Living in His Image

Let us live a life that truly reflects our transformation in Christ and the character of God, whose image we were created in...

A life that is full of love, grace, peace, mercy, forgiveness, joy and freedom...

A lighted life that clearly indicates to others that there IS a Redeemer and a Savior...a real reason for hope in this shattered, decaying world.

May we live in a way that gives weight to our testimony and shows the regenerating power of The Holy Spirit.

May the unbelievers...the broken children of God...see His light as a roaring fire within us and find their way home to their Abba Father...and join us in Eternity.

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:4)

"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." (1 John 1:5-6)

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Trust

Sometimes God will allow a situation to get beyond our means so that when He brings us back we will know that it was Him. In that He is reaffirming His love for us and reminding us that even when it looks like we are on the path alone, God has not, nor will He ever forsake us.

We cannot let the cares of this present world consume our thoughts and keep and rob us of God's peace.

By faith even when we can't see beyond the difficult circumstances we need to trust that God will carry us through.

If we let our minds wonder then they control us. Keep your thoughts in check and continuously on the promises of God as revealed in scripture.

His steadfast love will engulf you, give you hope, and the strength to persevere through the darkest trials.

Never Alone

People sometimes leave us and abandon us. We may feel rejected and alone, and that God is nowhere to be found. We may even feel abandoned by God and feel anger towards Him.

Feelings are based on thoughts. While these feelings are true the thoughts behind them are not. God's Word says that He will never leave us nor forsake us. So even though we may not "feel" God is with us, He is always there because He promises to always be there and He cannot lie.

God never goes against His word. He promises His eternal presence. 

Feelings change all the time which is why they can't be trusted, especially if they are based on lying thoughts.
You our are not alone. You are not abandoned. Some people may leave you but God never will. Take comfort by reminding yourself of the truth. God is with you, even in times of trouble.

If God is for you who can be against you?

The Shadow of His Wing

Check your positioning when you are afraid. Are you abiding under the shadow of the Almighty? Make the Lord your hiding place. Scripture tells us that God’s perfect love casts out fear.

The Lord does not want any of His children living in fear of man nor circumstances.

Because you are secure in God’s love, you know He will answer you and at the sound of His voice, the enemy has to flee.

So whenever you are afraid, put your trust in the Lord and ensure that you are positioned under His shadow, in the will He has for you.

here is no safer place to be than the center of God's will.

Identity

There is so much talk of “identity” these days. The world sets a standard then tells us we either measure up or we don’t, then tries to give us a lot of negative identities (ugly, worthless, untalented, unwanted, etc.). God wants us to have the identity of HOLY ( the pure, spotless, special possession of the living God). Identity is the fact of being who we are. 

Through the sense of identity we develop our feelings of worthiness or shame, belonging or exclusion, hope or despair. 

Shame, dirtiness, unworthiness was dealt with at the cross. We are holy saints not by any action of our own, but the action of Christ on our behalf. It’s not an issue of morality, but of being – not of production but position.  It’s a way of saying we belong to God because of what Jesus has done for us! 

Identity always forms an action. If we see ourselves as unworthy, we act that way and vice versa. When we begin to see ourselves as holy, we begin to choose to act that way. If you have built your identity on something positive other than Christ – it’s unstable. If you have built your identity on something negative – it’s untrue. What is rock solid and true about you is that you are holy unto God (a saint), because of your faith in Christ! (The Holy One of God) 

The moment we embrace that as part of our identity, we are set on a lifelong journey of becoming who we are “holy.”

Le Go And Know That I Am God

The original Hebrew meaning of “be still” is “filled." It’s a root word that means to “let go.” It does not mean to be quiet before God. It means to surrender and let go of all things that hinder us from experiencing the fullness of the power of the Living God and the things that separate us from Him.

Therefore, let go of things you have no control over. Let go of fear, anger, bitterness and unforgiveness. Let go of wrath, malice, injustice. Let go of judging, a critical spirit, perfectionism. Let go of all the burdens that weigh down. Let go of trying to earn love and acceptance. His grace is sufficient, and His love completes you. 

When you let go, His power is unleashed, His strength is made perfect in your weakness, your faith is made stronger, your dependence on Him will be magnified, and your love for Jesus will deepen, and God will be glorified in and through you. Christ will dwell in your heart, and you being rooted and grounded in love will be able to comprehend how wide, high, deep and long His love is for you and will have full assurance that He will make all things beautiful in His time.

So let God be exalted among the nations – “Let go and know that I am God. “

Never Broken!

For the life of the believer, the treasury of God's Truth and the indwelling of The Holy Spirit enables us to endure the valleys of life with unshakeable confidence and peace.

We can say, as Paul did, that although we may sail stormy seas in this fallen world, we will endure...and we are never broken because of the source of our faith and the power of His Grace.

Take heart, for He who is in us is greater than anything in this world! (1 John 4:4)

He is our very present refuge and strength in troubled times! (Psalm 46:1)

We will endure because He has promised He will sustain us to the end! (1 Corinthians 1:8)

His Grace is always sufficient and His Power is made perfect in our weakness! (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Let us always consider this powerful perspective..."For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

May we hold fast to His Truth...His Promises...and let it be a ballast to our souls. May we rest assured in His Embrace...we will survive even our darkest days. For, by His Grace, we are NEVER BROKEN!

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.