What freedom means to me.........

I am a bit confused as to why people get so offended by freedom. I must say, it's a puzzling thing for me, being that I have never felt happier in my life since I found out that it was for freedom that Jesus set me free. To me, that is the biggest breath of fresh air ever taken in, or the deepest sigh of relief, one that is completely satisfying so much so you just flop backwards with no fear and feel at deep peace inside. 
Here's what I think, if you are offended by freedom, then you are not free. Yep, that's right and I bet I just offended you. Oh well. Not my intent. I think it's offensive that people would much rather not take Jesus at His word and take His gift of freedom and embrace it wholeheartedly. I mean why would you want to cling to the yoke of slavery that once bound you, or better yet still does. Is is safer to you? 
Why is freedom just so dang scary for people? I mean are they so holy in and of themselves that they can keep/maintain themselves better than Christ can? For real people! I mean what did Jesus die for anyway? Okay, sorry enough of my intense passionate ranting.......
The thing is, I find living in freedom much more pleasant, satifying, and radically safe than I ever have felt my entire life. Why is that? Because for once, I am not measuring myself, I am not trying for approval of anyone, and I am not worried about failing. Why is that do you ask? Because Jesus has dealt with all of those things that were stacked up against me, that caused me to feel bound. Yup, he dealt with it all! He then proceeded to show me, by His amazing love and work on the cross that He loves me fully and accepts me completely - NO MATTER WHAT! He measured up on my behalf and keeps me safe in Him! I died right alongside him and was raised up into newness of life in Him, and all that He is, I now am! How incredibly amazing is that!?!
So does knowing this, living in this love and reveling in this truth, make my freedom a scary thing? Not at all. Here's why, my identity is sealed, my union with Him is so powerful that I don't want to use my freedom to do things that my new nature doesn't even want to do to begin with. Hello!! Embracing freedom shouldn't come with warnings or qualifiers every time you speak up about it. Shoot! It should be celebrated, why - Because His life in you is a powerful force to be reckoned with - it's His life in you both to will and to do! How much safer in every sense of the word can a free child of God be? And how much can we trust Him - just a good measure but then we have to add caution- NO! 
Freedom in Christ is freedom to live in Him, no longer under the constraints of a tutor that could do nothing to help you, nor could it change you. Any amount of Law in your life will not make you holy, nor will it keep you safe. No, no, no, no. It will make you a co-depndent son not aware of your new abilities to fly and to soar. The law will never, ever, ever bring you one good benefit all the days of your life, until it has brought you to Jesus and then you are done with that blasted old ministry of death - Hallelujah! Safe sons live free! They revel! They fly! They soar! All while the sons who never seem to move beyond the fear of too much freedom, sit and watch them shackled with fear that it will carry them away just a bit too much and cause them to go out and sin out the house(don't you know that you have died to sin anyways!!!)..............living like that, with two feet on the ground, that doesn't sound much fun to me. If it was for freedom Jesus set us free, don't you think we should believe Him and live in the freedom He paid such a dear price for?!!! 

Freedom in Christ Quotes.................

"What then does Paul mean by the old man? It seems to me quite plain....  the old man is the man I used to be in Adam....   it is the man I once was, but which I am no longer." 

 ~ Martin Lloyd Jones

"Understand that the old man is not there. The only way to stop living as if he were still there is to realize that he is not there. That is the New Testament method of teaching sanctification. The whole trouble with us, says the N.T. is that we do not realize what we are that we still go on thinking we are the old man and go on trying to do things to the old man. That has has been done; the old man was crucified with Christ. He is non-existent, he is no longer there.....If we but saw this as we should, we would really begin to live as Christians (or Sons) in this world."  

~ Martin Lloyd Jones

"We don't do anything, we don't give anything to God, but we receive and allow someone else to do all the work for us and in us and it's God that does it." The only experience necessary is Christ's death on the cross. 

~ Martin Luther

"Oh, it is a great thing to see that we are in Christ! Think of the bewilderment of trying to get into a room in which you are already are! Think of the absurdity of asking to be put in! If we recognize the fact that we are in, we make no effort to enter." 

~ Watchmen Nee

"The more we work and sweat to extricate ourselves from sin the worse off we are. For there is no way to remove sin except by grace. And with Paul, let us confess that all our works and righteousness, with all of which we could not make the devil stoop down one hairbreadth, are nothing but loss and refuse. 

