Amazing Grace

Ever feel like you’re just swimming in your own failure? Like you’re constantly feeling like you don’t add up and that God is just condemning you at every corner? Do you pursue good works to earn God’s love and acceptance?

It is so easy to forget the gospel of grace. I’m reading a book called “The Ragamuffin Gospel” by Brennan Manning for the 5th time. It is all about grace and we cannot comprehend the love of Jesus Christ. He describes a Ragamuffin as one who is a ‘saved sinner prostrate in adoration, lost in wonder and praise. He knows repentance is not what we do in order to earn forgiveness; it is what we do because we have been forgiven.’ This truth just rips me up every time I hear it. We need to engrain this truth on our hearts because we cannot understand grace and Jesus truly accomplished for us on the cross. It’s nothing that bibles schools or textbook theology can teach. I keep finding myself in this distorted understanding that it is me who choses to love God when it says that “not that we love God but that He first loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (full and satisfying payment) for our sins” The cross reminds me that my sin deserves death but that God would give up his only Son to give me life. THIS IS GRACE!! God’s unmerited favor, a gift that I did not deserve but were given. How could I not trust a God who did this for me? I think the tendency in legalistic religion is to mistrust God, to mistrust others, and mistrust ourselves. Do we really believe that God is love? The author submits that ‘we need a new kind of relationship with the Father that drives out fear and mistrust and anxiety and guilt, that permits us to be hopeful and joyous, trusting and compassionate.’

Donald McCullough puts it this way:

“Grace means that in the middle of our struggle the referee blows the whistle and announces the end of the game. We are declared winners and sent to the showers. Its over for all the huffing, puffing piety to earn God’s favor; it’s finished for all sweat-soaked straining to secure self-worth; it’s the end of all competitive scrambling to get ahead of others in the game. Grace means that God is on our side and thus we are victors regardless of how well we played the game. We might as well head for the showers and champagne celebration.”

I would challenge you to read this again...For someone who try’s SO hard to do everything right for God, people and myself the gospel of grace screams out to me YOU ARE A VICTOR REGARDLESS OF HOW WELL YOU PLAY THE GAME. I don’t know how to explain the freedom that comes in knowing this. My prayer right now is that you would come to know grace as we so struggle with comprehending it. That we would be so blown away by Gods love that it would change the way we live our life.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1

“I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10

“The hookers and swindlers enter before us because they know they cannot save themselves, that they cannot make themselves presentable or lovable. They risked everything on Jesus and, knowing they didn’t have it all together, were not too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace”

His grace is enough.

-Jer

A Purpose to Go

"For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel." 1 Cor 9:16

"...but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts" 1 Thess 2:4

I heard a great message from the church I've been attending here in Montana about missions that I felt would be good to share with you all. The pastor submitted that missions is not some far off journey into a distant land but a responsibility of the local church, boldly stepping out into the community and beyond. It was good to be reminded that we are stewards of the gospel, we have the priceless privilege of bringing hope to peoples lives that they would never find in the world around them. We reach people because God has plan for their lives.

There is this cool story in the bible where Jesus feeds 5000 people with just 2 loaves of bread and two fish. This in itself is amazing but it is interesting to focus in on the small sacrifice of the boy who offered his lunch. This boy was willing to give all that he had to see what Jesus could do with it and was able to see it feed 5000 people! This causes me to look at what seems to be my small life and wonder, What could God do with my sacrifice? What do I have that I could give? We need to stop and remember that the mission is more important than we are. When Jesus uses people miracles happen. He creates opportunities but also creates the provision to meet our needs. He will use any willing vessel to accomplish his work. God has given us everything we need to get the job done.

This message got me excited for our upcoming outreach to Spain, France and Hungary. From the world's perspective this trip just seems foolish. Who are we to think we can bring change with the little bread and fish we have? After being reminded of God's ability to use willing people to accomplish his work I was filled with such an expectation to reach the lost in these countries. The truth is, once its all said and done it comes down to Heaven or Hell. Eternity with God or eternal damnation. I hope that this sobering truth will bring passionate urgency to our lives today.

And because I'm in a Worship school...I wrote a song about it!

A Purpose to Go

Spirit of God make your home in us

anoint us by your grace

give us a sense of purpose

that we may be one

We will go

And we will proclaim the good news

declaring liberty to the captives yeah

and the blind, they will see

not by strength but by your Spirit working in me

"I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" Romans 1:16

Living with purpose

-Jer

Home in You

Home in You

Psalm 95 - let us worship and bow down..we’re the people of his pastures, the flock he feeds

Verse 1:

Searching in the garden of life for real fruit

caves of lies, dead and dry confuse the truth

for so long in the desert places

endless, lonely empty spaces

Bridge:

I turn around

there You are

Chorus:

I am home where I belong

You beckon me towards Your throne

Jesus I cant believe its true

all i need, true life is found in You

Verse 2:

I need a place where life is real

assurance of living water I can feel

where the road is marked with hope

and courage is abundant in this land

I wrote this song as a contrast from what my life was like when I wasn't walking with the Lord to how my life is now. I think God wanted to remind me how dark it was apart from him so that I might get a refreshed sense of gratitude for how he has transformed me into who I am today. Hoping this lyric will bring a renewed understanding of his goodness in your life today!

"I have been crucified with Christ, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" Galatians 2:20

Outreach:

I hope everyone is doing well in whatever God has called you to. As you may have already known, my outreach for School of Worship will be spent in France and Hungary. We will be flying to Spain, getting on YWAM sailboat called "Next Wave Ministries" and then sailing on the Mediterranean Sea to the port city Montpelier France where we will be serving churches and teaching the Word of God. After this we will be spending one month in Budapest Hungary where we will be aiding the YWAM base in their various ministries. I am soooo excited for this trip!

I would just like to thank you once again for your prayers and support in allowing me to attend this school. I do have approximately $1200 left to pay in this school so I would just ask if you would pray about continuing partnership in this area of finances.

Please pray:

- intimacy with Jesus

- for focus in the lecture phase of this school

- upcoming outreaches to France and Hungary

Thanks again,

Praying that God will show himself more real in your day to day

'Apart from me you can do nothing' John 15:5

-Jer

An Outward Expression of an Inward Condition

Some thoughts on this weeks lecture:

There needs to be a healthy balance of Spirit and Truth in worship. This week taught me of the implications of moving towards more of a Bible focused worship to God which leads to Legalism while too much attention on the Spirit led type worship can lead to mysticism.

(Spirt and Truth: John 4:19-24)

I saw that worship in the Old Testament either referred to ‘bowing down’ (shechah 80%) or as ‘service’ (abad 20%). I was reminded of the slave mentality of Israel when God had removed them from Egypt and how he wanted to change their definition for service to an intentionality in their lifestyle. I was amazed that, just as Israel was brought out of slavery, I was brought out of the slavery that my sin put me in and give me the right to be a slave to God.

I was blown away by the original simplicity of worship in Abraham’s story. Abraham whose mind was fashioned after the false gods of his time gained this incredible revelation of God when he, out of an admiration for God was willing to kill his own son as a human sacrifice. This story assured me that worship is simple yet it can cost everything. I was challenged by Abraham’s radical faith to be willing to give anything and everything to God. (Genesis 22)

The teaching on holiness solidified a lot of what the Spirit has been speaking to me about having a proper respect for a God who is holy. I need to live a different life then the world because my God is different and he does not participate in what the world defines as acceptable. There is a privilege and a responsibility that comes with living a holy life. Our worship needs to remind us that God is holy and that His grace is not cheap. Just like Nadab and Abihu, God has a standard for acceptable worship that he will hold so that we would look different. (Lev 10)

The main problem in our worship is that we come in a self-serving way, i.e ‘Me worship’. The bible teaches that there are consequences for this and that God discipline those who do not fear him in worship. This seems extreme but we cannot compromise and make false worship. I received an understanding that there is a right way to worship and a wrong way to worship. This was a wakeup call for me as a worship leader to know that God, just like in the Old Testament, is still serious about worship.

