THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY HOME

I chuckle every time I see the road signs as we come into Diagonal from the west. Good thing we don’t live in the city! Why, there’d be a traffic jam at the intersection where the undecided person sat ad infinitum reading signs trying to determine which one points where!

This conglomeration of signs pointing every which way has to be one of the best comparisons of the churches’ description of “how to get to heaven”. Each group of believers seems to have its own road map.

While each gives lip service to simply following Jesus, there always seems to be tags at the end of their Gospel message. You’ll find the way to your heavenly home if you:

• Follow certain Old Testament Laws.
• Attend a certain congregation.
• Wear certain clothes.
• Pay a certain tithe.
• Pray in a certain tongue.
• Read a certain Bible.
• Observe certain “Holy Days”.
• Wear your hair a certain length.
• Are baptized at a certain age.
• And list goes on!

Within each denomination, it doesn’t take long to discover that if you are on the “wrong road,” you’re surely following

My daughter-in-law, Jenn asked me one day, “Why are there so many different denominations and how do we know which one has it right?” Jenn’s question made me think of Dorothy on Wizard of Oz asking how to get back home:

Glinda, the good witch of the North advises Dorothy to seek help from the mysterious Wizard of Oz. Following the Yellow Brick Road, as directed, Dorothy comes to a place where she has more than one directional option:

Dorothy: Now which way do we go?
Scarecrow: Pardon me, this way is a very nice way.
Dorothy: Who said that?
[Toto barks at scarecrow]
Dorothy: Don't be silly, Toto. Scarecrows don't talk.
Scarecrow: [points other way] It's pleasant down that way, too.
Dorothy: That's funny. Wasn't he pointing the other way?
Scarecrow: [points both ways] Of course, some people do go both ways.

Dorothy and Jenn have asked a good question. How do we know which way will get us home?

First we must understand that with so many denominations, each claiming that only they have it right, in one way or another, they all have it wrong! Following Jesus has nothing to do with any denomination! In fact, it has nothing to do with observing any laws! Surprised? This was a stumbling block for the people of Israel, as well!

Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him.

Romans 9:30-33

While it seems that each denomination genuinely believes that they have it right and are sincere in their confessions of faith, the reality is that, like the devoted Israelites, they are refusing to accept God’s way:

I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Salvation Is for Everyone! [Romans 10:1-4].

It is the longing of my heart that each person be set free from the bondage of attempting to follow the laws of God and those of any religious denomination! Our works can not save us! If this were the route, no one would ever find their way home!

For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says… “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” [Romans 10:5, 6, 9].

Seeking directions from denominations will leave you feeling confused, as Dorothy must have felt and will only lead to being lost on a winding road of relentless self-effort. The one with the clear directions is not a mysterious wizard, hiding his true self behind a curtain. Instead, He clearly reveals Himself in Christ and explains that He is the only way home. While the road is narrow, it is straight and effortless!

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago [Eph 2:8-10].

Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie

P.S. Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/. You may also contact me at:

Bonnie Jaeckle
In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life
Diagonal Progress
505 Jefferson St.
Diagonal, IA 50845

LITTLE WONDER

A number of years ago, we began to consider buying a couple of horses. After much research and consideration, last October we took the plunge. We purchased a team of Halflingers, a breed the height of a standard bred horse, but broader and more muscular like Belgians lending them to both pleasure riding and strength to work. Having never been horse-owners, we are on quite a learning curve!



While it is not uncommon for horses to lose a bit of weight in the winter, we were a little concerned that our gelding may have been too thin. I asked a horseman friend and he assured us that our gelding wasn’t unusually thin, but commented that our mare was “just plumb fat!” Over the next few days, however, we noticed that her abdominal veins were bulging, her belly was enlarging daily and her udder was even more noticeable than it was the week before! While I’m a novice, it seemed to me that we had a pregnant mare on our hands! I did some homework and got on the phone with my brother, Art to discuss my findings. His response was, “Sounds like you got more for your money than what you thought!” Within a couple of days our “plumb fat” mare delivered a strong, adorable filly!



Before the foal was born, Art encouraged me, “I’ll tell ya how to make this foal into a good horse, get on-line and learn all you can about “imprinting” the newborn.” I can guarantee you that those few days of anticipation were filled with studying! Our previous experience with horse training was watching burly cowboys on TV breaking wild and strongly resistant older horses. We certainly weren’t ready for that! Instead, breathing into the nose of the newborn, letting it sniff you, massaging its body, etc. creates a bond in those first few hours that will positively impact the foal’s response to humans from that day forward.



