I enjoyed celebrating the 4^th of July yesterday with my family as we acknowledged the 235^th birthday of our country’s independence. We had wonderful fellowship, great food and a nice little display of fireworks. I couldn’t help but think about how gracious our God has been towards us. There is no doubt that God had His hand in the forming of our country, giving us the freedoms we have been so blessed to enjoy. It is because of this freedom that we have been able to actively send help around the globe as well as advance God’s Kingdom into the uttermost regions of the earth. I believe we can truly say, we are God’s country.

It does sadden my heart as I recognize that the freedom He has empowered us with has been gradually slipping through our fingers. We have lost many of our constitutional freedoms and are on a path to see the loss of even more unless God intervenes. These losses will also affect our ability to move the gospel here in our homeland as well as abroad.

I myself have been guilty in the past years of not paying close attention to what was happening around us. I believe many Christians have been in that place with their heads buried in the sand right along with me. I now understand that God has entrusted the church with the responsibility to guard this gift He has given us. We are those who have the discernment and the knowledge of what is acceptable or not acceptable with our God. We need, therefore, to use our voice and our voting rights to make these things known. We have the gateway to heaven and should be praying fervently for our elections and elected officials and for the protection of our freedom. We are those who can repent as did Daniel in the Old Testament, for the sins of our country. But are we doing these things? I am recommitting to do so.  I am recommitting to do my part as a citizen of the United States of America in the natural realm; and as a citizen of the Kingdom of God in the spiritual realm, that the light of the gospel may have the opportunity to shine in the hearts of people everywhere.

I thank God for working through our founding fathers forming our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. By the grace of God, I will be a better steward of what He has given. By the grace of God, it will not be too late. How about you?

One other thought concerning freedom. As many things come to mind when I contemplate this topic, none are so important as the freedom we have if we live in Christ. I hope you will enjoy the short video I have posted at this link sharing the many images of freedom.

Happy Independence!

With Love and Care,
Sarah
www.sarah@sarahgoebel.com

Self-Improvement Versus Supernatural Change

Although we are instructed in 1Timothy 4:7 to “train ourselves in godliness,” it is imperative that we remember that our transformation is not merely a self improvement program. Rather it is a supernatural life dependent on Christ who dwells in us to give us desire, direction, encouragement, strength and power for the process.  Shall we take a look at our motives for doing what we do? Is it for Christ’s glory? Shall we examine our ways as to whether we pride fully do things in our own strength or do we depend on His love, power and will? No matter how much effort we expend or cost we incur, only that which is done for Christ’s glory and in the power of the spirit has any real significance. Only these will remain for eternity.  Everything else amounts to nothing. 

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1 NASB

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 NASB”I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 NASB”I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 NASB

How Can God’s People Stop Doing Bad Things?

The Bible tells us that the heart of man is evil. So how can we do what is right? How can we keep ourselves from doing what is bad? Romans 12:21 gives us the answer. It tells us, “Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.” It says to “conquer evil” how? By doing what is good. In other words, it is not enough to stop doing what is wrong. In order to be successful in conquering our ungodly habits and tendencies, we must replace the wrong doing with right doing. For example, if you are a thief, instead of taking, start giving. If you are tempted to gossip, say something good instead. If you struggle with immorality, put on morality. If you are unloving, start doing small acts of love.

You might say, “But I don’t feel like doing the right thing!” You can still choose to do it regardless of how you feel. Take control of your life by taking control of your feelings. As a born again child of God, you can make these kind of changes in your life with a decision and the help of your heavenly Father. Scripture says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength I need.” God gives us strength to conquer evil by giving us strength to do what is good.

To God be the glory!

The Believer’s Judgment

Our eternal salvation is a free gift and not even one work is required from us in order to attain it. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Yet it is clear throughout Scripture that there will be a judgment for believers. What is this judgment if not one to determine our life in heaven or hell? The judgment for believers is one where saints will receive rewards according to how they have lived their lives in Christ. We have been freed to choose Christ and His ways. Our free will is no longer in bondage to the prince of this world. Therefore, at the judgment seat, it stands to reason that we will be held accountable for our lifestyles and obedience to God. We will be held accountable for our willingness to surrender or not to surrender to the Holy Spirit as He moved in our lives with a purpose of conforming us to the image of Christ. How exciting that God would give us eternal rewards for doing what He has empowered us to do. We should be careful not to receive His grace in vain. May we walk in the spirit and power of Christ and receive the rewards that will affect us for all eternity.

2 Corinthians 5:10
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

We Walk by Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7, “for we walk by faith and not by sight – “

In this Scripture, Paul is addressing our anxiety concerning death.  Although we may experience some anxiety about what we have not yet experienced, namely heaven, we can have confidence that we will pass from this earth suit into eternal life with Christ. We will continue to live and we will live in a better place. Our hope is not in vain. It inspires us when facing death whether due to the natural progression of our lives from birth to death or due to persecution as experienced by the Apostle Paul.

Although it is not the context in which this Scripture is used, I also believe this verse can be applied to all of our challenging circumstances. We quote this Scripture often and with great confidence as long as things are moving along according to our plans or we at least understand why what is happening is happening. In other words, when we have sight, we have confidence. But when we have sight, faith is not needed.

It is in those times we cannot see purpose that our faith becomes known.  It is in our painful times that make no sense to the natural mind, we must grab hold of God and walk by faith. It is in the times we are clueless to why something is happening that our faith becomes our guide. And how about those times we cannot see what the outcome is going to be concerning a decision we have made? These, too, are times we must walk by faith trusting that God is indeed in control and has us in His hands.

