Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 9:9–10 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of wisdom… fear is only the beginning.  It should lead us further on is true wisdom.  It should lead us to the love of and for God.  Fear is excellent motivation to inspire us to find the way to appease God, that leads us right to the cross and God’s passionate love for His creation.

The problem that I think we have is that our understanding of His love is limited by our understanding of ourselves.  We humanize God to much; it is understandable, because we tend to want to bring things into our realm.  But in this case we need to get out of our heads and look at the Word and realize that there are some things that without the Spirit we CANNOT understand.  The Bible teaches us in 1 Corinthians that only the Spirit of God can understand God, and only those with His Spirit can understand spiritual things.Isaiah 64:6–7 (KJV 1900) But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, That stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: For thou hast hid thy face from us, And hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. When we look at ourselves and we see that we are filthy and that even the good that we do is filthy and YET GOD LOVES US and has provided for US we can begin to understand the motivation to do right.

This week I was listening to some testimonies that so impressed me, they were from a former worldly rocker and a Christian musician.  They had both gotten mixed up in the drug scene and became miserable and lost. They were both so humble and powerful in their testimonies.  They had each started out in a very different way and yet ended up in utter hopelessness.  They found that they were in need of something; they were as the Psalmist says in the “miry clay”.  One had deliberately sought out success and women and wine so to speak.  He found that everything he thought was going to be great was the exact opposite.  He was trapped and hated who he had become.  The other, started out in a Christian home and had everything that he needed.  He had spiritual parents that never gave up on him even though he strayed.  He got into college and thought that he could play with fire and not get burned.

Both these men were deceived.  They each recognize this now.  When they were in the mess they each prayed a similar prayer, “God if you are out there, I need you” and “God, I am a mess, do whatever you must to bring me back to you”.  The heavy metal rocker had walked into a church.  It was a church where the worship was genuine.  What he saw while strung out on meth was a bunch of people that sincerely loved God and had joy.  He realized that they had something he needed.  He went home and prayed that prayer.  A few weeks later, he had an encounter with Jesus’s love.  He came to recognize that Jesus is real and that God loved him even in his meth addiction and even in the mess that he was stuck in.The Christian musician had a similar encounter.  God showered His love down on this fallen creature, this distracted believer.  He showed this broken man that He loved him in spite of himself.

In both of these instances it was the humble recognition that God loves ME that led them to change and to love passionately the one that loves them! 

1 John 3:1–2 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

1 John 4:7–13 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.”

I am encouraged to hear about the upcoming series “The God questions”.  I’m sure that anyone that’s had a spiritual conversation of any depth has gone through the dreaded moment when the only answer you have is “I don’t know”, or some other less than brilliant reply.  Worse yet is to regurgitate a canned answer, one that can’t be reasoned out, and fails miserably to the simple “why?” cross-examination.  I don’t like experiencing those times when having a discussion, and realizing the tools are failing right before my eyes.  This is perhaps the most glaring obstacle to engaging in conversation with those that need to hear the message the most.

The media has dropped one-liners into the laps of confused people, arming them with the very stumbling blocks we are unprepared to disassemble.  Our tool belt is unequipped to breakdown the latest obstacles.   We have our basic set of tools, the crescent wrench, the philips screwdriver, maybe even a box end wrench.  But each year there are new tools needed; Torx, offset screwdrivers, ball point hex.

I would like to encourage our men to check the contents of their tool-belt. Examine each tool, check its “made in” label, if you can’t find the origin, either get rid of that tool or find out where it came from.  Trade up the tools we used as children for ones made for the hard work.  After all, there’s no cost, free.  There is no risk of patent infringement either.

My advise to myself and others;

• Take notes.
• Research your own questions.
• Ask questions.
• Dare to be a little ADD while studying.
• Take more notes.

Dave

by SCOTT NEWTON on DECEMBER 14, 2011 in DEVOTIONALS, STATISTICS, UNCATEGORIZED

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. ²⁹ For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: ³⁰ For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. ³¹ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. ³² This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Just a quick few thoughts tonight as I get ready for tomorrows service.  Guys, do we love our wives right?  I mean when we read this passage of Scripture, doesn’t it make you realize that wow, I need a lot of work?  It does me.  To be open, I have been pretty complacent lately… you know how it gets.  I actually figured that I have it together, I’m better than average and so, well, I don’t need to try that hard anymore, I’ve proven myself.  Then you actually start to think about it.  Ouch.  We are supposed to love our ladies like Jesus loves the church.  In verse 26 the Bible teaches us an awesome truth, one that may be difficult to grasp, but when came to Christ or when He came to us, he came intending to FINISH the job.  His love and work goes on, in us to the lost and dying world, but His love and work also goes on IN US to make us what we need to be.  This love goes on.  Has your love for your wife gone on?

