Genesis 22:1 (AMP) Now after these things, God tested [the faith and commitment of] Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.”
We are eight days into the new year. A lot of times we like to hold onto scriptures about the new. For instance this one, Isaiah 43:19 (AMP) “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.“I love this scripture and even have it on our vision board for the church. However, we can get so caught up in expecting the promise that we forget about the God of the promise. We hold onto the promise. God in Genesis 22 was asking Abraham to let go of the promise. Would He serve God more than hold onto the promise? Ultimately, God did not ask Abraham to sacrifice what he was willing.
God, here I am. My arms are wide open. I am in the process of reading the Bible from beginning to end and have started with Genesis 1 on January 1. I read five chapters a day and this week I have seen “Here I Am” as the words of readiness. Jacob was visited by God in visions and with both responses he said, “Here I am” (Genesis 31:11, 46:2). Both times God instructed Jacob to move. Move from a land he had spent decades in. When he moved it was not like we have it today. He was moving people, possessions and live stock. It was caravans moving, not a moving van.
Isaiah 6:8-10 (AMP) Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; Keep on looking, but do not comprehend.’ “Make the heart of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.”
I was asked this question this week, what should we be praying for the church? That God becomes real to us. That we stop going through the motions and desire a real relationship with God. You can listen and not hear. You can look and not see. This will happen until you surrender your ideas. We have the luxury of doing so much research that we have not need to sit and listen for His voice. We have access to so many books and teaching online, that we do not need to read the Bible for ourselves. We read the Bible through the lens of experience and not really listen for His voice. We depend on scripture taken out of context and wonder why God is not doing what I want. It is not until we surrender that we will be rooted and grounded in Christ. This is where love starts. We cannot love each other when we are only worried about ourselves. Serving only those we want to serve is really self-serving. Only reading what we like is self-serving.
“Here I am” is a heart position to be all in. It is a response to God that you are sensitive to His call. It is a willingness to listen and to obey His commands. “And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him” (1 John 4:21). Seeking the best for others requires a lot of dying to self. That lines up with what Christ said we would have to do to be His disciples (Matthew 16:24-26).
So that new thing He is doing in me, has a lot to do with my surrender. God doing a new thing requires me changing. My husband works for a large car manufacturer. Every year they shut down at Christmas, and the processes change for the new car that will be made for the following year. Before the shut down occurred a training was done for the processes coming up. People got to leave their normal work stations and attend a class to learn what would be expected of them when they returned. Some paid attention, and some did not want to learn the new way (they figured they could use the old skills for this new build). That is not working too well for them. Just because you are in it a long time does not mean you will not face the consequences of not learning the new.
Mark 2:22 (AMP) No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the wineskins. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”
Galatians 5:25 (AMP) If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit].
Who is in control? It cannot be some of God and some of me. It has to be all of Him. That means I have to let go of the way I think it should go. That means I have to surrender even when I do not “feel” ready. That means I have to run when He says to run. That means I have to climb that hill even though I do not feel like it. To get in shape you have to submit to a good eating and fitness regiment. If you plan it, you get to take the breaks whenever you want. If you have someone else that you are accountable to, those breaks are not a part of the plan, and you have to submit to get the results. The “I will get there eventually” mentality has created slothfulness in the body of Christ. We have not taken the Word as real. We miss meals on the Word, but would not miss meals when it comes to our stomachs. Mark Batterson wrote, “If you are not hungry for God, you are full of yourself.” That is a heart check statement right there. Am I more hungry for God than the food on my plate? Can you put everything else aside and say “God, here I am.”
