3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
do we really realize we are united with Christ? and if we do, are we cautious with the things we expose ourselves to because we are united with Christ?
God chose to call us his family... we all have family we wish we didn't have... we also have family we are so grateful to be part of... I pray that when God looks at me He decides I am the part He is glad to have... thankfully Christ was willing to give His life that we are able to be part of God's family...
9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
what is God's plan for you? are you walking toward it? do you position yourself to receive God's best? we are to receive our inheritance and all that is in our lives will work out to God's good plan.. that is the truth whether it is something that should have been part of our life or not... I should never have had my kids'father as part of my life... but God worked it for the good.. I would not be who I am if I had not lived that.. I would probably not know any of you... I would be some uppity white girl never thinking of anyone but myself more than likely.... God used all the bad situation that I never should have been in to create a compassionate person who does not see in color in me...
12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
how often do we spend time alone with God... asking for nothing.. just praising Him for who He is.. is our reflection bringing glory to Him? we call ourselves children of God.. can people looking at us see that? or are they confused by our appearance, our words, our manner? do we look like the God we profess to love so much....
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Galatians 6
12 Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. 13 And even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.
this is of course talking about physical circumcision... I believe God wants us all to have a circumcised heart... a heart with 'less flesh'... so while they say we don't have to be physically circumcised.. the circumcision of the heart... the cutting away of all excess flesh from the heart is a necessary thing for anyone who says we follow God... that is what sets us apart from others.. what makes us part of the covenant...
14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. 16 May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.
transformation is a daily struggle or task... we take longer to change than we like.. yet it is the same with weight loss.. when we lose it slowly.. by eating right.. then it stays off... and when we change slowly.. learning all the lessons God would have us to learn.. then we are truly changed... I think we are too often expecting from others what they cannot give.. they have not learned what God has taken the time to teach us.. so they are not at the maturity level we are.. and yet we get annoyed and expect something from them.. but when they see through the eyes of the flesh.. they cannot see what we see...
17 From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.
18 Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
this is of course talking about physical circumcision... I believe God wants us all to have a circumcised heart... a heart with 'less flesh'... so while they say we don't have to be physically circumcised.. the circumcision of the heart... the cutting away of all excess flesh from the heart is a necessary thing for anyone who says we follow God... that is what sets us apart from others.. what makes us part of the covenant...
14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. 16 May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.
transformation is a daily struggle or task... we take longer to change than we like.. yet it is the same with weight loss.. when we lose it slowly.. by eating right.. then it stays off... and when we change slowly.. learning all the lessons God would have us to learn.. then we are truly changed... I think we are too often expecting from others what they cannot give.. they have not learned what God has taken the time to teach us.. so they are not at the maturity level we are.. and yet we get annoyed and expect something from them.. but when they see through the eyes of the flesh.. they cannot see what we see...
17 From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.
18 Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Friday, June 17, 2011
2 Corinthians 12
7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
well I personally feel as though we all have a thorn in the flesh... and once that one is dug out.. then we get another... and it may be something we lack.. it may be a personality trait.. it may be an illness.. it may be a person... but God gives us all something that challenges us daily... whatever it is.. that is what God uses to change us into what he wants us to be...
14 Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. 15 I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
I think that many times.. the more love we show.. the less people love us.. remember when we were young and we used to say that guys only liked a witch.. they didn't want anything to do with a good girl... well I think that is true in our adult life too.. but not only of men.. we all do it... we tend to try so hard to get the ones who do us wrong to love us... instead of accepting the ones that show us love... (there really must be something wrong with us...)
16 Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery. 17 But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? 18 When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.
19 Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21 Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
these are internal sins.. quarreling jealousy anger selfishness slander gossip arrogance... I see some of them in me... sometimes I think if I say an "innocent" comment about someone... it doesn't count.. yet it does... peoples feelings get hurt by our words.. we should be cautious of them... it is easy to say that we have given up impurity sexual immorality and lustful pleasure.. yet if they are in our minds... have we really given them up?? I would say that I am very guilty in my mind of many sins... I need to take some time and purify my mind...
well I personally feel as though we all have a thorn in the flesh... and once that one is dug out.. then we get another... and it may be something we lack.. it may be a personality trait.. it may be an illness.. it may be a person... but God gives us all something that challenges us daily... whatever it is.. that is what God uses to change us into what he wants us to be...
