I Am Glad I Wasn't There....

"I am glad I wasn't there." John 11:15                                                                                   July 21,2012

Brothers and Sisters who love the Lord,

I get such comfort from the story or Mary and Martha, included in the New Testament. God’s sovereignty always affects me that way and I am comforted. Such comfort with His Sovereignty strengthens my faith.

 Read again about their desperate prayers for their brother, believing the Lord would come and heal him. Hear deeply what you are reading and let it penetrate your being. “Oh Bread of life meet me where I am and feed me, by disclosing Yourself to me”.

When I think about this I want to go bathe, dress in white, and run to my kneeling place and be alone with Him! then without words (the hardest part) to quiet myself, refuse distraction (including all electronics) and worship Him. I want Him to take my face in His holy hands, and speak His love to me; and albeit more difficult, I want Him to speak humility into my being. “Create in me a servant’s spirit, LORD, that I may willingly wash my brother’s or sister’s smelly feet.”

There are many scriptural lessons in this story to challenge me, lessons which are wonderful, yet grow sterile when met by a lukewarm heart that has lost its fervency. We can read His word dutifully; yet stiff-arm the truth He longs for us to feed on for our growth. Cast aside preconceived thoughts on the proper way to approach Him. Lay aside ‘the way you have always done it’, grab your Bible and run to Him with a clean heart, expecting Him to really meet with you.

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you ears to hear His power and love as you read; feeling His Presence! Experience His deity and humanity. O how he loved Mary and Martha, loving them enough to say no to their request; preparing them for something greater and far better. His plan meant eternal glory. When you receive a no to your prayers do you question if it is a lack of faith? Or that God is not pleased with you? Think! Just as it was for Mary, Martha and Lazarus. His plan for you is greater than saying yes to your request.

 A precious young girl, Debra by name, is in Mongolia on a mission’s trip. Last week while working on a service project with her church, she was trimming weeds. In her desire to be modest, as the local paper snapped pictures from behind, she knelt down by the trimmings she was removing, and afterwards scooped up an arm full of the cuttings adding them to the pile of waste. She contracted a serious case of poison ivy on her legs, arms and torso. She is miserable, even as I write this. Many have prayed and asked earnestly for healing. The answer until now is ‘no’. At a prayer meeting before they departed she was prayed over again; as was a woman who had a headache. On the way to the airport she ask her mom and dad why the lady was instantly healed and she was not.  Had she sinned? What would you tell your 13 yr old daughter?

I believe God has something beyond wonderful for Debra for He’s trusted her with this painful trial too precious for us to understand. Which of us can say what will bring God the most glory? I believe He will receive much glory through her choice to trust Him and remain sweet; as she deals with poison ivy day in and day out during the rigors of serving and travel!

After Lazarus died when Jesus said, ‘I am glad I was not there’; being honest, doesn’t it seem sort of rude, to be ‘GLAD’ about that which resulted in another’s death? But the truth is it was an opportunity for them to trust Him when life didn’t make sense. So too, we can please God with our faith when our circumstances scream that our faith is foolish! One day when gathered in heaven to see how it all turned out, we will finally understand what this story illustrates. Read and be blessed my brothers and sisters… join the crowd of Jews, the curious, the antagonists, the many friends of Lazarus and his sisters standing outside the tomb in this unfolding drama. (the following is a partial narration)

 “Now a man named Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick.’ When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then ….

Because His disciples didn’t understand, He finally told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

Martha ran out to meet Jesus. He said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they said. Jesus wept.  Then Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha said to Him, ‘but Lord…’

Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

I am dancing. I long to ‘believe’ and see His glory! This will only happen, as I fall at His feet, in faith, and am lost in Him. He longs for us to be consumed by Him. Here are some obvious truths we are called to embrace as we pray and believe. Warning: Do not make this about you and place the emphasis on your ‘believing hard enough’. It is not about you. It is about Him. His will. His glory.

1. Jesus Timing is perfect: Never too soon, never too late. God operates outside of time. He is not hindered by the world’s timing: nor does our finite perspective dictate or minimize His will and purpose for us as we walk by faith.

