Freedom

I long to be free.
To see the open clear sky,
To be lifted high in Your hands.

Not to do as I please,
But to have the choice to do as I should.
Because my soul has to cling to something.

If the Son sets me free,
I shall be free indeed.

Theology 1

Are we saved by faith or works?

We are saved through faith that comes with works of faith which is given to us by God through grace. (Ephesians 2:8, James 2:24)

Salvation is not earned by works of the law(Romans 3:28), which can be defined as trying in our own efforts to live up to God's demand and standards of living through the Old Testament laws, regulations and commands. (Romans 7:13-25, 8:3, Galatians 3:10-12).

Hope this helps to clarify Ephesians 2:8 and James 2:24

Pondering

Why is my heart so wicked?
Choosing daily passionate lusts of the flesh.
I feel more sorry lying to my fellow men than to You, o God most high.
My prayers are dishonest. Trying to make a bargain with you, trying to belittle my sin.

Have I fallen so far from You, that Christ needs to be twice crucified?
May it not be so! For I would be a man to be pitied above all man, forever doomed with no hope of salvation.

So have mercy on me my Lord, will you still forgive me and let me abide?
Let me crawl back to the cross, as a hungry beggar in need of the bread of life.
For in this walk there is no trying. Only abiding in You, my truth, my way, my life.

God died

God has given his life to save you

You ungrateful fool

You, you who play the harlot

Going after worthless idols

Going after the wretched desires of your heart

You eat to your heart’s content

You wipe your mouth and say

I have done nothing wrong!

You are like a linen waistband

Hidden, rotten, good for nothing

Return o you fool

To the one who created you and saved you

Return,

To the only hope, the only fulfillment of your desires

Repent while your heart is still soft

For God high and mighty

Became a man meek and lowly

To save a wretch blind and haughty

Pride, humility, and the pain of shedding flesh.

In the wise words of a godly sister,

"Swallowing pride is like gulping medicine, it tastes awful, but it's good for you."

This is certainly true. C.J. Mahaney puts it this way in his book Humility: True greatness - Pride is an ancient sin that goes beyond creation of man, Lucifer fell because of pride(Isaiah 14), God opposes the proud and views it as a great abomination(proverbs 6:16-17, 16:5), it is at the root of man's rebellion against God.

The world defines greatness as having achieved personal glory, but greatness in the Kingdom of God is the exact opposite. Jesus defines it as being the least, by being a servant to others. It is not about self, it is about a shift from pride to humility, from seeking glory for self to giving glory to God by giving offering self. This goes against human nature, it will take a lot of discipline and endurance through pain, it's like removing chunks of rotten flesh to be replaced by new flesh.

I want this kind of greatness.

Virginity.

It's been more than 4 months since I last scribbled something.

I'll be scribbling down my random thoughts and experiences on God and life.