Love is what we were born for!
A life not in love with God is a life that is not truly alive. If we take on the identity of our sin, then we are taking on the identity of something that only produces death, and there is no life in it. When we put love on as our identity, and we recognize that God is seeing us through this love, and not as our sin, then we are alive and full of life. That was Jesus' whole mission, to come so that we may have life and life more abundant!
My good friend Peter wrote a song with the lyrics, "I am not my sin." The significance and power of this reality is massive. Often times when we begin to identify with our struggles and less with the love of God, we allow ourselves to enter into the yolks of bondage, that we are in fact completely set free from. I am not my sin. I am not condemned. In fact, I am perfectly loved by God. This must be the foundation of our understanding about ourselves. If we choose to hold ourselves in condemnation then we will never be able to walk in freedom and peace.
The reality that Jesus fully dwells in us and has fully reconciled himself to us is the amazing truth of the gospel. Rejoice for you are alive. The desire to be accepted, loved and known is all true when you know Jesus. He has chosen and forgiven you. Now we are empowered and enabled to live a life of love.
The world desperately needs people whose sole mission is to love others. What usually prevents us from love? Unbelief that produces selfishness. If we do not believe this truth about our identity, and we believe that we are our sin, then we will spend our effort and time trying to fix ourselves and less time loving others. Fixing ourselves is useless. He is the fixer, restorer, rebuilder. And He has already done the fixing.....the cross produced everything necessary for you to walk in freedom and live a life of love.
Let this be our prayer- Lord help my unbelief! May I live in the truth of my salvation, in the wonderful reality that I am completely loved and walking in union with Jesus. Thank you Lord for your goodness
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
It amazing to see how the Lord truly is in all and is all! Col. 3:1 I read the verse recently that talks about how we are created for Christ. This is the answer to the question pondered by every human heart....what is my purpose, why am I created? It is for Christ....to love and be loved! The more I open my eyes to the truth that every single element is orchestrated and in the hands of the Almighty, the more I am aware that He is always doing, and moving and redeeming, and loving....in the midst of the hardest, bleakest of situations. To know and understand this principle is to truly know peace. If we know Christ, and know that he loves us and forgave us, and redeemed us from a place of brokeness to a place of wholeness, then we can have peace in our souls. Jesus is titled as the Prince of Peace and the Lord of Lords. To know that the most powerful source of love is stronger and greater then any element I will ever face in this life is the only way to truly know peace. May you have Peace in your soul. May you know know Christ
Sunday, January 23, 2011
All things that pertain to life and godliness....
This week I have been mulling over 2 Peter chapter 2. The context of this book was written to highlight the importance of living in holiness and godliness. This letter shows how holiness and godliness will come naturally to us simply from believing in the salvation that came from Christ.
Chapter 1:3 of 2 Peter even says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”
Knowledge and understanding are connected to belief. You can know the truth but to believe in it, you must receive it for your life. Jesus’ “divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” Selah. All believers have been granted EVERYTHING that pertains to life and godliness. Not only am I given the gift of salvation but also access to everything that pertains to life and godliness. What is life: peace, joy, hope, love, health, freedom. Godliness- being like God- Holy, righteous, pure, powerful, free, whole, satisfied. Therefore if “Christ (lives) in me, my hope of glory,” I now have His divine nature in my very being, anything that does not align with life and godliness is not coming from the Lord. To know and understand this in my life, I have to believe that this is true. Some examples of areas that do not agree with life and godliness are: depression, anxiety, fear, worry, bondage, anger, unforgiveness etc... Shouldn’t we look at the body of Christ (His church) and see only life and godliness then; free of the above elements? I believe ultimately this is the desire and heart of the Father, otherwise He would not have made the way for us to do so.
