my lot is secure

love hurts

2006-08-08T04:26:00.000-07:00

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I write this blog. Yesterday, our long-time, dear friends, Pat and Debbie Griffin lost their only son to a swimming accident. We have known the Griffin's and their children for almost 21 years, the age of their son. It amazes me how we can become so connected with people who are not 'family'. Their children are like ours and ours are like theirs. Even my parents feel almost like grandparents to them. They have been a part not only of my immediate family life, but also to my extended family. Even some of my church family know Pat and Debbie. My heart hurts beyond what I can humanly bear, but I know the LORD's incredible comfort...the crazy thing is, it is just 7 days from the 2nd anniversary of the death of my oldest brother. This was my father's second comment, his first was one of deep sorrow and the feeling of being unable to cope with the death of another young person. It isn't suppose to happen this way...our kids are suppose to out-live us. Once again I am at a place of incredibly sharp focus on what is really important in this life...people. People are the only 'things' that are going to be redeemed. My own children become more and more precious to me, the children of my church family become more and more precious to me...all my friends and family and brothers and sisters in Christ are the most important things in my life. Once again, I want to be diligent to keep short accounts with others...to love them with the love of Christ that keeps no record of wrong and covers the wrongdoer. If you are so compelled, pray for my friends and their family that they will take comfort from the Lord in this deep time of sadness and loss. And know this, my desire is that I grow in love and you grow in love by the power of the Holy Spirit... "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God for God is love."

Rose of the Rapids

2006-08-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. It's been ages since I blogged...much has transpired in my life and I was busy living it instead of writing about it! A quick little story...to explain Emma's comment on my last blog. Dan spoke on Sunday about (among other things) overcoming the fear of death. Well suffice it to say I was tested on this word on Sunday afternoon at Fundy Trail in one of the salmon pools. The river is very high for this time of year and the current is flowing strong and fast. However, on the surface it appears to be a gently flowing stream. The Ethridges and I were going for a swim but could not enter the water at the beach side so had to go further down stream to get in. I was minding my own business, walking in the water close to the shore. I needed to get out to deeper water in order to swim to where Madeline, Emma and Kelly were, but without realizing it I dove into the current. I was trying to swim against it with no success as Kelly and Maddie were laughing and saying "good-bye, Rose. It's been nice knowing you". I was also laughing and saying good-bye not realizing that I was about to be in some serious trouble. I attempted to cling to a rock, any rock, in order to get out of my trouble before I entered the semi-shallow, rapid covered rocks. Well, it didn't work. Gil saw the look on my face and knew I was in trouble. He began to come into the water and I was about to yell at him not to when he decided it would be of no value to try and jump in at that point. He started to go further downstream in order to try getting me there. Meanwhile, Maddie and Kelly were still laughing and all Emma could see were my arms and legs flailing up in the air. From their vantage point it didn't look like I was in trouble. I was now in the rapid covered rocks getting bashed against them and I began to panic. I knew this was the worst thing I could do because I would inevitably do the opposite of what I should. I knew there was a way out of this but I could not think straight. I cried out to the Lord for peace and a clear mind and immediately I remembered what I needed to do. At the same time all I could think of was these poor people might have to drag my battered body off the rocks and Claude and the kids would be freaked out. Any fear of death really left me and I knew that if I did die I didn't want to do it in a panic. with a supernatural sense of peace I did what I knew to do and was suddenly safe on shore, feeling relief and telling Gil I was ok. The first thing I said was, 'that was exciting'. I'm afraid Gil's sense of humour was not ready to return yet because his response (and rightly so) was 'No it wasn't!'. Fortunately we were able to have a good laugh over the situation from the backseat of the car as opposed to the back of an ambulance... I see the parallels in our faith of sometimes getting into situations that at first do not seem serious. Even our friends might not see it and even cheer us on. But from the Lord's vantage point, he sees the rapids ahead of us and is standing ready for us when we call out to Him. The moral of the story? Test the waters before you jump in head first, there might be a hidden undercurrent that will cause you to bash yourself against the rocks of life...and when you do get into a treacherous situation, don't panic. Instead cry out to the Lord, who is always faithful to cause peace and a sound mind.
Signed, A little bruised and battered but also a little wiser...
"He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind."

whad up wit dat?

