The Song of Divine Invitation.........

In a room filled with darkness and people in despair

I sit in filth with clothes of rags, without a will to care.

Then a Man dressed in scarlet walks into the room; 

The air that once was stale and cold is filled with sweet perfume.

His eyes are filled with searching, among faces pale and ashen; 

He makes His way among us with a heart compelled by passion. 

Then suddenly His eyes meet mine, my heart begins to race, 

I find myself longing to feel His warm embrace. 

He stops and stands before me as if He has found a prized possession. 

His eyes are tender, filled with joy, with sweet and calm compassion. 

With gentleness He takes my cheek within His soothing hand;

He turns my face towards His, I feel I know this Man. 

His tender gaze pierces through the darkness of my soul,

 I feel He knows all about me, every secret that I hold. 

With a voice like a whisper that sounds just like a song. 

He speaks the words of love for which my heart has longed.

"Come dance with Me, My darling, Come dance with Me, My love; 

Come dance, My bride, My chosen one, Come dance with Me above."

As I rise from my darkness, the room is filled with light, 

And as we dance, His robe is turned from scarlet into white. 

He holds me close and tenderly within His warm embrace, 

Somehow I know He loves me and know that I am safe.

All around me I hear music that reaches deep within my soul, 

My spirit feels alive - reborn with joy - for now I am whole.

We slowly dance around the room as He holds me to His side, 

With gentleness and tenderness, He tells me I'm His bride.

And as we dance He sings a song that fills my eyes with tears, 

Of love that heals a hardened heart and quiets every fear.

He tells me I'm His treasure, I'm His joy and His reward, 

His unique beloved creation, the one He loves and He adores.

His song is like a poem that He is singing just to me, 

His face is filled with joy and it sets my spirit free.

Then gently He leans over and places a kiss upon my cheek, 

And with words that fill my heart with gladness, He softly begins to speak.

He tells me of a gift that's be made especially for me, 

Woven by loving passion, it will clothe, and set me free.

As we stop He takes a hold on both my outstretched hands, 

He then speaks with boldness, and to the host of heaven commands:

"Bring Me her silk garments, bracelets and golden crown.

Bring me her leather sandals and white embroidered gown, 

Bring me the necklaces, the earrings and the wine, 

Bring the oil that I will use to cleanse and make her Mine. 

For this is My bride, My chosen one who brings My heart delight, 

This is the one I died for, My beloved beautiful bride."

And instantly my garments are changed from rags to robes, 

For He has dressed me in His splendor, for all of heaven to behold.

As He stands in front of me, joy beams across His face, 

For today He has made me holy, pure and filled with grace. 

He takes my hand, pulls me close and gently sings to me, 

Of how this dance of love with last through all eternity. 

Of how I am His holy, pure and beautiful creation, 

And once again He sings the song of divine invitation.

"Come dance with Me, My darling, Come dance with Me, My love, 

You are My bride, My chosen one, Come dance with Me above.

I've paid the price to have you, to hold you by My side, 

My joy, My one, My only, beloved, beautiful bride." 

~ By Cheryl Buchanan 

I am beautiful............

I love this song!! I have been singing it to myself all week. Jamie posted it last fall and I am going to do it again! To me it's so powerful. 

I have been facing a bit of opposition lately, and found the truth of the Gospel and how God sees me, yet again as my anchor in the storm. 

No matter what lies the enemy whispers in your ear, whether it be through thoughts or the words of others - don't listen and let them bring you down. Cause you are beautiful in every single way. God sees you as perfect forever! He loves you and calls you beautiful!!! 

A faith builder...........

Smile.........

Abundant Life - the christian is to be abundant in life, and if not find out why - Eph. 3 - be strengthened in your inner man according to his riches in glory. We have an inner strength - when you get blessed you never have to apologize for it. If God blessed you, just smile. 

On sickness and suffering.........

