The Reality of Done

I've been wanting to write this post for some time but have struggled with where to begin. God has begun to do a new thing within me. I used to spend hours focusing on myself and my need to change. I would compare what I was doing for Him to what others were doing and if I was doing more I would feel prideful but if I was doing less I would feel despondent. My need to justify myself to others and to myself was an indication that I didn't trust in the finished work of Christ. It was my unbelief and idolatry that kept me from experiencing His peace and power. God in his grace and mercy was showing me that although it was pretty easy to change my behavior it was impossible to change my heart. He was beginning to cleanse me from my idol of me. The realization that I can't love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, all my strength unless He enables me to love Him was what brought me to the end of myself. I remember crying out to Him, "I can't muster up enough strength within myself to love you the way you call me to love you but I want more than anything to love you this way." But praise be to God through Jesus Christ, He did. It's Jesus' performance for me that justifies me before God. God came to do for me what I could not do for myself through the life, death and resurrection of His perfect Son. I have nothing to offer except all of me. I lay before Him my law marinaded heart and my flesh that screams, "it's about me". I entrust to Him my inabilities and inadequacies and believe Him to do within me what only He can do and that is change me from within. I've heard it said that if you want to make people angry preach law but if you want to make people furious preach grace. I know this to be true because I used to me one of these people. I didn't understand all Christ had secured for me and I thought I had to go out and get something I didn't already possess. Thank you Tullian Tchividjian for teaching me this profound truth. Also, if it's all about Him and His performance for me than it has nothing to do with me and my ability to do anything for Him apart from Him. My ability to do is only rooted in the reality of done. When my focus is on me and what I'm doing or not doing, instead of, on Him and what He has done, then I make my salvation about what I do instead of what has already been done. This isn't the gospel, it's idolatry. It's self-centered not Christ centered. It's what Satan uses to put my attention on me and my flesh instead of on Christ's supremacy, glory and sufficiency.

The Bible tells us that it was Jesus who created us in our mother's womb, Jesus who spoke creation into being, Jesus who was before all things and in Him all things are held together. Jesus who is the image of the invisible God, by whom and through whom all things were created. This creator became the created. He clothed Himself in humanity to become sin for sinners. He who knew no sin became sin and absorbed the wrath of God to justify sinners to God, for while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Justification by faith alone, by grace alone, in the finished work of Christ alone. This profound truth makes me want to do everything for Him who paid it all for me.

Pictures: Top Garden Tomb in Jerusalem

Bottom: Me and my husband on the Mount of of Precipice in Nazareth. Mount Tabor is to the left of us in the distance.

Crippled

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days to work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound (deo, to tie, bind, imprison) for eighteen LONG years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. Luke 12:10-17

Lord, give me your words and your insight into these wonderful verses. These verses you put in your Word for me, to comfort me and to show me your desire to bring freedom to those who are bound. In this moment, pour out your love to those who are bound and reaffirm your love to those who doubt your goodness and love. Open their hearts to receive your powerful proclamation, that you have come to set the oppressed free. Luke 4:18.

What is crippling you? What is the thing that has you bound? What is the moment that threatens to pin you to the floor. What is the image that reoccurs over and over in your mind that Satan has enslaved you to? For eighteen long years this dear woman was enslaved and bound and when Jesus saw her, he called out to her to come to him, He called her to trust him with that which was crippling her. What is it that has you hunched over, limping through life because the load you are carrying is too heavy. What are the moments you have shoved deeper into the depths of your heart that threaten to suffocate you. Precious one, Jesus sees you. He desires to heal you from whatever is crippling you and not because He is obligated to heal you but because he loves you and has the power to free you. His hand is not too short to save nor is he waiting for you to get your act together. Is today your Sabbath day? The day when Jesus words, “Come forward dear one,” resonates within you. Trusting Him to do for you what you can not do for yourself, to set you free from your infirmity. Jesus purchased you for himself with His precious blood so that you will be free. Free from that which enslaves and entangles. He didn’t only come to make sick people better but to make dead people alive! He has raised us to new life, given us a new name along with a new identity, he has proclaimed freedom for the prisoners. He has called us out of the darkness and into His glorious light. Don’t doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light. He is transforming you. His desire is to free you from your past as you continue to lay on the alter that which is crippling you. Trusting that He who has called you is faithful and his words are true. He loves you too much to leave you as you are at this moment. Come to Him, all who are weary and burdened and He will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

