Freedom in Christ

Romans 8 verse 15 says:

"For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba Father."

Now that's exciting! 

What a comfort to know that God loves us so so much.

God made a way for us through the blood of Christ.

Imagine being adopted into the family of God!

In Galations 5 verse 1 it says:

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

The apostle Paul is reminding the people in Galatia to stand fast in their liberty of being set free - enjoying this great freedom. Paul also said for us to keep standing fast knowing we too could become like the people in Galatia. They ran well for a while but they allowed themselves to become entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

The apostle is reminding you and I to stand fast so we will not become entangled again with the yolk of bondage. 

He says of the people of Galatia:

"You did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?

This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you."

 Verse 9 says: 

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."

 It just takes a little sin to start loosing our freedom in Christ. 

Let us keep our confidence in Christ. 

We'll Remember!

People will remember how you made them feel

 long after they remember what you said.

 How true.

 But let's remember it is what you said 

that made them feel about themselves

 either good or bad.

Our words have great meaning. 

Try to say a kind word.

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

This is found in Proverbs 25:11.

What is Your Path?

The Bible says in Psalms 119:105:

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

In Job 28 verse 7, Job says:

"There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen." 

Emerson says:

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

Which path will we take? 

Let's take all three by God's grace; 

and by His divine leading and power we will see things happen.

Be Anxious For Nothing

  

        Milton Garland, at one hundred and three, was honoured in 1998 when he was the oldest worker in the United States. He claimed he had the ultimate answer to longevity. 

       He remarked: "I don't worry about anything. Worrying never solved anything. All it does is distort your mind."

Matthew 6 verse 25 says: 

 "Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on."

        No wonder the Apostle Paul said in Philippians chapter 4 verse 6:

 "Be anxious for nothing."

The psalmist David said in Psalms 37:7:

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself."

As to the Lord and Not unto Men

        Audrey Casey, a renowned photographer and painter, has said that all the animals, especially wild animals, like the wolf, are her favourite.

        She loves painting her photos, and the one she's painting at the time becomes her favourite.
 
       She doesn't finish her painting until it looks, as she says, "better than the photo she's taken."

        Let us learn a lesson from this. That we, too, can live our lives -- with God's help -- better than the one we would be living without His life in us.

Colossians 3 verse 23 says:

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men."

A Friend Loveth

      "If you met someone like you, would you want to be their friend?"

       That was the question that someone asked Winnipeg Free Press colunist Gordan Sinclair. He said he didn't answer the question immediately. 

       Recently Ann Landers was asked the same question. Her answer was: "Dear Lonely - the best way to have a friend is to be one. Look for ways to be of help to others. Get your mind off yourself and look for ways to make someone else's life easier."

      And isn't that what the Bible says:

"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly,
 and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, 
and a friend loveth at all times." Proverbs 18:24

        Think of it, we could be great friends.

Fruitful In Every Good Work

       
        Have you ever seen a crab apple tree blooming in the spring? What a sight!
  
        Later in the summer you can enjoy the delicious apples. As I write this meditation the crab apple tree is quite a delight to behold. That in itself is enough to let you know winter has passed and spring has arrived.

        Yes, there's winter, spring, summer, and fall. Fall is the time of year, too, when the crab apple tree is very colourful. Another beautiful sight.

       God had made you and I to be fruitful and colourful for Him in all the seasons of the year.

"That we might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Colossians 1:10.

Clean Inside and Out

        A cup used for show needs to be clean only on the outside.

        But when you take that cup off the shelf and make it a vessel for service, cleanliness on the inside suddenly becomes a concern.

        Similarly, the Christian whose ambition is to be filled with the Spirit finds being pure in heart a prerequisite.

        Paul's prayer in Ephesians, chapter 3 says,

 "That you might be filled with the fullness of God." 

Jesus' prayer in John, chapter 15 says: 

"Abide in me and I in you."

        The abiding presence of God's Son in our hearts virtually guarantees that cleanliness.

Let David's prayer become your own today.

"Create in me a clean heart, oh God; 
and renew a right spirit within me."
 Psalms 51:10.

Growing Integrity

        "Closed Sunday --- We Grow Families." 

        That is the cheerful sign on the gates of a huge, well, - patronized greenhouse just outside of Saskatoon.

         It impressed editorial writer Rita Friesen, of the Neepawa Banner, so much that she says, quote: 

        "If a company with a rush season like gardening as the main income can close on Sundays you know you've met integrity."

        She concludes:  "Psalms 26 is David's protection of his integrity and by virtue of living a life of integrity he claims the protection of God."

"Judge me, Oh Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity:

 I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide." Psalms 26:1

        These two go hand in hand.