tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-141847662024-03-08T13:07:01.040-05:00PJ's PonderingsThis blog is a place where I share my thoughts, ideas and views about relationship with God and life in Christ.John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-79734399055279805072011-08-13T00:19:00.000-04:002011-08-13T00:19:03.598-04:00How I See It... (Aug. 12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<div class="p1"><b>How I See It... (Aug. 12)</b></div><div class="p1">The believer has two sources from which to live: the Spirit or the flesh. Choosing to walk in the empowerment of the Spirit will result in a demonstrations of Jesus' life flowing through you. Choosing to walk after the flesh will result in a demonstration of all the unpleasant ways you have pursued a false sense of life apart from God. You can't refuse to choose, it's either one or the other. Choose Empowerment!</div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-13337057339533746362011-08-13T00:18:00.005-04:002011-08-13T00:18:38.301-04:00How I See It.... (Aug. 11)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<div class="p1"><b>How I See It.... (Aug. 11)</b></div><div class="p1">Fear is an emotional reaction we feel when we do not know what might happen and anticipate an outcome that will bring hurt into our lives. When we let fear control our thoughts we fail to trust that there is One who sovereignly works all things in our lives together for good. But when we hold up our anxious thoughts against the promise of His continual presence and eternal life, our fears give way to peace.</div><div class="p1"><br />
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<div class="p1"><b>How I See It....(Aug. 10)</b></div><div class="p1">The idea that we can control people & circumstances to secure a sense of well being for ourselves is a lie as old as time. By holding on to this notion, we place our faith in ourselves & assume responsibility for the outcomes. In so doing we miss out on the very experience of life for which we're searching. However, when we relinquish our death grip on the fears & expectations that drive us to control & place them into the care of God, then we're finally free to live.</div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-40113928503409760302011-08-13T00:17:00.002-04:002011-08-13T00:17:44.144-04:00How I See It… (Aug. 9)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<div class="p1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>How I See It… (Aug. 9)</b></span></b></div><div class="p1">It is critical for a wounded soul to rediscover his will. For the will is integrally connected to faith. While the blessings of God are given by grace, they are received & experienced as we place our faith in what God has said and done. If we believe that we can't choose & have no power to decide or trust, we will be paralyzed as victims of our circumstances. God has given us a spirit of power. We have what we need to believe, to trust, to choose!</div><div class="p1"><br />
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We who are in Christ are new creations. Because of His great love God sent Jesus to become sin through crucifixion, so that by grace, through faith we who were enemies of God might become His righteousness in Christ. That's radical transformation! That's grace! And it changes everything! Our great challenge is believing that God has made us righteous in Christ- living righteously will flow out of that believing.</span>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-36653739821485845862011-08-06T13:05:00.002-04:002011-08-06T13:05:35.527-04:00How I See It..... (Aug. 6)<title></title> <style type="text/css">
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<div class="p1" style="font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b>How I See It..... (Aug. 6)</b></b></div><div class="p1" style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The world, our flesh & the devil oppose our walk in reliance upon the Spirit. So perseverance is essential in the Christian's life, but our perseverance must be at the level of our trusting, believing & relying on the resources of God for victory rather than our own. It is His adequacy, righteousness & life that we depend upon. Yes, we persevere in saying "no" to ungodliness, but we must first be diligent in saying "yes" to the fullness of God's Spirit as our source.</div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-29119764518974279362011-08-05T09:14:00.002-04:002011-08-05T09:14:31.742-04:00How I See it.... (Aug. 5)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>How I See it.... (Aug. 5</strong>)</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">God (who is love) does not change. He is just, and He must judge & punish sin. Because of His great love for guilty ones, He satisfied his own just demands in Christ, & by grace He has offered the free gift of forgiveness & redemption to anyone who reaches to Him in repentance & faith. Jesus bore the judgement for my sin, & offered me His eternal life.</div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-91052890791247250002011-08-05T02:01:00.000-04:002011-08-05T02:01:28.041-04:00How I See It.... (Aug 4)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><b>How I See It.... (Aug 4)</b><br />
