cross symbolism

The cross is central to Christianity: to what I believe. According to Kyle Idleman (author of Not a Fan), there are several symbols the cross represents:
-victory
-grace
-freedom
-healing
-hope
-beauty (p 171)

Through Jesus' sacrifice I am free from sin's power. There is also healing found in the cross. For all who believe, the cross provides beauty out of ashes. Also, when sin takes me captive, I have hope  there is healing found in the cross. I just look outside of myself and onto Him, for He will heal every wound.

Additionally, "an instrument of torture and death is the image that represents followers of Jesus (159)."

From that the cross symbolizes humilation, suffering, (Luke 6:22, 2 Timothy 3:12, Philippians 1:29)  and death. I die to my own desires, pursuits, and plans. When I decide to follow Jesus, that is the end of me. (adapted from Not a Fan p. 161)

I also know following Jesus is a daily surrender. I ask myself how can I follow after Jesus today? And I trust He will lead my steps.

Not a Fan.

I'm reading through Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman which speaks of moving beyond being a fan of Jesus to becoming a committed follower.

Some passages that stood out to me are
"We are saved by God's grace when we believe in Jesus and put our faith in him, but biblical belief is more than something we confess with our mouths; it's something we confess with our lives...a belief is more than what we say (104)."

Salvation comes through the grace of God through faith. Believing is more than just talking all the time. Followers show through their lives that they belong to Jesus.

Following Jesus also requires movement and a complete and total commitment.

Not a Fan is challenging me to evaluate where I truly stand in my relationship with Jesus.

If interested in reading this book, you can purchase a discounted copy at www.christianbook.com

5 Main Reasons...

There are five (5) main reasons it's important that Christians attend church:

(1) The church is a place to belong

             -The moment a person becomes a follower of Jesus, God's spirit makes him or her a member of God's family, and also a member of the worldwide fellowship, the "universal church."

               Some passages that illustrate why the church is a place to belong:

                          Romans 12:5- true unity of the church is spiritually based

                          I Corinthians 12:12- spiritual gifts are diverse and meant to build up the church

                          2 Corinthians 5:17- Through Christ, they are redeemed and restored, and made into a new creation

(2) The church is a place to serve

              -When someone becomes part of this spiritual body called the church, they are given special  gifts and important tasks

               -Christians need to be involved in local churches so they can discover their functions and practice their gifts

              -In a world of selfcenteredness, Christ's example and command to serve others still applies

                           Some passages on service within the church:

                                               Romans 12:6

                                                I Corinthians 14:26

(3) The church is a place to be served

                  -As Christians serve within the church, they will find God meeting many of their needs through others

                             Passages that illustrate the importance of serving others within the church:

                                               I Corinthians 12:14, James 5:13-15

(4) The church is a place to grow

                     -The spiritual food includes worship, instruction, and counsel. We can only receive these when we are actively involved in a local church. Also growth will occur.

                                 passages illustrating why growth is relevant to local churches:

                                              Acts 20:7

                                               Colossians 3:16

                                               Hebrews 10:25

And finally,

(5) The church is a place to obey

               -The Christian faith is personal, but not private. For a Christian, the local church is a place to practice both a new and growing faith and a mature and wise faith.

               An illustration of how people in a local church should fit together is seen in Ephesians 2:19-22.

               The church family is also referenced to as an extended family.

A final thought: the church is where the Spirit dwells.

His Love is Relentless

God relentlessly pursues His people and never lets them go. Despite this truth, I loosen my grip of God the moment I can't see where I'm headed. I like control and to know where I'm going.

I wander aimlessly asking "God where are you?" Despite asking this question I know in the core of who I am I know God is in me: His spirit lives in me. Therefore I can never escape God or His love. Because of His love, he relentlessly pursues me even when I get caught up in things of this life.

He desires intimacy from me daily: that is one thing I can always pray for that is within what He desires for me. I can never be too intimate with Him. More than anything in this life, I should crave deep intimacy with God.

