Oaks of Righteousness

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Isaiah 61:1-4





http://www.wallpapers-free.org/42/-/America_-_oak_tree_in_new_england_sunrise/

  Jesus made us oaks of righteousness! Obedience is a fruit of righteousness....not the way to righteousness. We don't have to figure it out...just receive it! I am a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor...now I know why I am so tall...lol...I am a tree:)  More posts to come on this

Righteousness

I love that God's word is alive and active...and changing me! I read Proverbs 10 yesterday, as I have many times on the tenth of the month. Yesterday the word righteous stood out to me in a new way. I am realizing that in Christ, I am righteous...so all the things it says about the righteous describes me (and you) in Christ. Here are a few of the promises about the righteous...

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy
30 The righteous will never be uprooted
31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom
32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor

Amazing Grace

God has been teaching me about grace and who I really am in Christ. I have had a hard time learning this, and seem to continue to doubt what He really says about me is true. Because I accept Christ's sacrifice, I am the righteousness of Christ.
Last night I was convicted of some negative attitudes and wrong thinking...this morning I was living in condemnation about them...thinking to myself that I keep ending up here and will never be able to change, and wondering why I can't 'get this'! One of the things Pastor Charlie reminded me this morning is that condemnation is from the devil (Romans 8:1). Then as we read in Zechariah 3:1-7 I realized that I was listening to the accuser. These verses spoke to my heart what God has been teaching me through the Living Loved Living Free Bible Study and Search for Significance. I have been so slow in believing, but this demonstrates that Christ will put rich garments on me instead of my filthy clothes!
Verse 5 talks about putting a clean covering on his head...the mind of grace! Oh Lord, how I long for you to renew my mind day by day! Thank you that you are changing me, and the work has been done, I just need to trust you!!