It's Time...

...and now is as good of a time as any...
to introduce my new and shiny blog. 


I've been anticipating the switch for quite some time,
especially with the changes that will ensue of possibly
moving to France, applying to grad school, graduating from
college, etc.

Since I've started this blog, I've got countless encouragement
and feedback, with over 400+ views per month and subscribers
from all over the world. I am truly humbled. Thank you.

So naturally, that means that this site will no longer be updated....

I'm pretty sure that you already figured that one out...
And because I love my followers and because I don't
want to lose a single one of you, please update your
google readers or whatever to:

www.lesmesaventures.com

And be sure to come visit me, leave comments or just say hello!
It's just the same stuff, just a different/better/awesome-er platform.

Center

So convicted by this song. I'm posting some of the lyrics (with emphasis) because they basically speak for themselves. Have yourself a listen and be blessed! 
- - - - - - - 
You’re the center of the universe
Everything was made in You Jesus
Breath of every living thing
Everyone was made for You

You hold everything together
You hold everything together

Chorus:
Christ be the center of our lives
Be the place we fix our eyes
Be the center of our lives

We lift our eyes to heaven
We wrap our lives around your Word
We lift our eyes to heaven, to You. 


Charlie Hall - "Center"

(p.s. I found a way to eliminate the "video" part of the YouTube link when I embed it into my blog posts. So just click and hear the song! Cool, huh?!?!)

Hidden In My Heart

I cannot tell you how comforting scripture is. Really. No matter what my issue or state of life, the Bible is always sufficient to calm my soul and remind me of the hope in the gospel. When I read the Bible, I know that Christ's sacrifice has made me blameless before God, with all the righteousness of Jesus.
So obviously, I like theologically based music. There's something wonderful about being able to express my religious beliefs within the context of song. I'm a firm believer that my soul has its own way of "singing" before the Lord, as new age-y as that may seem. And in the Bible, the Lord is blessed when people lift up their voices and offer their instruments in worship to Him.

And when I came across this CD, I was so so thankful. Actual scriptural verses set to amazingly soothing lullaby tunes. Although it's intended for children, I find that I'm getting a lot of benefit from it. Honestly, theology is theology. It doesn't matter if you're 3 or 50, the gospel and the Bible consistently have the same message. Can a grownup lady learn new things from a CD intended for children? Absolutely.

So don't be weirded out because it's intended for children. The music is really well done. I never would have guessed that it was originally made for kids! So adults, have no fear! I highly highly highly recommend getting your hands on a copy. It's just Bible verses set to music, no crazy stuff. Pure and simple. It brings me right back to the Bible, where I need to be in the first place. 

Buy a CD or a digital copy off the website - HERE.

Sufficient

(Found this quote somewhere the recesses of my blogroll. Awesome, right?)

When your hope is in the Lord,
when you are getting inner sense of well-being and security from Him,
When He is the reason you continue even when things are hard,
Then you are building your life on something that is reliable and sure.
When you are waiting on the Lord,
you have placed your hope in the One
who is the ultimate source of everything that’s wise, good, and true.
When you wait for the Lord,
you are placing your safety in the hands of the One whose power is immeasurable.
When you wait for the Lord,
you are getting your comfort from the One whose love is boundless.
When you wait for the Lord,
you can be secure in the reality that He rules over all things.
When you wait for the Lord,
you can live with confidence because you know
that every one of His promises is true.
When you wait for the Lord,
you can be hopeful even in weakness because you know
that His grace is sufficient.”
- Paul David Tripp

(Reblogged from here)

All I Have

You know, it's funny how God has a sense of timing. It's pretty darn perfect. As I wrote yesterday, I had been waitlisted for the French program and was feeling really bummed and a bit frustrated about it. I wasn't distraught or upset, just that the "wind" had been taken out of my sails.

As it turned out, I had music team practice that evening. And for those of you who don't know, I usually sing for UCLA GOC in our times of worship, which is a huge blessing. I love serving them! And God, in his great providence, has us singing this song for Friday night. It just flattened me as I looked over the lyrics and sang them through with the team. I've heard it before, but the lyrics took on a new dimension as I pondered the state of my life right now, facing the end of undergrad with the unknown prospects of being an "adult". It's a bit scary, right?


"All I Have Is Christ" - Sovereign Grace Music

Now I'm not the most "emotional" person, meaning that I don't cry on cue, but this song definitely makes me tear up. The reason? All I have is Christ. He's my sole possession, the ultimate prize. Everything else just pales in comparison to him. Nothing really matters. Not grades, not GRE's, not grad schools, not moving overseas, nothing. Now, that's not to say that I don't put my best effort out. I do! But my focus needs to be a little more eternally focused.

