Christ in me-I in Christ

Colossians 1:29"To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. "

1 Corinthians 15:10"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. "
Ephesians 1:19-20" ...and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms"

God promises power-we can believe-we recieve!

There you have it.I was encouraged yesterday when I read these verses. God's power in me is the Only way I can do what is asked of me when it looks impossible!
You can do ANYTHING with God on your side.

VICTORY in JESUS!

Phil 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
Today while walking I was praying about some of my insecurities and having conversation with God about this.He gently reminded me that yes,I do need to deal with these and later in the day brought words from a friend that confirmed that HE and ONLY HE can help me gain victory in this. He also reminded me that maybe it could be a bit easier for me if I was not so quick to criticize others.I thought how true...it's a fact I have known for a long time, the fact that often when a person is critical it's easy to put someone a bit lower than ourselves to make us feel "better than",Note: I said "feel"-and that's as far as it goes -feelings.
But God...
HE wants to meet us at the heart of the matter and have TRUE VICTORY!

"Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me."Psalm 19:13
I was at work. 4 hours into the 12. I was challenged.Challenged and had to make a choice.I wish I could say I immediatly responded the way I should have but I can't.Smack in the middle of this challenge God brought this bit of the Bible to my memory, opened up a time frame for me to lean up against a wall(literally)and think about my actions,my attitude and pray.It's interesting how a verse can speak directly to me and God does a check-up to see if I have taken it to heart.Really taken his word seriously.It is just as amazing how a heart can do a u-turn when scripture is prayed, and the heart's compass is directed back to God.

Excuses for "little" sins or habits

A few verses from Colossians 3,
"So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
Your old life is dead.That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God.But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness....(the message)
Did I just read this right? Irritability? That hits a nerve-Really.How often do I say "ugh-I just feel irritable today!"THAT is NOT a "feeling shaped by God".It is listed with sins that I would never consider to entertain.Why? Why do we do this? We have sins that just seem "excusable" to act upon.It's only once a month-right?In this same portion of scripture it also has this to say about the "old life" "...doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy." Hmmmm.This could go in so many directions.It's personal to me,to you. Where do I need to be careful?In what areas of my life do I need to be watchful? Is it ,TV,food,shopping? Not that these are all wrong in themselves,I question, is it too much too often? Re-read the verses, take inventory of your priorities.Than make conclusions you need to,set goals and God will be right there to help you-I guarantee that!
I know this strikes me,steps on my toes,and demands my attention.These "litte things" can creep in unknowingly and innocently.
Here is encouragement-find a new focus.Replace Godly choices and actions to replace the things you want to delete from your life. So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Not calling it a failure ... BUT -"a new start"!

o Boy- January? Really? That is a LOOONG time ago.:)In case anyone reads this - I HAVE read my Bible since than.PTL! The honest thing is I realized that I would be in the Old Testament till mid -summer and it deturred me a bit...well,slightly much. I would think of this blog knowing I should "do" something with it than have the excuse"o well,no one reads it anyway".I came across a site of someone I don't really,really know - they had a link to this site! It which spurred me on.I have a bad habit of starting something and not sticking to it...(obviously). I am brainstorming and processing the idea that I will post what I have been Reading and my ponderings on it, hopefully inspire others through it.It will be my walk in the Bible...:)

Day 10 and 11 Genesis 21-26 You want us to do what with the promised Child??

Day 10
Genesis 21:1-3 (New Living Translation)
1 "The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. 2 She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. 3 And Abraham named their son Isaac"
God blessed Abraham exactly as He had promised.Not in the timing that Abraham and Sarah had thought.I would imagine if that were my husband and me, we would in the evenings over cups of coffee have debating converations whether we heard God right or not.What if it was just a trial for us to see whether we really trusted God ? We have already made plans that we were sure God was directing us in certain way and well,it never happened. Were we wrong in the fact that Gos had spoken or was he just wanting our obediance and the journey it took us through?
Well, we read today that Sarah did in fact have that promised baby.God came through with that promise-in HIS time-.
God talked to Abraham and asked a crazy thing of him.What would you do if you were Abraham?I am sure he was very close to his son.This son who he wondered about for years.Than God asks him to give him up for a sacrifice? The Bible tells us "The next morning Abraham got up early".I sit here and shake my head.We know when we read this part of the story that everything is going to turn out fine and and angel is going to appear and tell him that there is a ram in the bushes.But poor Abraham.Do you think that when God told him the plan that he just stopped in his tracks and said, "Huh"? I know when I hear something that I can hardly believe, I am consumed with the thoughts of trying to sort everything out.I try to reason with God."This is NOT a good idea-let me tell you a better plan"!But like I said before- "Abraham got up early".He folowed through with his obediance and right on time God provided.
I need to learn to trust.To follow through when God asks something of me that seems radical or impossible...Because God's going to be right there next to me.

Interesting footnote that may make you smile:Gen.22:20-21 lists the names of Abraham's brother's children the oldest child's name was "Uz" and the next "Buz"...need a Bible name for your next child?There you go!
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Day 11
"Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith".Romans 4:9b
Abraham dies in this part of scripture.In his life he was looking for a country he could call his own.(Hebrews 11:14)
We also are looking forward to a "home".The same home that way back then all these people of faith in the old Testament were looking for.Isaac recieved his earthly inheritance from his father,but he had to live out his own faith.We need to have our own faith.I have to have my own relationship with Jesus Christ.Yes, I have excepted Christ as my savior-What am I doing on a day to day basis to cultivate and keep fresh this fire within me to make this a personal relationship? Am I keeping it alive?I cannot depend on "second-hand knowledge".It has to be my own.

Day 9 thinking back

Galatians 3:6-9 (New Living Translation)

6 "In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith"

Take time to read the scripture again and ponder the fact that as children of God,we are blessed.We are to be a blessing.I need to ask myself...do I radiate Jesus Christ on a daily basis with the people I meet,whether I work with them or the ones I will only see that one time? Today...I am blessed how can return that blessing as an offering to God?