Ransomed by Love Himself

...everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Like Paul, I am less than the least of all the saints, I am chief among sinners, I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious. Once I was dead, doomed forever because of my many sins. I used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan,  following the passions and desires of my evil nature.

But GOD is so rich in His mercy! AND He loved me so very much, that even while I was dead because of my sins He gave me LIFE when he raised me from that death along with Jesus Christ. It was His kindness and the wealth of His favor that saved me when I believed! I take no credit for this. It is not a reward for the good things I've done so I have nothing to boast about.

This mercy, grace, and salvation is a GIFT from God. (adapted from Eph 2)

Sin is a lurking and ever present power always ready to pounce and capture. In my flesh dwells NO GOOD THING. It is necessary to be aware and on alert for the sin that so easily besets. For me, it is necessary to know the triggers that lure me into sin.

While I do not major on sin it is the knowledge and deep appreciation for God's grace and how He saved me from sin that compels me to lean into His grace and it kindles my desire to please Him alone. Staying ever mindful of God's grace is what causes me to crumple before Him in utter dependence on His love. It is the presence of His sweetness, His tenderness, His infilling, and impartation of His own nature that gives me the power to shun the life, the practices, and habits of the life I once lived in sin.

I cannot hold on to any part of it. I don't want to. If I am honest, I know what does and doesn't please my Lord. Sure, it is up to me to be that honest with myself and Him. But ~~when I am~~ I know that if I want the fullness of His presence and power in my life then I also want to walk this walk without those things of the flesh I once indulged in that drew me into the world.

He has not punished me for all my sins, nor does He deal with me as I deserve. He understands how weak I am. But His love remains forever for those who fear Him. (adapted from Ps 103)

He is merciful and gracious. He is slow to get angry. He is full of unfailing love.

I want my life to represent Him well.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Shutting Jesus Out

...everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

It is possible. To keep Jesus out.

Not even thinking about unbelievers here. As Christians we can keep Him out of what we want to keep Him out of. We can close places in our heart to Him. There are rooms, if you will,  in there... in our hearts... where we shut the door and do not allow Him to have His way. Certain areas of our life we just do not discuss or we try to ignore when we are talking to God. If we talk (pray) to God at all.

Have you ever done a lot of thinking about a thing and maybe even God and His thoughts on the subject came into your thinking. I submit that thinking is NOT praying. For example: If I am thinking about YOU, I am not talking with you... I am thinking. Once I include YOU in my conversation and I'm open to your side of the conversation I am then talking with you. Same goes for God.

It does me good to ask once in a while. What are some of the things that I hide away in my heart and try not to bring up to God?

SO... things that keep me from talking WITH God and often (later when I get it all sorted out) I discover I wasn't ever praying about these things... not fully anyway. But I was thinking about it ALL THE TIME. Hurt, betrayal, disappointment, worry, taking on the cares of the world and on it goes... the effects of them, the people involved, the ripple effect they have... sometimes I just don't really want to have to do what Jesus would do in these situations so it's easier NOT to talk to Him about them. At least not in the "not my will, but Yours" sort of way. Shutting Him out is easier on my flesh.

What's the age old root to the issue? PRIDE. At least that's what I'm discovering in myself. Again. No, it is not a new revelation. It is just that I let pride creep back in ever so slowly (in so many ways) until at times(as ugly a monster as it is) it can be staring me in the face and I don't recognize it.

What's the cure for pride? Humility.

Less of me. More of God. Not my will but His alone. In EVERY single area of life.

Total and utter dependence on His ability, grace, mercy, power in EVERY situation. Oh, what a sweet place to be. Melting in the arms of my Savior. His redeeming love washing over and through all my weaknesses. All my disappointments, hurts, betrayals, selfishness. Cleansing me and making me whole. His love is shed abroad in my heart and His strength empowers me to forbearance and long suffering.

Why would I EVER think I could do anything without Him? When I'm doing it I don't even recognize it much less admit that I'm doing it. PRIDE. That's how it works.

Pride keeps me from going to God and humbling myself before Him. I just move along in life without completely submitting my thought-life, my attitudes, my opinions, my decisions, my disappointments, hurts, and rejections. I try to handle things on my own. And I can even justify my un-Godly actions/reactions...with my knowledge of Him of course. Because I have a lot of that.

Not being prideful when I say that... just honest. It is one of the dangers/traps of mature (knowledgeable) Christians. Knowledge without power. Only God has the power. And yes, I can have it, too, (through Him) but only as I yield my will to His.

Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made Himself nothing; He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form He obediently humbled Himslef even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. Phil. 2: 5-8

I haven't even come close to understanding what being humble is!!!

Steadfast and Confident

...everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

There are times when I can only rely on my heart. My head might be screaming an entirely different message at me. But my heart knows the truth of God's word because I've hidden it deep inside my heart. So when life doesn't add up and/or my flesh is weak I hold onto the confidence I have in God and His keeping power. The 'soundness' of His Holy Scriptures anchor me and make me strong where/when I am weak. His love and His word are my hope and my confidence in the good times and the testing times.

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody. Psalm 57:7

Safe

...everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.


For ME and anyone else who might need the reminder today...

The Voice That Matters

...everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Note from me: I wrote this entry on March 25. Life has been so wacky and busy that I never got around to publishing it or anything else since then. Even though the timing and dates are all wrong I'm going ahead and publishing this now. There has been so much under-handed dealings at the White House since this time it will make your head spin. I needed to read the prayer journal entry again ... because I easily lose heart these days over losing our freedoms in this wonderful country.
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It is sometimes stressful and overwhelming to realize our voice is not being heard.

Our children don't always listen to our voice. If we have little ones they can flat out ignore what we say and do what they want anyway. If we have teenagers the same is true. Husbands? Forget it. I'm convinced they are masters at "tuning us out".

When someone (whether it's me or a teenager or spouse or whomever) doesn't listen to our good advice it is almost always because they think they know what is better for them over whatever it is that we are trying to say/warn/predict/instruct/help. You get the idea.

As an American living in a Republic, usually defined as "a government of the people", it is hard to swallow when we see our government ignoring the majority of the people's desires on any given bill or vote.

Such was the case this past weekend when backroom deals, intimidations, and pay-offs were the ticket for a ram-down-our-throats bill the house of Representatives were being forced to vote on. Just like the first time they voted on it they were forced to stay through the weekend, for crying out loud, to take a vote.


Suffice to say everything about the way it was brought about and voted on was all wrong.

The administration that is in office right now thinks they know better what we need than we know for ourselves. Elected officials are supposed to represent the voice of the people. They are supposed to serve the people whom they represent.

Our elected officials are not listening to the overwhelming majority of voices in this country. Every poll consistently inidicates that the majority do not want a nationalized government take over of our healthcare system!

As one voice I have done everything I can do short of marching to Washington. I've tried to stay informed (which Lord knows is monumental considering the confusion that has gone on around this bill) written letters, e-mails, and made phone calls to my elected officials letting my dissent be clear.

Needless to say I am very disappointed in the outcome. I'm not in despair. I'm not thinking the world has come to an end. I haven't given up hope. But I am disgusted and mad about it.

No matter what any government decides, or elected official misconstrues, or authority of the land decides, or turn of events in this world it is my position/decision as a believer to let the peace of God rule in my heart. Not an easy thing when you feel 'out of control' due to authorities trying to take away your freedoms.

Regardless of the situation I turn to the Truth. The word of God. The words of God to me. The voice of the Lord.

It brings me back to the center of my soul. It levels my head. It soothes my wounds. It calms my fears. It reminds me of Who I belong to no matter what happens. It gives me confidence~~ not in man or any institutions~~ but in WHO God is and that everything about my life (and the lives of those that matter to me) matters to Him.

{Just for the record... I'm not one of those that just says "God is in control so not to worry." Briefly... no, I believe God has given His body~ His church ~ authority while on this earth to do His work and the work of His kingdom. It is our responsibility to know what that is and to get it done through the power and strength of Jesus Christ, our head. A subject way to deep to cover in this post but I've seen a lot of talk in Christian circles trying to explain away why this vote went through that somehow makes us feel better if we just say, "Oh well, God is in control."}

A Page From My Prayer Journal:

On Monday morning, March 22, after a restless night because of the tactics of the White House, God so faithfully helped me to center my soul with the most soothing words. This is how I wrote it in my journal...

Teach me how to live, O Lord. Ps. 27:11
13)Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living.
29:4-9 in part

... the voice of the Lord is powerful

... the voice of the Lord is full of majesty

... the voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars

... the voice of the Lord strikes with lightning bolts

... the voice of the Lord makes the desert quake

... the voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips forests bare
11) The Lord gives his people strength ...

The Lord blesses them with peace.