What Say Ye of The Christ

The Christ,

The Anointed. The Savior. King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Prince of Peace. The Lion of Judah. The Lamb of God.

We know all of the Lord Christ Jesus' beautiful names. We can quote them at church.

We recall them amongst christian friends but what does our lives say???

One of the most pivotal moments in the ministry of Jesus concerning His closest disciples was when the Lord questioned them saying, "Who do men say I am??"

Their answers were telling.

What would be the answer of your life????


Live as if He were truly the soon and coming King.


Trust as if He was actually Lord of Lord and King of Kings.


Forgive as if He were the Everlasting God.


Love as if He were the Lamb of God slain since the foundation of the world.


Whom say ye that He is?????

Mark 8:27-29

• 27.
• From that place Jesus and His disciples went to the villages belonging to Caesarea Philippi. On the way He began to ask His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"

• 28.
• "John the Baptist," they replied, "but others say Elijah, and others, that it is one of the Prophets."

• 29.
• Then He asked them pointedly, "But you yourselves, who do you say that I am?" "You are the Christ," answered Peter.

Weymouth New Testament

The Price and Promise of Forgiveness

Hurt people hurt people. Damaged lives crash into other lives exponentially compounding the damage in both lives.

This is the tragedy of life.

Yet in every tragedy there is a hope in the possibility of a new beginning.

In nature the lone animal, decrepit with age, falls lifeless in the lonely woods.
It's from the midst of seeming hopelessness rises the first buds of a young sapling breaking free from the confines of earth. It itself having been nurture by the decaying flesh of the the same animal that had died alone weeks before.

Out of Death, Life. Out of Despair, Hope. Out of betrayal comes forgiveness and the restoration of trust.

This is the cycle and the pattern of a deeper life. Forgiveness is the first light of hope in an otherwise dark and hopeless landscape.

We have all both been offended and caused offense. Years of sacred trust can die in a moment of indiscretion.

So is this death of trust and security the end??? Is the betrayal of a vow or pledge the final death knell of a once beautiful and flourishing relationship???

It doesn't have to be.

Sometimes the most blessed and beautiful union can be forged from the dying remnants of a love once strong and secure that has been betrayed.

How is this possible???

It's possible by returning once again to Love.

Love covers the multitude of sins and love at the same time chooses to believe the best of all it comes in contact.

• 8.
• Above all continue to love one another fervently, for love throws a veil over a multitude of faults.

If after repentance we would elect to love one another both love and even trust can be restored.

Return to love.

Return to trust in the never failing power of God's redemptive loving grace that forgave the betrayal of man and restored to him even more in Christ than what our forefather Adam forfeited by the ultimate betrayal and treason of the Garden.

Forgiveness cost Jesus His life.

Romans 5:6-8

• 6.
• For already, while we were still helpless, Christ at the right moment died for the ungodly.

• 7.
• Why, it is scarcely conceivable that any one would die for a simply just man, although for a good and lovable man perhaps some one, here and there, will have the courage even to lay down his life.

• 8.
• But God gives proof of His love to us in Christ's dying for us while we were still sinners.

You can be sure that it will cost you something but in the end the sweet smelling harvest of redemptive restoration makes the former decay a faint and distant memory.

So by love forgive. Reap the benefits of a force that never fails and abounds with the restorative creative power of the seed of the very Love of God. (Romans 5:5)

This is Only a Test

Look, people have problems. Something has got to be wrong with all of us. Forgive and move on. Some people seem to be angry about some unknown offense. People may have things from the past they need to settle. You can't make someone take an inventory of their lives; all you can do is forgive people and attempt to love them in their weakness. Most people do not seem to know how to accept and express love. Love will tell you off sometimes, but in the end it restores and gives hope. This is a test. Use the love that God put in your heart. (Rom 5:5) The true test of being spiritual is loving the unlovable and forgiving the unrepentant.
Take it with a grain of salt.

I Peter 4:1-5 ;8

1.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
2.
As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
3.
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
4.
They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.
5.
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

8.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Repent, Forgive, Move on . . . . . .

Enjoying The Process

St John 16:33.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! (Have Cheer!!) I have overcome the world."

In this world we WILL have trouble but we can have a way of peace that will make the trials stepping stones to victory. It's His Peace. What is Peace? Peace is a state of being free from turmoil and fret. Free from walking in our own strength and the limits of our own abilities. It's resting in God where we cease from our own works and rest in the fact that the answer to our problems is older then the problems themselves. You see, our answers are in the works of God and he rested from His works long ago. ( Hebrews 4:4 )
Rest in the fact that the answer is already yours. You have to let go of your own reasoning and trust God for the resolution.

All things work to the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

You say but am I called?? Well don't you know you've been accepted in the Beloved!!! (Ephesians 1:6)

Think about that. You are ACCEPTED, in His Beloved no less.

So rest in God.

The answer is yours; you are just going through the journey to your victory!!!

Love Never Fails

Major in love.
That's the victory.
That's the overcoming.
Love never fails.
Love holds the universe together by the power of His Word.
Why not our little lives . . . .

Romans 5:5

All Sufficient

Fear Not. Do not be dismayed.



He said He said he would never leave us or forsake us.
So why are we often so afraid?

The God that we believe formed the known universe said He would always be by our side.
So then why do we feel so inadequate?

He poured His precious blood over our souls to wash us anew.
So why do we look back to sin.

He overcame the world.
So why do we look to it for answers?

Hebrews 2:9-18
9.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10.
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
11.
Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
12.
He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."
13.
And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."
14.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
15.
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
16.
For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.
17.
For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
18.
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.


and FREE those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death . . .

and FREE those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death . . .

and FREE those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death . . .


Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift!!!!!

2008

Happy New Years !!!!

As the year starts fresh may our lives be filled with the Zoe life of God and our creative endeavors informed by His grace.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "

Jeremiah 29:11