God's Standard of Holiness Has Not Changed

"You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you." — Leviticus 20:8

God's standard of holiness has not changed. That was the thought that stayed with me as I recently read Leviticus 19–24.

These chapters are filled with commands. "You shall." "You shall not." They can feel heavy, even overwhelming. But underneath every command is one unchanging truth: God is holy, and He calls His people to be holy because they belong to Him.

He warned Israel not to live like the nations around them. They were to be different. Set apart. Their lives were to reflect the character of the God they served.

The consequences of sin were severe because sin is serious. Sin meant death. It still does.

Reading Leviticus reminds us that no one can keep God's law perfectly. That's why these words caught my attention:

"You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you."

What hope! God commanded obedience, yet He knew His people could never achieve holiness on their own. Their hope wasn't in flawless obedience but in the God who sanctifies.

Every sacrifice pointed to Jesus, the perfect sacrifice for sin. Through Him we are forgiven, declared righteous, and being made holy.

But here's the part we often forget.

Grace did not lower God's standard of holiness.

Jesus didn't die so we could become comfortable with sin. He died to free us from its power. The same God who told Israel, "Be holy," tells His church, "Be holy, because I am holy." Holiness is not an Old Testament idea. It is the calling of every believer.

No, we are not saved by our obedience. We are saved by grace through faith. But those who have been sanctified by Christ are called to pursue the very holiness He is producing in them.

I wonder if we've become so accustomed to talking about grace that we've stopped talking about holiness. We excuse what God calls sin. We blend into the culture instead of being set apart from it. We pursue comfort more than Christlikeness.

God has not changed.

His holiness has not changed.

His hatred of sin has not changed.

Neither has His grace.

The God who calls us to be holy is the same God who sanctifies us through the blood of Jesus Christ. That is our hope—and that is our motivation to pursue a life that reflects the One who saved us.

 

Hurting His Church, Hurting Christ

I heard the terms “covenant community” and “covenant relationship” long before I really understood what they meant. Even now, I don’t understand in full, but what I have begun to understand has totally changed my view on how God wants me to live, especially how He desires that I treat His children.

You see, what I am beginning to understand is that when I became a follower of Christ, I entered into a covenant with God. In the Old Testament, every time there was a covenant made between two parties, it required the sacrifice of animals. The animals would be cut in half, laid opposite of one another, and the two making the covenant would pass through the flesh. Both parties knew that if either of them broke their part of the covenant, God would do to them what was done to the animals. God takes the making of a covenant very seriously; it’s not something to be entered into lightly.

When Christ came to earth, He was sacrificed for our sins, and we symbolically “pass through” the sacrificed body of Christ into a covenant relationship with God. Christ was the blood that was poured out for our sins. When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, we “pass through” His flesh to God and enter into a covenant with God.

When you begin to understand the responsibilities of a covenant partner, it is both amazing and sobering. As a covenant partner with Christ, it means that my enemies are His enemies and His enemies are mine. Covenant partners protect one another—they have each other’s back. In covenant with Christ, He exchanges our robe of filth for His robe of righteousness. We become one in the Spirit.

Remember in Acts 9:4, where Jesus confronts Saul and says to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul was persecuting Jesus because he was persecuting believers whom He was in covenant with. In a covenant relationship, what my enemy does to me, he does to God also.

So let us take this one step further. In a Christian community, believers are in covenant with Christ and one another. So if I mistreat, gossip about, or criticize another believer, then I am doing those very things to God. When my actions are divisive in the church and my words or actions are causing strife, I am sinning against God. If I speak lies and spread rumors against my brothers and sisters, I lie against Christ.

It’s a sobering thought, a painful, heart-wrenching thought. I now realize all those things I have thought, done, or how I might have treated another believer, I have done to Christ!

Oh, may God forgive me! May He forgive the CHURCH. Why do we continue to hurt one another? It grieves my heart! Do we not know, do we not understand, we hurt Christ when we behave in such a way!

