Custom is the Plague of Wise Men

The Value of Christ

Galatians 5

Freedom in Christ

 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all....

4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Thoughts about Oak Trees

Today a verse about "righteous oaks" was referenced several times during our morning service. I have a view of several oak trees from my sunporch where I often sit when it's a bit warmer. These oaks are still stubbornly clinging to some of their browned and withered leaves. I discovered somewhere that this means the trees are not yet mature oaks. I wondered about this... these trees that are doing what they were created to do at this particular time in the story that God is writing. He doesn't ever seemed rushed about the timing of things... all things have a season as Ecclesiastes reminds us... so here I am in a certain season of my life... wondering at what it looks like for me to be a mature oak and even wondering if that is what I should be wondering... maybe I should just BE where I am and rest in His timing and whatever it is He is up to and doing on His timetable.... I long to be able to trust.