Category Archives: Freedom in Christ

I DO & I DID!

June 5, 2014Christian encouragement, Discouraged Christian, Encouragement for Women, Freedom in Christ, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love of God, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, Trials, Troubles, Who I am in ChristAbba, bride and groom, Christian encouragement, Christian life, contentment, encouragement, encouragement in Christ, God's peace, God's word, Identity in Christ, Love letter, spiritual encouragementT.W. Allgaier

I DO & I DID

There are two events that I really enjoy….wedding and anniversary celebrations. I have always enjoyed looking in the paper’s social page at pictures of both. The pictures of people that have been married forty, fifty and sixty years or more are the best, especially when the newlywed picture is side by side the anniversary one!

I recently saw a picture of a couple celebrating their 71st Anniversary! The genuine love that the couple had for each other was so evident in the picture. Their grin and the look in their eyes said it all.

I had the privilege of being with my daughters-in-law on their wedding day as they prepared for their groom. I am not sure if their hands perspired or their hearts fluttered…but I do know the looks of love they had when they walked down the aisle looking upon my sons’ faces. The bridegrooms might have had knees knocking, teeth chattering…I am not sure. But the look of deep love when they saw their brides was one I personally will cherish forever.

Revelation 19:7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb had come, and his bride had made herself ready.” Revelation 21:2 “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

I cannot really imagine the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I can get a sliver of a glimpse because of what I have seen at weddings, but I am sure nothing compares. The bridegroom with come and take away his bride (the body of Christ). No wonder the relationship of marriage is described by the Father as a symbol of His love. He longs for and yearns for an intimate relationship with us. Intimacy that can only come from marriage. Intimacy that deepens over the years as couples face trials and tribulations.

Looking at couples that have been married over 50 years I marvel at the depth of their love. Many times they could have given up. They have traveled down many roads and paths together. Have you ever noticed that the longer people are married, the more that they seem to resemble each other? They always can complete each others’ thoughts and sentences!

We are working on our 35th year of marriage, and it is true! My hubby cannot say a word and make a clicking sound with his tongue, and I know something is bugging him. Or we can look at each other and know what the other is thinking when we have experienced the same social experience. It is so funny!

I believe that is how it is suppose to be with the Father. As time goes by we face many things in life. But as we travel this road of life, the years add up, we become more like our bridegroom, more like Jesus!! We choose to get to know him in an intimate and personal way. Our love deepens, the relationship become the type of relationship in which we know Him so well, we are able to complete the sentences!

I love this quote from Steve McVey, “We are HIS bride, not his hostage.” Married couples do for one another because they want to do for their partner. They do not do so because they are being held hostage by their spouse.

By the same token, we are HIS bride and not HIS employee. The Father allows us to be a part of His work here on earth because of His love for us, not because we need to earn a place in His heart. This is no more true that my husband paying for me to be his wife. I am his wife because I love him. The same is true of the Father.

Try to remember walking down that aisle, or imagine doing it someday and look at who is standing there waiting with open arms.

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

Sweet Fragrance

June 3, 2014Christ's rest, Christian encouragement, Discouraged Christian, Encouragement for Women, Freedom in Christ, Jesus Christ, Love of God, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, Who I am in ChristAbba, Christ, Christian encouragement, Christian life, encouragement, encouragement in Christ, fragrance, God's peace, God's word, spiritual encouragement, who I am in ChristT.W. Allgaier

Sweet Fragrance

I love to buy candles. There are a couple that I buy each and every season. And perfume! There are certain fragrances I love, and some not so much. There are sprays to eliminate foul odors in shoes, cars and carpets. Scented sprays are even available is flavors!

Don’t you love walking through gardens smelling the delightful fragrances floating in the air? Right now honeysuckle is aloft and hits your senses with power when stepping out the door. I love peonies and saw a perfume in a magazine today of that very smell!

How about walking into your grandmother’s kitchen and smelling fresh apple pie? And who can forget freshly baked bread? And garlic….it smells great on breadsticks!

Have you imagined a scent right now? Scents even have the ability to bring forth memories. Scents have amazing influence and impacts on our lives. We are a society appreciative of pleasant scents!

A sweet smelling fragrance has an even more permanent impact.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” I Corinthians 2:14-15

A fragrance in this passage is something sweet-smelling, an odor of acquiescence, satisfaction; a sweet odor.

We are a fragrance….Christ through us! I don’t know about you, but sometimes I think I stink! But in Christ, nope…I am a peonie!

Be blessed~
 IN CHRIST ALONE  

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible, Strong’s*

Curly Hair

I have curly hair. After losing a lot of it several months ago, I don’t complain about it like I once did…but it has a mind of its own! I got it from my mom and dad.

My dad died 22 years ago when he was actually only one year older than I am now. My uncle reminded me of some good memories several years ago. I have always had trouble remembering the good because there were so many bad.

As I went further back into my childhood memories, I remembered some of the names I called him and that he called me. “Da-Da” of course, although I don’t remember specifically, it can be said that that term is universal. My mom told me that when I was up all night crying my “Da-Da” would get up and rock me. I was his baby girl.

I remember calling him “Daddy” as a little girl. That was the time that I hung on every word he uttered. He could do no wrong in my eyes.
 My parents soon divorced and I was becoming a teen about that same time. He went from “Dad” to “Father” to “that man”. That was a very hard and emotional time in my life. My memory often plays tricks on me and doesn’t allow any pleasant memories to forge themselves through these thoughts.

But I did recall that my dad called me “Sis”. I have been wondering about that….I was the eldest child of three. But the more I look upon that I believe that was a term of endearment that my father gave me. For that memory is precious now to me and I will always cherish it.

Our heavenly Father has many names. The Bible tells us many of those names in many scriptures. He is…Everlasting Father, Advocate, Lamb of God, Resurrection, Bishop of Souls, Abba Father, Shepherd, Judge, Lord of Lords, Man of Sorrows, Head of the Church, Master, Rock, High Priest. John 10:9 tells us He is the Door. John 4:10 He is the Living Water. He is the Bread of Life, the Rose of Sharon, the Alpha and Omega, Messiah, Beloved, Redeemer, Bright and Morning Star, The Way, The Truth, The Life.

He is the Last Adam The Great I Am, the Chief Cornerstone, The Most High God, Provider, Our Banner, Our Perfect Peace, Our Righteousness….just to name a few! But there is one very special to me.

What is He to you right now in your life? Which name ministers to you?

Mine? Abba Father, which means Papa, daddy…Oh how I love that name of God! He allows this little girl to climb up in His lap! I am no longer without a Daddy. He is all I want, He is all I need!

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with out spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15-16

I am kind of thinking that my Abba Father may even call me “sis”. I think I like that.