His Bride (Revelation 19)

"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.'" -Revelation 19:6-7 (NIV)
It is refreshing to hear the proclamation of praise and worship for our amazing God. Truly he is worthy of ultimate honor, respect, adoration, and service.
As I read these words, my heart was overwhelmed by the staggering thought that we who believe have ultimately been chosen to be the bride of the Lamb of God. We do not "deserve" such amazing love, for "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," yet by sovereign grace we find ourselves stunned in awe of this gift.
May we be forever changed by such mercy. May our worship be sweeter and more passionate knowing this priceless treasure has been offered.

.

An Unexpected Re-birth

Fifteen years ago today, I was "born again!"

On March 15, 1995 a friend from Midway Baptist Church in Trussville, AL invited me to go with her and some friends to a presentation of Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Center Point, AL. My life would never be the same.

For the first time in my life I saw and understood what Jesus had done for me and what I needed to do to be saved - believe. That night I was born again.

I had grown up around other Christians and I knew much about the Bible and church, but I failed to see how God intended for it to make a difference in my life. I had failed to trust Christ with being the LORD of my life. I was "the boss" of my life and I intended to remain in control.

However, by God's sovereign grace, my eyes were opened to the truth that I was separated from God because of my choices, my immorality, my sin, and that I was incapable of saving myself. The payment for my sin was death and eternal separation from God. I could not earn my forgiveness, and I could never be free from the power of sin without Jesus Christ setting me free.

Now I praise God with all that I am because on that very night I understood that Jesus had already paid for my sin!

My part was simply to believe that Jesus had taken my punishment, and receive His gift of forgiveness and eternal life. WOW!

I did just that. And, I distinctly remember saying something like, "Lord, please forgive me of my sin. I give You my heart and my life - everything I am - it's Yours. I surrender to You."

My response to the experience of being "Born Again" was and is total gratitude. In looking back at it, I know I was completely helpless and hopeless on my own. Even the faith to believe was a gift.

I didn't cause my second birth. He did. He pursued me and had been for the first half of my life - 15 years. Once I reached the age I could understand, I rejected him over and over. Yet, he was merciful and never gave up on me.

Thank you, Father, for Your amazing love!

Thank you, Jesus, for making a way by Your own blood.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for Your relentless pursuit of my sinful soul.

Thank you, dad and mom, for taking me to church and doing your best to teach me as a child.

Thank you, friend (wherever you are), for inviting me that night.

And, thank you, brothers and sisters in Christ, for helping me in a thousand ways grow to be more like Christ.

The first 15 years knowing Christ have changed everything about me. After today, I'll have walked with Jesus longer that I walked without Him and I can't wait to experience what's next!

Those of you who are reading this: Jesus loves you and wants to save you too. Jesus has a great plan for your life. You can be born again just like I was fifteen years ago. God could very well be using this letter to open your eyes to these same truths. Only you can know. Either way, I'm praying for you!

Please let me know if there is a more specific prayer I can pray for you bj@bjprice.org.

In Christ Alone!

To Be A Man Of Prayer (Psalm 109)

Reading even the first few verses of Psalm 109 is terribly troubling for me for I know that my first response to persecution is not always prayer.

1 O God, whom I praise,
do not remain silent,

2 for wicked and deceitful men
have opened their mouths against me;
they have spoken against me with lying tongues.

3 With words of hatred they surround me;
they attack me without cause.

4 In return for my friendship they accuse me,
but I am a man of prayer.

Psalm 109:1-4

I was recently reminded through the testimony of Don Piper of the power of prayer even in our generation. Prayer is our lifeline to our amazing supernatural (yet knowable) Heavenly Father.

For those that know Don's story you'll recall the significance of the hymn "What A Friend We Have in Jesus". Well, this hymn has particular significance in my own life in recent days as well.

I had the privilege of leading worship for a large group of missionaries who serve in many countries that are hostile to the gospel. For some reason (a God thing I'm sure) I felt led to teach our worship band a modern version of "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" in preparation for the conference. In terms of style, this song was actually a bit of an odd fit for our group, but as we were there singing it in worship the words flooded over me in a tidal wave of emotion.

Verse 1
What a Friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer

Verse 2
Have we trials and temptations
Is there trouble anywhere
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Verse 3
Are we weak and heavy laden
Cumbered with a load of care
Precious Savior still our Refuge
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Do thy friends despise forsake thee
Take it to the Lord in prayer
In His arms He'll take and shield thee
Thou wilt find a solace there

Perhaps the emotions were caused by the context in which we were worshiping, but I know that God desires us to live in active dependence on Him through prayer. O that I would always pray with such earnestness.

Today, as an act of worship, trust your every moment to the Lord's capable hands by calling to Him first in prayer.

Do thy friends despise forsake thee
Take it to the Lord in prayer

A Dad for the Third Time

I praise you because I am fearfully
and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
-Psalm 139:14


What I've Learned Becoming a Dad for the Third Time...

• God does miracles everyday!
• There where six people in the room...and then...while the door was still closed...there were seven living breathing souls in the room! WOW!
  
• God's works are wonderful!!
• I have an amazing wife!
• I have married as amazing woman!
• Did I mention how awesome my wife is? Seriously, I am SO proud of her.
  
• I've been there for the birth of my other two sons, but something was extra special about Elaine and David Andrew on Thursday.
• I've heard it said that we should call our moms on our birthday. I have definitely seen why!
• I have been given a huge blessing that I did not deserve.
• I have been given a monstrous responsibility to which I embrace fully.
• DO you realize that God used my wife and I to create and bring into the world a living breathing soul that will never cease to exist. He will live forever.
  
