"Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak; eyes, but no not see." -Psalm 115:2-5
Our God is large and in charge....he's actually alive and active. We all have gods of our live. A really easy way of identifying what it may be is by asking what the one thing is in your life that you simply cannot imagine life without? Without this, you'd fall apart, you'd feel purposeless, powerless, and poor. The reality is that the little "g" gods of our lives will inevitably fail us a some point or another. Just like this scripture makes clear, they are not alive.
When we make the big "G" God the ruler over our lives, peace, security, and certainty can ensue permanently. When we serve Jesus, we will never be victims of circumstance, and I like that. There is never anything that happens in your life that was the result of bad luck. Everything has a purpose for your benefit and his glory. One of my favorite life scriptures sums up what it's like to walk with Jesus....
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my like; of whom shall I be afraid?" -Psalm 27:1
Following Jesus feels like certainty in all things present and to come, because in the past he paid the price for circumstance so we wouldn't have to!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
It Feels Like Salvation
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." -John 3:17
Simply defined, the word condemn means to express disapproval. I'm not sure at what point everything got twisted around and cartoons of God sending down lightning bolts grew to be the predominant picture of God, but according to his word, he sent Jesus to save us from disapproval, not strike us with it. When you have a perfect God and imperfect people, this is necessary. God loves you and he loves me and SENT...not might send if we are well behaved, not will do his best to send if he has time, not even is sending and you should expect arrival shortly....no he already sent his son to pay the price for every thing that we will do that hurts him...aka sin...so that "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1).
Following Jesus feels like salvation. And salvation means I don't have to get my life all neat and tiddy to bring before the throne of God, but can simply bring my broken pieces to him, unashamed because he came not to disapprove of me, but to save me!
This movie makes me cry every time. I think it's the single most beautiful thing this side of heaven when people proclaim what Jesus has done for them. (Make sure you watch the slides, they're so powerful).
Jesus Saves- Jeremy Camp
Simply defined, the word condemn means to express disapproval. I'm not sure at what point everything got twisted around and cartoons of God sending down lightning bolts grew to be the predominant picture of God, but according to his word, he sent Jesus to save us from disapproval, not strike us with it. When you have a perfect God and imperfect people, this is necessary. God loves you and he loves me and SENT...not might send if we are well behaved, not will do his best to send if he has time, not even is sending and you should expect arrival shortly....no he already sent his son to pay the price for every thing that we will do that hurts him...aka sin...so that "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1).
Following Jesus feels like salvation. And salvation means I don't have to get my life all neat and tiddy to bring before the throne of God, but can simply bring my broken pieces to him, unashamed because he came not to disapprove of me, but to save me!
This movie makes me cry every time. I think it's the single most beautiful thing this side of heaven when people proclaim what Jesus has done for them. (Make sure you watch the slides, they're so powerful).
Jesus Saves- Jeremy Camp
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
It Feels Like Love
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13
"How great is the love of the Father has lavished on us, that we would be called the children of God." -1 John 3:1
The word "love" has so many different meanings to different people. If I said "love" to you, it is likely that you would associate it with a relationship. The intentionality of God in that regard is so evident in scripture. We were hand-designed to love others and to love Him. There is no stronger gesture of affection than to love on someone. And it's mind blowing to me that the Lord actually desires our attention....just think about that for a minute, he wants your love in reciprocation for his. His love was evidenced when he sent his Son to "lay down his life" for us. It was clear when he conquered the grave and defeated sin. And it was made available when he offered his Spirit to actively live in us that we might be able to experience real love every day.
Following Jesus feels like you're being loved like no one else can love you.
"How great is the love of the Father has lavished on us, that we would be called the children of God." -1 John 3:1
The word "love" has so many different meanings to different people. If I said "love" to you, it is likely that you would associate it with a relationship. The intentionality of God in that regard is so evident in scripture. We were hand-designed to love others and to love Him. There is no stronger gesture of affection than to love on someone. And it's mind blowing to me that the Lord actually desires our attention....just think about that for a minute, he wants your love in reciprocation for his. His love was evidenced when he sent his Son to "lay down his life" for us. It was clear when he conquered the grave and defeated sin. And it was made available when he offered his Spirit to actively live in us that we might be able to experience real love every day.
Following Jesus feels like you're being loved like no one else can love you.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
It Feels Like Freedom
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." -Galatians 5:1
We all have our yokes of slavery....a burden or two or twelve that weighs on us because of the presence of sin in this world and in our lives. They may be desires of the flesh, insecurity, fear, doubt, perfectionism, or success. They are those things that grab a hold of us, captivate our attention, time, passion, and focus, demanding we keep feeding them until they are satisfied. THEY LIE TO US. These parasite suck everything out of us with no return in the end. No matter how much money or success or friends or status or relationships....our hearts will never be made complete.
People say religion is so restrictive and maybe it is...but a relationship with Jesus Christ is freeing! He died so we didn't have to. He paid the price so we could live without condemnation. He rose and found victory over slavery to those empty things of this world. I love the way Louie Giglio puts it: if "we choose to hook our lives and chain our destinies to Jesus" we will be "free and fully alive."
Following Jesus feels like freedom!
We all have our yokes of slavery....a burden or two or twelve that weighs on us because of the presence of sin in this world and in our lives. They may be desires of the flesh, insecurity, fear, doubt, perfectionism, or success. They are those things that grab a hold of us, captivate our attention, time, passion, and focus, demanding we keep feeding them until they are satisfied. THEY LIE TO US. These parasite suck everything out of us with no return in the end. No matter how much money or success or friends or status or relationships....our hearts will never be made complete.
People say religion is so restrictive and maybe it is...but a relationship with Jesus Christ is freeing! He died so we didn't have to. He paid the price so we could live without condemnation. He rose and found victory over slavery to those empty things of this world. I love the way Louie Giglio puts it: if "we choose to hook our lives and chain our destinies to Jesus" we will be "free and fully alive."
Following Jesus feels like freedom!
Monday, October 3, 2011
It Feels Like Peace
"You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you." -Isaiah 26:3
A mind stayed on the Lord might look like a horse with those side blinders over his eyes that prevent the use of his peripherals. The horse can then only really focus on the path ahead, and therefore all distractions are eliminated from his field of vision. In the long run, with these blinders, the horse will stay the course.
When we focus in on Jesus, his everlasting love and the power of salvation in him, the Lord grants us perfect peace. And it's not a trade off, as though we give something and God returns the favor. Let's not try to barter with the God of the universe brothers and sisters. Jesus is peace and because the Lord knows our hearts, he knows that a heart focused in on him will ultimately be at peace.
You see, this world is uncertain, scary, and anything but peaceful most of the time, but if a mind stayed on Jesus is like a horse with blinders up, it blocks out the view of the world that brings all sorts of doubt and fear into our lives.
Following Jesus feels like perfect peace!!!
Perfect Peace- John Waller
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you." -Isaiah 26:3
A mind stayed on the Lord might look like a horse with those side blinders over his eyes that prevent the use of his peripherals. The horse can then only really focus on the path ahead, and therefore all distractions are eliminated from his field of vision. In the long run, with these blinders, the horse will stay the course.
When we focus in on Jesus, his everlasting love and the power of salvation in him, the Lord grants us perfect peace. And it's not a trade off, as though we give something and God returns the favor. Let's not try to barter with the God of the universe brothers and sisters. Jesus is peace and because the Lord knows our hearts, he knows that a heart focused in on him will ultimately be at peace.
You see, this world is uncertain, scary, and anything but peaceful most of the time, but if a mind stayed on Jesus is like a horse with blinders up, it blocks out the view of the world that brings all sorts of doubt and fear into our lives.
Following Jesus feels like perfect peace!!!
Perfect Peace- John Waller
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sure Thing!
"And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise." -Hebrews 6:15
What should my life look like if I actually believe day in and day out that God is faithful to his promises? Trust in God's word and his faithfulness destroys fear, insecurity, and doubt.
While I'm Waiting-John Waller
What should my life look like if I actually believe day in and day out that God is faithful to his promises? Trust in God's word and his faithfulness destroys fear, insecurity, and doubt.
While I'm Waiting-John Waller
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Ruin Satan's Day
"'I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." -Luke 10:18-19
What have you done today to make yourself an enemy of Satan's? I want to be on his hit list so that I may boast in Christ alone and watch the power of victory over the grave defeat Satan in my life and in the lives of others.
A little bit of encouragement in going out boldly...Courageous-Casting Crowns
What have you done today to make yourself an enemy of Satan's? I want to be on his hit list so that I may boast in Christ alone and watch the power of victory over the grave defeat Satan in my life and in the lives of others.
A little bit of encouragement in going out boldly...Courageous-Casting Crowns
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)