Tag: sin

Grateful to Your Toes

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And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you. Ezekiel 36:26-27

A Christmas Carol is a popular Christmas classic penned by Charles Dickens well over a hundred years ago.

One cannot comprehend the panic Scrooge felt as he walked with the Ghost of Christmas Future, unless one has made sinful choices such as Scrooge.

Because Scrooge was so selfish, he was blind to anything but himself.

Increasingly becoming aware of his sin only that night.

The consequences of his actions finally spoke louder to Scrooge than his fleshly habits.

Finding him in the graveyard, he sees the man’s name so ridiculed in death pages before: his own.

Falling on his face, he begs the Ghost of Christmas Future for a second chance.

Scrooge is agonized beyond anything he’s felt before.

He recognizes he is literally doomed.

Doomed forever and ever unless given a second chance.

A second chance as a changed man.

Begging the Ghost, he claims to have changed.

Begs and pleads with all his might.

He finally understands his truly bleak future written by his choices lived his entire adult life.

Stop and imagine yourself. What if that was you?

Do you have sections of your life ugly to God?

So ugly you deserve eternal damnation, too?

We all do. All of us deserve death.

But Jesus. His birth, death, and resurrection bring us hope as we place our trust in Him.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Let’s return to the question at hand: what ugly parts of your life do you still need to give to God?

Why haven’t you? What’s stopping you? Are you even bothered by them?

Scrooge wasn’t for most of his life. But when his eyes were opened, he was horrified.

Release your fleshly desires to God. Release your sinful ways, hurtful to so many.

Scrooge never cared about hurting others, but he did when he finally got it.

We don’t have the luxury of seeing future consequences of our sin.

But we do have the gift of God’s redemption. And second chances.

When Scrooge finally pried open his hands, he released his bitterness. His anger. His selfishness.

And in return he was given new eyes. And boy was he happy!

Releasing those burdens caused Scrooge to well up with joy unlike anything he had ever felt before.

Just like us, when we are forgiven by God.

Covered by Jesus, we are made new. Forgiven. Hopeful. Loved.

Bring your whole self to Jesus, this Christmas. Ask Him to show you any part you’ve neglected to give to Him.

Gather up your courage, give Him that ugly part, too, and welcome the healing He promises to bring.

Like Scrooge, you’ll be grateful all the way down to your toes.

Photos by Elin Melaas, David Abrams, Jez Timms, & Elliott B on Unsplash

What’s Normal?

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Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11

Ever heard the phrase “the new normal”?

Usually means something bizarre is becoming commonplace.

Normal used to mean a two parent family with a few children, living in the same house for decades.

Normal used to mean church anchored the neighborhood, threading lives together as one.

Normal used to mean children knew their place and it wasn’t in charge of adults.

While we can sit here and debate “normal” social behaviors, I was wondering something completely different.

How often do you think about God?

Does He fill your thoughts most of the day? Or just when there’s nobody else to turn?

Do you talk with Him once a day, maybe as your eyes close?

Or do you talk to Him in a constant chatter about this or that, basically whenever anything comes to mind?

Do you wake with His song on your lips?

What’s your music choice? Whatever it is demands space in your head.

Sometimes I think I’m not normal.

I adore worship music. It’s all I listen to, with the exception of occasional classical music.

My head is filled with God because of it. I regularly wake with His song on my lips.

I think of heaven, too. Life is incredibly short and I hope I’m helping others see the importance of God.

Do you feel an urgency to align your heart to God’s?

What if you don’t wake up tomorrow?

Or what if you have only today to share God with another?

God takes our life seriously. So seriously that He rescued us from eternal separation by sending His son, Jesus, to take our sin for us.

If we really thought long and hard, we’d prioritize filling ourselves with worship to God, seeking His face. We owe Him everything.

So, in the end, normal for Christians should be our never-ending focus on God.

Putting Him first.

Above all else.

And that means above you and me.

As we live God’s purpose for our lives, may we consistently place Him first as we seek Him in all we do and say.

Photos by Doncoombez, Jeremy Thomas, & Taylor Cole on Unsplash

Shopping for More

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For in Him we live, and move, and have our being. Acts 17:28

Where are you gathering your identity?

Are you shopping at Walmart when you should be selecting items at the most expensive store?

You might reply you cannot possibly afford the most expensive store.

Remember, I’m not talking about material goods.

I’m talking about your worth. Your identity. Your very core.

When you surrender your life to God, He steps in, scooping out the ugly, replacing it with beauty.

Jesus’ death on the cross provides the transaction removing sin. The sin we were born with. The sin we chose. Our heredity. God’s power removes all of it, replacing it with redemption.

When redeemed, we have God’s power. His life. His disposition.

Acts reminds us we live and move and literally are within God.

Your identity is God’s.

Your worth is God’s.

When we live from within God’s power, we have everything.

When our being is literally from God, our worth is immeasurable.

It’s time to stop shopping for your worth at the thrift store.

Time to stop settling for your used former self.

Instead, select God’s equisite self. His perfection wanting to shine through you.

Start living as if God is speaking through you.

Start living as if God is working through you.

Start living as if God is moving through you.

Because when you live and move and have your being in God, He’s already here.

Photos by Tem Rysh, Lucrezia Carnelos, Markus Spiske, & Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Genesis 5

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When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Genesis 5:1

So amazing isn’t it?

The reality that we are created in the likeness of God.

God is so creative. So were Adam and Eve.

Imagine them creating their first abode. Their first home.

Did they fashion bowls from the earth, hardening them in the sun?

Find herbs to make hot drinks?

What about clothing, how did they manage that?

You know the leaf thing didn’t last, or did it?

Diapers for the children?

What bedding did they use? Pillows?

Before they left the garden because of sin, I imagine they had a ball discovering all God had created.

Birds, plants, animals, and food.

But when they were banished, it was a different story.

Not sure what their landscape looked like.

Homesteading as the first ever on this earth must have been frustrating, yet rewarding.

I’m sure they came up with all sorts of solutions as they had God’s creative mind.

The chapter ends with the generations of Adam to Noah, each living to almost 1,000 years old.

Lots of time to be creative. Or sin.

Our world complains when parenting more than one child.

Imagine dozens as those early generations likely had.

I know, I can’t either.

Created in the image of God. That’s you, too.

How will you showcase God’s creativity today?

Photos by Gabriel Jimenez, Walter Martin, Chris Abney, &  Shoeib Abolhassani on Unsplash

Oceans of God’s Love

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How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

Ever tried to comprehend the vastness of God’s love for you?

Let’s try.

You and I deserve to be punished for our sin.

Why? Because God is holy.

Because God is holy, sin cannot enter heaven.

Because God created us in His image, we have a spirit, soul, and body.

And with those, we make choices every single day.

To follow God or not.

To bow to our flesh or not.

Because we have chosen sin once and then way more than we’d like to ever admit, we deserve death.

Someone has to pay for our sin.

And that person should be us.

Except for Jesus.

