ministry of reconciliaton – Desiring for More

February 14, 2023

Love is not just a day

Ephesians 5:1-2 (AMP) Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; 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.

It is LOVE day, but is it? God spoke the language of love when He sent His Son for us. His purpose was not just to die so we did not have to go to hell (hell was never supposed to be out destiny in the first place). His purpose was to restore us to our purpose. Salvation is Kingdom purpose. Salvation made us alive to grow and to become whole. Salvation is supposed to transform us. It is because of salvation that I can love others to seek the best for them.

Our relationships should point us back to our purpose. If we are new creations in Christ, then we are all called to the ministry of reconciliation. Whenever I see the word “therefore” in the Bible I like to go to the preceding verse to find out what the author is really trying to convey.

Ephesians 4:32 (AMP) Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted (compassionate, understanding), forgiving one another (readily and freely), just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Jesus spoke the language of love when He laid down His life for us. He did it when He washed the disciples feet even though He know one of them was going to betray Him. He did it knowing that they would walk away from their purpose, just because He was not with them any longer.

Love forgives readily and freely. This is not the same as being a door mat and allowing to be abused or taken advantage of. You can stand up for yourself and not take on an offense. We can do something right and be wrong when we take on the mantle of self-righteousness.

I will give a personal example that happened not too long ago. I was having a morning, fussing about my teenage son. My husband has heard me get onto him about taking 20-30 minute showers before, and has supported me on this. My goodness, I am a 43 year old woman with hair that goes over half way down my back and I do not take showers that long! This particular morning he had an orthodontist appointment and figured he could push it further because he did not have to be at school. I wanted to go to the gym before, so I was having a moment. My husband responded to my moment with a ‘you are being dramatic’ comment. Warning to all you husbands: this does not calm down a woman, this actually will send her in a rage, and it did.

However, that did not make me right. My response to his wrong, made me even more wrong. Did he apologize and see the error in his ways? No. Does admit he did wrong? No. That does not matter. It is not his job to calm me down. Could he? Yes. It is not my job to teach him how to do that. All of this happens when we surrender to the Holy Spirit. My job is to forgive quickly and freely. I found it by getting in my Word. In 1 Corinthians 13:5 (AMP) it says, “Love…is not provoked (nor overly sensitive and easily angered)….” I had to apologize and let the other parts go.

To unselfishly seek the best for someone is to love them so great, that you would lay down your rights to keep peace. That you would lay down your fight so that they can get the recognition. That you would celebrate every mile stone that they make, even though you have been working so hard to get there yourself. Love sees the value and over looks the mistakes. Love gives grace to grow in the fullness that God wants for each other.

Father, thank you for being Love. Thank you for sending Your Son as the ultimate Valentine’s gift. Just like every day we should celebrate the wonder of His life, we should also celebrate the gift of His great Love. I repent for making it about me, for keeping an offense, for repeating a suffered wrong whether it was my perception of one or if one was actually intended. I choose forgiveness because you chose it first. I lay it at the altar today. Renew my heart to be that of flesh and do not let it become of stone. Thank you for helping me though your Word to remind me that my emotions should not rule me. Let me be quick to apologize and not take sides against my family of Christ. You are my Peace, my Shield and my Fortress. I belong to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

December 26, 2022December 26, 2022

Celebrate Christmas Year Round

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP) Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].

I pray you had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with your families. My family and I are away from home, enjoying each other, in the mountains of Tennessee. We take this time to just be us. We go on adventures, eat out at new places and spend time in a new environment to check on our growth status as a family.

I think we should do that regularly as believers as well. We get so comfortable in our routines. I use to read the above scripture and think that it only applied to the moment I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. That is just part of it. Freedom comes when you realize that spiritual awakening brings new life. My spirit man became alive, yes, however I did not know it’s fullness until I started applying the next verse.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (AMP) But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him],that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God]. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God.