It seems to be a trivial matter to teach the Law and affirm works, but this does more damage than human reason can imagine. Not only does it mar and obscure the knowledge of grace, but it also removes Christ and all His blessings, and it completely overthrows the Gospel." 

~ Martin Luther

Grasping for joy......

There was a chill in the air of my home this morning as I meandered down to start my day. Fall really is setting in. Thoughts of, Christmas is on it's way, seeped into my mind. I began to imagine how wonderful and magical it will be this year. Images of tiny Christmas trees filled my mind. No big ones for us this year. Too crowded and two curious little ones that are quick as a wink. I certainly don't want any impending ornament disasters, not this year. 

As I began to brew my coffee and wait for it, I peered out the window to observe all the birds gathering at the feeder. Flitting back and forth almost as if they were taking turns getting their snack. I admired the birds in their simplicity. They just live day in and day out, enjoying the bounty that is often before them. Not a worry on their minds, not a care in the world. 

I turned to the fridge to get some cream for my coffee and noticed the lovely butterfly magnets I recently bought at a yard sale. Butterflies just make me happy. Sometimes I feel like a teenager again, every time I see butterfly paraphernalia, I am drawn to it. I realize that butterflies remind me so much of freedom and of glorious transformation. Much like my own freedom in Christ, and being transformed into a new creation. Yet they are so fragile and so delicate. 

I feel that way often. I love living in this wonderful freedom Jesus has provided for me. It's truly amazing! Yet often I just feel so weak. Today is one of those days. 

I woke up last night with this nagging feeling. Couldn't put my finger on it. I have no idea what is truly bothering me, but I don't like it. I don't like that I feel weary and somewhat lackluster. Me and somber do not go well together. Let me tell you, I am not meant for it, I am made to be a fountain of joy. So I have to pep talk myself. 

Who are you Lydia? Are you really this sad sorry person you see in the mirror today? Well, no. But something just isn't right in my spirit and I don't know what. Are you forgetting how God sees you in your spirit? Well no,  I "know" how God sees me, it's more like how I feel in my soul. I just can't sense the joy today, and that sense of nothing is missing, nothing is broken, a wholeness.  I want to really feel it's there. Oh God wrap your lovin' arms around me tight!!! 

When you don't feel the joy just bursting out of you after you have been so accustomed to it, what do you do???

It is very rare for me to have a quiet moment or time alone just me and God. I have to share him with all the distractions of any given day, the diapers that need to be changed, the dishes that need done, the countless stories read, the piles of laundry that need to be folded,  the children that are fighting yet again. I share all these activities with God by my side, and I am so thankful that he never leaves me, especially when there's a real whoppin' stinker of diaper to be changed. But, sometimes, I just crave a deeper intimate time with Him. Just me, and him. I miss him that way. Perhaps that is what is gnawing at me. 

One thing I do know is I won't let myself stay in this state. That is one way He is transforming me. I have come to know such a wonderful Father, and a wonderful state of bliss.  Prior to living in a revelation of His pure love and grace, I would sit in this state of woe and stew in it. These days I refuse to live that way. I have found a much better way to live. Loved. 

When I can't tangibly sense that love, I go nuts. My mission today - go get saturated in His love and rest in his love for me!!!

This is where I live from time to time. I thought I'd be honest and share. Sometimes, I just have to fight through the emotions that are so familiar, and seek to take me down dreary paths. I no longer go down them. Sometimes I stand at the foot of the path.......wondering how did I get here? And then I look behind me and see the wide open field and the beautiful sky, sunbeams starting to burst through and the warmth on my face spreads, my lungs fill with fresh air again and I start to wander into the great wide open, a smile broadening on my face, then I begin to skip and run and laugh.

I love how God can so quickly fill me back up again, as soon as I turn toward His beauty and behold it with all that I am!!!!! I hope I find him quickly today...........

A cultic form of legalism........

Recently, I read this article by Terry Rayburn over at Grace for Life. 

Whoa, it sure hit the nail on the head in so many ways that related to my past church experience, and I thought I'd share it. 

A lot of folks are uncomfortable with calling certain churches a cult. Not me. The truth is these churches are turning themselves into cultish, cult-like organizations by living under the curse of the law. Bewitched, that's what Galatians says. Wouldn't you say, bewitched is pretty strong language?! 

Anyway, I am not fond of using the term cult to describe my former church or any other church for that matter. I find it to be a crying shame! Nor do I bring this topic up in any judgement. However, I do take this legalism very seriously, and must say it is destroying good people. Yes, destroying!! 