He calls us to love one another deeply…from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22) Love does not lie, gossip, divide, criticize, or mistreat one another. This is not the vision Christ gives of how His bride, His church, should behave.

How are you treating your fellow believers? Allow God to search your heart. Ask Him to show you those areas where you have sinned against the body, the church. Confess them, then if applicable, go to those you may need to ask forgiveness of.

Nothing is more important to God than His church, His children, and nothing should be more important to us than making sure our actions and attitudes are becoming of a Child of God. (Phil. 1:27, Col. 1:10)

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, Eph 4:1

When Everyone Does What is Right: A reflection on Book of Judges 17–19 and the cost of self-made truth

 Yesterday in my Bible reading, I sat in the Book of Judges chapters 17–19. I’ve read it before, but this time it didn’t just pass by me. It settled in. I’m still thinking about it.

It’s the kind of passage you almost want to look away from.

Micah builds a household shrine, creating his own version of worship. The tribe of Dan comes and takes the idols, establishing false worship as their own. And then the story turns darker still. A Levite’s concubine is abused, discarded, and murdered in Gibeah. Her body is cut into twelve pieces and sent throughout Israel.

It’s hard to read. Hard to understand why God would include it. But maybe we’re not supposed to understand it as much as we’re supposed to feel the weight of it.

All of this happens under one haunting truth: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)

This warns us what it looks like when people walk in disobedience, not all at once, but step by step.

It begins with distorted worship, as we shape God into something we can manage.

It moves into compromised leadership, those who should know truth but no longer live it.

And it ends in the unthinkable, where people made in the image of God are treated as disposable.

It’s easy to read this and think, how could they fall so far? But I can’t help but ask the harder question, how could we not?

Because left to ourselves, we don’t drift toward truth. We drift toward what feels right. And what feels right isn’t always what is right.

These chapters aren’t just showing us their depravity. They are holding up a mirror to our own.

We were never meant to be our own authority. We were never meant to define truth for ourselves. And when we try, it doesn’t lead to freedom. It will always lead to ruin.

Maybe that’s the warning tucked into these chapters:

When everyone does what is right in their own eyes, what follows is not freedom… but loss of a moral society.

Remembering My Brokenness

I recently listened to a sermon that has stuck with me. It was filled with truths that settled deep in my spirit, both convicting and encouraging me. However, one point from the sermon required some wrestling. I wasn’t sure I agreed—or, more honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to agree.

For decades, I’ve begged God to help me forget my sins and the sins committed against me. The memories are painful and heartbreaking—why would I want to hold onto them? And my enemy loves nothing more than to remind me of them at every turn. So wouldn't it be better not to remember?

In his sermon titled Brokenness, Voddie Baucham explained why we need to remember our sins. He argued that if we could forget them:

1.  We could never testify to the goodness of God.

2.  We would lack warnings to avoid repeating those sins.

3.  We could not rejoice in our victories or recognize the spiritual growth the Holy Spirit has produced in us.

I thought about this throughout the day. If I couldn’t remember my sins, would I still testify to God’s goodness in my life? If I forgot the hardships God delivered me from, would I still proclaim His faithfulness? Without those memories, would I continue into the same sins, never truly breaking free from their bondage? And could I recognize spiritual growth without recalling my past struggles?

His point began to make sense. I didn’t like it, but I could accept it.

As I reflect on my life—the difficult times, the sins that continue to haunt me, and the struggles I still face—I can see God’s hand at work throughout it all. With each season of my life, I recognize how God has used these lessons to help me grow. He has transformed a sinner, once headed for destruction, into someone who earnestly seeks Him.

As I look ahead, I am certain of one thing: remembering my sins does not lead to condemnation, for I am no longer condemned (Romans 8:1). However, recalling my past actions serves as a reminder that God will use everything in my life to help me grow, teach me lessons, and sanctify me. Because of this, my life will continue to bring glory to His name. Once, I was destined for eternal death, but now, through Christ, I have been given new life—eternal life.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5

A Burdened Heart

 My heart has been so heavy. It’s been burdened by so many things. Today it has felt like too much. I can’t carry all this weight. The weight of my own failure in so many areas. The weight of my sin, the sin of others and those who have been sinned against. My heart cries out for God to heal, to restore, to unite and to make things right and holy. I know I am powerless to fix anything and yet my heart aches for answers. For restoration of brothers and sisters. 

Come to me all who are weary and burdened…yes Jesus, I come to You and lays all the things at your feet. They are too heavy for me. And besides, I was never meant to carry them anyway. 

Jesus it’s your burden, you’ve promised to carry it. You will do the work necessary in order to lead those who come to You  You are the one who convicts of sin and heals the unrighteous. 

Oh help me to remember I only need to carry your yoke which is easy and light compared to the burden you carry for us all. Help me be obedient to the God I love. Who willingly carried the burden of my sin. 

AMEN

When Shame Speaks

It was a beautiful day, and as I sat there watching my youngest granddaughter I couldn’t help but feel blessed. I have a good life, I have four beautiful grandchildren and a family who loves me.  Oh sure there have been hard roads, painful memories, but God has been faithful to see me through them. He has used them to grow and teach me. And in this moment I was content. My heart was filled with joy, love, and an overwhelming sense of gratefulness.

But it was in that very moment I felt the darkness in the pit of my stomach. I physically felt sick. As I sat there the darkness grew to the point that I was overcome by it. I tried to stop it but it was strong, too strong. He had been apart of me for far too long. This time I could feel the strength of his lies. He wrapped himself around my heart and mind until he had his death grip on me.
This darkness has a name. I know him all too well. He is called shame.

Shame knows all about me. He knows the evil that lies within me. The sins I have committed. The lies I have told. Shame knows what I am capable of doing. He knows the monster that I could be. He knows I am not who others think I am. He knows that I am not enough. He knows the darkness and depravity of my heart and the thoughts that so often race through my mind. And shame’s only purpose is to remind me of all these things.

Shame speaks lies. He knows no truth. Or perhaps the better way to say that. is he knows the truth of the past, he knows what’s been done and will use it to remind me. But he forgets I know the truth too. I know the truth of who I am. I know the truth of who he is and even more, I know the truth of who God is.

Shame is my accuser. Shame is my enemy. Shame is what Satan uses as he stands before God and accuses me. He reminds God that I am filthy. I am unworthy. And to be honest, at times it feels as if he has won. It feels as if I stand condemned. It feels as if I am the worst sinner ever.

The truth is that Jesus stands between my accuser and me. Jesus rejects the enemy’s accusations. He paid the blood price for those sins that Satan now accuses me with. Jesus covers me in grace and mercy. Satan does not have any power over me, for Jesus defeated Him already.

I am reminded that Jesus has taken away my sins. I am free. I have a new heart and mind. The Father sees Jesus when He sees me.  God sees the blood of Jesus that has covers my sins. I am His precious child who is no longer accused. I can now walk in righteousness. I now have God’s Spirit in me. I have the Spirit’s power.

So sweet child, stop listening to the lies of shame. Shame only has the power over you if you allow it. Do not fear your enemy called shame, rebuke him in Jesus name and he will flee. And beloved, if ever you feel like you can’t fight him, just call out the name of Jesus for He am always with you and the power of His name will cause your enemy to flee.

I wish this scenario didn’t happen as often as it does, but I struggle more often than I care to admit with shame based thinking. But the joy…the grace…the encouragement is this,  Each time I struggle the struggle is less. Each time shame comes I grow, heal and learn to run to Jesus. And those times I find it exceptionally hard I humble myself and ask for help. I cry out to Jesus and ask for prayers and words of truth from trusted friends.

Zach 3:1-6; Eph 1:7; John 3:18, 8:36; Luke 10:17; 2 Cor 6:11; Rom 8:1

If you are struggling with shame and want to learn more I encourage you to read these two articles that I recently read and found very helpful

Change My Heart….

