| Author | Message | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 519 Registered: 10-2008 |
Meditate and contemplate the following statements which indicate the great worth Christ places on you. 1. I Am Significant Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?. . . Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. . . Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16; Message Bible) 2. I am part of the true vine, joined to Christ and able to produce lots of fruit. I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. (John 15:5; Message Bible) 3. I am handpicked by Jesus. You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. (John 15:16; Contemporary English Version) 4. I am a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives. Do you not know that you are a house of God and that the Holy Spirit lives in you?. . . Do you not know that your body is a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives? God gave you His Holy Spirit. Now you belong to God. You do not belong to yourselves. (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; New Life Version) 5. I am embraced and seated with Christ in heaven. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. (Eph. 2:5-6; Message Bible) 6. I work together with God. We work together with God, and we beg you to make good use of God’s kindness to you. (2 Cor. 6:1; Contemporary English Version) 7. God has made us what we are - to do good works. God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. (Ephesians 2:10; New Century Version) Bask in the reality of your significance to Him. | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 920 Registered: 11-2007  |
Yesterday our family went to the "big city" for some recreation. All day, everywhere we stopped, we got prime parking spaces. We started to laugh because it's so improbable for that to happen, on the busiest retail/recreation day of the week. Every place we went was packed with people - but there we were, parked right at the front door, and also at the Botanic Gardens, we got a great spot. I said, "It's like we are royalty!!" My husband said, "We ARE!" Even though we laughed, it hit me that we really are part of the Royal family. The FACT of it somehow went from my head to my heart. It also hit me that God's royal family are disguised here in this world, not to be truly recognized until His kingdom comes to reign. They don't boast about their position in the universe, or flaunt their power and authority over others. The children of the King are commanded to humbly serve each other and to serve as ambassadors with the Words of Life. Then in Sunday school this morning we were being taught about conscience. One person brought up that the cartoon image of a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The pastor said he didn't agree with that picture because the devil is much more than a voice on the shoulder. The voice hits us from every direction in our culture. Then it it ME - that we have much more than an angel on our shoulder, but the Spirit of God living IN US. If we realized that - and allowed HIM to live and ourselves to die, what could we do??? Wow. The stuff you wrote there Keri reminded me of all that. Thanks!! It's mind-boggling when we begin to realize our true identity. | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 521 Registered: 10-2008 |
Sondra, Wow! I love your post!! Amazing that you would find parking on the busiest day for travel to sight - seeing spots. Thank you SO much for your analogy of being princes and princesses of the King of Kings. He has adopted us as His children. What a wonderful thought and I love your post. Jesus in me! No little devil and little angel sitting on my shoulder. I had a small group leader tell me this past year that I have resurrection power available to me, because I have the Spirit of God living in me. Resurrection power ... IN ME ... that blew me away, too. Keri | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 924 Registered: 11-2007 |
Yes, there is a verse somewhere .. (Bible drill time - Ephesians?) --okay looking it up - don't want to misquote this: Eph 1:18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, Eph 1:19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might Eph 1:20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, Yeah - that one. I really saw that not too long ago too - one of those things you read many times, then one day you SEE what it says! =) | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 513 Registered: 2-2008  |
... this is so good to read!!! thanks for these posts. ~vivian | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 9888 Registered: 12-2003  |
Sondra, I also love that passage. A couple of years ago that passage "hit" me, too. It's amazing to realize that we have, right now as born-again believers who are still in mortal flesh, the actual resurrection power of Jesus at work in us! I really believe that a great many Christians don't realize what that really means. Being born of God means we have all the power of Jesus at work in us. Just today I was pondering Romans 6:1-14. Verses 12-14 confirm that after we are born again we actually (finally) have the ability to make a choice against sin and for righteousness. Verse 13 states that instead of offering our "members" to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, we are to present ourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God. It's amazing--we have the power within us to choose to offer ourselves to God instead of to sin when we're tempted. But this is only possible AFTER being born of the Spirit. I'm really amazed when I realize the power and reality of what Christ-followers have at their disposal. Our call is to continual surrender to the Lord Jesus. This power at work in us leads us to offering ourselves to God, and as we do that, we experience His own power changing us, equipping us, caring for us, and giving us His own perspective and the mind of Christ! It is totally astonishing, really. Colleen | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 468 Registered: 7-2008  |
Armor Of God Walk daily in the whole Armor of God, While the fierce battle rages on; We wrestle not against flesh and blood, We are at war with Satan 'til he is gone. We must stand firm with the belt of truth, Then resist every attack of the enemy; The wicked one will tremble and leave, We will still be standing and free. Wear the breastplate of righteousness, Keep this on and wear it in place; It turns away every attack the devil makes, Be faithful to God and win this race. Let your feet be prepared for this battle, There's a great need for the Gospel of Peace; Be bold and stand for what is right, Keep pressing on 'til this battle shall cease. Take the shield of faith and be strong, Quench all fiery darts of the wicked one; Use each piece of the whole Armor of God, Stop every arrow aimed 'til Victory you've won. Take the helmet of Salvation and wear it, Take the Sword of the Spirit ~ the Bible; It is the Word of God to feed our soul, Be alert, watch and pray ~ don't be idle. A new Child of God needs love and patience, As a newborn baby needs milk to drink; Each ~ needs nourishment and training, There must be trust and faith to not shrink. If there be any virtue or any praise, Think about these things today; There is power if we wear all of God's Armor, We must be faithful and not forget to pray. ~ Leona I. Miller ~ | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 4861 Registered: 9-2006  |
Quote: The pastor said he didn't agree with that picture because the devil is much more than a voice on the shoulder. The voice hits us from every direction in our culture. That sounds about right to me, I think most Christians like to put on a face and there are things they don't like to talk about, the inner struggles they have with whatever. So we go the road alone most of the time and act as if there is no tempter or that we never yield to the temptations of this world. Nope, better not talk about that to anyone, after all I am a Sunday school teacher, preacher, or faithful member of the Holyest place in town. Yes Sir, we're Bible toters and scholarly floaters. we grabtism and baptism ain't nothin' wrong here Jack. I wrote a poem the other day that I think describes many of us. Here it is fer you Holy roller Bible toters. WARNING! WARNING, WHEEEEP WHEEEEEEEEEEP! This ain't gentle so cover your eyes. When I lag behind you Jesus Turn myself to disgrace Will you return for me And show me again my place? I do not belong to this world Although I am some allured Will you pick me up when I fail With eternity assured? Thy word oh Lord, tells me plain your will And tho I sometimes turn away Will you remember me still? I know not eternities consequence For I am made of clay I haven’t got compassion And I haven’t got much sense I at times let flesh allure me Back toward that awful grave Will you, my savior lead me back To your mercies me to save You saved me those years ago Do you remember when Though I lose not my salvation Without your fellowship what then? So lead me savior back to the cross My soul another dip For I know that you are merciful And will not use the whip Dear Lord I stand and beg you Need you to reset my pace Turn again to me savior Jesus That I might behold your face River |
