LIFE AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE

“is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:17) And Jesus replies: “…show me the coin used for paying the tax…” (Matthew 22:19). And they bring Jesus a coin. “…Whose image…is this?...Caesar’s. And [so Jesus replies]: “Render…to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s [bearing Caesar’s image], and to God the things that are God’s [bearing God’s image]…” (Matthew 22:19-21)

“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them…” (Genesis 1:26-27).

Notice What God Emphasizes Repetitively, Over And Over Again.

“And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:10). In fact in Genesis 1:31, after looking over all of His creation, God declares all of His Creation: “…very good…” (Genesis 1:31)

Add More Structure, More Boundaries, To Your Day.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless…empty [with] darkness…over the surface of the deep – [but] the Spirit of God [hovered]…And God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light…” ( Genesis 1:1-2 ).

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. “ (Proverbs 25:28)

“…structure places the rails in place, that the train runs on.” – Henry Cloud

I “…can do all things through Christ who does strengthen me…” (Philippians 4:13).

Let God’s Image Increasingly ‘Mark’ And Impress - Not The World’s Image.

“…Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its…mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan [the intent] of God for you is good…[moving you] towards the goal of true maturity.” (Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:13)

For if we are imaged by God, marked by God “…we are…the aroma of Christ…the [very] fragrance of life…” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). But not just any life, a victorious life – for if we’re imaged by God, marked by God, we’re lead “…in a triumphal procession in Christ and through us [Christ] spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him…” (2 Corinthians 2:14) -- life as it was meant to be!

Let there be light, and there was light.