Click here for the passage in Peter that we are memorizing.

Special thanks to all of you wonderful women who helped to make this year’s retreat so memoriable.  May the Lord continue the deep work that he has began.

To see the all the great pictures taken by Crystal & Eltza during the retreat clike here to be direct to a site where all the photos are stored. 

To view any of the videos / praise and worship used at the retreat click here on this link.

At one time, in the not so distant past, I would have defined salvation as the “thing” or the event that needed to and/or had to occur so that a person would not go to hell.  And, this “thing” was primarily the person’s doing, choosing, and obeying, with Divine assistance, of course.  Now, by God’s grace and mercy, I have EXPERIENCED salvation, and ONLY by and through Holy Spirit rebirth can I proclaim Psalm 3:8 Salvation belongs to the LORD.  I did nothing.  I brought nothing but my rebellion.  I changed nothing about myself.  God ALONE did EVERYTHING.  So, what is salvation?  It is the Holy invitation to life, love, and relationship with the One who loves me most!  Salvation is life in the real world!

THE LORD IS GOOD
Now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:3 NIV

I shall never forget the hour when I first discovered that God was really good. It had never dawned on me that it meant He was actually and practically good, with the same kind of goodness He has commanded me to have. The expression “the goodness of God” had seemed to me nothing more than a sort of heavenly statement, which I could not be expected to understand. Then one day in my reading of the Bible I came across the words “O taste and see that the Lord is good” and suddenly they meant something. What does it mean to be good?

To be good is to do teh best we know. I saw that since God has total knowldege He must know what is the best and highest good of all; therefore, His goodness must necessarily be beyond question.

I can never express what this meant to me. I had such a view of the actual goodness of God that I saw nothing could possibly go wrong under His care, and it seemed to me that no one could ever be anxious again. Over and over, when appearances have been against Him, and when I have been tempted to question whether He had been unkind or neglectful or indifferent, I have been brought up short by the words “the Lord is good.” I have seen that it was simply unthinkable that a God who was good could have done the bad things I had imagined.

Praises
The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad.
Psalm 97::1

1 come worship the lord Wexelberg

2 hail to the king Wexelberg

3 in Christ alone Getty

4 I will follow Tomlin

5 every promise of your word Getty

6 speak o, Lord Getty

7 Jesus draw me ever nearer Getty

8 I lift my hands Tomlin

9 Lord, you’re holy James

10 pour your spirit out Wexelberg

11 quiet places Wexelberg

12 lovely Tomlin

13 change me Lord Wexelberg

14 beneath the cross of Jesus Getty

15 immortal, invisible

16 all to us Tomlin

17 majesty of heaven Tomlin

18 starry night Chris August

19 come people of a risen king Getty

20 I will rise Tomlin

21 our God Tomlin

Woohoo!

THE JOYOUS RESPONSE TO
FOLLOWING CHRIST

1 Come Worship the Lord

Come to the Lord
All who are weary
Come to the Lord
Come and find rest
Come to the Lord
Hearts that are yearning
Come to the Lord
Come and be blessed
For in His presence
His joy overflows
Hope for the heart Strength for the soul
Come worship the Lord
Feast at His table
Taste of His goodness
Come worship the Lord
For He is able
To lift your heaviness
He’ll clothe your heart
With the garment of praise
So let your love song be raised
Worship the Lord

Come to the Lord
Lay down your burden
Come to the Lord
Lift up your hands

Come to the Lord
Life He has given
Come to the Lord Savior and Friend

2 Hail to the King

Bright Morning Star
King of all days
Reign in our hearts
Ride on our praise
You are crowned in majesty
Awaken us now
Set us ablaze
Let Your kingdom come
Let Your name be raised
Hear the song of the redeemed
Be exalted as we sing!

Hail to the King!
Hail to the Living Word!
Let praise arise
Heaven and Earth
Sing praise to the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Power and strength
Are Yours alone
Hail to the King!

