Thirst

I just want to gather my thoughts together on this, so bear with me. Thank you, John, for your post. You're right about today after the meeting- there is that feeling of having "everything in common" when God blesses you with love for each other. It's so amazing because it's so natural- nothing is awkward, nothing is strained- freedom reigns!!! The enemy wants to keep me in bondage to my past, trying to remind me of the ways I've messed up, and trying to tell me what I want. Well, guess what, it's a lie, and I don't believe it. The power of the TRUTH has set me free from the lie, free to live as I was created to live, in the joy and unfailing love of God that covers me. And my flesh can't tell me what I want- it has no power over the cross on which it is crucified. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me!!!


(selections from Romans 8)

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you... And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation- but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.