Passion or duty?

Do you remember having Passion? Not just physical passion for someone of the opposite sex or passion for a career/job. Do you remember when you were passionate about something? For some of us it was the car we drove, a motorcycle, a sport, a musical instrument, learning or even a skill. For others of us, we were passionate about tv, video games, friends, socializing or even church.
Do you remember when you first came to Christ and there was the Passion for Him and a Passion to share Him with all you came in contact with. I can remember being in Frist Grade and Jesus entering my life. I couldn't wait to get to school and tell my teacher about Jesus in Me.
I have been pondering passion a lot lately....where has it all gone?
Somewhere we exchanged passion for duty. We stopped living and began existing. We stopped breathing and simply began to try to survive-by gasping for breath-when we could get one. We abdicated our passions for duty. And in that exchange-we lost what drives us to live. Passion.
I don't want to just survive this life. I want to truly live. I don't want to merely exist. I want to Breathe deep, feel the wind on my face and run head long down the beach towards the Father....who is longing for me to chase Him so that He can set my heart free. I don't want to exchange my passion for obligations. I want to Live out of my passions.
It is then...that the world might see something worth following....a passion not of this world, not fulfilled in earthly pleasures. A passion that doesn't feel like duty or obligation or religion. But a passion that looks like Jesus is worth truly LIVING and DYING FOR...not merely existing for.

ALL FOR YOU

ALL FOR YOU

change is in the air

I woke up at 6am on Wednesday morning. (which is a rarity for those who know me!) I tried to roll over and go back to sleep, but could not. I kept hearing the Father say come further....Come walk with me. So I quietly got up, slipped on some clothes and wondered down 4 flights of stairs, through the lobby of the hotel we were in and out onto the beach. It was a beautiful morning, the sun was rising and the breeze from the ocean was strong.
I stepped off the stairs, dragging my feet through the sand, feeling it between my toes. I quietly began to walk....with no destination in mind, except to simply walk with Jesus. I took several steps and felt my body cry out with the weariness it felt. It ached and hurt all over. I began to breathe deep, to allow the fresh ocean air to permeate my mind, my heart and my soul. It was as if God was the very air I was breathing. The deeper I breathed in, the more refreshed I began to feel. Starting to pray, I could feel the Spirit of God within me begin to direct my heart. I began to sing-out loud, praises began to ring from my heart. Tears flowed easily down my face, as worship spilled out onto the shore of Daytona Beach. The Kingdom of heaven arrived in my heart.
After my walk, I found a place on the deck that overlooked the ocean. I stood there breathing and just being still for a moment-enjoying the Sanctuary time with Jesus. It was in that moment I heard the Father say...."change". It was the only word I heard, but I knew immediately that would be the focus and the word for the day. Change was ahead, change had to happen and change was what the Father desired in me.
I meditated on that word all day. In corporate worship that morning, we talked about how Jesus EXCHANGED Himself for us and longs for us to do the same. During church devotions, Terry made a statement that said the definition of Insanity is doing what you've always done and expecting to get something different. A confirmation of the need for change. By the pool, I found conversation pouring out that surrounded the idea of risk for the Kingdom and being advocates of change. During the evening time of corporate worship, the speaker reminded us that if you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten. If you want something different-change what you are doing.
It was an amazing day....from the drawing to the beach and the Father speaking to the affirmation of His Word to me all day long. Change.....I have said for years that change is the One Word you can sum up the gospel in. For Jesus came for change-not to leave us as we are. To bring light into darkness, life out of death, relationship out of religion. He came to change those who were living in sin into righteousness, to make the unholy-holy. He came so that we would not remain the same, but so that we would be constantly transforming or changing, conforming to His image. Yes, it is a process, but change must be happening. Change is proof that you are His because you are being transformed. Rejecting change is rejecting Jesus.

