November 24, 2024

CHRISTLife — TwentyFour: One With Him In Spirit

February 13, 2014 by

cl one with him in spirit

These are big, huge, incredible, awesome TRUE statements Mrs. Myers makes as we read through Chapter 24!  And as incredible as they are, we (you and me!) must hold them in our minds, remembering they are Jesus’ words.  And ask for help in believing them.

I was so encouraged and built up by the Truth regarding God living in me, the Holy Spirit living in me, and, Christ living in me!  Of course, this is not a revelation to me but somehow, someway (hmmm, perhaps the Holy Spirit working as my Helper?) today, these truths came alive for me.  Has that ever happened to you?

Listen to this:

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God lives in them and they in God.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:15 and 16

And this:

And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father!
Galatians 4:6 AMP

And listen to Paul’s joy as he wrote that he was to

…make God’s message fully known—the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:26 and 27

Looking at just these 3 passages, our hearts can be built up in the Truth knowing that God lives in you (me, too!) because you choose to live in love, and that your Father—Abba!—has sent the Holy Spirt to live in your heart, and that the mystery hidden throughout the ages is now made known—it is Christ living in y.o.u., the hope of glory!

In a side note on page 101, Mrs. Myers writes,

“Take God at His word.  Accept it as true that you are indwelt with the fullness of God Himself, that His Spirit has His home within you and you belong to Him….”

I am setting my mind to do this, friends.  And I don’t want to just assent to it…I want to believe it with all of my heart!  Seeking God’s grace and blessing, and the help of the Comforter!  How about you? <3

 * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

And here are Kim’s thoughts and her beautiful inner identity album page for this week; she writes:

“To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with Christ. The Holy Spirit came to glorify Christ. Therefore, if I am filled with the Spirit, I am abiding in Christ. I am walking in the light as He is the light, and the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse and keep on cleansing me from all unrighteousness. I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit to guide me on my path in Wisdom’s way.”

CLiiakimweek5

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.
You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17 ESV

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CHRISTLife — An Intentional Quiet Time (part 1)

February 8, 2014 by

IMG_1391Each Saturday for the next four weeks, we will look in-depth at a few of the most important aspects of having a quiet time—or as some folks call it—a devotional time.  What comes to mind when I use those words “quiet time or devotional time”?  (I would love to hear your responses below in the comments section!)

Awhile ago, I had talked with a few friends about their own quiet time.  Gathering from their experiences, there seem to be a few basic components which include:

Bible Reading
Prayer
Praise Songs
Meditation
Seeking the Lord

This week  we will focus on one of the most important components of a devotional time—spending time reading the Bible.  If we are to come to know God, we must begin to seek Him where He has made Himself known…and that is in His written Word, the Bible.

I would venture to say that almost every single one of us owns a Bible (at least one).  Did you know that the Bible continues to be the best-selling book in the world?*  One reason the Bible is so popular is that it is God’s Rule Book.  He reveals Himself within the pages of the Bible.  In the words of His written Word, we find that:

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
Psalms 19:7-11

So, we learn in this passage that the Bible—which contains the Lord’s law, testimony, precepts, commandments and judgments—is to be desired!  The Scriptures can be to us, as the Psalmist wrote, more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey!  And, in keeping (obeying) the words of the Bible (the Lord’s law, testimony, precepts, commandments and judgments) there is great reward!  Such encouragement there is then to spend time reading the Bible, wouldn’t you agree?

One of my oh-so-very favorite Scripture passages is Psalm 119.  (And, yes, it directly correlates to the psalm we just read—Psalm 19!  You noticed that, hmmm? Watch, you’ll see!)  Psalm 119 is the longest chapter contained in any of the 66 books of the Bible;  it totals 176 verses.  Each of these 176 verses communicates a different truth about the Lord’s law, testimony, precepts, commandments and judgments along with His ways, statues, and ordinances.  I find it so amazing (our Lord IS so amazing!) that every single verse tells us something new and different!  Reading and considering and meditating upon the dynamic truths contained in this ONE chapter could be a continuing study for your quiet time.  Perhaps these three verses would be a good place to start:

With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes.
Psalm 119:10-12

Our heart’s desire—is to seek God!  He is what we yearn for…just to be with Him!  And these three verses express that desire so simply.

