There’s a place of quiet stillness ‘tween the light and shadows reach
Where the hurting and the hopeless seek everlasting peace
Words of men and songs of angels whisper comfort bittersweet
Mending grief and life eternal where joy and sorrow meet

There is a place where hope remains
In crowns of thorns and crimson stains
And tears that fall on Jesus’ feet
Where joy and sorrow meet

There’s a place the lost surrender and the weary will retreat
Full of grace and mercy tender in times of unbelief
For the wounded there is healing, strength is given to the weak
Broken hearts find love redeeming where joy and sorrow meet

There’s a place of thirst and hunger where the roots of faith grow deep
And there is rain and rolling thunder when the road is rough and steep
There is hope in desperation there is victory in defeat
At the cross of restoration where joy and sorrow meet

Great song by Avalon
Kinsey

Currently Listening Anything Worth Saying By Aaron Shust My Savior, My God see related

The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master.  I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. But I can't help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.  I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart.But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:14-25

Billy preached a great sermon this morning.  It seemed to hit right where it hurts, right in the belly of my sin and my shame--my pride. My insatiable, greedy, unquenchable, ravenous, gratification in myself and my own accomplishments. I hate that.  I despise that with all my heart.  What I despise the most though, is that I have let it take my joy.  I have let my steal my joy in the things of the Lord.  The things that he has given me. I am so sick of just being bothered by my sin.  My wish is that I would be broken by it-broken to the point of intense, passionate worship.  Worship that is completely not in and of myself. Worship that is sincere, and gratifying to only God.

We are reading this book in Accountability called "The Mortification of Sin"-it could not have come at a better time.  It talks about mortifying sin-completely killing it. We have to kill the sin within us-deep within us. Sin that we may not know we have, sin we may think we don't need to deal with, sin that is embarrassing, or hurtful to think about.  Since we started reading it on Thursday, God has used every opportunity to reveal hidden sin in my heart, and this morning he practically smacked me over the head with it (I love how he does that-I just wish that I could be still and quiet enough to hear him the first time that he does).

Father, Thank you for placing in me this desire for a more intimate relationship with you. Don't let it cease.  Put a fire in my bones.   Now Father help me to destroy this sin that keeps me from complete joy in you.  Help me to strip off everything that is of me, of my selfish, prideful nature.  I can't do this by myself and I realize that it is going to take more than one heartfelt prayer session, more than one long look into Your word, more than one day or so of this self-loathing.  Keep me strong-in You.  Keep my faith-in You.  Break my heart Father, for my sin.  Sin that I might not even realize that I have.  Sin that I am too afraid to let go.  Sin that I am too ashamed to ask your help.  Sin that robs my joy in You. Thank you for the price that you paid.  Without Your tears there is no comfort. Without Your death, there is no life.  Without Your blood, there is no pardon. Without Your cross there is not crown.  Without Your shame, there is no glory. Without Your grief, there is no JOY.  Without your stripes, there is no healing.  Without Your cross, there is no crown.  Lamb of God, you bring salvation. And with your grace our hearts are healed.  Lord with your tears of love you bathe our sorrows.  In your eyes we stand revealed. Bring that realization to life Father.  Break me of my sin, I know you will. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Jesus.