CONTROL ISSUES

SIMPLE TRUTH

 No confidence in our flesh;

rather, all confidence in Him.

Simple.

Profound.

Phil 3:3; Gal. 2:20

DOORWAY TO HOPE

This truth is for believers,

(not just the lost)!

God DOES NOT help those

who help themselves.

He helps those who are helpless.

What are you struggling with

that you can't get free from?

When you've had enough

trying and striving and failing

to change yourself,

GIVE UP. 

Seek His grace. 

In due time the Lord

will lavish freely His grace on you

and you will be LIFTED UP.

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

COMING HOME

No one will argue against

children needing rules

and discipline

growing up,

but when conformity to rules

is all a child knows,

it completely misses

their heart.

So many leave 

(run away from)

the Church

because they 

have never known 

the Gospel,

the "good news"

of the extravagant grace of God

towards each one of us.

GAZE AND GLANCE

Our Father 

Who delights in caring for us

is infinite in wisdom

and knowledge (Col 2:3)

and understanding (Ps 147:5)

and generously gives us

all we need and ask for (James 1:5).

GOD'S PROMISES

For decades I believed

I had to meet strict conditions 

to be eligible for the promises

and to gain the riches of Christ. 

I did not understand that

because of the Cross,

the finished work of Christ,

they already belonged to me,

free and clear,

no strings attached.

Trust and keep on trusting, beloved;

the promises are your inheritance.

Hebrews 6:12

PROGRESS IN OBEDIENCE

 As God's children 

we become more like Christ

because of grace alone.

It is POWER

and it is FREEDOM.

THE MOST SPIRITUAL THING

Believe, beloved, believe.

(quote by Jeremiah Johnson,

Pastor of Grace Point Church,

Georgetown, KY

gracepointgeorgetown.com)

CHRISTIANESE, A DEAD LANGUAGE

Let the Word of God dwell richly in you.

Pray and seek earnestly

to have ears to hear.

The Holy Spirit will give you

what to say

in the moment.

You will love practicing

your new language,

and you will love 

imparting life to others.

 

JUSTIFIED!

 Just as if I've never sinned

expresses the clean slate 

we have in being made right with God

by the work of Christ.

But feel the WEIGHTINESS

that this equally precious truth 

of our salvation brings:  

Christ's perfect life

has been credited to our account.

This is the basis 

of our relationship with God,

the garment that has been given 

us to wear each day.

Now we can go forth and live 

lovingly, joyfully and triumphantly

in Him and through Him. 

(2 Cor. 5:21; Col. 1:21-22)

INDEED

We are evidence indeed

as new creation sons of God,

 bearing the fruit of Christ's nature, 

led by His Spirit.

It's a new and living way,

walking in His powerful and all-sufficient

Spirit within us.

WHEN WE DISOBEY

Paul David Tripp nailed it.

So did the hymn writers of old 

who wrote of 

"grace that is greater than all our sin".

Turns my heart 

even more to trust and love

the One who loves me so.

MEDITATION: BLOOD COVENANT

Oh the wonder of God Himself

guaranteeing the covenant 

He made with us!

The Son of God became

our Substitute

and our Representative 

before the throne of the Father,

eternally on our behalf.

 What security 

and freedom

and joy is ours

to have everything between us and God

removed forever,

that we may enjoy HIM 

and the riches of His grace

in this life and in the next!

 (Hebrews 7:22)

 

REESURRECTION LIFE

A grave-tending life is one 

focused on what's DEAD,

what we used to be

when we lived without God

and without hope in the world --

self-protecting, fearful, controlling.

Now that we have LIFE

and God is truly our Father,

He leads us and draws us

into what His Spirit is doing

from day to day.

We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus

and share in His resurrection life --

bold, expectant, joyful.

 

THE GREATER REALITY

Our sin was great;

our redemption is greater.

We are no longer what we were;

we are in Christ now.

 And that is the greater reality.

Hallelujah!