In Christ - I am "in Christ"

Hi, all!  Sorry I missed last week – I was out sick – again – but the antibiotics have kicked in and I’m feeling better!  I know tomorrow’s going to be a crazy day, so I’m sending this early -

I am in Christ Jesus...

I Corinthians 1:30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

KPRZ Encouragement for Today - September 13, 2011

Sit Down and Be Quiet - Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

“Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish” (John 6:11 NIV).

Friend to Friend.

        “Have you ever noticed this pattern in the gospels – the disciples get in a bind and Jesus bails them out. It reminds me of the old fifties program, Father Knows Best. The kids got in trouble, the father solved the problem and then he taught us all an important life lesson at the end. Come to think of it, ‘Father Knows Best’ would be a fabulous subtitle for the gospels!

        “In John 6:1-15, we find the disciples in a precarious situation. Their lawn party had turned into quite a bash. The guests far exceeded their expectations, the disciples hadn’t planned on providing dinner, and it appeared the crowd was expecting refreshments. But the disciples didn’t have the funds or the food to feed them. All they could scrounge up were five loaves of bread and two dried fish. The crowd was getting restless, the disciples were getting nervous, and Jesus was getting ready. He took the five loaves and two fish and told the crowd to sit down – He told them to rest.

        “Then He lifted the food toward heaven, blessed it, and commanded the disciples to hand out the provisions to those who were seated. He didn’t feed the people who were running around worrying – but the ones who were at rest. To those He gave ‘immeasurably more than they could ask or imagine’ (see Ephesians 3:20), with twelve baskets left over.

        “When we believe God, we will have rest and peace in our lives. I want you to do something for me. Right now, I want you to use your imagination. The Bible tells us in Ephesians that we are ‘in Christ’ and Christ is ‘in us.’ It also tells us that we are seated “in heavenly places” and “transferred to the kingdom of Christ.” Picture yourself sitting right beside Jesus under a spreading oak tree. Perhaps His arm is around your shoulder and your head is resting on His chest. You can feel the beating of His heart against your cheek and your head moves with the rise and fall of His breathing. With His other hand, He strokes your head and immediately knows how many hairs are on your head. His breath warms your skin as it brushes past your face. Imagine Him looking into your eyes and knowing your innermost being and meeting your gaze with a warm, affirming smile reassuring you of His love and care.

        “Now tell me, as you imagine yourself in the presence of Jesus, how anxious do you feel? How rejected do you feel? How worried about tomorrow are you?

        “You may be thinking, ‘Yes, Sharon. I feel at peace in that scene. But that’s not reality.’ Dear sister, that is the greater reality. No matter what you are going through today, Jesus is right there with you. So maybe you just need to sit down and be quiet for a while.

Let’s Pray

“Dear Father, I’ll admit, sometimes I am so busy running around trying to solve my problems, I miss Your provision. Help me to listen to You more closely and see Your provision more clearly. I don’t want to miss what You have for me today. Help me to sit down and be quiet – to rest in You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

“Is it difficult for you to sit down and be quiet with Jesus?

“What keeps you from taking time to be still before Him?

“Today, take at least ten minutes to be still with Jesus. No multi-tasking. Don’t do this while driving the car or washing the dishes. Just you and Jesus. Give Him your full attention.”

Being “in Christ” is at the core of our TRUE identity – whether or not we feel it or believe it – if we’ve come to God on HIS terms, He has placed us “in Christ” – and that’s how He sees us!  How does that work?  WHY does He see us this way?  I don’t know the answer to the first question – but the second one is easy – He sees us this way because HE LOVES US!  We’re His kids, and HE LOVES HIS KIDS!  (Sorry for the “shout out” – but sometimes we need God to get our attention, don’t we?)  He LOVES you – He sees Jesus when He sees you – and everything that we’ve done in our past is gone – wiped away – “as far as the east is from the west.”  And even now – when we blow it – when we sin – if we confess and repent He forgives again!  Something has happened in the spiritual realm at the moment of our conversion that can’t be undone – we are permanently, securely “in Christ” – and He’s in us – forever!  For me that made all the difference in the world – when I understood – and accepted – the truth of who I am “in Christ” I was able to let everyone else’s opinion fall away – and I could rest in my position “in Him.”  No more striving to be what the world says is “special” – or “successful” – or “pretty” – or whatever!  I’m “in Christ” – and He’s in me – and that’s all that matters!  Really!  That’s the greater reality.  SO – if you’re having a rough day – take a look in the mirror and tell yourself this truth – “This is the face of someone Jesus loves!”  Sharon Pearce

In Christ - I am sealed with the Holy Spirit

I am sealed with the Holy Spirit...

