Freedom awaits............

Come to me, you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest -take MY yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light- all true change will be effortless because of my life in you -do not submit yourself back under a yoke of slavery, which is the law, the ministry of death and condemnation - the strength of sin is the law, but where there is NO law there is no awareness of sin, I am the end of the law, I will not point out your faults-where my spirit is, there is freedom-so again I say to you who are tired and thirsty, in me there is such freedom-what are you waiting for! 

Love ~ Jesus

Bertie Brits............

Last night I had the privilege of hearing Bertie Brits preach, about an hour and a half away from my home. I was accompanied by Chetana,  the lovely woman I had run into earlier in the week. We had awesome fellowship and conversations the whole way there. I am so glad she could come with me. 

When we got to the church we quickly realized that the hosting church was mostly Indian, and Chetana was thrilled as she is also Indian. Just another kindness of God, 'eh. We enjoyed some time singing and then the pastor of the church briefly spoke before he introduced Bertie. This man was in love with Jesus and thrilled to share about Jesus with us. I enjoyed hearing his passion to share that the whole Bible speaks of the one man Jesus! 

Then Bertie came up to preach. I had a smile on my face the entire time I think. He spoke the truth and preached the Gospel in all it's purity and with such vigor. It was funny cause he confirmed a lot of what Chetana and I had discussed on our ride up. It just reminded me, we really cannot help but speak of what we have seen and heard. This message truly is GOOD NEWS. It's not too good to be true, it's so good because it is SO TRUE!!! I really truly never tire of hearing of it!! 

I jotted down a few things Bertie said that to me were power packed quotes (perfect facebook statuses, hee hee). He talked about how we were so valuable to God. He said; 'The value of something is what you are willing to pay for it. You have such value to God because of what He was willing to pay for you!'  I just think that is so powerful and so comforting. He also said, and I have heard Joseph Prince share this too, and I really need to keep being reminded of this; 'If change is not effortless it will never last.'  How true is that?!! It's not our efforts EVER, folks. It is always Him iniating through us. I love that - freeing indeed! He also described the flesh, or being in the flesh as the same thing as being under that law. That was important for me to see it that way. 

After he spoke he invited people up for prayer. Both Chetana and I went up. When Bertie prayed for me, first he asked me my name. I said, 'Lydia'. He said, 'Oh you're Julie's friend!" Julie had just spoken with Bertie earlier in the day, and told him to look out for me!  Bertie had stayed with Aaron and Julie just this past March when he came to minister at their church. He also has contributed to Julie's blog as well. Anyway, I asked him to pray for some health issues I have had for some time. He did, and then he told me to put my hand on my stomach and he prayed for the issues in my stomach, of which I had not told him about. That really meant a lot to me. I have had such troubles with my gut in the past year and half or more. It has been one of my most frustrating issues, but I had forgotten to ask for prayer, since it wasn't currently bothering me. So that really blessed me, it showed me God was looking out for me!! 

All in all it was a fabulous evening. So wonderful to be in a fellowship of like minded believers knit together by this glorious Gospel! I hope to get out to hear him again on Sunday, when he will be in Philadelphia! I highly recommend checking out Bertie's teaching! 

(sorry about the quality of the photo, we took it from Chetana's cell phone)

Grace, but..........

Today, I remembered just how passionate I am about the beauty of grace. I hadn't forgotten really, I just was reminded that when grace is questioned or attempted to be added to, I cringe, I get all fired up and just have to speak to it. Grace, grace. It is so much more than we know. So much more than we even believe. Our minds have been so conditioned to think we get this great gift, but now we have to give something back. NOPE!! Simply receive..........

There is no grace...but. It's just all grace all the time. That is unless you simply want to go ahead and add a little but. BUT, don't forget if you add a little of anything to grace, mix it, or add to it with rules, laws and performance and behavior modification - it nullifies the grace!! Yes, NULLIFIES!! 

I don't know how you feel about that there word nullify, but me - it's pretty darn serious. Nullified grace, I certainly don't want to make grace void in any way. I want all grace all the time, cause I know I can't ever possibly add to or take away from what Grace (the person, Jesus Christ) has accomplished once and for all. 