2006-05-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, my last blog sounds like a rap....what can I say...that's just how it came to me! I guess I be hangin' out wid young people waaaay tooooo much!!!!! I'll have to brush up on my Wordsworth and Browning...however, if you read some of the old poetry it could be turned into a rap song.........

Well this is how came to me....

2006-05-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

Could it all be just a dream, a passing illusion?
Could it simply be a fanciful delusion?
This wonder, this joy
This irrepressible feeling
Is it only a ploy...
Of my own imagination
Or is it from the revelation...
That I am spirit-born from a Kingly heredity
That I have been bestowed with a heavenly authority
That comes from the King of kings, creator of the universe
His Spirit is His seal of approval
Blood-bought for iniquities removal
No confidence in my own abilities or flesh
Resting from striving, stay in the river to refresh
Our souls with this marvellous arrangement
Jesus Sacrifice cancelled the estrangement
From our Father in heaven
Let this TRUTH be like leaven
In your heart, soul and mind.
And together let us find
The ultimate reality
We need to hear the finality
Of Jesus final cry
From the crucifixion
“It is finished, It is done”
Now look only to the Son
And be changed, radiant
Without shame
As we trust in HIS Name

“I put no confidence in my flesh or my emotions, they are a lost cause. I must look to HIM…LOOK to HIM AND BE CHANGED! I must take hold of what JESUS took hold of me for….I will push into the Lord until my life reflects the truth of HIS redeeming power. “We are changed from Glory to Glory with ever increasing Glory as we BEHOLD him…BEHOLD the Lamb that was slain .....May the Lamb receive the rewards of his sufferings in my life.

More Denying My Self

2006-05-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

So here's a random thought I had the other day when Katie T was here: How cool is it that I don't have to rely on self-confidence to live my life. I am confident in the Lord's ability to do his work in and through me. It is freedom!
Here's another one that came on the heels of this one. If I am a child of the King that means that I have inherited kingdom authority...not from my abilities or skills but simply because I am a daughter of the King! I can go out in the name of King Jesus...and even if I am the weakest of his family, it is the simple fact of my heredity that gives me that authority...oh it's so hard to express the incredible revelation and impact this had on me....my words are sooo inadequate sometimes! I'll work on it....

"Oh, hurray! Good old Puddleglum!"

2006-04-20T04:05:00.000-07:00

Puddleglum to the 'Queen' of the Underworld: "So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed or made up, all those things- trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones.[...] That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia."
The Chronicles of Narnia #7 The Silver Chair, by CS Lewis

great minds think alike....

2006-04-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

thought I would post something a little lighthearted today since I've been pretty serious lately....I was at Bayview Elementary School today to tutor Danny, a little Korean boy. As he took off his coat I realized we had similar (very similar) sweaters on and very similar bluejeans...When he discovered this he laughed and laughed and showed some of the other teachers. One of them took a picture of us.... it made for an easy time with him as otherwise he's usually bored or disinterested (he's quite brilliant and doesn't really need tutoring except his parents insist). This kept a smile on his face for the entire hour. Funny how something so simple can lighten a situation and turn it to a more positive experience. TOO CUTE!!! perhaps I'll post the picture if I get a copy...

To Whom it May Concern

2006-04-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

JESUS, THE ROCK, EVERYTHING ELSE IS STINKING SAND (YES, I SAID STINKING SAND!) FIX YOUR EYES ON HIM! REDIRECT YOUR GAZE...LIFT IT FROM YOURSELF...LOSE YOURSELF SO THAT YOU MAY GAIN LIFE!!!! LIVE FOR HIM AND NOT YOUR OWN DESIRES...THEY WILL ALWAYS LEAVE YOU EMPTY AND CONFUSED....

