No condemnation!

It's always good to read things in context, which I suggest you do, but I pulled a few things here out of Isaiah that really spoke to me today, for it seems to me, to speak to all of us as spiritual Israel, the church. You can agree or disagree, just puttin' it out there.

...My righteous servant will justify many and He will carry their iniquities. Therefore I will give Him the many...He bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels. (taken from Isaiah 53:11,12)-this reminds me of when Jesus said, "pray for your enemies."...He didn't condemn them, not even on the cross, He cried to the Father, "forgive them."

The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;...the Lord has called you...and will take you back with great compassion, with everlasting love. (from Isaiah 53:5-8)

...so I have sworn that I WILL NOT BE ANGRY WITH YOU OR REBUKE YOU.
Though the mountains move and the hills shake, My love will not be removed from you and MY COVENANT OF PEACE will not be shaken," says your compassionate Lord. -from Isaiah 54:9,10

...you will be established on a foundation of righteousness...their righteousness is from Me. Isaiah 54:14,17
-------
Your Father's love is a firmer foundation than mountains and hills....nothing can separate you from His love that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus doesn't condemn you. You may condemn yourself or others may judge and condemn you like the woman caught in adultery, but He said, "where are your accusers?"...and back in Isaiah, you will refute any accusation raised against you in court, this is the heritage of the Lord's servants-Isaiah 54:17

I heard a song today also that sang something like this..."so I'm working 9-5 trying to earn my own salvation, but there's no condemnation for me now"..."child, you're forgiven and loved."

Right after this song I flipped open a devotional to read, uh, while eating my burrito, and the first thing my eyes hit was this statement..."Today I will overcome condemnation by the words of my mouth!"

So...proclaim peace, bring news of good things, proclaim salvation, say to all, "Your God reigns!"

...lift up your voice, shout for joy together, burst into song! For the Lord has redeemed us and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

The Body

What does the body of Christ mean to you?




"If We Are The Body"

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in
Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

CHORUS
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances
Are better out on the road

CHORUS But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the Body of Christ

Chorus (2x) If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
Jesus is the way
(lyrics/song by Casting Crowns)
-------

Christ in us means LOVE dwells in us, and LOVE is a MANY-splendored thing.
Every member in the body shares blood and water to nourish each other, and we are connected through the blood and living water of Jesus to strengthen and do the same.

ALL TOGETHER NOW

I wrote the following just before getting confirmation and the words above that say ALL TOGETHER NOW;

We are one
I need you, you need me
The body together for Christ to be seen
Deep calls to deep,
A connection inside you and me
Where we are weak, we can each be made strong
Here in this body is where we belong.
(Karl Cobos, August 10, 2009)

Right after I wrote this I went to the mailbox and as I flipped open my son's Highlight magazine the words "ALL TOGETHER NOW" were written, big and bold!
The article mentioned "synchrony... united, rhythmic timing.

"It reminded me of the synchrony of the heartbeat I've heard of when a lot of people join hands for a time.
In regards to THE BODY, in order for me to just move to the counter and pick up an apple, all these messages are being sent out at the same time to MOVE me there...my legs, full arm movements , leaning, and grasping the apple....now think of the movement of the body of Christ(us) to accomplish something...the messages of the Spirit that flow to get us all there.

How can the hand say to the foot, "I don't need you!"

Your thoughts?
PS. don't forget to write Dan an encouraging message here or on the last post.
His family have just arrived for new missionary work in TAIWAN guys. Thanks.

Be Lifted Up!

Let the Lord lift you up and carry you.
He is your strength.

A great worship song with powerful lyrics called "You Are My Strength" is on the new playlist that I've added to the left.

In the fullness of Your grace, by the power of Your name,
You lift me up...You lift me up.

...He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless (Isaiah 40:29)
...those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31)

Kingdom of Heaven at Hand!

Hey everybody, I pulled this from another blog because it had to do with the kingdom of/from the heavens, and I heard this message at church. There's a lot more to it with good comments too...I do recommend going to http://www.bloginthenow.blogspot.com/ to read more. I'm not saying I agree with all the comments but there is a lot of good thought there and I think you will be blessed. Here is some of that from Bishop Jim Swilley.
-------
...Yesterday was a good day at CITN...I gave kind of an unusual word, connecting the Matthew 10 account of Jesus giving His disiples the power to heal diseases and expel rebel spirits with the John 20 account of His giving them the power to forgive sins......

Such an important truth: The Kingdom is "at hand"...it's handy...it's accessible...it is found in the thing to which you put your hand...ex: Moses, what do you have in your hand?"...I used the New King James version yesterday...here's the same passage from Matthew In The Now...

1. And in direct answer to the prayer for harvest hands, Jesus summoned to Himself His twelve disciples, and gave them power and authority over rebel spirits, to evict and expel them, and to cure all manner of disease, weakness and infirmity.