For weeks I have struggled to find words to write. My heart has been processing much. It seems that while I may have much to say the words are not forming on “paper” very easily. Nor are they forming easily out loud. So I sit and ask God to help me understand what it is my heart is feeling?

Then today I keep singing these words, “Change my heart, O God make it ever true. Change my heart O God may I be like you.”

And these are my thoughts…thoughts that are kind of jumbled up inside in some sort of confusing, growing, I know God is trying to tell me something, kind of way. So I sit and write and pray.

God knows me. I mean He REALLY knows me. Inside and out. He has examined the depths of my heart. He knows my thoughts and my motives. He knows the words I whisper in my heart but choose not to speak. He knows all about me. (Psalm 139:1-5) That can be a scary thought. At least in my mind, because you see, I too know the ugly parts of my heart. I hear my unkind thoughts.

My constant cry is Psalms 139:23-24 which says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Ya’ all, here is the deal. I am a sinner. Oh I know Jesus died for me and conquered death. I know I have been born of the Spirit of God who now lives in me. I know there is grace. I know I stand forgiven. But all this does not change the fact that I still sin.

I still get angry when I should love.

I still fight forgiving others when they hurt me.

I still want my own way.

I still want it to be about me.

I am still stubborn. I can be very unkind. My are not always pure. I can be a hypocrite, a Pharisee and I could go on, but you get the idea. On many days I can forget I am redeemed. And  I often serve whatever idol of the day is rising up in my heart for control.

Regardless of what you think, what you might perceive, I do not have it all together. I have not arrived to some level of super Christian or to a mega spiritual level. So if you want to stop following me, or stop being my friend, or if you lose confidence in me as a leader, a mentor, a disciple(r)? I get it. Really I do.

But know this. It breaks my heart as much as it breaks yours. I grieve over the sinfulness of my heart. The sin it is capable of committing. Sometimes I wonder if there is any hope at all for my heart to really change.

I mean, like change forever!

But the truth is my heart has already changed forever. I now have a new heart. I have the heart of Christ who is changing me daily. I have a heart that desires to do good and to please God. Yet while I am still here on earth I will always battle my flesh.

I have changed and I am changing. Sin is no longer my master. Because of Christ’s victory on the cross I know am no longer a slave to sin. Sin no longer has to control the way I live. I have been freed from the power of sin.  (Romans 6) But still, I will fail. I will sin. I will do the very thing I do not want to do.

I, like you, battle the flesh and I can say with Paul in Romans 7:18-19 (NLT) “I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.”

So what hope do I have? What hope is there? Oh what a miserable person I am!! Who will free me from this battle of the flesh? This sinful heart? “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. ” (Romans 7:24-8:2)

I am not condemned. God does not condemn me, He only sees the work of the cross. He sees the righteousness of Jesus. Therefore I will not condemn myself. I will not condemn you. And please, I ask, do not condemn me. Let us remember that the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed us and is in the process of changing us to be ever more like Him.

Let’s offer grace to one another. Grace that says, “I trust the Spirit that is working in you.” Grace that says, “I see Jesus working in you.”

 

 

I am linking up with….

 

Irresistible Grace

 

We declare, upon Scriptural authority, that the human will is so desperately set on mischief, so depraved, and so inclined to everything that is evil, and so disinclined to everything that is good, that without the powerful, supernatural, irresistible influence of the Holy Spirit, no human will ever be constrained towards Christ. C.H. Spurgeon

I don’t know about you but I see evidence of irresistible grace daily in my life. I see my propensity toward sin. I see my natural inclinations to do whatever my flesh desires. Therefore if there is any good in me, if I desire to do anything at all that would be considered righteous then it must be God, through Jesus, that wills it.

Today, once again, I am reminded of the gift of irresistible grace. I am reminded of my need to humble myself before the cross of Jesus and pray for the continued work of the Holy Spirit’s work in my life, heart and will.

