Christ is Risen—Happy Easter!

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.  

(Matthew 28:5-7 KJV)

This is a slightly edited version of the Easter post I wrote for last year. Please enjoy and take some time to meditate on the significance of this special day for Christians.  What a joyful day this should be for all us who have Jesus as our Savior and Lord!

“Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!”  Listen here: 

These majestic opening words to the wonderful Easter hymn by Charles Wesley captures the essence of Easter for Christians.  

The somber mood and darkness of Good Friday gives way to joy—great joy—when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus three days later. A tragedy turns to triumph. Darkness turns to light. Death turns to life—ever lasting life. 

Reflect on this:

Grief turns to joy… 

Darkness turns to light… 

Death gives way to life…

What do you suppose it would have been like to have seen the empty tomb? Would we have understood any better than Jesus’ followers, what He told them about His coming death and resurrection? How would we have reacted to the empty tomb in our grief? Would we have recognized Jesus?

Like Mary and the other women and the disciples who grieved the death of their Teacher and Friend; our grief can turn to joy, when we fully realize that we serve a risen Savior and what it means. This is good news, indeed; news that we should share! The world needs to hear what we have to share. Yes, not everyone will want to hear—and yes we will face rejection and ridicule. However, if we keep in mind that it is Jesus who is being ridiculed and rejected, not us; our perspective can change.

From http://www.govtedu.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/he-is-rises-easter-wallpaper.jpg 

It is not too late to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord! He is ready and waiting for you to turn to Him with open arms! Be assured there are no age limits for salvation—a person cannot be too young or old. For more information, please refer to my previous posts: Salvation; A New Creation; Counting the Cost.

Take time this week to reflect on the hymn He Lives. Listen here:

Remember, we can face many things because He lives! If Jesus is not alive our faith and hope would be in vain! Jesus gave us victory over death and the grave! For those of us in Christ Jesus, we have a future to look forward to with great excitement!

From http://i.123g.us/c/eapr_easter_religious/card/110744.gif 

   
Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your only Son to die in our place—to redeem us from our sins—even though we did not deserve it. With great joy, we exclaim, on Easter and every day, “HE IS RISEN”!!  He is risen, indeed!  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Happy Easter! May God Bless you richly today and everyday!

Palm Sunday: Hosanna! Hosanna!

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 

(Luke 19:37-40 KJV)

This is a slightly edited version of the Palm Sunday post I wrote for last year. Please enjoy and take some time to meditate on the significance of this part of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

As we get closer to Holy Week (beginning this coming Sunday [March 20] and ending on Easter Day, Sunday, March 27, 2016, let us turn our thoughts towards the final week of Jesus’ ministry on earth—beginning with His entry into Jerusalem on what Christians call Palm Sunday.  

From http://worshiphousemedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/main/s/mo/mow/mo/silvercrosspalmsundaybranches.jpg 

What do you suppose it would have been like to have been in the crowd exclaiming “Hosanna!  …Hosanna in the highest!” waving a palm branch, celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem? 

Where would you have been? 

What would you have been doing? 

From http://worshiphousemedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/main/s/mo/mow/mo/silvercrosspalmsundaybranches.jpg 

The excitement of the crowd must have been electric. People cheering for Jesus, their King, fulfilling prophecy declared hundreds of years before (they likely did not realize the meaning of their actions). Children running about, laughing, enjoying life—some would have memories of Jesus interacting with them, loving on them. 

Here’s a hymn that reflects on this day, Hosanna, Loud Hosanna!

However, not all were happy with this celebratory time. The loudest voices crying out against this were many of the religious elite—scribes and Pharisees. Due to how Jesus presented Himself and the things He did caused them to reject Him out of hand and seek a way, any way to kill Him. Jesus did not do what they expected Him to do—to bring to an end the rule of the Romans.

During the week to come Jesus (and His disciples) would face unbelievable pain and suffering—physical, emotional, spiritual—culminating in Jesus’ death on a cross and His resurrection three days later. The week that started out so cheerfully and vibrantly on Sunday, ends in deep darkness, horror, and solemnity on Friday. The most exciting news is yet to come!   

Palm Sunday was the high point of Jesus’ ministry (the one time He was popular), while celebrating the significance of this day in Jesus’ ministry, may we reflectively prepare our hearts for Good Friday and Easter. This day also fulfilled a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9.

