Today I am writing something that I know needs to be heard and talked about, I can tell because the moment I decided to write about it I was gripped with fear, had a hot flash, started shaking and almost had a panic attack. I have allowed fear of public reaction stop me from writing about this in the past, but I am no longer a slave to fear, so I am going to be blunt and to the point. Stop seeing psychics, and palm readers, stop being fooled into believing in hauntings and ghost, stop seeking the spirits of your loved ones passed on from the other side, because it's all witchcraft! All of it is a trick from Satan to manipulate you!
In Deuteronomy 18:10-11 God list anyone who participates in these practices as an abomination and in Leviticus 20:6 it says 'If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.' Could God's face be against you? Have you been seeing these types of people? Even if you have said the prayer of salivation, you are still guilty of this sin if you continue in it, to be saved you must be repentant and that means turning away from sin, it is not okay to knowingly, willingly continue in sin and if you are then you weren't saved (Proverbs 28:13; Ezekiel 18:21-23; Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:5-10). You must stop now, stop seeking for answers outside of God, there aren't any! Ask your Father for forgiveness and leave these traps behind you.
I am sure someone reading this is going, 'well about Christian psychics?' ...no such thing. If they are using Ouija boards, crystals, tarot cards, crystal balls, numerology, or divination they are not seeking the Lord for your answers, they are likely just as deceived as you were about this. I will not say that they weren't gifted prophetically and are frauds, because honestly, some are some aren't, they may have a genuine prophetic gift, but they are misusing it, seeking answers from Satan and his demons instead of Lord. A prophet of God, someone using their prophetic gift inside of the Lord's law will do as Daniel, and Joseph, and Samuel did they will seek answers through prayer, mediation, fasting, and scripture, in other words they will seek the Lord!
What about ghost, and spirits of our dearly departed? While I do not doubt the experiences people have had, the visions of ghost or entities, the smells, the touch, things moving, mysterious voices or sounds, this is not what you think, there are no ghost, this is another form of deception! This one I will admit in my early faith I still believed in, I truly thought and believed in ghost. Then the Lord opened my eyes to truth and I was able to accept that this too was deceit. Isaiah 8:19 reads; "And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?" This means we shouldn't seek them out, we shouldn't go looking for the dead and hoping for answers, in 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 we read what happened to king Saul when he disobeyed God on this matter, he died. And if you are pursuing these things in your life you are dead as well.
Please do not think that I am barking at you, or trying to make you feel guilty, I am not. I am warning you because I love you and I do not wish for you to lose out on an eternity in heaven with our wonderful Father! I want you to give up this sin and walk forwarded in righteousness serving a God who loves you more than you will ever be able to comprehend. Give up the things that grieve Him, give up the things that are separating you, seek Him alone!
Leviticus 19:31
“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 18:9-12
“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.
Galatians 5:20-21
Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
The Heart was Wrong
I used to listen to and read books, post, and blogs done by pastors who preached prosperity, I didn't read the Bible as much then, it was something that I only picked up and read occasionally when I was looking for something specific or just to kill time. I got most of what I believed and knew of God from my church, from these other pastors, and the people around me, most of whom aren't saved, and have only limited knowledge and very shakey belief in God. This left me confused and vulnerable to the lies of false preachers and doctrines. During this time I believed that if I was a good enough person God would bless me financially, my motivation to serve Him was based on God's ability to supply for me, and not love or sacrifice.
For awhile this kind of shallow, self-serving faith was enough, but eventually my heart started to question it and want more, I started to want a deeper more fulfilling relationship. I started to feel like I was missing something, that there was more to it. The search took me to other pastors, other theologians, and into God's word more deeply. As I began to read God's word daily, the revelation of what was wrong in my faith before came to me, the reason I felt that I was lacking in that area of my life became evident.
I started to look at those people in the Bible who are considered great, I read their stories and tried to find something that they all had in common, I tried to find what it was about their faith that made them so great, what was it about them that the Lord found pleasing. I started to pray that I would have eyes to recognize God's truth, and ears that would hear and respond to God's word. And God answered my prayer, during my search it was revealed to me the things I had before missed in listening to the false teachers, and it was through this revelation that I realized it was false, corrupted teachings I had been receiving before this point.
In the story of Samuel anointing David to be king over Israel 1 Samuel 16:7 stood out to me in a way it never had before, it reads; '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.”' There it was in the final six words of that verse, my answer, but what was it about David's heart that pleased him? About the hearts of Moses, Job, Noah, Mary, Joseph, Esther, Daniel, John, Peter, Paul and others?
When I began reading to look at the hearts of these individuals and not their actions, I discovered that a common trait among all of them was a servant's heart. They all in different ways served others, and made serving and pleasing God their main focus, following Him in obedience, an obedience fueled by love for God and His people, not what God could give to them. Immediately upon realizing where I had gone wrong, I asked the Father for forgiveness, I asked Him to continue to grow my knowledge in truth and to change my heart, to take away my selfish desire for wealth, and replace it with a God-centered heart focused on pleasing Him out of love.
If you have been floundering in your faith, feeling a drift, and wondering where you've gone wrong I urge you to get in the word. Start reading your Bible and examining your heart, start really examining what the teachers in your life are telling you, is it Biblical? Are they teaching you to serve God because He loves you and sacrificed His son for your salvation or because if you do God will bless you? Are they teaching you Biblical principles and right from wrong or are they telling you everything is okay, everything is acceptable so long as you love God and look righteous on the outside? Look at your heart! Look at your motivations honestly, take it to the root and you will find the God you serve. If it isn't the God of the Bible now is the time to change and ask Him to cleanse your heart, He always hears the cry of the repentant heart and is quick to forgive(2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 John 1:9; 2 Peter 3:9).
1 Samuel 2:3
"Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
1 Chronicles 28:9
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Proverbs 16:2
All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
Luke 16:15
He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God's sight.
Revelation 2:23
I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
For awhile this kind of shallow, self-serving faith was enough, but eventually my heart started to question it and want more, I started to want a deeper more fulfilling relationship. I started to feel like I was missing something, that there was more to it. The search took me to other pastors, other theologians, and into God's word more deeply. As I began to read God's word daily, the revelation of what was wrong in my faith before came to me, the reason I felt that I was lacking in that area of my life became evident.
I started to look at those people in the Bible who are considered great, I read their stories and tried to find something that they all had in common, I tried to find what it was about their faith that made them so great, what was it about them that the Lord found pleasing. I started to pray that I would have eyes to recognize God's truth, and ears that would hear and respond to God's word. And God answered my prayer, during my search it was revealed to me the things I had before missed in listening to the false teachers, and it was through this revelation that I realized it was false, corrupted teachings I had been receiving before this point.
In the story of Samuel anointing David to be king over Israel 1 Samuel 16:7 stood out to me in a way it never had before, it reads; '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.”' There it was in the final six words of that verse, my answer, but what was it about David's heart that pleased him? About the hearts of Moses, Job, Noah, Mary, Joseph, Esther, Daniel, John, Peter, Paul and others?
When I began reading to look at the hearts of these individuals and not their actions, I discovered that a common trait among all of them was a servant's heart. They all in different ways served others, and made serving and pleasing God their main focus, following Him in obedience, an obedience fueled by love for God and His people, not what God could give to them. Immediately upon realizing where I had gone wrong, I asked the Father for forgiveness, I asked Him to continue to grow my knowledge in truth and to change my heart, to take away my selfish desire for wealth, and replace it with a God-centered heart focused on pleasing Him out of love.
If you have been floundering in your faith, feeling a drift, and wondering where you've gone wrong I urge you to get in the word. Start reading your Bible and examining your heart, start really examining what the teachers in your life are telling you, is it Biblical? Are they teaching you to serve God because He loves you and sacrificed His son for your salvation or because if you do God will bless you? Are they teaching you Biblical principles and right from wrong or are they telling you everything is okay, everything is acceptable so long as you love God and look righteous on the outside? Look at your heart! Look at your motivations honestly, take it to the root and you will find the God you serve. If it isn't the God of the Bible now is the time to change and ask Him to cleanse your heart, He always hears the cry of the repentant heart and is quick to forgive(2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 John 1:9; 2 Peter 3:9).
