I have not been as faithful in my devotions this month as I'd like to be, because holiday busyness crept in and..... So I am still in Ezekiel. And I was a bit distressed as I read this passage this morning:
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men."
Ezekiel 24:15-17
It seems apparent, since God refers to Ezekiel's wife as "the delight of your eyes", that Ezekiel loves his wife. Now God has been using Ezekiel as a living illustration in His prophecies against Israel, and some of them have been pretty bizarre, but this just seems over-the-top harsh. It's bad enough that the Lord is taking Ezekiel's wife, but the Lord forbids him to even grieve!!!
So I pondered a little more, and was reminded that we must not "pass judgement" on God.
For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation. Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you? Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.
Deuteronomy 32:3-9
"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:6-9
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Fun and Games???
I like to play games... and win! ;) I'm insanely competitive. I come from a family that played for blood, and a family that said they didn't... I'm that player who, when I lose, becomes a storm-- or tears-- or both. I refuse to play games that I lose repeatedly.
You may be thinking, "So what? Nobody likes to lose. Everyone enjoys a game more when they win." But I've been really pondering this, because this is a lesson that the Lord is trying to make me understand. Much of what I've played at recently, I've lost at-- repeatedly. And it's like a dragon begins to breathe fire inside my chest when I lose. As I have ruminated over the why's and wherefore's of this, I've come to the conclusion that my reaction to loss flows from my sinful pride. I want to win because I want to feel important. And so, when the inferno begins, I start to pray for less of me...
One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
Proverbs 29:23
The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up--and it shall be brought low; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; against all the lofty mountains, and against all the uplifted hills; against every high tower, and against every fortified wall; against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft. And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 2:11-17
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-25
You may be thinking, "So what? Nobody likes to lose. Everyone enjoys a game more when they win." But I've been really pondering this, because this is a lesson that the Lord is trying to make me understand. Much of what I've played at recently, I've lost at-- repeatedly. And it's like a dragon begins to breathe fire inside my chest when I lose. As I have ruminated over the why's and wherefore's of this, I've come to the conclusion that my reaction to loss flows from my sinful pride. I want to win because I want to feel important. And so, when the inferno begins, I start to pray for less of me...
One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
Proverbs 29:23
The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up--and it shall be brought low; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; against all the lofty mountains, and against all the uplifted hills; against every high tower, and against every fortified wall; against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft. And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 2:11-17
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-25
Friday, December 28, 2012
Friend
I spent my childhood moving every four to five years. I had many friends over the course of my childhood, but although we shared things in common, none of them quite met my expectations. The friendship that has lasted the longest to date, is with a sweet young woman I met on a mission trip between my freshman and sophomore years in high school. I'm thinking about friends this morning because we enjoyed an evening of fellowship last night with one of the families from our church. It was a last minute deal, and they walked in as my house was all topsy-turvy. You know, the post-Christmas chaos of taking down decorations and trying to find homes for all your new stuff... My house was a maze of "Christmas threw up". ;) My sister in Christ walked in and said, "You don't have to clean for us." Over the course of the evening, we talked about all kinds of things. But I was marveling at how, with this family, I am able to be me. I can confess what a mean, selfish, hard-headed, rebellious child I was-- and often still am as an adult-- and this brother and sister still love me. And I thought of the verse in Proverbs:
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
As I was pondering that, I was overwhelmed thinking about how IN CHRIST my "friends" really are my sisters and brothers! =)
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." And he answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."
Mark 3:31-35
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Romans 8:16-29
You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."
Hebrews 2:7-12
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
As I was pondering that, I was overwhelmed thinking about how IN CHRIST my "friends" really are my sisters and brothers! =)
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." And he answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."
Mark 3:31-35
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Romans 8:16-29
You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."
Hebrews 2:7-12
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Hit and Miss
Sorry it's been hit or miss with my posts recently. Christmas and the trappings thereof have consumed my life for the last month. =) But, the day is past, and I'm expecting my life to settle down-- at least a little bit! ;)Thankfully, my God is NOT hit and miss, even when I am inconsistent.