I take a different tack than many Baptist preachers I have listened to concerning women and the church.  I can’t tell you how many books or men I have listened to that have laid at the feet of women, trouble in the church.  I tend to lay that blame at the feet of us men. If we are leading our homes right, treating our wives the way we should, standing strong when needed, giving in when needed, guiding as Christ guides us, well, then maybe a lot of problems would be solved.

So here is the challenge… check your love level, has it waned in the last few months or years?  Have you stopped trying to show your wife that you love her?  Have you stopped trying to prove your love to her?  Maybe you need to make some changes, ask the Lord to fill you and empower you to make them, believe that He will and get to work, remember, He gives you the will and the means but the one thing he asks of you is the do.

God bless!

First gear and more!

When was the last time you were in a car? Most likely it was today or at the very least this week.  Do you recall the feeling as the transmission worked its way up through the gears?  You could feel it, hear it and experience the results of it.  The car continued to accelerate and onward you went on your journey ever more rapidly to the intended goal.

Our pastor has been preaching on this very subject albeit in regards to our walk with Christ.  Just as the case is with the car our lives need to get out of neutral and on to the real work of getting to our final destination.  And as with the car, we also need to ensure we have our directions set correctly by referring to our roadmap.

The map may be something you don’t use every time but it should be.  Why not use the tools available to ensure you’re on the right course all the time?  Its common sense isn’t it?  Never leave anything in doubt.  That roadmap for our lives is the Word of God.  Read it before you set your course.  Refer to it often to ensure you’re still on course.  Pray about what you’re about to read before you read it.  Let it guide you and you’ll never fail.

Our church has shifted from neutral into first gear.  It’s palpable. It’s evident every day.  We see visitors, new programs, an attitude of love and service prevailing over selfishness and envy.  We have embarked on a wonderful journey that far too many churches and believers never get to experience.  We are fortunate to have a pastor with vision for what we can be rather than what’s good enough.

Let’s all support him and shift into first gear and get rolling.  As with the car, it’s a LOT easier to stop when it’s in neutral than when it’s in gear and moving. The more momentum it builds the harder it is to stop.  No one is guaranteeing a smooth ride throughout however if we ALL do our part to keep focused on God’s will not ours, God’s sufficiency not our lusts, God’s plan and not our schemes, we’ll all arrive at the destination He has for all of us.

So get out of neutral, shift into first gear and get on with it.  Don’t be the one left behind asking where everyone is.  Get involved in the work.  Pray, read your bible, volunteer,  greet visitors, ACT on what God is telling you to do.  Don’t let the rest of us have all the fun!  Onward in our journey, ever vigilant, ever focused!

Sincerely,

Anonymous Church Member

In every service I see empty seats.  But that need not make me miss the filled seats.  A filled seat falls into one of two categories.  It holds someone I either know or don’t know.  I don’t mean someone I recognize or know their name.  Knowing someone means

I’ve taken the time to talk to them.  Find out about them, their needs, desires and what makes them tick. I have a relationship at some level with them beyond casual acquaintance.

We so often sit through services with many things on our minds.  We consider the message.  We see a presentation.  We enjoy

the music. We do many things some of which have nothing to do with worship. How often do we look around and see the empty seats? How often do we look around and see filled seats too?  Every one of those filled seats holds a person we either know or don’t know.  But how do we see those that we don’t know?

Are we thankful for a new face and thank God for their presence?  I trust most of us do. Do we see a new face and judge what they’re wearing, what they look like and where did they come from?  We’re all guilty of thinking good and bad thoughts.

Now, let’s take it to the next level.  What are the first things you do when the service is over?  Who are those whom you seek out?  Where do you go and why?

Next time  you’re sitting through a service take a look around.  See who the new faces are.  Make a conscious choice to go see them, meet them and start the process of getting to know them.  Ask the Holy Spirit to place you where He wants you to be and say what He wants said.  Actively seek to do rather than watch.  When a church body gets this concept right it won’t take long until there aren’t any empty seats. Then your choice will be whether to attend the early service or the late service.

Try it out. What have you got to lose?  I think you’ll find the only things you lose is one more empty seat in your church.

Sincerely,

Anonymous

J. Vernon McGee, The Best of J. Vernon McGee : A Collection of His Best-Loved Sermons, Volume 1, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001), 69.