A Thirsty Land

This post was written in 2009 after an intense time of wrestling through a season of unbelief, believing that my acceptance and approval had to do with my performance for God instead of God's performance for me. The irony of this was that during this season of struggle I became further aware of the sin below the service oops surface (funny that I would accidentally type service, I'm just going to leave it there in case it speaks to you. I meant surface but many perform service thinking that service is what justifies us before God.) It was a further realization that the sin that resided in the dark recesses of my heart could not be changed by my behavior. I needed a reawakening. I was praying for more of the Holy Spirit when Christ tenderly reminded me that I have all of Him. I didn't just have some of the Holy Spirit, I have all of Him and He is completely perfect and capable to help me in my times of trouble. What I needed was to take hold of, by faith, in what I already had. It was my unbelief that kept me from taking hold of Him. It was only then that I began to realize that no matter how hard I tried I could not change my heart, only Christ can change the inner man. He also showed me that the more I focused on Me the less I focused on Him and His unfailing love for me. The temptation to make my salvation based on what I do instead of what has already been done for me is the temptation to believe I am saved by what I do instead of what Christ has already done for me so that I can then do. It was His desire to free me from myself so that I might then serve Him from a pure heart out of abundant gratitude for all He has secured for me. In light of what He has done for me, the therefore's of the Bible are not burdensome but an outpouring of my faith and love for Him.

For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; and they will spring up among the grass like poplars by streams of water. This one will say, 'I am the LORD's', and that one will call on the name of Jacob; and another will write on his hand, 'Belonging to the LORD,' and will name Israel's name with honor. Isaiah 44: 3-5

Jesus, stood and cried out saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' " But this He spoke of the Spirit. John 7:37-38, 39

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

Are you parched? Is your Spirit in need of refreshment from the only well that never runs dry? So often, I look to the wells of the world to satisfy. I look to what the world offers and wonder why I'm exhausted, run down and discouraged. With my head hung low, I slowly come to the realization I need to look up and realize where my help comes from. I need to look up and see Him as He is and put Him in His rightful place in my life, which is in the forefront of everything. He is everything. His provisions are perfect, His water overflowing, His Spirit within me COMPLETELY PERFECT. His Spirit is more than satisfying and His Word is the means by which He satisfies. He has made provisions for every one of my days and it is up to me to trust in and take hold of these blessings, not for my glory but to be used by Him to bring Him glory and to let the Living Water within me overflow into the lives of others. Particularly my children who are walking in my footsteps and my husband who is leading the way. May my hands not tear down and instead be used to build up my family and those the Lord puts in my path. Living water, which is alive within me and bubbles up to overflowing. A fountain of grace, for no other Name could have set me free and placed my feet on the solid Rock of Jesus. His love never fails, His mercy is new every morning and His grace sufficient in weakness. As the world grows darker may my light shine brighter and the living water within me refresh those He puts in my path. May I declare with boldness all He has done for me to those who have no hope within themselves. Are you barren within, parched? Jesus has the power to satisfy and water the areas within you that are dying. He will pour down his blessing in abundance to all who ask, the blessing of Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who is alive and active within us and turns our barren desolate souls into lush gardens of grace. He is our Comforter and Helper. The One who was poured out like a drink offering is the only source of life for the barren soul. The One who has declared the end from the beginning, who knew every one of our days, is the same today, yesterday and forever. No matter how dark your life is right now, He is the everlasting light. His glorious light is a beacon in darkness. For you, He has set His sights.

"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ' I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. ' Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, from the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming and the events that are going to take place. 'Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it? And you are my witnesses. Is there any other Rock? I know of none." Isaiah 44:6-8

In the Dessert of Busyness

As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirst for God, for the living God;when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been food day and night. Psalm 42:1-3

My feet are dusty from trudging through the desert of busyness. My mouth is parched by the lack of water found in this valley. Like a cactus, doubt grows and flourishes in this environment. The scorching sun and lack of living water, cause weariness to come upon me and I lose my footing stumbling into a cactus of unbelief, it pricks and leaves a scar.

