In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song.
This Cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My Comforter, my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand.

This is easily one of my all time favorite songs. It's so full of hope and triumphs. I've always appreciated songs that take you through the whole gospel, because it adds a field of depth and perspective that it might not otherwise have.

This verse is definitely a comforting verse. No matter what's happening, Christ is there for us. It's a topic we talk about a lot, a topic we sing about a lot, and a topic I blog about a lot. "Depths of peace", "fears are stilled", "firm through the fiercest drought and storm", these words so beautifully portray what Christ has provided for us in this life. But this song, this song doesn't end there.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless Babe.
This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Til on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied,
For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live.

We all know the story of the virgin birth. Somehow God was born in a feeding trough? Yes, I know, that's Christmas, but it's also part of the story. And Christ wasn't just born. He then grew up, lived... and died.
The Cross was the ultimate alter, where the ultimate sacrifice was paid. The Cross was where Jesus saved-- not those who were begging for mercy-- but those who scorned Him. The Cross is the most beautiful mystery in the history of the world, because on it, God reached out to man. It's different than any other religion for two reasons. First... it's true. But second because of the manner of sacrifice. In the end, we didn't sacrifice to make ourselves right with God. God sacrificed to make us right with God. How long must we think and ponder it to realize how incredibly shocking that is?
If God never did anything for us ever again, this one act should be enough for us to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves us.

There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain...

So now what? Christ died to save us. But what if that was the end of the story? The disciples thought it was the end. Why is it that they were still the same frightened disciples ready to go back to their fishing nets at this point? Hadn't Jesus just saved them?
Well... who are we talking about here? Jesus, the man who claimed to be the Son of God, just died. God just died. When Jesus just died, like any other criminal, that was probably enough to prove to most of the disciples that He wasn't who He said He was. God doesn't just die.
And where's the hope in that? Even if He was who He said He was, death just conquered the Messiah. Where does that leave us?
But that wasn't the end.

Then bursting forth in glorious Day, Up from the grave He rose again.
And as He stands in victory, Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.
For I am His and He is mine, Bought with the precious blood of Christ.


Acts 2:23-24
"Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it."

What did the resurrection accomplish?
First, it declared Him to be who He said He was.

Romans 1:3-4
"concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."

Jesus' resurrection proved that He was everything He claimed to be. The very Son of God who would free us from sin and death. Something He could do, and something He did do when He rose again.

Second, it gave us hope and something to live for in this life. We serve a risen and reigning Savior. We don't honor some old dead guy who lived a pretty good life, took care of some people, wrote a book and then died. We serve our Redeemer, and our Redeemer lives. He is pleading before the throne for us. One day He will return and reign.
Jesus isn't dead, Jesus is alive.

1 Corinthians 15 lays all of this out very clearly, but it is also very long, so I'm going going to include select verses.

"And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death."

The last enemy destroyed is death. He has already conquered death and in the end He will destroy it. Our alive, risen Savior reigns. So then... what have we to fear?

No guilt of life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand,
‘til He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

10 Days of Jefferson's Rules: Day 10

Last day!

10. When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.

10 Days of good old Jefferson wisdom! What's your take on Jefferson's 10 rules?

A couple of exciting updates... :)

1st... we got the at large slot to debate at nationals!

2nd... Tara's Travel Journals will feature in Clubhouse Jr. again in May! Check out the cover and fan comments! So much fun!

10 Days of Jefferson's Rules: Day 9

We're almost there!

9. Take things always by their smooth handle.

This is actually a rather controversial one, since he didn't explain what he meant. What do you think he meant?

Quick Update:

All my speech events qualified to Nationals!
Apologetics - 7th
Original Oratory - 6th
Impromptu - 1st!

Still waiting to here how debate at-large points will shake out. I'm going to Boston, but still waiting to see if I'll be debating there.

Thank you for all you support and patience!

10 Days of Jefferson's Rules: Day 8

Jefferson is back!

8. How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.

What do you think he means?

Thoughts from Regionals

From Mr. Hayes' Devotion:

"All through the Bible, everyone learns three things. God is big. God keeps His promises. And God takes care of His own."

"Roses are red. Violets are blue. God is God. And you are... not."

I'll post results later.

And we sang this song at Regionals (awesome job with worship, Ben!) and it just encapsulates what our attitude should be. For everything.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

10 Days of Jefferson's Rules: Day 7

Drum roll please...

7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.

Let's look for opportunities to be helpful!

10 Days of Jefferson's Rules: Day 6

Temperance is a cardinal virtue, too, just fyi.

6. We never repent of having eaten too little.

Four days left to go! Though, the last two may be delayed if I can't get them posted during Regionals, which is definitely possible.

~Rachel Lynn

P.S. I updated the "Featured Quote". Check it out! It's one of my favorite friendship quotes now, and I don't even know who said it!

10 Days of Jefferson's Rules: Day 5

This one is so true... but I'll let it speak for itself.

5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold.

10 Days of Jefferson's Rules: Day 4

In the age of sales, mark-downs, and 2 for the price of 1, this is an important one to remember.

4. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.

Haha. Gotta love it. I think I should buy a shopping bag that says this.

10 Days of Jefferson's Rules: Day 3

Ooh... this is a good one.

3. Never spend your money before you have it.

How many of our nations problems would be fixed if we followed this rule? Hint: a lot! Thank you, Jefferson. You'd think this would be obvious... but I guess not.

Interesting to note, there's no conditional in there. No "except if..." statement. Just never do it. Simple as that.

Well, we've got three good rules so far! Don't procrastinate, don't be lazy and make other people work for you, and be wise with your money. Lots of wisdom right there and we've got seven more days to go!

Any thoughts so far about Jefferson's 10 rules? Any guesses on what the next one might be? (Without googling it?)

10 Days of Jefferson's Rules: Day 2

Day 2 of Jeffersonian wisdom.

2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.

Basically... don't be lazy. :)

Questions to ponder in regards to this rule, however...

Ladies, does this apply to letting gentlemen open doors for you and carry things for you, when you can do it yourself? Why or why not?

Everyone, how does this apply to delegation of duties as a leader? Should a leader always do things himself if possible, or is delegation a good idea? Why or why not?

How does this apply to the idea of self-sufficency? Is self-sufficiency over all a good or bad thing?

And of course, general thoughts are always welcome.

10 Days of Jefferson's Rules: Day 1

Jefferson had a list of 10 rules for life, so I'm going to highlight one here.

And the first one:

1. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do to-day.

Other quotes about procrastinating:

"How soon 'not now' becomes 'never'" - Martin Luther

"Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday."

"You may delay, but time will not." - Benjamin Franklin

"What may be done at any time will be done at no time." - Scottish Proverb

Let me see.

'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for oh, my God, it found out me.

Sometimes, in order to really help you see, God needs to bring you back to the foot of the cross. To the place where you first understood what love meant. Where you first realized the gravity of your sin. Where you first felt the joy of being released. Where you first acknowledged how much you needed Jesus. To the place where you laid your life down before Him, because He laid His life down for you.

And somehow, looking up at the cross where the Savior died, nothing seems as important as it did before.

That is true perspective.