Newness of Life

I used to mix law and grace. I believe that most Christians do until they come to see the futility in trying hard to be good enough while claiming to believe in salvation by Christ alone. By the age of 22, my defeat was absolute. The law had done what it was supposed to do: it had convinced me that I was a sinner without hope apart from grace and God's power. Grace alone transforms and self-effort and law keeping are useless. Living by grace is a journey and a process, but one that has revealed the compassionate love of God, as well as the riches of His glory, and the power of His mighty Spirit in our lives. Today I came across a video explaining the difference between living under law and living by grace and wanted to share it for those who feel that they are not experiencing the power of God in their lives. If we live under law than we cannot experience grace; Paul says that we have fallen from grace and are in a powerless, condemned condition (because the law can o...

I saw it with perfect clarity right after Steve died suddenly in a car accident, the very week that we were setting our wedding date. While I was tossing around wedding ideas with my sister on the phone one clear, fall morning, unbeknownst to me, Steve had already died in a wreck. In a few hours I would get the call. But through the violent tears of grief for the greatest love I have ever known, God kindly gave me a glimpse of eternity. I could see, not with my natural eyes, but with those unseen eyes of the heart. Those eyes are the only eyes that really matter.   Satan opened the eyes of Adam and Eve to his selfish version of reality, his narrative.   This is the dark sight that Jesus came to strike with blindness so that we can see the light of truth. He said he came to give sight to the blind, and to blind those who see. For a brief time after Steve's death, it was as if a veil was lifted and I could peer into eternity itself. Everything becam...

Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” He tenderly reached out to heal a soldier’s severed ear who had come to seize him for a crime he did not commit.                 Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. He gave one of the highest honors to a disciple who totally abandoned him in his darkest hour.                 Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. He washed the dirty feet of his companions, knowing that they would soon forsake him.                 Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. He showed mercy to an adulterous woman who was brought to him for judgment, and told her to go and “sin no more.”                 Anyone w...

In 2 Kings 5:21, the King of Aram sends his army to surround the Israelites who were camped in the town of Dortham. Elisha the prophet was also there with his servant who awoke to discover that they were surrounded by a mighty army of horses and chariots intent on capturing them. “Oh my lord, what shall we do?” he said to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid.” The prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Oh, we need the vision that Elisha had! Paul prays   that the eyes of our hearts would be open to see the things that God has for us in Christ.   In every trial, temptation, and tribulation facing us, we can say with Elisha, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” This is true for every child of God, in all circumstances.    Howev...

Our sins are washed by his sacrifice, but it is his life that gives us righteousness and peace. "Churchianity" misses this point entirely, effectively placing us back under the weight of our own self-efforts to bring forth the life of God. Yet the law was meant to slay us and utterly demolish all self confidence in order that we would depend entirely on the Fountain of Life who springs eternal in those who are poor in spirit and believe on Him. Will- power cannot eradicate the sin that stems from the human heart; it can only, at best, curtail sinful behaviors, thus cleaning the "outside of the cup" while the inside is full of sin (Matt 23:25).  Only by the transformational power of the Holy Spirit who imparts the very life and nature of Christ can we walk in heart righteousness. "For in that day , I will write my laws on their hearts, and they will be my people, and I will be there God. (Jer 31:33). This is a ministry of the Holy Sp...

The Lord has been speaking to me about faith and doubt, and I have been seeing faith with new eyes.    I have always been interested in the matter of faith and its substance, where it comes from, and how it grows. Faith is of God and not of man. Faith can no more be generated by an act of will than a planet can be created by someone who wishes to do so. If we can't generate faith by an act of mental willpower,  how then does it grow?  It is a gift that is imparted from God to the one who is seeking God with all of His heart. As with anything else, faith comes as an answer to prayer. Faith comes when God speaks into the spirit of man thus making His word come to life. Faith see's reality because it has heard Him speak. The word teaches that faith comes by hearing the word of God. Not just the written word, but the word breathed into the heart of man by the Holy Spirit. The Lord is a quickening spirit, and His word quickens our spirit to life. When faith comes to l...