Free to do whatever...

week eight: 'i will lift up holy hands in one accord...'
Originally uploaded by sharon.crown

"Christians don't trust freedom. We actually prefer the security of rules and self-imposed boundaries, which we then tend to inflict on other Christians. Real freedom, though, means the freedom to do wrong as well as right. Christianity calls us to live beyond the boundaries, bolstered by the assurance that we cannot fall beyond God's love.Freedom is dangerous; but the alternative is far worse."
from the book 'Scandalous Freedom ' by Steve Brown
http://www.keylife.org

The Amazing

The Amazing Grace Project
Originally uploaded by ingephotography

amazing things happens to amazing people who trusts in the Amazing God. i'm always fascinated how our Lord works in our lives, i will never be tired to see God healing the sick, strength the weak and carrying the ones tha fell. what amazing God is my God. to see what He did in my life, in my family, in my generation and what He'll do in my descendants throughout His unconditional love is amazing. by His grace i'm here and expecting what He has for me these days. sometimes i think i know but most of the time i just trust, because now is clear to me - what brings me a total assurance - that His plans is always better... the plans that makes me to see how amazing is my Savior, my Lord, my God and my Friend !

Confidence in Christ

Worship BG - Make Me a Servant
Originally uploaded by bemky

What great assurance we have: that God accept us with all our mistakes and imperfections. He is the One who will make a difference in our life :)cas

***

Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. — Hebrews 10:35-36

What is confidence?It has been defined as the quality of assurance that leads one to undertake something; the belief that one is able and acceptable; the certainty that causes one to be bold, open, and plain.

The devil begins his assault on personal confidence wherever he can find an opening, especially during the vulnerable years of childhood. His goal is to undermine the person because an individual without confidence will never fulfill the plan of God for his life.

Christ is in you, ready to help with everything you do for Him. Jesus can restore your confidence and give you the strength, power, and boldness to do what you could never do on your own. Be confident— it is part of your spiritual inheritance!

From the book Ending Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Evening of the Year by Joyce Meyer.

Sobre a morte e o morrer

by Rubem Alves

O que é vida? Mais precisamente, o que é a vida de
um ser humano? O que e quem a define?

http://www.releituras.com/rubemalves_menu.asp

All Things Work for Good

Copper Pottery
Originally uploaded by scilit

After fighting against a cough and insomne night, what a blessing to wake up with a Tuca's smile that makes my day totally different. Which perspective we have in the morning for the day ahead of us? Depends where is our hope. The hope that brings peace doesn't matter what is going on. A peace to know Who is with me, Who takes the real headaches and walks beside me (must of the times He really carries me) through many valleys direct to the clear water... always and forever. cas

***
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. —Romans 8:28

After John 3:16, Romans 8:28 is probably the most-quoted Bible verse among Christians. Paul’s words bring comfort and peace to many of us in our difficulties and hardships. They give us hope that no matter what hurts and disappointments come in our lives, everything will eventually work out for our good.

The two verses preceding Romans 8:28 talk about prayer. They say that when we don’t know how to pray as we ought to, the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and prays through us. It is through these Holy Spirit-filled prayers that all things work together for good, no matter what they are. Not all things that happen to us are good in and of themselves, but God is good and He can cause them to work toward our good if we trust Him.

Continuing to trust God is the key to victory in painful and seemingly unjust situations. Faith and prayer move the hand of God. If we continue believing, He promises to continue moving in our behalf to work everything out for good.

God makes this promise to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We must love God with all of our hearts, and we must want His will. We must be willing to submit to His plan at all times.

The plan that God has for us eventually changes us into His image. We are destined to be molded into His image. That may sound spiritual, but in reality, it usually hurts. I often think of clay being pressed into a mold, and wonder how the clay would feel if it had feelings. Being changed into an entirely different shape would probably be painful. If we take a lump of clay and press it into a mold, there is always too much clay to fit, and some pieces must be discarded. I found that there was more of me than would fit into the mold of Jesus Christ, so many of my thoughts, words, and actions had to be discarded.

We must go through things that are difficult and learn how to respond to them the way Jesus would. We must not give way to the fearful thoughts and feelings that attack us. We must learn to remain steadfast, knowing that no matter how things appear now, God will work them out for our good—and in the process, He will use them to make us better people.

God’s purpose in everything that happens is to make us more like Jesus Christ. Jesus was the totally obedient one. “Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).

We also learn through what we suffer. We learn from God’s Word and life’s experiences. Because of our sinful nature, we tend to fight God at every point, but this only makes the process longer and more painful. Learn to surrender quickly, and save yourself a lot of agony. I’ve learned that God gets His way in the end, so why prolong the process?

Where the mind goes the man follows. Keep your mind going in the right direction, and your life will catch up with it. A person who has their faith firmly planted in God cannot be defeated. The Bible says that Joseph’s brothers hated him, but God was with him. God gave him favor and promoted him, so we see that his faith in God lifted him above his circumstances.

Some terrible things happened to Joseph. His brothers sold him to slave traders and told his father a wild animal had killed him. He was betrayed by those whom he served and tried to help, but God was watching him all the time. God had a good plan for Joseph, and it came to pass. He ultimately said that although the things that happened to him were originally meant for harm, God intended it for good.

This same thing is true for all of us. Satan cannot defeat us if we keep believing that God is working for our good, and that we are being continually transformed into His image.

Pray this...

All-wise and loving God, make me more like Jesus. I don’t like to suffer, and I hate to fail, but through Jesus Christ, I ask You to teach me and enable me to understand that, because of You, everything truly works together for my good. Amen.

From the book Battlefield of the Mind: 100 Insights That Will Change the Way You Think by Joyce Meyer.

Where's my VOICE !!!!!