simplyreceive

Living by Grace through Faith.

January 4, 2016
by Kim Sue
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Two Roads

TwoRoadsPic

Perhaps many things can be distilled into two paths, two mindsets, two trees in a garden. Robert Frost said there were two paths in the wood and he took the one less traveled by “and that has made all the difference”.

This is the way that I wish to travel as well -not in the whoosh of everyday commotion, not by the demands of culture and tradition, and not by popular expectations but by the road less traveled. We have been born into a world tainted by the influence of sin which darkens understanding. However, into that world was born the light of the world. He gives us light that we can see the path of life.

It is there in front of us if we look through a heart of belief.

He is the way.

He is the bread of life.

At first there was a tree of life in a garden where we could live in His love, but we chose the other tree.

Now He provides Himself.  “Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’.” John 6:35

His body is the bread and His blood is the wine. His body sustains, strengthens, and heals us. His blood is the reality of His forgiveness resulting in our perfection, our redemption, our freedom from guilt and fear. This is where we go to live. This is where we find life – hidden in Him, embraced by His love.

If one bite of an apple from the wrong tree derailed all of humanity, one bite of bread with faith in the living Bread of Heaven is more than ample to redirect our lives. Our tree of life has been restored.

Jesus, I choose you.  You invite me to rest from my labors. My future, my hopes, and fears all find their answer in you. As I receive what you have done, I think about how entirely worthy your sacrifice is; how you did not sin; how you were innocent . It is hard to imagine, but your righteousness came to me through what you did. Your battle against darkness defeated all of my opposition and placed me in heavenly places with you. I choose to persuade my heart and mind of this truth and walk in freedom on the road less traveled.

You are my way. Your word lights my path.

 

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:9

November 29, 2015
by Kim Sue
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Accepted

photo credit: self-esteem via photopin (license)

photo credit: self-esteem via photopin (license)

 

Ever feel like you just don’t fit in, as if you are always the outsider never completely understood?

Jesus may have felt this way as well.   No one else on this planet was the Son of God and the Son of Man. He was in a foreign land with an understanding that He could teach to others but not one that others often understood.  Despite the fact that He was misunderstood and rejected often, He did not live downtrodden. He lived joyfully and abundantly in fellowship with his father. He did what He saw the Father doing and said those things the Father was speaking. He lived with an awareness that he and his father were one. Even from a young age, when his parents lost track of him and later found him in the temple. He simply explained “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:49 NIV

 

The beautiful aspect is that Jesus reflected how we can live on this earth.

He came that we can live again in unity with the Father.   Jesus plainly states his vision in his prayer, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  John 17:20-21 NIV

So what does this mean for us? It means the end of rejection, loneliness and all sense of not fitting in – in all aspects of life. His prayer has been answered. He secured our restoration through the cross. We simply receive the truth that we have been united to Him. He is in us through the Holy Spirit and we are one as the Father and Jesus are One. We are not splintered, divorced, abandoned or rejected in our true identity.

Life has a way of kicking us around up and down. Externally we can experience a sense of belonging, popularity or being understood just as easily as we can feel outcast, unseen or put down. Yet we do not need to labor in this.   We are better off resting. Resting in that He promised, “I will not leave you as orphans ; I will come back to you”. He has come back and sent the comforter.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. John 14:16-20 NIV

Here is our antidote to bring us back to a sense of belonging.   Those voices that say we are not enough or we do not fit in are lies and often echoes from the past. They are shadows not reality. He is our shepherd who leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. May our ears be opened to our Father’s love. The first step is to know He is not distant. He is not even right beside.  He is inside of us, intertwined in our life.  He has chosen to be One with us. He has chosen us. We are His bride. He is not leaving us. We are stuck with Him in a good way! He says you are accepted, you are His delight.

But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 1Corinthians 6:7