3 In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.

4 I Will Follow

Where You go, I’ll go
Where You stay, I’ll stay
When You move, I’ll move
I will follow…

All Your ways are good
All Your ways are sure
I will trust in You alone
Higher than my sight
High above my life
I will trust in You alone

Where You go, I’ll go
Where You stay, I’ll stay
When You move, I’ll move
I will follow You
Who You love, I’ll love
How You serve I’ll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow You
I will follow You

Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for You alone
You’re the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in You alone, in You alone
In You there’s life everlasting
In You there’s freedom for my soul
In You there joy, unending joy and I will

5 Every promise of Your Word

From the breaking of the dawn to the setting of the sun,
I will stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Words of power, strong to save, that will never pass away,
I will stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
For Your covenant is sure,
And on this I am secure—
I can stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.

When I stumble and I sin, condemnation pressing in,
I will stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
You are faithful to forgive that in freedom I might live,
So I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Guilt to innocence restored,
You remember sins no more—
So I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.

When I’m faced with anguished choice,
I will listen for Your voice,
And I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Through this dark and troubled land
You will guide me with Your hand
As I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
And You’ve promised to complete
Ev’ry work begun in me—
So I’ll stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.

Hope that lifts me from despair, love that casts out ev’ry fear,
As I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Not forsaken, not alone, for the Comforter has come,
And I stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.
Grace sufficient, grace for me,
Grace for all who will believe—We will stand on ev’ry promise of Your Word.

6 Speak O Lord

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow’r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

7 Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer

Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labour through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
and I’ll follow, though I’m worn.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart’s testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.

Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go -
And at the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.

8 I Lift Up My Hands

Be still, there is a healer
His love is deeper than the sea
His mercy, it is unfailing
His arms are a fortress for the weak

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart, these things I remember
You are faithful, God, forever

Be still, there is a river
That flows from Calvary’s tree
A fountain for the thirsty
Pure grace that washes over me

So let faith arise
Let faith arise
Open my eyes
Open my eyes

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart, these things I remember
You are faithful, God

9 Lord You’re Holy

Lord, You’re holy Lord, You’re holy
and we lift You up and magnify Your name 2x’s

As I look around and I see, all the works that Your hands have made,
the awesomeness of You, and how Your love will never fade,
mere words cannot express what I feel inside,
I can’t describe Your glory divine, but as a token of my love,
this is what I’ll do, I’ll lift my hands and cry . . .Lord

There’s not enough words that I can say,
to tell You just how much, I appreciate, all the wonderful things, You’ve given me, Your lovingkindness, Your tender mercies,
It’s my desire, to praise You
And tell You how much, I love You
You’re worthy of all of the honor, Lord
You’re worthy of all, the praise
I don’t know how You could love me, how You could give me so much mercy,
You didn’t have to suffer and die for me way back on CalvaryI

I thank You, every morning, I thank You, and in the evening
I thank You, all day long
I thank You I thank You I thank You, Lord I thank You
I want to take a little time, right now and just say thank You Lord,
for all You’ve done for me and who You are

Wonderful, Glorious, Holy and Righteous, Victorious,
Conqueror, Triumphant and Mighty, Healer, Deliverer, Shield
and Defense, Strong Tower and My Best Friend, Omnipotent,
Omnipresent, Soon Coming King, Alpha, Omega, Lord of Everything
Holy, holy holy is Your name 2x’s
Holy, holy, holy is Your name 2x’s

10 Pour Your Spirit Out

Lord, I seek You
Help me find You
How I need Your touch
Find my dry and
Broken places
Thirsty for Your love
Lord, forgive me
If I’ve wandered
Far away from You
You are all I’ve
Ever needed
Come and make me new
Pour Your Spirit out on me
Fall just like the rain
Saturate my thirsty soul
Come and fall afresh on me
Fill my cup again
Heal my heart and make me whole
I need You now
Pour Your Spirit out

11 Quiet Places

The world outside is calling me
But I hear You whisper softly
“Come follow me”
So I will run to Your embrace
For my spirit has been longing
To look upon Your face
So I will steal away
Yes, I will steal away
For I will find You
In quiet places
Where I will wait for You, my Lord
Help me find You
In quiet places
It’s Your voice I’m listening for
I’ll find You, Lord
There are secrets of Your heart
How I long for You to tell me
Just who You are
There are plans You have for me
Like a flower still unfolding
Not yet revealed
I will seek you
And I will find You
When I search for You with all my heart

12 Lovely

I watch Your wonders fill the sky
Over the mountains reaching high
The same majesty floods my life
I stand in awe

Lovely, there is none more lovely
In all the universe, there is no one lovelier
Worthy, there is none more worthy
I try to find the words, there’s so much more Your worthy of

Up on the cross with open arms
The love of God reaches far
The same majesty floods my heart
I stand in awe

As long as I live, I’ll praise You
Name above all, be lifted high
All of my days, I worship You
I worship You

Lovely, You are lovely
There is no one, there is no one more worthy
You are worthy
I try to find the words, there is no one lovelier

13 Change Me Lord

Here in the light of Your presence
I see how Holy You are
I’m bowing down, Lord, in reverence
You know my heart
You have become my Desire
Teach me to walk in Your ways
Come now and cleanse me with fire
This prayer I pray
Change Me, Lord
In the light of Your glory
Come make me Your own
Father, search me and know me
Let my heart be known
Change me, Lord

14 Beneath the Cross of Jesus

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I find a place to stand,
And wonder at such mercy
That calls me as I am;
For hands that should discard me
Hold wounds which tell me, “Come.”
Beneath the cross of Jesus
My unworthy soul is won.

Beneath the cross of Jesus
His family is my own—
Once strangers chasing selfish dreams,
Now one through grace alone.
How could I now dishonor
The ones that You have loved?
Beneath the cross of Jesus
See the children called by God.

Beneath the cross of Jesus—
The path before the crown—
We follow in His footsteps
Where promised hope is found.
How great the joy before us
To be His perfect bride;
Beneath the cross of Jesus
We will gladly live our lives.

15 Immortal Invisible

Immortal, You are not are like a man
That you change your mind
or change your plan
Invisible, our human eyes can’t see
The Depths of your majesty

You’re the God of forever and ever amen
The alpha, omega, beginning and end
We sing hallelujah
We worship in awe
Immortal, invisible God

Immortal, You are not bound by death
You’re the living God, my very breath
Invisible you are not bound by space
But your glory is filling this place
Yes your glory is filling this place

Immortal yet you once died for me,
to pay my debt to set me free
Invisible you will not always be
Cause you’re coming to reign as our king
And the saints will fall down at your feet

16 All to Us

Precious cornerstone, sure foundation
You are faithful to the end
We are waiting, on You, Jesus
We believe You’re all to us

Let the glory of Your name
be the passion of the Church
Let the righteousness of God
be a holy flame that burns
Let the saving love of Christ
be the measure of our lives
We believe You’re all to us

Only Son of God sent from Heaven
Hope and mercy at the cross
You are everything, You’re the Promise
Jesus, You are all to us

You’re all to us
You’re all to us
You’re all to us
Yes, You are

When this passing world is over
We will see You face to face
And forever we will worship
Jesus, You are all to us

17 Majesty of Heaven

Majesty of heaven
You’re glory fills the skies
Light of the world
You are lord of all

Humbled by your presence
Amazed by who you are
Nothing compares
You are lord of all

To you the nations bow down
To you a creation cries out
Majesty
All things you hold together
Your name will stand forever
Majesty
You are majesty

Merciful and mighty
My heart is overwhelmed
You stand alone
You are lord of all

Your name above all others
High and exalted
Your kingdom shall reign forever
High and exalted

18 Starry Night
From the birds that sing, in the tallest trees
To the human life, of you and me
From the desert sands, to the place we stand
He is God of all, He is everything

I’m giving my life to the only One
Who makes the moon reflect the sun
Every starry night, that was His design
I’m giving my life to the only Son
Who was and is and yet to come
Let the praises ring, ‘cause He is everything
‘Cause He is everything

From the autumn leaves, that will ride the breeze
To the faith it takes, to pray and sing
From the painted sky, to my plank filled eye
He is God of all, He is everything Chorus

Ohhhhhh, everything
Hallelujah Hallelujah I believe

I’m giving my life to the only One
Who makes the moon reflect the sun
On that starry night, that He changed my life
I’m giving my life to the only Son
Who gave me hope when I had none
So let the praises ring, oh let the praises ring

I’m giving my life to the only One
who makes the moon reflect the sun.
Every starry night, that was His design.
I’m giving my life to the only Son,
who was and is and yet to come
and the Angels sing, that He is heavenly
So let the Praises ring ‘Cause He everything

19 Come People of a Risen King

Come, people of the Risen King,
Who delight to bring Him praise;
Come all and tune your hearts to sing
To the Morning Star of grace.
From the shifting shadows of the earth
We will lift our eyes to Him,
Where steady arms of mercy reach
To gather children in.

