Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Praise the Lord!

He is Risen!

~Mark 16:6~
And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Praise Him, for He is worthy!

My God, how wonderful You are,
Your majesty, how bright;
How beautiful Your mercy seat,
In depths of burning light!

How wonderful, how beautiful,
The sight of You must be;
Your endless wisdom, boundless pow'r,
And glorious purity!

O how I fear You, living God,
With deep and tender fear;
And worship You with trembling hope,
And penitential tears!

Yet, I may love You, too,
O Lord Almighty as You are
For You have stooped to ask of me
The love of my poor heart!
~Fredrick W. Faber My God How Wonderful You Are

Isn't our God great? He conquered death and the grave, he deserves our praise!

PS. We are having an Easter drama at our church. We did it Friday and Saturday night, and tonight is our last night. So far we have had five saved, and over ten recommitments to Christ! PTL!!!

Maybe if You Had A Son...

Joseph, a troubled carpenter, has a very sick son, and doesn't know where to turn. God doesn't seem to hear him, or listen if he's even there! He's looking for someone to turn to, someone who can help.
"Maybe if you had a son, you would understand." Joseph prays to God at one point, pleading for his small son's life. What Joseph later found out is that God did have a son, and he did understand.
You see, God sent his only son. His son that he loved. He sent him to die for you. I don't know many Moms that would give up their son-even for you.
Think about the cross. It wasn't easy for Jesus to suffer it. He prayed for God to take this cup from him if there was another way, but there wasn't. Crucifixtion is, I believe to this day, one of the absolute worst ways to die.
The prisoner was first scourged until he was barely alive, and chunks of their body would be torn off when the whip (or whatever you like to call it) wrapped around the body and lashed back. After this, Jesus had a purple robe (a sign of royalty) thrown around him and was spit upon and hit. After a while, they would be stripped of their clothes and be marched of to Golgotha carrying their cross. The cross itself was probably extremely heavy, and these people were barley alive. Then they would be nailed to the cross, and lifted up and set down. Now, they weren't set down gently-they were dropped down, and all they had to support them was the nails in their hands and feet.
Jesus knew he would go through all this-yet he did it anyway. And he did it for you. Even if only would person would have been saved, he still would have done it.
But, Jesus didn't stay dead. You see, he rose again three days later! He conquered death and the grave, there on the cross. He defeated the devil, and defeated death so that we don't have to face it. Everyone will die a natural death, but now Jesus offers you eternal life with him forever. You don't have to die in your sin for all eternity.
Accept Jesus today!
**Contact me if you want details on recieving Christ, or questions.

What Do You Bring to the Table?

What do you contribute to your fellow believers in Christ? Do you do nothing, sitting silently in a corner, always listening? Or, do you try to give God your all and get involved?

Mary, Lazarus's sister, brought Jesus a great gift: she annointed him with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair. The Bible says that the perfume was worth a year's wages. Today, that would be, on average, $30,000 to $35,000 (or somewhere in there). Would you sacrifice everything you would earn for a year, just to be rubbed on somebody's feet? Well, to be honest, I don't think most of us would. But, if it is Jesus's feet, that is a very different matter. But, still, who would? I could say that I would, but would I? I hope I would, but I haven't been in that situation yet. We need to give God our best, and we can't do that in a corner. We have to be in the action, right in the middle of whatever is happening.

But, really, how are you serving God? Are you serving him boldly, and with a purpose? Or, are you too ashamed to attend church openly? Serve God boldly, he didn't die in secret for you. He died in the open, for all to see. Serve him openly and boldly, but don't flaunt it, or boast about what you are doing for God. I am not saying you shouldn't serve God behind the scenes, in fact, I am saying to serve God and not be ashamed of it, and don't try to hide it. If you don't get recognition, that's okay. Those already rewarded with the praise of men have been rewarded. But, those who haven't will be rewarded by God (who wouldn't want to be?).

Bring things to the table, seen or unseen. Serve Jesus without any shame!

Give God your Best and Your All

What are you offering God? Are you singing, "I surrender most. I surrender most. Most of it to Jesus, I surrender. I surrender most."? Well, yes, that would be hard to fit with the melody, but is that your mindset? Do you mean what you sing? What's more, do you even pay attention to the words? So often, I get caught up in singing that I don't even think about what the song is really trying to say.

But, are you offering God your best? Or are you giving Him the leftovers of your time, your money, your energy? Many times we pour ourselves into school, work, play, or whatever else you do. And then, after pouring yourself out, there isn't any leftover for God. Put God first.

Read your Bible first thing in the morning. Don't wait till the evening when you don't have any time leftover, and can't keep your eyes open. I have heard many people say, "Give God all the years when you're single. When you get married, you can't be as completely lost in God." Most of you are single. I am (and am planning to be for some time!). The years when you don't have a spouse to be immersed in, immerse yourself in God! He is (or should be) the love of your life, while others will come and go!

Devote your time to God. Granted, you can't spend all day in front of your Bible (well, you can but, it's kind of impractical). But, you can live a lifestyle of worship. What is that? A lifestyle of worship is a life that is devoted to glorifying God and honoring him in everything that you do. Live like there isn't a tomorrow, because there might not be one! You don't know how long you'll live. You might live for five more minutes, or fifty more years (or the rapture might happen). Devote this vapor of a life to God, giving it all to him.

Give it all to God. Everything. My Dad said when preaching about this, "Some mornings I get out there, and I say 'God, your Taurus [our smaller car] won't start this morning.'" It's true. Some mornings I just want to yell! But, it isn't even yours. Just tell God it's his, and surrender it all to him. Life might not be better, but its simpler. You just have to think about what God can do (anything, right?). He can help you with that test, that problem, or that friend. Give all of it to him, and step back and let him work (however, I am not saying we shouldn't be willing tools! We should be!).

Give it all to God. It'll be so much safer with him.

Lottie Moon

After doing the Annie Armstrong post earlier, (and after persistent comments) I decided to go ahead and post about Lottie Moon.
Charlotte Diggs Moon was born on December 12, 1840 in Virginia. In 1858, she dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized. She was the first lady to receive a master's degree, which she did in 1861. Lottie became a missionary in 1873, with her sister Edmonia, to Tengchow, China. Lottie served 39 years as a missionary to China. She died December 24, 1912 in a harbor in China (many believe that, as this was a time of famine, she died of starvation, because she gave others all her food). She was on her way back to America for the first time since she left when she died.
To read more about Lottie Moon go to:
http://ime.imb.org/LottieMoon/default.asp
http://www.trailblazerbooks.com/books/Moon/Moon-bio.html
http://www.tlogical.net/biolmoon.htm
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lottie_Moon

**Note**: Soli Deo Gloria is not affiliated to the IMB or any of its ministries in any way.

Good News-Lottie Moon Christmas Offering!

In a story on Baptist Press news (www.bpnews.com) the International Mission Board released a statement saying that the Lottie Moon Christmas was "projected to exceed the 150 million goal." Praise the Lord!
49 missionaries have already been appointed by the trustees, and hopefully more will be soon. Thank you to everyone who gave! You can never know how many people will be reached by these missionaries!

**Note**: Soli Deo Gloria is not in any way affiliated with the International Mission Board, or the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Keep On

This is a poem a friend of mine wrote. I thought it really described how a lot of us feel a lot of the time!

“Keep On”

You know you’re different,
They do too.
You don’t know why,
But they look at you.

They wonder why you’re like that,
They think that you are odd,
I know sometimes it’s tempting,
But do not follow the crowd.

I know it hurts sometimes,
Keep on fighting.
I know it’s hard sometimes,
Keep on trying.

I know you’re trying to find
the reason why you’re here,
But just trust God,
He understands your fear.

You know the truth, but still it hurts.
He’s made you who you are for a reason,
You know but you don’t understand.
He’s placed you where you are in this season.

I know it hurts sometimes,
Keep on fighting.
I know it’s hard sometimes,
Keep on trying.

