Touch and Go

         When Pat and I lived in Marietta, Georgia, we were not too far from McCollum Airport. We were also not far from my parents. A year before Pat moved the kids and I to Nebraska, my father decided to fulfill a life-long dream at the age of 50. He wanted to learn how to fly. After leasing a plane for a while with two other men, they bought a small four-seater plane together. It was a Grumman American, and he loved it. 

         Vacations in Georgia included trips to McCollum Airport to fly above Cobb County spotting sights that we knew. For some reason, Daddy decided that I loved to "touch and go" with him—taking off, circling, landing, speeding down the runway, taking off, over and over again. It was necessary for him to have this experience, and even though it was scary to me, I trusted him. Daddy was a cautious pilot. He never took off without conducting an extensive checklist of the plane and the equipment. Sometimes I would get slightly impatient with the extremely careful thoroughness of his life, but never with the inspection of the plane before take-off or with his spotting of places he might land the plane if there was an emergency. 

         Through the years, he faced some experiences in the sky that were frightening. One that I remember was in May of 1984. Pat had moved to Anniston, and I was still in Vicksburg, Mississippi, attempting to sell our house. Daddy flew to Vicksburg and picked up Grady, Patricia, and I and flew us to Marietta where Pat joined us for Mother's Day. After a perfect visit, Daddy loaded the three of us back in the plane to return to Vicksburg. When we got close to Jackson, Mississippi, he put on his headset to listen to communication. The plane started making a rumbling noise. I got his attention, and he took off his headset to listen. He couldn't hear the sound. We were still about 50 miles from Vicksburg, and the sound was getting louder. I was surprised he couldn't hear that roaring—even with his beginning hearing deficit. In my mind, I pictured God’s hand under the plane carrying us to Vicksburg. We landed safely, but the next day when Daddy began his take-off to return home, the engine suddenly died as he started down the runway. After this trip, he realized that hearing was becoming an issue, and the days of his flying began to dwindle. 

         A year ago, just a couple of months following Daddy’s death, I experienced something. It was like having a dream while being awake. Before I share it, I would like you to know that when Daddy was in the air, flying became a spiritual experience for him. He became one with his plane—the sky—and God’s creation below him.

         Daddy sat in the cockpit and smiled at me in the passenger seat. He was young again with that dark hair and beautiful shining blue eyes. I had the impression that we had just landed, and that we had been doing “touch and go.”  I knew it was time for me to climb out of the plane, but I didn’t want to let him go. No more practicing to get it right. No more taking off and landing through life’s hard experiences. Suddenly he was alone in the plane. His hand raised to wave goodbye, and his smile took my breath away. He looked so free. That little plane raced down the runway and began to lift and lift through clouds toward heaven. And then I saw one thing that meant everything to me. Large fingers appeared holding that little plane safely—bringing Daddy home for his last flight.

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/06/tough-and-go.html

         

Rest in His Grace

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the powerof the life-giving Spirit has freed youfrom the power of sin that leads to death.

—Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)

Has the Grace of Jesus transformed your mind to the place where you believe that you are debt-free? If you have accepted Him into your heart, you have received His forgiveness. You can live without crippling feelings of guilt and self-condemnation. His Grace has freed you.

Do you wear guilt to prove He forgives you? You don’t have to live in shame to show to God or anyone else that you are forgiven.  Jesus knows what He has done for you. He died to set you free from condemnation. You are new in Christ! Don’t live in bondage to feelings of guilt and shame, allowing your old nature to judge you. Jesus has taken your judgment. His Grace paid your debt for your sin once and for all. You owe nothing because of His love. There is no greater love than this—that He would give His life for you. No other love sets you free from the law that was unable to save you.

“The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature,” Paul writes. “So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4, NLT).

Jesus did what the law could never accomplish! By His sacrifice, He declared that sin no longer has control. He fully satisfied the requirement of the law because you were unable to meet it. Jesus took your sinful nature to the Cross. His Grace accomplished its work on Calvary. Sin and death were utterly defeated. 

You have been made righteous by His incredible Grace. Where you once were weak, Jesus gives you strength by the power of His Spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind so that you know what it means to be debt-free. When He forgives, you owe nothing! There is joy in that Truth! There is no guilt or shameful condemnation you need to wear to prove it. When Jesus sets you free, you are free. You are free of shame. Don't wear that lie any longer. My friend, rest in His Grace.

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/06/rest-in-his-grace.html

Rock-Solid Faith

Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken. —Isaiah 28:16b (NLT)

Jesus is a precious cornerstone—a strong and everlasting foundation. In Jerusalem, upon Mount Moriah at the place of the Skull,  Jesus accomplished His Father’s will. The innocent life He gave was priceless. While the world unknowingly waited, He finally died, splitting the veil of the temple and unleashing His gift of righteousness to change the human heart. 

Upon this solid foundation of Jesus’ life for mine—upon His precious gift of righteousness—my faith is built. He is the only sure foundation in which I trust—the only safe harbor in which I find refuge. Even though there is nothing Jesus requires of me, the gift of His life calls for my response. His love was the purest ever forged and the only love Resurrected. His Grace gave without regard. 

Nothing else is Truth but Jesus. Nothing else is worthy of building upon but Him. God placed Jesus, His Son, as a foundation stone for my faith. Tested and tried, Jesus stood unshakeably against anything that would dissuade Him from His purpose. Because of His Grace, I have a precious—a priceless—faith that cost Jesus everything but me nothing. His Grace yearns for me to believe—and allow Him alone to build my faith. I trust Him, and I stand. I believe His Truth! He is my rock, my peace, and my sure foundation. 

Is He your rock-solid faith?  Do you trust Him when life throws punches at you?  The answer is to believe. Whoever believes, the Word says, need never be shaken.

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/06/rock-solid-faith.html

Life-Changing

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

—John 1:3-5  (NLT)

Long before God created the heavens and earth and man, the Word existed. John refers to the Word as “He,” not “it.” The Word was God then, and it is God now. God created everything through the Word, and He still creates through the Word. The Word breathed life then, and it breathes life now. His life brought light then, and it brings life now. The Word is God. The light, brought by His life, is Jesus. The light of Jesus shines and reveals God's Truth. His light is eternal—never to be extinguished by the darkness. 

You are God’s creation. The Word is God, and it is His breath of spiritual life. Without it, you will drown in a sea of your own emotions instead of living in supernatural peace. The Word (God)) breathes His life into you. The Holy Spirit (God) reveals who you are and God’s purpose for your life. The Word molds, changes, recreates, and transforms your mind. Although never changing, the Word changes you with its Truth. God still “creates” you through the Truth and power of His Word. The love and gift of Jesus’ life for you fulfills the purpose of the Word. The Word is God’s Gospel Truth. 

“This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world,” Paul wrote. “It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace” (Colossians 1:6, NLT). The Holy Spirit reveals God’s Truth in His Word about your identity in Christ. When you understand who you are—that His gift for your sin has made you righteous before God, then the power of the Gospel (God's Word) not only changes you but sets you free to live the purpose He reveals to you. His Grace and His Truth are the same—life-changing and powerful. 

God sent His Word to fulfill His purpose in you, and it shall do just that when you believe His Truth and Grace. His gift for you is the ultimate healing of spirit, soul, and body. The power of the Cross entirely heals you. That Truth is almost too good to be true. But you can stand on the Word of God because the Word is God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit—three in one.

Know who Jesus has created you to be. His Word is Truth and Grace. “He sent His Word and healed them" (Psalm 107:20a, NLT). That is life-changing.

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/06/life-changing.html

Believe and Receive!

Believe and Receive!

“Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God.

—Isaiah 66:9 (NIV)

Does God bring what He has promised you to the point of birth and refuse delivery? Absolutely not! The Holy Spirit is faithful to deliver what He has promised. He never assures you of something that He doesn’t provide. You can believe Jesus, your Savior, who died for you. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He accomplished on the Cross on your behalf is not partial. When He cried, "it is finished," it was finished. The promise of new life He has birthed in you, is real. It is lasting. It is faith, and you can believe.

