The Power Within

I've been reading Forgotten God by Francis Chan.  The book is on the Holy Spirit and how many believers don't live with the power of the Spirit in their lives.  It has definitely set my mind thinking in many areas.  We have an incredible power available to us, as believers in Christ. 
Acts 2:38 says:
Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


God sent His Spirit to live within us.  Think about that.  Really, stop and think.  The Spirit of God lives in each believer!  If you are a believer, do you live like that?  Do you live with that power, or do you live a life of defeat?  I think if we truly realized what it meant, how truly special we are that God gives us His very own Spirit to live in us, we would live our lives very different.  We would not think about worldly issues, worldly treasures, we would not live with pride, fear, or be discouraged.  We wouldn't worry.  If we lived with the power we have been given, our lives would be a reflection of the Holy Spirit, of how Christ lived, not of the world.
Galatians 5:16-26 says this about living by the Spirit’s Power:


So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.


When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.


But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!


Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.


The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  If you follow Christ, does your life reflect those gifts?  Personally, I need some work on most of the fruits in my life.  One thing I am going to start doing is to really focus on each fruit, one at a time.  I am going to spend quiet time in the Word of God looking up each fruit of the Spirit.  If you want to do the same, but not sure how to start looking up each one, go to Bible Gateway and type the words in for a search.  I am going to start by looking up scriptures on love, and just sit in what that means, how much the Father loves me since He sent His Son to die for me. 


If we want to make our body better, we work out.  How about our Spirit?  Are you willing to dive in with me, and study, sit and reflect on what the Spirit does for our lives and learn how to build our spiritual strength, to think on each fruit and ask what would my life look like if I lived by each of these virtues?  How would I be different and how would those in my world be different?  What are practical ways I can apply these to my every day life?  I plan to start today.  I hope you join me.

Remain

This devotion was in my inbox this morning.  It really touched me and spoke to some places in my heart this morning that needed a reminder. 

Remain, My Love

by Micca Monda Campbell


"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." John 15:9 (NIV)


Is it really possible to live in God's constant presence free from fear and sheltered by His love? Miraculously, it is. Living carefree in the love of God is doable and real.


It's the kind of life that Jesus lived on earth and the life He desires for each of us. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love" (John 15:9).


I want to experience God's love and grace every day. As believers, our life is meant to be wrapped in God's love, but many of us live in fear and defeat instead. Where is our power and victory? Where is our peace that flows like a river? If you and I are in a love relationship with God, why don't we ref lect that?


Many of us are powerless and full of anxieties rather than love because we do not faithfully practice fellowship with God. We simply stand in the shadow of God, but don't draw near. Perhaps we feel confused, abandoned, betrayed, or afraid of God. Or maybe we just stay too busy to draw near. This is not the Lord's desire. He longs to be with us.


To really experience the loving personality and presence of God, we have to spend time with Him. Knowing about God and knowing Him personally are two different things. We can read the Bible and acquire knowledge about God's love, but that doesn't mean we will experience it in an intimate way. Knowing about someone and being involved in a relationship with them are two very different experiences.


Personally, I don't want to simply know about God and His love. I want to share in it. I want to open my heart to God by telling Him about my hurts and my joys. I also want to know what's on His heart too. I desire to hear from Him instead of doing all the talking myself. I want the kind of relationship that Christ had with His Father in heaven while here on earth. And, I can have that through abiding. You can too.


To abide means to stay where you are. Colossians 3:3 tells us exactly where we are to stay. "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
That's our position; we are to stay in Christ. We don't just run to Christ when we're scared or desperate. Abiding in Christ means to remain in His presence daily - during every season and through every turn of life.


Abiding takes more than a token prayer, reading a few biblical words, or singing some praise songs on Sunday. Besides, abiding is not about doing more but about seeking God and connecting with Him. Today that connection may be about basking in his unconditional love. Tomorrow, it may be His strength that you relish. Whatever your need may be, you can find it in God's presence daily.


Is it possible to live a life in constant contact with God and His love all day long? It was for Jesus. Therefore, it must be possible for us too.




Dear Lord, how I long to live each day with You—in Your love, power, peace, and strength. Lord, I will stay in this moment with thoughts on You until I experience Your connection with me. Come, Lord, and meet with me today. Teach me to remain with You always. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Application Steps:

Carefully read John 15. Ask yourself, who is the vine and who is the vine-keeper? Who is abiding and why? What is the benefit of abiding?


Reflections:
What distractions keep me from having a deeper relationship with God?


Am I willing to make God my first priority every day? If so, how will it change my relationship with Him?



Deuteronomy 6:5, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (NIV)
Joshua 23:11, "So be very careful to love the LORD your God." (NIV)

Living in the Present Tense

I heard this poem at Women of Faith this past weekend.


Present Tense


It was spring,
but it was summer I wanted,
The warm days, and the great outdoors.


It was summer,
but it was fall I wanted,
The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.


It was fall,
but it was winter I wanted,
The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.


It was winter,
but it was spring I wanted,
The warmth and the blossoming of nature.


I was a child,
but it was adulthood I wanted,
The freedom and respect.


I was 20,
but it was 30 I wanted,
To be mature, and sophisticated.


I was middle-aged,
but it was 20 I wanted,
The youth and the free spirit.


I was retired,
but it was middle-age I wanted,
The presence of mind without limitations.


My life was over,
and I never got what I wanted.