No God's free grace is not just unmerited to bring us salvation and then we are left on our own as saved people to figure out this life we need to now be living. GRACE came as a person, fulfilling all the requirements needed to restore right and perfect relationship with God. This GRACE (JESUS) gave up His life, took our lives (think sinful natures, in Adam) and plunged them into the sea of never to remember again. He died as us, not just for us. And we rose as HIM! With His very life dwelling on the inside of us. Permanently united as one. Forever! 

So when you try to tell me that yes there's grace BUT.............. I don't want to hear it. Because how can you possibly take one iota of emphasis off of what Christ has done for me or for you for that matter. He gave you His very life and His very standing before God!! HELLO!!! And how powerful do you think having the very life of Christ in you really is?? Do you think His life in you is not good enough that you need to add that little preposition - but?  

You see my identity is found in Christ alone. That is where my hope in this life lies. That He has become my identity. Now I live this life carrying the Son of God and He will have His way in me. Can you imagine Christ dwelling on the inside of someone and not having an impact in their lives? I can't. It's Christ in me that is my hope of glory, He will carry out what He began in me. That means His life will affect my life and because He is living in and through me, I can live in a manner that is worthy of the Gospel. It's not me trying to live a certain way, or a godly way. I can't do it. BUT - He can! Only He can. So enough of this Grace but stuff people. It's always going to be Jesus performance and not ours. It's His life that matters working out through ours. It's amazing He actually wants to be knit together with us. It's simply part of His character, to be in union/relationship with us. He knows no other way. He longs to be with us. And so God had a plan for Christ to be within every one who believes the very Good News. 

So PLEASE don't tell me again, there's grace yes, BUT! You have no idea how you are nullifying grace when you do that.................Let's not look past grace ever into our what we need to be doing now. Just receive His gift of Life and let Him live it in you. Let's keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is indeed GRACE personified!!!!

He soothes me to sleep...........

It's 4 am and I toss and turn

My heart is heavy, my soul is worn

4:30 now, words no longer flow

my eyelids are heavy, to bed I must go

Those dreams I just dreamt

simply Satan's best attempt

at keeping me angry, and brewing contempt

but I will reject them and cast them away

for fear and negativity will not stay

I cannot allow them to come my way

For peace is my solace and peace is my gift

but Satan my heart will only try to sift

Jesus my Rock, my strong confidant

will save me and keep me, my enemies confront

He raises up a standard against all of those

who seek to take me down, my life they oppose

But Christ is my victor,  finalized at Calvary

He triumphed, he conquered for all the world to see

My Jesus, I thank you, you love me so dear

Your love has such power to conquer all fear

So as I attempt to rest my weary head

I remember your voice,  and the kind words you have said

You promised to not leave me, nor to forsake

My broken heart will be mended, yet some time it may take

........but Your word is a promise a bright shining truth

my wounds you long to heal, with your salve you will soothe

I'm so eternally grateful, from the bottom of my heart 

for this new thing you are doing, and a brand new start

You always redeem, 

you always save, 

you make all things new

You conquered the grave

You never give up, you never fail, 

you're always faithful, your word shall prevail..............

Easter reflections.............

Celebrating Easter to me is a wonderful reminder that my Jesus lives! It is no different than any other day of the year! This year more than any other year, I am remembering what Jesus accomplished for me at the Cross and through His resurrection. The fact that this event happened 2000 years ago, does not make it just an historical event. Jesus is alive!! Yes he conquered the grave those 2000 years ago, and death did not defeat him. And He now sits at the right hand of God in heaven as well as in the heart of every one who believes in the truth of what happened for them at the cross. I just want to revel in the fact that He is, the I AM. So many Christians across the world today will remember this event as though it is an event in history. The truth is that the event happened and I can live in the benefits every single day! Jesus is with me every day! I am in Him every day!! I believe that God is the God of today. He wants us to live in the present every day! He is the I AM!!! 

Today I am reveling in the eternal truth of what Jesus accomplished through His resurrection. Jesus rose and we were raised up with him!! We are now seated in heavenly places with Him at the right hand of God!!!! We now have the very life of Christ in us, as us!!! He has become our new life and identity!!! Hallelujah!!! This is good news indeed!!!

Grace has always been God's way.........