Thank you Father for Your grace that draws me toward Jesus for my salvation…

 

Join me for 31 Days of Seeking Grace

 

Also joining my friends over here today…..

WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS

  Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!

Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned, saved to the uttermost;
Chains have been torn asunder, giving me liberty,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!

Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power, making him God’s dear child.
Purchasing peace and heaven for all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!

REFRAIN: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise His name!

—Haldor Lillenas (1885-1959)

Wonderful Grace of Jesus is a hymn that is rich in it’s doctrinal message. Especially the doctrine of grace. So often we don’t really think about the words when we sing them, but when we slow down and read it as a poem we begin to absorb the depth of the meaning. 

This hymn reminds us of  the surpassing nature of God’s grace. It’s far greater than ALL my sins. Grace takes away the burden of sin and free me.

We are reminded that His grace covers all. It is sufficient.

We are reminded of God’s grace in salvation, sanctification, and our eternal security. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9

 

 

Join me for 31 Days of Seeking Grace

Grace is Power

 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Roman 6:12-14

To often we forget that we live under grace, we live in the power of grace. Through the power of the gospel of Jesus, sin no longer is master over us. The trouble is, we forget the power we have through God’s grace….

 

Join me for 31 Days of Seeking Grace

Being Anxious for Nothing

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7

I am a processor. I over think much of life. It can be a good quality as I think through things and look at the current circumstance from all angles. I want to be on the look out for potential problems when trying to decide on a course of action. I want to try understand all the players. The problem is that often I over process and it begins down a trail that leads to being filled with what if’s. If I am not careful it can lead down a path that causes my heart to be anxious. I will begin to worry and focus on all the potential problems. There are far too many times that I can convince myself that a really good thing is a bad thing, or that I am not capable of doing it and I am frozen in indecision or just give up.

Being a processor isn’t a bad thing, but over processing often leads to sin. The sin of worry which then causes a lack of peace. Ultimately is leads to disobedience in the very thing God is asking you to do.

So how can I find peace in the midst of a crazy world? How can I find peace in the midst of a mind that wants to think and over think everything? How can peace guard my heart and mind?

The promise in Phil 4:7 is that the peace of God will guard our hearts and mind in Christ Jesus. The peace of God guards my heart and mind. But how? In order to gain the answer we must begin in verse 6.

Be anxious for nothing instead trust God with everything.. To be anxious means to worry. To be troubled about something. God is clearly telling us in the passage that we should not worry about anything. We should not worry about our life. (Matt 6:25-34) When we find ourselves in a dangerous situation we should not worry. (Matt 10:16-23) We shouldn’t worry about what words to speak when ask to defend our faith. (Luke 12:11)

No, on the contrary we are called to trust God in all things.(Ps 9:10, 31:14) We are called to commit each day to Him and trust in His promises. (Ps 37:3-5) We can trust Him while we face our enemy. (Ps 55:23) When we are afraid we can trust Him. (Ps 56:3-4,11)

The answer to being troubled or worrying is to put our trust in God. Trust Him at all times. Pour your heart out to Him. He is your refuge. (Ps 62:8)

Practice prayer and supplication through each thought. Seek God, bring your anxious thoughts to God. Ask Him to reveal to you what His words says. Ask Him to handle the things that threaten to overwhelm and worry you.

Take every thought, every concern for your life and offer it up to God with a surrendered heart. Tell Him that He is free to do whatever His will is, and mean it. Then just leave it there. If you find yourself taking it up again, then again, in prayer take it to God. Give it to Him and leave it. Repeat as often as needed until you have completely surrendered whatever you are worrying about.

Give thanks always. This doesn’t mean we must be thankful for the cancer diagnosis (or whatever) we are facing, but we can find things to be thankful for. Give thanks for what God will do. That He heard your cries, answered your prayers. Give thanks for Him, His character and attributes.

When we begin to focus on God and who He is we find less room to worry about things we have no control over.

Peace in Jesus. And last but certainly not least we find another clue in verse 7 on how to find peace. It’s found in Christ Jesus. In other words, my thinking about it, over processing it will not help find peace. In fact there is nothing in me that can find peace. I can’t solve the crisis. I can’t control the situation. In fact I am pretty helpless in and of myself to find any peace at all. It’s only in Christ Jesus that peace is found.

It’s resting in Him that I find peace. It’s turning it all over and surrendering it all to Him. It’s knowing that He has got this. He is trustworthy. He is good. (Ps 34:12; 84:11; 107:9; Heb 9:11)

I am not saying or trying to make it sound easy, it is not. Especially for this processing mind of mine. What I am saying is that I am learning to stop over thinking and just give it over to God. I am learning that when I begin to dwell on, and over think an issue it can show a lack of trust in a God who promises to work out the good in all things. (Rom 8:28-29) It’s learning to surrender each and every thought to His will and trust Him.

Handling Our Emotions

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:1-2)

On a exceptionally good day it might be easy to walk in a way that brings honor to Christ. But what about on a day when everything seems to go wrong? What about a day when our body seems to be fighting against us? What about those days we suffer from PMS? On these days how do we walk in a “manner worthy”? How can we possibly be humble, gentle, patient, tolerant and loving when on those days we feel anything but that?

Here are a few thoughts on handling our emotions on bad, awful days regardless of the reasons.

We can not make excuses. We often try to excuse our bad attitudes as a weakness. We say that “we just can’t help how we feel”. We blame it on PMS and so many other things. We tell ourselves that somehow as women it’s okay to give in to our negative, hurtful emotions. We fly off the handle, become unglued and leave broken and hurt husbands, children, friends and co workers in our path. We expect them to just over look it, or we haphazardly apologize with, “I’m sorry, it’s just PMS or ____(you fill in the blank)”

We should not rely completely on human resources. Yes sometimes it helps to talk with a friend, but not in order to whine and complain. We can go to a friend in order to be reminded of truth and to pray.  There is great value in a friend who will listen to your “5 minutes” of emotional outcry but then points you to truth and prays with and for you.

We need help. The plain truth is we battle a sinful flesh. We don’t need a 3 step plan or a few carefully crafted questions. We do not need to “dump” it all on a friend. Or take out our anger or frustrations on those around us. What we need is help! We need someone to save us from ourselves. We need Jesus.

We don’t need to try harder or come up with a better plan to battle an onslaught of negative attitudes or thinking. No, what we desperately need is Jesus. (1 Cor. 15:3). We need to run to the only place where we can find true help. It’s a relationship with Jesus that will help us overcome those times of PMS, negative thoughts and emotions. For it is in Him that we can ask for the strength and grace to get our thinking right again. We need to go to Jesus and the cross not man’s remedies or man’s counseling.

We need to see our weaknesses. We need to see that we are sinners in need of a savior. We need to understand that we can not save ourselves and that our sin is deserving of God’s holy punishment. It’s at the cross that we see hope and help for our ugly flesh. It’s at the cross we receive forgiveness and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us walk in a manner that is worthy. It’s at the cross we find grace and forgiveness for sins. At the cross we receive a new heart with new desires to please and glorify God. At the cross we find a “way of escape” when we are tempted (1 Cor. 10:13).

Remember, just because we feel bad, or we are suffering from PMS it doesn’t mean we have to give into our sinful emotions. Yes it’s where our flesh naturally goes but we can choose to not sin against those around us. We can choose to allow Jesus to change us. For lasting genuine change only comes through Jesus. The only thing that will truly transform our thinking and emotions is the Gospel of Christ. It’s choosing to live a “gospel focused life”. A life that doesn’t try to excuse our sinful emotions but understand it comes from sinful desires in our heart. Sin that must be confessed and forgiven.

We need to live a gospel centered life. Living a gospel centered life means that when these sinful emotions arise we will take them to the cross where Jesus nailed them. Then we will look beyond the cross to the grave that no longer holds him. A grave that is empty because He conquered the power of death and sin for us. His risen body reminds us we are free. That same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power we have access to. It’s that power that can change our thinking, and our emotions.

