Why you still Searching?

It's funny how spiritually lost people say they are "searching" when in fact they are not; they are wandering, on detours, chasing negative images and  false hopes, evidenced by the fact the the TRUTH has not changed, LIFE has not moved, Love has not taken a vacation. Death lies and cheats and steals and seduces, even the sweetest among us.

Maybe it's time to wake up,  pray and recognize who it is that has actually moved, it surely is not the ONE, who was and is and will be, nor those that follow HIM; We remain, united by TRUTH and LOVE so divine it will not permit death into it's camps. So, those that lust after the flesh, take detours to obtain what they desire. Those that vary from the inerrant TRUTH, in disagreement break away from the pack. Those adverse to the discipline and accountability that comes with being a "child" of the living God, wander away from the fold, leaving the shepherd's care and comfort and guidance.   Ps 23: "...Thy rod and they staff, they comfort me."  I am comforted that "...Whom the Lord loves, He chastises"  I am comforted that He really does love me, He really will not permit that i stray without me feeling His hand, His governing staff upon my heart/ life, tugging. 

"God demonstrates His love for us in this: that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"

To reconcile us to a just God, our father, who will not permit us to trample upon the blood of Jesus. To receive Him, is to receive the adjudication of our guilt. We are guilty of selfish and vain ambition. He, Christ Jesus, God's only son, redeemed us from our penalty of death, which we deserve and now, we accept that pardon only by confessing our sin as if we are standing at the very judgment seat of God and accepting His provided substitute.

The Bible says that we become "born again" at that moment. The union of our soul with God conceives a "new creation" .  The union,  characterized by the act of our confessing of our sins, our soul's  ownership of our own unworthiness and guilt and shame.  The bible says God places the desire in our heart, we receive him and this births a "new creation" in us. Born again the bible says in spirit; Born of spirit.

Henceforth, being a "new creation," a spiritually alive being, we show our new life by living by new rules. The book of Romans says "No longer being bound by the laws of sin and death"

You no longer wander to an fro. You instead walk in the spirit and the word, the word "which  is alive and sharper than any two edged sword"... The word that is able to keep you and teach you "For all scripture is inspired (the Greek word here actually means "God Breathed" ) and is profitable for doctrine, reproof(which means rebuke, discipline) and instructions in righteousness"

Why you still running, hiding, wandering?

Yield. It's as easy as that. But it is a daily occurrence that you will have ever before you while living in this tent called our flesh.  

Heed the call to stay not stray.

Humble yourself and He will lift you up.  No other elevation matters. Nothing else in life will satisfy. Sex will leave little more than a note on your pillow. Drugs will leave you in your own rubble. Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. 

I'm reminded of the monkey who get's his hand stuck in the cookie jar.  A trap was set up to catch a monkey.  The monkey arrives on the scene and sticks his hand in the jar to get a cookie, upon raising his hand to leave with his prize, he encounters a problem: His hand will not fit back through the mouth of the jar unless he lets the cookie go. Determined to have his cookie, he refuses to let go, death ensues, all because he fell for the trap set before him. 

Your leap of faith my require personal loss and loneliness, but stand for God and see how he comes in like a flood. Ask him in and then don't leave, wander, chase the world. Be there when He accepts your invitation:   "For behold, i stand at the door and knock, if any one open the door for me i will come in and i will sup with him"   Some of you call on Jesus, then as he steps in, you have already headed out the window to the party.   

Why you still wandering, saying you are searching?   You know where He is, right there at your hearts door. Are you actually searching for a way to escape confession and surrender?  If so, it's a very brutal life you are pursuing. Death and flesh are insatiable, but the way of LIFE is satisfying and quenches the thirst from a well that never will run dry.

Why you still searching.  Stop at your hearts door, that's where Jesus is!

