Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

The church is not an organization. At least it is not supposed to be.  Yet when it starts using the ways of the world to "operate," it loses its power, its true intention and purpose.   The church is simply the people of God.  And the people of God, born again through Christ Jesus, are not a physical building but the Body of Christ.  Living.  Moving.  Having our being in Him. The physical church is simply a gathering place to meet and worship Christ.  It is a building.  Yes, it should be holy, different from other buildings.  But if the building went missing, the church would still be alive and well because we are  the church. We are God's temple, the place where His glory dwells. Yes, the church is important - people need a place to go where they can learn about and, hopefully, meet the one, true, living God. But when the church becomes more of an organization, a company, if you will, then God is not pleased with that. Do we serve Christ only within the walls of our chur

  A song for you today.  Be blessed! (sorry for the short entry today - internet down this morning!)

When Christ sets you free, there is no effort required.  It just is. All the striving and wanting to be free are replaced with the simple and profound release, freedom, and Presence of Christ. Maybe you have been praying to be set free from a certain habit, sin, bondage but have not found freedom yet.  You have cried out to the Lord and your heart is in the right place. But still, no freedom. Old thought patterns and habits hold strong to your soul. What is the answer? If Christ promises to set us free, then why are so many of us still bound by our ways and thoughts? Old wounds can get the best of us if we let them.  But Christ longs to set us free from all pain and bondage! Sometimes, the Lord simply shows up.  We may not have been praying or even thinking about being free, and one morning, it just happens. That is what I experienced the other day.  It was bliss.  It was heaven.  There was no effort on my part.  I simply was free.  Free on the inside. Free from how I thought toward ce