seleh

When We All Get To Heaven?

Sat, 02 May 2026 18:12:32 GMT

Dear Reader,

When I was teaching a bible class in a Christian school some years ago, a question came up from one of the students, “Why did Jesus have to die?” In the moment I quickly, summarized the answer as: “So a way could be made for us to go to heaven when we die and be with Him and all those who went before us.”

Thinking back now, I wish I could amend my answer. My prayer is that over time, those children came to understand there is much more to the Truth than my simple explanation. I thought I was answering correctly for their age. However, I believe I was mistaken and this is the subject of this blog post.

If we think about it, the answer I used is taught all the time, in various ways. The problem is while true in some aspect, that it leaves out a very important aspect of what Jesus has done for us. In fact, that answer is more of a simple side note in comparison to the magnitude of the work accomplished in Christ. The entire truth is what sets people free.

What I should have said is: Jesus was the Son of God and the Son of man. He had to be both. It was the plan from the foundation of the world because God knew what Adam and Eve would decide to do in the garden when the Deceiver offered a distorted interpretation of the truth, “Did God really say…”

God the Father created humanity anyway. His creation was worth the sacrifice that would be needed to redeem them from the decisions they would make. It was, and is, evidence of His great, great Love for us that this Grace and forgiveness would be offered for us to receive.

I should have said that the Old Covenant had a law and that law held people captive because the Deceiver had a hold on any who violated it. He could accuse them and he would be correct. Condemnation was the verdict, according to the law. And the deceiver had great pleasure in carrying out that sentence. He had access to heaven; he was the prosecutor of the people God Loved. But there was one thing that could break that hold, and that, according to the law, was a sinless sacrifice.

The Law of Atonement in Leviticus 16 describes the sacrifice of a bull and the scapegoat. The goat would be chosen by lot, and the sins of Israel were placed upon it (symbolically speaking) and then sent out into the wilderness to die.

Think now, for a moment, when did Jesus go into the wilderness?

Jesus was baptized by John for repentance, yet Jesus lived a sinless life. Why? To identify with humanity. It is in Matthew 4 that Jesus goes into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

(In the believer’s baptism at conversion, we identify with Christ’s death and resurrection.)

There are more correlations, but one of the most telling verse for me comes in Matthew and John:

Matt 5:17-18 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

and

John 15:25 “But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.'

Jesus lived a sinless life. He was sacrificed having taken on all the sins of humanity thus the law was fulfilled, and the ACCUSERS VOICE WAS SILENCED. The Deceiver and Accuser of God’s people no longer had a hold on them. The keys of hell and death are no longer in Satan’s possession.

Revelation 1:18 John says, “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Many will say that Jesus did not go to hell. 'There can be much discussion on this (and thankfully our perspectives, while important, are not the key to our salvation). Here is why I think Jesus did go to hell where Satan was and that He did suffer there.

The requirement of the Law was spiritual death. Spiritual death is separation from God. A place of torment. Can you imagine a place without the goodness of God?

Scripture says Jesus suffered our punishment for humanity's sin (my paraphrase). Could it then be said Jesus experienced a separation from God the Father? Isn't that what happens when people die in a sinful unrepentant state? I know…that is such an offensive idea for some. But let us not reject it just because it is contrary to what we have always accepted, let us truly know the Word of Truth so we will not be confused. And let us not mistake a stubborn loyalty to another’s interpretation over what the Word says in context.

If, for the sake of discussion, Jesus did experience a type of separation from the Father, where would that happen? It wasn’t in the tomb, as some suppose, while he was “napping.” We are not separated from God while we nap. We can still experience His goodness.

So, when did Jesus experience that separation? On the cross, physically, yes. He did say “I commit my spirit..." Luke 23:46 says this and He is quoting Psalm 31:5 . But I wonder, do you think the law would have been satisfied if the suffering were only on the cross? The Law also indicated punishment included separation, like with the scapegoat which had been required. What did the law require regarding sin and what would it take for sin, and Satan's hold on humanity because of sin, to be dealt with once and for all?

Just asking…

Jesus was condemned by those who ruled according to the Law. And when punishment came upon Jesus (Gal 3:13), Satan participated in the fulfillment of the law through the willing human participants to the cross and then afterward when Jesus, in his humanity, experienced, for the first time, separation from the Father. Jesus remembered and trusted the Father and knew He would not be abandoned to Sheol (Ps 16:10). And He was right. God the Father did not abandon Him. When the time was right, He sent the Spirit to quicken Jesus and win the victory. for humanity over sin.

The law said atonement was needed for sin and the atonement had to be sinless. Jesus who had lived a sinless life, willingly (John 10:15-18)laid it down for humanity. His death, resurrection and ascension, wiped out not only our sin but also the law used of Satan that used it to accuse.

Let me say/write that again, what the Son of God did as the Son of man closed any access Satan had before the throne of God to accuse God’s people. Atonement was made, the law fulfilled and set aside. No more condemnation for those who believe and receive it. (Romans 8).

(Also, consider Romans 10-11 with all this in mind.)

The sad thing is that people don’t realize what Jesus did. Because of this lack of knowledge, they are susceptible to the only weapon Satan now possesses against the people of God. Deception. Many do think He came to make a way for us to go to heaven and they would not be wrong, but there is so much more.

Salvation is for now. Living in victory is for now. Forgiveness and Grace is for living now.

Think for a moment: What would it be like to live a day when NOTHING negative of the past limiting our obedience to Christ?

Consider all bad decisions, trespasses against us having no cringing memories haunting thoughts/evaluations of ourselves, or others.

What if it didn’t matter what other thought or said? Not because we didn’t care, but because their opinion/evaluation didn’t change what God said about us or the identity we have as a part of His family, His Church, His kingdom?

Imagine a clean slate, freely forgiven and ties cut from preconceptions, misconceptions, searching for significance, looking for validation—

What if we didn’t have to be “right” all the time to feel justified? What if a mistake was just a mistake, forgivable, redeemable?

What if all of it was simply, gone, forgiven, without impact or influence?

What would you feel free to do? Where would you go? What would you say? Who would you help? Who would you forgive?

Sounds like heaven, right? It is. It is eternal life and In Him we have that now.

The exciting truth is according to Christ and the work He did…

We have all of that and more NOW.

We have a voice before the Throne of Grace.

We have the Word of Truth that divides falsehood from truth, that heals, forgives and changes our dysfunctional thinking, turns our mourning into dancing, replaces ashes with beauty…

We have the Holy Spirit to help us when we need it: our counselor, our friend, our teacher.

We have the Faith of God within and the ability to choose to believe.

We have the ability to choose to forgive, choose love, choose joy, choose goodness, etc…

Hebrews 4: 12-16 “Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest [salvation provided], so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

When we remain bound by the small thinking of “I’m just a sinner saved by grace” we make small the work Christ did for us.

When we believe our only goal is simply to get to heaven, we abdicate our responsibility as members of the Church Jesus is building and the mandate of that Ecclesia (governing body of the Kingdom with an assignment) now.

When we say, Jesus will come and make things right or take His people out of the mess they created, we imply that somehow plan A of God did not work because of humanity, making humanity more powerful than God’s plan. This implication is that Jesus did not do the complete work and now Plan B must be put into place.

And finally, when we will not allow dialogue about matters of faith, we show a lack of confidence in what we know and the reliance upon what others know. I experienced this in my own journey out of denominational thinking. I studied the Scriptures but remained strictly within the bounds of the denominational doctrine that I had adopted as my own. Thus, my loyalty was not so much with the Word of God as I had thought. My loyalty was in what people had told me about the Word of God according to the “founding fathers of that particular denomination.”

This was a hard lesson to take at times. Pridefully, I did not want to think I had been mistaken for so many years and in turn all my efforts to be a “good follower of Christ” were somehow misguided and maybe useless. That would be 22 years of spinning my wheels and getting nowhere for Christ no matter how sincere I was! Ouch. What about the classes I taught! I needed to repent, and I did, but it was a difficult decision.

But God!

Not only was realizing all this a difficult thing, but also to remove the lenses and see the scriptures without them was frustrating. I kept slipping back into the cliches I’d learned. It took a community of believers and dialogue and study together from different perspectives to finally see what was happening.

All of this to say, the stewardship of the Gospel of Christ is important. It leads to the unity of the Church Christ prayed regarding in John 17. But we have to be willing to listen, discuss and come to a consensus. See also Eph 4

Dear Reader, there is so much more regarding the Kingdom and the Church that to go into now would make this an even longer blog. But I’ll leave this for another time or for you to study. My goal is to point out the freedom and victory you as a believer possess now because of Christ. I encourage discussion and study for all of us. We all need someone to whom we are accountable. And The Holy Spirit is good at His job. He faithfully reveals the truth to those willing to see.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.

It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forever.

Psalm 133

Grace and Peace

Anne

Flower Garden Grace

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:52:40 GMT

“I feel as bright as a flower garden!” This phrase is included in a book I am currently working on. It has to do with an unexpected gift of colorful clothing. The idea came from an account regarding my grandfather's visit to a neighbor.

The story began something like this:

"One day "Pat" (my Grandfather) came to the door in to bring some vegetables from the garden." The neighbor went on to relate how embarrassed she was to open the door because she had just gotten out of the shower and had to hurriedly put on whatever clothes were handy before answering the door. The clothes did not match and she did not really pay attention until she was nearly to the door. In fact the colors wildly clashed, and she still had a towel (also colorful) around her wet hair. Today, we would probably just not answer the door, but this was a small town and people did not do that when it was someone they knew. She went on to tell how embarrassed and silly she felt but she decided to open the door anyway expecting my grandfather to make a depreciating comment about how silly she looked (because that was how she felt). She was pleasantly surprised by what my grandfather said,

“Why, you look as purty as a garden full of flowers!”

That was how I remember my grandparents teasing. They allowed the one being teased to participate without losing face. As far as I can remember, no one left feeling “less than,” but rather “a part of” when jokes were told.

Some are so quick to criticize and joke in ways that put others down. Why highlight and tear apart the flaws in the name of humor or“truth in love” or simply to feel superior?

Have you noticed the world has become quick to see what is not right. We do want injustice exposed, yes. But not just exposed! As believers, our desire is for justice and to be right with God, to stand for Truth because it is good for us, not just good to us. We were made to be the representatives of Christ upon the earth, so it is difficult to stand silent when injustice is happening.

But a balance is needed.

To complain and only report what the devil is up to and neglect the report of what God is doing and what He has said in His Word about similar matters in the past, works counter to our desire for righteousness. Likewise, concentrating on the flaws, condemning and highlighting the areas of weakness in others or even ourselves, denies the value of who God says we are and all He has placed within us to accomplish His good purposes.

The option is always before us when we hear reports that are negative or discern what is unjust. We must wisely, with the help of the Holy Spirit, know how to respond to these moments. In small and large matters, we can choose to support life or death, literally and figuratively. That power is in our tongue, what we say aloud and think in our hearts. It is in our conversation: blessing or curses, grace or gossip. The power is in our prayers, the Scriptures we remember and those we call on in prayer. God says He watches over His Word to perform it. What Word are we speaking, praying, believing?

When my Grandfather's neighbor opened the door to him in her crazy outfit, in that moment, he chose to support life.

How?

His joking comment cut off erased any opportunity for embarrassment to take hold. The joking comment about the flower garden, found a positive place to land in her heart that did not wound. He made light of the moment, canceling any need for shame, and brought laughter to a memory. Any other response could have caused that woman to cringe for the rest of the day. Instead, she remembered the moment at his memorial service with gratitude and laughter, remembering his kindness.

Be a blessing, choose life. Listen to those who recognize the opportunity to apply Truth to negativity.

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Jeremiah 1:12 “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.”
Romans 8: 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death , but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

Proverbs 18:21: Death and life are in the power of the tongue : and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Abundance of the Heart

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:42:39 GMT

Abundance of the heart

Dear Reader,

Lately a phrase keeps running through my mind: "Out of the heart, the mouth speaks..." My first thought was, what was I saying or commenting recently that the admonishment could be for me? Had I been harboring thoughts in my heart that do not represent the Character of Christ? Possibly. What had I been cultivating or entertaining recently in my thoughts and with whom I talked?

All good questions and it is good to first see how a word that resonates in our prayer time or reading applies to us personally before sharing the truth with the corporate body of the Church.

So I did. I made sure that what I said and thought about was not contrary or cultivating a negative or critical spirit within. And still the thought persisted. Time to do more research and find out where that quote was from and what was happening when it was said.

And this is what I found:

The complete quote that this phrase hales from is Matthew 12:34 and it says:

"“Either assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. [ we get that, apple trees bear apples, etc...]

"You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? F or the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. " [ Jesus was talking to the Pharisees. They were pretending to be "good" and the people believed them because they knew the Scriptures better than they did].

Continuing with the passage...

"The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. [Sometimes evil can look good, but only through deception--remember Adam and Eve..]

" But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” [According to this passage, it is our own words that condemn us. We choose what we cultivate in our hearts and the direction we follow...]

The setting of Matthew 12 opens with Jesus and the disciples walking through the grain fields. They get hungry so as they pass the grain growing, they pick some and eat it. Seems harmless, doesn't it?

Enter the Pharisees. Apparently they were with them or watching in some way. Can't you just see them trying to be nonchalant about spying on the disciples and Jesus and waiting for one of them to violate the law?

"Oh, we just happened to pass by and saw...!"

Funnier still, maybe they were trying to be covert and spying by moving from tree to tree along the outside edge of the grain field peeking around the trunk of the tree and from out of the bushes to watch...?

Seriously, I"m thinking maybe they were following not far behind waiting for someone to violate some law so they could accuse. Others among them probably wanted to hear what Jesus was saying, not fully convinced He was doing anything wrong...

Jesus then stops and rebukes them when they accuse the disciples of violating the Sabbath by "laboring" in the fields on the day of rest. Jesus uses a familiar quote from Isaiah that they should be familiar with, " if you had known what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the innocent." ( References ) He is referring to much more than that one incidence. For the Pharisees did that all the time as they exercised their power and authority over the people.

Then further in Matthew 12, there are more questions and explanations regarding the Sabbath. The pharisees continue to point out the violations regarding what is allowed on the Sabbath. The Spirit of the law puts mercy and grace over the letter of the law and he points to the the prophecies of Isaiah regarding the Messiah (Lord of the Sabbath) for them to consider what they are doing. ( See References ).

The encounters in Matthew with the Pharisees and teachers of the law reveal the following conflicts.

We know the Pharisees had the truth regarding the Law and the prophets of old and they believed it was their duty to protect it. They believed they had the right interpretation. They were educated, the average person was not. So the average person relied on the religious leaders to tell them the truth. This gave the Pharisees and teachers of the law an authority over the people.
Because the leaders should know the right applications of the law, they should also know better than to corrupt it with their own personal agendas and power-seeking.
The sermon on the mount Jesus uncovered the heart behind the law. His ultimate sacrifice in fulfilling the law showed His love for humanity and His desire to break the hold of the accuser (the devil) over them. The Pharisees behavior reveals the accuser's intent and manipulation through those willing to partner with him. ( Jhn 8:44; Acts 13:10; Eph 4, 6 )
When we read Matthew 5-7, we can see Jesus is describing the Kingdom of God reality in the face of distortion for the sake of someone else's power over them.
Like vipers, the altering of truth poisons the lives of those who live by the alteration of the Truth communicated. Jesus is admonishing those who should know better because what they proclaim, decide and teach, is inconsistent with the representation of the office they were to represent. They were to not only accurately teach the letter of the law, but the heart of the Father behind it.

So that is a little background regarding the phrase given to me. Why was it given? What was I thinking about? I was listening to the news and the many points of view. I was getting tired of the do's and dont's of those who presumed to be experts on what to believe, to eat, to say...etc. Even the Spiritual leaders of our day have different points of view!!!

And to complicate things is the reality that even those who, (like the Pharisees of Matthew 12), point out the inconsistencies, can be deceived, repeating opinions without knowledge.

OH what a tangled web...how are we to decide what to believe? It does make one want to just close the door on the whole thing and hibernate until it is all over.

But we can't. Not if we want to be the Church Jesus is building. We have to discern and speak up with out voice, our vote and our pens, make a phone call if needed. But we cannot continue to abdicate the responsibility as citizens of the Kingdom of God and members of His body (His hands and feet upon the earth).

( We have the Scripture, the Holy Spirit and Truth on our side?)

It is all a matter of the heart. " the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart." And this is how we, in this present day, can decide whom to listen to and of whom to be weary. Words and actions will betray the deceiver and testify for the believer, regardless of how the words are wrapped.

Pay attention.

Pray.

Remain close to the heart of the Father so His voice can be heard amongst the clatter of opinions.

Take care of the heart.

When Scripture speaks of the heart, is in reference to that place were our soul and our spirit meet. It is where "who is in charge" is decided. And God knows the heart of everyone better than we do ( Ps 44:21, Acts 15:8, 1 Jn 3: 20 ), so He will help us when we are confused when we remain in Him. What we cultivate in relationships and entertainment; what we fill our heart with in the places we go and what we study, they all contribute to how our perspective on life is formed and how clearly we hear the guidance of the Holy Spirit ( 1 Cor 5:6,Pro 9:6,Pro 13;20,Ti 2:16-18,Heb 12:15,2 Peter 2:2, 18-20).

Proverbs 4:23 (NASB) says, we are to "watch over [our]heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life."

The NIV says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

When we are converted, our soul (our mind, our reasoning, our intellect and our emotions) is required to change allegiance from personal agendas to Jesus as Lord. The struggle to put aside our soulish desires and what we think is best can be difficult. It is a change of allegiance from the kingdom of darkness with its law of sin and death (old covenant thinking) to choosing allegiance according to the Kingdom of God and the Law of the Spirit of Life which, when cultivated, brings freedom. (Romans 8)

Whatever the heart is full of, will spill out of our mouth, eventually and then there will be no doubt. All will discern what "spirit" a person is speaking from by what they say, backed up by what they do... Do they follow through with the promise? Or do they conveniently "forget" and fail to be accountable? Is what they promised simply a twisting of words?

Do you remember the story of Jesus admonishing the disciples for wanting fire from heaven to come down and strike the Samaritan village who refused to welcome him? Jesus said to them,“You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;" (Luke 9:55).

The Luke passage above reveals there are times when we need to examine a little more carefully what we have allowed to affect our heart. For example, I love to read a good story, and even if the story is fantastic, I KNOW when I need to put that book away and not pick it up again. I don't have to know why, my heart is just trained to KNOW when a story is having a negative effect on what I am cultivating in my heart.

Psalm 141: 3-5 requests :

"Set a guard, LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice deeds of wickedness
With people who do wrong;
And may I not taste their delicacies."

Believing the worst, entertaining/harboring bitter feelings of disappointment and unbelief cultivates the law of sin and death. Where we focus our attention determines the lens through which we form our perspective.

In closing, consider the Apostle Paul and the history we know of him as he advises the following in Philippians 4:8:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Words, whether written or spoken in private or public, reveal our predisposition toward life. While we are to believe the best about people, and think on good things as the Apostle Paul advises, it does not mean we are to ignore the discernment given regarding what to people say, promise, and preach.

We have a good measure to discern the words, the times and the seasons in the precepts of Scripture. We can know how to respond by that good measure of Faith if we know what that measure entails. We do not need to be ignorant and easily manipulated, sucked into ideologies that do not measure up to the Standards of His Faith that we are given.

We must know the truth. Even in these blogs, Dear Reader, you need to know the truth for yourself so you can discern rightly what I am "saying." Weigh the Truth I glean from my experience before you adopt anything as your own. Most of all pray that you might gain what God has for you.

Remember:

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." Luke 6:45

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Dear Brother and Sister in Christ

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:57:16 GMT

May the Lord Bless You

Dear Reader,

The LORD bless you, and keep you; [ to keep, guard, observe, give heed]

The LORD make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’ Numbers 6:24-26

Like many believers, I often pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ in situations where life is made difficult because of the influence of evil around them:

May the Lord bless them and keep them. May the wisdom directly from the Throne of God and the Holy Spirit (which always agrees with the Word of God) be made available to them. May they experience the Peace (wholeness) of Christ that surpasses understanding in tangible ways. May they discern clearly that which faithfully offers deliverance, strategy, and comfort. May Justice and Righteousness reign in decision-making and accountability.

Regarding evil-doers working against the plan of God:

May their eyes be open, no longer deceived. May those who steal be brought low, without power. May their influence, their bribes and promises fall on deaf ears. May the evil unseen forces that sustain and instigate destructive and evil inclinations be cut off and removed beyond influence and sustainability.

May those used of evil to cause destruction and chaos, hear the Gospel of Christ, His Kingdom and His Church so they may make an informed choice regarding Christ, His Kingdom and His Church. May they be judged accordingly .

And may those who choose Faith and Freedom that Christ offers, find Mercy. May Strength in Him enable them to throw off the evil influence that encumbers them, sabotages and destroys them. May they experience true health and wholeness offered through Christian Salvation as they reach for the Prize of the upward call in Christ (Phil 4:13).

And thus have my prayers been for several years now.

The other night I woke up to pray once again, but for a different group of people this time. This group I have not thought of very much. However, it may be they who need the prayer support the most. I'm speaking of those on the front lines of the Spiritual battle we are in. Without support they will wear down, making them vulnerable to deception and compromise because they HAVE been doing what is right.... have become confident or maybe tired.

Let us pray for those who are NOT in difficult places. Let us pray for those who are doing well, prospering, and walking freely in accordance with the Will of God without persecution. Let us pray they do not become deaf or blind to the call.

Let us pray for those in Christ who are thankful and feel blessed. May they be granted further revelation and a renewed inspiration with a clear spiritual and practical understanding. May they not become complacent, but instead be ready to receive wisdom and direction regarding the assignments upon their lives. May the Word of God open up to them in a new way regarding the Revelation of Christ, His Kingdom and the role of His Church upon the earth.

May they be faithful.

May the Lord Bless them and keep them from that which undermines, steals or hijacks the God-given skills and understanding regarding Kingdom assignments and purpose. May complacency, busyness, and distraction not dominate, but rather be put in its proper place. May the Lord Bless them and keep them from ambush and harm, as they wisely discern the Spiritual reality of the events around them as they wisely heed the direction of Holy Spirit in their lives.

And finally, let us not forget the group who needs our consistent prayers, those in places of influence and decision-making places. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May you hear the words, "Well done, Good and faithful servant."

May the Law of the Spirit of Life, be an everlasting witness and signpost of direction to spur you on toward completing the Kingdom assignments for which you are responsible. You were created with every ability required, within the Kingdom of God. God does not ask of us what we are not equipped to complete (Eph 2:10).