Rejoice, Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!

Come, those whose joy is morning sun,
And those weeping through the night;
Come, those who tell of battles won,
And those struggling in the fight.
For His perfect love will never change,
And His mercies never cease,
But follow us through all our days
With the certain hope of peace.

Come, young and old from every land -
Men and women of the faith;
Come, those with full or empty hands -
Find the riches of His grace.
Over all the world, His people sing -
Shore to shore we hear them call
The Truth that cries through every age:
“Our God is all in all”!

20 I Will Rise

There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say “It is well”

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
Victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise . . . I will rise

There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
“Worthy is the Lamb”

21 Our God
Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Spring 2011
Roost
Resting On Our Savior’s Truths

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those
things which were told her from the Lord. LUKE 1:45

I am blessed because I believe that the Lord will do what He says.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous
altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19:7–11

WWMMWW

Roost Retreat – 2010

1       How can I keep from singing chris tomlin

2      mighty to save hillsong

3      hear the call of the kingdom

Keith and kristyn getty

4      everlasting god chris tomlin

5      amazing grace/my chains are gone

chris tomlin

6      how great is our god chris tomlin

7      the power of the cross Keith and kristyn getty

8      it is well with my soul selah

9      you are god alone Phillips, craig and dean

10     what grace is mine Keith and kristyn getty

11      when I survey the wondrous cross

Kathryn scott

12     wonderful maker Jeremy camp

13     come, people of a risen king

Keith and kristyn getty

14     this is my father’s world amy grant

15     holy is the lord chris tomlin

16     holy, holy, holy lord god almighty

Michael w. smith

17     sing to jesus Fernando ortega

18     holy spirit, living breath of God

Keith and kristyn getty

19     clear the stage ross king

20    Turn your eyes upon Jesus selah

How Long will you stay on the wheel of insanity going nowhere?

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Check out this one too . . . looks like comparision, competition and the herding mentality perpetuates the insanity.

“I will NOT quit. I KNOW that I can do it. I MUST keep going. Success is just ahead.”

it’s a matter of the SOUL.

Dying to Self

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being contented to suffer for Christ, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advise disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it in patient, loving, silence, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any unpunctuality, to any annoyance; when you stand face-to-face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility—and endure it as Jesus endured—THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, any interruption by the Will of God, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own words, or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstance, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

Are you dead yet?  In these last days, the Spirit would bring us to the cross.  “That I may know Him. . .being made conformable unto His death.”

Phil.  3:10

Author Unknown

“Finding leads to losing

Losing lets you find

Living leads to dying

Life leaves death behind

Losing leads to finding

That’s all that I can say

No one will find life another way”              (Ken Medema)

For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake

shall find it.   Matt. 16:25

For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake,

that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.   2 Cor. 4:11

Denton Bible Woman’s Retreat

March 5 & 6, 2010

The idea behind the whole conference was that many Christians are not receiving the full benefits of a Christian life! They are so focused on the circumstances around them that they miss the abundant life God planned for them.  (John 10:10- Jesus said, “I came so they may have life, and have it abundantly.”)

What kind of life am I living?

This is a quick check list to find out if you are living a basket case life or the abundant life:

• I don’t make time to daily replenish my mind and heart with God’s word.
• I fill the basket of my mind with worldly thoughts.
• I don’t take time to memorize God’s word.
• I meditate on my problems instead of God’s promises.
• I hide my sin, not God’s word in my heart.
• I base my identity on what other people say rather than who I am in Christ.
• I respond to stress with worry rather than prayer.
• I don’t sit with God and quietly receive his instruction.
• I hold to my bad feelings toward people rather than forgive them.
• My hope is placed on people or things.
• I am not daily filled with God’s glorious might.
• I don’t walk in a way that pleases the Lord.
• I get caught up in insignificant details of the world.
• I don’t pray and use Scripture to stand against my enemy.
• I live in fear rather than freedom.
• I work to hold everything together rather than resting in Jesus.
• I let my thoughts run wild rather than taking them captive.
• I don’t look for Christ in others.
• I am a man pleaser.
• I don’t rest. I’m exhausted.

If you have checked three or more of these you are NOT living the abundant life. The good news? God gave us instructions for exactly how we leave the life of stress, worry, and exhaustion, so we can receive all the goodness and blessings he intended for us here on the earth. He gives us exact instructions for how to have an ABUNDANT LIFE! Keep reading!!!

The speaker, Debbie Taylor Williams, used the book of Colossians to enumerate God’s instructions for how to have the abundant life. She gave three sessions at the conference: reasons not to be a basket case, reasons to give God control, and extraordinary choices for a joy filled life. She gave many points, but I have compiled the ones that stuck out to me the most! Enjoy!

Eleven reasons NOT to be a basket case

(All the numbers correspond to verses in Colossians. So you can meditate on them later!)

• God has a will for my life. 1:1
• I have the potential to be filled with all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 1:9
• I have potential to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. 1:10
• I can praise God in all circumstances.
• I can grow in the knowledge of God. 1:10
• I can be strengthened by all power according to God’s glorious might. 1:11
• Christ’s power mightily works within me. 1:29
• I have laid aside the old self. 3:9
• I have a NEW self image which is being renewed according to the image of Christ. 3:10
• I have been chosen by God! 3:12

Now that we understand we may not be living in the full grace, goodness, and blessings Christ has for us we need to take control of our lives. How do we do that? By giving that control to God. We eat, breath, live Colossians 3:2-Set your mind on the things above not on the things of earth (This was the main verse of the conference we were all challenged to memorize it). Sometimes this can be nerve-racking. A lot of times, we will know we should trust God and say we trust him, but that trust never makes it from our head into our heart. Sometimes that trust works really well in areas that we do not care about as much or areas we perceive as being out of our hands. The problem with that is if we never give God full and complete trust and control of our lives then we will never live the abundant life. So keep reading!!!

Reasons to give God control of my life

(All the numbers correspond to verses in Colossians. So you can meditate on them later!)

• God rescued me from the domain of darkness and transferred me to the kingdom of his beloved Son! 1:13 (Note: In Greek, the word transferred here means “delivered from a hostel power”)
• God has redeemed me and forgiven me. 1:14 (Note: In Greek, th3e word forgiveness here means “let go as if never committed.” Wow! That is pretty amazing.)
• Jesus made peace between you and God through his blood. 1:20
• Jesus is the one who will present me to god as holy, blameless, and beyond reproach, 1:22
• God’s will is for me to know the mystery: Christ in me, the hope of glory. 1:27
• God canceled out my certificate of debt and decrees against me. He’s nailed it to Christ’s cross. 2:14
• Christ has triumphed over all rule and authority. 2:15

We now know a few of the reasons to give God control, but it can be a difficult process. The Devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy; he would love to rob you of your joy. Don’t let him!!!! There are specific choices we make that will allow us to have the joy filled life God intends for us!

Extraordinary Choices for a Joy Filled Life

(All the numbers correspond to verses in Colossians. So you can meditate on them later!)

• Set your mind on the things above, not on the things of earth. 3:2
• Consider the members of your body as dead to sin, immorality, evil desires, greed, evil passions…. 3:5
• Do not lie to one another. 3:9 (Have someone who is also seeking God to hold you accountable.)
• LET the peach of Christ rule in my heart. 3:15
• Whatever I do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. 3:16
• Whatever I do, work heartily, as to the Lord, aware I am serving God. 3:23-24
• Give control of my life to Christ, who is in me, the hope of glory. 1:27

I hope this has given you a lot to meditate on this week. God loves you and wants you to live an abundant life not a basket case or even an average one. I challenge you to memories Colossians 3:2-Set your mind on the things above not on the things of earth and learn to appropriate it in your daily life!