"In The First Light"

"In The First Light"
Lyrics written by Robert John Kauflin
Performed by Travis Cottrell

In the first light of a new day
No one knew He had arrived
Things continued as they had been
While a new born softly cried.
But the heavens wrapped in wonder
Knew the meaning of His birth
In the weakness of a baby
They knew God had come to earth.
As His mother held him closely,
It was hard to understand
That her baby not yet speaking
Was the Word of God to man.

He would tell them of His kingdom,
But their hearts would not believe
They would hate Him and in anger
They would nail Him to a tree.
But the sadness would be broken
As the song of life arose
And the First born of creation
Would ascend and take his throne.
He has left it to redeem us,
But before His life began
He knew He´d come back not as a baby
But as The Lord of ev´ry man.

Hear the angels as they´re singing
On the morning of His birth
But how much greater will our song be
When He comes again, when He comes again
Hear the angels as they´re singing
On the morning of His birth
But how much greater will our song be
When He comes again to Earth
When He comes to rule the Earth!

At Christmas, in the midst of celebrating His birth, I cannot help but think about His death. After all, that is what He told us to remember about Him.........."this do in rememberance of me".......(communion). I also cannot help but think about what it means, for us while we are on this earth, and also for us, in the future, when He so gloriously returns to RULE THIS EARTH!

WOW, what a future we have! I am filled with Hope in Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas!

Much love to you!

What's next, Papa?

Romans 8:1-17 - (The Message)

The Solution Is Life on God's Terms

1-2With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

3-4God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that.

The law always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn't deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.

5-8Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.

9-11But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God's terms. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!

12-14So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

15-17This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!"

He is especially fond of you!

Have a blessed day!
,Brandi

The double-edged sword

Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."

The Word of God exposes us for what we really are. Verse 13 of Hebrews goes on to say that nothing and no one can hide from God. There is no more powerful tool than the word of God. Author Joshua Choonmin Kang says that "Only the word of God can pierce the soul and spirit. Only the word can judge the thoughts and desires of the heart. It is the only tool that can bring about our spiritual formation."

I can't tell you the number of times, when reading the Bible, that it has pierced my heart and convicted me so deeply about an area in my life that needed to change. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind this conviction is directly from God. He speaks to us through His Word. So often, I've had a nagging question in my heart and I will come across my answer, exactly, spelled out on the pages before my eyes.

Let me encourage you that if you really want to make changes to your life, if you really want to get closer to God and actually hear from Him, get into the Word. That is where all the answers live!! Why make choices based on how we "feel". Why not make our choices according to the Word of God and what the Bible has to say on the matter. Let God direct your paths through His living, breathing, active love letter to us!

"The Antidote of Heaven"

This is something that was recently shared with me. It is awesome and so I must share it with you too!

"The Antidote of Heaven"
by Ryan Wyatt
Nov 19, 2008

The Living, Breathing, Supernatural Church!
Prepare yourself! We are in times of great change! A generation is arising, and is even already on the scene, that is no longer settling for "Sunday Morning Christianity." Please know and understand that I love the Church, the real Church. However, "church" as we know it, is about to dramatically change.

We are going from "attending church" and catering to "Sunday Morning Christianity," and we are moving into "being the Church"—a mighty, supernatural army filled with power and equipped to offensively advance and establish the Kingdom of God throughout the earth!
We need to understand that when we received salvation and were born-again, we did not join a social club or world religion called Christianity. We were regenerated and inhabited by a supernatural God who came to mingle with our spirit and transform us into a new creature with a heavenly nature—the very DNA of God now residing in us!

The real Church is not a building, denomination or club. The real Church is a living, breathing, supernatural, heavenly, new-creation entity which carries and manifests the very Kingdom of God on this earth.

In the same way God inhabited a box called, "the ark," in the Old Testament, He now inhabits a people waiting to display His Glory through those who will only believe. You are not just a container or holding chamber where God resides. You actually have the very DNA, or nature, of God in you. In the same way apples bring forth apples, and oranges bring forth oranges, God brings forth sons and daughters at their moment of salvation! You are a gateway—a portal—where Heaven invades earth.

