As a follower of Jesus Christ, we are not who we were, nor are we who we are, we are becoming new in our heart, through the renewing of our minds. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The “new” that is spoken of here does not mean new in the sense of “renovated” but new in terms of species. I am not what I was (1 Corinthians 6:11), He transforms me from the inside out, and that transformation will manifest itself in what I do and say. I am different, I no longer live for myself, and the deceitful lusts that tempt me to live for this world. I am a pilgrim and stranger in a place, that God uses to conform me into the image of His glorious Son! I am no just a cleansed person, I am a new type of person, I am declared holy before God, and righteous before men, not because I am a better person than those around me, but because of the work of Jesus Christ through his death, burial, and resurrection. The … READ MORE

Have you ever struggled with who you are, and what you desire to be? I think that we all do. While it is true that we can not change many things about ourselves, we can change how we think about ourselves. As a boy, I struggled with how short I was, I wished all the time that I could somehow be taller, and my view of myself was determined by my height, until one day I realized that I was tall enough to reach the floor, and that was good enough. My point is that while we may not change some things about ourselves, one thing we can change is how we think about ourselves. Ephesians 4:22-24 reminds us that we are to put off the old way of thinking and put on a new way of thinking, by the renewing of our minds. The work of God in bringing salvation into our lives is a work that changes not only who we are, but ultimately, what we do! We need to begin to see ourselves as God sees us and not the way we may be perceived by the world. Allow your mind to begin to be renewed day … READ MORE

FORGIVENESS!!! Why is it so hard to live in, once we receive it? We often struggle with guilt and self-loathing because of our sinful past, and our struggles in the present. How do we live in the power of forgiveness? One way to do that is to recognize your privilege and live in the gratitude you have for that forgiveness. We must remember that forgiveness is based on grace not works. We do not deserve forgiveness, it is granted! The purpose for granting forgiveness is because the relationship is more important that the restitution. In Titus 3:5 we are told that we are forgiven, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy. . . ” The forgiveness we receive is a privilege that we are given not based on our ability to prove a changed life, but because of the grace and mercy of the forgiver. This forgiveness should produce in our heart a motivation of gratitude toward the forgiver, that leads us to live a different life. Gratitude for what we have been given is a key to learning to be content in the situations of life (Philippians 4:11). I must always remember … READ MORE