2. Jesus timing is right: for each person involved…. His sisters, and all who witnessed this miracle.

3. Jesus timing is good: He always works for our good and His glory

4. His timing reflects His will: working out His good purpose for us

5. His timing reflects His wisdom: for only He sees the future

6. His timing reflects His wonder: He touches our hearts and leaves us in awe!

His timing will always give us an opportunity to believe in Him and without faith it is impossible to please Him. Faith pleases God.

Read John 11 tonight before bed and let God pour the warmth of His truth into the deep places of the heart .

Bless you this week. You are loved by the King!

az

 

http://www.gramzkidz.com

The Simple Gospel (Good News) Message

The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it alsmost defies understanding. By evidenceofdesign| 1 video

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Ask the Right Question

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. II Corinthians 5:17

Brothers and Sisters who Love the Lord, 

‘Who are you?’ or ‘Who were you?’

The answer to the first question is wonderful. The answer to the second doesn’t matter any more for those ‘in’ Christ. We hear many Christian testimonies from the perspective of the second question detailing their sinful past and then they finish with how God saved and forgave them and they are going to heaven. But have you heard a testimony about  
who they are?

 In how many faith stories have you heard this? ‘I was lost in sin and Jesus saved me and forgave me, giving me a new life. I am 'in' Christ. Dead! Crucified! Buried and risen with Christ and I no longer live." Probably you have not, unless you are at a baptism where it is partially and quickly reflected on.  

 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life, which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20
 

To apply this truth requires taking up my cross ‘daily’, denying myself ‘daily’, and following ‘daily’, without insisting on understanding everything. Roman’s 6 instructs me to live counting it true.

We begin our Christian life with salvation truths, but we mature by growth truths. We must move on past the second question to 'What is God doing in my life today? (growth truths)  Always He is creating the likeness of Christ in us. As we mature in our faith we find the first question to be the important one, leading to the ever expanding truth that we are ‘in’ Christ and He is everything. How did we get ‘in’ Christ? 

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Ephesians 1:13

When we were born again, God put us ‘in’ Christ, knowing we could not do this ourselves. We are as powerless to be removed, as we were powerless to put ourselves in Christ. 

 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28

Positionally in Christ we are pure and holy and practically in Christ we are free from sin’s power and its consequences Romans 6:14 (but not its presence)

Who am I ‘in’ Christ? I am God’s masterpiece! He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

Do you believe it? Hear this my sisters and brothers:

“On what ground is our faith tested? It is on the ground of our very relationship with God and God’s attitude toward us. The concentration of the enemy is upon that point- to interfere with our link with God.” FWG 

‘In Christ’ is the most precious phrase in the Bible. This or its equivalent is mentioned over 130 times in the New Testament.

The Lord Jesus is our link with the Father. It will never be about us and what we are in ourselves. Jesus is the answer to God’s absolute requirement for holiness and payment of our sin debt. He is the answer to every accusation and every attack of the enemy. Jesus knows our weakness, He knows all we try to hide from others, He knows every struggle we face and remembers we are dust. He is Peace, compassion, mercy and love. God is for us! He is the answer to our loneliness and fears. He is strength in our weakness and joy amidst tears. May be you need to climb up on His lap and let Him hide you near His heart.

Let this thought explode in your heart and fill you: When God looks at us, He sees us through His Son, His perfect Son. Our position is perfection, for we are ‘in’ Christ. We cannot even give God cause to love us. It is only our pride to think we have anything to offer Yaweh, for He is Holy.  But what causes my heart to tremble are these four words…


 “God opposes the proud” (James 4:6) but gives grace to the humble.

I need all the help I can get and I find even human opposition can be tiring, so I do not want the living God opposing me!!!  Pride is ever at the door and there will never be a day I, in myself, will find acceptance with God. The same truth that convicts me of my sinful, hopeless condition, also, when realized, sets me free and gives me absolute security in Christ. My acceptance is not about me, but about Jesus!! How can anyone doubt a believer’s security when once realizing his or her position in Christ? Infeasible! I am dancing in awe of Him! Hallelujah!

God doesn’t see me through my past, He sees me through Jesus. LW

When I am working on a sculpture, the day comes when I am done carving and polishing the stone. It is finished. There is nothing more to do. Jesus said, ”It is finished” and He meant it! He did it all and He is the same yesterday and today and forever!!  We only need to receive what we need, not produce it.