Here's a brief quote....."There is a form of legalism which is so subtle that most people wouldn't even notice that it's legalism at all. And yet it is extremely powerful. I mean “extremely powerful” in the sense that it is causes Christians to be fake, phony and stifled."

This was my experience, and in coming out of it, I learned all those I thought were my friends, no longer are my friends. I did not desire to lose relationships just because I left a church. But, sadly that is what happened. 

I appreciate Terry's advice at the end of his article on how to fight this legalism. Here it is:

 

1. First, walk in the Spirit. 

You be in fellowship with Jesus. You be filled with the Spirit. You commune with the Lord and practice His presence day by day. Without Him you can do nothing. But with Him nothing is impossible, including shaking off reservation legalism. This close fellowship with Christ is the foundation for the next two points. 

2. Be courageous. 

Always strive to be true to Scripture, but always have the courage to put your honest understanding of Scripture above what any person or group has established as politically correct. Even if they shun you. Even if they look at you funny. Even if they wonder about your faith. Die to self, and follow Jesus. Now there's someone who was off the reservation. 

3. Err on the side of love.

You won't do this thing perfectly. Love one another, in Christ. Be humble off the reservation. Don't flaunt your freedom. Don't be a rebel for rebellion's sake. Don't scoff at those who have not come to understand what you have. 

Don't be a grace Pharisee, pouncing on everyone for every single statement that could be seen as legalistic. Even though they may be wrong, graciously give them line upon line, precept upon precept, gently leading them toward the truth, as best you can. 

Perhaps the day may come when they join you "off the reservation". 

And that truly is my hope! That more and more would come to their freedom and Christ and fully live in it!! 

Joy for others......

Yesterday was my birthday. I believe it was the first year ever, maybe, that I just woke up really happy to be alive and enjoying this life God has granted me. I don't say that to sound morbid or pathetic, but every other year I was under the law, under condemnation and I didn't even realize it! So the best gift I received this year was to live in the joy of my freedom in Christ. Not only my freedom, but joy for others freedom as well.
I was blessed many times over to receive well birthday wishes and love from many friends near and far. One of the most unexpected blessings was a call from an old friend that I rarely talk to. I was filled with love and joy the whole conversation, and I think my heart sang all night long in my dreams. During this conversation I came to learn that my friend has come to live in freedom as well. She has come to understand God's grace in a powerful way! She said her family is having the most fun they have ever had!! That just makes me smile and brings me satisfaction I can't explain. She shared how the Holy Spirit gave her revelation on how we are no longer under the law, or under the Old Covenant. God wants us to look at Jesus, that's it!!!!
I share this little tale because this is what I long for, to see others come into their freedom in Christ and truly live in the joy of their salvation. His yoke is easy and His burden is light, it really easy!!

This love and joy I have for my friend has deepened unconsciously. I truly believe Christ's love is coming out through me for her! This is how it should be! We live in pure freedom, made available to us, through God's awesome grace and Jesus' poured out love! We begin to love, because He first loved us, and because it's His life in us that comes to life through us. Displaying Christ like love and attitudes toward others. This explains my joy and the fact it is so intense! Because, Christ in me, is bursting out with delight in His precious daughter, that He loves! Wow, it's truly amazing!

My response reminded me of the verse in the series Rob Rufus is currently doing on Attracting the Empowering Grace of God. He has read from Philippians 4:1 and expounded on this part of the verse "Therefore my beloved brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown......." I really believe our hearts begin to expand and deepen for others in a way, in the natural it could not be possible. But, in the supernatural, new life we have been given, where we are hid in Christ, we begin to love and long for our beloved brethren, our joy and our crown. This is how the Father sees us, and this is how we begin to see others!! With much joy, a joy inexpressible!!!
Many blessings, and much abundant joy to all who read here!!!

A breather........

Well, this post comes with a bit of boldness on my part, because I know how many people have a million reasons why they think I am possibly in a "dangerous" place. On the other hand I am finding and meeting more and more people with similar mindsets. What am I talking about? My family is on a hiatus from the organized church. We are not going to church, nor are we currently looking for one. Whew! There it's been said. 

To me what's currently important is my growing relationship with the Lord, my family and rest! 