John 4:23–24 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Ephesians 5:19–21  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Colossians 3:16–17  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Revelation 5:6–10  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

What should real worship lead to and what place does music and singing have in it. We will let the Scriptures be our guide. Godly worship music and songs should develop OR include the following…

1.  GOD as the object of affection and adoration with HIS PLEASURE in mind.
   1. This being said… when my children sing to me songs in their range and with their scope of understanding, I just love to hear them sing.
   2. I would never expect or demand that my 5 year old sing Handel’s Messiah, but I love to hear him sing David Crowder’s “How He Loves”
2. Thankfulness to God. We should understand that it is God that should be thanked and worshiped and adored.
3. Honor for Jesus Christ.
4. A moving of the HEART which is the seat of EMOTION
5. Doctrinally sound lyrics – “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly”
6. Make much of GRACE
7. Submissiveness to our Lord and the authority He has over us.

A few definitions as in order here… Psalms – songs that expressly praise the Creator Lord, hymns – songs that teach doctrine, spiritual songs – songs that express the relationship aspect of our Faith

SO where do we want to be?  I need to stress the we, God has a different design for different churches.  Each church is independent and unique.  It took me a while to really grasp that to be honest.   At my church we have begun to speak of a blended service, but what does that entail? I believe that we need current music to relate to our lives today. It is interesting to me that the Bible speaks of a New Song and yet many are so concerned with introducing new music. We need to use the music that people are worshiping to when they are at home, at work and in the car and we also need to give them music to listen to at work, at home and in the car. Another point is that music and songs are used to remind us of the past and lessons learned. I think of God on the Mountain. This isn’t a current song and neither is Hidden Valley’s however both were my songs in the night and as such should be remembered and even sung. In our church we have many older Christians. Hymns and such are their songs in the night. This is why I think that a blending of styles in worship is useful. I have intentionally avoided the use of the word contemporary because such a word is useless when discussing such matters. I heard a preacher call Twila Paris and Steve Green contemporary. I think both may still be making music but honestly their heyday was about 15 years ago. This hardly qualifies as contemporary.

Why change our worship style? As I mentioned above people need to worship God in their culture; in their day to day living. People need to worship God in a way that they can relate to. If we were to get right down to it and followed the “old-fashioned” approach we would all be singing to harps and in a difficult style, unknown to most of today’s western church… I’m talking about the 1st Century style of music and the Psalms. While we should sing the psalms to God, I find NOWHERE in the Scriptures, Old or New does He limit us to a style (with the possible exception of encouraging variety). That is the bottom line. Why change? Why stay current with our congregation? Because it is ultimately their worship to God that is being affected. By stringently adhering to a cultural and or generational position instead of a Biblical one or by completely ditching what has been used for years we do more harm than good.

What change? What is blended worship? Is there such a thing as worldly music? We investigated what godly music and worship is earlier in this study, now we must answer the question of taking care that we do not offend God in our worship. The answer is simple and is found in 1 John 2:16

The ultimate question that we must ask in regards to the morality of music is NOT does it move my flesh… such thinking would imply that enjoying sex in the confines of marriage is wrong because it is enjoyable. The question is more what does it move the flesh to? Does it move the believer to a perverted sensuality? I think here of an older “contemporary” song by Jackie Velasquez where she sang in a breathy almost panting and groaning style that was reminiscent of sexual acts. Or does the music inspire anger and rage? Does the music feed rebellion and angst?  I am not speaking about the WORDS but the style. This can be very subjective and so we must learn to understand our congregation. With these things in mind we should move ahead. A key to this understanding is that the two most current generations were raised in an age of so-called rock and roll music. To them it isn’t necessarily rebellious or full of angst. To the older generations it is all about rebellion and angst. Sex, drugs and rock and roll. This is a cultural and generational distinction. If you are raised in something that was formerly rebellious and is no longer so, how can it represent rebellion for you. We still need to be sensitive to those that may feel that way about certain styles of music and guide them gently to a place of Biblical truth.

In the same vein of what offends God I would point to Amos 5:23.  It fascinates me that the Lord was condemning the traditional songs of His people. It wasn’t the style that God was condemning it was the HEART with which they sacrificed and of their worship songs were sung and played!!!! If we take this stylistically we would reject the use of stringed instruments i.e. the viol. We would also be wrong! Think of Paul when he was speaking of eating meat offered to idols… he didn’t condemn the meat, he explained that the meat itself was fine, if your conscience accepted that the idols and false gods it was offered to were dead and of no viability. However if in your heart you believed (wrongly and immaturely) that the idols had something to do with meat you should not eat of it.