It took me a while to muster-up the courage to make my move. Observing her closely, my mind raced; “What if she is stronger than I? What if I do it wrong? What if I hurt her? What if I make her even more afraid? Lord, give me wisdom and a little strength wouldn’t hurt either!” I patiently waited for the perfect moment and will never forget the indescribable experience of wrapping my arms around that powerful bundle of life for the first time and feeling her succumb to my strength. I don’t know whose heart was pounding harder, hers or mine! My legs trembled, my heart melted and I cried as I stroked her little face, rubbed her belly and massaged her wobbly legs. What a precious, unexpected gift from God!



Before the second day was over, I was able to touch nearly every part of her body with little resistance from her. On the third day, my husband, Gary went with me and while he was lightly lying across her, I rubbed and massaged every inch of her body. She was nearly asleep when I began to repeatedly slip a soft little halter on and off her face. Gary quietly commented, “Isn’t she just an amazing little wonder?” By the fourth day, Little Wonder voluntarily left her momma, came to and sniffed me, put her head on my shoulder and allowed me to place a halter on her with no opposition!





With patience, persistence and consistency Little Wonder’s trust in us is growing daily. She is progressively learning that our desire is to help and not harm her. She wants to be near us as much as we want to be near her. She freely comes to us and often stands quietly in her standard position of training as if to say, “Teach me more!”



Working with Little Wonder kindles thoughts of my relationship with my Master. While there are many things that He does which I don’t understand, are uncomfortable and can be down-right frightening, I know that His desire is to help and not harm me. Regardless, I often resist His bidding. As He applies more and more pressure, however I finally succumb to His power and rest quietly in His arms.



“Lord, I’m astounded that you even desire to be in relationship with me! Thank you for loving me enough to not allow me to escape the pressure which causes me to depend upon You! My heart’s desire is to trust you enough to stand quietly saying, “I’m ready to learn more!” Thank you for the gift of this little filly that you are using to teach me more than I could ever teach her. She truly is an amazing Little Wonder!”



Whole-Heartedly,

Bonnie



P.S. Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/. You may also contact me at:

Bonnie Jaeckle

In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life

Diagonal Progress

505 Jefferson St.

Diagonal, IA 50845

The First Aid Kit

As a young girl, I saw a magazine ad for a “free” first-aid kit. I painstakingly filled out the request card and quickly placed it in the mail box. I could hardly wait for the kit to arrive! I clearly recall the day a salesman showed-up on our door-step asking for Bonnie Jones. When he discovered that his potential client was an elementary aged school-girl, he was not a happy camper. While I didn’t quite understand why he was so disturbed, my older siblings evidently got the picture. This fella was in the business of selling insurance policies and not in distributing first-aid kits to young girls! In fact, he had it in mind to leave without presenting me with the promised kit. Knowing how disappointed I’d be, my siblings expressly informed the shyster that he needed to follow-through with the company’s agreement which indicated no age requirement.

Having a first-aid kit on hand is still important to me. In fact, I just restocked ours and thought you might be interested in my list of contents. I use a multi-level tackle box that I can easily transport wherever it is needed.

In my opinion, no natural health first-aid kit is complete without:

Essential Oils

• Eucalyptus - strong action against lung congestion, bronchitis and sinusitis.
• Helichrysum – very effective wound healer and anti-inflammatory.
• Lavender - great antiseptic for cleansing wounds and anti-inflammatory.
• Oregano – 12 micro liters of oregano essential oil has the antibacterial equivalence of 10 units of penicillin! Unlike traditional antibiotics, Oregano doesn’t wipe out the necessary good bacteria in our bodies while killing the bad and is effective against penicillin resistant diseases.
• Peppermint – alleviates headache and nausea.
• Tea Tree – broad spectrum anti-bacterial with excellent anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. Use directly on burns, abrasions, abscesses and infected areas.