Firstly, my relationship with the Lord has only been hindered in the past by attending church. It has not been fostered or fueled. My zeal to do things to impress God and others certainly was. At the time I was zealous I thought it was out of good intentions, but now I see things differently. My relationship with the Lord has only grown since I have come to realize how personal it is, between me and God. Getting a hold of his awesome love and grace for me has changed me more than anything any human, or tradition of man can or will. Additionally, the internet has made it possible to get amazing teaching all week long, instead of just on Sunday, as well as when it fits into your life. I have never been so eager to listen to preaching as I am these days!!

Does this mean I am against being a part of a local church body? Absolutely not! I simply am not in a place to commit myself to one specific church because it's some kind of requirement. I want to attend church in the future, but more than that I want to be a part of a community and fellowship that worships in Spirit and truth. As the Lord leads I am sure we will find somewhere to be. Right now though, we are taking a breather and we feel totally at peace with this! 

Our family has been through so much in the last few years. Now is a time of regrouping, of re-evaluating. We want to honor God in how we live as a family, how we raise our kids, but more importantly how we love each other! 

And the all important rest........!! Ultimately, I mean resting in Christ during this time of transition from old ways of thinking and learning how to live in our freedom in Christ! (in every area of our lives, detox the old ways of thinking and put on the new.)

I love this time, I love what God is doing in the world these days! I love hearing about the revival and watching it! I love learning from other churches that I wish I could go to but are nowhere near where I live! I love that we are living in a day where people are coming into true freedom in Christ all across the globe and on fire for God like never before! I just want to be doing whatever I see God doing in my life, like Jesus, he only did what he saw the Father doing! My heart's cry is ultimately to live so aware of God, to spend time in His Presence, to worship Him in Spirit and in truth and to be so filled with God that I overflow to others!! I think that's what it's all about and it starts with me or with you. The more I get saturated in the God's love for me, the more I can give away that love. We love Him because He first loved us! I think that's how we can influence the whole world! By HIS LOVE!  

My thoughts on this are far more lengthy than I care to write about here, it has been a journey that has taken me awhile to get to this part of.  I just really believe that God is going to use this time in our lives to prepare us for what He has in store for us next. 

Walking by the Spirit....

I have been contemplating about walking by the Spirit a lot lately. What does it really mean or look like to walk by the Spirit? Is is proactive or require much effort on our part......I think it can mean that, but I think first and foremost it's important to believe and understand we are now new creations, spirit beings, not flesh or soul beings......we are alive to Christ and our old nature has died, and we now have the very same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead alive inside of us, in our spirit.....I believe when we truly lay hold of this truth, by renewing our minds with it, we can sort of just flow, or should I say the Spirit is able to flow freely through us.....I am noticing more and more the Spirit flowing through me and I feel so free, so liberated.....to some this may sound a bit weird, almost New Agey perhaps, but it is so true.....if it was for freedom we were set free, should we not literally feel the freedom that Christ has purchased for us, should we not feel "alive" to Christ......

I know for so many years I did not experience this freedom genuinely, I truly felt bound, for lack of a better word, just bound up, trapped even, longing for something and I couldn't tell you what.....I was spiritually blind, deaf and dumb......that was due to being placed back under the law, which only brings death and curses.....I didn't know about my freedom in Christ or about my amazing inheritance either.....thankfully, where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom and He who began a good work was faithful to see me being transformed into His likeness and that simply wasn't possible under legalistic sin conscious teaching and mentalities.......thank God, He set me free from that and is still freeing me from old mindsets......He truly longs to heal us in every way, not just physically.......I do not minimize the suffering of physical blindness, deafness or dumbness, but those things in the spiritual sense are life robbing, sucking away joy and true inner peace....but God has His ways of healing our broken hearts and restoring us as He intends to do and really it's all Him.....I believe a lot of our partnering with Him has do with our mindset, our thoughts and beliefs......in the past I tried to "do" things, so many things to improve myself in the spiritual sense, but I simply could not succeed, I would have brief victory only to fall back into frustration and disappointment.....