Through intimacy my soul is satisfied and God is glorified. And that brings me an inner joy. He relentlessly pursues me: I just respond to His call.

All My Eyes Want to See...

And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best, and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God

 -Philippians 1:9-11

As expressed in this passage, real love is rooted in knowledge and understanding not merely an emotion. As a follower of Jesus I am to approve and practice what I know to be morally and ethically best. Also, my goal in this life is to be without any mixture of evil and not be open to any defilement because of moral and/or spiritual failure. The ultimate goal and purpose of my life is to bring glory and praise to God.

When I glorify and praise God, everything is as it should be. That's my main mission in life. For I know in the core of who I am, my life is given to me to bring glory to God and to live to honor Him. That's it.

That's all.

When I live for Him alone, I will see glimpses of heaven in my life, radiating through me.

All my eyes want to see is His glory magnified. All I want is Him.

The Beauty of Surrender

Surrendering to God is never easy. I fight and fight against what I want instead of what He desires. So what is the solution? What is the key to surrender?

The key to surrender (which leads to peace) is authority: knowing God is who He says He is. Also, peace comes from an active, ongoing, and obedient relationship with God. In order to have complete peace, I must surrender everything to Him. (Luke 14:33) This becomes a reality when I find delight in Him.

 Psalm 37:4 states Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

When I am happy in God, when He satisfies my soul more than anything, and when I am content in Him, God will provide me what I want the most for He satisfies me more than anything.

There is peace and beauty in surrendering to God, but He can't take something that isn't surrendered to Him.

I believe surrender is laying down my pride and control and saying, "God, You are strong enough to take this." I must replace feelings of pride with humility.

That is my prayer: to live a surrendered life and that happens every moment where He is center to everything in me.

Anything But Common

Exodus 3:5 says, Take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy ground. Adapted from the NIV study Bible foot note, "holiness involves being consecrated to the Lord's service and being separated from the commonplace."

This is relevant because since I belong to God, I am anything but common. I need to remember this whenever I am struggling with trying to fit in to the crowd. Being part of a crowd is easy: I just blend in. However, I am called to serve God, not man. This requires me to step out of what is comfortable and go with God.

Also, Exodus 3:14 states I AM WHO I AM. This is the name God wishes to be known and also expresses His character as the dependable and faithful God who desires the trust of His people.

I know I am to trust in God at all times even when I'm unsure of where He is leading me.

I Lift My Eyes to God Alone

I lift up my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD
the Maker of heaven and earth. -Psalm 121:1-2

When I face troubled times, I need not to look inward at my own strength which will fail me. I know God is greater than any struggle, temptation, trial, hardship, I might face in this life.

Troubles can't be avoided in this life. When I am in the midst of any sort of testing in my faith, I know God is right there: by my side.

I lift my eyes to God alone.
He is the only one who will see me through. He watches over my life. And that is comforting to know I serve the one true God whose name is powerful.

Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth. -Psalm 124:8

The help God provides to me is in His name for He holds power and authority in my life. When I am grounded in Him, I can never be moved.
I lift my eyes to God alone.

Happy 2013 :-)

My verse for 2013 is Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

As I begin a new year, seeking God, His righteousness, and His will for me is my prayer. I want intimacy with God.; therefore persistently pursuing Him needs to become my one passion in life. I want His righteousness to consume my life: all of me for all of Him. I'm crying out for God to bring me back to a place where I'm hardcore for Him. I recognize time is the only thing that will allow God to work in me the way He sees. Patience, Gratitude, and submission are crucial for the journey set before me.

In an attempt for God to work in me, I'm finished living for my own selfish desires. I've done that for too long. I want to live seeking His kingdom and His righteousness. That comes from the power of God, not my own. And when I live pursuing His kingdom, I will find Him and good things will follow.

It's only through Jesus that I become the righteousness of God (see 2 Corinthians 5:21)

I invite you to seek His kingdom and His righteousness also. Let a glimpse of heaven be seen in our midst.