1 Samuel 2:3
"Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
1 Chronicles 28:9
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Proverbs 16:2
All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
Luke 16:15
He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God's sight.
Revelation 2:23
I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Miracle Monday
This weeks miracle was shared with me through a friend, and is actually about her friend. I was asked to change the names to respect the family's privacy, but given permission to share this beautiful testimony. I hope you will be blessed by how much love our Father has for us, and by His ability to both heal and comfort in so many ways. As I do not know the final results of this miracle, I ask you brothers and sisters of faith to keep this family in your prayers, and pray that this miracle in their midst opens their hearts to Lord.
Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.
James 5:15
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
James 5:15
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
My friend Susie has a friend who says she doesn't believe in God, her name is Ashley. Recently, Susie shared that Ashley had called her panicked on the phone and said "I must drive out of state to see my brother he had a heart attack."
When Ashley makes it to the hospital to see her brother, Mark, he can not even speak. It was a very serious situation and Ashley and her mom were both upset and scared for him. That night when Ashley and her mom go back to their apartment her mom gets out her old bible which is dusty (it had been years since she used it) and her mother begins to read it out loud. Together they began praying for Mark. The next day when they went to see him again, he was talking! And recovery looked better!
Friday, September 26, 2014
Come Home Wayward Child
Last night I woke up twice with the same message from the Lord, a message I know some of my readers need to hear, you are worthy. Some of you are doubting, your past mistakes are tied around your ankles like shackles slowing you down, making you feel like a prisoner, you believe in God and want to love and serve Him the way your heart tells you, you should but your mind reminds you of all your flaws and past mistakes, leaving you feeling dejected and worthless. But that is not what God says, He is telling you now, YOU ARE WORTHY, I HAVE CALLED YOU MY OWN, LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS AND FOLLOW ME.
There was a time when you were zealous in your faith, but the world beat you down and distracted you from higher things, come home. Your Father knows the pain in your heart and it grieves Him, He knows the secrets you hide, and the ways in which you thought you have failed, but still He calls you worthy. Do not let your perception of yourself separate you any longer, this is the call to turn away from the pain, sadness, and guilt. Rededicate yourself to God, you are forgiven. Just as the father in the prodigal son mourned and grieved for his wayward child(Luke 15:11-32), you have been mourned for by the Lord, come home son, come home daughter, your Father longs to celebrate your return from death, come home, you are worthy, forgiven, and loved beyond your measure of understanding, come home wayward child of God, you have grieved yourself and your Father long enough.
Jeremiah 31:3
The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Acts 3:18-19
18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
There was a time when you were zealous in your faith, but the world beat you down and distracted you from higher things, come home. Your Father knows the pain in your heart and it grieves Him, He knows the secrets you hide, and the ways in which you thought you have failed, but still He calls you worthy. Do not let your perception of yourself separate you any longer, this is the call to turn away from the pain, sadness, and guilt. Rededicate yourself to God, you are forgiven. Just as the father in the prodigal son mourned and grieved for his wayward child(Luke 15:11-32), you have been mourned for by the Lord, come home son, come home daughter, your Father longs to celebrate your return from death, come home, you are worthy, forgiven, and loved beyond your measure of understanding, come home wayward child of God, you have grieved yourself and your Father long enough.
Jeremiah 31:3
The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Acts 3:18-19
18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Thursday, September 25, 2014
One Way; The Only Way
Going to church doesn't make you a Christian, knowing the Bible doesn't either, neither does calling yourself one and doing or not doing good works. Being a good person cannot get you into heaven. You cannot buy your way in by being generous or kind, you cannot get in by begging or pleading. There is only one road to salvation, one way to be accepted into those gates, Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and you are only truly a Christian if you are living through Him and for Him.
This isn't one of my sweet, loving post to gently lead and encourage you. No, today I am saying directly that if you are not living for God you are already dead. If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior and repented (to change or turn away from) from your old way of life, you are already dead. Do not think you can say the prayer salvation and get into heaven without changing who you are, that is a lie, you cannot be a Christian and still live your old life of sin. If God is in you, that former life will and does fall away. The prayer of salvation is not a free pass to sin, but an invitation to Christ that you are ready to clean house and live in purity with him.
Many will tell you about the wagon wheel theory which is all roads or faiths lead to heaven, and that its okay to believe whatever and do whatever you want because so long as you are mostly good you'll go to heaven but its junk. Jesus told us in John 14:6 that he is the only way to heaven, no one comes to the Father except through him. To say otherwise is to completely deny his sacrifice and the blood he shed for you. You cannot be a Christian and believe in the wagon wheel theory, you cannot claim the blood of Jesus and deny it at the same time, if this is you, pick up your Bible and repent!
Do not think I am condemning or judging you, its not my place, I am here only to warn you. Many have been deceived and are being deceived, you need to wake up and dig into the word yourself. You need to read it, and do it daily to cultivate a relationship, to build your knowledge, and recognize false leaders. Your pastor, or the TV evangelist, or your friend or this blog, should not be the only ways you are receiving the word of God in your life, and you should always check what we say against what God says, we are human and we are fallible. Always look to God and His word, for everything, the answers are there for all who seek it.
John 14:6-7
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Matthew 19:28-30
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Romans 10:9-13
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
This isn't one of my sweet, loving post to gently lead and encourage you. No, today I am saying directly that if you are not living for God you are already dead. If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior and repented (to change or turn away from) from your old way of life, you are already dead. Do not think you can say the prayer salvation and get into heaven without changing who you are, that is a lie, you cannot be a Christian and still live your old life of sin. If God is in you, that former life will and does fall away. The prayer of salvation is not a free pass to sin, but an invitation to Christ that you are ready to clean house and live in purity with him.
Many will tell you about the wagon wheel theory which is all roads or faiths lead to heaven, and that its okay to believe whatever and do whatever you want because so long as you are mostly good you'll go to heaven but its junk. Jesus told us in John 14:6 that he is the only way to heaven, no one comes to the Father except through him. To say otherwise is to completely deny his sacrifice and the blood he shed for you. You cannot be a Christian and believe in the wagon wheel theory, you cannot claim the blood of Jesus and deny it at the same time, if this is you, pick up your Bible and repent!
Do not think I am condemning or judging you, its not my place, I am here only to warn you. Many have been deceived and are being deceived, you need to wake up and dig into the word yourself. You need to read it, and do it daily to cultivate a relationship, to build your knowledge, and recognize false leaders. Your pastor, or the TV evangelist, or your friend or this blog, should not be the only ways you are receiving the word of God in your life, and you should always check what we say against what God says, we are human and we are fallible. Always look to God and His word, for everything, the answers are there for all who seek it.
John 14:6-7
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Matthew 19:28-30
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Romans 10:9-13
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Refocusing the Mind; Above Not Below
Worry, anxiety, and stress are awful feelings, but you don't have to feel that way. I have worked very hard the last two years learning this lesson, and days like today I still struggle with it, but I have learned what steps are necessary to combat those feelings and take back my day. I see a secular doctor for the anxiety and depression, and it amazes how much of what she tells me to do to help keep moving in a positive direction can be backed by scripture, like when she tells me to focus on the positives, and find at least one thing to be happy about. In Philippians 4:4-8 Paul gives us the same advice, and even gives us that one thing that we should always be happy about '4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.' I know it's not an easy thing to learn, it takes practice to learn to re-focus your mind, but with dedication it can be done.
For me, writing this blog is one of the things I use to refocus my mind. While I'm writing and thinking about what needs to be said and how, I'm not focused on how I feel or the worries in my brain, I'm thinking about what someone else might need to know or hear. I'm thinking about, looking back on, and reading scriptures to keep my thoughts focused on the point and to expand my own knowledge of them. One of the best parts about that is, with more knowledge of the scriptures comes more capability to fight off those negative thought patterns because when you get stuck in them, you are now equipped with words that can fight back.
Which reminds me of another verse, James 4:7 'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' Those negative thought patterns are the devil, they steal your joy and can stop you from fulfilling the purpose God has for your life, but if you submit yourself to God, keeping your focus on Him, building your knowledge of Him, then you can resist the negativity by the knowledge you have gained and the security of knowing God is always with you. The negativity will flee when you are focused on God and His word, on living a Godly lifestyle and even with time the battles will become fewer, and more fleeting. This is attitude of focusing on the things of God, verses the troubles of this life is why the apostles were able to endure the persecution and suffering they experienced, which is far beyond what most of us will ever experience. Think of things above, think of your blessings, resist the negativity and distractions of this world.