May that which strives to manipulate and oppress away from accomplishing the Will of God through fear, be seen for what it is, and be brought into order according to the Law of Love in Christ ( 1John 4:18 ).

May policy makers, courts and leaders of people, steward the responsibility entrusted to them according the precepts of the Lord; leaning on His understanding, according the Kingdom economics.

May those elected to office, remain true to their oath of office. May those who are fraudulently taking a place of office be removed.

And in closing, May the Church Jesus is Building continue to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)

AMEN,

Grace and Peace,

Anne

RESET

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 15:16:46 GMT

Can These Bones Live?

Dear Reader,

The word "reset" keeps ringing in my mind. It makes me think of a change of seasons, like when winter becomes spring. The the flowers bloom producing seed for the next planting. RESET.

The Animals also produce young and a new generation is begun. RESET

The fields and gardens are cultivated and seeds are sown with whatever the sower would like for harvest in the fall. RESET. New Years resolutions are made. RESET.

A blank canvas, paints laid out, brushes cleaned and ready for whatever the artist dreams. RESET.

God, in His wisdom, created opportunities to start again--opportunities for RESET. And through Him who strengthens us, all things are possible for those who believe.

If we have been going the wrong way, distracted and distressed, we can RESET and choose to focus where we should, placing our hope in Him and to turn the corner. In the Walking out of our salvation, we don't always know the right way to go. We do make mistakes sometimes. We don't hear Him clearly or don't listen to instructions, or change the instructions to suit our desired outcome. The wonderful thing is, God allows course corrections (repentance, change of allegiance).

It is a matter of the heart, the place where the soul and spirit meet, that "well spring of life." Who is in charge? Which part of us do we allow to take the lead in our goals and decision making? Remember, we are spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body. At conversion our spirit is quickened by His Spirit and saved. The soul, our mind, intellect and emotions, are being RESET and reformed--and we live in a body that is in need of wisdom from the One who created us as to what is good for us to live healthy lives. See Proverbs 4:20-27 for more about that.

Our New Year holds promises of a new grand baby. Jim and I get to be "GRANDMA and GRANDPA!" What kind of Grandma do I want to be? What do I want my future grandchild, grandchildren to remember about me? It will mean some sacrifices (gladly given) on my part. I may have to readjust some expectations and some plans that were made before I knew about this blessed event. RESET.

This new beginning, this blank slate, and this opportunity to create, this RESET, is the part of the season I adore. Creativity often results in a huge mess from those looking in from the outside with their minds fixed on a finality of things.

What do I mean, "the finality of things?" Let me explain.

When I take this season of RESET and look at it through the lenses of "what I left behind" or the challenges ahead and plan according to what I fear will go wrong or what I anticipate to be a problem and plan for that, this is FINALITY. When I move forward into the future looking in the rear view mirror of "what has been" or "what it used to be like," I set myself up for limitation and missing the very best of what is to come. While it is wise to learn from our mistakes so we don't make them again, a Focus and expectation on making those mistakes and the fear of failure handicaps the process of learning and discovery (revelation and knowledge) that leads to reformation and wisdom.

Not long ago, I was in conversation with someone and started sharing all thing things I'd enjoy accomplishing in the future. In my mind I was standing before a blank canvas, with a brush in my hand ready to paint the possibilities when she said with a laugh, "How long do you think you are going to live?"

That wasn't a curiosity question, by her tone of voice, but rather unbelief that I would live long enough to accomplish all of my dreams. (In my mind I set the brush down. The canvas remained blank)

My friend did not believe. She did not have a hope that I could or would accomplish much, if any, of what I wanted to do in the future. Her mind was on the finality of life, preparing for what lay before her balanced by her bank account and ability. She did not understand and to continue down this unexpected turn in the conversational path--I changed the subject.

Because I know her well, I know she was unaware of the word curses she had thrown against my hopes.

Words are powerful and creative, be careful in conversation and thoughts. (Phil 4:8) Like mud in a bog, negative thoughts expressed will stick like a curse sucking down hopes into depths of nothingness.

The Character of God, the Law of the Spirit of Life by which we live through the Plan of Salvation given has an answer to RESET. There is wisdom to be found in Scripture, in counsel with believers and in prayer. I know from experience that I have dear friends that can help Jim and I bring clarity with their experiences without pumping up false hope nor throwing mud upon a blank canvas while we hold the brush ready to paint a dream. We value their counsel.

Now, consider Ezekiel 37.

"Can these old bones live?" asked the Lord to the Ezekiel. Ezekiel didn't assume the answer to the question based upon the evidence before him. His mind was not on the finality of the valley of bones. He was not looking in the rear view mirror of life contemplating whether or not he had ever seen dry bones come to life. He was not measuring the answer to the question by his natural experiences. Typically dry bones do not come to life so they surely couldn't now. Right?

Instead, Ezekiel considered the power and the character of God. Ezekiel responded, " “O Lord God, You know.”

Then God told Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones. To prophesy over the bones. To Prophesy means to speak or sing with divine inspiration, with consolation and hope of a happier age. In the narrative, God told Ezekiel what to say.

‘You dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: ‘Behold, I am going to make breath enter you so that you may come to life. And I will attach tendons to you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you so that you may come to life; and you will know that I am the LORD.’”

So Ezekiel obeys and reports that in the vision, "there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone...and a great army was born."

Nothing is impossible with God. Israel needed a miracle, deliverance, and God was saying (my interpretation) that He would provide defense with the cooperation through the obedience of His people. Note that Ezekiel did not say anything more or less that what God said to say. He didn't add his own wisdom or finish God's sentences with his own strategy. It was the Word of the Lord that Ezekiel spoke.

Devotionally speaking, within our own moments of noticing a valley of dry bones before us, and the "finality" it contains in the natural,( ie. failed efforts to make consistent healthy choices, strained finances, broken relationships) the question for us to consider is the same that was presented to Ezekiel,

"Can these dry bones live?"

In other words, Can this blank canvas result in what is hoped for? Can this garden/field cultivated produce the crop I desire?

The answer is YES. We can choose finality and protect ourselves form disappointment, or we can choose to speak the blessings and the Word of the Lord over our circumstance and hopes. For with God, all things are possible and in Him, we have the tools at our disposal to do our part. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and using the Word of God, we can prophesy over our own lives for good health and to make good choices and allowing God to work out the details.

What do I mean by prophesying the Word over our lives? I mean claim a scripture for yourself, within context, a promise of God to His people. A consistant verse we use is Psalm 37:3-5

Trust in the LORD and do good;

Live in the land and cultivate faithfulness [feed on, remind yourself of His faithfulness ] .

Delight [be pliable, be teachable] yourself in the LORD;

And He will give you the desires [request, petition] of your heart .

Commit [roll together] your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

( Tangent: That " roll together " is interesting to me and I'll pursue it again sometime, but the first thing that I think of is cooking and the combining of things for a recipe. When it is rolled together it become one thing.)

As believers in Christ we move from revelation to revelation, from glory to glory as we are perfected in Him. Sometimes we fall back a step or two and need to be corrected and put back up on the path we so greatly desire to walk. It's okay. God is all about "reset" and "renew" and "reform" for we have been "redeemed" and we are His.

God cares about us NOW and wants to help us move toward His plan for humanity that includes us. We need to be at our best.

We also have free will to choose what we want to do:

We can accept and receive His Word of Truth, His Will (regarding us individually and corporately) and His Way (strategy). And in that sense, as Psalm 37 says, when we receive His offer to "roll our desires up" into His ways with His wisdom, "He will do it." Will it look like what was expected? Maybe, but our minds are limited. We don't see all the moving parts. Read Psalm 37 for more...

The other choice is to go it on our own. Make our own choices according to our own will, experience and desires. I've been down this road before, valuing my own perceived safety over the ways of God. I've rejected the tools of prophesy and life to simply happen to me rather than claiming the promises of God. This isn't a satisfying way to live. It does not result in the full abundant life God has for us. But it is possible to live this way and God still loves us, roots for us to succeed.

Grace and Peace, and Happy New Year,

Anne

The Merry-Go-Round

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:14:58 GMT

Focus

Dear Reader,

Some time ago, I was working through some angst. I wanted to better understand what it meant to be "Christian" and to better walk out that understanding . My way just did not seem to be the best way in that moment. In council with others whom I respected, I was first was told they suspected that my personal issues were rooted in my identity. I needed to know who I was in Christ. On one hand, I was offended, but mostly I was confused. The truth was, when I really thought about it, I was without a clear understanding of what it meant to know who I was in Christ. I knew my past and present feelings, experiences and history. It defined how I saw myself both physically and relationally. Wasn’t that my identity? So, what did the person mean that my identity was the root cause of my issues at that moment??

What I didn’t realize was that who I SAW myself to be was centered around protecting who I WANTED to be. It was all about ME and this self-centered agenda created a way for Pride (protected by fear and insecurities) to get firmly rooted.

Pride is often manifested by those seeking to protect insecurities and insecurities in turn are expressed by many to create a facade of “humility” or “shyness.” In truth, shyness and insecurities actually indicate an underlying issue of pride (ex: not wanting to look bad or make a mistake before others). This was a REALLY difficult “truth-telling” for me to receive. OH MY, if it had not been given by someone who I KNEW loved me and wanted the best for me, I would have turned my back and walked away. Instead, I set out to discover what she meant by identity.

What I discovered changed everything.

First, I had to recognize that I needed to understand and that pride and fear and insecurity have a symbiotic relationship. They feed one another and like a merry-go-round maintain a circular pattern of reasoning resulting in stagnation of our spiritual growth. Merry-go-rounds go nowhere.

The only way off this merry-go-round of emotion and reaction is to do as Paul said in Colossians 3 and if we have been raised up with Christ, we are to keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. As followers of Christ, we are to set our mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

The more we learn about Christ, the more we see all that He did for humanity. The more we allow that revelation to sink in, the more we see the Kingdom of God at work. The more we recognize the Kingdom, the more we see our placement in the corporate body of Christ with a Kingdom assignment. The more we understand Christ, His Kingdom and our placement within the Church Jesus is building, the more solidly we understand our own identity. When we understand our identity, our purpose is revealed through the work of the Holy Spirit. When our identity and purpose are revealed, we walk in destiny (intention, calling, future, fate, purpose) as His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do the good works He has prepared for us. And all things past, present and future work together for us who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

While on the merry-go-round of pride, fear and insecurity, the trespasses of others, reactions of anger, bitterness, unhealthy habits of gossip and slander to gain friends and influence people, all take a foothold. A person such as this, is incredibly self-centered and miserable.

OFF the merry-go-round is the BEST place to be. OFF the merry-go-round, putting the old self to rest and embracing the new creation through Christ, there is no place for those things to take root.

Why?

Because identity no longer has to be created. At conversion we become a new creation and as a new creation, identity is received in Christ. He is our source and our purpose is about what He has placed within us as HIS workmanship. NOTHING can alter what He says about us, not even the trespasses of another into our lives, in whatever form it may take.

It simply doesn’t matter what others think or evaluate. It may sting, but FAITH extinguishes the fiery arrows. (Eph 6)

So have faith, Dear Reader, and know that You are His workmanship and Beloved.

Read your bible, friend.

Ideological Shift

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:06:54 GMT

Theology or Ideology?

“See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.”

Colossians 2:8

Dear Reader,

This verse from Colossians 2:8 is one of my favorites “go-to” verses when the events of life reported in the news, all the “facts and opinions” demanding my allegiance, and attention “muddify” (my new word, lol) my thinking.

Some background:

In our house lately we have turned off the news (auditory and apps) except for selected sources and only then, for a limited time. We used to have it running in the background, not realizing how all the commentaries and news noise (auditory and written) were affecting our mood and the sensitivity to things spiritually. We were trying to be spiritually sensitive, but what determined our focus, changed.

It isn’t as if we never heard from God or could not sense His presence regarding what we were hearing and reading, but, for me, I was finding it difficult to focus prayers on something other than family concerns and the dictates of the latest news headlines. Both good places to focus, but the constant seeking after “what’s happening in the world today” and the “latest developments” to see what to pray for was taking the focus away from seeking the true Source, and what The Heart of God wanted us to pray about without the barrage of information interfering. We want to stay informed, but we do not want to be manipulated nor distracted from the Will and Word of God upon which our prayers should focus....

Finding the most controversial topics and exploiting the fear and curiosity of the outraged listener to sympathize with the seemingly victimized tugs on cords regarding the desire for justice and righteousness. It is built into us by God, because we are created in His image, the discernment between right and wrong and therefore our feelings do rise up from time to time in the face of injustice. Feelings can cloud the direction prayers should take according to the Will and the Word of God. Advertisers caught onto the motivation feelings inspired a long time ago and it is used by the world system, negatively and positively for advertising, creating narratives, and manipulation toward a particular ideology. The most common emotion invoked is fear, and it isn’t the fear of the Lord.

2 Tim 1:7 says, For God has not given us a spirit of timidity (cowardice), but of power and love and discipline (sound mind).

1 John 4:18 says, There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Another emotion that invokes action and has become an advertising angle for video shorts and pod castes, is outrage. It gets people's attention, demanding justice. We all want justice, right? It is one of the most powerful emotions because it is rooted in pride pulling on the altruistic desire for compassion. Once ensnared, it becomes easier to twist motivations toward particular ideology, even if the claims used to motivate are a twisted version of the truth. Truth doesn’t matter to those seeking power, influence or finance (Mammon). Only a small amount is needed in the lie to create an effective narrative. That's why it is a good thing to ask questions, look at the claims from different angles and seek the truth because I guarantee a soundbite of information intended to get attention, probably has only a part of what is really happening. If you add money payments into the mix, you have a perfect storm of foolishness on display.

Matthew 6:24 says, “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].

So, when Jim was inspired to turn it all off the difference was almost instantaneous. It was as if someone had turned off the “noise” of a big city and entered the quiet rest of a rural countryside. Now the birds could be heard, the rain on the roof and the wind in the leaves of the trees, both literally and metaphorically speaking.

And this all relates to a conference this past week and there were quite a few speakers. One of the speakers, Dr Joseph Mattera, spoke regarding a comparison of ideology and theology and it seemed to take the previously stated concern a step further for me and show where I might make a change in how I approach Scripture study( I imagine if you went to his website, you would find more on the subject as he understands it). I intentionally did not take notes because I knew I’d want to explore more about this topic with regard to what I just shared with you. I did not want to copy something he had done and risk plagiarism. This blog, however, is stimulated by recent events and the talk he gave.

The subject matter pointed out a shift in some of my own understanding regarding what I believed. I saw that the source of my everyday information can easily shift my theological convictions from biblically based, to an ideological stance with a biblical start, regarding certain things. I’ve no doubt confused a few readers, let me explain:

Theology is all about our relationship with God. We seek THE SOURCE, which is God His word contextually speaking, for governance and direction. Why? Because we want a relationship, two-way communication, with Him, our Creator. Our relationship with Him should measure we use to relate to one another. The Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost to facilitate that relationship. And because are spirit, we have a soul and live in a physical body, every part is valuable and worthy of care. Unfortunately, long before conversion, we lived with the soul in charge,(feelings, reasoning and intellect), and that has become the default for many regarding what we believe about God and our relationship with Him. We cannot always separate how we feel about something from influencing our internal response to events or decision making efforts. The soul is very good at informing us, but it is terrible at decision making because it can only look to the past for information(our experiences and how we felt about them). Without the Holy Spirit direction and discernment, the soul can lead us off a cliff along with the other lemmings around us.

And this is where I believe ideology drops in changing our trajectory toward or away from theology and the Will of God for us and around us.

An Ideology is a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture. (Webster’s dictionary) We often find that people who adhere to a particular ideology can become quite defensive regarding it. Some even become violent or hostile about whom they accept within the group. The parameters of acceptable thoughts and behaviors are carefully defined. A person is either loyal to the accepted behavioral constructs, or they are rejected and excluded from any discussion or activities: canceled, de-platformed. We have seen this escalate into violence and murder in our country. Unfortunately, groups of people who are meant to "dwell together in unity" have succumbed to divisions as Theology shifted into Ideology to satisfy personal agendas. Thoughts and feelings rallied around a cause, resulting fractures in relationship along the lines of personal, moral convictions in the name of "love thy neighbor."

It is an ideology that pod-casters propagate to make money.

It is an ideology spiritual leaders seek to adopt in order to please the people so they may protect their salary and keep the lights on in the building where they meet.

It is an ideology that politicians use to seek to please to gain power and keep their seat of influence for decades, long past their true effectiveness to lead.

An ideology is what Paul had to deal with in Colosse and in Galatia. The elementary principles in the verse refers to the ideologies among the gentiles about astrology and angel worship governing behavior and culture. They were mixing it into the Gospel message and creating a distorted truth that allowed them to keep their favorite rituals.

It was an ideology that some of the faithful adherents to the Old Covenant Laws in the first century , used to inform new Gentile believers, that they must first adhere to the Jewish tradition before they could be true followers of Christ.

Paul never taught that the Gentiles must first adhere to the Old Covenant ways before becoming followers of Christ. Jesus never taught that either.

I imagine, those who wanted to contribute the knowledge of the Old Covenant were correct with regard to the value of understanding the prophecies and promises contained in the Scriptures. The Gentiles did need to understand those truths. We also need to understand these truths. What we need NOT to do is to build camps around around a favorite revelation, but rather engage in dialogue and be teachable.

Ideology is devoid of the Holy Spirit direction. Why do I say this? Because ideologies that I am speaking of begins with the fear of man.
Theology begins with fear of the Lord.
Ideology seeks to categorize and isolate certain individuals.
Theology seeks interaction between people, discussion, consensus and reformation. Jesus prayed His followers would be one. Psalm 133 talks of the brethren dwelling in unity together. Ephesians 4:1-6 say we are to bear with one another in love, and to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It is Spirit directed, not emotion or agenda driven.
Faith seeking understanding is theology
Understanding seeking faith (scriptures to support it) is an ideology.
Within Theology, God is understood as Creator and Author of Life.
Ideology seeks to be God and reorder human life to align with their agenda.
Theology is receptive and corrective.
Ideology is divisive and defensive.
Theology does not seek to control, offers principles for successful living.
Ideology demands adherence to the rules
Theology reads Scripture in context as parts of a whole
Ideology reads Scripture in isolation.

It comes down to what is used as a measure or the constant used in the forming of convictions. When what is believed to be true causes a divide in relationship, then we can be pretty sure, somehow an ideology has replaced the theological pursuit. Agreeing to disagree furthers the divide and cuts off further discussion. It isn't an answer, it is avoidance.

Theological pursuits are not always comfortable. Ideology building is much easier to maintain with like-minded individuals living in an echo chamber of personal convictions.

As human beings, we like things categorized and formulated for easy consumption and quick decision-making. We like to be correct in what we think, and the pursuit of knowledge has become something we do by ourselves. Freedom and independence have been distorted into something personal and isolated from others. Matthew 5-7 doesn’t apply in that world. This is fertile ground for the development of ideological thinking over theological understanding.

A proposed way forward:

As followers of Christ who seek to be theologically sound, gain understanding, and the wisdom of the Scriptures and the promises fulfilled in the Revelation of Christ, His Kingdom and His Church, we need to remain teachable. And to have a productive discussion, the same measure by which the revelations we receive and understand needs to be used. That measure should be Contextual Scriptural understanding of Christ, the whole story, not just our favorite parts.

For example, assume "Jack" and "Joe" have a similar revelation, and they bring it to the table for discussion. Each holds the revelation to a different measure. Jack prefers to use a measure that includes present day headlines to interpret the revelation. He does not think it is relevant nor is he aware of any consistent use of terminology and imagery throughout the Scriptures and other contemporary literature of the day in which the scripture was written. He simply applies the revelation regardless of context.

Joe, on the other hand, considers the consistent use of imagery and terminology within the whole of Scripture to interpret the revelation. He does not want to impose 21 ^st speculations upon Scripture to gain a present-day understanding. It leads to many questions and discussion points. He does not come quickly to an definitive answer.

Joe tries the patience of Jack with the delay of answers and the length of conversation. Jack tries the patience of Joe with his quick decisions without considering all the angles of truth. Both men, left in the isolation of their own interpretations without discussion will end up walking out their understanding very differently. Both are in danger of moving into ideology and building a camp of preferred companions to discuss their preferred revelations speculating on the errors of those who think differently.

This division is not of God. I do not believe this is the Body of Christ that Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 12.

It is a worthy goal for the people of God to form and reform the standards by which we seek to live together in unity in the power and authorship of the Holy Spirit. The walking out of this unity will result in the unified voice in the earth from God the Father to the world system. The Law of the Spirit of Life pushes back darkness and shines the light in order that all may see, and freely choose to come to the Truth of Christ, His Kingdom and His Church without the veil of any ideology clouding the way.

To review:

The truth is to agree to disagree is not unity. It is not Christianity. It is division along the lines of ideology. It is inflexible, prideful, and does not seek truth.
An ideological measure for what to believe relies on personal agendas, experience, and feelings.
Theology remains integral as long as the whole revelation of Scripture remains the context of the parts.
Ideology is exclusive in nature
Theology is open for discussion, teachable and humble when interacting with those who disagree.
Theology begins with the fear of the Lord.
Ideology begins with the fear of men.
Theological pursuits allow for other perspectives with Scripture as the measure rather than validation from another.
Ideology demands to be right and feels threatened by discussion that reveals the inaccuracies in developing theories.
Theological pursuits come from a place of loving-kindness and respect while remaining steadfast in the strength of Truth.
Ideological pursuits seek significance and will change according to the approval from whom validation is sought.

It is a challenge for all of us to consider carefully what we have believed in the name of Christianity.

What do we believe about Christ, His Kingdom and His Church? And secondly, what will we do about it?

The world is crying out for answers. Followers of Christ in places of policy and influence need the support of fellow believers. Darkness wants to keep the ground it has gained… And the church as we know it has become compromised and ineffective in our division over "philosophies empty deceptions in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.”

Dear Reader, we must ask questions and not just assume we know it all. We need to be aware, to seek the truth, and find the Source of strength and wisdom in Christ alone. We need to be faithful to our assignments that we are enabled to accomplish with all He has placed within us. As members of the Body of Christ, the Church Jesus is building, citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are a part of something bigger than ourselves alone. Our assignments matter, even if we don't know why they matter, they matter.

Blessings, grace and peace as you seek out the Truth that is revealed in Christ. Seek HIM first and everything else will fall into place.

