Hang On To Jesus

Today is the day of salvation! His mercies are new every morning. (thankfully!) No one can go back and change the past, we can't change the things that we've already done. I read this in a book recently: "No one can go back and make a brand-new beginning, but anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending." That's so awesome! God's desire for us is complete deliverance from our sin. Okay! That's awesome, but here's the rub, we're the one's who can't seem to let go of our past. We linger there and by doing so, we unknowingly refuse to allow God to transform us. When we indulge our thoughts and mull over our failures and mistakes, we only magnify our sin and allow it to further control us Then the sin that we have already asked forgiveness for, becomes Lord over our lives. Whatever you give control to IS the Lord of your life. When thoughts of failure, guilt, (fill in the blank) come to our minds, take that thought captive and throw it out. The bible says to "take every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5) If we push through the very things that Satan designs to hold us back, we will see awesome things and be used by God in ways we never could imagine. Be relentless in following God. Don't hold on to the things that are trying to pull you down, hang onto Jesus. In him there is life and forgiveness. We will not always get it right, unfortunately we will continue to blow it, but the freedom is in Jesus!

"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death" Romans 8:1-2

A Prayer

Help me, oh awesome and mighty God. The enormity of your holy presence, fill me with your love and peace. Let my voice sing in awe of how you love me; of how you lift me up; of how you are ever near, ever present, ready to pour out your love and grace for me. In my life, may yours be the victory.

Refining

Daniel 11:35

                                                                                                I read about the process of gem and precious metal refining today. Though I already knew about this process somewhat, I was shown again by this example how God is taking us through a firing process. Gems and precious metals are UNRECOGNIZABLE at first, laying among the dirt, covered with hard unwanted minerals. They go through a long and painful (if they had feelings) process of scraping, washing and firing.

Our walk towards becoming like Christ is very much the same. We are all in a refining process, where impurities mingle with the treasure that He is trying to create. He knows exactly what it will take to make us into the creation and person we were designed to be. The only obstical to this refining process is US. With a gem or precious metal, the end result is always beauty because it has no choice. We, however, have a choice. God wants to take us and refine us into something of great worth, but if it hurts too much, or we decide we want our own desires more than Gods, we bail. We choose not to listen to God, which leaves us right where we started; in the dirt, hard with unwanted impurities, hardly recognizable as one of Gods precious creations. The saddest part is that we don't even understand our own desires. We want to have happiness and think that we know best how to attain it. We think by doing things our way we will be happy. But our way can never fully satisfy the longing for the true joy that only God can give. Getting our way may partially satisfy our hunger, but will ALWAYS fall short in the end.

If only we really knew the end result that God desires to bring about in us...guess what...we can know and be sure that God ALWAYS does what is best for us, ALWAYS intends everything for our good.

Romans 8:28

Jeremiah 29:11

Job 23:10

Lack Is Not God's Will For Us

I want to talk to you about an abundant life through Jesus Christ! We often sing about how God is so good to us, and that Jesus gave his life for us. In my own life, I often find myself thinking, especially during these times of economic difficulty; Surely God doesn’t want me to give right now while times are so hard. Surely he would want me to make sure that I and my family are provided for. This thinking flies in the face of what we say we believe. As Christians we say we believe that God will provide for all of our needs, but our in-action says that we really don’t believe or trust fully in that principle.

Many of us have heard the verse in Jeremiah: “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.” This verse tells us that prosperity is already ours. God already laid out a plan for it. It’s no longer up to God whether or not you or I prosper financially. It’s up to each of us, through our faith and obedience to him! Lack is not God’s will for anyone. Jesus’ death and resurrection = life abundant.  When Jesus gave his life, not only is he our greatest gift; but in him we also have the gift of abundant life.

Jesus said: “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Trust in the words of Jesus and give to your home church believing that he promises to prosper you and to give you abundant life.

Encourage one another...Please!

Read James 3:1-12

Small things control larger things. Many examples are shown in James like the horse being led by the bit, the ship led by the rudder, and the flame from a spark. What is interesting to me is this passage about the tounge starts out by talking about being a teacher. That by being a teacher we are judged more strictly. This hit home to me because as a member of the Worship Team at my church, I am a teacher by my example and my words. Just think of the things that you are a leader of. Everyone is a leader of something. My life, choices, and words affect others and can affect them spiritually. While I am not responsible for their individual spiritual decisions, my words and actions can be encouraging or damaging. I tell my kids all the time to make the wise choice in all kinds of situations. It is up to us to make the wise choice to affect good by what we say and do. Hebrews 10:24-25 says:

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

What a great responsibility to spur each other to love and acomplish awesome works for God. Let's encourage one another! Let's actually tell each other how awesome they are doing in their efforts to serve God. We all have a part to play in the body of Christ and sometimes we can become discouraged and tired of doing what God has called us to do, especially if we don't hear encouragement from others. A thank you or a praise from our friends can be just the encouragement that helps us recharge and continue on in our commitment.

As for me and my tounge...I've got some splainin to do! lol There is no doubt that my tounge is "a world of evil amoung the parts of the body" (James 3:6) Being aware is half the battle. Let's work on encouraging one another!

Lucky?

Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:28-29

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

WE ARE LUCKY?
*Lucky that God's understanding is so great.
*Lucky that God is patient with us as we work through our sins.
*Lucky the our sins are forgotten through forgiveness, and everyday can be a new beginning. His mercy's are new every morning,(Lamentations 3:22-23)and He remembers our sins no more. (Hebrews 8:12)
*Lucky that God loves us more than anything and gives us that love instead of what we deserve.

Lucky by definition is having or receiving something by chance. So really we are NOT lucky at all because God made a choice. God chose us!

*It is by God's grace and love He chose to give great understanding.
*It is by God's grace that He is patient with us as we work through our sins.
*It is by God's grace that WE ARE SAVED AND FORGIVEN through JESUS CHRIST and everyday IS a new beginning.
*It is by God's grace that that He loves us more than anything and He freely gives us that love instead of what I deserve.

Grace by definition is to GIVE by choice, kindness, mercy, love and compassion, even when undeserved.

Thank God that I am not lucky, because I wouldn't want to receive forgiveness by chance...I want it because a loving God chose to give it to me.