There is a WAR going on, and it is right here on the home front!

Romans 7:21-25 (Amplified)

So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands. For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my inmost self [with my new nature]. But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh]. O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

The war that rages inside of a believer is many times in that sensitive appetite as the Amplified Bible states it. The part of a personality, generally stated, that wants its own way, no matter what, and is going to show up and throw a fit, if it doesn't get its own way. The War is REAL, and the old man that is "dying" daily as we read the scripture and continue to grow in Christ, as we yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, as we submit our lives and wills to God, is screaming to get out and LIVE. In the most unlikely times, the flesh will demand to have its own way. Let me give you an example.

You wake up in the morning, everything is great, you go to begin getting your day started, fix your breakfast, or coffee, or glass of whatever it is that you drink in the morning, and in your mind you are thinking how great today is. Then when making the coffee, you spill the sugar, or the cream, make a mess and the natural instinct it to say something negative, now whether or not it is a "G" rated word or an "R" rated word depends on the person, but do you see the "sensitive" yet nevertheless beginnings of what could turn the wrong way immediately. Let me give you another example. What if you spill the coffee grounds and they spill over onto the floor? Does that accelerate or exasperate the scenario for you a bit? You know, it doesn't take much sometimes for any of us to go off the deep end. Sometimes, it feels like we are just waiting for what we think is a "reason" to act like a jerk.

Sometimes it can be a person, raising their voice to you. Do you demand respect (i.e., your own way) and have an inner dialogue that goes something like this? How dare that person raise their voice to me, don't they know who I am, don't they know that I am a mature person of (add your age here) and have "earned" respect, don't' they know that I am a "Doctor," "CEO," "PTA Leader," "Mother of grown children," "own my own business"? What is your response, do you stomp off or close up and get silent, or yell back, give that person a "mean face"? Or do you respond the way Jesus did? Jesus didn't have to demand anything, and he was totally sure of who he was, God in the flesh. He didn't walk around telling everyone in loud declaration that he deserved respect, and he didn't pout and get angry when he didn't get it. I dare say there was more times when Jesus was disrespected, then he was esteemed, but it never detoured him from what he knew was his purpose and that was perfect obedience to whatever the father said.

So, right after Paul admonishes us that whatever it is that we want to do that is good we do not do, and whatever it is that we should not do, that we practice (paraphrase mine), Paul then adds

Romans 8:1 NIV "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Can anyone shout with me about this? I mean how very awesome is it of God to show us that we are going to fail, but in our failings there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ. I find Gods unfathomable depth at work here, I know for sure that there is no human alive, or "other god" that will continue in forgiveness as much as Christ has.

Thank you God for how you love us, thank you that you know that we are indeed frail. Father, I ask that you would grant us eyes to see us the way you do, and that when the old man begins screaming to LIVE, that we remind ourselves that our life is in Christ and in him alone. The old man must die, to bring about the new life in Christ. Open this mystery up to each of us as we go about our daily lives. Teach us how to live gloriously in Christ, while putting to death the old deed of our flesh. It is in Jesus name I pray.

Make it your BEST day ever!

Falling forward, Chilon

And so it begins

My wonderful husband,  bought me a new laptop, and has encouraged me to begin writing again. As a short aside, I used to write quite often, mostly poetry and a few songs, but within the lot, there have been a few stories, letters and the like. The thought that anyone would have an interest in what I have to say is challenging to my way of thinking. It has been said of me on more than one occasion that I have an opinion about almost every topic. However, there are other things in life (most, if you want my thoughts on the matter) that I know only a few things about and I stay quiet about those subjects. For the topics I know little about, I like to say, that I have enough information to be dangerous, but not enough information to productive in conversation or deed so I remain silent. But I digress.
My passion for learning has become quite focused in recent years. I find it most boring to learn about or research anything that has little or nothing to do with eternity. On the other hand, I find it most interesting to read, research, chat, write, talk about and pour my life into the things of God and HIS plan for my eternity with Christ. But how does that affect my life right here, right now? I know that Christ has gifted all believers through the Holy Spirit (as He chooses to gift us).
There is nothing in my mind that is more interesting than knowing that Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, My Savior lives inside me and God has put this wonderful mystery to work in my life on a daily basis. It is my responsibility (my response to HIS Ability as Wayne Austin http://www.healingplacechurch.org/ , used to say) to be obedient in following that urge, that up from under desire to walk in and spread that very goodness to those who light my world.
So now I come back to this question, what is it that at 47, I am to do with this wonderful desire to write inside of me, this baby in my spiritual womb? If I parallel this to something in the natural and physical world, I could begin thinking in a natural way, but this is not a natural thing for me. Who would want to write about their life and put it out there for all to see (if any are indeed watching or reading)? So I really cannot approach this desire of writing life lessons, mistakes I've made, past regrets, incredible insight, deep passion for the things of God with pure natural insight, it must be with an intent that comes with what cannot be seen or touched. Perhaps my love for the things of God and my love for writing will marry right here before my very eyes.
The first miracle that Christ performed was turning the water into wine, and I do believe that me beginning to write this blog is a miracle. So I am going to name my blog "Water N2 Wine", because for me, it is exactly that.
I pray that The Holy Spirit will take my words of water and turn them into wine for you, and so that anyone stopping by with a thirst can drink in of God's goodness and their thirst will be quenched. I also pray that by reading my blog you develop a thirst for God's word and you begin to seek out his perfect wine, in his Word, the Bible.
Make it your BEST day ever!
Chilon