I’m Alive (And So Are You)

So much of what people call “having a life” looks like death to me, and I used to be right there with them. I used to do whatever in the world I wanted to do. The truth was that I was doing what I thought other people wanted me to do. I called it, “living it up” but I was dead on the inside. At first, this so-called ‘life’ I was into made me feel hurt and distant from God. I felt unloved and unlovable. Eventually, even that hurt became silent. At that point, I was just like a corpse. I couldn’t feel a thing. But then something amazing happened.

God brought me to life. Even when I was still sitting there, trapped in middle of the living death of my own messed-up wrong, God woke me up. He breathed life into my dead, unfeeling bones and gave me a whole new chance at living. I used to think I knew what life was - what fun was, but I was lying to myself. Now I really do know. You see, since Jesus came into my life, I can breathe. I can see. I can really feel love and acceptance. I can receive the peace and joy that God freely gives. I drink them in like fresh, cool water. I know who I am and when I am at my weakest, I just call on Jesus and I can feel Him helping me, strengthening me, and giving me everything I need to face my life. For the first time, I have a real life to face. You may not see it when you look at me. You may think I’m a loser. You may think I don’t have a life, but I don’t care anymore. You see, I trust in the Word of God. 

It says, “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.” - Ephesians 2:4-5

That’s me.

I am alive.

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I Am Empowered For A New Life (And So Are You)

I hate feeling trapped by cycles of sin. I hate feeling like I’ll never change and I’ll never grow. I hate the fact that so much of my life has been a seemingly irresistible  gravitational pull to simply keep on doing the same old wrong over and over again. I used to think it would always be this way. I used to think that I would be stuck in a rut until I was dead, but I’ve learned an unbelievable secret about myself:

I have unlimited power inside me to live a new kind of life. I’m not the person I used to be. I am a brand-new creature with new affections, new sensitivities and new abilities. It’s like I’ve become some kind of superhero. I’m not a normal person anymore. I don’t have to give into the same old pressures, temptations, lies and struggles that I used to - and the reason is that something amazing has happened to me. You see, when I believed in Jesus, He filled me up with His life. Seriously. It sounds crazy and it’s hard to understand, but my old life died with Him when He died on the cross, and then when He was raised up from the grave to new and everlasting life, I was somehow raised up with Him! The energy of that outrageous resurrection is inside me right now, empowering me to live in a new way. Every last drop of the death-shattering power that God used when He raised Jesus from the dead is coursing through my veins. I may not look any different to you, but that’s okay because I trust in the Word of God.

It says, “I pray that you might know… His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.” - Ephesians 1:19-20

That’s me.

I am empowered.

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That’s Me is a micro Bible study setting out to find what is true of you and me in the Scriptures. Read more right HERE. 

I Was Sealed (And So Were You)

I have heard too many broken promises. I’m tired of the disappointment that comes with  folks who say they’ll be there for you and then leave you high and dry. Sometimes it feels like there’s nothing you can really bank on that will be there when you need it. The hardest part is that I have broken so many promises myself, that I sometimes feel like I don’t even deserve to have a love I can trust, but lately I’m learning a secret about myself:

I was sealed by the Holy Spirit. The instant I believed in Jesus, God sent His very own Spirit down into my heart to take up permanent residence. In a very real way, Jesus Himself is living inside me - guiding me, helping me, teaching me stuff and empowering me to live for Him. It’s unbelievable. Because He lives inside me, I have everything I need to live a transformed life. I literally have Almighty God with me at all times! The Spirit of God inside me is not only changing my life right now, but He’s also a deposit - a down payment from God - a promise that I will always be connected to God like this - forever in heaven. The Holy Spirit is like a little preview of what heaven will be like. And God promises that I’m sealed. It’s a guarantee. Other folks may break their promises. Other folks may flake out on me or break my heart, but I’m okay with that because I don’t trust in other people. I trust in the Word of God.

It says, “Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession - to the praise of His glory.” - Ephesians 1:13-14

That’s me. 

I was sealed.

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That’s Me is a micro Bible study setting out to find what is true of you and me in the Scriptures. Read more right HERE.