The snake slithers and hides below the sand, two eyes visible but body hidden. Walking through the valley of busyness, where doubt flourishes and complacency resides, the snake is the most dangerous threat and his lies whisper..."God is not pleased with you."

Where did that thought come from, I wonder, as my feet continue down the path of complacency. Those eyes, they are on me, waiting for me to journey further into his territory. He waits just below the sand, keeping watch as I continue to put one foot in front of the other. His voice slithers..."God will never use you, just give up"

Suddenly, a sand storm comes upon me and I become confused. It is hard for me to see, the sand is swirling all around me, my vision impaired. He comes out of his hiding place, exposing himself ..."You are not forgiven, do you really believe He loves you and died for you, what have you done for Him"

My heart quickens and my mind swirls...."could it be that I missed the call of salvation" I cry out to God for help...

I hear a different voice, one that is quiet, and His words defy logic. At the sound of His voice the sand settles and the wind calms.... "I love you with an everlasting love. Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting and believe, dear one, for it is finished." He looks at me tenderly and I hold onto Him tightly, His grip is strong as He reassures me of His love, I put my head down and rest in His embrace. He shields Me from the deadly bite of the serpent while crushing his head with His heel. He leads me out of this forsaken land to the abundant waters He provides in the wilderness. I drink deeply from the living water He provides in the desolate desert. While the sand still covers me and my eyes still burn from the desert storm, I'm once again reminded that He will always satisfy and yet I yearn to never be satisfied but always ache for more of what He provides. I yearn for more of Him, who splits rocks in the wilderness and gives us abundant drink like the ocean depths. Psalm 78:15

I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD; I make supplication with my voice to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walked, in the desert of busyness(my words)...I cried out to You, O LORD; I said, "You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Your name; the righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me" Psalm 142:1-3,5-7

Saying to those who are bound, 'Go forth,' to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' Along the roads they will feed, and their pastures will be on all bare heights. "They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; for He who has compassion on them will lead them and will guide them to springs of water." Isaiah 49:9-10

Inside the Cup

The one thing that separates Christianity from every other world religion is that God came down and did for us what we could not do for ourselves. It's a complete dependance on the One who's name is the Word of God. It's a complete turn from ourselves to a mighty God who is able to save us, change us and call us by a new name. When we embrace Jesus we release the things of this world and our purpose and vision will be about glorifying Him in word and deed. When we turn to Him, he changes us from the inside out and the Holy Spirit that comes into our frail and broken bodies starts the amazing process of conforming us into the image of our Savior. When the Holy Spirit comes within us, our desires change. The Spirit begins to wage war against our flesh and our flesh against the Spirit and during these intense times of inner struggle our desire must be to glorify Him no matter how we feel and trust Him as He begins to change us from within.

It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31,32. The gospel of Matthew expounds on this verse with these words, "But go and learn what it means :'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:13

The Pharisees' loved their rituals and religious ceremonies, they focused on the outward appearance of their faith and neglected the inward renewal of their heart. They were more concerned with appearances than dealing with the inner secret sins, the sins that put their rituals and religious ceremonies above human compassion. They believed the lie that righteousness was to be acheived by their works and sacrifices alone. Their salvation was all about them. It was an acts of service based religion. It was a religion based on appearances. Jesus, put's it this way, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also " Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:26 The people were more concerned with their outward appearances than with their inward morality.

I have found personally that it is much easier "to do" for the Lord than "to be" in the Lord and in His Holy Word. For when I am in the Word I am reminded of my need for Him to do what only He can do. Change me from within.

"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance", What does this mean? This verse is directly linked to those who will likely oppose the message of Salvation. It will be the people, like the religious leaders, who do not recognize their need for a Savior. It will be people who replace their inner need of salvation with acts of service instead of repentance, which is a COMPLETE turn from self to God. Jesus came to save all who would come to repentance. When He stated that He came to save the sick but not the righteous, what He was saying was one has to realize they are sick to be saved. The religious leaders of Christ's day didn't recognize their need for the Savior. They trusted in their abilities and their ways and not in the way of repentance and inner renewal. Therefore, bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8

Post written December 13, 2010

The Finished Work of Christ

You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain-if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Even so Abraham believe God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. Galatians 3:1-6

The Galatians, which were predominately Gentile were being told by the Judaizer's that they must be circumcised to remain in right standing before God. That their faith in Christ did not justify them before God but their works, and to remain in Christ, they most adhere to the Law of Moses. Paul's letter to the Galatians was to counteract this heresy and further explain the finished work of Christ which was sufficient unto salvation.

I, like the Galatians, am guilty of falling for the temptation to make my justification about what I do instead of what Christ has already done for me. I recognized this within myself when the majority of my focus is about what I'm doing or not doing and in turn base my acceptance before God on my performance instead of rejoicing in His performance for me. I do this when I withdraw from God, as I have once again, yelled at my girls or failed to get up at the crack of dawn for a quiet time. I realize this when I become prideful over my accomplishments and despondent when I fail to perform. I do this when I concentrate on the speck in my friend's eye and yet fail to remove the log from my own eye. I do this when my identity is more based on my performance for Christ than on His covenant which has been cut and established by the shed blood of His Son. What do all of these temptations imply? They imply that I believe my SALVATION IS BY FAITH BUT MY PERFECTION IS IN KEEPING THE LAW. I'm saved initially by faith but I must sustain that which I've already been given by keeping the law. It's believing the lie that Christ's death was enough to get me in but not enough to keep me in. This my friend, is not the gospel. The gospel is all about Him, it has nothing to do with us. If we could obtain perfection by keeping the law, then Christ died needlessly and His death wasn't enough to justify us before God. It would also imply that we could be justified by God apart from Christ's finished work on the cross. In essence, we could work the works of God apart from Christ and his finished work. Does God care how I live?? ABSOLUTELY! But I live for Christ because in Him I am already approved before God NOT because I have to gain God's approval. It's out of my sincere gratitude that I want to die to myself so that I might live for Him. It's His Spirit within me that causes me to walk in His ordinances and leads me into a further appreciation for all He has done. I am justified before God because my sinful record became Christ's, and he suffered the punishment I deserved. Christ did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Matthew 5:17

So what was the purpose of the law? The purpose of the law is to lead us to Christ. It shows us our inability to keep perfectly the law and to yearn for the One who would free us from the bondage of sin and the law. It even now redirects us to Christ's finished work on the cross as we become conscience of our inadequacy to keep perfectly every letter of the law. Before Christ, it shows us a holy God and His standard of righteousness. The law focused on the outer man but Christ came to purify the inner man. The law was once written on tablets of stone but has now been placed within our minds and on our hearts as the promised Holy Spirit comes in to take up residency inside our frail and broken bodies. It's to show us that our adequacy before God is based on Christ adequacy for us and not our adequacy in ourselves. 2 Corinthians 3:5, Hebrews 8:10, 2 Corinthians 3:3, Galatians 3:24

But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:4-7

When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 7:13

Our justification before God comes from faith in His Son and not by our works. Romans 3:28

"God doesn't need our good works but our neighbor does." Martin Luther

More on the faith of Abraham in the weeks to come.

Work the Works of God

"Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." Therefore, they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him who He has sent." - John 6:26-29

To be honest with you, this verse haunts me. When I was a new believer it was hard for me to study the words of Jesus because it was so contradictory to what my mind had created Him to be. My mind created a loving, pacifist, who catered to the needs of all people. He spoke of things like loving your enemy, turning your cheek and pursuing a life a peace. I imagined Him to be a pushover that I could somehow pacify with my good deeds. You see when I began my walk with the Lord, I wanted all the benefits with none of the cost. I had the attitude of,"what have you done for me lately." I asked Him to come into my heart so I could go to heaven just in case He really was the one He claimed to be. I did this while continuing to worship the god of self. Like the people of Jesus' day, I wanted to make my salvation about something I was doing instead of just believing Him to be who He claimed to be and following Him out of my abundant gratitude for all He secured for me by becoming sin so that I could be declared righteous. What was the work they were to work? The work was to believe in the finished work of Christ that would soon take place on their behalf. Jesus wrapped Himself in humanity so that we could wear His robe of righteousness. He, who was rich in heaven, who spoke creation into being came down to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Jesus, who was before all things and in him all things hold together and have their being did not consider equality with God something to be grasp but humbled Himself, came down, lived under the same limitations you and I live under and did for us what we could not do for ourselves, kept perfectly every letter of the law. As if this was not enough, He then became sin, his flesh torn in two on the cross where He received and absorbed the wrath of God. The cross where every sin I have ever committed or will commit was placed upon Him. He took upon Himself the the full penalty of sin and the wrath that we deserved was placed upon Him. God poured out His wrath on His perfect Son, who was fully God and fully man.

