PURE AND SIMPLE

Christ is neither a taskmaster

nor a perfectionist.

He is more gracious

and kind 

than our hearts can ever know.

Walk with Him

in simplicity

and purity.

And above all, enjoy Him.

He enjoys you.

ALWAYS GOOD NEWS

We've heard the bad news

about our sin separating us from God,

AND the good news of salvation in Christ!

But we still need to hear 

the good news of the Gospel 

all the time --

the GOOD NEWS of our new identity in Christ,

the GOOD NEWS of freedom in Christ,

the GOOD NEWS of the Spirit's work in our lives,

the GOOD NEWS of Christ's triumphs that are ours,

and the endless gifts 

and graces

and riches

and blessedness

bestowed on us through the sacrifice of Christ.

That's the news that glorifies HIM

and transforms US into His image.

 ALWAYS GOOD NEWS.

CHANGE AHEAD

You may be a babe in Christ

or a longtime believer,

but there is only one path

to experience 

the abundant life in Christ.

Are you on it? 

It's never too late to start again.

Focus on what God has done for you

(we can never exhaust these truths).

 Change is just ahead.

It's called abundant life.

REST

 Why? 

 It delights our Father 

that His children

rely on His great love all the time.

This does not come about by striving 

but by resting confidently in Who Christ is

and what He has done for us.

This brings overcoming strength,

healing,

freedom,

peace,

and joy.

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us." 1 John 4:16

AN EASTER MEDITATION

How true, how precious.

We come before God only

on the purity of the Lamb, Christ Jesus,

and never on our performance.

This is the ♥ of grace.

Because of Christ

the Lamb without blemish,

we are righteous and accepted

forever.

LIVING BY GRACE

Grace, grace, marvelous grace!

No wonder the love of Christ

is the motivation

and compelling force

of our lives!

SECRET TO TREASURING CHRIST

If Christ is your Savior

but He is not treasured in your heart,

ask the Holy Spirit to reveal

His love to you.

Ask Him daily

as you seek Him

in His Word.

His love must be real to you,

not something

you only read about

or hear others repeat. 

Revelation of His love 

brings great joy

and peace,

lifting us above our circumstances,

and setting us free from

the lesser treasures

of this world. 

"We love Him because He first loved us."

1 John 4:19

 

HEARING FOR OURSELVES

 

Books have their place, 

but the ability to hear the Holy Spirit

and be taught by Him

is a great gift and privilege

our Father has given to each of us. 

It makes our walk with Christ

more alive, exciting

and fruitful. 

Sometimes we need to

put down the books.

OFF THE ROPE

Had enough of the tightrope of legalism?

The Law is meant to expose sin (Romans 7:7)

and (by our fleshly striving to keep it)

increases its stronghold on us. (Romans 5:20)

Enter GRACE.

Fall into the net.

Rest in the finished work of Christ.

FREE INDEED

As we grow in grace and knowledge

of the wonderful love of Christ,

the more freedom we experience

 His love is the most powerful

force in the universe.

And it is what everyone is seeking.

I JUST DANCE

I stopped trying to get the Lord

to love and accept me

because, you see...

I found out 

He already does.

Now I just dance.

 

CONCEDE

Come to the end of your strength?

You are in a good place.

The weaker you are,

the stronger Christ is able 

to show Himself through you.

Give up trying to deliver yourself,

surrender the struggle,

and let Christ take over.

Freedom awaits.

(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

 

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

As we feed on the wonderful truths 

of what Christ has done for us,

we are transformed

FROM THE INSIDE OUT,

with new freedom

that comes from new desires.

The world has nothing to offer

that can compare with this reality.

Believers, draw all your life

from Christ. 

THE RIGHT TRACK

Focusing on Christ

and His redemptive work on our behalf

PRODUCES obedience and trust, 

which is a FRUIT of the Gospel.

Focusing on obedience, however,

is self-focus,

and results in 

self-righteousness,

hypocrisy 

and judgmentalism.

That is the same track the Pharisees were on.

"Looking to Jesus..."

 

ELEVATING LOVE

Oh the sweet love of Christ,

it takes us where no other love

can ever hope to go --

lifting us higher and higher into glory,

transforming us from the inside out.

Even in our sin and failure,

when we are most unlovable

and undeserving

He embraces us with His unconditional love,

truly a love that will not let go.