A Christian working to earn God's favor and approval is like Norma Jean working/acting to become Marilyn Monroe. She did it very, very well. Everyone loved her, but the love never reached her. She was always insecure. She self-medicated the pain of knowing that she could never be who people believed her to be. Norma never became Marilyn. How so very sad.
In contrast, consider the movie Princess Diaries where a 15yo daughter of a single mom is visited by her grandmother and told she is a princess. Her father was the crown prince of Genovia. Mia can't believe she is a princess but because she has ROYAL DNA she IS a princess. Whether or not she goes to Genovia. She was by birth royalty and always will be. Nothing can take that from her. She gets 'princess lessons' and blows it often, but that doesn't change anything, she IS a princess. 
Too much of the church is Norma Jean trying to become what they believe will be acceptable to God. Trying to get rid of this bad habit and adding on that good discipline. All that work and they are no closer to God, no more assured of their salvation and afraid to get close to Him. They are tired, frustrated and eventually, like Norma Jean, hopeless. In Norma's case hopeless unto a drug overdose and death. 
Praise God, the King of Kings that the truth is His sons and daughters are royalty. We don't need to pretend. We get to be who He made us to be in Christ. We are - presently - holy, righteous, complete, perfect, forgiven, a masterpiece, safe and secure, precious in His sight, chosen, accepted, adequate, His friend. We get to encourage each other as He matures us, teaches us and guides us in all things. Hello Princes and Princesses of God.

Ps 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

Never noticed before that the Psalmist is praising God as HE LOOKS AT HIMSELF! 

Most often when we look at ourselves we see our flaws, failures and struggles, yet when we stop and see what He sees and stop judging ourselves we get a glimpse at the wonder of 'us', fearfully and wonderfully made. A person created perfectly, skillfully knit together by the God of the Universe. 

The gospel - the good news - reveals the truth of who we really are and causes us to dance and sing and praise our Creator who made us perfectly and -in Christ- perfected us. 
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Wow! I get to look at me and see the perfection of HIS work. That draws me even closer to Him, encourages me to be 'real' with Him and blesses me with seeing what He made and sees - a new creation - holy, righteous, pure, a masterpiece, a one of a kind never before seen being... This truth transforms my life. This draws me to live according to the truth - to be who I be. I don't have to try to put on Christ as an outer garment that covers my flaws to be acceptable and work to keep that garment in place covering my flesh that tries to escape its confines. Rather, I get to take off the layers realizing that at my core, my innermost being is His life in mine and it is gorgeous and captivating.

Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
I think the usual way these verses are shared carries the implication that the Kingdom of God is over there, and we are to set our focus, attention and effort on traveling from here to over there, on the other side of the fence where we find His grass greener and able to provide for our every need. But we need to get there.
There is a different view that I find more theologically sound. Consider…
What is the kingdom of God? “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 8:1) What is the kingdom? It is good news. If we have received good news today, it just flows into our tomorrows.
“The kingdom of God is righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17). If we have these things, our “today” is perfect. We have no need for worry or concern for tomorrow, for we are fully in the present with Him, in Spirit.
When will the kingdom of God come? “One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs…” (Luke 17:20-1) Looking around for evidence of the Kingdom will never reveal it for it is invisible, a mystery. The Kingdom manifests to those open to receive it.”
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?...” (1 Cor 6:9) The kingdom of God is for today, not sometime in the by-and-by after we’ve died. Only those that are alive are inheritors. They - the alive - inherit because someone else died and left them an inheritance. Jesus died to leave us His inheritance. Today two thousand years after His death we continue to receive our inheritance. He left us righteousness, peace and joy - good news, for today.
Where is the kingdom of God? “You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” (Luke 17:22) According to Strong’s NT 1787 ἐντός, the kingdom is within you, inside, in the midst of you. And that was written 2,000 years ago.
“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God (and He did), then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12:28) (comment, mine). The kingdom of God has been ours to experience for more than 2000 years.
Who made it possible for us to be in the Kingdom of God? “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
What does the kingdom of God look like? “For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk, it is living by God’s power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20).
When did you become righteous? “The Spirit convicts you of righteousness.” John 16:10 This means that the Spirit reminds you, confirms to you, that you ARE righteous. You realize your righteousness when you hear the Spirit remind you.
Do you see the connection?
We are instructed to seek the kingdom of God – given to us as an inheritance by Jesus, the substance of which is good news, righteousness, peace and joy; the power of God within each of us. When we seek and find that the kingdom is within us…when we realize it is ours to behold, to live in and participate in – with Him, we realize that within us is everything we need for life and godliness and we need not worry about tomorrow. For every day of our lives is a today in which we realize our joint righteousness, live in peace and joy and need have no concern for our tomorrows.

Intimacy with God isn't a quick fix to get our day in order. We don't go get a little from Him and then rush to give to others what we received or share what we heard so that they too can benefit because, 'after all they need this too'. It isn't about getting to give, or getting to bear fruit, or getting to mature.
Rather it is giving ourselves fully and unashamedly to the Lover of our soul, allowing Him to love us well and love us long. It's each party savoring the time together and each other’s presence. Not to be crude but intimacy with Him is slow, beautiful lovemaking. It's not rushed or about running to get to the next activity or demand in life, but rather enjoying and being enjoyed. It's being fully loved and fully known. It changes us. Moses was in the presence of God, Paul was in the 3rd Heaven, John saw Him high and lifted up, David took time for conversations with God, each life was affected. They KNEW God.
This remains the hunger of my soul. This is what my spirit continues to call me toward. This is again the reminder that Mary chose the better thing (sitting at Jesus feet) than Martha who had a clean house and was the 'perfect' hostess. There are better things in life. There are higher things in life. There are finer things in life. There is God.
Enjoying Him and enjoying Him enjoying me. Would you join Him too?

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What IF we lived our day FOR others.

What IF our every thought and comment was to encourage and lift them up?

What IF we aimed to clothe them with the garment of praise (for His righteousness within them) and convict them of their righteousness?

What IF we spoke much less about us and listened and responded to them?

What IF there was no room or need for idle chatter or self-promotion.

What IF we walked according to Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition of conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."

OR as the Amplified reads beautifully Phil 2:1-4
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you 'care'-then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Yes, it costs - self, I, flesh, better than, etc. Remind yourself when self-promotion is coming from you that it is likely a mask covering a lie you are believing-that you are in some way 'less than'.

​May Father expose these lies, this need for self-aggrandizement and speak words of peace to our soul that we may serve and love others first, trusting Him with our every need and exposed wound. Yes to heal the wound must be uncovered - the mask must be removed - ONLY you can remove the mask - others can't rip it off and God will not take it, He will only RECEIVE it from you at your willingness then minister His balm upon you. 

The Israelites set up piles of stones as memorials of what God had done/what they had seen. Join me in intentionally looking for the stone (of what God has done or shown you) to be added to your cairn today.
As I looked for the photo I was reminded of the Jewish tradition of leaving a pebble or stone on top of a tombstone signifying that someone has honored the deceased person's memory with a visit to the grave.
As God reminds us of His faithfulness and we build our cairn (our permanent memorial of His goodness) may we honor God with the memory of our deceased Old Man/Old Nature/Adam Nature and praise and glorify Him for the new creation and new live He has given us at great cost.
My first little stone is based on seeing two racoons at the backyard bird feeders before dawn this morning. God's nature is amazing. It reminds me of His creativity, His love for life and the fact that He daily provides for the needs of each 'critter'. How much more does He cares for us today. May we be encouraged today to play on the high places with His hind's feet.....(pebble added to the cairn....looking at it's loveliness....remembering Him who made this possible....wow!)