Love compelled labor

Paul's desciption of service to God

Colossians 1:29
" To this end I labor struggling with all his energy which so powerfully works in me. "

" The word labor means to work to the point of exhaustion, while from the greek word translated struggling comes our word agonize. So for Paul to serve God was ' to agonize to the point of exhaustion.' That doesn't mean it was miserable toil in fact the reason Paul worked so hard was because the only thing he loved more than serving God was God himself. God supplies us with power to serve Him. We struggle in service ' with all His energy, which so powerfully works ' in us. " p. 126

'Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian life' by Donald Whitney

New addition to my blog

Here is a video blog entry. This is something new that I am trying out and I thought that I would let you experience this first. I am looking at the future possibilities of using this as medium in encouraging and challenging sailors while they are out at sea or away from the lighthouse.

Quote from Jerry Bridges

I came across this yesterday as I was reading on the plane.

" I believe that human morality, rather than flagrant sin, is the greatest obstacle to the gospel today."

This came from The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges

Gods incredible grace

I am reminded today of God's incredible grace in our lives everyday. To see Him work in and through people is an amazing thing. To see how God has been at work using people to impact my life. Praise God for His incredible grace in my life.

I am still alive

In case anyone wondered if I made it to 2009 I am alive. I leave for Japan tomorrow morning and will be living there for five months. So my next thoughts will be coming from japan. I look forward to see how God will continue to work in my life on a personal level. Specifically in the area of personal holiness. I also look forward to see how God will use me in the ministry in Japan.