From Clyde Cranford’s excellent book, “Because We Love Him – Embracing a Life of Holiness.”
“And, we have a commission from the Lord. We are to do what He does, go where He sends, and say what He gives us to say. When we preach, teach, or share one-on-one, the words we speak are not be our words, but the words of Him who sent us. We are to do nothing independently of Christ and the Father, bu only what we see them doing.”
“Additionally, and please hear this carefully, we are to carry out our mission in communion with Him (author’s emphasis). Christ earnestly prayed for this intimate union with these words: “That they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in us (again, author’s emphasis). Why? “That the world may believe that Thou didst send me (John 17:21).
“So we must renew our awareness of God by faith. Before long, the presence of God becomes the very air we breathe. Nothing is so sweet as this rarefied atmosphere. We are not so quick to sin because nothing is worth losing our enjoyment of the presence of God. Hence we learn to walk with God in true fellowship and communion.
This is what Paul meant when he said, “pray without ceasing.” We are to live in a posture of prayer. Prayer is more that just words spoken to God; prayer is also having our thought life open to God and our hearts turned toward God. Yes, prayer is also a deep sensitivity to the inward promptings of the Spirit of God and an acknowledgement that the source of our power lies beyond this world. When we walk in this kind of intimacy with God, every day becomes an expression of worship.“
Image via author, unnamed lake, Wallowa Mountains, Oregon
Without Limit 
Dear Tim, these words ring true to my heart and soul! “Before long, the presence of God becomes the very air we breathe. Nothing is so sweet as this rarefied atmosphere. We are not so quick to sin because nothing is worth losing our enjoyment of the presence of God. Hence we learn to walk with God in true fellowship and communion.”
A complete holiness! We are all on our own paths to holiness, that personal relationship with Christ. A complete surrender to the Spirit. In my experience, the only way (which might seem sad or unusual in the world’s viewpoint) to this surrender was to walk it alone. And THEN, those who who also in similar journeys were easier to find and friend to share itineraries and goals on this beautiful Godly journey! Just as you and Jackson have been to Finn and me! I thank God for the work you do for HIS Kingdom and how you share his wisdom to help us on our journeys and walks in Christ! Give pats and high fives to Jackson and stay safe and blessed, dear friend!
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Thank you for your response, Karla. Complete holiness. Complete surrender. Here we are finding what it means to be complete in Christ. Not anything of our own doing, for we are totally incapable of the holiness our God redeemed us for and expects in us. He does not expect if of us because of our incapacity for such purity. He expects it in us because it can come only by the life of Christ in us, lived in us by His indwelling Holy Spirit.
What amazing grace this all is! All that Christ expects of us is summed up in His holiness and purity, which He intends to live in us on our behalf and by His indwelling Spirit! This is the only grace offered to us – Christ Himself. It is ours by the one thing, the only thing we can do. That is to live in continual surrender of all our living to Him daily, and to walk in that constant, conscious conversational communion with Him that we know as the abiding life and walking by the Spirit.
Here is the best blessing to leave with you that I can imagine: May you walk by the Spirit of Christ today, and abide in His love, His life, and in communion with Him. May you and the Finndog have a grand day with Jesus today and always!
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Amen, amen, and amen! Finnster, Finndog, “Big Enough”, my Applehead…and the Momma~were finding strength in our Lord! Today I go in to give blood again and consult with my my oncologist. It’s all in the blood! The blood of Jesus!
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Ah yes, love this! Especially that last paragraph on prayer. “ When we walk in this kind of intimacy with God, every day becomes an expression of worship.” There is no sweeter place to be!
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Is that not the case, Kara? There really is no sweeter place to be in this life. It is always amazing to me how enormous the gift of our God’s redemption, His imputation of not only His righteousness but His life into us, and the invitation He has offered to us to live in union with Himself. Amazing grace!
Blessings to you and your tribe, Kara.
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Yes!! I think we often fail to see how expansive this abundant life is and how intimate, accessible and practical our union with him is. Thank you for sharing your heart and reminding me of this truth.
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Thank you for your comments, Kara. How right you are! Blessings to you and your tribe!
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