The Introverted Evangelist

Oh Death Where is Your Sting? "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55) On this day it is particularly imperative to remember that death and destruction have been definitively defeated. Christ's crimson blood has won the ultimate victory. We are no longer held hostage by the threat of sin and its punishing penalty of separation and agonising eternal pain. We have overcome sin and death because He has paid the price and defeated the cross and the grave. Our futures are secured by salvation. The gruelling grip of death has permanently lost its strength, because the earth-shaking might of God has loosed the chains of our shameful sin from the atoning sacrifice of Christ once and for all - that means for us all as well. The Lord's wondrous work on our behalf has forever freed us, and it's through the power of His blood that was shed. "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Dea...

Heart in Good Hands: It's not up to my hands to control, but my heart to surrender. In the midst of this storm, take me to the Rock that is higher than I. "Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalms 55:22) "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." (Exodus 14:14) Let His pure love be the rope that keeps pulling us in closer and closer. Though we fall, He shall always uphold us. Though we stray, He calls us Home. "But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”" (Matthew 14:27, 31) ~~~~ God allows us to feel hurt. He allows the hurting to pull us closer to His heart, His heart beating - beating for our brokenness. He longs to burn away the burdens which break us down and crush our joy, freeing us to kn...

Unimaginably Immense Love: "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19) We were born hungry. Hungry, empty, seeking, and searching tirelessly. Restless souls we entered this world, and restlessly we may choose to exit. That is, if we so choose to neglect the burning passion of the One true pursuing Lover. The One that chose thorns for our freedom. Ridicule for our redemption. Hatred for holiness. The Sacrifice that provided sanctification. There is nourishment for the starved souls. There is peace for the oppressed. "The human heart by nature seeks after God. There is a spiritual vacuum in every man until it is filled by Christ." -Richard Wurmbrand "And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of...

The Road is Joy: "You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence." (Acts 2:28) Nothing in this world will last. All is fading away fast, but Jesus is mine even unto eternity. From His Presence I may stray, but by my side He'll always stay. Oh bring me back to the joy, the joy found only in You, beloved Lord. Your persistent promise of perfect patience pulls me closer, ever so close to Your pure and spotless heart. What detail of my life has gone unnoticed by the God who cares, cares so intricately intimately? "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) Cast all, ALL cares, oh my soul. Hold nothing back, for He withholds no blessing from you. If He gives all so unconditionally, why should I be hesitant to trust Him with the technicalities of my life? After all, I am of more value than sparrows, and yet He divinely cares for them with delicacy. "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? A...

God Loves Even the Unlovable: "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10) Can you see it? The astounding reality of the God we serve? He loved us first. He set aside His great and authoritative dignity to take on the form of a rejected and hated servant, and He did it all for us. He gave it all for me, and He humbled Himself to the lowest of positions for you as well. Why? Why did Jesus trade His divine Deity for the suppressing subjugation of human flesh? Were we just so righteous and deserving? Certainly not. Had we earned our reconciliation? Preposterous! The answer to the burning question as to why Jesus purposefully brought Himself low and surrendered all for our souls? Self-sacrificing, unconditional Love. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Whilst still sinking in sinfulness, God devised a divi...

The Kindling of our Souls: "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalms 118:24) "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalms 27:1) You're my light, O God; You shine bright, even in the pit of my fight. You give me hope, You give me joy; It's by Your side, where I reside. Peace is my companion, and love is my cloak; in Your wondrous light do I soak. Every day is a perfect day to delight in this divine grace; the glory of Your gleaming upon my face. "But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:18) Your glorious light in me shines ever so brightly. Forever increasing, abounding in hope, abounding in utter joyfulness is this grace. Your light in me is my delight, for it glows brighter and brighter even up to the day that I shall cross over into the home of eternity b...

Rest in His Unending Grace: "And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”" (Exodus 33:14) The crisp breeze blusters blissfully, and the leaves serenely sweep o'er the vibrant blades of grass. The golden autumn glow is bright, and all the world seems in delight. O Heavenly Father, Your Sabbath is beautiful. O Lord of mercy and grace, let Your light shine upon our face. "The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you" (Numbers 6:25) Yes, God, You are so gracious! Your kindness calls us into praise, and Your faithfulness deserving our devoted exaltation. I cannot help but revel and rejoice in this grace. I cannot help but shout it out. You are good, and Your grace is never-ending. Your mercies are sufficient in our wandering, and Your love forever fulfils our deepest desires. We turn our hungry hearts to You, God. We sing a new song of joy and freedom. We trust in Your goodness, and we look to You for all we need. When roote...

Fill Me: "How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver." (Proverbs 16:16) O Heavenly Father, You're so much more than my words can describe. Your power is limitless, and Your wonder immeasurable. Your authority is above all else, yet Your mercy endures throughout all generations. You have compassion on each and every soul, for You are Love and we know love because You have loved us perfectly. "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him...We love Him because He first loved us." (1 John 4:16, 19) Oh how dearly do I love Thee, Lord my God. There is none like You, no not one could ever compare. You know all, for You are the Author of all times. How I long to be close to Your tender loving heart. I'm eager to hear You whisper wondrous things in my ear, to breath Your awe-inspiring life into my soul. "Call to Me, and I...