1 Peter 5:9
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Colossians 3:1-3
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God
Matthew 16:23
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."
For me, writing this blog is one of the things I use to refocus my mind. While I'm writing and thinking about what needs to be said and how, I'm not focused on how I feel or the worries in my brain, I'm thinking about what someone else might need to know or hear. I'm thinking about, looking back on, and reading scriptures to keep my thoughts focused on the point and to expand my own knowledge of them. One of the best parts about that is, with more knowledge of the scriptures comes more capability to fight off those negative thought patterns because when you get stuck in them, you are now equipped with words that can fight back.
Which reminds me of another verse, James 4:7 'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' Those negative thought patterns are the devil, they steal your joy and can stop you from fulfilling the purpose God has for your life, but if you submit yourself to God, keeping your focus on Him, building your knowledge of Him, then you can resist the negativity by the knowledge you have gained and the security of knowing God is always with you. The negativity will flee when you are focused on God and His word, on living a Godly lifestyle and even with time the battles will become fewer, and more fleeting. This is attitude of focusing on the things of God, verses the troubles of this life is why the apostles were able to endure the persecution and suffering they experienced, which is far beyond what most of us will ever experience. Think of things above, think of your blessings, resist the negativity and distractions of this world.
1 Peter 5:9
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Colossians 3:1-3
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God
Matthew 16:23
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
A New Day, A New Perspective
Yesterday I was in a really bad mood all day, I have had a lot on my mind lately and I have been struggling to hold onto to hope. Yesterday felt like it was a breaking point for me, I was ready to give up, I felt like I couldn't go on or take anymore. I didn't give up though, instead I prayed, and prayed with all my heart giving all my hurt to my Father. I called family, and spoke to some friends online. It didn't really improve my mood at all though, which is honestly probably my own fault, but it did still change my way of thinking, as well as my attitude and approach to today.
As I spoke to my friends I realized that giving up wasn't really an option, if I give up on these situations nothing changes, I'd still have the same unfulfilled desire in my heart, and still have the same heartbreak, the only way to change those things is to persist through the struggle, to keep trying and trusting God. But talking to my friends isn't the only way God reminded me of this. It seemed that every time I read from the Bible yesterday, verses confirmed what the spirit led me to in conversation with others, and I saw the same exact post, posted by 3 different people that said 'Even when you don't see a change, know that God is working for you,' then this morning my dad said that same thing to me again when we were on the phone, talk about confirmation!
Yesterday I decided to stop pray for resolution to the struggle, and instead I prayed for hope so I can endure through it, I prayed God would comfort me in the struggle because I know that as hard as it is right now for me, He will use this suffering and heartbreak for something, maybe to comfort someone else someday. I believe that if I had continued to pray for resolution God would have heard me and I know He already has, but I also know that there is a purpose for all the pain in my heart right now and I believe it is better to serve God's purpose in my suffering, than serve myself in pleasure. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone, but it's a perspective I developed over this last 30 hours.
One of the really amazing things about all this to me is the change in my mood after making that decision, it's like Satan has fled. All the hopelessness, anger, and resentment I felt yesterday is gone, along with the confusion and anguish over what to do next. My heart is still heavy, but I'm hopeful today. I feel like breakthrough is on it way, I feel like the worst of the struggle is about to end. And most importantly, I have been reassured that my Father is with me and is seeing me through to the end, so long as I have that knowledge, I know that's all I really need, because if God is with me who can stand against me?
Romans 5:1-21
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
As I spoke to my friends I realized that giving up wasn't really an option, if I give up on these situations nothing changes, I'd still have the same unfulfilled desire in my heart, and still have the same heartbreak, the only way to change those things is to persist through the struggle, to keep trying and trusting God. But talking to my friends isn't the only way God reminded me of this. It seemed that every time I read from the Bible yesterday, verses confirmed what the spirit led me to in conversation with others, and I saw the same exact post, posted by 3 different people that said 'Even when you don't see a change, know that God is working for you,' then this morning my dad said that same thing to me again when we were on the phone, talk about confirmation!
Yesterday I decided to stop pray for resolution to the struggle, and instead I prayed for hope so I can endure through it, I prayed God would comfort me in the struggle because I know that as hard as it is right now for me, He will use this suffering and heartbreak for something, maybe to comfort someone else someday. I believe that if I had continued to pray for resolution God would have heard me and I know He already has, but I also know that there is a purpose for all the pain in my heart right now and I believe it is better to serve God's purpose in my suffering, than serve myself in pleasure. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone, but it's a perspective I developed over this last 30 hours.
One of the really amazing things about all this to me is the change in my mood after making that decision, it's like Satan has fled. All the hopelessness, anger, and resentment I felt yesterday is gone, along with the confusion and anguish over what to do next. My heart is still heavy, but I'm hopeful today. I feel like breakthrough is on it way, I feel like the worst of the struggle is about to end. And most importantly, I have been reassured that my Father is with me and is seeing me through to the end, so long as I have that knowledge, I know that's all I really need, because if God is with me who can stand against me?
Romans 5:1-21
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Miracle Monday
Today's Miracle Monday comes from +James Alexander and is about the breaking of generational curses. If you have never heard of generational curses or sins James was kind of enough to supply us with some titles and links. Please be blessed by what he has shared.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
For me it was in my early years as a Christian. I came from a troubled home like many of us and all the problems that go with it. I picked up on all of the bad habits that go with it myself, and I carried them with me until I was around 33 years old. That's when I became a follower of Christ and His written word. I had heard of generational sins..... No way can we know of the sins of our family tree for 400 yrs. I did the best I could to forgive who I could and laid hands on the word and asked God to break the chains of generational sins past down from generation to generation right up to my family. As a result I felt great release or relief. Along with burden being lifted the bad habits fell away with ease never to come back and without any desire to repeat them. Praise God! No longer conformed to carnality. No longer conformed to this world system and it's ways. I live for the Kingdom now and have for over 34 yrs. Thank you for inviting me to share. I hope this can be an addition to your ministry on Monday. The book and web site I gave will better explain how many of the sins that can be involved. God Bless you!
The best I can do for you is advise a web site , restoringyourlife.org/resources/generational-sin.html & a booklet called 'Taking Away The Devils Opportunity' by Ras Robinson, maybe you can also find that on the network somewhere.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Whoever is Slow to Anger has Great Understanding
I see very often Christians fighting with non-believers or people of other faiths, even going to the point of juvenile name calling, and every time I see this I think what is this accomplishing? How is this going to bring people to know God? And most importantly, how is this behavior glorifying the Father? Should we be upset when someone challenges our faith or insults Christians, of course! But we need to be careful in how we react, remember, we are the only Bible some people will ever read.
Now I know there is righteous anger and Christ displayed it in the temple when he up ended the tables(Matthew 21:12-17), but there is a time, place, and way to do that, name calling is not that way. Yes, I do realize that in his moments of righteous anger Christ called the Pharisees hypocrites, compared them to whitewashed tombs, and told them that they turned his Father's house into a den of thieves, but He is God it is His place to judge not yours(Matthew 16:27; 1 Corinthians 4:4-5; Revelation 20:11-12) God tells us to leave vengeance to Him (Deuteronomy 32:35; & Romans 12:19). Yes we should correct, but we shouldn't be cruel in how we do it. Even in our anger over issues or comments we should do our best to represent Christ, use the anger to lead you to resolution, and revelations instead of being drawn into a battle. One thing that could be tried, is turning the tables on the person who is arguing with you or trying to argue. Usually their problem is with themselves or a prior bad experience with someone else. Some good questions to do that with are 'What brought you to this point? Why are you so angry at Christians?' another question that opens up a conversation rather than a battle is 'Do you hate all religions or just Christianity, and why?' and this one is good for those who aren't attacking you, but just might be disagreeing, 'why have you decided to take this path in your life?'