Everything that is true about love is true about God for God is love. He is patient and kind. God does not envy or boast, and He isn't proud. He does not dishonor and He isn't self-seeking. God is not easily angered, and He keeps no record of wrongs. He despises evil & rejoices in truth. God never ever fails.</span>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-12806600255399681552011-08-05T01:21:00.005-04:002011-08-05T01:21:43.348-04:00How I See It….(August 3)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong><strong>How I See It….(August 3)</strong></strong></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Freedom is not as much about having victory over being tempted by a particular sin as it is learning the truth about what Jesus has done regarding my sin. It has been paid for. He has set me free from bondage to it. I don't have to live as a slave of it. I am empowered by the righteous Spirit of Jesus to live in freedom if I choose. I am only one choice away from walking in the freedom Jesus died to give me.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-81796760547749843662011-08-05T01:21:00.002-04:002011-08-05T01:21:22.035-04:00How I See It..... (August 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong>How I See It….(August 2)</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Biblically speaking, death is separation from God, & life is relationship with God. Jesus came to give us life to the full (Jn. 10:10), By His death, He made it possible for us to have a full & meaningful relationship with God. What a tragedy that this simple message has been misfigured into complex religious systems that often leave people longing for life rather than overflowing with it.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-45210969686214423812011-08-05T01:20:00.005-04:002011-08-05T01:20:52.503-04:00How I See It..... (August 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong>How I See It….(August 1)</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I believe that we were created to live dependent upon God: not people, not wealth, not status, not governments. These are only tools in the hand of God. Sometimes it is only when we realize that they cannot be relied upon that we finally take hold of God as Living Water, Bread of Life and the Vine through which everything we need flows.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Many of us use prayer, obedience, giving, even positive thinking to secure certain blessings from God. In so doing, we're showing that we believe we can control God. This false belief is similar to the serpent's lie, "you can be like God." Pray passionately, obey without hesitation, give generously & think truthful thoughts, but do so in love for God, not to secure the blessing of God.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-78410391553679425152011-08-05T01:19:00.006-04:002011-08-05T01:19:58.150-04:00How I See It..... (July 30)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong><strong>How I see it.... (July 30)</strong></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We can't live the Christian life. It isn't just difficult it's impossible. Only one person can live the Christian life, & that's Christ himself. We can't produce Christlikeness apart from the empowerment & inspiration of Jesus who indwells us. On the other hand, consider all that can be accomplished through us if we're living fully surrendered to the One who indwells us!</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-41279667103600758822011-08-05T01:19:00.003-04:002011-08-05T01:19:33.880-04:00How I See It..... (July 29)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong><strong>How I see it.... (July 29)</strong></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong><strong></strong></strong>The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ make up the climax and center of Scripture. As we read everything leading up to it, we read of how God is setting the stage to fulfill all things in Christ. In that which follows, we can see the outworking of that redemptive work through the New Covenant in those who believe.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">God has given to us divinely powerful weapons to deal with the thoughts, ideas & speculations that are hurled in our direction. We have the power to take those thoughts captive & bring them into submission to the will & way of God. While these thoughts are relentless, God's power is equally continuous & much greater than the power of any enemy we face. Your victory is sure, walk in it!</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">God's has not asked me to try to be like Jesus so much as He has invited me to trust that Jesus is now alive in me to live His own life through me. All of my attempts to duplicate the life of Jesus are doomed to failure unless I'm restfully yielding my will to His and allowing His Spirit to guide and empower me. So, we get to choose: Trying OR Trusting? Running OR Resting?</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-86731618275797691332011-08-05T01:18:00.000-04:002011-08-05T01:18:16.022-04:00How I See It..... (July 26)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong><strong>How I see it.... (July 26)</strong></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">An environment that measures performance against a standard & encourages the keeping up of appearances will produce shame & striving. Each failure to meet the expectations of others will push us further into hiddenness. Maturity & healing happen best in an environment that values authenticity & generously accepts people wherever they are in their journey.