Category Archives: Sin

Jesus, Set Me Free!!

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Galatians 5:1

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

Stand firm, then,

and do not let yourselves be burdened again

by a yoke of slavery.”

It hasn’t always been this way…

I remember brighter days!

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(My son, Casey… and our drama team choreographer, Kaya… at a community Outreach)

Before the dark ones came…

Stole my mind…

Wrapped my soul in chains!

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Now I live among the dead…

Fighting voices in my head…

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Hoping someone hears me crying in the night

And carries me away…

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Set me free of the chains holding me...

Is anybody out there hearing me?

Set me free!!

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Morning breaks another day

Finds me crying in the rain…

All alone with my demons I am!

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Who is this man that comes my way?

The dark ones shriek…

They scream His Name!!!

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Is this the One they say will set the captives free?

Jesus, rescue me!!!

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As the God man passes by…

He looks straight through my eyes!

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And darkness cannot hide!!

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Do you want to be free?

Lift your chains…

I hold the key!!

All power on Heav’n and Earth belong to Me!!!
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You are free !
You are free !!
You are free!!!!

Do you want to be Free???

Romans 8:1-2

“Therefore,

there is now no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus,

because through Christ Jesus

the law of the Spirit who gives life

has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

John 8:36

“So if the Son sets you free,

you will be free indeed.”

Amen!!

“Marked By Our Past…Transformed By Love!”

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3-1-13 Class Trip 141

We are a small group of people humbled by the love of Jesus,”

Read the entire Denison Forum Cultural Commentary on Truth and Culture,

Tattooed Jesus:  Blasphemy or Blessing?

http://www.denisonforum.org/cultural-commentary/856-tattooed-jesus-blasphemy-or-blessing#jesus-tattoo-video

To form your own opinion!!!

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Saved!!!

Accepted

Free

Loved

Trusting

Holiness

Joy

Redeemed

Set Free

Purpose

Cherished

Brave

Humble

Peace

Confident

Child of the One True God!!!!

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No longer…

Outcast

Addicted

Jealous

Fearful

Sin

Hurt

Mistake

Scarred

Worthless

Invisible

Coward

Self-Righteous

Strife

Depressed

Lost!!!!!!

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1 Peter 2:21-25

“To this you were called,

because Christ suffered for you,

leaving you an example,

that you should follow in His steps.

 ‘He committed no sin,   

and no deceit was found in His mouth.

When they hurled their insults at Him,

He did not retaliate;

when He suffered,

He made no threats.

Instead,

He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

‘He Himself bore our sins’

in His body on the Cross,

so that we might die to sins

and live for righteousness;

‘by His wounds you have been healed.”

For ‘you were like sheep going astray,

but now you have returned to the

Shepherd and Overseer

of your souls.”

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Isaiah 53:5

“But He was pierced for our transgressions,   

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on Him,   

and by His wounds we are healed.”

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1 Peter 1:18-19

“For you know that it was not with perishable things

such as silver or gold

that you were redeemed from the empty way of life

handed down to you from your ancestors,

but with the precious blood of Christ,

a lamb without blemish or defect.”

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1 Peter 3:18

“For Christ also suffered once for sins,

the righteous for the unrighteous,

to bring you to God.

He was put to death in the body

but made alive in the Spirit.”

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Thank you, Jesus…

For taking the marks of my past on Your body…

And transforming me…

 With Your amazing love!!

I’m humbled!!!

Amen!

What A Web We Weave…

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The other day…

My husband called me outside on the lanai…

“Come quick!

Bring your camera!

Here’s a shot of a lifetime!!”

At first, I just couldn’t see it!

What was he pointing at???

Then, I moved closer…

And the light shifted…

And suddenly…

I saw this beautiful spider’s web!!!!!!

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It was huge!

Oh, so perfect!

Nice to look at…

But, if I was a tiny, little, helpless fly…

I would be tempted to fly into that web…

Which is soooo attractive to me!

And get hopelessly caught!!

Don’t get caught in a web of the devil’s lies!!