The Church for decades, and even centuries, has been having an identity crisis, and is now receiving a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God. As a Church, we are beginning to awaken and realize we do have an identity and a purpose that far supersedes just "doing church," and we are beginning to realize that we are the very Body of Jesus Christ on this earth. The very same presence and power that Jesus manifested in His single human body, He will now manifest through His corporate Body, the Church. An army is arising and it is time!

The Eternal Purpose and Mystery
Jesus is intensely serious about receiving His inheritance, and His inheritance is tied up in us fulfilling our destiny as Believers. Jesus Christ's inheritance can be found in Ephesians 3:8-11.
Jesus shed His Blood to purchase for Himself a Bride. However, there is more to this story than just a wedding. This Bride (that's you by the way) is being raised up as the weapon of God in His hand to enforce the victory that has already been accomplished over His enemy, and display the triumph of Jesus Christ to all demonic powers. The Church has a destiny and a purpose to actually display the very glory and victory of God to the principalities, cosmic powers, and evil spiritual forces in heavenly places.

This means that the Church is not to be postured in a spectator position, but rather an offensive position. For too long, the Church has been consumed with a rapture mentality of, "just hang on until Jesus comes and then He will rescue us out of this mess." This mentality simply does not line up with Scripture, and this generation is awakening to the reality of our high calling and eternal purpose as an army of God with a mandate to enforce the victory Jesus won by His shed Blood.

Heaven's Antidote
I am sure you all have noticed that the state and well-being of the world is rapidly declining. Ever since Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden there has been a demonic curse and demonic government ruling over this planet, and satan, our enemy, has assumed the title of, "god of this world."

However, you need to know that satan's power only resides in our ignorance. When we, as the Church, are ignorant of our identity and calling as Heaven's representatives and enforcers, then the devil remains in a place and position of power.

Satan cringed in fear when Jesus came on the scene as the "Last Adam" (see 1 Corinthians 15:45) because he was aware of the fact that Jesus knew who He was, and that Jesus was clear about His mandate to rule and reign over the powers of darkness, and to deliver every tribe, tongue and nation from demonic oppression and bondage.

Jesus, as the "Last Adam," was simply fulfilling the mandate the "First Adam" dropped. Everywhere Jesus went He was on a mission to demonstrate and display the glory and superiority of God over the works of the devil. Did you know the Bible says that Jesus was the "firstborn among many brethren?"

Jesus was the first of a new prototype in the earth. He came to birth a "New Breed" of people who would be inhabited and born of God, and to pick up and carry on the mantle and mandate of Heaven first entrusted to Adam.

Just as a doctor gives an antidote to a patient whose body is filled with poison, so the Church is the heavenly antidote for the demonic curse that fills the earth! For so long, the Church has been content to let the world descend into total chaos, while hoping and praying that Jesus will come and rapture us out of this mess.

However, the heart of this generation is beginning to beat to the same tune as the heartbeat of God. We are waking-up to realize we are the answer and the antidote, and are assigned on this earth with a mandate to destroy the works of the devil—to bring Heaven to earth on a daily basis!

I have a vision of seeing authentic supernatural Christianity expressed on the earth through the Church—the Body of Christ. God has ordained that His Glory be displayed through a people totally devoted and in love with Him. This generation must be equipped and trained to live in such a place of intimacy and fellowship with the Lord—where His Glory truly does abide upon us through miracles, signs, and wonders.

Jesus Christ was sent and lived His life as a prototype of what is possible and available for each one of us as Believers. Jesus lived His day-to-day life out of the intimate voice of God, and carried His Kingdom—the supernatural realm of Heaven—on the earth with miracles, signs and wonders following Him. The cry of Heaven in these end-times is to see a remnant of people recklessly abandoned and in love with their God, who through intimacy, destroy the works of the devil, and bring the realm of Heaven to earth daily.