• There is nothing I want more than to see my sons living for the glory of God.
• That which we have prayed for has been answered, and we are so grateful.
• There has been much rejoicing over the birth of our son. We praise God for Him!
  
• I have never felt more cared for by friends and family.
• God is so good!!

Thank you for your love and prayers for our family. I believe God has great things in store for each of His children, and I can't wait to discover it together!

Today, as an act of worship, join me in a celebration of thanksgiving. We have been asking for prayers for Elaine and David Andrew for many long months. You have prayed; we have prayed. God has heard and responded. Now, we worship with thanksgiving!!!!!!!!

I have found David...a man after my own heart;
he will do everything I want him to do.
-Acts 13:22

You are My Strength (Psalm 108)

This morning I was up reading Psalm 108 again. I was encouraged by it last week and it led me to a song on Sunday morning in the Annex called "You Are My Strength" by Reuben Morgan. (Which, by the way, Sunday was pretty incredible. God is doing some amazing things these days, and Don Piper - wow what a story!! Thanks, Don, for sharing your ministry with us last Sunday.)

Psalm 108 is a powerful statement for personal worship. Today it is showing me that it's one thing to offer instruction to someone on how to worship, and it is another thing all together to motivate them to actually worship.

While I was talking to a potential guitar instructor for our Conservatory ministry yesterday a very similar thought and illustration began to emerge. I asked him how he dealt with students who don't seem to be practicing between lessons. He responded by saying he would have a heart to heart conversation with the student (and possibly the parent) about what the student was trying to accomplish and try to reveal and path to that end. Furthermore, he explained that when students don't practice it is usually NOT a sign that they don't know HOW to practice, but it shows the underlying issue that they are not MOTIVATED TO practice.

Now, when you read the opening verses of Psalm 108, ask yourself, "Am I that motivated to worship the LORD today?"

1 My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing and make music with all my soul.

2 Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

3 I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 108:1-5

Today, as an act of worship, focus your thoughts on the AMAZING LOVE of the LORD, and worship Him with genuine thanksgiving and praise. Let His GRACE and PEACE motivate you to bring honest heart offerings to the LORD!

His Love Endures Forever (Psalm 107)

This morning I went back and read Psalm 107 during my quiet time with the LORD. It was refreshing to hear the Psalmist remind the worshiper to remember the great love of the LORD.

Sometimes the circumstances I find myself in feel much more painful and difficult than my youthful understand of God's true love. It's far to easy to have a false notion that I am only being loved by God when things are going right in my life. That is completely wrong - though it may feel right.

True love is not bound to our feelings. Just because we don't feel loved or just because others don't feel like we love them does not mean that we are not loved or are not loving.

It is in those moments when I need to open God's WORD and remember that God has displayed his perfect love of us for all eternity through the death of His son Jesus - on a horrible and wonderful cross. His love truly endures forever.

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,

9 for he...

15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,

16 for he...

31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.

43 Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and consider the great love of the LORD.

Psalm 107 (excerpts)

Today, as an act of worship, read the excerpts of Psalm 107 again and fill in the blanks with what God has done in your life remembering the great love of the LORD in all things!! There is a purpose for all thing. God is sovereign over all things!!!

Thailand Update

Well, it's been an incredible week here in Thailand leading worship and encouraging many brothers and sisters in Christ. I can hardly believe it is coming to a close. In just a few short hours we will be leading our last session and concluding one of the most amazing and humbling experiences of my life.

I feel so unworthy to encourage these friends in this capacity, yet I know with confidence that God has called me here for that very purpose. It has been a huge blessing to hear the many stories of life and work overseas. God is doing amazing things - to say the least!

Today, I was blessed and encouraged by Psalm 95:1-7 as we proclaimed the greatness of our God together.

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

3 For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

7 for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.

Psalm 95:1-7

Today, as an act of worship, I encourage you to pray for the many believers who we've met this week. Pray for their families to be strong and remain faithful to the Lord when the road seems to difficult to traverse and the cross to heavy to bear!

Yesterday, with the help of my assistant, Amy, we created an imix playlist of many of the songs used at the conference. To find it just search "BB AGM 2009" in the itunes store in the imix section or see below. If you'd like a copy of the worship team book from the conference please email me directly and I'll be happy to send it to you.

God Bless,

B.J.

Breathing the Breath - The Conclusion of the Psalter

I was recently singing "Breathing the Breath", by Matt Redman, at the top of my lungs while cutting grass. It was nearing the end of a day of working in the yard and I was overflowing with praise and worship. I had been listening to music and sermons on my ipod for several hours and, WOW, all of a sudden it just flooded over me - "We are breathing the breath that You gave us to Breathe, we are breathing..." - of course, I was out of breath at the time, but it was still an amazing time of worship.



We are called to worship God for who He is in His sanctuary, what he has revealed in His mighty heavens, what He has done through His acts of power, and simply because of His surpassing greatness. I can't help but emphasize the personal pronouns referring to the LORD in the opening two verses of Psalm 150. Try it. Every time you say "his" add a little pause and consider exactly what you are saying.

1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Psalm 150

The conclusion of the entire psalter is quite fitting; "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD." It is important to point out that this Psalm is strictly emphasizing those with breath in their lungs - as opposed to other living but non-breathing organisms.

Today, as an act of worship, let nothing hinder your praise. Come before the Lord with genuine expressions of gratitude remembering that even the breath in our lungs - with which we can choose to praise God or not - is in fact a gift from God.