I call these questions, 'openings for evangelism' it's a listen to lead method, instead of arguing and trying to be right, which typically pushes people away and lets face it makes us all look bad. But if you give them a chance to tell you why they feel and think this way it gives you an opportunity to both acknowledge and counter their thoughts, feeling, and beliefs which then can allow you to minister to them instead of fighting with them.
I will admit that I am a pacifist now, and I despise fighting, but I wasn't always that way. I have come to believe this a better way than the arguing because it can be Biblically backed, I have found 35 verses that warn about losing your temper, and one of them is the verse that taught me kind words reach people better than harsh ones, Proverbs 14:29 'Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.' I also know from experience that when we argue with people our words don't really reach them, they tend to shut them out except to respond back in a biting manner, but they don't reach the heart, and I see that echoed in Proverbs 15:1 'A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.'
Should we stand up for our faith, absolutely! Should we correct people when they get it wrong, definitely! Is okay to get angry at people who are baiting Christians to fight, calling us names, and blaspheming against our God, without a doubt. But we are poor examples of brotherly love, of agape love if we allow our tempers to get the better of us and we sink to their level. We need to not take offense, and if we do we need to not let that offense get the better of us, as we respond in a loving and Christ-like manner rather than wrath.
Proverbs 19:11
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
James 3:17-18
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Now I know there is righteous anger and Christ displayed it in the temple when he up ended the tables(Matthew 21:12-17), but there is a time, place, and way to do that, name calling is not that way. Yes, I do realize that in his moments of righteous anger Christ called the Pharisees hypocrites, compared them to whitewashed tombs, and told them that they turned his Father's house into a den of thieves, but He is God it is His place to judge not yours(Matthew 16:27; 1 Corinthians 4:4-5; Revelation 20:11-12) God tells us to leave vengeance to Him (Deuteronomy 32:35; & Romans 12:19). Yes we should correct, but we shouldn't be cruel in how we do it. Even in our anger over issues or comments we should do our best to represent Christ, use the anger to lead you to resolution, and revelations instead of being drawn into a battle. One thing that could be tried, is turning the tables on the person who is arguing with you or trying to argue. Usually their problem is with themselves or a prior bad experience with someone else. Some good questions to do that with are 'What brought you to this point? Why are you so angry at Christians?' another question that opens up a conversation rather than a battle is 'Do you hate all religions or just Christianity, and why?' and this one is good for those who aren't attacking you, but just might be disagreeing, 'why have you decided to take this path in your life?'
I call these questions, 'openings for evangelism' it's a listen to lead method, instead of arguing and trying to be right, which typically pushes people away and lets face it makes us all look bad. But if you give them a chance to tell you why they feel and think this way it gives you an opportunity to both acknowledge and counter their thoughts, feeling, and beliefs which then can allow you to minister to them instead of fighting with them.
I will admit that I am a pacifist now, and I despise fighting, but I wasn't always that way. I have come to believe this a better way than the arguing because it can be Biblically backed, I have found 35 verses that warn about losing your temper, and one of them is the verse that taught me kind words reach people better than harsh ones, Proverbs 14:29 'Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.' I also know from experience that when we argue with people our words don't really reach them, they tend to shut them out except to respond back in a biting manner, but they don't reach the heart, and I see that echoed in Proverbs 15:1 'A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.'
Should we stand up for our faith, absolutely! Should we correct people when they get it wrong, definitely! Is okay to get angry at people who are baiting Christians to fight, calling us names, and blaspheming against our God, without a doubt. But we are poor examples of brotherly love, of agape love if we allow our tempers to get the better of us and we sink to their level. We need to not take offense, and if we do we need to not let that offense get the better of us, as we respond in a loving and Christ-like manner rather than wrath.
Proverbs 19:11
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
James 3:17-18
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Teach Them
My entire adult life thus far has been spent caring for and teaching young children. From the time I graduated high school I have been either nannying, or teaching in daycare, and honestly, as challenging, frustrating, and exhausting as it can be at times, it has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I love answering their questions, teaching them new skills, and getting to witness it as they past milestones in their journey. Being that God has so blessed me with this line of work I tend to feel drawn to verses in the Bible related to child rearing, and my favorite is Proverbs 22:6; 'train up a child in the way they should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.'
I know often we try our best to teach and raise our children in a way that is pleasing to God, and sometimes we still see them fall away from it. I used to be youth leader at church and during that time I saw many youths waiver, including myself, but ultimately the values, morals and beliefs I was raised with won out. I think about that when I read Proverbs 22:6, and I also think about the prodigal son, (Luke 15:11-32) I feel like for me these things held true, because I did return to the way I was brought up after, like the prodigal son, I explored what the world was offering and found it lacking in comparison to a relationship with God.
I brought up the prodigal son and my past struggle with faith and the world to confirm the truth in Proverbs 22:6, but I also want to stress that if we aren't teaching our children the way they should go, and aren't showing them by example what a godly lifestyle looks like, the world will teach them their ways. God reminds us in several verses to discipline a child who is going astray, but also not to provoke them, I am not a mom yet but even I worry about walking that line. How do we raise godly, happy children who have hearts for serving?
I believe all we can do is teach them who God is, raise them according to the examples and scriptures He gave us, and pray. Pray for them, and with them, be the person you want them to grow into because they are watching you. If you are swearing, drinking too much, and partying all the time then you are teaching them that this behavior is okay. Children are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3-5) trusted into our care, it is our responsibly to teach them and help them grow, we can not leave it to the schools, we cannot assume Sunday alone is enough, we need to live what we believe, and not only openly share that with our children but involve them in it.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother
Proverbs 29:17
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
2 Timothy 3:14-15
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
I know often we try our best to teach and raise our children in a way that is pleasing to God, and sometimes we still see them fall away from it. I used to be youth leader at church and during that time I saw many youths waiver, including myself, but ultimately the values, morals and beliefs I was raised with won out. I think about that when I read Proverbs 22:6, and I also think about the prodigal son, (Luke 15:11-32) I feel like for me these things held true, because I did return to the way I was brought up after, like the prodigal son, I explored what the world was offering and found it lacking in comparison to a relationship with God.
I brought up the prodigal son and my past struggle with faith and the world to confirm the truth in Proverbs 22:6, but I also want to stress that if we aren't teaching our children the way they should go, and aren't showing them by example what a godly lifestyle looks like, the world will teach them their ways. God reminds us in several verses to discipline a child who is going astray, but also not to provoke them, I am not a mom yet but even I worry about walking that line. How do we raise godly, happy children who have hearts for serving?
I believe all we can do is teach them who God is, raise them according to the examples and scriptures He gave us, and pray. Pray for them, and with them, be the person you want them to grow into because they are watching you. If you are swearing, drinking too much, and partying all the time then you are teaching them that this behavior is okay. Children are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3-5) trusted into our care, it is our responsibly to teach them and help them grow, we can not leave it to the schools, we cannot assume Sunday alone is enough, we need to live what we believe, and not only openly share that with our children but involve them in it.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother
Proverbs 29:17
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
2 Timothy 3:14-15
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Do Everything
One of my very favorite Christian artist is Steven Curtis Chapman, and the song I like best of his is 'Do Everything' I listen to this song just about everyday because well, one thing I like the beat to it, but also because I really enjoy the lyrics and the reminder it gives us. In Colossians 3:23-25 we are told to do whatever we are working at with all of our heart as though we were working for God and not man, because in fact it is Christ we are serving if we are in Him and not humans, because He is Lord. That is what the lyrics in this song say as well, and I find that listening to this song in the morning before work helps to makes sure that I enter my day with a servant's heart.
I find that by reminding myself that I am serving God each day just by doing my best and trying my best at work, at home, and in my relationships, that it makes it easier to do my best and get the results I wanted to begin with. When I am more focused on pleasing God than pleasing my bosses, making them happy, myself and the children in my care just seems to be the natural result.
This stands true in other areas too, like marriage and friendships. When you allow love to reign, and do what you can for others with a loving heart focused on pleasing God by your actions and by what's in your heart, than those relationships are blessed, not that there won't ever be problems or disagreements because we are humans and our fickle emotions can lead us astray, but that you are able to work through those disagreements because God is working with you.
Everyday is a gift from God, what you choose to do with it can be your gift to Him. Do all that you do for the glory of the Lord, keeping a heart and mind fixed on Him. Remember, even if no one is watching; God is watching.
