9
Feb
Posted by kenchester in JesusLife, grace. Leave a Comment
“I, Paul, am under God’s plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:1-2 The Message
How vital is your life …?
You mean everything to God. You’re life is part of His plan .. your marriage .. your work .. your interests .. everything that goes into to making your life whole in Christ. There are two messengers: one is telling you that You are in charge of your life … the Other is inviting you to become part of His plan. There is only One Life that will make you faithful inside and out. He will fill your life daily with His grace and His peace. You’ll literally begin to see this world as a place where you are on assignment for Christ. You’re part of His body .. The Church .. with all its parts .. whole and broken .. fractured and freed .. called by name .. loved by your Father in heaven .. the same Father of Jesus .. who fills your life with His indwelling life. Your life is to be a message of God’s grace (His extravagant love) and peace (the gift of Jesus) .. in the world you live in today! It doesn’t mean that everything in your life is perfect or that you have all the answers. You may be at the end of your rope .. at the very point of exhaustion .. wondering how you can even face the day. You can face this day because two thousand years of Jesus-believers have lived with this truth: Christ has died — Christ is risen — Christ will come again. That means that your life is at the very center of what God is doing in the world today. That’s right: Your life is under God’s plan. It only takes a moment …
“The church, you see is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.” Ephesians 1:23 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Faith-Filled .. Grace-Filled .. and Peace-Filled Followers of the Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
8
Feb
Posted by kenchester in JesusLife, new life, wholeness. Leave a Comment
February 8, 2010
“He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! The he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.” Ephesians 2:5-6 The Message
The Made-Alive Fellowship …
Jesus isn’t looking for volunteers. He’s calling a community of God-fashioned men and women to live a new way of life. It is entirely new .. formed by His life .. and filled with His life. This is the resurrection life He offers .. once dead .. now alive. This is the restored life He offers .. once trying to live with all the pieces .. now learning to live in His wholeness. This is the renewed life He offers .. once bound up and suffocating on the inside .. now grace-freed and breathing through His life. You can’t make up this kind of life. You can’t sustain it by your own resources. You can only accept His offer. He’ll meet you in the most ordinary acts and unseen moments of this day. The truth about Jesus is that He just wants to live out His life through you today. He wants to do this in every single area of your life. He’s not in a hurry as you count hurry. He’s in the reproducing business of forming His character .. His life .. and His Spirit in you in such a way that you no longer have to “try” and live this life. God loves it when we give up trying and tire out pretending to live on the outside when the inside (of us) is worn out .. and burned out on “Christ-rules”. It isn’t the life He created for you. His life is entirely new .. a new way of thinking .. a new way of loving .. and a new way of living in the broken world you live in. You’ve been called into the Made-Alive Fellowship. All you have to do is “nothing”. All Jesus wants to do is everything. He knows exactly where to go to work in you. And it only takes a moment to accept His offer to fashion your life into the life of His Son today …
” .. And then take on an entirely new way of life — a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.” Ephesians 4:24 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to God-Fashioned Followers of Jesus Christ and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
4
Feb
Posted by kenchester in JesusLife, healing, new life, wholeness. Leave a Comment
February 5, 2010
“Father, I’m grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I’ve spoken so that they might believe that you sent me. Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.” John 11:41-44 The Message
Who is qualified …?
