tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12449549.post7683136120959381378..comments2008-05-08T10:29:32.090-05:00Vincentnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12449549.post-26779845711097689072008-05-08T10:29:00.000-05:002008-05-08T10:29:00.000-05:00You are so right, a waste of time and totally exhausting. I am driven though so it goes against my nature to be like Mary. Although my heart identifies with her, if I were honest, I draw my self worth from being like a Martha. I have learned the only way to live is through being and inner stillness and attending to the presence of Christ the hard way, and I am so thankfulVincenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04057252498418580784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12449549.post-44109685440891030742008-05-07T09:55:00.000-05:002008-05-07T09:55:00.000-05:00I guess the topic of "standing" in the Lord correlates with "being," as opposed to doing. I too love the story of Mary and Martha. I relate so much more to Mary, as that is where I have found God's grace - sitting at Jesus feet. <BR/>One of my favorite sayings is, "We are not human doings but human beings."<BR/>I so relate to the scripture,"A day in your presence is far better to me than gold." The great outpouring of the Spirit that took place in the early church took place after the church spent time waiting in an upper room for the promised Holy Spirit. Jesus, John and all the prophets did not begin their ministies until it was time, until they were sent and empowered by God. I find trying to do the works of God outside of God's leading and empowerment a waist if time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12449549.post-16349731844927935002008-05-05T14:21:00.000-05:002008-05-05T14:21:00.000-05:00Wow, it took me a while to answer your question. Sorry. I have not thought of that correlation before, but it is a very good one. <BR/><BR/>Verse 10 of Eph. 6 states "be strong in the Lord and his mighty power." I think that is THE thing: We are IN the Lord.<BR/><BR/>So much of the language that is heard in Christian circles seems to believe that although we are IN the Lord, we still have to fight. But Paul says in verse 13 & 14 that we "stand" not fight. The battle really does belong to the Lord (1 Sa 17:47/ 2 Ch 20:15) and the victory also belong to the Lord through Christ and all that the torn veil symbolizes, which is as you said; that we can now have our inheritance back that we originally had in the garden. <BR/><BR/>Our job is simply to focus our energies on being IN Christ, on STANDING on what is already done. To release our grip and awaken to what is already won.Vincenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04057252498418580784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12449549.post-50870473187981696052008-03-25T21:27:00.000-05:002008-03-25T21:27:00.000-05:00I asked a question and now I am going to venture an answer to my question. I still would like an answer from you too.<BR/><BR/>It seems to me that all the aspects of the armor are parts of His presence. <BR/>Because we are in a fallen state we need to learn how to recognize and appropriate the different aspects of God's presence. Which is vast in it's multifacetedness. It is now available to us in Christ because as you said, the veil has been lifted. The battle with the enemy has been won and we need to learn how to stand in the power of the victory He has given us. <BR/>This life is a process of finding Christ and growing up into what He as purchased for us: A relationship with God, that if walked in, can defeat the enemy that stole our inheritance back in the garden.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12449549.post-3506054996436729032008-03-25T21:17:00.000-05:002008-03-25T21:17:00.000-05:00How do you think Eph. 6 encouragement to put on the armor of God relates to being aware of God's presence? Are the parts of the armor parts of his presence?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com