From [url=http://www.tumblr18.com/palm-sunday-palm-branches/] 

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Jesus, with the crowd that welcomed You into Jerusalem, we lift our voices to praise You.  We remember the joy of this day, while remembering the pain and horror yet to come—followed by Your victory over death, sin, and the grave that is coming. Thank You for all that You did for us, while we were yet sinners.  Cause us to remember all that You did for us, because of Your deep love for us.  In Your name, we pray. Amen

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Serving in Jesus’ Name: Mission Trip

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  (Colossians 3:17 KJV)

Mountains in Mexico
From https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Rio_Santiago.jpg

Several years ago the church I was active in organized a mission trip (for youth and adults) to Mexico.  They went during the school district’s spring break.  Due to circumstances beyond my control (and a lack of a passport), I was unable to participate.

The goal of the trip was to spread the love of Jesus to those who were needy in a variety of ways—physical and spiritual.  In doing this, they “gave a cup of water” to people who were thirsty—spiritually, as well as physically, or provided clothing to those who were naked (see Matthew 25:31-46).

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

(Matthew 25:31-46 KJV)

Mexican slums
From https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Ramos_Arizpe_slums.jpg

Jesus’ words from the gospel of Matthew shared above, should convict us and point us to reach out to others who are suffering and in need—whether they are in another country or in our community.  How we treat others does matter—as we care for them, we care for Jesus!  What we do really does matter, and as we can see from the Colossians passage (above) all that we do, should be able to be done in Jesus’ name.  (That in and of itself should cause us to stop and assess the things we do and how we spend our time.)   

How does this change how we view the world and our responsibility in it?

It is through giving of ourselves that we truly receive.  In fact, it is through serving others that we are served (ministered to).  I have heard stories from people who visited a church member who was dying from cancer.  They went to bless her; however, they left blessed—feeling they had received far more than they gave her.  (In blessing others, we are blessed.)

We do not have to go all that far (or spend a large sum of money) to do mission work or to serve others in the name of Jesus.  My guess is we may have neighbors (next door, across the street, behind us) who are hurting and in need in ways that we could not fathom.  (They may have an abundance of “worldly goods”; while their souls languish.)

 

Mountains in Mexico
From https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Sierra_Madre_Occidental.jpg 

Many around us are hurting and struggling in a variety of ways and need to experience the love of Christ every bit as much as the precious people of Mexico.  Take a look around you—the possibilities and endless!  What we do for others should be done in the name of Jesus (no matter where we are located geographically).  As we serve from our hearts, expecting nothing in return, transformation happens—within ourselves and within those we help.  Our actions could possibly lead another person into God’s kingdom.

How have you served or how are you serving in Jesus’ name?

What have you experienced on a mission trip?

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Lord of Love, guide us in our service to those around us; help us to do what we do in the name of Jesus, expecting nothing in return.  Thank You for all of Your many blessings on our lives—may we in turn bless others.  Inspire us to use our gifts and talents to benefit others and You.  In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim 

A Few Thoughts on God’s Possessive Love

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  …  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.  

(1 John 4:7, 11 KJV)

A number of years ago, I spent a week visiting my friend Neena and her family.  The week was meaningful in many ways.  At that time, Neena and Roger’s daughter, Daria, was about three (she is now a teenager!).  Daria was a typical, bright, and energetic toddler—inquisitive and of course, possessive.  

Kim at almost three years old

One day the three of us were in the car going to a restaurant Neena wanted me to experience.  Daria suddenly said, “My mommy.  My daddy.  My Kim.” Too cute!  Neena had her repeat it for affect. Ah, to experience the possessiveness, acceptance, and love of a toddler!  It was a healing balm to my heart.

Kim at almost three years old

Reflecting on this later, I saw how this demonstrated not only how God possesses us but also how God loves us.  Our God is a loving God who desires our whole heart—no divided loyalties—(see Matthew 6:24).  By giving God our whole heart we find freedom we have never before experienced.

While toddlers are possessive and prone to tantrums when their possessions are taken from them or when they do not get their way; God allows us the ability to walk away from Him or to give Him little thought or simply not acknowledge His presence.  Our God protects His child, His treasured possession, in the storms of life. Yes, God’s love is a possessive, stubborn love—it is a love that allows, His child to grow and thrive—becoming the person He created us to become.

