This video is about a month old, but it is worth sharing. This was filmed when we moved out of our house in Canadian, and you can see that Max loved the empty house…
There is a popular worship song titled “In Christ Alone”, I’m not sure who originally wrote it, but it has been performed by many Christian singers over the past several years. Regardless of where it came from, I think the lyrics to the song are powerful, in many ways, they are the gospel story summed up in 4 minutes. As I listen to the song now, I am touched by what a powerful calling we have in Christ and what a wonderful salvation we share in him. I will share some of the lyrics with you, but rather than just pasting them, I will share some of my thoughts as well.
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t limit myself to just one part of the first verse, I love the whole thing! It just reminds me that standing firm in Christ is more than simply standing firm to biblical truths (a gospel defender of sorts), but it is having complete confidence and assurance of the steadfastness of Christ’s love. In many ways standing firm is simply trusting during our times of drought and storm.
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
And this is the gospel truth, that in all of his glory Christ was able to defeat sin’s claim on mankind, that now, because of his love and compassion, I am able to stand as ‘His’ and to know that I stand with him in his Victory.
And this final verse is probably the most powerful to me as I listen to this song, because this is the message I want to be able to share with the people in Brazil, the hope and assurance that is waiting in Christ and the power and compassion which he has shown us.
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
I believe that it is impossible to live life guilt-free without the forgiveness of Christ. It is only through understanding his sacrifice, the power of his cleansing and the hope of our future that we are able to look at the past mistakes of our lives without guilt, but instead with hope, knowing that those failings are only reminders of the greatness of Christ, the wholeness of his cleansing. And of course, there is no fear in death, because we live in the promise that NOTHING can take us from his hand. This is the power of Christ in me.
We just wanted to let you know that we will be re-submitting our paper work today, so please be in prayer that everything goes well and that our visa’s get worked out as quickly as possible!