The Government of God is Here!
For many decades the Lord has been restoring truth to the Church which was lost during the dark ages. We have now come to a "fullness of time juncture," and are entering into a season where the sound of the roar of the Lion of Judah is being heard, with an army of Believers arising out of apathy and complacency, standing to attention, ready to receive marching orders from the King of kings. It's time for the Church to cease our wilderness wanderings and cross over into our intended destiny and promised land.

Prophetically speaking, our promised land represents the government of God. From the very beginning, God intended Adam to have dominion, rule, and to subdue and fill the earth with His glory. The Church has wandered in the wilderness without purpose, just as Israel did, but now it is time to pick up the mandate Adam dropped and establish and advance the Kingdom of God throughout the earth.

Isaiah 9:6 says that Jesus was sent to this earth to bring back the government of God, and He carried this Heavenly government upon His shoulders. It goes on to say, "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end..." (Isaiah 9:7). Guess what? You, as a born-again Believer, are the increase of the government of God in this world.

The Scripture goes on to say that, "...The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:7). Great zeal is being poured out from Heaven upon this generation in this hour. The army of Believers on this earth is coming into alignment with the army of the host of Heaven. An army is arising to destroy the works of the devil and release the glory of our God in this land!
An alarm is being trumpeted from Heaven, "Choose this day whom you will serve." Many in the Body of Christ have already chosen to serve God, but the burning question is now, "Who will arise with burning passion and pick up the mandate of Heaven to ADVANCE the Kingdom today?"

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE, Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926

As white as snow

Isaiah 1:18

"Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow....."

Few things are more beautiful and more pure than fresh, white snow. The New Living Translation, Life Application Study Bible explains that Scarlet was the color of a deep-red permanent dye, and its deep stain was virtually impossible to remove from clothing. The stain of sin seems equally permanent (because we can't change the past, can't change what we have done.) But, God can remove sin's stain from our life as he promised to do for the Israelites. We don't have to go through life permanently soiled. It does not matter what we've done or where we've been, God's Word assures us that if we are willing and obedient, Jesus Christ will forgive and remove our most indelible stains. By accepting that His death on the cross was for us, for our sins, we can be washed as clean and white as snow! By accepting His free gift of salvation, we can live as though our sins are as far away as the East is from the West! How awesome that He is ready to meet us right where we are, no matter where we are, and forgive us, as imperfect as we are. That's how much he loves us!!

By the way, the book of Isaiah was written about 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ!

NOOMA

Rob Bell is an amazing pastor, speaker and author. He is the Sr. Pastor of Mars Hill Bible Fellowship in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has also written, "Velvet Elvis" - interesting title - and a few other books as well. I listen to the podcasts of his messages weekly. He is so incredibly intelligent and has a dry but wonderful sense of humor! He digs so deep into the meaning of the scriptures. He has been a huge part of my spiritual journey over the past few years.

One of his most powerful projects, in my opinion is the "NOOMA" series. It is a series of short, 10 minute movies, each depicting Biblical truth in our every day lives. They are so cool and so powerful. I think "Kickball" is my personal favorite and "Rain" comes in at a close second. These can serve as an amazing tool for youthgroups or church small groups, or just for your personal enjoyment. Everytime I see a new one I am amazed at how much Jesus loves me! What a creative way to share the message of Christ!

The website where you can see more is http://www.nooma.com/. You can view a brief intro. of each movie there. Here is a description from the homepage:

"Jesus lived with the awareness that God is doing something right here, right now, and anybody can be a part of it. He encouraged his listeners to search, to question, to wrestle with the implications of what he was saying and doing. He inspired, challenged, provoked, comforted, and invited people to be open to God's work in this world. Wherever he went, whatever he did, Jesus started discussions about what matters most, because for Jesus, God is always inviting us to open our eyes and join in. NOOMA is a series of short films that explore our world from the perspective of Jesus. NOOMA is an invitation to search, question, and join the discussion."

- Rob Bell

Christ holds it ALL together

Colossians 1:15-23

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it."

I see no need to tack any of my own comments onto today's blog entry.

You go Paul!
Wow!!