Living in the Land of Shoulds

Galatians 3:1-14

You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
This is the only this I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain?
So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracle among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Even so Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.
Therefore be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you."
So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them."
Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "The righteous man shall live by faith."
However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "He who practices them shall live by them."
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"--
in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would recieve the promise of the Spirit through faith.



Living in the land of shoulds
We cannot see the truth
For the tall, rooted trees that make these woods
Hide the sun, our long searched-for proof...

Shout Out

To Jesus, first and foremost, and last, with my dying breath, and into life after this world:

He is Judge, continually making known ways to pursue Him upon which we are untangled from our sin and our prayers are unhindered.

He is Savior who bears our burden, vindicates, and proclaims freedom in the innermost places of the heart.

He proves faithful, that we might cast all of our cares upon Him.

I am His; He remembers this, and honors our relationship and loves me for His namesake. For He is love and He is merciful and He is my righteousness.



To the Nav men:

for protecting purity. The Nav women trust you.



To close friends:

Given by Him for encouragement, for fellowship in suffering and joy, and for mutual pursuit in the knowledge of Him.




Thank You, my One Great Love, for all these blessings...and the many, many, many, countless many more You lavish upon Your children.