Paul also goes onto teach in Colossians 2:16–23 that we need to be careful that we don’t let a man steal from us our freedom in Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary worshiping of angels… the word angel has been used of the messenger of God, particularly the pastor… we are not to get caught up worrying about the MAN-MADE ordinances, worshiping the man and obeying him, blindly following his ordinances, taste not, touch not, handle not… I might expound, sing not, play not (drums ring a bell?)… I have yet to find in the Bible the Lord forbidding the use of the back-beat.

Therefore,in going through the Scriptures I find that music is to be used wisely, to honor God, to teach, to praise, to enhance our relationship to God and each other among other things.  I find that our songs and singing must be with understanding and with a heart that is in tune with our God.  I also find that singing isn’t the beginning nor is it the end of worship, it is simply stated and expression of worship.  Our worship should be with our giving, singing and our very lives, living each day in humble adoration of our living, loving, guiding and yes chastising Creator.

Amazing grace—how sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!
Thru many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; ’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me; His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.

I’m sitting here in my study, it’s about 7:15am.  I’m having my time with God and listening to Chris Tomlin sing Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone.  There is a YouTube video with the lyrics fading in and out on a landscape background.  I’m half listening, I love this song and the way Chris sings it.  Then I look up on verse 2 and SEE the lyrics “twas grace that taught my heart to fear”.  I thought; how odd, grace taught my heart to fear.  Then I thought how wonderful!  Grace taught my heart to fear!  Without that fear, that awe of God and His holiness and majesty I would never have known His love and mercy!  Funny how much depth a songwriter can wring out of so few words.  Thank God for John Newton.  It seems to me that we still need both the tension of fear and awe for God and relief from God.  He is strong and magnificent and almighty and He hates sin in every form, from the believer and the unbeliever.  He hates sin so much that He sent Jesus and cruelly crucified Him to vent His great wrath against our sin.  In that loathing of sin and punishment of it is the light of love bathed in blood.  Grace taught my heart to fear.  Grace found in the Law of the Lord.  Grace to lead me from fear to love!  Jesus God in the flesh displaying the grace of God by showing His wrath and love in one terrible act.   Thank you Jesus!

“Calling himself a “wretch” who was lost and blind, John Newton recalled leaving school at the age of 11 to begin life as a rough, debauched seaman. Eventually he engaged in the despicable practice of capturing natives from West Africa to be sold as slaves to markets around the world. But one day the grace of God put fear into the heart of this wicked slave trader through a fierce storm. Greatly alarmed and fearful of a shipwreck, Newton began to read The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. God used this book to lead him to a genuine conversion and a dramatic change in his way of life.

Feeling a definite call to study for the ministry, Newton was encouraged and greatly influenced by John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield. At the age of 39, John Newton became an ordained minister of the Anglican church at the little village of Olney, near Cambridge, England. To add further impact to his powerful preaching, Newton introduced simple heart-felt hymns rather than the usual psalms in his services. When enough hymns could not be found, Newton began to write his own, often assisted by his close friend William Cowper. In 1779 their combined efforts produced the famous Olney Hymns hymnal. “Amazing Grace” was from that collection.

Until the time of his death at the age of 82, John Newton never ceased to marvel at the grace of God that transformed him so completely. Shortly before his death he is quoted as proclaiming with a loud voice during a message, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior!” What amazing grace!” ~ Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990), 170.

The video below shows heartily what I have proposed above.  It is not for the weak of heart nor is it for elementary children (Jr. High would be fine in my estimation).  However, it is a must see video for it illustrates in the medium that the current generations identify with.

Another helpful link to guide you in your voting is http://voteyourfaith.org/

I opened the service with a statement, a question really; who here has ever just felt like saying “God, just take me home now!  I am a mess and I just want to end it!”  I would like to say that I’m surprised by how many raised their hands.  I was one of them.  I think that we all have times when we are so down, either because of circumstances forced upon us, sins against us, or sins and messes of our own making that ending it seems like a viable option.  It isn’t.  In studying Paul’s life and work through this book we could clearly see that there were times that even the great Apostle had moments of darkness in his life.  One has only to read the book of Acts to see how much this man went through, and then in 2 Corinthians we get just a glimpse into his mind.

2 Corinthians 7:5  For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

True in this passage Paul was speaking of the comfort that God sent to him via Titus and a good report, but it also shows a very transparent Paul.  He reminds us that God is concerned with His children and comforts all that are cast down (himself included).  At the risk of sounding like another Jesus is a crutch writer I believe that Paul understood the importance of receiving that comfort and hope.  Comfort and hope lead to a greater witness, a greater testimony and great glory for a great God!