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Romans 3:3-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
John 1:1-18
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Romans 3:3-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
John 1:1-18
Friday, December 21, 2012
Build Worthy
I've been thinking about our pastor's sermon all week. I think I've mentioned before that I like the word pictures in the Bible. The passage he preached on was about building the church well on the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was really struck by the word picture. Jesus is the foundation. He is completely good and beautiful and majestic. And the question is how we build upon that. Do we act in faith & build with gold, silver, and precious stones? Or do we build with wood, hay and straw? So I was thinking about the great buildings that I've seen. It would be absurd to think about Westminster Abbey being built of mud bricks, with a thatch roof. Can you imagine if, after laying the foundation that it has, the White House were made of hay bales? And I thought about when someone says that currency is "not worth the paper it's printed on". It's a similar concept. So, I'll pass on the challenge that our pastor gave us: Build God's church well in your local community of faith.
For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 3:9-17
For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 3:9-17
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Opposites
I love reading to my Crew! And I love that some of them are now big enough to read to me! ;) One of my favorite books to read to them when they were little was called Archibald's Opposites. In it, Archibald (a Veggie Tales character) is teaching about opposites. My Crew loved it because I read it with a British accent. =) Archibald defines opposites this way: "When things are as different as different can be, we call them opposites. Now do you see?"
I've pondered the simple opposite pairs presented in the book. I've also been thinking about opposites like love and hate, passion and indifference, good and bad... and then I started wondering if there was an "opposite" for God. So I had a meeting with my friend Webster. =)
op-po-site: diametrically different (as in nature or character)
So I guess the answer to my question is, "yes and no". Satan and fallen humanity are both diametrically different in character to God. However, God's nature is infinitely greater than man's or Satan's! =) And that is such great news to me! That means that God is ABLE to accomplish His purposes!
There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Psalms 86:8-12
"To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
Isaiah 46:5-11
There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.
Jeremiah 10:6-7
I've pondered the simple opposite pairs presented in the book. I've also been thinking about opposites like love and hate, passion and indifference, good and bad... and then I started wondering if there was an "opposite" for God. So I had a meeting with my friend Webster. =)
op-po-site: diametrically different (as in nature or character)
So I guess the answer to my question is, "yes and no". Satan and fallen humanity are both diametrically different in character to God. However, God's nature is infinitely greater than man's or Satan's! =) And that is such great news to me! That means that God is ABLE to accomplish His purposes!
There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Psalms 86:8-12
"To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
Isaiah 46:5-11
There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.
Jeremiah 10:6-7
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Wicked Hearts
The school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut last week was tragic. My heart grieves for the families who no longer have the presence of their precious blessings. As our church prayed for the victims and the shooter on Sunday, it really hit home with me that if MY children had been attending that school, I could have lost two of my precious blessings that day. =( And of course, the debates have arisen again about how we prevent this type of thing from happening in the future. Please understand that WE CAN'T! We can do all in our power to regulate guns, treat mental health patients, better diagnose mental health issues, get greater security in the schools... But we are powerless to change hearts. Only the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the God-Man, and the intervention of the Holy Spirit, the very hand of God can change a sinner's heart. And His people need to share that message! =)
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them."
Genesis 6:5-7
So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark. Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
Genesis 8:18-21
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Jeremiah 17:7-10
And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Matthew 15:10-19
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:14-25
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them."
Genesis 6:5-7
So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark. Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
Genesis 8:18-21
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Jeremiah 17:7-10
And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Matthew 15:10-19
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:14-25
Monday, December 17, 2012
Lost Days
I feel like I lost today. I got up and was feeling a little off, but fully expected to make some candy and do other Christmas prep. Unfortunately, I realized that the reason I was feeling "off" was because I've got a UTI. So I drank water like it was going out of style, made an appointment with the doctor and sat curled up on the couch all morning. I really Really REALLY don't like to be sick! It makes life as a mama SO DIFFICULT! My Crew are bigger now, and fairly independent, but now they recognize when I feel bad and they worry about me. I used to throw grand pity parties in my head when I was sick, but my perspective has changed drastically in the past few years. Now I keep reminding myself that when I feel WELL it is God's grace. And it makes me yearn for Christ's return when all will be made RIGHT! =)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
Genesis 3:1-7
The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
Genesis 3:14-19
Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.
Isaiah 60:18-21
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
Genesis 3:1-7
The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
Genesis 3:14-19
Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.
Isaiah 60:18-21
Saturday, December 15, 2012
No List
I like lists. I write lesson plans, meal plans (sometimes), to do lists, wish lists. I just wrote a list of lists! =) Lists give me a plan & a goal to strive for. I don't always love my to do list when I can't check anything off of it! ;) But I've learned as my faith has grown that there really is not much of a "list" in faith-- not a detailed list, anyway.