Colossians 3:23-25
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Ephesians 6:5-8
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
I find that by reminding myself that I am serving God each day just by doing my best and trying my best at work, at home, and in my relationships, that it makes it easier to do my best and get the results I wanted to begin with. When I am more focused on pleasing God than pleasing my bosses, making them happy, myself and the children in my care just seems to be the natural result.
This stands true in other areas too, like marriage and friendships. When you allow love to reign, and do what you can for others with a loving heart focused on pleasing God by your actions and by what's in your heart, than those relationships are blessed, not that there won't ever be problems or disagreements because we are humans and our fickle emotions can lead us astray, but that you are able to work through those disagreements because God is working with you.
Everyday is a gift from God, what you choose to do with it can be your gift to Him. Do all that you do for the glory of the Lord, keeping a heart and mind fixed on Him. Remember, even if no one is watching; God is watching.
Colossians 3:23-25
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Ephesians 6:5-8
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Guard Your Mind
There are tons of options today as far as entertainment goes, and one thing I have realized to be very true is that the things you watch and music you listen to have a big influence on you. You may not realize it but it can direct your thoughts, beliefs, and even emotions. I remember as a teenager listening to music that 'reflected' my emotions, songs that talked about suicide, depression, heartbreak, feeling like a loser or outcast, and some that literally blasphemed against God. I watched tons of crime and murder shows then too, and plenty of stuff about witchcraft, or shows that glorified those practices.
As a result of what I was putting into my brain, I was often angry, scared, confused about God and faith, and deeply depressed. I spent more time doing, watching, and listening to what was popular in the world then spending time with God and His word. I watched so many programs about break ins, rapes, theft and stalking that I was always afraid, especially if I happened to be alone. I didn't trust anyone I didn't know and even found myself being suspicious of people I did know. My preferred music wasn't exactly uplifting and while I thought then it reflected how I felt, I realized years later after I found one of my old CDs again that it was actually feeding those feelings.
Over time, after I finally made a heartfelt commitment to God I started to weed away those things in my life, I stopped watching shows like 'Charmed' and started watching more wholesome shows again, like 'Little House on the Prairie.' I quit watching shows about crimes, and started watching comedies with my husband instead. These were some of the first changes, and I didn't at first notice the difference, until I tried to go back and watch those things again by myself two years later. I felt upset, and uncomfortable in my heart watching 'Charmed,' because even though I know it's a TV show created to entertain, I knew what it was promoting was displeasing to my Father. I tried to watch crime shows again, and spent the whole night terrified that someone was going to break into my house, until my husband came home and calmed my fears. And that music I listened to, after going through the CD just once I understood why I struggled so much to be happy before, it left me feeling so low that day, even though before that I had given it any attention I had been pretty happy.
I didn't write this to point fingers or make anyone feel bad about something they may like, I'm not trying to say that you have to watch the shows I do now or listen to my music. I'm not saying that you must only watch and listen to Christian programs. But I am warning you, be careful what you feed you mind, be careful what you allow to influence you. God has commanded that His children are to stand a part from the ways of this world, we are not to act the way they do or do the things they do, we are to be a reflection of Christ and that means we are to act in holy and righteous ways that please our Father in heaven.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Colossians 3:1-11
Psalm 1:1-6
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
As a result of what I was putting into my brain, I was often angry, scared, confused about God and faith, and deeply depressed. I spent more time doing, watching, and listening to what was popular in the world then spending time with God and His word. I watched so many programs about break ins, rapes, theft and stalking that I was always afraid, especially if I happened to be alone. I didn't trust anyone I didn't know and even found myself being suspicious of people I did know. My preferred music wasn't exactly uplifting and while I thought then it reflected how I felt, I realized years later after I found one of my old CDs again that it was actually feeding those feelings.
Over time, after I finally made a heartfelt commitment to God I started to weed away those things in my life, I stopped watching shows like 'Charmed' and started watching more wholesome shows again, like 'Little House on the Prairie.' I quit watching shows about crimes, and started watching comedies with my husband instead. These were some of the first changes, and I didn't at first notice the difference, until I tried to go back and watch those things again by myself two years later. I felt upset, and uncomfortable in my heart watching 'Charmed,' because even though I know it's a TV show created to entertain, I knew what it was promoting was displeasing to my Father. I tried to watch crime shows again, and spent the whole night terrified that someone was going to break into my house, until my husband came home and calmed my fears. And that music I listened to, after going through the CD just once I understood why I struggled so much to be happy before, it left me feeling so low that day, even though before that I had given it any attention I had been pretty happy.
I didn't write this to point fingers or make anyone feel bad about something they may like, I'm not trying to say that you have to watch the shows I do now or listen to my music. I'm not saying that you must only watch and listen to Christian programs. But I am warning you, be careful what you feed you mind, be careful what you allow to influence you. God has commanded that His children are to stand a part from the ways of this world, we are not to act the way they do or do the things they do, we are to be a reflection of Christ and that means we are to act in holy and righteous ways that please our Father in heaven.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Colossians 3:1-11
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Psalm 1:1-6
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
Monday, September 15, 2014
Be Still
There are many verses in the Bible that have an effect on people, and they effect people in different ways depending on what their experiences are and what they may be experiencing at the moment they are reading that particular verse. I believe there are two reasons for that, one is that person's emotional or mental state at the time, and the other is what God is trying to communicate to you about your circumstances via the Holy Spirit.
One verse that stirs my spirit in every circumstance is Psalm 46:10; which reads this way in the King James 'Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.' Another translation of this verse reads (from the NASB): "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." I find this to be comfort at times, and other times I find it to be a reminder of how big God is. I love that this verse pretty much says 'why are you struggling? Why are you fighting my plans for you? Just relax, I am of high moral and intellectual value; elevated in nature and style above all the earth.'
When I read that verse and think about what it means I am often blown away by it, God is so big, so powerful, and He is telling me to just relax because He is handling it. There are so many verses in the Bible that remind of us of this thing, that remind us to trust Him. It's not easy as humans for us to give up our worries, stress, fear or whatever else is burdening us, especially when there isn't a clear resolution to the problem. But that's exactly what God tells us to do, and when we do it we are blessed by His peace and reassured by the promises found in His holy word, the Bible.
How do we do this though? How do we give away our burdens and accept His peace? I won't promise that this will work for everyone, but this is what I do and what works for me. First, I pray about it, sometimes out loud and other times in my prayer journal. I find praying in this manner to be more helpful than praying silently in my mind because it feels like, as I say it out loud or write it on the page that I am releasing it, that the process of hearing or seeing it some how helps me to really just say 'yea, I am done with this, you take it God.' The second thing I do is actually part of that same prayer, before I stop praying I always thank the Father for hearing me, for comforting me, and for taking away the worry, whether I feel it at the time or not. The last thing I do is remind myself that I gave it up to God, any time the thoughts of worry or impatience or whatever else it may be returns to my mind I quickly respond to that thought with 'this is in God's hands now, and I am not going to worry anymore because God is bigger than anything I am dealing with,' and I usually follow that up with a verse or two to help build my confidence.
I wanted to share this verse (Psalm 46:10), and share my steps to letting go today because it was something I used to struggle with, something that I had to figure out on my own, and recently someone asked me to explain to them how to let go, how to give it over to God. I hope this helped them and was a blessing to anyone else who may be struggling with this as well.
Psalm 100:3
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Jeremiah 10:10
10 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, And the nations cannot endure His indignation.
Psalm 119:41
May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise;
One verse that stirs my spirit in every circumstance is Psalm 46:10; which reads this way in the King James 'Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.' Another translation of this verse reads (from the NASB): "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." I find this to be comfort at times, and other times I find it to be a reminder of how big God is. I love that this verse pretty much says 'why are you struggling? Why are you fighting my plans for you? Just relax, I am of high moral and intellectual value; elevated in nature and style above all the earth.'
When I read that verse and think about what it means I am often blown away by it, God is so big, so powerful, and He is telling me to just relax because He is handling it. There are so many verses in the Bible that remind of us of this thing, that remind us to trust Him. It's not easy as humans for us to give up our worries, stress, fear or whatever else is burdening us, especially when there isn't a clear resolution to the problem. But that's exactly what God tells us to do, and when we do it we are blessed by His peace and reassured by the promises found in His holy word, the Bible.
