Seeing Life through the Lens of Jesus Christ

I was just now thinking how really blessed I am. And this doesn't come because I have not had any trials or issues... but as this quote puts it....

 

Seeing life through the lens of Jesus Christ.
Some of us wear glasses. It seems that the older I become, the more my lenses seem to change. No matter what pair of glasses any of us may wear, the lenses are designed to help us to see more clearly. The metaphor of a lens is also appropriately used to help us figure out how we a...re to see life. In a nutshell, it’s why we’re spending a year studying Jesus. He is the lens through which we are to see life.

 

So, it is my 'life's journey' (not a year) to learn of Jesus, His heart and ways. Walk together, do life together, and in learning of Him and His ways I know that His perspective will take seed in my heart and become mine. I only want to see life through His eyes.

 

These thoughts started with me thinking about how blessed I am with my job. God knows the circumstances and how it fits into my life. Just recently my hours have dropped but I see that I can use the time to prepare for classes that I am now involved in.

 

God knows the future!

Let Peace Rule

I was listening to a message on Col 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

It is pointed out that in this context he is helping the Colossians to live in unity and ensure peace within their fellowship. To get along with each other. To put off things which mar your communication and put on mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forbearing and forgiving one another ...as Christ has forgiven you; so, let the peace of God rule in your hearts; members together, peace in your hearts for each other.

I always saw peace rule in your hearts as individual, and our help for guidance (peace through the Holy Spirit - an umpire), which it is, but within the above context - the preacher is encouraging the dwelling together in unity and in love. Let peace rule!

Be together and dwell together.... having:
The peace of Christ in our fellowship
The word of Christ in our fellowship
The Lordship of Christ in our fellowship

I just shared it with my friend and she said
in joyfulness..... 'oh, its a ONE ANOTHER verse'. 

(Simon Manchester - St Thomas Anglican Church, North Sydney)

T

The

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We Are In The New

Imagine this...

John the Baptist is standing in the Jordan. He has been sent by God to water baptize people in preparation for the coming of a new Kingdom. He knows that he will witness the coming of the Messiah.

One day he sees Jesus coming to him and he knows in his heart (revelation) that this is the Lamb of God (the sacrifice) who will take away the sin of the world. No one else could do it.

Jesus and John talk; John is hesitant to baptize the Messiah, well aware of his own need to be baptized and cleansed by Jesus.

So John baptizes Jesus to fulfill all righteousness, and as God has told John to watch, he sees the Spirit, the Holy Spirit descending from heaven and remaining on Jesus, revealing in certainty that Jesus, who stands before him, is the Christ!

And in that moment, John says....he knows... that Jesus is the One. The Christ who has ALL authority; authority to save people from their sins, and power to baptise with the Holy Spirit. And there, John, in knowing, gives witness that Jesus IS the Son of God.

And John's journey here is near it's end.

The handing over of a prophet under the old covenant to He that was prophesied of, as Saviour to bring in the New.  The beginning of the 3 year journey to Calvary. A journey of love. Signs and miracles following Him. A witness to His being the Messiah. A Saviour, a Friend. The only One who could set the captives (that's you and me) free. Free by way of the cross, His death for our sin. And to think, that as you believe in your heart, by a divine act of God, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you. The Spirit birthed in power in you, make this all a reality; yes, you are free!

You are His. Forgiven. Restored to God. Free. Death defeated by the Righteousness of One, the Christ. That which had been prophesied years before.

So, as believers we have the very Spirit of God; the same Spirit at creation that hovered over the waters; the same Spirit at the Jordan the day Jesus came forth, remaining on Him and raising Him from the dead. The same Spirit poured out at Pentecost.

His very Spirit is living in you and me.

His very Spirit baptizing you into resurrection life.

Wow!!! Imagine! The works He did; The witness, the salvations, the healings, the lives changed, the one's, the two's, the hundreds, the thousands. Think about His disciples; the prayers and the worship to God. The works, the witness, the salvations - God working through them. Nothing has changed, He is still the same; same heart, same power, same mission.

Believers..... His blood, His body, His Spirit!

The same Gospel, call and mission.

His desire is that none perish, and all come to repentance in Christ the Son. Restored to the Father.

To all who worship in spirit and truth!

To God be the Glory

.Amen

The Bible Made Alive

The Bible Made Alive
By Bernie Tarkka  20th April 2016

Being made alive in Christ by the Holy Spirit has made the bible my choicest book.

 

Early in Christ, I remember the day I watched a video on the book of Matthew and there was a point in the video where Jesus was walking along whilst talking and smiling! I was shocked. I am processing and in wonder at the same time...'Wow, Jesus is smiling, He is smiling!' That was a game changer for me.

 

At that point I was renting a room from a friend and she would leave me notes about little house things such as we need to buy this or that, and I realised... that I was reading the notes and bible in the voice and tone of how I was spoken to as a child (by a particular person whom I hold no animosity to). It was hard, agressive, negative often and not very encouraging and that I never seemed to do anything right. Like I was always being told off.  After I watched the video I remember being so aware that my processing of things written to me had been filtered through an old way of being spoken to.

 

The next memory was probably from later that evening when I was reading the bible and it was like the words were dancing on the page.

 

Now the lie had been exposed; that Jesus is smiling when he speaks, the words were coming to me in a whole different light. Although I enjoyed reading the bible before, this revelation brought something new to my reading and I was saying to myself in awe, WOW, the words are dancing on the page, LOOK, the words are dancing on the page. It was like love and grace came and kissed me and made these words alive.

Someone has written a book called 'Alter Your Perception Transform Your Reality, Smiling Jesus, the book, by Leon Cautillo and a description reads:

Invent a more joyous life by transforming your perception of Jesus Christ by pondering the possibility that Jesus was happy and joyous. Jesus was indeed an all loving, happy messenger honoring the greatest interpretation of the idea "God". His message was simple, live, seeking greater and greater joy each and everyday.

And although there are some tough topics in the bible, remember that it's heart is about Love, Redemption.  Love sent in the form of Jesus Christ to save the lost.  We are all lost, even from birth due to the nature that was inherited from our ancestors Adam and Eve. We do not need to be taught to sin, the fruit is already there. No one is righteous not even one is a truth in a bible.  But when I think of Jesus, His love, His sacrifice ... I just love this book that speaks of Him and I love the Holy Spirit that witnesses to Him and His call for Salvation to His Kingdom for all who believe.

 

The Bible
“This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.

 

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