My Naked Soul

Sizzlin’ Sampler: Chapter 5 The Element of Belief: His Unleashed Power Here I Am Yes, believing I can trust in my works is so terrifyingly brazen. Just horrified to mess up and lose my salvation. Confidence in Your Blood, Lord isn’t always roses and daisies, And lately, my spiritual crawl has grown way too hazy. Maybe You can give me a few pointers, God, On how to stop being such a two-faced fraud. I know Your forgiveness is profoundly beautiful, But I believe the lie that my faith isn’t suitable. Perhaps I’m struggling to outdo Jesus's grace When all I’m doing is spitting in His face. I know His Blood has bought my freedom Yet beyond my gratitude, He sees my treason. Yes! I beg You, my dear Jesus Christ, Don’t let me lose sight of You in this spiritual plight! You see, I’ve accepted Satan’s lies for oh, so long! I’ve got Your truths mixed up, backwards, and just all wrong! Jesus, Son of God, reveal Yourself to me. You assure me Your salvation is entirely free. You offer everything I need, just asking for faith In Your Sonship, Lordship, and soul-saving grace. So Jesus, although at times I don’t fully understand, Here I am. John 14:6 NIV Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. ... No one comes to the Father except through me.” Sizzlin’ Sampler: Chapter 6 Raw Repentance: Answering the Door The Hypocrite’s Cry Lord, I bow to You with a hypocrite’s lowly heart; A follower who has now earned the name…Traitor. I deserted You amidst the commotion of the world, And I am certainly not fit to call You my Lord. Forgive me, Jesus Let the Crimson flow. Pour Your mercies over me. My Jesus, flood my soul! Jesus, with all this sin I harbored within, You said you wouldn’t give up on me still; You even said I am the salt of the earth, Yes, a city on a hill. Your compassion bewilders me; Your mercies run rampant on that ol’ ugly tree. My Jesus, Your wounds and Your stripes Forever set me free! Lord, because of Your mercy, I bow to You with a servant’s forgiven and eager heart. 1 John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness. Sizzlin’ Sampler: Chapter 7 Embracing Grace: The Open Door Crimson Stains Hard to trust in Jesus's grace, When my soul is nothing but a sinful waste. Digging deeper and deeper, just seems like a game, Approaching the point where I'm suffocating in shame. Oh, why? Oh why, dear God, did You die for me? I have brought You nothing, can't You see?! No Lord! Cast Satan and his puppets into the swine! I refuse to remain spiritually blind! Jesus, You know the depth of my sins, But Your crimson stains overpower them! Your mercies flooded crimson on that ol' ugly Cross; Yes precious Jesus, You paid the ultimate cost! For way too long I have been Your long-lost sheep. Paranoid of Satan and his terrifying fleet. Needed serious refuge, I was going insane; But You love me enough to wash me in Your crimson stains! Jesus, my Substitute, oh how I long to come Home! So I can sing Your praises as I bow before Your Throne. 1 Peter 2:24 NLT He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Sizzlin’ Sampler: Chapter 8 Genuine Praise: Admiring His Ways When I Close my Eyes My knees tremble in the glory of Your Presence; Precious Majesty, I come to honor You now. Hear my praises exalt You from my innermost being, While I worship You from the depths of my soul. When I close my eyes, I see Your Perfection standing before me. Your Holy Word is a love letter Speaking intimately to my spirit, Luring me and tempting me for more. My devoted Jesus, Your love for me is so real. So raw. So here, dear Lord, at Your feet I fall. Strip search my spirit, O God! Destroy all that is not of You And chuck it to the hogs! Jesus, You have shown me what true love is, A bond that can never be more intimate Than between the Savior and His 'beloved'. I invite You to be my love...my passion...my life... My everything... John 14:21 ESV Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. Sizzlin’ Sampler: Chapter 9 The Personals: Dedications My friend Dave grieves his son Isaac, who committed suicide in 2001. (Names changed.) Love Story Dave, the moment you held baby Isaac in your hands, The birth of a never-ending, father-son love story began. Situations change, but the love always remains, And the passion you hold for him Is still as strong as it’s ever been. God knows the pain cuts so incredibly deep, my friend, But did you know love stories never have to end? Rekindle the memories, the photos, any reminders of his life… Share stories of Isaac! Keep his memory alive! Dave, the moment you trusted in Jesus's nail-scarred hands, Your journey in a never-ending, Father-son love story began. Situations change, but His love always remains, And the passion He holds for you will always stand, As He holds your broken heart by the Blood of the Lamb. Nobody can ever undo Jesus's Bloody Stripes. Nobody can ever limit the love of Jesus Christ. So no Dave, nobody can ever force you to give up your fight. Because nobody can ever snuff out Isaac’s light.