Anne

To Walk it Out

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:07:26 GMT

Faith Life

Dear Reader,

A Life of faith is meant to be walked out. It is active participation, not passive acceptance. This means that I have a responsibility to actively realign my thinking according to the word of God. Proverbs 37:25 says,

“I have been young and now I am old,

Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

Or his descendants begging for bread.”

Why did Solomon say this? Why is this true? (you know it's okay to ask questions while you read, right?)

Matthew 6:25-34 reiterates the promise regarding the Kingdom and the anxiety of not having enough. It all goes back to trust.

Do I trust that God has a Good Plan for humanity? Is the plan good for me? Am I left out of this plan? Do I trust Him to be King of His Kingdom and that the design is perfect and His decisions are just?

This took a little time to think through, because I wanted to. It was important to me to trust the Word to be dependable despite the nay-Sayers, critics and doubters.

My relationship with God is incredibly important to me. I want to depend upon His word. So I asked the Holy Spirit for clarity, and whomever was around that I deemed wise in the moment for their facet of understanding. I searched and searched but it was the practical application in a series of life events that solidified it for me. I could trust that God is who He says He is and He is good, faithful and just, even when I have doubts. And along the way in my search, I found I could choose to believe that He is bigger than what I could understand, and I did not have to know the “why” for His Word to be true.

In addition, I discovered that trusting in Him is not passive. Believing is a verb, an action verb and a result of His faith in us. We have a part to play in obedience to what He has said and what He is saying NOW. That is active the faith of the woman searching for the lost coin and the man selling everything for the pearl of great price [i] .

The more I explore the implications of this truth regarding the God-assignments on my life, I see the Role of the Law of Spirit of Life spoken of in Romans 8, and what that means to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. The more I have, learned the more I see how easily it is to sink back into old patterns and expectations developed before conversion. Conversion to Christ often does instantly deal with strongholds of dysfunctional ways. However, due to free will, the saint (no longer thought of as "sinner), still has some choices to make.

This is my opinion, but I don't think every stronghold of sin is of demonic origin from which one is instantly delivered at conversion. I believe sometimes we choose things of our own will. Some may choose fear (as opposed to caution), for example, in order to prepare adequately for mishaps or hardship. Some patterns of thought-addictions like these, take a bit of time to dismantle and reform. For this reason, I am incredibly grateful for Grace and the Holy Spirit working in me. I have found the Holy Spirit is REALLY good at His job. He is more than able to complete the work He has begun. And in the process, life long lessons are learned that keep us from falling back into the rut of dysfunction from which we worked so hard to climb. Christ poured out His Holy Spirit on Pentecost to empower us to live the Life He intended. (Galatians 5) And to be the Church that makes a difference. It's hard to make a difference, disciple nations if we are bound by sinfulness that keeps us from freely being the Church He is building. (Matthew 16)

One day I was nudged to pray for a woman in the parking lot of a local thrift store. I didn’t do it, do you know why? Because I was afraid of getting into trouble and being embarrassed. Do you know what that revealed? I still have a way to go regarding my pride. But I know I am making progress because not long after that, I went to town, to many stores and enjoyed myself. Everyone was so friendly! When I got home, I realized I had no make up on and had not done much with my hair. What an entertainment that must have been (regarding my hair that curls in crazy ways at times) for those I encountered. No wonder they smiled so much! LOL.

Bring joy wherever you go! Right?

Here is a portion of the Letter Paul wrote to the Philippians I found encouraging.

You can find it in your favorite version in chapter 3, verses 12-21. Here I am using the Messenger

"I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.

"Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him."

Grace and Peace,

Anne

[i] Matthew 13 and Luke 15

Wealth

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 14:36:05 GMT

The search for security

Dear Reader,

Wealth and poverty are not determined by the amount one has in the bank or the assets that are owned. Rather, wealth and poverty are a mindset we carry based upon a Truth revealed. I didn't always know this.

If we base our understanding of wealth according to the world's standards, it teaches us to seek after influence or assets to gain wealth. In other words, we are to look to man to satisfy a perceived need. This thinking is fully grounded upon the personal ability or the ability of others to satisfy a personal agenda or goal. It is how we are taught by the world system to operate. Find a need and fill it. That's a good business model, right? It makes sense if we are traveling in the world system circles and as responsible adults, we do have a responsibility not to neglect the stewardship of our resources

So given that it might benefit us to be familiar with the workings of this world system, and given that we should not neglect responsibility, as a follower of Christ, what should be the mindset by which we operate? Is there another way of looking at this?

As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, a member of the Church Jesus is building, we know that our source of sustenance and blessing is not from people, but from God. Will He move people to give? Yes, of course, but it is still God who does the moving and not us (manipulation) and it is to God whom we look for direction, blessing and obedience, not to what men can offer us by association or gift. We say this, but do we believe it? What is our default setting? We look to people around us, who can help?

So like the widow at the judges door we should be persistent and continually ask God for what we want, right? That's biblical, right?

Well, I would counter that with, does a child need to ask repeatedly for food and shelter from a good and loving parent? There is a truth here, though, God is the source, but He isn't like the judge that needs to be hounded to answer. I do believe there is no harm in presenting our need to God. I do not advocate, however, for us to suddenly become childish in our pursuit of God's blessings like a small child hounding their parent for a cookie before dinner. Some things we do need to work out according to the Word already written for us to consult. And for other things we need to wait and trust our Heavenly Father to answer.

I know it's a hard concept to grasp. How do we NOT look to men for what we need to live when we are living in a world system?

By being obedient, be faithful in the little things. Be good stewards of all God gives. Mature adults steward wisely according to the Will and Word of God. Children are provided for and trained in righteousness. If we persist in coming to God in a childish way, always receiving and never giving, always demanding and never stewarding with wisdom, can God trust us with more than just the essentials?

Luke 16:10-13 says,
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore, if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

In this scripture the "wealth" that is its talking about is "where it is personified and opposed to God" Reference link In my estimation this would mean looking to people for provision. It could mean an employer, gifts, influence and popularity. It is also very likely that people worship (devote themselves to, have an allegiance to, make all their decisions according to) wealth and the gaining of wealth. This is a big problem. The first problem is the definition of wealth being used and the second is that this idolatry will eclipse the instructions of the Lord for your life. Mammon will demand a decision for allegiance . We can't go in two directions at the same time. Pursuing one will leave us empty of the other. (consider the rich young ruler in Luke 18)

One example that I am familiar with involves the Church system as I experienced it. When Jim was a pastor, it was the congregation that paid the salary through tithes and offerings. The denomination provided housing, utilities and insurance and much more. As pastor he was responsible to report to the larger district council the progress or lack of progress regarding finances and attendance. His success as a pastor and future pastoral assignments was based upon these reports. Congregants could also “report” upon the progress of the pastor in his duties (or lack-there-of). This created a loyalty not to God, but to the building of attendance, the denominational requirements and the successful development of ministry in the eyes of our peers and authorities. Looking to people to provide what was determined as “successful” made somewhat difficult to maintain the singular focus on Christ alone. It took a lot to go against the status quo and speak truth. Many pastors do opt for a peaceful life compromised by seeking provision from men instead of embracing the Freedom in Christ as the bible teaches and the wholeness it offers.

I often found those who received the success and accolades of people would say that their success was God's approval. They heartily embraced a prosperity message. Those who were not as successful and remained financially restrained would often say that was God's will for them, and they would embrace a poverty mindset as being somehow more godly than those who had embraced success. I know, I used to meet with the clergy spouses at retreats and we would "catch up" (commiserate together) on who is doing what and our opinion regarding it. Our first questions for one another often had the goal of finding out how big the congregation was, how good were the facilities and what programs were offered...Those serving small or medium sized congregations and limited facilities (like we did) often grouped with like minds embracing the poverty mindset as a kind of concealed blessing of God for us to figure out. Those with large congregations and numerous programs in motion grouped together and didn't often mix with those seemingly of less influence.

See how the world system regarding wealth, success and poverty distorts and divides the people of God? How tragic!

Living in the Law of the Spirit of Life requires that we trust God. As a citizen of the Kingdom and member of the Family of God, when we rely on Him to provide, we must do so at rest in His Goodness. It is good stewardship to obey His directions written for us in Scripture to read and applied through revelation by the Holy Spirit.

However, this is not easy on our own if we have not managed properly the Word of God in our lives or the resources (little or much) He has provided. If we do not know the Word or if we are not sensitive to His Voice in the matters that concern Him, then we are left to our own understanding and Proverbs 3 will tell us that is not a very good idea and will not lead to “straight paths”. The doubt and fear will creep in and hide amidst the rationalizations and traditions we adopt to make ourselves more comfortable. This leads only to compromise. And once let in, it is hard to get rid of without confession and a conscious decision to replace deception with Truth.

We need one another! We need others to help us think outside of our box and get beyond our own personal needs and wants to recognize the blessings of the Kingdom. We need fellowship and accountability of studying scripture together, submitting our understanding for correction and /or expansion to a Kingdom focus rather than a personal focus with self as center.

Even the most well-meaning and spiritually minded person at times needs to check their motivations, HONESTLY check them, submit understanding and make course corrections if needed or help others with their understanding.

So. Dear Reader, I pray that you do not have stress or anxiety regarding provision and that your focus is firmly set on Christ. I pray that you are aware that God knows and God will provide good things, and that He firmly establishes the plans of the righteous and will not allow our feet to slip on the path He has designed for us to follow. May our sense of wealth not be rooted in the counting of pennies, but instead be rooted in the perfect Love of the King whose provision for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose—that’s all of us, beloved--is more than sufficient.

May we all be reminded that the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ sets us free from the law of sin and death by which the world system operates.

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Ps 66

Proverbs 16

Romans 8

2 Timothy 1

The Absolom Way

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:02:24 GMT

2 Samuel 13-15

Dear Reader,

If I ever come to a place where I never stop learning, I will be so bored.

Really, bored.

Stagnant,

Stinking pond water, bored.

I have come to love the verse in Proverbs that says, It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. (Prov 25:2)

I’ve taken up sewing, recently. Pattern reading, however, is a challenge. I also find it is restrictive. That's probably why. I start to read and decipher the directions and than a common question invades..."what if..." What if I want a blouse, for example, that has a different kind of shoulder on it than the pattern calls for? How FUN to see if I can do it!

And yes, if you are wondering, I do waste a lot of material… and thread...which is why I recycle. The thrift store make money off me. LOL!

I once created a tote bag with so many pockets in it , that the pockets I had created to make it easier to find things worked against me. I am still missing a tube of lipstick somewhere...

However, it was totally worth it and fun to create.

Isn't that what we do though? Sometimes what we think is a good idea, isn't in the end a very good idea and we create more problems than we intended and something gets lost.

Scripture has become a fun bit of adventure as well. I’m trying to read the Bible cover to cover but my attention span gets in the way. I'm reading along, following the thought and then, SQUIRREL!

And I drift away as the possible situations that seem to illustrate an story in modern life. I try not to focus on one particular person or event, I keep it general because I don’t REALLY know what anyone’s motives are, and I would hate to be like David’s brother Eliab in 1 Sam 17 and assign motives to someone who didn’t deserve the characterization.

For example, my reading recently, I found that Absalom was a sneaky dude. He tried to disguise his sneakiness as “righteous” when he dealt with his brother, but really, Absalom intentions were fueled by arrogance (2 Sam 13-15). As I read the story, moments started invading about ways people can behave like Absalom.

For instance, have you ever noticed that some people only gain followings (be it friend groups or clubs or even ministries) by joining groups already in progress, sewing discord in the name of “transparency” (selective transparency) and then breaking off from the group and taking half the people with them who “felt the same way about the leader?”

Absalom…yep. Absalom stole people from his father’s kingdom to form his own work.

How weak. How sad for Absalom to feel he had to steal in order to build. Was the “short cut and deception really worth it? I wonder…Did he gain the power he sought? Not for long...read the story.

Shouldn’t it be, if what we desire to do is from God, there would be no need to engage in ungodly behavior like stealing to achieve it? I think so. I believe He equips us to accomplish the assignment He places on our hearts. And He certainly doesn’t provide by stealing form other believers and their assignments. That’s the devil, not God our Father.

In the story, Absalom's way of doing things resulted in receiving his just-punishment for his underhanded ways. I’m not there yet in the story to tell you the details, but I know the pattern of how God works. Evil doesn’t win, so I know Absalom won’t get away with his plans.

When my son was little he used to laugh (I can still hear him laugh) at the part of the story when Absalom got his hair caught in the tree…lol. So I know that is how Absalom meets his end.

Absalom's way may have worked for the moment, just as those who steal sheep have their moment in the sun that they sought in their own way. I also know it is probably constant work to maintain until, like Absalom, they can’t keep going and their true nature shows. For Absalom, it resulted in his death. For the modern examples, I know some fell away from the faith and some simply fell.

When we allow God, the Architect of our faith and His Plan for Humanity, to design and build the work assigned to us (be it large or small, long term or momentary) our only responsibility is to obey. The work will endure the time needed in the plan and will involve what he has already placed within us to accomplish our part. The work God assigns does not “wear us out” in the same way it would if we were trying to design or maintain something that He did not ask us to do.

If the assignment is wearing us out, that is not a sign of righteousness, that is a sign that we are adding more stress and wanting more control over the outcome than we are assigned to carry.

God assignments work together as a corporate work of His Church to push back darkness and administrate the truths of the Kingdom of God and to disciple nations. Everyone does their part in that plan. If the same Holy Spirit is in all believers, and He is, then our focus is on Him and where He is going. And He is not going in 30 different directions. He has one plan and with our focus on Him, then we will all walk and work in the same one direction.

What messes us up is when…

Our own speculations,

Our own pride,

Our own need to be “right” or “in charge” because we “know what is best,”

and our own personal search for significance, identity and purpose take a higher ground than our obedience to His plan.

Can we have our own desires and hopes? Sure! But they are not more important than someone else’s. We sometimes momentarily set aside our own desires to help another and sometimes someone else sets aside theirs to help us. Why? because of the Love of God within. Because we do not count ourselves more important than another. Believers in Christ are a TEAM; the Church is one body helping to accomplish the ONE will of God upon the earth.

Grace and Peace, dear Reader, may you spot any Absalom-type way before it steals from what belongs to another and may the discernment and the strategy of Lord regarding any such matter be clear. Most of all, may the peace of Christ that is yours in Him, continue to guard your heart and mind from taking on more responsibility than He has equipped you to carry.

Blessings

Anne

Puzzle Piece

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:43:53 GMT

Cultivate Faithfulness

Dear Reader,

My heart aches a bit where a "puzzle piece" is out of place. It may seem to some that I do not care, because I do not "pine away" regarding the "loss." But that is not it at all, I care deeply. I simply choose not to cultivate that ache, for I know where the puzzle piece is. I celebrate the years I had him within reach, to hug his neck, to talk about deep things, to be silly and joke, to simply hear his voice. I also celebrate a new reality that is also good, because God is good,sovereign and I choose to take the Word of God that says, Cultivate Faithfulness and it makes all the difference.

Cultivate faithfulness, says the Psalm (37:3). In other words, "feed on His faithfulness." Some would say, "Well, how can you say that with a puzzle piece out of place?" I can say that because the puzzle piece has not been destroyed. Father God knew that puzzle piece before it was ever created, knew the comings and the goings, knew the choices made, and loved him through it all.

Is there a "puzzle piece" out of place for you, dear Reader? As a "puzzle piece," I mean, is there something "not right" about a current matter or situation or inclination of the heart (yours or someone else's) that pains and plagues your mind with "would've, should've, could've, maybe if" questions or observations?

I recommend cultivating faithfulness, His faithfulness to love regardless and to look for and find that lost piece. He provides a rest for the weary one, He provides an anchor of hope in Him. Bitterness and anger, grief and pain melt away when we do this. Why? Because the Law of the Spirit of Life does not allow the rules or the interaction from the kingdom of darkness to coexist with His Love. I know from experience, and maybe you do too, that for those who believe, a moment of heaviness cannot coexist with the voice of praise.

Sometimes a reminder is needed, however, especially, when overwhelming circumstances seem to sit on our doorstep waiting for us to let them in.

And sometimes, (and this may be hard for some to hear) the fear, grief, pain, anxiety, or the bondage of codependency can become an emotional equilibrium.

And when we cultivate those things, we feed on the imbalance they induce. A person can become addicted to the imbalance. The presence of the imbalance becomes so "normal" it appears safe. For example, if we are not afraid, we will be taken advantage of. If we are not grieving, we will for get the love. If we are not anxious, we will be careless or forget something, somehow leading to hurt or mistakes. (I'm talking from experience and insight I've gained over the years and been delivered from).

This is a vicious trap designed by the enemy who deceives and it paralyzes a person spinning them in place and distracts from the Voice of God (Psalm 32:7-8). We were not meant to live this way. This is why God instructs repeatedly "do not fear" ( https://blb.sc/00GgY1 ), trust in Him (Isa 12:2, 26:4)" "Seek the Kingdom first" (Matt 6) "Lean not on your own understanding" (Prov 3:5-6)etc...

We cannot do it alone. We need God. We need the Holy Spirit to comfort, counsel and provide wise strategy. And we need to be with a body of believers that Love Jesus more than themselves.

"Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect,

whatever is right and confirmed by God's word,

whatever is pure and wholesome,

whatever is lovely and brings peace,

whatever is admirable and of good repute;

if there is any excellence,

if there is anything worthy of praise,

think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]."

Philippians 4:8 (AMP)

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Get Ready

Thu, 29 May 2025 14:48:39 GMT

Hear His voice, and Go

Dear Reader,

I don’t know your opinion regarding dreams, but I have learned that many dreams are simply a result of a puzzling situation working in my mind or the book I was reading before I went to bed (so read your bible). Some dreams are meant to give a bit of wisdom for the next steps in life. I’ve had these dreams offering wisdom a few times over the years and when I didn’t pay attention, I almost always wish I had.

Last night or maybe it was this morning I had a dream regarding being prepared. In the dream, if I had known ahead of time to have my bags packed the night before, I would have gone much further in the mission of the trip of which I was dreaming. But I wasn’t and therefore I didn’t have what I needed and had to scramble to make do with what was available.

As I was later contemplating the dream, a song I learned in worship one evening came to mind. These are the words (additions in parenthesis are my addition):

This is a proclamation (announcement)

A mighty declaration (testimony)

Transforming reformation (changing, reorganizing)

Renewing of our minds (Ps 51:10; 104:30)

Get ready, get ready, get ready,

Don’t you know who you are? (Identity in Him, Romans 8)

Get ready, get ready, get ready

We are the sons of God (John 1:12)

If you don’t

Align yourself properly (Phil 1:27)

You’ll never hear

The words get ready (2 Tim 2:15; Heb 4:12, Eph 2:10)

This is the time,

We are gonna draw the line (Isa 50:7),

To hear the words

Get set and go!

If we don’t know the identity of Who created us, or our identity in Him, how can we possibly be diligent in our commitment to our place in Him (align ourselves properly)? If we are unaware that God even puts into His creation all that is needed to respond to His leading, how will we be able to hear clearly when it is time to move into what He has prepared in advance for us to do for the Kingdom?

Identity is not a vocation, although it could lead to a vocation. Our identity is the spiritual assurance or conviction that we are His and it is what He thinks of us that matters. Identity is owning our place in Him and the purpose to which He has called us toward; that which he has prepared in advance for us to accomplish. Because of God we exist In Christ we have our being (1 Cor 8:6), and He holds us together (Col 1:17), it is the Holy Spirit that instructs, corrects and comforts (John 14) as we move through life realigning our thoughts and behaviors according to the Character of Christ made available to those who believe (2 Cor 10:5).

Lately, I have been blessed with the sure knowledge that God my Father through the Holy Spirit, defends those in Him from the sinful plots and behavior of others. I don’t know why this is becoming so prominent in my thoughts unless there is some type of sabotage afoot somewhere (personally or corporately). I do not know for sure this is so, but the assurance that God who sees all and knows all provides the faith that deflects any arrows of any kind sent my way, is enough for me and sets my heart at rest.

My identity, and the One in Whom I trust, keeps me steadfast .

If I were seeking my identity in people or things, then I would do all I could to remain in the good graces of people. I would strive to have the right friends and cultivate the most prosperous relationships deemed to promote my position or influence. I would wave my personal banners of achievements and point the faults of others so that I may build my own bandwagon of support and validation.

Just thinking about doing all this is exhausting. This is not the rest promised in Hebrews 4. Yet there are people who live like this because they know no other way! We know them. We can share the better way. Jesus is the better way. Unfortunately, not everyone heeds the call for reformation of their minds. They are too set on being “right/correct” and relying on their phobias and past experiences to find identity.

Too harsh? Maybe. But I’ve been close to that place in the past. It is horrible. I’m glad to have found the better way.

This may be a bit of a tangent here from the song above, but isn’t that the trap? When we are looking for significance in people and achievement, we blind ourselves to Christ and the abundant life He promises. And it is that striving that distracts from the rest promised in Him.

It follows that when distracted or filled with unbelief, it is almost impossible to be properly prepared to go when God says GO.

Like in the dream I mentioned earlier, being unprepared for the journey or the assignment leaves us scrambling to make up for lost time and we cannot fully engage in the mission before us. God gives plenty of notice when change is coming if we have the ear to hear. He gives strategy to prepare if it is needed if we know His voice and we apply the wisdom. He has put the ability in us to complete the assignments; therefore, insecurity is not an option if He calls us forward toward something. Always, like the Apostles before us, we must also do our part and engage His Faith in us for those leaps that appear risky. We must step into the assignments with boldness and confidence.

The number one thing I had to learn was how to trust in the faithfulness of God. There is no formula. It is a focus on Him while making the decision with courage to move when instructed in spite of...

… feelings

…what others MIGHT say or think

…knowing the outcome ahead of time

…not having a plan B to fall back on

… past failed attempts

…forgetting something I thought was important.

In the past I would get so nervous about speaking in front of people. I was afraid I’d misspeak or forget something important. So, I would write it down and rely on my notes to guide me. This was a mistake for me. I have discovered I cannot always hear God when I am anxious about following my notes (for example).

So, now that I have learned to trust in His faithfulness, I may write things down, but I usually forget about it when I am led to speak before a group. Typically, I only know the first 3 words of what God wants me to say; I laugh thinking about it because I am realizing that maybe He only gives me three words because that is about the max I can remember in the moment and I’m least likely to tamper with trying to make them “better.”

For the rest of the message, I have to trust that the words will follow as I listen to His voice and only say what I hear Him say. An amazing thing that happens as I am obedient. I don’t worry that I’m going to forget anything. How can you forget three words?