How do we do this though? How do we give away our burdens and accept His peace? I won't promise that this will work for everyone, but this is what I do and what works for me. First, I pray about it, sometimes out loud and other times in my prayer journal. I find praying in this manner to be more helpful than praying silently in my mind because it feels like, as I say it out loud or write it on the page that I am releasing it, that the process of hearing or seeing it some how helps me to really just say 'yea, I am done with this, you take it God.' The second thing I do is actually part of that same prayer, before I stop praying I always thank the Father for hearing me, for comforting me, and for taking away the worry, whether I feel it at the time or not. The last thing I do is remind myself that I gave it up to God, any time the thoughts of worry or impatience or whatever else it may be returns to my mind I quickly respond to that thought with 'this is in God's hands now, and I am not going to worry anymore because God is bigger than anything I am dealing with,' and I usually follow that up with a verse or two to help build my confidence.
I wanted to share this verse (Psalm 46:10), and share my steps to letting go today because it was something I used to struggle with, something that I had to figure out on my own, and recently someone asked me to explain to them how to let go, how to give it over to God. I hope this helped them and was a blessing to anyone else who may be struggling with this as well.
Psalm 100:3
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Jeremiah 10:10
10 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, And the nations cannot endure His indignation.
Psalm 119:41
May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise;
Miracle Monday
This week’s testimony comes from
Karen Kamps and is about both healing, and the realization that it is
necessary to fully surrender yourself to the Father. I hope you will be blessed!
I realized during all this that by surrendering to him all my fears, and concerns He will answer prayers in His timing not mine, and this is how I keep my faith, for without faith, what's left? Despair and hopelessness, and I don't want that in my life.
James 5:13-16
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them
pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you
sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them
with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make
the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they
will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each
other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful
and effective.
Psalm 9:10
And those who know your name
put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
My story is that God has
blessed me by, saving my life from a hydrocephalus in 2001 and no complications
today since it was removed. For anyone who may not know hydrocephalus is a condition
where water builds up on the brain, this causes intracranial pressure inside
the skull and progressive enlargement of the head, convulsion, tunnel vision,
and mental disability. Hydrocephalus can also cause death. It is more common in
infants, although it can and obviously does occur in older adults as well.
In order to correct this problem
cerebral shunts are placed in the cerebral ventricles to bypass the blockage and
allow the flow of the cerebral fluids, or depending on the location of the blockage
it can be removed to restore the flow. I realized during all this that by surrendering to him all my fears, and concerns He will answer prayers in His timing not mine, and this is how I keep my faith, for without faith, what's left? Despair and hopelessness, and I don't want that in my life.
Thank you for letting me
share my story.
Karen Kamps Friday, September 12, 2014
A Cost I Didn't Have To Pay
Sometimes I get so focused on God's love, mercy, and forgiveness that I need a reminder of the cost of those things, a cost I didn't have to pay. I need this reminder to humble my heart, to make me appreciate all over again what it means to be saved. See I am not worthy of one of those things, not a single one on my own, but because of the blood Jesus Christ I have received them. There are days where I need to be jarred by that sacrifice, to really examine it and spend time in pure gratitude for it.
Have you ever done that, have you ever just looked at the cross? Not the actual cross obviously, and not even a physical representation of it, but what Christ went through on the cross and carrying it? How about the words he spoke, and the suffering he endured? When I do I always find myself crying, and always I think the same thing, 'he loved me, and died for me, because of me!' God gave His only son to a life of persecution, suffering, and eventually a brutal death, because we cannot resist the flesh, generation after generation has failed and given themselves over to the desires of this world and the gods it promotes.
Today when I was looking at the cross I realized something I had never thought about before, when Jesus called from the cross (Matthew 27:46) “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” it was my fault and yours too. That was the moment Christ was separated from the Father for the first time ever, and it was our sins that did that, it was our sin covering him that separated him from the Father and made God turn away from that suffering. Think about that for a moment please, let that settle into your heart, think of what it must have felt like to have lived from the beginning of time in the Lord's presence, that perfect beautiful place, filled with love, peace, and harmony. Imagine growing up here on this earth, after leaving that place and still having the Father's presence in your life, and then going out and doing his work at the appointed time. Then after that you are beaten almost to the point of death, made to carry a heavy cross, nailed to it, your suffering reaches it's worst as others' pains and sufferings, their sins, are added onto your physical suffering, and then you are cut off. That presence of the Father is gone because of something you didn't do.
We did that, by our continual rejection of the love God so much desires to give us. We cannot buy our way into heaven, or work our way there, there is nothing we can do to make ourselves worthy, we are too weak and eventually we sin, we all do, pick anyone in the Bible except Christ and they have sinned. But God loves us and made a way, He sacrificed His son, He took all our sin and placed it on Christ. Spotless, and blameless Jesus took sin that was not his own; this sin separated him from the Father, a fate he did not deserve, so that we can have access to the Father from the pure and holy blood of the lamb that he shed, Isaiah 53:4-6 reads "4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
Have you ever done that, have you ever just looked at the cross? Not the actual cross obviously, and not even a physical representation of it, but what Christ went through on the cross and carrying it? How about the words he spoke, and the suffering he endured? When I do I always find myself crying, and always I think the same thing, 'he loved me, and died for me, because of me!' God gave His only son to a life of persecution, suffering, and eventually a brutal death, because we cannot resist the flesh, generation after generation has failed and given themselves over to the desires of this world and the gods it promotes.
Today when I was looking at the cross I realized something I had never thought about before, when Jesus called from the cross (Matthew 27:46) “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” it was my fault and yours too. That was the moment Christ was separated from the Father for the first time ever, and it was our sins that did that, it was our sin covering him that separated him from the Father and made God turn away from that suffering. Think about that for a moment please, let that settle into your heart, think of what it must have felt like to have lived from the beginning of time in the Lord's presence, that perfect beautiful place, filled with love, peace, and harmony. Imagine growing up here on this earth, after leaving that place and still having the Father's presence in your life, and then going out and doing his work at the appointed time. Then after that you are beaten almost to the point of death, made to carry a heavy cross, nailed to it, your suffering reaches it's worst as others' pains and sufferings, their sins, are added onto your physical suffering, and then you are cut off. That presence of the Father is gone because of something you didn't do.
We did that, by our continual rejection of the love God so much desires to give us. We cannot buy our way into heaven, or work our way there, there is nothing we can do to make ourselves worthy, we are too weak and eventually we sin, we all do, pick anyone in the Bible except Christ and they have sinned. But God loves us and made a way, He sacrificed His son, He took all our sin and placed it on Christ. Spotless, and blameless Jesus took sin that was not his own; this sin separated him from the Father, a fate he did not deserve, so that we can have access to the Father from the pure and holy blood of the lamb that he shed, Isaiah 53:4-6 reads "4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
'By his wounds we were healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.' I repeated that intentionally, I want you to realize that when Jesus calls out "My God, My God why have you forsaken me," just why that is, it was our iniquity! Jesus paid the price of our destructive ways, he paid the price so we wouldn't have to. He was cut off from the Father, sent into death, into hell by our sins, and then he conquered it, and by conquering death he gave us access to eternal life, the only way to eternal life.
Isaiah 53:10-12
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
John 3:10-21
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Shake Awake The Sleeping Christians
Brothers and sisters of faith if you have been praying for revival in the church body as I have this is your call to action! Now is the time to not only pray for revival but act on it. A revival cannot and will not happen when we are sleeping, we need to wake up and act now! Open your eyes and see what is going on around you! Look at the individuals and beliefs that this world is pushing at our children! Look at what they are doing in our schools, in our country and around the world. You have to act! Do not wait for a revival to begin and join in, start it. Start it in your church, in your homes, in your communities. Now is the time to fight back, now is the time to stand up and say enough is enough!
I am sick and tired of people poking fun at us Christians, I am sick and tired of having to keep my mouth shut because I might offend someone by saying "God bless you," and quite frankly I am pissed off by the silence of body of the church. Our faith, our God is becoming a joke in this country, a country that was founded on Christian beliefs now laughs at those very things. They teach our children that our beliefs are outdated ideas that were once nice but no longer work in today's culturally diverse society. We must be tolerant of everyone and everything, and while I am a huge advocate of meeting everyone where they are and loving them as they are, I have had enough!