He stepped in and paid it all for us.

He suffered and died in our place.

Why?

Because of His great love for us.

His ocean of love, waiting to surround our very selves.

What will you do?

What is your response?

Will your heart overflow with love and gratitude, spilling onto the lives around you?

Your choices each day either reveal your gratitude to God or showcase your selfish dependence on flesh.

If you really think about God’s enormous love for you, you cannot help but smile.

Are you smiling yet?

Photos by Jamez Picard, Saiph Muhammad, Brett Jordan, & Madison Oren on Unsplash

Meant for Us

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Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6

Words utterly fail.

It isn’t possible to find adequate words, expressing how grateful we are for your sacrifice, Jesus.

You came to us for this time. Good Friday and Easter.

Your entire life was lived for this purpose.

To suffer and die in our place.

To take our punishment onto your holy and sinless self.

Each drop of spit falling off your face was meant for us.

Each thorn thrust into your head was meant for us.

Each whip lash was meant to tear our flesh, not yours.

Each insulting word was meant to insult us, not you.

Each nail driven into your hands and feet was meant to pierce our flesh.

Not yours.

Not your holy feet who willingly walked this earth, sharing the love of the Father.

Not your holy hands who willingly healed the hurting people clamoring to you.

When you hung on the cross with the weight of our sin, God turned away.

He left you utterly alone.

That should have been us as we are the sinful ones, not you.

We are deserving of death, not you.

Yet you chose to die for us.

You willingly took our pain and suffering away, bearing it all on your own.

But that’s why your death won the victory. Why the devil has been defeated once and for all.

You were and are the spotless lamb.

The Prince of Peace.

The sinless sacrifice for us, Your children.

It’s why we are now set free forever and ever from sin, death, and the grave when we choose You.

When we choose You over ourselves.

When we acknowledge Your sacrifice, cleansing us from our sin.

Reflecting this Easter, it seems impossible.

You, a perfect sacrifice, choosing us over you.

Yet, You did just that. You cancelled our debt for all of eternity.

We are forever grateful.

We are forever yours.

We are forever and ever yours.

Fill us afresh with a new awe of Good Friday. Of your sacrifice.

May we live every day in the shadow of the cross.

And may we live with the hope of Easter, knowing You have indeed conquered it all.

Photos by Alex Noriega, Jon Tyson, Dylan McLeod, & Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Sneaky Lies

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So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6

Adam and Eve were living in the Garden of Eden.

Spectacular food, unspoiled by death or disease.

Can you imagine how flavorful it was?

Probably beyond our wildest dreams.

Gorgeous scenery.

Lounging animals.

No schedules or work demands.

Talking with God every evening.

Just the two of them in paradise.

For how long had they been enjoying God’s creation?

Not sure. But it definately ended abruptly.

There were two trees alone in their glory: the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The Bible clearly states the second tree was off limits. Completely.

No eating from the knowledge of good and evil tree.

It was God’s protection over them.

One day a serpent opened its mouth and talked to Eve.

Was that unusual? Having an animal or reptile talk to you?

Eve doesn’t act surprised. In fact she listens to what it has to say.

Eve had all the knowledge of God’s goodness surrounding her each and every day.

She talked with God every day.

Yet she chose to believe the serpent instead.

The serpent told her the forbidden tree would make her wise like God.

When those words were spoken, Eve’s eyes were convinced of its truth.

She saw the tree as good for her.

She saw a lie as truth.

What lies do you see as truth?

Lies about yourself? Others? Your future?

Eve didn’t consult Adam. She merely repeated the lie as fact.

And Adam believed it, too.

Instead of consulting each other and then asking God, who created all things, they believed a lie.

True, they did not understand lies existed, as they lived in a perfectly created world.

But the words went against all God had spoken to them.

Ask God today what lies you currently believe as truth.

Seek His truth over all things in your carnal mind.

We don’t have the luxury of living in the Garden of Eden.

But we do have access to God.

He wants to talk with you every day, too.

Filter your thoughts with His, seeing through Satan’s sneaky lies.

Photos by niko photos, Jeroen den Otter, Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦, & Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Freedom Walk

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The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11

Are you as free as you can be?

As Christians, we profess to be free from death, sin, and the grave.

Free from eternal damnation.

And yes, that would be correct.

As a Christian, you have placed your trust in Jesus, and He has paid the penalty for your sin.

So, yes, technically, you are free from all of the above.

But what about freedom as we step upon this earth?

Are you walking as if you are free?

Just because you are free from the penalty of sin, does not mean you are free from its effects.

Do you feel pitiful and ugly when someone ignores you?

Do you feel a rush of anger when someone wrongs you?

Do you feel sarcastic while belittling someone who doesn’t understand you right away?

Do you put others down, lifting yourself up instead?

Do you put your needs first, serving your number one above all else?

Do you refuse to look at life through the lens of another, wanting your way instead?

How are you at listening?

Or, gasp, asking for forgiveness when you are wrong?

How are you at even admitting you are wrong?

Do you help others before asked?

Leave the room better than before you walked in?

When we do not clothe ourselves with the fruits of the spirit, walking as Jesus did, we are not free.

When we jump to satisfy ourselves over others, we are not free.

When we listen to lies in our head, we are not free.

When we become defeated in our many mistakes, we are not free.

Only with the power of God, can we break the chains that bind us.

Speak Jesus’ name over what binds you.

Over your flesh that speaks louder than your spirit.

Cancel the enemy’s assignments and send it to the dry desert.

Ask Jesus to cover you with His wisdom, power, strength, and joy.

And remember, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.

That, my friends, is freedom.

Photos by Michael Baccin, Rikke Hembre, Anita Austvika, & Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Not Convenient

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For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

If you suddenly found yourself feeling in a way that is opposite of the Bible, would that change things for you?

Justifying this new self you are sporting?

Let’s say you decide you’re now a boy who prefers boys.

You know God’s views.

Do you live out your sin, justifying it as your true self?

Or do you continue to give yet one more thing to God, knowing He will sustain you every time?

Let’s say you grow to detest your marriage.

Do you embrace living alone, justifying your pitiful reasons?

Or do you die once again to self, giving your marriage back to God?

Does Christianity need to fit you or do you need to fit Christianity?

Does your faith change when your flesh cries out for sin?

Or do you cry out to God when your flesh shouts loudly to be satisfied?

Christianity is not built for convenience.

It’s never convenient to put down yourself, honoring others and your commitments.

It’s never convenient to seek God’s will above your own.

It’s never convenient to see others through the lens of God’s love.

It wasn’t convenient for Jesus to die for your sins.

Yet He did.

Even in the midst of your flesh, seek the will of God.

Seek the will of God over the will of flesh.

This life will last but a short time.

And when you die, you’ll suddenly become very aware of how necessary it all was.

Necessary as you look into the eyes of the people who were led to Jesus through you.

Necessary as you see those touched by your testimony.

Necessary as you see your family following you into heaven after praying daily for their salvation.