You wonder, is it worth it?
Or should I just be like them?
Yes, I guess I’m happy,
But I’m also suffering.

Don’t do it.
Don’t give in.
It will be worth it
In the end.

I know it hurts sometimes,
Keep on fighting.
I know it’s hard sometimes,
Keep on trying.

And yes, you’ll get questions.
And yes, you get ridiculed,
But just ignore them,
And a stronger relationship with God you’ll build.

For His opinions are the ones that matter,
So don’t worry about what they think.
God will make you stronger,
Link by link.

I know it hurts sometimes,
Keep on fighting.
I know it’s hard sometimes,
Keep on trying

Wow! What an awesome poem, and what's more an awesome challenge as well! Let's keep on keeping on! Soli Deo Gloria!

Pour Out My Heart

I'm longing to pour out my heart
And say that I love you
Pour out my heart
And say that I need you
Pour out my heart
And say that I'm thankful
Pour out my heart
And say that you're wonderful

Before, I talked about being real. Well, we have to be real with God. Drop the "thee" and "thou" from your prayers, he knows who you really are! I'm not saying don't be respectful, but if you put on a front for God, he'll know it. God knows everything. Just tell him everything that happens in your life, your concerns, your dreams, your hopes, your plans. Everything. Pour out your hurts, your laughs, your joy, and your tears. Give them all to him. If you really want God to be the Lord of your life, you have to tell him about it! Talk to him about your friends, why you like them, or what you think that they should do better. He already knows everything you're going to tell him...But he wants to hear it anyway! He loves you, he cares for you. So, tell him about the real you. The person who laughs or cries inwardly, and has to be strong outwardly. He wants to know you. So pour out your heart to him.

Are You Real?

There is a great song by KJ52. It talks about God asking us if we are "real". Are you real? Are you upfront and candid? Do you put on a front for other people? If you aren't yourself around some people and pretend to be what you're not, you aren't real.

So much stress keeps running through me now
I fell into a mess that I wish I could climb out
I guess I'll hide it so nobody will find out
That way everyone thinks everything is fine now
At home things are messed up with Mom and Dad
And at school all my friends stab me in the back
No one is real anymore I hate the way they act
There is so many things I wish I had
So God if your there do you understand
Don't you care about anything that's happening
It's not fair to put me through all this junk again
You see that I'm scared so help me if you can
So please speak loud and clear cuz I'm listening
I need to know that your real cuz I'm struggling
You need to show that your real cuz I'm stumbling
Show me that you care and this is what I'm saying

Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it go
Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it show

It was right then when everything it began to change
I started looking at these things
In a different way I saw life through God's eyes and it wasn't the same
That was right at the time I called on your name
And then I saw all the lies that was thrown my way
I recognized that I need you and on that day
I cried out and seeked you that was when you came
Now that I see you I've been through a major change
I believe you are real cuz it's so plain
Finally I feel that I can make it through anything
It don't matter what they speak or if they hate
They can't keep me down no more cuz I've seen your face
And from now never will I be ashamed cuz I'm a stand strong
I won't bend or sway now that I know that you are real it's gonna be okay
I hear you speaking in my ear and this is what you say

Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it go
Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it show

See there is a war that's going on outside
You can try and ignore it and just run and hide
But everyday more and more people die
See the battle is for souls and we are on the front lines
So many soldiers are too scared to fight
They're too worried about what people thinking of their life
How can you fight if you won't lay down ya pride
And how will anyone see if you won't shine your light
So many of your friends just walking around blind
And you've got the source that can open up their eyes
It's y'alls choice what you'll do with your lives
But I'm gonna go to war cuz I've made up my mind
Jesus gave his life when he went and died
So the least I can do is just give him all of mine
So how many of y'all are ready to fight by my side
Cuz this is what he's saying here tonight

Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it go
Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it show

If you are wondering why such words as "ya" and "cuz" were in there, yes, I did notice them. That's just how people spell things in rap.
But, I want you to notice the second verse. How many of us are to scared to lay down our pride and fight the good fight? God knows if we're real or not, but he wants us to show him anyway. I have to admit that this is hard for me. It's so easy to seem all spiritual and all that on here. I know sometimes I'm not real. I wish I were more. But, I know, I can make myself be more real with everyone I know. Are you real? Maybe the best way to answer this question is to ask God. He will show you. You can fight beside me. But, you have to be real with people, and you have to be real with God. Will you be real?