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-16678214891131901282011-08-05T01:16:00.000-04:002011-08-05T01:16:25.529-04:00How I See It..... (July 25)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong>How I see it.... (July 25)</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">God knows who we are, what we've done & what we will yet do. Still, in love He offers us the gift of His Son. Each who believes is transformed from sinner to saint, from darkness to light, from enemy to friend, from death to life. As we grow in trust & understanding of what God has done for us, we will see the emergence of new desires, priorities, and behaviors- that's maturity.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-52329330939753435382011-08-05T01:14:00.002-04:002011-08-05T01:14:59.944-04:00How I See It..... (July 24)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong><strong>How I see it.... (July 24)</strong></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The law of Christ is love- love God, love others- this is true. But all our loving, no matter how consistent and purely motivated, cannot take away our problem of sin. Only a perfect sacrifice can satisfy the just demand for righteousness, and God Himself has graciously given this to us in Christ. Love? Yes, but do so as an outworking of His grace, not to become worthy of it.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-63744824746151034352011-08-05T01:13:00.002-04:002011-08-05T01:13:51.123-04:00How I See It..... (July 23)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong>How I see it... (July 23)</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As a believer in Jesus, my proximity to God is multi-dimensional. I am "in Him" & He is "in me" (Jn. 14:20-21). The Bible says I WAS in Christ when He died & rose again & now I AM "seated with Christ in heavenly places". All of this is true whether I'm lying on my bed, driving my car or sitting at my desk. It's not a future promise; it's a present reality, & I can rest in the security of it today!</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-2580301342756230022011-08-05T01:12:00.000-04:002011-08-05T01:12:49.893-04:00How I See It..... (July 22)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong><strong>How I see it.... (July 22)</strong></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For the believer in Jesus, physical death is the God-appointed moment when our outer man gives way to earthy circumstances ending it's temporal existence to enter the presence of Jesus for eternity. The great hope of the Christian Gospel is an everlasting union with God that begins at the moment we believe & never ends! We don't have to wait to begin enjoying the benefits of our everlasting LIFE!</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-16048988592346488932011-08-05T01:11:00.000-04:002011-08-05T01:11:40.035-04:00How I See It..... (July 21)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong><strong>How I see it.... (July 21)</strong></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Because my new heart longs to honor God, my greatest hope for NOT walking after my flesh is choosing to walk in the Spirit. Focussing on my sin will only lead to more of the same, but when I'm living right in the middle of all that God says is true about me and the Spirit of God is empowering me, I'll naturally fulfill my heart's deep longing to glorify God!</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong></strong></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-48976345006053820262011-08-05T01:10:00.000-04:002011-08-05T01:10:35.584-04:00How I See It..... (July 19)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong>How I see it.... (July 19)</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">To be "in Christ" means that my life has been joined together with His- I died with Him, I was buried and rose from death with Him. In Him I live and move and have my being. As I choose to believe and live in these realities, He lives freely through me, revealing His glory and bearing fruit that is Spiritual.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-16664308605266665952011-08-05T01:09:00.000-04:002011-08-05T01:09:27.383-04:00How I See It..... (July 18)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong><strong>How I see it.... (July 18)</strong></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sin is best dealt with by a process called redemption- my attempts to manage my sin are tantamount to saying that I don't need a Savior. Sin cannot be dealt with by works- it must be dealt with by grace. Repentance of sin involves me changing my mind toward it- seeing it as God sees it- forgiven, forgotten and inconsistent with my new identity in Christ. "Christ in me, the hope of glory"</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div>John Stroudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279359084603351599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184766.post-23634955660960948932011-08-05T01:08:00.000-04:002011-08-05T01:08:11.330-04:00How I See It..... (July 17)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><strong><strong>How I see it.... (July 17)</strong></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Grace is the free gift of God's favor lavished upon those created in His image without condition or expectation. Because of grace prodigals can become heirs, sinners can become saints, and those bound to sin and evil can become the righteousness of God in Christ.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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