Following the message I received wonderful feedback thanking me for the message.  I think that one of the things that people were most impressed by was the transparency of Paul the Apostle, the others that raised their hands and my own.  The next day after preaching the message I was doing some research online and found the suicide note of a brilliant young man who died this past January.  He left a 4000 word letter detailing how he felt.  It may become one of the most helpful things I have ever read outside of the Bible.  It is a view inside the mind of depression and heartache.  One thing that stood out was that he felt so alone, though he was surrounded by friends. The other was that he felt so evil and hurtful and the opposite was expressed by those that knew him best.  His perception wasn’t reality, he needed an adjustment.  I don’t really know if he knew Jesus, God knows.  The sad thing is  that he felt utterly hopeless.  There is great truth in the idea that we are evil, we are sinners, but that truth without the hope of a God that loves us is a killing truth.  Sadly he grew up in what seems to be a church that emphasized just how disappointed God must be in everyone and everything.  The word love was spoken and even taught, but not necessarily emphasized.  I have visited the website and found that there are many well written articles concerning the Christian walk etc… and yet there was a disconnect with this young man.  The truth is that we will all be saddled with the presence of sin until we hit the grave, but the equal truth is that we have a God that considers us of great value even with the stain of sin for that stain of sin is under the greater stain of the blood of Jesus.  His love is embodied on the cross.  His love for us exceeds His hatred of our sin.  It is my fervent hope that churches everywhere and in every denomination with preach the truth of sin, but to never preach that truth without preaching the wonder of the cross and love of God for the sinner, yes even the saved sinner!

As I studied chapter one the phrase that caught my heart and taught me that Paul had learned to adjust his perspective was… “to live is Christ to die is gain”.  This was Paul’s perception and priority.  When your life is a shambles and you feel like it isn’t worth it, why not give your life to God here and now?  To live is Christ.  Let him have you and use you to lift others out of the depths of sin and depravity.  Let Christ fill your vision!  Let the death you are considering embracing be the death to self and let God use your mortal frame to His glory! The outcome of that is a life that will bless others.

As we begin to understand that to live is Christ then even when we fail or trials and tribulations come our way, we can shout that it is for Christ, let Him have it for his own glory.  When you sin… again… instead of accepting depression; accept forgiveness, get up and move forward learning from God the lesson He is trying to teach you  Hebrews 12 teaches us that God is chastening us to our profit.  Instead of being angry and bitter when men do all manner of evil against you, allow Christ to live through you giving love to your enemies.

To live is Christ…  when you find that you are the end of your rope… let go.  Recognize that to live is Christ.  End your life of… whatever it is that brought you to that point and get tuned into Christ.  Stop living… for yourself.  To live is Christ.  Before Jesus, there was no life.  The devil has us coming and going.  He tries to convince us that without Christ you can really live!  But without Jesus there is no life!  The cross God calls us to bear is one that brings us life! When we lose our lives to Christ we find them in Him!  Only better.

So when everything is coming undone, when the attack is hard and heavy, when you are the culprit and have only yourself to blame…. when these times come upon us we need to have a perspective adjustment.  We need to remember that the life we now live, we live through the faith of Christ Jesus.  He is our priority,  He is our life.

One last thing… to live Christ is to MAGNIFY CHRIST!  Philippians 1:20

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

This verse brings it all into perspective… listen to Warren Wiersbe’s summation of these points “When we take Christ into every circumstance, we will have joy. Paul was not the prisoner of Rome; he was the “prisoner of Jesus Christ” (Eph. 3:1; 4:1). The soldiers chained to his wrist were not guards; they were souls for whom Christ died. Paul had a “captive audience,” and from 1:13 and 4:22, we conclude that he won some of them to Christ. The single-minded Christian does not allow circumstances to overcome him; he or she turns those circumstances into opportunities to magnify Christ and win souls.^[1]”  – Wiersbe

“For to me to live is ———————— and to die is —————————.”  Fill in the blanks yourself.

“For to me to live is money and to die is to leave it all behind.”

“For to me to live is fame and to die is to be forgotten.”

“For to me to live is power and to die is to lose it all.”^[2]

Let the Great Physician give you a spiritual alignment and adjust your perception for His glory and your joy!

Let us remember that the challenge isn’t ‘you should be alive to spiritual things’ it instead is ‘you are alive to spiritual things, now reckon (or realize) it… adjust your perception!  God bless!