2007 December « No Other Rock

A Revelation…

December 22, 2007 at 11:28 pm | In Serving the Lord | 1 Comment
Tags: finales, goodbye, grace, last posts, learning, life, revelations, spirituality

When NoOtherRock began, I had no idea where it would go. It was simply a very sure feeling that it was something I had to do. While doing so, I’ve struggled with my own spirituality and keeping up with sharing my devotional thoughts.

Yet, I now am also just as sure that now is the time for NOR to cease as we know it. I am not sure how many folks have really truly read or followed in this quest that was set before me, and I may in fact be writing these words for me only, but I want to thank anyone who has read my comments and thoughts. I hope they have been a source of inspiration, truth and grace. I hope they have made you think and consider yourself in a new light . . . a light of Christ.

My life has taken on renewed focus over the last several months and I am sure that God has moved me in many new directions . . . with many yet to come. Whatever He wanted me to gain from this experience, I have gained (or will gain in the days or years that are yet to come).

I personally regret that I was not able to blog about the entire book, Awake My heart, but I guess when god tells you that you are done, you are done.

Of the most insightful revelations I have received during this endeavor:

It’s never about your or me. It’s always about Him.
Conforming to the ways of the world is terribly hard to avoid – but can be done
The moment is now. Not yesterday. Not Tomorrow.
God’s timing is amazing.
Even the wicked can be used for God’s intent.
I still have and always will have much to learn.
Hope is for those not already living in His grace.
I love you.

What the future holds for NoOtherRock . . . I don’t know. I may post from time to time or I may set it to forward visitors to my personal blog at chadgramling.com – where I will be posting a much broader range of entries following the closure of now two of my blogs.

That’s all folks.

The Wondrous Expedition ~ Lost! Who? How? ~ To Seek and Save

December 16, 2007 at 1:51 pm | In Awake My Heart, Christian, God, Jesus, Serving the Lord, The Cross, grace, purpose, religion, salvation | Leave a Comment
Tags: Heaven, life, treasures

For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. ~ Luke 19:10

Note: This devotion is from November 21-23

When I was younger, my brother and many of my friends really liked to watch the Indiana Jones movies. It seemed like I was forced to watch Raiders of the Lost Arc and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom about thirty times a year.

I never got into those films, but I for some reason absolutely love National Treasure (despite Nicholas Cage, whom I am generally not a big fan of). I am captivated by the way they must unriddle so many puzzles and clues while circumventing their competitive enemies and breaking an uncountable number of worldly laws.

Many times, they give up hope. Yet ultimately, they discover the treasure and enjoy grand lives after having uncovered the lost treasures. The script barely touches on the great assets the world would receive through their find, but could you imagine?

Now don’t be fooled. This post is not a movie review or an endorsement of a film I particularly like. On the contrary.

Whenever a person I know passes away, while I am sad, I also look upon their passing with relief and gladness. There is also a level of jealousy. Certainly, I am never glad when someone passes away and I don’t have a “death wish” per say.

Yet, I have this beautiful thought that when a person dies and goes home to be with Jesus, they suddenly are provided the answers to every question they might have ever had. They are brought inside to all the secrets of the universe and literally become all-knowing about the meaning of life.

“God the Son Himself who came from those sinless heights of heaven to this shadow-enveloped world below, came from the very throne of the universe to that depthless Cross of Calvary to seek and to save us.”

He came to save that which was lost!

There are millions – whether religious or otherwise – who scoff at the suggestion that they are lost. Such notions stings at their pride and annoys them in their self-confident opinions. Because sin has become innate in the race, the human heart has been alienated from God and therefore constitutional of our lost condition.

In this condition, we are lost from God, we are lost to life’s highest purpose and we are lost to life’s purest joys.

Surely, there’s an expedition for us all. The findings and treasures of which are untold to our world but the benefits are eternal. Jesus is our guide. His Word is our map.

Today, I pray that you and I will seek out our heavenly treasures.

Looking Backward and Forward

December 15, 2007 at 10:13 pm | In Awake My Heart, prophecy | Leave a Comment

for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. ~ Isaiah 9:6

Note: This devotion is from November 20

Of those inspired Old Testament prophets, not one of them foresaw that there was to be a long time-gap of two thousand years between the fulfillment of the words, “Unto us a Child is born,” and the later fulfillment of those other words, “The Government shall be upon His shoulder.” None of them knew there were to be two comings of the one Messiah. None of them perceived there was to be this present “Church” age intervening between His shouldering of the Sin-bearer’s cross and His shouldering of universal government. That was the undivulged secret of the divine counsels (Ephesians 3:5, 9, I Peter 1:10-11).

Looking forward, let us marvel as His coming world-dominion. Christmas is not only a commemoration, it is a prophecy! “The government shall be upon His shoulder” and it will really happen! Yes, it will really happen.

Today, I pray that you and I will meditate on this reality.

The Message for the Hour

December 15, 2007 at 10:07 pm | In Awake My Heart, Christ, Christian | Leave a Comment

Emmanuel . . . Christ . . . Jesus ~ Matthew 1:23, 16, 21

Note: This devotion is from November 19

Around us, everywhere and every day, there is a disillusionment and discontentment of unrestful souls. EMMANUEL is the one complete answer to man’s deepest needs.

