Bless you Matt in all you do….

Yet all of us are in the same situation.

We are all undeserving.

But Jesus has done for us all what her did for her…”for by grace you are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, not of works, so nobody can boast”

Having been delivered from a life of hypocricy and learning to walk in the light is challenging.

We have to keep on the short list with God and discipline ourselves to keep a guard around our hearts and spirits…

Otherwise our prayers will not be heard…

I think about all the times I asked God to forgive me of things that were sins that i did not want to let go of and fully intended to do again.

I was just going through the motions…

I still do to some point…the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?

Deliver me from me Lord.

From my addictions, there were times I wanted to be free and times i didn’t.

I wonder if he was the same way.

One thing just stunned me. if you think back to the fact that I was eight years old when I was first raped, and 46 YO when had a nervous breakdown and met Christ in a way I had never known before…

He was by that pool for 38 years.

38 + 8 = 46.

As Jesus said in Matthew 5: 27 and 28:

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

For me, as for most men, and many women too, the issue is not ONLY spiritual Adultery, or consorting with evil after we become a christian, but also sinning and committing Adultery in our heart and with our eyes.

In other words, looking at a woman or man and fantasizing about an improper relationship with them…disrobing them with our eyes so to speak.

I have heard it said from the pulpit that we ALL fall down here.

An I have been forgiven much.

Of me much is required.

God, thank you for giving me the self discipline to turn from this sin, please help me stay and finish this race well.

My attitude is usually whats lacking though.

Lately i have been going through some testing.

My comfort zones have been pushed pretty far.

And now my heart has been changing, because I am beginning to ask God to change my heart.

I have actually begun to enjoy the hardship and now ask God give me strength to do what I never thought I would enjoy doing.

I can see that I am becoming faithful over a few things, the bare Minimum of what God has given me…just ONE TALENT.

I have made the majority of my “christian” life one of criticism and legalism, not rejoicing.

I love the change that I have experienced in my life at Southside.

I am looking forward to the leadership conference tonight and tomorrow.