Here is a link to a cd that I think you will find a useful tool for your devotional time.  It is called Psalm 119 in Song by Susie Kimbrough,  a compilation of the 22 songs from Psalm 119 all of which are original musical compositions.  Listen to each of the selections and meditate on the Scriptures being sung.

Every day, perhaps every morning, set aside a dedicated time to spend simply reading the Bible.  My own experience has taught me that unless I determine to intentionally pursue spending time each morning reading…it just escapes me through the busyness of the day.  And, yes, during most seasons of life that means setting my alarm a bit earlier than I would prefer.  But it is so worth it!  And maybe you simply start off with 10-15 minutes; could you squeeze that in?  Some people like to read through chronologically.  Some prefer to read a particular book through, and then move on to another.  There are many different Bible reading plans/schedules out there.  You can even choose one through an app and then, automatically, every day you will be sent a portion of the Scriptures to read…how handy is that?!?

Keep seeking for and desiring Him…your heavenly Father has MUCH to show you about Himself through His Word, the Bible!  Enjoy your quiet time with Him.  As you do, He will keep you from wandering, help you not to sin, and will teach you His statutes (Psalms 119:10-12).  Praying for each of you!  I know that the Lord will answer your heart’s cry as you seek Him with all your heart!  (Know how I can make that absolute statement?  The Bible tells me so!)

The Bible is the best-selling book in the world:

http://www.booksellerworld.com/bestselling-booksever.htm

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/1/best-selling-book-of-non-fiction

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CHRISTLife — Nineteen: Clean and More

February 6, 2014 by

cl clean and more

Hi there…it’s me, Coleen!  It is snowing here in upstate New York.  As I peeked outside in the early, early morning, I thought, “Oh, yes! It’s all clean again!”  All of the yucky, dirty, gross frozen slush and discolored ice and snow piles blanketed with grime kicked up by road traffic was—clean.  Sparkling, glistening, pure white clean. And then when I looked out again later, after some shoveling and plowing and snowblowing had been done, it was schmutzy again!  And more snow was wafting down…and the yuckiness was covered up again.  And I realized that really the snow hadn’t made the dirty and gross any cleaner…it just got dirty again.  Such is NOT how our hearts and minds are cleaned by Jesus’ blood.  ALL is clean…we are new again.

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the Blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar
and His Word is not in us.
1 John 1:7-10

We are justified—just as if we had never sinned (that is CLEAN, I tell you)!  We are redeemed.  We are rescued.  We are made whole.  We are purified.  We are sanctified.   We are forgiven.

However…remember this: none of this is of our own doing.  We could never do enough, try hard enough, be good enough to have made ourselves clean.  We were dead in our trespasses and unholiness, our unrighteousness.

This uncleanness has always been an issue.  God knew it…and He purposed and made a way for the only answer for it.  King David knew of his immense need for cleansing and saving from his own sin. Here in Psalm 51 he cries out to God…knowing that only God could help.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love;
according to the multitude of Your tender mercy
and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt
and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin!
For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them;
my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight,
so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment.
Psalms 51:1-4

BUT God has always had this plan to redeem mankind.  To provide the way—Jesus’ sacrifice and death on the Cross, the spilling of His perfect blood—to atone and redeem us back to Himself!  There was only one way…thank God that it already has been accomplished!  This cleansing and purifying is yours to receive!  Have you received it?  If not, will You?  This IS God’s will—His plan, His desire—for you.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

And now…check out another page from Kim’s inner identity album, along with some thoughts she has to share on this subject, too!