This poem was written by Jason Lehman who was 14 years old when he wrote it.  Pretty insightful teenager, wouldn't you say?


Life passes by so quickly and if we live always wanting something different than what we have-the life we are living in at the moment-we never enjoy any of it. Living life like that just means it flies by, and we never grasped it, we never appreciated what we were given, we never enjoyed the present, the gift of daily life. We can wish away our lives, longing for a different season, or a different season in our own lives, but we need to enjoy, grab, and truly live each day.  We were given the gift of life, to live it, to live it fully, to love those around us, and to be completely alive each day.  Each day is a choice, which choice will you make?


I did not want to, when I came to die, find that I had not lived. ~Thoreau

Beautiful

This song has a strong message.  It really touched me the first time I heard it, and it continues to touch me each time I hear it.  Sometimes, we get too down on ourselves, we listen to lies about who we are, and we believe them.  The world around us knocks us down, and sometimes, it's hard to get back up.  However, God created us in His image.  He doesn't want us to believe the lies that we are not good enough.  He wants us to know that are beautiful, we are treasured.  We are important. We are so important, so treasured by God, that He sent Jesus to die for each of us.  That's love.  REAL love! We matter to HIM.  Always. 

Day in the Woods

Last week, my hubby took a few days off.  We spent some time in the mountains, enjoying the scenery and getting some firewood. 

We had a doe and her yearling fawns come within 25 yards of our truck.  For some reason, something about my camera was fascinating them. 

....and the rain started......

Do you see what I see?

Between rain storms, the sun came out.

Fall is definitely in the air!

The day ended with a beautiful sunset on Lake Pend Oreille.  Thanks, God, for all the beauty of your creation that surrounds us every moment of every day!

My Hope

When I heard the lyrics to this song, I thought of what have we done as a nation, a church, a community...what have I done?  What will matter?  Does the way I live point to the hope I have?  What can I do best to show my hope to others? 




What have we lost in the name of progress?
What have we gained in the wake of our success?
I don't want to live like this how can we live like this?

What have we done that will be remembered?
What have we built that is everlasting?
I don't want to live like this how can we live like this?


Kings will fall down cities will crumble
My hope is found in you
Breath will fail us time will leave us
My hope is found in you


Where will we go when the day is ending?
What will we hold when it all comes to an end?
I don't want to live like this how can we live like this?




Kings will fall down cities will crumble
My hope is found in you
Breath will fail us time will leave us
My hope is found in you in you
My hope is found in you


This is the chance to make it
This is the chance to make it
I'm gonna stand with you alone


Kings will fall down cities will crumble
My hope is found in you
Breath will fail us time will leave us
My hope is found in you in you






Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:4-5

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. Psalm 39:7


I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. Psalm 130:5

Remember

Have you forgotten how it felt that day
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away?
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside
Going through a living hell
And you say we shouldn't worry 'bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

Remember.  Remember your thoughts and feelings on 9/11/01.  Remember.  What did you feel?  What did you think? 

I remember feeling like I was having a nightmare and needed to wake up.  I remember feelings of sadness, sorrow, anger, patriotism, disbelief, and feeling numb.  I remember horrific scenes that came into all of our living rooms, as we watched from a far.  I felt scared.  I wanted my loved ones around me.  I wept.  I prayed. I sat at work, staring at the TV.  I felt quiet. I felt pride as an American.

Within a short time, I remember disbelief, anger, sorrow, sadness surrounded me again when Americans seemed to forget what happened....how our land was attacked, how so many died. 

Today, I am saddened by the state of our country, by the lack of morals, the lack of patriotism, the lack of the will to fight for ourselves and what is right, and the lack of pride as an American.  I am saddened that we have turned from God. 

I pray that this country finds the will to stand up for our rights and freedoms. I pray for people to be humbled and to fall on their knees and ask God for help for this country, before He completely turns His back on us.


Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Look and See

God is constantly revealing His glory throughout the whole earth, just so we'll look and see Him. ~Beth Moore

 

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:19-20

Encouraging Words for the Day

This quote came in my email this morning: 

Do you feel a little empty today? When you look at your life and what you have to offer, does it seem too ordinary, almost embarrassing? Not to Jesus. This day there is grace available to fill and transform your empty or weary heart, and it will not run out. Bring your emptiness or ordinariness to Jesus, and your heart will not be able to hold all the grace poured out in you! – Sheila Walsh

Be An Example

I've been reading a lot on actions, truly living out our faith in ALL we do and say, all the time.  Do we think about the example we set every moment of every day in our actions, speech, the way you treat people? Do our lives really reflect what we believe, what we say our values are, where we put our faith?  If someone just observed you/me for a couple hours, in our homes, out in public, what would they think?  What would their conclusion be by the way we talked, the way we treated others, the way we reacted to different situations? 

John was a voice for Christ with more than his voice. His life matched his words. When a person’s ways and words are the same, the fusion is explosive. But when a person says one thing and lives another, the result is destructive. People will know we are Christians, not because we bear the name, but because we live the life. ~Max Lucado

 Always set a good example for others. Be sincere and serious when you teach. Use clean language that no one can criticize. Do this, and your enemies will be too ashamed to say anything against you. Titus 2:7-8 (Contemporary English Version)




Ephesians 5 (The Message)

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

Don't allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don't talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn't fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.

You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.

Don't let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don't even hang around people like that.

You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You're out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.

Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,
Climb out of your coffins;
Christ will show you the light!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.

Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.

Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.

No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.