So this goes above and beyond me, if my God has the ability to provide for my salvation, He can surely provide for me right now. Like the song says, "All I know is grace". Indeed!

France

So... I've gotten some sort of a response from the program that I applied to.

Waitlisted.

That word hit me like a bullet in the chest as I sat in Jimmy's Coffee Shop with my friends. I was expecting either a "yes" or a "no". Not a "maybe". That was exactly the response that I was hoping to avoid. But I'm learning that my expectations and the Lord's plans aren't always on the same plane. That is, my hopes and dreams are drastically different than what is good for me.

So what do I do? I wait some more. I put my trust that the Lord will give me an answer in his timing. All good and perfect things come from His hands, so that's where my faith is and that's where my hope lies.

Grace Upon Grace

These lyrics have been my theme and my comfort in the past few days. 

The song is titled "Through The Precious Blood" by Sovereign Grace Music

and it pretty much describes my mental process at the moment.

Take a listen and enjoy! 

You have ordained every breath we take. 

  In pleasure or pain, there is no mistake. 

  Gladness and grief, both are in Your hand 

  And sufferings brief carry out Your plan. 

  And our fleeting sorrows 

  When some bright tomorrow 

  We’ll see You with our eyes, and 

   

Chorus:

 Grace upon grace flows down, flows down 

 Grace upon grace flows down, flows down 

  Through the precious blood of Christ   

Father of lights, Giver of all grace 

  Your mercies crown our lives all our days 

  River of Life, quench our thirsty souls 

  For no true delight does Your love withhold 

  And in every season 

  We are satisfied 

  For just one reason 

  Christ was crucified.

  

All good gifts, every good thing  

  Comes to us freely, so freely. 

  All good gifts, every good thing 

  Comes to us freely, so freely 

  Through the precious blood 

  Through the precious blood 

Privilege

The Privilege of Trust. This concept seems almost antithetical, paradoxical. Often, the notion of the believer's trust adheres to something negative. For example, "I'm trusting for God to provide me with a job" or "I'm trusting in the Lord through this trial". Basically, the concept of trust gets a bad rap.

But when you think about it, as I have been lately, the ability to put my hope and trust in the Lord is an absolute blessing. And the fact that my trust rests on an everlasting and reliable God draws my heart near with thanksgiving. Trust is a multifaceted thing. It acts as a way to weather the storms of life in a Godly and healthy way. It provides me with a way to find real, solid joy. Trust also manifests through the happier seasons in my life. This concept reminds me of some verses from the hymn "My Hope is Built":

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.


His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay. 


And I'm going to take this golden opportunity to be really transparent with you guys. It's really hard to trust in the Lord sometimes, especially in terms of providing a spouse/family/future. And it's something that I really really want. But it is a gift that only the Lord can give to me. Obviously none of my striving is going to do anything. I have to learn to be content and to be patient as the will of the Lord unfolds day by day.

Some people may think that age 23 is too young to be considering these things. Really? Frankly, I don't see why not. I'm at the age when this really is a question and something to be prayerfully considering. I'm just trying to honor my Savior with my live, just trying to do the best with what I've been given. And that's all we can really do, right?

So that's where the gift of trust comes in. As I move through life's inevitable seasons, some happier than others, I need to remember that my trust in the Lord doesn't act as an obstacle in the pursuit of "happiness" or "fulfillment". It isn't a temporary band-aid or spiritual trite-ism. Trust is real, tangible, and acts as a way to put the faith that I possess into action. And in this way, it's almost a miracle.

Girls Gone Wise

I've stumbled upon something really really great. I mean, I've heard about this ministry for a little while now and have been told about the book but never really gave it any serious consideration. But the "Girls Gone Wise" ministry is an awesome resource for girls and women.

Their approach is refreshingly simple and hits straight home, at least for me. A lot of Biblical womanhood sites that I frequent talk about how to love and serve your husband or children. I don't know about you, but I'm not in that position at the moment. Although I love love love sites like GirlTalk, some of their advice doesn't apply to me yet. But that doesn't mean that I can't listen and plan for the future. Sometimes, I just want Biblical advice that sits on my level, that understands the battles that I fight as a single lady and the specific ways in which I am tempted to sin.

The thing that sets "Girls Gone Wise" apart is that it's focused on single/dating young women. It challenges girls' worldview and puts the gospel into perspective with their lives. But the advice and council isn't stuffy and dated, like "boys only like girls who wear dresses" or "Godly girls are always quiet". No, they focus on cultivating a heart for the Lord and to serve the church. Because when your heart is in the right place, your actions follow accordingly. I feel like they're speaking straight to me!