CLiiakim020614

This picture is such a great reminder of where I once was—from a deep pit of despair with no hope…to a Redeemed woman with Hope and a future. I absolutely love the Scripture Mrs. Meyers uses in this chapter.

He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west.
Psalm 103:12 NLT

I praise You, Father, that my rebellious acts are as far away as the east is from the west; I am oh so thankful! And I thank You, Father, for this powerful truth for which I am thankful…

I have swept away your sins like the morning mists.
I have scattered your offenses like the clouds.
Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.
Isaiah 44:22 NIV

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Would you pray along with us these inspired words as we praise the God Who purposed all this?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.  In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

Ephesians 1:3-7

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Those Who Fear Him

February 3, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy;
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Psalms 33:18-19

While the eyes of the Lord are on all people (as in verses 14-15), they rest in a special way on those who fear Him.  (Also Psalm 34:15 “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry…”)

‘God’s eye’ refers to God’s caring love and providential oversight of our lives—‘to deliver them from death and famine.’  This means that as long as we fear the Lord our hope in Him waits for Him and remains in His will. God will watch over and protect us so that we will not die unless it be according to His plan.

Recently I read a story that is just too good to keep to myself, so I’d like to share it with you this week.
“The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt that the worst had happened and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, ‘God! How could you do this to me?’
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him!
‘How did you know I was here?’ asked the weary man of his rescuers. ‘We saw your smoke signal,’ they replied.”

Sometimes it’s hard to see God’s hand at work in your life.  He may seem hidden, far away, or totally out of reach, yet nothing could be farther from the truth!  Your tender Savior is always watching over you, and always at work behind the scenes.  As you pass through the waters and look back, you’ll see the way He worked on your behalf.  Remember, although you might not be able to see His hand, you can trust His heart.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Our Father, we thank You for Your eyes that are watching over us as Your own chosen generation, a royal priesthood.  Make us a people of Your heart by increasing our faith and trust in You always.  Help us understand Your oracles and remain under Your wings forever. In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

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CHRISTLife — Sixteen: Called and Chosen

February 3, 2014 by

christlife graphic wk4_1Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the kind intention of His will,
to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-6

Called and Chosen

Is that not amazing?  And it is true.  God chose you (me, too!) in His infinite wisdom and sovereign knowledge.  What truly amazes me is ALL that His calling and choice have placed into our lives.  As I have been meditating on these verses that Mrs. Myers so abundantly has sprinkled throughout this chapter, I see how these are definitely images that we should have in our inner identity albums:

  • blessed
  • chosen in Him
  • holy
  • blameless
  • adopted
  • sons
  • God’s heritage
  • His portion
  • foreordained
  • saved
  • purposed
  • treasured possession
  • not rejected
  • eternally loved
  • without blame
  • justified
  • glorified
  • worthy
  • beloved
  • known by God
  • approved
  • saved
  • sanctified
  • God’s elect

Consider this statement from Pastor John Piper:
“Your salvation did not begin with your choice to believe in Christ—a choice which was real and necessary.  Your salvation began before the creation of the universe when God planned the history of redemption, ordained the death and the resurrection of his Son, and chose you to be his own through Christ.  This is a great objective ground for assurance. And we should consider it deeply.” *

In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance;
for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand)
in accordance with His purpose,
Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will,
So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him have been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory!
Verses 11 and 12

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—
not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.
This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,
Who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
2 Timothy 1:9 and 10

“You’re CALLED. You’ve been called personally by God and to God. That’s an in-Christ fact about you that can help erase any sense of alienation or lack of purpose that you may at times feel” (Mrs. Myers, page 68).