Was the law ever God's first choice for mankind? ..................... I don't think so. Yes God brought the law, but He always had planned on grace, through the person of Jesus. After all Jesus was the lamb slain before the foundations of the world. And no, the law wasn't plan B, because grace wasn't working. No the law came because, well basically the Israelites asked for it. God knew this beforehand. He knows everything and yet still our failures can't mess up His plan. He uses even our mistakes, our unbelieving hearts to still work together for good. He can turn everything and use it to point to Jesus!! Isn't that awesome!!

I just love Hebrews 10, I find it gets richer and richer every time I am referred back to it! Check out verse 8 in particular and tell me if you think God wanted to bring the law because that was His ultimate plan for us!!

........my secret!!

I have a secret.............................

I have found all the answers to life...........................

yes truly, I have.............

and the joy, that I thought was stolen from me......

was just an optical illusion..........haha!!

You see all my joy is found in Christ!!

All my everything is found in Him!!

All my answers to all the problems that I will ever face,

they're there - found in Him..........

found in what He accomplished for me!!

Jesus is the most sufficient answer to every human need!!

HALLELUJAH!!!!

Deluge of Joy.............

joy

joy joy

joy joy joy

joy joy joy joy

overflowing

bursting 

from within

uncontainable

 I delight

I marvel

I revel

in You

Your love

Your smile

Your affections

and gift 

of jubilant felicity

in abundance

freedom 

from 

that which 

once 

bound....

 now I

 indulge in 

great happiness

treasuring 

the greatest prize

ever given

to me

 YOU

my

JESUS

Jesus 

you won 

my 

heart

forever

you have 

given me

this gift 

of yourself

 which

my heart

my mind

cannot 

fully

 fathom

nor grasp

yet as i ponder

this great mystery

my heart leaps

my minds 

whirls and twirls

and 

I long to 

flip

dance

shout

sing

even fly

liveliness 

overtakes me

I become

animated 

with intense

elation

aroused by

the desire

that overtakes me

for you

and from you

you

are

extremely 

gratifying

satisfying

permeating

my whole being

with 

all consuming 

passion 

fire

for you

joy

bliss

glee

wonder

fill 

abound 

arise

cascade

exude

emanate

flow

to overflow

from me

like 

unstoppable

rushing 

waters

splashing

spurting

pouring

forth

in 

ceaseless 

profusion

I 

thrive

in 

You

alone

You

who 

I 

long for

my joy

and 

my crown

I 

will 

ever live

in 

this ceaseless

state

of 

joyful

exuberance

I 

have found 

in

YOU

Thoughts from the Book of Acts...........

I am loving reading the book of Acts again!! There are way too many wonderful powerful passages in this book. This book demonstrates what the first church, birthed after the New Covenant came, was like - full of power through the Holy Spirit. This is a better covenant, one with power and life! The promise of the Spirit was fulfilled, and the disciples began to move in power to spread the truth of Jesus! They modeled what church life should look like!! The Gospel continued to go forth with power and signs and wonders through the disciples! They continued in the same manner Jesus did, healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons and preaching the truth of Jesus!! Wasn't it kind of God to have demonstrated in such obvious, tangible ways! Why would he do this - to give faith to people, faith in Jesus who saves us from sin and sickness!! Everytime miracles were performed, eyes were opened, hearts were opened, faith was established! Faith!! And we know, without faith it is impossible to please God!! He is the author and perfector of our faith too!! This is a glorious gospel and covenant indeed!! 

Okay, so on with my random snippets from Acts.........................

After the Holy Spirit came upon those in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost;

Acts 2 - 14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17" 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '
36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

In the passage below, Peter knew he had nothing better to offer this man, other than to demonstrate the power of the gospel, of salvation in action - look at the response this powerful declaration and miracle received. Amazement and wonder and more who believed!! They all gave glory to God! 

Acts 3 - "1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Then look at what Peter says to the astonished crowd................He clarified to them that they did not heal this man by their own power, but by the power of God. He then says;

"16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."

Did you see that? "It is Jesus name and the faith that comes through him that gave the man COMPLETE healing." 

Then in Acts 4, Peter and John were seized and then questioned by the Sandhedrin. Can you imagine this scene?!

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."
18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

I love the first line and the last line in that passage, don't you? Peter is so full of the Holy Spirit, he is compelled and can not be silent about Jesus! I love it! Even in the face of danger...........

Then in Acts 5 -"12The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil^[a] spirits, and all of them were healed."