Sin may look beautiful…

Even bring temporary pleasure…

But it’s a death trap!!

Just like this beautiful spider web is…

To the spider’s prey!

The enemy of our soul…

Seeks to steal from us…

Ensnare us…

Entangle us…

Kill us…

And destroy us!!

He uses beautiful counterfeit!

It’s hard to see his tricks!

Let Jesus shine His Light…

At just the right angle…

And you’ll be able to suddenly see…

The devious plans…

The enemy has for you!

John 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I have come that they may have life,

and have it to the full.”

Turn away…

And embrace God’s Plan for your life!!

Jeremiah 29:11

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’

declares the Lord,

‘plans to prosper you

and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.'”

Ahhh…

I love this promise of God!!!

My One Year Blog-A-Versary!! July ’13

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How should I celebrate my…

Entrance into the blogosphere???

I’m going to first of all thank my son…

For thinking of it…

Setting everything up for me…

Supporting me…

Mentioning me on FB…

And constantly answering my technical questions!!

And…

I’m going to let him…

Post whatever he wants!!!

So here goes!!!

So my Mother, the very same one you all so love for her blog posts,

wanted me to write something for her “Blog-A-Versary.”

I told her I didn’t think that was a real thing

to which she replied “Well, I’m making it a thing.”

Thus, her Blog-A-Versary was born.

She instructed me to have some sort of guest post written by the beginning of July,

so she would have time to “get it ready for my Blog-A-Versary” [sic]

I asked when she REALLY needed it by (myself being a procrastinator)

and her answer was a hard deadline of July 13th her actual Blog-A-Versary (or so she claims).

Enough backstory.

Here I sit, proudly, on July 14th, to compose a special guest post for my beloved Mom. 

She is, as I’m sure you all have found out, sort of a strange one,

but endearing.

I always get questions from her about how WordPress works (much to my chagrin)

and the ways of computers.

I’ve become the unofficial tech support for my family, friends, and half my neighborhood.

My Mother, at least, learns.

Some people just don’t know how to take instructions.

*Sigh*

But she’s so supportive in all the crazy things I do,

I’d be a super-jerk-face not to help with her blog-o-things.

Enough backstory.

Here I sit, proudly, on July 14th, to compose a special guest post for my beloved Mom. 

One thing I wanted to talk about real quick is the difference between hating sin and hating the sinner.

This is something that’s really bothered me a lot recently.

As a Christian, there are certainly things that people do that I don’t agree with.

I’m not going to specifics chiefly because my opinion of what’s right and wrong doesn’t matter.

But what I’m talking about is not a religious thing.

What I see so much in the world now is people hating people.

Now, seriously guys?

That’s not cool.

I completely understand disagreeing with someone’s opinions,

but that’s no reason to shun the person.

It’s not my place to judge people.

It’s not my place to condemn anyone or to speak ill of them.

It is, however, my place to be kind to everyone.

Everyone has the right to make their own choices on what they’re going to believe in (or not believe in).

I can tell people my beliefs and explain them if they want,

but I can’t hate them for anything they believe.

Everyone’s done things they’re not proud of;

everyone’s messed up in the past.

What’s normal to some is not normal to everyone.

Keeping a person down and trying to make their life tougher

to try to “scare” them into agreeing with you

is no way to make an argument for your case.

You really want someone to share your opinion?

Awesome.

Being mean is a horrible way to get your point across.

I’m talking to everyone here,

whoever you are

and however you choose to identify yourself.

All I’m saying is that people are still people,

no matter what.

If you think they’re wrong?

Yup, they’re still people.

If you completely disagree with how a complete stranger

chooses to live his/her life?

NEWSFLASH!

That’s still a person.

Take a step back

and try to put yourself in their shoes.

If you still can’t see eye to eye,

you can still be friends,

you can still be courteous.

Just because someone disagrees with you,

they’re not automatically an enemy.

So hey, everyone, just chill out a little.

As a wise woman (my Mother of course) once said to me,

“If it’s not life and death,

it’s not life and death.

Don’t worry about it.”

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Fly little bird…

Fly!!

Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind and compassionate to one another,

forgiving each other,

just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Colossians 3:12

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people,

holy and dearly loved,

clothe yourselves with compassion,

kindness, humility,

gentleness and patience.”

1 Peter 3:9

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.

On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,

because to this you were called

so that you may inherit a blessing.”

Amen!!

“It’s A Shame!” Is Different Than “It’s A Sin!”

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“Condemning looks”

When it’s not a sin…

Annoy me!!

And it makes me sad to think…

That people need to do that…

Judge others!

Let’s be clear about the two…

Shame

noun

A painful emotion caused by a strong sense of

guilt, embarrassment, unworthiness, or disgrace.

 

Capacity for such a feeling:

(Have you no shame?)

 

One that brings dishonor, disgrace, or condemnation.

A condition of disgrace or dishonor; ignominy.

 

A great disappointment.

 

 Shamed, Sham·ing, Shames

 

tr.v

 

To cause to feel shame; put to shame.

To bring dishonor or disgrace on.

To disgrace by surpassing.

To force by making ashamed:

(He was shamed into making an apology.)

Put To Shame

Idiom

To fill with shame; disgrace.

To outdo thoroughly; surpass:

(Your productivity has put the rest of us to shame.)

 

Sin

 

noun

 

A transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate.

 

Theology

 

Deliberate disobedience to the known will of God.

A condition of estrangement from God resulting from such disobedience.

Something regarded as being shameful, deplorable, or utterly wrong.

 

Sinned, Sin·ning, Sins

 

intr.v.

 

To violate a religious or moral law.

To commit an offense or violation.

 

James 4:17

 

“If anyone, then,

 

knows the good they ought to do

 

and doesn’t do it,

 

it is sin for them.”

 

Colossians 2:6

 

“So then,

 

just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,

 

continue to live your lives in Him,”

 

*One on-line answer that I liked to the question:

 

What is the Biblical difference between sin and shame?

 

“‘Sin’ is generally used to describe a wrong doing of some sort,

 

usually ethical, moral, or religious.

 

It’s a known wrong,

 

that people in their respective society shouldn’t do.

 

‘Shame’ is often associated with sin in most cultures,

 

however it is definitely very different.

 

Shame is the emotion

 

associated with either being,

 

or doing, something that others disapprove of.

 

-You can feel shame because you were caught doing something wrong, like stealing.

 

-A child can feel shame when they don’t get picked for the basketball team because they’re not tall enough.

 

-A person can even feel shame for a wrong they’ve done that no one else knows about.

 

Shame is often associated with a conscience,

 

and it has some connections,

 

but shame is not necessarily an indicator that you have done something wrong.

 

The easiest way to define shame is:

 

An emotional sense of disappointment either in oneself or another,

 

caused by failure to meet some given standard, moral or otherwise.”

 

Summary:

 

A sin is an estrangement from God

 

And shame is a feeling of inadequacy or guilt.

 

Romans 6:14

 

For sin shall no longer be your master,

 

because you are not under the law,

 

but under grace.”

Ahhh…

 

Grace!!!

 

Shame or Sin…

 

Neither control me any longer!!

 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

 

“But He said to me,

 

‘My grace is sufficient for you,

 

for My power is made perfect in weakness.’

 

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

 

so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

 

That is why, for Christ’s sake,

 

I delight in weaknesses,

 

in insults,

 

in hardships,

 

in persecutions,

 

in difficulties.

 

For when I am weak,

 

then I am strong.”

 

Don’t feel shame for something that honors God…

 

No matter how weak or foolish it makes you look…

 

In the eyes of unbelievers.

 

That would be misplaced shame!

 

Because the power of Christ…

 

Is perfected in our weaknesses!

 

1 Corinthians 15:34

 

“Come back to your senses as you ought,

 

and stop sinning;

 

for there are some who are ignorant of God—

 

I say this to your shame.”

 

 Only having shame for what dishonors God:

 

Ignorance of God…

 

Sin against God…

 

False beliefs about God…

 

Equals well-placed shame!