It is time we as Christians stop being afraid that we are going to hurt someone's feeling by spreading the gospel, its time that we boldly step out and say "Yes I am a Christian and I am not ashamed!" It is time to light a fire in this country and let it burn fiercely for our Father. We have brothers and sisters in faith who are or have died in Iraq, men, women and children are being beheaded for their faith, while we stand idly by in our own country and let them strip away our right to express our faith little by little with legal scare tactics.
For too long now we have been afraid of the backlash of the world to speak out boldly, to fight for our beliefs. We have allowed our schools to strip away the rights of our Christian children and teachers from praying, reading their Bibles, and even wearing crosses at public schools. Our national motto is no longer to be displayed in government buildings because some feel it is offensive, we have been made afraid to believe what we believe openly! And if we continue on this path of silence we will not be welcomed into the kingdom but disowned by our Savior as we are doing to Him now! Matthew 10:32-33 reads: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." I don't know about you, but that is not how I want my afterlife to go.
In this same chapter and through out the new testament we are reminded that by following Christ we will be persecuted, hated, mocked, and killed, but we are told to not be afraid of these things because our Father is with us and we are in His hands. Over and over again we are told to trust and spread the gospel without fear, but we are failing, we have let fear stop us in our tracks. It is time now to take our stand, it's time now to come out swinging the sword of the Spirit of truth and boldly declare that which we know to be true!
Matthew 10
I am sick and tired of people poking fun at us Christians, I am sick and tired of having to keep my mouth shut because I might offend someone by saying "God bless you," and quite frankly I am pissed off by the silence of body of the church. Our faith, our God is becoming a joke in this country, a country that was founded on Christian beliefs now laughs at those very things. They teach our children that our beliefs are outdated ideas that were once nice but no longer work in today's culturally diverse society. We must be tolerant of everyone and everything, and while I am a huge advocate of meeting everyone where they are and loving them as they are, I have had enough!
It is time we as Christians stop being afraid that we are going to hurt someone's feeling by spreading the gospel, its time that we boldly step out and say "Yes I am a Christian and I am not ashamed!" It is time to light a fire in this country and let it burn fiercely for our Father. We have brothers and sisters in faith who are or have died in Iraq, men, women and children are being beheaded for their faith, while we stand idly by in our own country and let them strip away our right to express our faith little by little with legal scare tactics.
For too long now we have been afraid of the backlash of the world to speak out boldly, to fight for our beliefs. We have allowed our schools to strip away the rights of our Christian children and teachers from praying, reading their Bibles, and even wearing crosses at public schools. Our national motto is no longer to be displayed in government buildings because some feel it is offensive, we have been made afraid to believe what we believe openly! And if we continue on this path of silence we will not be welcomed into the kingdom but disowned by our Savior as we are doing to Him now! Matthew 10:32-33 reads: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." I don't know about you, but that is not how I want my afterlife to go.
In this same chapter and through out the new testament we are reminded that by following Christ we will be persecuted, hated, mocked, and killed, but we are told to not be afraid of these things because our Father is with us and we are in His hands. Over and over again we are told to trust and spread the gospel without fear, but we are failing, we have let fear stop us in our tracks. It is time now to take our stand, it's time now to come out swinging the sword of the Spirit of truth and boldly declare that which we know to be true!
Matthew 10
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“ ‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
In Such a Person
I know a Pastor who found God behind the bars of a prison cell, and when he talks about his former life he usually says something like 'when I was on the other side of the cross' meaning before he was saved. I'm thinking about him this morning, the 'rough around the edges' crowd that makes up his congregation, the disciples and Jesus when he returned to the town he had grown up in. I'm thinking specifically about the towns reaction to Jesus when he came back; Mark 6 describes how Jesus was rejected there by his own people for the works and miracles he had preformed. Jesus replies to the non-belief with “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home. "(Mark 6:4)
When this Pastor I mentioned earlier got out of jail and started a church in the area we are both from, it was very much the same kind of response that Jesus had received in Nazereth. In fact, people were just as cruel about the members of this pastor's congregation as the Pharisees were in their judgment of Jesus's disciples. Some people who knew the pastor before he was saved were convinced that it was all show and doubted his sincerity when he claimed he was a changed man. They talk badly about him and his past, throwing out as much of his dirty laundry as they can to discredit him and denying that any change could have possibly taken place 'in such a person.' Most of the people I know who said these things or things like this about him claimed to be Christians, and one of them was also a Pastor.
As Christians we are supposed to reflect Christ, and we are told about the transforming effect of a relationship with God, how it can change people's lives and we even celebrate it when we hear stories about people turning their lives around because of Christ, except in some cases when we know them and their past. In those cases we are all too often like the people of Nazareth. We see only what we know or are familiar with about the person, and deny what God has done in them and is doing through them. I know this isn't always true, but I'm sure if you think about it there have times when people said they had changed or you saw a change in someone that you had previously viewed as someone who committed bad actions and did react this way, I know I have, and I am now on the side experiencing how people will turn away from you or deny the change in your heart and character.
I used the comparison of Christ returning to Nazareth for this post because of how the people he had known before he started his ministry reacted to him, in Mark 6:2-3, we see that when they saw Jesus all they saw was the carpenter they knew, the brother of local men and women, and the son of Mary. A few verses later (Mark 6:5-6) it's written that due to their lack of faith Christ was unable to preform miracles among them except for a few healings. Their preconception of who Jesus was limited what he was able to do among them, and they missed out on an opportunity to see God working among them. Having gone to several different church services run by the previously mentioned pastor, and talking with him on a few occasions I found myself wondering, are those people who are focused on his past, on who he was and what God has already forgotten, are they missing an opportunity to see God's greatness as he uses this pastor to reach out to others who have walked the same crooked path that he used to walk? Sometimes we are the people of Nazareth, looking so much at who a person used to be, we miss who God really created them to be, who they really are. Keep an open mind when you hear these things, don't let someone's past decide how you feel about them in them present, leave room foe God's grace, God can change anyone, including you.
Mark 6:1-6
When this Pastor I mentioned earlier got out of jail and started a church in the area we are both from, it was very much the same kind of response that Jesus had received in Nazereth. In fact, people were just as cruel about the members of this pastor's congregation as the Pharisees were in their judgment of Jesus's disciples. Some people who knew the pastor before he was saved were convinced that it was all show and doubted his sincerity when he claimed he was a changed man. They talk badly about him and his past, throwing out as much of his dirty laundry as they can to discredit him and denying that any change could have possibly taken place 'in such a person.' Most of the people I know who said these things or things like this about him claimed to be Christians, and one of them was also a Pastor.
As Christians we are supposed to reflect Christ, and we are told about the transforming effect of a relationship with God, how it can change people's lives and we even celebrate it when we hear stories about people turning their lives around because of Christ, except in some cases when we know them and their past. In those cases we are all too often like the people of Nazareth. We see only what we know or are familiar with about the person, and deny what God has done in them and is doing through them. I know this isn't always true, but I'm sure if you think about it there have times when people said they had changed or you saw a change in someone that you had previously viewed as someone who committed bad actions and did react this way, I know I have, and I am now on the side experiencing how people will turn away from you or deny the change in your heart and character.
I used the comparison of Christ returning to Nazareth for this post because of how the people he had known before he started his ministry reacted to him, in Mark 6:2-3, we see that when they saw Jesus all they saw was the carpenter they knew, the brother of local men and women, and the son of Mary. A few verses later (Mark 6:5-6) it's written that due to their lack of faith Christ was unable to preform miracles among them except for a few healings. Their preconception of who Jesus was limited what he was able to do among them, and they missed out on an opportunity to see God working among them. Having gone to several different church services run by the previously mentioned pastor, and talking with him on a few occasions I found myself wondering, are those people who are focused on his past, on who he was and what God has already forgotten, are they missing an opportunity to see God's greatness as he uses this pastor to reach out to others who have walked the same crooked path that he used to walk? Sometimes we are the people of Nazareth, looking so much at who a person used to be, we miss who God really created them to be, who they really are. Keep an open mind when you hear these things, don't let someone's past decide how you feel about them in them present, leave room foe God's grace, God can change anyone, including you.
