May Christmas Be Centered Around Christ As You Enjoy Your Family And Friends.
Be A Miracle In Someone’s Life.
No Activities At Church This Week.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart:
Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Like Paul, we can say “Christ lives in me.”
Christ is not floating in the air.
He lives in me.
He is in me!
Then Paul says, “and the life which I now live.”
He had just finished saying “It is no longer I.”
This tells us that there are two “I’s” Paul is speaking of here.
There is an old “I,” and there is a new “I.”
The old “I” is the independent “I” of the flesh seeking to have an independent relationship with God and striving to make it with God on its own.
This old “I” has been crucified with Christ.
The new “I” is an organic “I.”
It is my regenerated spirit joined to the Lord in a life union.
Paul describes the “I” that lives after regeneration: “The life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith . . .”
We are still living in the flesh.
We have the surroundings of the flesh.
We can still feel the rumblings of the flesh.
We can feel it showing up, knocking at our door, trying to categorize, to accuse, to be depressed–trying to do what it does.
So the life that I am now living in the flesh, how do I live it?
I live in the sphere of faith, “the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
That means I am living off of His life infusing me with faith as I behold Him.
I live gazing at Him.
I live looking away from everything to this lovely Person who loves me, who gave Himself for me.
He did it all for me.
And as I am looking and beholding, my beholding of Him infuses faith right into me–the faith of the Son of God.
So my living in faith is not my work or doing.
No! Faith is the response in me to His work and doing.
Faith is the gift of God served to me freely on the platter of a message I hear about Christ.
I see Him openly portrayed before my eyes, crucified!
When I see His work, faith is in my heart and in my mouth.
Until Tomorrow
With a Shepherd’s Love
Pastor
TODAY’S PRAYER LIST
Bill Lawhead – Much Prayer needed
Jill Haines
The Graham Family – Brandon’s Friends
Amy Garner’s Mother/Dad
Ashley Burn’s Sisters
Barbara Shed’s Family
Bill Moody
Carol Lawhead’s Brother
Charlie Sessom – Waiting
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Denise Stubbs – Kim Allison’s Mom
Greg Payne – Lisa’s Brother
Hanna Hall – Pray for Grace
Kimberly – Dustin’s Sister
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford – Good News
Michael Stanley
Nora Allison – Dustin’s Mom
Paula Ferus’ Missionary Friend
Ricky Stubbs
Rod Gustafson – Cancer
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier – Linda’s Son
Shaelyn – Jill’s Friend
Sheila Simmons Cousin
Tom Witcher