NOGS

Having finished the NOGS(No Other Gods)/Kelly Minter study online with Beth Moore and getting ready to dive into Believing God on September 8th made me reflect on how much the body of Christ is blessed with gifted Bible teachers. Having fresh and new perspectives shown from their gift of teaching which help us reflect on life's issues that challenge us to examine ourselves against the Word of God on what needs to be given over, relinquished, repented from, surrendered, and broken free from in our lives. Not just for freedom sake alone but to be free to live the life God has purposed and planned for us for His glory. To recognize that fact alone is HUGE when you think of all the daily implications in a person's life that envelopes. My greatest desire is that I never fail to walk moment by moment with Him as the center. That I respond automatically out of the Spirit versus my own selfish desires. I pray that I continue to have a thirst and desire for Him and that I don't get complacent with mediocrity.

One of my favorite quotes from the NOGS study this summer is "He brought us out . . . to bring us in." We say goodbye to say hello. When we surrender our "idols" and empty ourselves, God is there to fill it!

Definitely Not Normal

In our summer siesta study, No Other Gods/Kelly Minter, we are learning that our identity is in Christ. We are His and His alone and in being such, we are a peculiar, alien if you will people. We should be looked at as "foreign" because our lives should stand out as so breathtakingly "good" in comparison with others. I look introspectively and ask myself does my life "stand out" for Christ. If not, why?

As Kelly Minter says, "Not a goodness that comes from self-righteousness or legalism, but a goodness that is the fruit of obedience." Mmmm, obedience seems to be a theme around here lately! I am challenged by the part that says indulging in our sinful desires will snuff out the burning goodness and we become - hold your breath - NORMAL. Yuk!

We are new creatures in Christ, old things are passed away, ALL things have become new. We already have Christ's power through the Holy Spirit to live a life "FULL-ON" for God. It's up to us to CHOOSE to OBEY.