I am.

Doesn't that say it all? God is everything that I need, yet I fail to acknowledge that truth. When I fail to act out of that truth, life seems to just swallow me up. I have access to the fullness of God within me. And as Psalm 34:5 says, "Those who look upon Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."

Pastor Pete has been talking about who God is. As he spoke of God revealing himself to Isaiah, I was reminded of this list that my father posted recently on his blog. Declaring that God is each and every one of these things in my life brings me confidence. When I rest in the knowledge of my God's greatness, I do radiate His love to others, and I act out of that love. Let's leave our comfort zones and deliver that love to others every day.

First Thought: Christ in You

"Christ is all and is in all.” Col. 3:11

When you awaken each day remember that Jesus abides in you. Verbally affirm His presence as your entire Christian life. Tell Him you are thrilled He abides in you. Never start a day from what you lack.

Listen to how Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola describe Jesus in their wonderful book Jesus Manifesto.

Jesus is…

Your Shepherd, your Advocate, your Mediator, your Bridegroom, your Lion, your Lamb, your sacrifice, your manna, your smitten Rock, your living water, your food, your drink, your good and abundant land, your dwelling place, your Sabbath, your new moon, your Jubilee, your new wine, your feast, your aroma, your anchor, your wisdom, your peace, your comfort, your Healer, your joy, your glory, your power, your strength, your wealth, your victory, your redemption, your Prophet, your Priest, your kinsmen redeemer, your teacher, your guide, your liberator, your deliverer, your Prince, your Captain, your vision, your sight, your beloved, your way, your truth, your life, your author, your finisher, your beginning, your end, your age, your eternity — your all and all.

May the perfect and positive presence of Jesus be your first thought not your last.

Bud McCord
Abide International

Visit my dad's blog at http://www.abideinternational.org/
Rebekah

Unplugged and Filled Up

Psalm 46 verses one and two remind us that "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea." What a vivid declaration that is! I feel an overwhelming sense of peace when I acknowledge that my God can sustain me through something as unimaginable as the earth giving way and the mountains falling into the sea. Even a tsunami that took so many lives and caused so much destruction in just seconds is not greater than my God. No single set of circumstances is greater than my God. In fact, He makes all things work together for my good. How simple and amazing that truth is!!! For this reason I will be still and know that He is God and that He will be exalted among the nations and in the earth (Psalm 46:10).

This week at RESYNC we did things a bit differently. In an effort to be intentional about our worship, we did an unplugged worship set. We minimized the glitter and glamour and took time to return to a simpler style of worship. It was refreshing and much needed. If you missed it, please join us this Saturday at 6 and be blessed. Lifting our voices together as believers and taking time to be reminded of the greatness of our God is so comforting and necessary. We are surrounded by chaos and pain all week long, but as Pastor Pete reminded us this week, we do not have to be consumed by the chaos. We can instead be calmed by the knowledge that our God is greater than our circumstances. As things begin to become more complex around you, be encouraged by returning to the simplicity of God's love for you and receive His joy. I've shared this prayer with you before, but I feel compelled to share it again:

"For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom his whole family in Heaven and on Earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19

Be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God always.