Repent. Believe. Love. Repeat.

Paul writes in Philippians chapter 4, "what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

Fairly simple. 

Paul is not just suggesting that they live like him, but live like him living like Christ.  For we don't follow Paul, but we follow Christ!

What would that give us? 

Not just peace, but actually the God of ALL Peace.  Today dear friend, that God is with you.

Shouting Out Freedom

So often what we hear or what we think defines who we are.  Or rather who we think we are.

What or who have you been listening to lately?

• You are a failure
• You are a sinner
• You are a monster
• Jesus is walking away from you
• God doesn't love you
• Other people hate you
• You are a waste of time
• You are going no where in your life

So often the words of the world can be so loud that they drive out the still small voice that is shouting to us.

Can you hear Him shouting?

He is shouting words of freedom for you.

You are a hiding place for me; 
You preserve me from trouble; 
You surround me with shouts of deliverance. 
(Psalm 32:7)

• You are mine
• You are my love
• You are forgiven
• You are my child
• I am with you
• I will never leave you
• I will never forsake you
• I love you
• I have put you in a family
• Your purpose has been defined
• You have new life

 

God Save the Doubter

 

Exodus 14:14 "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

This, of course, comes as a command to the Israelite's as they are stuck between the Red Sea (i.e. death) and Pharaoh and his army (i.e. death).

 

Moses says to this motley crew of people... these soon-to-be nomads “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again."

 

Can hear the thoughts... the responses... from the people Israel?  

"Uh... what???"

"Yeah, but have you seen how many there are?"

"That giant body of water is in front of me and we have no boat!"

Sometimes when I am unable to see what is ahead I become fearful.  OR sometimes when I do see what IS ahead of me, fear settles in.

How quickly the Israelites doubted a Sovereign King.  

How quickly I doubt a Sovereign King.

Of course, on this side of the story, we know the outcome.  We know from reading Scripture, that God's people make it to the other side of the water.  That Pharaoh and his men are crushed.

We must not look to quickly here at just the deliverance.  For the beauty is not just the saving.  The beauty is found in God saving doubting people.  For that is what should give us great hope.   Even in the midst of forgetting whose we are, who we are - God still saves.