Ephesians 1:13,14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory..

UpWords with Max Lucado - Week of October 7, 2011

Power Moves In

“What got into Peter? Seven weeks ago he was hiding because of Jesus; today he is proclaiming the death of Jesus. Before the crucifixion, he denied Christ; now he announces Christ. From wimp to warrior in fifty days. What happened?

“What got into Peter?

“God’s Spirit did. Ten days after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). The followers experienced a gushing forth, a tremendous profusion. They were drenched in power. They all were: “sons and daughters…young men…old men…servants, both men and women” (vv. 17–18). The Holy Spirit, in His own time and according to His own way, filled the followers with supernatural strength.

“The Holy Spirit is not enthusiasm, compassion, or bravado. He might stimulate such emotions, but He Himself is a person. He determines itineraries (Acts 16:6), distributes spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:7–11), and selects church leaders (Acts 13:2). He teaches (John 14:26), guides (John 16:13), and comforts (John 16:7 KJV).

“’He dwells with you and will be in you’ (John 14:17 NKJV). Occasional guest? No sir. The Holy Spirit is a year-round resident in the hearts of His children. As God’s story becomes our story, His power becomes our power.

“When God’s Spirit directs us, we actually ‘keep in step with the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:25). He is the drum major; we are the marching band. He is the sergeant; we are the platoon. He directs and leads; we obey and follow. Not always that easy, is it? We tend to go our own way.

“To walk in the Spirit, respond to the promptings God gives you.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ (Isa. 30:21)

“If Peter and the apostles needed His help, don’t we? They walked with Jesus for three years, heard His preaching, and saw His miracles. They saw the body of Christ buried in the grave and raised from the dead. They witnessed His upper room appearance and heard His instruction. Had they not received the best possible training? Weren’t they ready?

“Yet Jesus told them to wait on the Spirit. ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised…the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 1:4–5).

“Learn to wait, to be silent, to listen for His voice. Cherish stillness; sensitize yourself to His touch. “Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene” (1 Cor. 1:7–8 MSG, emphasis mine). You needn’t hurry or scurry. The Spirit-led life does not panic; it trusts.

“The same hand that pushed the rock from the tomb can shove away your doubt. The same power that stirred the still heart of Christ can stir your flagging faith. The same strength that put Satan on his heels can, and will, defeat Satan in your life. Just keep the power supply open. Who knows, you may soon hear people asking, ‘What’s gotten into you? ‘”

I’m on my way through the Bible again – and recently read about the temple dedication in 1 Kings 8:11 - “And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud:  for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.”  It’s that same Spirit that comes to live in the heart of every believer!  We have the power of God residing in our own heart!   That same Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) has raised us from spiritual death into an eternal relationship with God!  Whether we acknowledge Him or not, the Spirit is always with us – and if we’re smart, we’ll make the effort to listen for His divine direction.  That requires discipline – and a purposing in our heart to learn to hear Him when He speaks.  When we do that – consistently – we can live in that same power that overwhelmed the priests on the day of dedication.  What an awesome truth!  Sharon

In Christ - I am more than a conqueror

I am more than a conqueror...

Romans 8:35-37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written:  “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. 

Day 98 – 365 Daily Devotions for Women by Jewell Johnson

Mary C Crowley

Christian Entrepreneur 1915-1986

“Mary Crowley, founder of Home Interiors and Gifts, said:  ‘When I realized what it cost Him to redeem me, then I fully realized my worth.’  And there were reasons why she needed her self-worth restored.