That passage is awesome to me! Peter's shadow healed them! How could that be? He must have been overshadowed by One who indeed carried the power!!! And did you see that more and more believed as a result?!!!

Also, I loved this part in verse 42, after having been persecuted; "42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."

Further along in Acts we read Paul's message in Athens; 

24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'29"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

Where is the church that moved in power like this? Was it really meant for just the early church? Do we believe in this same Gospel that the disciples preached, the one that came with mighty signs and wonders? If so, aren't we to move in power as the disciples did, and as Jesus did? If we are his offspring, and he is within us and we have been given the promise of the Holy Spirit - and it's in Him we live and move and have our being - wouldn't or shouldn't we be compelled to follow in His and the disciples footsteps! Not only compelled, but propelled and actually moving in signs, wonders and miracles! Proclaiming the good news of Jesus and demonstrating with signs, wonders and miracles to give faith to all those who hear....................why should we settle for less than what we see here in Acts? 

Let your light shine.......

I don't know what brought this verse to my attention, the Holy Spirit perhaps? I can't get it out of my head. Matthew 5:16 -"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." This was one of those bible memory verses years ago for my oldest son, but how do you explain this to a child? Unfortunately, the devotion book I read to my son back then suggested that letting your light shine, was about behavior. I want to clear the air and give a fresh perspective to this verse.  

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." And we know that "In Him there is no darkness at all." 

 Also,  in the first part of the passage I am referring to Jesus said ,"You are the light of the world." ( I believe he was talking to his disciples here.) 

We know as believers we have the very life of Christ alive within us. His Spirit is one with ours. He is light! We have His light inside of us! When we "let go and let God" or rest in Him, or walk by the Spirit, we are letting our light shine. I think He wants us to get comfortable with this and let it shine everywhere we go! Letting our light shine, is another way we die to our right to be in control and let Him live the life! We need to know this truth of, Christ in us, the hope of glory. We need to really truly embrace it as a deep heart understanding, else we miss out on many meanings of many Scriptures. When we know it's Christ in us, we know that the light that we shine is Him. Not our trying to behave well to impress non-Christians. Anyone can be moral enough and behave and show kindness enough to impress someone!! I know lots of moral unsaved people and their kindness outdoes that of many Christians! So how could we think for one second this verse has to do with our behavior or our good efforts to look like Jesus to a lost and dying world. If we truly know it's Christ in us, His light, and we appropriate that truth and let him live through us, the good works we do are the works that Jesus is doing through us. Not us doing the works out of our flesh, those would be dead, dung, rubbish!! They will burn! No, it's Christ in us, working through us. The only works that will please the Father are Jesus' works! All our attempts and efforts at works are like filthy rags. If we are to do the works that Jesus did, we must let Him do them, through us! He initates, we respond!! 

So, when we do this, letting our light shine so that they (the lost world) may see our good works and give glory to God in heaven - we are pointing the world to Jesus! When they see Jesus in us, they will give glory to God!! Remember wherever Jesus went, whatever miracles he did, people were amazed and many believed, many rejoiced and praised God, as well as put their faith in Jesus! (I say many, because unfortunately there were those who were angry and jealous of Jesus, the Pharisees, the self-driven and self-righteous ones who wanted credit for all there hard work and living up to the high standards of the law, they wanted to be glorified  instead of God!!) 

So, it's Christ in you - believer, shining His light through you, before others so that they may see the good works that Jesus will do through you, and glorify our Father in Heaven!!!! We have the life of Christ in us, for us to share with the whole world!! Let's let them see our light!! 

Pressing ON...

" I did not come to entertain the people in the court,

I'm here to please the King, I wanna love on You, Lord

I did not come to camp outside and view You through a haze

I've got to look into Your eyes in the Holy Place, in the Holy Place

There's no going back to where I've been

'Cause You're in me and I am free from sin

I'm pressing on....

I'm pressing on....

I fix my eyes on the prize, I'm lookin' at You, Jesus

I fix my eyes on the prize, I'm lookin' at You

I did not come to settle for the average or mundane

'Cause the Spirit of Jesus Christ is flowin' in my veins

I did not come to bow down and give in to fear of man

I'll prophesy, sing a new song and dance Your dance

I'm gonna dance Your dance

The blaze in Your gaze is drawing me into You

I'm being chased by the very One that I pursue................"