Father God, Lord of all the angel armies, You who never change and are not trapped in time, I bow and with tears of praise for putting me safely, securely and forever ‘in’ Christ. My past no longer exists before You, not even yesterday, thank You, precious Lord, for establishing me in such amazing freedom and continue to establish Your word in me, as that which produces reverence for You. I was dead in my sins and You made me alive together with Christ.  Forgiving all my sin. I am so thankful my acceptance depends entirely on You! Thank you Jesus, in your name I pray,  standing cleansed and forgiven in Your sight. Amen

Much love dear ones, I pray often for each of you, for He knows you by name,

az

Gospel:

The Simple Gospel (Good News) Message

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I Am Not A Moses.....

 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! Psalm150:6

My Brethren,

As I knelt in prayer before my heavenly Father, I spoke these words of honor and relationship: “Abba, Daddy, Holy One…” when I was interrupted, stopped in the moment by this thought! ‘I speak the words, “Holy One”, but do I even have a clue what they truly mean or understand a smidgeon of the Truth they represent?’ Holy is a word I relate to God, yes, but what if He suddenly chose to reveal the Truth of these two words to me? What if His great and terrible Presence, His Almighty being, were suddenly manifested before me? These words I am writing would be the last words you would ever read from my hand!  This frail, temporary body is not designed to be in the manifest  presence of the Holy God and I am certainly not a ‘Moses’!

Imagine with me how it would effect us if we experienced what the Jewish people did as they waited on Moses to intercede on their behalf with the living God? They came to a mountain they were not to approach. And there was the blazing fire and darkness and gloom, whirlwind and trumpet blasts and God’s words, reverberating like thunder, and so frightening that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, for they feared greatly the command given by God, “If even a beast touches the mountain it will be stoned.” And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”

 How would this change your view of God?

Then there is the difficulty of reconciling His holiness with the truth of God being a God who loves me! Thee Omnipotent, Creator God, Eternal and unapproachable sees me in Christ, forgiven and made holy. But there is so much more than being loved and forgiven. I am invited to come boldly to His throne although His holiness has not diminished! This is beyond imagining! Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, has opened the way for me. Albeit we do not hear much about God being a consuming fire, nor are we reminded often of His holiness, His word is adamant: God is holy. We can fall into the thinking that our sins are not really so bad now, because we have Jesus as our Savior. But I must give account of every idle word, every attitude, and every deed, before this holy God. God’s view of sin never changes. Why? because He is holy.

Hear the ending words of Hebrews12:

Therefore since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Heb 12:29

For many Christians, their view of God comes from a kind of spiritual fun house mirror, It is distorted and inaccurate.  L.W.

How do you see Him? As a cosmic kill-joy? rules-focused? demanding? hard to please? In the beginning, God created man and He will not now be ‘created’ by man. Are you frustrated trying to reconcile these thoughts with your view of God? Not only is God Holy, He always has been Holy, and always will be Holy.  And what is so astounding is that He is Love. Run to Him. He loves us immeasurably and unconditionally. (My feet are dancing) But being loving does not negate His holiness! Not a smidgeon. God, wake your church and give us a reverence for You that will knock us to our knees. For He is not the ‘man upstairs’, He is not ‘our buddy’, nor a divine vending machine we can require to pop out answers to our two-bit prayers!!  (complicated by the fact we want only the answer we deem best.) And of course He is to keep all trouble far from your door and make us happy. Any less and we are upset with Him. In our unbelief and presumption, we conclude ‘God is not good’. But it is us that are not good and our Father loves us too well to leave us as we are.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  I P 1:15-16

The more we are conformed to the world the more our view of God is warped. May God forgive us and bring us to repentance. Only being in God’s word will transform and strengthen us in truth and give us a correct view of God. In our world the word ‘holy’ is frequently misused. It pricks my heart with sadness to hear carelessly spoken exclamations such as ‘ holy cow’ or ‘holy smoke’, not to mention the endless abuse of the word ‘God’.  My heart is torn a bit more every time I hear His precious name used in vain. I have decided every time I hear it, I will bring Him praise immediately. He alone is Holy and worthy of all praise.

