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Do not rush the solution

Psalms 16:5 (AMP) The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need]; You support my lot.

I am a stay-at-home mom to a twenty-one-year-old and a seventeen-year-old. That transition happened for me nearly seven years ago. The reason this is the season I am in is because my husband is BI-vocational pastor, as he works at a manufacturing plant for our income. He leads but I am his helper and am referred to as co-pastor. This works for us, because I know his heart and we trust each other. Being helper is not that I am less than, nor does it mean I take on his role. In Hebrew, the word for “helper” used in Genesis 2:18 and 20 is ezer, it means strong support and powerful rescue.

What happens when trust is not in a marriage? What happens when trust is broken? What happens when you want to keep secrets from each other? The Word says that any household divided against itself will not stand (Matthew 12:25). It takes both of us to have a strong marriage. It is the most important covenant that God ordained other than our new life with Christ.

I have quite of few responsibilities that I have taken on so that my husband does not have to worry about them. One of them is managing the business aspect of running the church. I have accountabilities put in place with board members and I seek council before major changes occur. Anything that my husband wants done I have a great support group that helps me with implementing things. That includes managing the church calendar. I also make sure to surround myself with those who seek the best for others, and not just for a particular group, when seeking counsel.

I recently had three big things on my plate to take care of. One thing to know is that we are not going at anything alone. Do not be rushed, but do not be lazy. I dedicated some time to each item each day. Above all, I sought wisdom from the Lord. I am also keeping my husband informed but not overwhelming him with the mundane. When I got to a place that I could not do on my own, I did not push, I waited. I listened. I did not become impatient. Patience has a lot to do with our attitudes in the waiting. God will even empower those we are meant to do life with for the next portion.

Isaiah 25:9 (AMP) It will be said in that day, “Indeed, this is our God for whom we have waited that He would save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us shout for joy and rejoice in His salvation.”

This has been such a shift of peace in my life. I am in awe of how God works things out behind the scenes. I tell Him of what I am trying to accomplish. I do not stop doing my research, but I do not make the next move until my mind has become clear. What happens when we know things need to be done, but we do them in haste? We make mistakes. We can become easily irritated. We can even take on offense easier. This is something I had to grow in. I am growing in it because I have become rooted and grounded in His love. Knowledge of the Word without application of the Word is not doing much transformation. I want to be transformed. Here are two scriptures to get your mind around:

Lamentations 3:20-26 (AMP) My soul continually remembers them and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind, therefore I have hope. It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him, to those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word]. It is good that one waits quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Psalms 37:3-7 (AMP) Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him also and He will do it. He will make your righteousness [your pursuit of right standing with God] like the light, and your judgment like [the shining of] the noonday [sun]. Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him; do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Yesterday, we had movement in all three areas. It was an answer to prayer. Today, I was able to be productive because of the peace that God provided in the waiting. Through putting prayer of thanksgiving before I see the promise fulfilled. I am not rushing the solution to get there. I have to put my trust in God that He is working everything out, and I still have to do my part. There is not strife, there is no uneasiness, there is just peace. I continue to put Him first and foremost in my mind. We continue to seek the best for all those that are involved. We know where our trust lies. We are not in a rush; we want His solution at His time. There is peace in the waiting. Will problems arise? Yes, but I do not have to fret. My God is my portion. My God knew that this would happen. He has the solution, so do not rush it, be patient in the waiting. Do not get fixated on the issue, but on the God who sees the end from the beginning.

Abba, Father, our Portion, we value You before anything else in our lives. You are so Holy and Wonderful. Thank You for Your Son to bring us back to right standing with You. He has made us righteous through our faith in Him. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit to be our Teacher and Comforter. Thank You for the throne room of grace and mercy that we can be with You all day long. You are the God who sees and hears us. You are the God of our inheritance, because all we are is through You. We repent for trying to go at life on our own and in haste. Thank You for the promise of the wait and to be still in You, that You speak to us in the Peace. We put our trust and our confidence in You that You are working all things out. You know the end from the beginning. Any problem that arises can be resolved. We choose to wait. We choose to forgive. We choose hope today. We choose love today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Position of Salvation

Ephesians 6:17 (AMP) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

A few months ago, on Mother’s Day, I got to share a message titled “Love is a Weapon.” I had no idea of how much a controversial title that would be on social media. Whether we want to admit it or not, we have seen love used as a weapon for manipulative reasons. However, when we redeem love as God intended and put in on as our garment, the weapons of our warfare fit better. I shared about two such pieces and I would like to share them with you as well. When studying for this message I was in a verse by verse read of Ephesians. I used my Bible, google search and Sparkling Gems from the Greek by Rick Renner.