If doing what you have always done, gets you what you have always gotten and insanity is doing what you have always done and expecting to get something different....I am wondering who many of us are insane? Change is in the air...Jesus is longing to transform us, to change us and we must not fight against that change, but embrace it. All we have to do is take a walk with Him, BREATHE deep and let Him speak. We must allow Him to draw us aside, to hear His voice and to embrace what He wants to do in each of us.

Maybe it is time for a change....in all of us! ALL FOR YOU

Running

These days my heart has been crying out for FREEDOM. And not just FREEDOM from sin, but FREEDOM from the traditions and expectations of man that seem to make my heart want to be men pleasers and instead finding FREEDOM at the cross to please God and God alone. I no longer want to be bound by the things of this world, but want to chase after HIM with all my heart.
Chase....it is a strong word that I have been using for about a year now. Chasing after Him-almost seems elusive. But that is not what I mean at all. Chasing just means that if we are running after God, He is always on the move, never stagnant or standing still. He is moving, we are following, chasing, because we don't know the way.
As I meditate on the thought of FREEDOM, the Lord continues to place things in my path that affirm that pursuit in HIM.
FREE to run.
FREE to live.
FREE to die.
FREE to sing.
FREE...is such a cool word. It brings with it the connotation of being no longer bound. As I have been seeking the face of God on this...He has reminded me that FREEDOM is why Christ died-to set us free.

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free! Psm 119:32
Freedom comes as I run after Him and His commands. So the chasing, the running...is a GREAT thing-for it is in these things that we will be set FREE!

ALL FOR YOU

YOUR KINGDOM COME!

This week, the Lord has opened my eyes to a significant truth that I have missed all my life. It is a truth I know....but have missed, simply because I have glossed over it, never stopping to meditate upon these words to allow them to pierce my heart as they should.
The words of Jesus, spilling forth as He was teaching His disciples how to pray, were simple and yet filled with such depth.
OUR FATHER-Daddy...
Which art in Heaven, hallowed be your name-You deserve our worship....
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven....

So what are we to pray for? Jesus is instructing us to PRAY for the KINGDOM of God to be present here on earth. So how do we get the Kingdom of God in our midst? How do we see God?

We can have church. We can even have GREAT church. But these things are what man can accomplish on his own. What Jesus was instructing us to pray for was to seek to have the KINGDOM here on earth. Is this possible? If so, why are we satisfied with so much less?
In the KINGDOM, people live and don't die-for eternal life is present.
In the KINGDOM, people are saved from darkness to light.
In the KINGDOM, people are changed, healed, renewed, transformed.
In the KINGDOM, everyone matters, all ages, all races, all people groups.
In the KINGDOM, there is wholeness and unity.
In the KINGDOM, miracles take place.
In the KINGDOM, GLORY COMES DOWN and surrounds us, filling us up with HIS PRESENCE.
In the KINGDOM, people are rescued, people don't hide their sin or play religious games.
In the KINGDOM, tradition of man and liturgy are done away with in exchange for transparency and realness.
In the KINGDOM, people are full on worshippers, not content with half hearted, self contained expressions of God.
In the KINGDOM, everyone is loved.
In the KINGDOM, people get fixed.
In the KINGDOM, brokenness is beautiful and delierance happens.
In the KINGDOM, God is priority, worshipped and adored in such a way that everyone knows where our heart is-set fully on Him.
In the KINGDOM, there is fullness of joy. There is magnified fellowship, covenant and grace.
In the KINGDOM, Jesus is the only one we are worried about pleasing.
In the KINGDOM, God is the only one worshipped and everyone spends their time talking about Him.
In the KINGDOM, there is FREEDOM!

Sometimes, we desire to have church, even great church. But God is voting for KINGDOM.
Our prayer should not merely be for our church...but that the KINGDOM of heaven would come! And when the KINGDOM comes-His will IS done on earth as it is in heaven. We need to begin to pray for and expect that we have the KINGDOM-not just mere church. This life is not about what happens here, with a little Jesus thrown into it, but about the glory, the KINGDOM of heaven coming into our lives.