We are commanded to praise the LORD! Yes! It benefits us! God says He inhabits our praises.(I have some questions…) Doesn’t that Truth bring you to your knees? Don’t you want to cry out ‘LORD, quicken me, fill me with a desire and hunger for You. Teach me to praise You.’

Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name;

Worship the Lord in holy array. Psalm 29:1-2

Father-God, You who are Holy beyond comprehension, You who never break Your word and are to be reverenced and worshiped as Holy! I bow, unworthy in myself, but acceptable in Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer. I rejoice in You. ‘Give me a heart that hungers for you to be manifested in me! Establish Your word to me as that which produces reverence for You. Awaken in me a desperate desire for You, a deep, awareness of Your holiness. Cleanse me from wrong attitudes and corrupt thinking about who You are. Give me a heart of surrender to bring You glory and enjoy You now and forever. I tremble before You… and I cannot help but love You. I pray in the name of the Lamb of God, my sacrifice and Savior, amen.

Praying for you all this week,

 az 

The Gospel:
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In Hope Against Hope

LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.Psalm 38:15

Dear Saints in God’s waiting room,

We join many infamous people when we experience God’s waiting room. All the way back to Sarah and Abraham who were waiting on God to keep His word to them about an heir from their own loins. Their waiting room was clouded by the unreality of such a promise ever being fulfilled. Fact was it was impossible! No two ways about it! But the Truth is ‘there is nothing too hard for God.’

‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,’ Jer 32:17

‘In hope against hope, Abraham believed God. Without becoming weak in faith,’ Even though the facts of their circumstances shouted ‘impossible’ at the promise of God, Abraham believed. In spite of his own body which scripture says was ‘now as good as dead since he was about 100 years old’ and ‘the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith; giving glory to God, and being fully assured (he believed) that what God had promised, He was able also to perform”.  

Wow! Doesn’t it set your feet to dancing?

When I pray I want action, a response. I want the ear of God and I want His intervention. The least desired answer to my prayer is ‘wait’.  There is so much waiting in life. I like ‘green-light’ days. When I drive, I want to get to where I am going without the red lights. (I know, I know I am dreaming of another life) Yet, I know if I do not learn to wait I will be continually frustrated with God and His timetable. I have been waiting until it hurts for the salvation of some of my nearest and dearest. As I wait I have learned to exercise my ‘will’ and give thanks to God for all He’s doing that I cannot see.

I have learned much in the unwelcome waiting times. The Holy Spirit has stretched and shaped me for His glory. Do I understand what God is doing? No. But this great are His purposes. I know He never makes a mistake and His purposes are great, beyond my mind to imagine and all for His glory.

Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Jer 32:19a

Let me remind you and myself that God does not hurry in His development of our Christian life. He is working from and for eternity. We mature and become fruitful by the principle of growth and much time is involved. Fruit ripens slowly through the storms and the rain and  the blessed sunshine.

If we do not acquiesce to this we will experience continual frustration and will find we tend to take matters into our own hands like Abraham and Sarah did.

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20

Are you in a season of waiting now? The waiting room can ‘feel’ very lonely. Part of being Spirit-filled and surrendered is learning to endure with joy in our waiting. God does not ‘owe’ us anything. He is always working for our holiness not our happiness. As we learn to trust, we learn to rest more and more in Him who is our life… ‘being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6

I am collecting ‘wait’ verses to feed me and strengthen me to wait on the LORD. I like to put them on 3x5 cards to carry with me walking or waiting at a long light, or in a waiting room.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7

  

It is hard to wait in a situation we cannot control or change. You run to God pleading with Him to do something, but all you hear is ‘wait’. My prayer for you is that you will choose to trust Him for every trial and every situation you do not understand just as David who recorded his struggle in the Psalms.

“When God’s answer is wait, a question is imbedded in that answer: ‘Will you trust me?’ L.W.

