Ash Wednesday

Well on Ash Wednesday I'm observing fog and ice and because of that spent time reading the Bible this morning. As I'm flipping through the Word, my eyes land on righteousness found in Romans 6 and I decide to read it, as my pastor talked about righteousness on Sunday. After reading Romans 6 I see two stark opposites: sin and obedience. It's strange how things come about in full circle. Growing up I always believed that if you were "good" you went to heaven. Then I heard it was about faith- and remember being confused when still reading about obedience resulting in righteousness. On Sunday Pastor talked about the quote from Isaiah that states our righteousness are like filthy rags to God. But I walked away convicted- I want my God's righteousness- not my own- I want His righteousness to last in me. So as I'm reading today- I have to smile as it goes along with Ash Wednesday- I had to look Ash Wednesday up on-line to really see what this means- and the ashes are a reminder of death that produces remorse for our sin. "If Christ died for our sin and we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed (acquitted) from sin. " Romans 5-7. "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." So I choose to think: dead to sin- what does dead mean- no longer living and moving- unable to grow. That is what I want with sin- I don't want it living in me- for it's outcome is death. There are NO benefits to sin- the evil one wants us to believe there are benefits to our flesh- but no"Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death." Romans 6:21. "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts...and become an instrument of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." Praise God that sin shall not be master of you, for you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. " Romans 14-18. "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit (fruit), resulting in sanctification (to be set apart, to be wonderful, wonderful deeds, miracles) and the outcome eternal life." Romans 6:22. God's kindness- how sad His heart is that His creation (us) can be so deceived by sin- by it looking so good- when sin has ruined His initial perfect plan. That creates in me repentance, remorse- for it is the beginning of lent- the beginning of my Lord's purpose- death, but the beautiful, beautiful and precious outcome of eternal life. The never ending goodness in the presence of our God. Help me to be obedient resulting in His righteousness.

Loving Well

To your left is Beth Moore, my favorite Christian speaker. If you have never heard her, you're in for a treat. This weekend I participated in a one day conference at a local church entitled "Loving Well", in which Beth Moore was the speaker. Here are some highlights and some things to ponder:

1. Are we loving better than we did 5 years ago?

2. We have no higher calling but to love

3. God measures maturity in how we love.

4. Four Confessions of Love: 1. God is PERFECT love 2. Nothing can separate me from God's PERFECT love 3. God pours His perfect love into my imperfect heart. 4. Accessed, I can love anyone through anything.

5. If His love is not a feeling- it can't be regulated by circumstances. Love is part of God's godness.

6. If His love is ever present- and I am to dwell in His love- it's my choice to remove myself from His love- not His.

7. How amazing if we live in a constant awareness of His love.

8. Let's start loving because we already are loved, not to be loved.

9. God is The Loving Well- let's dip down with our container. It is an opportunity to love with no strings attached to receive love back.

Lord, help us to love like You. Help us to receive and dwell in your perfect and steadfast and unfailing love. Amen.

Stunned

Yesterday was what I termed a "weird" day. I had gone in for a routine scan- not thinking too much of it. Afterwards I was doing errands, going to work out. While working out I thought I heard my name paged overhead. I thought- surely that's not me. But when I got home, I made sure I checked my messages right away. It was my doctor's office saying to call them as soon as I got home. I called- and they said I needed to go back to the hospital immediately for additional testing. The last message on the machine was from one of the leaders of the last Bible Study I was in- saying she heard I was going in for a test (the initial one) and that she was praying for me. What a comfort in the midst of the message from my dr's office. So back in I went- as I'm driving I'm calling people to pray for me. Prayers went out- amazingly enough one of the ladies in the Bible Study had called her husband to pray for me- he works in a nursing home about 45 minutes away and one of the other ladies from the Bible Study was there when he received the call. So she was praying as well. Talk about humbling. So then I got my test results back- and everything was fine. Whether it was a misreading or God healed me on the spot- I praise Him. What a day!