But don't take my word for it... check it out for yourself!

Girls Gone Wise

Encouraging, n'est ce pas?

So I'm going to break up this "seriousness" of this blog for a little bit.
The Reverb10 posts have been a little, well, intense. They're really intense
and require me to look back on some days that I'd rather not. But 2011 is
a new year. A clean slate, a new literal decade.

Since I very well may be living in France at this time next year, I've been
encouraged by some French believers. It's amazing at the way that the
body of Christ transcends language, culture, tradition, age. It just goes to
show the permeance of the gospel, how it fills up all the spaces.

Jesus is the hope of nations. L'espoir des nations. It's been so encouraging
to my heart to realize that Christ didn't just come to save Jews, Greeks, Americans.
He came for the whole world. Salvation is a global thing, for the believer. So I pray
as the Lord's will unfolds in my life, in reference to moving overseas, that I'll be
able to serve the global church and to be encouraged by other believers,
regardless of ethnic origin or nationality.

So, I've posted a video of a French version of Hillsong's song "Mighty to Save".
Not that I'm all keen on Hillsong's theology, but I really like this song because
it focuses on Christ's power to save. It reminds me that He has the power to
overcome anything to give salvation to his children. Nothing stands in his
way; language, culture, death. We are His because he chose us, purchased
us, loves us. I don't know about you, but that fills me with so much joy.



p.s. This video is set to the English version of the song, so it's kinda strange to watch
French words "coming" from their mouths. It kinda makes me laugh... Anyway,
just listen to the song.

Freezing Cold

Los Angeles is cold this weekend. Not just chilly. But cold. It's the kind that
lingers even within the warmth of your apartment, it settles in the corners of your
day and follows you wherever you go. It's the kind of cold that gets you to the bone.

Now, I grew up in Philadelphia. I know something about being cold. We grew up
expecting snow, ice, rain. Winter was part of the process, a part of our routine. Every
year, like clockwork, we'd bundle up with scarves and mittens. We'd put salt on our driveway
and anti-skid tires on our car. We'd even decorate the bleak winter snow with snowmen or
tunnels carved into big drifts. There was a way to make some sort of warmth
and happiness out of the cold.

But in Los Angeles, there is no joyful expectation of any sort of cold. We act surprised
when any incliment weather occurs, no matter the time of year or type of weather.
My theory is this: I'm so much colder in Los Angeles because it doesn't feel right.
This city is supposed to be warm and sunny, full of expectation and promise. My
reaction is based on expectation, or the lack thereof. And no matter where I go, I
can't seem to get warm. I can't shake this lingering and wrapping feeling of being cold,
inside and out. The chill follows me like a phantom, tracing my steps. And let me tell you,
this doesn't feel right.

The same feeling can be transferred to my feeling of expectation, about life in general.
When the things that I expect from myself, from my surroundings, change and modify
in ways that I don't necessarily like, it's sometimes hard to cope. When I don't get the
grade that I want or the relationship that I've worked for, how do I react? Often, I let
that disappointment follow me like the cold. It haunts me, follows me, lives in my back pocket.
Now, I'm not saying that all expectations are inherently bad. It's how I react to disappointment
that needs to be altered.

I need to rest on the Lord's sovereignty in all things.I have to expect that my plans and ambitions
will be thwarted. Staying my heart on things that will not change or shift (the Gospel) is the only way
to avoid disappointment. Christ promises his believers some amazing things: eternal bliss and communion
with himself and the Father, the Church as guide and comfort, other believers to run the race with us, and
the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives to confront our spirits and guide us. These promises of God
are the real expectations, the truth to set my heart on. It is through Jesus Christ alone that my soul is satisfied
and at rest. Nothing else satisfies like He does. And that is the greatest reward, better than any expectation
that I may have.


P.S. I'm computer-less for a week so please bear with me, as my posts may be a bit sporatic. My hard drive crashed and I lost everything - photos, music. Precious memories that I can't get back. Thanks for your patience and support!

Encouraging, no?

1 Corinthians 15:58

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,

immovable, always abounding in the work of the

Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain

in the Lord."

That blessed my heart today and I hope

that encourages you too. Our struggle with

sin and our fight is not in vain. In the Lord,

we can do all things pertaining to life in

Godliness. Praise Him!

p.s. I'm an honorary "aunt" today.

Welcome Lady J. I love you already

and will even more in the days to come!