- Kelanie Gloeckler 

The law in the life of a believer - GOOD or BAD?

So in light of some discussions I have been having, I decided it was time to review the place of the law in the life of a believer again. I find it to be helpful to me, to go back and reconfirm what I believe, by going through the Scriptures. It is so comforting for me to do this. Not only do I feel more confident in God's grace, I get to seal these truth's in my heart at a deeper level. And, I get to preach the Gospel to myself yet again. Something my former church insisted was crucial - "preach the Gospel to yourself everyday". Only problem was, they only understood part of it. (and I include myself.)

So what about you? Do you believe that the law is a good thing for the believer, does it bring him joy to live by it? Should we as believers aspire to live by the law? Is the law indeed God's set of moral values or standards for us? OR is the law a bad thing for the believer to live by, bringing death and condemnation? (You know which one I vote for!)

John 1:17 - "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (truth is on the side of grace, not the law)

Galatians 2:21- "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." ( The moment you place the law of Moses between you and God again, you are negating the finished work of the Cross, of Jesus, for if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died in vain.)

Col. 2:14 -"having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross" (the written code here is the law, does this sound "bad:" to you? You cannot reduce our christian walk to a list of rules, Jesus death fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law of the old covenant. The righteous requirements were nailed to the cross, so once we come to faith in Christ through the cross the law stays nailed to the cross, and we enter into a new covenant, and the way to God is now open - He fulfilled it so we don't have to! )

Matthew 5:17-"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (Jesus did not sweep the law under the carpet, He came and He fulfilled every requirement of the law perfectly on our behalf. The debt we owed to the law has already come and been fulfilled by our Saviour, we do not still owe payments or installments on that debt by keeping the law anymore, it is cancelled fully! The law has no hold over you anymore!!)

look at Col 2:14 and then 15, ..."having disarmed the principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." (It sounds like the devil was armed with the "handwriting of requirements that was AGAINST us. The handwriting of requirements was written on Mount Sinai by the finger of God on 2 tablets of stone - the devil armed himself with the law to accuse and condemn, man - remember he is an accuser.(see Rev. 12:10- he is the biggest legalist of ALL) God didn't give the law to arm the devil, but the devil, knowing that the law was AGAINST man, took advantage of it and has been using it against man ever since. The law always condemns and keeps man away from God. So the devil, knowing this, uses it to keep us from God - that's why when God nailed it to the cross, He made a public spectacle of the devil and all the powers of darkness.)

so when you here a voice telling you you failed and did not live up to the law and you feel guilty or condemned, you can point to the cross and say I am redeemed from the curse of the law, I stand fully justified and complete in Him and condemnation has no hold over me!!!

But if you insist that you need to keep the law, you are actually arming the devil again! God has nailed the law, he blotted out it's requirements and disarmed it, but when you subject yourseld to this old covenant system of the law, you are putting the weapon back in the devil's hands. ANY teaching that says, "we have to keep the law to be blessed by god and to sanctify ourselves" is putting the weapon of the law back into the devil's hands. Instead of resting in God's disarmament, people are rearming the power's of darkness!!! And let's not forget that if you insist that you need to keep the law,you must keep the whole thing perfectly!

Yes the law is holy, just and good. But, even though the law is holy, just and good, it has no power to make you holy, just and good. The law was added that the trespass might increase, it was added and designed to expose your weaknesses, your sins and your inability to be holy, just and good. It is like a mirror that exposes your flaws! You can't take the mirror and try to clean up your flaws, because that is not the purpose of the mirror. You need to realize that no amount of keeping the law can make you holy. Only the blood of Jesus can do that. Regardless, the law is holy and it is from God.

Romans 3:20 - " Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin."

Romans 6:14 - "For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace." So sin WILL have dominion over you when you are under the law.

