A Great Crowd Gathered

I find myself astonished. I am utterly astonished and eternally blessed that the Lord has been so gracious to us in revealing his love, power, and devotion to us.

Jesus, God as Grace in the form of a man, was born of flesh, lived as man, died a death no man could imagine, and ultimately rose from death as no man ever could. As God walked the streets and the towns throughout Israel and Judea nearly 2000 years ago, what we find is people gathering about him (Mark 5: 21) , following him (Mark 3: 7-9), and crowding around him (Mark 2: 2). Even before his full power and glory had been manifested to all the world through his death and resurrection, people flocked to Jesus.

Do we approach God this way? Do we run to him and stretch our hand out to merely touch his cloak believing in faith that he can redeem us and restore us? Read about the woman who heard all the reports of Jesus and who had suffered from chronic disease for 12 years who came to him crawling in a crowd believing, “If I touch even his garments, I would be made well” (Mark 5:27). Do we come to Jesus with this faith and in this desperation of need?

I pray that we grasp the truth and the reality that God comes to us because he loves us as we are, to redeem us from where we are, and to restore us to where he wants us to be– in pure relationship with him.

I pray that we run to Jesus.


The Many Changing Seasons

One thing that I truly love most about living in Athens, Georgia is the experience of the changing seasons. I know that many arguments can be made by myself and others as to the brilliance of year-round springtime. However, I appreciate being able to experience the brilliance of four distinct seasons, climates, wardrobes, and activities. The purpose of each season as they refresh our souls, turn the soils, and continue the cycle of old to new is worthy of my attention.

These changing seasons also beg my mind to consider my own faith, relationships, and life that experience change; even if on a more shifting and unpredictable timetable than that of the climate.

One thing that I believe to be true is what the God of the Bible says about himself and his people in his Scriptures. I try, albeit it’s not always easy, to take rest in the fact that God knows the seasons that I am in and the ones I am soon to enter into, and that He is never caught off guard with what life throws my way. In fact, Paul reminds the ancient Church in Ephesus, and now us as we read, of this so as to keep us focused on this truth when he wrote:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10 ESV

I take delight knowing that God is preparing me to walk into the seasons of life that I am currently experiencing and will soon experience in the future days, months, years, and relationships of my life. Furthermore, being reminded that I was created in Jesus to do, act, and perform good works is encouragement to open my eyes to see my current life situations and those of tomorrow as intentional pursuits of his good.

As the seasons change, realize that the changes in life are just as intentional and purposeful.

Save Me

She’s sitting in the corner
With her head down in her hands.
As the tears roll off her face,
She wonders who she is.

It’s cold and he’s all alone.
He puts his glass down.
Not sure if it’s his last one,
He knows there’s got to be something else.

“Who’s going to save me?
It can’t be me.
Who’s going to save me?
I’m tired of failing.”

She picks herself up,
And makes her way to a church.
Even though the doors are locked,
She feels like she found God, and she knocks…

“Are you going to save me?
I know it can’t be me.
Are you going to save me?
I’m so tired of failing.”

“I may not know what’s in the book.
O my God, I hope it works.
My wife and kids are waiting back home,
They need their daddy to be strong.

Will you save me?
I know it can’t be me!
Will you save me?
I’m so tired of failing.”

- by Chris Barr

© Chris Barr Music