Freedom in Christ

Freedom in Christ

Thursday, September 11, 2014

The Beauty and Wonder of a Smile


May God breathe new life into your soul today, 
as you receive your neighbor's smiles and as you receive your Heavenly Father's smile. 
May He refresh your heart as you wait upon Him and rest under His mighty wings.
May the Prince of Peace come and embrace your heart.


"May the LORD smile on you
and be gracious to you." Numbers 6:25

"Many people say, 'Who will show us better times?'
Let your face smile on us, LORD." Psalm 4:6

"May God be merciful and bless us.
May his face smile with favor on us." Psalm 67:1



Monday, September 8, 2014

Caution


Has God ever tried warning you not to go a certain way?

Has "Caution" tape been hung and you chose to rip it down and continue on anyway?

Have you come into regret and in need of God's mercy?


"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, 
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
Proverbs 28:13

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,
 but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, 
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need"
Hebrews 4:15-16

"All of us also lived among them at one time, 
gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.
 Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ 
even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved".
Ephesians 2:3-5

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. 
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, 
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
 neither are your ways my ways' declares the LORD."
Isaiah 55:6-8

Friday, August 29, 2014

How are you Grounded?


     Trees have roots to ground them - whether they shoot straight out and stay shallow (trees here in Miami) or go down deep (trees in my homeland of Minnesota) - a tree needs roots to survive. The root systems provide stability and nourishment - a vital part of the trees survival.

     How are you grounded? What keeps you stable and nourished? If you have never considered those questions and discovered the answer, now is a good time.


“'Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice
 is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.' When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." Matthew 7:24-29

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled
 to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, 
and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction." Psalm 1:1-6

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61:1-3