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 22:36-40
It's just that a detailed list is easier. A "do and don't list" doesn't make me search my heart. But God wants my WHOLE heart, and that takes time, and thought, and prayer, and reading the Word, and being with Christ's church. It is hard, and painful to face the reality of sin in my heart. But the law is incapable of saving me. The law is good, but sin makes me unable to follow the law.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Romans 3:20-28
And as I have been reminded this week; in Christ, I am dead to the law. I should seek to please my Savior and King out of love, not some misguided attempt to earn His favor. I can do NOTHING to either improve or reduce God's favor towards me.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
And I was amazed again when I read whispers of this in Ezekiel this week. God's plan has always been to save a people through the redeeming work of His Son.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Exodus 20:8-11
So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Ezekiel 20:10-12
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 22:36-40
It's just that a detailed list is easier. A "do and don't list" doesn't make me search my heart. But God wants my WHOLE heart, and that takes time, and thought, and prayer, and reading the Word, and being with Christ's church. It is hard, and painful to face the reality of sin in my heart. But the law is incapable of saving me. The law is good, but sin makes me unable to follow the law.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Romans 3:20-28
And as I have been reminded this week; in Christ, I am dead to the law. I should seek to please my Savior and King out of love, not some misguided attempt to earn His favor. I can do NOTHING to either improve or reduce God's favor towards me.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
And I was amazed again when I read whispers of this in Ezekiel this week. God's plan has always been to save a people through the redeeming work of His Son.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Exodus 20:8-11
So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Ezekiel 20:10-12
Friday, December 14, 2012
Less is More
I've got several things on my mind today, but also quite a lot on my proverbial plate, so I thought I'd stick with the safest and most expedient! ;) I'm still struggling off and on with being content with my house. I want to both model and teach contentment to my children, but I feel like I don't do a very good job... As my candy business has taken over my kitchen, my Christmas tree has taken over my living/dining room, and Christmas gifts have taken over my closet, I find my mind often wandering to our "dream" house plan...
But when it does that, the Lord quickly brings to my mind a portion from a blog that a sister sent me. She was focusing on being content with her smallish house, and said a smaller house means less to clean. I had to laugh out loud at that one, because I really DON'T LIKE to clean. Don't get me wrong, I love the clean smell, the shiny look, and the comfortable feeling of a clean home, I'm just not a fan of the PROCESS! ;) I know it has something to do with how quickly my Crew can undo all my work. =/ But I want to be faithful with all the things that the Lord entrusts to me, for His glory... So I'll pull out the mop, sweep out the dust, and TRY to conquer the mountains of laundry that seem a never-ending part of my life... And some of you can expect an invitation to my smallish, messy-ish home in the near future! =)
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Matthew 25:14-29
But when it does that, the Lord quickly brings to my mind a portion from a blog that a sister sent me. She was focusing on being content with her smallish house, and said a smaller house means less to clean. I had to laugh out loud at that one, because I really DON'T LIKE to clean. Don't get me wrong, I love the clean smell, the shiny look, and the comfortable feeling of a clean home, I'm just not a fan of the PROCESS! ;) I know it has something to do with how quickly my Crew can undo all my work. =/ But I want to be faithful with all the things that the Lord entrusts to me, for His glory... So I'll pull out the mop, sweep out the dust, and TRY to conquer the mountains of laundry that seem a never-ending part of my life... And some of you can expect an invitation to my smallish, messy-ish home in the near future! =)
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Matthew 25:14-29
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
More on Traditions
I have been pondering traditions for the last few days. Our family has quite a few traditions. Some are continuations from my childhood, some are from Shorty's side, and some we've developed on our own. =) I was thinking about why I enjoy our traditions so much. When I pull out the Christmas ornaments, I am reminded of fun Christmases past. When I set the table with my china on Saturday mornings, my thoughts travel back to the many Saturdays we've sat around sipping coffee & listening to books, or playing puzzles, or whatever. So traditions give us a link to our past. But they also give us hope for the future. My Crew look forward to Thanksgiving because I make pie. And on Black Friday we eat leftover pie and scrambled eggs for breakfast. And they can't wait! They start talking at lunch on Thanksgiving about which kind of pie they will have for breakfast the next morning!!! =) They know that they get to place their respective ornaments on the Christmas tree, and they look forward to it!
So, traditions are valuable because they link us to our past and give us something to look forward to in the future. But I have a tendency to unintentionally elevate our traditions to supreme status. There are times when we are unable to repeat certain traditions for one reason or another, and I find myself getting either angry or depressed. Obviously this is a sign of the sin of idolatry in my heart. But Jesus lived, never bowing His heart to idols, and died to pay for my continual idolatry. And so I am justified before my God. =) And I want my Crew to know that I WANT the gospel to be supreme in my life-- and theirs.
Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban"' (that is, given to God)-- then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do."
Mark 7:1-13
So, traditions are valuable because they link us to our past and give us something to look forward to in the future. But I have a tendency to unintentionally elevate our traditions to supreme status. There are times when we are unable to repeat certain traditions for one reason or another, and I find myself getting either angry or depressed. Obviously this is a sign of the sin of idolatry in my heart. But Jesus lived, never bowing His heart to idols, and died to pay for my continual idolatry. And so I am justified before my God. =) And I want my Crew to know that I WANT the gospel to be supreme in my life-- and theirs.
Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban"' (that is, given to God)-- then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do."
Mark 7:1-13
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I LOVE Christmas! It was so full of traditions and happy memories for me as a child. And I am trying to carry on many of those same things with my Crew. One of our collective favorites is CANDY! =)
I also love our Christmas tree! And driving around looking at Christmas lights! I LOVE LOVE LOVE giving gifts to the special people in my life! Not that you have to wait until Christmas, but it is a good excuse... ;)
The last couple years, I have been introduced to Advent. I always thought Advent was a Roman Catholic thing, but our pastor has explained that Christians have celebrated Advent since the earliest days. And he pointed out that it is not just to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, but also to look forward to His return. Now that's something worth celebrating!!! =)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:10-13
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21:1-4
I also love our Christmas tree! And driving around looking at Christmas lights! I LOVE LOVE LOVE giving gifts to the special people in my life! Not that you have to wait until Christmas, but it is a good excuse... ;)
The last couple years, I have been introduced to Advent. I always thought Advent was a Roman Catholic thing, but our pastor has explained that Christians have celebrated Advent since the earliest days. And he pointed out that it is not just to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, but also to look forward to His return. Now that's something worth celebrating!!! =)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:10-13
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21:1-4
Monday, December 10, 2012
Faithless
I've been reading through Ezekiel the last couple weeks, and the theme that seems woven through is that God's people have chosen to be faithless. He showers and lavishes them with GOOD gifts. He gives them of HIMSELF, and they take all His gifts and abuse and worship them. When I was younger, I used to think that the Israelites were horrible for forgetting God and chasing their idols. Now as I read, I find myself thinking, "Yeah, I do that." =( I forget God's FOREVER FAITHFULNESS, and I chase His gifts to worship them!!! =P I am SO VERY MUCH like God's people of old-- I am faithless. But God is faithFUL. He keeps His promises! My faithlessness cannot veto His faithFULness! Faithful is one facet of who He is-- and He MUST act according to His nature! =)
"When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD. "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his. You took some of your garments and made for yourself colorful shrines, and on them played the whore. The like has never been, nor ever shall be. You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them played the whore. And you took your embroidered garments to cover them, and set my oil and my incense before them. Also my bread that I gave you--I fed you with fine flour and oil and honey--you set before them for a pleasing aroma; and so it was, declares the Lord GOD. And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? And in all your abominations and your whorings you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your blood.
Ezekiel 16:8-22
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Romans 3:3-4
"When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD. "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his. You took some of your garments and made for yourself colorful shrines, and on them played the whore. The like has never been, nor ever shall be. You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them played the whore. And you took your embroidered garments to cover them, and set my oil and my incense before them. Also my bread that I gave you--I fed you with fine flour and oil and honey--you set before them for a pleasing aroma; and so it was, declares the Lord GOD. And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? And in all your abominations and your whorings you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your blood.
