This most recent post comes not only from my own struggles, but from a willingness to do things for God, that is accompanied at times with the lack of following through. I have been reading Romans and if you ever want to feel like a looser hypocrite, read Romans. In the same thought process be relieved that Paul the greatest Human (excluding Jesus) to live in the faith talked about his own struggles. A few things that stuck out in my mind during my recent readings.....! Paul lines out for us life in the Spirit, in relation to a life guided by the law. With this I want to say that just because Christ is now here doesn't mean the law is dead, because without it, Paul wouldn't know what sin was and therefore wouldn't know what not to do.
OK before I send you all into a day dream state with these details let me assure you, if you are a believer these next couple of paragraphs will be helpful.

We are united with Christ in Life, and Death. Meaning that since we are 100% unified with him there is nothing in us that is lacking, even when we don't obey his commands. Even when we go our own way and do our own thing. See Grace abounds all the more, when sin is present. This does not permit us to just go on with our "Sinful" lives. It means that Grace abounds all the more because we have accepted it.
What does it mean to accept God's Grace?
Does it mean we walk the Ilse at 8 on day 3 of VBS and give our lives to Christ?
Does it mean we are confirmed in a church, and confess that we believe Jesus is who he says he is?
Does it mean that we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, and now can speak in tongues?
Here is my take on the acceptance of God's Grace. Yes I believe that no matter what age you are, what method was used, or what church it was at, as long as you really understood what was going on in your heart, then God's grace became a vital part of your life.
If you got sprinkled or you got dunked, if you didn't know Jesus you just got wet!!!
The point here is that God's grace is available to us anytime, any day, and once we accept it into our lives we are to go and be, and that is what God wants.
Being is better than doing, because when your "State of being" is in the will of God then your doing with all the right motives without thinking twice about it.
Romans is a tough book to read but I am happy it is. I recently had a good friend tell me that she was sorry that they were not church people. I told her that doesn't bother me, it isn't about being a church person, it is about a relationship with God. Now I believe that as a believer one should be involved in a local church, but that is not where it is at, trust me. I know plenty of people who go to church and have no real relationship with God. So I urge you to cultivate your relationship with God. Spend some time on your own, away from everyone. Take a retreat, solo, when the kids are down open his word, and ask him to speak into your life.
The more I find time for God, the better I usually am, so I write this as an encouragement.
Thanks for listening<><,
Brett E. Chancey