It is also amazing to me when revelations are drawn from that which I have studied (may part). These revelations are at times used by Him to complete the message for the moment. What if I had not done my part and studied? When the “faucet” of His voice in me turns off, and I do not hear any more of what to say from Him, I stop speaking.

At least I will try to stop.

Some will know what I mean and possibly agree that there are times when following after Christ is a bit like running downhill. It takes a minute at the bottom of the hill for the momentum to let go and actually STOP. LOL.

The prayer then is that I add nothing to the moment that God cannot use and that anything that distorts the message in any way is forgotten.

So, today’s blog post is to encourage. We don’t have to know all the answers, nor do we need to have some outline memorized for an elevator speech (30 sec) about Jesus. However, we do need to do our part to obediently respond to Christ in the moment. It is important to spend time with the Holy Spirit and learn to hear His voice so we can be ready (steadfast) to go when we are called and say what we hear Him saying in the moment for the moment.

Grace and Peace,

Anne

**verse references provided for your own study

He Invites Our Participation

Thu, 08 May 2025 16:29:49 GMT

Dear Reader,

It has been on my mind this morning the incredible gift we have in Christ to be members of the Family of God, the Church Jesus is building, citizens of the Kingdom, joint heirs with Christ. We are in His Good Care, always. I’m sure you have also had moments when the appreciation for this gift seems to eclipse the momentary business of daily life. I’m sure you would have your insights as well to add. It is from this place that I am sharing today.

My husband and I take time each morning to pray together for family, the Church and the nation. Today when we were praying for our nation and for the people of God, we prayed for those who hear His voice that they would choose obedience above the temptations and the insecurities that they may experience. We prayed for Congress, especially, to be focused on good stewardship of the office they are holding and accomplish the pressing needs of the nation rather than simply the “easy” stuff they can agree on. Our prayers were for those who are not being good stewards of the power and influence they have been given, would now make choices according to the Law of the Spirit of Life or be removed from their places of power and influence until they can fulfill their oath of office responsibly and faithfully.

It occurred to me amidst the prayer time, that God really doesn’t need our approval to accomplish His plan. He doesn’t need anyone to be obedient. He invites it. He designed the covenantal relationship with us to not be dependent upon us because He is somehow lacking in something we have, rather He includes us because it is His good pleasure. When I say he doesn’t need us, I mean that He is God all by Himself. He doesn’t need anything from us in order to maintain His sovereignty and Grace and accomplish His plan for humanity that is already in the works.

When I was young, I used to think that if I stopped believing in God He would simply vanish. It was quite a revelation to realize I was not that powerful and that whether I believed or not, approved or not, was happy, sad, faithful or disobedient, God was still God. He is faithful to His covenant regardless of my momentary lapses or victories. He loved me and wanted me to have the abundant life promised.

Then I learned an even greater truth.

It’s not about me. Never was. There is no personal plan of God for my life. It isn’t all planned out. He just knows what is in store and prepares me in advance with all the skills and ability I need to enjoy, endure or receive all that is ahead of me. He’s in my corner, but not for my sake…

It’s for everyone. It’s for His kingdom, His righteousness working through me so ALL can have an abundant life promised. I just have a small corner in a much bigger purpose in which to work and follow His leading.

It’s not about me... I find that incredibly freeing. I can’t make a mistake that messes up His plan. I’m not that powerful. I am free to choose. I am offered leadership and favor according to His good will for me, for all.

If the consequences of sin are experienced, it is because sin carries its own punishment. And sometimes that punishment spills over to others. A drunk driver could have an accident and kill other people. The other people didn’t do anything wrong; the evil of alcohol abuse is at fault. But God still cares and is not defined by the accident. He takes care of His people, but that doesn’t mean we don’t experience the fall out of evil in our world. He promises to walk with us through it. He promises His justice.

Evil wears out because it “eats its own” just as a wasting disease will “eat” the host until there is nothing left to survive, then the disease also dies with the host it destroyed. This is evil. God never designed our bodies to host wasting diseases. He didn’t design us to sin. We were meant for more.

Evil things have been happening behind the scenes of our government for years. It is now being revealed. Pray with us that the evil will not only be brought to light, but that it will also receive the just judgment of God and His righteousness through His people who are even now, building impenetrable cases to process. We pray for them. We must keep the courts in our prayers that the just judgments of God would be able to work successfully. We must not be discouraged when judges make rulings that are prejudiced, excessive, biased and unfair.

Why?

Because our hope is in the Lord who is above all and sees all and is faithful to His Covenant with those who believe.

God always wins.

Those who confront the evil of death, doubt and despair, are not forgotten.

The mothers and fathers who lost children to fentanyl, brought in and distributed illegally in our nation, are not forgotten.

The people struggling to pay debts, to provide for family and be good stewards are not forgotten.

What is needed is for the Church Jesus is building to realize the power of her voice among the nations to make a difference; speak forth the will of God, His one Will, His Just Judgments. What we have currently is a church that is praying in a dozen or more different directions. Because God has Chosen to work through us, is it not important that we steward that responsibility corporately with accuracy rather than personally?

Is it a surprise that personal agendas are most likely not God’s agenda?

If it is the Church’s mandate to push back darkness and administrate the principles of the Kingdom of God upon the earth, is it any wonder evil has gotten a foothold when we are so busy looking after “me, myself, and I” our own local church food banks and Sunday morning services rather than speaking as one with the whole church against the evil that is even making the food banks necessary?

Here's a thought: Maybe those who run the food banks (for example) wonder what purpose they would have if the food banks were not necessary? (just a thought) Would they pray to end the need for something in which they are finding fulfillment?

Could the concern for fulfillment, validation, and significance apply to any other Church-run organization made necessary because of the works of evil? I wonder, how many have read Matthew 23 lately?

Maybe it isn't that. Maybe the sincere concern for others cannot see past the momentary need to the corporate power of the Faith of God and the one Church Jesus is building to confront the evil source and heal the root of the need.

Something to think about, anyway...

Grace and peace, my friends.

Anne

Marta's Story

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:26:57 GMT

A short story for the season

Marta bent over the sewing project in her hands. The last stitches must not be rushed. Liddy would not appreciate a shawl that unraveled as soon as she put it on. Marta never liked long projects. The last stitches were the ones that always told the tale of her impatience. She wanted this scarf to be right, to last, and to be useful. Patience must be applied.

Marta’s sister Liddy had not been doing well these past few years. She and her son, Tobias lived just inside the gates of Jerusalem. They had a home and small yard where she kept chickens and sold eggs. Liddy spent most of the day sitting in the yard and listening to the gossip. She knew many of the people and things going on that others did not connect. Marta and Simon often brought in vegetables from their garden for Liddy and her son to keep or sell as they needed.

Marta snipped off the last thread with her teeth and held up the garment for inspection. It wasn’t fancy, but it was useful and would keep Liddy from being chilled on cool nights. She stood up from her place by the window, stepped out into the early morning and checked to see if Simon and the boys had finished gathering the lambs they would take to market. Passover was celebrated that night and they needed get them to the sellers before sundown.

“I do not understand this law, the killing innocent lambs to pay for sin that never really goes away.” Marta looked at the ones destined for market. She spotted one with a limp. It must have stepped in a hole or something. It would never sell. Only unblemished and healthy lambs would be bought. It was an insult to the Creator to give something that wasn’t perfect. It would have to go back to the pen. And what did it say about her and Simon that they would sell what was meant to come from the hearts of the people?

Was it really a sacrifice, or was it simply a religious requirement from which they prospered. Something seemed wrong with that. She would discuss it with Simon. He would help her understand.

“Simon! Simon, that one has a limp.”

“Ugh,” Simon came to where Marta was standing and examined the lamb.

“We could carry it and hope it heals by the time the priests examine it.” she suggested

“No, we’ll just put it back.” Simon replied.

“We have a few more to add to this number and then we will be ready to go, gather your things, Marta.” And he began to walk away.

To his back Marta called, “Religion is good business, isn’t it, Simon?” She surprised herself. She hadn’t meant to say that aloud. She waited for her husband’s admonishment. Held her breath, just a little and waited.

Simon turned scowled at her working out her comment in his mind. “Good business?” Understanding dawning, he smiled a sad smile. Not the reaction she’d expected. “OH, unfortunately you are right about that, my Marta. I know how you love the lambs. If only the Creator would make it possible for a sacrifice to simply remove the transgressions entirely, THEN we wouldn’t need to slaughter all these animals. I see no change in the transgressors after the sacrifices they make.” Stepping back toward her with the lamb in his arms, he confided out of earshot of their boys.

“Why, during the last festival I saw one rich man buy a lamb for sacrifice, go in and as he come out, Marta, with the blood of the lamb still clinging to the hem of his robe, he actually kick the beggar, Lazarus, out of his way as he pass through the gate!” Marta clicked her tongue in dismay.

“See?” she said, “It makes no difference. However, if the Creator made it possible for one sacrifice to be made for all time, we would have to find a new way of making a living. True?”

“True,” replied Simon, “but it would be worth it if it meant a lasting difference.”

“What kind of sacrifice would that take, Simon, do you know?”

“Surely a more important one than a little lamb, that’s for sure,” Simon turned and walked back to put the injured lamb into the pen with its mother.

Alexander and Rufus, their sons, brought out the rest of the lambs chosen for market and Marta gathered the food for the journey along with the shawl for Liddy. A half day’s walk was not a long one compared to how long it used to take Simon when he lived in Cyrene. They had met at festival many years ago and over time decided to marry and settle just outside of Jerusalem in the countryside. The idea of raising sheep and growing vegetables was one that had just happened. The house, yard and few sheep were a gift from Simon’s father. Simon in turn was building flocks and saving seed for each of the boys for when they married.

“Let’s go!” Simon demanded. Marta gathered the food and the gift she’d made for Liddy and they started out. She thought about the new Rabbi she had heard about. Yeshua was his name and he had been walking around teaching and healing people. After a time of walking, Marta turned to Simon and asked,

“Simon, Liddy mentioned a new Rabbi, Have you heard of him?”

“Yes, you mean Yeshua? He is causing quite a stir among the religious leaders. In fact, I saw him and some of his followers in Yazim’s wheat field picking wheat as they walked by. It was on the Sabbath, too!”

“What were you doing near Yazim’s field on a Sabbath? That is a bit farther away than you should be walking such a day, you know.”

“So I should let the sheep just get lost because of certain day of the week? Really, Marta?”

Marta smiled, knowing the sheep did not know what day it was and if they chose to wander off they did not check with the shepherd or the calendar first. “I’m sorry, Simon.” She smiled to take away the sting of accusation that had left her lips a moment ago. “What did this Yeshua say about his own actions on the Sabbath?”

Simon grinned. “I heard,” he said conspiratorially, “that he told those who accused him of disrespect of the Sabbath, that ‘the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath! And then, Marta! You would not believe what happened next! Yeshua went into the temple and healed a man on the very same Sabbath day!”

“Simon! That man is going to be in so much trouble if he continues to defy the laws and the teachers!”

From nearby, Alexander added, “Tobias’ friend, Mark said that he heard rumblings of death for Yeshua among the religious leaders after that.”

Marta was lost in her own thoughts and Simon ran ahead to catch a wandering lamb as it neared a drop off in the road. “We are a lot like those sheep, Lord, wandering around oblivious of how close we are to falling off the edge.”

Just then, Marta heard Rufus and Alexander quoting a psalm as was the custom on the way to Jerusalem for the festival meals…

“ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

“That does not sound like a God who would begrudge a healing on the Sabbath or satisfying a hunger on the way past a grain field.” Marta commented to herself.

Marta, Simon and the boys continued to talk about Yeshua and the trouble stirring in Jerusalem. As they neared the city they joined other families coming in from the countryside.

Arriving at the gate, Rufus and Alexander continued on to the sellers to trade in the lambs. They would be treated fairly since they carried their father, Simon’s well-known name. They would meet up again at Liddy’s home.

Arriving at Liddy’s house, Marta noticed the crowd had grown to a significant size. There seemed to be a lot of people on the streets. Sabbath did not start until sundown, so everyone was trying to get all they could completed before it began. Liddy was in her usual spot in the yard, but something was different about her.

“Liddy!” Marta called. Liddy turned and smiled and hurried to help carry in the vegetables Marta and Simon had brought. They entered the small home laughing over everyone trying to get through the doorway at the same time. Simon, wise as always, had handed off all he carried and remained outside watching the comical scene from afar.

“Liddy! You look wonderful! You are well again?”

“Yes! I was in my yard one day as Yeshua passed by. There was a big crowd and he stopped to speak to them. I went to the edge of the crowd to hear what he said. As he began healing people he healed me as well!” They continued to catch up on all the news until a commotion outside drew Marta’s attention. Stepping out into the sunshine she and Liddy saw many people lining the street. “Simon, what’s going on?” Marta asked.

“A passing dignitary, maybe, let’s go see.” Simon and Marta joined the crowd. They found a place near the front and waited for the important person to pass by. Soon they heard soldiers’ feet in the distance. The scene approaching was no parade for a dignitary.

“Simon!” Marta whispered “It’s a crucifixion! I don’t want to see this!” But the crowd pressed in to see and there was no way back without physically moving people. Marta decided to stay and endure the spectacle as best she could. She closed her eyes and clutched onto to Simon’s hand, but curiosity won out as the soldiers advanced. She opened her eyes, just a little, and gasped in horror at the plight of a man condemned to die. She had never seen a man so badly beaten and disfigured. “Simon, I can’t even tell what color his hair is for all the blood. And is that a crown…of thorns!? What kind of men do this type of thing?”

The crowd could be heard discussing the scene and the events of the night before. “Hush, Marta! That is Yeshua!”

“Where, Simon? Surely he will stop this outrage,” said Marta as she looked around for the famous Rabbi.

“There, the one who is condemned to die. He is Yeshua,” replied Simon sadly.

Marta’s heart sank to her feet and her stomach clenched. Just then Yeshua fell in the street no longer able to continue to carry the heavy wooden cross on his shoulders.

“YOU!” a soldier yelled. Marta jumped at the sound, so caught up with the sight before her she did not see the advancing soldier until he was upon them. He had Simon by the arm and was dragging him to Yeshua’ s side. Watching in horror, Marta saw the soldier command Simon to pick up the cross and carry it for Yeshua who was struggling to his feet.

Simon picked up the cross helping Yeshua to his feet at the same time, he and Yeshua and the company of soldiers continued up the street to Golgotha.

“NO!” Marta screamed inside her mind, knowing to scream aloud would mean reprimand from the soldiers. She followed as far as she could, struggling through the crowd and then stopped. She noticed a company of other women following and weeping as well. She thought to join them, but the effort was too much. Stunned and in fear she returned somehow to Liddy’s home to wait. She did not remember the journey back. Her mind filled with pictures of Passover which would start soon. Lambs would be slaughtered…Yeshua bloody and bleeding, crucifixions, and Simon’s abduction by the soldiers. Her mind could take no more in…she stumbled blindly to Liddy’s door and fell at the threshold.

Liddy, hearing the noise, opened the door, and gathered Marta inside. Marta told her sister of all she had experienced as best she could. Liddy brought her a cup of water and together they waited for Simon and the boy’s return. Rufus and Alexander had not arrived yet from the selling the lambs. Hopefully they did not witness she had seen.

They sat together for some time. A storm was coming, the wind whipped outside and the rain was sure to begin soon. The sky drew unnaturally dark. Something terrible was on its way or had already arrived. Marta remembered the Psalm of David the boys were reciting earlier…

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me...

The earlier conversation about lambs and sacrifices…flashed through Marta’s mind.

“What kind of sacrifice would it take?” she remembered asking Simon.

“The sacrifice…” Marta murmured aloud…

“What?” asked Liddy, her concern for her sister evident. “Marta, did you say something?”

“I was thinking of a discussion Simon and I had earlier today.” Marta replied. “Liddy, what do you think? Who is Yeshua?”

Liddy was about to answer Marta when there was a sound at the door. Rufus, Alexander, and Simon stumbled in together out of the wind. Marta was so happy to see him at first she did not see the horror he carried in his eyes.

“Marta”, he gasped and held her close. Then the weeping began. Who started it, she or Simon, didn’t matter they clung as a group with the boys and Liddy and Tobias who had joined them.

When the weeping was spent, they parted and Marta got a good look at her husband. He was covered in blood not his own and it was now on her and the rest of them as well. “Whose blood is on us, Simon?”

He answered, “Yeshua. It was all over the cross from the beatings he got. When they placed the cross on my shoulders it got on me.”

“You have splinters in your neck and arms. Sit down and let us remove them and you can tell your story.”

As Marta and Liddy worked to remove the splinters, clean off the blood and dress the wounds, Simon told of his journey.

“After I was forced to carry the cross, Yeshua and I walked near each other. He was not doing well. At times he leaned on me, yet he seemed determined to complete this journey. That determination alone kept him moving. I’m sure the loss of blood alone would have made a weaker man die before the end. It pained me to look at him. It seemed as we advanced toward Golgotha I noticed more and more the wounds and things that he had endured. He had done no crime, Marta, Liddy, I’m sure of it! He was as innocent as those lambs we sell at the market on festival days! In his eyes, though, what I could see of them, it was as if he carried the weight of the world.

“The suffering didn’t end there. When we got to the hill, they nailed him to that cross. Can you imagine the rough wood against a torn and bleeding back? To have to push up on the nails just to breathe? Ugh!” Tears leaked from the corners of Simon’s eyes once again. “There was no one at his side at the end except one man and a few women. Where were all those followers, Marta? The ones who celebrated his arrival and healings and miracles? I’ll tell you! People were there mocking him! Even the religious leaders had nothing compassionate to say! Oh Marta, Liddy…”

It was Rufus who remembered the prophesy found in the scroll of Isaiah. “Could he be the one Isaiah talked about when he said ‘ So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men’?”

Tobias, Liddy’s son entered the conversation. “My friend, John Mark says Yeshua told them this would happen and that in three days he would come back.”

“Well then,” said Simon, with a deep breath he gathered himself and set aside the grief. He rose from the stool where he sat, “we shall see what happens in three days.” He moved to the window to be sure it was secure against the weather. Liddy and Marta cleaned up the mess and lit the fire. The boys sat and discussed the day’s events and eventually everyone fell asleep to the sound of wind and rain.

***********************************************************

The wind and rain continued throughout the Sabbath and three days later, John Mark stopped by Liddy’s house with news as Marta and Simon were getting ready to head home.

…The tomb where they buried Yeshua was empty.

They were half way home when Marta noticed a stranger up ahead talking with Simon. The conversation seemed important and the stranger put his arm briefly around Simon in a brief farewell. As the stranger turned to continue his way down a different path, Simon dropped back to be with his family.

“Who is that? When did he join us?” Marta asked. “Simon? Are you alright? Who was that man? What did he say?” They had stopped walking and Simon was watching the stranger as he advanced further into the distance.

With a light in his eyes that Marta had never seen before, Simon grinned and replied, “Marta, if you dare to believe,

you’ll never guess what he said…”

The End

A final word: This Resurrection season, let us celebrate all that God the Father has done through God the Son to free us from the law of sin and death providing all who believe with the victorious opportunity to be saved, to change our allegiance to the Lordship of Christ and live according to the Law of the Spirit of Life.

Have we made it too easy?

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 14:47:30 GMT

The struggle is real...and necessary.

"Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” Acts 2:38-39

Dear Reader, the following is an audio message by Jim Bradshaw.

Walking Revelations

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 14:37:08 GMT

Revelation and many teachers

Dear Reader,

This blog may be a review for some of you, but every time I hear or study about this subject, a new layer; a new facet of understanding is added for a more complete picture. Maybe that is true for you too. Do you ever find that the review of insights is likely to send you back to scripture to see if what is being shared is accurate? I hope so.

A good teacher will do that.

A good teacher will cause you to look deeper into whatever the topic may be. I hope you have good teachers available to you.

Having said this, here was my experience the other day. I believe it to be a timely truth for the season ...

I was listening to a podcast while I was walking. I often do this unless I'm walking with Jim, then he is my favorite "podcast." However, he wasn't with me that day. I found the title regarding powers and principalities catching my attention as I scrolled thorough the offerings on YouTube. The teachers being interviewed on this particular show, were the ones I liked, and found their insight informative and stimulating toward greater understanding.

Separately, the teachers had much to offer with their great wealth of knowledge and understanding, but it was a limited perspective of Scriptural context to what they gleaned. Granted, it was more than I knew, but still limited. But together a greater understanding was offered. What I liked best in the whole interaction, however, was that allowance was given for someone else to add to their knowledge.

Have you ever tried to talk with someone who thinks they know it all and no one can teach them any more than what they know and can discover for themselves? It takes a great humility to be able to converse with someone and allow them to teach as well as receive.

Likewise it is very draining to always be in the teaching role and never receiving or to converse with someone bent upon their own understanding without the ability to hear.

The conversations I enjoy the most are with those who can contribute as well as receive ideas, explore understandings, and come to mutual conclusions regarding a topic because they have also studied and investigated on their own.

Back to the Podcast:

One teacher came from the perspective of understanding the context of the Old Testament writers and their world situations through the literature of the time. The second teacher was a New Testament scholar who focuses mainly on the Pauline letters and their context among world events of the first Century and before.

Both were adding their expertise regarding the subject and the Truth it revealed about God, about humanity and about the relationship between the two. But together, a greater picture was revealed as to the work of Christ regarding the disarming of evil powers and principalities and their ability to manipulate and destroy what God was doing.

As the teachers' understanding, and my knowledge of Scripture came together, I found in the forefront of my mind a vision of Jesus on the cross. As I gained some greater clarity regarding the disarming of the powers of darkness I came to appreciate even more the sacrifice and victory of Jesus for us and the wisdom of the plan of God for His Church.

One teacher said this disarming of the powers and principalities, happened at the cross.

I don't disagree with him, but I also believe the work Jesus did did not end with his death on the cross....It wasn't like he took a nap or something for three days afterword, as some would have you think by their lack of attention to what happened between the cross and the resurrection. Hard work was still being done by Jesus to dismantle the weapons of the powers of darkness over humanity. Jesus had to go get those keys of hell death and the grave. He had to go where they were, in hell.

As the teacher continued speaking, I kept seeing Jesus on the cross. That sacrifice of He who had done no wrong but took on the sins of all humanity, endured a punishment on the "tree" and then in hell, that was meant for us. When we jump from the cross and then ahead to the resurrection on Easter Sunday without understanding the fulfillment of the Law that Jesus accomplished, we miss an important part of the Gospel message.

It's about the keys....