Abba, Father, we stand in awe of You. You are Holy. You are Marvelous. You are Righteous. Let this year be about getting our First Love back. Let us accept Your Son for all of who He is. That He came to make us Whole. That His Peace makes us Full. When we fall in love with You and we truly put You first, we will see everything else in it’s rightful place. When Your voice is first, all the other voices will fall away. When Your Word is first place in our lives, then all other distractions will disappear. When Your principles come first, then the promises of Your Word find their way into our lives. Let us get back to You first. Let us say “Here I am.” We repent for putting ourselves before Your Word, before Your voice, before Your leading. Let us open up Your Word and hunger for it like it is the best meal we have ever eaten. Thank You for Your forgiveness and that your Mercy is new every morning. We choose joy today. We choose hope today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP) All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
At the beginning of every year I pull out a stack of books to read. My intention is to read from the stack, but as usual I see a new book, and I have to buy it and read it right away. Included in my books are devotions, Bible Studies, and my Bible. In the middle of last year I slowed down my momentum as I had allowed a distraction to dwindle out my hunger. Thankfully I have moved out of it and started reading again. I also started reading a verse at a time in Ephesians and really digging into the greek translations of some of the words, as well as, getting into the context of what Paul was writing for that book. I hope to complete it in 2025 and will share some deep insights. Like last year, I have pulled out a few books to get you some of my favorites. Here is what I read in 2024:
7 Devotionals:
Life in His Presence by Sarah Young
Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
From Faith to Faith by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland
Daily Devotions from Psalms by Joyce Meyer
Live in Grace, Walk in Love by Bob Goff
Be Joyful by Joyce Meyer
39 Books:
You’re Valuable to God by Terri Savelle Foy
Is God Speaking to Me by Lysa Terkerurst
Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson
How to Pray by Joyce Meyer
Raised in the Pew by Re’na Garcia
Don’t Shrink Your Dream! Enlarge Your Faith! by Terri Savelle Foy
Humility the Joy of Self-Forgetfulness by Gavin Ortlund
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller
The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane
Break Up with What Broke You by Christian Bevere
Living in Absolute Freedom by Donna Parton
Victory Over Darkness by Neil Anderson
Breaking Intimidation by John Bevere
Testosterone Matters by Gary Donovitz
A Heart Like His by Beth Moore
Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore
Wicked Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler
The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
Let it Go by Karen Ehman
It’s Not About You by Max Lucado
The Believer’s Authority by Kenneth Hagin
Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer by Dr. Myles Munroe
Unmasking the Jezebel Spirit by John Paul Jackson
Strategic Pastoral Counseling by David Benner
The Names of Jesus by A.B. Simpson
Do Yourself a Favor…Forgive by Joyce Meyer
Sheep Goats and Wolves by Mark Barclay
Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lysa Terkeurst
How to Always Reap a Harvest by Mark Barclay
Improving Your Performance by Mark Barclay
Six Ways to Check Your Leading by Mark Barclay
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Familiarity by Mark Barclay
Drawing Near by John Bevere
Finding God’s Life for My Will by Mike Donehey
Redefined by Arden Bevere
The Missing Read Letters by Mark Barclay
Are You Praying for the Wrong Thing? by Travis Greene
Supernatural Provision for Your Vision by Jerry Savelle
Raised to Stay by Natalie Runion
The Three Battle Grounds by Francis Frangipane: An in-Depth view of the three arenas of Spiritual Warfare: The mind, the church and the heavenly places. Spiritual Warfare is not some cookie nonsense. Now, there are some fruity some that Christians do that do not line up with the Word. First and foremost, there will be a constant renewal you will need to do with your mind. Your mind, will and emotions are what makes up your soul. Many Christians are still bound to what we call strongholds, there is freedom in Christ, but most Christians do not know how to access that freedom. “What men call “salvation” is simply the first stage to God’s plan for our lives, which is to conform out character and power to the image of Jesus Christ. If we fail to see our relationship to God as such, we will allow too many areas within us to remain unchanged. Pulling down strongholds is the demolition and removal of our old ways of thinking so that the actual presence of Jesus Christ can be manifested through us.” If we want to be effective in the body of Christ and bring Heaven down, then we need to start with some tearing down of some strongholds. The Battleground of the Church was very intriguing to me because of my love for the church. Here are the titles of the chapters in this section: The Lord Whose Sword is Drawn, Beware of the Stronghold of Cold Love, The Gift of Discernment, Eliminating False Discernment, Repairers of the Breach, God’s Army of Worshipers, Casting Down the Accuser of the Brethren. Here is what he has to say about those who claim they do not need the church, they just need Jesus. “To those whose attitude is, ‘I am content with just Jesus and me,’ I say it is wonderful that you have found Jesus. But you cannot truly have Jesus and simultaneously not do what He says. The outgrowth of love and faith in Christ is love and faith like Christ’s, which means we are committed, even as He is, to His people. You see, the kingdom of God is most perfectly revealed in our relationships with one another. To have the kingdom, we must be committed to one another as individuals and as churches.” We must also be aware of the Battleground of Heavenly Places. Remember we do not fight against flesh and blood, but no person should try to usurp control over your relationship with Christ. There are many voices trying to ring out, pay attention to the one that points to Christ. The anti-Christ spirit will hate conforming to the Word of God. This spirit hates when you talk about surrender. I spent a lot of time reading books on the Jezebel Spirit this year. I wanted to understand more. Basically, this spirit hates authority because they want to be in control. This is often birthed out of offense. All of this ties back into renewing your mind in the Word daily.
Drawing Near: A life of intimacy with God by John Bevere: I love reading John Bevere’s books. I also recommend getting the app MessengerX, it is free. There are so many courses you can view and podcasts to listen to. I was attracted to this book because my heart’s desire is to have a lifestyle of intimacy with God. I want to minister through the overflow. As we mature in Christ we learn the balance of works and worship. “Many well meaning believers have fallen into the trap of replace time with God with busy Christian lifestyles. This can also include the deceptive and continuous labor in ministry.” God dwells where we reverence Him (a healthy fear of the Lord) and we are within the realm of humility. We are still fighting our flesh here and one of those areas we have to fight against is the right to self. We should not be first place in our lives. I do not want to live that way anyways. It is too exhausting. James 4:6-10 (AMP) But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].” So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose]. The closer you live this way, the less you live for yourself. The opposite can also be found in us when we live for ourselves, we will be found in rebellion and pride. The defense of self is rooted in pride. Do you desire peace in your life? Get a hold of what God’s definition of humility is. I am so serious about wanting to get over this area that I also read two other books on the subject, Humility the Joy of Self-Forgetfulness by Gavin Ortlund and The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller. They are in my reading pile again this year.
