Tag: Christian Living

Biblical A,B,C’s- let’s take a look!

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As I have been praying about writing after the Lenten season, the Lord has renewed my conviction that His Word is essential to our Christian walk and good spiritual health.  I am going to walk through Psalm 119 in successive weeks stopping to blog and meditate on selected verses.  I pray you will be blessed as we journey through this magnificent Psalm together.

Pslam 119:1-2

psalm 119 1-2Aleph

1 Joyful are people of integrity,
    who follow the instructions of the Lord.
2 Joyful are those who obey his laws
    and search for him with all their hearts. (NLT)

This psalm is known as an acrostic as it goes through the Hebrew alphabet, aleph to taw.  Each section has 8 verses and are all about God’s Word.  In these opening verses the Psalmist tells us that joy is to be had in following God’s Word, walking in obedience and seeking after God.  Can you agree with the psalmist?  Do you find joy in reading and knowing God’s Word?   Does walking in obedience make your life more joyful and keep you in touch with God?  Do you hunger for a deep meaningful relationship with God and seek Him out each day?

Nehemiah 8:9-10 tells what happened when the people of God heard the word read to them. “ Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.     And Nehemiah  continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”   How does the Word of God affect you?  The Israelites were sad and grieved over their sins as God’s Word revealed to them how they were sinning and not walking with Him.  Then Nehemiah reminded them that a right relationship with God brings joy and strength from the Lord!  Their repentance brought them into a place of joy in the Lord.  Offer up a prayer with a repentant heart right now, then claim His joy and strength in your day.

Jeremiah 29 13As we journey through this psalm, claim the joy that God has for you as you seek him with a humble and repentant heart.  Remember, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13

Seeking God and a right attitude,

Linda

I am filled with wonder over His mercy and grace.

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Because I believe Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, I am filled with wonder over His mercy and grace to me.  Lent is a long time to write daily.  It is 6 weeks of planning, rising early, study, inspiration and typing each morning on my computer.  As I depended upon God, He faithfully inspired me each day.  Trusting Him to provide,  I have experienced His grace and mercy.  I never lacked for time, energy or inspiration and was struck by the wonder of His Word.  Through faith we receive so much from Him that our only true response is one of wonder, praise and love for our Savior.  His promise to me in psalm 37 5Psalm 37:5 has been enacted over and over as I committed this Lenten season of blogging to Him.  “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.”  

Here is a recap of all the I am statements from this season.  Print it out and use it to encourage yourself and revisit it when you doubt the value of faith in your life.

I am …. loved, a child of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, reconciled, justified, forgiven, holy and blameless before God, an ambassador, a temple, tenderly loved by God, salt, light, helped by God, sanctified, God’s Workmanship, not condemned, a citizen of Heaven, the sweet fragrance of Christ to God, a branch on Christ’s vine, a saint, confident of God’s good work in me, a prince/princess in God’s kingdom, a child of light, a friend of God, chosen by God, chosen by God to bear fruit, a joint heir with Christ, holy and I share in God’s heavenly calling, sustained by Christ, united with Jesus in Spirit, sealed by the Holy Spirit, firmly rooted and built up in Christ, one of God’s living stones, born of God and the evil one cannot touch me, a personal witness for Christ, known by God, seated with Christ in the heavenly realm, a member of Christ’s body, a conqueror, overwhelmed with joy, a bride/bridegroom for Christ and SAVED!   

What an amazing list of what God has given to us and made us in and through Christ.  Praise be to Jesus our Lord and Savior!

Blessings,

Linda

I am SAVED!

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john 14 6Because I believe Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, I am SAVED!  The most important statement this Lenten season is that I am saved.  Jesus said that He was the way to salvation and all we need to do is believe in Him to be saved from eternal death into life, John 14:6 ” “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  He also called himself the gateway, John 10:9 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”   Acts 4:12 says that Jesus and only Jesus can provide salvation, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is only jesusno other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  Belief in Jesus saves us from God’s wrath over our sin, Romans 5:9-10 “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”  

What about you?  As I look at the cross and Christ’s suffering, I realize that He john 3 16suffered and died for me, to take away my sin, so I can live with Him eternally.  He loved me so much!  John 3:16 says it all, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Belief in Jesus cost me nothing but it cost Him everything.  How grateful am I?  Praise Jesus and thank God for sending Jesus as you prepare to celebrate Resurrection Sunday.  The Love of God has brought us full circle from the beginning of Lent to it’s end- Jesus and His love for us reigns supreme. Jesus conquered it all to save me and you!

Loving Jesus more and more,

Linda

I am a conqueror.