You see, the life and death of Jesus, His seeming defeat (from the perspective of darkness) and His descent into the "lower regions of the earth"(hell), and the suffering He experienced there, as I said, was for us. He was fulfilling the law of the Old Covenant (Lamb of God, perfect sinless sacrifice). It was that law that condemned humanity. The law could not rid humanity of sin, therefore there was always a hold for the accuser to dig in its claws and manipulate humanity and undermine the plan of God for them and for the Church. But when Jesus fulfilled the law, He paid the price and no more payment needed to be made for those who believed and changed their allegiance from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (Romans 8).

The devil was disarmed.

But there is more! With the victory Christ won for us, the deliverance from the powers of darkness, the atonement for the sin that held humanity, came the tools to continually go from glory to glory, from victory over old thought patterns that led to sinful desires, from hurt to healing...

"... beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified ." (Isa 61:3)**

When we choose to live by that law now, we submit ourselves to the punishment already paid for by Jesus. (Hebrews 10) It was that law the powers of darkness accused humanity of violating. And they were right. They had us. Condemned for ever, no longer able to live the life God intended.

Until Jesus....

Jesus took away the main weapon of evil powers...the law. Jesus fulfilled the Law, just as He said he would (Matt 5), made all who believe righteous (John 1, Romans 8). Many converted believers don't understand this and as a result continue in their own efforts to overcome sin in their lives because of the deception to which they are vulnerable, that somehow they are not right with God and must make atonement for this.

To explain a little further:

When we are fully converted with the understanding of all Christ did, nothing accusatory can "stick." "There is no more condemnation for those in Christ Jesus," says Paul. When we fully understand what God has done for us in and through Jesus Christ, that understanding is a weapon against evil's attempts to bring us back into the bondage of condemnation. But when we KNOW the Truth, that Truth sets us free. We can claim that victory as ours and the devil has no answer for it. He knows the truth too, and he and his minions are powerless against it. But if he can deceive a person into believing it isn't true and with this comes the seeds of bitterness, fear and rebellion. I know it is unpleasant to think of Jesus having to go to hell for us and pay the price, but aren't we glad for the Victory won? Aren't we over joyed that the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost is available to us to help us spot the deception and embrace the Victory?

These seeds of darkness manipulate those who refuse to believe into doing anything to disrupt and deceive with the only end goal to kill, steal and destroy anything and everything. This belly-button distraction to focus on self, personal failures and agendas, serve only to keep a person from participating in the corporate fulfillment of the instructions God has for the Church He is building--to be one body, His body and functioning upon the earth as citizens of His Kingdom of righteousness and peace, to defeat the powers of darkness by maintaining the Kingdom perspective of the Law of the Spirit of Life (Romans 8).

Don't you know who you are? What is available to you who believe?

Grace and Peace,
Anne

** Isa 63 is a wonderful chapter, go read the promises! Jesus quotes the first verses in Luke 4. Consider the promises of Isaiah fulfilled through the Holy Spirit in our lives through the Victory Jesus won for us and the disarming of the devil accomplished.

Psalm 37: 39

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 14:29:53 GMT

Confidence in Him

Psalm 37:39

But the salvation (deliverance, help, safety, victory) of the righteous (vindication)is of the LORD (He is the author, He is the judge, He forgives and makes us right with Him): he is their strength (stronghold, refuge, fortress) in the time of trouble.

Dear Reader,

You have probably noticed a constant theme in Psalm 37 That is also found in numerous places elsewhere in Scripture. Psalm 37 is a comparison between righteous and wicked behavior. David shares with us what he has learned regarding it. Despite all that Saul was doing to kill him physically, the betrayal and disappointment He found God Faithful. The behavior of the wicked did not define, for him, the Character of God. To summarize, David found that God was not blind to the plans of the wicked; He is simply not concerned about those plans succeeding for long.

Likewise, David found God was not concerned about His overall plan for humanity and the Kingdom of God being established upon the earth (to the benefit of humanity, Matthew 6) because He never betrays His covenant. It never fails. Righteousness and justice are the foundation for His throne. Always has been, always will be. From THIS place, He judges nations.

He IS our strength, not WAS not WILL BE. He is NOW the strength to which we can draw from in times of trouble. Notice the trouble isn’t qualified. It can be momentary and simple, lengthy and involved, it doesn’t matter. His strength is there always. Also, Paul says that because of Grace we can come boldly before His throne with CONFIDENCE. It is the same idea. Paul knew the Scripture; he drew on his understanding and connected the dots of prophecy and fulfillment to reiterate the Truth that God is from where justice and righteousness originates. He is the author.

Jesus Christ is our advocate. He is the justice between “me and thee.” And therefore, we don’t have to justify our actions and thoughts when they are directed of the Lord with the right motive and LOVE. If we need correction, in that place of Love and Justice, He will let us know.

When what we do and who we are and the decisions we make are ROOTED in His Love and not a selfish motive or agenda, we can be sure that regardless of what others may think, say or do, we are SAFE because it is what He knows and what He says that is important.

So regardless of the issue large, small, physical, relational, legal, national or local, in that fortress/stronghold/strength, we are confident of His Grace. Because salvation, God the Father’s covenant faithfulness to the Son who redeemed us, and Spirit by Whom we are sealed as His makes us whole. (the peace of Christ)

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Consider:

Psalm 37

Romans 5:19

John 14:27

Psalms regarding Stronghold

Links regarding Salvation

Psalm 37:23-24

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 13:35:25 GMT

Steps of the Righteous

The steps of a man (emphasizing one's strength, ability to fight) are established by the LORD,

And He delights (is pleased with) in his way.

When he falls (experiences calamity), he will not be hurled down,

Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand (support, uphold).

When he falls, he will not be hurled down (or cast out),

Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.

Ps 37: 23-24

Dear Reader,

Here are some reflections on Palm 37.

For the believer in Christ, the Voice and Direction of the Holy Spirit is discernible amongst the babble of so many "voices" around. Because it it discernible, a choice is placed before the believer, as to whether to receive the correction or guidance resulting in an established path.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Why?

"For we (Paul speaking to the church in Ephesus) are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Eph 2:10)

Is Paul saying that those who are not obedient are somehow NOT His workmanship?

Good Question...

God created life. He created humanity, and in Him and by His Spirit, we are able to choose rightly in obedience.

For those who choose not to submit to His leading in obedience, the qualities of Christ available to them to develop and draw upon for living the abundant life are left as gifts unopened. The disobedient are undeveloped, without resources, corrections and alignment to be able to "follow the path established of the Lord." (in my understanding). As a result, they are left to their own understanding and strategies by their own choice to disregard the voice of the Lord.

If those whose allegiance is to something or someone other than Christ, and they actively resist the Lordship of Christ, how can they hear to obey, follow in the footsteps prepared for them who believe? Can they then legitimately blame God whom they do not respect, revere, want to know, or obey when calamity strikes?

Repentance and change of allegiance are the only way. Pride goes before a fall. Pride leads the way to calamity

and pride is the author of rebellion.

Grace and Peace,

Anne

God is Greater

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:22:43 GMT

1 John 3:18-22

Dear Reader,

Does it ever seem to you, as it does to me, that occasionally the heart seems to condemn (find fault, criticize, pass sentence of guilt)? Some people can ignore the passing thoughts, knowing they did the best they could. Others can dismiss the thoughts and remain resolute that they are “right.” Some, have figured out the balance between soul and Spirit and quickly correct the inclinations. However, not everyone has found that balance and cannot self-correct as easily. People who are particularly tender-hearted, sensitive to the well-being of every creature and/or person around them, seem to have a more difficult time. Why? Because they try so hard to never offend or hurt anyone or anything and find it an almost impossible task. Often, what complicates the issue, would be the natural need for assurance and validation.

From my studies on the matter, the heart is that part of us where the soul (emotions, reasoning, intellect) and Spirit are supposed to meet and make decisions. The heart alone cannot send us to hell even though it may seem like it in especially intense moments of remorse. It seems to be more frequent and more intense when the soul is not led by the Spirit of God and instead is led by its own inclinations of right and wrong. This is an imbalance and there is very little peace for long in this way of living. We can choose not to let it do that. That's why Jesus says,

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful . John 14:27

Thankfully, our heart alone does not decide our salvation. Christ took care of that and so much more! He freed us from any true condemnation under which the world was subject through the Law. He gave us the victory and dealt with the accuser’s voice. Any accusations or condemnation we hear is simply echoes of old news (things we’ve done, or others have done).

Paul says in Romans that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Think about that a minute. Who was Paul? Why would he say this and know it was true? He was a persecutor of Christians. Participated in their death sentences….until.

…Until he encountered the Living Christ and changed his allegiance from the kingdom of darkness (he didn’t even know he was in) to the Kingdom of Light, that is Christ. The Christ encounter gave him identity and purpose. The moment of truth corrected the course of his devotion and focus.

Conversion and infilling of the Holy Spirit can do that for us too.

In Christ we are FORGIVEN. By fulfilling the law, Jesus broke the power of that law to give out life sentences of "guilty, condemned." Not embracing this truth and adding it to our arsenal of Spiritual weaponry, gives the condemning thoughts and angst a foothold. To combat this tendency to wallow in self recrimination, we need to embrace and apply the truth of Christ and allow Him to change us.

How? The power is in your mouth, the words you speak aloud and hear with your ears the truth of the Gospel Message: Forgiven, beloved, advocate, family. The power is in revelation and knowledge through which we gain understanding and wisdom.

So why am I writing about this today? Because my bible readings took me to 1 John 3: 18-22 and it connected some truths for me and I wanted to share them. Scripture says,

"... let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight... "

This verse "connects the dots" of truth that empower in moments of question. It is a simple truth. According to the Apostle John, God is greater than our heart.

You may say, "well, I knew that! What is so great about that revelation?"

It is great to me because for a very long time I believed in what the world taught regarding the heart. I allowed my heart to lead me. You know the saying that applies, right?

"Follow your heart..."

Please know, I am not saying the heart is evil. OR that we should ignore how we feel about things or reason out and apply our understanding. What I am saying is, we need balance that only comes from the revelation of the entire Gospel of Christ and all He did for us. The balance comes when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead.

When the heart alone leads, there tends to be more alarm, anxiety, and anger and very little of the peace that Jesus promised (John 14:27). Over the years, I have learned that my heart was very good at pointing out a lot of things I could have done, said or thought, loved, or served better. In some cases, it would tell me that I had “sinned” and if I had “sinned” then I had disappointed my Heavenly Father who was looking for His “children” to be good little boys and girls who loved their neighbor…

A question would sometimes come to mind about the people in the story who thought they were going to heaven (sheep), only to find out they had disappointed the Father too much and therefore were with the “goats” and therefore condemned. Was I one of those? EEEK! (Matt 25) see note**

It may seem I'm going off on a tangent, but stay with me, it connects, I promise. See if you agree...

What my heart needed was the balance found in the application of the verses regarding growing up in Him and “putting away childish things” (1 Cor 13). But as much as I wanted to do that, I found it difficult. It was actually the religious admonition about being “children of God (John 1)” that was supposed to comfort really seemed to be the issue.

I didn't realize I had misunderstood the phrase “child or children of God.” The word was child as in heir and member of the family of God, not “CHILDISH” as in, the childish of God being helpless, distracted, manipulated by issues that need tissues, petty fighting, or personal agendas.I'm not alone in this either because thinking back, it was fairly easy to spot the adult version of Me first! Mine! Love me most, I’m so left out! I feel abandoned! I’m so offended! Poor me! I’m afraid! WAAAA among the Church crowd, as I knew it. I’ve met these people, tried to help them, but found I was one of them, and therefore we all had a big problem! One dysfunctional family!

The verses about putting away childish things and being “children of God’ contradict when we think of ourselves as needy and helpless. Believers are not meant to be childish with daddy-God always coming to make things better and deliver us from or clean up the messes we make. He did that already, gave us the tools at conversion to overcome and says now, “Go and sin no more.” The original word, I believe, is “son of God”, as in seed carriers of God. That is those who have the Word of God (seed) in their hearts and from them come the fruit of that Word (harvest).

The reality of being a member of the Family of God, the Church Jesus is Building and citizen of the Kingdom of God comes with responsibility to GROW UP and not be led by our feelings, not allowing old patterns of thinking to lead our responses/reactions to life events. It is a matter of identity. And this is important.

In order to apply the Word (logos and rhema) to heart leading, Being be filled with the Holy Spirit is essential, not just know about the Holy Spirit. It is only by His power and equipping that we can actively choose to apply the Law of the Spirit of Life when we know who we are , to Whom we belong, and all the gifts and tools available to us to live the promised abundant life, overcoming sin and darkness (Romans 8).

For me this was not easy. Old ruts of thinking were deep and took some time to fill. Repeated applications of the Truth that I sought out myself and prayed and studied. I couldn’t just rely on someone else’s revelation. I needed to seek out what the Lord was saying through His Word and how He was leading me. The interesting thing about this is that it is the same Holy Spirit in those who believe and therefore it will agree. So counsel of others is extremely important.

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.”

Proverbs 25:2

To sum it up:

God is Greater than my heart's tendency to point out ways in which I can better love my neighbor.

God is Greater than my heart's tendency to be too tender toward a person and ignore speaking truth in love.

God is Greater than my heart that wants to apply its own justice rather than His; to exact a revenge I feel is appropriate rather than allow God to deal with justice, righteousness and mercy.

God is Greater than my impulse to defend and I can find rest in Him because from Him, I do not fear an unjust ruling on my behalf.

Because God is Greater than my heart's need to protect, I can entrust ALL that is precious to me into His arms and care.

Grace and peace,

Anne

Just a note: beware of any type of misinterpretations of Scripture that uses fear to keep people obedient or creates a “us” vs “them” mentality. It wreaks havoc with one’s assurance in Christ and hope in Him.)

Consider Hebrews 12:22

Evildoers

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:31:25 GMT

Psalm 37: 1-2

Psalm 37:1-2

Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
² For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.

Dear Reader,

These two verses, I believe are setting up the psalm. It addresses the concerns of the psalmist, David. He confronted a lot of evil in his day. He was also a man who knew God and wanted to be in right relationship with Him. Sometimes he failed, like all of us. Many times he was strong and courageous trusting in what he knew of God. What follows is the council of the Lord. Many things are covered.

Looking at the first two verses, we can relate, first of all, to the writer’s concern regarding evil and the effects of evil on society in general and upon a person in particular. In this case, David. He is sharing with us what God has revealed to him over the years.

When I look at the understanding of “evil doers” according to Scripture (we want scripture to define scripture, not our 21 ^st century perceptions, feelings or experience). Using the cross references, I find the characteristics are as follows:

1. Later in Psalm 37: 7 evildoers are described as successful in their ways because of wicked schemes. The success causes envy, which those of God need to turn away from, don’t “cozy up to them” to benefit. They are not the source of the blessings and provision for the people of God. God is the source of our provision and blessing, and this will edify and endure because it is supernatural in nature at its source.

2. In Samuel, the story of Hannah, her rival is one who does evil by taunting her. The taunting would cause Hannah to not eat, to be depressed and withdraw from those who want to help her. It was hard for her to see the blessings she enjoyed, namely, the love of Elkanah.

3. In other Psalms, the evildoers end up ruining their way and they “rage against the Lord”

4. In the New Testament, Paul admonishes the Church in Galatia to reject envy, drunkenness, carousing and things like this. When a person compromises with evildoers to benefit from some “wisdom” or overflow of provision offered, or sharing in any emotional support, it denies what God is offering through Christ, and it will not last. It is not a part of what it means to live under the Law of the Spirit of Life and the freedom it offers. These verses tell me that we have a choice whether to trust in the world system( go after mammon as in Matt 6:24), or believe and place all our trust in God, our Good Father.

5. James mentions that God gives a greater grace [than one manufactured by people, my words] God is opposed to the proud. Why? Because pride compromises, pride is idolatry, pride does not give a lasting benefit, only the Grace of God can do that.

Psalm 37 resource link for above observations.

So, what does this mean regarding the world around us? First, to me is reminds me there is nothing “new” in what we encounter around us. The world system has always had evildoers. That’s why the Church that Jesus is building needs to be about ONE MESSAGE, ONE FAITH, ONE GOSPEL PREACHED (Eph 4:4-6). Conversion needs to be complete with confession, baptism and infilling of the Holy Spirit so we may live according to the Law of the Spirit of Life rather than according to the Law of sin and death, chasing after the world system. We are effected by the world system, subject to laws etc, but we are not a part of the worlds system. It does not define us or order our understanding in Christ. It does not save us or empower us to overcome a sinful nature or live a truly abundant life in the freedom God intended His people to live.

In addition, God gave the Church He is building, the assignment to confront evil and bring it into alignment with the Kingdom of God. This is the same assignment given to Adam and Eve, to the people of God in the Old Testament. Only now the church He is building is empowered supernaturally to fulfill this assignment. That is if we were not so fragmented, preaching different gospels and forming alliances around personalities and pulpits. Only through the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ, the whole Gospel , not the typical " say the right prayer and get to heaven " elevator version of the message often used to day.

When Peter preached in Acts 2, the whole gospel , the crowd was convicted. A decision was demanded: Receive, convert and be saved or not. Those who did not receive it were left to their own devices (see verse 2 above). It did not go well with them, they wore out (perished) like an old rubber band left in the sun too long. Those who received the message and fully converted into the Kingdom and were granted eternal life, yes, but that was not the focus, the focus was on the promise in Christ: they were empowered by the law of the Spirit of Life to live an abundant and blessed life and confronted evil. (Romans 8, John 10:10).

More next time,

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Focus

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:46:21 GMT

Set your mind on Christ

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ³ For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

Dear Reader,

When we focus on Christ and what He is doing, everything else will fall into place as it should. I know this from experience. Once when I focused upon all my “questions and concerns” that was where my mind would constantly travel resulting in a life constantly sin-focused, self-absorbed and wandering in circles. It seemed impossible to travel consistently toward a good goal and accomplish it.

When I let go of trying to solve immediate issues and employing my own winning strategy things changed. Letting go of my won wisdom (Proverbs 3) trusted in Christ to resolve them. Eventually (it wasn't easy to do), my focus left my immediate circumstances as I disciplined my soul to focus upward toward Christ. When I did that I discovered a greater goal, that of the Kingdom of God and it’s administration over small matters as well as large concerns. I discovered again, that where I set my focus affected greatly the decisions I made so that they were in line with Him. For me it was a victorious moment of realization. It freed me from constant worry and anxiety. When tragedy did arrive at my doorstep, I was able to overcome because I had been trained over the years where to keep my focus. Drowning in my emotions and regret was not an option. Those emotions had no foothold on which to land.

Regarding those with whom we walk and fellowship with , either in agreement or passing in contrast, I have learned to be wise. We need fellowship. We are not meant to be islands unto ourselves. We cannot measure life by our own experiences alone. And we are not alone as members of the Church Jesus is building and as citizens of the Kingdom of God. God places us in fellowship and as we walk in obedience, being trained by Him, relationship can be built with those walking in agreement.

Looking to the right or to the left, nor looking behind, does not help the process. Experience and feelings can inform , but they are often poor decision-makers apart from Christ. How long can we truly walk with those not in agreement with the same focus? While we may enjoy the company and gain some understanding, it will be difficult to maintain a relationship while advancing toward the Kingdom assignments we have been created to fulfill. When two are yoked together but have different end goals, how successfully or comfortably will the yoke which connects them be carried? One will always be pulling on the other and instead of advancing, they wander in contention without completing any task successfully.

As HIS workmanship, (not an employer's, not a friend's, or even a family member's creation), our ultimate obligation and accountability is to God alone. We have been His workmanship from before we were introduced into the womb in our family of origin.

Think about that. (Psalm 139)

From the time of conception, God put all the ability and personality traits required of us, within us, to complete our Kingdom Assignments here upon the earth. In HIM we can trust the Grace process of retraining our soul from dysfunctional behavior and thought patters and instead, to reflect Him in all things. As we embrace the reality of being His workmanship, cleansed of sin and compromise we discover we are not helpless to the cycles of thoughts and behavior as we may have thought and that may have influenced us BEFORE full initiation into the Kingdom of God (Christian conversion). God pronounced a sentence upon us when we repented : FORGIVEN. With baptism, we identified with the resurrected Christ and became a new creation in him. With the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we became able to choose to live that new life in Him.

So as the nation’s leaders work out the consequences, fires and failures of past years, pray for them. May they respond to the message of Christ or be removed from their place of power and influence. May we trust God's timing and revelation regarding this.

May the people of God keep the focus on Christ and His Kingdom, faithfully responding to current events as citizens of that Kingdom through peaceful means as we align our votes, and our words, and or actions with the Kingdom administration and assignments in mind***.

Thoughts and prayers go out to those still recovering from the Hurricane, the fires and the influx of individuals bent on destruction. May NOTHING be stolen from those who trust in Christ for all that is precious to them. For God cares deeply for all and will deal justly and righteously regarding this. May wise council be available to those who will hear, both spiritual and natural. May ears be open, and hearts be tender, may motives be rightly discerned regarding those in power and influence.

Grace and Peace,

Anne

***for understanding of what the Kingdom of God is, and what I mean about the administration of the Kingdom, Go to the Gospels, the book of Acts and the letters of the New Testament and as you read ask yourself,

what does the Kingdom of God look like?

What does the Kingdom of God sound like?

For example, the Sermon on the Mount contrasts the letter of the law with the spirit of the law: you have heard it said...I say statements reveal characteristics of the Kingdom.

But there are other examples.

How did the Apostles respond to events and accusations?

What was taught in the sermons of Peter and Paul?

How did Paul and the apostles apply Kingdom teaching in the letters they wrote?

The Old testament also has many things to describe The Kingdom....

When you know the Character of God, you know the Kingdom principles and that is what the people of God want to administrate,by what we abide by in our own lives and how we relate to others.

Great is His Faithfulness

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 16:11:14 GMT

Great is His Faithfulness.

Isaiah 40 is a testament to God's faithfulness to His people. His people are defined by relationship, not by birth. Those who Know Him.

How do we know someone? We spend time with them. We seek to hear what they say and understand the meaning of their words, their message both spoken and unspoken.

I am currently watching the snow fall outside my window. It covers everything. I can't see the imperfections of the road, the hillside or even the branches on the tree. This is what the Law of Moses did. It covered temporarily the sins of the people. Therefore they were considered sinners forgiven. But they still had to make the sacrifices every year.

In the New Covenant a new order was established. This Covenant did away with the accusers voice because Jesus made the final sacrifice for sin and fulfilled the Law of Moses once and for all. For those who embrace this truth, and are initiated into the Kingdom of God through repentance, baptism, they are no longer "sinners." This term, "sinners" and the claim of "being just a sinner saved by Grace" while true once, cannot continue to be true for the fully converted believer in Christ.