Everyone. We’re all in the same boat. A crisis hits .. a sudden or tragic death .. emotional collapse .. an overwhelming wave of one-thing-after-another. Sometimes it seems like Jesus is taking his time or seems indifferent to “our” problem. He’s not. He has never dismissed one cry of your heart. He’s never distracted from the sound of your voice … even the voice that can only sigh or speak in incomplete sentences. He knows all too well what it means to be “wrapped from head to toe” and face covered. He knows what death feels like on the outside and what it does to you on the inside. He knows! And it is His voice that speaks into the deepest places of your heart: “Come out” … come out of that darkness .. that death .. that despair. The life He has for you is far better than anything you could ever achieve on your own with all of the world’s resources at your fingertips. His death covers your death and everything … yes everything that causes death! His life includes everything … yes everything that is found in Him. Who is qualified? Everyone who is wrapped head to toe in death. And you don’t have to be placed in a grave to die this qualifying death. You can be completely dead and still be breathing … going to work … going through the motions … trying to make life work on your terms. But .. the life He offers you is His own … a risen life. And .. the life He creates in you is unwrapped and let loose for His kingdom. It is the life He has for you today .. and it only takes a moment …
“Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.” 2 Cor. 5:14-15 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Unwrapped Cadavers made Alive-in-Christ and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
3
Feb
Posted by kenchester in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment
February 4, 2010
“The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone … They were trying to trap him … They kept at him, badgering him. “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone”. … The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you? …. Neither do I …” John 8:3-11 The Message
What if …?
You were caught sin-handed … knee-deep in your darkest moment … exposed for all the secrets in your heart??? Not just caught .. but dragged in front of everybody who knows you .. for everyone to see. How would you ever recover? Who would remain your friends? What if it cost you everything you had worked for: reputation .. social standing .. wealth .. admiration ..? The world you live in doesn’t care about your sin and sins. It cares about trapping Jesus .. trying to prove He isn’t who He really is. What the world will do with your sin is use you and discard you without a compassionate thought of restoration. But Jesus … He never tires. He doesn’t get trapped into silence or shame over your sin or when you royally mess up. But … He speaks into the deepest .. darkest places of your shame and says as loud or as soft as you need to hear: Neither do I. You may be standing in plain sight of everyone or alone in the dark suffering the relentless voices of condemnation .. but Jesus is standing or kneeling right there with you. You see … He’s made salvation. He knows what it looks like in you. He knows what it will do in you. He knows how far His life has to go in your life so that you will lift your head and look into His face. Your love will run out but His is indefatigable! The world can’t badger Him into silence .. or trap Him with sin-tricks. He’s already showed the world what real love .. restoring love .. raising-up love looks like. And now He just wants to show it through you. And before He does that He’ll spend all the time he needs to for you to know how real and indefatigable His love is for you today. It only takes a moment …
“God made history with salvation, He showed the world what he could do. He remembered to love us, a bonus to his dear family, Israel — indefatigable love. The whole earth comes to attention. Look — God’s work of salvation.” Psalm 98:2-4 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Followers of the Holy Dirt Writing Rabbi named Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
2
Feb
Posted by kenchester in JesusLife, healing, wholeness. Leave a Comment
February 3, 2010
“So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe — people and things, animals and atoms — get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.” Colossians 1:19-20 The Message
What about your life today …?
There is room .. plenty of room for your life in Christ. All the stuff you carry around on the inside. All the stuff that weighs you down and tries to rob your life on the outside. All the broken and dislocated pieces. There is room in Christ. It gets fixed .. made whole .. forgiven .. and sometimes you’re just left amazed that you have the strength to “get up” and “go home”. There are any number of reasons why we will carry around something so small .. unseen .. and if known embarrassing. If left unattended it could leave you paralyzed on the inside .. feeling hopeless and forgotten by God. But He hasn’t changed. There’s room .. room for your life to find it’s proper place in Christ without being crowded or made to feel like an add-on. In fact .. many of those times happen because a friend or friends have the courage and love to carry you to Jesus. They’re not trying to force you or humiliate you. They just love so much that they are the believing source of your healing and forgiveness. It may cost them time .. other friendships .. even sacrifices .. but it doesn’t matter because in their eyes .. You .. are all that matters to Jesus. You may just be that friend today .. but only if you don’t fill up your schedule and miss those close to you who are unable to walk in faith or get up because they’re just paralyzed by sin or some ailment that leaves them in great need of help. It ’s not you … it’s Jesus who is so spacious and roomy for their life. He’s that way for you today. You’ll discover your true and proper place in Him. Jesus heals all kinds .. in all places .. and in all conditions. No one is a distraction to Jesus. It only takes a moment …
