That's Really Good

Why is your opinion of yourself so dang important?  Well, you must know by now that to the degree it is inaccurate is the extent that you’ll be living a lie, and no one does that well, no matter how hard they try.

However, when a person gets the idea that God’s opinion can be known and that it is both excellent and accurate, his wrestling with this world diminishes because he no longer needs it to find himself.  He is discovered.  What a good thing that is.  Rest and love and ease around other people are finally found because you get what you’ve been looking for from God:  “You’re okay!  You’re great, as a matter of fact.  I’ve made you that way.”  God gives you that. 

So if you’ve got some inner wrestling going on today—you know the turmoil that happens inside?  “Who am I?  What am I doing with my life?”  Then consider where you’re looking:  in the mirrors of this world and what those give you, or at Jesus, who gives you . . . well, He gives you you. 

Colossians 3:2-3 (The Message)  “Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and…see things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God.”

That has to be good!  So look there.  You’ll like what you find because it’s the true you.  And because it’s real . . . and that’s really good.

(This is a transcript of yesterday’s video, “That’s Really Good,” and is for those who might rather read than watch.  To see the video, click: http://youtu.be/V8_YhhuMNdk, or simply scroll down below.)

Speaking This Sunday, February 22

I will be speaking at both services (9 and 11:00am) this Sunday, February 22, at Grace Life Fellowship, in Baton Rouge, LA. I would love to meet you at this terrific church, which is pastored by my friend, Frank Friedman. (I will also be speaking at the Men’s Retreat on Friday and Saturday.) For more information, click on: http://www.gracelifefellowship.org.

That's Really Good

Got 2 minutes?  If you’re experiencing disillusionment and doubt, here’s a quick and encouraging, true pick-me-up.  Watch for the visitor toward the end. :)

Beware the Loveless Fat Head Parade

The good people at Surrendered Image have just published my article/video about love.  I think it will help you, particularly on this weekend when we celebrate love—the passion, power and purpose of love.

http://surrenderedimage.com/Blog/beware-the-loveless-fat-head-parade-34665 

Want To Watch Me This Sunday?

You will be able to see me speak this Sunday, February 15, at Church Without Religion, because it will be live streamed at 10:30am, Central Time. (Message begins at about 11:00.)  This is the church that my friend, Andrew Farley, pastors in Lubbock, Texas.

To look in on me, go to: http://churchwithoutreligion.com/#/live-stream

Does God Need Commandments?

If we had not received Jesus, and if He were not now living in us, then going without laws and commandments would be scary. Foolish. But we have God Himself within. So here’s the question: Does God need laws and commandments in order to behave Himself?  Probably not. :)  No, He doesn’t.

Think about how capable God is by nature, which means without effort. He needs no outside stimulus or restraint in order to be Himself. Think about where God is right now and how connected you are with Him, and do not accept a law and commandment needing, discounted and distorted life. Not only will you be camouflaging Him from yourself and the wonder of that—God is in me!—but you will be short-circuiting your new self—your true self, which, by nature, is like Him. And that means an unnecessary frustration. A twist. A perversion. You don’t need that, right?

The life and power and grace of God do not come if you obey and get yourself right, according to the commandments. God shows up in you because He obeyed and got you right. And He is still getting you right from within—the two of you together, in harmony.

Look to Him. He is alive in you, and He doesn’t need any commandments.

(This is a transcript of yesterday’s video, “Does God Need Commandments?” and is for those who might rather read than watch. To see the video, click http://youtu.be/2f5D6vJlmmI, or simply scroll down below.)

Does God Need Commandments?

What role do commandments play in your life?  How do they fit with God?  Give 2 minutes to see a tremendously important missing ingredient to the life of God.  It’s better than you think.

Rescuing Temporary Lunatics

The good people at Surrendered Image have just published my note/video, "Rescuing Temporary Lunatics." Here’s How to Liberate the Sometimes Crazy People in Your Days (Including Yourself).

To have a look, click the link.

http://surrenderedimage.com/Blog/rescuing-temporary-lunatics-34637

Switching To The New Covenant

The Old Covenant is done.  Finished.  It’s obsolete because it’s complete.  To abide by it (in case you’re Jewish) will frustrate you no end because it ended.  God doesn’t recognize it anymore.  To embrace it now (in case you’re like me, a Gentile) would be crazy because we were never invited into what is now finished.  How does giving work in the New Covenant?  It is by the happy leading of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us and makes it all an issue of grace and love welling-up, proving that we are His workmanship.  Our confidence, then, is in Him, who made and who keeps the New Covenant for His glory and grace.  (See Ephesians 2:11-22; Hebrews 8:6-13; 9:15; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15) 

For a burden-lifting article I have written about this, go to: https://www.facebook.com/ralphharris/posts/10205123158739032:0?pnref=story.  For the video version, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzZZdSRGQus&list=UUU0vzTvP_wD3Q59QDl9hx7w

A Dadly Love

At this moment, my youngest daughter is waking up for the first time in New Zealand. She has endured weeks and even months of preparation, leading up to nearly 30 hours of travel to get into a God-given, otherwise crazy dream. And I love her madly. I love her dadly. I know that’s not a real word, but it is to me. It’s my word.