So how do I begin even to receive the things “pertain(ing) to life and godliness”? I can know that Jesus died for the sins of the world, but I have to believe that His death pertains to me, and therefore I really am set free because of his sacrifice. This verse provides us a great evaluation tool to use in our lives, and to see if we really are walking in the freedom that comes from Jesus’ divine power, (which overcame death and enabled us to live no longer according to our flesh but by the Spirit.) Are our lives full of life and godliness? If not, what knowledge are we lacking or not believing about Jesus that is keeping us from experiencing his glory and excellence? For example, if I feel really insecure all of the time, what am I not believing about Jesus? Maybe I am agreeing with the lie that I was not created with value and purpose. This reminds me of Jesus words in Mark 9:23, “If you can! All things are possible for those who believe!”
And also in John 16:7- “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you. But if I go I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not BELIEVE in ME.”
Our BELIEF in Jesus sets us free from the guilt of sin. Our knowledge of truth and belief in Him who is true creates access to freedom. “I am the way, the truth and the life- he who believes in me will not perish but have eternal life,”- a quote from JESUS regarding himself.” The Helper, the Holy Spirit, enables us to believe the truth about Jesus and overcome the guilt we would face because of our unbelief. We will be convicted of sin because we do not believe in Jesus. If we believe that Jesus made a way and cancelled the debt of our sin (because all sin costs something, there is a penalty for every sin), life is restored and we have connection again with the Lord. In the same way that Adam and Eve knew God in the garden; talking to Him, communing, loving, laughing, enjoying Him... so are we able to know and live with God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Jesus’ death of the cross was so incredibly powerful that it destroyed all of the power that sin, people, hurt, Satan, could ever have over your life. All of that junk that once had power over our souls is rendered powerless by the blood of the Lamb. The way it remains powerless is through our belief in the blood’s power. When I agree with something that isn’t full of “life and godliness,” like previously mentioned in 2 Peter, I am not really believing that Jesus blood, the blood shed on the cross, was enough to bring me freedom and abundant life.
I cannot read the word and accept anything less for my life, the full satisfaction and abundant living. Does this mean that the world around me is going to experience these things...no. The world is full of sin and corruption. My heart however is made new when I believe. The kingdom Has come, and the King- Jesus sits enthroned in my heart. The Kingdom lives inside of you. Believe this truth today my friend and live a life of victory and freedom!
Chapter 1:3 of 2 Peter even says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”
Knowledge and understanding are connected to belief. You can know the truth but to believe in it, you must receive it for your life. Jesus’ “divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” Selah. All believers have been granted EVERYTHING that pertains to life and godliness. Not only am I given the gift of salvation but also access to everything that pertains to life and godliness. What is life: peace, joy, hope, love, health, freedom. Godliness- being like God- Holy, righteous, pure, powerful, free, whole, satisfied. Therefore if “Christ (lives) in me, my hope of glory,” I now have His divine nature in my very being, anything that does not align with life and godliness is not coming from the Lord. To know and understand this in my life, I have to believe that this is true. Some examples of areas that do not agree with life and godliness are: depression, anxiety, fear, worry, bondage, anger, unforgiveness etc... Shouldn’t we look at the body of Christ (His church) and see only life and godliness then; free of the above elements? I believe ultimately this is the desire and heart of the Father, otherwise He would not have made the way for us to do so.
So how do I begin even to receive the things “pertain(ing) to life and godliness”? I can know that Jesus died for the sins of the world, but I have to believe that His death pertains to me, and therefore I really am set free because of his sacrifice. This verse provides us a great evaluation tool to use in our lives, and to see if we really are walking in the freedom that comes from Jesus’ divine power, (which overcame death and enabled us to live no longer according to our flesh but by the Spirit.) Are our lives full of life and godliness? If not, what knowledge are we lacking or not believing about Jesus that is keeping us from experiencing his glory and excellence? For example, if I feel really insecure all of the time, what am I not believing about Jesus? Maybe I am agreeing with the lie that I was not created with value and purpose. This reminds me of Jesus words in Mark 9:23, “If you can! All things are possible for those who believe!”
And also in John 16:7- “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you. But if I go I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not BELIEVE in ME.”
