...How do you view God?

I often wonder, how do people view God or how do they perceive Him? For years I had a sense that God was loving, but stern, not always happy. That's how I perceived Him to be based on how I lived my life. I would have told you I fear God, but my fear would have been, well.... the afraid kind of fear. (Sounds more like an Old Covenant Christian, huh?) Honestly, I truly had a sense of reverence for God, yet it was laced with a strict mentality, or ultimately a belief that God was shaking his finger at me. This is probably so, because most of the Christians in my life were often so serious and, pardon me, "uptight." I did not see a genuine joy and freedom in the lives of most Christians.
Does anyone know what I am talking about here? Growing up in a Christian world, going to church and private school, I always had this nervous sense of getting in trouble. Why? Is that how God truly is? He loves us, but at any time he may be unhappy with our foolishness, or silliness or wrong choices. And for some reason I could never be fully comfortable with myself for fear of some kind of rebuke or disdain. This way of viewing God followed me into my adult life, unfortunately! And for years I really was afraid God was not pleased with me. I often thought if I wasn't living a holy enough life, God might not be pleased with me. This is truly sad, considering at this point I was a truly saved regenerate Christian!
The truth is, God IS happy! And he has been all these years! God dealt with all his wrath at the cross over 2000 years ago! His wrath was totally satisfied for all sin for all time!! This fact, alone, is good news! That we have a satisfied, happy God! I think understanding this has truly given me peace and security (along with all the other wonderful truths of the Gospel) -but I seriously carried a burden around with me for so many years that kept me in bondage and an unhealthy, unnecessary fear! The truth is God has loved me before the foundations of the world, regardless of what I would do in my life! He knew one day, Jesus would pay the price for me to live in this freedom and in confidence that God is happy with me!! Thank you Jesus that you created a way for me to live in unity with my Heavenly Father, in peace and harmony and totally free from any disdain or anger towards me for how I live!!!
My current desire is to display God's heart of love and satisfaction and delight to my children! I want to save them from years of disillusionment of God's true character and true heart of love for all His children! (and the truth is God loves everyone! even those who haven't yet become true children of God.)
I know now that I was under the demands of the law until I came to Christ. But, what I don't understand is why all the adults in my life acted like they were under the law as well. (not to judge anyone here, unfortunately, I am finding all too often most Christians do not understand pure grace, it seems many Christians live as though they are still under the Law, and do not fully embrace God's New Covenant of Grace.) When I came to Christ, I died to the law. However, I did not know this truth, so I lived as though I were still under God's law, and His wrath. Confusing! So many years of my Christian life were spent in condemnation, when Christ had already purchased me freedom!! How grievous!
As a parent, I want to show my kids their current state before God. I want them to understand how they are under the law, and how the law is meant to show them their need for a Saviour. And I pray, that the Spirit would woo their hearts to God Himself. But, in the meantime. I do not want to give them the impression that God is angry. I want them to have an awesome view of a Amazingly loving God!!!
These are just the thoughts that were blazing through my mind this morning. I am still contemplating how I view God and how to be a loving example to my children, only by His grace and the power of the Spirit is this possible. Boy am I grateful, he didn't leave it up to me!!!

...How do you view God?

I often wonder, how do people view God or how do they perceive Him? For years I had a sense that God was loving, but stern, not always happy. That's how I perceived Him to be based on how I lived my life. I would have told you I fear God, but my fear would have been, well.... the afraid kind of fear. (Sounds more like an Old Covenant Christian, huh?) Honestly, I truly had a sense of reverence for God, yet it was laced with a strict mentality, or ultimately a belief that God was shaking his finger at me. This is probably so, because most of the Christians in my life were often so serious and, pardon me, "uptight." I did not see a genuine joy and freedom in the lives of most Christians.
Does anyone know what I am talking about here? Growing up in a Christian world, going to church and private school, I always had this nervous sense of getting in trouble. Why? Is that how God truly is? He loves us, but at any time he may be unhappy with our foolishness, or silliness or wrong choices. And for some reason I could never be fully comfortable with myself for fear of some kind of rebuke or disdain. This way of viewing God followed me into my adult life, unfortunately! And for years I really was afraid God was not pleased with me. I often thought if I wasn't living a holy enough life, God might not be pleased with me. This is truly sad, considering at this point I was a truly saved regenerate Christian!
The truth is, God IS happy! And he has been all these years! God dealt with all his wrath at the cross over 2000 years ago! His wrath was totally satisfied for all sin for all time!! This fact, alone, is good news! That we have a satisfied, happy God! I think understanding this has truly given me peace and security (along with all the other wonderful truths of the Gospel) -but I seriously carried a burden around with me for so many years that kept me in bondage and an unhealthy, unnecessary fear! The truth is God has loved me before the foundations of the world, regardless of what I would do in my life! He knew one day, Jesus would pay the price for me to live in this freedom and in confidence that God is happy with me!! Thank you Jesus that you created a way for me to live in unity with my Heavenly Father, in peace and harmony and totally free from any disdain or anger towards me for how I live!!!
My current desire is to display God's heart of love and satisfaction and delight to my children! I want to save them from years of disillusionment of God's true character and true heart of love for all His children! (and the truth is God loves everyone! even those who haven't yet become true children of God.)
I know now that I was under the demands of the law until I came to Christ. But, what I don't understand is why all the adults in my life acted like they were under the law as well. (not to judge anyone here, unfortunately, I am finding all too often most Christians do not understand pure grace, it seems many Christians live as though they are still under the Law, and do not fully embrace God's New Covenant of Grace.) When I came to Christ, I died to the law. However, I did not know this truth, so I lived as though I were still under God's law, and His wrath. Confusing! So many years of my Christian life were spent in condemnation, when Christ had already purchased me freedom!! How grievous!
As a parent, I want to show my kids their current state before God. I want them to understand how they are under the law, and how the law is meant to show them their need for a Saviour. And I pray, that the Spirit would woo their hearts to God Himself. But, in the meantime. I do not want to give them the impression that God is angry. I want them to have an awesome view of a Amazingly loving God!!!
These are just the thoughts that were blazing through my mind this morning. I am still contemplating how I view God and how to be a loving example to my children, only by His grace and the power of the Spirit is this possible. Boy am I grateful, he didn't leave it up to me!!!