“Mary’s mother died when she was eighteen months old.  She was shuffled from her father’s care to her grandparent’s home.  At age fifteen Mary leaned about a personal God and committed her life to Him.  Yet the road ahead was rocky.  She married in her teens, then divorced and later weathered a bout with cancer.  As a single parent with two children, she lost her job.

“A discouraged adult with low self-esteem, Mary knew what to do; she consulted a pastor, took night classes, and eventually turned her life around.

“’Out of disappointment came victory,’ Mary said.  ‘You never gain by sitting around feeling sorry for yourself.  Attitudes are more important than facts.’  She began Home Interiors and Gifts, Inc., a business to help women use their talents to succeed and develop self-esteem.

“Perhaps you, like Mary Crowley, suffer from outward struggles and inner battles.  Believers are not only promised victory in the future; we are more than conquerors now.  In spite of various hardships, by faith, declare your victory in Christ today.”

If you read the list of things that Paul mentions in Romans 8:35-37 it’s clear that most of us will never face those kinds of issues in our own lives.  We’re not being killed for our faith – we’re not suffering or being persecuted for what we believe.  Most of us aren’t naked or hungry – really hungry.  There are places in the world where this is still very true for a Believer – our brothers and sisters are losing their lives to famine, persecution, and distress – and many live in countries where to be a Christian means certain death.  That’s not true for those of us in the US.  We may feel misunderstood – but we’re not hunted down and executed because we dared to name the name of Christ.  That doesn’t mean that we don’t have our own set of modern day issues – and we can still lay claim to the promise that we are MORE than conquerors in Christ!  We CAN conquer the sins that so easily beset us!  We CAN conquer the battle for our heart and mind.  We CAN conquer our fears and insecurities. We CAN conquer our poor self-image – and replace it with the truth of who we are “in Christ.”  The question isn’t whether or not we CAN – it’s whether or not we WILL.  I hope you WILL choose to live as more than a conqueror today!  Sharon

In Christ - I am set free!

I am set free...

John 8:31,32  To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, "If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Psalms 119:32 I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free. 

Galatians 5:13  You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

February 8, 2010

Think It Over

by Charles R. Swindoll

“A bazaar was held in a village in northern India. Everyone brought his wares to trade and sell. One old farmer brought in a whole covey of quail. He had tied a string around one leg of each bird. The other ends of all the strings were tied to a ring which fit loosely over a central stick. He had taught the quail to walk dolefully in a circle, around and around, like mules at a sugarcane mill. Nobody seemed interested in buying the birds until a devout Brahman came along. He believed in the Hindu idea of respect for all life, so his heart of compassion went out to those poor little creatures walking in their monotonous circles.

“’I want to buy them all,’ he told the merchant, who was elated. After receiving the money, he was surprised to hear the buyer say, ‘Now, I want you to set them all free.’

“’What’s that, sir?’

“’You heard me. Cut the strings from their legs and turn them loose. Set them all free!’

“With a shrug, the old farmer bent down and snipped the strings off the quail. They were freed at last. What happened? The birds simply continued marching around and around in a circle. Finally, the man had to shoo them off. But even when they landed some distance away, they resumed their predictable march. Free, unfettered, released . . . yet they kept going around in circles as if still tied.

“Until you give yourself permission to be the unique person God made you to be . . . and to do the unpredictable things grace allows you to do . . . you will be like that covey of quail, marching around in vicious circles of fear, timidity, and boredom.”

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

WOW!  I totally relate to those birds!  There have been many times in my life when I’ve wandered in the same circles – making the rut deeper and deeper – and God was there all along telling me I was (and AM!) free!  It wasn’t until I got a huge “wake up call” from God that I understood that I had a CHOICE.  I could CHOOSE to keep walking in circles – going nowhere – or I could CHOOSE to take a step away and start walking like I was as free as He said I was (AM!).  It was scary at first – but eventually I found that walking straight ahead – following God’s path for my life – was MUCH more interesting than the rut I’d been in – and a lot more FUN!  Not that it was easy – there were times when I got tired and the rut seemed SO much easier – but I’d tasted freedom too much to want to go back to that bondage. How about you?  Are you ready to get out of your rut and get on the path God has laid out before you?  I hope so!