Showing posts with label good. Show all posts
Showing posts with label good. Show all posts

Jan 1, 2010

What Jesus Saw


Imagine holding a large gathering in your home. You've made preparations and everything is just right. People are mingling and there's quite a crowd.

Suddenly there is a terrific noise overhead. Debris rains down, and you look up to see a blue sky surrounded by the ragged hole of what used to be your roof! Is it a terrorist attack? No. Someone has torn a hole in your roof to get in. What would your reaction be? Shocked? Outraged? Furious?

That very thing happened to Jesus, and his reaction was unexpected. He praised the hole-makers—for their faith! (Mark 2:1-5)

Jesus looks past our actions into our hearts, and sees the good there. That is good news!

Blessings,
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
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May 24, 2009

God's gotcha covered, and more!

One of the great truths of Christianity is that the blood of Jesus covers our sin. We are forgiven, and when God looks down on us He sees, not our sin, but the blood of His Son:

Job 14:17
My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin.

Psalm 32:1
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Psalm 85:2
You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.
In years past, I was grateful for this covering, but my misunderstanding of it gave me a sense of separation from God and made me feel like a filthy worm merely disguised by the Blood. Then God showed me there was more. I was no longer just a "sinner saved by grace." His blood doesn't only cover our sin, it cleanses us.

Psalm 51:7
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Jeremiah 33:8
I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

Ezekiel 36:25
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.

Zechariah 13:1
On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. [That fountain is the blood of Christ.]

John 15:3
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Our sins are not just covered, they have been washed away by the blood of Christ! We are no longer "bad" and "wrong." We are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), imperishable (1 Peter 1:23), created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). The sacrifice of Jesus (received by faith) has made us good, likable people. (In our new, redeemed nature we are good [washed clean]. We are still responsible for our sin, but not identified by it, see The Two Yous.)

The foundation of self-esteem is first that we are created by God, second that we are loved by God, and third that we are made good in the truest part of ourselves by God. Don't disagree with what God thinks about you! Learn to like the new you!

Blessings,
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
PHOTO: Baby Mine Store
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14 comments

Apr 20, 2009

Finding Joy

I live with chronic illness and struggle with depression, so joy is something that has often eluded me. However, I have found it very practical to focus instead on ENJOYING the present moment, squeezing as much happiness as I can out of the good in it.

Whether it is a cool breeze, a kind word, or a job well done, the good is always there, for God goes about lighting candles in the dark places of our lives. If we look for those blessings in certainty that we will find them our lives are richer, and we begin to walk in joy. The rich and poor alike can marvel at the stars! Ecclesiastes 8:15 reminds us that there is nothing better.

Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
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3 comments

Nov 14, 2008

My True Angel Story


My angel story happened back when I was a baby Christian. I got saved reading my Bible hiding in the bathroom. My only "fellowship" was a little Christian radio.

My fledgling faith was so fragile. Every time I'd read something difficult or confusing, I'd complain, "God! I can't believe in You if this is true! Please explain it to me." And graciously, after two or three days, an answer would always come.

This time I was crying out about poor Daniel who had to wait 21 days for his prayer to be answered because of spiritual warfare. I was discouraged. "God! Why even bother praying if our requests are hindered in this manner! Are prayers so futile?!"

Two to three days later I was playing softball and I'm no athlete. I worked for a very small bank that wanted to join a league. Literally every employee was on the team to make enough players.

Somehow I hit a ball and made it to first base. The person behind me hit another good one, and I sprinted for second as fast as I could go. An instant before I would have touched the base, the second baseman suddenly bent down right in front of me to catch a grounder.

I remember the fall in slow motion. I tripped over him and, at first, went up in the air about six feet. Slowly I turned in the air, feet swinging up toward the sky; head moving down toward the ground. Then gravity took over and I dove toward the dirt face-first. I hit hard and slid on my face, chest and arms two to three feet--on gravel. Immediately, knew I was hurt. So did every one else because the game stopped and they all came running.

Suddenly I sat up, examined myself, and realized I was OK. In fact, not just OK. I was completely unscathed. Not one scratch or bruise. Not even a sore muscle. Everyone was incredulous. "Someone upstairs is looking out for you," they said.

I knew an angel had "caught me."

Then God's still small voice spoke to my heart. He said, "Yes, sometimes it takes 21 days to answer a prayer. But I can also be there in an instant, when you don't even ask."


With thanks to Hazel for inspiring me to write this story ...

www.warrenfamilylife.com

If you have your own true angel story, post it to http://plaidflannelangels.wordpress.com/ !
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Oct 30, 2008

I Live in Candlelight


God is always lighting candles in the dark places of our lives. Sometimes I feel as if I am consumed in darkness. But in truth, my Papa quietly moves through the darkness sparking little blessings of light. Look! They are all around you.

"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. [That's today!]" (Psalm 27:13 NASB).

Please don't stare into the darkness ... behold the candles! There is evil. There is good. Gaze into the good things. They are always there. It may feel very dark, but we live in candlelight.

"All the darkness in the world cannot hide the light of one small candle."
~ Author unknown,
shared lovingly by my dear mother


www.warrenfamilylife.com
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