That title, “Christ is of course, the New Testament correspondent of the Old Testament “Messiah” and both means “The Anointed One.”

Some golden daybreak in the near future He will break in upon our world again, in overwhelming splendor as World-Emperor, but meanwhile, besides being “Emmanuel” and “Christ” he is JESUS.

He who is the embodiment of the Deity visibly and the fulfillment of prophecy historically, is the Saviour of men morally and spiritually and eternally. This is the message for the hour; not the evolution of man, but the incarnation of God; not some pseudo-deliverance by human brains, but real salvation by divine grace; not some wistful “extinction of the ape and the tiger” in man, but a Savior who really saves men from sin!

Today, I pray that you and I will receive this message of the hour.

A Paradox of the Spiritual Life

December 15, 2007 at 10:01 pm | In Awake My Heart, Christian, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment
Tags: spiritual life

Lest I should be exalted above measure . . . ~ II Corinthians 12:7

Note: This devotion is from November 17-18

Christ does not strengthen us by a periodic succession of miracles, but by a continuous communication of Himself to us through the Holy Spirit. It is thus that the strength of Christ finds its opportunities in our weakness.

Christian, mark well this double paradox of the spiritual life; in ourselves we are weak even where we are strong; in Christ we are strong even where we are weak. Self-sufficiency is insufficiency. Christ-sufficiency is all-sufficiency.

Today, I pray that you and I remember it is not about us.

Death Gain!

December 15, 2007 at 9:56 pm | In Awake My Heart | Leave a Comment

To me to live is Christ; and to die is gain. ~ Philippians 1:21

Note: This devotion is from November 16

“To die is gain” for besides being with Christ, consciously, it means to be with Him in heaven, in that “third heaven” which is “Paradise” and the “Father’s house;” where shadows never come, and genial summer never ends; where the roses never fade, and the fruits never decay; where disease never invades and death never divides; where there are no tears and no goodbyes; where there is no sin and no sorrow; no temptation and not a breath of impurity; where all is light and love and sinless ecstasy.

Today, I pray that you and I realize these as our highest, truest, dearest longings.

Discipleship Stipulations

December 15, 2007 at 9:51 pm | In Awake My Heart, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment
Tags: discipleship

Then said Jesus unto His disciples: If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up hi scross, and follow Me. ~ Matthew 16:24.

Note: This devotion is from November 15

It can never be said too often that the salvation of our souls is by grace alone on God’s part, and by faith along on ours. It is by being His disciples that we prove ourselves saved. As the root word indicates, it is a discipline. Therefore, discipleship means 1.) following Him, 2.) self-denial, and 3.) cross-bearing.

Why is it that most everyone today is seeking a comfortable religion?

If you are in the camp that feels we must seriously reconsider our Christian discipleship, see Jesus’ own words: Matthew 7:25-27. If so important, what are they? See Matthew 5:29-30, 38-42, 44, 6:19-20, 7:12.

Do you live it?

Today, I pray that you and I will consider what discipleship means and requires.

Old Things Gone! ~ New Creatures ~ All Things New

December 15, 2007 at 9:43 pm | In Awake My Heart, Christ, Serving the Lord, The Cross, salvation | Leave a Comment
Tags: salvation

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ~ II Corinthians 5:17

Note: This devotion is from November 12-14

One died for all.

Representatively in His real human being He was the whole race of Adamic humanity. Substitutionally He took the place of each. All-inclusively all died in Him.

All of us who are truly Christians can offer genuine testimony from individual experience that we are “new creatures” and that “old things are passed away” while “all things are become new.”

Today, I pray that you and I will meditate on this work.

Intoxication with Error ~ Technique of Rapture

December 15, 2007 at 9:38 pm | In Awake My Heart, Christian, Serving the Lord | Leave a Comment

They may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by the Lord’s servant unto the will of God. ~ II Timothy 2:26

Note: This devotion is from November 10-11

Stan will use all types of strategies to turn souls from the truth. The word “recover” in this passage is remarkable. Literally, the clause is, “That they may return to soberness.” A strange intoxication often goes with error.

There is a sobriety about the true Christian faith.

We Christians should always be ready and patiently waiting to guard younger believers from the clever heresies and siren-voiced false Gospels of our day. We should seek to know well the teachings of the Bible and we should take the trouble to read what able evangelical Bible scholars have written in clarification of the true faith against bewitching modern perversions of it.

Each one of us may be considered the Lord’s servant in this connection. Our weapon is the Word; but the vital handling of it is in the spirit we show and the way we behave.

Today, I pray that you and I will intervene to bring sobriety to our Christian faith.

The Supreme Possession

December 15, 2007 at 9:32 pm | In Awake My Heart | Leave a Comment

Lay hold on Eternal Life ~ I Tomothy 6:12

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. ~ II Timothy 2:26

Note: This devotion is from November 8-9

Laying hold is a metaphor (yes, more with metaphors) for faith. We should “lay hold” upon Him as a man who lays hold on a suddenly found treasure. Sadly, there are so many who do now know the Gospel and a many of them do know it, but remain unsaved because they will not let go of the world.

Today, I pray that you and I will let go of the world, and lay hold to Him.