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller with Kelly Keller: Every year my husband and I do a message for Love Sunday, which coincides with Valentine’s Day weekend. This is one of the books I read to prepare for in 2024 and am still going back to some things in 2025. Do you want to know what the number one killer for a marriage is? Self-centeredness. Many go into a marriage thinking it will make their lives better. Spoiler alert. Marriage is a greater way to serve. When we look to anyone other than Christ to fulfill our every need, then we are going to be disappointed. Whether you are the husband of the wife, you are not to sacrifice for yourself but for the other. Ephesians 5:21 (AMP) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. How we treat our spouse is a direct reflection of our reverential fear of the Lord. “Serving your spouse also means showing that you are committed to his or her well-being and flourishing. This kind of love is given when you seek to help your spouse develop gifts and pursue aspirations for growth. There is no greater way for Christian spouses to serve one another than to help each other grow spiritually. This means encouraging each other to participate together actively in church, in Christian community.” While traditionally marriage was for status, social duty and stability now it is seen as a way for personal fulfillment. Neither of these are completely wrong, but they are not completely right either. Ultimately if the gospel has not changed your mind and heart, you will not be successful in your marriage. This year my husband and I will be discussing the importance of your spouse and you being the best of friends.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Familiarity by Mark Barclay: I actually read six books of his this year. We have access to as many books of his as we would like because he is a father in the faith to my husband. Pastors need pastors and Pastor Barclay is one we have called on. He shoots straight and is Word only. If it is not found in the Word then he will not preach on it. A pitfall of familiarity is the equalizer. A prime example in the Bible was Aaron and Miriam in the Bible. Read Numbers 12. Really it is a form of pride in our lives. This books is talking about familiarity in relation to our pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelist and apostles. Here is what he has to say: “If you do not esteem someone more highly than yourself (someone you consider more important than yourself, some you respect as much -if not more- than yourself, someone whose teaching and lifestyle you admire), then you will find yourself sitting at your own feet to learn. You will become your own teacher. That’s dangerous because the next step is that you become your own advisor; then you become your own counselor. The Bible states that only a fool thinks he is right in his own mind. It’s of utmost importance that everyone, including leaders, has someone whom they look up to. It’s a healthy relationship, not an abnormal one. The abnormal relationship is quite the contrary. When you thing more highly of yourself than you ought to think, you’ve made yourself your own leader in the Lord. You’ve set yourself up in a form of pride.” Familiarity will bring judgement and you will become critical. You will even lose confidence in those that are to speak into your life. This is an area of our life that is easy to fall into, Jesus even had to deal with it with His disciples. It will cause you to not believe the Word. Be careful. You do not have to stay in it. There is always hope and restoration. Miriam was restored.
Emmanual: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always by Ruth Chou Simons: I love doing a devotion just for Christmas. This year I started decorating my house on November 1st. It is still up will be coming down sometime next week. I believe that as much as we talk about the miracle of Jesus with us at Christmas should be talked about all year long. This devotion was divided into four sections: Our Posture, God’s Promise, Our Response, Our Messiah. Our posture and our response has a lot to do with receiving God’s promises in our lives. “Jesus is more than a baby, more than a beautiful miracle in a harsh world. He is more than a familiar figure sung about in festive tunes. Jesus is God with us – Immanuel, just as the angel of the Lord told Joseph.” What do you treasure? That is the whole message of this devotion. Yes there is a call to repentance in it. There should never be a time in our lives that we do not surrender. Is Christ your ultimate treasure? Psalms 16:11 (AMP) You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. A life transformed, Emmanuel, God with us. We can now abide with Christ. I dwell with Him as He dwells within me. I am forever changed.
It is hard for me to just pick out a few books, or just a couple. I love to read. Why read books like this? I desire to glean as much revelation as possible. When I read my Bible, He will bring back to remembrance other things I have read. My desire is to be in His fullness. What will I do with these books now that I am done? They are going back on my shelf to be read again at a later time. I already pulled out a couple to reread again this year. I want to grow deeper in His Word every year. I want to be a doer of His Word. People are important. I want others to grown deeper in God too. That is why I make time for discipleship. I want to be available for the opportunities to enlarge His kingdom this year like never before.