So I have been wrestling with the issue of suffering and sickness lately. I have been seeing so many people suffering with sickness and it's affecting me. And to be quite frank, I get a little tired of hearing the same old same old. You know, the typical christian response. I mean what else can we say. Not to be flippant or disrespectful by any means, but I guess I just long for more. I long to see the Gospel have it's full effect in people's lives, in every area. We know that the power of sin is gone thanks to the finality of the cross, and the curse of the law is gone, but do we realize sickness and poverty are dealt with as well.

Today I decided to pick up Bill Johnson's book, "Face to Face with God", and in it I found a wonderful response to the dilemma in my mind. 

" When we allow sickness, torment, and poverty to be thought of as the God-ordained tools He uses to make us more like Jesus, we have participated in a very shameful act. There is no doubt He can use them, as He is also known to be able to use the devil himself for His purposes. (He can win with a pair of twos.) But to think these things are released into our lives through His design, or that He approved such things, is to undermine the work at Calvary. To do so one must completely disregard the life of Christ and the purpose of the cross. None of us would say that He died for my sins but still intends that I should be bound by sin habits. Neither did He pay for my healing and deliverance so I could continue in torment and disease. His provision for such things is not figurative: it is actual. 

Furthermore, it dishonors the Lord to disregard His work in order to justify our difficulty to believe for the impossible. It is time to own up to the nature of the gospel and preach it for what it is. It is the answer for every dilemma, conflict, and affliction on the planet. Declare it with boldness, and watch Him invade Earth once again. (Acts 4:28-29)"  

That addressed the issue I hear come up all the time, that I think behavior driven christians come up with to comfort themselves. The issue is that some think God allows us to be sick to produce character in us. Another issue that bugs me is the one when christians are praying to heal someone only if it is God's will. That just shows that we really don't GET what happened at the cross. Where are we getting our theology from anyway? Bill Johnson says this;

"Jesus Christ is perfect theology. For anyone who wants to know the will of God, look at Jesus. He is the will of God. Some pray,  "If it be Thy will," as though God's will is unclear. You would have to ignore the life of Christ to come to such a conclusion. 

How many people came to Jesus for healing and left sick? None. How many came to Him for deliverance and left His presence still under torment? None. How many life threatening storms did Jesus bless? None. How many times did Jesus withhold a miracle because the person who came to Him had too little faith? Never. He often addressed their small faith or unbelief, but He always left them with a miracle as a way to greater faith. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, perfectly illustrates the will of God the Father. To think otherwise is to put the Father and Son at odds. And a house divided will fall. 

Why did Jesus raise the dead? Because not everyone dies in God's timing. We cannot have the Father choosing to do one thing and Jesus contradicting it with a miracle. Not everything that happens is God's will. God gets blamed for so much in the name of His sovereignty for long enough. Yes, God can use tragedy for His glory. But God's ability to rule over bad circumstances were His will. Instead it was to display that no matter what happens, He is in charge and will rework things to our advantage and to His glory. Our theology is not to be built on what God hasn't done. It is defined by what He does and is doing. The will of God is perfectly seen in the person of Jesus Christ. No one who ever came to Him was turned away." 

All that said, I believe that we will face trials in this life and even persecution, and they will be a means of refinement as by fire. But I don't think the trials were meant to include sickness, infirmity, disease or even poverty. Just as we can say, sin has no power over us because it was dealt with at the cross, sickness also has been dealt with. I just pray that more and more believers will come to know this truth and that it will set more and more free. Shalom. 

Stubborn Childishness............

Being a mom sure is quite the wild adventure. Lately, I feel like a psycho path. Running around after kids that are fighting, screaming, crying, hungry but won't eat anything I offer, tired, don't want to go to school, can't find their favorite this or that, need help with homework but don't like how I help them, and the list goes on. I was actually laughing to myself today about all of this, just kind of reveling in how do I love my kids in the midst of all of this! Aah, despite it all, I still love them and will keep loving them even when all it seems like is that they are needy and ungrateful. 

So as I reflected on our life lately, I began to think about this dynamic between us and God. I had a recent conversation on facebook that someone seemed to completely ignore the finished work to focus on their sin. The problem is when we focus on sin, it's like saying to God, "I am not grateful for what you declared complete and finished."  Much like my kids who sometimes say, after I have toiled to fix dinner, "I hate this, I am not eating it!" 

You see when we say things like; " You can't just accept justifying grace and not sanctifying grace. After we are justified the Holy Spirit begins sanctifying us and uses many different means to make us aware of those sins that need to be put to death," we are not accepting the complete work that Christ accomplished on the cross! 

When we miss the completeness of what Jesus did we are acting just like kids who don't appreciate all that their parents do on their behalf. 

Tools.......or benefits and blessings!

Here's the deal, if we are looking at grace as a complete work that we get to rest in, believe in, renew our minds with and enjoy fruit of the spirit, we are peaceful. Not worrying about what we need to be doing, or what tools we need to be using to 'sanctify' ourselves. Since we are confident in what Christ completed on our behalf. However, if we think we have some part to play and that we need to actively be involved in pursuing holiness or helping the Holy Spirit out with the 'process' of sanctification, we will not be at rest, or at peace. Nope! 

I have noticed a pattern with many christians that turn the wonderful blessings God has given us in the New Testament into tools. Such as christian fellowship, the gathering of the saints, bible reading, prayer, speaking the truth in love and so on. You see tools are something you use to work with and to get results. Blessings are gifts, or privileges bestowed UPON us. Not something we use to get results, but something we receive for our benefit, or as the Merriam Webster dictionary defines, to confer prosperity or happiness upon. 

The way I see it, is that in the New Testament there are lots of benefits and privileges and opportunities for us to be encouraged in Christ. There are lots of directions in the New Testament given by Paul and others that many christians turn into laws and rules, instead of seeing how they will benefit us. Not by striving, not by trying to 'fix' our sinful condition (which by the way is indeed already fixed), but by enjoying the benefit of being encouraged in the truth. And we all know that TRUTH sets people free. I don't think it's freedom when we bind ourselves to these practices as a sort of new form of law. 

I believe Paul exhorted the church in the New Testament to live in the freedom Christ brought them. He exhorted us to live as Sons, to live as who we are. To remind us we have been freed from the old sin nature and that we no longer need to submit to that mentality. We can choose to walk in newness of life by the very Spirit of Christ that dwells within. He knew that being unified with other like minded believers would be a benefit to us. I don't think he would refer to it as a tool for sanctification. That puts the focus back on us and what we 'do'. Not on what he has done. 

So that said, let's enjoy all of the benefits that we can, there are many to choose from!! Peace to all!! 

My heart wrenching thoughts on sickness..........

I'm frustrated I'll be honest. I hate to see people suffering. Today I heard yet another heartbreaking story about someone I know who has a debillitating sickness. It hurt my heart and made me mad at the same time. 

We are not meant to be sick like this folks! It's not our inheritance! But yet so many are suffering, so many christians are hurting!!

What upset me today when talking with this woman who's relative is very ill, is that she said "God allows this to happen, and it really is shaping her character and helping her to become more patient."  I said, "Now wait a minute that's like you 'allowing' a car to run over your child because you want her character to improve. Would you honestly do that? NO! You would get arrested for child abuse if you did that. And how much more of a good parent is God than you and I?!!" 

I just don't get how we get these mentalities. Is it because we want an answer and we don't have one? We cannot let these misconceptions about God continue in the church. These misconceptions halt faith right in their tracks and then we get stuck in bondage, to sin or sickness. Bill Johnson says this, " When I have misconceptions of who God is and what He is like, my faith is restricted by those misconception. For example, if I believe that God allows sickness in order to build character, I'll not have confidence in praying in most situations where healing is needed. But, if I believe that sickness is to the body what sin is to the soul, then no disease will intimidate me. Faith is much more free to develop when we truly see the heart of God as good."

 We have to stop thinking that an all loving Father is after our character more than anything else. Jesus did not die, deal with sin once and for all to then have us acting like he hasn't dealt with our sin issues. He has! Once and for all!!!

