To Live For Him

"And He (Jesus Christ) died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him..."

Monday, April 30, 2012

"And if our God is with us, then who could ever stop us!"
-Chris Tomlin's take on Romans 8: 31

Friday, April 27, 2012

Christ's Life-Giving, Powerful Word

Isaiah 55:10-13 says:

"As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the fields
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord's renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed."

I love this passage because it gives so much hope for the change we long to see in our own lives and those around us that we minister to. God's word is powerful!!! Just as He can cause the barren, desert wasteland to spring forth with life as the rain waters it, He can also make His life-transforming truth sweep over a dead heart and make it come alive! This has been my confidence and hope as I have tried,(though in my faulty human way) to give the Word to my children over the years. God has been so merciful, and it has been my privilege to watch His Word bring the fruit of salvation and growth and maturity to their lives. It has been all about Him, and the work that He delights to do! I'm thankful that I got to be the delivery girl who brought them the message!

Romans 1: 16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..."

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

"And when I see Him face to face, what glory that will be, to look upon my Savior's scars, and know they were for me..." -SovGraceMusic

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Fearing God and Loving Others

If you fear God then that will have an impact on the way you treat people.

When I think about God in His holiness, His majestic power and His sure ability to bring justice, it restrains the sinful ways that I am sometimes tempted to respond to people. After all, He has given clear commands to love others, to be patient and kind, to remember all the grace we have received from Christ in spite of all our sin, and to humbly accept and value others above ourselves. When I lash out and respond in any unloving way to other people, I am really squaring off against God himself, and living out of step with the Gospel. Wow! I just wish I was thinking more intentionally about this when unexpected conflicts arise, and my pride and selfishness suddenly appear. But I do see that the more I fix my eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the glorious Gospel of all He has done for me, the more growth I see in this area. How gracious God is to forgive and keep leading us along even after when we digress....again. Thank you, Lord!

His blood declares me to be as righteous as Jesus Christ! Oh, the glorious thought! All my sin for His grace!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Seeing His Hand

It is such a joy to see God working in the lives of people that I love!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Four Reasons to Not Stress Out Today

What difficult situation did you wake up to today? Whatever it is, if you belong to Jesus Christ, then there are four things that are as true today as they were yesterday. Clinging to these truths will bring you peace....

1. God is wise. He knows what He is doing in this situation, just like in every other area of your life.

Romans 11:33:

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!"

2. God is good. He can only do what is right, and only has His glory and your good in mind through this as He always does in every other area of your your life.

Psalm 34:8:

"O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"

3. God is loving. Though it is hard to make our minds think this way, God designed this to be one more way of demonstrating love to you.

Psalm 103:8:

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness."

and finally...

4. God can be trusted. Since the above three things are true about God, then you can rest in the truth of who He is, and the assurance that whatever He is doing, He is for you.

Proverbs 3:5,6:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight."

He has given you His precious Son, Jesus Christ. How will He withhold anything else that you truly need?

Romans 8:32:

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"

He has met your greatest need already on the cross, and this is not too hard for Him. Whew!