Please Note:

Often after the initial mailing is done. I edit. Backwards i know. Trying to get the hang of it and much of the time I'm in a hurry.
~~ Just want to suggest that if you receive a mailing that i have a new post, please do not read it in the body of your email, Please go to the site (there should be a link at the bottom of the email) and read it there. Nine times out of ten it will be different, edited, finished - ish, on the blog site.
~~Thanks for your patience
Sherrie

Honest Scales : Becoming as little children, for such is the kingdom of God

You know, even a five year old can tell you that honesty is essential to being a good person. A class of kindergarteners were asked what they thought a good person was. Here were the top ten answers: 1. Not hitting. 2. Not lying. 3. Not taking anybodies stuff. 4. Sharing. 5. Helping your teacher or friend. 6. Not spilling your milk, but cleaning up your milk if you do. 7.Raising your hand if you want to talk. 8. Not making fun of the other kids if they cry.  9. Bringing your mom flowers.  10.  Saying your sorry.


I love little pre school aged kids (k-5 included.) So raw and pure, they are not yet jaded by life and it's experiences. You know, we have all made excuses at one time or another for questionable behavior. i.e. Didn't take back the overage of change someone gave us. Told the white lie because it was better for situation or because we didn't want to hurt someone or maybe, just maybe, it slanted the situation to our advantage.  Told our husband "...what, this old thing?"  Most of the time, we fudge behavior when it seems small, and we do it to avoid conflict or consequences. Sometimes we find ourselves doing it while in dire straights thinking: "If i just twist it this one time, i will stay afloat...i.e. not lose this acct., not get fired, not get demoted, not lose a friend, client, dollar, account"   *All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  (honesty is just one way)


We have a saying in our house, it goes back to our oldest child telling the next in line, his sister, "God's watching!!" while they were before me settling a dispute. 

I've noticed that so many who call themselves believers, fudge alot of the time, when it comes to common everyday things that even a K-5'er knows is wrong. Perhaps the grown up has decided that moral integrity does count in the small things. How do we come to that conclusion?


The Bible says that one sin is as great as the next. That there are no great or small sins. It says *"If you have broken the law in one thing, you have broken the law in all" In other words: Breaking the law is breaking the law.  I believe the biggest lesson we should derive from that principle is the K-5 knowledge that wrong is wrong. Little five year old's have not been alive long enough to have become aware of embezzling or adultery or serial killing, so the top ten are elementary. The bible says, sin is elementary and until we become like "little children" we will not enter the kingdom of heaven, for that is what the kingdom is made up of.

There are some terrific babies i love to have with me as often as possible. The oldest is now 12 years old and the youngest 5yrs, but as young as age 2 and still today, they will say "ooooh, miss Sherrie" and they will look at me with shame and almost healthy fright for what i had coming, when i say a bi-word.  Am i saying stop your bi-words? No. What i am saying is.  We need to get back to weighing our attitudes and behaviors against the elementary and fundamentals of our faith. Truth is truth, not a variation. Right is right, absolutely.

Mr Welsh, former President of GE, in March '09 stated: "integrity is something that is instilled in early childhood, by the time someone reaches the job market, either it is there or it is not."

We often weigh our behavior by our excuses, what we have to lose, whom it will affect, who will be mad at us.

Just a reminder: God requires "Honest scales." We tend to use them on others,   how 'bout using them on ourselves.

I challenge you to begin to use honest scales. Believe in absolutes. We have seen recently how Wallstreet and often even Mainstreet can tweek the numbers. Medical and pharmaceutical researchers are tempted to do the same on trials and the like, and are often caught doing so.  Most of them think they are justified in compromising, as it is simply a means to an end. But we, brothers and sisters,  have knowledge that there is no end. That this is not all there is. That life as we know it will pass away, but we will go on, to face our maker who will decide our fate in eternity; Who see's and is a rewarder of those that diligent seek him.


Before acting, making decisions, weigh your thoughts, patterns, actions, ideas, decisions, not against our flawed systems of this world, rather weigh on the scales of fundamental "Truth," let the "truth" decide if you come up wanting.   Whether your words or action are balanced and measure up.  In short: Use complete honesty, truth, integrity as your measure of our spirituality, morality, behavior.


Regardless of our judgment day destination. We are called to be *"Children of the Light" The Bible says: "It is shameful to even mention what the sinner does in secret or cover of darkness"   ...But, we are children of the Light, so let us shine forth that we might bring glory to our God, in word and deed that others might see and glorify God... I cannot help but write on the subject. In this, one more way, we can Be the Church.