Next time we feel our negative attitudes and emotions rising up within and every part of us is about to become completely unglued and start waging war on those around us; instead of trying to muster up our own strength to overcome we need to go to the cross. It’s there we have power to rise above sin and behave in a manner worthy of Christ. 

“…so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects ,bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Col 1:9-10

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you,unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Cor 15:1-4 NAS emphasis mine)

 

Joining these lovely ladies today….

I Can’t Forgive Them!

“You don’t understand what they’ve done to hurt me!”

“They keep hurting me, over and over!”

“They aren’t remorseful for what they have done!”

“How do you forgive someone who will not admit what they did to you?”

I have heard these and more from many I have spoken to. Their hurt is deep. They feel broken inside. They have been left with scars that seem to never heal.

Their pain comes from what others have done.

I have been here. I understand.

I would try over and over to forgive as an act of obedience to the God I loved. I would remind myself that HE forgave MY sins AGAINST Him. Horrible sins of murder (Matt 5:21-22), idolatry, adultery and list goes on and on…

But still I could not forgive. I could not forgive to the point that I could look at those who hurt me and LOVE them. I could not get to the point that I could PRAY for them. (Matt 5:39-45)

Until…

I prayed that God would allow me to see them. I prayed  that that God would allow me to see the heart of those who hurt, offended, beat and abused me as He sees them.

Something happened unexpected as I prayed, God began to show me my own heart instead. You see I was a wretched sinner, but God looked down on me with mercy and love. And with a marvelous grace, I will never understand, He sent His Son to die so that MY sins could be forgiven.

I did not ask Him to. I did not, do not, will never deserve His Grace.  And yet He gives it to me freely.

I began to ask “How am I different than those who have sinned against me? Jesus died for their sin too. They, like me, are sinners in need of a Savoir.” They are no different than me. Not really. We are both sinners. We both have wronged another. Our actions and words have wounded and hurt others.

God allowed and continue to allow me to see my enemies and those who have sinned against me through the eyes of the cross. At the cross I am on level ground with those who have sinned against me.

At the cross Jesus took upon Himself the sin of mankind. MY sin and THEIR sin.

When I look at those who have hurt me through the cross I can forgive them. I can love them. I can pray for them.

To say they don’t deserve God’s forgiveness, mercy or grace is to say the same of me. It also says that I do not fully understand the GRACE that God gives to me.

I know it’s not easy, in fact humanly speaking it’s impossible. I must remember that it’s a process of letting go of the hurt and giving it over to God. I must remind myself that He has forgiven me of SO much, how can I not forgive them?

We can only truly forgive when we allow the pain and the hurt to take us to the cross where we can, once again, gaze at the sacrifice of Christ. It’s at the cross that we must preach the gospel to ourselves everyday and then we will find it easier to forgive as Christ has forgiven you.

A Lament

My heart is heavy.

Grief rises up and threatens to overwhelm me.

I want to gather you in my arms

and whisper words of truth.

Words of healing.

Words of love.

You do not listen.

You have been deceived.

Deceived by the lies of the world.

The enemy.

You chase after your own desires.

You chase after emptiness.

You have bought into the lies.

The lies that say…

Do what feels good.

Do what is right in your own eyes.

It’s not your fault you were born that way.

So many voices, so many lies.

 

But you are not happy.

You cry yourself to sleep.

You drown out the pain with parties,

drinking and lovers.

You are chasing dreams

only to find that they elude you.

You find that your dreams do not bring you

the happiness you seek.

My heart breaks as I watch you struggle in your sin.

Making choices that will only bring more pain.

You choose to live in the wilderness of the world.

A world that offers no hope, no love.

Only sorrow, pain and death.

 

Oh my dear one can you not see?

Can you not understand that you walk in darkness?

Will you not heed my warning?

When will you grow weary of your sin?

How far into the darkness must you walk

before you see truth.