Romans 4:15 - " because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression" ( Did you hear that? Where there is no law, there is no transgression. Did you also hear that law brings wrath, that doesn't sound good to me! Here's an example of what that would look like; say there is no law on how fast you can drive, there is no speed limit. the cops can't pull you over and give you a ticket for speeding, because there is no law stating that you cannot speed. In other words, no law = no sin. No recognition of sin equals no need for a Saviour - the law was given to bring us to the end of ourselves, so that in our desperation we would see our need for Jesus!! Because of the law, none of us can say that we were not sinners and none of us can say we didn't/don't need Jesus. That is the purpose of the law. It was not designed to make you godly, but to expose your ungodliness. The devil will use the law to make you conscious of all your shortcomings - but through Christ you are not under the condemnation of the law any longer!!! )

Righteousness is a gift, it's not a reward for perfect obedience to the law. You are clothed today not in your own righteousness, which is self-righteousness, but with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. God sees you as righteous as Jesus himself. Think of the parable of the prodigal son, remember in the story how the Father ran to the son, and kissed him and hugged him and wanted to throw a party for him and kill the fatted calf, he also put his finest robes on him, symbolizing the gift of righteousness, God's royal robes of righteousness. He loved us so much, he wanted to be with us, he didn't care that we had been in the pig sty after blowing all our inheritance on prositutes - he looked past all of that and blessed us anyway. What lavish love!!

Gal. 3:2-3 -" Let me ask you this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Do you believe the idea that the Holy Spirit helps us keep and obey the law? We no longer have a relationship with the law. We have died to it. The life we live now is not a life of Spirit-led keeping of the law.)

Let me say this too, that the difference between the old covenant of law and the new covenant of grace is: the law is deserved favor (when you obey the commandments perfectly, you will be blessed.) and grace is undeserved favor (Jesus obeyed God perfectly, and you will be blessed by BELIEVING in Him) So, which covenant are you under? Cause you can't mix the two and still call it grace. God found fault with the old covenant, Hebrews 8:7-8 (hect, read the whole chapter!) "for if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says; "Behold the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.........read on through verse 13. He made the first one obsolete............OBSOLETE!!!! No more old covenant keeping of laws and rules and regulations.

Romans 7:1-4 -"Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to men who know the law—that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.

So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God." ( I love this picture! We were all born into this world in Adam, married to the law. In other words, we are married to an authoritarian dominating husband, a husband that points out our faults, a husband that says, don't do this, don't do that, and he never lifts a finger to help, any time you try and argue with him and say that's not fair, you can't because he is always right.

And Paul is saying here, that you can't say, I am tired of the Law, this husband, I am just going to go marry Jesus - because Paul says, "Hey, while this husband is still alive you would be in spiritual adultery to go marry Jesus while the law is still alive." And to make it really bleak and dark and discouraging in the Gospels, Jesus says the law will never pass away. -So you're married to a husband who's fault finding, oppressive, dominating, a bully, always pointing out your faults, never lifts a finger to help you, is always right and you can't argue with him and he'll never pass away, and you can't go marry anyone else. - Pretty bleak and depressing right? Doesn't sound good to me! Is this good news? So what happens now - back to Gal. 2 - You died to that which once bound you, so that you may marry another - Jesus! Jesus is a husband that does not point out your faults, He is extremely gracious, extremely loving, extremely gentle, helpful, breathes life into you, stands by you, does not point out your faults, believes you, holds no sin against you- that's who you're married to, in Christ.

Romans 10:3 - "Christ is the end of the law."

Simplicity.....

This past summer, as I was sitting with a bunch of moms at swimming lessons, a conversation transpired that went like this. 

"So where do you go to church?" 

".............. How about you?"

"............... "  

Then a few random niceties, and somehow we were talking about worship and doctrine after discovering a familiar relationship to my old church. The woman spoke of her church and how they do things and why. 

"Yeah we sing songs with rich doctrine, not just "Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me", and all those other songs that repeat over and over like, "I love Jesus, I love Jesus".  We like to have rich theology in our worship." 

Anyway, I pause at this point because she lost me there. You see I have no problem with songs that sing of the truths of the gospel, and weave in theological truths,  but I do have a problem with thinking you can move past the simplicity of the love of Jesus. What was she insinuating in that statement? I can only guess. I however, like to keep it short and sweet and simple. If not for the love of God, and the fact that He loved us so much, out of love He sent us Jesus to remedy our relationship than I simply do not know where you and I would be. Why make a simple message complicated? Why always think there has to be more?  

I have a lovely little melody running through my mind often. One that I heard Whitney Houston sing in the movie Bodyguard. One that you and I all know so well. So simple even a child could grasp it's truth and sing it over and over, oh yeah and over again!! Enjoy!

Reflecting.......