HELP WANTED:Spiritual MOM'S and DAD's

2006-04-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

I present to you the following hypothesis: It appears to me that the youth of this generation are predisposed to need the parenting of many mothers and fathers. Even if they come from a stable, relatively healthy family, the times that we live in are such that they are overloaded with burdens, temptations and decisions to such a degree that they are floundering most of the time (please do not misunderstand, what I mean is they feel insecure and lack a feeling of stability). The pressures of society have increased beyond the ability of most to be able to cope and so the gap of true spiritual parenting must be filled.
My generation, the so-called me generation, have suffered, but the fruit from the tree that was planted post WWII, was not fully ripe. However, most of us have no idea what it means to parent our children. We have bought into the tragic deceptions of ever changing philosophies of child psychology and thus opened the door to one of the darkest times in history. We bought into them because we, too, were mostly fatherless or motherless. We were mostly sacrificed on the altar of material possessions. Never before in history has there been so much prosperity in the Western World, yet, never before in history has there been so much suicide, hopelessness, despair and depression. This is not just in the western world; many wealthy Asian nations have very high suicide rates among youth, but for slightly different reasons than in the west. The medical world is predicting that the number one "disease" of the 21st century will be depression. Can all of us be suffering from a chemical imbalance? Or, could this be the long term effects of the detached 50's and the rebellious 60's? I propose that much of the problem stems from parents and/or society, whether consciously or unconsciously, nurturing a self-centred mindset and/or an extreme expectation of high acheivement. The gradual degredation of the family has led to the gradual decay of our culture. Now I say all this in the hope that some will read and heed. Look to those who are spiritually healthy. Make a righteous demand on the wise around you. Learn from their battle scars. Make their ceiling your floor. The answer lies in One and One only...Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He purchased us, he bought us back from all of this. My life is blood bought and spirit wrought. He alone can empower me to be transfromed. There is a better way...the way of the cross...the way of death to self...Paul the Apostle said that Timothy had many teachers but not many fathers...find fathers that will speak into your life. That will lovingly but firmly point you away from yourself and toward Jesus. If I sound like a broken record it is only because, from the word of God and my own experience I know that we can rise above carnality and become the spiritual men and women that are the reward of the Lamb's sufferings (now by carnality I do not mean simply sin but living according to the flesh which will lead us to sin, whether in thought, word or deed. Worry, anxiety, faithlessness are of the flesh or relying on the flesh). Also, my desire is to see those who have become more like the saviour, who have settled in their hearts the question of the finished work of the cross and are walking, generally, in the power of the Spirit not the flesh, that we will rise up and carry our younger brothers and sisters burdens and help them turn their eyes toward the Son. I plead with you all to cry out to the Lord to grant you the revelation knowledge of the fact we are more than conquerors, more than mere survivors. We have a mandate from heaven to bring the kingdom of God to the earth...but we cannot do it if we are earthly minded. Set your heart on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. Set you mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Die a good death now...there will be no regrets later. Interesting that the very thing our Lord wants us to do, die, is what the enemy is inciting in the youth of our day in the counterfeit (that is the physical death of suicide). Yes, die, die to yourself. Not a physical death but a spiritual act of denying yourself and taking up the cross of Christ, His finished work! Apply His finished work to your life. Fight for what is yours in Christ Jesus and have the same attitude that he had. He endured the cross, the wrath of God and the scorn of men. I spent many years in carnality...it ain't a picnic. When I finally accepted that IT WAS FINNISHED, it was the beginning of the end of the enemies encampment in my life. But it did not come without a fight! I believe the WORD of God and so when my life was not reflecting it I fought until it was and I continue to fight for the more that is mine. As a spiritual mom, I implore you to listen to wisdom, listen to Jesus, he is Wisdom incarnate. Don't get swept away by every wind of teaching that leads you away from the ONE who loves you. There are many false religions and teachings that do not bring peace but confusion. This is a warning sign. Heed the warning signs when they come and run to the shelter of the Lord who is your strong tower. Don't lean on your own understanding; acknowledge HIM and He will make your paths straight. When confusion comes run to Him the author and perfector of your faith.
For the Glory of the Lamb and for His Blood Bought Bride.....may she make herself ready

The Shifting Sands of Circumstance

2006-04-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

I refuse to focus on circumstances, they are like shifting sand. One day all can be well, the next all is black and then the next day all seems well again. I will not put my confidence or trust in any circumstances whether good or bad. I will do what is in my power to do and leave the rest to my Father. I will put my trust in Jesus Christ, the one who never changes, who does not shift with the wind. My God is not a man that he should lie, I will trust in HIM. I will fix my eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. The true reality, the eternal. What good or profit is it to worry or have dread? It cannot cause things to change. I will fix my eyes on Jesus at all times. I will extol the Lord at all times, His praise will forever be on my lips. Let the afflicted rejoice, taste and see that He is good. Jesus you promised us that in this life we would have trouble, but He has overcome the world. In desperation I have called out to the Lord and He has always delivered me. In fact when I keep silent or dwell on the troubles it decays my bones. It compresses and depresses, it binds and chains me to the earth. He has called us to be those who rise up on eagles' wings. So rise up. Look to the hills. Where does your help come from? Mine will always and ever come from Him. My fortress, my strong tower, my deliverer, my refuge, my delight. The one my heart longs for. The one who fills me with joy in His presence; eternal pleasures are at His right hand and I have access to them. I will never surrender to the darkness. I will contend for all Jesus has for me. But this is not enough. He has called me to be more than a conqueror. My lot is secure but many are not. I will fight for the lot of my brothers and sisters until they too are secure. I will labour with Christ until He is formed not only in me, but in His Bride. Praise You, my King and my Delight.....

The Best Fast Ever...

2006-04-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

Well, for me it's over today...Although there seemed to be some confusion on that. I started fasting the day Katie preached on it...so that would make yesterday the last day. Some of us are celebrating with a chocolate festival today! The cake is waiting for frosting. This has been an incredible fasting experience. In the past I would not feel like anything was accomplished and would feel I was a failure throughout it all, but this time I felt a tangible grace for it that has proved out. I can honestly say I enjoyed fasting for the first time in my life and I know the Lord has accomplished something in the atmosphere not only over my life but the lives of those I love. And hey, that's what it's all about isn't it. Well it's late and I want to get to Rothesay to see the faces of the ones I love. I will write on this more in the coming days. PS Thanks for all the funny comments...and particularly Priscilla's offer . Ciao

Chocolate, a movie and a little CBC radio....

2006-04-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

I must say that fasting has never been so good to me. I knew when our own Katie T. preached on it a few weeks ago (ok it seems like months,...40 days is a long time!) the Lord have given me supernatural grace to do it. The Lord has been soooo goooood to do HIS work in me....just 56 hours and 1 second left to go...."WE MADE IT ROSIE, WE MADE IT!" (Humphrey Bogart to Katherine Hepburn in "The African Queen" when they survived rapids, gunfire and intense jungle weather.) And that's all I have to say about that....

The Discipline of Devotion or Denying Yourself and Dying Daily

2006-04-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

“Look to yourself and you will be depressed. Look to the world you will be distressed. Look to Jesus and be at rest.” Corrie Ten Boom