Lord of Lords, Kings of Kings, Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, You are who reigns above it all. You are Worthy of Honor and Praise. No other Name is above Yours. Thank You for sending Your Son to be the Lamb, the Root of David, the Word made flesh. We are walking in righteousness because of You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit now dwelling in us. We now can walk in the fullness You created us in. We repent for not standing on the truth of Your Word. We have fallen in the trap of lusting after our own gratification. We choose to surrender to Your Word, Your Will and Your Ways. As we read Your Word, let it be a Light and Beacon of Freedom. We choose to walk in Your statutes and precepts. We are casting off any exalted thought that does not line up with forgiveness and has misaligned us to take on jealousy, envy, bitterness, resentment and anger. We choose freedom this year. We choose joy this year. We choose hope this year. We choose love this year. Grow Your Love in us, so that it is all that flows out of us. We choose surrender this year. In Jesus Name, Amen.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 (AMP) Finally, brothers and sisters, pray continually for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be honored [triumphantly celebrated and glorified], just as it was with you
Why would you not want others to have this great gift that you received? If you really read the Bible you will find lots of calls to action. Did you ever think that you would be the answer to someone’s prayer for their loved one?
Luke 10:2 (AMP) He was saying to them, “The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.
One of the things that I pray over my family and myself is that we will seek out opportunities to share the gospel with someone today. I pray for our safety, for our needs being met, but above all that His gospel is spread and we get to be a part of that. I think that is what these petitions for prayer were intended for. Not that you pray for God to send someone else to do it. Prayer without intent to be sent out yourself is just rooted in self-centeredness. We have become like tombs, whitewashed on the outside, but full of dead mens bones.
I was talking with our prayer team and made this statement that good people are still selfish if they are not willing to lay down their perceptions to His. “If you, then, being evil [that is, sinful by nature], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him! (Luke 11:13)” The Holy Spirit is going to urge you to go.
Philippians 2:3-5 (AMP) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility]
I know of no other individual with a bigger prayer life that Jesus. Prayer is not just something that a select few are called to do. Intercession has been planted in all of our hearts (Ephesians 6:18). Some of us need to be more intentional in our prayer lives. Like worship, the more we enter in the more we enjoy it. However, be warned we can turn it into our self worship if we are not careful. Jesus taught us how to pray and I like to stick with that model. I do not parrot the words, but I do stay with how He wanted us to focus our prayers. I am by no means perfect in this, but I do want my motives to be right. I want you to have the fullness that God desires for you. I want you to be free in Christ. I want you to rooted and grounded in His love.
Mark 16:15 (AMP) And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.“
There is not an individual that you will come in contact with that is not His created. What is the gospel? Turn or burn? Your future is hell you sinner? Here is how I present the gospel…Love came down and lived, died and rose again for me. I talked about my changed life and the fullness I have now that I live in Christ. Then I ask, do you want that for yourself? I lead them in a prayer of receiving, repentance and thankfulness. That is the gospel. That is my prayer for you this Christmas, that you seek out opportunities to give the best gift this season. I pray that you answer the prayer of the Lord of the harvest, that you bring in the harvest too.
God, Holy is Your Name. We thank You for Your Mercy and Loving Kindness. Thank You for the Gift of Your Son to put us back in right standing with You. Love truly came down. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, for which we would not have been made complete and full in Your Knowledge. Above all to empower us to fulfill everything that you called us to, the ministry of reconciliation. We desire for Your Kingdom to be here on earth just as You intended at creation. We repent for our hardened hearts and making life about ourselves. We should not have limited to what we like above what You desire. Give us this day our daily revelation through Your Word. Feed us so that we can go feed others about Your goodness. Search our hearts Lord for any unforgiveness that we may be holding onto. We want to love freely like You love. We do not want to hinder the growth in the body of Christ. Give us opportunities today to share Your Good News, the Gospel of Your Son. Let us live in grace and boldness. We choose love today. We choose joy today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Luke 4:21 (AMP) He began speaking to them: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing and in your presence.”
We are in the Christmas season. I did not teach my children about Santa. I focused on the story of Christmas as centered on Christ. My oldest son has a vivid imagination. We had a guest speaker come into the church, when Ari (our son) was about seven, and that guest speaker got a new name. The speaker had black hair, a mustache and wore fitted suits. My son was convinced that man was Tony Stark, the Iron Man. We have referred to him as Tony Stark since then. I did not want my kids to question God being real to them, although God chooses to make Himself real to all of us. I never wanted to be that stumbling block.
As I was reading Luke 4 this morning I had a thought about belief. Jesus went to His hometown and read from the scroll of Isaiah.
Isaiah 61:1,2 (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, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
He stopped in the middle of the second verse, rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and proclaimed, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing and in your presence.” First let’s dig into what the favorable year of the Lord is and back track the rest of the scripture from there. The favorable year of the Lord is also known the year of the redeemed, or if you like to be traditional, The Year of Jubilee.
Described in the book of Leviticus. A “Year of Jubilee” is a special year occurring every 50 years in the Jewish tradition, as described in the Bible, where slaves are freed, debts are forgiven, and land is returned to its original owners, signifying a time of liberation and renewal; it is considered a time of sacred rest and a reminder of God’s mercy and providence (source Google AI). Jesus said He fulfilled it. Did they believe Him? Absolutely not. It actually made them upset to hear this proclamation. Their intent was to throw Him off of a cliff because of those words. We know that did not happen.