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Because I believe that Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, I am a conqueror.  I love the verse in Romans that refers to me, the believer, as even more than a conqueror.  Paul stated unequivocally that nothing can separate us from God’s love, and we can conquer all through Christ.  Romans 8:35 and 37. “ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”   37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”   In Christ, I am even more than a conqueror!  According to the dictionary a conqueror is one who conquers, vanquishes; is a victor.      1 John 3:4-5 also speaks of this “For everyone who has been born of God overcome the worldovercomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”   Being a conqueror in Christ means that you can overcome the evil influences in the world that seek to destroy you and your influence for Christ.  Jesus encouraged all believers in John 16:33 when he spoke to His disciples about all they would endure. 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

conquerorSo what about you?  Do you feel like a conqueror for Christ?  If not, why not?  If you are a believer, you are empowered to tell others about Christ, you are empowered to reject sin in your life, you are empowered to live and walk with Christ daily.  Since Lent is a time of prayer and reflection, why not talk with Jesus about these things.  Ask Him to empower you in a greater way so that you can live the life of a conqueror for Him.

Seeking to live the life of a conqueror in Christ,

Linda

I am a member of Christ’s body.

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Because I believe Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, I am a member of Christ’s body.  This biblical truth is spoken of many times in the Bible.  Believers are considered to be part of Christ’s body, which is the church.  Paul explains 1 corinthians 12 27this amazing unity with Christ in 1 Corinthians 12:12 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”  verse 27 “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”   In Romans 12: 4-5 Paul also speaks of this unique blending of believers into a body that functions to support each other in Christ.  “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”  The idea of us working together and supporting one another as a body committed to Christ is also expressed in Ephesians 4:11-12 “ And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”

The-Body-of-Christ-Open-1So what does this mean for you and me?  Do you consider yourself a member of Christ’s body, the church?  “The Church” is the body of believers throughout the world that believe that Christ is their Lord and Savior.   Together, whether local or within the world, we are to work to spread the good news of Christ and His redeeming work.  Not all of us are preachers or teachers but we all have a special gift and are equipped by God so we can contribute to the body and support each other in faith.  Are you using your gifts to encourage other believers?  Christ suffered and died for each of us and desires that we all work together as members of His body to reach a needy world.

United in Christ we stand,

Linda

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.

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Because I believe Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.  The concept of believers being with Christ in heaven and reigning with Him is a privilege of faith and God’s grace to us.   Since we are adopted into God’s family and are heirs with Jesus, we will be in seated in heaven with Him.  Ephesians 2:4-6 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with ephesians-2-vs-6-ewhich he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.   God did this for us, placed us in a place of privilege and honor because of His grace, mercy and love.  He made us alive in Christ when we were dead in our sins.  Believing in Christ changed our position from rejected sinner to one of honor.  2 Timothy 2:11-12a  give a similar picture, “If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;”  Faith in Christ is the determining factor in whether we live and reign with Him or face eternal death.  God cannot look on sin so we have to find some way to deal with our sin or we are rejected from God’s sight forever.  In His infinite mercy and grace, He sent Jesus to provide a way for us to be restored, cleansed and elevated to a position of honor and purity.  Praises to Jesus for what grace-and-mercyHe did for us at the cross.

What about you?  Are you thanking Jesus for His grace and mercy?  As we gaze on the cross in a few days, think about what He has done for you and what you have because of His sacrifice.

Humbled in His sight,

Linda

I am assured that all things are working together for good.

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romans-8-28Because I believe that Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, I am assured that all things work together for good.  This powerful promise is given in Romans 8:28.  “ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  There are many powerful truths packed into this verse that we can claim for our life.   First, there is no circumstance beyond God’s control.  God is sovereign and He can bring good things out of bad situations.  In 2 Chronicles 20:6 King Jehoshaphat affirms God’s sovereignty, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!”  There is nothing in heaven or earth that is outside of God’s control.  Second, God is good and intends only good things for me.  Look at these powerful verses about God’s intent.  “The Lord is good to those who depend on him,  to those who search for him.” Lamentations 3:25  and “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11  These verses show God’s heart and intent is good towards us, as believers.  Third, God has a purpose to which he has called us.  2 Timothy 1:9 tells us that through Jesus, “ He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”  Lastly, God’s ways are not our ways.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  Isaiah 55:8  Many times I do not understand the events, the suffering, the senseless violence and evil that happens in our sin-filled world.  Sin taints and destroys indiscriminately.  We simply must trust in our good, sovereign God to work everything to good in His time and in His way just as He promised.  Trusting God in the face of adversity, trusting God that He is good, trusting God that He loves us and has good things planned for us and trusting God to avenge wrongs and vindicate believers calls for mighty faith.

So what about you?  Do you have this kind of faith in our loving, merciful, holy God?  Believing in God’s character and trusting that He will do as He has promised will cause you to rest in the assurance that faith in Jesus brings to a world in chaos.  Since Lent is a time of reflection and prayer, consider God’s mercy and care for you.  Remember how He has guided and comforted you in times of great need.  As you put your trust in Him, He will show himself faithful and work all things together for good in your life so that rom 8 28you can accomplish the purpose to which He has called you.

