#exchangedlife

[thetonycross]

Family is not defined by our genes; it is built and maintained through love. It takes a whole lot of love but if Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for us, what is there that we can’t do if it’s His power through us and not our own? Life isn’t about comfort and ease but my prayer is that we of the Cross become comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s not about us but Christ. #james127 #onemorechild #bethechange #bethechurch #itsmandated #handsandfeetofjesus #exchangedlife #tridadio #fostercare #fosterparents #lovelikejesus #adoption #everyoneneedsafamily

[thetonycross]

A good read by Oswald Chambers on this New Years Eve eve. Our Lord never “patches up” our natural virtues, that is, our natural traits, qualities, or characteristics. He completely remakes a person on the inside— “…put on the new man…” (Ephesians 4:24). In other words, see that your natural human life is putting on all that is in keeping with the new life. The life God places within us develops its own new virtues, not the virtues of the seed of Adam, but of Jesus Christ. Once God has begun the process of sanctification in your life, watch and see how God causes your confidence in your own natural virtues and power to wither away. He will continue until you learn to draw your life from the reservoir of the resurrection life of Jesus. Thank God if you are going through this drying-up experience! The sign that God is at work in us is that He is destroying our confidence in the natural virtues, because they are not promises of what we are going to be, but only a wasted reminder of what God created man to be. We want to cling to our natural virtues, while all the time God is trying to get us in contact with the life of Jesus Christ— a life that can never be described in terms of natural virtues. It is the saddest thing to see people who are trying to serve God depending on that which the grace of God never gave them. They are depending solely on what they have by virtue of heredity. God does not take our natural virtues and transform them, because our natural virtues could never even come close to what Jesus Christ wants. No natural love, no natural patience, no natural purity can ever come up to His demands. But as we bring every part of our natural bodily life into harmony with the new life God has placed within us, He will exhibit in us the virtues that were characteristic of the Lord Jesus. And every virtue we possess Is His alone. #exchangedlife #notofthisworld #godswork #walkinginthespirit #life #natural #godsplan #jesus #bethechange #bethechurch #walkbyfaith

[nicsplace]

The enemy is real. The greatest trick that Satan/the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist. While it is a quote from (what I think is) a fantastic movie, it is the absolute truth! Only 24% of the population believe that he exists, and out of that, only 52% of those claiming to be Christian believe he exists. The thing about being deceived is that you don't know you're being deceived. There is a very real battle that is going on right now, all around us. It's not one that we can see or hear, but it can and does affect us. John 10:10 says that the thief (the enemy) comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy - YOU, your life, your relationships, your family, your peace, your spirit, your message, your future, your destiny, your purpose, etc. - but that Jesus has come, not only so that you can have life and enjoy it, but so that you can have life in abundance! 1 Peter 5:8 says to be self disciplined, of a sober mind and to be alert and vigilant at all times, because your enemy, the devil prowls around like a hungry lion, seeking anyone whom he can devour. Ephesians 6:12 says that we do not wrestle with or struggle against flesh and blood, contending ONLY with physical opponents, but against the powers, the rulers, the authorities, the principalities of this present dark world and the spiritual forces of evil and lawlessness in heavenly, supernatural places where we cannot see them. Everything that you are coming up against, or that is coming up against you is rooted in the "behind the curtains" area. The enemy wants you to feel like you'll never outrun your past, that you will always feel shame and, therefore, are unworthy of love, friendship, forgiveness, a relationship, good things...a meaningful and abundant future. He wants your potential to shrivel up and die. He wants you to feel lost, hopeless and helpless. Why let him? Jesus already won. You can have that victorious life as well. Exchange your burdens, tears, fears, shame, brokenness, hopelessness and past, for God's forgiveness, confidence, healing, peace, mercy, joy, hope, grace and love. #SpiritualWarfare #EverythingYouDoMatters #JesusWon #ExchangedLife #Victorious