Our Focus

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we become a new creation. As a new creation, we will then start to see the world differently. In Galatians 6:14, Paul tells us that through Jesus Christ the world has been crucified to us and us to the world. This means how we relate to the world around us will change. In verse 1, instead of being judgmental, we are to gently restore. In verse 2 and 3, our focus shifts away from us and onto others. In verses 7 and 8, we think differently about the consequences of our actions and look to the leading of the Spirit. In verses 9 and 10, we are encouraged to do good even when we are tired and weary. We are a new creation. Paul even prays that as new creations "mercy and peace be upon them, and upon Israel of God."

God, May I live as a new creation with a focus on others and doing good. I long to see your mercy and peace be present in my life and those who are around me. Amen

Galatians 5: Free to do what?

In Galatians 5:1 Paul tells us that it was for freedom Christ set us free. So what are we going to do with this freedom? Well, Paul has a few suggestions.

1. I am to look forward to seeing God fulfill His promises. "But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to recieve everything promised us who are right with God through faith." vs5 NLT.

2."Faith working through love." vs6 NAS should be a part of my life. I now have the energy to see where God is working and in faith join Him. Because of his grace, I can focus on loving people instead of a bunch of do's and don'ts.

3. I am to "through love serve one another." vs13b. It is so easy to focus on what I need and want instead of what is going on around me in the lives of others. We have a saying at our house "It's not all about you." God wants me to use the opportunities I have to serve my family, friends and those who cross my path.

4. With the Spirit's help, I will hopefully begin to see the fruit of the Spirit in my life. With this fruit as a part of my life, I will better be able to "crucify the flesh with its passions and desires." vs24

5. I will remember that I belong to Christ and that I am not doing life alone as long as I walk by the Spirit He has given me.



Dear God, There is a lot of things I don't understand about this chapter but I do know that I am free because of Jesus and by His Spirit I can know the way to live. May the fruit of the Spirit be evident in my life and through love may I serve those you send my way. Amen

Our Hearts Cry Out: Galatians 4

Galatians 4:6 NAS And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father." Isn't it neat that the God of all creation put it into our hearts to cry out to him to seek him. God has put a hole in our heart that can only be filled by Him.

Psalms 42:1-2a NAS As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. God, Make me thirsty for you. Amen

Galatians 3: Faith vs the Law

I have enjoyed thinking about this battle between Faith and the Law, yet not knowing how to put it into words it has taken me a while to write this blog . Let us start with Faith. For Faith to work I need a relationship with God. How can I trust the promises of someone I don't know? How can I believe unless I know who God is and understand that He loves me? When Job was having trouble he trusted God in spite of everything. Even though he know he hadn't sinned, it wasn't that fact that helped him keep his faith, rather it was his relationship with God. He knew the character of God and that God could be trusted. Faith involves grace. Faith is all about God and what He did for us. Faith also involves love.

On the other hand, the Law is very impersonal and harsh. No one can measure up. It has no grace. The Law is all about you and what you can do. Yet each of us finds ourselves at times maybe not trying to live by the law of the OT but by a law of our own making, bypassing the relationship. This chapter was a refreshing reminder that Faith is all about depending on God and nothing about depending on me. The only thing God desires is that we come to know and love Him. As I see more of God's character I wonder why anyone wouldn't want to love Him. I wonder why/how I could stray from the original plan?

God, be with me today. Help me to focus on You and not on me. May I live by faith, trusting you to guide me each step of the way. Amen

A Glance Back at Our School Year

At this time last year, I had no idea what our first year of homeschooling would be like. I must admit teaching my daughter went better then I thought. It took a while for us to get use to each other but we both loved books so we often couldn't wait to find out what was happening next. It did take time which was a discipline for me. I learned and am still learning the need to sacrifice what I want for what is best for my family. And I find when I make the right choice God blesses that choice and I am at peace. I learned I could use more patience. :) I learned there are times to play and times to work hard. I saw my daughter develop confidence and enjoying school. I saw my son learn to play independently at times and increase his focus time. He also wanted to do school but his method was a lot of one thing for a week and then move on to another subject. I enjoyed the time investing in my children's lives and am glad we made this choice.

Favorite verse: Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me."

Even though the first part of this verse is very hard to do, I find comfort that I do not have to do the job that God has for me alone. God in me makes the best me i.e. best wife, best mom, best friend. My job is to make sure I give my will to God so that God's will can be lived out in me. This is a big task especially when I can be stubborn at times but is much less stressful then trying to go at life all by myself.

Tell me again... Galatians 1

You know I used to sort of space out during the last part of a sermon when the preacher will often go over the plan of salvation for those who may need to make a decision. I knew it needed to be said but didn't think I needed to hear it again. But I do need to hear it again. In Galatians 1, Paul is disturbed that the Galatians are starting to have others preach a different gospel then that of Jesus. He tells them that even if an angel comes and says something different they need to stick to that which Paul had preached to them the first time. In this day and age with so many conflicting messages coming our way, I need to be reminded again and again of the gospel of Jesus. From this all life begins and all the rest is extra. In Galatians 1:4, Paul reminds us that it was Jesus "who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." It's one story I should never get tired of hearing.