Absolutely Obtainable!

 

In a nut shell, this says to me; I want to be perfect, like Jesus,  And I keep on trying.  Someday I  will be!  I know that Jesus sees me as perfect, but I do not see myself as perfect.  The closer I come to the end of days, the harder I want to work at doing what the Lord has laid out for me to do.  He has plans for me that I do not feel adequate to accomplish, but they are his plans, so how can I feel as if I could fail?  

And that’s what faith is!  God wants me to attain perfection!  I believe that!  When Christ returns, or I am called to the throne room, I will be perfect in my own eyes, as I am perfect in his eyes now.  I believe that!  God has given me everything I need to lead a life that is acceptable to both him and me!  I believe that!

So, where is faith lacking in me?  The plans he has for me are mighty big and in my own strength I know I could never achieve them.  But look what he’s done for little me; He’s given me this farm,because he knew I was capable of taking care of it.  He’s given me a music ministry.  He sent me to Nigeria!  He sent me to Italy!  He’s placed me in healing ministry. He’s given me boldness to speak his truth into other people’s lives.

If this is what I’ve already accomplished. how how much more am I capable of, by the power of the Holy Spirit?

Those things which linger on the edge of desire, because my mind says they are far too big for me to realize are absolutely obtainable!  Not by my strength, but by the strength of he who lives in me and has great plans for me!

Amen!

Yeehaw!!

Faith: The Embrace of God

Ephesians 2:5b-9

…it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift from God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

Reinhard Bonnke, in his book, Faith; The Link With God’s Power, writes, “… the Greek word used for faith in Christ means moving close to him in trustful love.  It is an embrace…He is the divine Lover, and we are those he came to love.” and he is the Lord God “whom everyone could fling his or her arms around.”

♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱  ♱

Is there now, or has there ever been another god who chose/chooses to be so intimate with mankind?

“It is by grace that you have been saved.”

God’s

Riches                                  

At

Christ’s

Expense.

Both grace and faith are gifts from God.  Neither of them can be mustered up from within ourselves.  He gives us grace and he also gives us faith to believe in that grace.

And what is faith? 

Is is closing our eyes in the presence of danger and hoping it goes away?  

Is it shrinking inside of ourselves and waiting  to see if God will be faithful?

NO!  It’s an embrace!  Faith is moving into Christ’s embrace; letting him be my shield against danger, understanding the unique relationship I have with him that leads to the understanding that in every circumstance I am safe in the arms of my savior.

Outside sources cannot harm the inner me.  I am given the faith to understand this.  And it is a gift from God, so that I cannot boast.

How crazy is that??

No matter what happens to the tent I live in, I am safe in the embrace of my Savior, who gave his life for me just so that I could spend eternity wrapped in his arms!

God is Not Like People

Numbers 23:19 - God is not like people, who lie; He is not a human who changes His mind.  Whatever He promises He does; He speaks and it is done.

And my response is; “ Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”, “There is now no condemnation...”, “I know the plans I have for you... to prosper you...”

I am an heir.  Even an earthly king will break his promises to his children sometimes.  But our Father does not.

I made a list of scripture verses that are the promises of God to His righteous people.  It’s a very long list and incomplete.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  That’s true!  Not sometimes, not just when I’m feeling particularly holy or useful.

I gave my life to Him 40 years ago.  Looking back, I see the evidence.  I have not always been faithful, but He has always been faithful.  He has never changed His mind.  

His plans for me are perfect.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him.  Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13 (NLT)

“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

Just to take him at his word.

Just to rest upon his promise

And to know, ‘Thus saith the Lord’

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!

How I’ve proved Him ‘ore and ‘ore.

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh, for grace to trust him more!”

Neat, huh?

I Want To Be Ready!

I Want To Be Ready!

Mark 6:8 - These were his (Jesus) words to them;  “Take nothing with you for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.  Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.”

2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the Word.  Be prepared in season and out of season.  Correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.

What does it mean to be prepared?  Is it having everything on your list ticked off and safely stowed?  Sometimes. Is it knowing where you’re going, how long you’ll be there and when you’ll return?  Sometimes.

In Mark 6:8 You tell the disciples to be ready by seemingly telling them not to be ready.  All they were to take were a staff and the clothes on their backs.  It doesn’t say so, but I’d bet they weren’t given months of time to prepare.  How did the prepare?  What did they prepare?  They prepared their hearts and minds.  They focused in on trusting Jesus.  They ere told to walk off and have no fear for what they would eat or where they would sleep.  They were given a mission.

When they returned they were overjoyed!  They were fit, not starving, not exhausted.  In fact, they were energized!

So, what does it mean to be prepared?  In 2 Timothy 4:2 Paul tells Timothy (and us) to;

“Preach the Word.  Be prepared in season and out of season.  Correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.”

Be ready to do God’s work at any moment.  Sometimes we know when we’re being called to preach and other times those “divine appointments” are seemingly dropped in our laps!  Am I ready?  I think I’m more ready now than I’ve even been before.  But am I truly ready?  Yes!!  Because I know that if I’m called to go, or to speak, at the drop of a hat, my Lord will sustain me!  I don’t have to worry about what I’ll eat or where I’ll sleep.  If I’m being obedient then all is good and I am safe in the arms of my Jesus.