The Introverted Evangelist

Celebrate Baptism : " If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins,  He is faithful  and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will  forgive our sins  [dismiss our lawlessness] and [ continuously ]  cleanse  us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action] ." (1 John 1:9 AMP) He is faithful . When we repent, He remakes us. We are new creations ( see  2 Corinthians  5:17 ), and we are created to live in  the current of His unrelenting grace . One such manifestation of this undeniably, overwhelmingly miraculous grace is the  forgiveness  He offers to us through Christ's sacrifice. And baptism? Baptism is like our graduation announcements. We make the public proclamation -  the start of a life of beautiful newness . It's unlike anything we've ever ventured into before, but a completely welcomed and long anticipated  season of renewal and opportuni...

The Perfect One : " And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him " (Hebrews 5:9) Lord, I place everything at Your feet. Even if I'm no great musician or singer,  I will always live to worship You  in spirit and truth  (John  4:24 ) . In Heaven, I know I'll sound beautiful, even angelic! But for right now, I trust that  You take utmost delight in my songs to You , even more than an orchestral symphony.  You take delight in my imperfect song . How great You are, my God. " There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love ." (1 John 4:18) So often I'm afraid...  I fear the terror of others knowing my raw imperfections ... So easily I forget that Your perfect love has renewed me. Your perfect love casts out my every fear, even my  fear of being rejected . Rejected because of my weakness? Why, this is precisely why You'...

All Things New: "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4) New life. Our Lord has promised new life in Christ. What a promise to be given by the One who cannot lie. Transforming from glory to glory - we shall never die. In Christ alone, we forever abide. The past is a hurtful memory, but to You, Lord, we release it. We can't keep hold of the ties to our former life, or we live in continual, laborious strife. We accept that what was has come and has gone. We may not know why it happened, but we know that You have perfect purpose for our pain. So we turn to You, expectant for what's next. We know that in You, it's always the best. "See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." (Isaiah 42:9) We place our aches and regrets at the feet of...

Hope Anchors the Soul: "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (Hebrews 6:19) This world in which we reside today is much like an ocean with its changing tides and fragile features. The world is quickly distraught and disorganised, and this perilous propensity can easily cause loosely tied souls to fall overboard. In short, the world is very quick-tempered, so it's imperative to understand "The Certainty of God's Promise" as this passage of Hebrews chapter six is titled. "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged." (Hebrews 6:17-18) God has made His marvellous promise perfectly perspicuous. We are to reach out and firmly grasp onto this hope He has made so re...