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. John 14:21

Father, You who lead us from self-dependence to Christ-dependence, You understand how easily we get frustrated, how hard it is to wait, how tough it is to be in a place we do not want to be. If we could, we would short-circuit such experiences and run for cover outside of Your provision. Thank You for loving us enough to reign us in and continue working in us the likeness of Your precious Son Jesus. We want to believe like Abraham! Work in us Your endurance and fill us with faith to trust You. As hard as it is to wait it is so sweet, so profitable when You disclose Yourself to us. It is worth all the trials and waiting for the sweetness of You, are You not our exceeding and great reward? It is in Your Name and for Your glory we pray, Jesus, amen and amen

You are not alone in your waiting,

az

The Right Handle

 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

The Right Handle

Precious Brothers and Sisters who walk by faith and not by sight,

God was again teaching me to live in an attitude of heart, which accepts everything, as it comes, everything as from His hand. Everything. Acceptance, being half the battle.

When we learn this lesson well, we will live a crucified life and we will apply this truth in daily surrender. Partial surrender is no surrender at all. Authentic surrender is to learn to accept everything, as from Him whom we love, as it comes. The struggles and trials are never what we expect, nor are they great things to write home about, but the daily bumps and rubs of life. Often I trip over the small things, the senseless little nothings, of which I am ashamed that they so easily best me. Yes, these very things are what can flatten a man in minutes and leave him shamed and stilted.

While cooking over an out door fire, I reached out and took hold of the pot’s handle, forgetting it too, was very hot. I was instantly reminded and let go with a yelp, but was left with a painful reminder of my foolishness! It is a good life-lesson when we learn to take hold of things by the right handle. Amy Carmichael states: It is a very good thing to learn to take things by the right handle. An inward grouse is a devastating thing. I expect you know this, we all do; but it is extraordinary how the devil tries to ‘get’ us on the ordinary road of life.”

On the ordinary road our ‘feelings’ are in conflict, engaging in a war with what we know is true. Our feelings can easily overwhelm us and open the door to discouragement. Run to Jesus and be reminded you are ‘in Christ’, your strength and position are eternal. All is well. Go deep in Him who is your joy and song. Deep in the Lover of your soul, obeying His word. Go deep in Him who is your Mighty Warrior; for nothing less can keep you to the end.

We want to be saved from our misery, but not from our sin. We want to sin without misery, just as the prodigal son wanted inheritance without the father. The foremost spiritual law of the physical universe is that this hope can never be realized. Sin always accompanies misery. There is no victimless crime, and all creation is subject to decay because of humanity’s rebellion from God.”
― R.C. Sproul, Choosing My Religion

Jesus alone is the right handle in time of trouble; especially when one thing after another is going wrong and you seem to be losing ground. By faith take hold of the right handle, for this is when the enemy of your soul whispers his lie Especially about what ‘should be’ or ‘might have been’? What do we do? We go on steadfastly in faith, choosing obedience, one step at a time doing what we know is right. The love of Christ compels us.

II Corinthians 5:14 NLT

Either way, Christ’s love controls (compels) us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.

Compel: to force or oblige (someone) to do something

• to bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure

• poetic/literary drive forcibly

 for we walk by faith, not by sight— II Corinthians  5:7

Oh that we would walk in a conscious awareness of His sweet Presence! Yet, it is not a requirement if we are no longer babes in Christ. It is joy to have such feelings; but as you mature, you will progress to the point that feelings are not required. You know He is near you and in you. The eternal thing, the great thing is not my feelings, but His facts. So even as we struggle on this earthly journey, it is always a faith-test and we can honor and glorify His name by trusting Him in faith, no matter how we are feeling. I find pleasing Him is far more important than pleasing myself.

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. II Corinthians 4:16-18

Mighty Warrior, You who hear every beat of my heart and love me beyond understanding, hear my prayer for my sisters and brothers who struggle with life and ‘feelings’ and obeying You and loving You. Transform each us into the likeness of Your Son, the Sacrifice Lamb. Give us understanding to walk by faith and believe You keep us and love us, faithful Father. Lord work in our hearts to love you and desire to please You more than ourselves. Life can knock us down and then dance in death on our backs, while we cry out helpless to deliver ourselves. Keep us faithful in all we do not understand and give us faith to believe You, our Deliverer, are greater than all the enemy can heave at us. You love us immeasurably and I bow in awe and praise of You.  In Your Son’s name, amen

Praying for you all this week,

az

The Simple Gospel (Good News) Message The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it almost defies understanding. Jesus death on the Cross was for you.