I Was A Good Idea (and so were you)

I haven’t always had the highest self-esteem. That’s actually a huge understatement. In fact, let’s be frank, I’m clinically insecure and have been down to the depths of depression over who I am as a person. I have spent a huge part of my life wishing I were more like this or less like that. My insecurities have been so overwhelming at times that I have almost wished myself away entirely, but all that is changing now because you see, I have learned a little secret about myself:

God thought I was a good idea. It’s true. God likes me. He likes my personality. He likes my heart. He likes my voice, my laugh, my look and my style. God is actually crazy about who I am as an individual. It’s not just that He saved me because it’s His job to save. It’s not a deal where He loves me because He’s a parent and He has to love me. He doesn’t just tolerate me. No, He is truly glad that I am who I am. You see, when He poured out His grace on me and saved me, He did it according to His wisdom and understanding. Do you realize what that means? It means that He realized saving me was a good idea. He didn’t just save me out of pity. He saved me because it was the smart thing to do. You may not see a whole lot when you look at me, but that’s okay, because I believe in the Word of God. 

It says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” - Ephesians 1:7-8

That’s me. I was a good idea.

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That’s Me is a micro Bible study setting out to find what is true of you and me in the Scriptures. Read more right HERE.

I Am Forgiven.

I’ve been a mess. I won’t try and hide it, and you wouldn’t have to dig too deep to find the evidence for it. I’m a sinner. And look, I’m not just saying that I’m a sinner in theory - like when folks say, “Nobody’s perfect” or something like that. I mean that I have a laundry list of actual bad decisions, messed up thoughts, harsh and cruel words and on and on. I have been a selfish, rotten scoundrel and I’m not afraid to admit it all the way, because I have learned a glorious little secret about myself:

Jesus has forgiven me. That’s right. Jesus took away all my guilt. He actually took the blame for all my sins and paid the penalty for all of them when He died on the cross. Now, because I’ve trusted in Him, He tells me I’m forgiven - completely. And pay attention, because I don’t mean I’m a little bit forgiven. I’m not saying I’m forgiven until the next time I sin. I mean, I’m finished with the penalty of sin forever. That means I’m finished with shame. I’m finished with feeling sorry for myself or feeling guilty over my past. Some people are married to their past and drag it around like a ball and chain, but not me. I divorced my past when Jesus forgave me and we’re officially through. I know I’ll sin again, but I also know Jesus has already paid for those wrongs as well. Sometimes folks try to bring up my old sins and tell me I should feel terrible about who I was, but I don’t listen to them. I set my sights on the Word of God. 

It says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” - Ephesians 1:7

That’s me. I Am Forgiven.

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That’s Me is a micro Bible study setting out find what is true of me and you in the Scriptures. Read more right HERE.

I Was Redeemed.

I was trapped. I couldn’t find a way out. I was a slave to my own messed up heart and mind. It was like I had a magnetic pull toward the things that would only hurt me and others. Thing is, I could even tell you all the ways I wanted to change, but I just couldn’t change. I couldn’t stop being the worst possible version of me. And then, something incredible happened:

Jesus redeemed me. Now, I know that’s a big word, but all it means is that He paid the price to buy me back. I was a slave to my own wrong, but Jesus bought me and set me free. I was chained up, shackled to every messed up desire and thought, but He purchased my heart and then released me from those bonds and made me something new - with new desires, new power and a new appetite. When I belonged to sin, He came and found me and paid every penny of the price I owed to be free. He bought me from my old life, my old ways and my old heart. He bought me with His own precious blood. Some folks may say that I’ll always be that same old person - that I’ll never really change; but I don’t listen to them. I trust in the Word of God. 

It says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” - Ephesians 1:7

That’s me. I was redeemed.

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THAT’S ME a micro-bible study (005)

click HERE to see them all

That’s Me (A Micro Bible Study)

004 - I Am Graced.

