I'm trying to teach my Crew to clean the kitchen. One is responsible to clear the table after meals, two unload the dishwasher, and one is responsible to load everything that can be washed into the dishwasher. And they rotate through the chores. But I take responsibility for all the pots and pans. This leads to something of a problem on a regular basis. With only one sink, and six people making dirty dishes, it doesn't take long for our counter to overflow into the sink. This morning as I was trying to catch up on the pots and pans, and noticing all the dirty counter, (My children forget to wipe down the counters after the dishwasher is loaded.) I had the thought, "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." I hope this will not always be the case with my Crew-- which is one of the reasons that they are responsible for portions of it now...
In the next moment, I was thinking of Christ. God has wanted a repaired relationship with mankind ever since Adam sinned. But He knew that for that to happen, He'd have to do it Himself. Sinful people simply ARE NOT capable of fixing our broken relationship with Him. So God the Son became a man. Jesus Christ, the God-Man, lived a perfect life, fulfilling the law in our place. Then He died, absorbing all the righteous wrath of God against our sin. God got the job done right, and because of that, we can have fellowship with Him through Jesus the Savior! That's good news!
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.
Genesis 6:5
To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Psalms 14:1-3
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
John 5:24-25
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:14-18
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
I CAN'T!
I had kind of a rough Sunday. My family was bowing to idols all over the place. And then I realized that I had been bowing to one of my own... and it had dropped me flat. We managed to get to church-- although we were a bit late. As I was sitting in the sanctuary, waiting for the service to begin, I was praying that the Lord would help me to be faithful in all the responsibilities He's entrusted to me. Then the thought washed over me that I can't be faithful. And I was reminded of the scene in "Frozen" where Anna finds Elsa's ice palace. You may not have been able to catch Elsa's words, running underneath Anna's hopeful reprise, so here they are:
I'm such a fool, I can't be free
No escape for the storm inside of me
I can't control the curse
Anna, please, you'll only make it worse!
No!
I CAN'T!
But God is so gracious to never leave us with the "I can't". While it is VERY true that I am completely unable to be faithful, Christ was faithful in my place! God the Father was "well pleased" with Christ. So in Christ, He is also well pleased with me-- in spite of my unfaithfulness. And that love motivates me to keep trying to be more faithful.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 5:7-10
For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."
Romans 15:8-9
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
I'm such a fool, I can't be free
No escape for the storm inside of me
I can't control the curse
Anna, please, you'll only make it worse!
No!
I CAN'T!
But God is so gracious to never leave us with the "I can't". While it is VERY true that I am completely unable to be faithful, Christ was faithful in my place! God the Father was "well pleased" with Christ. So in Christ, He is also well pleased with me-- in spite of my unfaithfulness. And that love motivates me to keep trying to be more faithful.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 5:7-10
For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."
Romans 15:8-9
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Monday, April 28, 2014
Compass
I had told my Crew a few months ago that I would show them how to make a compass. Life and my faulty memory have gotten in the way, but Thursday morning I did make a compass for them. Step one, after assembling your components, is to magnetize a needle. Once this is done, your needle will point toward a pole. But there's a catch... You have to know which pole. In a manufactured compass, the needle is oriented north. I didn't know that the magnet I picked up was a south magnet, so our needle pointed the wrong direction. Because I know the general compass points in relation to my house, I realized almost immediately that our compass was off. However, I told my Crew that if we were out in a random place, and only using our homemade compass for direction, we would be lost!
At that point, I was struck by the fact that we all have something guiding the direction of our lives. But there are so many who are following a "compass" that is not true. Whatever drives you, if it is not the gospel of Jesus Christ, will point you in the wrong direction.
For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
Psalms 31:3
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.
Philippians 2:5-8
At that point, I was struck by the fact that we all have something guiding the direction of our lives. But there are so many who are following a "compass" that is not true. Whatever drives you, if it is not the gospel of Jesus Christ, will point you in the wrong direction.
For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
Psalms 31:3
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.
Philippians 2:5-8
Friday, April 18, 2014
What's your flavor?
When I was growing up, I knew that my Daddy's favorite flavor of ice cream was vanilla. In fact, if there wasn't vanilla, he didn't want any. Shorty and my Crew REALLY LOVE ice cream. But they all prefer a different flavor. And there are certain flavors that each of them doesn't like at all.
Recently, my Crew and I were having a conversation about sin. One of my son's friends had told him that he knew a gay couple. What followed was me trying to explain that different people struggle with different "flavors" of sin. And all sin deserves the wrath of the One True Holy God.
Today is Good Friday. As I was doing my devotions this morning, I was amazed anew that Jesus willingly made an infinite sacrifice, so that I could be forgiven for pursuing my sin flavors.
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.
1 John 4:9-10
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2
Recently, my Crew and I were having a conversation about sin. One of my son's friends had told him that he knew a gay couple. What followed was me trying to explain that different people struggle with different "flavors" of sin. And all sin deserves the wrath of the One True Holy God.