It is amazing to me that yet another year has rolled to an end, with a new one beginning! I love new beginnings! I have much to be thankful for and I am very blessed. Jesus has taught me so much this year, and he has been so patient and so loving. Coming to a revelation of grace and it's purity is one thing, living in it is another. I guess the initial revelation seems like, yeah I finally got this, yet there is ongoing revelation as the old thinking is shed off and the new takes it's place. This past year was a dramatic one for me as I had to continue to shed off the strongholds I once clung to, and began to truly learn to rest in HIM and HIS FINISHED WORK. Learning to live as though it is HIM living through me and not me trying to live right has taken some time to get used to. I know I will continue to learn how to get out the way and let Him live, and just abide in the vine. Living the let go life, as some may call it. Like a little child I am learning to trust my Daddy is in control and has my best interests in mind. How refreshing!!

There have been so many things I have wrestled with over this past year, not regarding others according to the flesh has been a big one. I am slowly getting the idea though, did I mention, SLOWLY........!! Yet, it has been a revelation that has made a huge impact on how I relate with others. When we look at people the way God does, instead of how the law does, relationships mend, trust forms and people feel safe.  Jesus continues to show me just how compassionate He really is and I am in awe over and over again at just how tenderly loving He really is! Words just cannot express it!

Life has become more filled with joy, peace and contentment. I am truly content. I get tickled over the silliest things anymore and no longer feel like something is missing in my life. Isn't that how it should be? The shalom of God has come to me, nothing missing, nothing broken. Even though to an onlooker my life may not look whole or complete, God declares it so and I am grateful to live on HIS authority and not the world's perspective. Isn't that so freeing, to know what others think about your life doesn't truly matter. Just believing God at His word and resting in the finality of it, the truth of it. Whether you can see it in the natural or not.

I could say I have a long way to go, but that would miss the point. That would be me, regarding me after the flesh. I am not who I used to be. His love changed all of that. He gave me new life in Him so that we could be in right, pure relationship together. His life flowing in my veins. YES!! Imagine that, the very Life of Christ alive inside little ole me! I still revel in this awesome truth!!

I pray those who stop by would be greatly blessed as they celebrate the New Year rolling in. I pray that you would not ponder the past with any regret,  He is always doing a NEW THING, always providing hope for a great future in HIM..........!!! May this year be a year of greater and deeper revelation of His Lavish Love for you!! 

Only Jesus is more than enough.......

I used to sing these songs in my old church, "More than enough" and "Only Jesus." I generally liked the songs, and really enjoyed worshipping to them, but I didn't get it!! I thought I got it, but I didn't!! Lately, these songs have been swirling around in my mind often, because really the two combined capture my heart for MY JESUS!! (However I couldn't find the version of Only Jesus that I wanted.) I only want HIM, and I have ALL of HIM!!! I just can't get over how really really amazing it is that I have everything I need walking around within me, in my the very core of me, my spirit every day!! Awesome!!!

Regeneration -in other words Christ in you the hope of glory!!

Yes Adrian I agree, we do not talk enough about this!! There is only one thing I ever want to hear preached ever again - Jesus and Jesus alone. And the very Christ life we have as Christians! This is our only hope of glory, this is the only way to live!! This message needs to be shouted from the rooftops!! (Hey maybe we could start sneaking into churches with megaphones and proclaim the good news - I think the whole of christianity needs to hear this truth and start a revolution!!)

adrianwarnock.com: MLJ MONDAY - The Vital Place of the New Birth

My sexy lover..........

Anyone ever been smitten? In love way to deep that you are giddy, faint with love. It's often all you can think about. Aah. I was thinking about falling in love, this morning as I was dancing with my sexy lover Jesus (wink wink) in my kitchen. He is such a good dancer! I feel like the most graceful ballerina when I dance with Him!! He never makes me feel insecure or incapable, and even if I trip over my own feet, He is there to swoop me up and turn it into a beautiful new dance move. 

Falling madly in love is one of the most awesome states of being in the whole wide world. You are captivated by the thoughts of another. Every time he speaks your name, you are overwhelmed with ecstasis. A simple touch, a warm embrace, a lingering glance - can take you over the top with delight that you are indeed on the heart and mind of another so intimately. Being in love is all  consuming, you just eat, breath and sleep ~love, love, love. 

