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Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. 6 Recognize Him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.

Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

There is Abundance of Grace in Christ

Romans 5:17  (NABRE)
For if, by the transgression of one person, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one person Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

The truth separated from God becomes deception

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge

The truth sets you free if you believe it.

In all your getting get understanding Proverbs 4:7

Don't trust in your own understanding

The truth separated from God becomes deception

Proverbs 29:18 CEV Without guidance from God law and order disappear, but God blesses everyone who obeys his Law.

Thursday, November 12, 2020

The Mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit

The Mind of Christ?

Perspective, insight, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, and ability, all through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Present Moment?: I call it the Here and Now.

The present moment is "where" and "when" we exist and have our being. Our understanding resides with our thoughts in the present moment. Our understanding is informed by our “perspective", which is derived from a combination of our five senses, our memory of the past that validates the present moment, and our ability to reason, which anticipates the future. Because of this, each individual has a “unique” and limited perspective.

Our perspective is limited by the laws of physics and the nature of our inertial frame, which is our physical body. This is why the truth of Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6 is so important to understand. And why being Spirit-led is an essential aspect of every believer’s walk.

If we are born again, we are conscious of the Holy Spirit’s presence. According to His will, the Holy Spirit “informs” our perspective and therefore increases our understanding so, if we trust and obey, we can participate in what He is doing in the present moment (Revealing the Kingdom).

The present moment, the here and now, is the only place where a child of God is led by the Spirit of God. It's where the Holy Spirit reminds us of His leading in the past: John 14:26. It is where He speaks prophetically to us about the future.  John 16:13

The present moment is the only place where we can exercise Biblical Faith as we trust and obey the Holy Spirit's leading in the here and now!

Jesus said, "I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees (present-tense), the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. Jn 5:19

Jesus also said, “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Jn 14:10

I Corinthians 12:4-7. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” 
Romans 12: 6-8. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
1 Peter 4:10-11. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Play it by ear?

To play it by ear is to act according to the situation. Playing it by ear means you work with what you get.

The original meaning of this term was to play music without sheet music, meaning you improvised from what you heard and did your best to bring everything into harmony with a melody that everyone would appreciate.   Hmm?

Jesus said "I don't do anything except what I "see" (Present tense) my father doing.

I believe this is what it means when Paul said "All that are led by the spirit of God, they are the children of God"

Matthew 10:9 (Luke 12:12)When they bring you to trial, do not worry about what you are going to say or how you will say it; when the time comes, you will be given what you will say.

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

God's Grace, Favor, Mercy?

  • Grace is free and unmerited blessings of God.
  • Favor is God’s unusual liking to us.
  • Mercy is God not punishing us as we deserve.
Reference: Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1998.

"For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield." Psalm 5:12

"Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands..." Psalm 90:17

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11

"...but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." Psalm 30:5

"...By your favor you make us strong..." Psalm 89:17

“My times are in your hands…” Psalm 31:15

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:3

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.” Psalm 31:19

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

"Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him." Matthew 7:11

“And the Lord said...This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17

“The mind of man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

“The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.” Proverbs 16:33

"And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing." Genesis 12:2

"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished."Luke 1:45

"Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23:6

"These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." Revelation 3:7

Sunday, February 17, 2019

God's Grace?

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
God's Guidance = God's Grace! "The path I should go, the steps I should take."

Okay, a relationship where God guides and I am expected to trust and obey. My problem is I have an expectation of result. I seem to remember a promise. It created a hope. I paid attention because of it.

So I listened and obeyed. Okay, I'll admit I may have been distracted. I may have paid less then attention. So the "promise"? He is Faithful. Okay. TRUST AND OBEY! The promise was given on the basis of... "By grace, through Faith"

This is the "Key" to PEACE!

John 14:27. "I am leaving you with a gift... peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

You are Becoming?

There's no getting around it. Change happens. Mostly deterministic. Everything is becoming something other than what it was. What it is, is not what it will be.

