Tag Archives: Abundant Life

Who is God to You?

  • We hear.
  • We see.
  • We experience.
  • We choose.
  • We decide.
  • We deny.
  • We accept.
  • We….

Maybe, just maybe, if we chose to put ourself aside for just one moment to stop presupposing we knew who or what God is, but rather came before Him & His Word with simple child-like-wide-open unbias eye, untainted heart, and unskewed minds….maybe, just maybe, we would grasp His understanding of who and what HE IS for who and what HE SAYS HE IS, not what we think He is.

It would be then, that we would begin to understand the attributes of God. It would be then, that we would begin to hear, to see, to experience, to choose, to decide, to deny, to accept, to know God for God…prehaps like the very first time you met.

  • Revelation 2:4-5

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopefully. Empowered.}

Does Your Breath Count?

Measuring this earthly-life in God’s scope of eternity will change your here and now for all your eternity to come.

  • How do you chose to give out your given-breath? Are you selfish in it’s usage or are you without borders in praise to the One who gave it to you in the first place, because you know without Him you would have no breath?
  • We only know right now…the next second is unknown and not promised.
  • Make now count & enjoy your Lord!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Is the Solution to Try Harder or Let Him In? What does God say?

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“You have to stop loving and pursuing Christ in order to sin” –there is a fear in writing or saying such words. A fear not in physically writing them or saying them for they are true; rather a fear that a hearer will only listen to their own evoking fears and guilt thus not seeing God’s love for them; therefore, not instilling a fire of love to begin within the them because they love God.

Actions that are driven by fear and guilt are not an antidote to lukewarm, selfish, comfortable living–it is LOVE!

Our relationship with Christ should never be out of duty, obligation, or slavery, but rather craved from a genuine desired love for God. We need only look no further than the cross– where God demonstrated His love for us that while we were YET sinners; Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)! God’s love hasn’t changed.

When we love we are free!

  • Galatians 5:13-14
  • Psalm 63:1-5
  • Loving God and loving people –isn’t that what it is all about?!

Lukewarm living and claiming Christ’s name simultaneously is utterly disgusting to God–when we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that it isn’t very fulfilling or joyful to us, either, but the solution isn’t to TRY harder, fail, and then make bigger promises, only to fail again.

It does no good to “muster up” more love for God, or to will yourself to love Him more. When loving God becomes obligation, one of many things we have to do, we end up focusing even more on ourselves.

So what do you do? The answer lies in letting God change you! He wants to change you, He died so that we could change!

  • Remember His counsel to the lukewarm church in Laodicea? “HERE I AM! I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN AND EAT WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME” (Rev. 3:20).
  • His counsel wasn’t to “try harder,” but RATHER LET HIM IN!!!
  • James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and HE WILL come near to you.”
  • Jesus died on that cross to save us from the bondage of SIN; not just save us from hell.
  • John 10:10 “I (Jesus) have come that you may have LIFE — FULL abundant life!” He was talking about this lifetime.
  • I NEED GOD TO HELP ME LOVE GOD and if I need His help to love Him it would stand to reason I need Him to love others: who are perfectly fault-filled…like you and I.

Excerpts taken from Crazy Love by Francis Chan; further comments written by Colleen Woodruff.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Rethinking 

Hank isn’t changing. He is a cranky guy. He has been cranky his whole life, and not just about church. He does not effectively know how to love his wife, his children cannot relate to him, and He has no joy. He’s been going to church his whole life — 60 years and nobody is surprised. Nobody in the church is surprised that he stays cranky year after year. No one is particularly bothered by it. It is as if we expect it — that’s just Hank. Nobody is expecting him to be more like Jesus year after year. Yet the Bible does expect it. The writer of Hebrews offers the following challenge:

“You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian Life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right” Hebrews 5:12-13 NLT

The Greek term used in the New Testament for disciple is ‘mathetes’, which simply means “learner.”

As Bill Hull has written, the wrong question for the church is: How many people are present? The right question is: What are these people like?