Thanksgiving

The holiday frenzy is upon us. At the present, it is the night of Thanksgiving Day. I'm home alone, after spending the day in Orange County with the McMillans. I am so thankful for their generous hospitality towards me! Wonderful food and company! In the spirit of the season, I'm going to list the top 10 things that I'm thankful for. Of course, I'm thankful for much more than ten, but this isn't the place to write my life story. So here I go...

I'm thankful for...

1. Jesus - my savior and my intercessor

2. my precious family - 60+ of them

3. the ability to obtain an education

4. Grace Community Church - where the truth is taught

5. the ability to come before the Lord in prayer

6. my civil rights as a woman to vote, etc.

7. GOC - my family and support system out here in LA

8. God's Word, the Bible

9. my physical (and mental!) health

10. the knowledge that my future is secure.

God is good to me, far more than I deserve.

I'm constantly and consistently in awe of the

way that He works in my life and heart.

Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe.

Confession

On Sunday, one of the speakers at Crossroads was talking about the subject of confession. I have no idea who he is quoting or what this is from, but I thought it was important and poignant to share. Here is a "way" or an appropriate response for confession, wether it is sin against a person or against God (well - it's all sin against God, respectively)

1. address everyone involved

2. avoid "if" or "maybe"

3. admit specifics

4. acknowledge hurt

5. accept consequences

6. alter behavior

7. ask for forgiveness

Hmm. Food for thought? I should think so.

Answers

2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

Hebrews 12:7-13

"It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?
For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed."


What do these verses have in common? The theme of discipline. The Lord disciplines those that He loves. See, this verse really made sense to me today. I was talking to a dear friend and she (rightfully) rebuked me. I am so thankful for people like her, the body of Christ. The Lord uses that to grow and challenge me, all things that I need. The Lord really answered my prayer to "show me the sin that I can't see". Wow. I'm really in awe of how God works in my life to sanctify me. Praise Him!

Yom Kippur

Today is the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is also known as the "Day of Atonement", a day where annual forgiveness of sins is given via fasting and prayers. As many of you know, I am (partially) of Jewish heritage. And no, none of my family practices. By God's grace, a majority of them are saved.

This day has a lot of meaning for me. As a Christian, Yom Kippur has no hold. My atonement was paid when Christ died for my sins. My sins aren't forgiven once a year - they're forgiven for yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Like it says in Psalm 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

That gives me comfort. Christ - my sacrificial lamb - was offered as sin in my place. As a sinner, and as a Jew, that is truly amazing. I am not bound by an ancient, dead religion. My hope is alive and I live because of it.

Patience

It's time to check my bad attitude. I need to exercise patience and graciousness, specifically in the way that I interact with my parents. I need to be more respectful and loving, preferring them above myself. Am I doing that? No, not like I should. The Bible tells me that I need to be an obedient child - serving them and submitting to their authority. After all, they are fellow heirs and brethren in Christ. I need to see them the same way that I view all believers. What are some ways that I can be a better daughter/example? Given that I am predisposed to making lists, I thought I'd compile a short one right here to remind myself.

1. Pray - for self-control and patience

2. Hold my tongue when they say something that I don't like

3. Count to 10 before issuing said response

4. Increase my awareness to things that they need

5. Have a heart for compassion

6. Put aside my own selfish needs and wants in order to meet theirs

7. Remember that the Lord has infinitely more patience with me

8. Remember that I have nothing to boast in.

9. Remember that everything I have is a temporary gift.

10. My parents have been my biggest support - time to return the favor.

11. Apologize when I cross the line.

12. Pray for forgiveness from the Lord.

13. Construct ways to not have that response.

14. My annoyance = my sin.

Fighting Against Lust

Written by John Piper.

This is seriously AMAZING and should be read by

everybody!