“They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins … Get up,. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” Mark 2:3-12 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to The Properly Fixed and Fitted Together Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone) ** Pardon the delay … I’ve just returned from a 48 hour intensive in California with no cell phones or internet. How did Jesus manage to get so much done. Guess He really did totally rely on His Father … and it still works today!!**
28
Jan
Posted by kenchester in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment
January 29, 2010
“Then a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying. “Master, if you want to, you can heal my body.” Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there all signs of the leprosy were gone.” Matthew 8:1-3 The Message
Who can approach Jesus …? (2)
Anyone .. Anyone who has no where to turn .. no one to turn to .. nothing to give and only a dis-eased life to place at His feet. Maybe you’ve asked Jesus over and over and nothing has changed. Maybe you’re afraid to approach Him until you’ve exhausted every resource you have at hand. Maybe you suffer from the lie that He is not good and the gospel of His life is not real. There isn’t a better time to reach Jesus than right now .. or whenever you’ve come to the place where He is the only one left. Jesus made a leper whole .. not just healed but whole. He sent him to a priest to proclaim him well and send him home to his family and friends. God’s wholeness is a whole heart and spirit surrounded by “home” and friends. God’s wholeness for your life is relationships. They are relationships made up of His “I want to .. Be clean”. It’s your cleansed life and a grace-filled spirit that bears the irrefutable marks of Jesus. He still heals lepers: anyone who feels unwanted .. forsaken .. rejected .. cast away .. living dis-eased with life. Jesus still heals. But Jesus still points every healed life .. cleansed life back to God with thanksgiving. Everyone has a spot that want healed. More often than not you still try to take care of it and not bother Jesus with something so small. There is nothing small to Jesus when it is about your life becoming whole through His touch and His spoken word in your life. You can come to Him to at anytime .. y .. for any subject. You may find yourself on your knees in praise … that’s okay … He likes that. It only takes a moment
“Jesus said, “Don’t talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed body to the priest, along with the appropriate expressions of thanks to God. Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” Matthew 8:4 The Message
27
Jan
Posted by kenchester in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment
January 28, 2010
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? ..”Yes, Master, you know I love you”. Jesus said, “Feed my lambs. He asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes , Master, you know I love you.” Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.” Then he said a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” … Peter was upset … “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.” … Jesus said, “Feed my sheep …” John 21:15-18 The Message
What would Jesus say to the places in your heart where you’ve failed …”
He could condemn you but He doesn’t. He could demand you make some payment or work harder but He doesn’t. He could give you one more and only one more chance to shape up .. but He doesn’t. What Jesus knows about you more than anything else is that you need to be restored with His love. Isaiah said there were no “limits to the wholeness he brings”. There are no limits in your life with Jesus. He restores you completely unto Himself. He knows this will change you on the inside … healed by his love … restored in his love … embraced and welcomed with His love. What would you say if He asked you: ________ , do you love me more than these? He’s not asking to embarrass you or belittle you. He’s asking you the real question of wholeness that is only available through Him. Only Jesus can restore those places in you where your love for him has failed him .. denied him .. or even just grown distant. He knows and He’s not shaking His head in disgust. He opening His heart … and pouring the Holy Spirit into the driest and damaged places in your life. It could be deep hidden painful memories .. rusted chains of fear .. or un-erased guilt and shame. He knows exactly where His love needs to make you whole today. And whole is exactly what Jesus longs for your life today. Because He knows that as you go out into the world you live in you’ll say: What I have, I give to you in the name of Jesus! Jesus is The Restorer of Lives … with your life .. with those you love .. and those who will cross your path today. Are there any places inside of you that need the wholeness of His love today? It only takes a moment …
” Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!”" Acts 3:6 The Message
Ken Chester:Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Lovers and Restored Lovers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
26
Jan
Posted by kenchester in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment
January 27, 2010
“But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe — Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.” Galatians 3:25-27 The Message