Herbals

• Aloe Vera – A must for treating burns, bites, and other skin maladies
• Arnica Herbal Oil - Apply immediately after injury to prevent, relieve and reduce swelling, bruising and pain. Not recommend for open wounds
• Comfrey Infused Olive Oil – Also called Boneset and used to relieve pain from blunt injuries, promote healing of broken bones, sprains and bruises and reduce swelling. Not recommended for open wounds.
• Ginger tea – relieves nausea and indigestion.
• Slippery Elm - a mainstay for treating irritated or inflamed skin as well as cuts, scrapes, scratches, and minor burns. Relieves inflammation and irritation in the throat, urinary tract and digestive system.
• Willow Bark Capsules – contains salicin. Its modified form is “aspirin.” Used for colds, fevers, minor infections, headache, and pain from inflammation. Unlike aspirin, willow bark does not increase the risk of bleeding or irritate the stomach lining.
• Witch Hazel Extract – indispensable astringent, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and anesthetic properties. Used for bedsores, bruises, insect bites, poison ivy or oak, sore muscles, swelling, diaper rash, windburn, and sunburn.

Bulk Ingredients:

• Activated Charcoal – a must for internal poisoning and drug overdose.
• Baking Soda – relieves indigestion, insect bites and stings, rashes and sunburn.
• Bentonite Clay - absorbs toxins, heavy metals and other internal contaminants.
• Epson Salts – used as a compress, it soothes aches, reduces swelling, inflammations, draws splinters and toxins, sedates, relaxes muscles and provides relief from joint pain.

Miscellaneous Essentials:

• Apple Cider Vinegar – Organic/unpasteurized – soothes irritated skin, aids digestion, relieves muscle pain, removes toxins, and is insecticidal.
• Hand Sanitizer
• Poison Ivy Soap containing Jewel Weed
• Bug repellant
• Muscle Rub
• Throat Lozenges

Dressing Supplies:

• Non-stick pads and Band-aids - various sizes
• Surgical, Transpore and cloth tape
• Ace wraps – various sizes
• Gauze pads & wraps – various sizes
• Elastic self-adhesive bandage wrap – various sizes
• Steri-strips – various sizes

Tools:

• Thermometer – Stethoscope – Blood pressure cuff
• Finger Splints – various sizes
• Scissors - Tweezers
• Dropper
• Q-tips
• Rubber gloves

Quality counts! www.mountainroseherbs carries organic herbs and oils that you can trust.

I tweak the contents of the first-aid kit as our needs change through various stages of life. So have fun developing a kit that works for you.

I’m sure I neglected to list some important items and I’d love to be able to offer more details on “how to use” specific items. Hopefully, you’ll find such information in my previous and future articles.

Oh! You are probably wondering, “Did she get a first-aid kit from that salesman? I sure did and in one way or another, I’ve had my hands in emergency treatment ever since!

Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie

P.S. Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/. You may also contact me at:

Bonnie Jaeckle

In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life
Diagonal Progress
505 Jefferson St.
Diagonal, IA 50845

DISCLAIMER:

The author of this article does not endorse everything represented on/in suggested links, books, etc. Each of us is accountable to God to weigh everything according to His Word.

All content of this article is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. The author sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. The information herein is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. This is best left to the Creator of the universe. In all health-related situations, “qualified healthcare professionals” should always be consulted. The author deems THE GREAT PHYSICIAN to be most qualified. The author assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material.

Buzz OFF! - Naturally of Course

Flies sure are attracted to warm moist environments, especially the skin of a horse! It disturbs me to see our beloved equine friends covered with these nasty vermins! Flies not only lay eggs on horses which can lead to parasitic infestations, the painful bites leave them predisposed to infection and other life-threatening illnesses. Shouting, “Buzz off!” at these blood-thirsty pests just doesn’t seem to be very effective!



While not every fly carries a disease nor will every bite cause your horse to get sick, as concerned horse owners we should take every possible precaution to prevent health problems for them. The solution seems easy doesn’t it; buy an insect repellant! However, while flies certainly are a health concern, chemical laden insecticides aren’t any less troubling! So, where do we turn?

After reviewing several excellent studies and other resources written by veterinarians and other equine experts on natural insect and parasite control,

I’ve developed this recipe which seems to shout, “Buzz OFF!” quite well:

Fill a spray bottle with 40 ounces of apple cider vinegar and 24 ounces filtered water. Add 2 teaspoons vegetable glycerin (emulsifier for the liquids and oils.), 2 tablespoons of Diatomaceous Earth and ½ teaspoon each of the following organic essential oils: citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, cedarwood and neem.