honestly, I was trying to measure up to the "law" which is simply not what God intends whatsoever, the law was added so the trespass might increase, no wonder I couldn't move forward in my walk......now most often I simply believe the truth of His Word, the truth of the pure Gospel of Grace, it's all been done and I can't do one thing to add to it, but I can accept His wonderful free gifts, of righteousness and allow His Spirit to just work in me from the inside out.....you see the Pharisees had it the other way around, that's why they were called white washed tombs......I am now so aware of this inside out transformation that God is doing in me and that is what is so freeing......he carries the burdens, His yoke is easy.......now trials will come, affliction will come, life will look messy, (actually is should from time to time and it's okay....) but when we have the Spirit of the Lord within us to draw from -we can breeze through trials as difficult as they may be, and believe me I have a had a number of them, some without awareness of the power of the Spirit within me, and recently with such awareness of Him living His life through me, and the difference is incredible......He truly does take us from glory to glory.......wow......I love God, honestly, I love discovering His mysteries these days......I love the beauty of the Holy Spirit, I long to find out more about Him and what He is like.......and I know I will get to since He and I are partnering together to bring forth the kingdom on this earth......I hope you don't mind my random post, it's kind of an out loud thought process, actually a written out thought process......I would absolutely love anyone else's thoughts on what walking by the Spirit means to them......I think it would be encouraging and edifying.......please feel free to share.....much peace to all who read here...........!!!

Where the Spirit of the Lord is ~ There is FREEDOM!!!

I decide to include a favorite passage of Scripture of mine, that goes with this post. 

ROMANS 8:1-16 

Breaking Free....

I recently picked up a book from the library called, "Released from Bondage", by Neil Anderson and others. What a find! I had been coming to realize that spiritual bondage was very real, and may be something I needed to understand further. Coming from a church history of council that only dealt with our sin, and gave very little room for anything other than to deal with our sin, I found this book very helpful and refreshing. I always thought that going back through your past and understanding how it shaped you, and even created mental strongholds was important. Those thoughts seemed to fall on deaf ears in my old church.
Since leaving that setting of limited non-helpful council, I have sought to understand spiritual warfare, as well as begin to accept the "therapeutic" council, which was not embraced in the church. I was glad to see the book intertwine both.
One key thing brought up over and over was teaching people and helping them to see who they are in Christ. Helping Christians to fully believe they are a precious children of God, secure in the knowledge that God loves them fully no matter what they have done. Many Christians live with a battle going on inside them and are insecure in the Father's unwavering love for them. Often there are other voices competing in their mind and they can't hear God's voice. Often, all we as Christians hear is condemnation and guilt. I know this was my experience.
What I really loved about this book was that it helped to address bondage to not only the revelation of a believer's freedom in Christ, but to demonic spirits and strongholds. In addition the therapeutic is addressed in the end and rounds out the book in a unique way.
I am going to conclude with a quote from the back of the book.

"If we were lost in a maze, we wouldn't want someone to explain....all the intricacies of mazes and then give us coping skills so we could survive in the maze. We certainly wouldn't need someone to tell us what a jerk we were for getting lost in the first place. We would desire and desperately need clear directions out...God sent His Son as our Saviour, provided the Scriptures as a road map, and sent the Holy Spirit to guide us. People all over the world are dying in a lifeless maze, for want of someone to gently show them the way out."

~ Nobody can fix our past - even God doesn't do that - but we can be FREE from our past if we are new creations in Christ. ~

Breaking Free....

I recently picked up a book from the library called, "Released from Bondage", by Neil Anderson and others. What a find! I had been coming to realize that spiritual bondage was very real, and may be something I needed to understand further. Coming from a church history of council that only dealt with our sin, and gave very little room for anything other than to deal with our sin, I found this book very helpful and refreshing. I always thought that going back through your past and understanding how it shaped you, and even created mental strongholds was important. Those thoughts seemed to fall on deaf ears in my old church.
Since leaving that setting of limited non-helpful council, I have sought to understand spiritual warfare, as well as begin to accept the "therapeutic" council, which was not embraced in the church. I was glad to see the book intertwine both.
One key thing brought up over and over was teaching people and helping them to see who they are in Christ. Helping Christians to fully believe they are a precious children of God, secure in the knowledge that God loves them fully no matter what they have done. Many Christians live with a battle going on inside them and are insecure in the Father's unwavering love for them. Often there are other voices competing in their mind and they can't hear God's voice. Often, all we as Christians hear is condemnation and guilt. I know this was my experience.
What I really loved about this book was that it helped to address bondage to not only the revelation of a believer's freedom in Christ, but to demonic spirits and strongholds. In addition the therapeutic is addressed in the end and rounds out the book in a unique way.
I am going to conclude with a quote from the back of the book.

"If we were lost in a maze, we wouldn't want someone to explain....all the intricacies of mazes and then give us coping skills so we could survive in the maze. We certainly wouldn't need someone to tell us what a jerk we were for getting lost in the first place. We would desire and desperately need clear directions out...God sent His Son as our Saviour, provided the Scriptures as a road map, and sent the Holy Spirit to guide us. People all over the world are dying in a lifeless maze, for want of someone to gently show them the way out."

~ Nobody can fix our past - even God doesn't do that - but we can be FREE from our past if we are new creations in Christ. ~

In need of a Breakthrough....

So, I have been quiet lately, the weather has been amazing and our days our busy with trying to enjoy every moment. I have been pondering many things and growing in my hunger for more of GOD, His Presence and His power to breakthrough in my life. That said, we are in the midst of a storm that the enemy wants to overtake us, but Jesus wants to calm and have His peace and power triumph!
I won't go into details here, but I do share this to be honest and real and to seek prayers from wherever I can get them!! I am learning how much our enemy Satan hates us, and hates the message of grace and will do anything to keep us from going forward in it and truly living in the freedom Christ has purchased for us. I refuse to let my life be robbed over and over again of victory, joy, peace and miracles both physical and spiritual!!! I won't give up hoping in the One who has final authority and power over the enemy, who has already been defeated once and for all at the cross. My God reigns, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, with the earth as his footstool and ALL things under his feet, interceding for me and for you!!!! I WILL experience BREAKTHROUGH - Why? Because, what is the Gospel for if we can't live in the fullness of our salvation?! Wholeness, healing, preservation....not just sins forgiven!!

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places......"

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us......"

"And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God......"

In need of a Breakthrough....

So, I have been quiet lately, the weather has been amazing and our days our busy with trying to enjoy every moment. I have been pondering many things and growing in my hunger for more of GOD, His Presence and His power to breakthrough in my life. That said, we are in the midst of a storm that the enemy wants to overtake us, but Jesus wants to calm and have His peace and power triumph!
I won't go into details here, but I do share this to be honest and real and to seek prayers from wherever I can get them!! I am learning how much our enemy Satan hates us, and hates the message of grace and will do anything to keep us from going forward in it and truly living in the freedom Christ has purchased for us. I refuse to let my life be robbed over and over again of victory, joy, peace and miracles both physical and spiritual!!! I won't give up hoping in the One who has final authority and power over the enemy, who has already been defeated once and for all at the cross. My God reigns, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, with the earth as his footstool and ALL things under his feet, interceding for me and for you!!!! I WILL experience BREAKTHROUGH - Why? Because, what is the Gospel for if we can't live in the fullness of our salvation?! Wholeness, healing, preservation....not just sins forgiven!!

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places......"

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us......"

"And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God......"

"Christ in you, the hope of glory"

This verse has been swirling around in my head for some time. As time goes by and I learn more about the mystery of the gospel this verse takes on more meaning and richness in my heart. I am still growing more aware of the glory God intends for my life, and knowing that Christ lives in me brings this closer to home for me! But I don't want to stop with me! I don't want to focus solely on what God is doing in me, for me and meeting my specific needs. Although these are all wonderful amazing things, in and of themselves, it's just not enough! You see knowing Christ's life is now in mine, or as mine or through mine, because when I came to Christ, I died, to sin, to law and essentially to myself(in the spiritual realm) has made a huge impact on my life! But there's more.....not only do I receive glory through Christ's life manifest in mine, but God receives glory through me! Hmmm......God did not just send Jesus to rescue me.....there is so much more than that. If we stop there, we stay focused on...well....ourselves! Don't get me wrong that Christ came to save us is quite tremendous, amazing and baffling to our feeble minds....but there is so much more!!!
This is so exciting that God has put this in my mind and on my heart, as today I heard a wonderful message reiterating these truths, and the glory of God, or should I say the glory due His name, was ultimately at the core! The praise of His Glory!

I love Ephesians chapter 1, I think it essentially captures what my feeble mind is trying to verbalize, or should I say type.....okay so it's too long..check it though..but just to highlight.....it sums up the grace of the gospel given to us and three times Paul states it is for the praise of his glory! He did it all for us, for the praise of His glory! So he could have a whole host of sons and daughters, that glorify His name around and in all the earth!!

I have also been loving this worship tune, "You are the Lord, You're the Famous One, Famous One, Great is Your Name in all the earth. The heavens declare You are Glorious, Glorious, Great is Your Name in all the earth."