Why? because it rejects the saving power of Christ and the Holy Spirit working in us toward perfection. To describe oneself as "sinner" is either because they lack knowledge of their identity in Christ or to excuse their laziness, to put it frankly.

It isn't that a person doesn't do anything wrong, but as saint, and the identity offered in Christ, wrong is identified and corrected. The imperfections are not life sentences as it is with those who identify as "sinners," seemingly helpless to their own thought processes and patterns of behavior. That was the life offered by the Old Covenant. As believers, we no longer live that life. There is a way of victory if one is brave enough to step into the journey toward it.

Isaiah 40: 26-31 testifies to the Character and desire of God from His throne of Righteousness and Justice, that we be whole and live a life of freedom and grace. This is peace, this is the life giving liberty to move forward unencumbered by the haunting of old sins (See Colossians 2). We are not helpless to the "sin that besets/entangles us" we have a saving Grace, a life-giving way of salvation for living now.

Hebrews 11 tells all about the faith choices of those throughout Scripture who made obedient choices according to the will of God and received rewards (earthly and/or heavenly) and left a legacy for others to build upon.

Hebrews 12 then gives a key for living:

"Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
" vs 1-2

His Spirit quickens, brings alive our spirit so we may be victorious over sin (ours and others). Not because of anything we do, but because of His Faithfulness to His Covenant with the Son and the Spirit that is not dependent upon our "goodness." You can read the same characteristic of God in Isaiah 40. He does not change. His love has not changed. His desire for us to be victorious as on eagles wings, soaring far above circumstances, "what man can do to us or regarding us."

II encourage you to read this for yourself) http://blb.sc/00CLfY

What HAS changed is that the work of Christ did away with sin completely, forgiveness is available to be embraced and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can overcome because of the Blood of Christ and our Testimony of Him.

What a great way to start the New Year--on eagles wings.

Grace and Peace
Anne

365 Days

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:35:22 GMT

Oil of Joy

Isaiah 61: 1-3

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Dear Reader,

I woke up with a surprising feeling today: Gratitude. I didn’t expect that. I can only attribute it to the Work of the Holy Spirit within and the prayers of those who are aware. This is the day that marks one year without my son to come visit, call on the phone or text with a funny meme. It has been a year since that last God-talk with Him about faith and freedom in Christ, choices made, rewards and consequences regarding choices and compromise.

I loved those talks.

I’m grateful for the time I had with Stephen, both good and heart wrenching. I learned a lot about me, expectations, praying for our kids, and REALLY listening in order to respond rather than react out of fear.

I learned that salvation is not for getting to heaven, though it does include this promise. Salvation, the freedom Jesus Christ won for us, is for life now. We live in that freedom from the moment of conversion. The Kingdom is present and available even though we cannot fully see it manifested. We do see it in moments when the Holy Spirit is allowed to move through His people with power and demonstration as well as a well-placed word of caution or encouragement. The Kingdom of God provides all that is needed for the abundant life for those who believe. It is available for those who receive it.

Most of all, and most importantly, I’ve learned to rest. I’ve learned to rest in His Sovereignty. That the Heavenly Father I know would never do anything that was not good, righteous and just. How can I say this after the year I’ve had? I can say this because I’ve let go of the need to understand all that my Creator does, says, and allows according to all He knows; according to the free will He gives everyone. Like all of God’s people, I am only responsible for listening to and obeying what He tells me through His word and through His people that He has placed in my life. The guiding principle, of course, is that the Word and Spirit ALWAYS agree.

This is a great relief.

This is a choice to believe that I have made, is for life over death, of victory over victim, and of thriving over striving, faith over fear. I am part of an army rather than an audience. In this battle, and we do wage a spiritual battle, there are casualties. The responsibility is NOT to make sure everyone around me chooses life and therefore are safe from any kind of calamity. I am not responsible for the salvation of another or their accountability to their covenant with Christ.

What I AM responsible for, according to the Word, is to share Christ whenever I can so the seeds of salvation/freedom/righteousness may be planted and/ or watered. I am NOT responsible for the soil, the germination of those seeds or even the harvest. In this way, the rest I have learned is not passive. This rest is active, according to direction of the Holy Spirit rather than my own strategy, strength or intellect. I knew this in theory, but it has become more real to me this past year as I have walked it out.

Finally, I am grateful for those who are in my life who have encouraged and loved me through this year of firsts. The first birthday without him, the first holidays, the first trip back to the mountain park, the first trip back to the town where he lived. These “firsts” have driven home the importance of knowing that resting in the Sovereignty of God the Father and understanding that Life as a citizen of His Kingdom is an interdependent existence rather than independent living. No one is alone, or without resources within the Covenant of God. Matthew 6 teaches this. It is the reason we don’t need to worry or be anxious about tomorrow. God is already there. He has already brought the answers to the questions and the provision for the need.

Rest is possible, even in these difficult times that sometimes land on our doorstep, and they will. May the difficult times that may land on your doorstep, never cross the threshold or change the atmosphere.

Know this: Life is good, God is good. He HAS AND WILL CONTINUE to:

bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the open the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance [Justice]of our God;

to comfort all that mourn.

Grace and peace,

Anne

Let Down Your Net

Thu, 23 May 2024 14:32:11 GMT

Luke 5:1-7

Consider with me Luke 5: 1-7

“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boa t…”

My commentary:

Simon was responsive to the instruction of Jesus and participated by "putting the boat out a little from the shore." In order to do this, I suppose that whatever was keeping the boat in place at the shore had to first be removed (rope, anchor, etc....).

Selah (stop and think about this) …

Then they had to take the oars and physically participate in the instructions of Jesus as they moved the boat out from shore. This was not a rowboat. Don’t be fooled. These boats were big.

Selah …

The fishermen were not sitting idle with nothing to do. Emotional and mental effort was involved. Simon had to stop what he was doing (set aside his agenda of washing the nets) in order to obey the instructions.

Selah…

Obedience to the instruction of the Lord is not always convenient and the “how” may not necessarily be easy. We are often asked to align our priorities with God’s agenda. In Simon’s case, would the boat drift on the currents a bit? Would he be required to keep the boat steady. Otherwise, can you imagine? Jesus would have to keep turning around and speaking and /or the people keep moving along the shore to stay with them…Maybe they simply dropped the anchor a little further out…

I don’t know. It doesn’t say. It just says Simon obeyed.

Vs 4, "When he [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch. “Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Simon’s agenda was set aside willingly, but now the day was partially spent and getting hotter (I suppose). I don’t imagine Jesus kept to the 20-minute preaching goal in order for people to make it to the local restaurant in time for lunch. Just guessing, of course, but I strongly believe his priorities may be a bit different than some Sunday Morning schedules we’ve experienced today. How many of us adjust our participation in a worship/ teaching service because our favorite show is coming on or we want to beat the crowd to brunch on Sunday?

When obedience seems inconvenient, redundant, or even foolish, to what we have been trying to do for a long time, (ex: ministry, emotional investment in a relationship, eating healthy, exercising). Sometimes we are just “tired” of failing or not seeing results. Simon and his crew had fished all night without results. Then they willingly submit to the request of Jesus without complaint, adjusting what they knew needed to be done regarding their livelihood that day. I don’t suppose they had many vacation days to let go of the responsibilities for very long. So, by the time (mid-day) that Jesus stopped speaking and then told them to go into the deep and try fishing again, can you imagine their exacerbation at the instruction? Not only had they already spent time all night without results, and then all morning helping Jesus, now, at the hottest part of the day (my speculation), Jesus wanted them to “try again.”

Question : when we have done all we know to do according to the instruction of the Lord without visible results, how willingly are we to obey the instruction to try, One. More. Time?

Selah…

I don't know about you, dear Reader, but there are many times I have wanted to "pick up all my marbles" and go home.

Quit.

Abandon the instruction of the Lord.

Hide.

Hibernate.

A life in obedience to the Word of Instruction is not always easy, ESPECIALLY when people are involved. Responsibilities cannot just be ignored. Some plans are hard to let go of, especially when we feel we deserve a reward, or it involves approval from those we love. So, I can 100% relate to Simon when he said, "Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything." There is a lot of emotion in that sentence. Fishing was Simon’s livelihood. It is how he put food on the table, paid the taxes, etc. I don’t believe he was wealthy. He needed EVERY catch.

Selah…

Jesus says to Simon, “ Let down your net… ..”

And Simon obeys.

To us it might sound like this….

Teach that concept again…
Give that instruction again…
Answer that question…
Visit that friend/relative…
Believe the best…
Choose the right foods…
Go for that walk…
One more day at work….
Wait…

Simon was obedient... And we know that because of his declaration of faith (vs 5), the resulting harvest was different from his past experience the night before.

The scripture says, “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So, they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Over the years I have come to glean these truths regarding this passage and my questions about it:

From His throne or Righteousness and Justice, that God the Father established from before the creation of the world, He continues to provide a lasting and timely increase for those who will obey despite what their eyes see before them, what their feelings and experience testifies regarding past efforts, or personal reasoning that falls short of His Knowledge and grace.

He Loves Us, His creation and He cares deeply regarding it, and although He is with us, miraculously, covenantally, and powerfully all the time…

He has a greater plan for all of humanity, to benefit future generations.

His plan, His overall focus, is not centered around us individually.

In other words, dear Reader, I’m sorry, but His plan is NOT ABOUT YOU or ME individually….

Because HE IS GOD and WE ARE NOT (thankfully), we can trust His ability to do both: be with us, provide and instruct AND also move forward with His plan for all of Creation to save, deliver and heal. Just because we cannot figure out the HOW, does not mean it isn’t possible. Just because our love cannot stretch this way, does not mean His cannot. The harvest from the seeds we plant that are good and righteous according to His Will, is there even though may not be evident.

It is GOD who provides the lasting increase. It is God who is in charge of the germination of the seeds sown in His Name. We sow as creatively as we want to see the harvest we expect, but ultimately, He is in charge of the harvest those seeds produce, not us.

He builds His Kingdom. He builds His Church. He is the architect, and He does it all from a VICTORIOUS completed perspective. And we get to participate.

Let us remember the order of things. God is the Creator, in Christ we have our being, the Holy Spirit instructs, teaches, ever-present and it is we who are the creation.

So, what am I saying?

He is worthy of our confidence. Let down the nets when The Holy Spirit instructs. Endure for the prize set before, as Paul says. Study to show yourself approved so you can recognize His Voice and know the good and perfect Will of Him who compassionately leads the House of Faith, The Church Jesus is building. And most of all, don’t give up. Don’t walk away from the last instruction given unless the Lord says to let go. Don’t burn the bridges in relationship, and don’t be distracted by a personal goal regarding them.

Blessings, dear Reader, may your day be bright with renewed possibilities and strategy. May you clearly hear the Word of God in your situation as you study and pray knowing and resting in the Truth that discipleship is a responsibility we all have, but that you are not responsible for the germination of the seed (word) you faithfully and obediently sow into lives, nor are you responsible for the resulting harvest. Know confidently that He will watch over His Word, and it will come to fruition.

Last of all, do not carry burdens that are not yours to carry.

Grace and peace to you,

Anne

Jaws of Victory part 2

Sat, 11 May 2024 13:15:29 GMT

Dear Reader,

(If you have not read Jaws of Victory part 1 , I would encourage you to do so if you want the entire message. )

In this blog, we continue our look into the lessons of Matthew 16. Let’s back up one more time to the scribes and Pharisees at the beginning of the chapter. As you are probably aware, they had written prophecies in the Scriptures regarding the Messiah. But over the years, the ability to discern spiritual matters seems to have been compromised. It is from this place of compromise they were unsettled and unsure about Jesus for a lot of reasons, even though He was fulfilling all the prophecies.

Maybe they truly wanted to defend the truth. So, they sought to test Jesus in order that they may verify or dismiss the truth of Christ among them. Another possibility and one some could identify with from time to time, is the reality of Christ brought in a demand for order and accountability. We see that in our world today. Nothing new under the sun, right? (Ecclesiastes 1:9). They did not want it to be true. If Jesus was the Messiah, the ramifications would be upsetting to everything they knew. It would expose the error of their teaching that they knew was not accurate. Jesus highlights some of the discrepancies in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7).

The leaven that Jesus told the disciples watch out for in Matthew 16 was the distorted message from the Scribes and Pharisees. Scripture is scripture we can’t change it or alter it just because we don’t like it. We either accept it or reject it. Those are the only two options. The Truth Christ carried in His representation of the Father, shone a light on what the religious rulers were teaching and the intent of the law of Moses. The deception could no longer be hidden. The veil over the understanding was starting to be removed. All was being exposed. It is how God works. It is the consequences of lies and deceit for our own gain. It is what we are seeing now in our own time. Again…there is nothing new under the sun. People are people and from the beginning, when sin entered in, they have a choice between life and death, good and evil, obedience and disobedience. God wants sons/daughters, not robots (John 1) so free will is given.

To protect themselves, their dignity, and their position, the religious rulers of Jesus’ day sought to snatch the truth of Christ, and the freedom He offered, from the people whom it would benefit. Matthew 23 is all about the leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees I believe Jesus was referring to in Matthew 16. And like cockroaches scattering when the light is turned on, so too did they scramble for a solution to “put out the light.”

But the Light of Christ cannot be extinguished.

His Light is more powerful than the darkness.

This is the victory.

This is why the Gospel of Christ is said to be dangerous to those who don’t want to believe and this is why they keep trying to silence or distort it. It demands a choice of allegiance between darkness and the Kingdom of God with Jesus as Lord. This is what the word “repent” means. Jesus and the Apostles didn’t walk into an area and say, “my, my, my, PLEASE repent! Choose Jesus! It’s so GOOD FOR YOU! You’ll have such a better life, Jesus LOVES YOU SOOOO MUCH!” "You don't want to go to hell, do you?" In Acts, John didn’t play the organ, the choir didn’t sing first to get everyone “in the mood” and the lights were not dimmed…..It wasn’t an invitation or twisting of the heart strings.

What is my point?

Isn't it true that Jesus loves us? Isn't it true that repentance is good for us?

Yes, but...

My point is, in Acts 2 after Peter preached the complete gospel (nothing added, nothing taken away), the people were commanded (not pleaded with or manipulated) to make a choice.

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38

Said to whom? The people who were demanding what they must be do to be saved in response to the Gospel message.

Their desire to be right with God was not because of a good sermon that twisted heart strings, nor was it because of an atmosphere created by good music and singing. It was a response to the Truth and the presence of the Holy Spirit in Peter by which it was communicated.

The Gospel, in its entirety, empowers us to walk out our salvation because of the truth that Jesus paid the price and there is now no more condemnation pending for those who believe. Our spirit is saved, our soul is being saved as we go from moments of VICTORY to moments of VICTORY by our obedience. As we walk out our salvation by faith, we are continually being perfected in Him by His Spirit as we choose LIFE and forsaking our old ways and embracing truth. Our bodies will be saved on the final perfect day when the Kingdom is handed over to the Father COMPLETE through the faithful obedience and unity of the Church Jesus is building.

We have the victory. The deception is the lie that the victory we have in Him can be taken away.

This is not what I have meant by victory snatched. Nothing can take you away from Him. Nothing can unseal what God has sealed as His.

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”

2 Timothy 2:19

What CAN be “snatched from the jaws of victory” is our ability to REST in Who He Is (Hebrews 3). This is something we have to train our soul to do. By the Spirit we must replace fearful thinking and striving with the rest of remembrance and obedience to what God is saying now, applying the good measure of His Truth to the facts of the circumstances we face. We need to be aware of the tactics of the enemy not so we are always in a defensive position (with fear, cowering), but rather in an offensive position, (by faith, advancing).

To summarize: In Matthew 16, Peter may not have liked the knowledge that Jesus was going to suffer, but I wonder, could He have rested in the revelation of Who Jesus is? Instead, Peter added his own wisdom to the threatening events to unfold and tried to convince Jesus to choose another path. This was why he was rebuked. The spirit by which he was operating (fear) was called out.

The disciples may not have known where their next meal would come from, but they could have rested by remembering how Jesus fed the groups of 5 and 7 thousand. The same Jesus who did that was standing with them even as they strived to meet their natural need for food.

When he gives the resources, it is because he knows our ability to steward the resources. We do what we know to do, being faithful in the moments, and the rest is up to God (Psalms 37, Matthew 7, 25).

The Pharisees could have chosen to believe rather than find ways to be right and save their own sense of self-importance and significance. They could have rested in the scripture testimony of God who is good would also care for them in spite of all their wrong thinking and misguided decisions in life to date.

Dear reader, you are much more to Him than an individual. You are an integral part of His working Plan and if you choose to be a part of what He is doing, He will keep you on the way of blessing that provides, protects, and preserves.

As the people of God, let us continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in every nation and situation: that they will be bold and courageous, not giving up. May they be infused with His strategy and strength to overcome by the word of their testimony and the truth of what the Blood of the Lamb has done.

Also pray for those whom no one notices. Let those in seemingly insignificant places have hearts like lions boldly going after truth and victory not just for themselves, but all within their sphere of influence as they are faithful to the call of God on their lives. May they confidently testify in word and deed to any who listen the Truth revealed in Christ.

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Jaws of Victory

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:00:39 GMT

Moments of faith denied

Matthew 16:16-23 says, ¹ ⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

²¹ From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. ²² Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” ²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

Dear Reader,

For clarification purposes, let me explain the title of this blog, “Jaws of Victory.” Usually, I think of jaws of anything as a defeat, right? In this case I’m thinking of a lion receiving the benefits of capturing his/her prey. The lion eats the catch and benefits from the nutrients it offers. I know that may sound a bit crude, and there may be a better analogy, but it likens to me the idea of destroying the works of the devil and without the devil’s influence, the Kingdom of God and all the benefits can more clearly be seen and experienced. Sometimes it does take a bit of ferociousness to overcome whatever thought patterns to which we default like words that may reside on the tip of the tongue demanding to be expressed. Or maybe, its the lies that exist in the facts that distort what appears to be. A bit of backbone and scriptural knowledge is needed to be strong and with words of faith, counter the lies. Facts are not to be denied, but neither are they the final word when Jesus is Lord.

Easy to say, not always easy to do…Consider Peter.

I’m starting in the middle of Matthew 16 when Peter had just received the revelation of Jesus as the Christ (vs 16-20) and afterward Jesus revealed more about His suffering, Peter’s natural strategy kicked into gear, and he rebuked Jesus. His soul took over. His emotions and his mouth went into overdrive. This is not a new thing for Peter, he was impulsive before the Holy Spirit got a hold of him (Acts 2) and his impetuousness turned to fortitude and boldness. The Holy Spirit will change us. He changes what has been twisted by misconceptions, lies and manipulation into qualities of holiness for His Kingdom’s Sake, if we let him. We do become perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). But it does take some “reprogramming” and adjustment as to who is in charge, our soul (feelings, intellect, reasoning) or the Holy Spirit who gets a hold of us and dwells within, teaching, comforting, revealing, etc.

Peter, still battling with natural impulses, wanted to protect Jesus whom he had grown to love and believe in as the Messiah. In his error, he believed he was right because it made sense to him and had the outcome he desired. According to Peter’s wisdom, it didn’t make sense that Jesus would suffer. It was in this instance that the moment of faith was snatched from the jaws of victory for Peter because all he was seeing was what the facts revealed, and how he could fix the situation to avoid what he did not want to see happen. His obedient words of faith were short-circuited by his own reasoning and impatience because to him, the whole picture was evident and being set in his ways according to his own understanding (see Prov 3:5-6), he blurted out his own ideas which revealed an opening where Satan could enter and tempt him to abandon the moment of faith for one he could more readily understand and control.

Sin/disobedience is the way faithful people can be derailed and fall short of receiving the rewards of the Kingdom that God wants them to have. God doesn’t want that to be. It hurts the ones He loves, and it delays the plan of God not only in their life, but also delays their part in the plan of God to be accomplished. An example might be Balaam, set on his own error to be paid for a prophecy against the Israelites. God took a moment to address him personally so he could see his error and live in victory. But he had to be rebuked by his own donkey to get his attention and highlight the stronghold upon his own heart that the enemy was using against the people of God. He could not see the big picture of what God was doing because it was clouded by his own ambitions and desires. Did Balaam change? Did the highlighting of the sin in Balaam’s heart change him? I don’t know. I do know that he was obedient to prophesy over the Israelites only what God told him to say. So, it may indicate he did have a change of heart. If not, then that tells us something, too. He still feared God and regardless of this personal ambition, he was not going to do anything to incur God’s wrath upon himself. (It wasn’t until later that the enemy got the Israelites to sin by marrying into the enemy camp and thus, they were eventually compromised in that way.)

But wait….

There are more facets revealed in this chapter regarding faith and what stands in the way of victory.

A little earlier in the same chapter the disciples realize that they had brought no bread with them. They began to discuss the matter and strive to solve the issue, looking for answers among themselves for a natural need.

Back up to Verse 5.

^“ And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. ⁶ And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ⁷ They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring any bread.” ⁸ But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread? ⁹ Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets full you picked up? ¹¹ How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

My first question was why did they forget the bread in the first place? Could it be that they had their mind on spiritual matters to such a degree that the natural need for bread in the future forgotten? Was it really neglected? Or were they in their spiritual existence resting in the reality of Christ among them?

As soon as they started to get hungry in the natural, they dropped their focus from the Spiritual (4D) to the Natural (3D) realm. They now looked for a natural solution to the “oversight “to satisfy the need. They they looked to their own ability to answer the need. The disciples sank from a 4D experience with Christ (walking in Faith) to a 3D experience (soulish demands and evidence) and began to do what was natural from childhood:

Employ their own ability to solve problems.

The problem was not that the disciples were using their God-given creativity to solve a problem. The issue was that they did not remember Christ among them had the answers and ability to provide regarding the need. They did not remember, until Jesus reminded them, that the Kingdom was at hand (Matthew 3 and Matthew 4, Matthew 6), and they did not need to strive while within His care. To be honest I catch myself in this as well. It is getting more automatic to remember, but I had to train myself to do this. It wasn’t automatic. It wasn’t because I am a sinner that I went into auto pilot striving to satisfy a need, but I did need to be corrected because BEFORE Jesus was Lord of my Life and the Holy Spirit became integral part in my walking out my salvation, I WAS a sinner and learned some bad habits.

It is by these moments of faith and obedience that we move from glory to glory. Through obedience we gain understanding of the bigger picture of what God is doing and Who He is and who we are in Him. Through worship we receive His downloads and corrections as we focus on Him. He reveals more of Who He is, and we worship Him. As we worship Him we see more of Who He is and Who we are in Him….etc..