The main thing I have asked the Lord to do in me personally for this 40 day fast we are participating in is to teach me what it really means to deny myself, die daily and take up my cross. He is always faithful to answer our prayers when they line up with his will. This is a very practical aspect of denying yourself that I have practiced for a few years and I didn’t really recognize it as dying to myself until today…. I’m a little slow but He is gracious. However, lack of knowledge has not hindered the Holy Spirit from growing fruit from this practice in spite of my ignorance…and it is a ‘practice’. I had to consciously ‘practice’ this until it has become as natural as breathing. Now, I rarely have to deliberately do this. If you know me, you know I am a very practical person…so I hope this little exercise in fixing your eyes on him will be the beginning of the end for your self-life. Furthermore, it will help you focus on the needs of others, which is also denying yourself, taking up your cross and following Jesus. Before you even get out of bed, here are some very practical things to do to grow in your devotion to Jesus Christ, the Lamb that was slain.
Do not open your eyes in the morning until you have looked at Jesus.
Let the first thoughts of the day be focused on HIM (and the last ones of the day for that matter!)
Let the first words out of your mouth be praise and thanksgiving.
Allow HIM to wash over you with love and affirmation.
Acknowledge Him as the author and perfecter of your day.

You see, if our first focus in the morning is “me”, “all the problems or even solutions for the day” or whether or not ‘the day is going to be good or bad’, we are not taking up our cross, denying ourselves and dying. The paradox of faith: if you lose your life for His sake you will gain it….but if you try to save your own life you will lose it. So let Jesus and His kingdom be the first thing on your heart and mind and soul when you wake up. Cast down all other thoughts and choose to focus on Him. You will find freedom for your soul, rest for your mind and peace in your heart. Sound simple? Well, it is but it isn’t easy to kill our flesh. That’s why it is a discipline. Sometimes our life in Christ is our full focus and our hearts are burning like a bonfire…but sometimes the embers are low. That is the time for discipline. LOSE YOURSELF TODAY and GAIN CHRIST. You will be transformed from glory to glory with ever increasing glory as you behold HIM.

Here’s one of my favourite 17th century poems…another of the paradoxes of faith….

Sonnet #14

Batter my heart, three-personed God; for You
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o’erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurped town, to’another due,
Labour to admit You, but O, to no end;
Reason, Your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly ‘I love you’, and would be loved fain, (with pleasure)
But am betrothed unto your enemy.
Divorce me, ‘untie or break that knot again;
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthral me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

John Donne

I am now officially a blogger....HELP!!!

2006-04-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

Well, thanks to my mentor and true sister and friend in Jesus (Priscilla: thanks for the beautiful tribute) I have been inspired to start a blog. Not so I can vent or cyber puke as I like to call it but so I might edify, encourage and exhort my brothers and sisters in JESUS and anyone else who might one day become one. SOOO, here goes nothing. My first post is a sermon I preached at Grace Harvest Church...my church. I say my church in the same sense that I say my family...I am a part of it and it is an intrigal part of me. It's where Jesus gets formed in me and I change from glory to glory as I see Him manifested there. This site is not about me...it's really all about HIM (JESUS CHRIST) It might have some very deep, serious stuff or perhaps just something that is interesting or worth noting. It might even have some funny thoughts (well, at least I'll think they're funny). Like my friend for life (Priscilla) I really can't believe I'm jumping into this blogger thing...but then again I never thought I'd be into instant messaging either....ohhh but we're WAAAY COOOOL. LOL. Anyway, don't expect something everyday....I do have a life ya' know. But when the mood strikes me or the Spirit moves me I'll hit the old blog button and who knows.......

Christ and Him Crucified...branded forever

2006-04-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

Christ and Him Crucified… take up your cross and follow me.

I realize this is a long blog...it's a sermon I preached at GHC on March 12, 2006

My desire is to please the Father and see fruit in the lives of His children. So I pray that your spiritual eyes and ears will be attentive to what I believe the Spirit is saying and that your spirit will engage and grow in greater knowledge of the Son of God and that this will manifest itself in action in your lives.
While I was preparing for this I became very aware of not wanting to touch the message of the cross in an unholy or unworthy manner. I don’t want to water down the message and so would rather err on the side of being too strong. Jesus said to count the cost of following him. It is very serious business to enter into this new covenant or agreement with the crucified Christ. He paid the price, he bore the penalty of our sin, he became sin for us so that we can be reconciled to God and have eternal life, here and now. At the same time, and I really think it’s the same thing, I desire to allow the message of the cross to speak for itself. To be able to preach it with power and grace. It is the power of God for our salvation. Paul preached nothing but Christ and him crucified. Like Paul I say, (I Cor. 1:17) (that’s from the message). If I wanted a following, I’d bring a light and fluffy message that would tickle your ears but have no value to you spiritually.