The helmet, that a Roman soldier wore, was fitted to their head specifically. It was heavy, but it was ornate. Highly decorated and looked like a piece of art. Your salvation is the most gorgeous, most intricate, most elaborate, most ornate gift God had ever given you. When we walk confidently in the salvation given to us, we are a noticeable individual. If your salvation is not worn tightly around your mind like a helmet, the enemy will come to chop the multiple blessing of your salvation right out of your faith. The enemy will try to hack away at your foundation, telling you that healing, deliverance and soundness of mind were not really part of Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross. By the time the enemy is finished with your mind, the only blessing he will leave you with is the promise of Heaven. What all does my salvation receive?

Isaiah 61:1 (AMP) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and commissioned me to bring good news to the humble and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up [the wounds of] the brokenhearted, to proclaim release [from confinement and condemnation] to the [physical and spiritual] captives and freedom to prisoners

This was the very scroll that Jesus read in the temple as told in Luke. The good news is that we have been set free as spiritual captives. We are no longer prisoners of sin and death. We are a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). One of the prisons that likes to come around again is the thoughts of rejection or not being wanted. I have recognized the cycles that the enemy likes to go through to try to trick me into being locked inside of it again. I am secure because I am rooted and grounded in the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:16-19).

Before I get to the Sword of the Spirit, our only offensive weapon, I want to share with you something I learned about the threshing floor. In 2 Samuel 25, King David purchased a threshing floor to build an altar to the Lord. It was located on Mount Moriah and later became the site for the Temple. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What is the significance?

A threshing floor serves as a platform for separating grains from the outer husks or chaff. The process involves beating the harvested crop, typically wheat or other grains, with wooden flails or using animals such as oxen to trample over the crop. This action loosens the edible part of the grain, known as the kernel. The weight of the animals or the flailing action typically breaks the hard outer protective layer of the crop, exposing the kernels. The next step involves tossing the crop into the air, allowing the wind to carry away the lighter chaff while the heavier kernels fall back to the ground. The threshing floor grounds collect these kernels for further processing or storage. (google)

A type and shadow of what Jesus did for us is seen in the story of Boaz redeeming Ruth as she submitted herself at his feet on the threshing floor (Ruth 3:6-13). When we accept Christ as Savior that is not the end of our story. There is a refining process, and it takes as long as it takes. We are in a process of purification. We are made righteous through His righteousness, but that also takes surrender. It takes dying to ourselves (Romans 6:8).

Let’s look at the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. The sword in combat is not the same as the sword used in training. Roman soldiers practiced the art of warfare continually with daily sword practice. The two-edged sword was not used for battle but for practice. It built strength with its weight.

Hebrews 4:12 (AMP) For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The logos (written word) must become rhema (revelation word), so that you can give a heavy blow to defeat the enemy. Training is reading and meditating on the Word daily. Why wait to go to the Word when you are in the battle? Why are we not meditating on it daily knowing the battle is coming. We have mini battles every day. We have to choose what thoughts we allow to feed us daily. I have to choose whether I go down the rabbit trail of why’s or stand on the truth of God’s Word.

The sword used in close combat is called a machura – it caused the victim horrid pain. The tip was turned upward, sometimes twisted like a corkscrew, shredding the insides as it was removed. The Spirit will place a razor-sharp sword at your disposal anytime the enemy gets too close. The sword’s power will be available the moment the Spirit quickens and a specific word for the specific situation you are facing. However, it has to have a reserve to pull from. This is the weapon that Jesus used in the wilderness, it is used for close combat.

Matthew 4:1-4 (AMP) Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After He had gone without food for forty days and forty nights, He became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”

What is the thing the enemy has been tempting you with lately? What is the lie that he is trying to tell you? In the garden he said, “surely, you would not die (Genesis 3:4).” One of the lies is that we have to protect ourselves and trust no one. Yes, there are those out there that will try to do us harm, but they have believed the same lie. They want to protect themselves. This will put up a wall to not let others get too close. I have been very active about not allowing this to happen. I will make that phone call instead of hiding behind text. I will have the face-to-face conversations instead of text to set a tone. I do text, it is very handy, but I do not want to hide there. I want to think the best of others. I do not want to take an offense. I do not want to repeat a suffered wrong. I do not want anything to take me from the position of living loved in Christ. I want the same for you. Stand firm in your position of salvation. Live Loved.

1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8 (AMP) So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise]. But since we [believers] belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope and confident assurance of salvation. 

Abba, Father, Jehovah Nissi, You are more precious that jewels. You are Holy and deserve all of our worship. Thank You for Your Son, the Word made flesh, our Redeemer. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, so that Your Word can become alive in us. We thank you for the Love that You gave with Your Son and that now we can dwell in on a daily basis. We repent for allowing the lies of the enemy to twist what Your salvation truly means to us. We thank You for the freedom from sin, guilt and shame. We thank You for the ability to walk in right standing before You. As we read Your Word and implant it into our hearts, bring it back to remembrance at the times the enemy wants to try to steal it away. We are root and grounded in Your love. We are victorious through Your strength. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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I do not have to live like this

Galatians 2:20 (AMP) I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Currently I am going through a line-by-line study of the book of Galatians. If you use the YouVersion App there are so many tools available to help with your study. When reading in the New King James Version it gave me a list of accompanying verses to look up. I was amazed at how many times Paul wrote about us being crucified with Christ.

Romans 6:6 (AMP) We know that our old self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.

Romans 6:8-11 (AMP) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live [together] with Him, because we know [the self-evident truth] that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin [ending its power and paying the sinner’s debt] once and for all; and the life that He lives, He lives to [glorify] God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-6 (AMP)  But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus

Colossians 3:1-4 (AMP) Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Ephesians 5:2 (AMP) and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

We no longer have to go through the motions of life. What I keep my mind focused on will determine how I feel that day. I choose to focus on the good, not saying there are not problems and trials that will come, but I choose to focus on the good. When we look ahead and think of all the things that can go wrong, what are we putting our trust in? I love reading verses like this. I am no longer a dead being walking this earth (my spirit man is alive). I do not have to go through the endless cycles that lead to being unfulfilled any longer. I am not waiting for something to happen for my happiness. I have everything I could every want now because of Christ.

I do not have to live any certain way anymore. The old way of fulfillment has been done away with. I am secure in Christ. Being crucified with Christ means that I get to walk in freedom. Condemnation comes because our flesh is wanting to defend itself. Conviction comes because the Holy Spirit is alive and is changing me from within. I have died with Christ so that my flesh can no longer rule. I do not have to live in fight mode any longer. I do not have to live in defense mode with those that I am supposed to do life with. I can live in peace and joy. I can have stability in my life. I can live a life of surrender, because that is how Christ lived.

John 14:20 (AMP) On that day [when that time comes] you will know for yourselves that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.

Christ in me. The Passion translation has Galatians 2:20 as this, “My old identity has been crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives His life through me – we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that He gave Himself for me, dispensing HIs life into mine!” I am not trying to live anymore for myself. I am living this life in Him. I had asked God ‘how can we live our lives worthy of this calling?’ He gave me Ephesians 4:2-3, “with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love. Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].” The possibility of all of this is because we have died with Christ. If we try to do this in our own selves, we will fail time and again and live lives frustrated and unfulfilled. We do not have to live that way.

Father, Adonai, Jehovah, You are so Marvelous and Wonderful. You are Holy and full of Majesty. Thank You for Your Son, we have died with Him so that we may live with Him as well. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, Your voice, our Teacher and Comforter. Thank You for Your Word. We choose to eat of it daily so that we are empowered to fight for the battles of our mind. We repent for living lives with emptiness and looking for other ways to fill our every need. We are choosing to see our identity in Christ and the fullness that He brings. We are choosing to not take on the dead things any longer. We can choose to think differently of others and our situations. You want us full of joy, so we choose joy today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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We all have needs

Psalms 27:8 (AMP) When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”

What is the greatest desire in your life right now? What you spend the most time thinking on is what is the most important to you. Every Sunday morning, I get notification on my phone about how much screen time I use. My goal is to keep it under five hours per day, I would really like to keep it under three hours per day. Why? I do not want it to be what I spend most of my day on.

Matthew 6:19-21 (AMP) Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.

God wants us to live wonderful, abundant lives. Where does my joy come from though? What is the most important need you have right now? Does it make sense to work two to three jobs, stop your involvement in your local church, or even stop attending, stop giving, all for the need of one day having more than you do right now? What does God ask us to do? Seek Him as your greatest need. I do not want anything from anyone, but for them to seek God for their vital necessity. If I ask to spend time with them, it is not to get in their business, it is to point them to Christ. I want to share the fullness that I have with you and let you know that it is possible, even with all of my imperfections.

Matthew 6:24 (AMP) No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].

You will grow lukewarm in your love for God if seeking Him is not your first priority. Being a good person is not what He asked of you. He said to seek Him as your vital necessity. Whoa, this is pretty serious blog. Yes, it is. This is life and death when it comes to what you seek after. We live in a society that want to see what they can get from others. What relationships will drive them higher in the social status. None of that is important. None of that lasts. Whatever you have to strive for and sacrifice for to get, you will eventually have to keep hustling to stay there. This is the biggest trick of the enemy for your time here on earth. He wants you focused on anything other than God. He never wants you to live in fullness here. You may say, “that is why I am hustling so hard.” Putting your hands to work is necessary, especially if you want to eat, but with what heart are you doing it. What is the intent behind it. There is a promise with the seeking.

Matthew 6:33 (AMP) But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

I am girl that likes nice things, and my husband spoils me with gifts and trips. That is not where my joy comes from though. Yes, we have a house, and everyone has their own car, but we are not living beyond our means. It was not always like that for us. When we got married, both of us had started jobs that very month. The furniture we started with was given to us. Our first home was bought from the bank because it was a repossession, and it was awful looking. We still own the first piece of furniture we bought for ourselves, and it was from a discount store. We almost lost our home, we had to go without internet and cable, and our power has been turned off. What we did not do it stop tithing, attending and serving in our local church. We did not stop seeking God as our vital necessity. I believe we are in the place we are today because we have matured deeper in what that means. I see it when I serve others, that I am seeking Him as my vital necessity.

Another thing that I love about our family is that we encourage each other to put God first. Secondly, in my marriage there is nothing that I would prefer to do than to spend time with my husband. When we are in a room together, we are available intellectually to each other, not just physically. Nothing is more important in that room than each other. If he is playing a video game or watching a show and I want to share something, it goes on pause. If I am reading and he comes in the room and wants to share something, the music goes on pause and the book goes down. This is what makes each other feel valued.

Isaiah 30:18 (AMP) Therefore the Lord waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them].

What are you longing for right now? What are you looking forward to? What are your dreams for yourself? What are your hopes for your family? Do not leave our the most important thing, seek Him as your vital necessity. Seek His face. Seek His heart. All that other stuff I can trust Him with because He cares for me deeply. What I press into matters. So, I am choosing to press further into His Presence. Here I am God. I know I am secure because my God wants good things for me, and He does for you too.

The More I Seek You

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Love is a Weapon

Isaiah 52:2 (AMP) Shake yourself from the dust, arise, O captive Jerusalem; Rid yourself of the chains around your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.

A little over six year ago I really dug deep into the Word. I had read it here and there. I had devotions, but I had not really just sat and read the Word on a daily basis. What changed? I was going through a rough time of rejection and humiliation. That song Surrounded, This is How I Fight My Battles really was my anthem. It was not a pity party song. It was a song of surrender. We hear about the love of God. We know the scripture of how God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son, so anyone who believes will be saved and have eternal life (John 3:16). There was a dept of that love that I did not know yet, and I am sure some of you have been there or are still searching for that fullness.

In the summer of 1998, a short time after my husband proposed to me, we went to California to attend a Camp Meeting (weeklong revival) that his parents were ministering in. My husband came back changed. He was completely sold out to Jesus and had quit drugs cold. I had never known him like that in our two and half years of dating. He was a different person, yet he still loved me. I was sitting in a service listening to his testimony, really uncertain of how I now fit into this new life of his. God spoke to me in that moment, he told me that the pedestal that I had John on was not for him, that He belonged there. That if I would surrender what I thought love was, He would show me a love that would never leave me empty. I gave my life to Christ that night.

However, I did not know the fullness of that love until I surrendered the broken pieces of myself. Even the stubborn pieces.

Ephesians 4:21-24 (MEV) if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off the former way of life in the old nature, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new nature, which was created according to God in righteousness and true holiness.

I have been given everything to live a dynamic spiritual life in Christ (1 Peter 1:3), I have to put it on. What was I lacking? The Fullness of His Love. The love we are so familiar with is transactional. That is how I knew it. When you are pleasing and do what is right then you are rewarded with affection. If you do not do right, then you are punished with silence. In transactional relationships love is used as a weapon, but the wrong kind of weapon. It is meant to harm in all the ways that it is meant to empower you and make you strong. This kind of love is warped and is the cause of many of the emotional battles we are facing. The love we knew did hold onto hurts, was jealous and envious. It rejoiced when we failed with “I told you so’s”. It never believed we would succeed. It could not be our cheer leader. It would not bear with us. It would never admit they were wrong. They never asked for forgiveness.

You do not have to live with that definition of love. You can let that go. I did that when I finally surrendered everything and just sought God on His Word. Here is the scripture that I started to hold onto:

Ephesians 3:16-19 (AMP) May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

This is the love that I longed for. This is the love that is available to all of us. This is the love that we put on with the garment of love (Colossian 3:14). What happened when I started reading the Bible and searching for God? He revealed Himself is such a deep way. I started to take hold of this truth and make it my own. I was able to start defining myself in this truth. The fullness of God was a practical reality to me. It was not just some abstract quoting of scripture anymore. The fullness of God and dwelling in Christ made me complete in Him. I was made whole through the grace of Christ. This was a process that I had to go through and am still going through day by day (2 Corinthians 3:18), but I will forever be changed by His love.

Ephesians 3:19 (TPT) How enduring and inclusive is it! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding – this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!

Abba, Father, our Banner, You are Holy and Marvelous. You are the Creator and Sustainer of all life. Thank You for sending Your Son, who became the fullness of all You are in bodily form, through Him we are made whole. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Through Him we are able to know the fullness of who You are. Through Him we are empowered to grasp Your love in all of its entirety. We repent for allowing the spirit of fear to warp how love is defined. Your love is not conditional and not transactional; we are sorry for belittling the power of Your love. Thank You for the ability to grow in our understanding of this love, through our continual surrender we will meditate on what it means to be fully loved by You through Christ. We desire for all people to have the power to comprehend the largeness of Christ’s love, which without the Holy Spirit is beyond comprehension. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Teach us how to love well

1 Thessalonians 3:12 (AMP) And may the Lord cause you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you

This has been my prayer for the last few months for my church. As the pastors of Connect Church, we admit that we have not loved well. We want to be better, but we know we cannot do it in our own striving. We have to surrender that part of us to God. Why? The Lord will get the glory.

For the past few weeks, we have used Colossians 3:12-14 (MSG) as our base scripture and have been building on it in new ways. We are asking God to show us all directions of it, so that we may get the fullness of it for ourselves and in turn for our church.

Colossians 3″12-14 (MSG) So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Too often we have walked away from relationships that could have encouraged each party to grow closer in the Lord. We often forget that the promises that are found in God’s Word were written for imperfect people, and we can be the most imperfect of them all. We have this hope, “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).” We often hold close to this for personal reasons, but I cannot help but notice the next verse, “It is right for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart…” Do we really think this for ourselves and not for others? I want to love better. So, I have changed my thoughts when negative ones come up about someone else, no matter what happened in the past. The first step in loving well is to think better.

The most important place to learn to love well is to abound in the presence of God. John 15 tells us about abiding. Jesus tells us that part of the abiding is the surrender. I have to surrender the hard things too, so that He can make them bear the fruit of what a relationship with Christ looks like. He says in John 15:10 (MEV), “If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” In order for me to love well, I have to remain in the love that can never run dry. This is the garment of love that I have to put on. In His love, I can love well.

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The opposite of love is fear, which is rooted in pride. It was the first acceptance of Adam that sin had entered the garden. Pride was what brought fear, the desire to be God (to judge right from wrong) had brought death and with it fear and shame (Genesis 3:10). When people do not meet my expectation and they disappoint it is because I am still trying to be judge. I have to surrender that. In order to love well, I have to think better. I know not everyone is going to do the same with me and that is okay. I will not take an account and hold it against them; I am going love well. Not everyone is going to keep their word, I am going to love well. There are going to be those that purposely count you out, I am going to love well. Instead of repeating the matter and get people on my side, I am going to love well.

Here is my prayer now, it was taken from Paul’s writing in Philippians 1:9-11: “This I pray, that our love may abound more and more, growing deeper, in real knowledge and in practical insight, so that we may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent. That we identify with wisdom the best for each other. That we may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. We have a desire to lead others out of darkness and into light. That we are filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ. Our desire is to the glory and praise of God, that His glory may be both revealed and recognized. In Jesus Name, Amen.“

I really have a desire for all to grow deeper in their relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it comes to admitting that in order to grow, I have to love better. Father, teach me how to love well.

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What sting?

1 Corinthians 15:55 (AMP) “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Do you know what happened on the other side of the cross? Victory! Victory over anything that death brought into the garden that day. Paul continues to tell us the Corinthian church and us, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose] (verses 56-58).

I worked in the garden this past week and now I have a rash from either poison ivy (of which I did not think I was allergic to), or the dye in the wet mulch that I was handling. It showed up after being hot because of no air conditioning for Sunday’s service (is that not enemy fighting). I was in prayer and praising God for the feeling of abandonment and rejection no longer being there. Healing comes through praise. Then a thought popped in my mind that I hope that I have not been calloused and the reason was a wall I had created. He told me I had not and assured me that death no longer had victory in that area of my life. I heard, “O death, where is your sting?” The stings were gone. Peace has taken its place. Thoughts of rejection have no power any longer. I can walk into a room and just because no one is speaking to me, not feel completely alone.

I am sure that I will be tested in it again. The devil does not have any new tricks, but he is not good at letting go. He loses his power when you face the obstacle, he laid out head on. That means no more walls and no more running.

Colossians 2:6-7 (TLB) And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote “What shoes are you wearing?” In it I shared about binding your feet with the gospel of peace, from Ephesians 6:15.

“and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].” These shoes were a part of the weaponry of the Roman soldier. They started at the knees and were made of metal and leather. They were vicious weapons. They wrapped around the calves. Why, because the enemy does not fight fair and looks for weak points. The bottom of the shoe was affixed with sharp, dangerous, protruding spikes. They extended beyond the front of the shoe. The spikes were intended to hold the soldier in place during the battle, making him virtually immoveable.

This is what happens when your roots grow down into Him. This is why we are to meditate on the Word. Making us strong and vigorous. He is my strong tower. I am not hiding from what could possibly be an attack of rejections because I am hidden in Him. I am immoveable.

About six years ago I was sharing something that I was reading from a book by Joyce Meyer. She wrote, “You can spend your entire life dealing with outward symptoms, but the bad fruit will manifest somewhere else if the root is not eliminated. The principle never fails: rotten fruit come from rotten roots, and good fruit comes from good roots. To really deal with bad fruit, you must follow Paul’s admonition to the Colossians to be “deeply planted” in God. You may need to carefully examine your own roots. If they were unpleasant, harmful and abusive, don’t be discouraged; you can be uprooted from the bad soil and transplanted into the good soil of Christ Jesus, so that you become rooted and grounded in Him and in His love. Remember, uprooting can be painful. Being planted and becoming grounded is a process that requires time and effort, but it is by faith and patience that we inherit God’s promises.”

It was a little over six years ago that rejection wanted me to hide. That humiliation wanted me to give up completely. I decided to hide in His Word. There was a battle going on and the victory was going to take my surrender. It has been a process. I have had moments of darkness. The enemy wanted to keep me in a broken state, that relationships are not for people like me. I had to let the walls down so that the roots could be dug up. I am rooted and grounded in Him. My soil is made new because it is not just me in it, it contains the fullness of Christ. Dead things had to go. That is why He reminded me that death no longer has a hold on rejection. There is no sting, because I am free through His victory!

Lord, our Redeemer, our Banner. You are so Marvelous and Worthy of Praise. Thank you for Your Son, our Victory. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, our Friend. We desire to deeply rooted in Your love. We repent for forming our own weapons and not putting on what You gave us, Your love garment. We desire to be deeply planted and rooted in Christ. With this we will produce good fruit wherever we go. We want to glorify You in everything we say and do. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Mind on the Cross

Psalms 22:1 (NKJV) My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?

We are in what we like to call Holy Week. It is the week from which Jesus entered the city on a colt and ending with Him on the cross, but we all know that was not the end. During this week, Jesus would have fulfilled nearly thirty prophecies from the Old Testament. He fulfilled nearly twenty on just the day of His crucifixion. Over three hundred during His earthly ministry.

I am drawn to His final words on the cross. For as long as I can remember, I have been thinking that He was in anguish, and physically He was. How was His mind? I have just completed Job this week and starting to read in Psalms. I have a love hate relationship with Psalms. I had never been big into listening to other people whine. As I have grown in Christ and in His love, my compassion has grown. However, I do tend to stay away from negative people. Negativity can be contagious. I have my moments of complaining like others, but I am quicker to correct it than before.

There are two quotes from Psalms that Jesus spoke on the cross. One is above, and the other is from Psalms 31:5, “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” One to some may be of anguish, the other of peace. What if He was always at peace? Even in His physical anguish, He was at peace. We have heard the adage, “while He was on the cross, you were on His mind.” Christ was not double minded.

James 1:8 (AMP)  being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides].

What if when Jesus quoted from Psalm 22, He was pointing to scripture for hope to His followers? Jesus often taught from Psalms, He quoted scripture all the time. So why this Psalm? Check out the last few verses:

Psalms 22:25-31 (AMP) My praise will be of You in the great assembly. I will pay my vows [made in the time of trouble] before those who [reverently] fear Him. The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; Those who [diligently] seek Him and require Him [as their greatest need] will praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down and worship before You, for the kingship and the kingdom are the Lord’s and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust (the dead) will bow before Him, even he who cannot keep his soul alive. Posterity will serve Him; They will tell of the Lord to the next generation. They will come and declare His righteousness to a people yet to be born—that He has done it [and that it is finished].

What we center our minds on will be the direction our lives go. I could go one of two ways while reading Psalms. I can allow my pity and anguish to overtake me, or I can read it in its entirety and get the heart of what the writers were saying. Our hope and our fullness is in our God. Who is my greatest need? Is it my husband? Is it my kids? Is it that I have friends? Is it that I have money? My greatest need is my Lord.

When Jesus had us on His mind, He did not give Himself an opportunity to focus on Himself. Christ was the perfect example of humility. He literally died to self that day, the agony of it all was worth it for us. For the glory of the Father. They will tell of the Lord to the next generation. They will come and declare His righteousness to a people yet to be born (that was you and me), that He has done it and that it is finished.

So now when I read that part of scripture in Mattew 27:46, “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud [agonized] voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” What He was going through physically was not what He was allowing Himself to feel mentally. He won the battle that day and let the enemy know it. He was not double minded. He was firm and secure. He was seeing it to completion.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (MSG) And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. That is what Jesus wielded that day on the cross. That is why we are to bind it on our minds. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation are our weapons. They were the same weapons Jesus used on the cross. God is strong, and He wants you strong. Reflect on the hope of it all this week. Jesus in our King and our Conqueror!

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What shoes are you wearing?

Job 17:9 (AMP) Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his ways, and he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.

I am in the book of Job right now. Job had gone through some rough days, days I do not know how I would have responded myself. It all stands on how you think. I have hopes that I will be strong. Weakness causes us to make permanent decision in temporary discomforts. God is my strength. God makes you stronger and stronger as you go through things with a godly attitude.

I am also going through a verse-by-verse study of the book of Ephesians. In Ephesians 6:13-18 we are told to put on the full armor of God. In verse 15 is states, “and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].” These shoes were a part of the weaponry of the Roman soldier. They started at the knees and were made of metal and leather. They were vicious weapons. They wrapped around the calves. Why, because the enemy does not fight fair and looks for weak points. The bottom of the shoe was affixed with sharp, dangerous, protruding spikes. They extended beyond the front of the shoe. The spikes were intended to hold the soldier in place during the battle, making him virtually immoveable.

That is what happens when you keep your mind and attitude right. You become less affected by the difficulties and challenges you face. The enemy cannot move you. The peace of God protects and defends you from the hassles and the assaults of the enemy. The peace of God is what holds you in place. If the enemy is foolish enough to get in your way, just keep walking.

We are to be prepared for this. How? Keep the Word of God bound to your mind. You cannot do that if you do not spend time in it. In other translations it says to “shod your feet.” It means to bind. It did not say to slide on the shoes. Most shoes today we wear for comfort, and we tend to pick the ones that are easy to slide on and off. These shoes were formed and bound so that they could not be slid off easily. That is how the Word is supposed to be planted in our minds.

Deuteronomy 11:18 (AMP) Therefore, you shall impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul, and tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. 

What is the opposite of peace? Stife, fear, pride…. It all stems from being out of balance with the love of God.

Proverbs 15:18 (AMP) A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes.

Proverbs 29:22 (AMP) An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered and undisciplined man commits many transgressions.

Ephesians 4:31 (AMP) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].

Here are some definitions of what some of these words mean:

  • bitterness: a negative attitude that can cause problems with others
  • wrath: a hot, fierce and passionate emotion
  • anger: a worldly type of anger that can result form frustration
  • clamor: noise, commotion and uproar
  • malice: a negative feeling or state of mind.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV) Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

The Greek word for wrath here is orgidzo. Meaning someone who’s mood is so upset that they become so upset and bent out of shape over any issue. Someone will hold onto something quietly, slowly allowing it to build up inside of them. It becomes stronger and stronger inside of them until they explode and make permanent decisions in temporary circumstances. Instead of pushing it away and asking for their strength to come from God, they will hold onto it, embracing it, nourishing it. Wrath becomes their companion. They have given up peace and the enemy has their foothold into their mind.

I had a night recently of uneasiness and did not get much sleep. I was not at peace. I was not angry, but there was some strife that wanted to play with my mind. It went on into the next morning. My imaginations were just going, and I had never given the opportunity for the answer to be given, because I did not ask the question. As soon as I asked the question, the answer brought me peace. In Philippians 4:8 we are told, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” I did not use the excuse that I could not find anything virtuous and praiseworthy, so I went searching for it. I asked the question. My imaginations were squashed. No man knows the intentions of another mans because we do not know each other’s hearts. Do you want to? Then ask. Refuse to give the enemy a foothold into your mind. Prepare before hand with the weaponry of footwear, preparation of the gospel of peace.

Abba, Father, Adonai, You are so Marvelous and Wonderful. Your Name we lift up within our hearts and minds. Thank You for Your Son, Love incarnate. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Teacher. Thank You for the revelation and gift of Your Word. We repent for holding onto to wrath and strife as a comfort to us, believing it will give us strength. We understand that it is not a weapon of Your warfare, but of the devil’s. We choose today to bind our minds and our hearts with Your Words. Peace is a position that You gifted to us and anything that tries to rob us of that should be seen as an enemy. We repent for not putting on Your Love and standing out of our position by trying to win the battle on our own. We are not fighting against flesh and blood. We repent for allowing rejection and strife to take a foothold, when that is no longer something we should be receiving. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Why is my neck so stiff?

2 Chronicles 30:8 (AMP)  Now do not stiffen your neck [becoming obstinate] like your fathers, but yield to the Lord and come to His sanctuary which He has sanctified and set apart forever, and serve the Lord your God, so that His burning anger will turn away from you.

Stiff necked really got my attention. My body takes the brunt of stress. Some areas I have felt it is in my lower back, but lately it has been the right side of my neck. Which makes it really hard to look for other cars to change lanes. I have to turn my whole upper body. Yesterday I was able to move my neck fluidly with ease and it was wonderful. Then I remembered the position of peace that I have been in lately. That happens when thanksgiving is what you think of more and you count it all as joy.

2 Chronicles 24:19 (AMP) Yet God sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord; these prophets testified against them, but they would not listen.

What happens when we start allowing the Word to do the work in and through us? “For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12)” My mind is the gateway to my soul. My soul is what needs to be renewed daily. My mind will affect my heart, my attitude and eventually my body (3 John 1:2). I have to remain teachable. I have to put myself in a position to be challenged so that I can continue to grow. Part of this cultivating that God is doing takes change within us (1 Corinthians 3:9).

The Israelites were God’s chosen people. What happened to them when they would not listen? They started losing wars. They would have tribes captured. They even fought amongst each other. We are also called God’s chosen people.

Colossians 3:12-14 (AMP) So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others]. 

Colossians 3:12-14 (MSG) So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

As God’s chosen people we need to be wearing the wardrobe that sets us apart. I talked about wardrobe on Sunday. How we dress reflects how we feel about ourselves, whether you want to admit it or not. We can be defensive and say it does not matter how I dress; God loves me for who I am. That is true, but do you love yourself? One of the biggest signs that we set the standards in our lives and not God is being defensive. Which is another way of nicely saying living in offense. That is what I thought about when I read the “stiff necked people.” I really did an inward look at myself. I do not want to live in a way that I am looking only at what offends me. Worry is the reason for my stiff neck, and it is offensive to God. Which means I need to be putting on another fresh garment of love.

Seeking God as my vital necessity is the quickest way to put on the right set of clothes. What we wear is important to God. He tells us to put on the garment of love. This is not some love power that the enemy has twisted. This is a garment that we never have to worry about outgrowing, actually, we get to grown more into it. It will never be out of style.

What if what I choose to be offended at stops the growth in the lives of the people I love? Or even myself? So, ask yourself, am I wearing the right garment? Yielding to the Lord is not a bad thing, it a place of strength. Going back into the opening verse, come to the sanctuary that He has sanctified and set apart forever. He is talking about His chosen people. We are the temple (together as a body) being built up in unity for His glory. A unified temple cannot stand if it is filled with strife and offense. I have to take those garments off and put on the garment of love. It will work on that stiff neck and move the way God created it to.

Abba, Father, my Adonai, You are so Marvelous and Wonderful. Your Holiness cannot be compared. You set all of creation in motion and we cannot help to speak of Your Goodness and Mercy. Your Loving Kindness is the Banner over us. Thank You for Your Son, to be the Restorer of our Purpose. Thank You for the Holy Spirit to be the Comforter, Teacher and Cultivator. We take Your Word as Truth and we worship You in Spirit and Truth. Let nothing we do be looked at as mere lip service, but You have searched the deep things in our lives. We repent for putting on garments that we were no longer to wear, such as offense, strife and selfishness. We repent for putting on the garments of worry. All of those result in a stiffness and rigidity that keeps Your temple (Your body) from unity and glorifying You. We are choosing to clothe ourselves in Your perfect Love. We are choosing to forgive freely. We are choosing to walk in Your Peace and Joy. We desire You as our vital necessity. In Jesus Name, Amen.