A Crucified Life - - Has A Willing Mind

 

2 Corinthians 8:12

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4288

Willing Mind:  inclination, readiness

From the Greek word 'prothumia' (pronounced proth-oo-mee'-ah): before-passion, pre-inclined; predisposed.

    Matthew 22:37

Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’"

    When our minds are willing to love the Lord, then the rest of the body will follow suit. For in our physical anatomies it is the brain that determines how the rest of the body functions. So, too, when our mind is willing to love God before we meet Christ, then naturally we will want to honor God even more so afterwards.

    A crucified life is willing to be obedient to the cause of the cross, the instrument of death by which God has given us life eternal. While it may seem paradoxical, we must remember that God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). 

    In a world where right is wrong and wrong is right, living a crucified life stands out. The lighthouse shines its piercing beams into the darkness of the harbor, highlighting the angry waves crashing against the reefs and the boulders. The born again believer is such, shining the Light of God's Love into that same darkness, that same wave of anger currently smashing itself up against the immovable force.

    A crucified life is willing to be the lighthouse. We have chosen to take a stand and stand up for Jesus, raising high the banner of Grace & Mercy through the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. Our stronghold is our God. Our fortifications are Trust and Obedience, Faith and Hope. 

    We stand on the Word of our God as our standard of living, for Christ is our Way of Life. The light of Christ in us attracts other believers to us, as well as those seeking to become a believer. When the discernment of the Holy Spirit is active within a believer, recognition is instant and joyful. "I know you! You're a Christian! I can see Him in your face." 

    But the hateful heart can also see the difference in our lifestyles without wanting anything to do with us except to try and destroy us. Persecution is on every side; no longer does it hide itself away and depend on secrecy and the darkness to hide its agenda. 

    Blatant hate spews forth in abundance and falls on God's church, Christ's bride. She, however, is both resilient and steadfast, waving her Banner of Love to encourage other believers to keep following Jesus Christ. Her faith in one hand, her Bible in the other, the church moves forward and ahead with a steadfast, sober mind.

    1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

    Galatians 6:9

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

    1 Peter 3:14

Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace--spotless and blameless in His sight.

    Colossians 2:6-8

Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

PERSEVERING

Rise Up - Cain

We Will Not Be Shaken - Brian Johnson

Firm Foundation (He Won't) - Cody Carnes

I Will Trust - Red Rocks Worship

I Surrender All 

There Is A Name - Sean Feucht

Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me - CityAlight

Spirit and the Bride - Joshua Aaron

    

Brought Down and Fallen

Psalm 20:6-8

Now know I that the Lord saveth His anointed; 

He will hear him from His holy heaven

With the saving strength of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots,

and some in horses: 

But we will remember the name

of the Lord our God.

They are brought down 

and fallen: but we

Are risen and stand upright.

"Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit",saith the Lord. (Zechariah 4:6) We are on all sides attacked. On the eastern borders of our kingdom is out and out hatred for the God we serve and represent. Perhaps we have done a poor example of representation. No, no perhaps about it. We have failed in our ambassadorial positions. Wolves in sheep's clothing claiming to be Christians and followers of Christ have been mistaken for actual ambassadors.

We have done nothing to stop this infiltration, but sleep in our pews and slumber in our beds. Where is the Warrior-Bride whom Christ is returning for? She is no sleeping beauty to be awakened by love's kiss! We need to be on our knees seeking God's face! Seeking His forgiveness for our laziness, our carelessness, our disobedience. Our slack has caused our downfall.

O God, forgive us our trespasses as we forgives those who trespass against us. We have not sought our daily Bread, nor thirsted for Living Water. We have settled for dung heaps and putrid water. Make us over, Lord; wash us clean; seize our hearts and our minds and fill us completely with Yourself. Use us to the advancement of Your kingdom. Breathe not only in us, but through us into another. And another. And another................

Psalm 18:3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies. v 6,7 .. my cry came before Him, even into His holy ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because He was wroth. v32 It is God that girds me with strength. v34 He teaches my hands to war. v35 Thy right hand has held me up. v37 I have pursued and overtaken my enemies.

