Grace

Pure and simple.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works..." Ephesians 2:8,9a

Thank you, Jesus. Lord, may I be ever mindful that it's ALL You.

Hearing His Heartbeat

Tonight there was a resounding "YES!" within me as I reread these words written in 2002 by my dear friend and mentor, Nita Steiner.  I remember feeling a great big "amen" in my heart nine years ago when I first read this... and with every passing year since, I'm more and more certain it's true:

"No matter what the primary focus of God's call and destiny is for their lives, each one must learn to hear His heartbeat and move with Him, and this kind of partnership is only possible through a lifestyle of intimacy with Him.

The missions movement that is emerging today will be fueled by the love and affection of One Who endured the cross for the joy of having a Bride to rule and reign by His side forever. And that which will empower the Bride to endure the suffering necessary to gather in the final harvest from all nations will be her desire for the heavenly Bridegroom. May the grace and power of the Holy Spirit take us into the heart of God and back out to the nations with His fiery love!"

Pray Without Ceasing?

The Apostle Paul boldly claims that the will of God for us is to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, among other things (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24).  But what does he really mean and how is such a mandate possible?  Today I appreciated the notes on verse 17 from the ESV Study Bible:

"Pray without ceasing suggests a mental attitude of prayerfulness, continual personal fellowship with God, and consciousness of being in his presence throughout each day."

The truth is, I am utterly and completely unable to truly live this way no matter how disciplined I try to be.  That is, this is impossible apart from the constant help of the Holy Spirit.  But then, it seems to me that this is the idea: continual communion with the Lord, empowering from the Spirit, utter and total dependence on God.  The more I learn, the more that I experience, the older I become, the more I realize that I am weak, my heart is prone to selfishness, pride, independence from God... I frequently (more than just once daily) need to consciously acknowledge that I need Jesus, that I need the empowering of the Holy Spirit to help me to love, to obey Him, to serve well.  Because I know I cannot do any of this without Him, I must humble my heart before God and invite Him to keep me mindful of my need.  I invite Him to remind me to pray for His leadership in my thoughts, words, and actions.  I invite Him to live this day with me, to lead me in every way.  And my heart thrills at the knowledge that He actually wants to live this day with me, by my side, in constant communion.

We Will Be Like Him...Kingdom of God (part 8)

"Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust [Adam], we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven [Jesus]." - 1 Corinthians 15:49

Few things overwhelm me with wonder like this topic. You and I were created to be fascinated, so take a moment to muse [to gaze meditatively or wonderingly] with me on the ultimate destiny of all lovers of Jesus: the coming resurrection of the body; a physical body within which Christians will dwell in the presence of God forever. Scripture tells us some of what will not be in the resurrection: no more sickness, no deterioration (gray hairs, wrinkles, stiff joints...), no death or pain... But what will be? Could it be that you and I will perpetually appear 33 years old and in pristine physical condition? The ESV Study Bible notes on 1 Corinthians 15:43-44 claim: 

"the Christian's resurrection body will be physically attractive beyond anything imaginable...  by spiritual body Paul does not mean an immaterial body but a body animated and empowered by the Holy Spirit."

What could it possibly look like to be "raised in glory"?

Daniel 12:2,3 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Will we have the ability to pass through walls, as it seems the resurrected Jesus did when He suddenly appeared among the disciples who were in a locked room?

And what about food? Will we actually need to eat, or just have the privilege of eating simply because it is pleasurable? Revelation 2:7 speaks of overcomers eating from the tree of life in the paradise of God, but will this actually be necessary for their sustenance? And, of course, there is the all-important question that has made for many amusing conversations with the guys who tease me for not appreciating meat: will we eat meat or be vegetarians?

I've often tried to picture the moments in which this will all take place... the sounds, the sights, the emotions, the physical feelings, and the mechanics behind it all. Will God use any of our original physical matter to form these glorified bodies? What will my heart feel the first moments I realize the culmination of the age has been accomplished and a whole new age which will never end has been ushered in... and I've been transformed?  

Matthew 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Philippians 3:20,21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

What will it feel like to be completely and utterly without sin (this part really excites me!)? The ESV Study Bible notes on 1 John 3:2 speak of being "intellectually without falsehood or error, physically without weakness or imperfections, and filled continually with the Holy Spirit."

What will it be like to dwell in the presence of God forever?

2 Corinthians 4:14 ...we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence. 

There are endless questions to ponder, most of which will remain unanswered until Jesus returns.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

What aspect of the resurrection most thrills your heart? What about the resurrection seems hardest for you to fathom?

1 Corinthians 2:9,10 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.