From https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/07/12/12/43/god-146126_960_720.png

When was the last time you felt that type of love from God?  What about from others?  I pray that each person can truly experience this type of healing love. Love that heals, love that is not domineering, controlling, or suffocating is the love God readily gives us.  What is your response to God’s love?

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  

(Isaiah 11:6 KJV)

When we stop long enough to ponder; we can see the truth in Isaiah’s words (in the passage above): “…and a little child shall lead them.”  We can learn so very much from children, if we take the time to listen to them and reflect on their words.  My friend’s little girl taught me a simple but profound lesson—a lesson that I desperately needed to learn (or perhaps re-learn)—that I was precious, unique, and worthy to be accepted because I was alive.  This was a lesson that God knew I needed, after a very difficult season of living a life I was not meant to live; enduring treatment I was not meant to experience.

Jesus saw the value of children (in a society that placed little value on them) and took time for them.  What is our response to the children in our lives? How are we at taking time for children, especially to listen to what they are saying or not saying?  The responsibility is great; however, with God’s guidance, children can blossom into faithful believers of the next generation.  We need them and they need us!

What have you learned from a child?

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your possessive, stubborn love for us.  It is only through You—knowing You—that we can truly love You and each other. Open our hearts and minds to what You have for us to learn from the children You have placed around us.  O that we would have that childlike openness to include others in love and accept them for their inner qualities.  Empower us to accept and love each other—seeing each person and event from Your perspective.  Without Your help, we cannot love others as we should.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim     

God's Amazing Love

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (1 John 3:1 KJV)

Amazing love!  What amazing love God has for each person.  God’s love for us goes far beyond what we can understand while we live on earth.  As I shared in my Valentine’s Day post, we struggle to grasp God’s love for us due to the poor examples we see and experience so many times in our daily lives in this sinful world.

The love of God transforms us and heals us.  God’s love renews and refreshes us.  When we are saved, we are transformed (over time) in to a new creation (this is sanctification)—God’s love permeates the process throughout our lives and throughout eternity. 

From https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2012/02/25/19/16/jesus-17022_960_720.jpg

Looking back over the last several years, I can note considerable changes in me; even if they are difficult to articulate.  These inner changes are a result of really experiencing God’s love for me through daily working on my relationship with Him.  Yes, it is a commitment; and like any other relationship it takes time…a lot of time.

How have you been changed by God’s love for you?  How have you seen others changed through God’s transforming love?

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  

(1 John 3:18 KJV)

The love we experience as a child of God is something the world desperately needs but does not understand.  Therefore, the world does not understand us, because they are not part of God’s family.  Let us endeavor to share the path to salvation and God’s amazing love with those who need to hear it, whether they respond positively or negatively.  May we ever love others not in word or in talk but in deed and in truth! 

From https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/07/12/12/43/god-146126_960_720.png 

Remember that actions and attitudes speak far louder than words!  People will remember how we treated them and made them feel far longer than the words we said.

How can you share God’s love today?  Who needs to hear the way to have peace with God (salvation)?

 

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for adopting us as Your children through Jesus’ work on the cross and bringing us into Your family.  We long to experience the totality of Your love.  Grant us the ability to share Your love with others in ways that they can understand through our actions, attitudes, and words towards them.  Guide us to those who need love, particularly Your love.  Free us from the fear that holds us back and silences us from sharing You with others. Empower us to walk the walk and not only talk the talk as we live in a world that needs Your love.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim 

Create in Me a Clean Heart: Preparing Our Hearts for Jesus

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. … The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.  (Psalm 51:10-12, 17 KJV)

From http://store.augsburgfortress.org/media/images/productsh/6000061218h.jpg 

Today, I would like to continue pondering Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, in our journey to the celebration of Easter—what Jesus did for us in His suffering, death, and resurrection.  Most of what follows is an edited and slightly abridged version of a sermon I developed in 2008.  To read the other posts in this series please click here:  “Ash Wednesday”, “Rend Your Hearts:  The Journey Continues”, and “Rend Your Hearts:  The Lenten Journey Continues”.  

From http://www.blc-denver2.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-Lent-Cross.png 

From our earlier consideration (see links above) of rending our hearts before God and being genuinely repentant for our sins; we know that we can experience forgiveness and cleansing from God.  Yes, all of our sins are forgiven through Jesus’ work on the cross.  However, that does not mean that we will not end up facing the consequences of our sinful actions and/or behaviors.  

The few verses of Psalm 51 that I shared above come from a penitential psalm composed by King David, after the prophet Nathan confronted him regarding his sins with Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah. 

