monday, monday...

I am reminded today by many occurances that this battle that I fight is not my own. God has fought my battle, and so I continue to fight with his energy. I am not his because of something that I did right because nothing I could do would be good enough. Graciously, God saved me when I deserved his righteous and awful wrath, and continually He shows me his steadfast love. He is good and kind, and even in difficulties, He works good for those who love him. He takes away the things that keep us from loving Him completely, and he disciplines us like a good father.

On Sunday, the sermon was on Colossians 1, and I once again was able to thank God for saving me and giving me strength to fight in his name.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body , the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."
Colossians 1:15:23


Nothing can I bring you,
Lord, I am empty.
You have called me out,
But I am hungry, sick, and full of sin.
Lord, I stand before you,
in this rotting suit of skin.
And all that I can offer,
is a humble here I am.

CHORUS
Lord, you have built your nation.
Holy and dearly loved.
We were dead, but you spoke and we lived.
Sinful but you covered us with grace.
We were unarmed, but you gave us your Spirit and your Word.

Lord, we seem to fight just to make it through the day.
But, Father you fought all our battles,
When you placed your Son upon the cross.
May the spoils for this war go to you and you alone.
And may our victory cries be songs of praise to your name.