Annie Armstrong

Every year at our church we take an Annie Armstrong offering. Up until recently, I wasn't really sure why we did it. Well, Annie Armstrong was a remarkable person, and I think we could learn a little more about her.

Annie Walker Armstrong was born July 11, 1850. She was the daughter of James and Mary Armstrong. Annie became a Christian at the age of 19, and was baptized into the church shortly after. She encouraged the first Lottie Moon Christmas offering and worked to raise money for it herself. She worked with the Southern Baptist Convention until 1906 when she resigned. She died on December 20, 1938.

This is just the bare facts, but there is so much you can learn about her! For more information go to: www.anniearmstrong.com, or www.tlogical.net/bioarmstrong.htm.

Think about your offering. Why do you give it? Where does it go? Do you really know?

The North American Mission Board said, "The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is much more than an offering envelope and an annual missions-giving emphasis. When people give to the offering, 100 percent of their gift will be transformed into missionary salaries and ministry supplies. Those missionaries and supplies will help others hear the message of Christ and respond in faith to His offer of salvation. Time and again our missionaries relate how the offering is their lifeblood. They know that behind each penny given, there is a Southern Baptist who believes in what they do and are affirming the need to equip them to share the gospel with those who need a Savior."

This offering supports missionaries all over the world that are sharing the Bible with people every day. This is just another way we can help.

*Note*: Soli Deo Gloria or its author in any way, are not associated with the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. We leave the choice of giving to the offering entirely up to the reader, we just want to provide the readers with information about the offering and the person it was named for.

It's Not a Choice, It's a Child

I don't believe abortion is permissible by any means. Why should we kill children who have yet to be born when we were once just like them? Who gave us permission to kill a child if it is "unwanted"?

There is a very sweet couple in our church who have always wanted a baby. After many miscarriages they decided to adopt. Now, they have an energertic two-year-old. If his mother hadn't decided to give her baby up to be adopted, he might have been aborted. There are so many families that want these little babies that are killed every day.

Many people say that life begins at birth. But, in a story on Baptist Press News (www.bpnews.net) they share the story of a baby girl born at 23 weeks. Most babies are born between 37 and 40 weeks. The death rate for babies born that early is 70%. Everyone around her has pronounced her an absolute miracle. Baptist Press said, "“Instead, it’s time to see human life as a continuous thread beginning at conception and entitled to protection at all stages,” said Buckley, a fellow of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s Research Institute. “As Dr. Seuss used to say, ‘A person’s a person, no matter how small.’”" I highly agree with Dr. Seuss. A baby, though it may still be in the womb, is a person.

Elisabeth Elliot in her book, On Asking God Why says this about a premature baby at a hospital, "...Who is it that makes the "selections"? Who may determine which tiny person is acceptable and maybe permitted to be born (and if necessary, hovered over, cradled in a sterile temperature controlled incubator to assist his survival), and which is unacceptable and may betreated as a cancer or a gangrenous growth and surgically or chemically removed? What perverted vision of "life enhancement" warrants such a choice?" Indeed, who is to make that choice? If God so blesses you with a baby, do you have a choice of depriving it of life?"

God is the giver of life, and it must grieve him to know that we are ready and, in some cases, willing to destroy it. Isaiah 66:9 says, "Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?" says the LORD; "shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?" says your God."
God clearly says gives us life. Should he? Should he 'shut the womb'? Many women today are doing this artificially using pills and other means that actually abort babies.

Many people are ready to adopt if the parent (or parents) do not believe they are capable, or simply don't want the baby (Which, personally I don't understand. I love babies!). Romans 8:16 says, "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" We have been adopted by God, and we can follow his example if he leads us to do so.