Hallelujah. A Broken Cry of a Worship to My God. "In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears." (Psalms 18:6) Hallelu YAH. Though I am broken, I still shall sing. Hallelu Yah. Though my world falls apart, O God, hear my heart: Hallelu Yah, oh Hallelu Yah. My soul shall never be silenced; my hands shall always be lifted. You are forever gracious, and I am forever grateful. You are my peace when all else is overthrown, and I shall always praise Thee. Hallelu Yah. My God, to You I give unending adoration. -The Introverted Evangelist

Slow Down and Breathe in His Grace: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) You beckon me into Your Presence as Your very own beloved child. You're orchestrating my life with a rhythm of peace. You're never rushed, for Your timing has supremacy - even over all my stressing. Though the world clamours and corrodes, You welcome me into sacred, rejuvenating rest. You lead me beside the most serene waters, even when all the world around threatens with its roaring waves of worry. "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake." (Psalms 23:2-3) With paths of righteousness arrayed before me, You've shown me marvellous measures of mer...

Light the Way: "For You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord shall enlighten my darkness." (2 Samuel 22:29) I stumble and I fall, but I know You're with me through it all. Though I often fail, Your love shall always prevail. My eyes are shrouded by clouds of confusion. O Lord, would You come and clear my vision? Won't You light the way ahead of me? Enlighten the darkness, O Father God, illuminate the path that is before me. "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”" (John 8:12) This is one of Your promises to me. You promise that the light of life - true life shining forth from Your Holy Spirit - shall light up the way before me and fill the emptiness within me. I needn't walk in dismal darkness. Because of You, my path can grow brighter and brighter day after day. Your goodness and glory blaze my future trails. Your faithfulness fills those paths with abunda...

You are Loved: A little encouragement for your Sunday evening? You are loved. Whoever may be reading this right now, understand this: God's love conquers every one of our fears, insecurities, and doubts. His love always wins, always provides, and always amazes. He pursues you, yes you! No matter what happened in the past, His love makes ALL things new. His love is covering YOU! YOU are loved by an Almighty God!

This photo was taken approximately two years ago. I was suffering malabsorption and my hair was falling out. God is my healer. He rescued me. As one of my favourite Tenth Avenue North song says: "You break me to bind me You hurt me, Lord, to heal me You cut me to touch me You died to revive me" Every moment we suffer, God is working vigilantly to break us free of the chains that hold us captive. No pain is pointless, but all pain hold purpose. The struggle is part of the story. -The Introverted Evangelist

Cease Your Striving: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalms 46:10) I live for Your glory; I'm alive to serve You and to bring praise unto Your holy Name. At the very centre of it all, there You are. You're my joy, my hope, my salvation, and my ultimate destination. The pure purpose of my existence is for You, O Lord. "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3) To You I turn my eyes. My heart is steadfastly trusting in You, for I know Your faithfulness never ends and Your love never weakens. You passionately pursue me with a never ending persistence. Oh how I love Thee, Lord Jesus! "He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord." (Psalms 112:7) No force of hell can dampen the divine grace of Your marvellous embrace. And isn't that Your ultimate hope for me? To rest, and to ...

God Works Even When It Is Quiet: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]" (Matthew 11:28 AMP) There are some days when I just feel... tired out, lonely, and even afraid. Afraid of the future, afraid of failing. However, in all my sorrows, I must not forget that God has a purpose and plan, though I cannot yet see all of it. Though my hope seems fading, His faithfulness is crusading - and on my behalf. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) The Message translation puts it a nice way when it says: "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track." (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG) I suppose what I...

More Than Enough: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) I am a sinner. I have fallen short of Your prodigious glory... yet again. I writhe and struggle in all my shame. O Lord, remind me to call on Your Name. "If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) If these lips are spattered in disbelief, discontent, and disregard for all You've done for me, O Lord, wipe them clean. I choose to wash my tongue in the truth of who You are. I must make the conscious choice to turn away from this trap set before me, rebuking regression and taking hold of Your helping hands. Knowing that Your faithfulness won't forsake me, not now and not ever. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that t...

Fear Freeing:   "Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalms 55:22)   "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)   There's a whole lot of disquieting troubles going on these days. It's very easy and common to become entangled in fear-knots. Yes these disturbing events are real as day, but our God is so much more than them. The certainty of our God's power, authority, and sovereignty must become a shield of comforting courage to each and every one of us, especially when all the world around us is in utter turmoil and upheaval.   "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)   The Amplified Bible translation adds this little gem, which I love:   "For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and hav...

God's Wondrous Works of Art: "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." (John 1:3) In nature I see glimpses of His wondrous beauty. His grace and glory shine extravagantly in the world around me. "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork." (Psalms 19:1) This is a picture of one of my grandfather's pineapple plants. He has well over 100 pineapple plants at his home. He also grows bananas, lemons, limes, plantains, avocados, and many types of peppers. This picture was taken whilst on vacation this past week, and I think it's truly breathtaking. Just look at the marvellously intricate and detailed beauty of a mere pineapple plant. This is just one of many, many more examples of God's incredible artwork! Just one out of millions, even billions more masterpieces. This includes me and you. We are God's beauteous artwork as well. Each one of us, artfully crafted inside and out w...

God Has a Plan: "We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will" (Ephesians 1:11) The waters are rough and the winds rage relentlessly, but You, O God, are keeping me steadied in Your sovereignty. It can be difficult to imagine, that You, the God of the whole universe, might take care of me in such a gracious and loving manner. Then I'm tempted, tempted to fear that Your love has suddenly disappeared. I can see the storm that's coming near, O Lord my Lord, come meet me here and take my fear. "And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved." (Acts 2:21) My lips spill over in desperate defeat, "My Lord, I can't walk this path on my own two feet." You hear my cry, and You will satisfy. "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk throug...