Western Hills Christian Church: “You are family here!”

Crosswire and Ekhos will be performing in Lawton, OK on the 23rd of January,2010.

Location: 1007 SW “F” Avenue (Across from Mt. Scott Feed)

When: 23 January, 2010

Time:  Doors open at 6:00 pm

For more information call: 695-8000

Donations accepted

Ephesians 5:1-2
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

See also: Romans 12:1-2

"Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted."
Matthew 5:4

God wants us to experience His joy (John 15:11). Yet we cannot experience His joy until we have mourned over our sin. If we do not grieve over the weight of our sin, we have no concept of sin’s devastating power. If we treat our sin lightly, we demonstrate that we have no sense of the enormity of our offense against almighty God. Our sin caused the death of God’s Son. It causes us to fall short of what God intends (Romans 3:23). It brings pain and sorrow to others, as well as to ourselves.

The Bible says that those who grieve over their sin will draw near to God (James 4:8-10). Those who  mourn and weep over their sin are in a position to repent (Luke 4:18-19). There cannot be repentance without the realization of the gravity of sin. Regret for sin’s consequences is not the same as sorrow for sinning against holy God. Confession of sin is not necessarily an indication of repentance. Repentance comes only when we acknowledge that our transgression has come from a heart that is far from God, and we are brokenhearted over our grievous offenses against holy God.

Jesus said that those who are heartbroken over their sin will find comfort. They will experience new dimensions of God’s love and forgiveness. His infinite grace is sufficient for the most terrible sin. Do not try and skip the grieving process of repentance in order to move on to experience joy. God will not leave you to weep over your sin but will forgive you, comfort you, and fill you with His joy.

Experiencing God Day-by-Day
Henry T. and Richard Blackaby

David reminds me of a simple principle of Christianity that sadly gets lost on our parts at times as we pursue Christianity vs.. pursuing Christ.

Psalm 25
”1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

2 in you I trust, O my God.
       Do not let me be put to shame,
       nor let my enemies triumph over me.

3 No one whose hope is in you  
       will ever be put to shame,
       but they will be put to shame 
       who are treacherous without excuse.

4 Show me your ways, O LORD,  
       teach me your paths;

5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
       for you are God my Savior,
       and my hope is in you all day long.

6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
       for they are from of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth
       and my rebellious ways;
       according to your love remember me,
       for you are good, O LORD.

8 Good and upright is the LORD;
       therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. (continue with rest of Psalm 25)”

If God isn’t the object or our faith, doesn’t “Christianity” become just another religion?

Grace and peace be with you.