Sin...ALL have sinned

I attended a bible study tonight and someone brought up different 'degrees of sin' i.e. little sin (white lie) vs. murder (big sin).  As you can imagine the discussion was very lively.  We had a group of about 20 single men and women, all Christians but with different religious backgrounds and maturity levels.

As I listened I noticed each person had a different perception of sin.  As a Christian, the Holy Spirit convicts me when I sin.  I know what it is however I like to review definitions when I study.  Sin is defined as "a transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate. Theology. a. deliberate disobedience to the known will of God."

One of the guys in the group, who is an archer, mentioned that the word sin was used in archery to signify missing the mark (or bulls eye).  The bulls eye is in the center of the target and the archers' goals is to hit the bulls eye.  As God's creation he calls us to live holy and righteous lives.  We miss this mark daily due to sin.  2 Corinthians 5:9 says, "So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it."
One lady in the group did not think that everyone sins.  Her perception was the different "degrees" or "levels" of sin and that some do not sin.  I can't imagine being able to keep all of God's laws.  God's Word is clear:  Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". 

If we go back to Webster's definition of sin it says "deliberate".  I believe we can sin unintentionally as well.  In Psalms 19:12-13 David says "Who can discern his errors?  Forgive my hidden faults.  Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression."    David knew about sin--willful and unwillful.  He pours His heart out to God in the Psalms.  We are told in scripture that David was a man after God's own heart.  David was not without sin--however, he was blameless and innocent in God sight as he repented of his transgressions.

One thing that I have found, the closer I stick to the Lord the more clearly I can see the sin in my life and confess immediately.  When I lack of prayer, study and reading my sin (transgressions) do not seem so bad (degrees).

Lastly, if we are measuring sin we are doing it by human standards and we will look good to the next guy (or someone else) but the reality is our sin is judged next to a Holy and Righteous God--none can compare or stand up to that.  Once we see our sin next to God we will immediately want to rid ourselves of it.  Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Father forgive me for not seeing my sin clearly and for comparing myself to others.  May I be sensitive to my sin against you and confess immediately.

I am so grateful my God forigves ALL sin!!  Jeremiah 33:8 says, "I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me."

I am holy and righteous through the blood of Christ!

Hibernation?

While I hadn't walked away from the Lord I've been reminded recently that I haven't been blogging about all that He has done in my life and His faithfulness.  I'm on notice--I'm back and will be blogging again.....yay God!!

As the cool weather hit I thought of the bears that hibernate and birds that fly south for the winter.  It is amazing to me how God takes care of every detail.  I have found myself in hybernation mode.  Life can quickly get away from you if you aren't careful.

Our God is a graceful God and meets us right where we are today.  I'm thankful for the mercy and grace that is extended to me daily. As I 'wake' from my hibernation I'm seeking to know my Lord more deeply to become Spiritually Fat and starting a new fitness program to become Physically Fit.

 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 NIV

DUBLEV - Do You Believe?

DUBLEV - that's my license plate.  I've had it for years.  It is intended to mean "Do you believe?"  It's been a neat way to share Christ with people over the years .  Although, one time I had someone think it was for Cher's song "Do You Believe In Love?"  No, I'm not a Cher worshipper--I'm a Jesus Christ worshipper.  When asking someone, 'do you believe in Christ?' I have found that many say they believe in Christ.  What I find disconcerting is that although many believe in Christ they choose not to have a relationship with Him or live as though they do.

Christ's sacrifice alone should compel us to live life holy and set apart.  What an incredible sacrifice and gift we received and yet we do not live a life that reflects this wonderful gift.  It perplexes me how a holy God can go through such great lengths to make a way for us to be restored to a relationship with Him by sacrificing His one and only Son and we still respond very filpantly.  It saddens me because I'm just as guilty. 

God knew our sinful hearts and bent toward selfish ambition and still chose to go through with His plan of salvation (thank you Lord).

In Deteronomy 6:5 it says, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  He wants us to love Him with everything in us.  He created us to love Him and to worship Him.  In Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  When we choose to trust Him and be certain that we are on the right path.  Proverbs 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Through Jesus Christ God has given us everything that we need to live out our life here on earth.  2 Peter 1:3 says, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Do you believe?  Are you living like you believe?

