Monthly Archives: June 2016

Song Reflection: Flawless by MercyMe

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Flawless, by Mercy Me, is a really awesome song, that I was introduced to at Spirit West Coast. The lead singer gave a talk about how sometimes Christian leaders give us “guilt” messages. But, as Christians we  aren’t supposed to walk around feeling guilty. God’s grace is bigger than that. It would be foolish to think that we aren’t going to sin, make mistakes, or have problems after we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. We are still human. Sometimes as Christians, especially those of us with more years in the faith, we place impossibly hard expectations on ourselves. One school of thought is: I am a Christian and if I sin, make mistakes, let people down, or unintentionally hurt them; something must be terribly wrong with us. I must be a “bad” Christian. I must be a disappointment to God and a bad testimony to those around us. We let guilt and shame consume us. But, God doesn’t want us to do that. He doesn’t want us to walk around with our heads hanging down and frowns on our faces. He doesn’t want us to feel like we are worse Christians than other Christians. See, the reality is that we ALL mess up. This is pointed out in the line: “Come on get in line right behind me You along with everybody.” This truth is made clear in the Bible. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” –Romans 3:10 KJV In the official music video to this song, which is also worth checking out, the people struggle with a number flaws: illnesses, weaknesses (ie. “prone to selfishness”), physical flaws, workaholic tendencies, “spiritual leadership” inabilities, doubt, and fear. Without Christ, we are imperfect, wretched human beings. We all struggle with something or another. But, we can’t let our struggles, guilt, or past haunt us. Because, “No matter the bumps No matter the bruises No matter the scars… No matter the hurt Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain Still the truth is…The cross has made you flawless.”

It is by God’s grace alone that we are made righteous.
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” –Romans 5:19 KJV

If you haven’t heard the song, you might want to check it out.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

“Flawless”

There’s got to be more
Than going back and forth
From doing right to doing wrong
‘Cause we were taught that’s who we are
Come on get in line right behind me
You along with everybody
Thinking there’s worth in what you doThen Like a hero who takes the stage when
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late
Well let me introduce you to amazing grace
 No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawlessCould it possibly be
That we simply can’t believe
That this unconditional
Kind of love would be enough
To take a filthy wretch like this
And wrap him up in righteousness
But that’s exactly what He did…Take a breath smile and say
Right here right now I’m ok
Because the cross was enoughThen Like a hero who takes the stage when
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late
Well let me introduce you to grace grace
God’s grace

No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless…”

 

 

Updates!

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Dear viewers and subscribers,

I am very excited to announce that there will be new and upcoming changes to my website! First, today I am introducing a trial Spanish translation version of my first blog entry! Secondly, I am considering adding a prayer wall. Also, I would like to request feedback from you, the viewers. Are there any verses, topics, or songs that you would like to read about? Comments are welcome. And, if you are too shy to comment, feel free to message me. Thanks!!!

Made Perfect

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“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”   

–Hebrews 10:14 NIV

 grace

Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for our freedom, by making the sacrifice for us on the cross and it only happened one time. This one time was enough to wash our sins away forever, because He is God’s son. From the time we accept salvation, our sins are washed away forever, and we are made perfect in Christ. What does it mean to be made perfect in Christ? I believe it means that His grace is sufficient to cover all of our sin making us like Him, so that we can enter heaven.

“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.” -2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV. 

Does this mean we don’t sin anymore? No, but it means all of our sins have been covered by the blood of Christ. We are no longer living under the law, but by grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Isaiah 64:5 says, “…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” Nothing we can do, can ever earn our way into heaven. The price has already been paid ONE time, by our ONE and ONLY King, Jesus Christ. We choose to try not to sin after Salvation, because He dwells within us and He sees everything we are doing first hand. So, we know when He is not pleased with our actions and we don’t want to sin, because it gets in the way of our relationship with Him. Still, our good works of helping others don’t get us into heaven- they are simply our way of worshipping and expressing gratitude to Christ. And, although it may seem unfair, the price for everyone who chooses salvation is already paid, regardless if they got saved 3 minutes before their death or at age 6. But, those who come to Christ have the blessing of being in a relationship (communication) with Him throughout their life. But, nobody is deserving of salvation or can gain salvation from good works or trying to live a sinless life. As humans, it is impossible for us to live a sinless life.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 6:23 NIV

grace 2

 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. “–Romans 3:23-24 NIV

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” – 1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.’ –Philippians 3:12 NLV

We are saved by grace ALONE. And, it is grace that works through us to accomplish God’s work. Grace is what makes us what we are now, but grace isn’t finished with us yet. Amen.

In God’s Eyes

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“He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.”

 –Numbers 23:21 KJV

  noname-5

Earlier chapters of Numbers describe how many of the Israelites lacked the faith needed to enter the promise land and were punished by God. They blamed Moses for their actions, rebelled against their leaders, and were defiantly disobedient to God. Balak, a Moabite enemy of the Israelites went to Balaam, a wicked prophet (but not a false prophet), to have him curse the Israelites in exchange for money. But, God still loved Israel. No matter how hard Balaam tried, God did not allow Balaam to curse Israel.

“The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.” So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?” Then he spoke his message: “Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor. God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.“No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed[a] in Israel. The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them.”

 -Numbers 23:16-21 NIV

In fact,“While God had control of Balaam’s wicked mouth, he made an unbelievable statement: God had not beheld iniquity in Jacob or seen perverseness in Israel… He imputes His righteousness to them. Because, God was in the midst of Israel, when He looked on them, He didn’t see their sin- He saw Himself.” ((Nortker, 3-Minute Devotionals For Women, p.96)” A beautiful picture is painted here: Israel is utterly perverse and wicked, but God sees righteousness, because He is in the midst of the city and He sees Himself. In the same way, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, if we have salvation (born of the Holy Spirit). In John 3:6, the Holy Spirit is described like the wind. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]” The Holy Spirit blows through us touching every part of us. When God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sins. Instead, He sees the Holy Spirit and we are righteous in His eyes. Amen.

 

 

Reference:

Brigitta Nortker, comp. 3-Minute Devotionals For Women. Uhrichsville: Barbour, Ohio. Print.