Christ in You

I recently read of a poster on an office wall at Wheaton College that says:

“The living truth is what I long to see,
I cannot live on what used to be,
So close your Bible and show me how
The Christ you talk about is living now.”

That short poem got me to thinking. How are our hands being used? How is Christ seen by our husband’s, children, co-workers, friends and family? What does the love of God look like in our skin?

Over the past year or two I’ve had a number of conversations with young people. As I listen, they express a growing frustration (anger) towards the church and all of its “so-called” Christians. These young people clearly articulate what they view as a serious hypocrisy within the walls of our sanctuaries. In other words, through their young eyes, there is a lot of unholy goings on in our holy places.

While it may be difficult, we need to resist taking a defensive posture -an easy position to take- and seek the higher road by asking the harder question “is it true”? Are there ways that we inadvertently say one thing and live another. Or better said do we practice the Gospel that we preach?

For example, love. Most of them know they are to love their neighbor. It’s been drilled in and taught from children’s Church to the Sunday Worship. It’s in all their songs and lessons -be nice, kind, patient, considerate, good, unselfish, etc. Theology and doctrine is the food they eat, and yet…they are disillusioned. Why?

Truth is I really don’t know the specific whys. But I have some guesses, most of which could go without saying. One guess would be the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life that exists within their own sinful hearts. Another guess, they are “sick and tired” of hearing how wretchedly sinful they really are. They feel beat down, judged, and criticized on every front because they don’t measure up to someone else’s expectations of them. “If and since we are so bad, then why bother?” they ask. In no way am I saying they are right. I’m attempting to convey what they are expressing.

Someway, somehow they are missing the Gospel. They are missing the Christ who is the essence of, the core meaning of that Gospel. One of the ways they miss it, is in their homes and churches. It simply isn’t visible or tangible to them. They have rules. They have their lists of do’s, don’ts, shoulds and should not’s. They know all the ways to behave and look like good Christian kids but what they’re missing is the being. How do we convey love so that it is visible to our children? What do they see when they look at us? Do they see Christ living and active in us?

In light of recent history within my family, these conversations with all their questions, thoughts, feelings have surfaced and are demanding an answer. I know for me the answer is yes and it is also no. Very often I get it right. Just as often I get it all wrong and blow it big time.

Thank God for His living, active Word that restores hope to me over and over and over again. Without it, the weight of despair and condemnation would suck the hope of life right out of me. Praise God for His Word and the life it is to us; the life preserver we’d all drown without.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.”
-Romans 8:1

“…and Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
-John 8:11b

When I blow it, I am learning to more consistently and faithfully, ask, seek and knock, resisting my natural desire to put on pride and come up with a way to deny, blame and justify.

Dear ones, I guess this Victory Call is an opportunity to encourage us to go to God for all those young ones in our own homes, churches and community. First, let’s go before the Lord and confess any sin, hypocrisy, any error, etc. Second, may we seek Him for new and different ways to put on Christ and show Him real in us, to all the teens and young adults in our lives. Then in the next hours and days let’s look for all the opportunities we can to more remarkably bear His image so that hearts may be transformed and lives changed for the glory of God.

May it be so in Jesus’ name.
Stephanie

Have you used your Teacup today?
Matthew 23:25-26 (English Standard Version)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.”
From time to time I have given a short devotion to ladies groups and had some fun with tea cups. One thing I tell everyone to remember is to make sure your cup is clean for the fresh brewed tea that will be coming. In my life I don’t always feel like a tea-cup but just a plain mug. Tea-cup or Mug….our life needs to be filled with the bread of heaven.

Let us look at four beautiful teacups. You can imagine them to be a pretty and decorate them any way you would like. These teacups would represent 4 different women and their lives.

* Woman #1 has a beautiful teacup with roses all on the outside but when she asked the Lord to fill her cup He finds it is filled with WORRY.
Philippians 4:19 (English Standard Version)
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
* Woman #2 has a beautiful teacup with ivy all on the outside but when she asked the Lord to fill her cup He finds it is filled with FEAR.

