Fred Hammond & RFC - You Are My Song (by BigE7)
Little did my sister know that when she introduced me to this CD in 2003 (or so) and I fell in love with this song, that it would be the song in my heart when Miguel and I would name our 2nd daughter! We are so excited to meet our Aria in the late summer!
Colossians 1: 18-20 (The Message)
HE was supreme in the beginning and - leading the resurrection parade - HE is supreme in the end. From beginning to end HE’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is HE, so roomy, that everything of God finds it proper place in HIM without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe - people and things, animals and atoms - get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of HIS death, HIS blood, that poured down from the cross.
Galatians 5:4
My morning thoughts. The good news, our justification, our righteousness is in the finished work of Christ and not by our self righteousness or the law. Grace is Jesus and all that He has already accomplished for us; the law is our attempt to meet God’s standards on our own (impossible) and it is apart from Christ because it is trusting in self and not Jesus. The Good News: Grace is trusting Jesus’ finished work on the cross! IT IS FINISHED!
This morning the good news is that He holds my World in HIS hands, and will NEVER let go of me! The good news is this is for you too! Everything in my life, in your life, is filtered through the hands of our loving “daddy,” and anything contrary to HIS promises is MADE to work for our good in the end. It is in the realization or the revelation of HIS love, HIs perfect love for us that we are able to sing or to say, ” I surrender all.” I would never really surrender anything or anyone to someone that I didn’t really believe was capable, or even questioned their motives or intentions even if it was the “right answer,” or my last or only option. Rest in HIS perfect love for you and KNOW that you are secure, that HE has rescued entirely, that HE holds your world in HIS hands and will never drop the “ball!”
The Standard and The Solution
Hebrews 8:12
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
The law is Holy, pure, righteous, and completely good. The law is is also completely inflexible and unbending which is why it is the law. We, even on the best of days break the Law of God (The 10 commandments) every day and Jesus revealed that to the most religious and devout people of HIS day, the Pharisees. (Adultery, as a for instance, Jesus clarifies is not just physically sleeping with someone while married or who is married but is even lusting or longing or thinking of that person in that way, Murder is not just the heinous crime that we see in the headlines, but HE also defines as HATE in your heart towards someone). YIKES!
So the law is the Standard of God, what He requires for relationship with Him and then relationship to each other.
Because of our inability and, let me just put it out there, complete and utter failure to meet this standard even with our best attempts God predetermined a solution, Jesus.
When we make the decision, or have the revelation of the power and completeness of the complete sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, HIS finished work we are now clothed in HIS robe of righteousness and not our own.
Jesus doesn’t just cover our sins/mistakes/short comings, failings to meet the standard of the law. He has completely paid for them with HIS own life and has removed them; the good news is that OUR Sins and lawless deeds (according to the Bible) no longer exist any more, there is no record of them! We can rest in Jesus’ finished work knowing that He is THE solution to the the STANDARD (the law, the 10 commandments) that we are unable to meet or maintain.
Have a wonderful day, a beautiful weekend knowing that because we are IN CHRIST there is no longer record of your wrong and no need for one because Jesus paid your account in full!
2. Fellowships is 2 people! (Matthew 18: 20)
3. I am Persuaded, Convinced! (Romans 8:38)
THE truth according to the finished work of Jesus.
(for any possible rebuttal please reread #3). LOL
A Stream of Thoughts
Illustrations are a great tool for me in learning or understanding concepts. When it comes to reading a book I would rather allow my imagination to run amuck but if I am really trying to learn something, a concept, word pictures and illustrations of the such go a long way.
Yesterday.
I didn’t realize how my day yesterday affected me until I went to bed and dreamt about the day all night. Now on the surface, and in action, it was a great day. We explored the Caverns with the kids, went to lunch and of course the Oscars.
What was astonishing to me was how we can sincerely go through the motions of a good day, serving one another, meeting each other’s needs and even expectations but still be left empty. How frustrating. This illustrated to me very clearly how although relationships of every kind take some amount of effort, that if the work or the task of the relationship is placed first it feels on the receiving end as empty and going through the motions. When we are ignited by relationship by our relating to another there is a rest, an enjoyment and yet an inner passion which is undeniable.
I have all too many times been the individual in many relationships going through the motions, doing all the right things, serving someone or even an organization faithfully and wondered “what the heck?!” ”Why aren’t they satisfied, why isn’t this good enough, I am DOING everything I know to do to make this successful or make this work, I am giving all of the right answers!” In so many aspects of my life I was more concerned about the action or the task then the people involved although in those moments I didn’t see that. I would have NEVER seen myself in the light even if someone had tried to tell me.
What a frustration to DO, DO, DO and yet feel like we come up short. What a loneliness to be surrounded by a whirlwind of “right” and yet are unable to deny the emptiness.
I would much rather have a messy house but have enjoyed my family, my friends than it be pristine and sparkling impressively but nonetheless empty.
When we do things for people and for the Lord out of our being, our relationship, everything about it is different. When we do things for people and for the Lord out of getting it right, or being a good student, or a good husband, or a good father, or good daughter/son, we are only looking to justify ourselves and are not even truly serving anyone else! GASP!
The good news is that because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we are free to rest in HIS righteousness (HIS right standing with God) and enjoy the relationship. Going through the motions, giving all the right answers may impress your professor or maybe your Pastor or leader, maybe people from the outside, but real relationship is on the heart of God and the people who love us most. You are free from doing and may rest in being because Jesus DID it all! It is Finished!
It indeed is well with my soul because of Jesus!
Track name: Freedom
Artist: Karen Wheaton
Album: Freedom
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Played 0 times
A wind is blowing and it is cold and uncomfortable. It is a wind that can not be ignored, the kind of wind that sends you back in the house to put on another layer but Spring is on the forecast. What is this? It is the wind of change, of what is being revealed. The blinders off. It is your time! The Lies are being exposed; those who thought they were free and clear that they got away with a cover up, the wind is blowing the sheet off and not for your detriment but to heal you and to bring people to the truth of who Jesus really is and all that HE has really done! All things working together for good, ALL things to the glory of God, ALL things being put in their rightful place under and around Jesus. There is nothing to be done but know and believe that JESUS has paid the price in full and it is HIS good pleasure to make you the recipient. Lay down the lie of your works, your righteousness. What I see is beauty, complete beauty and it is HIM shining through and around HIS people! What a magnificent light! You are Free by the finished work of Jesus!!! You are free to love, free to be, free, free, free! There is nothing for you to add to HIS completed work! You are not a slave to sin, or people! Thank you Jesus!
Great News! No need to worry! (Matthew 6)
(Source: typographicverses, via moonshineandwool)
Track name: Bless The Lord
Artist: Without Walls Mass Choir
Album: Keith Dobbins
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Played 0 times
One of my favorite songs we cut on this album just a few years back!
“He’s my help…” thanks Keith, it feels just like you made it sound!”
“When I’m weak, holds my hand…”
“….In HIS name, it’s all in HIS name…”
Thank you Jesus for finishing it all! What good news this morning!
30-33”If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34”Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Just a thought
IF God was out to punish you, to judge you or get you, don’t you think He would have “gotten” you a long time ago?
Why do we go through life waiting for the proverbial “shoe to drop?”
The good news is that ALL sin (not some, not most) ALL has been exhausted on the body of Jesus at the cross. ALL sin has been judged, punished and removed. ”It is finished!”
Have a great day knowing that Jesus is for you and not against you!