Ezekiel 16:8-22
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Romans 3:3-4
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Piles
I have been discovering, over the past five years or so, that many of my idols were erected when I was rather young. Before my teens. It's funny how God then works at wearing them away, by keeping situations similar. I come from a long line of pack rats. One of the ways that manifested itself in our home, when I was growing up, was lots and LOTS of piles! I HATED the piles! And ESPECIALLY the game of "shifting piles". You know, you need a space that is occupied by one of your piles, so you "shift" it to another flat surface... I determined, before my teens, that when I grew up I would not have piles! FAMOUS LAST WORDS... ;)
The Lord has graciously provided my family with a smallish house. When Shorty & I got married, there were two rooms in our house that we essentially didn't even use. Then when we had our first baby, the whole house was suddenly in use! =) It didn't really begin to feel "tight" until our third little one started moving... But as I look back, I see that I have always had piles. I just had a bit more time and space to go through them early on. ;) Now I am constantly fighting the battle of the piles, or playing "shifting piles". =P Through this, God has revealed idols in my heart that I didn't even know were THERE! He's also given me a lot more compassion for my mom and her piles. =) God is just TOO LOVING to let our idols stand uncontested. And when God enters a battle, He ALWAYS wins-- in His PERFECT time! =)
Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalms 96:1-9
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
Isaiah 6:1-5
The Lord has graciously provided my family with a smallish house. When Shorty & I got married, there were two rooms in our house that we essentially didn't even use. Then when we had our first baby, the whole house was suddenly in use! =) It didn't really begin to feel "tight" until our third little one started moving... But as I look back, I see that I have always had piles. I just had a bit more time and space to go through them early on. ;) Now I am constantly fighting the battle of the piles, or playing "shifting piles". =P Through this, God has revealed idols in my heart that I didn't even know were THERE! He's also given me a lot more compassion for my mom and her piles. =) God is just TOO LOVING to let our idols stand uncontested. And when God enters a battle, He ALWAYS wins-- in His PERFECT time! =)
Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalms 96:1-9
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
Isaiah 6:1-5
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Song of the Day- 6
I heard "Hard to Love" by Lee Brice on the radio a couple months ago. This morning, I woke up with the chorus on repeat in my brainwaves.
I'm hard to love, hard to love,
I don't make it easy,
I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood
I'm hard to love, hard to love,
you say that you need me,
I don't deserve it but I love that you love me good
The affection is a bit misplaced in the song (he's addressing his girlfriend/wife), but I love the sentiment that someone of excellence is loving someone unlovely. If we changed the line "you say that you need me" to something like "I know you don't need me", we could sing the chorus in church! And God's love is transforming in the lives of His people so that as He loves us, we become-- at least a little bit-- lovely.
Hard to Love- Lee Brice
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Romans 5:6-10
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7
I'm hard to love, hard to love,
I don't make it easy,
I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood
I'm hard to love, hard to love,
you say that you need me,
I don't deserve it but I love that you love me good
The affection is a bit misplaced in the song (he's addressing his girlfriend/wife), but I love the sentiment that someone of excellence is loving someone unlovely. If we changed the line "you say that you need me" to something like "I know you don't need me", we could sing the chorus in church! And God's love is transforming in the lives of His people so that as He loves us, we become-- at least a little bit-- lovely.
Hard to Love- Lee Brice
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Romans 5:6-10
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
It's All in the Nature
We watched "Wreck-It Ralph" with our Crew a couple weeks ago. The kids laughed-- Shorty and I did too! =) It was really cute. My favorite part, though, wasn't all the funny, silly stuff. I told Shorty on the way home that I LOVE that the characters had to behave within their natures. What I mean is, Ralph is Mr. Destruction in his video game. But he's lonely-- I mean, who wants to keep a guy around who destroys EVERYTHING he touches?!? ;) So Ralph decides that he doesn't want to be the "bad guy" anymore and sets out to prove that he doesn't have to be. His only problem is that, even when he's being "good" he can't HELP but break stuff! And the same is true for Fix-It Felix-- Ralph's "good guy" counterpart. He ends up in jail in another video game, and when he uses his golden hammer (which fixes things) to try to break the worn away prison bars, they go back to looking like new! =D
I love that concept because it holds true in real life. Without God's intervention, people have to act a certain way- in accordance with their natures. But when God saves a person, He gives a NEW nature!
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:1-3
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
Galatians 4:8
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:16-20
I love that concept because it holds true in real life. Without God's intervention, people have to act a certain way- in accordance with their natures. But when God saves a person, He gives a NEW nature!
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:1-3
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
Galatians 4:8
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:16-20
Monday, December 3, 2012
Sacrifice
I've got a lot of thoughts floating around on this one, but I'll try to be concise. First, love is willing to sacrifice for the good of another.
Sacrifice is a grand theme in many movies. The one I'm thinking of today is "Captain America". At the end of the movie, when Captain America crashes the flying craft into the Arctic Ocean, no one sighs in exasperation and asks, "Why did he waste his life? He could have done so much MORE!" We all recognize that according to the storyline, Captain America saved not only the United States, but the entire world and life as we know it. We consider it a worthwhile sacrifice.
