August 16, 2009

Called INTO one body....

When the apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Colossae, as a prisoner in Rome because of Christ, it was around AD 62. So, it was about 25 years after Jesus was crucified, risen and ascended into heaven. 25 years the church, His body, was expanding.

Aren't these words beautiful?

"Indeed you were called into one body"- Colossians 3:15.

CALLED INTO one body.

We were not called to be Baptists, Methodists, Nazarenes, Pentecostals, Charismatics, Presbyterians, Non-denominational or Denominational.

We are called into one body. His body, the church. We can get so divided by our opinions that we forget that we are family. We can get so caught up in our own "church" that we forget that the church is CHRIST's body, His bride. The church is one body of believers who Jesus lives within individually and is empowered by the Spirit and lives unto the Father. We are to work together- encouraging and exhorting one another. We are brothers and sisters. We are one body. Christ is the head of us, His body.

Let us live as one, be unified. For; He has a purpose in us!

John 17:21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Live and be....who you are individually and as His body:

"and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.- Colossians 3:10-17

Jesus...my Path

There are two of the dearest ladies you could ever meet that walk together on the same roads I run. The last few years we have struck up a wonderful friendship. These two ladies are 68 and 77. Yes, they walk probably 4 miles a day. Some days, I just stop running and walk with them. I am so thankful for the older women God has brought into to my life to mentor me, speak truth into me, laugh and cry with me.

One of the ladies, Brenda, told me last week, "There is something so special, so wonderful and emotional, seeing for the first time your daughter hold her first baby." Brenda and I both, teared up as we walked and talked. Her in remembrance and me envisioning. 

Last night I was sitting on the deck watching the stars come out one by one and the moon just lit up the night- I prayed, "Lord, when I was 26 my life was so different. 20 years ago I was a young mother of 3 children and the path I was choosing was not a good path. By the time I was 30 the path of life I was on was a complete turn around. YOU, Jesus, changed my path. Not only mine but my marriage, my kids path...You changed the direction of a whole family. Oh God, what if You hadn't came into our life? Where would we be? Certainly not on the path we are...or my kids on the path they are on....Jesus, Jesus...You saved us. You saved not only our life but...our LIFE!"

Because of choosing the Way, the Truth and the Life....this girl, well now...this young woman in the picture below...chose to wait, to trust God in His perfect timing and His glorious purpose. 

I get to see this young woman in a few short weeks hold her first baby for the first time. I get to see her do something I didn't do. I get to see her speak Jesus into her child from the moment of birth (actually, conception!). I get to tell my first grandchild that Jesus is peace. He is love. He is faithful. I get to tell him that one day Jesus spoke to me and I said Yes to Him. And because of that choosing, we are on a different path...and he, my grandson is on that path. 

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

4 Years Ago

June 17, 2012

My favorite bridal portrait of Allison Nichelle Ellison.

Is Jesus a fad to you?

What is a fad?

-A fad or trend or craze is any form of collective behavior that develops within a culture, a generation or social group and which impulse is followed enthusiastically by a group of people for a finite period of time.

-an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived and without basis in the object's qualities; a craze.

Sometimes I think He is to people.  I see people post about Jesus all the time.  They repost.  They share.  But I know, personally, some of these people and I've seen no evidence of Jesus in their life.  

Matthew 7:20

So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Due Date! 3 weeks from today!

In less than 3 weeks I get to read this to him : )

Sunday morning conviction.....

I truly want to be who God created me anew to be. I want to live FROM Him who lives in me.

I have to say these words of truth were convicting to me this morning:

"Humility and love are the true marks of a believer being controlled by the Holy Spirit "- Joe Burnett

So much....so much...so much more than I ever thought or knew.....

As I am reading through Ultimate Intention by Devern Fromke, I loved this question in the study guide:

What four things did God design to accomplish in dealing with sin through Christ on the Cross?

1) In Romans 5, God GAVE us FREEDOM from the tyrant of death- sin's penalty. 
2) In Romans 6, God EMANCIPATED us from the tyrant of bondage- sin's tyranny.
3) In Romans 7, God RELEASED us from the tyrant of the Law- sin's strength.
4) In Romans 8, God LIBERATED us from the tyrant of our flesh- sin's presence.

Death is sin's penalty. Jesus Christ on the Cross= FREEDOM from sin's penalty, death!

Bondage is sin's oppressive cruelty and domination. Jesus Christ on the Cross= EMANCIPATION from sin's tyranny, bondage!

The Law is sin's strength. Jesus Christ on the Cross broke the power the Law had over us= RELEASED from sin's strength, the Law!

Our flesh is sin's presence. Jesus Christ set us free, we are no longer obligated to live according to the flesh= LIBERATED from sin's presence, the flesh!

I still can't get over it. It's been almost 8 years ago since God began to open my heart, my mind, my eyes to these surpassing revelations. And I still can't get over it. I'm still amazed. I'm still at awe and wonder. I still can't believe that His provision, His grace, His love- HE- is so so so so much than I ever thought or knew.

LUKE 4

14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.

16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”