Courstesy of Donna Abbott and The Way Home

And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you… If through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever. Romans 8:11-13 (AMP)

Springtime speaks of new beginnings. I celebrated my birthday on March 15^th, and no matter my age, I have always loved my birthday. My birthday comes right before spring, but even more important it comes right before Easter Sunday. When I was growing up, one thing I remember was Easter Sunday was the day all the girls and ladies put away the black shoes, purses and dark colored dresses and brought out the white shoes, purses and pretty spring colored dresses. On my birthday, I always wanted and most of the time received a new Easter dress (sewn by my mother), white shoes, purse, gloves and a pretty Easter hat to wear to Sunday School and Church on Easter Sunday. My birthday was always a celebration of the old going out and the new coming in.

I also love Easter/Resurrection Sunday! It is one of my favorite days of the year because if we slow down enough to let it, it has the power to really draw us closer to God. It can become a time of deep reflection on the love of God and the great sacrifice that was made for our freedom. Jesus' resurrection gives us the absolute confidence of forgiveness and eternal life. I enjoy all the seasons but the flowers blooming, trees budding, grass turning green reminds me of God's amazing grace, and a fresh new life of love, beauty and even the fragrance of the Holy Spirit.

Often on Easter, the typical message we hear is about the great price that was paid for our salvation. As I've meditated on Jesus and the Resurrection these past few days, God has heavily put on my heart that we need to be reminded of why Jesus went to the cross, the purchase that was made, and our role in making the price a payment worth making.

Because of Jesus' sacrifice, Paul said that the same Spirit that resurrected Christ can resurrect you. But, have you truly been resurrected? In order for any of us to be resurrected, we must first die. We must die to self before the Holy Spirit can fully resurrect us to our new lives in Christ. Paul said, "If through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever." (Romans 11:13 AMP)

Well, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that Paul didn't say once you are saved, you have killed your flesh and you will never have to worry about it again. If you have been a Christian very long, you have hopefully learn by now just by experience, what Paul said is "you are habitually putting your flesh to death."

Sometimes we think that our flesh is dead, when, in reality, we must crucify our flesh daily. When it wants to complain or feel sorry for itself. When it wants to be gluttonous and gorge on junk food. When it is filled with fear and doubt. It needs to be crucified!

The good news is that when Jesus went to the cross and was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost, He was purchasing your right to be resurrected by the same power! It is "through the power of the Holy Spirit you are [habitually] putting your flesh to death". Not by your own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. I personally, have to shout a loud "HALLELUJAH, THANK YOU JESUS!!"

So, this resurrection season, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the power to habitually crucify your flesh just as Jesus was crucified for you. Ask God to use the same power that resurrected Jesus to resurrect you to a new life in Him!

The Spirit of God is in us to raise us up from dead works. He will quicken our flesh. If we will give ourselves over to Him, resurrection life will dominate and subdue the flesh. The Holy Ghost quickens our flesh. The life of God in us by the Spirit of God permeates outward until the flesh is in subjection to the Spirit.

When Jesus was crucified, our old man was crucified. The Spirit of God is in us to enforce the death of our old man. But the Holy Spirit will not subdue our flesh on His own. He helps us when we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. He is in us to teach and train us how to live habitually after this divine life that we have been given.

It starts with our everyday life. We must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in the everyday affairs of life and lead us into crucifying the works of the body. If you do not know how to be led by the Spirit, make a decision to learn. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. He will teach you.

We still have one week until Resurrection Sunday, in which I want to invite you to join me in meditating on these Words from God, throughout the week until Easter Sunday. Allow His Word to renew your mind as you crucify your flesh and are resurrected by the power of God! This is only a start, and if you're sincere in your gratefulness for what Christ did for you, you too will want to continue doing all you can to crucify your flesh on a daily basis here on out.

Pray this simple prayer and tell God, "Lord, help me crucify my flesh daily. I want to hear Your voice. I want to do what You tell me to do. I want to walk in Your resurrection power. I desire to experience the power to live life everyday. By a decision of my heart, I put down the dictates of my flesh and crucify the works of my body. By the power of God, I receive a Holy Ghost refreshing in my life. In Jesus'Name!"

It's VERY important now that you read and confess God's Word daily. It's very important that you put into your life things that you know are the will of God; time in prayer and in the Word. Then be quick to hear and adhere to the written Word and the promptings of the Spirit within you. I recommend you print these scriptures, carry them with you at all times, and especially during this week before Resurrection Sunday, spend time meditating on them day and night. Allow the Word of God to do the work in you. His Word is alive, active and sharper than any two edged sword. His Word WILL accomplish the things it was sent forth to accomplish, therefore as you read, meditate, dwell on these written Words of God, your mind WILL be renewed and your flesh WILL be put to death.

Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. Romans 6:3-5 (NLT)

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, live in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you…if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if you through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 1 John 4:16 (NLT)

ARISE & SHINE Your Light In This World,

Donna Abbott

Women's Ministry

Generosity

MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - March 31, 2010 - 49 days and counting. Well it is a new day and frankly I am not sleeping very well in my new environment. Firstly, my wonderful comfy bed that I could not bring with me is gone, so adjusting is difficult. Already plagued with 2 sleep disorders, sleep is fitful and uncomfortable even more. Secondly, I am having disturbing dreams, which under the circumstances is probably not uncommon when you are in a new environment and adjusting. And finally, it is causing my days to get off kilter, whereby I end up not being as productive as I would hope. As this is a temporary spot until I leave in May, I am simply grateful that I even have a bed to sleep in. Thank you to my beautiful and wonderful sister, Helen.

Helen has always been a blessing, in every sense of that word. She is kind and caring, filled with laughter and always brightens my day. She is a nurse so her compassion and empathy come in spades and its nice when I get an oowweee! She has three little dogs, Bonnie, Clyde and Winston. With the addition of my four, Asa and Kiah (lLg Golden's) and 2 cats Elmer and Kaijin, some terrorizing has been going on and a fight to be top dog. And you would think the big dogs would win. Not so - poor Kiah slinks into our space nervous and anxious. Asa, always affable has a little more nervousness in him I am not accustomed to seeing - and the cats - these poor guys are stuck in 2 small rooms and can't go outside, something they are not accustomed to. On top of that Asa has been rather chatty of late and seems to find the need to bark a lot. Now, remember I am temporary guest here. My rules don't apply and my needs come secondary. Helen's babies own this roost, with some help from Mom, and so there is some jockeying going on for power. I don't think anyone is really winning.

And poor Helen, this is a huge sacrifice on her part, like me accustomed to running her roost her way and me getting in the way. One of the trade offs is to help organize things for Helen, something I seem to have an aptitude for, in spades. But since my sleep is all messed up - I find myself with very little energy other than to enjoy some face booking and a nuzzling cat throughout the day.

Generosity is something that lies in wait within all of us. Sometimes it comes in the form of financial generosity, while other times it is one of service, time, love, spirit, faith, friendship, trust and probably a dozen more I can think of. But are we willing. In making this trek Eastwardly, I find myself eager to be generous with my time, faith and laughter and whatever else is thrown in my path that needs that spirit of generosity. Money has no significance with me as often I will give my last dollar to someone else. Or even when I am spent emotionally or physically, generosity of laughter ALWAYS blesses me enormously, Thank you Daddy. But when someone gives up their comforts of life or being to be generous to another, that is something not everyone has.

Sometimes it never peaks it's lovely head until late in life, like Ebenezer Scrooge. While for others it seems it spills forth from within them from a place we can not even imagine. Some do it out of obligation while others do it for recognition. Some give because it is tax deductible while others don't care. No matter how you slice it though, Generosity is a key ingredient to Faith - any Faith. Because in Faith, we are not required to do anything more than receive and believe. In Islam, your generosity IS measured. In Judaism, it is measured. In Christianity, it is not measured - you receive salvation and believe. Regardless of what you do from that day forward you do not lose salvation. I cannot do anything to earn salvation. I cannot give till it hurts, or always be "a good person" and it will be counted toward my points to get into heaven.

So what really does generosity mean - simply stated it is to give unselfishly to another. That simple. As I watch around me; as I am blessed daily by no less than 2 people more often 10 or more, I see this generosity with different eyes. I watch and receive kind words of encouragement or a helping ear when I am troubled and I know that someone else has set aside their problems to help me with mine - Generosity. As I receive the comfort of a roof over my head and shelter for me and my animals - Generosity. As friends joke and chat with me on FB - Generosity. As I am accepted back into the fold of my Home Church, prodigal daughter returning - Overwhelming Generosity of heart and faith. And for the truly generous at heart there is one other thing that is offered unconditionally to everyone - Love. Generosity is love requires selflessness in untold measure. That is GOD.

So today, as I pray prayers of gratefulness for these sleepless nights, and a roof over my family's head..I give thanks for the generosity I am receiving, in all its forms. It is this bloggers hope to bring great generosity, in ways only God knows, to those that join me along this new adventure and for those that only hear about it. Life is much shorter than we realize and generosity is not just a gift for revitalization in your life but something that we should be doing daily, if we are to have a future filled with abundant joy and peace. So - when was the last time you simply asked someone how they were just because? Or gave a smile and forgiveness, when a harsh or unkind word was spoken? Or when was the last time you just loved someone because?

