My heart's beatful cry

My heart's beat is Jesus Christ and my heart's cry is FREEDOM! Freedom from what
keeps us down and tries to kill us. Freedom what what keeps us down and tries to woo us. Freedom from anything and everyone that tries to keep us from our First Love--from our Healer, Redeemer, and Restorer! Christ alone sets us free, and its in Christ alone that we are FREE!

This is my heart's beatful cry: to bring good news to the afflicted; to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God!

Christ will break those shackles, Christ will pull the talons off our backs, Christ's healing balm will ooze over ALL our wounds and remove the scars we are carrying. Christ will direct us to Truth and away from the lies that have keep us bound up in fear!

I am FREE. You are FREE. We are FREE to live and love in the light of our Gracious Savior who has forgiven ALL our sins.Amen.

Is Your Marriage Under the Old Covenant or the New?

When I was newly married, I plunged right into my role as wife. I did the cooking, the cleaning, the grocery shopping, the organizing because this is what a "good" wife does, right? I was consumed with my role.

 Far too many people have marriages like this. Their marriages are stuck in the legalism of the roles instead of in the grace of the relationship.

Marriage is a picture of our relationship with Christ. We, as believers in Jesus Christ, are called the Bride. Ephesians 5 details out what this relationship looks like. We are to walk in love (v.2) speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (v 19).

My heart breaks when I look around at marriages that are trying to emulate this spiritual relationship out of their own flesh. What do I mean by this? Well, many couples in the church today are living in a marriage that is under the law instead of grace.

We do what we do because we think we should. We have become more concerned with our roles as husband and wife then our relationship as husband and wife. We don't do what we do out of graceful love.

 Somehow the message of the Cross has gotten lost in the honor, respect, and obey part. The actions of our daily roles have taken center stage over the sacrificial love that Christ so sweetly demonstrated in His life and death.

Husbands and wives, it is time to put our marriages in the proper order: relationship first then roles. Let how we function in our homes flow out of our relationship with each other. Let our marriages live in the New Covenant of grace rather than the Old Covenant of the law.

Chaotic Peace

I can be organized, well educated, and compassionate towards those around me. I can be funny, relaxed, and timely. I can be lovely, proper, and giving. I can be all these things, but without the power of the Holy Spirit flowing throughout my spirit, soul, and body--I am nothing.

These mean nothing if my inner life is void of the powerful indwelling of the Spirit. He is the air I breathe, He is the breath that gets pumped throughout my body so I can function. My actions are a result of the Spirit's life in me.

He makes it possible for me to be compassionate, relaxed, lovely. He brings balance and unity to my life. Without His voice in my life, I would cease to be me.

 Sometimes my time with Him is spent in solitude on my face before Him, while other times it is spent in quiet worship and study of His Word, and sometimes it is spent walking through my daily chores conversing with Him about my family and friends.

Whatever the mood of the day, He is there with me. He longs to be with us--sharing in our lives whatever that may look like. He is in the peace, he is in the busyness, and He is in the chaos. Welcome Him into your day and embrace the Spirit's breath in your life.

"The LORD is rigtheous in all His ways

And kind in all His deeds.

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He will also hear the cry and will save them.

The LORD keeps all who love Him,

But all the wicked He will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,

And all flesh will bless His hold name forever and ever."

Psalm 145:17-21

Fall's Must Read List

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me, "What books have changed my life--my spiritual life?"  Interesting question I thought.  Here's my short list:

Obviously, the Bible. I love that I have been reading and studying that book for over 20 years and with each word I learn more of God's character. This definitely has been THE most influential book in my life.

Devotional Classics, Richard Foster

Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster

Spiritual Direction, Henri Nouwen

Grace Walk, Steve McVey

The Prodical God, Tim Keller

More than Equals: Racial Healing for the Sake of the Gospel, Spencer Perkins/Chris Rice

Absolute Surrender, Andrew Murray