Did you know that little children are known for spotting a phony? Well, they are not the only ones. Christians, we are not our own. We are Christ's; we are in Him who is:  the only way to God, the truth and the life.   I can't help saying it again: Let's not fudge our way through life.  Be the church, my friends, not the counterfeit!!

The Church and Who She Is

I'm all for multi-site churches. What i am not for, is the misunderstanding of the terms and language that the Bible uses to describe who the church is.  You might notice that i assigned the church a "who" instead of a "what".  That is because, by Biblical definition, she is a living breathing organism, connected by synapse, sinew, bone and marrow, muscles and organs, hands and feet. She is a walking, talking, breathing, influential, tangible, recognizable presence on this Earth and her efficacy should not be underestimated, neither by herself nor her adversaries.

Though the church is one, it is a conglomerate unit. I like how my military friend Juan Camacho put it, "...One church, one people, A UNIT as we say in the military..."  A unit of believers, with one directive, one allegiance, one God, one with her husbandman - her redeemer.    Many members, sprinkled all over the Earth, like salt on a dish flavoring the whole.   On seven continents, in nearly every country, scattered across many villages, comprising countless denominations, in prisons, surviving school campuses, on beaches, under piers, in valleys and abroad oceans, the church lives.   But, there is a difference in the physically gathered church and the ethereal church that is the extended body.

Christ called the apostles to the world to make believers of humans, then called all humans to the ministry of reconciliation and to the fastening of themselves together into this form, this body called the church.

Let's take a look at one of the words the Bible uses to address believers. Every time you see the word "church" in the NT, in the original it is the word "ekklesia",  which means:   "Church/Assembly", The etemology further denotes "called unto a place by name and officially assembled together".  So the "church" the "ekklesia" is the local body. The physically "fitly joined together"  (Strong's # G1577)

Understanding that a literal gathering of believers should adhere strictly to the paradigm dynamics which the apostles administered in grace to the new testament church, we pause a moment to consider the Apostle Paul, instructing the church, more than once, to "greet one another with an holy kiss and a a psalm," a personal and hands on act.  The apostles finished their lives visiting when possible and writing when necessary, admonishing and commending the early church concerning one main theme, the same thing Jesus was concerned with in Jn 17, the "unity"of believers. We read the apostles advising that we, the church, are to be bearing one another's burdens, preferring one another over our own selves, confessing our faults one to each other (vs denying them,) supporting one another, holding one another accountable and looking after the orphan and the widow,  without divisions, that we might "function" as one.

Now, let's pan out to the bigger picture.  Assemblies, ekklesias, bodies of believers may link up with other units of believers and be a body of ekklesias. There is nothing wrong with that.  But remember, "the ekklesia" is the physical group, not an ethereal one. They are a unit that comes together "in one place, in one accord" regularly.

So, believers, distinguishable from coast to coast and around the world as the church, are a conglomeration of groups not individuals. Each level of ekklesia denotes perhaps units of units. But there is no way to escape the fact that , by virtue of definition, the church is not an individual. Nor is an individual the "church" - "the gathered(pl) together in one physical place"  (notwithstanding exigent circumstances neither discussed here)

Ekklesia is a physical group, two or three gathered together in His name....it is not singular, it is the "assembly" you don't assemble one item, you assemble two or more.

Some have referred to the churches at home, scattered and abroad as a unit, a sleeping giant. I merely  make reference as to give you the picture of who she is united, but there is no mandate that ALL the churches of the world be in unison prior to that day when Christ returns to the Earth physically,  The Bible does, however,  mandate the church/ekklesia=local church, be  adhering to sound doctrine, in one accord without divisions.

Jesus called disciples just as he was beginning public ministry... The apostles were sent to make disciples and from that we read the entire new testament, apostolic writings, giving instruction to the "churches", the gatherings of believers, how they are to conduct themselves, personally, morally, physically, in assembly, in dispute, in charity, in community.   The letters concerning the early church were replete with echoes of a clear mandate:  "Forsake NOT the Gathering together as some have become accustomed to doing"

Jesus "sups" with his disciples. Jesus walks with his disciples. Jesus talks with his disciples. Jesus weeps for his followers. Jesus calls his followers friends. Jesus prays with his disciples, gets involved with their living.

