Redeemed

Understanding more and more of Greek is so rich. It is like reading in color. For our one English word for “Redeemed/Redemption, there are three Greek words.

agorazo - has the meaning of “to buy in the market place”

exagorazo - has the meaning of “to buy out of the market place, never to be resold”

lutroo - has the meaning of “to loose, or set free by paying a ransom”

We put them together and it says:

Christ bought us out of the slave market of sin. We are eternally secure in Christ. Christ set us free from sin’s bondage by paying the price sin demanded – DEATH!

This is redemption! We are bought with a price. We are not our own. We belong to the Lord!! Walk Worth of our very worth God!

GO.....For the Sake of His Name

Go to the world for the sake of His name; to every nation His glory proclaim. Pray that the Spirit wise will open darkened eyes, granting new life to display Jesus’ fame.

In Jesus’ power, preach Christ to the lost; for Jesus’ glory, count all else but loss. Gather from every place trophies of sov’reign grace. Lest life be wasted, exalt Jesus’ cross.

Love the unloved for the sake of His name; like Christ, befriend those whose heads hang in shame. Jesus did not condemn, but was condemned for them. Trust gospel pow’r, for we once were the same.

Rescue the lost for the sake of His name; as Christ commands, snatch them out of the flame. Tell that when Jesus died God’s wrath was satisfied. Urge them to flee to the Lamb who was slain.

Look to the Throne for the sake of His name; think of the throng who will share in His reign. Some for whose souls we pray will share our joy that day, joining our song for the sake of His name.

In Jesus’ power, preach Christ to the lost; for Jesus’ glory, count all else but loss. Gather from every place trophies of sov’reign grace. Lest life be wasted, exalt Jesus’ cross.

Life....

...it moves on very fast. It is hard to believe that I have been back at school for a month. It is also amazing to see all that the Lord has taught me just in these past 4 weeks! My classes this semester are:

- Biblical Greek

- Theology (covering: man, sin, and salvation)

- Exodus - Deuteronomy

- Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim - Titus)

- Galatians

- Ministries of the Christian Woman

- History of Missions

- Choir

Outside of the class room I am involved in teaching Sunday School (6-9 year olds), Youth Group, cooking for the school on Friday nights with Sarah (fun times we have together! :-D ), and hanging out with fellow students. It is such a blessing to be in fellowship with other young people who have a desire to grow in their relationship with our Lord and want to serve Him with their life!

One of the MANY things the Lord has been teaching me is to pray without ceasing. We as believers have the privileged to go strait to the throne of grace, not just when in need but also just for fellowship with our Father! It is such an encouragement to pray with others in the body if Christ and to know that fellow students, faculty, family, and friends are praying for me!

"We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you"

- Col. 1:3

Thankful!

I've been blessed with an amazing family! I'm thankful for them, for the time I've been able to spend with them this summer, for the chance to get to know my little baby sister and brother! <3

Ask

What do we ask for when we pray? Often it is for things or that things will happen in a certain way. Yes, our Father does want us to bring everything to Him in prayer. But where is our heart behind our requests?

For my personal devotions I have been in the books of the Kings. In 1 kings chapter 3, God speaks to Solomon in a dream, and tells him to ask anything and He will give it. Solomon could have asked for anything, Health, Wealth, Land, Power. But he instead asks the Lord for Wisdom that he may rightly rule God's people, Israel.

"And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days". - 1 Kings 3:13-16

What an example we have in the request of a king!

I have been pondering this account on Solomon for a few days. For your family devotions we just started reading James. This thought ties right in.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it (wisdom) shall be given him. But let him ask (for wisdom) in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." - James 1:5-6

So often when situations arise in our life we ask God to work in it according to how we see fit. Rather we should be asking for wisdom for the situation that we may respond in a godly way and that Christ would be glorified.

Do our requests please the Lord?

Joy in Serving Jesus

When you truly love someone you want that person to have what he wants. More than wanting your own pleasure, you want his.

"When obedience to God contradicts what I think will give me pleasure, let me ask myself if I love Him. A little quiet reflection will remind me that yes to God always leads in the end to joy. We can absolutely bank on that." - Elizabeth Elliot

How often we get caught up in the things of this world that we think give us pleasure. Yet they are so unsatisfying and have no eternal value. Serving the Lord takes commitment and sacrifice. But there is no greater joy and peace than what come from serving God!

There is joy, joy, joy in serving Jesus! Joy that never shall depart!

Service

"Where shall I work today, dear Lord?"

And my love flowed warm and free.

He answered and said

"See that little place?

Tend that place for me."

I answered and said. "Oh no, not there!

No one will ever see.

No matter how well my work was done,

Not that place form me!"

His voice, when He spoke, was soft and kind,

He answered me tenderly,

"Little one, search that heart of thine,

Are you working for them or ME?

Nazareth was a little place....

so was Galilee."

- Unknown