You are swept along by the interaction of mass and energy. But choice affords an alternative to determinism.  The truth for you and me, Christ died for us.

Now will you choose the Lover of your Soul? Because of what He did, you have a choice.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Swept Along!

How can I describe the current that sweeps us along? The key word is current. Is it a warm breeze that makes us sleepy? Do we see the storm clouds? Swept along? A force that takes me where I don't want to go.

We think that the choices we make determine our destiny. NOT! Your choices are not disconnected from all the other choices everywhere around you that others make. Choices that can have significant impact into your life.. This is the current that sweeps us along.

The operative word is "choice". The current that sweeps us along is powered by the choices everyone makes. Choice is also the word that gives us the power to overcome the current that sweeps us along.

How?    

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Cycles.

The cool thing about "cycles" is that they bring you around again. They are closely related to "ruts".

It is God's Grace, manifest in His long-suffering.

His hope is that you'll finally get it.

Ruts and cycles, the trick is to know "He died for you". No matter how deep the rut or how many times you've been around. He has a way for you to be an overcomer.

Not desperate enough to admit you don't have it within yourself? The Lover of your soul has one last recourse.

There comes a time when in God's "Judgement" He realizes you won't get it where you are at. It is then He withdraws His sustaining Hand, like holding a ball so it doesn't fall to the ground, our sin pulls us down. Reaping the consequences of our sin will hopefully wake us up to our inability to overcome in our own understanding.  Are you awake? Then there is "Hope". May your Soul long after Him and the Grace He offers freely.

While we were yet sinners, He died for us!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Swept Along?

The interaction of mass and energy has an "inertia". Events beyond your control that sweep you along. Even when in the moment you make a wise choice, events transpire that seem to be detrimental to your situation. Your mistake is thinking you understand your situation.

Yes, we are swept along by the inertia of the interaction of mass and energy. And even though we make wise decisions, we can still find ourselves in a less than comfortable situation. Rejoice, if you find yourself there. It is there that the Lover of your Soul can reveal just how much He loves you, just how much He has "Got your back". Maybe then you will get serious about the pride that gets in the way of hearing His voice, understanding His heart, and committing yourself to His desire to bring everyone into the Kingdom.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Light the fire Again?

Swept along? Sure I am swept along by circumstance, events beyond my control. Everyone is. The issue is our position in the flow. The flow sweeps us along the line of circumstance, but do we see a different perspective? Does our "position" rise us above the circumstance to see the bigger picture. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

A Natural Man!

A natural man, yes I am, that broke free from the cycle of deception. Ill equipped to face the challenge of condemnation or exaltation, how do I train up a son in the way that he should go?

The truth shall set you free!

Deception: is the norm. Make believe is entertainment's offering to all our perspectives. How can I discern the truth in what I perceive.

Conception: an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances.
Self conception: who you think you are derived from past instances that formed an identity.

Tumultuous in its energy, the flow of truth and lies mixed up to give veracity to the current of deception, has its effect. The discerner of spirits will fall back to the fundamentals and embrace the Lover of their Soul. Peace in the storm, do you see the signs?

Though turmoil is all about and I am flummoxed on every side, the Rock of my Salvation is solid ground. I stand in His Grace. He knows me. Amen.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Swept along.

Circumstance, it is a sea of turmoil. We all swim in it. We are swept along and most perceive not the flow. Flow? It is the current that inhabits the sum of every decision that those with choice make. Descisions break the bonds of determinism. But freedom to choose does not guarantee justice. Only the one who is everywhere, and sees all as it happens, can be the arbitrator of justice, who has already declared from the beginning, follow me!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Cause and Effect (As in "Swept along in the Now")

Cause and effect creates a flow within an inertial frame. Have you ever felt like you were in a rut? This flow tends to take the same path if free will does not exert a choice. The choice is hidden by a lie that presents unworthiness and concludes condemnation. And rightly so if we accept the flow.

Hope presents a promise and says, “you choose” 1 Corinthians 10:13 The choice is simple but most difficult. We can stay in the flow and trust in our own understanding or we can choose to trust the Lover of our soul and begin to see who He created us to be. The truth sets us free as we trust in the Lord with all our hearts.

Cause and effect appeals to self-interest. There the tension is manifest. The enemy clouds the truth that self-interest is ultimately fulfilled in giving.

Cause and effect if left alone ultimately will result in degradation, the second law. Life can overcome that degradation by accepting the truth that Hope offers. Choose the author of life and be an overcomer.

Have you ever thought, I just wish someone would tell me what to do? Have you ever wished someone would show you the way you should go?

“I am the way, the truth, and the light”
Jesus Christ

Most likely you’ve believed, as I did, that you have it within you to succeed. The problem is what you define as success.

Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. 
~ George Santayana ~ 

Remember the past? Each of us has a history. We reminisce with those we shared the past with. Remember when we say. Progress is not found there.

Our history viewed with clarity reveals the struggle. A struggle that gives us insight. The insight brings us to the realization that it is not within us to progress.

Come to an end of yourself. Humility is the fertile ground of a teachable heart. Allow the Lover of your soul to blast the light of truth into the darkness of your history to reveal the plan He has had for you from the beginning. He has one goal, to share himself with you.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Moments in the Now!

I had a moment tonight to talk with Hudson (he's 14). He wanted to tell me about a word he had come across that started with "N". He explained if I did a search on Google for "emptiness, Wikipedia" that was where he found the word that started with "N".  I asked "you did a search for "emptiness"? He said, "I think that is why I'm lazy, I just think what's the point"?

The word he found was "Nihilism" which means life is without objective meaning. 

Hudson's favorite book of the Bible is Ecclesiastes because it expresses so much of how he feels. 

I tried to remind him that the questions he is asking are important and that God is giving him the answer. Life is pointless without God. With God, what's the point? Then Harrison came in and wanted his DS connected to the wi-fi.

After I tucked Hudson in for the night, I asked God to help me understand what Hudson was struggling with. I googled "emptiness" and began to click on search results. I came across this. A video that answers the question...

WITH GOD, WHAT IS THE POINT? 

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Swept Along 2

There is no stopping it. The cause and effect interaction of mass and energy, that changes and transforms our now, against our will. It seems choice cannot stop it. Change has two results for the observer. Good or bad, build up or destroy. Choice does not stop the change but it can determine a result. Somethings are predetermined by mass and energy's interaction. Somethings are open to choice and the result the choice brings. The creative ability of choice to destroy or build up is what presents each of us with our GIST.

Swept Along.

Determinism sweeps us along. This quality of existence that permeates reality and is only overcome by choice. Determinism is an overwhelming flux in the continuum of what exists. All around cause and effect spits out the facts that are created, and our choices add to the "Sum" of our "Now". Every choice is an unalterable fact that we are doomed to reap the results of (I mean that we are not able to escape). The tide never wanes, it sweeps us along in a synchronicity of complexity only God understands. Thus we are swept along by change.

The interaction of mass and energy results in a cause and effect, that creates an inertial flow that exerts a tendency to bring about a similar outcome. Commonly called a "rut" or habit.

But choice can trump determinism. True choice is made evident in the light of truth. It is the power to overcome the inertial flow of your history and to become all that God created you to be. No need to be blown along with every wind of doctrine. Ephesians 4:14

Hmm... Have you ever noticed advertising?

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Choice.

The interaction of mass and energy results in a cause and effect, that creates an inertial flow that tends to create a tendency to repeat the interaction. Commonly called a "Rut" that we cycle around in.

Choice frees us from the interaction of mass and energy that results in a cause and effect determinism. The "Rut" is overcome by the truth that we have the ability to choose a different path.