 

Consider the difference between:

Not dishonoring God vs Dishonoring God

 

God-Centered vs Self-Centered

This will explains the difference between…

 

Misplaced, or well-placed, shame!

 

If you’re dishonoring God…

 

You’ll feel shame…

 

No matter how strong,

 

Or wise,

 

Or right

 

You are in the eyes of men!

 

Sin is always a proper cause for shame…

 

Sin is behavior that dishonors God.

 

Solution????

Get rid of the unbelief that feeds shame…

 

Through belief in God’s Word…

 

And faith in the promises of God!

 

Read more at: 

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/battling-the-unbelief-of-misplaced-shame

 

Romans 9:33

 

“As it is written:

 

‘See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble

 

and a rock that makes them fall,

 

and the one who trusts in Him

 

will never be put to shame.'”

 

http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/f/romans14issues.htm

 

Christians…

Our traditions, rules, and regulations…

 

Are not equal to God’s laws.

 

We can’t base our moral judgments of others…

 

On opinions and personal dislikes…

 

Only on the Word of God!

 

Our relationship with Christ and His Word

 

Regulates our convictions!

 

Romans 14:23

 

“…everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

Let faith…

And your conscience convict you…

And tell you what to do in these matters.

Romans 14:12-13

“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.

Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle

in the way of a brother or sister.”

But how do we decide if something is sin when the Bible is not clear?

According to: 

http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/qt/knowsin.htm

 

“The Bible presents general guidelines to help us judge sin when we are uncertain.

 

Romans 14 is a great place to start.

 

Usually when we’re in doubt over sin,

our first tendency is to ask

if something is bad or wrong.

I’d like to suggest thinking in the opposite direction.

Instead, when you’re trying to determine if something is sin,

ask yourself these questions based on Scripture:

  1. Is this a good thing for me and others? Is this beneficial? Will it draw me closer to God? Will it strengthen my faith and my witness? (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)
  2. The next great question to ask is, will this glorify God? Will God bless this thing and use it for his purposes? Will this be pleasing and honoring to God? (1 Corinthians 6:19–20; 1 Corinthians 10:31)
  3. You can also ask, how will this thing affect my family and friends? Although we may have freedom in Christ in an area, we are never to let our freedom cause a weaker brother to stumble. (Romans 14:21; Romans 15:1) In addition, since the Bible teaches us to submit to those in authority over us (parents, a spouse, a teacher), we can ask, do my parents have a problem with this thing? Am I willing to submit this to those in leadership over me?
  4. Finally, in all things, we are to let our conscience before God convict us of what is right and wrong on matters that are not clear in the Bible. We can ask, do I have freedom in Christ and a clear conscience before the Lord to do whatever is in question? Are my own desire’s submitted to the Lord’s will? (Colossians 3:17; Romans 14:23″

 Something may be a shame, but not a sin!!

Don’t judge!

And don’t cast that condemning look!!

Carry Me…I’m Just A Dead Man!

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“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin

and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,

to make you obey its passions.”

Romans 6:11-12

“What shall we say, then?

Shall we go on sinning

so that grace may increase?

By no means!

We died to sin;

how can we live in it any longer?

Or don’t you know that all of us

who were baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into His death? 

Romans 6:1-3

January 1…

I’ve got a lot of things on my mind…
I’m looking at my body through a new spy satellite…
Try to lift a finger, but I don’t think I can make the call…
So tell me if I move, ’cause I don’t feel anything at all…

“But if Christ is in you,

your body is dead because of sin,

yet your spirit is alive

because of righteousness.” 

Romans 8:10

So Carry Me…
I’m just a dead man…
Lying on the carpet…
Can’t find a heartbeat…
Make me breathe…
I want to be a new man!
Tired of the old one…
Out with the old plan…

“For as in Adam all die,

so in Christ all will be made alive.”

1 Corinthians 15:22

I woke up from a dream about an empty funeral…
But it was better than the party full of people I don’t really know…
They’ve got hearts to break and burn…
Dirty hands to feel the earth…
There’s something in my veins…
But I can’t seem to make it work…

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

he is a new creation;

the old has gone,

the new has come!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Can you find a beat inside of me?
Any pulse?
Getting worse?
Inside of me, can you find a beat?