Complacent Faith

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith:  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.   Hebrews 11 is often described as the 'Hall of Fame' that tells of many of the patriarchs who took God at His Word.  Hebrews 11:3 says, By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

I put my faith in Jesus Christ when I was eleven years old. Romans 10:17 says, Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
 I believed that He was the Son of God (John 20:31), was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:22), died on the cross for my sins (John 19:33) and rose again on the third day (John 20:17) having victory over death.  (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Having faith means putting your trust in God.  Trusting God involves obeying Him even when it doesn't make sense.  He knows what is best for us and has a plan for our lives.  Jeremiah 29:11 says,  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  As we grow up we sometimes get too big for our own britches and make decisions that are not best for us.  As a follower of Jesus Christ I have the luxury (yes, luxury) of having the Holy Spirit living within me to guide me.  All too often I become complacent in my relationship with God and my faith wanes. Complacent is defined as: marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. 

My faith becomes complacent when I choose not to obey God.  Isaiah 32:9 warns, You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say!  We need to always be willing to listen when God speaks as well as those that He sends to us to speak truth (friends, family, etc.) 

One way to avoid complacent faith is to obey immediately when God calls.

Divided Heart

You hear the famous quote "Follow your heart" from Napolean Dynomite.  We all follow after something.  We choose what it will be filled with--cars, homes, stuff, people but it gets filled.  The difference is what you choose to fill it with.  There is only one thing than can fill it and keep you satisfied--God and only God--everything else will keep you unfulfilled.  God created us with an inner desire for Him.  Our heart becomes divided when we choose other things over God.  Ezekiel 11:19 says, I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

You will remain unfulfilled if you choose to give God half-hearted worship.  Any area of your life that is closed off to people is closed off to God.  I had closed off certain areas of my heart to 'protect' me over the years and continued to worship God but could not fully worship Him wholly.  As God has restored me I have found that He has enlarged my heart and worship has taken on a whole new meaning for me.  As a result, I now find myself overwhelmed with emotion as I've given Him my heart fully.

Ezekiel 36:26 says, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  I can truly say that I have a new heart and a new spirit within me.  I don't have to tell anyone--they can see it in my actions, my smile, my demeanor.

Allow God to do heart surgery on you--His transplants are always successful and well worth it!

Joy

Joy is defined as the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation. And the expression or display of glad feeling.

I read somewhere recently that joy is not merely happiness but rather an unshakable confidence that God is in control. Wow!  I love that.  Do I believe it? Yes! Do you?  Do I live it? Not always.  One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Psalm 51.  Psalm 51:12 says, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit.  I find that I need my joy restored often and I meditate on 'grant me a willing spirit'. 

So often I find myself not doing the things that I truly want to and doing the very things that I don't want to do.  Paul said it best in Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. Essentially because of my sinful nature I need God's help to have a willing spirit.  I cannot do anything good in my own strength.  Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do everything through him(Christ) who gives me strength."

Knowing the source of where your joy comes from is a start.  John 15:11 says "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."  and John 16:24 says, "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."  Joy is ours!

If we find our happiness in our possessions, status, bank account, etc. we will find our joy is like a roller coaster--up and down.  However, when our joy comes from Christ it is constant and consistent no matter what the circumstances.

I learned Philippians 4:8 as a young girl but did not recognize the significance of the verse until recently.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  If I am meditating on these things I am certain I will be filled with unshakable joy.

May your joy be complete and unshakable in Christ Jesus.

Prodigal Returns

dictionary.com defines prodigal as: Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.  A person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way.

There is a story (parable) in the gospel of Luke 15 about a prodigal son.  The parable tells of a father with two sons.  The younger son asked for his share of the inheritance.  The father gave him the share of inheritance and the son went away with his wealth.  He squandered his money and became destitute--as far as desiring the scraps of pigs.  He realized his father's servants were well fed and a better state than he.  He decided to go to his father and seek to become a servant as he felt unworthy to be called son.  As he returned his father saw him from a distance and went to him.  The father threw a big party and celebrated the sons return.

This parable came to mind as my daughter has returned home.  I'm grateful for her to be home and received her with open arms.  Her story is a bit different than the prodigal son's but there was also similarity.  It seemed more appealing at the time to live in another city with her father.  The reality was much different.  As I thought about this it occurred to me that we are all live the prodigal son and my daughter.  We all desire what we 'think' is the better option when in reality God knows what is best for us.  1 Samuel 15:22 says But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.  God desires our obedience...He demands it.  Jeremiah 7:23 says "but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you."
As a fallen woman (man) we all stumble at times.  Praise God we have a loving Father that will receive us when we come to our senses and repent.  God receives us with open arms and celebrates our return.  Deuteronomy 4:29-31 tells us But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.

