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Tuesday, November 21, 2017

5 Scriptures that Testify that God is Real

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Countless people throughout time have wondered: “Is there a God?” There are nearly as many opinions on this subject as there have been people who have lived on this planet.  For this reason, many people feel confused or uncertain about whether or not God exists, and if so, what that actually means for us humans.

Many people have rejected the notion of the existence of a God or a higher being altogether.  Still others acknowledge that there may indeed be some kind of higher being who exists in the universe, although they do not know who or what this being may be, or what form he/she/it may take.  Others choose to reserve judgment for a number of reasons, including waiting for more evidence (one way or another) to present itself.

The problem is that many of those who search for God tend to reject scripture out of hand as a reliable source of evidence.  I imagine that this is because they assume that religious texts are essentially biased.  However, this forces them to look for evidence that is inconclusive at best.  There are many who point to the workings of the natural world, and of creation as evidence of a divine presence, but there are just as many people who point to the same evidence to say there is not a god.  There are some who try to use a process of logic to reason their way to God, but once again there are many who would argue that logic suggests that there is no God.  Even some religious people might argue that God is beyond our ability to grasp through human reason alone.  I mention all of this in order to demonstrate the evidentiary value that scripture can have in an honest and open-minded investigation into the existence of God.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Thy Grace Is Sufficient For Me: A Psalm of Gratitude

This is my amateur attempt at producing a psalm.  I posted this rather personal work in order that I might uplift and inspire others to grow closer to God.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!

Lord, thy grace is sufficient for me
In thy mercy thou givest me rest
Lord, as thou takest my burdens upon thee
Thou makest my burdens light.

Thou forgivest me my transgressions
My sins are blotted out through thee.
Thy lovingkindness and thy mercy are without end
And cannot be exhausted.

Lord God, thou art my master
I deliver myself to thee
I am thy servant
Thou settest me free

Thy yoke is easy, and thy burden is light
Gladly do I take up my cross
Happily do I follow thee
In following thee I find my life

In serving thee I gain dignity
Thou makest me thy particular treasure
No longer am I a slave to sin
Never again will I transgress

Thou makest me thy child
No longer am I a servant in thy house
I am thy son, give me thy spirit
I cry unto thee, Abba, Father.

Thou guidest me when I am lost
Thou art my light in obscurity
By thy word I set my steps
By thy teachings I build my life

In grief I seek thee Ebenezer
In my adversity thou hearest my cry
Thou art my support in sorrow
My balm and surcease in suffering

Thou art my companion in adversity
In thy footsteps I tread the path of woe
Thou hast descended unto hell
In thy suffering thou hast reclaimed my soul

Thou art the captain of my salvation
I will follow thee in all things
Thou leadest the way
Thine example is my guide

Thou teachest me to love mine enemies
To do good to those that despitefully use me.
In love I fulfill thy royal law,
Through love I approach thy throne.

Through thy grace I approach thee with boldness
Thy redemption sanctifieth me
By thy merits hast thou justified me
Thou hast brought me before the mercy seat

I stand before thee revealed
Thy word is quick and powerful
Thou hast discerned the thoughts and intents of my heart
Purify thou me Lord!

Cleanse thou my innermost soul
Give unto me clean hands and a pure heart.
I give unto thee my heart and my will
I surrender unto thee the weapons of my rebellion

Thou desirest not gold or silver
Thy treasure cannot be bought
Thy salvation is a pearl without price
I would give all to obtain it

Thy grace is sufficient for me
In thee I am made whole
The riches of thy blessings defy my capacity to receive them
My gratitude is not sufficient to the bounty of thy grace