Defending Grace!

I have honestly been, so far, pretty tame in my defense of grace and against legalism. I have been tempted to condemnation over it time and time again, but I am convinced I should not be afraid to be angry and indignant towards legalists. I have spoken up to people I know, in an intense passionate manner and gotten blank stares, have been called self-righteous for speaking out against my old church, have been told "everyone is in a different place, and there's a different church for everyone", and you have to be careful grace will lead you to license to sin, and you don't want to be involved in that agape love stuff. Also, people use the "God is Sovereign" statement like a trump card in defense of not facing up to the fact that legalism is heinous. It's insidious and deceptive and easy to fall into and not know you are in it. It should not be one bit tolerated, not one single bit!!! Yes of course every person has to get their own revelation from God on this and it will be a process that is individual to everyone. However, that does not mean I should not bring it up and stand up to it, even if someone doesn't like it, or if it makes them uncomfortable. So, that said....I must express that if you go to a church that does not preach PURE Grace, and you will know if it does...you are attending a legalistic church and they are preaching a false gospel. If your church spends more time on talking about sin, and how to overcome sin and how to pursue right living, you are in a legalistic church. And don't tell me so and so is a great preacher, when one week he preaches about God and a bit of grace, after he has preached numerous messages that were legalistic. If you become aware that your church is legalistic and you say, "Oh I will just ignore the legalism and take the good stuff they teach" -you are placing yourself under a ministry of death and of condemnation. You can't have both, you simply can't!!! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Leavening agents are meant to spread over time to increase and rise up!!! You will soon become under law and NOT under grace!!! If you say, "well my church talks about grace", it is not enough to simply talk about grace here and there when there is ANY form of teaching that is about what YOU HAVE to do. Grace is all about WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST ALONE!!! And what's even scarier to me, is when a church says they are preaching grace alone all of a sudden after years of indoctrinating their people with a half-false gospel and not even so much as mentioning they were wrong, and now they want to preach the WHOLE gospel of Grace!!!! Yes we should get ANGRY! Jesus died for you so you could be set free from the law and from doing, performing and focusing on your sin, He said,"IT IS FINISHED!" Now we are to live in freedom, with Christ living in us as us, and as we abide in Him, and rest in Him and walk by the Spirit -He will accomplish His very purpose He has for us in this life! It is never about us learning to become more HOLY. We are  already perfectly righteous in the sight of the Lord! This can't be added to or taken away from!!

Don't be afraid of Grace - be afraid of LEGALISM! So many Christians are wary and frightened of PURE grace - SO many!!! 

Paul spent much of his time preaching against legalism and for Pure GRACE. He even said in Galatians to those who let anything but GRACE come into their teaching, they are under a curse and let them be eternally condemned. That's pretty serious to me! 

Jesus was not very nice to the legalists, the Pharisees, he said things to them that in that day were the most insulting things you could say. He didn't tolerate it! He got downright violent in the temple making a whip and driving people out of the temple. And if Jesus didn't put up with legalism, neither should we! 

I believe the whole pure gospel of grace is worth defending ....for years I knew a half false Gospel and it proved to be nothing but heartache and pain and passiveness....now that God has shown me the truth and the veil is off, I am ruined for anything less!! 

Defending Grace!

