You can rest now

The cross was heavy, the blood was real, and the price was extravagant.  It would have bankrupted you or me, so he paid it for us.
Call it simple. Call it a gift. But don’t call it easy.
Call it what it is. Call it grace.     (Max Lucardo)
----------------------------------------
Stretch yourself out in the hammock of grace. You can rest now.            (Max Lucardo)

there is life

Georgian Banov ‏@GeorgianBanov 

In God's presence there is life (the absence of death); there is love (the absence of hate); and full joy (the absence of depression).

Here is a great quote by Ken Legg

Dear friend, you may feel dirty, crumpled and downtrodden, due to what life has done to you, or even because of some of the decisions you have made yourself. But whatever has happened to you in life is not, in any way, a true indication of your worth. 

The question regarding your real value was settled on a hill called Calvary, two thousand years ago. There, your Creator became your Saviour, and paid a price that no one else could possibly have paid for you. Peter said, “…you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet.1:18&19).

That’s your value.  You can show to the world that you know your true worth by allowing God’s glory to shine through you. Paul says, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor.6:20).  

Something Wonderful is about to happen

Rightly Understanding the Bible

Don Francisco

"Understanding the Bible begins with this revelation: Everything changed at the Cross. A New Covenant was established that far superseded-- and ended-- the old one. Much of today's religious insanity comes from trying to combine the two, ultimately denying the validity of Jesus' sacrifice. The Old Covenant, the Law of Performance, was nailed to the Cross. It wasn't raised up with Jesus, but we were."

Quote by Don Francisco

The Happy Gospel

From Benjamin Dunn’s Book “The Happy Gospel” 

See  http://www.joyrevolution.com/

When I first became a believer many people told me that God’s way is hard, that Christianity is a struggle and many stumbling blocks lie in the way.

But in fact, through devouring the scriptures and through feasting upon its realities, I have come to realize that the true stumbling block is the ease of the Gospel.  That’s right, the ease!

Though the dependent and trusting do not stumble at this rock. To them this rock bursts with living water. To those who are believers, this rock oozes pure honey.

Those who stumble at this block demand salvation by their own achievements. It trips only those who are seeking a way other than the Cross and the Christ. Most of us have been in this place or are in this place because we are simply unaware of the Gospel’s goodness. We have never been told what amazing freedom is offered to us.

My hope is that after reading this book, you will fall into the effortlessness of believing and become possessed by the joys of childlike trust.

Toby Mac - Speak Life (video)

"Speak Life"

Somedays life feels perfect
Other days it just ain’t workin
The good, the bad, the right, the wrong
And everything in between

Though it’s crazy, amazing
We can turn our hearts with the words we say
Mountains crumble with every syllable
Hope can live or die

So speak Life, speak Life
Through the deadest darkest night
Speak Life, Speak Life
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope
You speak love, you speak...
You speak Life, You speak Life

Some days the tongue gets twisted
Other days my thoughts just fall apart
I do, I don’t, I will, I won’t
It’s like I’m drowning in the deep

Well it crazy to imagine
Words from our lips as the arms of compassion
Mountains crumble with every syllable
Hope can live or die

So speak Life, speak Life
Through the deadest darkest night
Speak Life, Speak Life
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope
You speak love, you speak...
You speak Life, You speak Life

Lift your head a little higher
Spread the love like fire
Hope will fall like rain
When you speak life with the words you say

Raise your thoughts a little higher
Use your words to inspire
Trouble falls like rain
When you speak life with the things you say

Lift your head a little higher
Spread the love like fire
Hope will fall like rain
When you speak life with the words you say

So speak Life, speak Life
Through the deadest darkest night
Speak Life, Speak Life
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope
You speak love, you speak...
You speak Life, You speak Life

You speak Life, You speak Life

Somedays life feels perfect

I tried keeping rules

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  

I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.   

Galatians 2:19-21 (MSG)