Ever Feel Like You Have An Evil Twin?!

February 28, 2008 in Uncategorized with 11 Comments

Photo_36_2

Hey friends!

I thought this photo might make you smile! I was playing with the camera on
my laptop and it has a ‘doubling effect’ feature…so you can make it
look like there are two of you mutated together!!! Pretty funny.. : )

Today I was reading in Paul’s letter to the Romans that sometimes he struggled to do the right thing. Isn’t that a relief! He wasn’t perfect…even though he was God’s messenger and apostle to the gentiles.

This crazy photo seems to represent how Paul was feeling…half of him wanted to do what was right and the other half warred the opposite way, wanting to revert back to the old ways of the flesh. Its the age old struggle of anyone trying to follow Jesus. So be encouraged – we all walk through the same battles and even Paul felt like we do!

This is how he explained it in Romans Chapter 7 (taken from The Message version):

"The power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions. I
obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes; I can
will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do
it. I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such
as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep
within me and gets the better of me every time.It
happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do
good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands,
but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts
of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take
charge. I’ve
tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there
no one who can do anything for me?"

We, with Paul, can sometimes get discouraged by the battle…With him we ask, "WHO can rescue us from our sinful nature?"

Thankfully he didn’t leave us without an answer…Romans 7:25 gives us the remedy:

"Is there
no one who can do anything for me? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does!"

So if you feel like the journey of following Jesus is too tough – don’t give up!! And if you have fallen down and your struggles have got the better of you, don’t give up! Forgiveness is total and gives a completely blank slate. You can start over again today – right now. Jesus looks at you and sees you as if you had never sinned at all. That’s the power of the cross.

I’ll leave you with this quote from an ancient Christian named Saint Josemaria Escriva:

"So you have failed? You have not failed. You have gained experience. Now, forward!"

Wherever you find yourself today, whatever you have done, keep fighting the good fight of following the Master. Whatever our failings, let us see them as past and gone, and stand up wiser and stronger from the experience, pressing onward into the bright future that His love brings.

Now, forward! Together we can do it!

Love,
Vicky

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  • http://www.jonathanpaulmusic.com Jonathan

    I did laugh. I sat there and laughed for probably a good minute. A very good minute. :o) Thanks, Vicky! And thanks for the reminder to keep headed in the right direction and not get discouraged! It’s funny, I was actually thinking of something somewhat along these same lines earlier today and wrote a post about it on my site…

    …and if you ever want to share some of those great blogging tips with us that you got from the Blogfather, that would be really cool! :o)

  • ah

    a friend recently told me to ‘move on from the guilt’ i dont think i’ve ever really done that before. it’s good to hear again. thanks!

  • http://www.myspace.com/nathanarnoldmusic Nathan

    So I’m a bit behind… I read a blog today and all of the sudden the page was gone! My first thought was that Jonathan crashed the site with more of his novel length responses. Then I thought you may be trying to ditch some annoying posters… like maybe me…

    But good thoughts, as usual.

  • http://jeremythiessen.typepad.com Jeremy

    Great blog, Vicky! I’m impressed with the responses you generate on your posts – that’s awesome! I’ve added you to my blogroll – when you get a second, I’d love it if you could return the favor (use this URL: http://jeremythiessen.typepad.com). Have a fantastic day adventuring and Twittering about it!

  • JON

    Wow; Dead Poets made you Book list!

  • http://vickybeeching.typepad.com/vicky Vicky Beeching

    Is that the Jon who gave me the Dead Poets book on the Delirious Tour?? : )

  • Linz

    who said dead poets? dont even get me started dude! freaking amazing… :D

  • http://dogmatics.wordpress.com Kevin Davis

    Just one correction: St. Josemaria Escriva was not an “ancient” Christian; he died in 1975. He’s most famous for being the founder of Opus Dei — a lay organization within the Roman Catholic Church that calls people toward radical discipleship, including fairly strict ascetic practices.

    Anyway, it’s a great quote.

    “And He shows His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – St. Paul

  • http://vickybeeching.typepad.com/vicky Vicky Beeching

    Wow, thanks for that Kevin… I love learning new things… its great to find out more about who St Josemaria was! And I will do some research into Opus Dei..it sounds fascinating! Great to have you reading and commenting here Kevin – keep coming back! : )

  • HevMo

    Don’t quite know how I got on your site. Lets blame Brenton Brown! Great Blog. Good to know Jesus rocks on the MySpace!

    God Bless YOu.

    Hev (Scotland)

  • Bill Stearns

    Hey Vicky

    Like all of your blogs this one is great!! It is so encouraging to read about Paul’s life on his 3 Missionary journey’s . He writes about his struggles with such honesty. Paul was always faithful to God even when he had misguided zeal when he was out to crush the Christians. When Paul saw Steve’s life taken for his faith with the Glory of God on his face made an impression on Paul! It was soon after this Paul life changes forever! He stated out to wipe out the Christians. After he was blinded and his roadside Conversion, Paul suffered the rest of his life for his faith. In Romans chapter 7 Paul encourages us with his honesty of his battle of walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh! Vicky you did a great job sharing Paul’s struggle and encouraging all of us to press forward and to fight the good fight for our Lord Jesus!! I want to thank you for taking to time to share the everyday things going with all of us! You are always so funny and add humor to you writing as you get to the point or question of the day. Very few people take the time to be so transparent with with their friends or the community as you call it. Like I had said before, I am having a blast going back to your first blogs in august 2005 reading all of them up till today. You are in prayers as you write your blogs and your new songs that you BLESS thousands of people around the country in person and on your CDs’
    Your brother in Christ
    Bill <>