ONE MESSAGE. ONE FAITH.

Easy yoke? Light burden? Easy is not usually the first word that comes to mind with the image of a  Yoke. But there it is in Matthew 11:29. "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"   Truth is, yokes are easy when the one you're yoked with is carrying the bulk of the load. Burdens become light when you are suddenly freed from carrying the load of guilt and condemnation on your shoulders alone.  So Jesus beckons us to take the load of the world off our shoulders and yoke up with him. Even when I walk      through the darkest valley, [ a ] I will not be afraid,      for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff      protect and comfort me. - Psalm 23:4

"She cried a deluge of tears- enough to wash the feet of Jesus- and then she wiped them clean and dry with her hair." Those who have been forgiven much, love much* As the preacher relayed this timeless story I was struck in the heart. I marveled at the effect of this woman's intense desire to express her adoration to her savior. It was so much that she was willing to be unkempt and become, what we would call dirty. Can you imagine the combination of tears and dirt she was left with when she arose from his feet. Yet the possibly now matted hair was in direct contrast to the fragrant aroma that surrounded her as she got up. She poured out what she had and gave it to God, and her contact with the Savior caused his anointing to be imparted on her as well. How about the absurdity of a king dancing in the streets? His desire to express his thankfulness and adoration of the most high was unmatched in the kingdom. He danced every so many steps, while his kingly robes beg...

Leviticus 20:26 . Not legalism. Not rules or standards or laws. Holiness is a state of being. Holiness is what God is. He is that which separates. When God is around, the line is drawn.  God's people are called to holiness. 1 Peter 1:15 . We are called to be obviously different, freed from the state of lawlessness that unbelievers are enslaved to. Leviticus 10:10.  The call of Holiness is not to deprave us of pleasure, it's to simply revive our taste for the pleasure of God'presence. Holiness returns us to our original design. We were made to be sons and daughters and companions of God. The commands in the Word of God are not exhaustive. The list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5 for example- not exhaustive. The "seven deadly sins" as they've been coined-not exhaustive. We'd never succeed in following every single law. Instead, they are lights to our path to holiness-to God. Proverbs 9:10. They are, if you will, enablers. They help us become aware...

"It seems that many of us today are spiritually settling."  Satan has convinced us that the voice of God is enough. Adam and Eve ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and could still hear and recognize God's voice. Genesis 3:8 Yes, they heard God's voice. What they were suddenly robbed of was the presence of God. The presence of God is where there is fullness of joy and pleasures evermore. Psalm 16:11 But we have settled. We have become OK with half joy and fleeting pleasures. We have convinced ourselves that as long as we hear God's voice we are okay. But the scriptures in 2 Timothy 3:5 warn us of this way of thinking. Good idea, but what did God say? " They tried to use a natural solution for a spiritual problem.  They gave up their liberty to be in God's holy presence." In Genesis 3 Adam and Eve chose self gratification over obedience and suddenly felt uncovered. They were naked all along before they disobeyed their Fathe...

from "alookintomymind.wordpress.com" Romans 6:15-16, 18, 20-23 NLT Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. image from the web Is your lifestyle propelling you to life or death?...