Shake well before spraying and after every few squirts to keep ingredients mixed.



Note: Like people, horses can have an allergic reaction to any chemical, including essential oils. Do a sensitivity patch-test just to be safe.



Other helpful hints to fending off pesky insects which seem to be so attracted to horses are:

• Vinegar – Known as a fly repellent, start with one tablespoon daily to their water or feed and increase to ¼ cup. Dilute 50% water if it causes loose stools. While most horses love it, start with a smaller amount if your horse seems to not be interested
• Garlic – Affective against flies, ticks, mosquitoes and internal parasites, begin sprinkling a small amount on their feed and increase to ¾ ounces daily per 1,000# body weight. This may be gradually increased to 2 ¼ ounces per 1,000# if you notice that your horse is still being annoyed.

• *Note: Before you increase the garlic dose, keep in mind that it may take several weeks for the odor to permeate all tissues.

• Either find yourself a good poop scooper or raise a bunch of chickens that can forage through the manure. Not only does horse waste attract flies, harmful parasites propagate there. Proper manure management is a must!

The best source that I’ve found for quality essential oils, glycerin and garlic granules at a reasonable price is www.mountainroseherbs.com.



Got horses being irritated by flies? Help ‘em out by mixing up some organic fly spray. While jeering at the flies may not help much, I believe that you’ll find the fly spray to be pretty effective.

Don’t let me steal your fun away though.

While you are spraying, go right ahead and shout,

“Buzz OFF” all you want!

Whole-Heartedly,

Bonnie



P.S. Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/. You may also contact me at:

Bonnie Jaeckle

In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life

Diagonal Progress

505 Jefferson St.

Diagonal, IA 50845



DISCLAIMER:

The author of this article does not endorse everything represented on/in suggested links, books, etc. Each of us is accountable to God to weigh everything according to His Word.



All content of this article is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. The author sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. The information herein is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. This is best left to the Creator of the universe. In all health-related situations, “qualified healthcare professionals” should always be consulted. The author deems THE GREAT PHYSICIAN to be most qualified. The author assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material.

Do It Afraid!

A few years ago, my husband, Gary and I took a trip to New York. While there, Gary wanted me to see Niagara Falls. Having many walking trails, this was also a great place for our dog, Berea to get some exercise. There was only one obstacle; Berea is very uneasy around crowds of people and we had to pass through the busy visitors center in order to get to the trails! Knowing that she’d be fine after we made our way through the crowd, we headed out. Once we were inside, Berea was a bit resistant, so it was necessary to tug a bit more firmly on the leash than usual, but everything seemed to be going smooothly. Except… why was nearly all the visitors staring at me, whispering to one another and pointing my direction? Did I have food on my face? Was my shirt unbuttoned? Was toilet paper stuck to my shoe? What in the world were they looking at? I glanced back to check on Berea and found that she had all four legs sprawled-out and I was dragging her on her belly across the slick marble floor! Poor baby! With everything in her she wanted to be obedient, but this was so hard!

Has the Lord ever asked you to do something that you didn’t want to do?

Have you ever wanted to be obedient,

yet recognized that in doing so you would certainly suffer discomfort?

Have you ever resisted Him because you were afraid of the unknown?

I certainly have!

I’m reminded of when the Lord seemed to be directing me to leave my nursing career and to begin counseling women. I had worked very hard to achieve the status which I’d obtained in the nursing profession. Nursing was all I knew! Had I heard correctly?



At the time, I was managing a consulting business which I’d founded a number of years prior. I managed medical-legal cases from around the country, enjoyed the challenge and received a sizable income. Was I to let this all go? I concluded that surely the Lord didn’t intend for me to totally turn my back on it all and assumed that I should split my time between nursing and counseling. The counseling ministry grew quickly and before long I was faced with having to make a major decision. I knew the Lord was saying, “Bonnie, let go!” After completing the cases which I’d already committed to, I packed-up my entire medical-legal library, which was necessary for the work, and placed the boxes in a closet.



After a few months, the Lord spoke again very clearly, “You still aren’t trusting me.” Dumbfounded, I retorted, “What? What do you mean; I’m not trusting you? What more do you want!” “I expect you to trust Me and not a closet-full of books and your abilities. Get rid of them,” He insisted! I knew He was right. I’d kept my library in the event that “I might need to fall back on it someday.”



I will never forget the day that I loaded all of those boxes into my car, drove to the public library and donated my entire collection. Feeling as though my arms and legs were being ripped from my body, I cried all the way home! You see, my sense of worth and security was in my career and my Lord wanted me to come to recognize that I am worthy only because He says so and that my real security is in Him! He was stripping away yet another false god in my life!



Have you ever questioned your faith because you feared this or that? You know what?

I don’t think God expects us to not be afraid when we face the unknown.

Instead, I believe that He desires for us to “do it afraid.”

Just as I did with Berea, the Lord understands our fears and gently encourages us to press past them. Even if He has to drag us on our belly to the other side, when we see light at the end of the “visitors center” we are reminded… “He was with me all along and there was really nothing to fear!”



Whole-Heartedly,

Bonnie



P.S. Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/. You may also contact me at:

Bonnie Jaeckle

In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life

Diagonal Progress

505 Jefferson St.

Diagonal, IA 50845

THE NUMBER OF OUR DAYS

Have you ever considered what it will be like to die: How’s it going to happen? How old will I be? Who will see me through it? Maybe you have faced death in the past or maybe you are facing it right now! As a trauma nurse and having faced life-threatening health issues myself, I understand how frightening it can be. Consider with me, if you will, what I believe the Lord has shown me as I’ve wrestled through this issue.

From the moment we are conceived, we begin to face death. It could happen anytime from that point on. Yet, most of us become extremely anxious when an “expert” tells us, “You only have a short time to live” and we begin to take every measure possible in an attempt to “preserve ourselves.”

Traditional cancer “treatment” is a good example of this. Even the least medically minded person, if they would honestly consider it, would realize the devastating affects of chemotherapy. Why do we so readily assent to being injected with poisonous chemicals which wipe-out everything in their path, including healthy cells, in an effort to annihilate the unhealthy? When we consent to irradiating diseased cells, we are yielding to lethal doses of cancer-causing radiation! When we acquiesce to removing lymph nodes, our immune system, which is absolutely necessary to stand against the deadly “management” of cancer, is significantly altered! I’m not sure I understand …

Why are we willing to go to such illogically drastic measures

in a last-ditch effort to extend our lives

when we are clearly told,

Man’s days are determined;

you have decreed the number of his months

and have set limits he cannot exceed?

(Job 14:5)

Why do we squander what could be our last days consumed with running from one medical appointment to another? Why do we choose to expend those precious moments in a medicated daze unable to enjoy them or our loved-ones? Why do we mindlessly chase after “the most successful treatment available,” leaving our loved ones in financial ruin? The traditional medical approach to cancer is presented as being concerned about “quality of life.” Oh really? For whom? I’ve never witnessed a cancer patient experiencing any quality of life and this certainly can’t be referring to the lives of their loved ones who ride the medical merry-go-round along side of them!

“Oh, chemotherapy and radiation cured me of cancer,” some might say. I respectfully disagree. In my humble opinion, the fact that you survived the barbaric, money making scheme is a miracle of God and a reminder of exactly Who is in control of the number of days that you live!

I know people who have been told by their doctor that they have only a few days left to live and they are still alive, years later. On the other hand, others have been given a “clean bill of health” and they go home and die the same day! I cared for a man who held a shotgun in his mouth, aimed toward his skull and pulled the trigger. When he arrived at our trauma center, he was sitting up-right on the gurney. From every view, the x-rays revealed buck-shot scattered throughout his skull, yet he was experiencing no ill effects from the trauma whatever! Laughing he said, “I can’t even do this right!” I still wonder today if this event caused him to consider that no one and nothing can do anything to shorten or extend our days!

I recall having a heart-to-heart conversation with my son, Jake just before he left for combat in Afghanistan. Through tears, I reminded him and myself that no matter where he is or what he is doing, his days are already numbered. With all the assurance within me, I recited Psalm 139:15-16 -

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

While Jake was home on leave, a military brother was killed filling the position which Jake normally held!

Show me, O Lord,

my life’s end and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting is my life.