I am a minister of reconciliation, and if you are in Christ, so are you. As I surrender and pursue after a relationship with the Father, His spirit will begin to speak to my spirit and reveal things in His Word that will cause me to grow and get stronger spiritually. There is no magic formula. I cannot wait to feel it in my emotions. This is a decision I have to make. I have to determine to want the new.

Read your Word not to get your streaks, and not to get your goal to read in a certain amount of time. Read your Word with a surrendered heart. “God what are you saying to me today?” I cannot allow my emotions to lead my life or run my life. It is not about the feeling, it about the character and nature as revealed through His Word.

How can we celebrate Christmas year round? How do I determine if this new life is a part of me continually? Be determined each day to grow in God. How? 1) Through relational development. I must be committed to spending time with God. 2) Through personal surrender. I must be willing to say no to things in my life that pulls me away from the development and relationship with Him. 3) Make myself available to serve. If you have number one and number two and you do not have an outlet in the kingdom, then you really are not growing in anything. If you have number three with out numbers one and two, you are doing it for self promotion and not kingdom building. It is in the moments that you serve that the things that you have learned will be tested and proven. Being available to serve is proving ground in what you said you learned. I would also like to suggest that being available to serve will reveal your calling…the calling to the ministry of reconciliation.

Father, I thank you for the gift of love that you show and give. Let me be an example of that love by answering the call into the ministry of reconciliation. Through your Son I have been made a new creation. The person I was yesterday, is different from who I am today. I choose to grow in your Word and in your ways by developing a closer relationship with you. I choose to serve as I grow. I choose to surrender as I grow. Your life is better than my old life. You are where I find my fullness. Let me be an example of that to others. In Jesus Name, Amen.

January 10, 2022

Word for this year: “Light”

John 1:9 (AMP) There it was – the true Light (the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light) which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone.

I have never been one to do a “word of the year,” but this year God spoke to me “Light”. My heart’s desire is to seek first His Kingdom. When special occasions come my family will ask if there is anything special I would like to do, go, or want. My answer is nothing at all. There are things that I like and places that I like to go, but those are not the desires of my heart. There are a benefit and I would never turn down a trip to the beach, but I will not pout if my husband does not plan us a trip there every year for our anniversary.

Why “Light?” I have been seeking God about why the Body of Christ have lost their boldness. Their boldness to reach the broken and to see the captives set free. Why are we seeing shallow Christians? He told me that they do not know me as the “Light.” They may have accepted Him as Savior, but that does not mean they have not been free from the shadows of the darkness. They have been tricked into thinking that it is not their time yet, so therefore, He has not released them.

Luke 8:16-18 (AMP) “Now no one lights a lamp and then covers it with a container [to hide it], or puts it under a bed; instead, he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.For there is nothing hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come out into the open.So be careful how you listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

Why would Jesus come to turn on the lights and then expect God to hide it? That does not line up with the character and nature of God. It does not make a bit of sense to tell someone that God has hidden you. What about when the angel told Joseph to hide Jesus when King Harod wanted all the boys killed? Was Jesus baptized in the Holy Spirit yet? Nope! You see when we are born again (into the light) the Holy Spirit now dwells in you. Then if you accept the baptism of the Holy Spirit (as it talks about in Acts), your power source should be so bright that the unenlightened should be seeing you down the street. We are all called to the ministry of reconciliation. Not one born again believer is exempt from that ministry. That means, I am not hidden, I am full of Light! We need to take a lesson from Moses about that glow!!

John 8:12 (AMP) Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Matthew 5:14-16 (AMP) “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Ephesians 5:8-10 (AMP) For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light](for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation].

Genesis 1:1-4 (AMP) In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth.The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.God saw that the light was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it; and God separated the light [distinguishing it] from the darkness.

I pray that this opens your eyes more to who God is and the desire He has for you. He sent His only Son to restore you back to Light. Live in the Light. Remember whose you are and be bold. You have the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, never to hide your Light again. You are not hidden, but you are a city on a hill, shining for the world to see Jesus!!