I've had the privilege of being of  flocks who may boast of pastors' that fully felt the call of shepherd. You know some are teachers, prophets, evangelists who serve in the capacity of pastor and that is okay-ish, but the pastor/shepherd, today is a rare and really special combination.  I remember pastor Don telling of a man he felt led to bring to the Lord. He visited him, told him of Jesus grace, had coffee with him and on occasion asked if he would mind if he went on a run with him in his truck.  That man felt the shepherd love of this pastor. My present pastor will set aside time for his members, mainly the men. He will take them on trips with him, not so that they can carry his luggage, but so that he can spend time with them, connecting in a way that spending long hours together facilitates. He will come and help with any thing that needs being done: Fixing automobiles, moving into new homes, moving out of old homes, setting up stages, etc. Hands on - in your biz if you need him or the clan he enlists to help as well.  The men in our church are the most connected men i have ever seen. The young men have a code of honor that i am so impressed with because of the strength of the men that are before them. Valiant men of God.  But this kind of strength and unity comes from "connection" and this kind of connection is what makes us a "church" a "body" a "physicaly assembled unit - ekklesia"

So, as we stray from the original meanings in scripture, wanting easy-to-read versions of what we believed were the Bible, we often lose the truths that God managed to maintain and hand down to us through the ages.

We are the body of Christ. And we do esteem and feel a part of the churches of God around the world, but we are accountable to be in local fellowship, physically gathering, meeting, supping with, praying in person with, touching physically,  meeting needs, supporting, confessing our faults --meaning, being transparent one with another, in a way that we are only able,  in community, connection, gathering physically, regularly. This is the paradigm of the church of the living God.  It is clearly factual. (just ask me for the scriptural study)

I'm reminded of the Ethiopian Eunuch in the book of Acts. He is alone, reading the scripture and God sends him a flesh and bone man of God. That is another story for another time, however, the point i am trying to make is: God intends for believers to have connection with others, physically. Of this, there is no doubt.  As i study scripture, this truth has become paramount.

If you call yourself the church, i would first ask you, "Are you currently in fellowship with a body of believers and if so;  Whom are they with which you are fellow-shipping."  Jesus put names to his group. Real flesh and blood, present and accounted for, men of God, of diverse backgrounds and education.  Some he chastised, some he loved, some he taught to put down the sword, but is absolutely clear, that he had one-on-one, ongoing, close fellowship with his flock, his church, his disciples. If you are not a pastor you need one. If  you are not a shepherd you are a sheep which physically belongs in a flock. The Bible is clear. We are the ekklesia/church/the assembled .

Let's stop looking for itchy ears versions of the word of God. Let us give a concerted effort to learn the vocabulary of the Bible, and the true intended meanings of it's carefully chosen words and not it's biased watered down paraphrased versions.

If God said, "...a body, fitly joined together..." (Eph 4:21, 4:16)  let us "...be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves..." (James 1:22)

Jesus died that we might have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who's job it is to empower the believer to overcome and stand in the face of culture, oppression, hardship, challenges,abundance and complacency,  that we might find the grace to obey what the original scripture instructs.

Be the Church, people, not the counterfeit!

First Love Dynamics (The intro)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, plagiarist, i know. Sometimes we realize that life is not all ups, that there are inevitably going to be some downs and there is no way to omit the undesirable parts of real life, but there are things we can do to survive them.

Sometimes i wonder what people do to let go. What horrible thing did one person do to another to warrant divorce or a split.  Sometimes i see others who have turned their backs on God and walked away, taking back their own lives, to live as they desire, for their own momentary pleasures, to live by decisions they are comfortable with vs. abstaining, being self controlled, forgiving, etc.

