4I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace.

Well, that's certainly a statement. Even the best-intentioned believer can get caught in pride and it doesn't take long before we begin to devise our own tactics and blueprints to see God's will accomplished in our lives. The reality of that way of living is manifest in the lives of Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis. I mean seriously...coming to the conclusion that the only way that God's promise can come true is to have an affair?

No. We can reflect on that example and cluck our tongues in disapproval, when honestly, as the body of Christ we do it all the time! We don't trust God to do what He says He's going to do in HIS strength, so we plot and scheme and 'strategize' on how to make it happen ourselves. Holy Ghost just shakes His head...where is there room for Him to direct our lives when we insist on taking up the entire driver's seat?

"25Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives"

So what does that even mean?

When we live God's way, "He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard"

-so that's gradually, but visibly

"things like affection for others"

-imagine having the love of Christ for someone that you don't even know (or maybe some that you do) and it flowing out of you naturally

"exuberance about life, serenity."

-that means actually being excited about what you are doing, and what you are about. Having this 'peace that passes understanding' and maintaining it, drawing others into the Kingdom because you make Christ in you attractive by your very life.

"We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.
We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments,
23not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely...
26That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original."

It's not so hard to write it. The difficulty lies in just doing it. True dat.

"It's the wrestling that brings us strength." C. Roberts

That's a line that I gleaned from an email today. It claimed me. Let's look at that - wrestling is all about conflict, confrontation, clash, strength and force, strategy and forward thought and most of all, a motivation towards victory.

I don't come by any of that naturally - what I've got is evasion (of problems and people) a tendency towards aggression rather than healthy conflict, emotional strife, bossiness and a need to control and a need to be right.

I guess that's the distinction between a Holy Spirit led life and the dominion of the flesh.

"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. "

Y'know, I don't think I live according to the sinful nature, I just think that it finds its way in every now and again. I want to have my mind set on what the Spirit desires (that whole motivation for victory).

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;"

The thing is, I don't have peace of mind at the moment - it has been elusive for quite some time. Where I have misstepped? The Word says that if my mind were controlled by Holy Spirit, then it would contain (and overflow with) life and peace. I don't visualize this as some kind of ethereal utopian state of mind that only the lofty and religious can reach, but more like an eternal comfy couch (ok, bear with me, I'm not suggesting that my God in His entirety is merely a big hug, but it IS one of His attributes) where I can choose to sit and take a load off regardless of my circumstances or trials.

So- there you have it. I guess it's what I'm famous for, a long ramble with some Scripture thrown in, but it feels good to have it on the outside rather than jammed within.

grace,
a mere beggar who has found bread

Romans 8:5-6

"I know some people who are tired. My friend even suggested that they are spent. I didn't receive it for myself. I'm not spent! :-) I've not yet begun to fight, to test the waters of grace in which the great hearts drowned, the diehards now swim, and our persecuted comrades wade. May resolve bolster the courage of any of you similarly tested"
Stephen Court, PhD, Captain

I feel tested in that way - I'm feeling 'spent', as thought I'm rationing grace when I could be feasting on it freely. Why do I do that? Seriously, I know I'm wading into deepening waters of maturity, self-examination and knowledge of Christ, but I seem to make it into a right and wrong list, measuring myself against the self I was 10 minutes or 10 months ago...yikes. I think it's definetely time for a breather. Praise God that He's got me situated perfectly to slow down and contemplate exactly what it is that I think I'm doing.

"There has never yet been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering."
Theodore Roosevelt