All or Nothing

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

  …Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of       the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, I Peter 1:22

Dear Believers in our Lord Jesus, Savior and Creator,

Spiritual gifts , no matter how exciting… are useless and even destructive if they are not ministered in love. The main evidence of maturing in our faith is a growing love for God and God’s people. ww

 As I read a familiar portion of scripture, the words condensed into this thought: “All or Nothing!” The word ‘all’ is used 8x in I Corinthians 13 and the word ‘nothing’ is used 2x and inferred 2x. The word Love is used 9x and inferred 2x. Verses one to three conclude that without love we are noisy gongs or clanging symbols and profit nothing, by all our attention-getting activity. Such grandiose statements as moving mountains, giving away all one’s possessions to feed the poor and surrendering your body to be burned! Are followed by a conclusion so divine, it boggles the mind. It hit me anew… No matter how great my sacrificial act is, if I did not act out of Love, “I am nothing.” Hear this as if you have never heard it before and read it again.

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.” Galatians 5:6 niv

This famous love-chapter of I Corinthians, then states what love is, thereby stating what Love is not. Love is patient; so therefore love is not impatient. Love is kind, so it is not unkind. Love does not brag and is not prideful, but humble. Love does not act unbecomingly; so love acts in a way that is respectable, proper and decorous. Love is not self-seeking, but puts others interests first. And amazingly it does not keep track of the wrong suffered from others. It does not rejoice in evil of any kind but rejoices in truth; Love bears all things, Love believes all things, Love hopes all things and Love endures all things. Love endures because it trusts the Lover by faith. There is no unbelief in love! We cannot understand all that happens on this earthly journey, for it is like looking through a glass darkly, all is unclear and blurred.

While reading this chapter a storm moved in with pelting rain and deepening darkness. It became as dark as night. I looked out the window to check on the flowers I had planted that morning, uncertain how much rain they could tolerate. I could not see out clearly enough to ascertain anything. The next morning I went out into the full light of day to see how they fared. No longer looking through a glass darkly, no longer muted colors, but beautiful flowers.

I saw in this a picture of how we see life here; trying hard to understand what and why God does what He does in our life. It is through a glass darkly that we peer. But endure my sisters and brothers, endure, for a new day is coming. A day of full Light, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more death, no sickness. No separation from loved ones and no more daily struggles. Full Light, with Love so bright only a new spiritual body could withstand the Presence of the Holy God!

   WARNING: A life of love requires ‘dying daily’ to self and  sin and then see yourself, risen with Christ!

 Our Christian life is ‘all’ or ‘nothing’.  Whatever we do in our strength no matter how great the sacrifice, is less than nothing unless Jesus Christ does it through us, for then it is done in love, by the power of His Spirit. He cannot do anything except love because Love is who He is. I am especially thankful for two things that touch my heart deep:

1.   I am so precious to Him, He only acts in love toward me. Such Love took Him to the Cross and He became sin for me, He who knew no sin!

2.   God is working all things for my good, because He is Love. The ‘good’ He is working in me, is the likeness of Christ!! Only then can all I do, be done in Love. He is my Rock, my Rescue, my Refuge. My feet are dancing.

If we are anywhere but in the Love of God we drift apart. ac

Oh how I desire to live a life of Love that would make a difference for eternity. Only God can hold me in His love so that He can love the unlovely and the down right ugly and mean spirited through me.

THE WAY THE WORLD LOVES:

 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. I John 2:15-17

Father of Love, You who love the ugly and vile and even us, I bow in awe and wonder at such love. Love so powerful it will carry us home. Love so powerful these earthly bodies could not tolerate it’s full presence and still breathe! We want to make a difference in this life, before You call us to dwell in Your ’Light’, (which is so profoundly glorious we have no words to describe it accurately.) Thank You for loving us into sanity, strength, hope, rest and a peace that is heavenly. Help us to want Your will more than our own way so we will be willing to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive with Christ each day, every day. I pray for my brothers and sisters to live for You at any cost. And strengthen with endurance those who are suffering for Your name, even now today. O God, have mercy and be their comfort and living Hope. In Your Holy name I pray amen.

Come soon Lord Jesus!

All or nothing,

  much love, az

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Risen with Christ

Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God….

