Live Creatively • Galatians 6

 (Painting by Gracie)

Live creatively, friends. 

Galatians 6:1

 •

Make a careful exploration of who you are a

nd the work you have been given, 

and then sink yourself into that. 

Don't be impressed with yourself. 

Don't compare yourself with others. 

Each of you must take responsibility for doing 

the creative best you can with your own life. 

Galatians 6:4-5
 •

For my part, I am going to boast about nothing 

but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. 

Because of that Cross, 

I have been crucified in relation to the world, 

set free from the stifling atmosphere 

of pleasing others and fitting into 

the little patterns that they dictate. 

Can't you see the central issue in all this? 

It is not what you and I do—s

ubmit to circumcision, reject circumcision. 

It is what God is doing, 

and he is creating something totally new, a free life! 

All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—

his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them! 

Galatians 6:14-16
•

Breathing in deep all that You are.

You are the Creator.
I have been made in Your image.
Your Spirit dwells within me.

You want me to be creative.
To take what You have given me,
who You have made me to be
and live in creative freedom as You
lead me throughout my life.

Oh how sad it must make You
when we cower in our little boxes,
being restricted by rules You did not
give us, shunning people
for mistakes they have made,
instead of lifting them up in love.

You are so gentle and patient with me.
Help me to be that way with those
You have placed in my life.
Graciously building into their lives,
helping them carry their burdens, and
gently correcting them when they go astray.

You have made me unique, special,
with my own journey to take as I follow You.
Help me not compare myself to others,
but to stay focused on You and what You
have for me to do.

You are at work in me!
You are creating a new life in me,
around me, through me.

Thank you, Jesus!

Knowing the Meaning of Grace and Peace • Galatians 1

 

"So I greet you with the great words, 

grace and peace! 

We know the meaning of those words because 

Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in 

by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. 

God's plan is that we all experience that rescue. 

Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!"

 

Galatians 1:3-5

Their response was to recognize 

and worship God because of me! 

 

Galatians 1:24

•

Unmerited favor is mine.

Unmerited.

Nothing I have done, do or will ever do
can earn Your favor.

Nothing.

All is well. Calm has come.

Sweet peace is mine.

Because of You.

Only by You and only through You
can I have grace and peace.

Full rescue – unmerited favor and peace is for all.

Freedom has come for all.

Can they see as they look at me
the grace and peace
You came to give to all?

Do they recognize You in me?

Please, help me to fully accept Your
grace and peace – to live in them so completely
that anyone who looks at me will see You and
worship You.

Tend to Your Knitting

"As I live and breathe," God says,
      "every knee will bow before me;
   Every tongue will tell the honest truth
      that I and only I am God."
So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full 

just taking care of your own life before God. 

Romans 14:12

I'm having one of those Quiet Times this morning.

It started out when I discovered a chapter or two in Romans that I had not yet read in The Message.

As I read Paul's words in this fresh way, I immediately saw how they related to something going on in the life of a dear friend of mine.

I quickly found myself wanting to type out several verses and zip them off to some people that I thought could learn a thing or two from the passage I was reading. 

I practically giggled with glee at the thought of proudly proclaiming these verses to those I think need them and seeing them crumble under the Truth.

Ack!

That's when I could almost feel a tap-tap-tap on my shoulder.

A feeling of unease and realization crept in to my belly. 

Once again, I saw that these verses are for me. 

I need to read them.

I need to learn from them.

I need to incorporate them into my life.

Gulp!

Here are some of the verses I was reading:

Welcome with open arms fellow believers 

who don't see things the way you do.

And don't jump all over them 

every time they do or say something 

you don't agree with—

even when it seems that they are 

strong on opinions but weak in the faith department.

Remember, they have their own history 

to deal with. Treat them gently. 

Romans 14:1

None of us are permitted to insist on our own way 

in these matters. It's God we are answerable to—

all the way from life to death 

and everything in between—not each other.

That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again:

 so that he could be our Master across the entire range 

of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other. 

So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother?

And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister?

I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse.

Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side

in the place of judgment, facing God.

Your critical and condescending ways 

aren't going to improve your position there one bit.

 Romans 14:7-12

Forget about deciding what's right for each other.

Here's what you need to be concerned about:

that you don't get in the way of someone else,

making life more difficult than it already is. 

Romans 14:13

 

So let's agree to use all our energy

in getting along with each other.

Help others with encouraging words;

don't drag them down by finding fault. 

Romans 14:19

Cultivate your own relationship with God,

but don't impose it on others.

You're fortunate if your behavior and

your belief are coherent.

Romans 14:22

Life can be pretty hard sometimes.

We are all fallible.

We are all loved by God.

And we all need Jesus.

I want to be stepping in the direction of grace.

I want to offer gentle words of encouragement, instead of harsh words of criticism.

It is so easy to see the fault of someone else. 

It is so easy to be offended.

It is so easy to cross to the other side of the road and just keep on walking.

It is so easy to read some Bible verses and think that they apply to someone else.

Oh, Father, please, help me to stop taking the easy way. 

Just as You have been so gentle and patient 

and full of grace with me, 

help me to be the same 

to those You have placed in my life.

Everything You're to Be

"Our God gives you everything you need, 
makes you everything you're to be." 

2 Thessalonians 1:2

You know, I didn't even realize what I was doing when I imported the photo above.

You see, my daughter, Sophie, took that picture...

With her first camera.

And she took that picture to help her little sister enter a contest.

I think it's really good.

And so, because it is sitting in my iPhoto, I sniped it.

Smile.

But as I typed out the verse above, I realized that Sophie's picture is just the right one to go with that verse.

Everything a maple tree needs to be a maple tree (well, except for the soil, sun and water... which God provides, too...) is in one of those seeds.

God makes sure that it has all it needs to become a tree.

When Paul wrote the verse above, he was encouraging the Thessalonians that God would give them everything they needed to be what He made them to be.

And I believe that promise is for you and me, too.

And Sophie.

And all our kids.

What a awesome thing to pray for our kids, our husbands, our friends, our moms and dads... for anyone!

For ourselves.

That "our God will make you fit for what He's called you to be, pray that He'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with His own energy so that it all amounts to something." (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

It comes from Him.

The call.

The "stuff" we need.

The energy.

He even allows the troubles that make us fit for The Kingdom. (see 2 Thessalonians 1:5.)

"If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving Himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving Himself freely."

2 Thessalonians 1:12

When I give up my life, to Him, to do what He wants me to do...

He gives me all that I need...

He makes me everything I am to be....

He makes me fit for my calling....

He gives me the energy....

And makes my feeble efforts into something that matters...

That is a life that honors the name of Jesus. 

He has given Himself freely to me.

I am giving myself freely to Him?