I have honestly been, so far, pretty tame in my defense of grace and against legalism. I have been tempted to condemnation over it time and time again, but I am convinced I should not be afraid to be angry and indignant towards legalists. I have spoken up to people I know, in an intense passionate manner and gotten blank stares, have been called self-righteous for speaking out against my old church, have been told "everyone is in a different place, and there's a different church for everyone", and you have to be careful grace will lead you to license to sin, and you don't want to be involved in that agape love stuff. Also, people use the "God is Sovereign" statement like a trump card in defense of not facing up to the fact that legalism is heinous. It's insidious and deceptive and easy to fall into and not know you are in it. It should not be one bit tolerated, not one single bit!!! Yes of course every person has to get their own revelation from God on this and it will be a process that is individual to everyone. However, that does not mean I should not bring it up and stand up to it, even if someone doesn't like it, or if it makes them uncomfortable. So, that said....I must express that if you go to a church that does not preach PURE Grace, and you will know if it does...you are attending a legalistic church and they are preaching a false gospel. If your church spends more time on talking about sin, and how to overcome sin and how to pursue right living, you are in a legalistic church. And don't tell me so and so is a great preacher, when one week he preaches about God and a bit of grace, after he has preached numerous messages that were legalistic. If you become aware that your church is legalistic and you say, "Oh I will just ignore the legalism and take the good stuff they teach" -you are placing yourself under a ministry of death and of condemnation. You can't have both, you simply can't!!! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Leavening agents are meant to spread over time to increase and rise up!!! You will soon become under law and NOT under grace!!! If you say, "well my church talks about grace", it is not enough to simply talk about grace here and there when there is ANY form of teaching that is about what YOU HAVE to do. Grace is all about WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST ALONE!!! And what's even scarier to me, is when a church says they are preaching grace alone all of a sudden after years of indoctrinating their people with a half-false gospel and not even so much as mentioning they were wrong, and now they want to preach the WHOLE gospel of Grace!!!! Yes we should get ANGRY! Jesus died for you so you could be set free from the law and from doing, performing and focusing on your sin, He said,"IT IS FINISHED!" Now we are to live in freedom, with Christ living in us as us, and as we abide in Him, and rest in Him and walk by the Spirit -He will accomplish His very purpose He has for us in this life! It is never about us learning to become more HOLY. We are  already perfectly righteous in the sight of the Lord! This can't be added to or taken away from!!

Don't be afraid of Grace - be afraid of LEGALISM! So many Christians are wary and frightened of PURE grace - SO many!!! 

Paul spent much of his time preaching against legalism and for Pure GRACE. He even said in Galatians to those who let anything but GRACE come into their teaching, they are under a curse and let them be eternally condemned. That's pretty serious to me! 

Jesus was not very nice to the legalists, the Pharisees, he said things to them that in that day were the most insulting things you could say. He didn't tolerate it! He got downright violent in the temple making a whip and driving people out of the temple. And if Jesus didn't put up with legalism, neither should we! 

I believe the whole pure gospel of grace is worth defending ....for years I knew a half false Gospel and it proved to be nothing but heartache and pain and passiveness....now that God has shown me the truth and the veil is off, I am ruined for anything less!! 

Bringing in the New Year!!!!

Wow, what a year! I can't believe I am alive and well.......
You see this year for me started out horribly......dark and desperate.....and because of God's Awesome Love and Grace I am living in freedom, joy and peace...what a way to end the year, huh.....
Anyway, I am grateful that God never gave up on me or on my marriage and that ultimately he longed to see me happy and alive in Him....he is so faithful!!! I am also grateful for the many faithful saints who prayed for me and for my marriage and all our complicated circumstances of this past year.......you know who you are.....so I thank you for your committment and willingness to lift us up -! And may God bless you richly in 2008 and may you be more amazed by Him and His Grace this year than ever before!!!!

I see for 2008 a greater dimension and sense of hope- an increase of lives transformed and changed by pure grace a mighty wave of the Power of God coming to pour out his love....The Lord brought to my heart a reminder that we are His Bride, (those in Christ) we are getting ready for the Greatest Wedding of All time, and that in this time of preparation there is great joy and anticipation...as you come closer and closer to any wedding you sense greater joy and excitement, do you not??? so I felt the Lord wanted me to encourage those who are His Bride to anticipate and to enjoy all the preparations for the great Wedding Feast, the consumation of Christ and His Bride....what a glorious day that will be......and we get to take part now in the intricate details and plans for the Wedding Day itself....isn't that so great!!

Bringing in the New Year!!!!

Wow, what a year! I can't believe I am alive and well.......
You see this year for me started out horribly......dark and desperate.....and because of God's Awesome Love and Grace I am living in freedom, joy and peace...what a way to end the year, huh.....
Anyway, I am grateful that God never gave up on me or on my marriage and that ultimately he longed to see me happy and alive in Him....he is so faithful!!! I am also grateful for the many faithful saints who prayed for me and for my marriage and all our complicated circumstances of this past year.......you know who you are.....so I thank you for your committment and willingness to lift us up -! And may God bless you richly in 2008 and may you be more amazed by Him and His Grace this year than ever before!!!!

I see for 2008 a greater dimension and sense of hope- an increase of lives transformed and changed by pure grace a mighty wave of the Power of God coming to pour out his love....The Lord brought to my heart a reminder that we are His Bride, (those in Christ) we are getting ready for the Greatest Wedding of All time, and that in this time of preparation there is great joy and anticipation...as you come closer and closer to any wedding you sense greater joy and excitement, do you not??? so I felt the Lord wanted me to encourage those who are His Bride to anticipate and to enjoy all the preparations for the great Wedding Feast, the consumation of Christ and His Bride....what a glorious day that will be......and we get to take part now in the intricate details and plans for the Wedding Day itself....isn't that so great!!