I think the problem is solely in our believing. If Jesus purchased our healing for us as the Bible says then it is a done deal. We have to believe He is good. We have to believe the truth so it can set us free. We have to look not to the seen, but to the unseen eternal truths of what Jesus truly did accomplish on our behalf on that cross!!! I love how Bill Johnson states this; "Unbelief is anchored in what is visible or reasonable apart from God. It honors the natural realm as superior to the invisible. The apostle Paul states that what you see is temporal, and what you can't see is eternal.  Unbelief is faith in the inferior." 

It reminds me of what Jamie and I were discussing the other day when she said this; "We are given the power to overcome only in as much as we trust Christ's overcoming."  Now this was referring to overcoming sin in life, but I think it applies just as much to healing. We have been given EVERYTHING in Christ, do we really believe that?!!

Honestly, I am so frustrated about all of this. The earth is waiting for the Sons of God to be revealed. We are the Sons of God, the inheritors of a great family estate and it's time we started managing the estate, it's got too many weeds and briars growing up and the foundation is crumbling!! 

But here's my problem that I struggle with, what do I do with someone who is all caught up in wrong believing about God's goodness and love. I so desperately want to help others get free!! All I can do is pray for them and speak truth to them. So that is what I will do, but in the meantime - this Gospel Paul preached has got to go global!! We need to nourish the sick with the truth of this rich powerful Gospel. How is the church going to impact the world if we are not even seeing most christians living in the freedom Christ purchased for them?!!! 

Anyway, just a rant really, but let me tell you something in me is gonna bust open with the inner turmoil I have over this issue. 

Reconciled...........

Today I read a troubling statement by a christian. Now before I write what that statement is, I must disclaim I used to have a negative mindset toward the world and the lost. This mindset was triggered by a faulty belief of the Gospel and of God's love. Thankfully, it was shattered once grace came and got a hold of me. But what I particularly detest, is the fact that as christians we are meant to bring Good News to the world, not look at their fallen state and regard them by their flesh. Were we not once in that same condition, ere but the grace of God. 

That said, here's the quote; 

"I feel broken over mankind and its sick perverted selfcenterdness....who thinks they can do anything for the sake of their own desires. Feeling very glad to have God...may I be a blessing to everyone I come into contact with." 

The problem is, if we are looking at the world in this light we are not going to be a true blessing to them. I think we need to view the world as God does and He is not counting men's sins against them. He also was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. And Christ - FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM -  endured the cross. What was the joy that was before him?? That the world would be reconciled to God. That God would have a whole host of sons and daughters. That relationship and life would be restored!!! Is this just for the elect few?? Or the WHOLE WORLD!!!!

Anyway, I struggle with the fact that christians are making christianity very unappealing. We can truly look at all mankind with compassion and love and say, God loves you just as you are, you are forgiven and made new in Christ. Give them the chance to believe the Good News, instead of condemning them. 

Romans 5:10 -  "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!! 

2 Corinthians 5: 17-19 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 

It's time to tell the world that they have been reconciled to God!! Let's give them the same joy we have that it is to be in Christ! Instead of feeling sad for the world, let's give them the Good News and let them have a chance to live in the rich blessings of salvation!! Peace to all who stop by today!!

'Means of grace'

Sorry, but I have to rant. This phrase strikes a serious sour note in my mind. In my old church this term was used to refer to any practice, discipline or method used to help a christian mature, grow, or overcome sin. Sounds good, maybe. Persuasive, perhaps. But is it really true that a discipline, a program, a class, an accountability group or book reading 'club' can be a 'means of grace' (insert=  a tool to help grace along and maybe work a bit faster)??

I don't need a tool or a tool belt for that matter, to add all my 'means of grace' tools in. I am clothed in Christ!! He is enough. I don't want a 'means of grace'. I want grace himself,  Jesus!! What can I add to Jesus that will help me in my life? NOT A THING!! Why am I trying to add anything to what Jesus has already completed on my behalf? I can't add one thing to the completely final work on that tree. 

Let me ask you this, what has the power to set you free? Subduing your flesh? Or receiving His gift of Life and believing it indeed has the power to keep you and transform you from the inside out?!!!!

I want to fix my eyes on the author and perfector of my faith, I want to look not on what is seen (my flesh) but on what is unseen (my new spirit joined with Christ). 

Peace to all who read here today!!!