14 Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. 15 I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
I think that many times.. the more love we show.. the less people love us.. remember when we were young and we used to say that guys only liked a witch.. they didn't want anything to do with a good girl... well I think that is true in our adult life too.. but not only of men.. we all do it... we tend to try so hard to get the ones who do us wrong to love us... instead of accepting the ones that show us love... (there really must be something wrong with us...)
16 Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery. 17 But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? 18 When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.
19 Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21 Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
these are internal sins.. quarreling jealousy anger selfishness slander gossip arrogance... I see some of them in me... sometimes I think if I say an "innocent" comment about someone... it doesn't count.. yet it does... peoples feelings get hurt by our words.. we should be cautious of them... it is easy to say that we have given up impurity sexual immorality and lustful pleasure.. yet if they are in our minds... have we really given them up?? I would say that I am very guilty in my mind of many sins... I need to take some time and purify my mind...
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
the desire of sin...
Genesis 3: 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
I was reading this scripture today... and it occurs to me.. how we all look at eve and think.. dang.. she has messed all mankind up for a lifetime with her disobedience.. her lack of self control.. her selfishness...
but... look at ourselves.. those of us who are even 10lbs overweight... we can look at something.. and know we don't need it.. we still eat it.. and afterward.. we feel like.. ugh.... but beforehand... we are thinking.. what can one piece of cake do... what can one more serving hurt...
I rationalize this same way with shopping too.. so it doesn't have to be about food.. it can be any weakness.. any given sin... we think about it ahead of time and think.. how much harm could it do... then we do it... and we think.. ugh.. I wish I didn't do it... and we feel ashamed.... and are thinking we can never do it again.... till the next time we are tempted again... really... how often do we eat when we aren't hungry... shop when we don't need anything... have sex outside of covenant... drink until drunk...
all of these things are sin... and we think we wouldn't have given in if we were eve.. yet we all give in daily... we all fall short... yet we watch all these tv shows of these obese people and think I would never let that happen to me.. yet daily we fall... or the hoarders on tv... we think we couldn't live like that.. yet some of us hoard... or filth.. some of us don't clean as we should... whatever our issue is.. we all have one... and we all like to look at someone else's and feel as though our own is less... so is being 10lbs overweight less than 100lbs overweight? I don't really think so.. it is all a sin.. mental sin.. we all go through the process of the sin before we do it... like drinking.. we will have just one drink.. but some people can't have just one drink... I can't seem to stop buying shoes.. yet I have over 100 pairs... really? would I say that isn't sin.. it doesn't count? of course I do.. yet every time I go to buy a new pair.. I have the same argument in my head that eve had with the serpent... how long will we allow the serpent to rule our minds.... the decision is yours and mine.... will we overcome or fall one more time...
I was reading this scripture today... and it occurs to me.. how we all look at eve and think.. dang.. she has messed all mankind up for a lifetime with her disobedience.. her lack of self control.. her selfishness...
but... look at ourselves.. those of us who are even 10lbs overweight... we can look at something.. and know we don't need it.. we still eat it.. and afterward.. we feel like.. ugh.... but beforehand... we are thinking.. what can one piece of cake do... what can one more serving hurt...
I rationalize this same way with shopping too.. so it doesn't have to be about food.. it can be any weakness.. any given sin... we think about it ahead of time and think.. how much harm could it do... then we do it... and we think.. ugh.. I wish I didn't do it... and we feel ashamed.... and are thinking we can never do it again.... till the next time we are tempted again... really... how often do we eat when we aren't hungry... shop when we don't need anything... have sex outside of covenant... drink until drunk...
all of these things are sin... and we think we wouldn't have given in if we were eve.. yet we all give in daily... we all fall short... yet we watch all these tv shows of these obese people and think I would never let that happen to me.. yet daily we fall... or the hoarders on tv... we think we couldn't live like that.. yet some of us hoard... or filth.. some of us don't clean as we should... whatever our issue is.. we all have one... and we all like to look at someone else's and feel as though our own is less... so is being 10lbs overweight less than 100lbs overweight? I don't really think so.. it is all a sin.. mental sin.. we all go through the process of the sin before we do it... like drinking.. we will have just one drink.. but some people can't have just one drink... I can't seem to stop buying shoes.. yet I have over 100 pairs... really? would I say that isn't sin.. it doesn't count? of course I do.. yet every time I go to buy a new pair.. I have the same argument in my head that eve had with the serpent... how long will we allow the serpent to rule our minds.... the decision is yours and mine.... will we overcome or fall one more time...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)