Hebrews 2:14,15 "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
He has overcome even death! What a peace! What a relief! What freedom!!! God is in control and His love for us is great! May we trust him... even in death.
Hebrews 2:17,18 "Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
He has been where we are. He has suffered, became sin who knew no sin. He has seen and tasted and had victory over it! We need Him and His power or Satan will destroy us in our sin. May we go to Him today for strength to turn and run from temptation.
Hebrews 3:5,6 "Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope."
What do I hope in? What is my confidence in? What do I hold fast to? My spouse, my doctor, my medicine, my body image, my things, my bank account... All these will let me down and then will I search for greener grass on the other side? May I hold on to Jesus Christ, who reigns forever!!! In him is true joy and hope! We can have life abundantly and eternally with him. Thank you Father for sending your Son to be the Savior of the world!!!!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Restored!!!!
Over the last week I have been battling a great force, an evil within me. I praise God and His Spirit for helping me come to realization and the opening of my eyes...process of sanctification. Learning to love as Christ loves is very hard, and that's an understatement! Just when we think we did something right, God says uh, uh, uh, and puts us right back under His mighty wing for another beautiful journey into the depths of His Love. I love it there.
Confession time...I was having trouble loving my own church family. That was hard to type. But it is very true. I did not extend a heart of grace and forgiveness. They were suppose to know better, love better, and act better. And instead of loving them right where they were, like Christ loves, I made judgments in my heart. Right or wrong judgements I will never know, but as I heard stories of some I began to believe that my thoughts of them were right. And that is WRONG. My heart was flooding over with sorrow as I thought of what my church was going through; people feeling unaccepted, unloved, uncared for. Satan is real and attacking our hearts even now. My own feelings are at stake; he was trying to destroy relationships and my views of God's bride, His church. Oh, that saddens my soul because it was happening and I wasn't aware that it was my heart, my sin.
BUT GOD came as He always does. He is my help and deliverer! And He restored my joy with him! "He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon the rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD." Psalm 40:2,3 "But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD"! As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God." Psalm 40:16,17 Through repentance, trust, and obedience to God....He restored me.
He wants more of me. He will allow Satan to attack, but as a Child of God, Satan does not defeat me. God chose me and is drawing me closer with each battle as He turns my face to look and stay focused on Him. He conquers!!!
Thank you Lord, for your hand on my life and how you are pursuing me, and changing my heart. I am poor and unable to do any good at all apart from you.
Confession time...I was having trouble loving my own church family. That was hard to type. But it is very true. I did not extend a heart of grace and forgiveness. They were suppose to know better, love better, and act better. And instead of loving them right where they were, like Christ loves, I made judgments in my heart. Right or wrong judgements I will never know, but as I heard stories of some I began to believe that my thoughts of them were right. And that is WRONG. My heart was flooding over with sorrow as I thought of what my church was going through; people feeling unaccepted, unloved, uncared for. Satan is real and attacking our hearts even now. My own feelings are at stake; he was trying to destroy relationships and my views of God's bride, His church. Oh, that saddens my soul because it was happening and I wasn't aware that it was my heart, my sin.
BUT GOD came as He always does. He is my help and deliverer! And He restored my joy with him! "He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon the rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD." Psalm 40:2,3 "But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD"! As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God." Psalm 40:16,17 Through repentance, trust, and obedience to God....He restored me.
He wants more of me. He will allow Satan to attack, but as a Child of God, Satan does not defeat me. God chose me and is drawing me closer with each battle as He turns my face to look and stay focused on Him. He conquers!!!
Thank you Lord, for your hand on my life and how you are pursuing me, and changing my heart. I am poor and unable to do any good at all apart from you.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Grace
In my reading of the parable of the unforgiving servant found in Matt. 18:21-35, God once again reminded me of His greatness and my dark and hopeless state apart from Him. The fact that Peter had to ask such a question reveals our tendency to sin, or in this case hold grudges against people. He asks, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seven times seventy." That means stop counting and always forgive.
As I seek the Lord, the Spirit enables me to see more and more of my gracious Father. And peels back the layers of my own heart revealing how sinful I trully am. I am learning a new closeness to God. Life is hard and in those hard times was the closest I have ever been with my Lord. But He is showing me himself differently as I am reminded every moment of who I am apart from Him. Sinner....one who sees fullfillment in the things of this world, like happiness in other peoples misery, thriving on stife and the condemnation of others, loving only when I get my way, making judgments on others in some attempt to make me look or feel better, or seeking after everything with selfish motives. And that's just the tip of it! Apart from Jesus and his redemption, the forgiveness of my sin by his death on the cross, I am not capable of living any other way. I am doomed, blind, and lost until GOD, my Father, comes to get me. It is He who saves, and gives us so graciously, so freely, so lovingly, His Son and then His Spirit, to help us see our great need of Him. I am so grateful He doesn't stop at ABC with us, He keeps pursuing us all the way to Z. I have to confess, as a Christian, satan knows where to attack. And one area with me is reading and feasting on the Word of God. It is so easy to just read it, but to feast on it and live it out is something my flesh doesn't want to do. I miss the whole point of the gospel. I fearfully want to live my life for the Lord. He made me and wants me... that is great motive to not want to live a life in vain. Thank you Lord for your presence in my life.
How do we always forgive? In verse 33 Jesus says,"And should not you have mercy on your fellow servant, as I have had mercy on you?" The bible also says God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. And we should love because he first loved us. We forgive , we love, we have mercy and grace on others because God has awakened mine and your souls to grasp his love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. His Spirit is with us to guide us and remind us and keep us on our knees wanting and needing our hearts to keep turning in such a way, a perfect way, we can see Him more.
God, Thank you for your amazing grace. And may it continue to flood our souls, transforming our hearts to be more like yours. Help us! We need you desparately to come!
As I seek the Lord, the Spirit enables me to see more and more of my gracious Father. And peels back the layers of my own heart revealing how sinful I trully am. I am learning a new closeness to God. Life is hard and in those hard times was the closest I have ever been with my Lord. But He is showing me himself differently as I am reminded every moment of who I am apart from Him. Sinner....one who sees fullfillment in the things of this world, like happiness in other peoples misery, thriving on stife and the condemnation of others, loving only when I get my way, making judgments on others in some attempt to make me look or feel better, or seeking after everything with selfish motives. And that's just the tip of it! Apart from Jesus and his redemption, the forgiveness of my sin by his death on the cross, I am not capable of living any other way. I am doomed, blind, and lost until GOD, my Father, comes to get me. It is He who saves, and gives us so graciously, so freely, so lovingly, His Son and then His Spirit, to help us see our great need of Him. I am so grateful He doesn't stop at ABC with us, He keeps pursuing us all the way to Z. I have to confess, as a Christian, satan knows where to attack. And one area with me is reading and feasting on the Word of God. It is so easy to just read it, but to feast on it and live it out is something my flesh doesn't want to do. I miss the whole point of the gospel. I fearfully want to live my life for the Lord. He made me and wants me... that is great motive to not want to live a life in vain. Thank you Lord for your presence in my life.
How do we always forgive? In verse 33 Jesus says,"And should not you have mercy on your fellow servant, as I have had mercy on you?" The bible also says God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. And we should love because he first loved us. We forgive , we love, we have mercy and grace on others because God has awakened mine and your souls to grasp his love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. His Spirit is with us to guide us and remind us and keep us on our knees wanting and needing our hearts to keep turning in such a way, a perfect way, we can see Him more.
God, Thank you for your amazing grace. And may it continue to flood our souls, transforming our hearts to be more like yours. Help us! We need you desparately to come!
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