This is how serious God was and is about SIN:
He became a man and suffered death even death on a cross in order to buy back humanity. SIN is what separates us from GOD and Christ’s sacrifice is the ONLY thing that can bring us back into fellowship with Him. He paid the price and calls us to turn away from SIN and turn to HIM and receive forgiveness and salvation. When we come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ we are set FREE from the power of sin and eternal death.
It is the self-life that kills…pride, lust, self-centredness. When we embrace the cross and accept its finished work it becomes like a power-boosted rocket. It allows us to soar above the circumstances of our flesh and fulfill our destiny in God. Apart from it we are lost, hopeless, eternally condemned. Sin brings shame and condemnation or the desensitization of our soul. We are either overcome by shame, guilt and fear or we become depraved. It all brings death, but the Spirit of God brings life. The death of Jesus on the Cross purchased our lives back from destruction, but we must accept this by FAITH. It takes FAITH to accept the finished work of the cross. It takes FAITH to believe and accept that the Blood of Jesus can wash us clean, wipe away the power of sin. This is a miracle. I am a miracle standing before you. When I wasn’t living an immoral life I was walking in the Pride of self-righteousness. I could not save myself. It takes God to be GODLY. Perhaps you have slipped back into old habits because you have not applied the power of the cross to your life. Let the conviction of the Holy Spirit pull you back from the brink. Guilt and shame will only take you to a place of greater sin and or depression. Let HIM set you free. The cross of Christ bought our freedom and reconciles us to God and sets our feet on the path of fulfilling our eternal purpose. We don’t have to be entangled in sin. It is a narrow gate we all have to walk through. Humility and repentance always are. Broad is the road that leads to destruction and many are on it. Few find the narrow way. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the father but through me”. He calls us to repentance that we might not perish in our sins. Apart from Christ we already stand condemned. But we can enter through the narrow gate of repentance and faith. And yet, once we enter through the narrow gate HE brings us out into a spacious place. My lot in life is secure- the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. I don’t need to jostle for position. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Free from the chains that hold us to the earth, that crush our spirit and snuff out our lives. Sin entangles, embitters, depresses… BUT I have GOOD NEWS…He has come to break the chains and set us free. He will not snuff out a flickering light nor break a bruised reed. He is lowly and gentle. He is a shepherd to his sheep.
For God so loved the world, he gave his one and only son. That whoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. He does call us to put on his yoke and his burden. READ: Matt. 16 now
Jesus said to deny yourself, die to yourself, take up your cross and follow him. Self is what gets in our way. It’s self that keeps us from abundant life. Jesus kingdom is an upside down kingdom. Try to save your life and you will lose it, BUT lose your life for HIS sake and you will gain it back a hundred-fold. Think about what it feels like looking out for only yourself. Self demands position, attention, affection, admiration, acknowledgment, acceptance, gratification, satisfaction and when we don’t get them we become angry, depressed, embittered. Even when we do get them it is a temporary fix for an insatiable addiction. We will do anything to receive the things we want to gratify ourselves even conform to what everyone else says we should be, cheat, steal, lie, boast, envy, act out of jealousy and cause others to feel guilt if they don’t do what we want. Pick your poison. Whether it’s strife or striving, lusting or lying, boasting or bawling, whatever it takes. We might be very blatant about it or maybe very devious and subtle using manipulation and control. It all boils down to the same thing…none of it brings life or true contentment only. The truth is we really do need these things as human beings but we can only find genuine acceptance, affection, appreciation etc in and through a relationship with our creator. Everything else is counterfeit. And we know that the counterfeiters are eventually caught and have to pay back, one way or another, every cent they took.
The best definition of sin I have ever heard is this: Sin is taking by force what God wants to give us anyway. That’s what happened to Adam and Eve. They took by force or disobedience what the Lord had really already given them.