You may think I'm over-dramatizing, but why then when a woman chooses to pour her mind, talents, and abilities into raising her children is it "A waste of her life/mind/education?" Mama's who accept this high calling are, in fact, preserving life as we know it. I often hear suggestions that women "take time for themselves", "take care of themselves so they can take care of their families". And where there is a place for the concept that we SHOULD do our best to take care of our bodies, it seems more like a suggestion for selfishness. Besides, childhood is SO BRIEF!
I've mentioned before that I LOVE to read. Books have been a major part of my life for longer than I can remember. But during the five years that I was having my children and before they were in school, about the only reading I did was when I read them storybooks at naptime. Was that a waste of my time/passion? I would say emphatically, "NO!!!" I was exposing them to God's world, and instilling in them a passion for books and reading. After all, you can travel millions of places in books that you might never get to otherwise. =)
So, all you mama's out there-- especially if you have little ones-- pour your life into your precious blessings for the brief years that the Lord entrusts them to your care. And remember that sooner than you can imagine, they will not be little anymore. Motherhood is a worthwhile sacrifice!
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:9-11
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:1-7
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:4-11
Sacrifice is a grand theme in many movies. The one I'm thinking of today is "Captain America". At the end of the movie, when Captain America crashes the flying craft into the Arctic Ocean, no one sighs in exasperation and asks, "Why did he waste his life? He could have done so much MORE!" We all recognize that according to the storyline, Captain America saved not only the United States, but the entire world and life as we know it. We consider it a worthwhile sacrifice.
You may think I'm over-dramatizing, but why then when a woman chooses to pour her mind, talents, and abilities into raising her children is it "A waste of her life/mind/education?" Mama's who accept this high calling are, in fact, preserving life as we know it. I often hear suggestions that women "take time for themselves", "take care of themselves so they can take care of their families". And where there is a place for the concept that we SHOULD do our best to take care of our bodies, it seems more like a suggestion for selfishness. Besides, childhood is SO BRIEF!
I've mentioned before that I LOVE to read. Books have been a major part of my life for longer than I can remember. But during the five years that I was having my children and before they were in school, about the only reading I did was when I read them storybooks at naptime. Was that a waste of my time/passion? I would say emphatically, "NO!!!" I was exposing them to God's world, and instilling in them a passion for books and reading. After all, you can travel millions of places in books that you might never get to otherwise. =)
So, all you mama's out there-- especially if you have little ones-- pour your life into your precious blessings for the brief years that the Lord entrusts them to your care. And remember that sooner than you can imagine, they will not be little anymore. Motherhood is a worthwhile sacrifice!
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:9-11
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:1-7
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:4-11
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Freedom
My girls like watching the Barbie movies. Last night while we were visiting my parents, I let them watch the newest one, "The Princess and the Popstar". I really liked "The Princess and the Pauper". It had themes of responsibility and self-sacrifice. However, in "The Princess and the Popstar" it was highlighting a concept of freedom. These are the lyrics of the chorus from a song early in the movie:
I wish I had her life
then I would be so free
I wish I had her life
I'd be another me.
As I chewed on this a little more, I was a bit frustrated by the bizarre concept of "freedom" that seems so prevalent in the U.S. The idea is: "I can be/do anything I want." Although we have SO MUCH freedom-- freedom to choose where I live, what career I pursue, what church to attend... or if I attend church at all-- I CANNOT be/do ANYTHING. I cannot be a dog or a horse, no matter how much I may think I'd like to be. I cannot steal or kill-- unless I'd like to go to jail or worse. And I cannot fly any more than I can change the shape of my arms or the size of lungs and liver to be more like a man's.
But in Christ, I am free to fellowship with my King. I am free to glorify my God. And I am FREE from slavery to sin! =)
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.
Psalms 118:1-5
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:13-14
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
Romans 6:6-13
I wish I had her life
then I would be so free
I wish I had her life
I'd be another me.
As I chewed on this a little more, I was a bit frustrated by the bizarre concept of "freedom" that seems so prevalent in the U.S. The idea is: "I can be/do anything I want." Although we have SO MUCH freedom-- freedom to choose where I live, what career I pursue, what church to attend... or if I attend church at all-- I CANNOT be/do ANYTHING. I cannot be a dog or a horse, no matter how much I may think I'd like to be. I cannot steal or kill-- unless I'd like to go to jail or worse. And I cannot fly any more than I can change the shape of my arms or the size of lungs and liver to be more like a man's.
But in Christ, I am free to fellowship with my King. I am free to glorify my God. And I am FREE from slavery to sin! =)
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.
Psalms 118:1-5
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:13-14
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
Romans 6:6-13
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)