What does it mean to be saved?

Salvation – What does it mean?

It’s possible to lose sight of what it means to be forgiven. We can ignore how GREAT our salvation is, see Hebrews 2:3. We can find ourselves like David, praying oh God “restore to me the joy of my salvation”.

Maybe we need to spend more time considering what it means to be saved, than we spend on the internet. Maybe we should drop everything and spend some time digesting our “salvation”. The spiritual reality we have received by the grace of God the Father, through God the Son, and by God the Holy Spirit.

We must reject a merit/demerit way of considering our relationship with God. Merit – if I do good God will love me more. Demerit – if I do bad God will love me less. WRONG THINKING. Reject that!

What is salvation?

“To be made whole, to be delivered, made safe, preserved from destruction.”

It may be worth your time to read the verses listed below and ask yourself, “What does this tell us about our salvation?”

Habakkuk 3:18

Romans 10:9

1 John 1:9

Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-10

Psalm 68:19-20

Acts 2:21

John 10:10

1 Timothy 2:3-4

2 Corinthians 2:15

2 Corinthians 1:10

Watch 2 Timothy 1:9-10 for the words: “saved called graced purposed”

“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.”

Now that you’ve read these verses, please consider filling in the blanks below:

If I am saved then God loved me so much that He…

If God did that…then He won’t…then He will…

Charlotte’s Birthday Dolphin Surprise: Video Post

Charlotte gets to pet a dolphin on her 8th birthday at the Baltimore Aquarium.

Today:

Since our first trip to the aquarium Charlotte has wanted to pet the dolphin. With every dolphin show they bring up some one to have this experience. A year ago Charlotte was told that the youngest person they allowed was eight years old. She’s been waiting for this opportunity with excitement. When we arrived today the staff informed us that there had been a few changes to the dolphin show and now the age limit was ten. Rebecca talked her through the disappointment and helped her pray that God would provide another opportunity.

When we later went to the dolphin show Charlotte was told that she was today’s volunteer! She was thrilled!

She gets a little bit more of an experience that she expected. Almost every other kid we’ve seen do this only got to pet the dolphin. A couple were able to cue the dolphin to shake it’s head. Charlotte was able to do even more, but at a price. Enjoy the fun!

ear candy – your emotional baggage just went gold

My favorite guitar ad came from Gibson. It read, “Your emotional baggage just went gold.” It seems that heart break can lend itself to some of the best song writing. The struggle of life and the search for something better can cause an artist to write some of the most honest lyrics you’ve ever heard. You know it when you hear it.

Ear Candy Saturday Morning and how about starting off with a cup of coffee and some music you just haven’t gotten around to listening to yet???

One thing is certain: new music is being made every day and there’s something new out there for everyone!

Mat Kearney – Ships in the Night

This song expresses that longing for something better. The new album “Young Love” from the Oregon boy is making a splash right now. He has benefited from the work of fellow believer and celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart (who is definitely worth checking out). Honestly, I don’t care what you think about my musical taste (with this pick). I just wanted to promote Mat. As a fellow Christ follower and Oregonian. I respect his work ethic as an artist.

Kye Kye – Rooftops

Listening to music can be some of the great stuff of life! Listening for what the artist is really trying to communicate can be even more rewarding. Rooftops speaks of the element of faith you want to shout about. Estonia born siblings can make some great music, including a cover of “With or Without You”. You have to appreciate the way that they are not shy about their faith and conversion experience.

Eisley – Smarter

The DuPree sisters have been honest about the faith in Christ, struggles in walking away from Warner Bros., and the pain of divorce. Honesty is always worth a listen.

Cold War Kids – Sensitive Kid

Nathan Willett lost his faith in Christ through his parent’s divorce. Both parents worked in Christian ministry and the divorce left him adrift.

Bon Iver – For Emma

This handheld camera walk around Montreal’s not so tourist areas…a perfect palette cleanser from the previous songs.

Share life…even the hard stuff.

It’s possible that life has not turned out the way that you wanted it to. You may find that everything is better when you have someone to share it with.  Food, art, and life’s ups and downs.

There is something that we can learn from the story of Ruth. After the exodus, the Hebrew people arrive at the Promise Land and it is settled.

Ruth chapter 1 and then 4:13-17

When a famine came Elimelech moves family from the Promise Land. Elimelech and Naomi’s sons Mahlon & Kilion marry Moabite women which was forbidden. Moabites were descendants of Lot and lived on the other side of the Dead Sea. All three (Elimelech, Mahlon, and Kilion) die and Naomi is left alone with her new daughters in law.

Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth set out to return to Judah. Naomi realizes that Orpah and Ruth will have nothing in Judah. She tells them to stay. Orpah returns to Moab, but Ruth decides to stay with Naomi. Naomi and Ruth return to Judah. During a time of “judges”, a season when people were leaving the faith, Ruth shows loyalty.

Boaz and Ruth bless Naomi with a baby boy, Obed which means “servant”.

Ruth chose to share life with Naomi. She didn’t try to fix Naomi. Through the loyalty of Ruth, God brought blessing to Naomi and to Ruth. God brought a husband and a son.

Hard stuff of life can come at you fast: some by circumstances, some by someone else, some by yourself.

You see God didn’t promise us that life would be easy. In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 5:45, “He gives sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”

We may carry scars, but God can bring the healing. God can restore. God can help us learn from the hard stuff of life.

We are not designed to go through the hard stuff of life alone. We are designed to run to God as we see in Psalm 91 and Psalm 23. We are also designed to share life with each other as we see in the story of Ruth.

What do we see in the story of Ruth?

God brought a kinsman redeemer through Boaz.

God brought hope for the future through Obed.

There’s a difference between “misery loves company” and “life giving relationships”.

“misery loves company” – listens, ask questions, focuses on the negative, finds fault, repeats the negative.

Job’s wife, “curse God and die.” Job’s friends, “it must be you.”

“life giving relationships” – listens, ask questions, focuses on the positive, finds solution, repeats the positive.

“Speak the truth in love.” Ephesians 4:15 “Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35

Read 1 John 4:7-11

When the hard stuff of life comes run to God and share life with others (people who are life giving relationships).

In fact, you will be much stronger (when the hard stuff comes) if you are already following Jesus and sharing life with others!

We can be intentional about being available for relationships. Budget: time, energy, money.