Following Jesus is never convenient.

But it is necessary. Absolutely necessary.

Our very lives and the lives of others depend upon it.

Photos by Clay Banks, Andrey K, Vasilis Karkalas, & Ben White on Unsplash

Silencing the Tempter

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And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Luke 4:13

The devil will come tempt you when you were at your weakest.

That’s when he comes.

Do you know when he came to Jesus?

After Jesus had fasted for 40 days.

Luke 4:2 says Jesus was hungry.

Probably the understatement of the year after not eating for 40 days am I right?

After fasting 40 days, Jesus was physically weak.

But that’s when the devil came.

When does the devil come for you?

When does he visit, tempting you to sin or simply help you off the straight and narrow?

When you are weak.

When is that exactly?

Is it after certain situations?

After you listen to lies in your head?

Do you feel weak every day?

When the devil tempted Jesus, He rose up in his weakened state and refused every lie the devil threw at Him.

He refuted the devil’s statements with scripture.

God‘s living word.

Every drop of God’s word breathes life with the power of the Almighty behind every single syllable.

God reminds us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Put your name in that.

God’s grace is sufficient for me.

God’s power is made perfect in me.

Absolutely incredible. Looking at verse 10, when we are weak, we KNOW God’s power is working through us.

When I am weak, I am strong because Jesus covers me with Himself.

When I am weak, I am strong because Jesus’ strength literally replaces my weakness.

Replace means exchange, so my weakness is exchanged for the strength of Almighty God.

Reminds me of 1 Peter 5:7 which calls you to cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.

Put your name in there.

I cast all my anxiety on Jesus because He cares for me.

Time to tell the devil enough.

Next time he tempts you, because he will never quit, stop him with the word of God.

You’ll send him packing, wondering if he should return.

Photos by Mike Hindle on Unsplash

Ruling Over Sin

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If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. Genesis 4:7

Murder entered our world within years of God creating man.

Second generation to be exact.

Cain, Adam and Eve’s firstborn son, killed his brother, Abel, over jealousy.

Cain was jealous of Abel’s favor with God.

Abel had offered God a firstborn lamb for his offering.

Cain merely brought an offering of his fruit from the ground.

Not the best nor the first.

Almost wonder if it was an afterthought when he noticed Abel’s offering.

God warned Cain. Wanted to know why he was so angry.

But God assured Cain, telling him he could still offer himself.

But God also warned Cain about the sin knocking on his heart.

We all know what Cain chose.

He chose death to his brother, which led to death of the life he had always known.

Is your sin worth losing your entire life as you know it?

We often don’t weigh the consequence of sin before we plunge into it.

What sin is knocking on your heart?

Remember God’s power over sin, death, and the grave.

He’s already won.

Sin is crouching at our door, but we must rule over it.

You can kick it to the curb with God’s strength.

God will help you overcome the cling of sin in your heart, choosing the life of God instead of the death of self.

But God leaves it up to you.

Cain opened wide the door to sin.

What about you?

Photos by Mónica Obando Molina, Nicolas Falgetelli, Peter Lloyd, & Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash

Agreeing with Sin

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For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food…..she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:5

How long do you think Adam and Eve were in the garden before listening to the devil?

A month?

A year?

Too bad Eve never experienced pain free childbirth, yes?

That was part of her punishment from God.

But back to the devil.

Why did Eve almost immediately believe the snake over God?

Guessing this was maybe the first time she had spoken with it?

The devil played to Eve’s desire for more.

Wanting to be like God. Or maybe living as her own god, knowing everything our God does.

Did Adam help his wife resist?

Nope. He happily ate, too, when given the opportunity.

No protection for his wife, just partook in the snack.

After they finished, they were immediately changed.

Changed for the worse.

Knowing they were naked, they made themselves clothes, hiding from Almighty God.

First of all, imagine walking with God every day, talking about this and that.

Wow.

Now imagine the panic of your daily walk approaching, knowing you have done the ONE thing you were not supposed to do.

I’d hide, too.

But you can’t hide from God.

Nothing can be hid from Him as He knows all things.

Imagine God watching Adam and Eve eat that fruit.

Probably similar to watching your own child do something naughty.

Except this was when sin actually entered God’s perfect world.

A little worse, yes?

When Adam and Eve obeyed the snake instead of God, they awakened what separates us from God.

Our flesh crying out for control.

Wanting our way over God’s.

The desire to satisfy our flesh over God’s commandments.

Fulfilling that leads to sin.

What are you hiding from God?

Release everything to Him as He wants your everything.

Tell Him what you’ve been hiding, not sharing with a living soul.

He won’t turn away. He’ll help you change.

He knows it anyway.

Photos by Dee., Kristina V, David Vig, & Emmanuel Phaeton on Unsplash

Image Bearer

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So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 3:10

God created us in His image.

Meaning, unlike the rest of creation, we can make decisions, have thoughts, feelings, dreams, and disappointments.

We are complex, not existing on pure instinct.

As the one creation made in the image of God, we stand higher than all the rest of God’s magnificent creation.

We have God’s image literally stamped on us.

Our capacity for love mirrors God.

Our capacity for jealousy mirrors God.

Our capacity for anger mirrors God.

On the other hand, we are nothing like God, because God is holy.

We live in a sinful world, constantly tempted to listen to our flesh instead of God.

We sin all the time and God is without sin.

However, Jesus took our punishment for our sins.

Because of Jesus, we can restore our relationship to God, our Creator.

We put on our new self, which is renewed in knowledge, bearing the image of God.

When you are God’s child, you put on who you are in His image.

Who you are is love.

Who you are is wanted.

Who you are is valued.

Protected. Safe. Chosen.

A bullet-proof vest against the lies of the enemy.

Oh, they still hurt and sting even, but the lies are not fatal.

They pierce you, but fall away because you are reminded of Whose image you bear.

Place your trust in Almighty God.

Ask God to remove your sins because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Walk in the freedom He gives you as you clothe yourself in His image.

Allow God’s strength to fill you.

His peace to cover you.

And His love to ground you as you walk as a child of the Most High God.

Photos by Rhendi Rukmana, Alex Lopez, & Laura Rivera on Unsplash

Genesis 2

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Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:24-25

Adam and Eve only had each other.

That was it.

Literally.

They had to rely on each other for all conversation, companionship, and love.

They didn’t have a mother or father to leave as they were all there was.

Moses, the author of Genesis, included verses 24-25 as, unlike Adam and Eve, we must choose to leave our parents.

When we marry, we become a new family, needing to rely only on each other instead of others.

That’s the design of marriage.

Becoming the other half.

Selfishness can enter, causing the balance to upend, but knowing we are to live for the other, common decency is expected. Demanded even.

Notice how comfortable they were simply existing with each other alone?

The absence of sin caused their minds to belong only to God and their surroundings, which included each other.

They weren’t distracted by things such as clothing or even work.

Sure, they had to find their food, cutting down the fruit, harvesting the veggies, or whatever they ate, but remember actual work was part of the punishment of sin.

