Slow fade, grace and where to look

I thought these three videos complement each other very well. First, a very sharp, sadly true and thought provoking teaching from the lead vocal of Casting Crowns, Mark Hall, about the slow fade that so often happens for Christians when they start to listen to what non-Christians and Satan believe and think and slowly start ignoring the life-giving truths of God:

Keith Green talks about some of the same in this song where he laments the fact that so many of us Christians seem to lose the fire we may have had early on in our walk with Christ, but he comes to a place in the song, and came to that place at the end of his too short life on earth, where he saw that it was and is only the grace of God that we can trust to always sustain and cause us to not fall into sin and stuff that will destroy our lives and bring death in our relationships with God, ourselves and other people (Romans 6:23):

And finally this simple song about what to do when life is difficult, and you’re tempted to listen to the lies of the enemy who wants to bring you into the mud of mediocrity, sin, compromises and counterfeits. All we can do is turning our eyes upon Jesus, the initiator, author, sustainer and perfecter or our faith (Hebrews 12:2):

Blessings, Torben – who is so glad that my relationship with God is not based on what I do/say/think/feel or don’t do/say/think/feel. I’m so glad that everything is built on Jesus who never changes!

God runs to the broken

“Broken I run to you” it says at the top of my blog site here on http://www.abrokencup.wordpress.com (in case you’re reading this on Facebook). And it’s a piece of deep truth that I am broken and run to God, but a few weeks ago God reminded me of an even deeper truth. He runs to me. God runs to me, the broken one. God runs to those of us who can’t make life work. God runs to those of us who have messed up our lives. God runs to those of us who really think we should know better. God runs to those of us who walked away in rebellion, wishing God to disappear. God runs to those of us who are tired, who cry and who don’t feel we’re worthy to be with God. God runs to those of us who think we are failures. 

And he throws his arms around us. Around me. He puts a ring on my finger, gives me a beautiful set of clothes to wear, and he throws a party for all my friends and loved ones with my favorite food and drinks. He tells me that I’m silly to assume that he is disappointed with me or mad at me. He confirms me as his son. And he confirms you as his daughter. 

He is so excited to have you and me with him. He loves for us to spend time with him. He knows we still go astray and wallow in the mud with the pigs from time to time, but he calls us to embrace more and more who we are – princes and princesses of heaven! God’s chosen children. Co-heirs with Jesus Christ himself.

I know all this is true because of the wonderful story from Luke 15, where Jesus tells of the Prodigal Son. 

“When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him”

Here are two wonderful songs about this amazing piece of truth by Phillips, Craig and Dean. First When God Ran

…and then A Place Called Grace

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Blessings, Torben – who over and over again comes back to the undeserved beauty of being a child of God. I am fully embraced, loved, accepted and worthy of life with God, because of the new creation I am!

Wonderful songs

Top 10 songs – many of the songs are not new, but these are some of the songs that meant something to me in 2007 and continue to bless and challenge me. Click on the links to see some music videos. 

 

East To West – Casting Crowns

Cry Out To Jesus – Third Day

Renew Me – Avalon

The Real Me – Natalie Grant

Everything – Tim Hughes

When God Ran – Phillips, Craig and Dean

How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin

A Place Called Grace – Phillips, Craig and Dean

Holy Surrender – Aaron Keyes

Where Is The Love – Black Eyed Peas