David had consequences of his sin with Bathsheba—not only did he commit adultery, he also had her husband killed in battle.  The son he had from that affair died as an infant, which caused David great grief.  Moreover, David’s family was in chaos of one form or another for the rest of his life. 

May we learn from King David what it means to be truly sorry for our actions! Psalm 51 is rich in imagery regarding this.  Psalm 51 is a penitential psalm, a prayer of cleansing and forgiveness—a necessary confession after his sin with Bathsheba.  If you take the time to read Psalm 51 in its entirety, there is sadness and lament in the opening, which turns to joy in the later verses. Sadness over sins committed; joy from being renewed and restored to favor through confession. 

Notice something else about what God desires in this psalm?  God does not desire our sacrifices; He requires a broken spirit and a broken and a contrite heart as we read in Psalm 51:17—“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”  Sacrifices are meaningless, if our heart is not in correct alignment—it is nothing more than going through the motions.  Repentance really is not there.  God desires our loyalty and thanksgiving.  May we all be as humble and joyful as David in our relationship with God!  Humility makes a difference.

From https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/8e/eb/23/8eeb23e3c1b756868098de15a2739ac2.jpg

Create in me a clean heart…create in me a clean heart oh God.  This is the great King David’s heart cry after he was confronted and rebuked by Nathan, the prophet, regarding his affair with Bathsheba (which you can read about in 2 Samuel 11).  We, too, should cry out to God, from the depths of our heart and soul the very same words.  Create in me a clean heart…create in me a clean heart oh God.  And let us add to that do not take your Holy Spirit from me and restore to me the joy of my salvation.  Here is a question for you that must be answered individually:  can we truly say from our hearts to God: “create in me a clean heart and restore unto me the joy of my salvation and take not your Holy Spirit from me”?  

The Lenten season is a good time to take stock of our lives and to see where we stand with God.  Let us consider the sins that we need to confess to God, in the privacy of our own thoughts and mind.  Like King David may we truly humble ourselves—opening ourselves up to God—the one who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves!  We might as well be honest; God already knows what we have done.  What better time then now to admit to God (and to ourselves) the things we need to confess, to get rid of, and to be cleansed of than during Lent?  

From https://i.ytimg.com/vi/twOm7mEtw0g/hqdefault.jpg

I believe that we will be happier and healthier if we allow God passage into our hearts and to cleanse us from unrighteousness.  I believe that God longs to give us new, clean, fresh hearts—hearts that will be for Him and Him alone. All it takes, as we see in our Scripture from Psalm 51 and in Joel 2:12-13 is humbly returning to God and rending our hearts—allowing Him to see what is inside.  

Yes, the interior of our hearts and lives may be a total mess—fetid, foul, smelly, dirty, messy, and in total chaos.  We may be embarrassed to open the door to God just enough to see His face; fearing that He may put His foot in and come in on us against our will.  Rest assured, God will not come in without our inviting Him.  He is a gentleman; therefore, He will wait until He is invited.  God will not force His way into our lives.  He is persistent, though, and loves us all far too much to leave us to our own devices without trying to do something.  God can handle our fetid, foul, smelly, dirty, and chaotic lives and make something beautiful out of it, if we approach Him with a soft, humble, and contrite heart. After all, look at what He did for David, the great king of the Israelites.  He can and will change us!  We will never, ever be the same again! 

From https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2014/11/19/17/03/heart-538009_960_720.jpg

Trust God—repent of your sins and be wholly cleansed.  Allowing the Holy Spirit to convict you of your sins is part of the process of preparing for Easter.  

Rend your heart; let God examine it.  Confess your sins before God and accept His wonderful forgiveness and mercy.  Remember that sin weighs us down; confession of sin frees us and lightens the weight that bogs us down.  There is no need to be depressed about what we have messed up; it is time to experience the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus’ forgiveness.

Please take some time and deeply listen to this worship song preformed by Keith Green.  Let the words sink deeply into your heart and spirit.  Sing them from your heart, not your mind.  Meditate upon the words.     

What have you learned through rending your heart before God?

Please join with me in prayer:

Loving Lord, Thank You for how willingly You create a clean heart within us; all we have to do is humbly ask You to cleanse us.  We know that from dust we came and to dust we will return.  Fill us with the desire to crave nothing more than a clean heart and your presence.  Direct our focus each day to search our hearts and confess our sins and receive the forgiveness You so richly provide. Help us to see sin from Your perspective, not ours.  Thank You for Your forgiveness and the changes that it affects in us.  Thank You for the renewing and refreshing presence of Your Holy Spirit within us.  Create in us a clean heart—a heart fully and totally devoted to You.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Note: Some ideas, thoughts, and concepts are from a variety of resources including the Cokesbury commentary volume that includes Joel and from www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=66286

Rend Your Hearts: The Lenten Journey Continues

Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:   And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.  (Joel 2:12-13 KJV)

From https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2015/02/18/09/51/in-640517_960_720.jpg

Today, I would like to continue pondering Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, in our journey to the celebration of Easter—what Jesus did for us in His suffering, death, and resurrection.  Most of what follows is an edited and slightly abridged version of a sermon I developed in 2008.  To read the other posts in this series please click here:  “Ash Wednesday” and “Rend Your Hearts:  The Journey Continues”.  

In the reading from Joel, we can see once again where God invites (the initiative is always with God) us to return to Him.  In fact, God longs for our return to Him.  The gates of repentance are always open; therefore, we have no reason to wait until a special day on the church calendar or even for a church service!  We should always confess of our sins quickly to restore our relationship with God.  We come to God just as we are—no matter how dirty that may be—He cleans us in a way that truly cleans us—our efforts to clean ourselves up is futile!

As we repentantly turn (or return) to God, rending our hearts, our lives and changed—completely reoriented.  We find that we must completely reorient our lives when we turn to God—the choices we make will change too.  It is no longer so much about what we want; rather it is about what God wants.  His desires become our desires.  

When we desire what God desires, we will find peace and joy and rest.  Not only that, but we will also be working out of God’s strength and not our own—in so doing  we will find (perhaps much to our surprise) gifts, skills, and abilities that we did not know we had obtained.  We also discover that we desire to obey God, no matter the cost.

From http://www.blc-denver2.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-Lent-Cross.png 

The obedience God desires costs us in some way; it also costs others who our in our life.  What are the costs?  Our behaviors change—how we spend time, how we spend money, and who we spend time with—therefore, our relationships with others change.  If nothing else, people will not understand and in that lack of understanding, they may treat us in less than kind ways. This cost extends to confessing our sins—repenting—establishing a relationship with the Lord each day. 

However, we must use care and always remember that an action on our part does not obligate God’s sanction.  God, being God is never obligated to His creation, nor does He ever owe us anything.  Yet He is always gracious to our cries for help and deliverance.  Yes, God blesses His children (much more than we deserve), however, we cannot just assume He will and then go off in a corner and pout like a three year old if He chooses to not give us what we want when we want it!

From http://livegreaterfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/lent.png 

Yes, God will indeed forgive our sins when we confess to Him with a truly repentant heart.  However, it is important to note that while God has forgiven us and remembers our sin no more; we still have to live with the consequences of our sins.  For example, take a person who was an alcoholic or a drug addict and has come to the Lord; receiving forgiveness of his/her sins and is truly living a new life as a brother/sister in Christ, who no longer lives life as before—the alcohol and drugs are a thing of the past.  Although he/she is regenerated, he/she has to deal with the health or perhaps legal consequences of the old lifestyle.

It is clear there is much to ponder when it comes to rending our hearts and truly turning to the Lord for forgiveness.  Change will happen—the results will change not only our life but also the lives of others around us.  This is not simply a one time thing but a work that happens over time.  Yes, we are saved in an instant—a moment in time.  The development of our new life in Christ takes years—coming to completion in heaven. 

As we continue our journey through Lent and prepare our hearts to celebrate Easter, I encourage you to continue to keep your heart soft, tender, and open to God’s thorough searching and cleansing process.  No matter how it may feel now; God’s work is for your good.

From http://live-from-the-heart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ashes-heart.jpg 

How have you obeyed God; what was the cost?

Please join with me in prayer:

Gracious and Loving God, thank You for keeping open the gates of repentance. Remind us to search our hearts each day for sins we need to confess.  Reveal to us our “pet” sins or those “hidden” sins that we try to ignore or tell ourselves are not a real sin or not a big deal and confess those, as well.  Help us to see sin from Your perspective, not ours.  Thank You for Your forgiveness and the changes that it affects in us.  Guide us to desire nothing more than to live a life that is pleasing to You.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim