Weary Soul (Consider Him)

I finished a song. I have decided to put my songs that I finish on here, because I need to get them out there in some form or fashion. This song started originally from the cries of my heart, but then I realized that it went very well with the 3rd verse from Hebrews 12: "Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." Christ is our motivation to keep going through adversity. Hope you enjoy "Weary Soul (Consider Him)". 

Being pushed and pulled

Carried by the tide

The tide that's always so low, low, low

The stars don't seem so bright anymore

Two steps forward and three steps back

Reigning sin devouring faith

How long will it last?

Weary soul lay your head down to rest

Tired traveler, hand over your heavy burdens

To the Lamb that was slain

He was nailed to break your chains

Fainting heart dry your tears; it's all right

Restless soldier, stay the night

Your King has won the fight

And you were the prize

Let His reign begin

Weary soul, consider Him

Thieving thoughts invade your mind

And you lose your sense of what is right and what is wrong

But it's been going on for so long now

You feel the culprit can't be found

Drooping hands and shaking knees

Steady yourself on the mercy seat

You're worn out and you're jaded

Deciding on giving up

But He's not done with you yet

He was rejected, you were received

He was wounded, you were healed

Consider Him

Spelling Mishaps

     Have you ever had an entire conversation based upon something that someone said incorrectly, or something that you thought that they said? For instance, your brother says, "Remember that time we ate raw eggs?", and you hear, "Remember that time we ate frog legs?". Both would make for a very interesting conversation, but it turns one way because of what you thought he said rather than what he actually said. I have had this happen to me many times. Something similar happened this morning in Sunday school, only it wasn't someone talking, but rather writing.
     My dad teaches the adult Sunday school, and he was talking this morning about finding our identity in Christ, and he wrote the word "identity" on the white board. Actually he wrote the word "indentity" on the board, which actually isn't a word, but we all knew what he meant. Nobody spoke to alert him of his spelling error, and so the word stayed up there in bright green letters. As I continued to look at it, that got me thinking.
     For believers, that spelling of the word is really more appropriate. The world's message to finding your identity is to find it within yourself. "Find yourself" and "Be who you are" are common inspirational phrases that I have heard. Your identity is found in "I"dentity. You are the only person you can trust and you must believe in yourself in order to accomplish greatness.
     On the contrary, Christians do not find their identity in themselves but rather outside of themselves. You are who you are because of what you are in - the family of God, Christ's kingdom, the royal priesthood, holy nation. The Christian's identity is an "In"dentity. Colossians 3:3 says, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Our life is no longer our own, and our identity is no longer our own.
     My dad continued to talk about living as children of God - the believer's identity. It makes no sense to just say "I am a child." You cannot take any real pride or meaning in that because everyone is a child. But if you say, "I am a child of God.", that means something altogether more important and wonderful. To be God's child means everything for your life. What matters is not who you are (a child), but what you are in (Christ), and what you are a part of (His family).
     Praise be to God that as believers we know who we are, because Christ paid the ultimate price for us to be adopted as sons and daughters into His marvelous kingdom! Adopt more children into the family each and every day, Father!

Which Kingdom?

A couple of days ago I read this passage from 1 Corinthians 12, which talks about the church being one body with many members:
     "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." (vs. 26)
     I remember thinking, "yeah that's true...or rather, it should be true." How many times do we see someone suffering, and we do not have empathy for them; how many times do we see someone being honored, and instead of rejoicing, we become jealous and bitter toward that person? Too many times to count has this been the case in my life. More often than not does the church fail to live as one body straining together towards the goal of the glory of God. More often than not do we continue to seek our own recognition, success, and comfort rather than that of others, or more importantly, of God. 
     I still remember from a youth retreat about five years ago a message that was given that discussed the dissonance between two kingdoms. The first kingdom was God's kingdom (the BIG kingdom), the kingdom that encompasses all other kingdoms and which the Lord will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15). The second kingdom was "our" kingdom ( the little kingdom), which we try to hold on to ever so tightly. It includes our sin, our self-will, our self-indulgence, and our self-love. 
     For a Christian, the dissonance between the two kingdoms happens when we do not want to loose our grasp on our wishes and embrace the will of God. Belonging to the little kingdom will leave you disappointed and destitute because you will never fulfill your desires through your own reasoning and you will be struggling against God the whole way through it. When you are willingly and lovingly a part of God's kingdom, he will fulfill your every need and desire, and bring Him glory and you good all the days of your life.
     I have an example from a worldly source (gasp) that I think fits rather well with this topic. It is from a TV show that I have been watching recently called "Merlin". It is a loose telling of the younger days of Merlin and King Arthur during the beginning of the great days of Camelot. Because magic is outlawed at the time, Merlin has to keep his magic secret from everyone even though he is Arthur's servant and has to save his life using magic many a time. Many other sorcerers have risen up against the king and have become enemies of the kingdom, seeking their own gain rather than the gain of the kingdom. Merlin, however, keeps his magic a secret in order to be able to protect Arthur and allow him to build the great kingdom that has been prophesied about for many years. Even though Merlin is the greatest sorcerer ever to walk the earth, he lives like a shadow for the cause of the kingdom. 
     It is not an easy thing to set aside our selfish desires and needs and take up our cross daily and follow Christ. But the special part is that we are following. Christ has already been where we're going. When we keep our eyes fixed upon Him, He will be the light that illuminates our life. We will see those who are suffering and we will suffer with them. We will rejoice when others are honored, because ultimately it is God who is glorified, and that is the only thing and that is everything that matters. May we continue to see more of the BIG kingdom and strive for its continuance, rather than be caught up with the petty tendrils of the little kingdom.