Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

I read a verse this morning with which I was very familiar, have known for decades, but in a different translation than I usually read. It is Ephesians 2:10.  The translation I am accustomed to is, "For we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which He prepared in advance for us to do."  In that translation, it's all about the good deeds that we do.   But in the NRSV, the verse reads like this: "For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."  Our way of life. Wow!  To me that takes on a whole new meaning.   I've written many times here in this blog and in my books that God's main aim in saving us is to then form the image of Christ in us.  Out of that relationship and transformation, we do good works for Him, from His Spirit in us. I think there is a huge difference between seeing "good works" as individual items that we check off our to do list, and ...

God brought His people out of Egypt where they were in slavery.  However, they did not go straightaway into the Promised Land.   God led them instead into the wilderness.  It took the Israelites forty years to make it to the edge of the Promised Land.  And even then, most did not enter in out of fear.  Joshua and Caleb scouted out the Promised Land for all of the Jews.  They reported back a land flowing with milk and honey. But they also told them about the giants that lived there. Like the Jews, we can either focus on all of the good that awaits us in God's Promised Land for us (milk and honey), or we can focus on the giants (the "giants" of challenges, spiritual warfare, temptations, and trials).  Will we enter excitedly knowing that God goes before us and is with us?  Or will we shrink back in fear and stay in our "comfort zones," even when we know that that season has ended for us?   God used the wilderness time to teach His peo...

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I'm trying to figure out why the popular fad of "setting an intention" bothers me.  It bothers me because it is creeping into even Christian circles. There is a vast difference between prayer and "setting intentions."  How do I know?  Scripture. The intent of our hearts is simply the condition of our hearts.  Do we seek God solely to worship Him?  Do we seek Him to help us "manifest" our intentions?  Ugh! We must be very careful in these End Times.  Remember, our enemy is crafty and sneaky, subtle and not obvious in his attempts to steer us away from Christ.  He is happy to use "good" - ideas that help us feel more in control, ideas that rely on self more than God (placate our flesh) - rather than blatant evil. I see it as a matter of who is in charge.  The only way to get our hearts right, and have good will, is to allow the Holy Spirit His work in our lives, transforming us by His power, grace, His Word, and in His ways. I think the danger ...