Having Jesus as a Lover is the most satisfying endless fulfilling experiences ever - and guess what, it never has to come to an end. This love will not fail, wax or wane, grow weary or faint. It is always all consuming, fully passionate and totally pure! I love the way Jesus loves me, it's radical, it's thrilling and over the top!! His love is the most graceful love I have ever known and I plan to get drenched, saturated and filled up so full of His love I am bursting!!! 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus......

I have to admit, I had an emotional roller coaster of a day yesterday. I could not get myself out of my woe. I fought and fought in my mind all day. But, honestly I was just blue and very weary of how my circumstances were not lining up with my inheritance. The reality is I am who God says I am, no matter what, and God is loving, good, sovereign, and for me, no matter what. Sometimes, I just don't understand the why's of life, I really don't.......I wish I did, but I don't. So what do I do in these times of confusion, these times when my feelings seem to take over and consume me? Somehow, someway I want to get to a place where I can "let not my heart be troubled",  because He has given me all things in Christ. Christ is enough, Christ is my all in all. His grace IS sufficient for me!  No matter what my circumstances are, and how I respond to them or feel about them. I just want to look at Jesus, to behold his beauty and be still before Him, resting in all He has accomplished for me. I think when I rest in Him, the worry or anxiety releases and grace begins to flow. His peace, His shalom (nothing missing, nothing broken) is available to me, and I just want to live more fully in it! Thank you Jesus, that you are my everything!!

I was reminded of this simple song last night, when I realized the simplicity of the Gospel yet again. I may not like where my emotions take me, and struggle to conquer them on my own. The truth is I can't conquer them. Looking at Jesus is my only hope of freedom, my only answer to getting off emotional roller coasters! 

So I am turning my eyes upon Jesus..................will you join me?!!

Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur

Again, I must point out a Jospeh Prince devotional that blessed me!! Since today celebrates the holiday Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, I found it even more fitting to point us all to Jesus yet again!! Thankfully we as Christians don't have to celebrate this holiday literally, we have already had our sins atoned for once and for all!! Thank you Jesus!!! We can celebrate the fact that our names are already in the book of life, our fate is sealed, and we do not have to fast and pray and try to be on our best behaviour so we can be approved! You did it all for us!! We are free to celebrate this day with joy, because it's all been done!! 

It's all about Jesus.............

Life has been so simple lately. Somehow, it just feels easy this life I live. Thankfully, my funk from a few posts back is over and it seems like anytime an emotional wave comes over me, one that is not good, it is quickly over. I determine to get out of it quick until I have peace back, inner peace! I decided recently to just rest and focus on Jesus. Jesus. I never realized how sweet is the name of Jesus. The other day I taught my one year old how to say Jesus, quite by accident. He just kept saying it, after hearing me, over and over and just smiled and giggled. It was too precious and I hope I never forget the beauty of the moment. But, what I realized in the moment, was how saying His name just brings such peace, such a feeling of all is right with the world. The conference I was at recently, during worship I could hear a woman nearby just saying in such a sweet whispery voice, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. I found that hearing her say His name filled me with a rest I simply can't explain unless you've felt it yourself. Interestingly, I just read my daily devotional by Joseph Prince and he talked about calling on the name of Jesus. His name is like ointment, or a sweet fragrance poured out. He says, when you call upon the name of Jesus His fragrance is poured forth and anointing is released. Calling upon the name of Jesus can raise your spirits when you are downcast or feeling low. It's true, I've tried it!
What I realized is God has really set us up to succeed if you think about it. He has given us so much in Christ. Everything that can usher blessing and wholeness into our life has to do with Jesus. Believe on Jesus, call upon Jesus, remember His death when taking communion, believe that by His stripes we were healed, realize it is Jesus who lives in you, that is your hope of glory, and that because of Jesus you can be in constant fellowship with the Father, live from the truth that you are living the Christ life, He wants to live it through you!! How can we fail, how can we live in pain, or anguish when we know that in Christ Jesus we have so many abundant provisions. If you feel restless or stressed, sick or weary - realize you can live free from those things in Christ. It is not you who live, but Christ lives in you and through you!! It's all about Jesus, for Jesus, because of Jesus!!! Thank you Jesus for the abundant life you have given to us!!

This was the song I put on for Christian and I to sing together, when he learned how to say Jesus. It was the cutest thing, he really sang the part that repeated Jesus over and over!!