So we can have church, even great church. We can be religious, even very religious. But Jesus instructs us to pray for the KINGDOM of heaven to come here! Jesus votes for Heaven on earth-and so do I...

ALL FOR YOU

no power?

On Sunday, my downstairs air conditioner stopped working. We thought it might have been hit by lightening, so we called the repair service to come look at it. They told us it would be several days before they could get out there. We were not excited about the prospects of no air in July, but we had no choice. I began to pray that God would fix my air conditioner for free...money is tight and I was stressing the bill.
On Tuesday, the guy made it to the house to take a look at the air conditioner. He climbed around in the attic for awhile, confused and baffled by the problem. I finally left him to figure it out and went back to working on some things inside. A few minutes later, he came climbing out of the attic and said everything was fixed.
Confused, I asked him what the problem was. He began to explain that when the air conditioner was installed that there was a kill switch for the power installed. It looks like a light switch, but it actually kills the power so that you don't get hurt working on it. He said that sometime Sunday when we were looking for ski equipment for VBS that a box had fallen over and hit the switch, turning off the power source to the air. He showed us the switch and then left...and didn't charge us a dime. PTL!
I got to thinking about the fact that we could have had air all along, but we just had shut down the power. Wow, isn't that what we do in our walks with Jesus. We could have life and breath, power, but we choose or ignore the power source. We could have abundant life and yet we don't turn the power on that God has readily available for us. Instead, we live life in the heat of the moment-later wishing we had done differently...
I had the man show us where the power source is so that I won't live that way ever again. We know where our power source is and will make sure that it is ON at all times. What about YOU?
ALL FOR YOU

dying or dead?

this week we have had 6 straight nights of Vacation Bible School. I also sang at an FCA camp and it was Jim's bday. Now, I have a cold. (done whining...sorry!)
But inspite of it being a long week, I have been reminded that transformation is the process by which we are all BEING conformed into the IMAGE of God. That process is proof of our salvation. And that process is hard. For in order for transformation to happen, we must all die first, so that we can be raised to a new life, transformed by the power of the Spirit and His Word. Rennovated...and renewed.
I have been amazed as I have sensed from the Father, His desire to bring me further and closer. But I am also very aware of what that means in terms of warfare and attack. However, as I challenged the youth last night, proof of the process is when we know that we are dying for Jesus....just as He died for us.
Dying for Him, daily-taking up the cross and following after Him.
Dying for Him, in the flesh, so that the life that I now lead is Christ in Me-the only hope of glory.
Dying for Him, to transform and transfer me from what I was formerly into the reflection of His glory.
Dying for Him, willing to stand til the end for His truth.
Dying....
Isn't it funny how life....is found in dying?
I guess the real question of salvation is are you dying....are you dead, yet? For if you have died, then your life is hidden in Christ.

ALL FOR YOU

obligated

Many of us have given up our passions for obligations Somewhere along the course of life....we grew up and thought that maturity meant abandoning what we love for the mature, responsible thing. In living this way, we have become apathetic because we have lost our passion along the journey. We confused our purpose and our mission. We gave up what we love for our obligations.
There is truth in saying we must all grow up and be responsible. But it is a lie to think that we have to give up what we are passionate about-in fact, there could be no bigger mistake than to abdicate what you love.
The problem is that we have made our passions the wrong things. (sin) God gave us passion. He wants us to be passionate about HIm and not fill that hole with the things of the world. We have sought to fill our lives and look for satisfaction among things in stead of in His heart. His Word promises that if we delight ourselves in HIM, He will give us the desires of our heart.
The second dilemna is that we have not only allowed our passion for God to be replaced by the things of this world, but we have also made our walk with Him an obligation, a duty, something we must do verses something we love and are passionate about. God doesn't want us to feel obligated to love Him, He wants us to be passionate about Him.
Many of us are in danger of allowing our obligations to religion and our passion for things of this world, make us miss HIM altogether.
ALL FOR YOU