Our BELIEF in Jesus sets us free from the guilt of sin. Our knowledge of truth and belief in Him who is true creates access to freedom. “I am the way, the truth and the life- he who believes in me will not perish but have eternal life,”- a quote from JESUS regarding himself.” The Helper, the Holy Spirit, enables us to believe the truth about Jesus and overcome the guilt we would face because of our unbelief. We will be convicted of sin because we do not believe in Jesus. If we believe that Jesus made a way and cancelled the debt of our sin (because all sin costs something, there is a penalty for every sin), life is restored and we have connection again with the Lord. In the same way that Adam and Eve knew God in the garden; talking to Him, communing, loving, laughing, enjoying Him... so are we able to know and live with God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Jesus’ death of the cross was so incredibly powerful that it destroyed all of the power that sin, people, hurt, Satan, could ever have over your life. All of that junk that once had power over our souls is rendered powerless by the blood of the Lamb. The way it remains powerless is through our belief in the blood’s power. When I agree with something that isn’t full of “life and godliness,” like previously mentioned in 2 Peter, I am not really believing that Jesus blood, the blood shed on the cross, was enough to bring me freedom and abundant life.
I cannot read the word and accept anything less for my life, the full satisfaction and abundant living. Does this mean that the world around me is going to experience these things...no. The world is full of sin and corruption. My heart however is made new when I believe. The kingdom Has come, and the King- Jesus sits enthroned in my heart. The Kingdom lives inside of you. Believe this truth today my friend and live a life of victory and freedom!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Snow!
I have been a terrible blogger this year. Actually I don't think I can recieve that title as a "blogger" because to be a "blogger" you actually have to blog : )
I have been loving my life as a new teacher at the Joshua Academy and learning how to best structure my classroom. I have a unique situation where I am teaching three grade levels and all subjects (very one-room-school-house-esque). What a joy and blessing it is to have students who hunger and desire to know God. They are all incredible; so talented, smart and creative. I am continually asking the Lord to show me how I can become a better teacher and take the greatest advantage of the resources given to me. The possibilities are endless....
Today is a snow day however; which almost seems like an oxymoron for Wilmington....so no school! There are a couple of inches outside, and the world is so quiet and peaceful right now.
Snow is extremely dear to me because it reminds me of my childhood in Colorado. Living in Aurora though was interesting because it would snow in the morning and we would get so excited about snow, but by time school was out it would all be melted and 70 degrees. Here, school is cancelled at the even mention of the possibility of snow. Bizarre.
As I am thinking about my childhood a flood of memories are rushing into my mind.
Snow makes me think about several interesting occasions:
1. The time Shane and I were sledding down the slide on our swingset and he fell off and broke his arm!
2. Falling into a river because I was looking at the ice (on New Years Eve) and walking about a mile home in soaking wet clothes!
3. Getting a concussion snowboarding : ( not fun
4. Having to walk to the grocery store with a wagon because we were snowed in with 3 feet of snow!
5. Building igloos and snowcaves in the front yard
6. Sledding in the mountains and going sooo fast on a saucer that I flew over the embankment, fell about 6 feet into a parking lot! Haha and I almost had a heartattack
7. Walking to school in the snow
8. Camping in the snow (brrrrrr) and snowshoeing!
9. Epic snowball fights
10. Selling slushies to neighbors that were made out of snow and hershey's syrup (when I was 5)
Thank you Lord for allowing the snow to bring me back to my childhood. These are just a few of the plethora of crazy memories I have involving snow. It's been such a fun life
I have been loving my life as a new teacher at the Joshua Academy and learning how to best structure my classroom. I have a unique situation where I am teaching three grade levels and all subjects (very one-room-school-house-esque). What a joy and blessing it is to have students who hunger and desire to know God. They are all incredible; so talented, smart and creative. I am continually asking the Lord to show me how I can become a better teacher and take the greatest advantage of the resources given to me. The possibilities are endless....