Emma draws authentic love out of me like bees draw nectar. It’s crazy. As flowers were designed to survive and thrive through what bees take from them and give to them, making something better than if they’d never met, so it is with me. Emma and me.

This is all about a love designed, and, for me, it’s the dadly kind of love. It’s mysterious. It’s wonderful. It’s painful. It’s healing. Frankly, I’ve become dependent upon daddy/daughter love, knowing that it all works by the design and orchestration of The Unseen Lover. He is the Mystery Lover behind it all, revealing what He is like toward us, kindly sharing the fullness of love—the height and depth, length and breadth of love with His loved creation. The objects of His love. That’s us.

This morning Emma awakes knowing she is loved, and that has been and will continue to be the prized knowing—the best knowing she has—and fruit of her days. She will meet people from all over the world today, drawn to a YWAM base (Youth With A Mission), who have also been captivated by Jesus’ love. And she will love them in ways and with a persistence and style they have never known. . .because it’s Emma’s love. That’s my daughter, and that’s my love. Love goes on far away.

I’ve got two “fortunatelies.” Fortunately number 1: I have two daughters. Ellen returns home today from college. . .and I promise not to overwhelm her with dadly love. Because love doesn’t. Sometimes, oftentimes, dadly love is just with. And that is so good. And that’s enough. I’ve learned that about God’s love—He is with me. He is with you in everything. And that’s the best of this life: with.

Fortunately number 2 (and this is a big one!): Kiwi Emma has unlimited wifi! Do you know what that means to me? Pictures. Texts. Short videos. Even Skype or Facetime. And do you know what that means? Happy daddy. It means that Dadly love goes on in New Zealand. It’s different, but it’s the same.

God loves me. God loves you. And I know He has dadly love too.

(This is a transcript of yesterday’s video, “A Dadly Love,” and is for those who might rather read than watch. To see the video, click http://youtu.be/jW_J3UkPA4U, or simply scroll down this blog.)

A Dadly Love

This explains at least a little bit of how God gets love to and from people—specifically, my daughters and me.  It’s personal and poignant, as you would hope love would be. 

A Soon-Coming Healing?

Congratulations to my friend and hero, Andrew Farley, whose books and teachings of the gospel of grace have drawn the attention of Hank Hanegraaff (“The Bible Answer Man”).  It’s not that Hank has nothing good to say—he does—it’s that some of his beliefs have perpetuated a terrible limp amongst many believers.  I hope this means a soon-coming healing. 

See more at: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/andrewfarley/2015/01/are-christians-perfectly-cleansed-do-we-have-two-spiritual-natures-andrew-farleys-response-to-the-bible-answer-man/

Get The Stink Off

While a good attitude, a solid support group and decent health care does help in times of trouble, it has always been knowing God’s love that makes noble conquerors out of otherwise scaredy-cats. The desire to know God’s love is the highest desire that He can give you because it is the desire for Himself. . .and that is where your satisfaction is found, that is where your ability—and beyond—is found. The desire for love satisfied will shape your days, frame your efforts and focus your hopes in the midst of uncertain, crazy and difficult times. As much as anything else, this is the work of God toward you. It’s what He’s doing today.  First.  And last.

If you’ve been thinking that you’ve got no time to “bathe” in His love for you, maybe you’ve accepted the lie that His love isn’t practical or productive—you’ve got too much work to do after all. That thinking stinks you up, and is the proof that you need a bath, however brief, because you’ve got to get that stink off—especially the kind of bath that gets rid of the inside stink. Do you know about that stink? I’m sure you do.

He makes all of the difference for you—really—and He knows exactly how you work. Plus, He’s been through everything imaginable and more, long before you arrived on the scene, so He has all of the experience and wisdom and comfort at the ready for you. He has all of the motivation you need, all of the strength and all of the perspective. That could be helpful in your day. Right?

He is FOR you. Remember?

(This is a transcript of yesterday’s video, “Get The Stink Off,” and is for those who might rather read than watch. To see the video and to perhaps subscribe, click http://youtu.be/xSVtbQNLj7w. Or scroll down this page.)

Get The Stink Off

Got 2 minutes?  Here's a reviving splash to clarify and encourage you today. You're going to need it because stuff's coming at you, right?

God Is For You

To be clear, sin is no longer the defining aspect of our relationship with God—Christ is! Grace is! God did away with sin, yours and mine, by the sacrifice of His son. We have been brought into union with Him and nothing, NOTHING can separate us from Him ever again. He has already given us every good gift and perfect fullness in Christ. What’s left out of 'every' and 'fullness'? I can’t think of anything. God has made His home in you and in me, and He will never, NEVER withdraw Himself or forsake us. He has made us righteous royalty in His family—No kidding!—and even if our radiant robes should drag in the mud of this world, like the father of the prodigal, He will never lawyer-up and prosecute us for waywardness or distant country visitations.

Our Father tore up the records and every regulation. No debt remains. We cannot pay Him back, neither does He want it. That would be insulting to Him and the staggering display of His love and grace, which He still likes displaying. It’s His thing! Have you noticed? It’s the new covenant. (And, like the prodigal's dad, our Father asks no questions.) At the risk of adding to the story, the prodigal’s father threw a parade in front of the neighbors as if to say, “He’s MY son! He is for me, and I’ll give him all that I want no matter how scandalous it seems to you!”