We have been redeemed...

Greetings Ladies!

Reflecting on this walk with God...
Listening to my iTunes genius and it pulled up this song...check it out on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRcoB10LW80

Here are the lyrics...kind of long, but the words speak a powerful, humbling truth...WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED by God...redeemed means to make (something that is bad, unpleasant, etc.) better or more acceptable (Miriam dictionary). Yes, we were bad, unpleasant, and other synonyms, but God redeemed us through Jesus Christ! Amen...think about it...

I am a Christian
Do you know what that means?
That means I'm far from perfect
Simply redeemed, born with a purpose
Purchased by love

It's not a form of religion
But a gift from above
I am not perfect, no
But I have been redeemed

I am a believer
Do you know what that means?
That means I've pledge my life, giving everything
I never knew that this was meant to be
I'm not perfect but I have been redeemed

While I was yet in my transgressions
Somebody paid the price for me
I offer up my life to Him and now I say again
I am not perfect, oh but I have been redeemed
Oh yes

I am your brother
Let me show you the way
We'll take this road together
Take it day by day

Somehow I know
We'll make this journey's end
Make no mistake about it
You have been redeemed, redeemed

While you were yet in your transgressions
Somebody paid to set you free
So offer up your life to Him
Accept this love and we'll begin
Walk together for we have been redeemed
Redeemed

While we were yet in our transgression
He gave His life for you and me
So why not give your life to Him
Accept His love and then begin

To stand together hand in hand
And truly He will heal our land
And we will wear this chains no more
As these walls comes crashing to the floor

And then someday He'll come again
And we will find our rest in Him
This will be perfect
We will be perfect, yeah

Simply redeemed 

Your story...

Choices..life experiences leave us with choices to make. Life is an interesting thing, it is. For many, life has been a hard thing. Not fun, not enjoyable, not pleasant. We've all been in a place we never thought we would be. Seemingly stuck. Seemingly no way to get out. Dark. Cold. Lonely. Wondering how in the world we got there! BUT this is where God steps in. Not that He wasn't right there with you all the time. He was. In the middle of it all, He was there. The Bible tells us that He would never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). When we give God that pain, that disappointment, that mistrust, He is more than able to deliver us, heal us, and take our life hurts and use them to help someone else. Let God into your hearts today through Jesus Christ and your life won't be the same! 

Staying FOCUSED!

tjb

The word of God concerning you...

1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. 19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:1-24 NIV)

Praying for our children...

The Word of God...

What is sin?

Skunks...they really smell terrible, don't they? Sitting in my dorm room many years ago, on a hot summer night I got up close and personal with the smell of skunk. One of the wild dogs that ran around on campus caught one right in front on my open window! The room wreaked of skunk for a week! Clothes, hair, personal belongings, books, everything smelled like skunk! 

Well, just as we find the smell of skunk oh so disgusting, so too, does God when we sin. We set traps to relocate skunks in our area because we want them to be gone. The Word of God does the same for the life of man, it removes the stench of sin when we obey God's word. It is sin that builds a bridge between us and God. Thank God for Jesus who came to rebuild that bridge so that we can reach him but more importantly, so that He can reach us! And isn't that what we want and really need? I certainly hope so. So, go to the Word of God and let it wash the sin out of your life. The Bible tells us in First John 1:9, "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (NLT). 

Share our Blog with family and friends

www.focused-ministries.blogspot.org

Like us/contact us on Facebook and share your thoughts...

http://www.facebook.com/FocusedMinistries

Staying FOCUSED!

tjb

Enough said...

The Standard...

By whose standard do you live by today? For many nowadays, there seems to be a sliding standard of living in place. Anything and everything goes - AND it's ok! The new mantra is do what makes you feel good...and shame on anyone who objects to this feel good way of living. Besides, whose is it to say what is right or wrong? If I want to, then I will!  Children have the same way of thinking...they do whatever they want to do, whenever they want to do it, however they want to it because they feel like it! They do not think about consequences or how their actions effect others or themselves. What a free kinda way to live life! If only this was true...

The truth is, when the parent comes in and deliver the consequence for that child's actions, then they learn, "Oh, I'm not supposed to do that!" So then, the parent has put a standard in place for that child to live by. 

It is the Word of God that sets the standard of living today.  Not a life with no fun, but a life full of life! To many, this book is obsolete.  Not for this time. Not for their lifestyle. Restrictive. But here's the thing, our actions DO carry consequences...the choices we make DO effect us, others, and our surroundings both now and in eternity. BUT in all of these things, the Word of God teaches us how to live. It gives us directions and insights to make better choices. The Word of God...

Check back for more about the Word of God... 

Share our Blog with family and friends

www.focused-ministries.blogspot.org

Like us/contact us on Facebook and share your thoughts...

FOCUSED Ministries, Inc.

Focusing On Christ Until Spiritual Excellence is Demonstrated

Staying FOCUSED!

tjb