Oh happy days....

Oh happy days.....

Last night I watched an old movie, Sister act 2.  I admit I have to get past the people, politics and enjoy the story and music.. Redeeming people, a school, dreams.....seeing past the establishment, reaching for life, freedom.....

We were once involved in a group of believers whose leader was steeped in legalism....it took several years to see through the rouse...and gain freedom from the attitudes, the emotional abuse, spiritual abuse that happened there...and see and feel the grace that God so freely extends to all, not just to the elite or rule followers...our love for that group has grown over the years for the friendships forged by fire...God grew us all through so much...nothing of the time was wasted....even the pain has been turned to beauty ....

As  Christians, We don't have a checklist of performances, or behaviors...our salvation isn't based on checklists of man...God looks on our hearts, our true confession, seeking Him, not our life history of good deeds, behaviors....these should be out of our love for Him, not to gain more brownie points or approval of man...

Thank You for Your grace extended, love given, to me and all, who don't deserve or merit it,  can do nothing to even earn it...but it is freely given to all who seek, trust, repent and believe....


1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Psalm 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

Mark 7
New International Version (NIV)
That Which Defiles

7 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’[b]
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[d] and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[e] 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”







oh happy days lyrics.....sister act 2, You tube....