When Jon and I made the decision to move from North Carolina to California, I admit there was some anxiety. Did I say some? Well, perhaps I should say, a lot. After all, we were moving from a place I knew to a place I knew not. I felt like Abraham when God said, “Go to a land I will show you” and Abraham just left the familiar to go somewhere else. He went without having a clue where he was going. Since I had not yet experienced life in the desert of California, I could only guess at what my life would be like there.

Everyone experiences trying times and times of uncertainty. Sometimes our circumstances appear to have no purpose or benefit whatsoever. Yet in these sightless times, we can have confidence that God is with us fulfilling His plan and purpose. We do not need to see what it is all about while in the midst of it. We just need to be able to see our God and know that He is always with us and will never forsake us. We do not need to understand the purpose, we just need to know God and have confidence in who He is and that His character  never changes.

Dispel Weariness, Fear & Unbelief

Are you weary? Fearful? Are you struggling with your trust in God and how He is responding or will respond to the affairs of your life? If so, you need to increase the time you are spending with Him. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Just as your love and trust, or lack of, is strengthened as you get to know the people in your life, the same is true in your relationship with God.
Draw near to Him by spending quiet time with Him. Read the Scripture. Then talk to Him and follow that with a time of quiet solitude where you can hear Him speak to you. You can know that He works ALL things (the good, the bad and the ugly) together for good according to HIS purpose and plan for those who LOVE Him and are CALLED according to His PURPOSE (Romans 8:28). Why remain in a state of unrest when you can know God and have peace in the midst of every challenging circumstance that may come your way. Today is the day to draw near to Him. You don’t need to wait until you are in that challenging situation. Get to know Him BEFORE the storm comes your way.
I came across the attached article “Quiet Time with God” and thought it was worthy to be shared. I pray it helps you to develop a special time for you and the Lord. As you do, your weariness, fear and unbelief will be eliminated as you grow in your knowledge of Him, experiencing His presence.  Quiet Time with God
For His Glory,
Sarah

The Responsibility of the Redeemed

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26. I have been considering this verse a lot lately in view of the degradation of our society right here in the United States of America. You see, in the beginning, man was created in God’s image bearing His likeness. He was created to reflect the glory of God by establishing His will on the earth. What has happened?

Let’s think about this. Adam and Eve were in harmony with God as they remained surrendered to God. They walked in the garden ensuring the rule of heaven was enforced on earth. They were able to do so because of their dependence on God. As they looked to God, His power, wisdom and joy flowed from heaven into them and through them. Then the serpent came along and Eve fell to the deception and temptation that she could live independent of God. She invited Adam to do the same. Adam, instead of ensuring God’s rule which stated they could eat from all the trees but one, went along with His darling wife. The harmony and joy they once experienced was lost as there is no harmony or happiness for those who live independent of their Creator. When we are tempted to live outside of God’s rule, we should keep this truth in mind. Man was created by God to be dependent on God. To try to live any other way results in chaos and devastation. Even the much sought after state of “happiness”, which to many appears to be elusive, can be found only in living for God. Because Adam was the Federal Head of all of mankind, his sin and the results of that sin was imputed to all who would be born from that day forward. Yet God had a plan to redeem man through His Son, Jesus Christ, and to restore what was lost. His plan was to make us sons and daughters and not just created beings and servants. He accomplished this as the righteousness of Christ was given to us when Christ took our sins upon Himself on the cross. We now have the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus instead of the lower level of righteousness that Adam could have attained had he lived without sin. Adam could never have been a royal child of God. This is only available for those who live in Christ Jesus. What a plan our God has! If you have received Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you have been adopted into the family of God. You are a royal daughter of the King of the Universe. You have been redeemed from sin and it’s power as well as from the curse of the law.

God’s plan to redeem and restore is being played out through our lives as new creations in Christ as we take seriously the responsibility we are charged with. Because Christ lives in us, we have been empowered to walk in the ways of God; to discern what is truly of God versus what is not; and to rule over the earth, developing culture and ensuring the rule of heaven is carried out. The enemy of Christ, as well as our old nature, sometimes pulls on us tempting us to walk in our own wisdom and rule as did Adam and Eve. And when we do, we find devastation as did they. Could it be that the mess we are in whether it is personally or as a country is due to our negligence concerning the things of God? Have we been negligent, as was Adam, to ensure God’s will be done in our lives? In our country?

As the redeemed of the Lord, we have been blessed as well as given responsibility to develop culture under the Lordship of Christ. To do so, it is imperative that we recognize that we are powerless without God. It is imperative that we recognize our need for Him. We must recognize our responsibility to bring His rule to earth. This means we must not live with our heads in the sand. We need to repent and quit ignoring what is happening around us. We must take action and the first action we must take is to PRAY! God tells us that if His people will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, He will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). We fulfill God’s purpose for our lives to bring glory to Him as we remain dependent on Him and grow in His image (Romans 8:29). His image is developed by the power of the Holy Spirit as we take heed to 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” We stay connected and surrendered to God through His Word, prayer and Christian fellowship. The more we grow in His image, the more we are empowered to affect the world around us. We then fulfill our cultural mandate through the “gospel mandate” by proclaiming Christ’s name and sharing God’s ways throughout the world (Mt 28:18-20).

We have the power of God living in us as royal daughters of the one true God. Let’s examine our lives and our commitment to grow in His image. Let’s ensure His will be done on the earth. Let’s unite in prayer and godly action to bring glory to God in our lives and our land. Shall we? Serving Christ and His Women, Sarah Goebel “Encouraging women with the Word to produce a harvest of Christ-likeness” www.sarahgoebel.com