I am writing today, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to share my thoughts on what all the studying, all the reading, and the daily devotionals have led me to discover.  I have come to realize that my life is about honoring Christ and glorifying God!  Now that does not mean I am a saint, actually not really that close…  What is means is that I am judging less and more aware of when I am.  It means that when I look at a person I see beyond the shell and what the glamour magazines tell me to see.  It also means I lift up my face more and smile into peoples eyes.  It’s amazing what kind of response you get!  It means that I remember that I have Jesus Christ with me ALL the time.  What a treasure, what a blessing, what a relief.

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 gave Himself up for me. – Galatians 2:20 NASB

     Since Christ lives in me, I can call on Him anytime.  This is great news!  I need Him All of the time, whether I truly realize it or not.  For instance, I struggle with past sins (my old lady) that often surprise me.  My first response is to feel shame that I can still have such a thought, the second response is to react to it.  I may become a little depressed or lose some joy in my day.  I have a friend (Christ following friends are the best!!!) who told me about 2 Corinthians 10:5 .  Jesus gets an awful lot of yucky stuff laid at His feet, but, He can take it.  This I do know and trust.  So I pass on this great verse to you.

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, – 2 Corinthians 10:5  NASB

     Jesus tells us in Matthew, through the “Beatitudes” that even thoughts against a brother, calling him a fool, is the same as murder.  (Sin is sin after all.)  This tells me that I am a work in progress and I need to visualize Christ in me and call on HIM.  I will place my trust in Him Who frees me from worldly cares and death of the spirit.  I will lay all the judgement and speculation at His feet… not perfectly, but with a loving heart for God.

     May your day and week be filled with love.  Love for friends and family, and love for the stranger.  May you lift up your face and smile into the eyes of someone new, and maybe not so perfect either.  Peace.