Whether you find yourself as the father or the prodigal today remember to seek God first.  Matthew 6:33 says But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  and Matthew 7:6-8  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

My heavenly Father is ready to receive you and through a party in celebration of your return!

Joining the Battle

Have you ever thought about the difference between a battle and war?  A war is a series of battles.  A battle is an encounter with opposing forces.  Both terms describe hostile military forces engaging one another.  Now think about yourself--body, soul and spirit.  Our body (physical) will perish one day.  Our soul is dead without Christ Jesus. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  Colossians 2:13  Our spirit--Christ Jesus gives us life in the spirit.  Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.  How amazing: our physical bodies will perish, our souls have been made alive in Christ and our spirit will live on with Christ.

Understanding body, soul and spirit let's get back to the battle vs. the war.  At the moment you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you.  1 Corinthians 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;"

There is a famous quote "You may have one the battle, but not the war."  The moment that Christ gave up His last breath and said, "It is finished" (John 19:30) we were given victory over death.  1 Corinthians 15:54 says, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Although the war for our soul has already been won through the blood of Christ there are battles we must fight daily.  We must be willing to engage in battle with the enemy.  Paul describes it perfectly in Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  Although we now have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us we still have a sinful nature.  This is where the battle begins--within each of us.  Sometimes I feel completely defeated for not doing the things that I want to do.  I must remember that victory is mine through Christ Jesus and I must persevere.  Romans 5:3-5 says, Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

When we allow God to fight our battles for us we can be confident we will gain new strength.  Isaiah 40:31 says, "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  I have felt defeated, tired and weary over the last few months.  It took me a while to see that I was trying to fight my battles in my own strength and not allowing God to fight them on my behalf.  Join the battle for your soul today but make sure you go forward in the strength of God--not your own and claim victory in Jesus' name daily.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be Still And Know

Most people are familiar with the verse Psalm 46:10, Be still, and know that I am God; (but are not as familiar with the remainder of the verse) I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  I memorized this verse many years ago but God brought it to mind recently.

God used a colleague and an acquaintance to bring this verse to my attention.  The verse came from both of them the same day.  Has God ever done that to you?  God has a knack for repeating messages when we don't get it the first time--He does this with me alot.  I am so grateful that He knows me so well...and loves me so much to persist.  As I meditated over this scripture and thought about being still it sounded simple enough but when I tried to 'be still' and quiet myself before the Lord I found very difficult.  I learned something about myself that my friends, family and co-worker already knew--I'm a little ADD.

and know that I am God here again I meditate and begin reflecting on what I 'know' about God.  Knowing God, relationally, requires time alone with God.  Jeremiah 29:13 says You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I've known who God is most of my life but haven't known Him intimately.  Intimacy requires an investment of time and commitment. 

Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

When I've truly been still before the Lord I've trusted Him with my life.  I've learned that to be still I must seek Him first, commit to follow Him wherever He may lead me and trust Him to guide me.

Carrying The Burden

In Galatians 6:2 it says, Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  Many years ago a read a book that opened my eyes to this scripture.  The author spoke of her friend who was going through a very difficult time.  She very lovingly told her friend that she would take on a portion of the burden.  What a tremendous act of love!  To willingly take on the burden of another person personifies Christ.

I shared this with a friend several years ago and had taken on a portion of a burden she was carrying at the time.  It had an impact on her and she has also chosen to carry the burdens of others.  We talked about our burdens and carrying those of another and how we can easily be weighed down.  While we are called to carry one another's burdens God does not intend for us to hold onto them.  He does not call us to hold onto our own, and in the same way He does not intend for us to hold onto anothers.

When we carry one another's burdens we simply taken it on in order to carry it to the cross on behalf of another.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28 to “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Carrying burdens (our own or another persons) will wear us out.  It is not a load that God intends for us to carry (long term).  When we carry a burden for another we need to remember that Christ implores us to come to Him with them.

Proverbs 11:25 says, A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.God blesses those that choose to refresh others by carrying their burdens.  I have a friend that has a tagline that reads, "May the blessing your receive today be the blessing that you need the most".  We receive blessings daily.  When we give new strength to another God strengthens us.  As we pour into the lives of others by sharing Christ, God will continue to pour back into us.