Worship through Christ allows me to be in a priesthood of believers meaning that I can worship in Spirit and Truth. The implications of us being able to baptize, lead worship, preach was a great reminder for me; I have the authority in Christ to approach his throne with boldness knowing that His sacrifice has paid the price for my sin. Grace means that we get off easy and that we don’t have to do something to earn God’s favor but simply have faith. There is no worship without grace!

I Can Trust You

I Can Trust You

Inspired by Psalm 90:1-2

Verse 1

When my doubts shadow the truth

and I’m burdened with this new day

you remind me of my past

how you’re with me

you’ll never leave me

Chorus

I can live this day because you’re faithful

You have proven yourself to me again and again

your yoke is easy, your burden is light

I can trust you

I can trust you

with my life

Bridge

I surrender to your plan

I surrender to your purpose

I surrender to your promises

I surrender to your love

My life is yours

God has been speaking to me about his faithfulness and how, just as he has been faithful in my past so he will be faithful today in my life. I can live in freedom today knowing that whatever circumstances come my way that I can trust Him with my life. If you're reading this today I hope this will encourage you and remind you that God is for you, he has the best for you, that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. God is faithful, never forget that!

This week I'm learning about the 'Theology of Worship'; we will be going through the word of God and finding out what God intended worship to be. I am so privileged to be in this school and to learn these amazing truths.

because HE is more,

Jer

Week 3 - Identity of a Worshipper

Hey everyone,

You wouldn't believe it but we're already walking in a snow capped winter wonderland here in Montana. A few days ago on my birthday we got hit by a blizzard out of nowhere and since then its stuck so HELLO winter.

Some major news worth reporting is my outreach locations that have been set. Following our lecture phase of this school, we will be flying out a few days before Christmas to Spain and will be taking a sail boat called a 'Mercy Ship' on the Mediterranean Sea to France. Once we hit france we will be doing ministry in the southern cities for a month. After a month in france we will flying to Budapest, Hungry for the second portion of our outreach. We're still praying about what type of ministry we will be doing but it will be during Christmas so we might be doing some time of street ministry and playing Christmas carols. Please be praying for this opportunity, that we might be able to seek God's heart for how we can reach these people across seas.

This weeks lecture content was on the "identity of a Worshipper." Matt Atkins, a pastor from a church called Mosaic in Washington came and challenged to take responsibility for our lives, being vulnerable, honest and open with people, the balance between humility and confidence as well as Christ-likeness in the ministry. I was impacted by how much freedom can come to our lives when we can stop blaming our problems on external circumstance and past experience and take responsibility for our own lives; being honest and transparent with our shortcomings and confident in our strengths.

I did a character study on John 13:5 where Jesus washes the disciples feet. It was interesting to see that because of the disciples bickering about who would be the greatest in His kingdom, Jesus gave them an object lesson to show them what their real position was under Him. He tells them, "He who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves." He shows them that they must be willing to do whatever task, even the most menial; that is necessary for the good of their brothers. This passage gives an incredible light to the character of God who gave up the power and glory of being God to become a man. We see that our Creator, the Almighty God, is first and foremost a servant. He is willing to serve his own servants!! How could we NOT serve this God! I hope this challenges you as it does me as we seek to deny ourselves for the service of others.

"let this attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God did not think equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained But stripped himself of all privileges and rightful dignity so as to assume the guise of a servant, in that He became like men and was born a human being" Philippians 2:5-7

Because he FIRST loved us

Jer

Community United

Community United

Thank you father for this opportunity

We come together in our vulnerability

And as you form us into community

teach us love, compassion and humility

let us live in harmony

We will walk as children of light

In goodness, uprightness and trueness of life

We love you oh God

Give us your heart

A community united in your name!

Our passion is to live purposefully

encouraging one another intentionally

to love in a way that is worthy

giving thanks to You who is holy

who has come and served us so lowly

>>This is a song I wrote this week inspired by Ephesians 5.

Because He is good!

-Jer