Don’t ever give up on God’s promise! Your pain might seem greater right before the birth of your promise, but there is delivery from pain’s choking grasp. God doesn’t bring you to the birth of your promise, and then says, “well, forget it.” No! Your promise has developed for a long time, and the time of its birth is upon you. No matter how hard the pain has been or difficult your journey, His promise is almost here. Anticipate it!

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm for God can be trusted to keep his promise” (Hebrews 10:23, NLT)! Hold on! Don’t quit! Trust! Keep the faith! Believe and receive!

©2019 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/06/believe-and-receive_9.html

Unmasked in His Grace

Do you allow the Holy Spirit the liberty to transform your mind? Or do you mask your feelings and hold up a shield so others will not know that you, too, are human?  Where the Holy Spirit is there is freedom—with God and also with those He sends to you. He wants to heal you, but He can’t if you hide behind self-imposed walls of protection. Christ has the power to set you free from the “old covenant veil” you hide behind so others can’t see your pain. 

"We are not like Moses," Paul wrote, "who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:13-17, NIV).

Before you knew Jesus, a veil covered your heart. You were not free. You were in a prison of pain striving to be good enough—struggling to keep laws that had no chance of setting you free. Then Jesus destroyed that veil—that false protection which could never free you. He unchained you at the Cross when, in one moment, the veil that separated you from God was torn. Now you can run without hesitation into God’s presence. Jesus has opened access to the holy One who once judged you, but now sees you righteous because of His Son. Where there is no judgment, there is no need to hide. There is, also, no need to judge.

Don’t try to hide behind a mask from the Holy Spirit. It is impossible, and you only hurt yourself. He wants to transform the way you think until you understand with His mind—forgive with His heart—flow with His power—love with His Grace. Be free in Jesus. And don’t hide behind a veil from others. Let down your mask and be vulnerable with those God brings to you. Where Jesus is, you are free. You are healed. You are whole. You have nothing to hide. Nothing to gain. No agenda, but to love with His Grace. 

Where the Holy Spirit is, you have the liberty to open your mind and your heart to the truth of who you are in Jesus. He has made you righteous so you are free to run into God’s arms. You have the openness to give yourself away. When you flow—unmasked—in His Grace, streams of living water flow, and against such fruit, no law Jesus died to fulfill, has any power to destroy who you are in Him. Jesus will heal those He has entrusted to you. And also heal you. 

“And we,” Paul concluded, “who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” ( Corinthians 3:18, NIV).

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/06/unmasked-in-his-grace.html

Deliverance

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—I whom you have delivered.

—Psalm 71:23 (NIV)

Darkness swallowed me. 

I drowned in a sense of unworthiness.

You had rescued me at Calvary.

You had completely forgiven me—

But my mind could not grasp it.

My besieged heart could not feel it.

Fear waged war in my mind—

Fighting the gift of your love.

It was so hard to believe—

When my plagued mind held no hope.

I yearned to feel you again—

To sense once more your joy and peace.

Suddenly—in the depth of my pain—

The oil of your presence flowed—

Soothing and drawing, promising release.

Could I finally believe?

Would you set me free?

Praise me, you whispered.

Praise you? But could I? 

My lips murmured, “Jesus…”

Redeeming love overwhelmed me.

Your breath filled my being.

Your heart beat as my own.

The lies of the enemy held no place.

The weight of condemnation lifted!

No more guilt or shame!

Nothing I must do to be worthy!

You had accomplished that!

I believed your love! I believed!

I was free!

My lips shall forever sing praise to you!

I—whom you have delivered!

© Lynn Lacher 

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/06/deliverance.html

Believe Me!

Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing.

—Isaiah 43:18b-19a (NIV)

Is there anything in your past that you allow to hold you back from experiencing God’s freedom? Is it hard to get rid of thoughts that keep you from feeling the joy of a new moment? You are new in Him. Old things are over. The old does not define your new. If you allow the past to control your mind, you can never see the new things He bring into your life.

The grace of Jesus is your promise. If you don’t wish the past to tarnish your new life, you must believe what Jesus has accomplished. He took your sin—your sinful nature—your ugliness—into His sinless self and died to give you His righteousness. You are free of judgment and condemnation. To experience freedom from the pain of old feelings, believe in the truth of Calvary. Have faith in His truth that you are no longer that old person, but forgiven through and through for all time. He has set you free. Allow Him to transform your mind until the freedom Jesus won for you changes your perception. You no longer doubt. You realize His power within you. You let go of your emotional pain—your baggage—and focus on who He has made you. 

Discover His freedom to enjoy your new life. Choose to believe that the Resurrection power of the Cross is greater than anything you have allowed to control your mind. Surrender thoughts that plague you. Surrender who you have believed you are for who He says you are—His child, righteous and pure because of His sacrifice. In release, you find freedom from the emotional pain of the past. When you believe Him, newness springs up, the old washes away, and you can perceive His truth instead of the pain of your past or lie with which the enemy has terrorized you. He pours life-giving streams of hope and healing into your life.

“Have you not heard?” God declares. “Have you not understood?  I am the everlasting God, the creator of all the earth. I never grow tired or weary. I give power to your life. Trust and believe me, and find new strength! You will soar high above the pain of circumstance and emotional pain that has defined your life! You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not faint! Believe me!”

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/06/believe-me.html

Your Need

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (Matthew 6:30-33, NLT) 

The Lord knows your need. You belong to Him. When He died for your sins, you received a new nature—His righteousness. It was not a partial gift. It was complete work. You received all the resources of your Father. Understanding this truth is so hard for the human mind to grasp. But when you are transformed by consistently putting on the new nature, the way you think changes. Your perception changes. As you draw closer to Him, you believe He provides beyond what your natural mind perceives.

God’s spiritual kingdom resides in the spirit of each born again believer. Whether it comes to fruition within your mind is your choice. Be renewed in your mind by His Spirit. Seek His revealed truth in the Word until what you perceive is born of His Spirit. What your natural mind observes as your need is not what your spiritual mind knows you need. Allow Him to change your attitude until you believe the circumstances you face do not control you. You recognize His vision. You trust His provision. 

Circumstances may whirl beyond your natural comprehension, but you remain peaceful, knowing nothing can destroy your trust. Your faith reveals the reality of what you hope for! It is the evidence of things you cannot see with your natural mind. Faith sees with His eyes. Faith understands beyond the physical. Grasp His spiritual truth. Believe by faith that God has fulfilled your need. He brings His promise to life. 

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/06/your-need.html

More Than

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

—Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

God can accomplish more than we can imagine through His power working in us. Some read this Scripture and don’t even realize the phrase “through his mighty work within us.” They wait for God to perform more than they might ask or think. But this is not what this verse says. We limit God when we don’t understand His power at work in us—when we don’t apply by faith the Resurrection power that we received when we were born again.

“It is impossible to please God without faith,” the writer of Hebrews proclaimed. “Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6, NLT).

God wishes us to know Him deeply and intimately. Without faith, we lack in our perception of His grace. Without trust, we can’t understand the power of the Cross. If we come to Him believing that He rewards those who sincerely seek His face, nothing is impossible. When we apply faith to whatever our need, He works mightily within us to accomplish more than we can imagine.

God's work within us is not just about what we see in the natural realm. His most profound work is how He changes our perception of who He is in us—how He renews our minds with His power. When we step out of the security of our self-insured lives and risk the limited person that we believe we are for the Spirit-filled person He knows we are, we discover our true identity. We are His. He lives in us and through us. We aren’t limited by the natural. We see with His eyes—hear with His ears—understand with His understanding. God is able to accomplish exceedingly and abundantly more through us than we might ask or think.

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2019/06/more-than.html