A good prayer!

Unmask to me sin's deformity, that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it... Let me never forget that heinousness of sin lies not so much in the nature of the sin committed, as in the greatness of the person sinned against.

A good prayer by the puritans which clearly brings out the seriousness of sin and how much it offends our Holy God! It torments me to think how lightly I view sin. It is my sin that put Christ on the cross. A violent bloody death.

Help me dear God to have your perspective on sin and abhor it greatly!

Grant me never to lose sight of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the exceeding righteousness of salvation, the exceeding glory of Christ, the exceeding beauty of holiness, the exceeding wonder of grace.

A Decade Old Letter that Encouraged Me

My sister was rummaging through our cupboard the other day in pursuit of some diary or book. Instead she found a bunch of letters that I had written to her ten years ago. It was the time back when I was in High School and my sister was doing her college in another city. It was fun to read all the letters I had written to her. To read about the things that go on in a 15 year old's head:) But there was this particular letter that I had written to her after I had attended a Vacation Bible Camp. One of the speakers had shared the gospel in the camp. It was in May of 1999 that God worked in my heart and revealed to me my sinfulness. The realization that I cannot get to heaven based on my righteousness (which are like filthy rags). The truth that Christ died for my sins and that I can enter Heaven only though Him. God sees me Holy through Jesus Christ. What a joy!!!!

Just to read that letter was so encouraging to my soul. To see how the Spirit works and that there is nothing that I can boast in, because I was dead in my sins and Christ regenerated me. Even as i was reading that letter, to see how the Lord has worked in me patiently, faithfully teaching me through His word. The journey so far has been beautiful, those filled with sweet fellowship with God and fellow believers , various trials( given by God to make me more like Him) and wisdom from the Bible. I praise God for who He is and His faithfulness, through this journey. He has been with me every single day. He is my Father, Saviour, Redeemer and Friend.

Even as I end this post, the song that is playing on my computer is"The Glory of The Cross". How apt:) So here are the words:


What wisdom once devised the plan
Where all our sin and pride
Was placed upon the perfect Lamb
Who suffered, bled, and died?
The wisdom of a Sovereign God
Whose greatness will be shown
When those who crucified Your Son
Rejoice around Your throne

And, oh, the glory of the cross
That You would send Your Son for us
I gladly count my life as loss
That I might come to know
The glory of, the glory of the cross

What righteousness was there revealed
That sets the guilty free
That justifies ungodly men
And calls the filthy clean?
A righteousness that proved to all
Your justice has been
And holy wrath is satisfied
Through one atoning death

What mercy now has been proclaimed
For those who would believe
A love incomprehensible
Our minds could not conceive?
A mercy that forgives my sin
Then makes me like Your Son
And now I’m loved forevermore
Because of what You’ve done

Words and music by Bob Kauflin
As recorded on Songs for the Cross Centered Life
© 2000 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

Wonderful Savior

I have been singing this song and I love the words, so here are the lyrics:

Wonderful Savior

How can we not sing out to the One who saved us
And covered us with Your blood
Casting all our sin into Your sea of mercy
Crowning us with Your love?

Wonderful Savior, beautiful Jesus
Bending down to lift us up
Out of our darkness, into Your brightness
Calling us Your own
Wonderful Savior, beautiful Jesus
We will always love You
Wonderful Savior, beautiful Jesus

How can we not sing out to the One who changed us
And gave us eternal hope
Capturing our hearts, flooding us with gladness
That someday we’ll see Your face?

Words and music by Mark Altrogge
As recorded on Songs for the Cross Centered Life

You can also listen to the song here

© 2003 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

Do I contribute anything to my salvation?

Before I answer to the title of this post let me just give you some scripture verses:

Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Ephesians 2:1-2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

Romans 8:6-8 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 3:10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;11 no one understands;no one seeks for God.

After reading these verses the three things that come out are, First-Man is sinful, Second: He does not seek God (in other words, he loves evil) Third: Man is dead in his sin.Therefore to revive a dead person and give him new life there has to be an external source. That external source is our great Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of His death on the cross and His victory over sin that today we are no more slaves to sin.

Ephesians 2:4-9 gives us a clear idea of Christ's work on the cross.

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

He has revived us, redeemed us and made us alive. Praise Be His name!!!!

The Glory of the cross!!!

This is one of my favourite songs. It talks about the cross and its importance in our lives

The Glory of the Cross
What wisdom once devised the plan

Where all our sin and pride

Was placed upon the perfect Lamb

Who suffered, bled, and died?

The wisdom of a Sovereign God

Whose greatness will be shown

When those who crucified Your Son

Rejoice around Your throne

Chorus

And, oh, the glory of the cross

That You would send Your Son for us

I gladly count my life as loss

That I might come to know

The glory of, the glory of the cross

What righteousness was there revealed

That sets the guilty free

That justifies ungodly men

And calls the filthy clean?

A righteousness that proved to all

Your justice has been met

And holy wrath is satisfied

Through one atoning death

Chorus

What mercy now has been proclaimed

For those who would believe

A love incomprehensible

Our minds could not conceive?

A mercy that forgives my sin

Then makes me like Your Son

And now I’m loved forevermore

Because of what You’ve done

Words and music by Bob Kauflin
As recorded on Songs for the Cross Centered Life
© 2000 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

The Glory Of The Cross

There is so much truth spelled out in this song about the wondrous work of God on the cross and how God's glory shines brightly on the cross. Sang this song at church last Sunday and was truly blessed.

"The Glory Of The Cross"

What wisdom once devised the plan
Where all our sin and pride
Was placed upon the perfect Lamb
Who suffered, bled, and died?
The wisdom of a Sovereign God
Whose greatness will be shown
When those who crucified Your Son
Rejoice around Your throne

And, oh, the glory of the cross
That You would send Your Son for us
I gladly count my life as loss
That I might come to know
The glory of, the glory of the cross

What righteousness was there revealed
That sets the guilty free
That justifies ungodly men
And calls the filthy clean?
A righteousness that proved to all
Your justice has been met
And holy wrath is satisfied
Through one atoning death

What mercy now has been proclaimed
For those who would believe
A love incomprehensible
Our minds could not conceive?
A mercy that forgives my sin
Then makes me like Your Son
And now I’m loved forevermore
Because of what You’ve done

Words and music by Bob Kauflin
As recorded on Songs for the Cross Centered Life

© 2000 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).