Merry Christmas!!

Christ Bell

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13 )
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?

Merry Christmas!!

Amy

He Went Before Me and Made a Way

We have spent almost one entire year meditating on the Names of God as well as who God says we are. When we began this journey, I was so excited to learn something new about our God. He has knocked my socks off. He is so Faithful, and Gentle and at the same time He is our Protector and Shelter and fiercely protective of His children.

It's that last little bit that has become so precious to me over the last few weeks. Without going into a lot of detail, I was deeply hurt by someone close to me. This wasn't the first time these choices were made and that is what hurt the most. It brought up all sorts of old feelings, fear and insecurities I thought were long gone. I found myself headed down a road that I haven't been down in several years.

Here is what I love about my God. He made a way for me to have some completely alone time with Him before Thanksgiving. It was incredible. To spend time in worship, prayer and most importantly: SILENCE.

I had poured out everything in me and then sat and listened. Do you know what I heard?

Verses. Specifically Psalm 139, where He tells us He knew us before anyone else even knew we existed. That we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

I heard Deut. 33:12 where He tells us the one the Lord love rests between His shoulders.

I heard Him saying that He was with me and FOR me and that He does not forsake those that love Him.

He reminded me to forgive that person again. THAT part was not optional. So I forgave.

He reminded me that I was treasured and protected regardless of what others said or how they acted.

Then I wound up in Psalm 138. I decided that for the next two weeks I would begin to memorize and pray verses 7 and 8.

Here they are from The Message.

When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, with your other hand save me. Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal - don't quit on me now.

I share this with you because for almost one year we have concentrated on WHO God says He is and who He says we (Christians) are. If I had not been making a diligent effort to do that, I'm not sure what kind of mess I would be in right now.

But I'm not.

I have peace that I can not describe.

I have the desire to love this person and see complete restoration. Sure, that scares me a little and believe me I've had the "what if" conversation with God. BUT, my friend, He has assured me that He can handle whatever comes up. I am to just choose love today.

As I was reminded in my Bible study this week, weeping is okay. Just make sure you are weeping forward. That is where we are headed. No looking back. FORWARD. Right on the heels of our God. Is there any safer place?

He went before me and made a way for me.

There is no one like my God.

How I love Him.

Blessings,
Stephanie