Sin causes us to be distracted.

Not satisfied with what we have.

Always wanting more.

Let’s refocus again on God and what He has for us.

Boil it back down to the basics: God, His purpose for you, and your alignment with Him.

Because it will be good. Very good.

Photos by Isabella Struck, Chris Tyler, & Conscious Design on Unsplash

All We Need

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Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,

Now scornfully surrounded, with thorns thine only crown;

O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was thine!

Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call thee mine.

What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend?

For this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end?

O make me thine forever, and should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.

Be near when I am dying, O show thy Cross to me!

And, for my succor flying, come, Lord, to set me free.

These eyes, new faith receiving, from thee shall never move;

For he who dies believing, dies safely in thy love.

—————

This hymn, written about 1300 years ago is so familiar during Holy Week.

The monk who penned these words focused on the depths of Jesus’ love for us.

The love Jesus displayed on the cross is unlike anything ever witnessed before or since.

His willingness to give Himself for us, His beloved, shows how deep His love ran and still does.

Jesus has done everything possible to bring us to Himself forever.

He made atonement for our sinful selves, bridging the gap forever.

He came to earth, died for our sins, and rose again.

How can we not respond?

Give Him your love.

Give Him your life.

Give Him your whole self.

Unbelievably, He gave all of Himself for you. For me.

As we reflect on His sacrifice for us, may we long for more of Him.

May it be our joy to call Him mine.

May we never outlive our love for Him.

May our eyes never stop seeking His perfect plans for our lives.

And may our faith ever increase as we accept His love and sacrifice for our continual sinning selves.

Jesus, we are not worthy of you. We are more than grateful of what you did for us on the cross.

We give you our hearts afresh today.

Renew us and free us from the prisons we create.

And one day may our death find us believing, safely in Your love.

Photos by Thanti Riess, Samuel McGarrigle, Pisit Heng, & Patrick Fore on Unsplash

His Creation

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So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them…And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:27-28,31

God created us in His image.

We are the only things He created so special.

Yes, everything He created is unique. Amazing. Intricate.

But we are the only creation made literally in His image.

The image of God is stamped upon you.

Let that sink into your incredible brain He created to contemplate!

He also gave us dominion over all living things on this earth.

That includes yourself.

Your flesh.

You, through God’s power, have dominion over your flesh.

Yes, your flesh was created in God’s image.

But sin entered the earth, marring your flesh forever.

The war you have with your flesh is because of sin.

But you can win.

You can win your war over your flesh, because of Jesus.

Finally, God called all of His creation very good.

While I don’t let my students use that word as an adequate adjective, in Genesis “good” refers to beautiful or best.

God created you in His best way.

Created in His image, you are beautiful. The best. So good.

Remember today where God has placed you.

Above all His other creation.

Made in His image.

The very image of God.

Photos by Samantha Sophia & Ben White on Unsplash

Living Within Forgiveness

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Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

What if you lived from a place of forgiveness towards others?

Those who hurt you, often repeatedly?

God, whose faithfulness endures to all generations, is merciful.

He promises to hold you upright as a steadfast Rock.

And He’s forgiven you all of your sin.

All of it.

So what if you lived within God’s forgiveness, granting others grace as well?

You might feel justified withholding compassion or forgivness.

But that’s not for your concern.

Your concern is not doling out justice. That’s God’s business.

If you live without the lens of forgiveness, your disposition, attitude, and even health are affected.

But if you allow yourself to live within God’s forgiveness flowing through you, everything will be different.

Don’t let people walk all over you, but live within the grace of God.

Stand up gracefully for yourself, but allow others to make their own mistakes.

Living within forgiveness frees others.

But the biggest reward is for your heart.

When your heart lets go of bitterness, the ugly parts melt away, revealing the heart of God.

Only possible with God’s love all mixed up with yours.

Would you rather have a heart full of scars and ugly dead parts?

Or a heart with God’s love all mixed up with yours, sending life everywhere it travels?

Ask God for His infusion today.

And run into that freedom He has for you.

The freedom He died to give you when He forgave you all your sins.

Photos by Melanie Stander, Alex Shute, & Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Still Good

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As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore. Psalm 125:2

Even if, God is still good.

Even if my daughter has cancer, God is still good.

Even if my family looks different than what I planned, God is still good.

Even if holidays are not what I pictured, God is still good.

Even if our country elects the leader I don’t choose, God is still good.

Even if the world erupts in war, God is still good.

Even if I don’t look the way I wish, God is still good.

Even if my parents go their separate ways, God is still good.

How do I know our God is still good even if?

Because in the midst of it all, God holds all things in His hands.

He created all things.

The world and all it contains exists only because of Him.

And when humanity fell apart, He redeemed our broken world through His Son, Jesus.

Because He loves us.

Yes, He allows free choice, which is why there is sin.

And yes, He allows sin to affect us.

But rest assured, He still holds you in His hands.

In fact, He surrounds you with His perfect peace when you surrender it all to Him.

He has plans just for you.

So even if the worst happens, God is still good.

Always and forevermore.

Photos by Jeremy Bishop, Ales Krivec, Steve Carter, & Yannick Pulver on Unsplash

God or Our Flesh

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So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Romans 7:25

Can I get a witness?

So true, isn’t it? Our minds long to serve God, yet our flesh longs to serve sin.

Waking up every morning, we once again purpose to walk within God’s plan for our day.

Yet how soon does our flesh rise up to sin?

Reacting with a snarky comment to our spouse.

Thinking of our own needs first instead of others.

Allowing an anxious thought to take root in our mind.

Believing a lie about our identity in Christ.

Lying to get out of a sticky situation.

Ignoring what you know you should accomplish, indulging in your flesh instead.

Becoming grumpy pants whenever things are not going your way.

Dwelling in self-pity or poor me.

Worrying to the point of fear filling your mind.

When we participate with sin, we are serving the law of sin.

Ouch. Do you want to serve sin?

Heck no. I’m not sure we consciously say to ourselves we want to serve sin as we indulge with our flesh.

But that’s what we do when we sin. We serve it. We agree with it because we succumb to it’s temptations.

But God is on the throne, His power to withstand is available to us – we only need to ask and then stand firm. Again and again. And again.

Lord, help us to continue in the mind of Christ, instead of living within the sin of our flesh.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit and help us to remember You with every thought as we go about our day.

Cement in our hearts Your ways, Your peace, and Your presence.

May we long for You more than our flesh.

Only with Your power within us will we ever have a breath of hope.

You are above our sin and we are nothing without You.

You are our God, forevermore reigning for all of eternity.

We praise You for thinking of us, helping us, and wanting us to follow in Your footsteps.

May we live to glorify Your name as we serve you instead of ourselves.

Photos by Karsten Winegeart, Jessica D. Vega, & Silvana Carlos on Unsplash

Hairy Vacuums

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Does your vacuum become stuck when hair completely wraps around the spinner thing or is it just me?