After people become Christians, the goal is for them not only to learn how to live like Christ, but to actually live like Christ. This involves nothing less than radical life change. If this is not happening, then discipleship is not happening, and rethinking must take place.

Excerpt taken from Rethinking the Church by James Emery White [pg 66-67]

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Do you know your Jesus?

the Strength to Obey

Obedience.

This word means many things to different people: for some it is a scary even dirty word, while others totally disregard it in any form, while others struggle with it but do sincerely try.

  • Obedience isn’t to be feared if it is given, asked, taken, followed, submitted too through the thoughtful, loving, directed guidelines of Scripture.
  • Obedience is one of the foundational virtues that Jesus forms in those He calls. He gives us the strength to obey as we make the choice to obey.
  • Obedience is one of the chief ways we demonstrate our love for God. Not singing Christian songs. Not going to church services. Not having quiet times. Not taking mission trips or doing loving things for others. Yes, yes, yes, all of these are fabulous, needed things –you should be singing to your Lord for that is one way you can give Him worship. You should be active in your local church, for that is where you use your God-given talent(s). You should be having daily devotions/quiet time alone with your Lord, for without that time with Him, how will you grow? Taking missions trips will change your life forever (spiritually and mentally for you see more than yourself, your needs, your world, and you see God, His people and souls that need Him)! We should be loving others — to our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as loving souls so much that we tell them about our incredible Savior so that they may know Him too! But do you hear what Jesus said:

“If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).

  • Don’t you see?
  • If you love HIM first and foremost all those other things fall into place. (the small list above for example)

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and (and then) all these things shall be added into you” (Matt. 6:33).

Our list isn’t finished yet…

  • Some, in our finite beings, have chosen to accept, believe, and trust wholeheartedly what biblical obedience is; what it looks like, and how it is to be given or asked. Not because they think they are super spiritual but because they have chosen before God that despite what their flesh tells them, despite what they were falsely taught (unknowingly and knowing), how they feel, or what has happened to them in the past, God’s way is the only perfect way. God knows what He is talking about, God is God, therefore, obedience to Christ to non negotiable. He is Truth!

Obedience in Christ brings freedom.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Naps: Biblical or Not? 

This was just to great not to share. I saw this on a friend’s Facebook page today and I died laughing. Oh how good laughter is to the soul {Proverbs 17:22}.

See…NAPS ARE BIBLICAL! Aren’t we to be putting-on Christ? 🤗

Hope you have a smile on your face! Have a blessed day friend,

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

a thought to consider…

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Unlimited God

Thank you Lord!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

God Said it, BUT…

God said it. Written words printed in red and black.

Life giving words.

But, does that settle it?

  • We say these words so flippedly but often we mean, “God said it, but I’ll pick what I what to follow from the Bible.”
  • Or “God said it, but I have a better answer or opinion God.”

➡Proverbs 23:6-8 says, “Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies; for as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments.” (nasb)

  • This “wicked man” also means, evil man or stingy; for he/she is like one who is inwardly calculating (Prov. 28:22).
  • As “he thinks…so he is” has the meaning of reckoning in his soul; his/her behavior, one who manipulates.
  • “Not with you” means this person (the wicked man/women) is begrudging the cost.
  • “Compliments” = don’t waste your pleasant words.

➡Psalm 114:4 says, “Do not incline my heart [consent to or tolerate] any evil thing, or to practice deeds of wickedness with men who plan and do evil; and let me not eat of their delicacies [be tempted by their gain].” (amp)

➡Proverbs 26:24-28 states,

Here are two over versions for our study:

CEB– Hateful people mislead with their lips,

  • keeping their deception within. Though they speak graciously, don’t believe them, for seven horrible things are in their heart. They may cover their hatred with trickery, but their evil will be revealed in public. Those who dig a pit will fall in it; those who roll a stone will have it turn back on them. A lying tongue hates those it crushes; a flattering mouth causes destruction.
  • AMP– He who hates, disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit in his heart. When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him, For seven abominations are in his heart. Though his hatred covers itself with guile and deceit, His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly. Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him. A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Either you are this man/woman or not.

  • We could make the arguments that we all struggle with sin; that we are on this side of Glory, but are we not to be entering into His rest NOW?
  • Are we not to be becoming “holy for He is holy” NOW?
  • Are we not to transformed into newness of life, NOW?
  • Weren’t we transformed into a new creature the second we accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior?

Jesus Christ isn’t fire insurance. Jesus Christ is this life NOW and in the life to come!

  • My friend, if you are a Child of God, saved by His undeserving grace yet freely given His amazing loving grace called salvation, we are NOT to be this “wicked one.”
  • We ought not to be reigning (living) in our flesh and glorying it. This is contrary to God’s perfect law, will.

How are you doing today, believer? Who is sitting on the throne of your life? Who reigns? God has much bigger plans for you. Stop. Turn to Him and repent. Live the full life in Christ He has planned for you!

You will never regret the choice of Christ!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Christlikeness

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:1-13).

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself (Philippians 3:7-21).

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

The Call to Obey is Worth it!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Kintsukuroi

You ask, what is Kintsukuroi?

Gold filled pot

The Japanese art of Kintsugi, or Kintsukuroi, repairs broken pottery with seams of gold or silver. This repairs the brokenness in a way that makes the object even more beautiful than it was prior to being broken.

The Process:

  • This first healing spot is always near the base, which is the strongest piece left after being broken.
  • Just like the ancient Japanese ceramic repair tradition, we carefully stand the largest broken piece in sand. Piece by piece we mend the ceramic and allow to dry. This time consuming process is critical and necessary for proper binding.
  • After all the pieces are in place, we accentuate the cracks and smooth them out. The final step is to fill the seams with gold flaked paint. Just like the human race, no two are alike.

What a symbolism of what Christ sees in us. What Christ can do in us…if we are only, but willing.

  • The pottery doesn’t fight back. It doesn’t reject its maker or handler, it simply allows. Allows itself to go through the process of time, pain, and rebuilding.
  • The pottery is actively conforming, be handled, shaped, filled into its usability.

Like the broken or cracked pottery, it is when we surrender “our pieces” to God then He can take our pieces, center us, put us together (ever so gently), then fill us in with Himself (His Word, which is purest gold) to be more beautiful than we began. The end results are more glorious than we can imagine.

  • How humbly shocking this thought is: God loves us that much; loves us much that He, Himself, will handle us personally –every detail.

My friend, are you grasping onto pieces of your life that only God should be holding? Caring for? Healing? Rebuilding? Filling in with Himself (gold)?

  • Let Him have them.
  • However “your pieces” came to become part of you, those pieces don’t scare God. His love for you hasn’t changed. God cares about your soul…you!
  • Allowing God to have “your pieces” fulfills His ability to complete His masterpiece in you! No one else can fulfill it, only you can! That’s the beauty…Christ in You. He is the only true filler.
  • As a child of God, you have a God-mission that only you can complete. Will you let Him create? Will you complete your mission?
  • You can through Him! Don’t allow “pieces” to stop you.
  • Allow Him to fill you and come forth as gold.

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

1 Peter 5:10 | Wonderful, Merciful Savior, Thank you!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

How Can I Not be Consumed With Him?

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

The View Matters

Whose view do you care about more?

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

A Lesson from the Mom in E.T.

Friends, enjoy your Savior! Have a blessed weekend and a glorious day in His House!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Duct Tape vs Nails

  • “But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.
  • “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” I Peter 3:18.
  •  “Yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” Colossians 1:22.
  • “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living” Romans 14:9.
  • “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” I John 3:16.
  • “Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” I Peter 1:18-19.
  • “For even the Son of Man did not come to be saved, but to serve, and to give His life a ranson for many” Mark 10:45
  • “He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification” Romans 4:25.
  • “I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd lays down His life for  the sheep. Even the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep” John 10:11,15.
  • “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” Romans 5:6,10.
  • “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again in their behalf” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
  • “Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him” I Thessalonians 5:10.

In these 16 verses alone they just my the goosebumps! Seeing the love of the Father and the Son for mankind…for me, for you…I am overwhelmed. I am humbled yet incredibly encouraged that He loves me so. He loves you that much!!!

There are numberous passages beyond these that we could quote, yet in these 16 verses alone we see clearly see who God is, His physical acts of love upon mankind along with His love for mankind. His Son’s love, display, physical death and resurrection, submission to the will of the Father, beyond discription of outward and inward love for both us and his Father. What a display of example to us.

Together, we could literally spend hours filling pages full of God, His attributes or character. We could fill blog posts of the Words of God proclaiming how Scripture is compacted with living displays of vibrant, consistent, unchangeable, unwavering, unshakable, demonstrations of God’s love for mankind from time past, this present day, and in the future to come showing our immense need for thee Savior. 

Sadly, in the midst of all this knowledge (yes, I am talking to believers here), we often fail to live in the land of belief, trust, and simply put “not quiet sure God’s got this” mindset that lives out ‘self is better than God’. Oh, we would never say this outwardly but we live, make decisions, act, think, and like it. You may disagree with me, but this leans me to one thought. One question.

  • Take some time to evaluate and take inventory of yourself–what do you do or don’t do, how do you live or not live your saved-by-grace-heaven-God-given-bound earthly life here on Earth, what comes out of your mouth or not, what is it you choose to dwell on or not dwell on, how you spend your time, look in your check book, how much do you love God and display that love to Him.
  • Now honesty answer this question: WHO is sitting on the throne of your life? Two cannot reign at the same time. It is either YOU or GOD. So, how is it? WHO is in control? The duct tape or the nails?

We read, hear sermons, maybe even teach a class, sing in choir or lead the choir, yet still doubt the God in whom took the nails for us. We doubt that God can’t and I am better able. We choose the duct tape. We deny the power of those nails and choose our handy-dandy self-duct tape to fix our life’s problems when all we need, who we need, is given to us within the pages of Truth, God’s Word.

Sure, real duct tape has its purpose in real life; we would never think of using duct tape to build a house. Thus we should never metaphorically replace Christ’s nails with our own self-induced duct tape and count it stronger or more reliable than Christ’s nails…NEVER!

How are you building sister or brother in Christ?

 In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Does Your Breath Count?

Measuring this earthly-life in God’s scope of eternity will change your here and now for all your eternity to come. 

  • How do you chose to give out your given-breath? Are you selfish in it’s usage or are you without borders in praise to the One who gave it to you in the first place, because you know without Him you would have no breath?
  • We only know right now…the next second is unknown and not promised.
  • Make now count & enjoy your Lord!

In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}

Who is God to You?

  • We hear.
  • We see.
  • We experience.
  • We choose.
  • We decide.
  • We deny.
  • We accept.
  • We. 

    Maybe, just maybe, if we chose to put ourself aside for just one moment to stop presupposing we knew who or what God is, but rather came before Him & His Word with simple child-like-wide-open unbias eyes, untainted heart, and unskewed minds….maybe, just maybe, we would grasp His understanding of who and what HE IS for who and what HE SAYS HE IS, not what we think He is. 

    It would be then, that we would begin to understand the attributes of God. It would be then, that we would begin to hear, to see, to experience, to choose, to decide, to deny, to accept, to know God for God…prehaps like the very first time you met.

    • Revelation 2:4-5

    In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopefully. Empowered.}

    Psalm 147:1-6

    Thank you Lord for this encouragement, hope, strength, renewal, and empowerment. Thank you for being for us, with us, and indwelling us. Praise ye the LORD! PRAISE THE LORD! Praise, praise ye the LORD! 

    In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}