“But because of His great love for us,

God,

who is rich in mercy,

made us alive with Christ

even when we were dead in transgressions-

it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5

Thank You for carrying me…

I’m dead inside without You, Lord!!

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You’re Forgiven, Because He Was Forsaken!

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“…then know this, you and all the people of Israel:

It is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom you crucified

but whom God raised from the dead,

that this man stands before you healed.

Jesus is

‘the stone you builders rejected,  

which has become the cornerstone.’

Salvation is found in no one else,

for there is no other Name under Heaven given to mankind

by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:10-12

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD:

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.”

Isaiah 1:18

The past plays inside your head
Failure knocks you down again..
You’re reminded of the wrong that you have said and done…
That devil just won’t let you forget…
In this life…
You know what you’ve been…

But here in His arms
You know what you are!
You’re Forgiven!!

  You don’t have to carry the weight
  Of who you’ve been, ’cause you’re…
Forgiven!
Your mistakes are running through your mind
  You relive your days in the middle of the night…
Struggle with your pain…
Wrestle with your pride…
Sometimes you feel alone and you cry…
But, you don’t have to carry the weight of who you’ve been…

‘Cause you’re forgiven!!

When you don’t fit in…
And you don’t feel like you belong anywhere…
When you don’t measure up to much in this life

Oh, you’re a treasure in the arms of Christ!
‘Cause you’re forgiven!!

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness

and transferred us to the Kingdom of His Beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption,

the forgiveness of sins.”

Colossians 1:13-14

You’re forgiven because He was forsaken..
You’re accepted, He was condemned
You’re alive and well…
His Spirit is within you!

Because He died and rose again!!

Amazing love, how can it be?
That your King would die for you
Amazing love, you know it’s true
It’s your joy to honor Him!
In all you do
Honor your King!

Jesus , You are our King!!

“The LORD is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

He will not always chide,

nor will He keep His anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the Heavens are above the earth,

so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far does He remove our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103:8-12

The Battle’s Already Won!

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Even the battle for your mind!

No!

I’m not giving up now…

I’m claiming victory!

I’m not giving in now…

The war’s already won!

The struggle’s between God and the devil…

Love against the enemy!

No!

I’m not giving up now…

The war’s already been won for me!!

Amen!

I just read an article by Joyce Meyer, entitled,

“Are Your Thoughts Powerful or Pitiful?

Taking Battlefield of the Mind to a New Level”

Joyce Meyer Ministries

publishes

“Enjoying Everyday Life” Magazine.

In this Special Edition issue article,

She shares “Power Thoughts” from Scripture…

To encourage you to bring your thinking into agreement with God,

So you can enjoy Him…

And His good plan for you.

Here are three “Power Thoughts” she  mentions:

Power Thought #1:

God Loves Me Unconditionally!

Psalm 139:14

  We are “…fearfully and wonderfully made.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

the new creation has come: 

The old has gone,

the new is here.”

Power Thought #2:

I will Not Live In Fear! 

“This is the day which the Lord hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

Each morning, she says to herself,

“I will enjoy this day

and I will not live in fear.”

Power Thought #3:

I Am Difficult To Offend

“Whoever is slow to anger

is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit

than he who takes a city.”

Proverbs 16:32

Win the battle for your mind!!

The war’s already won!

“East To West”

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“As far as the east is from the west,

so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103:12

Have you allowed Him to cast your transgressions that far???

“Who is a God like You,   

who pardons sin and forgives the transgression   

of the remnant of His inheritance?

You do not stay angry forever

but delight to show mercy.

You will again have compassion on us;   

You will tread our sins underfoot   

and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

Micah 7:18-19

Have your iniquities been hurled into the sea of forgetfulness?

This song by Casting Crowns, is so powerful!

Here I am, Lord!

I don’t want to end up where You found me!

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest!

Jesus,

You’re holding on to me…

You know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other!

Amen!