hearts in 2012 and always!
Dr Mari

This song and video contain someone's testimony. Although I don't know him, the poem he wrote expresses the experience of so many of us who have come to Jesus "just as we are" and tasted His living waters.


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