My question is, what do you believe? Jesus said that He was sent to bind up our wounds, to proclaim release from captivity, to set the captives free, and that it is the year of the redeemed. When is it? Now! Are we living that way? Or have we taken the bait of unbelief and are awaiting for something else, still looking forward to the Year of Jubilee. Are we still looking for the new year for something to change in our lives. Is 2025 going to be my year? It is already my year. It is already the year of the redeemed. If you are made new in Christ, everything that Jesus accomplished through His life, death and resurrection is available to you right now. Jesus even gifted us with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Joyce Meyer wrote “God anointed Jesus to bring the good news and to set the captives free, and it’s important to receive the freedom He has provided for us. A battle takes place in our mind when we choose freedom instead of remaining in bondage. The devil puts thoughts in our mind, thoughts that disagree with God’s promise of healing, but we can choose to cast down those thoughts and imaginations and believe God’s Word. We will choose to listen to one voice or another, and our deliverance depends on that choice. If we listen to Jesus and believe Him, deliverance is not only possible, but it will become a reality in our life. Jesus came to open prison doors and set the captives free. You and I can be set completely free as we choose to trust God and obey Him.” (from an excerpt of The Battlefield of the Mind Bible)
Lord, Abba Father, El Shaddai, You are so Wonderful. Thank You for sending Your Son to be the anointed One. Through that anointing we have been set free. Forgive us for our unbelief and for not allowing the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to bring us to the fullness that You desire. We repent for listening to any voice that makes us feel shame. You have set us free from the power of shame and feeling inferior through Your Son. We desire to walk in the fullness of everything Christ restored to us. Now is the favorable year of the Lord. We are the redeemed. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Galatians 4:31-5:1 (AMP) So then, believers, we [who are born again—reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free woman [the supernatural].It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].
It is the season to start visiting family for the holidays! Thanksgiving week and most homes in America have been cooking for big gatherings of people. I started earlier in the week. Even though it looks like we may have focused on food, it is the people that matter most. I was praying about how I could honor God this year and this scripture is what He brought to my remembrance. Even if someone brings up my past, I have been set free from it. There is no defense needed.
From talking to other born again Christians, they dread family gatherings. They have even resorted to closing themselves off and only being with those within their homes. Friends, I am here to tell you that is not the answer either. I have learned that meekness takes great strength in Christ. Can you hear things about how others perceived you and not say anything to defend? Can you also not take it to heart? I think Paul gave the greatest example of that.
Galatians 1:13 (AMP) You have heard of my career and former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to hunt down and persecute the church of God extensively and [with fanatical zeal] tried [my best] to destroy it.
He did not deny who he use to be, but he did not live there. Light does not run from darkness. God does not place us in caves to dwell. He never has called us to the cave, but He will let you go there if you so desire. To me the cave is where I am still in control. I control who comes in and who goes out. I can shine the light in places that only I give permission to. That is not freedom. A cave is a natural response to keep ourselves safe. It is not Christ empowered.
How can I honor God in this season? Remember who you are in Christ and walk in it. We are not to be haughty or think we are better than others. The gospel matters more than anything else. Christ has set us free for freedoms sake and no one or nothing can make you go back into that bondage. Here is a little bit that Paul wrote to the church in Philippi. Meditate on it. Do not just read the first part and take on the countenance of a victim, because we are not. Read on and become zealous for the gospel.
Philippians 1:29-30, 2:1-4 For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, [and so you are] experiencing the same [kind of] conflict which you saw me endure, and which you hear to be mine now. Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ]. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
I can either choose to live as if still born as the slave and my natural life would be validated. I can also choose to live free, reborn from the free (supernatural), the freedom that Christ set us free.
Father, Abba, Creator, we stand in awe of You. We desire to glorify and honor You during this time. Thank You for Your Son who set us free. Thank You for the gift of the person of the Holy Spirit. We can now live supernatural and no longer bound to our past. We repent for the shame we have allowed to overtake us, and responded with living in a cave instead of the freedom You desire for us. In Your Word You call us a royal priesthood and a special people (1 Peter 2:9). We will proclaim Your wonderful gospel, that Your Son called us out of darkness and into His marvelous Light. We will no longer run from the darkness. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Matthew 1:23 (AMP) “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel”—which, when translated, means, “God with us.”
Is it ever the wrong time to watch a Christmas movie? Since 2020 I have started changing my home over to celebrate Christmas on November 1st. Why? The four weeks between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day are just not time for me to enjoy all of it. Starting earlier, I do not have to do it all in one weekend. I get to take my time and enjoy every moment. There will be days in December that I get to enjoy baking Christmas cookies for my neighbors. Immanuel-God with us should be more than just four weeks. It should be every day, all year long.
Last night, I joined a friend and we watched The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I like a nostalgic Christmas for my home and this brought back all the feels of my childhood at Wesley Heights Elementary. My favorite teacher was my first grade teacher, Mrs. Richardson. I even looked her up and invited her to my wedding day, and she attended. She was the teacher that introduced me to the love for books. I would finish my school work early and get to go back and sit in the reading area. Of course I got to put the books away in my own special way, because the other kids just threw them on the shelves. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was one of her favorites to read to us.
It is about a small church in a small town putting on their annual Christmas play. All the children in the church participate in the story of Jesus in a manger. They even have the angel (only speaking part) telling the shepherds in the field that the Savior of the world has been born. There is this one special catch this year. To take a quote from Amazon.com: The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, swear, and smoke cigars. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant.
The Herdmans are led by the oldest sister, Imogene. She is the oldest of six with four brothers, Leroy, Ralph, Ollie and Claude. The youngest, Gladys, a girl, is the scariest of them all because she hits…hard. The Herdmans want to be in the play and they want the best parts. Why did they show up in the first place, because they heard there would be desserts, the best desserts. The narrator (a classmate of the Herdmans) her mother is directing the play, a sweet woman name Grace. Grace feels she does not quite measure up to the other church women. She volunteers to show them she can do more than buy store bought cookies. I feel so much like Grace sometimes. I do not like drawing attention to myself and would rather just stay in the background and help make others shine. However, when put to the task, I will give it my all.
The Herdmans are tough because that is all they know. We never know where their parents are. Imogene is the mother figure to the kids and she is just a kid herself. She takes because that is all she knows how to get things. They love the movies and the great adventures, this is their chance to be somebody else. Imogene takes her role seriously and has the rest of the Herdmans do research and learn as much as they can about their parts. They even get library cards. This is a group that have never heard the Christmas story before. Imagine hearing it for the first time and all of the questions that a child could think up. Imogene is playing Mary, Ralph is Joseph, Claude, Ollie and Leroy are the three wise men and Gladys is the angel of the Lord.
Every year the church does a food drive and delivers Christmas hams to families in need. Do you know what family is on that list every year? The Herdmans. Bob, the narrators father, takes his family with him to deliver the hams this year. Their first stop, the Herdmans. Imogene has to hold the ham up high to keep it from her feral siblings, exclaiming that they cannot have any until Christmas Day. A little glimpse into the real struggles these kids have.
The day for the play is approaching and the whole church is outraged that Grace has allowed the Herdmans to be in it, not only that, they have practically taken over the play. The church is watching Grace very closely on how she navigates these kids. Do you know what she does, she does not scold them, she shows them kindness and patience. Something these kids have never received before. She does not ignore them, she is attentive to every question they have.
The big day arrives and the Herdmans are going to back out. The town does not want them in their big Christmas Pageant anyways, they just get blamed for anything that goes wrong. So who shows up at their door on Christmas morning? Our narrator, Beth. She begs them to come so that her mom will not be put to shame for allowing the Herdmans to be in it in the first place. Her mom worked so hard to keep them in it. At the last minute they show and the event starts.
Imogene and Ralph walk out and they are not using the regular costumes the church provides, they made their own, because that is what Mary and Joseph would have really worn. They would not have looked perfect, they had been traveling a long way. Imogene, holding the doll Jesus, because there was not a family that would allow a Herdman to hold their actual baby for this pageant. Imogene pats the baby on the back, burping him. It takes a moment but the church in their stoicism are enjoying the baby doll being burped. Do you not think that Mary had to burp Jesus? Our angel appears and exclaims: “Hey! Unto you a child is born!” Gladys, who likens the angel to a super hero in her comics, waving her arms with such big gestures. Then come our wise men, carrying their Christmas ham. A gift so special that they wanted Jesus to have it.
2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV) You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
These kids that had never heard the Christmas story before, yet realized just how special Jesus is. As Imogene sits there looking tenderly at the Jesus doll, a tear rolls down her cheek. The church is in awe and sings Silent Night together. The true meaning of everything right there in that small town, in that small church. Jesus, the Light of the World, God with us, brought us into a His family. It was the Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The Herdmans were a needed part of their community.
We should never look at the Christmas story as common. Every December 1st I choose to start reading a chapter a day in Luke. I will even find passages in the Old Testament that prophecy about Jesus, there are over 300 of them. I encourage my church to look for opportunities to bless people they will never meet. We have “You Were Seen” cards that we hand out with a little gift to strangers. On the card is a QR code that takes them to a website to tell them how special they are in Christ. We even set up a Christmas tree with opportunities to bless people in our community. Look past the story and get the meaning of Immanuel, God with us. It is never the wrong time.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (AMP) Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
I have chosen to read a letter of Paul’s over and over each week. The first one was the letter to the Philippians. A reminder to be joyful at all times. The second week was the letter to the Colossians. A reminder to focus on Jesus no matter what. This week I am in 1 Thessalonians. A letter to a group that would have every excuse to run, but are encouraged to stand firm. He ends the first letter with the encouragement to rejoice and remain thankful to our God. No matter what is going on, can you still thank God?
What do you do when things do not looks so good? As a pastor, when attendance is at an all time low? How about when half the church just stops giving, and/or given up on the tithe? We do not receive a salary, so it is not like any of that matters as to why we are showing up and serving every week. Are we still proclaiming the Gospel? Can they find Jesus in every message? Are we growing in our spiritual maturity as a body? Those are the questions that I choose to focus on.
