Made in the Image of God.

The attributes of God are revealed in our relationships.

I am made in the image of God. He made me a man. Genesis 5:2. He made me with specific attributes that no one else has. I am unique. And in the eyes of God irreplaceable. Priceless!

What does that mean?

It means I was created to manifest, reveal the attributes of God in a unique way. How? I am a child of God. I am a friend of Christ. I am part of the body of Christ. I am the Bride of Christ.

I have everything in me, as God's creation, born again by the Holy Spirit, as an individual, to reveal God's nature and unfathomable love for us all.

How do I do that?

Well it certainly begins with me. Like Jesus said to the harlot, "neither do I condemn you, now go sin no more". Wow, be blameless, which means being innocent of wrongdoing. Crap, how's it possible for me to do that?

Sin no more? Even the apostle Paul said "the things that I don't want to do, that I do". And, "I am the chief of sinners". And yet he says, "be a follower of me, as I follow Christ".

Really? Yes. As he followed Christ. Did he know something I need to know?

"To be, or not to be, that is the question?"

Who has God created you to be? Only He knows. He aches for the chance to tell you. Do you want to know? Are you paying attention?

Lift a load!

Do you need a definition of responsibility? Here it is!...

"Lift a load!"   

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DqvmnrfK5NY&feature=share&utm_source=EKLEiJECCKjOmKnC5IiRIQ

Shoot. Are there other definitions?

The tree... of the knowledge... of good... and evil...

When they ate the fruit, then they hid themselves from God. They explained "we were naked" So! They hid from God.

What was this "tree" that God said if you eat of its fruit you will surely die?

A tree of the "knowledge of Good and evil"?

The enemy of our soul said eat.

Satan said eat. Then promised, they would be able to discern good from evil...

Remember he is a liar.

Their first "observation" was "they are naked" and when God came, they ran and hid themselves. It was because they decided being naked was evil. But God sought them out? I am reminded of...

Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

And these verses from James 3:16-18

16 For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.

17 However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers.

Think about our thoughts...

Check this out...

We don't know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.

I heard a radio commentator say that.

Annihilation? it's the second biggest Promise.

What do I mean? A promise is always about your future. Fundamentally there are two, oh crap, well there are more, but I want to focus on the only one that is true, and the other that most people are relying on. 

The promise of annihilation is what most people put their hope in. The idea that no matter what happens or goes on, in the end my life goes up in a puff of smoke where I exist no more.

But the true promise of our ultimate future gives us a choice for where we end up. We can choose life in eternal relationship with God or eternal separation from Him.

All the others promises about your ultimate future are lies. They are based in religion. I define religion simply as "A pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance."

Taste... and SEE!

Experience and understand.

Lord rest upon me and may your presence (Face) shine and be experienced and recognized in their lives.

I don't want to know Him so that He'll use me. I want to know Him, to know Him! So that He knows me!

Taste and see? Have I tasted, do I see?

Have I tasted God's love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as He dealt with me in meekness? YES!

Do I see His character flow through me authenticly? Not outwardly doing kind things but inwardly actually being kind.

It's easy to "do", it's much harder to "be". Only by your Grace Lord.

Peace? Rest? In the Lord?

REST...

https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Sabbath.html

PEACE...

https://www.gotquestions.org/rest-in-the-Lord.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/let-peace-Christ-rule-hearts.html

Pay Attention?

Why, and to what?

Be intentional with your time and what you pay attention to. Why?

What you pay attention to reveals what or who you are most devoted to!

TIME? You only have a limited amount of moments.

ATTENTION? You only have a miniscule capacity to comprehend.

I'm thinking in terms of Eternal Pofitability.

https://biblehub.com/mark/8-36.htm     https://biblehub.com/matthew/6-19.htm

God is on his way!

He came first as the sacrificial lamb.

He comes now as the conquering King.

Conquering what?

Malachi 4:1–2 (ESV): 4  “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

And just like that! Time flies by.

Time waits for no one.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REDEEM THE TIME?

In Ephesians 5:15–16, Paul instructs, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Other translations say "redeeming the time" (KJV, NKJV) or "making the most of your time" (NASB) or "making the most of every opportunity" (NIV). Colossians 4:5 expresses something similar: "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time." The Greek word translated as "redeeming" or "making the best use of" is exagorazo. Strong's Definitions explains it as, "to buy up, i.e. ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss (improve opportunity):—redeem" (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1805/esv/mgnt/0-1/). We also see this word in Galatians 3:13 and Galatians 4:5 where it refers to Christ's redemption of us. So what does it mean for us to redeem the time?

Most simply, "redeeming the time" refers to stewarding our time in a way that glorifies God. Each of us has a limited amount of time on this earth (James 4:14), and we are to use it in ways that honor God (Colossians 3:17).

Lord, thank you for your mercy and long-suffering. Continue to transform my thinking. Without your guidance I am lost. Your Grace is evident in all the blessings you deposited in my life. Help me be the example you want me to be in their lives. You've changed my thinking, help me change my ways, that I might be an example for them to follow. You've shown me mercy, let me be merciful. You've been patient with me, help me to be long-suffering. Your hope has been based on the person who you created me to be. Let me see them as you see them. Give me words that express your heart and mind that I might speak into their lives the Love, your love, that set me free to discover who you created me to be. I know I've only started. Thank you.

Freedom?

When the powers that be regulate / control the digital realm, no one will have freedom.

Yet... You don't need to "own" Twitter to own it.

No unbeliever cares if the church changes the culture.

Does God?

Ministry?

What you do isn't your "ministry". Who you are! That's your "MINISTRY"!

"It doesn't matter what you do, do it as unto the Lord"

Don't try to sharpen someone's axe. Introduce them to the one who sharpens your axe.

Prognosticators of current events and their veracity?

April 25th 2022.

As I surveyed the the digital realm to get a sense of current events, I found the multiplicity of opinion from unaccounted perspectives, distracted and occupied my time as I tried to understand what I should being doing and how I should make sense of my situation... Then the word "eschatology" came to mind. So I Googled it.

Second Guessing?

What's up with that? Second guessing decisions I'm trying to make, I mean when wanting to obey God's guidance. I seem to do it all the time.

Imagine. The Bible says "God told Abram to go to a land I will show you and then gave him a promise that He would make him a great nation".

Okay. I always wonder how God did that exactly. Did Abram know who God was before God told him to go to a land that He would show him? Was it a vision, was it a face-to-face conversation, was it with thundering and lightnings and earthquakes that God made his Will known to Abram?

No one knows.

But Abram obeyed! It seems he thought, that's a good idea. He packed up and left. That's all we know. Second guessing... Not so much.

Fast forward...

Abraham. The Bible tells us God told him to go and sacrifice his son, his only son with Sarah. The miracle child of their old age. On Mount Moriah, 3 days travel.

Was it a vision, was it a face-to-face conversation, was it with thundering and lightnings and earthquakes that God made his Will known to Abraham?

No one knows.

So Abraham set out. He had 3 days to think about what God had told him to do. Second guessing? I don't know. 

What do you think?

Reliance!

The state of depending on or trusting in something or someone.

You Are, so Be, and you'll Do

 BEcoming who God created you to be, you will do what pleases Him.

New Angle on Community

What is the foundation of community?

Your presuppositions with respect to what is community, might include, ie. a community of friends, an interest group, a small group, a life group, a home group, a Ministry group, a "circle the wagons with those of like mind" group. I hope you get my point as I ask the question...

What is the foundation of any community? I mean after all of the other issues have been dealt with. And we seek out fellowship within a designated, available and amiable group.

My Premise: All of us want to be... Recognized, Identified, and Known.

Here's a fun side note as you think about "What is the foundation of Community?". 

"Cheers" was a sitcom (late 80's early 90's) that had a Theme song

What was the first community in the Bible?

What was the first "Community"?

It's a trick question. Here's a hint. The word "First" connotates a beginning. As an example, many churches in COMMunities across America have "The First" in front of their name. Separating themselves from other, Baptist, Church of Christ, Church of God, Pentecostal, etc. The idea? They were there first.

Okay. Now that I've got you thinking. I'll just give you the correct answer.

What was the first community in the Bible? That didn't have a beginning? Here it is!

GOD!

As revealed in the two "Testimonials" that He has provided & maintained for all of us. The one true God, Triune, Trinity? 3 in One! A Unity in the diversity of "Father, Son and Holy Spirit"!

Whatever COMM-UNITY we participate in, as a Bible believing, born again believer, it should reflect the UNITY that Jesus prays for in John 17.

Please look John 17 up. It was the last prayer that Jesus felt the need to pray, before he was taken up.

"Father let them be as one as We are One, you in me and me in you, and they in us" RBV

(Click the link)

Crap! How is that even possible?

Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint?: Distraction and Excellence. Connecting to Reality.

2011...  Click the link - Distraction and Excellence. Connecting to Reality.

Distraction.

Most of the times I'm being distracted I become a distraction.

another feed back loop.

Greg Laurie

-Turn worry into worship

All things work for good to those who...

- Fear into Faith

- Panic into Prayer.

Trust the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. Recognize God and all your ways. And he will direct your paths.

Thinking about your thoughts, the feedback loop of the Holy Spirit

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

• Take every thought captive to the lordship of Christ
• Pray without ceasing
• Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
• Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus
• I don't do anything except what I see my father doing
• Peter 1:4 NIV  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
• All the promises find their yes in Christ

Partakers of the Divine Nature

2 Peter 1:3  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His owna glory and excellence. 4Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, 11and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A strategic truth of God's strategic will.

1 Cor. 14:1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Our Salvation? Access! Hints to His Lordship. Our transformation.

Ephesians 3:11-12 NIV

11 according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Know what you believe and why you believe it!

What's the point of this Hymn...

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

The God of Hope

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Perception and the inertial frame that is me?

Embodied perception refers to a conglomerate of theoretical claims postulating that the body, its movements, and the interaction with the environment fundamentally shape people's perception of the world.

• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
• There is no accounting for taste.

Diversity of the Body of Christ?

Revelation 7:9 (ESV) After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Unity in the Body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 12:12 Living Bible (TLB) Our bodies have many parts, but the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together. So it is with the “body” of Christ.
Colossians 3:14 (NIV) And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
5. Ephesians 4:11-13 (MSG) He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.
Acts 4:32 (NLT) All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
John 17:23 (NLT) I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
Ephesians 4:3-6 (NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Philippians 1:27,28 (MSG) Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God.

The Standard of Unity in the Body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV) “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 and then makes a statement concerning all believers: “We have the mind of Christ.” Having the mind of Christ means sharing the plan, purpose, and perspective of Christ, and it is something that all believers possess.

Having the mind of Christ means we understand God’s (“Strategic”) plan in the world—to bring glory to Himself, restore creation to its original splendor, and provide salvation/Redemption for sinners. It means we identify with Christ’s purpose “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). It means we share Jesus’ perspective of humility and obedience (Philippians 2:5-8), compassion (Matthew 9:36), and prayerful dependence on God (Luke 5:16).

In the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 2:16, we note some truths concerning the mind of Christ:
1) The mind of Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of man (verses 5-6).
2) The mind of Christ involves wisdom from God, once hidden but now revealed (verse 7).
3) The mind of Christ is given to believers through the Spirit of God (verses 10-12).
4) The mind of Christ cannot be understood by those without the Spirit (verse 14).
5) The mind of Christ gives believers discernment in spiritual matters (verse 15).
In order to have the mind of Christ, one must first have saving faith in Christ (John 1:12; 1 John 5:12). After salvation, the believer lives a life under God’s influence. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer, infusing him with wisdom—the mind of Christ. The believer bears a responsibility to yield to the Spirit’s leading (Ephesians 4:30) and to allow the Spirit to transform and renew his mind (Romans 12:1-2).                                                                                          Gotquestions.com

Warning against Rejecting God’s Grace...

He is shaking all that can be shaken so that what remains is that which cannot be shaken

Hebrews 12:26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe.