I Am New

Now I won’t deny the worst you could say about me

But I’m not defined by mistakes that I’ve made because God says of me

I am not who I was, I am being remade, I am new

I am chosen and holy and I’m dearly loved, I am new, I am new

Who I thought I was and who I thought I had to be

I had to give them both up cause neither were willing to ever believe

Too long I have lived in the shadows of shame

Believing that there was no way I could change

But the one who is making everything new doesn’t see me the way that I do

He doesn’t see me the way that I do

I am not who I was, I am being remade, I am new

Dead to the old man, I’m coming alive, I am new, I am new

Forgiven beloved, hidden in Christ

Made in the image of the Giver of Life

Righteous and holy, reborn and remade and worthy; this is our new name.

This is who we are now

_______________________________________

Y'all, if I could pick simply one song that hits home the very most, it would be this very song. Jason Gray beautifully describes the concept of a Christian's identity in Christ, something I struggle to accept at times. In all honest, establishing and accepting my identity in Christ has been one of the biggest battles of my Christian walk.

I love that this song says, "I'm coming alive," because it is such a grand reminder to me of progressive sanctification and God's grace. No, I am not perfect. In fact, I am far from perfect, but I am still new and still coming alive. 

Another concept of this song that simply cannot be missed is that, as Christians, we are "hidden in Christ." So many beautiful mental images come to mind when I consider this blessing and reality of the Christian life. We are hidden in Christ, like a mother comforts and shelters a newborn in her arms, as a lion would protects its cub. We are covered in Him. Y'all...He's got us. We are hidden in Him.

Let that resonate in your heart and mind.

Next time you feel alone, insecure, or unsure - take heart and remember that you are new, reborn, hidden in Christ Himself.

Beloved, we have been renamed. 

Here's Why...

Christ August's song (featured below) 7X70 stopped me in my tracks.
This song talks a lot about hurt within the family, trials, burdens, et cetera.
But more than that, it's about what we are called to do with all of that...
let forgiveness make a way.
It's not easy. In fact it's hard, down right difficult.


Can I tell you something about forgiveness?
It is freeing.
I know this not because I am an expert at forgiveness, in fact, I might even say it is an area of weakness.
I don't handle pain well. In fact, I run from it,
but the times where I have surrendered and forgiven, truly forgiven, I have experienced healing.
Maybe that's why this song hit home - knowing the truth about forgiveness, yet having practiced it so infrequently.


As Christians, we are called to a radical life of self abandonment.
I was reminded that forgiveness is both of those things: radical and selfless.
I am called to remember what was done for me at Calvary and take that overflow of love and spread it all around.


Forgiveness.
I want to take the 7X70 journey in my life, join me?

7X70

Free

Beheld from Marianne Bach on Vimeo.

Addiction Today

How many people have known someone who has or has had an addiction, whether it be family, friends, co-workers, etc.?

I’m very interested in this subject, as I've been reading recent studies from Christian's perspective and studying the topic in Psychology class as well. I'm curious to analyze the causes and solutions of such issues.

Feel free to share as much or as little as possible, anything would be of value

Just Believe

Freedom.

Have you ever returned to seemingly basic concepts of the Christian faith and realized that either you missed the magnitude of it or God simply gave you a fresh dose of gratitude. 

That is, in a nutshell, what has happened in my life and walk with the Lord over the past month. 

Honestly, I can think of no other realization that has brought more radical change to my life than the understanding of just how in need of freedom I am and just how free, in Christ, I am.

I would go so far as to say that there is much about freedom in Christ I have yet to learn, but I feel as if a veil has been lifted and the initial point of realization and understanding has been crossed.

A couple things that brought me to this realization of the profound nature of freedom in Christ are:

1. I will not feel free all the time. In fact, there are some weeks where I might not 'feel' the magnitude of your freedom 9/10 of the time.

However, I am free.

2. Freedom does not come on my terms. 

3. There is not a "higher" level of freedom to be grasped.

So I need to stop trying to be "more free" and just...be free!

4. It is not enough to know that I am free, I have to believe that I am free.

5. Likewise, I have to believe that Christ can bring instantaneous healing to any life.

Just as the young women who had been victim of the same disease for 12 years touched the cloak of Jesus and was instantaneously healed, He wants to do the same for all of His children!

What's stopping us then?

A lack of faith.

Mark 5 holds, what I consider to be, the prescription for healing and freedom.

Christ told the young woman who touched His cloak and immediately received healing:

"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace & be freed from your suffering."

Later in Mark 5, He instructs His followers:

"Do not be afraid, just believe." 

I'm not sure what you are suffering with today, it may be pride, jealousy, a lack of faith, adultery, alcoholism, self-image issues, drug addiction, gossip, prayerlessness, etc. etc. 

Christ does not rank sins, rest assured in that. He does however, offer freedom to all who have faith and believe.

He wants to free you today, on His terms, which are fairly simple:

Believe, Receive, Repent, Live

Christ died so that you may experience this freedom, my heart is burdened for people to embrace Christ's gift. It is worth whatever you must surrender, I know from experience.