Philippians 4:4 (AMP) Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!
Ephesians 6:18 (AMP) With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.
Galatians 6:9-10 (AMP) Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).
Here is what I am choosing to do, I am not going to quit and I am not going to run. I am persevering, because there is an enemy out there looking for those he can devour. I am battling this spirit of oppression that has infiltrated the body of Christ and I am calling them back to the joy of the Lord. The enemy has lied to them long enough. Joy is their’s. It is a promise of His great love. The devil wants us to quit on the precepts of God. He wants us to believe that God picks and chooses who He will bless. So many have lost heart and are just going through the motions. That is not how we should be living. What can shake the body of Christ from this bondage of lethargy and apathy?
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].
I want you to know the fullness of God. I want you to know that He sees every struggle. Is Jesus more than enough? That is the biggest question we should ask ourselves. If so, rejoice! I pray you are filled with the love of Christ, that you can rejoice again. In Him is fullness of joy! Even if it is a sacrifice right now, especially if it is a sacrifice right now. Do you want your freedom? Go get it! Jesus has already paid the price for it, now receive it with your whole heart.
Hebrews 13:15 (AMP) Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.
Abba, our Father, our Creator, we are so thankful for being the God who covers us with a Banner of Love. Thank You for sending Your Son, so that we know the fullness of Your love. Thank You for sending us the Holy Spirit, so that we may be filled at all times. Thank You for the revelation of You through the written Word, as inspired by the Holy Spirit. We repent for becoming lethargic, for the apathy of our hearts, and for going back into slumber when you have called us into Your glorious Light. We surrender our hearts, minds, will and emotions to You. We desire to do all that you have commanded with joy. First, to love You will all of our hearts, with all of our soul and with all of our mind. Second, we will love our neighbor as we love ourselves, in the fullness of love that we received through Your Son. We choose to forgive what we beliefs, unwarranted expectations, on thoughts of how You should treat us. You have never mistreated us and we are repent for ever feeling this way. We are rejoicing in Your mercy and lovingkindness. We are choosing love today. We are choosing hope today. We are choosing joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Philippians 1:7a (MEV) It is right for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart
What is your hope for the people that come to your mind? I do not know about you, but if you are like me, some are conversations that go on in my mind with people, just because I do not feel cared for by them. I can have an inward frustration and the battle has begun, the battle of the wits with myself, because there is just no one there but me and my brain. What am I to do? Am I right? Absolutely NOT! What I have done is accepted toxins into my heart and mind. What is Paul telling us to think on in Philippians 4:8 (MEV), “Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, 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 any praise, think on these things.” Are you struggling to find a thought like that still. How about what Paul told them he thought.
Philippians 1:6 (MEV) 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.
We like to make this personal. Let us read on: “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all discernment, that you may approve things that are excellent so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:9-11).” My discernment is not meant for division, it is meant for intercession.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 (MEV) And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all men, even as we do for you.
Philippians 2:1-4 (MEV) If there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and mercy, then fulfill my joy and be like-minded, having the same love, being in unity with one mind. Let nothing be done out of strife or conceit, but in humility let each esteem the other better than himself. Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
There is this book by Joyce Meyer called Battlefield of the Mind. It has been many years since I have read it. However, the message is throughout all of Paul’s writings. When I am allowing an argument to take on in my mind, I am exhibiting selfishness. I have esteemed myself better than the other individual, because you know you are going to let yourself win. If I am continuing to distance myself from the body so that I will not get hurt, then I am exhibiting selfishness. If I cannot think or say anything positive about another person, and I get others to join in, I am exhibiting selfishness. None of those qualities proved that I have encouragement in Christ, that I have found comfort in love. I definitely does not show that I have fellowship with the Holy Spirit, it may be some other spirit, but not the Holy Spirit.
How can we combat this in our lives? Realize that you need to stop. Repent. Step out in faith and speak over the person and situation, the best for them. If anything else say, “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.” I would even go so far as to meet the need in a practical way. A note of appreciation. A little sweet treat. It let’s the other person know that you had good thoughts of them. I want to be filled with the fruit of righteousness, that is filled with a life that is rooted and grounded in the love of Christ.
Here is a little prayer I prayed over the body of Christ yesterday. I used the word infuse, because it means to instill a quality in someone. Those other thoughts are toxic, so let the Holy Spirit infuse you with better qualities.
Thank you Father for another day to glorify You, because You are Holy and full of Majesty. Infuse us with Your Word. Infuse us with Your Spirit. Infuse us with Your Mercy. Infuse us with Your Grace. Infuse us with Your Loving Kindness. Let all that You infuse into us flow through us freely. Let us flow in Your Love and in Your Unity. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Philippians 1:21 (AMP) For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity].
What are we living for? Paul had his answer. He wrote about it over and over again. Many times we like to quote the old prophets (the laments of Jeremiah and Elijah). I like Paul. He had the answer, “to live is Christ.” Who are we lining up our thoughts with, the before Christ people, or the life with Christ people? Paul talks a lot of the joy of Christ, while he was in prison. Have you lost your joy? Well Jesus will help you find it.
I have decided, that for the rest of the month of October, that I am going to read all four chapters of Philippians daily. I have posted on my personal page about it, and have invited others to join me. Why Philippians? I see the lack of joy in your eyes. I see the lack of care, an apathy, for the body of Christ. You have been satisfied with the salvation message, but have not received the fullness of who Christ is. It is time to live in Christ. Philippians shows us how to do that.
What are we focusing on? Is it the economy? Is it the raise in our utility bills? Could your marriage be in trouble? How about wanting to buy a house, but you think you are stuck renting? May I ask you, who is Christ in your life right now? With Christ in our lives, those problems become less worrisome. The solution to the problem has been here all along. Actually, I have found that the solution showed itself before I knew there would be an issue. Christ is my source.
Philippians 4:11-12 (AMP) Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances. I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.
What is the secret of facing life? It sounds like Paul has not a care in the world. He sounds pretty secure. It sounds like something we could all use some of. Verse 13 is often misquoted. Put into context Paul is not talking about an independent life. I believe you cannot have verse 13 without verse 14: “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.] Nevertheless, it was right of you to share [with me] in my difficulties.“
I am fully sufficient because of Christ. However, it is not just me and Jesus out here. He planted me in a body of believers (Ephesians 2:19-22). Paul is writing to a group of people and saying that he has great joy this life with Christ, and Christ added to that joy with the people that joined him in spreading the gospel.
All my prices have gone up too. I even have the expense of a high-schooler playing two sports, in a 7A school. There is something I cannot give up on, and that is who Christ is. I have to choose to live in Christ daily. I have to choose to love His body daily. When I start loving myself above everything else, even Christ, then I lose my joy. The fruits of the Spirit grow in us more when we understand the position of love that Christ has for us. That is why Paul says, “to live is Christ.”
I am going to take the first few verses of Philippians 1 and pray this over you today:
Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in every remembrance of you, always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you, [thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now. I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. It is right for me to feel this way about you, because [you have me in your heart as] I have you in my heart…. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus [whose great love fills me]. And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight, so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin]; filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized].
Has joy been missing from your life? Make Christ your life and He will help you find it.
Romans 14:23(b) Whatever is not from faith is sin [whatever is done with doubt is sinful].
This past weekend I had the privilege of taking a couple of ladies from my church to the Joyce Meyer Conference in Atlanta. She started out the night talking about faith. This part of the verse really stood out to me, “whatever is not from faith is sin.” How many of us do not give ourselves wholly to faith?
2 Corinthians 4:18 (AMP) So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.
Faith never quits and it never gives up. If God showed us everything, if He gave us everything, would that be of faith? He did just that when He gave us Jesus. It is through faith that we receive salvation (Romans 2:8-9). So many just stop right there is their faith. The same way we receive salvation is the same way we need to live this life.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP) for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]
Did you know that the church you are planted into has a part in your growing in faith? This is not for just fellowship or a social club. We lack so much in the body because we do not take this part of our faith seriously (Acts 2:46-47). We claim it is not important and we can do without it. I want to show you a couple of verses and then explain.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (AMP) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:16 (AMP) Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Shields of this time period were much larger than the ones depicted in medieval times. Roman shields were usually about two and a half feet wide and four feet tall. They were wooden and covered with multiple layers of animal skin. Before battle they were dipped in water to ward off the flames of the fiery darts. Roman soldiers did not go into battle standing an arms link apart, they did it linked arm in arm. Those behind them would hold the shield over head. Now picture a group and the fiery darts are coming. We all have thoughts (fiery darts), if I am left alone from which direction will those darts come at me. The whole structure being joined together (your church), they are watered by the Word, they are being build together as a dwelling place of God, you have the protective shield of faith. I like this translation, because it says, “above all.”
If asked what you value in life, how many would you say you value God, your family, your jobs? What about your church? This is why the devil hates you falling in love with the people in your church. This is why he fights you having any real genuine concern for them. We use the excuse that people have hurt us and we are just protecting ourselves. What a lie! What the enemy has done is disarmed you from fullness of the shield of faith. I am saved through faith and I live by faith. I do not take account of a suffered wrong. I believe the best of people. Love always hopes and faith does not quit. So stop quitting the church and stop quitting people. Add the body that you are planted into to the list of valuable things that are in your life. Build into each others lives through faith.
Father, Abba, Creator, Marvelous God, we want to honor You today with everything that is within us. Thank You for Your Son Jesus. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your Word. We repent for not seeing the church (Your Bride and Your Body) as valuable. We repent for going by our feelings, our emotions and our thoughts on how we should live this life. Your Word says that anything not of faith is a sin. You have free reign to clear out all of the areas of our life that is not of faith, including how we have viewed Your church. Let us take up the shield of faith. Let us join together in growing into Your Temple. We are not called to be alone. We repent for this mindset and we surrender to Your ways. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Desiring for More 