What if God was one of us?

Hm. What. If. God. Was. One. Of. Us.

I just finished watching a lovely movie. Jamie insisted. "The Diary of a Mad Black Woman."  I had never heard of it, until she mentioned it. She proceeded to share how it was a must see and that it was a story that depicted grace. Trusting that my good friend wouldn't steer me wrong on this, I rushed out to get it at the movie store to watch this evening. 

Let me tell you, she was right. I won't give away the movie, in case there are others out there like me who have not yet seen it. BUT, BOY!!! What a picture of grace indeed! From broken, to restored. From a controlling abusive first husband, to an accepting loving (patient, gentle, compassionate, kind, peace filled) husband. Sound like a familiar story yet? (think Rom. 7, law into grace.)

What struck me though was the song that came on at one point and I recognized it, but this time I really listened to these profound words, What if God was one of us? And do you know what, what if God was made into the likeness of human flesh? What if he came and lived like we do not equal to God, but just a mere human? What if he then was able to live through you and me? What if? What if He was in people all over the globe, alive in them? What do you think He could do in and through any one of us? Hmmm.............................................................

My feet are firm...........

Wow! How time flies when you are having fun living in the joy of the Lord! Ha ha! Recently, I have gone back through many of my old posts on this here blog of mine and realized many things. One, I can't get enough of this glorious gospel of grace and reminding myself and others of who I am in Christ! It never gets old! Another thing I noticed is, that the way I see things is shifting. There are some things I may have written in the past on this blog that were the way I saw it at the time, but now I see things differently. Don't get me wrong the truth hasn't changed, just my perception of it. It's like going up a spiral staircase, going round and round until I get higher up. The more I have delved into the truth of the finished work of the Cross the more my heart grips it's truth all the more firmly. I shall not be moved! Ha! 

I used to be more confused, used to have to more attacks on my spirit of condemnation and guilt, used to be weary and feel weak. Believing the truth changed all of that. 

I choose to be contented by the fact that Christ dwells in me, and He is more than enough. My life is complete in Him, I have no lack or want or need or sickness! This is the beauty of life in Him. We can live so free, in such inner peace that even when circumstances come at us, we will not be shaken!! 

So I will be here standing on the Rock, the waves can come and slap me in the face, but that's ok, my feet are held firm in Him, by His grace................Peace to all! Shalom peace!!!

How do we please God??

By living a fruitful life and living in a way that we avoid sin and instead do righteous acts?? Or.............something else?? 

(I had this in draft mode from awhile back and thought what the heck I will go ahead and post it................)

I personally think God is already pleased with His Son Jesus and His final performance at the Cross. When we receive what Christ accomplished for us there at that hill on that tree, and accept His redemptive work, freely truly - then He is pleased. Delighted actually. And this is an ongoing thing, not a once we 'get' saved momentary happening. NO, it's a daily receiving and believing that we have died and now belong to another. We now surrender and let Christ have his way in us. I think that pleases God. Not my efforts or your efforts, or my attempts at 'righteous' acts nor yours. You see I can't live the life that would please God. Only Jesus can in and through me. Christians need to stop making it all about themselves and what they can do to 'please' God. Cause don't they know only one could??!!! Do we think that now that we got the 'ticket' of salvation that we now need to prove ourselves and somehow please God by our behavior or efforts? No, we are now free in Him to live and we can choose to let the Spirit work in and through us. Not by mustering up our best tries to get this christian life all right, and keeping our act 'clean'. But by resting in Christ's finished work and allowing Him to be the author and perfector of our faith. I would much rather have Christ's works flowing out of me, than my own. (cause all our efforts to please God are like filthy rags, remember that's what the Bible says.) So why on earth do we keep insisting that we 'need' to please God in everything we do, in the way that we are living in fear that somehow we will mess up and not please Him and then what, will he be upset with us. Does it mean we don't love Him when we aren't making the best choices? 

Mirror, mirror..............

Just last night I had some time alone to go shopping, clothes shopping no less. So out into the blistering cold I trudged, finding my way to the local mall to where I had a gift card. 

Taking a deep breath I wandered my way through the billions of racks amidst the blaring lights, finding it a rather unpleasant task quite frankly. I walked around waiting for something to catch my eye. Nothing really did, until I saw a brand name I love and trust and suddenly I was in business. Exploring my new potential possibilities, I managed to find a few items that struck me, so off to the dressing room I went. I was somewhat expectant I must admit, until I tried on the first item as I watched myself in the insidious flickering florescent lit mirror. Then it hit me! Why, oh why, are dressing room mirrors so cruel? Will they ever be kind again? Deep sigh......I decided to go hunt for a new winter coat, in lieu of the clothing I so desperately wished would just fit right and make me happy. 

I actually find this whole scenario quite humorous. I realized that blasted dressing room mirror was much like the law. It points out all your blemishes and doesn't lift a finger to help. There is nothing wrong with that mirror, I can't get mad at it now can I. Ha! But guess what, I sure as heck don't have to stand in front of it and be scrutinized now do I. Notice how I quickly ran to find a coat to wear instead. Ha, I thought, how wonderful it is that I can wear my Father's glory coat instead and not worry about all the imperfections underneath. He sure isn't worried 'bout them, he doesn't even see them. To Him, I am perfect!!!

For what the law could not do.....................Grace has done!!! 

Not I but me..........

I'm dead, I'm dead, hidden in God with Christ,

dead to this world, to God I'm alive,

my passions and desires have been crucified,

but in my flesh I see deceit and lies.

 

Its no longer I, but evil in me,

Its no longer I, the evil I see,

for in my flesh nothing good can be,

for this old man is no longer me,

 

What shall we say?....   No responsibility!

shall I do what I want now I am free,

 

Thank God in this flesh I'm not alone,

for grace reigns from the throne,

ruling over to bring me home,

a slave, to righteousness I am owned.

 

and from this grace I cannot fall,

unless I go back under the law,

to which I'm dead, and dead to sin,

so to God I am alive,

I'm dead, hidden with God in Christ.

~ Stuart Whitby

Take a chance on me..........

I've been having so many wonderful conversations lately about grace, and freedom in Christ. Something about sharing truth with others just makes me light up and my heart and spirit soar. I feel like dancing and jumping and laughing - quite frankly I feel like I am as giddy as a school girl back in high school. Ha! 

That said, unfortunately I hear many statements by christians that are rather depressing and alarming. And somehow I get the impression that many christians get off on believing that God is mad at them. Oh they can say 'God is good', but when you tell them God is happy all the time, they can't accept it. It's like they need Him to be mad at them to keep them in line. So if they know God will be angry with them if they don't work hard and act like good little christians should, they are motivated to live upright and holy. I mean are we trying to put God in our good and evil box too. Do good get good, do bad get bad. God is not like that. How can God be in anything other than a good mood, His goodness defines Him. He is good and can't be anything but good. He is love, He can't help but love passionately. It's who He is, he cannot fit into our paradigm of good and evil. Nuh uh. 

Another frustrating thing I hear often from christians is that they think there has to be talk of more than just God's love or else how would things get done, how would people stay in line? Right. So they use that as a lead in to want to still uphold the law. They say, Jesus said, 'if you love me you will keep my commands'.   That's how many will argue that they still have to uphold the law, misunderstanding many things while doing so. Namely, that Jesus brought in a much better covenant and that he was the end of the law. He is offering us a chance to trust His very life to work it's way in us - from the inside out. Not from external restraints and demands. He says His commands are not burdensome. What are His commands? To believe. To rest. To trust. Perhaps to let go of our own self reliance and take a chance on Him - what do you think?