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 1:1-3

Dear Church, His Saints, my fellow journeyers,

What I am in Jesus Christ positionally ought to be what I practice in daily life, but often fail. Here is a thought I have courted this week, grab hold of it and consider, what it has to do with you daily. We are to ‘see’ our position as resurrected, through out our day, we are to live as seeing ourselves possessing resurrection life.  I am talking about daily living, not pie in the sky some day, but now, today. Old things have passed away all things have become new. That is a fact. Another is this: ‘Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace, in the resurrected Christ. (Romans 6:14) Do you see yourself as crucified with Christ? Buried with Him and risen with Him? Hear me… this is your position and the Spirit of God is working these truths in you progressively, creating a likeness to Christ in you every day, through every trial and circumstance. All I can say is WOW! And lift my hands in praise. Hallelujah what a Savior! I am dancing!

“Progress is only advancing in… the spiritual knowledge, of what we possess at the onset.” mjs

Many Christians stop with salvation truths, never moving beyond to growth truths. We must come to know we are ‘complete’ in Christ and not try and augment our salvation by self-effort. I remember the days trying to please God with a flurry of activities (self-effort) as if I could ‘keep saved’ by doing good works; all for the purpose of being acceptable to God. I didn't even like myself why would God accept me? But I realized I didn’t save myself in the first place and I certainly can’t ‘keep’ saved. Christ’s work is a finished work. It is now a matter of walking by faith. It is not production, but reception of our life in Christ! We do not fall into maturity; neither can we hurry it along, though we can delay it. We must conclude that we are acceptable to God, because we are in Christ and Christ is perfect; therefore un-improvable.”  
Only those who have wearied themselves seeking to grow and have failed, are in a position to appreciate the fact that God is the aggressor in the realm of development. msj

My personal, heartbreaking failure in every area of my Christian life is always my Father’s preparation, for His success on my behalf. The major fact being, that if I waver in my confidence of my Father’s love, I will struggle with trusting Him. The more intimately I know my Savior, the more readily I will trust Him and the more I will rest in Him, which results in living a life of ‘not I, but Christ’. Galatians 2:20 Knowing Christ is not happenstance, knowing Him intimately requires my coming humbly to Him, in His word. I must spend time with the One I love, my whole being cries out to be near Him, near His comfort, His love, the sweetness of His being. The thought of this sets my feet to dancing.

“Not only is our life complete in Jesus Christ but likewise the essential victory in all the many exigencies of life. When you fight to get victory, then you have lost the battle at the very outset.” wn

When the enemy attacks in your home or business, and creates a situation with which you cannot possibly deal, what do you do? I would guess you prepare for a huge battle and then pray asking God to give you victory.

 ‘But this approach guarantees defeat because by this attitude you relinquish the battle to the enemy!’ wn

What should you have done? Simply look up and praise the Lord. ‘I am facing a situation I cannot handle. Your enemy the devil, has created this situation to encompass my downfall ( or downfall of a loved one), but I praise you that Your victory is all-inclusive and covers this situation fully. I praise You that I have full victory in Jesus, my Lord and Savior.’

Our hope for victory is not ‘Christ + my efforts’, but ‘Christ + my receiving’. ct  (Read it again and grab this principle for it makes all the difference)

God never intended for us to walk the natural plane. There is no provision made for such a walk. Always, God’s promise is that His child will break through and live and endure as if he were seeing only the workings of the invisible world, not fixed on physical senses. ac

There is great glory for our Lord in a quiet, confident walk in this day of adversity, a day of dread, when things about us are shaking and trembling. Gp

We are His children, His saints! The object of His love. His treasure! And....

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore I have hope in Him.” Lamentation 3:22-24

Father, You who love me and treasure me, I bow my heart to You! Reckoning myself ‘Crucified with Christ’ and dead to sin, by faith, is difficult. And You want me to go beyond crucified with Christ, to ‘risen with Christ’. I cry out for understanding and ask You to fill me with faith to obey. Out of my brokenness transform me, so others will see Jesus in me. Each day is truly a chance to reckon myself dead to sin and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. I trust You to bring Your name glory through me. Your greatness overshadows me causing me to tremble! Yet, am comforted by Your faithfulness. You are my portion forever, how can it be that You love me so, beautiful Savior, in your precious name I pray, Jesus, amen.

Have a great week! May you live out what you are in the resurrected Christ.

 az