Deuteronomy 31:6
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
* Woman # 3 has a beautiful teacup with pink flowers all on the outside but when she asked the Lord to fill her cup He finds it is filled with DOUBT.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (English Standard Version)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
* Woman # 4 has a beautiful teacup with blue flowers all on the outside but when she asked the Lord to fill her cup He finds it is filled with DISCOURAGEMENT.
Psalm 126:2 (English Standard Version)
“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
What is stuck in your tea cup, mug and life that you need to wash out?
Tea cups when used get dirty and need to be cleaned on a regular basis – so do our lives need to be cleaned out. Don’t compare your teacup to a mug or your mug to a teacup. We are all created to be different and serve a different purpose. We all struggle with different things, so don’t look into someone else’s cup – clean out your own and start using it.
Did you know that the more you use bone china the stronger it gets? The less you use it the weaker it gets. How is your bone china? Is your life strong from use or weak from not being used on a regular basis?
Lynn W

Pray without ceasing
I have a grandson, Elijah, who is 21 months old. Oh what a joy he has been to my husband John and me! We could never have imagined the joy that one little boy could bring to our hearts. I could go on and on about what a smart and wonderful child he is…but I will try to keep my focus on prayer!
It has also been a joy to watch my son Dan and his wife Liza grow into their Christian parenting roles. From the time Elijah has been able to sit in his high chair and eat “people food” they have begun each meal with a simple prayer. They would clasp his tiny hands together and pray. Elijah would just look on in wonder. He would also watch Mommy and Daddy pray as they began their meal or on other occasions. They have begun to “bring [Elijah] up in the training and instruction of the Lord” Eph. 6:4. Being so young, some might say that he doesn’t truly understand what he is doing and there is some truth to that. However, it is never too early to share the love of Jesus and our thankfulness for what He has so graciously given us.
I would never have thought that at 21 months, I would learn a spiritual lesson from Elijah! This past Saturday we were together at our home for supper. We set the table, sat Elijah in his high chair, and then we all sat down at the table. Without prompting and for the first time, on his own, Elijah clasped his tiny hands together and said “thank you Jesus”! Well, throughout our meal, I don’t know how many times, Elijah clasped his hands and prayed “thank you Jesus.” How precious are His children in His sight! Liza commented that this gave us all a fresh perspective on what it meant to pray without ceasing.
In 1 Thess.5:16-18, Paul instructs the young believers to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Elijah has begun to live this verse out without ever reading it but observing his Mommy and Daddy live it. Oh, that I we would all pray without ceasing, at all times and in all circumstances. Not just lifting red flags of distress prayers, but prays of intersession and thanksgiving. I pray that as Elijah and any other grandchildren God may bless us with, watch my spiritual walk, they may see their grandmother pray without ceasing, from the time my eyes open in the morning until they close at night.
I can’t wait to see what else God may show or teach me through the life of our Grandson, Elijah.
Prov. 17:6 Grandchildren are a crown to the aged. AMEN!
Mary Ann

We are uncertain of the source of this poem other than the author’s initials but wanted to share it to bless your heart today.

God of the Impossible

O God of the impossible!
Since all things are to Thee
But soil in which Omnipotence
Can work almightily,

Each trial may to us become
The means that will display
How o’er what seems impossible
Our God hath perfect sway!

The very storms that beat upon
Our little bark so frail,
But manifest Thy power to quell
All forces that assail.

The things that are to us too hard,
The foes that are too strong,
Are just the very ones that may
Awake a triumph song.

O God of the impossible,
When we no hope can see,
Grant us the faith that still believes
All possible to Thee!
J.H.S.

Do You Need a Revival?!

Diane and I were talking yesterday and sharing our hearts with one another. In our conversation I told her, “I feel like I am sucked dry.” Can any of you relate to what I am talking about?

The picture I used to describe that dryness is a sponge. When my father was in the military years ago, he brought home these flat rectangular shaped objects that had a texture sort of similar to construction paper, only much rougher.

At the time, I had 2 sisters and two brothers, and none of us knew what they were. So my father, completely loving the fact that we were all stumped, took great delight in getting a cup of water and slowing pouring some water on this object. All of our eyes widened with surprise as this thing expanded before our eyes and became a sponge. Who knew, that a sponge could be so flat. Not only was it dry, it was completely dehydrated and compressed.