The gift of a Christ-Follower’s prayer …
Your life has a story to share and live today. It’s your story. It’s your message. No one has the message your life will share today. Whether you are facing great need or have great supply .. Whether you are struggling with unrelenting monsters and temptations or walking in confident victory .. Whether you are spiritually dry and desperately crying out for the Father’s touch or overflowing with Christ’s deep and abiding love and presence. May this prayer .. shared from a Christ-Traveler’s journey fill you and draw you into the healing wholeness of God’s love for you today:
In the middle of the things that bind me up and restrict my life today, I readily accept the abundant freedom that You offer through your Son. In the weariness of my struggle to live out of my own resources, I willingly accept the timely help that you have made readily available for me. In the tiredness and frustration of my human effort to simply survive, I humbly receive the endless energy offered to me through the extravagant gift of the Resurrection. In the experience of my daily weakness to live up to the model of Jesus, I surrender to your boundless strength to carry me to wherever you want me to go. In the mirror that I look into every morning, Help me to see and remember that Christ in me is the answer to all that I face and the way to become all that you desire me to be. In the freshness of your unending grace for my life today, I will follow the Light and the Spirit that you have freely given to guide and lead me. Thank you Lord for the light that never burns out of my life. (formed from the rivers of Ephesians 1:7-19)
“Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” Galatians 5:1 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Forever-Freed Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
25
Jan
Posted by kenchester in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment
January 26, 2010
“How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.” Ephesians 1:3-4 The Message
Are you trying or trusting …?
Why do you become all worked up about “being” a Christ-Follower … an In-Christ-One … a Christ-in-Me One. The job description is very specific: You are to love the Lord with all of your heart .. soul .. mind .. and strength. And just to make it practical and visible in your life: You are to love your neighbor as yourself. God started “long before” when it came to your life. There was only one way to make you whole and holy .. and that was through Christ’s love. His job description was very specific: He was to love God with all of His life. And to make it practical and visible for your life: He loved you by giving way His life for you. And now …? He says: “Follow Me” .. trust Me to lead your steps .. work through all the layers of your life .. and do for you what you will never be able to do for yourself. Everything about God’s love for you is lavish. His very Spirit is poured into your life before you even know what it means. You are the “focus” of His love and He merely wants to pour that same love in you … through you in the world you live in today. And that is where the tension and stress begin to build: Where Christ is working in your life and where You want your life to go. He’s not going to back out of His promise. Are you going to love Him by trying harder and harder or trusting with your all? It only takes a moment …
“Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you?” Galatians 3:5 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Long-Before-Focused Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
24
Jan
Posted by kenchester in JesusLife, jesus, wholeness. Leave a Comment
January 25, 2009
“I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did — Jesus crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:2 The Message
Is your message simple …?
You had an old life .. the one you were born with .. the one you tried successfully and unsuccessfully to look normal on the outside .. the one where no matter how hard you tried there was something missing deep inside. And then a new life was made “plain and simple” to you: Jesus offered you forgiveness .. forgiveness you can find nowhere else .. forgiveness that is absolutely unconditional .. past-present-future .. forgiveness that makes your life free and really alive. Your old life was complicated: Sins .. family secrets .. hidden closets of shame .. guilt stains .. baggage and life-issues. That’s exactly where Jesus met you and meets you still when those “old things” try to creep into your real life in Christ. Jesus doesn’t clean up your old life. He offers you His life .. a new life unlike any life you can live on your own. Your message .. your life .. is supposed to be simple so that the world you “live in” everyday might see a difference .. and maybe .. just maybe .. you might offer to someone just like you the same offer Jesus offered you .. sins forgiven .. a grace-filled family .. and a faith-filled life in Christ. God isn’t forcing you to become someone you’re not. Jesus knows every struggle and every strength in your life. He knows where you make life complicated and where you long for life to be full and free. He knows your old fears and exactly where they try to silence your new life. And still .. He has promised to be your life .. your strength .. and the source of your hope as you face this day. Will you let Him make His message simple through your life today? It only takes a moment …
“I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.” Acts 26:18 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped sent M-F to Jesus Followers and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