In light of all of this, sisters, may we daily fulfill the joy and honor and privilege of being called and chosen by Almighty God.  The Apostle Paul encourages everyone who is called to,

…live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3

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Dear Lord, how awesomely wonderful and gracious You are to us!  We struggle, Lord, (You know that) endeavoring to hold the Truth of who You say we are in our minds and hearts.  But we want to…please help us through the empowering of Your Holy Spirit!  I pray for each person who reads this little blog today, Lord, asking that You cause the Truth of Your Word to sink into their depth of their hearts.  I pray that each will remember that Your ways and Your thoughts are high above our own.  I pray that each will recognize Grace and Mercy for all that they are.  I pray that each will remember that Your power and strength are made perfect in their weakness.  And I pray that each will believe more and more that ‘I AM who God says I am!’  Thank You for calling us and chosing us to be Your own.  Praying and asking these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

* From a wonderful series that Pastor Piper did on having assurance of just who we are because of God’s chosing and calling!

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CHRISTLife — Week Four

February 2, 2014 by

CHRISTLifepart2coverpicOh! My!  THIS is going to be a good week!  Have you read ahead…or taken a look at this week’s lessons?  In case you haven’t, here is a sneak peek at just the chapter titles:

  • Called and Chosen
  • Desired
  • No Longer Condemned
  • Clean And More
  • Alive With His Life

I AM what God says I am (take a glance back at the list)…and, therefore, I AM all those things!  Talk about Truth and positive images to write in my inner identity album!

Are you a child of God?  Have you been redeemed?  Did Jesus die for you?  Do you love God?  If so Since ‘YES’ is the resounding reply… then take the verses below and insert your own name.  Personalize this Scripture with your own name (like this: “…God causes all things to work together for good to <Coleen> who loves God, to <Coleen> who is called….”)  OK?   Perhaps you might read this aloud…reminding yourself audibly that ‘I AM what God says I am!’  This IS the image that God holds of y.o.u.!  This is y.o.u. because your life IS Christ!

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to <y.o.u.> who loves God, to <y.o.u.>  who is called according to His purpose.
For <y.o.u.> whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
And <y.o.u.> whom He predestined, He also called; and <y.o.u.> whom He called, He also justified; and <y.o.u.>  whom He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall <y.o.u.> say to these things? If God is for <me>, who is against <me>?
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for <me>, how will He not also with Him freely give <me> all things?
Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for <me>.
Who will separate <me> from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
But in all these things <I> overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved <me>.
For <I> am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate <me> from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus <my> Lord.
Romans 8:28-39 (paraphrased)

(And take a few minutes to go over to the Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs blog…the song that is featured today could just be our ‘theme song,’ my friends!)

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CHRISTLife – Fourteen: Continuing the Adventure

January 30, 2014 by

Christlife Graphic wk3_4If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.
Colossians 3:1-4

Y’know what I SO love about this little passage of the Scripture—all I have to do is set my mind (and keep it set!) to seek ‘things above!’ All the rest is God’s job!
• being raised with Christ
• having a new, real life
• being hidden in Christ
• Christ’s return
• appearing with Him

Here we are, friends,…we have now entered into Part 2: Your Life IS Christ!  As Mrs. Myers writes on page 61, “…as we let God lovingly invade our lives through our faith in Christ, He provides what is essentially a new album…we relate to God as our Father, He fills our new album with images that give unshakable support of our sense of identity.”  Images like these:

2014-01-30 01.18.30

Ok, show of hands here (actually, please leave a comment below or a ‘like’ in our study group!): who of you wants a new album filled with God’s images of our identity?  Oh…I do!  These images will reflect that ‘I AM who God says I am!’  No doubt!  One could fill journal after journal with these Truths.

Kim and I would love to encourage you to design your own inner identity album page today that does just that!  If God is showing us His images of us, we no longer should be finding our identity through status, or performance, or our physical appearance.