ALL FOR YOU

Boot Camp #1
Precept Ministries International
ALL FOR YOU

Thanks for the lesson Josh!
ALL FOR YOU

lessons from a mocah frappaccino

This past week, I went to Chattanooga to hang out at Boot Camp at Precept Ministries International. The camp is an awesome place where kids can be trained in Inductive Bible study and de-noise from the world, spending quality time with the Father. These are NOT your run of the mill kids. It is encouraging to see kids who want more and are willing to put forth the effort to grow in Jesus.
While there, I met a student named Josh. I was immediately intrigued with Josh, because he reminds me a little bit of my son Noah. (although older) He is a pretty cool guy with tons of personality (a little bit of attitude), a heart for the Lord and a desire to grow. However, Josh is a Gamecock fan and since I am from Clemson Tiger county-we had a little bit of trash talk going on about our teams. During the course of our stay the World Series was going on (for college) and Clemson was playing Georgia Tech. Josh took every opportunity to thrash my Tigers...and to praise his Cocks. It made for interesting conversation. He was very confident and cocky that the Tigers were going to get beat, however they won 8-4.
So, I wanted to be sure to make the most of the opportunity to rib him about the win. Although the Tigers won, he did not want to concede to the TRUTH that the Tigers were indeed a team to be reckoned with. After much banter, he headed back to class, but not before discovering that I was making a trip to Starbucks for coffee. All of a sudden, he is begging me for a Mocha Fappaccino. I'm like....no way...not after you wouldn't admit that Clemson has a good team. He continued to beg. Being the Christian Woman that I am, I immediately told him I would buy him one if he would apologize. But then, we thought better of it. Perhaps a lesson should be learned. In order to get his Mocah Frap, he had to apologize on one knee and concede that Clemson was a good team.
It didn't take long for him to decide that it was worth it. He crossed room, knelt before me and apologized and admitted Clemson's greatness.
I made my trip to Starbucks and picked up his Frap. He couldn't have it during class, so I let him know it was waiting for him. As soon as they were on break, he came flying downstairs to find me. He thanked me for his Frap and began to enjoy the moment. That is until everyone wanted to know how he got his Frap.
I insisted that he explain. So he began to tell the group gathered around (all wanting what he had) about the story-how he had to apologize and admit that Clemson was great. I laughed and gave him a hug, but then asked him what the lesson was that he learned in all this.
He looked at me a little funny. I simply stated, "with great humility, comes great reward." The light bulb went on and he understood. By humbling himself, he not only got what he wanted, but had what everyone else wanted as well. What a lesson for all of us...ME included. Often I am quick to defend, fight for or even try to work out the things that I want. When the Father is simply saying, bend the knee and humble yourself and great reward will follow. Sometimes we miss out on the great things God has for us, simply because we won't admit we were wrong and bend the knee.
Josh got a lesson from his Frappaccino. He taught me a lot that day....he was quick to bend that knee when there was something he wanted. If I want more of the Father....i need to be just a quick to bend the knee as well. So maybe the next time you want something....the best way to go about getting it is to humble ourselves before the Father.


ALL FOR YOU

boot camp

I have spent the last three days at boot camp in Chattanooga Tenessee. We have had a great time and have been so excited about what we have seen from the kids. It has been amazing to see that these kids CAN and WILL spend 6 hours in the Word of God everyday. We have had amazing discussions with 15 year old kids about predestination, God's choosing and God's Glory. But we have also had great conversations about what kind of music we should listen to. It is amazing when you hear a student say that I don't think my music measures up to God's glory so I need to go through my music and get rid of some stuff. The power the Word of God has to change hearts....is amazing. It conforms you to the image of Christ.
I have been reminded in the last few days that we so short sell our kids...thinking they can't or won't...and then we are frustrated when they don't "act" like they should. But the Word is what brings change. It pierces the heart, divides joint and marrow.
For me....it was just a fresh reminder that of how important personally and corporately it is for us to be in the Word everyday...so that we are more and more conformed to HIS image. Otherwise....we are just religious people. NOT GOOD.
So...Word UP! and then lead others in the way!

