Ineffable Glory

Moved to Dallas

2011-03-16T17:19:00.003-05:00

I am now living in Dallas, Texas and will be here for the next few years. I am working full-time and planning to attend Redeemer seminary this year. I am filled with faith and excited to be on the journey, following Christ, my leader.

I have had an amazing time so far! I love being here and love what God is doing. I look forward to joining a local church here and getting plugged in right away.

For those who know me (and don't know me), please commit to pray for me. I am in need of all your prayers and really want to press into the Lord in this season of my life. I have a lot going on and need His strength to get me through.

I will be using this site to give updates on my life and ministry in Dallas and invite any and all to join with me in worshiping and enjoying Christ Jesus our Lord! This blog will be an easy way to follow what God is doing in my life and I definitely want to let all of my friends and family be apart of that!

In Christ,

Zack Migioia

Jesus is worth more than everything

2011-01-26T22:23:00.003-05:00

Jesus is so valuable! He is so wonderful and glorious and beautiful! His value none can estimate! His worth is far more than much fine gold. He is worth more than all of our stuff. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and there is none like Him.

I praise Him this evening as I ponder just how valuable of a treasure I have. I got this treasure free of cost, as a gift. And He is so precious to me!

Prayer for Today

2010-10-26T08:39:00.002-05:00

Holy Father,

Thank you for the trials, sufferings, and craziness that has made up the last few years of my life. Thanks for doing something so wonderful and beautiful in my life. Something that I could not even imagine happening, especially through these circumstances. I just confess that I trust you and I love you and you are my treasure. Be with me today, tomorrow, and forever, because without you I am lost and hopeless. With you I am satisfied and complete.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

My email

2010-10-23T22:49:00.000-05:00

Contact me here:

zmigioia@gmail.com

Zack

Free Hymns! Listen to these!

2010-10-22T18:12:00.001-05:00

Excited About What's Ahead

2010-03-29T22:32:00.003-05:00

I have this incredible confidence and faith that God is going to do wonderful things in the life of my church and in my personal walk. I am filled with faith because Jesus is faithful and is so good to his people. I pray that hundreds upon hundreds will be saved and added to the church in the last 9 months of 2010.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is

2010-02-27T12:08:00.002-05:00

There is freedom and liberty found with God. I absolutely love the Holy Spirit!

Reflection

2009-01-28T14:03:00.004-05:00

NOTE: I wrote this over Christmas break last year after much reflection on life and my current circumstances)

"Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace" Ephesians 2:12-14

For he himself is our peace. What a wonderful statement! Six words, yet so much more here than words. Jesus Christ himself is our peace. How often have we felt restless? Anxious? Nervous and uncertain? We can rest now, because peace is here. Peace is a person and his name is Jesus! Jesus Christ came to the world to save the world from itself. Sin had stained the world and affected every part of it. It stained humanity, affecting every facet our our person. We are utterly helpless and hopeless apart from a Savior. It's amazing how blind we have been. How self-sufficiency was our boast and how long we lived thinking we needed no savior. "Saved? What do I need to be saved from? I'm doing pretty good and don't need to be rescued". This was our attitude and we were deceived. It was true and right to say we had "no hope" and were "without God in the world". But then Jesus came. He lived the life we should have lived. He perfectly obeyed the father and was tempted in every way as we were, yet without sin. He was the only innocent one to ever live, yet we killed him. He died on the cross for us. For you and I, the ones who hated and despised him. The ones who mocked him and rejected him. He was our substitute and it was with his stripes that we were healed. He came to this world to rescue us from ourselves.

From hopeless to hopeful we become. Instantly, if we turn from our sins and trust in this sinless Savior! His name is Jesus, and yes, he does "take away the sins of the world". They are completely gone from you as far as the east is from the west! Jesus died to rescue us and save us from ourselves. Once we realize this and turn to him, we will have peace.

"Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other."
Isaiah 45:22

O Turn Ye, For Why Will Ye Die

2009-01-12T09:07:00.000-05:00

"Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” Ezekiel 18:31-32

O turn ye, O turn ye, for why will ye die,
When God, in great mercy, is coming so nigh?
Now Jesus invites you, the Spirit says Come!
And angels are waiting to welcome you home.

How vain the delusion, that while you delay
Your hearts may grow better, your chains melt away!
Come guilty, come wretched, come just as you are;
All helpless and dying, to Jesus repair.

The contrite in heart he will freely receive,
O why will you not the glad message believe?
If sin be your burden, why will you not come?
’Tis you He makes welcome, He bids you come home.

Words: Samson Occom

Work of Grace

2008-12-26T13:30:00.010-05:00

You should check out what God is doing in and through my friends! It's amazing what God has done with these men and women and I love seeing them serve the Lord with their gifts!

Their 3 main goals are to:

1. Stimulate discussion about theology and culture.
2. Spark serious study of scripture among Christians.
3. Provide resources that encourage Christians to build a biblical worldview.

Bound 2 Christ : Go there and RSS! You won't regret it.

People Fail You...Yet, There is Hope

2008-12-23T00:40:00.001-05:00

It's true. We wish it could be different, but it's an undeniable fact: people will fail you. Why does this happen? Why are those who are precious to us never always there for us? I think we need to start close to home and then move out.

