Have you seen Christ today?

Thinking about Christ-likeness today: What is that? What does it look like? How do we obtain it? Has anyone actually seen an example of it in action today?
My thoughts: Whenever we have defenses built up, (and we all do) these keep His Spirit from flowing through us. (and it stops His likeness or character from coming out of us) So, the baptism of fire, or letting ourselves die daily, is paramount in bringing down those strongholds which have been built in us. Only then, as we submit to this process, can His Spirit have it's way in and through us, and others can be touched by Him. But most of us, operate from our fleshly nature of defense and self-protection, not even knowing that it is impeding this flow, because we have either justified or rationalized it with our carnal mind and thinking.
Cheryl Flook's comment on the last blog uses words to describe what it might look like it we actually did "lay our lives down for one another." I know I fail daily in this, but am staying in the fire of God as there is no other way to get rid of these dams which block the flow.

Can meeting together fulfill God's vision of Body Life?

http://www.paidionbooks.org/girrard/bullets/bb620316.html

After reading this article, I was challenged to examine my own actions. Recently, I  have started attending a home group. As the article mentions, "meetings" (whether we assemble at 'church' or in homes) fall way short of the vision God has for us to "lay down our lives" for each other. It would seem like one could only do that in a close geographical setting. I travel about 35 mi. to attend this home group. My question is (to myself and you) "What does it look like to lay down one's life for the brethren?" and "Are we doing it?" Does the world know that Jesus has come because of our love one for another?

Searching Out the Matter

     I don't have the following matter completely clear-do you?
     I was reading in Ecclesiastes this morning and came upon the Scipture," Now all has been heard, here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep  his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" Eccl.12: 13, 14.
     Here's the question: If the above is true, and I believe it is, and if we are "under grace, and not law," (which is also true) how do we coincide the two truths? Another aspect of the question is, do statements in Old Testament, which speak of judgement, (and I know there are also some in the New Testament) still hold under the grace covering and status we are given in Christ, and how does that work?
     To not complicate the matter further, I will stop there, and let you all answer and comment. I think alot of Christians are confused on these points.

Holding God to the Letter

     "My sheep hear my voice," Jesus says. Some Christians believe that the only way to "hear His voice" is through the written word of God. They, in essence, hold Him to the "letter". Let's look at the "letter" to examine something. Didn't Peter, when he was sleeping on the rooftop, have a dream about eating all things, and told, by the Spirit to "go to Straight street"? And, wasn't Paul compelled by the Spirit to do this an do that, being given direction by God in this way throughout His walk with the Lord. And, when John was on the isle of Patmos, wasn't he shown many things and even told many things by the angels when he was there?
     Alright, we'll give it to the cessationists (people who believe that was then, this is now and God only worked through the original disciples in that way to spread the word) for a minute as a possibility, because they didn't have the written New Testament word then. But, the big "proof", I believe, is that if they would have stuck to the written word, which was the old testament, they would not have believed that Jesus was who He said He was. The "religious" leaders and people did just that. They held God to His written word, the Scriptures, and denied Him. The ones opened to His Spirit, heard his voice which validated that He was indeed the Son of God.
     Even today He says His sheep hear His voice. Let me give you an example, from my own life, to make the point clear. One day I was making my bed, and I heard Him say to me, "Saying 'yes' to me is saying 'no' to many other things." He said that to me, and He has shown me time and time again  that it is true, verifying that it was Him who said it.  In other words, I have had to consciously say "no" to many things that would vie for my time and attention, to follow the path He's layed out for me in my life, so that the things He wants for me, will be fulfilled. You could say what He told me is backed up by the written word that says, "If you lose your life, you will save it," or "Your life is not your own, you were bought with a price." But the particular words He spoke were spoken to me personally, and the words as spoken, were not written exactly like that in His written Word.
     Let's not hold God to hearing Him only through the specific words that have been written. His Spirit, like the wind, cannot be contained, and it's not up to us to try and do so. If we do, then our relationship will be very dry and dead-like. It will be a document, and not a life-giving, personal connection.
     I must admit that it can get sticky at times, whenever the enemy tries and mimicks God's voice, and he does this. We get off the path, thinking we are following God when we are not. But, what I am finding as I continue to walk with God is that, when I am being deceived, and I don't know it, God comes and brings me back to the light; Himself. Just like a little lost sheep, who doesn't even know he is lost, is brought back to the fold. Yes, we know His voice, but our hearing is not perfect, and we can be ignorantly deceived, and that is when we must trust our Good Shepherd's love and discernment to come and rescue us.