I just had to share this picture Roberto took on our recent vacation to California. This is a waterfall on the beach in Big Sur off the PCH. God's creation is so beautiful. Sunday, September 21, 2008
Ministry of Death...
The following information was taken from "Destined to Reign" by Joseph Prince.
Chapter 10: The Ministry of Death
Joseph Prince writes in the first paragraph, "I wrote this book to declare to you what is right about you (in spite of your weaknesses) because of Jesus Christ."
People are living in condemnation, as though the Cross was in vain.
2 Corinthians 3:7-9
But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passed away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
(The ten commandments are being referred to the ministry of death)
The Covenant of law kills, but the covenant of grace gives life!!
Grace is Jesus. Grace tells us we are righteous in Him. Here is a fun fact that blew me away.
"At the foot of Mount Sinai, 3,000 people died. Now lets compare with this with the New Testament. When the day of Pentecost had come, God poured out His Holy Spirit on all flesh and what was the result? Peter stood up to preach the gospel and 3,000 people were saved that day."
Read this over and over until you get it. The Good News of Jesus Christ imparts righteousness on you, it doesn't demand it! It brings life, not death. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! The law was given so man could see their need for a Savior, not to condemn us.
When you fail in your daily walk or do something you know you shouldn't have, what is your first thought? Is it condemning? Or is it, I am righteous in the sight of God? One brings guilt, the other brings empowerment to do right.
(this is not talking about living in sin, that is a different subject.)
Thank you Jesus for Grace.
Chapter 10: The Ministry of Death
Joseph Prince writes in the first paragraph, "I wrote this book to declare to you what is right about you (in spite of your weaknesses) because of Jesus Christ."
People are living in condemnation, as though the Cross was in vain.
2 Corinthians 3:7-9
But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passed away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
(The ten commandments are being referred to the ministry of death)
The Covenant of law kills, but the covenant of grace gives life!!
Grace is Jesus. Grace tells us we are righteous in Him. Here is a fun fact that blew me away.
"At the foot of Mount Sinai, 3,000 people died. Now lets compare with this with the New Testament. When the day of Pentecost had come, God poured out His Holy Spirit on all flesh and what was the result? Peter stood up to preach the gospel and 3,000 people were saved that day."
Read this over and over until you get it. The Good News of Jesus Christ imparts righteousness on you, it doesn't demand it! It brings life, not death. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! The law was given so man could see their need for a Savior, not to condemn us.
When you fail in your daily walk or do something you know you shouldn't have, what is your first thought? Is it condemning? Or is it, I am righteous in the sight of God? One brings guilt, the other brings empowerment to do right.
(this is not talking about living in sin, that is a different subject.)
Thank you Jesus for Grace.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The wicked hate GOODNESS
Proverbs 29:26-27 (The Message)
26 Everyone tries to get help from the leader,
but only God will give us justice.
27 Good people can't stand the sight of deliberate evil;
the wicked can't stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.
Have you ever tried doing good to people and they just didn't receive it? I came across this verse this morning and it jumped off the page. I was looking at verses about goodness. I intended writing about the Goodness of God and how we can apply it in our life. Then "BAM" I came across this verse in the message translation.
Through some frustrating experiences and my journey of learning to hate the things the Lord hates, such as wickedness, the wicked hate goodness. You can do good and be hated for it.
It still means you have to walk in love and pray for your enemies, but people will hate you if you have good in you.
Proverbs 8:13 says,
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.
This makes sense. The righteous/wise person will hate evil, but the evil will hate good. You cannot serve two masters.
When you feel you are doing good and people aren't receiving it, pray for them. Love those who hate you.
Matthew 5:38-42
38 You have heard that it was said, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."
39 But I (Jesus) tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 and whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to him who asks you , and you from him who wants to borrow from you, do not turn away.
Matthew 5:44
But I (Jesus) say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
The next time you experience someone hating you for doing good, follow these steps Jesus gives us, also in Luke 6:27-36
1. Love them
2. Bless them
3. Pray for them
26 Everyone tries to get help from the leader,
but only God will give us justice.
27 Good people can't stand the sight of deliberate evil;
the wicked can't stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.
Have you ever tried doing good to people and they just didn't receive it? I came across this verse this morning and it jumped off the page. I was looking at verses about goodness. I intended writing about the Goodness of God and how we can apply it in our life. Then "BAM" I came across this verse in the message translation.
Through some frustrating experiences and my journey of learning to hate the things the Lord hates, such as wickedness, the wicked hate goodness. You can do good and be hated for it.
It still means you have to walk in love and pray for your enemies, but people will hate you if you have good in you.
Proverbs 8:13 says,
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.
This makes sense. The righteous/wise person will hate evil, but the evil will hate good. You cannot serve two masters.
When you feel you are doing good and people aren't receiving it, pray for them. Love those who hate you.
Matthew 5:38-42
38 You have heard that it was said, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."
39 But I (Jesus) tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 and whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to him who asks you , and you from him who wants to borrow from you, do not turn away.
Matthew 5:44
But I (Jesus) say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
The next time you experience someone hating you for doing good, follow these steps Jesus gives us, also in Luke 6:27-36
1. Love them
2. Bless them
3. Pray for them
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
What do you speak for? What do you give voice to?
I had a meeting with a woman the other day. We were at a Caribou Coffee and she made a statement that really stood out to me. When I go to business meetings, people always ask, ok…so what do you do?
During this meeting, we shared what we both do for a living and then we got into a deeper conversation on our “passions”. It was a great conversation and it lead to more meetings and relationship building between the two of us. But aside from the meeting, this woman asked:
What do you speak for? What do you give voice to?
I LOVE these two questions. I thougt to myself, I am a service coordinator for a home care company. I know I am an intrinsic health coach. That really doesn't say what I speak for though. Now when asked what I do…I have a better answer. I speak for the seniors who want to stay in their own home and not move to a facility. I speak for the individuals who want to live fully alive and remove any obstacles that keep them from accomplishing their full potential.
Ok, this is who I speak for in my job, but what else do I speak for in my life or give voice to daily? You know where I am going with this, don’t you?
I want to be a voice who speaks truth to people who need to know God’s love or who have fallen away from believing the goodness of God and the need of a Savior.
I give my voice to the glorification of the Lord and to profess the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:22-24 (New International Version)
22 Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
During this meeting, we shared what we both do for a living and then we got into a deeper conversation on our “passions”. It was a great conversation and it lead to more meetings and relationship building between the two of us. But aside from the meeting, this woman asked:
What do you speak for? What do you give voice to?
I LOVE these two questions. I thougt to myself, I am a service coordinator for a home care company. I know I am an intrinsic health coach. That really doesn't say what I speak for though. Now when asked what I do…I have a better answer. I speak for the seniors who want to stay in their own home and not move to a facility. I speak for the individuals who want to live fully alive and remove any obstacles that keep them from accomplishing their full potential.
Ok, this is who I speak for in my job, but what else do I speak for in my life or give voice to daily? You know where I am going with this, don’t you?
I want to be a voice who speaks truth to people who need to know God’s love or who have fallen away from believing the goodness of God and the need of a Savior.
I give my voice to the glorification of the Lord and to profess the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:22-24 (New International Version)
22 Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)