2 Corinthians 9:12-13 says This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

Training For Life

I set out earlier this year with two goals in mind when I began this blog.  The first was to deepen my spiritual walk with God (becoming Spiritually Fat) and adapting a consistent healthier lifestyle by losing weight, eating right and running (Physically Fit).  As you can see from the trailing posts and lack of fitness updates I've flown through half year unsuccessful.  I truly intend and desire these things but have lacked the self-discipline to follow through.  I don't know if you've struggled in this area but it gets to me at the deepest level.  Paul said it in Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Then I came across 2 Timothy 1:7 and it says For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  There it was--God has given me a spirit of self-discipline.  The interesting thing is I've been trying to do this whole thing in my own strength--which will never work.  A verse that has been the foundation of my life is Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  I've been missing a key step to making this successful--full reliance on God as my strength. 

No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. I Corinthians 9:27  In order to do this I must be willing to submit my entire self to God's authority and allow Him to direct every step I take.  Similarly, as I take each step in obedience walking in His will for my life, the physical steps that I take will get me closer to my goal of running a 5k then a 1/2 marathon.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 9:24, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."  I don't think about it very often but this life we live now--it is a race.  It is a race against time.  We are given only so many days and I can tell you that I have personally wasted far too many.  I do want the prize that Pauls speaks about in his letter.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Hebrews 12:1  I must be willing to throw off (get rid of) anything that prevents me from moving forward in my walk with Christ and achieving my spiritual and physical goals.  It means I have to take a long look in the mirror and be honest with myself.  What is slowing me down?  What entangles me?  What keeps me from running the race?  What about you?

Seek His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.  Matthew 6:33

Obedience

It astounds me how stubborn I can be sometimes.  Seriously!  I think you can be so blinded that you don't even realize you are being stubborn.

Obedience is defined as 1. Compliance with someone's wishes or orders or acknowledgment of their authority. 2. Submission to a law or rule.  Obey is found over two hundred times in the New International Version (NIV) Bible.  God commands us to obey Him.  Throughout the Old Testament God commands us to obey Him and we will receive great reward.  There are also many warnings if we do not obey.

Obedience is not difficult but for many (myself included) we make it difficult.  We do not like submitting to anoher's authority.  We are self-rulers.  We do not want to submit (as though it implies weakness).  On the contrary, it takes great strength to submit to authority--God first, family, government, etc.  Leviticus 25:18 “‘Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land.

Walk in obedience--what does that really mean?  Obedience is a moment by moment, step by step process.  Joshua 23:6 says “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.  As we obey God will direct our steps.  Psalms 27:11 says Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.

As we walk in obedience we are strengthened by God.  Jesus says in John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.  Obedience is an act of love.  1 John 4:19 says "We love because He first loved us."  1 John 2:5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:

As you take each step remember to walk in obedience.

Are You Who You Want To Be?

This has been the tagline on my dear sweet friends email for a long time.  My sweet friend Julie has a contagious smile.  She has an incredible personality, loves the Lord and life.  She has been an inspiration to me in so many ways.  She has battled cancer fiercely for the  past 10 months and went home to be with the Lord today.

I sit here full of sorrow and tears for the things that I will miss in my dear friend.  I regret not spending more time with her these last several months, not talking as much, so many things.  I serve and love my sovereign Lord and know that this was His plan to take her home to himself but oh how I struggle.   I am grateful God allowed our paths to cross but deeply sorrowful because I will miss her.  My heart aches for Regan.  There are so many friends that have so many stories to tell him of his mother's wonderful and love and compassion for others.  Her strength and resolve was incredible.  She personified Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She lived life intentionally.  I truly believe Julie was who she wanted to be....and who God wanted her to be.  2 Corinthians 5:7-9 says, Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  My precious friend, though she was young, fulfilled the purpose God had for her life which pleased Him and brought her home where she now rejoices.  She is having her best party ever tonight....and she was a great party planner and hostess!

2 Timothy 4:8 says, Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  Julie received her crown today; I can only imagine how many jewels were placed on it.  Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:31

Praise God sweet Jewels no longer suffers and is not in pain but oh how we mourn the loss of such an angel on earth.  Heaven is singing praises to receive such an incredible woman today.

Continue to pray for her son Regan and the family.  And remember, "Are you who you want to be?"--if you aren't make changes and start today.  We are never promised a tomorrow.  James 4:14  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

True Freedom

Today is a day filled with celebration--celebrating our independance and freedom.  Everyone celebrates July 4th but sometimes I think people forget about the significance of this day.  The founding fathers of our country were men who founded this country on God's authority.  As a nation we have drifted so far from recognizing God's authority.  Thousands of men (and women) have fought for our freedom.  We often forget the sacrifices made for freedom.  True freedom does not come without sacrifice.

