Romans 7:

4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the

body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was

raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful

passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so

that we bore fruit for death.

6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been

released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the

Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

I died. Not the husband Law,as is spoken in the earlier verses. So, being dead to the husband Law, I am made alive, raised up in Christ Jesus to grace.

Grace to sin? No way! Grace to yield joyfully to my new husband/Lord, and that to bear fruit for life.

But, when I lay down the law for others, setting forth what I require of them to be acceptable to ME, then I become their judge, taking it out of God's hands. Moreover, with my judgment of others, that judgment judges me. So I, having been freed in Christ from the law, by my setting a standard/law for others, give myself back to the law I died to, to again have power over me.

My judgment becomes a bondage to me, a wedge between me and others, and a barrier between me and my Lord.

Praise the Lord that in Christ I can repent and Christ will rescue me from the chains of the Law.

My work, God's work

Clement of Alexandria
Psalm 22. I am poured out like water.

My life is an offering to God. I give of those things which are close to my heart, because he first poured out himself, giving himself for me.
I pray, "God give me strength," and he gives me opportunities to exercise my weakness.

I pray, "God give me patience," and he sends me situations that try it.

I pray, "God, help me to be loving," and he sends me one who is hard to love.

For the gifts of the Spirit must be exercised if they are to grow: as muscles must be trained, as the mind must be educated.

Strength is an act of will, as are love, patience, charity, and the rest.
When I come to the end of my own strength, patience, and love, I have come also to the end of my own will, and there in the empty place God is waiting for me. "You have given your own strength," he says, "but now you shall give mine. You have loved with your own heart: love now with mine."
Until I am emptied of myself, of my own will, God cannot fill me; for he can give only to those who have made room for him in their souls.
My will is not my own Till thou hast made it thine; If I would reach a monarch's throne, I must my crown resign. -George Matheson

Job 26:7 (ESV) 7 He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.

Earth, our planet, spins in space - an airless, weightless, light less expanse of emptiness. It hangs out there on nothing. No strings attached. Moreover flaming stars, and other planets also are so hung, out there on nothing. This fills me with awe.

Then mankind, the occupants of this one occupied (that we know of) planet, in their great knowledge and ability propound this great stupidity. They say to one another, "all this, space, stars, planets exploded into being. It all just happened." (Isn't that great!)

And in their vast wisdom they teach this stupidity to the God-created sons of man. Man who was given life and a wondrous home, has chosen to deny his creator, or to give to Him thanks, praise and worship.

The irony is, mankind blames GOD when things go wrong. This accidental world, where they declared there is no God.

How my heart cries out. Lord, you've given us all the keys to find you. Let us, You've forgiven and given life to, become true salt and light.