ALL FOR YOU

satisfication guarenteed

There are a lot of things that say they will guarentee satisfaction. But that just isn't true. Some even promise to give you your money back if you are not satisfied. Which to me is just saying....we hope you are will be satisfied, but if you aren't, well there is an out.
I am finding as I search my own soul that I am looking for satisfaction. I am not sure how that is defined or what it looks like this side of heaven. I mean I am always wanting more, needing more, longing for more. Nothing seems to satisfy fully. However, I have come to understand that God created me with that longing and that it is what continually draws me to Him. For when I am satisfied-even momentarily, I become lazy and complacent-slacking off and not at all pursuing Him like I should.
I realize that God has a satisfaction guarentee that I can rely on and know to be true. But I am beginning to think that the lack of satisfaction is also a good thing....for it is what pushes me for more instead of being satisfied with the mediocre. ALL FOR YOU

Going Nowhere

Most days, I try to get up and exercise. I am not as consistent as I would like, but at least 4 days a week-I usually succeed at some sort of exercise. I have a recumbant bike that I love to ride. It is great for exercise, but it also allows me to multi-task. I can ride and work on my Scripture Memory, read my Bible and basically redeem what could be mindless time for me.
Today, I was riding my bike and my four year old climbed into my lap. I laid my Bible aside, and cuddled him up while I kept right on riding. I held like a "baby" (he loves that) and was kissing on him when he looked up and said, "why do you ride this bike mommy....it doesn't go anywhere?"
I laughed as I thought about his track of thinking. When he rides his bike, he likes to go somewhere-even if it is just down a hill. He couldn't understand why I would choose to sit in a room and ride without going anywhere. Now that I think of it, I am kinda baffled by it a little. So, I got to wondering....
Treadmills, bikes, elipsers, gyms-we are fascinated with the idea of going nowhere. We are consumed with the idea of working on our bodies-exercising, taking care of them. But we aren't really concerned that we are going nowhere. It kinda makes me laugh. I realize it is good exercise. It strengthens our body. It increases our heart rate. Yet, we are getting healthy and going nowhere.
The journey God has on is not a staionary journey-it is moving, breathing, changing and growing everyday. It is great that we are getting in shape, but if we aren't going anywhere-what good is that? God wants more from us than healthy bodies. He wants a people that will train themselves and then move where He moves-being willing to go anywhere instead of nowhere.
We can become comfortable with our staionary bikes-but going nowhere gets old. What if we stepped off the treadmills and began to journey with Jesus? And show our children what it is like to go somewhere...instead of causing them to question why we are going nowhere!
ALL FOR YOU