 It is God who strengthens in times of battle, in times of war. It is God who saves from certain destruction. It is God who teaches us to fight, to overcome. In the presence of my enemies, it is God who saves me. It is God who loves me and gives me His heart's desire. It is God. And none other. 

Rise up Church!

Perfect Replica

I wrote this song 12 years ago on my trip to Ireland with my best friend Jenn. Ireland is so beautiful and I am glad we had the opportunity to visit. Anyway, we were doing our daily Bible Study and she says, "I wonder what God will see when He finishes me?" And, of course, this song just flew out of heaven into my pen and I had to write it down. Now, you can enjoy it, too.

PERFECT REPLICA

I wonder what my God shall see,

When He sees a finished me?

Perhaps I'll be a Daniel,

Content in times of stress.

Or maybe I'll be Lydia

Adorned in purpleness.

Perhaps I'll be Rebekah,

Waiting ever on;

First 'twas by the well,

Then for her two sons.

I wonder what my God shall see

When He sees a finished me?

Perhaps I'll be an Andrew

Who leads my brother to

The One and Only Savior

Who died for me and you.

Perhaps I'll be a vessel,

What let the Son shine in;

Who mirrored God's reflection

To a lost and dying friend.

I wonder what my God shall see

When He sees a finished me?

Perhaps I'll be a fruitful vine

For God to harvest home.

And I shall wear a robe of white

With stars upon my crown.

And when He views the finished me,

I know He'll smile in victory--

"Well done thou good and faithful,

You may enter in,

Here's your gown; here's your crown.

Hello, friend."

I wonder what my God shall see,

When He sees a finished me.

I've gone through the fire,

I've gone through the grind,

I've gone through the waters

Time after time.

God has not forsaken me

In any of my trials.

And when He sees the finished me,
I'll wear a great big smile.

Integrity

Integrity: honor, strength of character, ethical, upright, honest.

Doing the right thing, when it seems as if everyone around you, thinks you are crazy. There is phrase in the Bible that sticks like glue to my thoughts "Be strong and of a good courage." Listen up: Deuteronomy 31:6 (&7) 'Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that goes with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.' Strong, good courage, fearless, remember. Joshua 1:6, 9, 18 'Be strong and of a good courage'. Of the verses referring to courage in the Scriptures, these five only mean (1) Be Alert (physically) (2) Steadfastly Minded (mentally) (3) Confirm, establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen yourself, make strong (obstinate, speed).

You are the Bride of Christ. Jesus does not have a ribbons and bows Bride, though she is adorned in white. He's coming back for a Warrior Bride. She is armed and dangerous. Armed with the whole Word of God, which is hidden in her heart. She uses God's Word for sustenance, for drink. Every Word that falls from the mouth of God she eats up. He strengthens her from the inside out. Where you go, God goes. That makes you a dangerous person.

The Word of God is available to you and I in three forms: the written Word of God, the Scriptures; the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ; the spoken Word of God, hearing the Word of God. Though there are some places where the written Word of God is forbidden, still the spoken Word of God can be heard and the Living Word of God cannot be displaced.

If you hear the Word of God, and do not apply it, you lack integrity. It takes courage to be a Christian, no matter what century or country you live in. You can hear about God, but not hear God. You can know about God, but not know God.

We apply God's Word to our hearts, our minds, our souls. Deuteronomy 6:5 And you shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. Like sunscreen. See, we apply sunscreen to prevent our skin from being burned by the UV rays coming off of the sun. And we apply this daily to our skin when we go outside the comfort of our homes, because UV rays are a deadly daily threat to us. You and I need to apply God's Word daily to our hearts, to our minds, to our souls, to our might (character/strength).

It is not a fat, lazy bride that Christ is looking for. He seeks His true Bride. Her strength comes from her Lord: the Joy of the Lord is my strength. Her beauty is her desire to please her Lord: Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. His Bride dines at His table (Psalms 23:5), runs through troops and leaps over walls (Psalms 18:29), is efficiently and effectively equipped for warfare (Psalms 18:30-38 and Ephesians 6:10-20). The Bride of Christ surrenders to His authority out of Love and Respect. She is not negligent (Matthew 25:3,8), she is wise (Proverbs 11:30).