Today is Good Friday. As I was doing my devotions this morning, I was amazed anew that Jesus willingly made an infinite sacrifice, so that I could be forgiven for pursuing my sin flavors.
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.
1 John 4:9-10
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Devotion or Obsession
I saw this quote on a friend's Facebook wall recently.
"Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about."
This has had me chewing and pondering for several days. I even googled the quote to see if I could find the person who coined it. The first thing that I thought of was my faith and how it colors every aspect of my life. I was almost immediately convicted that I am quite capable of going hours or days with little thought of my King, the Lover of my soul. But I am devoted to pursuing relationship with Him-- even though I often fail. My next thought was of the obsession that masquerades as "love" in fictional movies, books, and TV shows. So I looked up definitions. =)
devotion: 1) profound dedication; consecration
2) earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc.
obsession: the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image desire, etc.
(Origin: 1505–15; < Latin obsessiōn- (stem of obsessiō ) blockade, siege, equivalent to obsess)
I thought the origin of the word "obsession" was fascinating. The picture of an army encamped around a city in conquest comes to mind. Devotion seems to be more of an active term, while obsession is more passive. So while I kind of like the above quote, it seems to fit more closely with obsession. And obsession is not appropriate for a Christian. We are commanded to take control of our thoughts and guard them, not to allow them to control us.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
And just for a bit of balance, before you begin making your list of "to-do's". Christ always guarded His thoughts and was fully devoted to His Father. It is only through His power in the Spirit that we can begin to take our thoughts captive. So rest in the work He completed on your behalf!
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:11-16
"Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about."
This has had me chewing and pondering for several days. I even googled the quote to see if I could find the person who coined it. The first thing that I thought of was my faith and how it colors every aspect of my life. I was almost immediately convicted that I am quite capable of going hours or days with little thought of my King, the Lover of my soul. But I am devoted to pursuing relationship with Him-- even though I often fail. My next thought was of the obsession that masquerades as "love" in fictional movies, books, and TV shows. So I looked up definitions. =)
devotion: 1) profound dedication; consecration
2) earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc.
obsession: the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image desire, etc.
(Origin: 1505–15; < Latin obsessiōn- (stem of obsessiō ) blockade, siege, equivalent to obsess)
I thought the origin of the word "obsession" was fascinating. The picture of an army encamped around a city in conquest comes to mind. Devotion seems to be more of an active term, while obsession is more passive. So while I kind of like the above quote, it seems to fit more closely with obsession. And obsession is not appropriate for a Christian. We are commanded to take control of our thoughts and guard them, not to allow them to control us.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
And just for a bit of balance, before you begin making your list of "to-do's". Christ always guarded His thoughts and was fully devoted to His Father. It is only through His power in the Spirit that we can begin to take our thoughts captive. So rest in the work He completed on your behalf!
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:11-16
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Throwback Thursday
I dressed up, showed up, took pictures with my friends, voted for the king and queen, and even tried to dance a couple of line dances. What you can't see in this picture is a not inconspicuous ring on a very conspicuous finger. This was only about six weeks before my wedding, and my sweetheart wasn't able to come to the prom. (He was 23.) So in spite of the "food, friends, and fun", I was eager to leave.
This week I've been trying to finish a book that I started over a year ago. In it, the author is exhorting his reader to really, passionately, exorbitantly, LOVE the One True and Living God. As I was reading, I was reminded of my eagerness to be with my Shorty way back when, and how he's still the first person I want to talk to about EVERYTHING! And how I should feel that to an even greater degree with the Lord. Which is probably why I love this quote from A.W. Tozer:
"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long."
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Psalms 130:1-8
So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:7-15
Thursday, April 3, 2014
It's Important
I LOVE my job! I am a stay-at-home wife and mama. And I wouldn't trade it for any other profession in the world! Even when my Crew were all very small, I wouldn't have traded being with them for a paying job away from them. However, I've got close friends who would rather have another job, but stay home with their little ones because they believe it is what is best for their children. I'm not advocating or condemning either working exclusively at home or having an official profession, because every situation and every family is different. But this post is particularly for my sisters who work at home and don't exactly love it.
I saw a trailer recently for a movie called "Mom's Night Out". (I can't wait to go see it with my sisters!) The premise of the movie is that this group of moms make plans to take a night out-- away from the kids. The dads are left responsible for the kids, and the movie chronicles the disaster that ensues. At least, that's my impression from the trailer. But right at the end of the trailer, (I have no idea where, in the movie, the scene takes place.) one of the dads is looking at his wife and says to her, "Hon, your job..." She interrupts him and says, "It's hard. I know." Then he responds, "It's important. That's what I was gonna' say."