Today is a snow day however; which almost seems like an oxymoron for Wilmington....so no school! There are a couple of inches outside, and the world is so quiet and peaceful right now.
Snow is extremely dear to me because it reminds me of my childhood in Colorado. Living in Aurora though was interesting because it would snow in the morning and we would get so excited about snow, but by time school was out it would all be melted and 70 degrees. Here, school is cancelled at the even mention of the possibility of snow. Bizarre.
As I am thinking about my childhood a flood of memories are rushing into my mind.
Snow makes me think about several interesting occasions:
1. The time Shane and I were sledding down the slide on our swingset and he fell off and broke his arm!
2. Falling into a river because I was looking at the ice (on New Years Eve) and walking about a mile home in soaking wet clothes!
3. Getting a concussion snowboarding : ( not fun
4. Having to walk to the grocery store with a wagon because we were snowed in with 3 feet of snow!
5. Building igloos and snowcaves in the front yard
6. Sledding in the mountains and going sooo fast on a saucer that I flew over the embankment, fell about 6 feet into a parking lot! Haha and I almost had a heartattack
7. Walking to school in the snow
8. Camping in the snow (brrrrrr) and snowshoeing!
9. Epic snowball fights
10. Selling slushies to neighbors that were made out of snow and hershey's syrup (when I was 5)
Thank you Lord for allowing the snow to bring me back to my childhood. These are just a few of the plethora of crazy memories I have involving snow. It's been such a fun life
Finding Peace and Rest in Our Hearts
I hear people often asking, how do I renew the joy of my salvation?
Do you feel like you just want more of the Lord or want to experience more of His joy and peace but don’t know how to enter into that place of rest?
Paul writes about this very subject when he is addressing the Hebrews. He first begins declaring the reality of Jesus- “He is the RADIANCE of the glory of God, and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of hid power.” This is amazing! Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God, and He lives in me and died for me! God is so pleased with his son Jesus that he has anointed him with the “oil of gladness” (Heb. 1:9) What does this mean for me? Am I too a partaker in this oil of gladness?
What is causing me to “neglect such a great salvation?.” Paul writes that if we do not believe the reality of Christ’s death and the true life and salvation that has been given to us, then our hearts will turn away from God because of our unbelief. “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” Unbelief is what causes us to sin, and is the root of our evil desires. If we want communion with the Lord, we have to believe that Jesus made a way and we already have it! He fully lives in me already, and I do not have to strive or do anything to earn his affection or favor. Believing anything else, that God is disappointed, angry, frustrated with me will only harden my heart toward recieving His love because I am not recognizing and believing the truth about salvation.
“TODAY, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion on the day of testing in the wilderness.” (Hebrews 3:7)
Do not choose to come to God when YOU feel like YOU’VE gotten things back in order in your life. When YOU have cleaned up the messes and feel clean to come before the Lord. This is self-righteousness. This is deception- RUN to the throne of GRACE today. Hold fast to your confession of faith, no matter how your flesh feels, no matter how much you feel unworthy to receive love....”and with confidence draw near the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find help in the time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)
Once you have received salvation it is impossible to receive it again (Heb. 6:4)...you have it...it is finished...your dead self is dead, crucified and buried. Now you are new, alive in Christ, whole, perfect, the beloved of God- renew your mind with this truth.
Renew your mind today and you will change your life and walk in the peace and jo of your salvation....in the midst of any circumstances. If you are basing your joy and peace off of your circumstances then you are really trusting God, and the joy and peace you may think you feel is pale in comparison to the true peace that is only found in Jesus who is the Prince of Peace.
If you claim that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, believe that you are loved and accepted. Believe that sin no longer has power over your life because the Holy Spirit now dwells in you. Believe that Christ is all and is in all, that He is for you and not against you, that he has made a way for you, he will never leave you nor forsake you, you are the righteousness of God. YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL! Faith in Christ will transform your life and make you well and whole.