Mark 6:1-6
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Why Are You Struggling Alone?
What keeps you from asking for prayer when you need it? Is it fear? Shame? Not wanting to burden others with your problems? Or is it really pride? I think most of the time it's a combination of a couple or a few or even all of these things. I think we get afraid of standing up in church asking for prayer in front of other people, I think we get ashamed of admitting something we might be struggling with or that we regret, and I know personally I often think that the things troubling me are too trivial or petty and that I shouldn't trouble anyone else because there are bigger problems that people should be praying for. The more I read the Bible though, and the more I come to know God, the more I believe that He means for the church to be a community working together, and praying together in all things, I don't think we are supposed to struggle alone.
We need to share and confess our troubles with one another, and pray for each other, maybe not always in front of the congregation, maybe you share with just a few praying friends but there is so much to be gained from sharing. I know in my own life that there have been times that I didn't want to ask for prayer or confess things that I have done wrong, but once I did I was free from the guilt, or problem and often found that others were able to relate and encourage me in my struggle or I was able to help them in theirs by sharing what I had been through. When you are struggling alone it is so much easier to lose faith, to become discouraged, and even to give up. I have seen this build resentment in people towards brothers and sisters of faith who have been blessed by healing, pregnancies, financial gain, or anything else that could possibly go right for someone, because this person is struggling alone without any encouragement, wondering why God is answer these other prayers and not theirs. Eventually, left unchecked, that resentment can lead to the loss of faith I mentioned before. When you are struggling alone it makes everyday seem hard and hopeless, even if you're believing and praying, I know this from experience, I used to live my life that way.
I wrote before on this subject and said then that I believed the fear and pride that held us back from asking others to pray for us was Satan's influence trying to keep us from victory over the situation. I still believe this, and part of why I believe this is because those emotions only serve to alienate you from the church, from people who might be able to help and would probably like too if they knew. I have found this to be true over and over again; in my life and in the lives of other individuals. Sharing our burdens makes them easier to bare, sharing our burdens allows others to show they care, sharing our burdens allows others to share what they have experienced to encourage us, sharing our burdens might even let someone else who is struggling know that they aren't alone, sharing our burdens allows others to pray with us and that is a powerful thing, because Matthew 18:19 tells us that anything that two or more believers pray for in agreement will be done. With so much good able to come from sharing, why struggle alone? Why bottle up the struggle and try to hide it when there is freedom, comfort, and healing in sharing?
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Matthew 18:19-20
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
James 5:13
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
We need to share and confess our troubles with one another, and pray for each other, maybe not always in front of the congregation, maybe you share with just a few praying friends but there is so much to be gained from sharing. I know in my own life that there have been times that I didn't want to ask for prayer or confess things that I have done wrong, but once I did I was free from the guilt, or problem and often found that others were able to relate and encourage me in my struggle or I was able to help them in theirs by sharing what I had been through. When you are struggling alone it is so much easier to lose faith, to become discouraged, and even to give up. I have seen this build resentment in people towards brothers and sisters of faith who have been blessed by healing, pregnancies, financial gain, or anything else that could possibly go right for someone, because this person is struggling alone without any encouragement, wondering why God is answer these other prayers and not theirs. Eventually, left unchecked, that resentment can lead to the loss of faith I mentioned before. When you are struggling alone it makes everyday seem hard and hopeless, even if you're believing and praying, I know this from experience, I used to live my life that way.
I wrote before on this subject and said then that I believed the fear and pride that held us back from asking others to pray for us was Satan's influence trying to keep us from victory over the situation. I still believe this, and part of why I believe this is because those emotions only serve to alienate you from the church, from people who might be able to help and would probably like too if they knew. I have found this to be true over and over again; in my life and in the lives of other individuals. Sharing our burdens makes them easier to bare, sharing our burdens allows others to show they care, sharing our burdens allows others to share what they have experienced to encourage us, sharing our burdens might even let someone else who is struggling know that they aren't alone, sharing our burdens allows others to pray with us and that is a powerful thing, because Matthew 18:19 tells us that anything that two or more believers pray for in agreement will be done. With so much good able to come from sharing, why struggle alone? Why bottle up the struggle and try to hide it when there is freedom, comfort, and healing in sharing?
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Matthew 18:19-20
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
James 5:13
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Miracle Monday
Today’s Miracle Monday post is a little different than
the post that I have shared so far, because what I am sharing is not a breakthrough
in someone’s life. This post is a man struggling, struggling financially and feeling
frustrated because he hasn’t had the breakthrough that he has hoped for, prayed
for, and believed was coming by his obedience to his calling. The reason I felt
moved to share this is because we all feel like this man does sometimes, we all
have had these types of feelings although they might not be over the same issues.
I wanted to share this because despite feeling frustrated he is continuing on and
has written MANY post after this one. I found hope and comfort in his words and
the knowledge that he hasn’t given up. I pray that you may be blessed as well.
Psalm 79:5
Urban Impact-Pittsburgh
Recently I was blessed to hear Amanda Wagner from Urban Impact speak at the church I attend. She introduced us to two of the lives that have been blessed by this outreach, and showed some pictures from her day summer camp to illustrate what kind of things they with the children at Urban Impact. Amanda didn't speak a lot on her ministry the day she spoke to North Branch Church in Center Township, but she spoke passionately on the good Samaritan. Today I want to tell you about Urban Impact, and ask you to consider donating to this ministry so that Amanda Wagner and the team of dedicated urban missionaries that she works with can continue to bless the lives of children and families in the inner city of Pittsburgh.
Amanda, is the Summer Day Camp Program Supervisor and is also involved with the educational aspects of this ministry. This ministry has many different types of outreach programs for children and families, these programs are meant to not only spread the gospel but to help give these children and families support in a holistic way, meeting their academic, social, emotional, and physical needs as well as the spiritual. Urban Impact believes that by touching someone's heart in a caring manner you open the door to changing their lives.
Living outside of Pittsburgh I don't see what these people are battling in their lives on the day to day, but I see every morning on the news glimpses of what they are facing on the North Side, shootings, assaults, gangs and drugs, over and over, and so often I hear people from that community who sound hopeless because of these terrible crimes. Urban Impact needs funds to continue to expand their ministry and help bring hope to families, they need funds to continue doing what they are. One of things that Amanda mentioned that I felt was so sad is that this year more kids had signed up for the summer day camp than they could afford to take. Urban Impact is offering hope, help and the love of Jesus Christ but they can't do it without support, please consider donating online at http://www.urbanimpactpittsburgh.org/ or by mail at 801 Union Place, 4th Floor | Pittsburgh, PA 15212, attention to Amanda Wagner and her name in the memo line of the check. Thank you for reading and considering this outreach and their mission.
Deuteronomy 15:10-11
10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
Hebrews 13:16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Amanda, is the Summer Day Camp Program Supervisor and is also involved with the educational aspects of this ministry. This ministry has many different types of outreach programs for children and families, these programs are meant to not only spread the gospel but to help give these children and families support in a holistic way, meeting their academic, social, emotional, and physical needs as well as the spiritual. Urban Impact believes that by touching someone's heart in a caring manner you open the door to changing their lives.
Living outside of Pittsburgh I don't see what these people are battling in their lives on the day to day, but I see every morning on the news glimpses of what they are facing on the North Side, shootings, assaults, gangs and drugs, over and over, and so often I hear people from that community who sound hopeless because of these terrible crimes. Urban Impact needs funds to continue to expand their ministry and help bring hope to families, they need funds to continue doing what they are. One of things that Amanda mentioned that I felt was so sad is that this year more kids had signed up for the summer day camp than they could afford to take. Urban Impact is offering hope, help and the love of Jesus Christ but they can't do it without support, please consider donating online at http://www.urbanimpactpittsburgh.org/ or by mail at 801 Union Place, 4th Floor | Pittsburgh, PA 15212, attention to Amanda Wagner and her name in the memo line of the check. Thank you for reading and considering this outreach and their mission.
Deuteronomy 15:10-11
10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
Hebrews 13:16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)