Now you have a clear picture of what I was describing to Diane. The season of life that I have recently passed through required me to pour out. Not only from any excess I had, but from my inmost pasts. From my deepest part, there was a wrenching that took place. A wrenching, that I am only now becoming aware of.

Therefore, my soul needs a revival!! I’m in desperate need of manna from heaven! Can I get a witness here?
Praise God! Praise God! Praise God for the daily sufficiency of His abiding, enduring, sustaining grace!

Today I pray that God would bring the wonderful mystery that is Him, the fearful majesty that is Him and present Himself to my human spirit/your human spirit for purifying, cleansing and reviving. Sisters may we wait on Him until His presence is with us, until we are consciously aware that He is in our midst. May we want to know Him and be satisfied by Him -TODAY!

Stephanie

“Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your son lives.’ So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and went his way.” John 4:50

We as Christians are challenged to walk by faith not by sight; (For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7) but what exactly is faith?
A common verse used when we attempt to define faith is Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
The dictionary defines faith: “(1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion (3) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (4) : complete trust” Merriam-Webster Online 9/13/06
I have to chuckle at definition 3-firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Oh, please!! No proof? I think that would be rather foolish, don’t you? We do not believe in something of which there is no proof…. Let’s consider…
1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Gen 1:1
2. The plagues in Egypt. Exodus 7-11
3. The parting of the Red sea. Exodus 14
4. The healing of the sick. Matthew 8:1-4
5. The raising of the dead. Matthew 9:23-26
6. The resurrection. Matthew 28
7. 70, 000 million million million stars held in place by something, Someone
8. Healing of Joyia Paul from the brink of death.
9. Changed lives of thousands of men and hundreds of women in the Colony of Mercy at America’s KESWICK.
10. Peace that passes all understanding.

Oh, my…the list can not be contained in this Victory Call, or this website, or the internet, or the world. “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” John 21:25 Proof? Absolutely!!

So what is faith? I have often defined faith as “taking God at His word”. This definition is evidenced in our day’s verse. “So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and went his way.” How do we know that the man believed the word that Jesus spoke? The obvious answer is that the Bible says so, but look at the next phrase, “and went his way.” Faith is not some ethereal feeling, or sixth sense. Faith is based in truth and results in action.
By faith Able offered to God… Hebrews 11:4
By faith…Noah…prepared an ark… Hebrews 11:7
By faith Abraham obeyed… Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham…offered up Isaac… Hebrews 11:17
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob… Hebrews 11:20
By faith Moses…kept the Passover… Hebrews 11:28
By faith Diane…
Faith is active.
By faith, today I will…..
Diane

Bread Alone….

Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”

Here’s what I’m thinking… I’ve begun to look at the word “bread” not just as earthly food, but on those spiritual things I do. See, in our Christian life we “do Church” we “do Christian Literature” we “do devotions” and we “do Christian Conferences and Seminars” just to name a few. Yet, here’s the big question… How much do we “do the Word of God”? Let’s look at the verse… it says EVERY word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Now to me that is where I struggle – EVERY word. I have read the Bible through once in my life and that was a requirement for College so I bet I didn’t read EVERY word. I am convicted – I know scripture yes, and I can teach scripture, but I believe I am failing myself and my God by not knowing and using ALL of scripture.

All of scripture teaches…
(Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

All of scripture has the power to transform and lead me in victory…
(1 Thess. 2:13) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
(1 John 2:14) I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

All scripture can help me through life and lasts forever…
(Hebrews 6:5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come.
(1 Peter 1:23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

All those things we “do” are great, but I challenge you to “do” the whole Word of God. I now have scripture on tape and listen to it on my way to work. I usually listen to each book 2 times before I move on to the next book. I am also trying to read though different books of the Bible. I have learned something that works for me… I listen to the Word in Order, but I read the books in any order. It really isn’t the HOW that matters, it’s “EVERY WORD’ that matters.