Recognize the areas of your life today that are not rooted in the truth of Jesus and break agreement with them. Choose to believe the truth about yourself and your circumstances. When we don’t choose this we are ultimately empowering the enemy and agreeing with Him in our lives. Why would we ever want to agree with anyone who hates us and wants to destroy our lives? Why do we want to re-empower someone who has already been defeated and no longer has power over our lives?
Lord reveal the areas of our lives that do not agree with your truth! Thank you thank you thank you Jesus that we can have peace with you in our hearts because of what you have done jesus. You fully payed the price for all of my sins, all of my mistakes, every wicked way, and you disarmed the power of sin over my life! May I only please you more and more with my life Lord. Come have your way with me and may my heart and mind be consumed with the reality of my salvation and your great love for me Jesus. I break agreement with all lies, and any area of my life that does line up with you Lord.
Do you feel like you just want more of the Lord or want to experience more of His joy and peace but don’t know how to enter into that place of rest?
Paul writes about this very subject when he is addressing the Hebrews. He first begins declaring the reality of Jesus- “He is the RADIANCE of the glory of God, and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of hid power.” This is amazing! Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God, and He lives in me and died for me! God is so pleased with his son Jesus that he has anointed him with the “oil of gladness” (Heb. 1:9) What does this mean for me? Am I too a partaker in this oil of gladness?
What is causing me to “neglect such a great salvation?.” Paul writes that if we do not believe the reality of Christ’s death and the true life and salvation that has been given to us, then our hearts will turn away from God because of our unbelief. “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” Unbelief is what causes us to sin, and is the root of our evil desires. If we want communion with the Lord, we have to believe that Jesus made a way and we already have it! He fully lives in me already, and I do not have to strive or do anything to earn his affection or favor. Believing anything else, that God is disappointed, angry, frustrated with me will only harden my heart toward recieving His love because I am not recognizing and believing the truth about salvation.
“TODAY, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion on the day of testing in the wilderness.” (Hebrews 3:7)
Do not choose to come to God when YOU feel like YOU’VE gotten things back in order in your life. When YOU have cleaned up the messes and feel clean to come before the Lord. This is self-righteousness. This is deception- RUN to the throne of GRACE today. Hold fast to your confession of faith, no matter how your flesh feels, no matter how much you feel unworthy to receive love....”and with confidence draw near the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find help in the time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)
Once you have received salvation it is impossible to receive it again (Heb. 6:4)...you have it...it is finished...your dead self is dead, crucified and buried. Now you are new, alive in Christ, whole, perfect, the beloved of God- renew your mind with this truth.
Renew your mind today and you will change your life and walk in the peace and jo of your salvation....in the midst of any circumstances. If you are basing your joy and peace off of your circumstances then you are really trusting God, and the joy and peace you may think you feel is pale in comparison to the true peace that is only found in Jesus who is the Prince of Peace.
If you claim that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, believe that you are loved and accepted. Believe that sin no longer has power over your life because the Holy Spirit now dwells in you. Believe that Christ is all and is in all, that He is for you and not against you, that he has made a way for you, he will never leave you nor forsake you, you are the righteousness of God. YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL! Faith in Christ will transform your life and make you well and whole.
Recognize the areas of your life today that are not rooted in the truth of Jesus and break agreement with them. Choose to believe the truth about yourself and your circumstances. When we don’t choose this we are ultimately empowering the enemy and agreeing with Him in our lives. Why would we ever want to agree with anyone who hates us and wants to destroy our lives? Why do we want to re-empower someone who has already been defeated and no longer has power over our lives?
Lord reveal the areas of our lives that do not agree with your truth! Thank you thank you thank you Jesus that we can have peace with you in our hearts because of what you have done jesus. You fully payed the price for all of my sins, all of my mistakes, every wicked way, and you disarmed the power of sin over my life! May I only please you more and more with my life Lord. Come have your way with me and may my heart and mind be consumed with the reality of my salvation and your great love for me Jesus. I break agreement with all lies, and any area of my life that does line up with you Lord.
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