It was a bad week. The culmination of a long stretch of time riddled with poor circumstances and hard times. We couldn't seem to land on the same page at the same time. I was disappointed and running out of grace and patience. (I'm sure there have been many times that he could say the same) I can honestly say, i contemplated every alternative way to make it end. Then i wrote him a love letter on his laptop, complete with bright decorative graphics and made an icon so he would see it the next morning at work. (according to him, it was so out of character for me, he initially thought it was our youngest daughter)  It reminded him that i LOVE him, no matter if i am disappointed, hurt, angry or plummeting! It gave him renewed belief that our love remains/exists amidst the rubble of real life.

Who knew one little fun love letter would have such a profound affect on him.   I say " I love you" minimum - once a day, yet, seeing is believing. I take care of him and myself and our life, family..etc.. that is seeing right?  Perhaps we take "life" for granted... but, seeing the words on paper (screen), perhaps it was a guy thing, perhaps a (receptive) love language thing, but what ever it was. Fanning the flames of love is essential to it's survival.

Sometimes i think i understand what God was saying to the church in Revelation 2:4 - "This one thing i hold against you, You've forgotten your first love"  Life happens and you may be managing with great integrity and perseverance, but do you remember what it was like, initially, in love?  

I watched a young man pursue a young woman for close to two years, committed to courtship, he did not touch her inappropriately or even kiss her, yet, all roads led to her.  He would do anything for her, go anywhere, no distance too far, no valley too wide! Protective, long suffering (she couldn't push him away hard enough), providing: she couldn't say she needed anything that he didn't materialize what ever it was. If she didn't want to see him, i saw his heart sink, you could almost feel the lump in his throat in your own as you witnessed the look on his face.  He considered ways to make her happy, comfortable, amused. He thought about the future, what it would take to make it and worked toward it with noticeable advancement. He was constantly aware of her needs before she was, and most often offered to meet them.   His was the most exhaustive pursuit of the object of love i think i have seen (besides my husband's : )

First love, do you remember what it was like? What you did, what you/he/she did while enraptured by it? There was nothing in our hearts and  minds that matched the feelings, thoughts and/or desires that we had concerning the object of our affection.  We would almost defy anything for him/her.

It's our responsibility to maintain the volume of energy in our relationships both with God and with our mates and loved ones. But one thing is for sure.  "First Love" holds the key.

I don't remember when the last time was that i wrote him a love letter.  He certainly didn't expect one on the week that i was probably the emotionally weakest that he has ever known me to be.  What he expected was more of my fury, tightening of the ranks, nose to the grind stone work orders... What i resorted to was "first love". In my stretched to the extreme moments i realized, that if the tight wire snapped, i had no desire to let go of my first love, regardless!

Similarly, we must recall our first love feelings, ways and efforts, if we are to maintain our relationship with the Lord.. My letter said to my husband, no matter how i feel about the situation, the way i feel about you hasn't changed. That's all he needed was to hear that. What is God requiring of y our heart. Has it strayed, waxed cold, taken Him for granted, grown angry, impatient, spoiled?

First love:   In all relationships, we must remember  "first love" principles,  if love is to survive
. . Remember
....It's our responsibility to kindle/rekindle the flames.  Even an ember can be fanned to blazing flame.  Who will take the responsiblity to fan to flames?... Many a cold winter's nights have bit upon a once cozy home because someone forgot to fan the fire before retiring to rest.  Super cold times might take more effort. Someone might need to rise early or intermittantly through out the night in order to dispel the cold.
..One thing for sure.. even the bible declares that there are "times and seasons".  So, this too will pass.
Now, whether we or our love for God (or our other covenant relationships)  survive the season is another story.
...The race is not given to the swift or strong, but the one who finishes. In other words: There are not winners or losers, betters or lessors... Just finishers and quitters! We want to hear him say well "done" my good and "faithful" servant
...Don't kid yourself into believing that you will be considered a finisher in a luke warm state. A luke warm state is like a dying ember, it's just moments of time away from being extinguished.
...Be aware of "first love", no matter what season you are in. First  love matters!

Freely Receive

Watch the video: Free Hugs  before reading the blog for full effect.



I love this song. i love many different covers of this song, including my daughter Bethany's cover (funny story behind that,) but the only images the song has ever managed to deposit in my minds eye, are scenes of the major accounts of falling from grace, until i watched this powerful video. 