Smelly rubber wrapped in junk doesn’t move well.

We must stop and dejunk it. Eww.

Grab a coin to open up the bottom.

Lay the vacuum down.

Taking scissors, carefully slice through the thick hair all the way down.

Pull it off in hunks, repeating the action again and again and again, while tossing it into the trash.

Continue until it’s all gone.

Needed to continue the vacuum’s optimal function. Admittedly a bit satisfying, yet completely gross.

How often do you dejunk your heart? Your mind? Your body? Your soul?

It must be a regular thing.

Like literally regular.

Sin can attach to us, causing us to muck up ourselves.

Attitudes creep up.

Fleshly desires become bigger.

And before you know it, back we are as full of junk as our dear vacuums.

Step back today and assess yourself.

What’s your focus? Your level of anxiety? Your resting face?

Choose to refocus on Jesus.

Allow Him to dejunk your heart once again.

Then choose again to focus on Jesus the next moment. And the next. And the next.

Cleaning hairy vacuums isn’t only completed once. It’s done again. And again. And again….

Just like cleaning out your heart. Choose to refocus on Jesus.

The only difference? It gets easier and easier to choose Jesus.

But cleaning out hairy vacuums? It’s disgusting every single time.

Photos by No Revisions, Corina Rainer, Ryan ‘O’ Niel, & Brian Lundquist on Unsplash

Order Your Steps

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The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. Psalm 37:23

I was deeply reminded the other day of how God holds everything in His hands.

Yes, He gives us free choice, but He is ultimately in charge.

Of everything.

He allowed Adam and Eve to sin.

And us, too.

Because we sin, we become separated from God, who is holy.

Yet He always provides a way back to Him.

When we choose Him, He’ll even walk alongside us. If we’ll let Him.

Imagine that. Allowing God, who created all things, to walk beside us.

As if it should ever be our choice. But it is.

He desperately wants us, but on His terms – which is for us to freely choose Him.

No bullying or taking against our will.

Even Paul, I mean Saul, when he encountered God.

Paul could have chosen to say no to God.

He would’ve been blind the rest of his life, but he had a choice.

This brings me back to us.

Daily submitting and really giving everything to God.

All things.

Teeny tiny things like parking spots, ugly hair, or stubborn pounds.

Big huge things like wayward relationships, divorce, or death.

Everything else seems to fall in between.

Working on my book and launch party comes to mind.

God literally handed it to me through His faithfulness and mine.

But little anxious worrying thoughts have been popping into my mind.

Honestly, they’ve had the ability to take over, making me question my course.

But then God whispers into my ear, “Why are you even bothered about that? Remember My faithfulness, which will never run out. I’ve cleared My path for you. As you continue to walk with Me, I’ll have your back. Forever.”

That’s for you, too. Stop worrying. Like ever.

Worrying removes your focus from God’s truth, which is this: He will never leave us or forsake us.

He’s got big plans for all of us.

Allow Him to use you and enjoy letting Him take care of the details.

Because He holds everything, including you, in His capable hands.

Here is my video link from my interview yesterday! https://www.youtube.com/live/fxviofHPs2E?feature=share

No Dominion

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Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:12-14

Did you catch that?

Sin will have NO dominion over you. Why? Because we are not under the law, but God’s grace.

We are no longer under the law because of Jesus’ payment on the cross for our many sins.

God’s grace covers us, removing the burden of our sin.

But Paul starts this passage with a warning: don’t let sin reign, or have control, in your body here on earth.

He recognizes we all have choices.

Hundreds of times each day, we choose whether to sin or not.

We often obey the passions or wants of our flesh even if they don’t line up with God.

But we don’t have to obey our flesh as sin has no power over us.

God’s power is bigger then the pull of our flesh which leads to sin.

When we choose to sin, we step out of grace.

We step out of what God has for us. What He wants for us, which is way better then what we want.

But when we repent, choosing instead to obey God, we step back into His grace.

We step back into what He has for us.

Recognize your choices.

Purpose to choose life each day.

It’s often incredibly hard as the pull of our fleshly desires is strong.

But sin has no dominion over us because of Jesus.

Live under Jesus’ power and authority over sin, death, and the grave in your life.

He’s your constant Protector, always ready to help when you simply choose Him over all else.

Photos by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Humility & Sacrifice

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For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Can you even imagine the love Jesus has for us?

Love so deep He gave us all of Himself.

He willingly came to earth, subjecting Himself to human life where hunger, thirst, and pain dwell.

He walked everywhere, dealt with constant questions, and ungrateful recipients.

His disciples seemed annoying at times and the Pharisees were downright rude.

Jesus didn’t need to put up with any of this. None.

Yet He did, because of you and me.

For our eternal home dwelling by His side.

Upon entering Jerusalem days before He would die, He wept for His city. For His people who could not see the Truth.

Can you imagine how frustrating that would have been for the One who created them?

How hard is it for you when your loved one either cannot see God or refuses?

That’s a tiny fraction of how Jesus felt while weeping for His people.

Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, His body was in agony.

Luke 22 records drops of sweat as blood, which can happen when a body is under severe stress.

Yet Jesus still stayed, anticipating what was to come, knowing His Father would be with Him.

During His flogging, crown of thorns, and other punishment, He stayed.

Through the torture, which could have killed Him as well, He endured for the purpose of our salvation.

Obedience to His Father’s will came from His love for us.

Love which surpassed His humiliating death.

Hanging on the cross, God turned away as Jesus bore the sin of the world.

Because God is holy, He could not look at the sin dying on the cross.

And Jesus felt alone.

Crying out to God, asking why He had forsaken Him, Jesus was alone.

He became the sacrifice for the sin of the world.

At the moment of crushing pain, Jesus was alone.

But He stayed for you and for me, giving up His last breath.

Upon His resurrection, Jesus conquered sin, death, and the grave forever and ever.

Absolutely incredible. Literally.

I think we have no true reality of what Jesus has really given us.

We can never repay our Savior, but we can share His love, forgiveness, and freedom to our lonely world around us.

Will you do that for Him?

Remember His sacrifice for you and live like it matters. Because it does. For everyone.

Photos by Thanti Riess, Rod Long, Haley Owens, Jon Tyson, & Samuel McGarrigle on Unsplash

Eternity

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Jesus. He is all that you need.

He is everything.

He is the beginning and the ending, encompassing everything in between.

You will only win when you submit everything to Him. Jesus.

God created us. In His image, He created us.

Yet we sinned.

We messed up.

Remember Adam and Eve? It could have been us.

We would’ve been tempted just the same.

God created us for relationship.

Adam and Eve walked with God every day. Literally talking with Him.

Can you imagine literally having an audible conversation with God Almighty?

I would so love that.

But God saw how we messed everything up, allowing sin to enter our very selves.

God’s creation was suddenly separated forever from Himself, the very One who created us.

Yet, because of His great love, He sent His only son to die in place of us.

We must pay for our sins. And Jesus covers that for us.

Have you embraced your sinful nature?

