"I am with you always..."

If you've followed Kristen's blog recently, she took us on a tour of Israel and Rome.  It has been fascinating, to say the least.  One picture which caught my attention and has held my thoughts is of the Colosseum, built by Titus, ten years after his victory in Israel.  It was in the Colosseum that many believers lost their lives, because they identified themselves with Christ, holding to their testimony of Jesus.  Underneath the ground level of the Colosseum, the prisoners were kept in dark alleys and rooms until they were brought out to be slaughtered.  I've been wondering what must have gone through their minds?   Were they thinking about loved ones, praying for their strength? Did they draw strength from thinking about their Lord and what He suffered on their behalf?  Were they wondering how much it would hurt?  Did they think about Paul's words, that those who will live godly in Christ will suffer persecution?  Did the words of Jesus, "I am with you always," ring in their ears?  "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  Right before the end of the age we know there will be terrible persecution and the greatest slaughter of believers ever to occur.  "I am with you always..."  Those words are for you and me as well as those believers who were slaughtered under Nero.  Those words are meant to bring us comfort.  They remind us that we can endure through anything, and even to the end because we will always have His empowering presence until He returns to gather us before He pours out His wrath.

"I am with you always..."

Sweet, sweet words, aren't they?

Come Into His Presence

I could listen to Melinda Doolittle sing all day but here is just one of her songs that I ran across this afternoon...

Hope you are having a great day! 

Psalm 105:1-4

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name;
    make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
    tell of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Seek the Lord and His strength;
    seek His presence continually!"

Fully Equipped

It would be great if after our salvation we always chose to do what is right, what pleases the Lord, wouldn't it?  But we still sin because sin is still resident in the flesh.  I groan with Paul over the battle and also long for that transformation that will end it!  The good news is that though sin is still present, it's power over us has been broken.  In Christ, we are freed from our orientation to sin.  At death or at the return of Christ, we will be freed from sin's presence, but while we live on the earth during this present age, the Lord graciously equips us so that we can choose to live godly in Christ.

Off the top of my head, here is a list of some of those things-

1)  A new mind and heart.

Before Christ, our minds were not spiritually informed.  We could not comprehend spiritual truth and our hearts were made of stone.  We were without understanding concerning the things of God nor did we care for spiritual things.  The unregenerate mind operates in the realm of futility, or emptiness.  (Eph. 4:17)  Our minds were void of spiritual substance.  Part of the new creation is a new mind, Christ's mind. (1 Cor. 2:16)  We do what we do and feel how we feel because of how we think.  At salvation, we go from being in Satan's realm to God's realm.  We now have the ability to think about things that will move us in a direction to succeed according to God's will and plan.  Thinking biblically doesn't come automatically, however.  We have to train our minds to think differently.  It really is a spiritual discipline. 

2) The Word.

It's the Word that God uses to bring about our transformation, our salvation.  It's the Word that the Holy Spirit uses to sanctify us and grow us.  We are instructed to set our minds on things above.  In order to do that, our minds need to be Word saturated.  That's just not happening if it sits on the coffee table, gathering dust. 

3) Spiritual brothers and sisters.

These are those folks in the family of God who are in the Word, who have dealt with the logs in their own eyes so they can come alongside those of us who are straying from God's path, and help us deal with our own splinters and logs! 

4) Pastors and teachers (or pastor/teachers)

God has given the church those who lead and shepherd His flock, who are charged with the care, feeding, and spiritual guidance.  These are the ones who enrich our knowledge of the Word.   

5) Prayer

Paul was constantly in prayer for the recipients of his letters.  In God's marvelơus plan, prayer aligns us up with His power to do His work in our lives and in the lives of others.  In the past year, I've experienced great joy over answered prayer.  We miss out on many blessings when we don't participate in this wonderful spiritual discipline.

Those are just a few of the pieces of equipment that enable us to live Christ-centered lives.  While we are new, we are not yet all new.  I do long for the day when I will be all new, but for now, He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness!

The Only Source of Peace

At the end of Orange's recent blog post on the United States Postal Service he gives a humorous example of human selfishness and conflict.  Sin is basically selfishness and selfishness is disruptive and divisive.  Jesus is the only source of peace between God and man and between man and man.  The reason is simple.  A relationship with God, to be reconciled to Him, and to have peace with men requires the removal of sin and Jesus death is the only thing that accomplished that!

"What a Blessing, Mom."

I just love the wonderful surprises the Lord sends our way, don't you?

My second grandson, Charlie, is due on September 11th.  Mai is at thirty-two weeks and is seeing the midwife bi-weekly now.  The anticipation is building for the arrival of this little bundle of joy.  My son Ben received a promotion at work today, and, he now has weekends off, so he can begin fellowshipping at church again.

Ben said to me after he shared the news, "What a blessing, Mom."

I agree, Ben.  I agree! 

Getting So Grown Up

This is my granddaughter Daisy.  She turned fourteen on May 29th.  Do you know what I love about Daisy?  She is not afraid to take a stand for Christ in her public school.  Her teacher and the kids in her science class last year knew that she is a Christian.  Ask her about evolution and she'd probably laugh.  "Ppbbbffft. It's so ridiculous," she'd say.  "Just look around you.  THERE IS A GOD AND HE DID CREATE THIS WORLD!"  That is just one of the myriad of reasons why I love Daisy.  That, and she makes me laugh, all the time.  And she gives great shoulder rubs.  She'll be spending this week with me so my pantry is stocked with pudding.  (She loves pudding, specifically chocolate pudding...)

See you tomorrow, Daisy!  Love you oh so much!