Psalm139:4

Don’t misunderstand me to say that we shouldn’t be wise in how we care for ourselves nor was I suggesting that Jake stand out in the middle of the battlefield daring the “enemy” to shoot him. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so we must honor God with our bodies (1 Corinthians6:19-20)! What I am saying is,

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

Job 12:10

Whole-Heartedly,

Bonnie

P.S. Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/. You may also contact me at:

Bonnie Jaeckle
In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life
Diagonal Progress
505 Jefferson St.
Diagonal, IA 50845

I HAVE RISEN! I HAVE RISEN INDEED! HALLELUJAH!

Typically the “Easter” focus in the Church is on the amazing miracle of Jesus being raised from the dead. Yes, He has risen! He has risen indeed! Hallelujah! Yet, are we truly aware of the unfathomable miracle that we too have died and been resurrected? If so, why aren’t we also proclaiming this glorious miracle on “Easter” morning, or any other morning, for that matter? Is it that Tozer is accurate in saying,

“Among the plastic saints of our times, Jesus has to do all the dying,
And all we want to hear is another sermon about his dying”?

Scripture clearly tells us,

I have been crucified with Christ;
And it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galatians 2:20

In order to have been raised into new life, I had to have been dead! As a chosen one of God, I have always been in Christ, including during His crucifixion and resurrection. Instead of rejoicing in this fact, most “Easter” morning services draw attention, in one way or another, to believers needing to “die to self” in response to Christ’s death for them. If we have already died and have been resurrected, if it were possible, why would it be necessary that we die again? Did Jesus fall short in what He accomplished on our behalf? I’d like to share with you this brief note which speaks very succinctly to this issue –

CAN THE DEAD RAISE THEMSELVES?

Over the last few years, I’ve read a lot of posts on Facebook that use the phrase “dying to self,” and other related concepts. The implications of taking up our cross daily and following Jesus are indeed vital. Here, I would like to call attention to a crucial reality that must be the vine of all the branches of life in Christ.

In order for us to pursue Christ in “dying to self” we must first understand that we are already dead! Believers were identified with Christ at every point in His self-giving for us. When Jesus was crucified – we were crucified! When He was buried – we were buried! When He was raised from the dead -- we were raised with Him! When Christ ascended to the Father -- we went with Him to be seated in the heavenlies.

Paul noted, “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him” (Romans 6:6). The believer does not and can not put the self-life to death. No, we are already dead because we were there with Christ when He died. But we are not left in death. The emphasis falls on us being raised to newness of life because He was raised on the third day.

There is all the difference in the world between us making efforts to die to self, and us taking up our cross daily as those knowing that we are already dead, and experiencing the living, resurrected Christ expressing Himself through our innermost being. The one leads to frustration, bondage and performance-based religion. The other leads to a life of love and freedom in which the self-life is increasingly abandoned.

Christ says to us,
“In Me, you are already dead, buried and resurrected;
now live that out by faith in each day that I give to you!”

The Law said, “do this and live.” Jesus says, “I am alive in you, now pursue life in the Son.” Boiled down, Paul said, “You have the Spirit of Life, now walk in step with the Spirit.”

Many sermons, books and podcasts about living the “Christian life” have been consumed by saints. The tragedy is that such sources often communicate that the believer needs more than Christ -- “you need to tithe,” “you need the baptism of the Spirit so that you can speak in tongues,” “you need to fast,” you need to follow this scheme or formula.

However, Paul stated that believers are “complete in Christ.” Of course, a growth process is involved, but growth results organically from the branch deriving life from its attachment to the vine. Paul could tell the Philippians to “work out their salvation” only because it was the Lord “working in them to will and do His good pleasure.” A newborn infant has a lot of maturing to do, but it is “complete” at birth – everything is resident in the little child to become a full grown adult. We bear fruit by abiding in the Vine. We can do nothing without Him. As Kat Huff noted, “We cannot even die without Him. How humbling is that?” – by Jon Zens

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God
(Colossians 3:3).

A sermon focus only on the death and resurrection of Christ is only half of the story and ultimately feeds into the bondage of self-effort! May I encourage you to stop trying to do something which Jesus already accomplished! Instead, make your celebration complete by basking in the freedom of the position His death bought for you and begin proclaiming,

“I have risen! I have risen indeed! Hallelujah!”

As you live in this freedom, you will find that the self whom you have worked so hard to eradicate… will little by little slough away.

Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie

P.S. Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/. You may also contact me at:
Bonnie Jaeckle
In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life
Diagonal Progress
505 Jefferson St.
Diagonal, IA 50845