AMAZING GRACE ~ Mazes, Messes, Miracles: MIND SET ABOVE

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

MIND SET ABOVE

COLOSSIANS 3:2

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

This is my WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE as well each week.

The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word (no famous quotes or other literature — only the beautiful word of our Father) through photo’s & a Bible verse!

For more WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY

Amydeanne @ the160acrewoods.comhas chosen
Our creative HOSTESS this week to be:
Lori at www.allyouhavetogive.com
Photobucket

[This is an INSTRUMENTAL VIDEO and ONE WITH WORDS is BELOW]Both have beautiful scenes from NATURE with the same songreminding us where we need to FIX our eyes and our minds will be setby SEEKING HIM first

SPIRITUAL Notes on this scripture verse:

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“Seek those things which are above” - from sermon by C H Spurgeon

Oh seek to know on earth the peace of heaven, the rest of heaven, the victory of heaven, the service of heaven, the communion of heaven, the holiness of heaven: you may have foretastes of all these; seek after them. Seek, in a word, to be preparing for the heaven which Christ is preparing for you. You are soon to dwell above; robe yourselves for the great festival. Your treasure is above, let your hearts be with it. All that you are to possess in eternity is above, where Christ is; rise, then, and enjoy it. Let hope anticipate the joys which are reserved, and so let us begin our heaven here below. If ye then be risen with Christ, live according to your risen nature, for your life is hid with Christ in God. (CLICK FOR SERMON)

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"The things above (the upward things, the treasure in heaven) is placed first for emphasis so that the Greek is more literally rendered "the things above, keep on seeking".

What are the things above? In short, they are the spiritual things of life, those things that last for eternity and which alone can bring genuine joy and satisfaction in this present life.

As one old Puritan said “Treasures are laid up in heaven only as treasures on earth are laid down.”

The things above (ta anô) is "the upward things". Paul gives this ideal and goal in place of merely ascetic rules, reminding the Colossians that they have risen with Christ.

This is the path to holiness, not self-denial, angelic experiences, or ritual keeping. They should no longer be living the old life they lived before their salvation, but now they should lay hold of the eternal life of Christ since they have been raised to live on another plane & another kingdom.

They should not be ignorant or forgetful of who they are in Christ and how they are to live. All sinful passion is controlled and conquered by the power of the indwelling Christ (Christ in you the hope of glory) and our union with Him. Obviously, the thoughts of heaven that are to fill the believer’s mind must derive from Scripture.

The Bible is the only reliable source of knowledge about the character of God and the values of heaven. When heavenly values dominate the mind godly behavior is the natural outflow. Sin that so easily entangle us will be conquered and humility, a sacrificial spirit, and assurance will result. All from keeping a proper eternal perspective."

WHEN CHRISTIANS BEGIN TO LIVE in the HEAVENLIES.... they will LIVE OUT HEAVENLY VALUES in this world...

BRENDA CRAIG has shared a beautiful "WORD of the Day" which inspired me for this:"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" on November 5, 2009If you take the time to read this, I know you will be blessed as her words from Him bless me.
...part of what you will read from Brenda...

"Let My love cover your sin and set your heart free. When Holy Spirit makes you aware of some unprofitable or ungodly thing in your heart, deliverance and freedom always accompany the revelation. Guilt and shame are never used by Me—only tenderhearted conviction moving hand in hand with a cleansing forgiveness and restoration.
Turn your eyes, look into My gaze and you will cease to look inward. Beloved, My finger is on your chin and I am lifting your head, adjusting your countenance and enabling you to look at Me. Open your heart and see"…Read Complete Love Letter …
Journals of the Heart with Brenda Craig
SOAK IN HIS PRESENCE

10 comments:

Pia said...: thanks for this reminder. i needed this today to keep me grounded and focused.; November 10, 2009 10:39 PM
Kaye Swain said...: Great photo and verse. Loved the hymn as well! One of my favorites to sing to my grandkids! :); November 11, 2009 5:44 AM
Mary Moss said...: This is beautiful! Great post for WFW!; November 11, 2009 5:51 AM
lori said...: Peggy,
You hit me right in the heart this morning...Years ago when I began my blog, it was named allyouhavetogive inspired by a Third Day song...Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus...and in it was a chorus based on Col. 3:2, "and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, by the light of His glory and grace..." I knew then that THESE were words that I wanted to live outloud....
I simply LOVE your WFW today...it inspires!