The video tells a different story altogether. It's a parallel plot line that runs consecutively with the stories of major moral and spiritual failure and their consequent separation from the God whose laws were broken. Presenting a different picture all together, this video tells a story of uninhibited, unleashed, pure, unadulterated, open, offering, no holds barred acceptance. (This is not a question of repentance...repentance comes after one receives grace)  New perspective: Failure of human kind is the reason why grace is needed and how freely the father allows the Holy Spirit to lavish that love and forgiveness upon us.

A young man i care about, told me at length, why he would not go to church or seek out the God of the bible, but my niece came to town and he followed her to church one day. That day, from the beginning of the service, through the worship, sermon and alter time..every reason he cited was hit upon. I covertly shifted my eyes down the row to peak at the young man, and though i was not surprised, he had tears streaming down his face through most of the service. Love wrapped itself around him freely. Not after he changed his mind. Not after he changed his ways... In fact, not long after that, he went to his dad. For some years they had been estranged. He said " Dad, I'm sorry we have been apart for so long, i want that to change."  The dad told my young friend, "Son, I never moved, I've been right here the whole time"  And he hugged him tightly.

It happens that, the young man had been subject to his parents divorce at a young age. It had left him confused, hurt and embittered.  In his misunderstanding and pain, he rejected his dad. Not just the discipline, wisdom and  instruction of his dad, which a young man needs fiercely. What created a chasm, was the young man's resistance to his father's love, acceptance and affection, first and foremost: his fellowship, relationship.

Early circumstances that plagued this family, mainly,  the failure of the marriage had reverberating affects.  We all have something that keeps us out of fellowship with one person or another. Things we let hinder our abilities to give, love, connect, stay connected and in  fellowship.

Grace is never ending, never wavering, never wandering. It is always right where you left it.

Someone owes you? Someone shorted you, offended you?  You know what it feels like to shun, to turn your back on, to dismiss and not deal with anymore... But grace is not familiar with this action of denial.  

"We love Him, because He first (1st) loved us!" 

Accept his grace today. It is liberating, soothing, healing, and most of all it costs you nothing. Which of you has ever been diminished by a hug? Which of you has ever lost a cent, by letting go of resentment and pain?

Which of you has spent too much time citing the reasons why you cannot embrace God? Embrace your place in his arms. Embrace your destiny?   You've sinned, fallen, made mistakes, lost your witness, feel you have no testimony?

Grace is the only testimony that matters. On that day, He said He will say, "Did you know my son?"
That means: Did you know it was your sin that He died for.

You bring that sin to the alter. You don't stash it or hide it so you can come to him. You lay it at his feet: failure, confusion, bitterness, pain, pride.  All of us, in order to accept the son's work, must first see ourselves as being in need of the work. Sin separates us from God. The son's work reconciles us back to God. The holy spirit comes to freely offer the fathers love.

Accept grace today. It doesn't matter where you've been. It matters where you are going.  All of humanity yearns for the touch of Love.   Others witnessing the grace, may also receive: Revelation says: "And they were won by the word of their testimony"

Grace, What's so amazing about grace? "I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now i see"
You don't save you, fix you, reconcile you. Grace does all of that. Jesus took care of all of that. He finished the job.   Now the comforter has come. Receive grace as my young friend was able to and it turned his little heart of stone to a heart of flesh.

Watch the video again and ask the holy spirit to release your heart to understand, receive and give grace.

Grace is not about how many times you've fallen, it's about the getting back up. Grace, by definition only exists if their is a failure. Grace is forgiveness. Grace is the washing away of the filth. Grace is the Paid in Full receipt. Grace is the expunge-ment.

Live free, hug freely, remember whose you are, and not who you were. Children of the king. Children of almighty God, Master, Creator of the universe. You are  loved without reservation, forgiven, cleansed, brand spankin' new!!! ..Live new, Live loved,  Live freely!!

On the Seventh Day He Rested

For the People of God there remains a REST!!

Hebrews 4:9  "There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God."    "10. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11.Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."   "...Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. "
...
That rest is  Jesus. We don't work our way into God's heart, we yield our way into God's heart.   "We love Him because He first loved us!"  We didn't summon God. We did not lure him or seduce him or talk him into loving us. He first loved us!
 
