Living in Grace.....

So, I was able to finish my book, you know "Grace Walk," while sitting in the ER yesterday morning for a few hours! Yes, ER, no big deal really -I was just really having a hard time with my asthma so I decided to admit myself and get some Nebulizer treatments. It was actually a pleasant experience, all the staff who helped me were super nice, I got to chill out and read all by myself uninterrupted!! Funny if you knew me and knew how much I hate Dr's and hospitals you'd think this amazing! Anyway, I am much much better today!! You know what's coming next, a few more quotes from the last chapter of Steve McVey's book, living in grace:

"Living in grace means that we express His life as a natural and normal part of our daily experience. We live trusting Him to express Himself through us every day. We don't have to overanalyze our actions and attitudes. Life isn't a test, it's a rest ( I love that!!) The test has already been given, and we have received a perfect score because Jesus took the test for us. It's time now to celebrate! We don't need to live under a list of things we believe we ought to do. When we are living each day abiding in Christ, we can do whatever we want to. As we abide in Him, HIs desire will be our desire.
Some Christians have worry lines on their faces as deep as the bottomless pit. Lighten up! The Christ-life is one of joy. People will be drawn to us and to Him when they see the quality of joy that we experience. Even in painful circumstances that cause us to be emotionally unhappy, Christians can experience spiritual joy. Don't freeze up spiritually with analysis-paralysis. I'll say it once more for emphasis: We can just live, allowing Christ to naturally and normally express Himself through us."

Good stuff, I tell you the more and more we learn about grace the more amazed we are, the more drawn to Christ we are, all the more peace and rest we enjoy!!

Back in time.......

So, I drafted a post on Sunday, Oct. 21 that I just published to that date - so it's a new post to check out if you are interested, short but sweet.

Just wanted to say again how much I am enjoying reading through "Grace Walk", by Steve McVey. I definitely recommend checking it out. So, I wanted to post a few quotes............

This is a Quote from Charles Trumball " The great truth that so many earnest, surrendered Christians have even yet failed to see is that salvation is a twofold gift; freedom from the penalty of sin, and freedom from the power of sin. All Christians have received in Christ as their Savior their freedom from the penalty of their sins, and they have received this as an outright gift from God. But many Christians have not yet realized that they may, in the same way, and by the same kind of faith in the same God and Savior, receive now and here the freedom from the power of their sins which was won for them by their Savior on the cross and in His resurrection victory. Even though they know clearly that their own efforts have nothing to do with their salvation from the penalty of their sins, they are yet deceived by the Adversary into believing that somehow their own efforts must play a part in their present victory over the power of their sins. Our efforts can not only never play any part in our victory over the power of sin, but they can and do effectually prevent such victory.... We are to use our will to accept the gift of victory: we are not to make an effort to win the victory."

We experience victory in the Christian life as we receive God's gift in faith. And as we abide in Christ. God doesn't intend for us to struggle for the victory. As we rest in Him, we enjoy the victory of His life. It is impossible to struggle and rest at the same time!

I wish I could quote the whole next chapter "The Vice of Values", but I will restrain, here's a bit....

"It's not God's purpose that our lives be built on a system of values. It is His desire that they be built on the person of His Son. Value systems may influence behavior, but God is not interested in systems of living. He is interested in relationships. An intimate relationship with Him will produce a godly lifestyle. A focus on behavior will not create intimacy with God or a godly lifestyle."

" The definitive question in the life of the believer is not, "Would it be wrong for me to do this?" but, "Am I abiding in Christ at this moment?" An unsaved person evaluates behavior on the basis of right and wrong, but the lifestyle of the Christian is to flow from the activity of Christ. If the lifestyle of a Christian is built around a value system, there is little difference between that and the lifestyle of an unbeliever. Many unbelievers express a desire to live according to the values embodied in the Golden Rule or the Ten Commandments."

"I highly recommend that you give up your Christian values. You may find this statement startling, but I want to shake you into serious thought. I'm not advocating moral anarchy. Nor am I suggesting that how you live is unimportant. What I am saying is that focusing on a value system is not God's intended way for you to live. God never proposed your lifestyle to be built around the principle of right and wrong. To do so is damaging in several ways."

I will just list the ways and then you'll just have to read the book for yourself.......
-An obsession with right and wrong makes people self-concious instead of God conscious. (I wholeheartedly agree, and experienced this for myself!)
-An obsession with right and wrong emphasizes human values instead of godly virtues.
-An obsession with right and wrong stresses law instead of life.(this one I am dying to expound upon one of these days!!)

That's it!