What Is Your Will In Christ?

Lord, the count of your blessings far exceeds the measure of our gratitude daily. Their number escapes our conscious comprehension from moment to moment. From the daily provision for our human weaknesses in your creation to the faithfulness of our hearts of flesh to beat each second you are conscious of our need. Lord, if we were truly aware of the expanse of your provision and planning for our growth and existence, we would be on our knees before you with thankful hearts both night and day. Our will would be surrendered without event or consideration to your own because you are the unequalled source of our blessing. Lord, there can be no repayment equal to your consideration of us. Your thoughtfulness as God on our behalf could never be matched by human effort on any level. You alone are God and we, your own possession are merely the very creation of your great hand and there is no creation greater than the Master who crafts it. Lord, my only comfort are the tears of g

Though the title might sound like an essay assignment from school days long ago, I hope that as you read it inspires something much more productive in your own heart ...   As a young man growing up I had many opportunities to experience both physical and emotional pain. And as a father of seven, I've had opportunities to make sacrifices that cost me dearly for those that I love that they have no real concept of... and I thank God for them all. You see, I realize that I have emotions because I am made in His image ... and that fact along with the examples of His own emotion displayed in His word tell me that He has them. Being very familiar with the pain of my past has given me the ability to be sensitive to the pain of others. So I can identify with much of the pain that others feel. But so much more importantly, it gives me the ability to empathize to a small degree with the pain of my God. So every year, my heart made tender by the cost of my own experiences provides

The Institution In The Mirror (Before we get into this chapter I need to say this very clearly and very plainly: There are none of us without spot. We are all saved only by Christ's astounding and merciful sacrifice. By His sacrifice He made it possible for us to have recourse in dealing with sin and if we've asked for God's forgiveness - then we have received it. Having been forgiven, our God does not see us as former sinners - He doesn't even remember our sins - He sees us now as the righteousness of Christ - His holy Saints. My intention is to clarify and reiterate the truth - not to bring conviction against things that no longer exist. Those who need to will understand why I've placed this here as they read... Now, on with the institution!) Remember the definition of marriage that I gave at the beginning of this writing? Marriage: The joining of two hearts, spirits and bodies in a conjoined effort as one to replicate the perfect relationship of C

Part 3: Parables, Mirrors And Parallels par·a·ble noun \ˈpa-rə-bəl\ : example ; specifically : a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parable) 1 mir·ror noun \ˈmir-ər, mi-rər\ 2 a: something that gives a true representation b: an exemplary model (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mirror) 1par·al·lel adjective \ˈper-ə-ˌlel, ˈpa-rə-, -ləl\ 3a (1): similar, analogous, or interdependent in tendency or development (2): exhibiting parallelism in form, function, or development <parallel evolution> b: readily compared : companion (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parallel) I'm confident that our God in His infinite wisdom created things that I like to call mirrors and parallels in this life that we're blessed to learn from if we will. Similar to Chri

Lord, there is no choice to a knowing heart but to be deeply thankful to you every day. The greatness of your character makes provision to give us life at every moment. But on this day of particular expression, we your children, long to simply thank you with an even louder voice ... for the great and awesome person that you choose to be ... and for the power of your mercy and favor. Your great patience and mercy make provision for us to exist every moment and your great love allows us to walk in the garden of your grace and favor even though we're found undeserving. You have clothed us in a robe of high honor, a righteousness that we have not earned and you have made us heir to a kingdom to which we have no right of claim save by your generous appointment. Without salvation our spirits were orphans condemned from birth having been born blind into a world of darkness and separation, a place created by sin. Alone we cried in the wilderness of this foreign place and hid tr

Parallels Of The Mirrored Marriage Part 2 Checking Our Foundation In The Mirror This next section might appear a little off course. But don't worry, I think you'll begin to see the value as we continue on (A hint: you can substitute the word Christian for carpenter, life or marriage for the words house or project, and the Word of God for plan in the next 2 paragraphs. Try it!). (First the reflection in the mirror ... (you'll come to understand what this means later)) Most of my adult working life has been spent working as a carpenter. Carpenters follow a plan when building a house. The plan is the representation and graphic "example" of what the house is to look like and how it's to be built. Any deviation from the plan will result in the failure to replicate the project that was intended -.The primary goal of a good carpenter is to be true to the design of the plan while applying the sound structural details, wisdom and methods a

Part 1. The Marriage Mirror 2 Corinthians 11:2 NLT "I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ." Not surprisingly, I wasn't able to find a definition of marriage in either the Mariam Webster or Wikipedia dictionaries that even remotely defined what I consider to be an accurate description of what occurs in a true marriage centered on Christ. So, I offer my own humbly with the hope that it meets with agreement in the Christian heart: Marriage: The joining of two hearts, spirits and bodies in a conjoined effort as one to replicate the perfect relationship of Christ, the Bridegroom to His Bride - His Church Our God in His infinite mercy, wisdom and great love has given us the perfect example of what the perfect marriage partner looks like and must be in the life and teachings of the Bridegroom, our Lord and Savior. Who waits now for His Bride to answer Him, Not only by reflecting ba