2. Now these are the names of the original twelve apostles: first, Simon, who is called Peter or “Rock”, and Andrew, his brother; James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother;

3. Philip and Bartholomew (A.K.A. Nathaniel); Thomas and Matthew, known as “The Tax Man”; James, son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (A.K.A. Judas…not Judas Iscariot);

4. Simon, the Canaanite, who was a Zealot, and perhaps Jesus’ most controversial pick because of his radical political connections and agenda, and Judas (Iscariot), who eventually betrayed Him, even though he had been given the same anointing and authority that the other eleven had received.

5. Jesus sent out this very diverse and eclectic group, charging them with these words: “This Gospel is ultimately for the entire world…that’s the big picture…but it has to begin somewhere. So, for the time being, go nowhere among the Gentiles, and do not go into any town of the Samaritans;

6. Go, instead, to the lost, confused people right here in the house of Israel...the people who speak your language and have your world-view.

7. And tell them, plainly, that the kingdom of/from the heavens is here! Say to them, “The kingdom is ‘at hand’, or as close to you as is the hand at the end of your arm!”
-------
Hope you enjoyed a bit of that...

So...what is in your hand?...what is readily available to you that you know how to do really well?
The kingdom is there...you have Kingdom hands, and people can be made well through you.

The Kingdom of the Son, and more peace.

A lot I've been thinking about lately but for some reason I feel like continuing more with the subject of PEACE.
I look forward to what you all have to say about it, too, so feel free to keep quoting what you like, stories, articles, bible verses and the like.

Phillipians 4:6,7
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


Jesus said, "Ask, that your joy may be full".
Don't strive/agonize over your requests, just LET them be known, your Father is always listening...enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise...love on Him...LET your troubles go, and be at peace.

Ephesians 1:2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:14-17
But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, He did away with the law of the commandments in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.

He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. When Christ came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

Colossians 1:20...and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross-whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Colossians 1:13
He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Peace of Mind

Last time we discussed the JOY in the Spirit that we have in the kingdom of God. Now let's see a little how the kingdom of God is about PEACE...and as before, there will be other thoughts, verses and spiritual insights that will come to your mind so feel free to share those things with us.
We can all be blessed by something the Holy Spirit may reveal to you.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, PEACE and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 26:3,4
You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on (dependent on) You, because he trusts in You.
Trust in the Lord forever, because in Yah, the Lord, is an everlasting rock!

Here it says He will, not might, but will keep you...so lean on Him and hope confidently.

Remember Jesus' words to you..."MY PEACE I leave with you"
So let not your heart be troubled, and put his yoke of peace and serenity upon yourself.

Some of you may remember the part of an old song that goes..."I've got peace like a river , I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river in my soul"
...maybe some here might connect better with the part of the Talking Heads tune that sings, "take me to the river...dip me in the water" (raise your hand if you remember that).

What I'm saying is don't be afraid to be carried away in the current of this water...don't be afraid to let go of the worry and concern, and let God take you where He wants to take you in His river, for it is a river of peace, a river of love.

His peace, tranquility, and serenity are flowing through you, and regardless of the turmoil around you today, let the secret place of the Most High be the eye of the storm for you as you walk in the peace that passes understanding.*

Let the peace of God's word wash away your worries! Amen.
-------
Also...be a peacemaker yourself, in the heart of the body, in the heart of the earth.

What can you do today to bring peace and harmony to a personal relationship?
What about your living environment?... (that's definitely one I can raise my hand on)

Be sure to take some quiet time for yourself. Cast all your care upon the Lord and His Spirit, and labor to enter into His rest. Settle down and trust God with your life. Today you might need to just chill.*

*-(denotes where some was adapted from A Year In The Now by Bishop Jim Swilley)

I pray that some of these words connected with you and blessed you today.
I did write a comment about joy on yesterdays blog (probably the 8th comment) that I'd like you to read when you get the chance...something taken out of Isaiah.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Drinking Water With Joy

This morning I believe the Lord really wanted me to focus on JOY, and the main things that have leapt out to me are the following, including a paragraph from the last post;

Today I will draw water out of the wells of salvation with joy. A broken spirit dries the bones, so I will pursue every outlet of JOY that I can, giving no place to depression or sadness by my words, thoughts or actions. The joy of the Lord is my strength, and I make a decision to walk in Kingdom joy all day today, regardless of circumstances!

...He has become my salvation."...you will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation...
Isaiah 12:2,3

I am reminded of the woman at the well, who left her water jar, and embraced the possibility of the Messiah, and living water. Her jar(bucket) was not the right jar for drawing up living water. It wouldn't satisfy.

We now have that jar(bucket) within us called JOY that the Holy Spirit gives to us to draw and drink the living water from Him, the springs of salvation.

...they will not hunger or thirst...for their COMPASSIONATE ONE will guide them, and lead them to springs of water. Isaiah 49:10

...Anyone who hears should say, "Come!" And the one who is thirsty should come. Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift. Revelation 22:17

May righteousness, JOY, and peace in the Holy Ghost be your drink today! Amen!