the church

During our Monday night Bible study, we have been studying about what the Spirit of God said to the 7 churches and how that applies to us. It has been a powerful time of "revelation" as we have seen truth for ourselves. Our last look at the churches concludes with the Sardis-a church that had a name, but was actually dead. It was a dead church in an affluenct community. And God's instruction to the church were to WAKE UP! and strengthen what has not yet died. He wants them to succeed, but that success can only come when when they remember what they have received and live in it....they have become complacent-a religious place, but not a place in relationship with Him.
Of course, we all remember Laodecia-the lukewarm church. But have we really stopped to contemplate that 2 of the last 3 churches were rebuked for apathy, complacency, religious activity or because they were so self sufficient that they didn't need God? God called this church wretched-condemned, miserable-most to be pitied, poor-beggars, blind-unable to see, naked-exposed.
I am overtaken by the address of Jesus to these....to us. 3 of the other 5 churches were rebuked for stirring up strife, immorality in the church, tolerating evil talkers and doers, losing their focus and not putting God First. Only 2 churches were even close to be acceptable-one which endured great tribulation and the other that kept the Word of God and was kept from tribulation.
As I am finishing up this study, I am wondering what God would say to us...the church? Are we apathetic, complacent-needing to wake up and gain strengthe before we are totally dead? Are we lukewarm-hypocrites, in name only, full of religious activity, having fallen away from our first love? Are we tolerates of evil, strife stirrers, wretched, miserable, poor, beggars, blind and naked? I am sure none of these are things we want to admit, but maybe it is time for us all to search our hearts and hear what the Spirit is saying to the church? That would be ME and YOU!
In my own life, I find such complacency and a need to arise....and not sleep or slumber. I see so many areas where I am apathetic and tolerate sin. I am so convicted-that as the church-I am not ready for His return and must immediately begin to turn my heart to match His.

Father, stir our hearts from the complacency and apathy. Awaken us to Your truth.
Bring us back to our passionate pursuit of you. Rescue me from the state of wretchedness, miserable, poor, blind and nakedness that I am in. Help me to keep your Word and to endure.....persevering to the end in YOUR Truth. Do not let me be a pleaser of man, but of you. May your standard be mine and may I not compromise or follow after those who are not holding that standard forth....
let it begin in me....ALL FOR YOU

Transformed into Captivation

Have you ever been captured by a word that so describes your soul that you are almost in awe of how precisely it fits how you feel?
Well, I am all about words. In fact, my office is slowly becoming my WORD wall. Words that describe the journey that the Father has me on-markers of rememberance, to help keep those things in front of my face, so I won't forget. Words like BREATHE, SIMPLIFY, GET REAL, DREAM BIG, FAITH, PRAY, BELIEVE, REMEMBER, LOVE...but today...today I have a new word. A word that has captured my heart and has sent me on the next step of my journey.
Well, let me back up, it first began with another word....the word TRANSFORM. I have been mesmorized by this word. I have become acutely aware of how overlooked this thought is in Christendom and that the call to Christ is a call to die to self and be transformed into the image of Him. Salvation is Consecration, Conformation and Transformation-all part of sanctification for a true Believer.
But today, that word came alive for me. Transformation comes about by the renewing of your mind. As we renew our minds and see God for who He truly is-it ought to CAPTIVATE us. We were once held captive in the kingdom of darkness, but we have now been transfered to the Kingdom of His beloved-not held captive, but CAPTIVATED by HIM.
Could it be that too many of us were not transformed or captivated by Him and yet think that we are safely in the Kingdom. I am coming to realize that transformation=captivation and that these are what describes true conversion. The question is not do you know Jesus. Even the demons know Him. The question is have you be transformed and are you Captivated by Him so much so that your life radically reveals your passion for Him?
I am asking for MORE transformation and captivation.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, set our eyes on You.
Devastate with Your presence, falling down.
Rushing river, draw us nearer, holy fountain consume us with You.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, with YOU.(hall)
ALL FOR YOU

Dead tired?

the past few days have been tough ones. Not because anything necessarily difficult has happened. It just seems that the weight of ministry, the burden of life, coupled with the fact that I have not "felt" good (been sick) have made living and moving tiresome. Whether just walking to the kitchen (which causes me to HURT all over), Counseling those in need, teaching or just dealing with life, I have struggled to put one foot in front of the other.

I am not whining or complaining, just being honest about where I am today. The strain of ministry is heavy and the burdens that we bear often weight us down. I feel DEAD tired.

