Session Notes

Q&A: What about those who don’t get it yet?:

“When those who are born of God are confronted with this freedom of Christ they are being hit with so many ”Christian“ concepts that are in opposition to it. Remember your own experiences … and remember who REALLY got the reality across to you: the Spirit of God.So, speak the life of Christ … and plan on being misunderstood … but know that HE is the one who is working all things together for our good!Jim”

This is an encouraging article for discernment. The thing that we didn’t think we/others got was that we already got and have it, the reality of the freedom of the Finished Work of Christ!

Q&A: Why do I still feel rejection when I know better?:

“ It’s going to hurt when it is
being demanded that you are inferior, less-than, below, beneath, of no
value, etc.  The good news is that the feeling brings focus and clarity
to the specific manifestation of the lie’s insistence.  You are put in
the most wonderful place of recognition of the life Christ, as it is
being demanded that even in this exact place where condemnation once
held you have you been set free!!  These wonderful feelings pinpoint or
undercover those former places of fear, shame, guilt, and condemnation,
etc so that you are being made aware of how all-emcompassing this
reality of life in Christ really is!”

This is a good article on our response to feeling a lack of love. We do not have to retaliate/judge. We just use it to grieve the past and give up lies that we are inferior.

Q&A: So many opinions thrown at me because of Christ:

“The answer to your dilemma is NOT found in being able to answer all the Biblical questions that are used to contradict the life of Christ in you … because those questions will NEVER stop. Having said that, realize that there ARE NO BIBLICAL CONTRADICTIONS to the life and freedom we have in Christ … they have only appeared to be so because the written words have been forced into our religious perceptions”

This is a good article that outlines the fears of the religious in order to be empathetic.

FamilyFun: Ideas for Teacher Appreciation – and More Family Fun:

“WALK OF FAME
Create your own Walk of Fame for your teachers. Get a piece of donated red carpet or put red butcher paper down in the entry hall. Make gold stars with a teacher’s name on each, and have the school meet the teachers as they arrive one morning.”

Excellent ideas to encourage teachers!

Q&A: Can a believer live any way he pleases?:

“Can a born again believer live anyway he wants to and still be saved? >>>
This is a very common question. So common in fact that you may wonder why you don’t find it listed somewhere in the Q&A section. I suppose there are two related reasons.

1) There is a whole section (one of the very first added to the Shovel web site) devoted to the matter, and
2) The question pops up either rephrased or as an unspoken but underlying premise to many of the questions I hear.
The questions you’ve asked all pertain to a ”Christianity“ based upon a SOMETHING and not a SOMEONE. Being ”saved“ may include a lot of somethings, but only in relation to the one who has not only done these things but has also become the life of those who are ”saved“.”

This is a very clear article that we are to judge only by the spirit and not the flesh. We only see believers with Jesus in them period! I pray so.

Q&A: My “foothold” in dealing with slippery matters:

“You commented on my ”foothold“ in dealing with slippery matters, and it got me to thinking about how I have come to such a place.  I can tell you that it didn’t happen because of all my attempts to get a handle on it, but in spite of them!!  ”

This is a refreshing article that states the only answer we need it Jesus when asked about the hope/answer we possess.

Q&A: Is Romans 7 our continuing reality in Christ?:

“ The mind of the
flesh cannot see past its own demise, extend beyond its own
confinement, nor understand a choice it cannot make. No wonder
something within us balks at fleshly interpretations of the expressions
of another dimension, that is, from the real.

You are absolutely correct, Romans 7 does not define or lay out our
continuing reality in Christ. Instead, it describes ”the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus“ that cannot nor will not be contained,
controlled or defined by the delusion brought on by the fleshly mind.
It demands that who you really are in Christ is not made up of a blend
between the two, but of a life that cannot help but see through the
conclusions of ”the law of sin and death“.”

This is a good article outlining the confusions of the law. I pray we see that our struggle to figure it out may be the flesh. May God allow us to rest in His Spirit.

Q&A: Can we help or hinder the work of God in our own lives and others?:

“ regarding your situation with your wife. What does your heart desire toward her? Do you often feel stifled from holding back from sharing life with her in some form or another? Do you keep your mouth shut in fear of screwing things up? Believe me, I understand all this.
I mean, it’s obvious to me that you don’t want her to get into a ”frenzy“, but I suspect you would love to share the life together with her in a very real and living way. True? But you often wonder, ”What’s the use?“, because you know God has to take care of it in His own way. But ”God’s way“ involves US into the sharing of His life. And you have known this desire in a powerful way.”

This is an excellent article regarding the difference between the religious meaning of ministry and the powerful desire of talking about reallife. Even though we are afraid to promote error, it seems to be God’s way that involves us into the sharing of His life. Our knowing the Lord is the one who does the real work truly frees us to be confident in our sharing.