The closer you get to my heart, the more junk you’re gonna find. It’s true. There’s no use in me hiding it or pretending anything else. I’m a mess. I have always been a mess and to some degree, as long as this heart of mine is beating, I will always be a mess. So, if I’m hopelessly screwed up, why is there a big, fat smile on my face? Well, the fact is, I have learned a little secret about myself:

God gave me grace for free. I don’t deserve to know God. I’m not entitled to walk through this life with unlimited super-natural help. I didn’t earn a permanent spot in eternal paradise, but I have all that and more! Almighty God loves me and smiles down on my life. The Holy One treats me as if I have lived every moment in purity and righteousness. You wanna know the best part? God didn’t even ask for anything in return. He just decided to like me and smile on me and pour out blessing and gifts on me for free because of what Jesus did. I don’t even have to pay Him back or clean up my act. I just get to be me. People don’t get it. They try to make me feel guilty for the grace I’ve been given for free, but I don’t listen to them. I trust the Word of God.

It says, “To the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.” - Ephesians 1:6

That’s me. I am graced.

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To see the whole “THAT’S ME” series, click HERE.

That’s Me (A Micro Bible Study)

003 - I Was Adopted.

Yes, I have felt the sting of rejection. I have been labeled a loser and an outcast. I have known the throbbing ache of loneliness and I have been told that I simply don’t fit in here. Sometimes, I have felt as if no one gets me, no one understands me and what’s worse, no one even wants to. There have been times when I have felt like I don’t have a home anywhere in this world, but I have learned a secret about myself:

God adopted me as His very own kid. I may not have a home in this world, but I do have a home where I fit in perfectly. I used to feel alone and abandoned, but I have a Dad who will never leave or forsake me! I have a Dad who loves me and who would do anything to make me His own - in fact, He did everything to make me His. Almighty God wanted me. He knows me, He gets me. What’s more, He likes me! He loves me with a love that moved heaven and earth, and now I am part of a family filled with brothers and sisters bound by the bond of the precious blood of Jesus. I was a reject who became royal child in the noble heart of the King of the Universe! Some folks may reject me, but I don’t care, because I trust in the Word of God.

It says, “In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.” - Ephesians 1:5

That’s me.  I was adopted.

To see the whole series/study, click HERE. 

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This new series of posts is a miniature Bible study. I am walking through the book of Ephesians verse by verse and writing an encouragement about everything it says that’s true of me and you. You see, an important part of walking with the Lord is learning to say what He says about you and not believing or putting up with anything less.

That’s Me (A Micro Bible Study)

Okay, this new series of posts is a miniature Bible study. I am walking through the book of Ephesians and writing an encouragement about everything it says that’s true of me and you. You see, an important part of walking with the Lord is learning to say what He says about you and not believing or putting up with anything less.

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002 I Was Chosen.

I don’t know what all people see when they look at me and my life. Maybe some people see a failure. Maybe some people see a loser. Maybe people think I’m not good enough, not strong enough, that I don’t look good enough or don’t fit in. That stuff used to consume me. Other people’s opinions of me used to rock my world, but not anymore. You see, I learned a priceless little secret about myself:

God wanted me. He picked me. He loves me. I don’t know why. I don’t know what He saw. I don’t know what He knows, but I do know this: Before God made the Milky Way, He wanted me. He has always known who I would be and He has always loved me and wanted me. I know tons of people would have never wanted someone like me. Heck, to be honest, I probably wouldn’t have chosen myself - but God did. He chose me. Other people don’t see what I bring to the table, but I don’t care about that, because I trust in the Word of God.

It says, “He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” - Ephesians 1:4

That’s me. I was chosen. 

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To see more, click HERE.

That’s Me (A Micro Bible Study)

001 - I Am Blessed.

Sometimes it may look like my life is out of control. I might sometimes feel as though I am alone, or that God has forgotten about me. It may seem that there is something better out there for me than the hand I have been dealt, but I have learned an amazing secret about myself:

There’s more to me than meets the eye. I have an existence and a hope that extends far beyond the realm of the visible. And in that heavenly realm, I already have everything I need to make it through this life right now. God is not holding out on me. He is not short-changing me. He has blessed me with every possible blessing a heart can hold. Everything a soul can have when they know Christ is already mine. It may look or feel or even seem to be one way, but I trust in the Word of God.

It says, “Our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” - Ephesians 1:3

That’s me. I am blessed. 

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This new series of posts is a miniature Bible study. I am walking through the book of Ephesians and writing an encouragement about everything it says that’s true of me and you. You see, an important part of walking with the Lord is learning to say what He says about you and not believing or putting up with anything less.