Trusting in Jesus is empowering,

Linda

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

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1_John_5_18Because I believe Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.   This powerful truth is given in 1 John 5:18.  I like the Amplified Bible for this verse as it makes the truths very clear “18 We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”  Being born of God means we are believers, born of His Holy Spirit through our faith in Jesus.  Jesus spoke of this new birth in John 3:3-5 when He was talking one night with Nicodemus. 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”  Once we believe in Jesus and are reborn in His Spirit,  we are protected from Satan.  Evidence of this protection would be our desire to not commit the same sins over and over that were our usual habits before our rebirth.  We will sin since we live in a sin-filled world but habitual sin should be left in our former life.  Another important aspect of this protection is the safety of our eternal soul.  Once we belong to Jesus no one or nothing can take that away.  In John 10:28 Jesus gives us this promise, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”     This rebirth should have a permanent effect on our lives.  Peter describes this new life in Christ in 1 Peter 1:23 “since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;”    Satan is not able to touch our eternal life in Christ as it is protected by God.   He can lead us into sin and cause us all kinds of grief in life but he cannot touch our eternal soul.   Our life with Christ is protected by God.  Remember that you are sealed by the Holy Spirit and that keeps you secure. As we grow in Christ our desire to sin lessens and His power within us increases. Knowing Christ is an amazing insurance plan that will never expire or have a payment come due.  His plan is in Jesus capable hands that help us to weather all things through faith in Him.

What about you?  Are you born of God and sealed by His Holy Spirit?  If not, talk to Jesus about this today.  If you ask and earnestly seek Him, He will be found. (Matthew 7:7)  Are you feeling secure and protected by God?  Take a look at Psalm 91.  A brother in Christ  told me he considers this his 911 call to God and he used it when he was going on missions during WWII.  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say  to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”  and it continues in verses 14-15                                   psalm 91 1414 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.   Seek the Lord today and call on Him for protection.

Feeling secure in God is a good place to be,

Linda

I am one of God’s living stones.

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Because I believe Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, I am one of God’s living stones.  The concept of believers being living stones, which God is building into a spiritual temple,  is found in several places in scripture.  1 Peter 2:4-5  “As you come to him, the l1-Peter-2-8-You-Are-Living-Stoned-black-copyiving Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Here we are told that Christ is the living stone that was rejected by men.  The next verse, 6, refers to Christ as the cornerstone, the solid foundation upon which our faith is built.  We are part of a living community of faith built upon Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Paul uses the term temple (a spiritual house) in referring to our bodies.  “ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”   Since the Holy Spirit lives within us, our body is a house where God dwells- a spiritual house.  God desires that we live ‘holy lives’ that are honoring to Him and reflect the love of Jesus.  In Romans 12:1 Paul refers to being living sacrifices, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”  Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, our lives should be like living sacrifices seeking to please God and reflect His glory to the world.  This is a big job that is only possible through His power.  God chose to use us so that we can know and experience His grace.  We can demonstrate the sufficiency of God’s grace.  2-Corinthians.12-27-My-Grace-Is-Sufficient-For-You-aqua-copyOne of my favorite promises is in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “ But he said to me, “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.”  Only through Christ can we be living stones that reflect His glory in our lives.

What about you?  Do you feel like a living stone?  Do you consider yourself a temple where His Holy Spirit resides?  Since Lent is a time of prayer and reflection, think about your witness to others.  If you find yourself lacking, offer it to God and ask for His help.  Only through Jesus can we be the pure, living temples that God will find acceptable.  Then through His merciful grace and power, He will use us to effect change on the world around us.

Living for Jesus,

Linda

I am firmly rooted and built up in Christ.

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rootedBecause I believe Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, I am firmly rooted and built up in Christ.  What does it mean to be rooted and built up in Christ?  Colossians 2:6-7 uses these terms, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”   Being rooted in Christ means your faith is firm and will hold you in the storms of life, you are being continually fed by Christ through your faith in Him, and that you desire your roots of faith to grow you into a mighty tree for Christ that is visible to the world.   Paul adds to this idea in Ephesians 3:17, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love”.  Being rooted in Christ connects and established you in His love and gives you a testimony for the world to hear and see.   The second phrase in the Colossians verse talks about being built up in Christ.  The Amplified Bible adds this “now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith”.  The building up is what we refer to as the process of sanctification– growing more and more like Jesus through His indwelling Holy Spirit.  The result of being rooted and built up is a heart that is filled to overflowing with thankfulness.  

rooted in ChristSo does that describe you?  Are you rooted and built up in Christ?  Does your heart overflow with thankfulness?  Since Lent is a time of prayer and reflection, think about your roots.  Do you need to seek a Bible study, attend an adult Sunday School class, or link into some podcasts  that will help build your faith?  Also does your faith in Christ make your life overflow with thankfulness?  If not, seek guidance in prayer from the Holy Spirit to refine and re-tune your faith.  God wants us to grow more and more like Jesus so we can witness to a lost world and glorify Him in our lives.  Take steps to be closer to Jesus today.

Rooted and built up is a good place to be,

Linda