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Showing posts with the label repentance

Why Baptism?

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" Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.   Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,   and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.   “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.   Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.   John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”   But Jesus answered him,  “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. ”  Then he consented.   And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and h...

A Peter Problem

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"Peter said to Him [Jesus], “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?" -Matthew 14:28-31 Last night as I was emailing a friend of mine, my thoughts came together, and I quickly realized I have a Peter problem. I was telling her some of the things the Lord has revealed to me the past few days. I am ADD so I do 100 things at one time, because I can't focus long enough to do 1 thing and take it all in, then on to the next. Hard to explain. When I write I'm on several other sites, and doing other things and my posts eventually get done. It's ridiculous really. I've always liked the disciple Peter, because I can id...

If my People

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"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there." -2 Chronicles 7:14-16 I'm participating in John Hagee's call to 40 days of prayer, fasting, and repentance for our nation. It started today, and I committed to pray, and fast soda, including my beloved sundrop, Facebook, and bread. This verse has become quite a popular verse here in the recent years, it was popular when 9/11 happened I remember. How have we as disciples of Christ done in following this verse? Many of us have sat back silently, never once standing up for Jesus for the desire to be politically correct instead of Biblically correc...

Are you Nicodemus?

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Shackled by a heavy burden, beneath a load of guilt and shame. Then the hand of Jesus touched me, now I am no longer the same. He touched me, oh He touched me, and oh the joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole. Today I celebrate my spiritual birthday. 9 years ago today Jesus rescued me and saved my soul. It's been quite a journey looking back. Along the way I have doubted, I deviated, I have stumbled, and fallen; but I am thankful to be able to tell you today that I know that I know I am saved. Not just because I can look back on this date, but because of what the last post covered. It's a covenant relationship. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. My testimony continues to change because God continues to change me. Over the last 9 years I have faced difficult circumstances, choices, and changes of all kinds. I'm thankful that I can look at this day last year and see that since then I have grown ev...

God Pursues You: Covenant

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The Christian story begins with creation in harmony, unity, and peace; and it ends with a restored creation. Between these two bookends is the drama of redemption. The covenants are major acts of this drama. Christ’s work is intimately related to and fulfills each of the five covenants that God initiated in the Old Testament. Covenants are about God’s activity and intention to redeem us , and the covenants tell us about ourselves—our condition, our brokenness, our dignity, our role as images of God, our suffering, and our calling. A covenant is a life and death relationship with God on His terms. The Greek word, "diatheke" refers to a person's last will and testament or to other solemn agreements involving benefits and responsibilities to all involved parties. In the New Testament, the word is often used as an equivalent to the Hebrew word "berith", especially in theological contexts. It is a binding agreement, a contract between at least two parties. It ...

True Repentance

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Lately, I've been learned a lot about repentance. I dare say many of us know what true repentance is. It's been something I have struggled with always. I was talking to my sister one day this week and told her about the work God has done in my life lately. In response she said, "so it was a true repentance." Then the light went off! So that's repentance!! I'm not going into great detail, but I will tell you that true repentance has everything to do with Jesus living in you. It means possessing His Spirit only and laying down and turning from the things which are not of Him, and running into His grace. The things I thought I had once repented of really just hung around because I hadn't fully decided that I was turning from that lifestyle, I still liked the idea of it. That is not repentance, that's called confessing. Huge difference. Confessing is acknowledging that you did it, your sorry, but then you go out and do it again. The reason yo...