peace in Mexico!
lori; November 11, 2009 6:21 AM
Denise said...: Beyond lovely my friend, love you.; November 11, 2009 7:28 AM
Lauren said...: thank you for this powerful reminder -- to always be focused on Jesus!!; November 11, 2009 8:09 AM
Cathy said...: Your picture and verse is beautiful, Peggy. And I love the words by Spurgeon and those lovely videos. I do love that song. Thanks for wonderful advice for these days.
Blessings ~; November 11, 2009 12:28 PM
Karen said...: Beautiful! Love the song and this sentence really caught my eye..."
This is the path to holiness, not self-denial, angelic experiences, or ritual keeping. " Amen!; November 11, 2009 3:38 PM
Amydeanne said...: very nice Peggy! :)
lol and no mouse on cake, it was just a white sheet of paper I think.. my friend had it running through her house while i was there one day and I had to get a picture of the little critter!; November 11, 2009 5:25 PM
LivingforGod said...: Thanks for this wonderful WFW post. My WFW is also from Colossians 3.

"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" is one of my favorite hymns.; November 12, 2009 2:10 AM

"MY IDENTITY IN CHRIST"

WHO I AM IN CHRIST

THROUGH HIS EYES ... and HIS WORD

Declare these daily! Claim & believe them for they are written in His Love letter to you (the part in parentheses comes from the Bible).

Renamed by me as "The Tree" instead of "The Bell" because I did not have the shape of the bell but a tree when I finished.

THE 'TREE'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 am rooted

and established

in Christ

(Eph 3:17)

I belong

to God

Do you

know

who you are!?

[this is suppose to be in the shape of a bell but the last part* did not fit that way, 2 verses together from star to star, to see it correctly go here.

When I was done the best I could form it, it looked more like a tree & I added the last verse above & the 3 verses below, for the TREE, whereas usually it tells you to "keep this bell ringing -pass it on"]

I will say,

"Keep this TREE planted & growing,

rooted & established in Christ"

Pass it on

The fruit of the righteous is a TREE of LIFE

and s/he who wins souls is wise.

Proverbs 11:30

BE LIKE THIS!

S/He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever s/he does prospers.

Psalm 1:3

And I pray that YOU, being rooted and established in love,

may have power, together with all believers, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love

that surpasses knowledge that YOU may be filled to the measure of all

fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17b (NIV) emphasis mine

"The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make His face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.."

Numbers 6:24-26

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and

He will direct your path." (Proverbs 3:5,6)

TO READ the original verses that I had here for

"My Identity in Christ"

since I first wrote them in a blog post in 2008

Click here or IDENTITY label.

Father's Love Letter

My Child...
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up.

Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways.

Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.

Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image.

Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being.

Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring.

Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived.

Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation.

Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb.

Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born.

Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.

1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father.

1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.

Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father.

Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.

James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.

Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you.

Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession.

Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things.

Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires.

Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.

Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.

John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being.

Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you.

1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me.

1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be my child?

John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you.

Luke 15:11-32
Love, Your Dad....
...Almighty God

PERMISSION TO COPY:The printed version of Father's Love Letter can be copied and used for free distribution providing the following copyright information is displayed... 'Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications Copyright 1999-2008 http://www.fathersloveletter.com/

DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

I believe that my MAZES, MESSES, & MIRACLES ...aMAZING GRACE would not be complete without offering this GREAT opportunity to MEET my BEST FRIEND FOREVER: Jesus Christ. I feel that the best way is to start with Proverbs 31 Ministry: (Just Click and be linked http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/doyouknowJesus/doYouKnowJesus.php
Conoces Jesucristo o quieres conocerlo(con un clic aqui para saber como y conocerlo mejor!!!)Espanol-Proverbios 31.

If you knew Jesus, but gave up your faith or following Him, perhaps it's time to restart your life. He's waiting with open arms.

If you never knew Him as Lord and Savior, please accept my invitation, and follow the steps Proverbs 31 suggests.

If you've struggled throughout your life, or just decided that you can do it on your own, surrender and try Jesus, it's never too late!