How then can I make my salvation based on what I do, instead of, what has already been done on my behalf? You see, it was easier for me to trust in my ability to perform for him than to trust in and believe in the finished work of Christ. The root of my problem was unbelief. When he proclaimed in great agony "it is finished" it really was finished because it has everything to do with Him and not me. In the book, Because He Loves Me by Elyse M. Fitpatrick, she makes this amazing declaration. "We are, each one, more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, but more loved and welcomed than we ever dared hope. page 57

Why do I reveal this to you? I reveal this to you because we see in the passage above that the people of Jesus' day were doing the same thing. They heard about the miracles He was performing and they pursued Him out of their selfish ambition and to have their earthly needs met, full stomachs. (John 6:26). His miracles left no doubt that He was who he claimed to be and yet they still focused their attention on themselves and their desire to perform the works of God apart from God. They wanted the accolades, the acceptance, the following. They wanted full stomachs and a delectable life. John 6:14, tells us that the people saw the signs which He had performed and believed Him to be the prophet they could make king and deliver them from the oppressive arm of Rome. The chapter goes on to tell us the people believed they could take him by force and declare him king. Because they intended to take him by force, Jesus withdrew from the crowd. The people got in their boats and followed him to Capernaum. Which leads us to the verse above, John 6: 26-29."Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." Therefore, they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him who He has sent."

They sought him but not because they believed him to be who he claimed to be but because he was meeting their physical needs. I also believe they sought him because they wanted to be entertained by his many miracles. They wanted an earthly political messiah, one who would bring them power, comfort and earthly security. They were looking for the King of Kings in his first coming and not a suffering servant. In the book, Jesus Among Other Gods, Ravi Zacharias states, "Before his record of this conversation, John had already described several miracles that Jesus had done. The first was the conversion of water into wine, in which Jesus revealed His power over the elements. Then John narrated two episodes of healing, in which Jesus showed His power over sickness. Following that, he relates Jesus' multiplication of a young lads's lunch to feed five thousand-His power of provision. Finally, he pens the well-known story of Jesus walking on water-His power over natural law. Capturing the beauty of the conversion of the water into wine, the poet Alexander Pope said, "The conscious water saw its Master and blushed." That sublime description could be reworked to explain each one of these miracles. Was it far-fetched for the Creator of the universe, who fashion matter out of nothing, to multiply bread for the crowd. pg 80. But don't we do the same thing? Jesus was the One who created all things! He was the One who created us in our mother's womb, who spoke and it was, who even now holds everything together and yet we marvel at the miracle and not the Maker, Master and Sustainer.

Also notice, they referred to Jesus as the prophet, merely a man blessed by the power of God, but not God Himself. This reminds me of the discourse between Jesus and His disciples. Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah , or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, " You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus responds, "Blessed are you Simon Peter because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 16:13-17.

So often, we allow the culture to define for us, who God is. We look to the culture to determine what we believe to be true about God. In essence, we look to the world and not the word.

We trust in things we can see and understand rather than the things we can't see and our minds can't comprehend. We get caught up in the current of culture and swept away. I think it is fitting that Jesus asked His disciples first, who do the people say that I am, instead of, who do you say that I am? I think He did this knowing that often times the culture defines for us our beliefs. I also believe He did this to commend Simon Peter for not conforming to the ideas and beliefs of the culture and to explain that unless God reveals to us the truth, we will confirm to the ideas of this world.

Let me ask an uncomfortable question, Are you following Jesus for all of the benefits and none of the cost? Are you following him only when it's convenient or meets some emotional/physical need? Or are you following Him in full assurance that He is who He claims to be, the Son of the Living God, who was and is and is to come? Are you following Him to gain His approval or because you already have His approval? Do you believe that in Him, you are freely loved, accepted, forgiven, made NEW?

It is my hope that as I share with you my inner wrestling to make my salvation all about Him and not about me that you are encouraged to press further into Him and ponder these amazing realities that bring freedom.

As always, please overlook ALL the grammatical errors. A lot of times, I am writing with four kids coming in and out and numerous interruptions.