Jesus is our only hope. His cross is the only way to enter the kingdom. It won’t be by having the right doctrine, the right knowledge or philosophy. It isn’t outward compliance to a set of rules. It’s inward reliance on the cross of Jesus and his Holy Spirit received by faith. I’d be doomed to hell and so would you if it was any of these things. Thank you Jesus that we can turn to you. It’s by faith. Without faith we cannot see God. Faith comes first, then understanding.. You see, God wisely planned that the world would not know him through its own wisdom. Jesus is the tree of life. The cross is the power of God. It delivers us from the power of sin, it empowers us to live a godly life and it is the only way and the only reason we can fulfill our destiny in the earth. The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. And what an adventure it is. Happy HOLINESS. Abundant life. Righteousness, peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost are ours when we enter through the narrow gate. The cross is about the kindness and severity of God. So, if you want to be his disciple you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow him daily. It’s about eternal perspective. If you lose your life you’ll gain it.
It was for the Joy set before him that he endured the cross. He saw what his reward was and willingly endured the scorn and mocking of men, the whipping and beatings and ultimately the torture of the cross. He calls us to the same life. I encourage you, if you have never accepted Christ as your LORD and Saviour…and He must be LORD and SAVIOUR…today is the day of salvation. Today if you hear HIS voice don’t harden your heart; you don’t know what your life will bring tomorrow. …but be sure to count the cost. Don’t do it lightly or because of emotion. It is a free gift but will cost you your life. And, if you are already a believer but your heart has become hardened by sin’s deceitfulness, I encourage you with this…today is a new day>>>. Jesus is waiting with arms open wide for you to receive times of refreshing at the foot of his cross. As one who has been there…believe me when i say there is acceptance, forgiveness and joy in repentance. The door may be low but the rewards are great. Don’t wait another day. Don’t waste another day. Let the lamb receive the rewards of his sufferings. Whether it’s a life newly born into his kingdom or one of his sheep letting him back on the throne there is freedom and deliverance and healing in the blood of Jesus. I believe in his power to deliver you from whatever bondages you are entangled in…he is willing if you are. I believe in the power of the cross to deliver from every addiction and sin. I have experienced this power and have received freedom from many forms of bondage and addictions… They are no longer who I am. I am not merely managing them, I AM FREE FROM THEIR POWER!!!! I WAS an alcoholic. I WAS addicted to man’s approval. I WAS an adulteress. I WAS a fornicator. I WAS a self-righteous Pharisee. I WAS all these things and more but the Cross of Christ has set me free. I no longer have the desire for these things. I am utterly and completely reliant on the cross of Christ not my own righteousness. My own will fail me every time I lean on it. But Christ and HIS Cross never fail me. If I look to others or myself or the world I will be depressed and distressed BUT as I continue to LOOK to Jesus and HIS sacrifice I am at REST. Enter into his rest, enter into his freedom. It’s our inheritance in Christ JESUS. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the keys to the kingdom and the cross is the master key. Don’t be a mere survivor. He says we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus!!!! I am appalled at hearing Christians talking about their sins like they are annoying pets they have to feed. HE IS OUR VICTORY. He triumphed over the powers and authorities, that is the devil and his underlings, by the cross and made a public spectacle of them. Trust in the cross, embrace the cross and let it do its work. It’s our only hope. I encourage you to come to the front if you fit in one of the two categories: I’m not talking about another rededication but a revolution to happen in your life. The Lord is looking for a revolution in His church and in the earth. Or maybe you want to really get serious about your faith. He’s looking for his mighty ones, like Gideon and Deborah and Esther and David, who did not consider their lives anything in comparison to living or dying for GOD. The days we live in in the kingdom are not for the faint of heart. Rise up oh mighty ones of God and take back the ground the enemy of our souls has trespassed on and stolen. He is the great trespasser and this trespasser needs to be shot on sight.
Ps I used verses from The Message