Funny, as I thought about those words....the Father reminded me that Dead people don't get tired. For they are dead. It is those who are "doing the deal"/working at it in life that get tired. How is it that I forget the basic lessons of my faith and retain the tidbits of tiny details that don't really apply to life? Today, I felt like a dead man walking....and the Father....simply states that I am! I am called to die to self, to crucify flesh, to be dead-so that Christ in me can breathe life. Somewhere in the last few days, I forgot to breathe...to inhale Him. Not because I wasn't in the Word or praying....Not because I wasn't seeking. But somewhere in the journey my flesh arose and I began walking in my own "trying" ways. Trying to do everything, to be everything, to carry everything. Instead of dying to self and allow Christ in me to be, carry and do all things.

Tonight, I am dead tired....tomorrow....I will just be dead...for I WILL die to self and my trying....Good night self...Hello, dead man walking....IN YOU!
For in HIM, I live and move and have my being....may I die that you may LIVE....

ALL FOR YOU

Obedience

We must obey God rather than man. Sometimes that is a hard one. It shouldn't be, but the truth is that we often desire to please other people more than we desire to please God. Obedience comes from a heart that longs to please God ONLY. If we do not desire to obey Him in ALL things, we will certainly end up pleasing man-thus making man god in our lives for that moment.
Acts tells us that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey. We know that the Holy Spirit is given to believers at the point of conversion. But the proof of conversion would be obedience.
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about conversion. It's picture is found in Romands 12:1-2. In view of the mercy of God-because we understand the mercy of God and all He has done for us, we lay ourselves on the altar as a Consecration offering to God-for God. He consumes all of what we are and calls us to NOT be conformed to the world but to be conformed to the image of His beloved Son. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, proving the will of God is good, acceptable and perfect.
Salvation is here...Isaiah 46 says. But it is not found in simple statements of faith, confessions of lips or acknowledgements of truth. For many praise Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him, serving Him from rote and tradition. Salvation is found in NO other. But salvation does NOT look like the easy gospel that is preached to so many, deceiving them, lulling them into a false sense of security.

Salvation (according to Scripture) is
Consecration-being set apart by God and for God and totally consumed by Him alone.
Non-conformation to the world, but conformation to Jesus and His cross.
Transformation-CHANGE through the power of the Word

All of these things are marked by OBEDIENCE.
Obedience is state of the heart, not just a way to walk. It is a heart that screams-I must obey God, rather than man! It is a heart consumed by God and the Holy Spirit, who CAUSES you to walk in HIS ways. It is being transformed into HIS likeness instead of being pressed into the mold of the world.
Salvation is here....NOW WALK in these things.


ALL FOR YOU

Circumcision

Yes, I know...that is a weird title, but stay with me long enough to see the truth that is behind it. I have been studying in Colossians and was reminded today of truth about Christ that I believe has been dismissed and neglected.
It says: (col 2:11) and IN HIM you were also circumcised with a cirumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of flesh by the circumcision of Christ.
Romans 6:6 enlightens us to this truth by stating that "our old self was crucified with Him in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin."
Deut 30:6 says the Lord you God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants to love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live!"
And Gal 5:24 says "those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

Circumcision is a cutting away of the flesh and in Biblical terms it is no different. Christ has removed our body of flesh. It was crucified with Him in order that our flesh might be done away with and we might walk in the Spirit of God that now lives within us, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin, but free to walk in Him. God has cut away the flesh of our hearts and Ezekiel takes it a step further to say that he removed our heart of stone and gave us a new heart. Our flesh lives no more if we have died with Him, raised to walk in new life. This means our fleshly desires and passions do not control us.
So why do we live as if they do? Because we have not "considered the members of our earthly body as dead" to these things!

God has cut away our flesh...at the cross. Old things have passed away, all things are new. He has circumcised our hearts! So quit living as if the old person is still alive.
For me, it means remembering to die everyday, every minute, that Christ in me might be glorified and exalted. I am not to be controlled by my flesh, my desires or my passions, but by the Spirit of God, by Christ Himself, living in ME! That is the mystery of this age...Christ in me, the hope of Glory!

ALL FOR YOU