Episodes
Monday Sep 30, 2013
Navigating Relationships #1 - Healing Relationships
Monday Sep 30, 2013
Monday Sep 30, 2013
We're beginning a series called "Navigating Relationships" - we're starting with "Healing Relationships" & our text for today begins in Matthew 22:35-40.
Thursday Sep 26, 2013
Amazing Grace #6 - LIVE & GIVE
Thursday Sep 26, 2013
Thursday Sep 26, 2013
The Apostle Paul wraps up his letter to the Galatians with “the law of
the harvest.” He doesn’t call it that, but it’s exactly what it is.
Ultimately, whatever you plant in the ground, you will see grow. If you
plant corn, you will grow corn. If you plant a peach tree, eventually,
you will get peaches.
Using the same principle, he challenges the Galatians to keep in mind
whatever they plant in their lives, they will see that grow in their
lives. If they invest themselves in their flesh (the part of us that
actively/passively resists the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives –
see Galatians 5:19-21), they will reap/receive/grow corruption, destruction, & death.
However, if what they invest themselves in is the Spirit’s work in their lives, they will reap/receive/grow LIFE!
That, to me, is great news! God promises that our ‘keeping in step with
the Holy Spirit” will bring about His abundant, overflowing, life – we
will be being transformed in our thoughts, our hearts, & actions.
Ultimately, we will look like Jesus, & be fully equipped to live
doing what Jesus would be doing if He were in our shoes.
So don’t give up! Keep going! You will see the results of saying “Yes” to the Spirit, & “No” to the flesh. Galatians 6:9,10
I’m praying for you – be filled with faith, & live it out by grace!
Blessings, grace, & peace to you!
Louie
Sunday Sep 15, 2013
Amazing Grace #5 - LIVE FREE
Sunday Sep 15, 2013
Sunday Sep 15, 2013
In John 8, Jesus declared that His disciples will remain in, live out, & apply His words... and as a result, they will know the TRUTH & the TRUTH will set them free... Further, whomever Christ sets free, is really, truly FREE. Paul emphasizes this fact in Galatians 5 when he reminds his readers that Jesus' purpose in bringing humanity FREEDOM from sin, condemnation, separation from God, & death was that we would actually LIVE FREE, not
bound by slavery to our flesh (the part of us that actively/passively
resists the work of the Holy Spirit in & around our lives.)
So how do we do this? What could this look like lived out? What are some of the characteristics of LIVING FREE?
Paul calls it, "keeping in step with the Spirit" - in other words,
rather than depending upon our own willpower, abilities, &/or
efforts to do good, instead we embrace the fact that this happens by
grace, through faith. We trust & depend upon the Holy Spirit, the
One who lives within us, moment by moment - believing that He will lead
& guide us in whatever we give ourselves to, day by day, to the
glory of God. The characteristics of LIVING FREE & keeping in step with the Spirit are evident in us, showing up as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control... The
Spirit builds these God-family-traits into us & they get manifested
as we live everyday looking to do what Jesus would be doing if He were
walking in our shoes...
I'm praying for you today - to LIVE FREE & keep in step with the Holy Spirit!
Blessings, grace, & peace to you!
Louie
Thursday Sep 12, 2013
Amazing Grace #4 - The Love Of God
Thursday Sep 12, 2013
Thursday Sep 12, 2013
As we’ve been going through our “Amazing Grace” series in the book of
Galatians, I’ve been thinking a lot about the manner in which God has
chosen to reveal Himself to us. He sent Jesus, the Word made flesh (John 1:1,) motivated by His infinite, unconditional love for us (John 3:16).
Further, the purpose Christ came into the world was not to condemn us
or merely point out our sins, but rather to deliver us from them &
establish a means for us to have relationship with God, by grace,
through faith in Him. (John 3:17,18; Ephesians 2:5-8; Romans 6:23.) And it is this action of kindness (Romans 2:4, aka love in action,) that draws us to repentance (a change of mind & action, turning from wrong & turning to God).
Maybe the most amazing thing is that God extends these acts of love
& kindness, grace & mercy so that we can be adopted into His
family as sons & daughters (John 1:12-14; Galatians 4:4-7; 1John
3:1). Not servants. Not even extended family.
His sons. His daughters. Whom He loves. Forgives. Transforms. Lives with by the Holy Spirit who makes His home in us.
Thinking of God as our Father can be a little funky, especially if our
relationship with our human dad didn’t/hasn’t gone so well. However, God
revealing His heart as Father is meant to demonstrate to us His care,
His protection, His working on our behalf, & His acceptance of us as
belonging to Him.
My prayer is that this week, you will experience & know-that-you-know-that-you-know the love of God in your life, & that you walk in the FAITH, GRACE, & CONFIDENCE in Him that His love brings.
Blessings, grace, & peace to you!
Louie
Sunday Sep 01, 2013
Amazing Grace #3 - FREE TO THINK
Sunday Sep 01, 2013
Sunday Sep 01, 2013
Our text for today is Galatians 3... Check it out.