Who Are You?

Have you ever really thought about that - "Who are You"? As I read John 1:22 "Finally they said, "Who are you? . . ." I paused and reflected on how I would answer that question?

I can give all kinds of facts about me: where and when I was born, where I have lived, places I have been, schools I have attended, jobs I have had . . .

But in my soul, in my most inner being, in my heart - who am I? I guess some have battles within themselves as to who they are. Others are still searching. But I have a peace about who I am and whose I am.

I am a child of the one true King! There is not a doubt in my mind or in my heart who I am. This song by Matthew West says it best:

"Hello, my name is child of the one true King.

I've been save, I've been changed, I have been set free.

"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing. . . ."

How about you?

Who are you? Or I guess a better question is ~ WHOSE are you?

Put On Jesus

Romans 13:14 "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desire of the flesh."

What does Jesus on you look like today?

Is He kind? Is He loving? Is He compassionate? Is He thoughtful? Does He have a smile on His face and joy in His heart?

Put on Jesus today and see if it doesn't make a difference in your life and all those that you see.

NOT GUILTY

For me Romans 8 is probably one of the most powerful chapters in Paul's writings. After writing so much about our sinful nature, he begins with a WOWSER statement. Romans 8: 1-2 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

VERDICT: I am judged NOT guilty, I am set free.

The key to this verdict is a life in Jesus with the leading of the Holy Spirit - which is another discussion all unto its self. So I will save that for later as I meditate on my NOT GUILTY verdict because of my hope in Jesus.

Masters and Slaves

Masters and Slaves: these words readily bring up negative connotations for me.

When I think of Masters, I think of someone or something controlling everything about me: what I can and cannot do which results in me becoming a Slave.

Paul writes in Romans Chapters 5 and 6 that the sin of Adam made all mankind sinners and separated us from God but through Jesus we were restored to RIGHTEOUSNESS with God. We were ruined by sin and rescued by Christ. AMAZING! 

Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under GRACE."

Two key words here ~  RIGHTEOUSNESS and GRACE:
RIGHTEOUSNESS: a right relationship with God
GRACE: unconditional love of God

That is pretty AMAZING -- HIS GRACE!

After I posted this earlier, the Lord reminded me of an old song that says this perfectly:
"Once like a bird in prison I dwelt, no freedom from my sorrow I felt. Then Jesus came and listened to me and glory to God He set me free ~ He set me free, yes, He set me free. He broke the bonds of prison for me. I'm glory bound my Jesus to see for glory to God ~ He set me free."

Let It Go

Do I have much in my purse but not much in my person? Today's summer reading plan at the Adel Assembly of God is Mark 10. Jesus speaks to the rich young man and the young man asks 'What must I do to inherit eternal life?',  Jesus basically tells him to 'Go, sell everything you have and give . . . '

Two words jumped out at me SELL and GIVE! There is more to life than riches and I understand that but whoa - the flesh hangs on doesn't it? I asked myself some questions: What barriers are keeping me from turning my WHOLE life over to God and serving? You see, it's not just about money. What things or activities keep me from serving?

If Jesus asked me or you to give up our house? our car? our job? our  hobbies? . . . you fill in the blank . . . to serve Him, what would our reaction be?

There is more to life than financial riches.

Standing In The Gap

As a part of our Summer reading plan at the Adel Assembly of God we are reading Mark 1-5. My heart was quickened when I read in Mark 2:5 "When Jesus saw their faith, . . . " Here we have a group of friends who have taken one of their friends who is paralyzed to Jesus to be healed.

How amazing is that! Their friend could not get to Jesus and they interceded for him and took him to Jesus. They were standing in the gap for their friend. They were interceding for him. We know from reading the scripture that the first thing Jesus did was to forgive this man for his sins which seems a little strange if you are the friends. It was not the sins of their friend that brought them to Jesus to heal but the body of their dear friend. Jesus recognized the sin which holds us back from receiving all that he has for us. The bonus was that this man received the physical healing too.

Often we are so focused on the physical that we neglect the spiritual. BUT Jesus didn't.

Fear Not

When I woke up this morning, I felt disoriented, confused. It was an uneasy feeling. I did remember dreaming but nothing that was scary or fearful. I have told Charlie many mornings after he has shared his "dreams" with me that I don't dream. I know that is not true but I can't remember the dreams if I do. I think that is perfectly alright because I have way too many other things that I have to concentrate on remembering that are actually going to be things I will deal with that day. But this confusion/feeling of forgetfulness scared me somewhat. As I lay there, God told me to read Psalm 100. So I got up and I did just that and from that it led me to 2 Corinthians 9:8 which then led me to Numbers 6:24-26 and lastly Psalm 23. Thank you Father.

So I am going to share them with you and maybe someone reading this will take comfort from them too.

Psalm 100:

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his,

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

2 Corinthians 9:8

 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I pray that you can take comfort in any of these verses if you woke up anxious this morning.