Oh!  Kim has something to share, AND her inner identity album page, too…
I love what Mrs. Meyers reminds us of on page 61.  That our status is important ONLY as it gives opportunity to glorify God and serve others…Our actions become a way of giving love rather than trying to earn an ego-building response from other people.  We no longer need to depend on how people respond to us and we escape from evaluating ourselves in the mirror of human approval.  Ladies, it isn’t about us…It is ALL about Him!  The enemy would love to render us ineffective by making us think we are not worthy.  But because of Jesus we have been redeemed, bought with a price—and that makes us royalty, princesses, daughters of the King!  I want to encourage each of you to do a page like this (below) as a reminder of just how much the Father loves you and who you are in HIM.  The key here is in Him.  Apart from Him we can do nothing!!!!

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people belonging to God,
that you may declare the praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9

CLiiakimweek3

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may we pray just a portion of Mrs. Meyers prayer over you?

“Father, I’m so glad for the beautiful portrait in Your Word of who I am in Christ. Thank You for revealing these Truths—Truths which we humans so desperately need. I celebrate the fact that I never again need to rely on my appearance, my performance, or my status to define who I am. I invite You to lovingly invade all my thinking about myself. Expose further ways in which I’m holding on to what is deceptive and inadequate, and encourage me to cling to the exciting Truths You have revealed—Truths that confirm who I really am in Your sight.”  We pray and ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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CHRISTLife – Thirteen: Who I Am in the Flesh?

January 29, 2014 by

Christlife graphic wk3_3My name is Kim, I’m a ______. For many years I filled in the blank with a word.  I defined myself by what the world named me until one day God spoke loud and clear. He said, “You are Kim and you are My child.  You are a new creation, the old has gone and you are no longer defined by it!!”  Now that doesn’t mean I no longer sin, it just means that my old flesh is gone and I am no longer separated from God because of it.

How many times have you made up your mind to not give in to those same habits? I imagine that some of you are frustrated right now because you’ve gone back on that resolution you made some 28 days ago.  Good news!  It’s ok, you can start over with Jesus.  Galatians 5:6 says,”So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”  Weary soul, you are fighting your flesh in flesh and victory doesn’t last long, and the battle comes back with force as you try again to fight it. It’s like shoveling snow in a snow storm.  Darkness cannot fight darkness.  Put on His light and see what happens.  The darkness disappears.

I want to introduce you to King Jehu.  He’s one of the bloodiest kings to ever rule Israel.  2 Kings 10:28-31 introduces him to us as the king who singlehandedly destroyed Baal worship in Israel. There’s a  HOWEVER, though:  however, he didn’t turn away from the sins of Jereboam—the worship of the golden calves.  He may have been powerful and successful but he crashed spiritually.  He had a spiritual flaw in that he could run but he couldn’t walk very well.  He craved excitement more than he craved God.  Can you relate?  God gives us direction in what He expects of us in Micah 6:8,”He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” God wants us to walk with Him, in good times and bad. Your excitement should come from a relationship with Jesus. This is where we are transformed.

We all face limitations. But God promises that all these trials and hardships are temporary. Paul tells us that we will all have new bodies and when Jesus returns and the trumpet sounds, we will be transformed immediately. On earth, spiritually we have been transformed. 2 Corinthians 5:4 says,”While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God Himself has prepared us for this and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit.”  And 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,”This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”  You are brand new inside!  And we have been re-created, not rehabilitated. We don’t just turn over a new leaf but we actually begin a new life with Jesus. So the question is this: Is it noticeable to all who know you that you have changed?  That you have a brand new life? We are made perfect because of His perfect love.

I’m full of hope and I am ready to spread the good news to all who I come in contact with.  Are you?  Then let’s do it!!

Let us pray:  Dear God, we all have sinned and come short of Your glory. But because of Your perfect love, You sent Your perfect Son to die with all our sins on Him. He was separated from You so we are no longer separated from You. The veil was torn and we now can come directly to Your throne.  Thank You for giving us a new life, a new heart, totally recreated and totally filled with Your Spirit.  Help our lives to reflect this always.  And when we are tempted again to take our old, worldly name back, remind us that we are made in Your perfect image and we were bought at a price and we are Yours!!!  We love You and we praise You! In Your Son’s name we pray, amen.

