Tag: scripture

James HoganLeave a comment

So just got back from a sweet weekend in Tampa!!! Admittedly, it was bracketed by crazy car adventures(car breaking down in rain + impending flight + me hitchhiking to airport + car being impounded = just a little stress and anxiety. I do NOT like allowing myself to be overwhelmed by worry or uncertainty, but this weekend cut it a little close. But now I have regained my car and I *believe* it’s fixed, bar a slightly alarming rattle in my compressor flywheel. And I have been affirmed in my conviction that I have two of the most awesome friends in the world…Alex driving to check for my car on the beltway at 3 in the morning…and Will helping me rescue and fix my car today. I gotta say, I feel so blessed to know that I have friends who have my back! God is good, INDEED. And thus ends the longest parenthetical thought of all time.), and now I have totally lost my train of thought. *scans back to top of parentheses* Ah yes. The weekend of Tampa and family awesomeness!! Full of the *whole* family together again and taking naps on the couch and late night talks with the sisters and lasagna of amazing awesomeness and Spades tournament with the fam and just loving my family!!! And of course, I did see some other people(including Dream and David, enjoying delicious ice cream and more delicious conversation! And I got to have lunch at Steve and Vickie’s, enjoying hamburgers and beans and encouraging words. And I got my Christmas(ok, a little late) present from them – this awesome handmade blown-glass alligator head. It is AMAZING. If you are in Houston, come over and you can see it. And Gary and Janet came over on Sunday night and again, I am constantly reassured of the amazing blessings of the LORD in the people he surrounds me with. Ah it is too much for someone as silly as I!!) And seriously, these parentheses have got to stop! I am henceforth banning myself from using them for…the rest of this entry.

I have now decided it’s time for dinner. And I’m binging on Snow Patrol on the moment, and I’m not quite sure if that’s a good thing or not. It’s chill enough to be relaxing, but romance-tinged enough to be slightly dangerous to the emotions. Like I’ve said before, music can be a most wonderful and perilous creation!

And now I take my leave. Before I do though, let me share what has been most encouraging these past few days:

Therefore humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you at the proper time,
casting all our anxiety on Him,
because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7

He cares for you. How awesome is that?

Peace be to you all!

James HoganLeave a comment

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and
He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there
was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He
was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an
alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping,
she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the
hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the
perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said
to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort
of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”
And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And
he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the
other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them
both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said,
“I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have
judged correctly.” Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you
see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet,
but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You
gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss
My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet
with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many,
have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little,
loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”
Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves,
“Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
-Luke 8:36-50

I cannot say anything to add to the beauty of these words. But oh how these words have touched my heart! I ask myself, how much have I been forgiven? And the answer is clear. I have been forgiven…everything. Oh how great is my love for my Saviour!! If only I were in His presence and could kiss His feet. If only I could kneel and hug his feet to myself! Oh I would cry for love! I have sinned much. I have sinned completely. And I have been forgiven much. I have been forgiven completely. Oh the beauty! Oh I could weep!

James HoganLeave a comment

After eight days His disciples were
again inside, and Thomas with them.
Jesus came, the doors having been
shut, and stood in their midst and said,
“Peace be with you.” Then He said
to Thomas, “Reach here with your
finger, and see My hands; and reach
here your hand and put it into my side;
and do not be unbelieving, but
believing.” Thomas answered and
said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

-John 20:26-27

James HoganLeave a comment

Today was pretty sweet. Just saying.

And why, you may ask?? Well, first of all it was a gloriously crisp day, full of that early February chill and yet the sun still shone. And church was magnificently encouraging. And this afternoon was pretty much the most refreshing and uplifting afternoon of all time!! (Going through old notebooks of favorite Scripture = awesomeness)

And then this evening, went to a Super Bowl party at the Field’s house. The Saints beat the Colts(sadness…I wanted Peyton to get the win…oh well) but the best part wasn’t the game, but just hanging out with everyone!!! Lots of people from church were there(Alex, Joseph, Adam, Marci, Claire, and lots of others…would take too long to list everyone!!) At halftime, a bunch of us played a few games of round-the-world ping-pong. Epic awesomeness. After the game, we probably played another twenty games of that. No, that’s NOT hyperbole. So trust me when I say I’m exhausted now!!! My shower felt VERY well deserved. Anyways, after a thoroughly amazing day, I feel like bed is calling my name…so g’night all and may God bless you in this coming week!!

Worthy are You to take the book
and to break its seals; for You
were slain, and purchased for
God with Your blood men from
every tribe and tongue and people
and nation.
You have made them to be a
kingdom and priests to our God;
and they will reign upon the
earth.
-Revelation 5:9

James HoganLeave a comment

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the LORD through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the LORD commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called his name Jesus.
-Matthew 1:18-25

How good is our God. All praise to the LORD of the universe, who sent His Son that we might have life abundantly!!! Amen!!

James HoganLeave a comment

And I saw heaven opened, and
behold, a white horse, and He who sat
on it is called Faithful and True, and
in righteousness He judges and wages
war. His eyes are a flame of fire,
and on His head are many diadems;
and He has a name written on Him
which no one knows except Himself.
He is clothed with a robe dipped in
blood, and His name is called The
Word of God. And the armies which
are in heaven, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean, were following Him
on white horses. From His mouth
comes a sharp sword, so that with it He
may strike down the nations, and He
will rule them with a rod of iron; and
He treads the wine press of the fierce
wrath of God, the Almighty. And on
His robe and on His thigh He has a
name written, “KING OF KINGS,
AND LORD OF LORDS.”

-Revelation 19:11-16

I was walking to the gym after work today and a storm was coming. As I walked, I was singing to myself a song from my church in Tampa, a song directly from the verses I quoted above…and as I got to the part, “His name is called The Word of God…”, at that very moment, lightning flashed down in every direction around me…and the thunder built to a glorious crescendo, punctuating the beauty of the storm. I stood struck with awe. And I was reminded(why do we forget!!) of the power and righteousness and mercy and perfection and glory and holiness and love and justice and compassion of the Almighty.

How great is the LORD!!!!

James HoganLeave a comment

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless
His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with
lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with
good things,
So that your youth is renewed
like the eagle.

Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Psalm 103:1-5, 22