Religion -vs- The Gospel

"As sinners, we are prone to pursue a relationship with God in one of two ways. The first is religion/spirituality and the second is the gospel. The two are antithetical (opposite) in every way.

Religion says that if we obey God, he will love us. The gospel says that it is because God has loved us through Jesus that we can obey. Religion says that the world is filled with good people and bad people. The gospel says that the world is filled with people who are either repentant or unrepentant. Religion says that you should trust in what you do as a good moral person. The gospel says that you should trust in the perfectly sinless life of Jesus because he alone is the only good and truly moral person who will ever live. The goal of religion is to get from God such things as health, wealth, insight, power, and control. The goal of the gospel is not the gifts God gives, but rather God as the gift given to us by grace. Religion is about what I have to do. The gospel is about what I get to do. Religion sees hardship in life as punishment from God. The gospel sees hardship in life as sanctifying affliction that reminds us of Jesus' suffering and is used by God in live to make us more like Jesus. Religion is about me. The gospel is about Jesus. Religion leads to an uncertainty about my standing before God because I never know if I have done enough to please God. The gospel leads to certainty about my standing before God because of the finished work of Jesus on my behalf on the cross. Religion ends in either pride (because I think I am better than other people) or despair (because I continually fall short of God's commands). The gospel ends in humble and confident joy because of the power of Jesus at work for me, in me, through me, and sometimes in spite of me."

…the central point of the New Testament is that we are more wicked than we ever feared, yet more loved than we ever dreamed."

"A book you'll actually read On the New Testament" by Mark Driscoll

Leap of Faith anyone??

Woooow!! This Word couldn't come at a better time. If you read yesterday's blog you'll know exactly what i'm talking about! (Just keep reading... you'll see.)

So, I was reading and deleting old files from my emails and I stopped to read this specific one. This is mail was forwarded from my best friend and dated waaaay back in August of 2006! It was exactly 2 years ago! The Word through this email impacted me when I read it and the Word still applies to me today! I know... amazing huh? Yup thats the God I love... that's the God I serve. Anyway, heres the email....
I pray it impacts you as it has impacted me.

Take a leap of faith!

Today's Scripture
"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone that comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Today's Word
God is always giving us opportunities to grow and move forward in this life.
But in order to experience God's best, you must be bold and willingly step out in faith to do what God says to do!

Do you have a "play-it-safe" mentality? Are you avoiding risks because you're afraid you might fail? Or, do you think that what you dreaming about might be too difficult? The Bible says that faith pleases God. It brings pleasure to the heart of God when He knows that you trust Him enough to step out and obey Him. You may not always know what will happen, and you may not always feel qualified. But the Bible says in Joshua 1:8: "Don't be afraid. Be strong, be bold, be very courageous for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." God promises He will always be with you – and with God on
your side, you are more than a conqueror!

The next time you know God is bringing an opportunity across your path, step out of your comfort zone! Step out in faith, knowing that God has His best in store for you. He desires to bring you success. Be willing to take some risks – knowing that Almighty God is right there by your side!

A Prayer for Today
God, I have nothing to fear with You by my side. There are risks I should
take and doors I need to open and I will trust in You as I meet these
challenges. Today, I will be bold in my faith! In Jesus' name, Amen.

His Mercies

Lamentations 3:22-24

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.”

Talk about His mercies are new every morning!! Something huge just finished hitting my car and not a dent was made! Most importantly, I’m alive and well! (And so is everyone else who was at the scene!)

The Scene:
I was behind a truck on I-4 (the Expressway) going 70-75mph at rush hour around 5:15pm with cars to my left, front and rear, on a double-lane road. Suddenly, this ‘thing’ came flying toward my car!!! It hit the hood of my car and bounced off toward the car behind me! It looked like a lid or something to that nature. The truck rode right over it without noticing it, and this ‘thing’ bounced off of its tires and hit my car, bounced off of mine and so forth.
-End of scene-

I didn’t panic—thank God! But, seconds later, it hit me! That ‘thing’ could have hit and broken my front glass window, yet it hit the hood instead- and even more so, it bounced off of my car and it didn’t hit any other car!! It could have been a rock and, at that speed, it could have instantly broken my window! It could have been… but it wasn’t... and it didn’t… and I am more than grateful that God saved me from a terrible accident, and He saved those around me too!

I absolutely have to quote this verse!

Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.”

Simple as that! God is an awesome God!

Today He was pleased in giving me another day of life and I am totally in debt with Him; nothing new—I always have been. But, God knows I messed up on Him just yesterday. Where would I have been? I think of how He saved me today, and how He saved my soul even before I was born! (He knew me even then.) There is no way I can repay Him... but this I know… His blood was not shed in vain. His blood and sacrifice cannot be measure or priced. I will do my best to serve Him and to lead others to His wonderful saving grace.

Prayer:

Thanks Dad. You gave me another gift. I cherish You and I Love You so SO much. My heart breaks for those who still don’t know You—this Wonderful God. My Daddy. And my heart breaks even more for those who have rejected You. They don’t want this awesome love You offer? Then I’ll have it!

XOXOXO I am in awe of You. XOXOXO

I LOVE YOU!!

Yari

Luke 1:50

“His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.”