The more we deny self and step into faithful obedience despite our feelings and intellect, apply the faith word to the world facts, we will see Truth of Christ and His Kingdom. Moment by moment, step by step the light of Spirit Life illuminates Truth.

But what about the leaven Jesus warned of? How does this fit in?

Tune into the next Blog to find it out.

In the meantime,

Be blessed and encouraged. May moments of faith you encounter and obedience with which you respond reveal what God is doing and your next steps of faith as part of that plan. May you continue to act faithfully in all you accomplish and may your faithfulness testify to the Love of Christ. The moments of victory are at your fingertips if you will believe in the one who provides them and be obedient to do the good works prepared in advance for you to accomplish.

Grace and peace,

Anne

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

Seeds of Reformation

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:20:56 GMT

Church as I knew it to be...

"Church as I Knew It to Be", is a phrase I use to distinguish what I experienced as a leader in a local church to what I have come to know now, about Christ, His Kingdom and being a part of the Church He is building. It is distinguishing phrase that helps me explain the change in me and what I have come to believe. I have no animosity to the people of faith today, nor do I want to disparage my history within the local church. It was a valuable time and gave me a beginning to living a life of faith.

But what learned had some incomplete messages which led to a skewed understanding of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, the mandate of the church, soul and Spirit, salvation, etc....

I observed inconsistencies between what I read in Scripture about a life of faith and what I was experiencing among the people of faith. Despite our best efforts to be effective, the biggest question for me involved the actual ineffectiveness of the church even with periodic revivals and camp meetings and our best programs. It seemed to make little of no difference within the locality, let alone create change in our nation.

The easy answer was to say that things were only going to get worse, so the inconsistencies were related to end times and the anti Christ....etc...This answer absolved me of being accountable to finding out if maybe I was misunderstanding something. I could sit back and just "do the best I know how" because there wasn't anything I could do about it anyway.

But this view required that I ignore the inconsistencies I was seeing and concede to the view that I would never know the truth nor would I be victorious over my personal struggles because after all, I was just a sinner, right?

As I travel and speak with people I have found my experiences and the inconsistencies I saw, are not unique to me or my situation, regardless of the country. People everywhere are discovering that the "Church that Jack or Jane has built" have somehow lost their ability to speak to the current generations unless they compromise with the prevailing cultural norms and try to incorporate them into Church life.

In doing this we lose our sense of “true north.” The measure used to find our boundaries in pleasant places is lost among the shifting sands of cultural relevancy and what it means to love and communicate the Love of Christ. As a result the gospel that Jesus and the Apostles taught is compromised, truncated, bastardized, so as not to “offend” and avoid the uncomfortable topics that hold us accountable to the Word of Faith. It is in this sense that we have learned to avoid the uncomfortable truths (to the world) of Christ, His Kingdom and what it means to believe.

Dear Reader, The gospel of Christ offends. It offends the feelings of souls that have their own agendas apart from the will of God and do not want to consider they may be mistaken. It happened in Jesus' day, and it happens now. It will always offend those who are determined to follow after their own agendas.

The biggest obstacle, my friend, is when we think we are right in our misconceptions.

Grace and Peace (wholeness)

Anne

Tearing Down Altars

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 14:55:02 GMT

The difference He makes

Dear Reader,

I am reminded this morning about the importance of aligning our thoughts and goals with the One True Measure .

My measure for travel, for example, is everything in order that I possibly need. This can get obsessive for me. I

can get so caught up in my preparation, I don't enjoy the moments and I focus singularly on my task. In those moments my measure is fueled by, "prepare for the worst," which in turn, is fueled by "the fear of lack."

Isn't this ridiculous? I have written and spoken to so many regarding these areas and the peace that comes with keeping

our focus on the One True Measure, that it should be a bit more automatic than it is in my own thinking. But I haven’t yet tackled this issue even after so many trips over the years. Now it is time…

For one thing, I must remind myself of what I know… God Loves me and has called me according to His purpose to complete the good works prepared in advance for me to do. All things work together for good. Isn’t this what His word says? This is a True Measure. So, to think that I may have lack or need to somehow “prepare for the worst” is focusing on my own ability, my own measure of experience and reasoning. Experience and reasoning are important, but alone, they don’t make a good measure. Yet, until I knew better, that was my default.

I know where these prepping thoughts stem from, and it isn’t from God. It isn’t from the rest I live in as promised in Hebrews or the Gospels, or anywhere in Scripture, for that matter. God continually cautioned the nation of Israel to not divide their focus and loyalties, and this was why. There is no rest there. There is no joy in living in those places, no peace (wholeness), no hope. In Him we have no lack. We are complete, we have no need when we trust the one who sees now from the end and the beginning.

Am I helpless to deal with this default thinking because I'm just a "sinner saved by grace?" Some would say yes, we must not “think more highly of ourselves than we ought.”

Hmmm…

Well the truth is, that understanding is possibly ignoring the other side of that coin. (Galatians 5:1) We are not to think too highly, yes, but we are also not to think too lowly and deny the work of Christ to perfect our faith. So, while the "sinner" cliche may have once been true, it is not an ongoing condition. Therefore we should not build our personal theologies around it in an effort to remain falsely humble, or at worst, embrace it as an excuse to remain in our sinful condition...

As for me, I am not now identifying as "sinner." I WAS a sinner who WAS saved by Grace and NOW in HIM I Have NO LACK, not an orphan without a Father to watch over me and provide what is needed (John 14). I know who I am and in Whom I move and have my being. (Acts 17:28). For this I am eternally GRATEFUL and in this reality I am humbled (honest about myself to myself) by His great LOVE. I don't need to beat myself up with my past or present shortcomings to feel like a Christian. EEK!

[D id we just hear an altar smash somewhere? ]

In Acts 17 Paul is on Mars Hill in Athens, Greece. It was dedicated space for altars of different kinds to all the gods

and the altar to the one Unknown God was just in case they missed one or maybe it was because they knew there was an important One they missed, but couldn't name. Either way, Paul is making known to them Who this "Unknown God" really is (Begin at verse 22 for your reference).

Altars: We build them everywhere to things which we devote all our time and attention. It can be a person or a project (as in my case) that we love and enjoy. It is usually done without our notice and over time. Suddenly we are bound and enslaved to that “thing” that seemed like such a good endeavor and worthwhile effort.

Anything that we consult before being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives, quickly becomes an idol and distraction…. Look closely, you may find some stones or flecks of gold and silver with which that altar was or is being constructed.

This morning, I felt the shift, physically felt the shift from kneeling at an altar I created to the idol of preparation for “just in case.” My thoughts went from that place to remembering and refocusing on what is of the upmost importance. It felt like sitting down onto the most comfortable chair and finding rest from the weariness that my striving had produced. Striving was stealing my moments of peace (wholeness). And as the "drive to strive" melted away, I could clearly see the next steps ahead. The pain in my shoulder left as my focus shifted and the altar to “preparing for the worst" was smashed.

Dear Reader, may you this day experience the peace and joy of smashing altars to things God did not intend for you to carry or steward. May His wisdom be clear and concise as to what to steward and what to let go. May your hearts be strengthened in the knowledge that in Him you have no lack and all will be done according to the Grace He has given.

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Responsibility of Wisdom

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 14:00:18 GMT

Numbers 36

Dear Reader,

The world system sees the talents, gifts, and inheritances of the people of God and wants it for themselves. They want to make themselves greater and they do not care about what belongs to God and His people. So, we must take care.

Let’s consider the people of Israel in Numbers 36 . Remember the blog about the 5 daughters who had no husband, father, or brother to inherit the land that should rightfully be theirs Numbers 27 ? Moses brought the matter before the Lord and the Lord said they should receive a share of the land/inheritance and then the Lord declared for future generations that women, if left alone without husband, brother or father should receive an equal share.

Some within the clans of Israel saw a loophole. What if the women who receive the inheritance marry someone from another clan? What happens to the inheritance? Does it go with them and add to the other clan? That was what was brought before Moses for a ruling. The loophole gave an advantage whereas another clan can appropriate the land and inheritance of another just by wooing and marrying a woman from that other clan making themselves greater and the clan from which the woman came from, lesser.

But God put the responsibility upon the people involved, in this case the woman, to be wise and marry within her own community if the inheritance was important to her and she desired not to make her clan less than it should be.

Today, we have laws regarding inheritance, wills and such dealing with legacies and things passed tangibly from one generation to the next. But we have to be wise and prepare ahead of time (make a will) so that whatever we desire to stay within the family, stays within the family. It is our responsibility to be wise regarding spiritual things as well.

2 Corinthians 6:14 mentions being unequally yoked.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

The NASB translates it this way:

Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness?

The loophole for believers regarding the stealing of inheritance or being taken advantage of is being unequally yoked. Core values about faith, life and what it means to be married, future and so on, can be the same while incidental things like food preferences and hobby interests, work and education are different. It would be boring to have every aspect of life be the same. In an equally yoked relationship, be it friend of spouse, the surface differences can be worked out if the core values are the same. The same is not true if the core values are different.

Amo 3:3 (NASB20) says: Do two people walk together unless they have agreed to meet?

Relationships can rise above the issues if the core values are the same because the people involved are dancing to the same tune and will eventually finish the dance (conversation, goal, project) together harmoniously (even if a toe or two gets stepped on unintentionally). Without the same values would be like two people trying to dance together to different beats. One dances a waltz while the partner is dancing the salsa. Someone is going to get hurt.

The core values of a believer in the marketplace leads to wonderful work ethics and talents because they are Spirit led and stable. This is attractive to those who are surrounded by the unpredictability of the world system. Advancement in relationships and responsibility naturally follows. Favor is upon the believer because of the gifts that they offer. It is a bit of a quandary for the unbeliever to know the boundaries.

Christianity as I have experienced it, teaches us to be “nice” like Jesus was “nice.” We are to be forgiving and loving. But not many teachers of the Christian faith teach how to be wise as serpents while being harmless as doves. Not many teachers instruct on having a backbone, being strong in the Lord as David was strong before the giant Goliath, destroying the works of the devil with the authority of Christ that is within us by the power of the Holy Spirit. David was also strong in faith as he respected order and placement while maintaining his integrity regarding Saul. And what about the time David and Jonathan took out the Philistine camp? King David was not a doormat. He knew what belonged to him, who he was and to Whom he belonged. He made incredible blunders, yes. His unequal union with Bathsheba ended in death of a child and separation from God. The spiritual life and closeness with God suffered. His agenda strayed to the temptations around him. But he also knew the forgiveness of God and embraced the relationship he had with Him. However, forgiveness did not obliterate the consequences of bad decisions. The responsibility to be wise was up to David to choose that which led to life.

Doormats tend to get stepped on, smeared with whatever is stepped on, and eventually thrown away. Make no mistake, the world will take all they can from you as long as it is permitted. It is up to the believer in Christ to be wise and set the boundary, this far and no more, keeping the inheritance, talents, and gifts, intact for the next generation of believers to build upon. Believers must keep in focus where their provision and protection come from.

This is a kingdom attitude. It takes kingdom faith that does not look to man for sustenance or provision, but rather seeks first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first. THEN all those things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:19-34 has SO MUCH TO SAY about living in the world but not of it. God’s opinion regarding our stewardship of the gifts, talents, and inheritance we receive from Him is clear throughout scripture. We need only to search it out. No one is going to do that for you.

2Timothy 2:15 says: Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth. (AMP)

May the wisdom of Christ saturate your circumstances today. May supernatural direction be clear in every situation. May you find the boundaries fall in pleasant places as you may prosper and grow in your faith. May the revelation of “Seeking the Kingdom and His Righteousness” become clear and presently applicable to the questions you have regarding relationships of all kinds, work, provision, and responsibilities.

It is God who promotes,

It is God who provides.

It is God who protects and gives the increase.

We were not created to strive. Through the power of the Holy Spirit within, we were created to thrive.

Grace and peace,

Anne

The One True Measure

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 16:46:37 GMT

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 and the human condition

“For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth,

as indeed there are many gods and many lords,

yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him;

and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him”

1 Corinthians 8:5-6

Dear Reader,

We were created for order and to live in peace with one another. Created in His image, there is a longing to belong to something and not in isolation. Just as God the Father/Creator spoke the Word (Christ, John 1) and the Holy Spirit hovered, order was established according to the Father's design (Gen 1 and 2). ONE GOD, Three Persons, accomplishing the One Father’s will. In His image was Adam created and also Eve. This has not been lost as some would believe. It is still a part of the original design to be joined and jointed together toward a common goal. (Consider the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11). So although we would like to ignore the conflicts around us and within us, there is a drive for stability and belonging that demands some resolution. Unfortunately, without consensus to one measure by which we all bring things into order, this inherent goal can either elude us or be forced with manipulation to bring the illusion of a resolution and temporary peace.

For example, consider the first century Corinthian Church to whom Paul was writing. Many were Gentiles and some Jews, who had assimilated into the culture and participated in the festivals of the day. It was a way of life and had been f from before they were even born. They were familiar with the old ways. It brought stability because they knew what to expect and they grew to enjoy and even depend upon aspects of the pagan worship that filled their society. They belonged to something bigger.

Then Paul came along with the Gospel message and they believed. They wanted to receive Christ and all He offered and belong to the Church Jesus was building. So they did. The conflict in 1 Corinthians over the eating of food that had been offered to idols was a part of their working out what it meant to follow Christ and we can understand this because it still happens today. This particular disagreement in the Corinthian Church snowballed until the situation threatened the to divide the believers. Those who were strict about adhering to what they believed was the True Measure of Christ were criticizing those who were meshing things together, appearing to compromise the True Measure for the sake of relationship.

We get that, don't we? Haven't we all be guilty of compromising for the sake of relationship?

There are many examples of this conflict even today. Many do not really know what Scripture teaches or they disagree with what they read. The result is an effort to reconcile God and humanity (even if only in their mind) apart from what Christ already accomplished. I know that seems like quite a leap. But stay with me a moment.

It is such an easy path to step on. It appears very "Christian" to love our neighbor to accommodate or to tolerate what Scripture says is sin or disobedience for the sake of love. It goes back to that desire for stability, order and belonging. Unfortunately, as much as we may try, we cannot win them to obedience by our tolerance. While true to a degree, it can create an illusion of peace and love, but this can quickly turn to enabling distorting what it means to love. This modification of the Truth in an effort to reconcile someone to Christ, will result in the least compromise and and in the worst, failure of the relationship completely. Why? Because the tolerant one becomes slave to the dysfunction of another. The sin and dysfunction of a person or culture,becomes the measure by which all is aligned.

There is only One True Measure, which is the Gospel of Christ and His Kingdom. The reconciling of God and humanity has already been established through Christ. We can not "redo" it or alter it to save our neighbor, maintain our stability, or avoid conflict. Insecurity and fear of conflict is not an option for those who find their identity in Christ. When our existence is through Christ, who can threaten it? If God is on our side, who can take away our identity in Him?

Conflict will happen, rejection is painful, but we are not made of sugar. We will not melt in a storm. In fact, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can walk on the waves.

Regarding further the two verses:

“For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him” 1 Corinthians 8:5-6

There are some who theorize that according to various scriptures who indicate there are other entities out there (Psalms speaks of "gods", who are not equal to God our Heavenly Father (there is only ONE CREATOR). They did and do influence humanity in various ways and became the source of idol worship, debauchery and so on . We know there were fallen angels and demonic powers, we've seen and heard testimony of such things and they do manipulate behind the scenes illegally upon the earth hoping to destroy the works of God, create chaos and lead many away from the Truth of Christ, or so they try. So this may be what Paul is talking about. It was not a new concept for those who knew their Scriptures. In addition in the Roman world, Caesar was meant to be worshiped as a "god' as well. Any of these things could be indicated here, but the point is not to be distracted by defining those things as much as it is to understand who we are and to Whom we belong.

Our Measure should be this:

From the Throne of Justice and Righteousness, God brought Creation into existence; therefore, Creation belongs to God. Genesis says the creation of humanity was "very good." From Him we received our form and our first breath (spirit). He knew who we were from “before we were in our mother’s womb” according to Psalms 139. He knew the choices we would make of our own free will (Romans 8).

God is not a tyrant. He does not control His creation in order that they may please Him. If this were true (that He controlled people in order to please Himself) then what does that say about tragedies and horrible things that happen? Obviously, the death of a child or the mistreatment of people are not the actions of a God who Loves. No. The understanding of God in Control of EVERYTHING as we typically understand the modern word "control" is misleading and dismisses the inconsistencies of why bad things happen to good people. It causes all kinds of unbelief and errant ideas regarding the character of God and the responsibilities of believers.

The motive of God the Father is LOVE.

ALWAYS.

God the Father Loves His creation. It was for Him and by Him that we were created with freedom to choose Him. Our identity is found in Him. Free Will is a must and so it was given because God is not threatened by our choices. His Love grants freedom to willingly choose Good. Unfortunately, some do not choose Good. Some bad choices hurt us whether we made them or not. Our response to those choices is the only thing we can control. But we are not without an advocate in the Holy Spirit to fight for us, give us wisdom, comfort us and lead us in the right path for justice and righteousness. Because of Him, we are able to weather the storms of life (walk on the waves).

Employing our own measure happens when people seek to grasp equality with God by their own efforts and thinking of themselves more highly than they ought. It is based upon unbelief. It is believing the lie told by the devil, that God is somehow miserly, withholding the good and the best of life, as if the Creator would not know what His creation needed in order to live a good and free life in Him. And as in the case of Adam and Eve, rather than inquiring of God, many by their own hand, reach for that which they believe will make them happy. Essentially the desire is to take God's place, reject Jesus as Lord of their life, and follow their own agendas. Simply put, God’s creation, like Adam and Eve, often wants to flip the roles. God’s creations wanted to BE the Creator.

It took a Loving Father, knowing beforehand the choices that would be made, to provide a way to reclaim His creation from their own messy choices. It took a tremendous price to redeem His own creation back from the evil trap of sin and lies.The way still remains. Forgiveness is available to embrace.

It is THROUGH Christ that we exist. He is our sustenance. He is our ongoing source of Spirit Life that freed us from the darkness of condemnation, hell, that was the Law.

It is THROUGH Christ that we have received the Promise of Holy Spirit who is our counselor, friend, teacher.... It is through the Holy Spirit that we receive instruction and strategy for life. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are led on the path of righteousness.

It is THROUGH Christ that the law was fulfilled leaving the devil powerless in the face of Grace. It is through the Victory of Christ we also have victory over the devil's schemes both personal and within the world systems.

It is THROUGH Christ that we have our being, and it is THROUGH the Holy Spirit that God will complete the work He has begun in each of us.

Experiencing an ongoing, never-ending struggle over sin, with NEVER a victory is not because the price Christ paid was not powerful enough. It is because our own striving to defeat it is not powerful enough. May the Holy Spirit reveal the weak link in the understanding that allows for sin and struggle to hang on. May ears be opened, Eyes see that which the Holy Spirit has in store, as well as the strategy and steps to get there.

May this day reveal the grace of the Father through the Son. May the Promise of The Holy Spirit fill you with the understanding that leads to wisdom for your next steps. He will make the pathway smooth. If you stumble, He will help you up without lecture or condemnation. The mountains and giants we face are not bigger than God the Father who backs us up, provides wisdom and strength for good choices.

Life may not always be fair, but God Is ALWAYS GOOD.

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Enduring Gift of Christ and His Kingdom

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 15:15:08 GMT

Dear Reader,

Greetings! Grace and peace to you as you enjoy this season of blessing. We will enjoy the the celebration of Christ among us with the l ights, the gifts, the music, the traditions, the nativity testifying to of celebration of love among us. Many are celebrating family. Many are celebrating the coming of God among us in Christ as part of that family celebration. We retell the the birth of Jesus and how God came to be with us! These are good and necessary things.

For some it may not be so joyous because of the emphasis of the world system on family, friends and gifts, for some it can be more depressing that life-giving. For whatever reason, for some cannot participate as they would like. However, circumstances do not need to dampen the season. After all, Jesus wasn’t just a “sweet baby” that was born in a manger. There is so much more to celebrate!

It was about the birth of The King and this King has a Kingdom.

What if, on the birthday of our grown children, we pulled out the photo album every year? We could sit beside them on the couch and review every year all the stories and how exciting it was for him/her to join the family. We’d smile and close the book, exchange gifts for the baby, walk to the kitchen and prepare a bottle of formula for our birthday lunch in remembrance of that lovely day when they became a part of our family. This would be silly, right? No one does this. We see our children grow up and we celebrate who they have become. The way we celebrate reflects who they have become.

It is also important that we don’t keep Jesus in his infant stage in our thinking. Our Christology is important. How understand who Christ Jesus is influences how much we allow Him to affect our daily lives. Do we need to defend our faith or does our faith defend and empower us? A baby doesn’t have much power, but Christ in His fullness, offers His Spirit for ever-lasting change. Christ, In His fullness can realign our thinking to become mature in Him; understanding all He has done as well as what we, the Church, are equipped to do (live the abundant life, destroy the works of the devil). Babies can't do that, but adults empowered by the Spirit can do that.

Although the pageantry of Christmas is wonderful and meaningful, it is important not to get stuck with a "baby Jesus on the inside" and embrace The Christ who completed His work. He does not need our protection. He rules and reigns through the Church (us), interceding for us in heavenly places. Our God is an awesome God. What the Law could not do, He did! The Gospel is powerful without our intervention to make it “palatable.”

The incarnation of God among us (Emmanuel) was something planned between God the Father and God the Son and the Holy Spirit long ago, before we came onto the scene. It would have happened even if we were the only ones to be saved. This isn’t a highlight of how wonderful we are in God’s sight, (though I used to see it that way), but rather to remind us that His plan is NOT about US and does not center around US, individually. Our choices do not determine the success or failure of this plan. Our choices only effect how we are involved.

God’s plan is for ALL of Humanity. It is about HIM and HIS Kingdom of which we get to take part. As citizens of this Kingdom we have all we need as TOGETHER we magnify the Lord of lords and King of kings.

What is that kingdom all about? What does it look like? Sound like? When is it?

Read the bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you about the Kingdom of God which is “ at hand ,” meaning it is within our reach. Meaning that the Kingdom is not a distant reality, yet to come to be. It is not a "thing" or a "place." The Kingdom, according the Matthew, is made up of believers in Christ who participate in the manifestation of the Kingdom reality. Therefore the Kingdom is available NOW visible to those who participate and believe, living by the Law of Spirit Life within.