That baby isn't a choice. It isn't a little glob of tissue. It is a child that God designed and breathed life into.

I Say to My Heart

I got this beautiful poem off a forum on the Rebelution (www.therebelution.com). I really liked this, and wanted to share it with you. A homeschooled preacher's daughter wrote it. I am including a few thoughts she posted with the poem.


Girls, can you bring to mind that guy who somehow occupies all of your thoughts? He is admirable and perhaps physically attractive to you, and he seems to fit the mold for your ideal Christian young man. At church, at school, or anywhere else, your interactions with him make you involve your emotions deeper. The problem is, he does not seem to reciprocate your feelings as deeply, and you are thrown into confusion or even tears. Have you ever felt that way? I know many girls have or do feel that way now. Well, at least I have. Anyway, after one long afternoon of crying and praying, this is what I have to share. I hope it helps.

I say to my heart, “Let go, let go,”
But it wouldn’t understand;
Although his affections it won’t know
It still foolishly demands
A right to discretely, softly show
A lingering, slight command
O’er knowledge of him, o’er soul’s outflow
Of feelings within its hands.

I say to my heart, “Be still, be still,”
But it always disobeys;
Whenever his voice my senses fill
My heart will not calmly lay
Within its protection—mindful will,
The only sense sane through days
Of pain and of joys or of tears until
Within heaven’s arms I’ll lay.

I say to my heart, “You foolish thing,
The pain you inflict on me
Is more than the happiness you bring,”
But still it would not release
The feelings it holds and dearly clings
As if that’s all life could be;
Each compliment that his tongue should ring
Still kills ev’ry chance for ease.

I say to my heart, “When will you stop To think of what cannot be?”
But still when I harvest vision’s crop
He stays in my fantasies;
Each dream that I know I ought to drop
Persists to remain in me,
So I could be on the hillcrest’s top
Just only when me he sees.

I say to my heart, “Let go, let go, You’ll never be wise this way.”
Then softly it answers, “God bestows Each trial, so he who prays
Will learn to accept when He says ‘no’
And live for Him day to day.
These things come and go, just trust and know
Your best still in future lays.

Wow. I really liked that and I hope you did too. I think it provides some excellent food for the thought.

Jesus Freaks

Okay, well I'm sorry if some of you don't use that word. Trust me, it isn't original. It actually comes from a very cool website called (guess what?!) Jesus Freaks! This website was made by DC Talk after they published their books Jesus Freaks and Jesus Freaks II. A Jesus Freak is a person willing to die for their faith, and ultimately their God. This is a very cool website and I highly encourage to visit it. Here is statement available on the site to those who want to be a Jesus Freak:

Commit Yourself to Being a Jesus Freak... From this day forward!
I will make a difference.
Jesus, I thank you that You suffered and died for me on the
cross to pay for my sins.
Father, I thank You that You raised Jesus from the dead to be my living Lord and Savior.
Holy Spirit, I thank you that You will lead me to do the right thing and change my world.
Today, Lord, I want to make you a promise.
I will not be ashamed of Your name or Your Gospel.
I will do what I can for those who are persecuted and pray for them.
I will look enemies in the eye and love them with Your love.
I will pray for them and love
them—no matter the consequences.
I will follow Your voice wherever You lead me, unafraid, for I know You will be with me.
If I should stumble, if I fall, if I should deny Your name, if I should feel guilty that I did not
pray or forgot to do something You’ve asked me not to do, I will not quit.
I will not wallow in guilt. I will turn back to You, confess my sin, and do what You called me to do, because that is why You died for me.
I will stand with You and my brothers and sisters around the world, because no matter
what happens, no matter what I face or how it looks, in the end, we will be victorious—
we will inherit eternity and heaven with You.
I can do nothing else, because …I am a Jesus Freak.

Wow! Pretty powerful isn't it? Well, all I have to say is this: Are you a Jesus Freak? Do you want to be?

PS Here is the link to the site: https://www.jesusfreaks.net
You can get a printable version of the commitment above that you can sign and date.