Oh child how I long for you to take my hand

and allow me to lead you to the ONE that offers peace.

He waits for you. He died for you.

He alone can fill your emptiness.

He stands willing to give you grace, love,

mercy, hope and so much more.

His love will fill you to overflowing

and you will have a joy this world can never know.

He offers you life. A life of joy.

A life of sweet amazing grace.

He offers forgiveness.

He offers Himself.

It’s all yours.

You only need to believe.

To have faith.

Reach out and take His hand

Take His gift.

His gift of grace.

The gift of eternal salvation.

The gift of truth.

 

Can you hear my heart breaking?

Oh how I long to take you to Jesus!

But you are blinded by the lies of this world.

I will not lose hope.

I will speak truth into your heart.

I will love you, pray for you

and maybe one day you will believe.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling . Matt 23:27

Note: This is was originally posted in 2011 but it continues to be the cry of my heart for those that are dear to my heart and yet do not know the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. I will continue to pray, continue to speak truth, but most of all I can trust in my Father who longs to gather them unto Himself.

A Dirty Bride

The day grew near. His heart waited in anticipation.

Her heart longed for love. To be accepted, wanted, desired. She was so tired of being a throw away, feeling as if no one wanted her. The thought of anyone ever really loving her seemed beyond anything she imagined. Those who seemed to love always wanted something from her. If she loved, they would leave her.

Love never stay. And yet she dreamed of love. She longed for it. She even dreamed of that day when she would be a bride. Her heart grew with excitement as she thought of the day she would belong to someone. Oh to be truly loved by someone!

She wanted that perfect one who would make her feel whole, to feel loved. She would go from relationship to relationship, but each time she would lose yet another part of herself. She just wanted to feel beautiful. Slowly the ache of loneliness grew. It grew until it almost enveloped her soul. No matter how far she ran, how hard she tried to hide it was always there. A growing darkness within her.

All the while the one who loved her kept waiting, longing for the day when she would be his.

As the ache grew to a depth that it felt it would destroy her she found herself standing in front of a little chapel. There was soft music playing. It was drawing her in. She walked through the door and began walking down the aisle. Her eyes were on the figure that stood at the end of the aisle. His eyes were on her.

Who was this man? Why was she so drawn to him?

In His eyes there was such love, and yet, there was something else. A sadness or pain she could not tell. As she got closer she saw tears running down his face. As she stood in front of him she sensed such great sadness. With tears in his eyes and a voice filled with such compassion, he said to her, “My bride, I have been waiting for you.”

She stood there, not at all understanding why he would call her his bride. He came to her and told her how he loved her. He loved her with an everlasting love and he had waited for her for so long. As she looked in his eyes she began to see her reflection, it was a reflection she was not familiar with. It was a reflection of beauty.

As she looked down on herself she saw that her wedding dress was dirty and worn. She saw the true state of who she knew she was. She was not prepared to be a bride. How could he want her?

She fell to her knees and began to sob. Her heart was broken. She was not prepared for the one who loved her. How she knew this was the one she did not know, but she knew that this love was real. A love that would make her feel whole and beautiful.

Was she too late?

Her entire body shook with sobs as she begged for forgiveness. She began telling him how bad she was and unworthy of his love. She couldn't be His because she had already give so much of herself to others.

She felt his gentle hand on her shoulder as he said in a gentle voice. “My beloved bride, do not cry. I know your heart. I see the one you will become. I see beyond all the dirt, pain and sorrow. I have already made the sacrifices for your sins that are needed so that you may be clean, pure, whole and worthy of the bridegroom.”

She did not fully understand, at least not yet. His love penetrated deep within her soul and heart. She saw in His eyes healing. As she looked away from Him she noticed that her dress had changed. Instead of being dirty and worn it now looked brand new. It was the most beautiful dress she had seen. It was spotless, it was whiter than snow.

He took her face into His hands and said, “now dear one, go prepare for the day when you will be my bride for all eternity. Go tell everyone what your bridegroom has done.”