The problem is not primarily external... No, the problem starts with us. We have to realize that we are our biggest communication and relational problem. It starts with the heart within. Your heart and mine fail us and, unfortunately fail others as well. What are we to do about this? Are we to complain and cry and be miserable? Are we to soak in a self-made sea of regret and pity? I want to offer a suggestion for all of us to consider.

If we want to be better friends to each other, we need to start with ourselves. We need to realize the internal struggle and conflict that is occurring daily in our hearts and lives:

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me."
Romans 7:15-20

We need change from above. We need renovation, not just reformation. We need the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We can't trust people because we can't trust ourselves. If we are to be better people and, more so, better friends, we need the help of God. We have to admit that we are not self-sufficient. Neither are we autonomous creatures, but dependent ones. We need God and we also need others. The two cannot be separated from our lives. God doesn't want us to be independent, autonomous people void of all human relationships. No, he wants us to live in loving community, praising him and enjoying him each and every day. Take heart friends, because with God, "all things are possible". If you are having relational conflict, take comfort that Jesus went through the very same conflict. He was despised and rejected by his friends and left to die alone. I honestly believe if we seek change, we can find it. It's in a person. His name is Jesus.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13: 34-35

Twitter Redeemed!

2008-12-07T22:28:00.004-05:00

Twitter is great to use for scripture memorization.

Hilarious: Worth 2 Minutes of Your Time

2008-12-05T15:36:00.003-05:00

Challies employing his gift of humor

Just what we need this time of the season!

Reformation Today?

2008-12-05T15:28:00.000-05:00

In light of what we know and have learned about the Reformation, how can we start standing up for the faith and fighting for truth more in our workplaces, church, family, etc?

20 Books to Read in Your 20s

2008-12-04T14:29:00.003-05:00

Justin Buzzard on "20 Books to Read in Your 20s"

I don't think these are in any particular order of signifigance, but here are the top 3:

1. Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
2. Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
3. Step by Step: Divine Guidance for Ordinary Christians by James Petty

Piper: "God is Not a Megalomaniac"

2008-12-04T12:59:00.007-05:00

John Piper on "Why God is not a megalomaniac in demanding to be worshiped."

Here's an section that caught my attention:

"Unlike our self-exaltation, God’s self-exaltation draws attention to what gives greatest and longest joy, namely, himself. When we exalt ourselves, we lure people away from the one thing that can satisfy their souls—the infinite beauty of God. When God exalts himself, he manifests the one thing that can satisfy our souls, namely, God.

Therefore, God is the one being in the universe for whom self-exaltation is the most loving act, since love labors and suffers to enthrall us with what is infinitely and eternally satisfying, namely, God. Therefore, when God exalts God and commands us to join him, he is pursuing our highest, deepest, longest happiness. This is love, not megalomania."

Paris Reidhead Video #2

2008-12-03T20:54:00.001-05:00

Paris Reidhead Video #1

2008-12-03T20:27:00.000-05:00

Never Forget, He Was..

2008-12-02T08:52:00.004-05:00

Wounded for our transgressions,
Treading the winepress alone;
Brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
Jesus the Infinite One.
Shall we not praise Him forever,
Worship His Name and adore?
He Who was slain, but now liveth again,
Is our Savior forevermore.

Continual Fighting

2008-12-01T15:27:00.002-05:00

We are constantly having to fight sin in our lives each day. There is no stopping point or level of sanctification in this life that allows any of us to cease to fight our sin. No matter how good our week has been, sin continues to work hard to destroy our lives. I find myself weary from time to time after long weekends and striving to fight the thousands of temptations and distractions that are thrown my way. The world is definitely working hard to get me to waste my life and forfeit my reward, which is Christ. May He help us all to continue to fight sin and trust him for daily strength and grace.

Pray for This Guy

2008-11-30T20:09:00.005-05:00

This is my friend and pastor, Walt. He is up in Maryland, trying to learn how to preach and teach and I ask that you join with me in praying for God to raise this man up to lead and teach the Bible.

Celebrate the Incarnation

2008-11-26T11:00:00.005-05:00

As Thanksgiving is suddenly approaching us (TOMORROW!), I thought it would be good to begin to study and enjoy the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. I'll have stuff posted sporadically and I wanted to start with this:

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Refrain

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Refrain

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Refrain

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Refrain

Shai Linne

2008-11-24T14:53:00.003-05:00

Shai Linne is a man of God. He loves his Savior, Jesus Christ and wants to preach the only message that is of first importance. Check it out:

War of Words: Getting to the Heart for God's Sake

2008-11-21T14:56:00.006-05:00

This week's sermon is by Paul Tripp. I have benefited greatly from this man's ministry and God has used this sermon to change the way I think about language and communication. I know you will enjoy it:

War of Words: Getting to the Heart for God's Sake

Helpful Link for Healthy Living

2008-11-21T14:44:00.006-05:00

I love the verse in 1 Corinthians: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

It's important for us to apply this verse to all parts of our life and not just eating and drinking. I know I have failed to honor God by eating and drinking to his glory and I think this link will help us who are wanting to change. I hope you find it useful.