Month: October 2011

  • Freedom Through Fire

    “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, ESV)

    Do we understand the meaning of the words “have been?”  It is something that has already happened, it is an accomplished fact, it has taken place. 

    We have given our hearts and lives to Christ, so why do we so often snatch it all back, hug it close, refuse to let go of them again? Can I really do a better job of my life on my own than He can do working in me?

    The phrase of the great preacher comes to mind, “I die daily.”

    Crucified with Christ?  Do I really get it so many centuries down the line in these modern times? 

    Christ chose to surrender His will to the will of God…to carry the weight of the sins of humanity….my sins…He died to self to rescue you and me.  I can’t help but get sidetracked pondering His sacrifice and the amazing grace poured out on us at the cross…..for you, for me.

    Crucified with Christ....actively choosing to surrender my will to the will of God, letting goof self and choosing to live in the freedom of the truth, dying to self and making space for Christ to live in me.

    Oh the deepest desire of my heart, to be surrendered to the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me….to know the joy of living by faith, of living in His presence,having Him live in me…and to no longer be flesh controlled. 



    Our Father, the lover of our souls, is answering and giving us the greatest gift and the desires of our hearts. 

    He leads us on difficult, winding rocky paths, sometimes through the storm and the fire, stripping everything away, yet right by our side, never leaving us for a moment,providing all we need to survive. 

    In our helplessness we truly begin to understand that it is not about us – it has never been and it will never be!  We are not in control, and that everything is by faith and for His glory.  He is the key to everything we need – we are complete in Him. 

    Until, when self is cut away, and we know the joy of living in Him and living by faith,  and we can truly say, “the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

    The trials of this life are His mercies in disguise.

     

  • Make The Moments Count

    The greatest desire of your heart sometimes seems like an unreachable dream.  I wonder if a little fasting wouldn’t prove to be a huge blessing and move you from unreachable dream to reality?  You know how the Spirit can speak loudly sometimes, reaching deep into your heart and soul revealing true realities to you?

    Stay with me for a few lines….

    THE TRUTH:

    ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’Luke 10:27


    THE PROMISE:

    But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deut 4:29


    THE WARNING:

    Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Prov 4:23

     

    THE BLESSING:

    13 ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. Deut 11:13

    But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Matt 6:33

     

    THE DESIRE:

    We desire to know God more intimately, and to walk more faithfully with Him….but somehow the progress seems so slow, we struggle to become who we want to be in Him.

    Perhaps the words in Him are the key to a deeper relationship with Him.

    Are we living our lives in Him or in the world if we are honest with ourselves?

     

    THE DISTRACTION:

    Think about it, what did you do with the spare moments you had yesterday….did you reach for our smartphone, iPad, laptop?  Was it Facebook or Pinterest? Was it email, newsletters or web-surfing? Did you flop down on the couch and see what was on TV?  Did you reach for the phone to chat with a friend about trivia?   

    Did you tell yourself you deserved to have this break? 

    How much time did you spend – 5, 15 or 30 minutes? Time flies when you thing you are having fun….

    In the big picture, did what you do count for anything, did you grow for it, were you really refreshed by it? 

    Could it be the answer is no, not really?


     

     

    THE BIG QUESTION:

    Did you think to stop and spend time with Christ? Did you take time to talk to Him or listen to Him speak to you through His Word?

    It would have drawn you closer to Him.

    Deepened your relationship with Him.

    Fallen more in love with Him.

    You would have grown for it,

    Been strengthened by it, 

    And would have come away

    Refreshed and Inspired.

     

    THE CHALLENGE:

    Perhaps it’s time to fast, maybe for a day, a week, or even a month.  Time to fast from and to set aside some of those things that fill our lives but don’t add true value, and focus on Him in those little moments in our days.


    IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!