LDJ

Have you known someone who stood as the epitome of Christianity for you? They seemed so solid. They appeared to know God’s Word and they influenced many for Christ. Then something happened. First they became very involved in something that seemed to be on the cutting edge of Christianity. Then they seemed to almost be obsessed with their new concepts. You hesitated to even think such a thing about them because they were known for their spiritual leadership. But then you saw more disturbing trends: They became secretive and obsessive and even manipulative concerning their “new” thoughts or “new” understanding. They demanded that others do things their way. They were unbending in their procedures. Soon you saw them pull away from the organized church completely. Sometimes they may start a church, or even cult, of their own, or they may lose their enthusiasm for Christians and Christian activity completely and become very disillusioned and non-participative.
What happened?
They have become captured by peripheral issues. Those issues became paramount in their minds. They became procedure and rules oriented. They were captured by what in the beginning was a good thing. They were chosen by God, but they were not captured. When we are captured, we are no longer free to let God work in our lives.
Oswald Chambers states: “Satan is as subtle as God is good, and he tries to counterfeit everything God does, and if he cannot counterfeit it, he will limit it. Do not be ignorant of his devices!”

Our prayer should be “That we will come to our senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken us captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:26 NIV).

Watch out because:

CHRIST CHOOSES/SATAN CAPTURES

Marilyn Heavilin

“He counts the number of stars; He calls them all by name. ” Psalm 147:4

“Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things,Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.” Isaiah 40:26

Do you remember growing up when your mom or dad called you by your sibling’s name? Some people I know have even been called by the dog’s name.
I come from a family of 5 girls and 1 boy and we each have 2-4 children of our own. I live a distance from my parents, my siblings and their families so I see them infrequently. It never fails, as I spend time with them and for a week or so after I get names mixed up. I call my daughter by my sister’s name. I call my sister by my daughter’s name. When my sister was visiting this summer we got a chuckle because I took it to a whole new level. I paired my sister’s name with my son-in-law’s. That’s pretty bad.
I was reminded of our day’s verse: “He counts the number of stars; He calls them all by name.” (Psalm 147:4)
Scientists estimate that there are — brace yourself— 70 sextillion stars in the universe. That is 70,000 million million million!!!!(CNN.com/09-09-06) Our creator, the creator of 70,000 million million million stars, Our God CALLS THEM ALL BY NAME!
Does that do to your brain what it does to mine? Doesn’t it take us to the very edges of the capacity of our understanding and still realize we have not even begun to wrap our minds around such magnitude, such greatness? I want to worship beyond what my simple words can express. Don’t you just feel like falling on your face before such magnificance in humble adoration?
Not once has God called one star by another’s name. Not once.
God sustains the universe; a universe that contains 70,000 million million million stars.
God knows your name. This same God sustains you.

Let that sink in today and worship.

Diane

Credentials…

Recently, I have been applying for schools to further my education and each school requires a detailed account of my credentials and accomplishments. I find it difficult to sum up what I have done in a way that really expresses who I am. I have created a rather extensive Resume’ to send with each application. All of that got me to thinking about Christ and His Impressive Credentials. I heard a sermon quite some time ago that struck me and I have held on to the outline as a reminder of Who Jesus Was…

Luke 4:31-5:11

1. (vs. 32) Christ believed in what he taught and taught it to others with strength of character and confidence.
2. (vs. 35-37) Christ stood up to the enemy, he was not afraid to face the enemy head on. He did not shy away from conflict or challenges.
3. (vs. 40-41) Christ stooped down to the hurting. He took the time needed to meet the needs of those around him.
4. (vs. 42-44) Christ showed humility of person. He did not promote himself – He only claimed to do what he was sent to do.
5. (vs. 5:1-4) Christ always recognized the potential in others and gave them a new mission and goal in life. (Eph. 1:11-12) Christ sees our Potential and gives us meaning and purpose.

Can you remove the name of Christ and insert your name? Are you an imitator of Christ? Does your resume’ resemble Christ’s? Wouldn’t it be awesome if the next time we need a resume’ we could use Christ’s credentials in place of ours? Paul lived his life that way… 1 Cor. 11:1 “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”

LDJ