I was talking to my Shorty about this recently. When you have more than one little person pulling on you and needing you-- All. Day. Long. (Sometimes all NIGHT long, too.) And you spend your days doing one more load of laundry... trying to put one more healthy meal on the table-- and knowing that it will be a battle getting them to eat it... wiping one more dirty bottom... changing one more shirt because of a river of spit up... mopping up (and trying not to cry over) one more cup of spilled milk... It is SO EASY to forget that what you're doing is important. (And by the way, I know it can be even more of a challenge for mamas who work at an outside profession and then come home to this same set of needs.)
Dear sister, lift up your eyes today to a Savior who sees all that you do and sacrifice for your little ones. Find your comfort in the One who trained up a group of guys who, very often, acted much like children. Know that your words to little hearts today will have an unbelievably lasting impact on them for the rest of their lives. And if you feel like you've lost yourself in the needs of others, remember that your identity is not wrapped up in what you do, but in whose you are! You are a daughter of the King of the universe! You are loved more than you can ever imagine! And what you do is important.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:17-24
I saw a trailer recently for a movie called "Mom's Night Out". (I can't wait to go see it with my sisters!) The premise of the movie is that this group of moms make plans to take a night out-- away from the kids. The dads are left responsible for the kids, and the movie chronicles the disaster that ensues. At least, that's my impression from the trailer. But right at the end of the trailer, (I have no idea where, in the movie, the scene takes place.) one of the dads is looking at his wife and says to her, "Hon, your job..." She interrupts him and says, "It's hard. I know." Then he responds, "It's important. That's what I was gonna' say."
I was talking to my Shorty about this recently. When you have more than one little person pulling on you and needing you-- All. Day. Long. (Sometimes all NIGHT long, too.) And you spend your days doing one more load of laundry... trying to put one more healthy meal on the table-- and knowing that it will be a battle getting them to eat it... wiping one more dirty bottom... changing one more shirt because of a river of spit up... mopping up (and trying not to cry over) one more cup of spilled milk... It is SO EASY to forget that what you're doing is important. (And by the way, I know it can be even more of a challenge for mamas who work at an outside profession and then come home to this same set of needs.)
Dear sister, lift up your eyes today to a Savior who sees all that you do and sacrifice for your little ones. Find your comfort in the One who trained up a group of guys who, very often, acted much like children. Know that your words to little hearts today will have an unbelievably lasting impact on them for the rest of their lives. And if you feel like you've lost yourself in the needs of others, remember that your identity is not wrapped up in what you do, but in whose you are! You are a daughter of the King of the universe! You are loved more than you can ever imagine! And what you do is important.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:17-24
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Earn It
When I was a kid, I imagined that we worked all the time. (In reality, I have MANY more memories of playing with my siblings and friends than I do of chores and work days.) However, it was not uncommon, when the weather was mild (relatively speaking) and we had a day off from our "regular" duties, for us to tackle a big project as a family. Clean out a shed. Move a wood pile. Weed the lawn. And it was a family affair. My parents didn't send us to do a job that they weren't willing to do themselves, and they also didn't tackle the job and let us play around at whatever suited our fancy. (We wouldn't have chosen to clean out a shed, I can assure you!) They both set an example of hard work, as well as instructing us in the way to tackle a job and do it well. I am so thankful for their example and instruction as I now attempt to instill an appreciation for hard work in my own children. Work is good. When you work for something, you tend to appreciate it a bit more than if it is just handed to you. And having the desire to work for the things you have is healthy.
Last week I was sick-ish for most of the week. At the beginning of the week, I had fever, muscle aches, congestion. And I struggled with fatigue until the weekend. Even though my Crew are getting older, and are able to do a lot to help, things still fall behind when I'm not feeling well. So I was faced with a growing mountain of tasks that needed my attention. I felt like I had to DO something so that I could "earn" my rest. In the midst of that, I was reminded that I cannot earn the Lord's favor. I can't earn my salvation. I don't even have to earn my rest. God created me to need rest, and Christ earned my rest through His life of faithfulness. He earned my salvation by His death on the cross, where He bore God's wrath against my sin in my place. And He earned my favor with the Father because, through the faith He granted, the Father now sees me IN CHRIST. I can't earn what I need the most-- a relationship with God. But I'm SO thankful that Christ came to earn it for me.
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. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1-10
Last week I was sick-ish for most of the week. At the beginning of the week, I had fever, muscle aches, congestion. And I struggled with fatigue until the weekend. Even though my Crew are getting older, and are able to do a lot to help, things still fall behind when I'm not feeling well. So I was faced with a growing mountain of tasks that needed my attention. I felt like I had to DO something so that I could "earn" my rest. In the midst of that, I was reminded that I cannot earn the Lord's favor. I can't earn my salvation. I don't even have to earn my rest. God created me to need rest, and Christ earned my rest through His life of faithfulness. He earned my salvation by His death on the cross, where He bore God's wrath against my sin in my place. And He earned my favor with the Father because, through the faith He granted, the Father now sees me IN CHRIST. I can't earn what I need the most-- a relationship with God. But I'm SO thankful that Christ came to earn it for me.
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. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1-10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)