So I want to thank everyone who has given so generously over the years to me, and now at a time of great change and challenge. I only pray that I can spread that same spirit of Generosity with everyone around me....because I choose to be a pebble that creates the ripple that grows the wave...that reaches the shore.

Blessings,

marebear

Are you a Pebble, the Ripple or the Wave

MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - Nearly 5 Pm and as I have been hugely blessed today by not just one niece but two - how cool is that - thank you face book. The last two day's have been interesting days because of some of the messages coming through some of my favorite links. And today, as I sat writing about Grace, I wasn't really sure where I was gonna go with it. As it turns out, what I wrote was simply from my heart of faith and it turned around and blessed me a thousand times over - how cool is that.

I think when we take a moment to step outside ourselves, and allow things to simply flow, it is amazing what can happen - you will hear me say this a lot but it is so key to our walk in Faith - and it really doesn't matter what your faith is because it works this way regardless if you practice Judaism, Islam, Hindu or the zillion of other religions:

Be the pebble, that creates the ripple that creates the wave that lands on the shore.

Won't you be a pebble today?

GRACE

MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - March 30th - Well today is my first day officially blogging and maybe no one will be reading and watching but that's ok...it isn't so much about an audience as it is the message. It's a scary thing at the ripe old age of 49 to say adios to all that is familiar and important to us and head back in time to a place that carries both extremely bad and extremely fond memories. The Big Apple is not Oregon and Oregon is not the Big Apple. Time moves a little slower here; people while at times can be guarded for the most part are not; friendliness is usually genuine and more often than not you don't have to lock your door or look over your shoulder. So u could say that this decision or crossroads will not be without it's adjustments and strife; but thankfully I have friends and family in both places and few in between that will guide and advise, encourage and lighten, and simply be available as needed...and I KNOW they will be praying which is a fabulous gift to receive.

As I look back on 22 years in Oregon, the friends I have made and lost; family that has come and gone; employment opportunities that have taught me much and improved me greatly; and the personal challenges along the way I amazed that I am still standing much less making this trek. I have been blessed more times than I should have and been forgiven for things I dare not speak of but am grateful for the grace. So today's message is about just that - GRACE.

How often in your life has a friend, a loved one, or someone who barely knew you extended the gift of grace to you unfettered with ulterior motives or selfishness; but rather simply given you Grace. It takes special people to share so freely of this very precious and rarely appreciated or recognized gift of grace. Not all have it and not all can give it. As human beings we are stubborn and prideful and filled with so much anger and resentment (at times) that we take things for granted but grace, ie forgiveness, That comes from a special place...a place that says I will love unconditionally and I will give of myself even when taken advantage of or hurt. I will not hold a grudge and I will not be poisoned by it. I have many many things to be thankful for over my lifetime but the one thing I am most grateful for is the GRACE! Jesus gave it to us on the cross. People give it to us because of what he did. Some give it because it is part of their make up. And sometimes, it just happens and you don't know why but it is given from a place so divine it defies human understanding.

Many of my family and friends have extended grace to me over and over and over...no need for me to beat myself up now over it...trust me, a lot of grace has been given. Today I may stand before you a good and kind, caring and generous person I wasn't always like that. Oh there were peaks and valley's (lots of valley's) but it took time to become who I am today and who I will be tomorrow, and it is truly because of the grace given to me that I am no longer that person. Grace in Salvation; and Grace out of Love. Those that have known me for a long time, know my heart is good - it always ways. But life has a way of standing in your way sometimes and beating you up or you let it beat you up and you become lost in it. And through all the valleys all the fires and avalanches of life, there always seemed to be someone there to catch me. Like someone was watching over me. God wasn't done with me yet I guess.

Those friends, those family members and you KNOW WHO YOU ARE - you have been used in such a mighty way for the kingdom of heaven. I know that what I will share here may not always be popular and may even frighten away some of those friends I am reacquainting with but it's ok, because my family and friends have taught me to be better, to be me, to be fearless. To have Faith. My life is not perfect, my friends are not perfect, I am not perfect and thank goodness I am not a twin - one of me is way too many...LOL - but the point is that in my 22 years in Oregon, beautiful nature of Oregon, I have grown up with my family and shed the bonds of hurt and pain and anger and loss, and replaced them with Faith, Hope and Love. And in those words lies Grace....share your grace today and watch it pay it forward....

marebear - countdown to departure T minus 50 days and counting.