"....IN...IN...IN"

"At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you."  (John 14:20)

Too many songs today fight this reality, and do not even know it.  "We come into Your Presence," implies we were somewhere God is not.  "Welcome, Holy Spirit," implies he has not been "here," and must be invited.  Or, "get into His Presence," means we were/are not.  Or, I hope I don't offend someone, but here is another:  "God showed up."  Where did He come from?

Jesus tells us clearly, "....I am IN My Father, and you IN Me, and I IN you."  More than likely you are not at this moment in some sort of Church gathering.  You are, in this very moment, however, according to our King and Savior Jesus Christ, now and ever shall be, "....in Me, and I in you,"  PERIOD. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that the Cross, Your shed Blood, Death, and Resurrection made this all possible.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION...."

"Therefore I...do not cease to make[] mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him...."  (From Ephesians 1:15-17)

"....wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him," the Living Triune God, Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit.  Who would not want an answer to such a prayer?!?

The Bible is full of such prayers, prayers which we, on our own, would never think to pray.  I say of all Bible prayers, however, that we should make them "ours."  Pray them out loud.  There is a prayer in the Bible for everything we experience in life.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, "....give to [me] the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of [You]."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....BOAST...IN THE CROSS...."

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."  (Galatians 6:14)

I am not sure completely on the how-to, "....boast...in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," but I know that it is more than just talking about the Cross.  As for, "....the world...crucified to me," again, the how-to may not be there, but the prayer is.

Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me when I have ever assumed I know the "how-to," when I don't.  Amen.

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CROW MISSION: AUGUST 1-15

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....GOD WAS IN CHRIST...."

"....God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the Word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19a)

"....GOD WAS IN CHRIST," or, "God was in Christ...," or, "....God was in Christ...."

The Cross was not a scene of some Olympian god who was looking down on some poor person named Jesus and laying all our sins on a separate-from-Himself victim.  NO!  "....GOD WAS IN CHRIST...."

This is a mystery of the Incarnation.  This is the Eternal One, the Living Triune God, Ruler, Sustainer of the Universe Himself, on the Cross---- Himself: "....God was IN Christ..," on the Cross, "....in Christ...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I say with the song writer, "I scarce can take it in."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2