So Thankful

I am so thankful for Jesus. I am so thankful that He came down to this earth in the form of a man and lived a holy, blameless life. I am so thankful that he died on the cross for my every sin. I am so thankful that he rose on the third day so that one day I too can have eternal life. I am so thankful for a loving, yet just, God. I am so thankful that He opened my eyes to the yuck in my life--that He showed me I am a sinner and there is not one thing I can do to save myself. That not one of us is righteous--not one. I am so thankful that 'God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life ~John 3:16.' I am so thankful that He sent us a Savior--someone to save us from drowning. I am so thankful that He calls us to Himself. I am so thankful to have a relationship with Him and to walk through this life with Him. I am thankful that through Him I can have peace and joy--even in great difficulties and hardship. I am thankful that this life here on earth is not all there is! I am thankful to belong to Him! I am thankful that Jesus' blood covers my sins--a cross word, a rash action, all my errors big and small--COMPLETELY. I am so thankful that this free gift from God took nothing from me except BELIEF. Belief in Jesus. Jesus--non political, non religious, not of this world. JESUS. LOVING, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, FORGIVING, JUST, GOD INCARNATE. JESUS.

I love you, sweet Jesus. Thank you for giving me life.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." Romans 1:16-17

Morning Thoughts

• Am I really seeing my sin the way God sees it? Do I understand how sinful and unworthy I am?
• How drastically will I have to adjut my focus from what it is today to what it will be one day in eternity?
• What earthly monument--a ministry, a church, a denomination, a reputation--am I seeking to build instead of genuine worship of Christ?
• Have I spoken out of emotion rather than conviction from the Spirit? When have I spoken out when I should have been silent in worship?
• When I 'do' things, what is my motive? Am I doing these things to build myself up or to point others to Christ? Did God tell me to do whatever I am doing or am I doing it out of my own guilt or for man's approval? Does my service overflow from my relationship with God?
• Am I being still and really listening to what God has to say to me? Am I listening to His still, small voice?
• Does my focus stay on Jesus throughout the day? When do I tend to lose my focus in my day and how can I reign my focus back in?

"Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes, I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path." Psalm 119: 97-104

Lord, I want this Psalm to be true of my life--I want to meditate on your Word ALL day long, not just in the morning, or here and there! I want more insight and understanding. and mostly, I want to obey you through and through.

Christ and Christ Alone

'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.' Colossians 1:15-20

We are sinful. God is Holy. God sent His one and only son to earth. He died upon the cross for all of our sins--past, present future--so that we could have eternal life. Jesus is holy and blameless...He took upon Him all of our sins so that we could have a relationship with a Holy God. Jesus is the 'bridge' between all mankind and God. To have a relationship with God, all we have to do is recognize who we are (a sinner in need of help), who God is (Holy and Perfect), and believe in the bridge (Jesus) that will bring us to God. We have to believe in this 'bridge'! That's it! How simple. How life changing.