His Intercession!

Wherefore he is able also 

to save them to the uttermost 

that come unto God by him,

seeing he ever liveth 

to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

Do you ever think about the fact that Jesus prays for you? We often think about prayer as our talking to God--and rightly so--but Jesus also pleads before the throne of grace for us. He lives to make intercession for His chosen ones. He can save us because He died for us, and is now able to represent us perfectly and completely before a holy and just God. He died to bury our sins, but He lives to intercede for our lives. 

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27) An all-knowing Savior not only knows exactly how to pray for us, but He also knows the mind, Spirit, and will of God. He prays with that knowledge. Knowing that God's purposes are sovereign, and that everything He does or says will be accomplished regardless of man's desires. Yet, the One who searches the human heart still stands before that Throne and begs for mercy and grace on our behalf. 

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

The blood of the One who bought us--the sacrifice Who paid for our sinful lives--takes the likeness of a man on Himself, but His holiness is what permits Him entrance into the holy place. For God cannot turn away a perfect Ransom. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1b-2)

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry.
"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry.
"Nor let that ransomed sinner die!"

He is the remover of the Father's righteous wrath. He is the One and only atonement for sin. He is our High Priest--the One who dares to freely enter the Holy of Holies and look upon the face of God. He is the presence of the sinner but the flawless Christ. He is the Son of Man, yet the Son of God.

And He prays for us. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:34) Yes, our sins condemn us, but it is the risen Christ who intercedes for us. He not only sits in glory and majesty at the right hand of the Father in equality with Him, but He also took on the form of a servant and the fashion of mankind in order that He might pray for us.

So when your spiritual life appears to be fading, when your prayers don't seem to be reaching the heavens, when your questions outnumber your answers, and when your faith simply collapses--remember. Remember that Christ is already praying for you. Remember that He constantly stands before the Father, pleading for mercy for you. Remember Who He is and what He has done and is doing for you. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of  the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. (Hebrews 9:24) Our imperfect prayers reach the King of Kings as perfect, because of our Intercessor. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Therefore, the Holy of Holies, the sacred dwelling place of God, is open to us. He invites us to enter with our imperfection, because the Ransom who stands in our place has made us perfect in His sight. For all of time and eternity.

Jesus says, I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. and all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, ever as we are one: I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that teh world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:9-10, 17, 22-23)

So then, Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have no an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And "Father, Abba, Father," cry. *

*Hymn lyrics by Charles Wesley.

No Stains.

Last week was a busy one, but it was also enjoyable.

On Monday I had my 13^th coaching call. My coach and I discussed my high school studies goals and then planned my next two weeks of CollegePlus studying. I have been and am working on the Western Civilization 1 (3 credits) and English literature (6 credits) CLEPs for the next couple months. It’s amazing to see how much history connects! Also we talked about my upcoming degree consultation. I’m not sure what bachelor’s degree I will be pursuing, but I’m currently deciding between English and Liberal Studies.

Tuesday is my music lesson day. My sister and I practice our piano duet and duo for the music festival at the end of February. It’s lots of fun and I love playing with her. At my harp lesson my teacher confirmed that I was ready for my exam (I was VERY glad to hear that. ;) ). After my private lesson, I finished the day with my harp group. We’re practicing songs for the festival also. There are about seven students in our group, ranging from beginners to past grade eight (RCM program). We have a lot of fun together and our teacher is the best. ;)

On Wednesday I started taking notes for Western Civ 1 using mind maps that Collin M. (another CP! student) had previously created. I think taking notes this way will help me remember the information better because that’s the way I have studied for all my high school history subjects. I’m really enjoying it. I also started working on the Learning Network for English lit. Later in the day I practiced my harp (I had been practicing it pretty much every day I just didn’t mention it) and tried to finish some high school studying. :D

Thursday was my harp exam! For the first part of the day I just did school. Later on I practiced harp before we left. I was very glad that my teacher said I was ready because that made a big difference to how I felt about it. ;) I wasn’t nervous thankfully, but I was hoping that I wouldn’t get cold hands either (you musicians may know the difficulties of playing an instrument with cold fingers. ;) ). It was an amazing experience. I had probably the best examiner I’ve had in all my years of music. I also had people from all different states and provinces praying for me as well as friends and family closer to me. Thank you all so much! And praise the Lord that He helped me through the whole 3-4 months of intense harp practicing. I could not have finished grade eight harp otherwise.

Each Friday night we have soccer with a group of families who are mostly homeschoolers. We had a great game that night and my team won 11-10. :P I was the goalie for the first half of the game, so unfortunately, I let in most of the goals. :P It was lots of fun though.

After a full day of schooling on Saturday, my sister and I played in our January recital. I played a harp solo and Hannah (my sister) played violin with her Junior Orchestra. She and her group played wonderfully! We had a great time with family and friends while we were there, too.

Sunday, we went to the church that we have been attending for almost 10 years. I played piano in the morning service. I love doing that. :D In Sunday school, the pastor’s wife is going through some of the people through history who have been a light to the world. She came up with this series from reading Hebrews 11 (the Hall of Faith). It’s been so encouraging to see the people through history standing up for Christ (many of them sealing their testimony with their blood).

This weekend I also finished watching a movie with my sister. One of the main quotes in it was “There are no stains on the pages of tomorrow.” It was the biggest spiritual lesson that I learned last week, that no matter what the day was like, there was always a new start tomorrow. God is always ready to forgive me and the next day starts with no mistakes, no struggles, no problems. He is faithful and He will carry me through each new day if I only trust in Him.  I am too helpless to live through everything that life throws at me, but when I place my life in His hands then my weakness becomes strength.

“In my weakness He is strong;

In my need He leads me on.

When I come to the end of all I am,

And I place my trust in Him;

That’s when His strength begins –

In my weakness.”

In my weakness (His strength) I can know that each day is a new start. There are NO stains on the pages of tomorrow. I can go forward trusting in His goodness and relying on Him (especially when I’m tired :P ). And He is faithful.

2 Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

God bless,

Kaleigh