Ok, so I think I will cease usage of my Blog and use my Xanga exclusively. So go here and read. That means no more posts here. All posts will be made on my Xanga.

I've posted on my xanga today.

So we're coming up on Christmas. I've been thinking about this for a couple weeks now. On June 6, 1944, the largest military operation known to man took place. Thousands of Allied soldiers stormed the fortified beaches of Normady. In a daring plan with high stakes, Eisenhower gave the go-ahead for a plan that was designed to be the beginning of the end for Hitler and his Nazi armies. On December 25, we celebrate another invasion. This time the stakes were higher - in fact it couldn't be higher - the very reputation of the Holy God was at stake. Sovereign God put on flesh - and covertly came down to this battlefield of a rebellious creation. He could have simply spoken and resolved the entire problem. And yet he chose to come down among us. That point marked the beginning of the end of death and sin. The covert invasion led to the dramatic turning point at the Cross. And it was there that the fate of our Lord's enemy was sealed - and our liberation from sin and death complete. Remember the Cross.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

The apostle of the Gentiles delighted to think that as one of Christ's chosen people, he died upon the cross in Christ. He did more than believe this doctrinally, he accepted itconfidently, resting his hope upon it. He believed that by virtue of Christ's death, he had satisfied divine justice, and found reconciliation with God. Beloved, what a blessed thing it is when the soul can, as it were, stretch itself upon the cross of Christ, and feel, "I am dead; the law has slain me, and I am therefore free from its power, because in my Surety I have borne the curse, and in the person of my Substitute the whole that the law could do, by way of condemnation, has been executed upon me, for I am crucified with Christ. "But Paul meant even more than this. He not only believed in Christ's death, and trusted in it, but he actually felt its power in himself in causing the crucifixion of his old corrupt nature. When he saw the pleasures of sin, he said, "I cannot enjoy these: I am dead to them." Such is the experience of every true Christian. Having received Christ, he is to this world as one who is utterly dead. Yet, while conscious of death to the world, he can, at the same time, exclaim with the apostle, "Nevertheless I live." He is fully alive unto God. The Christian's life is a matchless riddle. No worldling can comprehend it; even the believer himself cannot understand it. Dead, yet alive! crucified with Christ, and yet at the same time risen with Christ in newness of life! Union with the suffering, bleeding Saviour, and death to the world and sin, are soul-cheering things. O for more enjoyment of them! - Charles Spurgeon

Guess what? It's Friday!! Heck yeah! Gonna be takin a lil trip to see the woman who makes me lil heart go pitter-patter. I can't wait! It's gonna be freakin awesome. But the time that I am blessed to spend with her pales to the eternity that approaches with the dawning of every day, that I will spend with the true Lover of my soul. Thought I'd leave you kids with some lyrics:

We have heard the thunder
We have seen the storm
Echoes of your kingdom coming
Rumors of our home
Where one day we will stand before you Lord
Our altogether beautiful reward

And we will give you glory, bring you honour
King above all Kings;
you deserve our everything
We will lift our voices with your praises Jesus you are king

Though now we walk in darkness
Though now we see in part
Right now we’re warmed by the burning flames
Of the fire in our hearts You’ve promised you will lead us to your throne
Where we will worship you and you alone

Over the last week or so, two Psalms have been coming up, 107 and 145. The common theme in them is God's grace. He hears those who cry out to Him and rescues them. He also gives them not only their needs, but the desires of their hearts. Here are some verses from 145:

8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
9 The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.

and from 107:

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;
They found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And He led them forth by the right way,
That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces.

Here are some random, yet cool quotes I found today. Also, if anyone knows who said the following, let me know!:

"If you have nothing worth dying for, you aren't really living."

The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad."
- Salvador Dali (1904-1989)

"He who has a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'."
- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

"There is no sincerer love than the love of food."
- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
- Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

I think that one is really thought provoking. Are we afraid to enjoy the art of the Master Creator? And I'm not talking about creation - I'm talking about His sovereign plan for each of our lives.