I have in mind men and women. For men it's obvious. The need for warfare against the bombardment of visual temptation to fixate on sexual images is urgent. For women it is less obvious, but just as great if we broaden the scope of temptation to food or figure or relational fantasies. When I say "lust" I mean the realm of thought, imagination, and desire that leads to sexual misconduct. So here is one set of strategies in the war against wrong desires. I put it in the form of an acronym, A N T H E M.
A - AVOID as much as is possible and reasonable the sights and situations that arouse unfitting desire. I say "possible and reasonable" because some exposure to temptation is inevitable. And I say "unfitting desire" because not all desires for sex, food, and family are bad. We know when they are unfitting and unhelpful and on their way to becoming enslaving. We know our weaknesses and what triggers them. "Avoiding" is a Biblical strategy. "Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness" (2 Timothy 2:22). "Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:14).
N - Say NO to every lustful thought within five seconds. And say it with the authority of Jesus Christ. "In the name of Jesus, NO!" You don't have much more than five seconds. Give it more unopposed time than that, and it will lodge itself with such force as to be almost immovable. Say it out loud if you dare. Be tough and warlike. As John Owen said, "Be killing sin or it will be killing you." Strike fast and strike hard. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" ( James 4:7).
T - TURN the mind forcefully toward Christ as a superior satisfaction. Saying "no" will not suffice. You must move from defense to offense. Fight fire with fire. Attack the promises of sin with the promises of Christ. The Bible calls lusts "deceitful desires" (Ephesians 4:22). They lie. They promise more than they can deliver. The Bible calls them "passions of your former ignorance" (1 Peter 1:14). Only fools yield. "All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter" (Proverbs 7:22). Deceit is defeated by truth. Ignorance is defeated by knowledge. It must be glorious truth and beautiful knowledge. This is why I wrote Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ. We must stock our minds with the superior promises and pleasures of Jesus. Then we must turn to them immediately after saying, "NO!"
H - HOLD the promise and the pleasure of Christ firmly in your mind until it pushes the other images out. "Fix your eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 3:1). Here is where many fail. They give in too soon. They say, "I tried to push it out, and it didn't work." I ask, "How long did you try?" How hard did you exert your mind? The mind is a muscle. You can flex it with vehemence. Take the kingdom violently (Matthew 11:12). Be brutal. Hold the promise of Christ before your eyes. Hold it. Hold it! Don't let it go! Keep holding it! How long? As long as it takes. Fight! For Christ's sake, fight till you win! If an electric garage door were about to crush your child you would hold it up with all our might and holler for help, and hold it and hold it and hold it and hold it.
E - ENJOY a superior satisfaction. Cultivate the capacities for pleasure in Christ. One reason lust reigns in so many is that Christ has so little appeal. We default to deceit because we have little delight in Christ. Don't say, "That's just not me." What steps have you taken to waken affection for Jesus? Have you fought for joy? Don't be fatalistic. You were created to treasure Christ with all your heart - more than you treasure sex or sugar. If you have little taste for Jesus, competing pleasures will triumph. Plead with God for the satisfaction you don't have: "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days" (Psalm 90:14). Then look, look, look at the most magnificent Person in the universe until you see him the way he is.
M - MOVE into a useful activity away from idleness and other vulnerable behaviors. Lust grows fast in the garden of leisure. Find a good work to do, and do it with all your might. "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord" (Romans 12:11). "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Abound in work. Get up and do something. Sweep a room. Hammer a nail. Write a letter. Fix a faucet. And do it for Jesus' sake. You were made to manage and create. Christ died to make you "zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:14). Displace deceitful lusts with a passion for good deeds.
Fighting at your side,
Pastor John

A Happy Confession of Having No Merit

Written by John Piper
I was born into a believing family through no merit of my own at all.
I was given a mind to think and a heart to feel through no merit of my own at all.
I was brought into the hearing of the gospel through no merit of my own at all.
My rebellion was subdued, my hardness removed, my blindness overcome, and my deadness awakened through no merit of my own at all.
Thus I became a believer in Christ through no merit of my own at all.
And so I am an heir of God with Christ through no merit of my own at all.
Now when I put forward effort to please the Lord who bought me, this is to me no merit at all, because

...it is not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
...God is working in me that which is pleasing in his sight. (Hebrews 13:21)
...he fulfills every resolve for good by his power. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

And therefore there is no ground for boasting in myself, but only in God’s mighty grace.

Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:31)

35 Reasons Not To Sin

1. Because a little sin leads to more sin.
2. Because my sin invites the discipline of God.
3. Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.
4. Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.
5. Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.
6. Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.
7. Because I am doing what I do not have to do.
8. Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.
9. Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.
10. Because my sin saddens the godly.
11. Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.
12. Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.
13. Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.
14. Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of disobedience.
15. Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.
16. Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.
17. Because my sin may influence others to sin.
18. Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.
19. Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the very purpose of taking away my sin.
20. Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.
21. Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish their sin.
22. Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.
23. Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such sins.
24. Because the inhabitants of heaven and hell would all testify to the foolishness of this sin.
25. Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.
26. Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.
27. Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for righteousness has both.
28. Because my sin is adultery with the world.
29. Because, though forgiven, I will review this very sin at the Judgment Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.
30. Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the discipline for my sin might be.
31. Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.
32. Because to sin is not to love Christ.
33. Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority over me greater than I wish to believe.
34. Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it and His turning of it to good use, never because it is worth anything on it’s own.
35. Because I promised God he would be Lord of my life.

(Sorry, I can't take credit for this. I acquired this via a friend's Facebook. Enjoy and be convicted!)