This morning’s thought . . . total dependence on Abba-God.

Some would say, what sort of being is He, that He requires this. I would propose that He does not require it, He invites it. You see, if I insist on doing things my own way, in my own power, my own thoughts and “imaginations,” then I am limited to my human “resources.” However, IF I abandon myself to Him, fully acknowledging that I can do nothing apart from Him (John 15:5) and looking to Him as my source, then I have the power, knowledge, wisdom, creativity, etc., etc., of the Creator of the universe at my “disposal” and anything that I attempt, following after Him, will be exponentially greater than what I endeavor to do with my own human limitations.

He is inviting us today . . .

You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 16:11

I admit, I tend to be a bit of an Eeyore personality . . . I have developed the perspective of the glass half empty. It wasn’t always like this. As a matter of fact, I will never forget in choir under Mary Beth Woll when I was in Bible school and at Philadelphia Church umpteen years ago – I was doing something impish, waiting for our session to start, and this wizened little African-American woman sitting next to me chuckled at my behavior and said, “You haven’t a care in the world, do you?”
Now, although I am probably at least 20 years younger than her and likely have not experienced half of what she did, I feel like her. I have been a bit beat up by life’s experiences and lost that lighthearted carefree-ness . . . I have lost trust . . . in big things and little things.
Trust is one of the things being rebuilt in me and with that, joy. A common theme of what was prayed and spoken over me in the weeks surrounding my graduation in June was that God was going to bring me back to a place of joy in my life. With that, I was looking forward to a change in some of the circumstances in my life – “Yes, God, I receive that word!” I watched for things to begin to change . . . However, while that may still happen – it’s early days yet – I don’t think that is what God has in mind.
“In your presence is fullness of joy.” Yes, God could change the situations in my present existence that would make things less stressful, less grievous, which may enable me to feel more joy. In all honesty though, I’m not sure that would really do it. Rather, I think the challenge is for me to seek Him and in His presence, begin to learn joy again. Joy that is based on immutable God rather than fickle circumstances and emotions.
I think that is why that woman that day – so sorry I cannot think of her name (Roberta?), although I see her clearly in my mind – I think that is why she was able to chuckle at me rather than grumble at my behavior. She knew a little bit about the abiding presence of Jesus and the resulting joy that comes from engaging in relationship with Him rather than depending on external factors.

Now I would remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (ESV)

The message that reverberates through my heart, mind and soul is this – for the most part, we are helpless to change ourselves to be more like Christ, it is God who changes us. This was again a message shooting off the page to me at 5 a.m. today: “the gospel . . . by which you are being saved.”
Beth Moore has made me very conscious of “the ‘ing.'” That suffix to words that makes the action present and ongoing. It is through the message of the Gospel – the story and everything about Jesus – that we are being saved. “Being” means that it is currently happening.
Now, please know that I believe emphatically that when we make a choice to surrender our lives to Christ, that is a single occurrence, which identifies our salvation. However, the Bible is full of scripture describing the process of becoming like Christ as ongoing.
“You are being saved” comes from a Greek word sozesthe, the root of which is sozo. Sozo comes from sos – which is safe or rescue . . . S.O.S.!
HELPS Word-studies identifies it as being used principally “of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin and into his provisions (safety).” Thayer adds to this meaning: “to keep safe and sound” and Strongs provides a final thought, “be (make) whole.”
So, if we take this meaning and integrate it in the verse, “the gospel I preached to you, . . . by which you are being rescued, being made whole.”

The point of all this? Paul says, “the gospel by which you are being saved.” Being a Christ-follower is about becoming like Christ. The experience of my life in the last two years is that it is through relationship with God and His Word that our “salvation” is walked out in our daily lives. This realization has turned my world upside down. When we choose Jesus, the Spirit of God lives within us and as we actively engage with Him, we respond to Him, change occurs by way of that relationship.
Now, if you are like I used to be and that thought of making different choices causes you to feel despair because you know the truth of yourself is that you can want to and you can try and may even be successful for a little while, but the consistency is not there. Do not despair, dear friend! I say this as one who has been there. In fact, because of various circumstances and life events, I came from a place where – about five years ago – I had gotten so I could not even read God’s Word. It was not what I wanted, it happened over time. How did it change? When I came to the realization one day of where I was at, I just started talking to God: “God, I am scared of where I have gotten to. I want to get back to a place of reading Your Word, I want to love Your Word, but I don’t know how to overcome this doubt and disbelief. I am willing though, for whatever You will do.”
Whatever your situation, wherever you are at, just talk to God. He loves you more than you can possibly know and He will always respond to a heart that is seeking Him.

The verse goes on to a phrase that was confusing to me at first – “unless you believed in vain.” It is the Gospel – the truth of Jesus Christ, how could one ever believe “in vain”?
Vain comes from the Greek ekie. Only one part of how this word translates as what you would expect it to be: without purpose. It also means “without success or effect” (Thayer). Do you have a challenge with usage of affect / effect? I used to all the time and was always asking my even-more-of-a-word-nerd friend. Finally, I would remind myself that “effect” is change. More specifically, “a change that is the result or consequence of another cause”! (Google) That definition was very cool to me. 🙂 (Word nerd . . .)
The Amplified Bible is helpful in understanding this: “unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment].” The Gospel itself is not in vain. Our belief in the Gospel is in vain if we have that belief without complete commitment. Through the Gospel we are being saved if we hold fast to that truth, engage in relationship and commit ourselves to it. The details of how that gets worked out will vary between each of us, but one thing I know is true: God will not disappoint! He loves a heart that seeks Him and He will most definitely respond to Save Our Souls.

It is with much fear and trepidation that I post this and send out the link. However, I have been challenged to take “the first step.” I feel like Indiana Jones and the “Leap of Faith,” where he had to take the first step for the bridge to appear.

About two years ago, I came to a critical point in my life, primarily my “spiritual life.” The background for all of that will likely be something I share here and there in the posts that follow. In a nutshell, I was in a distant place, having been through what I would refer to as a spiritual “wilderness” for several years. Over the next few months, much changed for me and God began to do some amazing things in my life. A plan for my life that I had given up on years ago began to be reborn . . . This blog is a part of all of that work.

As part of this “restoration,” my spiritual life has gone down a path that I have never known before. I have been a Christ-follower since I was eight years old and loved Jesus with all of my heart. Yet there was always something missing. A lack of depth? A struggle with consistency? I’ve sat in hundreds of church services and went through the equivalent of four years of Bible school, Tony and I have served in practically every capacity in the local church, from children’s and youth leaders to worship leaders and board members. Yet in spite of all of this, I believe my individual relationship with God was lacking. The events of the last ten years proved that to be the case.

Now, in the last 18 months, I have experienced God in a way such as I never have previously. I have learned things that in all of my church attendance I have never captured before and it has been life-changing for me. Because of the struggle that I have been through and the way this has turned my life upside down, I feel a passion to share this journey with whomever will listen. I have not “attained” anything, and I am still working through things as I go along, but I feel like that is part of the story to be told.

If you have given your life to Jesus Christ, we serve an amazing Savior. If you have not, please know that God created the universe but wants to be engaged with our everyday lives. He loves you . . . more than you can possibly imagine.