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CHRISTLife – Twelve: Reality’s Negative Side

January 28, 2014 by

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Oh, boy…so, we KNEW that eventually we would get to this subject—the sinful flesh. If only Satan hadn’t deceived Eve and Eve hadn’t convinced Adam and Adam hadn’t eaten that rotten apple!  But, that DID happen.  And so all mankind has the problem of indwelling sin to deal with.  It is important, as Mrs. Myers points out, that we do admit and acknowledge it.  To ignore sin in our hearts means we will never deal with it…and there will be no opportunity to bring glory to God.  By God’s glorious grace and MERCY we have been given a new nature and a new life through Christ!!!

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you,
that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth;
but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves
and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10

What hope, what comfort, what encouragement we can each receive from this passage of Scripture!  So, tell me…are YOU encouraged?

It breaks down fairly simply:

  • I sin. You sin. We all sin.
  • But if we confess our sin, He forgives and cleanses us.
  • Don’t say ‘I don’t sin’—you are deceived.
  • Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin.

Mrs. Myers writes, “But we’re also to remember that this sinful nature is now only our false self; it is no longer the ‘real me!’ It’s our former self parading as our true self…Our true self is the new person we are in Christ…cleansed, enriched, and enabled to please and glorify our risen Lord. Having been born of God, we have both a new nature and a new heredity” (page 51). As you consider these Truths, my sisters, how do you communicate this in your ‘inner identity album’?

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 

Dear Lord, we are SO encouraged!  Yet more Truth to hold in our hearts!  How thankful we are to know, Lord, that while You are clearly aware of our sinful, fleshly, ‘old man’ nature that sins…You have given us this precious, unfathomable gift through Jesus’ blood of cleansing from all sin.  You, Father, are oh-so-very good to us!  May we remain not only thankful but humble recognizing yet again our GREAT NEED for You, Lord!  Please help us, Lord, to never become blasé about it but that our hearts are always concerned and yearn to sin less and less…to bring You more and more honor and glory!  We pray and ask these things in Jesus’ name.  Amen. <3

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CHRISTLife – Eleven: A Self-Opinion Too Low

January 27, 2014 by

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Need to begin with prayer today!

Dear Lord, thank You for all Your  encouraging and uplifting words that tell us of Your great love for us! It truly is amazing to me!  I come to you acknowledging my struggle to simply believe Your words.  I repent of this, Lord!  I so want it to be my constant confession that I am only AND completely what You have formed and made me to be.  Please cause your words to carve new patterns into my mind…patterns of joy and peace and quiet confidence that ‘I am who God says I am!’  Help me, Lord, to intentionally choose to speak these words of life over myself…knowing that You have already done so!  May my mind be renewed and transformed to line up with Your perfect will.  Thank You for all that You are working and bringing to pass in my life…and for my sisters, Lord, I pray the same. In Jesus’ powerful Name. Amen.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Oh, I am SO determined to get this Truth into my heart!!! (Anyone else choosing to do so?  Do I hear your ‘amen!’)  I was convicted, as I read this chapter (five times, don’t you know!)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the Head…Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor….

Ephesians 4:15-25 excerpts

By God’s grace, (and His revelation to my heart through His Holy Spirit), I have never understood this beautiful section of the Book of Ephesians in the way I do now!  I now realize that I am to ‘speak the Truth in love’ and ‘speak the Truth with <my> neighbor TO M.Y.S.E.L.F.!!!  Truly what a revelation!  Perhaps you have already understood this…but to me and my little heart this is revolutionary!  And I am so thankful! I can ‘be renewed in the spirit of <my> mind…and put on <my> new self!’

So, will you make a stand along with me!  Together can we choose the Truth and be intentional in our trust and believing of God’s Word! “I am what God says I am” by God’s grace, and compassion, and lovingkindness towards me…I am getting it! (Thank You, Lord!!!!!)

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