Love Language from God's Word

It's Happy Valentine's Day in the USA!

So, here's some of the language of the Bible when it comes to Love -- an appetizer of sorts for our hearts, I suppose:

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Romans 5:8 "...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

1 John 3:1 "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

Grateful

The Holy Spirit Brings The Holy Cross

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) -- I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

"The Holy Spirit brings the (Holy) Cross into our hearts... It is only as we have been crucified with Christ that we can receive the full power of the Holy Spirit. When we do not realize how necessary it is to die to all earthly things, The Holy Spirit cannot gain full possession of us."
-- Andrew Murray

My Prayer:
Lord, I want Galatians 2:20 to be more than just my life-verse. I want it to be Your Life's Voice in me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Grateful

An Actual Abiding -- A Definite Indwelling

"Let us believe that when The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 2:20, 'I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me,' he spoke of an actual abiding (a definite indwelling) of Christ in him. Christ was working in him to do all that was well-pleasing to the Father."
-- Andrew Murray

Philippians 2:13 (GWT) "It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him."

 

Grateful

Sunday Evening Reflections

It's late Sunday evening and I am reflecting on the highlight of my day. It was a glorious day. I love Sundays.

Today, was definitely delightful. I had the privilege of baptizing seven precious souls in our 10:30 a.m. worship service. How I love to witness precious people going public with their personal God-relationships as they decide to be baptized publicly in the local church with God and the people of God looking on with great joy. It's indescribable and inspirational.

Whenever I am part of a baptismal service, Galatians 2:20 seems to sum up what's happening best: "I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me." (NKJV)

Grateful.... indeed. 

"The Anthem of My Life..."

"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)

"It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me!!!" This declaration is "The Anthem of My Life!" Indeed, my one, supreme desire is to live in undeniable unity,  yes to know intimate identification with Jesus Himself!

Call me...

... Grateful... a.k.a. Kerry

True Life

True life is experienced when we die to sin and self (self-centeredness).
-- Andrew Murray

Galatians 2:20 -- "I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me!"

Click here: Crucified With Christ - Phillips Craig and Dean - YouTube

Live in Me and I will live in you. -- Jesus, John 15:4
Grateful

And Happy Birthday to our son, yes our first born. 26 years ago today our hearts were wonderfully warmed. Love you too much, Grayson.

My Soul-Companion: Christ Now Lives In Me.

When the two disciples recognized Jesus as He broke the bread for them in their house in Emmaus, He "vanished from their sight" (Luke 24:31). The recognition and the disappearance of Jesus are one and the same event. Why? Because the disciples recognized that their Lord Jesus, the Christ, now lives in them ... that they have become Christ-bearers. Therefore, Jesus no longer sits across the table from them as the stranger, the guest, the friend with whom they can speak and from whom they can receive good counsel. He has become one with them. He has given them His own Spirit of Love. Their companion on the journey has become the companion of their souls. They are alive, yet it is no longer them, but Christ living in them.
-- Henri Nouwen

"Christ now lives in me..." -- See Galatians 2:20.
Grateful

From Life into Sin, From Sin into Life

Because of the first Adam, we died out of Life into Sin, which leads to death.

Because of the Second Adam (Jesus), we can now die out of Sin and reenter into Life.

 

 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)

 

Holiness Unto The LORD!

Grateful

The Latest Love Line (Another Life-Verse)

I love that sacred part of the journey home, when the Lord drops deep into my heart yet another life-verse from His Holy Word. Here's the latest verse He gave to me during a quiet time in His presence:

It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please Him. -- Philippians 2:13 (GWT)

Thanks Lord for accenting two of my other life-verse's. Yes, Galatians 2:20 and Colossians 1:27 are only reinforced when Philippians 2:13, the latest love line You have whispered to me, is compounded with them. I am humbled and speechless because of Your kindnesses towards me.

Click here: Michael W. Smith - Psalm 139, Thy Word - YouTube

Thy Word continues to be a lamp unto my feet. A light unto my path!
Grateful

"All Of Yourself, All Of Myself."

Ben served the Lord as a full-time minister for over 70 years, but it all began when at the tender age of sixteen he knelt to pray in his local church. As he prayed, Ben sensed the Lord inviting him to be His messenger of Good News. While listening to the Lord, Ben declared, "But Lord, I am not sure I have what it takes." To which He sensed the Lord's response: "Ben, if you give me all of yourself and I give you all of Myself, do you believe that would that be enough?" To which Ben cried out, "YES!"

Note: B. Edgar Johnson (Ben) recently went to be in the eternal realized Presence of the Lord at age 90.

I have been crucified with Christ. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live I live by believing in God’s Son, who loved me and took the punishment for my sins. -- Galatians 2:19b-20 (GWT)

Yes, Lord, Yes, to Your Will and to Your Way!
Grateful

I Am Crucified With Christ! My Story, My Song!

This is my story. This is my song:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
-- Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

Click here: Embrace The Cross by Steve Green - YouTube

Deo Volente -- Whatever God Wants!
Grateful

My Heart's Prayer As Easter Draws Near

Lord, during this season leading up to the celebration of Your Resurrection, You invite me to enter more totally into the mystery of Your suffering. I believe You are inviting me into a deeper desire that I might continue to know You with ever-increasing intimacy. As I journey on the way that You have charted for me, help me to embrace the burdens that I am to bear for my own good and more especially for Your glory. If I know my heart, I have died to the desire to choose my own way and to want what I want. The goal is not to be a hero but a servant like You, who Loves You. In Your marvelous and matchless Name I pray. Amen.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. -- Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

Count it all joy.
Grateful

There's Power in the Blood

I awoke this morning with a verse of Scripture on my mind, Galatians 2:20, and an old hymn of the church in my heart, There's Power in the Blood.

Galatians 2:20 is a foundational verse for my life:
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (NIV)

The words and music of the hymn in my heart were written by Lewis E. Jones in 1899. He wrote There's Power in the Blood at a camp meet­ing at Mount­ain Lake Park, Maryland:

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin stains are lost in its life giving flow.
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain

Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain

Crucified with You, My Christ, I find Power in Your Blood, my One and Only Source for Life Everlasting. Amen!
Grateful

obeDiEnce

Do you see the two, simple-but-profound, one-syllable words at the very heart of obeDiEnce? "i DiE!"

If I am to become the perfect will of God, that is, wholly obedient to His Holy Desires, my will must become one in crucifixion with the will of Jesus. I must personally echo His Gethsemane prayer of total surrender to the Father: Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) -- I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me.

1 Samuel 15:22 (NKJV) -- ...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...

Lord, I want to be wholly obedient to Your Holy Desires! Help me to know that obeying You is an overflowing joy, not an overwhelming job. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

On The Cross

In 1992, Galatians 2:20, became a life-verse for me. I first grasped the impact of the Galatians 2:20 message when I read it on a kitchen calendar at the home of Rev. Clark and Mrs. Christine Langford in Greensboro, North Carolina. Beyond information the verse was immediately inspiration and affirmation of the transformation the Lord had already initiated in my heart, mind, and soul.

Galatians 2:20 was printed on that kitchen calendar from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible: I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me.

While I agree with the hymn writer who penned these words. There’s room at the Cross for me and for you, I have come to know something beyond those words as well: There’s room on the cross for me and for you, too.

Have we or will we go beyond Near the Cross to On the Cross and then even In the Cross?

IF MY PEOPLE...WILL? I WILL! God’s Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful