Tag Archives: victorious living

A changed life – Caroline

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image“I just went through life feeling like something was missing,” says Caroline, recently baptized at Niddrie Community Church. “My biggest fear was death. And my only release was cannabis.”

 

But that has changed.

 

“I have realized that I need to repent and put my trust in Jesus. I knew he was the only one who could change my life.”

 

“I’m learning to deal with my anger. And death isn’t as scary as I thought it was. I can’t thank the Lord enough for saving me. And now I’ve found that thing that was missing: Jesus.”

 

GLOW is involved with ministries across the globe that are focused on being a light to help others discover God’s best for them: Hope and grace, and power for victorious living. Caroline’s life was influenced by workers with 20Schemes. 20Schemes is a ministry to the poorest of poor in Scotland who live in housing projects (schemes). Following the model showed us by Jesus, they make disciples who make disciples. Caroline has expressed interest in becoming a 20Schemes intern, working at the church office and plans to start a new access course at the Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

 

Would you pray for Caroline and countless other women in Scotland’s housing schemes who not only need to hear the gospel of Christ but be discipled and encouraged to live purposeful and joyful lives.  This is one way you can partner with GLOW to bring hope and fulfillment to people across the world.

 

 

What agreement are you living under?

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Under law, God requires. Under grace, He provides.

Driving down the interstate highway, especially (ahem) when I am going the speed limit, there are always plenty of folk who want to go faster. When we get our driver’s licenses we enter into a covenant, an agreement, to obey the laws of the road. The expectation of the law is clearly posted about the maximum speed limit but the law does not bring us to keep our agreement. We easily break the covenant when it suits us.

 

And so it has always been, right? God entered into a covenant with His people. His laws, actually intended to make us aware of our utter dependence on Him, are continually broken. In fact, it seems the human heart is quite unable and unwilling to keep them.

 

And so God, in His mercy, gave us a way out, a new covenant. “Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.” (Hebrews 7:22). Knowing that we would not and could not faithfully keep His commands, He gave us a new covenant of grace to draw us closer to Him. “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.” (Hebrews 8:7)  “By calling this covenant “new,” He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” (Hebrews 8:13)

 

Many in the Catholic and Anglican traditions are accustomed to going to a priest as an intermediary between them and God. Others set up rules and lists of accomplishments and deeds as their intermediary to appease God. But who better to put ALL our trust in besides Jesus who lives forever, the exact representation of God Himself, to intercede for us in our trials and weaknesses? (V 23-24) Who else could meet our deepest needs other than the One who is “holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” – the One who is perfect forever”? ( V26-28)

 

If you have ever told a lie, taken God’s name in vain, put other things and feelings before Him, dishonored your parents, envied others or their belongings, you know how futile it is to depend on your own ability to always keep the law. Good deeds have their place when they are an outpouring of a faithful and grateful heart. But by themselves, they accomplish nothing of lasting value; and they certainly, by themselves, do not bring us closer to God.

 

When you look inside your heart and consider your inner motivations, which covenant are you living under? Are you living under the old covenant which demands perfect compliance with the law and an endless list of good deeds to ‘make up’ for your transgressions? Or are you living freely and victoriously under the new covenant of grace?

 

Under law, God requires; under grace, God provides. Which do you prefer?

Choose the new covenant today and enjoy the full life Jesus desires for you.

 

 

Too Tired To Give In

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We saw a Rosa Parks poster in the hospital. It reminded us of the tremendous Civil Rights museum in Memphis that featured the bus that she rode that historical day she refused to give up her seat. Parks’ quote says, “People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. . . The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”

Do you know that feeling of always giving in to some one or some habit or situation that is oppressing you? You want to stand up for yourself, your best interests, but inevitably give in to the easy way out, a way that is filled with remorse and sorrow. Maybe your health suffers also, and the wellbeing of those around you.

It doesn’t have to be that way. God has given us a resilient will that can work for us, a will that chooses to take another step, a will that says no to the things that pollute our minds and bodies, a will that chooses to believe truth, and acts on that belief, a will that thanks him in the midst of painful and uncertain circumstances.

I remember a colleague of mine, Jay Taylor responding to my comment about how tempting the donuts in the break-room were. The truth of his simple reply resonated well with me: “They aren’t tempting if you just walk away.”

Temptation, chronic pain, and anxiety are all thieves. They steal, kill and destroy that which is best for you. What are you letting oppress and steal from your life? Whether it is a hasty tongue, unhealthy sarcasm, food, caffeine, sports, TV, a defeated attitude, a worrisome heart, or an unquenchable desire, there is a solution. Refuse to give in. Walk away. Take back what is yours. Keep your eyes on the one true God who wants you to live a victorious life. Ask Him for not only his direction but also his empowerment in your life. You’ll find it in his Word. It’s part of the good plan he has for you…when you exercise the will to accept it.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (Jesus) John 10:10

How Rich Are You?

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I was unable to sleep much this past night, even though my fever has at least temporarily passed. So I started contemplating the riches of life. I’d be interested in what YOU would add to the list (click reply).

My life is RICH because I:

Am able to breathe clean air with comfort.

Have access to clean water, safe food, and basic medical care and protective services.

Can move about freely with minimal pain.

Can think cohesively.

Am able to understand and communicate with others.

Have a body that functions for the most part as God designed.

LOVE SOMEONE DEEPLY and am loved unconditionally by someone else.

Have friends who care enough to understand me and who risk being understood.

Have work that I am passionate about and capable of performing.

Enjoy basic freedoms to express views, to worship as I please, to move about…

Have accepted a FREE GIFT from God to not only give me an eternal life of immense joy but an absolutely VICTORIOUS life right now, despite cancer, heartache, poverty, or other circumstance. (Ask me.)

I experience most all of these everyday, even with cancer. So I reckon that means I am a rich guy. How about you?