"Christ in you, the hope of glory"

This verse has been swirling around in my head for some time. As time goes by and I learn more about the mystery of the gospel this verse takes on more meaning and richness in my heart. I am still growing more aware of the glory God intends for my life, and knowing that Christ lives in me brings this closer to home for me! But I don't want to stop with me! I don't want to focus solely on what God is doing in me, for me and meeting my specific needs. Although these are all wonderful amazing things, in and of themselves, it's just not enough! You see knowing Christ's life is now in mine, or as mine or through mine, because when I came to Christ, I died, to sin, to law and essentially to myself(in the spiritual realm) has made a huge impact on my life! But there's more.....not only do I receive glory through Christ's life manifest in mine, but God receives glory through me! Hmmm......God did not just send Jesus to rescue me.....there is so much more than that. If we stop there, we stay focused on...well....ourselves! Don't get me wrong that Christ came to save us is quite tremendous, amazing and baffling to our feeble minds....but there is so much more!!!
This is so exciting that God has put this in my mind and on my heart, as today I heard a wonderful message reiterating these truths, and the glory of God, or should I say the glory due His name, was ultimately at the core! The praise of His Glory!

I love Ephesians chapter 1, I think it essentially captures what my feeble mind is trying to verbalize, or should I say type.....okay so it's too long..check it though..but just to highlight.....it sums up the grace of the gospel given to us and three times Paul states it is for the praise of his glory! He did it all for us, for the praise of His glory! So he could have a whole host of sons and daughters, that glorify His name around and in all the earth!!

I have also been loving this worship tune, "You are the Lord, You're the Famous One, Famous One, Great is Your Name in all the earth. The heavens declare You are Glorious, Glorious, Great is Your Name in all the earth."

Quiet Times????

So, I have been shifting my thinking alot since I have discovered grace, actually pretty much everything I valued or all the disciplines in my life have completely changed shape. The first thing that went was the "have to's", since as a New Covenant believer, under grace and not law, I am released from the burden of gotta's, should of's, need to's ...you get the point, right?!
Instead I have been reveling in and resting in God, who He is, and what He says about me. Now that I know Christianity is not a duty, but a relationship, everything has pleasantly become a joy! One thing I always, always, always felt condemnation about before this understanding was "having a quite time." It was like a duty that had to be checked off the list every day or major condemnation, it was the one thing people would always direct anyone to if you were struggling spiritually, "well, how are your quiet times??" or "Have you had a quiet time lately?" Now, don't get me wrong I was one of those people, because I thought it was a way to grow spiritually and I also believed God required it of me, or I would grow away from Him. So, if I didn't have a quiet time for awhile, boy would I feel lousy. On the flip side when I was faithful to have them I thought I was doing a good job at being spiritual so I would think God was pleased with my efforts and I thought I had more joy in the Lord. Now, I may have at times really experienced sweet times with the Lord, but usually only when I really wanted to have my quiet time, from my heart. First, I want to say God does not require us to have quiet times! He wants us to want to get to know him, any time of day, any day of the week or month whenever we have the desire. Now there is nothing necessarily wrong with having regimented quiet times as long as it is from your heart. Years ago, I remember a pastor teaching how we need to pursue the discipline of quiet times out of obediece first and then the joy will come. NO! Jesus delivered us from any law keeping, so we could have a relationship with Him, we have unmerited favor with God, he loves us, accepts us fully and that will never change! We never "have to do" anything!! However, dwelling on this wonderous news of God, not only showing us mercy, but giving us Jesus perfect righteousness which is totally undeserved and incomprehensible will cause us to want to get to know our Father. God doesn't want our performance - He wants our hearts!! How can we think that having a quiet time will change our status any!! You don't ever have to feel like your not in the Word enough or doing enough praying or whatever or that you are just not getting it right!! You can rest in what God has done through the finished work of the cross! After all Jesus said "It is finished!"
The Christian life is not a duty, nor is it a straight and narrow path! It is a delight, because of His Grace and a vast wide ocean full of possibilites and wonders to behold, because of His vast marvelous grace.
Christianity is also not us living by principles, disciplines or living "for" God - there is nothing we can do for Him - Christian living is focusing on Him and allowing Him to express His life through us!
Okay, so I have gone on a bit long here, but I am really enjoying my new freedom in Christ and have been more ravenous to be in God's Word than ever before! This freedom is available for all who are in Christ, just not totally understood by many Christians - my hope is God will open more and more eyes and hearts to his Grace found in the New Covenant!