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Through Christ's death on the cross we were freed from sin and restored in our relationship with God.  Living in a free country we do not give much thought to slavery. 


I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:19-23
As we have been freed from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ and choose to walk in righteousness we become more like Christ.

May you not take your freedom in this country or in Christ for granted.

Blind Faith

I have always been mesmerized by Jesus' healing of the blind.  Jesus healed many people with different diseases, demons, etc. and none were greater than any other but opening the eyes of the blind resonates with me.  Each time, he healed a physical ailment but also a spiritual sickness.  As I've grown in my walk with God I begin to understand we walk around blindly when we are not in fellowship with God.

In John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  Once we understand that Jesus is the ONLY way to God.  As a child of God, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  That began a journey of spiritual growth that will continue until I die or Jesus comes.

John 9:39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 

2 Corinthians 5:7 says for we walk by faith, not by sight—  In this world we can't rely on what we see. 
We can be easily deceived by the satan's schemes.  We must have faith in Jesus Christ to walk with us through this life and into eternity.

I have one illustration that I learned as a young child that just stuck with me.  If you have ever been camping deep in the woods you know how pitch black it will get after sunset.  In order to get around you must carry a flashlight or lantern.  As you use the flashlight/latern it only lights the path directly in front of you.  Our eyes only need to be focused on the area that encompasses the light; it will keep us safe and give us direction.  For us, Jesus is that light.  He will guide our every step and keep us safe but we must be willing to daily surrender to His authority not our own.  Psalm 119:105 says, Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
 
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1

Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Lonely But Not Alone

I have two best friends (one guy and one girl) who have both married over the past year and a half.  While I'm overjoyed for them and the new season of life they have entered it left me in unfamiliar territory.  I've been single a majority of my life but this past week I experienced something I don't recall experiencing before.  I found myself lonely.  It seems odd even now to think about it.  I have lots of friends, co-workers, family and yet found myself feeling lonely.  Mirriam-Webster defines lonely as: being without company, cut off from others, not frequented by human beings, sad from being alone.  Even though I had been active this week I found myself sad from being alone.  I had unknowingly cut myself off to others and as a result felt alone.   This is the work of the enemy.  He tries to isolate us by deceiving us with subtle lies.  Mark 13:5 says Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.
What we must remember that while we may 'feel' lonely we are truly never alone if we indeed accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  I must base my action on what I know--He loves me and He died on the cross for me.  God created us to be relational people--connected to Him and to others.  Eccelesiastes 4:12 says Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  When we are not connecting with others it gives the enemy an opportunity to wear us down and deceive us.   1 Peter 5:8 tells us Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
While I did experience a bit of lonliness this week I knew with all confidence I was not alone.   Deuteronomy 31:8 says The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  What comfort this is in the midst of 'feelings' of lonliness.  I am now making more of an effort to reach out to my friends; to make that connection.  These two life long best friends will always be part of my life but I need to connect and 'do life' with others that are in similar experiences as mine. 
Next time you feel alone remember God is right there with you....and then call a friend.

Freedom & Sacrifice

Today marked a day that the nation has set up in 1971 to recognize those men and women who gave their lives in our nations service to protect the freedom that we enjoy today in our great nation.  Memorial day was first observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.  Both sets of my grandparents are buried at the Veteran's cemetary in Houston.  If you have never been to this cemetary I urge you to pay a visit--it is a cemetary but it is important to remember those who chose to give their lives for us.

These men and women paid a price for our freedom and comfort.  Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  In Isaiah 61:1 it says The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,  Did you know that we are held captive to our sin without the blood of Jesus? 

Living in the United States today we do not give much thought to slavery but there was a time when it was a real issue here.  In 1962 the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves however many were destitute so continued to work on plantations.  As Christians, Christ freed us from our old sin nature according to 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Although we are a new creation in Christ Jesus we may choose to allow sin to weigh us down but Galatians 5:1 says It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  We must walk confidently in the knowledge that Christ made the sacrfice for our freedom and not allow satan to deceive us.  Praise God each day for your freedom and the sacrifice that was made for you in Christ Jesus. Remember to thank those service men and women that you may come in contact with daily for the sacrifices they make to ensure your freedom.

Huge thank you to the men and women in the armed forces for your service and thank you to their families who make sacrifices daily with them away from home.

