Category Archives: spiritual thoughts

How the Resurrection of Jesus Empowers My Daily Life

Leave a reply

6.12.13Romans 6 is a powerful chapter that demonstrates how the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead empowers the Christian in a daily walk with God. Here are some ideas to contemplate (along with the text of Romans 6). Because of the resurrection of Christ…

1. I can have a new life (Romans 6:1-4).

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

2. I can be freed from sin (Romans 6:5-7).

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

3. I can escape the terror of death (Romans 6:8-10)

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

4. I can be an instrument of righteousness (Romans 6:11-14).

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

5. I can live a life of holiness (Romans 6:15-22).

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

6. I can live forever (Romans 6:23).

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanks for reading, John
A few great finds for your Kindle…most are on sale as I post them today.

My Emily by Matt Patterson

The Restless Church – Rediscovering New Testament Christianity by Mark Fairley

HOPE Being Gone (Trusting God in the Tough Times) by Cherie Hill

Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes

The Insanity of Unbelief: A Journalist’s Journey from Belief to Skepticism to Deep Faith by Max Davis

The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Strobel

Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander by Phil Robertson

Forever, Erma: Best-Loved Writing From America’s Favorite Humorist by Erma Bombeck

Anywhere Violets Grow

Leave a reply

5.5.13

When it comes to gardening I admit to having a light green thumb. I can keep some things alive, do a little creative planting, and manage to maintain the growth until the deep summer months arrive. When it is 90 degrees at 7:00 in the morning, the plants are on their own. I guess I’ll never have that pristine yard I see on other properties.

But the wild violets, they are plenteous. I don’t know why these qualify as weeds … but I really like them. Sometimes I avoid them as I mow … they are just too beautiful to mow down like the other weeds (and small amount of grass) in my yard.

Cold blows the wind against the hill, And cold upon the plain; I sit me by the bank, until The violets come again. ~Richard Garnett

Anywhere wild violets grow there remains a testimony to the beauty and strength of God’s grace. I’m impressed by the way they keep emerging through the elements into the fresh air of life only to face adversity and come back again.

I’ve seen it often in the world around me. In spite of the darkness and distress, people of God grow beautiful lives. It is His strength that powers them, invisible to those outside the Kingdom.

 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:10

Are you facing some dark days? Keep working through each day. Grasp, pray, struggle, pray some more. Tomorrow is coming and whatever progress you make today is not in vain. It is empowered by God. Whatever you’re working your way through in this life, keep at it. You may not think much of yourself or your own spiritual life. But anywhere a wild violet grows there remains a testimony to the beauty and strength of God’s grace.

For Your Kindle by Frank Viola!

NEWEST! $8.54 God’s Favorite Place on Earth

$3.03 Reimagining Church: Pursuing the Dream of Organic Christianity

$3.03 From Eternity to Here: Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God

$3.03 Revise Us Again: Living from a Renewed Christian Script

$3.03 Finding Organic Church: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Sustaining Authentic Christian Communities

$3.99 Epic Jesus: The Christ You Never Knew

$3.99 When the Pages Are Blank: How to Bring the Bible Back to Life

$9.99 Jesus: A Theography

$9.99 Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices

$9.99 Beyond Evangelical

Four Alternatives to Worry!

2 Replies

 

4.25.2013A fellow was working at a mental hospital and he as walking down the hallway. He saw a man with his ear against the wall and he had a worried look on his face. The employee at the hospital asked the patient, ‘What’s wrong?” The patient said, “Shhhh…” and he kept listening. Then the employee put his ear to the wall and said, “I don’t hear anything.” The patient said, “I know, it’s been like that all day. I’m worried about it!”

We know there are many verses in the Bible that tell us not to worry. The Old English root from which we get our word “worry” means “to strangle.” That’s a good description of the effects of worry in our lives. Here are four alternatives to worry that you can put to use starting now!

 

1. MEMORIZE! A great way to put your mind in the right place. Choose verses that relate to anxiety and God’s character. Write them on cards and carry them in your purse, pocket, or dashboard! Whenever you are in line, in traffic, at a stoplight or in a waiting room, read the verses slowly and meditatively.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. - Psalm 119:11

What verses would you want to put into your heart? Which ones are most meaningful to you? When you begin to worry just slow down and rehearse those verse that are powerful and helpful.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret… - Psalm 37:7

 

2. STOP! Whenever your mind and body starts racing, take three or four long, deep breaths.Pray some of the verses you’ve been memorizing. Consider Philippians 4:6-8.
To think is an intentional act. I encourage you to learn short prayers that you can pray easily and repetitively, using Scripture.

All my anxiety, I place in your hands. 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Your grace is enough, your power rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 includes the truth, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  -Luke 18:13

 

3. LAUGH! Nehemiah 8:10  “…Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy and laughter will boost your strength. Find something to laugh about each day. Look for it! Laughter is a wonderful antidote to worry. It has been proven to relieve stress. What can you read that is humorous? There is an endless supply. Emails, cards, books, movies, anything that brings a smile. Billy Graham tells of a time early in his ministry when he arrived in a small town to preach a sermon. Wanting to post a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was. When the boy had told him, Dr. Graham thanked him and said, ‘If you’ll come to the Baptist Church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven.’ The boy replied, ‘I don’t think I’ll be there… You don’t even know your way to the post office.’

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.- Proverbs 17:22

 
4. PRAISE! As we pour our energies into praising God who created the mountains – and who can move them with a word – we will begin to see our worries shrink from their mountainous size.  Take a walk and praise Him for the beautiful flowers He adorns with glory, the delicate hummingbird He cares for, and remember that you are far more important to Him than they are. Praise God for His promises!

Look at the birds. They don’t’ need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.

- Matthew 6:26

Praise God for Today! Yesterday is a cancelled check, tomorrow is a promissory note, only today is cash! Work your way through the Psalms and adopt the language of praise!

Worry invades our thinking unexpectedly at times. Sometimes it gets stuck there and we have a hard time getting it out. Realize that you can choose to think about something else…something better! When we drive our cars at night the headlights do not shine all the way to our destinations. They shine just a few feet in front of the car. As we move forward they keep ahead of us. God’s light works the same way. The Master said, “Live one day at a time.”

Thanks for reading! As a resource for this post I used an article by Dr. Bruce Stewart as well as some other articles in my files. Audio of this message can be heard by clicking on the AUDIO tab above.