Our creator, seeing that we are subject to all manner of evil, became like us to suffer the same trials and temptations we do, in fact it says: suffer unto obedience, that we would have a redeemer. That redeemer is one that knows all that you think he couldn't know.  Hebrews 4:15."For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin"
 
Hebrew 4:16  "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

By Your Side - Tenth Avenue North

New Identity ... Born Again

If any one is in Christ, he/she is a new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things have become new. Have you ever seen a caterpillar? Have you ever seen a butterfly? They are two different creatures entirely. Yet they come from the same creature essentially. The butterfly, though it doesn't look, feel, or operate like it, was in fact, at one time a caterpillar. A sluggish, chubby, grubby worm that crawled on the ground nibbling every leafy thing it happened upon, til one day it becomes entombed in a cocoon and inside it is transformed. Scientists tell us that the caterpillar actually dies inside the cocoon and a new creature is formed. One day, after many with no movement, no action, the cocoon begins to wobble and move and become a bit distorted. Slowly breaking through the encasement a butterfly begins to emerge, not even resembling a caterpillar. Then after pumping some blood into it's wings it takes flight!


Jn 3:3-7 Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless he is born again." Nicodemus asks Jesus, "How can an old man be born? Can a man enter his mother's womb a second time?"...Jesus answers him "... flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, you must be born again..." II Corinthians 5:17 says .."If any one be in Christ he is a new creation..." A new creation is born out of our souls union with Christ.

When you are in Christ you die and a "new creation" is formed. Today, shake off the image in your minds eye that says you are not good enough, not loved enough, not met your goals enough, not measured up enough. Missed the mark, you're a lowly worm, a failure, a misfit. The accuser of the brethren likes to remind you of who you are outside of Christ. I want to remind you of who you are in Him! You are cleansed, redeemed, purchased with a greater price than you could have ever paid, empowered, equipped and free. When the enemy says you are anything other than what agrees with at least the few descriptive words i gave you, speak your truths, outloud, clearly and more than once. Today, if you are not sure exactly what you are in Christ. Get in Him. Cocoon up!! Give it all to Him and emerge cleansed of the old. It's the word, it has to work! If any man/woman is in Christ he/she is a new creation!! If you are unable to be free you haven't died yet!

Let it go!

Today we lay aside the weights that so easilly beset us, and run the race set before us.
We are instructed to not hold onto dead weight. We need to let go when God says let go, fixing our eyes on the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus! What does this mean? It means, if it sets you back, weighs you down, holds you from something you need to do, pins you to a negative emotion, saps your energy, distorts your view, or obscures your vision, let it go!!

Is God concerned with what day it is?

This is your day!!

The Bible says: Today is the day of salvation. When God deals with you it is always in the "now", today, this moment, this time, this hour-today.  God is concerned with you, right now, right where you are!

Yesterday is gone. We do not have yesterday to give, it is gone. It is not within our power to offer it. We may make mention of it. We may be reminded of it. We may even hold it in our minds eyes as if beholding it all over again, but the truth is, it is gone forever!!  It's consequences may remain. What changes it effected may be stationary, but the past itself is gone, withered and disappeared. Time, it is like that, here one minute, gone the next. 

So, it is my desire that you are encouraged to live each moment, not in the past nor worried about the future, but making the most of each day. The Bible says: "Seizing the day or else evil will come in and devour it like a flood."  "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

I felt lead to begin this discipleship blog with this word "Today is the day of salvation"  Let's apply this truth to the doorposts of our hearts.  Today, right now, we are free, transformed, renewed, redeemed, cleansed, holy, loved by our perfect father in heaven and we are temples that the Holy Spirit dwells in.

While it is still today, let us dwell on the magnificence of so great a salvation. Let us remember how much he loves us and draws us to himself to fashion us into a sparkling bride.

Today, is our day.  Today, we love, today we live, today we forgive, today we are forgiven, today we are free, today we laugh, today we relinquish the past and refuse to spend our lives looking into the rear view mirror. Today we look forward to the future but more than that we appreciate the wonder of this day.