No Matter What

I'm going to serve you alone...no matter what.  Have you ever read the book of Job?  If not, it's in the Old Testament--I encourage you to read it.  It's a great example of faith and perseverance.  Job was a righteous man in God's eyes.  He had many of those things that we seek after--family, possessions--by the world's standards he was well off too.  It starts off with a conversation between God and satan.  God speaks of Job's righteousness.  Satan tells God that it is only because God has prospered the man and that if it were all taken away he would not be so righteous.  God said ok and allowed satan to take away everything that God had but not harm the man himself.  With all that he lost he did not curse God.  Satan then says that if he were to harm Job then he would curse God.  So God allows satan to inflict Job with horrible illness and he still does not curse God.  No matter what happended to Job he did not curse God.

Job was indeed a righteous man.  He cursed the day he was born but never cursed God.  What an incredible display of servitude--of faithfulness to the Almighty God.  It never says that Job did anything wrong to deserve what happened to him.  We are tested in this life and will receive a crown of glory.  James 1:3 says because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  And James 1:12 says Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Life can be hard sometimes.  Friends and family members with cancer; children are born with heart defects, loved ones are taken away from us far too soon; all of these are hard to understand but in all of these circumstances we must remember God is in control and will be with us no matter what.  Psalm 71:20 says, Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.    We can always trust God to carry us through every difficult situation no matter what.

God gives us so many promises but he also warns us.  Revelation 2:10 says Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Be sure of one thing, we KNOW that there will be pain and suffering in this life...BUT we have the joy and peace of knowing that this life is only temporary...but a blink of the eye and we will go on to receive the crown of life for eternity.  In James 4:14 it says, Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. And Psalm 16:11, You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
We can be so consumed with our lives and forget God.  I want to challenge you to be consumed with God first as you live out your life.  At the end of this journey....don't you want to go to glory?  All He asks is that you serve Him now no matter what. 

Caller ID

Most of us use our cell phones as our main phone however if you have a home phone/land line you probably also have caller id.  I remember a time when there was no caller id.  When the phone rang, you answered.  It was the neatest thing to be able to know who was calling before answering the phone.  Now, it is used  to determine whether we will speak to the person calling.  We began choosing whether we would answer their call or let voicemail pick up.

So it is in our relationship with God.  He is continually at work around us.  Whether we are attentive to His  voice and His call He goes about His work around us.  He will call us to join Him at work; we must be ready to obey.  We must be like Samuel in I Samuel 3:4 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
Even in his hardship Job knew to answer God's call.  If you aren't familiar with his story I encourage you to read it.  Job 14:15 You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made.

Now reverse it.  When you call on God--in joy, in distress, in confusion, He is always there.  He is waiting for us to call on Him.  He will not interfere in our lives until we invite Him.  Psalms is full of verses that we can cry out to God and He hears us.  Psalm 138:3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. Psalm 120:1 I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.  Psalm 17:6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.--you get the idea.

Next time your phone rings and you look to see who is calling--remember--God is calling you--will you answer His call?  I know I will ;-)

Roller Coaster

There was a movie in the late 80's titled Parenthood with Steve Martin that had a quote about roller coasters that stuck with me.  "Grandma" said "You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster.  Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride!  I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it." 

In the movie this 'grandma' related the roller coaster ride to life.  I'm sure that's why it stuck with me.  It is interesting to me that life can be either like a 'roller coaster' or a 'merry-go-round'.  I have never liked roller coasters--it made me frightened, sick, scared, excited all at the same time--it was overwhelming to me.  As I've grown spiritually I have truly learned to appreciate and enjoy the ride.  This past weekend I had many ups and downs all with God right beside me.  Deuteronomy 31:6 says, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
In Psalm 119:105 it says, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  Whether I'm on the uphill part of the ride (which is exciting & thrilling) or downhill (frightening & scary) I know that God wil direct my steps if I stay focused on Him. 

I am also reminded that as we have those 'spiritual high' moments at the top of the coaster that we will have moments of coming back down.  I can only imagine how Moses must have felt on the mountain top speaking to God and then come back down to the rebellious Israelites. 

I have also learned that when we are on those 'high mountain tops' in the presence of God that the enemy fully intends to divert our attention by throwing firey darts at us.  Ephesians 6:16 says, In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  I Peter 5:8 says, Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us how to combat the downward ride with its' frightening and fearful moments. 

Praise God for the highs and the lows and remember that His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3
I'm going to ride the roller coaster and love it!