Recognized your need for the Savior?

To spend eternity with God, you must acknowledge Jesus.

You can certainly live within yourself, denying God, Jesus, and your need for redemption.

Completely within your right.

But you will regret it.

When your earthly body fails you, you will meet your Maker.

And if you haven’t declared your need for a Savior, it will be too late.

You’ll forever live separated from life, health, and God Himself.

Turn to Him while you still can.

At the very least, consider the consequences if you are wrong.

What then?

Trust in Him.

Now.

He will NEVER fail you. Not ever.

You have everything to lose.

Everything.

But it’s your choice. Completely.

Photos by Davide Cantelli, Chris Flexen, Rod Long, & Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash

Justified Sin

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

It’s just the way I am.

It’s how God created me.

Nothing I can do about it.

How do you justify sin in your life?

Could be as simple as overeating or having one too many drinks.

But I deserve it, you might say.

Deserve what? Altering your body size or clarity of mind as a reward?

Confusing.

What if you like stealing. Could be from an actual store, or could be padding the expense report from work.

Again, you deserve it, I get it. Heard that before.

What if you’re attracted to the same sex? Bible calls that sin, too, when you act upon those urges.

But that’s the way I’m made, you say. Can’t help it.

Or even more popular: sleeping with your significant other outside the covenant of marriage.

Any sin can be justified. In our minds, we can satisfy our conscience with putting ourselves at the very top.

Don’t have time for children, so, putting myself first. I’m going for that abortion. After all, it’s my right.

Looking over these arguments, a theme emerges: justification of sin.

If you remove the moral plumb line, God’s decree of right and wrong, moral relativism moves forward.

That’s the notion right and wrong are different for different people who believe different things.

Societies fall when adhering to this philosophy.

And folks, we are close.

I’m justified to assault a judge because they ruled against my “rights”.

I am defacing this historical statue because it stands against my “rights”.

I am attacking a store owner because he won’t give my girlfriend her chips for free. That is her “right”.

Entitilism. Justification of sin. Demands.

All goes back to the moral plumb line of right and wrong.

C.S. Lewis reminds us “conscience is nothing more than the voice of God within our souls; the bridge that links the creature to the Creator.”

Pray with me for our homes, our country, and our world that the conscience of God deep within their souls will once again be heard.

We must return to listening to our conscience, created by God for determining what we know is right and what we know is wrong.

Justifying sin only allows it to continue with normalcy.

We all have tendencies to sin. Some greater than others. But justifying them as simply the way we are doesn’t cut it.

Take back responsibility, aligning yourself to God and the moral plumb line deep within your soul.

Photos by Maksym Kaharlytskyi, Ben Wicks, Jonathan Borba, & Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Canceling The Devil

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Ever think about this: the devil knows he’s lost.

He’s going to do everything he possibly can to take you down with him.

Doesn’t care if you’re a Christian.

If the devil can keep you down and depressed, full of fear or self-pity, you’ll infect those around you for him.

For the devil.

Living for yourself, you place a tally on the devil’s side. Score one for him!

Is it worth it?

Are those justified feelings of anger, self-pity, or revenge worth letting the devil have a point?

Nope.

Helps to look at sin from a different perspective.

Never want to let the devil win at anything in my life.

Unfortunately, I let him win daily when I think of myself before others and pride steps in, begging to put self first.

I know it’s unrealistic to think we can always be our best for God.

But if we ask God to help us each moment of every day, we’ll have a winning shot.

And when we ask God’s forgiveness when we mess up, the devil’s point evaporates. Poof!

Purpose your mind on Christ. Give Him yourself again today.

As God helps you, you’ll provide less and less chances for the devil to play the game.

Devil, you’re canceled.

Photos by Michael Dziedzic, Brina Blum, & Masaaki Komori on Unsplash

Succumbing to Temptation

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Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Not only does Satan want to silence your witness, he also wishes to crush your very existence.

He always begins small.

Tiny.

Almost unnoticeable.

Look at this sinful site.

That wasn’t so bad.

Do it again.

And before you know it, you’re craving that sin.

You’ve even rationalized it’s acceptance in your life.

It’s now no big deal.

Happens with lying, cheating, gossiping, stealing – you name the sin, it generally starts small.

How did that happen?

Succumbing to temptation from the pit of hell.

It might not seem like a big deal, but it IS.

We are all human, so when you slip, repent.

Repent and ask God to help you resist.

He will fill you up with Himself, which is the only way to fully resist the devil.

James 4: 7 reminds us of what to do.

Only with God can you resist the devil.

And God is with you when you humble yourself, submitting to God’s authority.

His rules of right and wrong.

Not yours.

Sin begins and, if not squelched, grows.

It grows like a weed, taking over all of the good soil.

Before you know it, the garden is full of seeds, that left untouched, will keep infiltrating the future possibility of goodness.

Allowing sin as parents furthers its demise on our children.

The sin grows, and children begin to accept it as an acceptable alternative to the truth.

Absolutely breaks my heart.

But God is bigger.

And He is above all things.

He has all authority.

Yank out those weeds when they are easy to pull.

Ask God to help you pull out the ones with deep roots.

Submit yourself to God, asking Him to fill you with His power, love, and sound mind.

Your generations will unknowingly thank you for your faithfulness to Almighty God.

Fall on your knees, asking God if there is any sin in your life you have accepted as normal.

Submit yourself to God and He will help you resist the devil each and every time.

Photos by Annie Spratt, Jon Tyson, & Ben White on Unsplash

Utmost Confidence

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For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

Jesus knows.

Jesus, who is God, the Creator of ALL things, understands.

Your weakness has sympathy with God.

Instead of shaming us, He understands.

He understands because He was human, walking our world, tempted with this and that.

Yet He did not sin.

Ever.

Having God literally sympathize with us for our weaknesses, is incredible.

Unique.

Precious.

But there’s more.

His understanding comes with a bonus, His strength.

When we are weak, God wants us to ask Him for help, because He actually will.

Do we deserve it?

Nope.

But Hebrews reminds us we must approach the undeserved throne of grace with confidence.

Instead of pointing His finger, condemning us while we are down, He opens His grace filled arms, waiting with armfuls of mercy.

Recognize your need for Him.

Repent for trying life within yourself alone.

Ask Him to fill you instead with Himself – His mercy and grace.

And purpose to try again, choosing to act within His strength alone, absent of yourself.

Yes, we will continue messing up, because we are sinful.

But we have God, who really knows how we feel, always sitting there, right by our side.

He’ll scoop out our crud, replacing it with His perfect self.

Almost makes me happy to be so weak!

Photos by Łukasz Rawa & Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Our Smelly Stuff

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Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

Ever wonder why God takes it?

Our smelly stuff or sin, whatever you want to call it?

I bring it up, because it’s not His.

None of our smelly sin is His.

Never was, never will be.

Why does He choose to take it?

He is holy.

Pure.

Undefiled.

Author of all things.

Literally the Most High.

And yet He wants us.

Not only us, but our stuff.

Our messy lives.

Our problems.

Our very messed up selves.

He wants our unloving attitudes towards children who selfishly taunt us.

He wants our broken hearts, which yearn for uncomplicated stories.

He wants our problems, dripping with unforgiveness.

He wants all of us.

God, who is pure and void of any sin, wants us.

Unbelievable.

If you remember the Old Testament, there was attonment for sin.

God had rules.

But with Jesus, the transaction was paid.

And with that, God continues our relationship with Him.

Because He loves us.

He created us for love.

For relationship with Him.

I find it incredible that God, who is completely pure and undefiled, wants a relationship with us.

We, who bring complicated and messy problems to Him, are wanted by God.

So, the question that remains is this:

Do you want Him?

Because He wants you.

All of you.

And all of your smelly stuff, too.

Photos by Marian Kroell & Hans Isaacson on Unsplash

Pride

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God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5

If we are all completely honest, pride is our number one problem.

For most of us.

Almost all of us.

We are disappointed when others don’t see our needs.

Pride.

We are wishing others would go along with what we want.

Pride.

We compare ourselves to others, wishing we had what they had.

Pride.

We erupt in anger when our spouse doesn’t please us.

Pride.

We hesitate to notice our need to apologize as it’s always the other person’s fault.

Pride.

We decide we can never be good enough for others to love us.

Pride.

We disagree with how God created us, arguing with Him about His choices.

Pride.

It’s so easy to see pride in other people.

But not so easy to see it in ourselves.

Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”.

One of the verses we all memorized as a child, right?

Always used to think we’d literally trip and fall if we had pride.

Maybe, but it’s probably just looking like a fool in general or at a specific time when we’re full of pride.

I for one would hate to look like a fool, so that verse helps me remember.

But if you’re thinking it would be worth it, let’s look at this next verse.

Remember, 1 Peter 5:5 says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble”.

All the fools who think pride is worth it should now reconsider.

God literally opposes the proud.

Opposes.

Is not working for the good of.

Do you want God to be against you?

Is your pride worth that?

Absolutely not.

May we all resign to put others first, forgoing ourselves as the most important.

May we repent for our sin, asking God to fill us with His Holy Spirit.

May God give us abundant grace and humility to replace the ugly pride that fills up our hearts.

Only with God can we possibly overcome the sin of pride.

Ask Him every day to help you.

And because you are focusing on humility, He absolutely will help because He won’t oppose you anymore.

Photos by Sticker Mule, Nagy David, & Jakob Owens on Unsplash

God’s Power

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If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

As our thoughts are focused on Jesus this Easter weekend, let’s think a moment on God’s power.

God created all things.

God (Jesus) lived on earth as a human.

Folks, He never sinned.

Even when hungry, He never snapped.

Even when tired, He still blessed others.

Even knowing how He was about to die, He still did.

For you and for me.

He allowed Himself to carry our sinful burdens to die in our place.

But He didn’t stay there.

He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death once and for all.

He healed.

He set people free physically, mentally, and spiritually.

And He’s sitting at the right hand of God Almighty, interceding for us each day.

That’s power.

Real God power, not fake movie power like Marvel or DC (sorry folks!).

But that same real power from God lives in us as Christians.

Romans 8:11 says so.

It says if God dwells in us (through the Holy Spirit), then God will give His life to our bodies as He lives within us.

God, who raised Jesus from the dead, will live within you.

I want that life surging through my veins.

How about you?

Ask Him.

Continue asking Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit.

Stop dragging your feet around in misery.

Stop focusing on all of the crud life has thrown your way.

Stop listening to Satan’s lies you know deep down are not true.

And focus on God.

He raised Jesus from the dead.

And He can raise you to life here on earth just the same.

But you must choose to rise up from your grave of sin, death, and destruction.

Fling off the dirty rags of self.

With God’s power, you will be set free to live for Him on earth.

Today, declare Jesus lives in me and I choose to focus on Him.

Hallelujah, He is risen.

He is risen indeed!

Photos by Timothy Eberly, & Yannick Pulver on Unsplash

Slow Slide

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Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today”, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12-13

Satan rarely enters with a bang.

He rarely announces his presence, coming through our choices instead.

It’s usually one choice.

That leads you to another.

And another.

And another.

And before you know it, you don’t recognize the path anymore as you’ve veered away from God.

It’s rarely fast; it’s usually slow.

So slow, you don’t even notice.

Panic from not studying, you glance at your friend’s test paper.

Just one look.

Just one answer.

Never again, you tell yourself.

That was easy.

Next time, it’s even easier.

Justified in your mind.

You sneak a pack of gum into your pocket without paying.

At home, the gum doesn’t taste as good as you thought, but it was free.

The next time it’s easier.

Justified in your mind.

You start spending alone time with a person of the opposite gender.

Lots of time.

But you’re married.

The friendship grows.

Becomes more.

One day at a time.

Justified in your mind.

Satan rarely announces the wrecking of your life.

The justification he wants you to follow.

How do we keep doing exactly what God wants us to do?

We must weigh everything with Him.

Ask Him.

Ask Him about everything.

He’s always right there, wanting to help you.

I Peter 5:18 reminds us to Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

It’s possible to love God and remain passive.

I’ve seen it multiple times as little sins become big, building up and refusing to leave as pride takes over common sense.

Lord, may we seek Your will in all we do.

Please guide us into Your plans and give us Your wisdom for every little thing.

Amen.

Photos by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Freedom or Slavery

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For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

God has set you free.

Free.

Not yoked.

He has set you free for freedom.

He has saved you with the intent of freedom.

Freedom from what?

Sin.

The penalty of sin, which is death.

Literally.

What?

When we trust Jesus as our Savior, He literally saves us from eternal death.

It’s the most wonderful thing, but I’m not telling you anything new.

Most of us have known this since we were young.

But how else does He set us free?

He can set us free from fear.

Free from jealously.

Free from unloving.

Free from guilt.

The freedom Christ offers extends beyond salvation to the here and now.

His invitation extends to this life.

Paul reminds us to stand firm, choosing life.

Choosing God’s freedom.

To not give into our old ways, by listening to lies or succumbing to the flesh, which then becomes slavery.

When one isn’t free, they are a slave.

What ideas, actions, or thoughts still enslave you?

We must be renewed by God every day, but that takes a choice.

Your choice.

Your choice to walk in God’s freedom, or to yoke yourself back with the old ways.

Yoking to the old equals slavery.

Walking with God and living with His power equals freedom.

Choose to walk in the freedom of God.

Keep doing it, standing firm with the help of Almighty God.

And every time you do so, your slavery ties to sin will be break, making this life a whole lot more peaceful.

Keep choosing God’s reactions and it will become more of a habit as you throw off the yoke of slavery to sin.

Experience the freedom of God.

Choose it.

And with His power, withstand the submission to your familiar yoke of slavery.

Photos by Noah Silliman, Robert Collins, Paul Green, & niu niu on Unsplash

Ugliness

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Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24

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We are so comfortable with our ugliness, aren’t we?

Our fleshly irritations.

Our selfish demands.

Our ‘higher than thou’ attitudes towards all else.

Our complaining when sacrificing.

Our responses when wronged.

Ugliness.

Does your ugliness repulse you?

When it rears it’s ugly head, do you embrace it?

Honestly, we usually do, don’t we.

We not only embrace it, but wear it proudly.

All boils down to flesh and sin.

Our flesh cries out selfishly.

But God wants us to respond differently.

It’s so hard, isn’t it?

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“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Those words from Paul in Galatians 5 remind us to put away our flesh.

To literally kill those fleshly desires that are ugly.

Impossible apart from God.

Literally.

When we purposely put down our ugly flesh, God will fill us with His Spirit.

You remember His fruit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Isn’t it so much better to reflect kindness than malice?

Gentleness instead of anger?

Love instead of hate?

Peace instead of war?

Folks, we can either react with the fruit of God or the flesh of ourselves.

One is lovely, the other is ugly.

Stop the next time you face an irritation.

Ask God to react through you.

Each time you do that, your ugliness will melt away.

I know, it’s not as fun as feeding your flesh.

But wouldn’t you rather please God than your sinful self?

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Photos by Cain, Korpa, Nohassi, Boer, & Gonzalez on Unsplash

Expectations

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Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

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Why live with chips?

Not talking about the potato or tortilla kind.

Chips on your shoulders.

Offense.

Irritation.

Failed expectations of life or others.

Why carry those around?

Shedding doom and gloom with every step?

Because you have a right.

You were wronged.

According to your expectation, you need some sort of justice.

And you’ll keep that chip on your shoulder until your wrong has been righted.

At least that’s what you think.

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Is your wrong justified?

Maybe.

Possibly even definately.

But don’t move your unmet expectations into sin.

Because then YOU’RE in the wrong.

Sinning while offended looks like many things.

Silent treatment.

Snarky comments.

Eye rolling.

Refusing to participate in activities.

Withdrawing.

Or full fledged anger.

Those, my friends, are sin.

When you are wronged, your expectations are at fault.

If someone failed to meet your expected needs, forgive.

If someone forgets an important date, forgive.

If heated words are offered in exchange for your questions, forgive.

When you allow God to free you from keeping the offense, you are set free.

Literally.

The feeling of freedom far surpasses the prison of someone’s offense.

Live within the forgivness of God.

Extend your grace from God to others.

Ask God to solve your situations of doubt.

Instead of living in fantasy land of perfectly fulfilled expectations, live in the grace of God.

Aligning your expectations to God’s instead.

God will ALWAYS meet your expectations of Him.

And in fact, He’ll far surpass them.

Everytime.

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Photos by Dawid Zawiła and Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Empty Tomb

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But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24:1-3

I came today.

I came to see my Lord.

With me I brought the best spices I could afford to place upon His body.

I still cannot believe He died for us.

For me.

He gave His life for us.

He literally paid for my sins.

I owe Him my life.

I pause at the bottom of the hill, catching my breath.

My Lord and I had such wonderful talks.

He taught me so much.

So many truths.

He valued me like no one has ever valued me before.

He gave me hope.

Purpose.

And now He’s gone.

I can’t think about that as I am in a hurry to bring my spices to the tomb.

I cautiously approach, not wanting to unnecessarily disturb the guards.

Suddenly, I stop.

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The tomb is open.

There are no guards.

Wait, what?

I run into the tomb, spilling the spices onto the floor.

His body is not here.

Where is it?

What have they done with it?

I look down.

His cloth is here.

But He isn’t.

I stand, dumbfounded and still.

Suddenly I remember His story.

The one about His resurrection.

Could it be?

No.

Yes?

I sink into a heap upon the floor.

Yes.

If Jesus said He would rise from the dead, then yes, He has.

But where is He?

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Putting one foot in front of the other, I exit the tomb, searching the surrounding countryside with my eyes.

Peter, one of His disciples, runs up to me, so excited he can hardly breathe.

Catching his breath, he announces to me Jesus is not here, because HE HAS RISEN from the dead!

What?

Searching his eyes, I realize he is telling the truth!

I hurry with him to join the others in the upper room.

As we gather, the empty tomb is excitedly discussed .

Then, all of a sudden, there He is.

With us.

He is here with us in the room.

In the flesh.

Alive.

Jesus.

My Jesus.

He extends His hands to Thomas, who doubted from the beginning the entire story.

Thomas is instantly convicted, ashamed he ever doubted His Lord.

Filling with compassion, Jesus embraces Thomas and then all of us, one by one.

My Lord and My God is alive.

Fully alive.

Literally.

He has conquered sin and death once and for all.

Hallelujah!

I run from the room unable to contain myself, shouting to anyone who will hear, “Jesus is alive!”

This news is too good not to share.

Everyone needs to know.

Everyone.

And now you know.

You are reminded that Jesus, your sweet Savior, is alive.

Fully.

Now and forevermore.

He has paid for our sins.

All of them.

Yours and mine.

How will you share the good news ?

Because share we must.

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Photos by Brooke Lark, Rod Long, Autumn Mott Rodeheaver, Aaron Burden, Irina , & simon wood on Unsplash

Real Life

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For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. Romans 7:18

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Life is real, folks.

Messy.

Super messy.

Why?

Broken world.

Selfishness.

Lies of the enemy we believe.

Death.

Are you aware that when God created our world, death was not yet present?

The Garden of Eden was brimming with life.

Death was nowhere until sin entered the world.

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The death that surrounds us takes many forms.

Depression or deep grief is like death as in it robs us of hours or days.

Death of dreams happen when life becomes twisted and hard.

When we no longer are able to choose what we wish, faced instead with choices we hate.

And then there’s literal death.

Loved ones who leave us.

Unknown babies who grow in heaven.

Not to mention our own selves.

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Real life is not Instagram happy faces.

It’s not Pinterest worthy decorated homes or birthday cakes.

It’s not a perfect family photo.

Sometimes, it’s gut-wrenching grief.

But pulling yourself up and starting anew.

It’s homes that are not always happy, with laundry overflowing, and lop-sided birthday cakes made with love.

It’s usually perfectly messy homes that are loving and comfy.

It’s real family relationships with yelling and arguments, filled with selfish moments.

But family relationships which genuinely care and in the end, hug and love no matter what.

Real life is not perfect.

Real life is messy.

Frankly, it can be disastrous at times.

But when we all admit our imperfections, life becomes simpler.

No, we don’t have to live up to that imperfect expectation.

We’re not perfect.

But God, who created us and never makes mistakes, knew that.

He knows it.

And He loves us anyway.

Let’s stop pretending everything is OK.

Because when we admit it’s not, God steps in and fills our many cracks.

Me, I have lots.

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Photos by Steve Johnson, Alice Achterhof, Mike Petrucci, & NASA on Unsplash