Jesus described the Kingdom in the Gospel accounts, He lived it and was an example for the Future Apostles of the Lamb. He taught them again after His resurrection and ascension (those 40 days Luke told us about in Acts 1). Then He filled the Apostles (and all who would receive Him) with His Spirit (Acts 2) so they could manifest that truth to the nations. And they did. They told us about it in Acts and Paul applied it more specifically, spelling out the “walking out of Faith” in his letters.

What a wonderful gift Jesus is to us! He revealed to all God's love, God's plan, and His Kingdom purpose for the nations!

Regardless of whether the holidays are happy or bittersweet, (this year my family is experiencing our first holidays without our son), Jesus is still worthy of Celebration. Colossians 3 says to focus on Him. David, in the Psalms says to lift our eyes to the Lord from whom our help comes.

We CAN step into the Spirit reality of the Joy of Christ this Christ-mas and enjoy His sweet fellowship and peace regardless of our current circumstances or what has happened this past year because of the Kingdom reality among us and in the spirit. The reality of the Church Triumphant and Heavenly places to where those whom we love have passed on, is not as far away as you may think. It isn’t on another planet or some distant star, but simply invisible to us. Although we cannot communicate from this place to that as we would like, one day we will also step through into that place and enjoy the fellowship as well. But for now, with Faith, know Christ is near and our Hope is always in Him for that day.

And guess what? I have discovered that although the tears may come once in awhile (most times unexpectedly) God’s love fills and heals those broken empty places with His grace and the healing reality of His Kingdom among us (believers). The tears and sadness that this season may bring for some, does not define or tell us about the Character of God in Christ. God is not responsible for the sad and bad moments. Our choices and the choices of a sinful humanity around us are responsible. But God CAN, and still does work it all together for our Good if we will trust in His Goodness.

This is sure and true: Love is the greatest gift and God IS LOVE. Dependable, always Faithful, NEVER CHANGING, does not “turn away,” All knowing, Ever present, And that LOVE is available to all who will receive it.

Merry Christmas,

Anne

Darkness and the Light of Truth

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:12:35 GMT

Victory in Jesus

The revelation of Christ, the knowledge of the Truth, and the Understanding of the entire Gospel revealed in Scripture will yield wisdom regarding strategy when dealing with darkness. While I do not claim to be an expert in dealing with this spiritual realm, I have made some observations and gleaned wisdom from those who have confronted this reality. I also have the Holy Spirit within who is an excellent teacher.

The question that may come to mind at this point is, why darkness? Why think about it or even entertain the thought of its existence?

Well, because it is darkness where evil hides. The light that we are in Him, shines in that darkness and exposes it so we may come against it with weapons of warfare, that is the armor of God and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God in us. By His power we defeat that which wants to kill, steal and destroy all that God says is “good.”

Evil is never satisfied. Evil thrives on chaos and deception. It doesn’t have to make sense. Evil cannot be reasoned with because it isn’t by some faulty reasoning that it causes the chaos. The devil and powers and principalities we battle against choose to do evil. It wants to rule and reign but it has already been defeat. However, it is trying to do this towards a Kingdom that ALREADY HAS a King. That King functions LEGALLY through His Church. Evil and all its minions are functioning illegally and without permission from the King. The believers in Christ are another matter, however. Through deception we have unwittingly and ignorantly participated and given way for the devil to work among the nations.

In order to do our part as the Church Jesus is building, we must know our place IN the victory Christ has won for us. If we have heard the authentic gospel and have been authentically initiated into His Kingdom, then we can take our place in His Body and work from His victory for us, the redeemed [i] . If we have not been trained in our weapons of warfare then we are woefully ignorant of our own identity as saints (Phil 4), kings and priests (1 Peter 2), fellow heirs with Christ (Gal 4, Rom 8). A seeker sensitive and tolerant culture has been allowed to infiltrate and compromise worship, prayer, and basic functions as a community of faith in the name of “love” and being a “good Christian.” The fear of man and what others think or how they feel (or money or power) has been more important to the majority of religious leaders over the decades than the fear of God and His instructions to the Church. It is not until the Church Jesus is building rises up to her rightful place and plunders the devil’s kingdom.

Sounds aggressive, doesn’t it? It is! And it is “for all the marbles” as Apostle Dave Viljoen says. The devil wants ALL the King of kings has. This is a spiritual battle we are waging with the tools given by way of the Holy Spirit. Our weapons are not carnal; we will not win with weapons of natural warfare such as guns and ammunition. Our weapons, according to Scripture, are spiritual: prayer, declarations, the Word of God spoken, His Truth spoken and declared, His Church united in one voice with one Gospel message.

Metaphor time! (you were waiting, weren’t you?) lol.

A glass prism or a kaleidoscope is OH so pretty with all its lovely colors reflecting as the sun shines through it, isn’t it? Don’t we love to see all the pretty colors reflected into a room? Sure! But it is powerless. The light that shines through is so divided among the spectrum that it has no effect on anything it touches.

But now consider a magnifying glass! WOW we can start a fire with one of those! The light coming through is so concentrated in one place that it is powerful.

The prism would relate to the many denominations and doctrines that have infiltrated the church systems as we know it (40,000+ Christian denominations and non-denominations). Everyone is so sure they have the truth and as a result have made so many accommodations for people’s feelings and different interpretations have influenced and produced multiple doctrines. Instead of the Church being founded upon the One Foundation of Christ (the faith that was once delivered to the saints – see Jude 3) with the leadership of Apostles and Prophets, [ii] the people of God voted and divided themselves (winners and losers) and elected their own leadership rather than allowing God to appoint leadership through consensus. This led to denominations, sects, and cults.

This was a smart move on the devil’s part. He is not a dummy. If he cannot defeat, he will divide and deceive. Fear (of death, shame, and power) leads to pride. And the devil uses this, of course, to create all kinds of mischief that reflects badly upon the church man has built.

Jesus said in Matthew 16 that the gates (decision makers) of hell will not prevail (withstand its advance) against His Church. Who are these “gates?” they would be the powers and principalities Paul writes about in Ephesians 6 and those who allow evil to work through them. [iii]

It is the wisdom of God through His Spirit and Word, that provides instruction when to advance or step back, declare or decree and when to walk away from a fight when the timing isn’t right. Sometimes there is a better time to engage in spiritual warfare. God has a strategy, a plan, and it is one of victory. The Church is SUPPOSED to receive this instruction with consensus on the Lord’s Day gatherings.

Unfortunately, with the muddling of soul and spirit, Sunday mornings have turned into group therapy sessions and self-help talks which neglect the purpose of true worship that focuses on Christ, His Kingdom and Listening to His voice for the Instruction of the Lord and then MOVE in the direction with the wisdom and timing of what God is doing NOW in the earth and in our communities.

A very important key when dealing with darkness is to know the difference between being led by our soul and being led by the Spirit. Why? Because our soul [iv] relies on feelings and experiences and the resulting conclusions we come to from our own perspective. This can be useful but misleading because perspectives and opinions are subjective and not a good measure for decision making or warfare, no matter how “wise” to the world a person may think they have become. If put into a battle with darkness, a person making decisions based upon their feelings and limited experiences will be waging war on more than one front. The devil’s only weapon is deception and the only knowledge he has of us is our past then that is what he uses. And we are most vulnerable in areas such as memories or failings of the past that cause have caused us feelings of inadequacy, embarrassment, or shame. All the enemy has to do is place something in front of us that reminds us of those failings, and we can be caught in a tailspin of dealing, once again, with old things even though they may have been thoroughly dealt with because we KNOW spiritually that we have been cleansed of those sins at baptism.

[The sure thing to do for a believer AT THIS MOMENT is to claim the promises of baptism, (if we know them!), which is all that Christ did for us in hell and heaven and that we have been cleansed from those sins and no longer identify as “sinner,” subject to the accusation of Satan. We are a NEW creation, the old is gone and we are COMPLETELY FORGIVEN AND REDEEMED.]

If we are ignorant of the work of Christ to redeem us and the difference between soul and spirit and are relying on our own efforts for wisdom, we will be compromised. Why? Because not only will we be dealing with the stresses of a current battle in the Spirit (worry, anxiety, stress), we will also be dealing with how everything ties to that moment or moments of the past when we felt some shame or inadequacy. Knowing the truth of what Christ did and also drawing on the Faith of God, enables us to let the Holy Spirit guide and direct us in the God perspective. This results in the peace that passes understanding regarding circumstances and the storms of the past can NO longer define our future. Why? Because we are not identifying as “that person” who “did those things” or “that person” who was “trespassed against.” With this understanding we go from victim to victor and from surviving to thriving in our daily life. We are a NEW CREATION and the Faith of God, which is a gift from Him from by the Spirit, we can draw our strength and OVERCOME by our testimony of what Christ has done and by the reality of the Blood of the Lamb.

Philemon 1:6

… I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for the sake of Christ.

Blessings.

Anne

[i] Authentic Gospel and initiation 28-minute video of Jim giving the Authentic Gospel message. Also Jim discusses this in his book, Re-Awaken to Good News with a donation of $25 we will send you one, it can also be found on Amazon in Kindle version

[ii] Apostles and Prophets have been set aside in the community of faith over the years. Their function in the first century was to steward the Gospel message, keep it pure and accurate. With their removal, pastors, teachers, and evangelists have had to try to fill the role, but it is not their gifting. So then labels were created, and a hierarchy was set up for leaders to “advance” through and Apostle or Prophet was added to their name tags as if that could create the leadership need that was vacated. See Acts 15,

[iii] Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. “High places” would be in the spiritual realm.

[iv] The soul is the seat of our emotions, reasoning, and intellect. It is a good thing, and we need it which is why God created us to have one. But it is not a good captain to lead us. To live according to our soul means that we are subject to every wind of change that comes our way that effects how we “feel.” The soul relies on the past to define the future and often causes us to react rather than respond to life. The soul also helps us empathize, create and imagine.

Then and Now

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:45:24 GMT

Recent Revelations, Part 1

Dear Reader, this is part one of who knows how many regarding some recent revelations I have been working through. I don’t want to just accept a new revelation (new to me) and not have the scriptural backing for it. For there are no “New Revelations” there are simply Revelations that are “new” to us. And I don’t want to pick and choose scripture to “build” a theological base that is not revealed contextually in Scripture. As a result, it has taken some time to come to the place where I can share it with you.

And so, I begin regarding my understanding of the Gospel “then and now”

When I was learning about Christ and what it meant to follow Him, the next step we were encouraged to take after conversion was to share with others so they could follow Jesus too. It took many forms of outline memorization to "elevator speeches" to cold calls, and friendship evangelism. Bringing other believers "into the fold" would be the fulfilling of Great Commission found in Mark. The Gospel message I was taught to share and scriptures I memorized centered around the reward of Heaven as opposed to the Threat of Hell. It was a personal faith. Life with Jesus was all about the destination of heaven when death arrived for me. It was up to me, as a believer, to be the hands and feet of Christ upon the earth doing good works and sharing and living the salvation message so everyone could make the choice between heaven or hell. In return, Jesus would take care of everything else.

But it wasn’t all about works, as the story of the Sheep and the Goats tells us. We could think we were headed for heaven, but at the last minute, Jesus could say what we did was “all works,” and He never “knew us” (the denominational doctrine I was familiar with taught this). Our heart had to be involved in our faith response to salvation. So how did that work? “The heart is deceitful,” says another verse. With heaven as the goal, and the heart as not always doing the right thing, then where is the assurance? Is it a feeling? If I don’t feel close to God, am I in danger of being among the “goats?” I couldn’t seem to do the right thing. I always fell short somehow. Was I saved? It was enough to make a person give up entirely and walk away from the fallacy of being “perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect” ... (Matthew 5:48)

Since I was convinced, God did not lie and the Bible was true, then surely, I was missing something…. but what?

So not so long ago, I began searching for that missing part or parts and it has led me on a journey of faith and discovery that has dispelled the confusion and replaced it with the assurance for which I had been searching.

A discovery that has been a bit of a “brain stretch” for me most recently has been the Truth that the Gospel Message is not about going to heaven when we die. Dear Reader, maybe you knew that. God bless you if you did! I didn’t.

For those like me who didn’t realize this, maybe your reaction is like mine was, “ WHAT??!! ”

I know! Right? It kind of messes up the whole “ true north” feeling of believing in Jesus and receive a ticket to heaven message, doesn’t it?

“If the Gospel message isn’t about going to heaven when we die, what is it about ?”

I’m glad you asked. First let me say, the Gospel message DOES contain the message of salvation. But what is different in my focus now, is that salvation is just the beginning of the story. Jesus’ work on the cross, his death and descent into hell and victory over the devil and ascension is the starting point, not the end goal . There is more and there is a reason why it was “left out” because it means we must CHANGE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. Not a "come as you are" message many are eager to receive. This is a, "put on your big kid pants" and let go of childish things kind of message. (1Cor 13)

Hang in there, don’t abandon me yet. Let’s continue….

The sudden passing of my son this year has taught me quite a few things this year. While it did not change my theology his passing has highlighted a number of truths regarding what I believed. It caused me to refine and look closely not being afraid of the questions I had for God to answer. I didn’t adjust to make anything true that wasn’t before…. such as who is in heaven and who is not, etc. But what I did do was discover MORE.

For example, The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about and for, living. It is not about a destination. It is about choices that facilitate an abundant life of faith and freedom. I knew this generally, as I grew in my faith as a young adult. However, my understanding was incomplete. For example, I was caught up in the “feelings” which served as a type of thermostat for my spiritual "temperature." This led to my “assurance” of what it meant to be a Christian and if I qualified. If I did all the right things, thought all the right thoughts, then I would feel good about myself and that would mean I was close to God. If the right songs were sung on Sunday and a message realigned my thinking and empowered me to do the right thing, then I felt close to God because I “heard” His voice and received correction (or affirmation). It was all I knew, and I had not considered any other way to experience the Christian life. Why? Because I did not understand the difference between the soul and the spirit. It was all muddled in my brain. I didn't know it was an important distinction. From my recollection, it was never taught. Appeals for salvation and Christian living were soul (feeling, reasoning) centered and rarely, if ever, spirit centered (see Colossians 3). Feelings and emotions played a LARGE role in convincing people to do the right thing, to be saved, to serve and to believe.

When I began to investigate this truth in Scripture regarding the soul, the spirit, the heart, and mind (yes, it’s all there), then my focus moved from soul to Spirit and as a result, my personal questions and “mysterious parts of scripture” all fell into their proper places. The more I focused on Christ and not myself, the more the prophecy and the fulfillment of prophecy from Old to New Testament finally connected. I could SEE the truth beyond the Sunday school stories and apply it.

I discovered the Gospel begins with the Plan of God to redeem humanity. And he LOVES His creation and so He wanted to allow them free will to choose life or death (Deut 30). Choosing life in Spirit meant choosing life in the Kingdom of God over the kingdom of darkness (All of Romans, but the pivot point is Romans 8.) Moses admonished Israel in Deuteronomy 30 that the choices of life and death are set before each one every day, choose that which gives life. Because of Christ, we have Spirit life available. What Israel could not do consistently in their own strength; we CAN do through the Holy Spirit made available to us to be within us because of the work of Christ. This is the victory by which we live as believers. Jesus silenced the devil’s accusatory voice that resulted in condemnation hanging over our heads because of sin. The devil’s voice no longer reaches the throne of heaven. With the taking of the keys by Jesus from him in hell (Eph 4; Rev 1:18), his access was cut off from accusing believers of sin. Why? Because in receiving Christ, through our baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we are no longer identified as “sinners.” We are a new creation learning to live as Christ upon the earth with a life of faith. With His faith, strength and wisdom, the old sinful thought patterns which once held us captive are broken and realigned with Truth and Righteousness. He will accomplish this. He will complete the work He has started in us.

Living as a citizen of the Kingdom and member of the Church Jesus is building (Matthew 16), is about being equipped Spiritually with the Faith of God from where we are seated with Him in the heavenlies (that’s in scripture too, Eph 2) so we may respond in the natural to the world system in which we must live according to the Truth revealed in Christ (in the world not of it, John 14-17). This understanding equips every believer to deal with darkness and destroy the works of the devil without being overcome by that darkness.

And this is the point of conversion: the Faith of God within through the power of the Holy Spirit, equips believers to accomplish the will of God upon the earth. God has always worked through His people. He is not working on an escape plan. To venture into the kingdom of darkness without being equipped with the tools and Truth of the Kingdom, invites temptations and challenges that will ultimately lead to defeat. It is only through the power of God that the Gospel is operative, and the tools of the Kingdom (armor of God) can be effectively wielded.

Part 2 explores this point further. The revelation of Christ, the knowledge of the Truth and the Understanding of the entire Gospel revealed in Scripture will yield wisdom regarding strategy when dealing with darkness.

May the Truth be strengthened in every believer uniting them in One Faith, One Lord, One Baptism and One Father of us all. May my brothers and sisters in Christ in every nation be empowered by the Holy Spirit with wisdom, courage and armed with Truth to employ the strategy Christ reveals. ,

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Quest for Peace

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 14:26:34 GMT

Everlasting, Ever-enduring Peace

Dear Reader,

Peace. With all the news about the discord between people and nations, I've found it more important than ever, to cultivate peace. Peace in my surroundings, peace in my thoughts, peace in my considerations and in my decision-making and relationships has become vitally important to me. It has become important to all of us, I believe.

Our defeated foe the devil, (and he is defeated), has sown seeds of discord (Matthew 13:24) and deceit among the nations. Those tares twist words from mouth to ear, manipulating perceptions. Sometimes it is difficult to know what to believe if we do not have God's word as the plum line with which we measure what we hear and trust. The Truth of God has been revealed to us in the written Word and by His Spirit. This Truth is dependable and makes it possible to discern right from wrong, truth from falsehood. (Eph 4:12 and 2 Cor 10).

We need to know the Word and be sure of what we believe or we will believe anything that sounds reasonable whether or not it is Truth.

The Peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding; The enduring and everlasting peace is possible. And it took me a while, but I finally came to the realization that the only way to live in that peace is to first realize, it isn't my peace. I don't own it. I was gifted with it.

Before I understood this, I spent a lot of time striving to maintain peace. I thought it was something I was responsible to create, to control and maintain. That striving worked against my ability to rest in the knowledge of Christ . It was the resting I really wanted from peace. I wanted my mind to stop spinning with possibilities, solutions and all the "woulda, coulda, shoulda" thinking. If I try to create peace it is dependent upon my circumstances and what passes through my mind then my peace is in jeopardy if the circumstances change or if I have unsettling thoughts or concerns. This leads to further striving to manipulate my thinking or surrounding to have peace.

John 14:27 says, " Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. "

According to this verse, peace isn't something I should have to work up or create. The peace in Philippians 4 is the 'Peace of God" and in Galatians 5:22-23 it is from The Holy Spirit within. It is the very character of Christ in us. Therefore, the peace I have is a gift. It comes with the package of Christ in me and me in Him at conversion. With the source of the peace being Christ, and Christ is in me (John 17:23; Gal 5), than I should also experience and exhibit the reality of that Peace. So when I feel a lack of Peace and the cares of living successfully and happily seem out of reach, it isn't that I am without peace and need "more." I simply need to avail myself of the peace provided to me through Christ just as all the fruit of the Spirit are available to "tap" such as love, the joy, the patience and so on... (The picture of tapping a maple tree for the making of maple syrup comes to mind...)

Easy to say but not so easy to do, I know. Takes practice and bringing our thoughts into the obedience of Christ ( 2 Cor 10 ).

Without the knowledge of the tools of faith we receive in Christ, it is difficult to see, let alone deal with, the attempts to steal what is rightfully ours available at conversion. I remember the difficulty of maintaining peace of mind as a teenager and young adult. I experienced a bit of anxiety for various reasons. New places, new people and situations caused my head to spin a bit for a solid ground upon which to stand and feel secure enough to engage comfortably. I felt the need to prepare for unseen obstacles (or disasters) so as not to be "ambushed" as I moved into a new situation. It was difficult to relax and just "be". I didn't now what to do. I would strive for a peace and contentment, but something held me back from living freely in Christ. I just couldn't put away the inner conflict of knowing I should be secure in Christ and how I actually felt.

Because a contributing factor was the importance I placed on what other people thought of me, I was sensitive to reactions and nonverbal communications. The problem with this is that it is impossible to really know what another person is thinking and a smile for one person can appear to be a smirk to another. And the interpretation most often is due to a sense of self worth. As a result, I searched for significance and meaning to life, to my existence. Why was I here? How would I take care of myself? How do I.... you fill in the blank. My struggle was not unique nor was it unusual for my age. A growth spurt of sorts was happening, I just didn't understand it in in the midst of the struggle. The defining of who I was and what I was meant to be seemed so Important to know immediately so my mind could be at rest and I could experience the peace I wanted.

If you head is spinning with this rat race of reasoning, imagine how I felt(or anyone feels) in the midst of the battle!

I did realize that my difficulties were because I was "missing something" and not because God was not faithful or the word was untrue. I knew there were answers, but I didn't know r where to look for them other than where I had already been searching. "They" said Christ was the answer, but I wasn't really sure what that meant . I just claimed the cliche as my own belief even though it was a revelation of someone else's. It was an easy answer to the questions of confusion. What "they said" didn't really help me very much.

It was in a totally different part of the Gospel message where I found what I was missing. While I had been concentrating on the "how to be a good Christian" I just assumed I understood everything about what Jesus did. However it was that very part, what Jesus did, that was missing. I did not truly understand the fundamental, non negotiable truths of what He accomplished for humanity. And it was that understanding that made all the difference.

It is what Jesus taught throughout His ministry, the Gospel that Peter Preached on Pentecost and Paul's messages in Acts 13, Philippians 2, and Ephesians 4 that connected all the dots for me. "They" were right. The answer IS Christ, but not as I thought. It wasn't a magic word that fixed everything. It was the revelation of who Christ is and what did He has done that made all the difference. His Lordship infiltrated all areas and aspects of my life lifting the veil of religion and revealing the treasure available at my finger tips for living life as citizen rather than a slave of the Kingdom of God. The missing piece for me involved knowing Christ and what He had done in hell.

Yes, hell.

The Lower Regions of the earth.

Not paradise.

Jesus wasn't taking a nap, nor was he in a coma....

He was in Hell.

He suffered, Jesus suffered. On Cross that Jesus commended His Spirit to God. I believe, that at that point, even though God was still present everywhere, Jesus went to hell alone with the weight of the sins of humanity on him (see Ps 71 and Matt 27:46 ). He suffered there for 3 days in our place. This is difficult to understand. But it is what the scriptures indicate

[ For some this is unacceptable to think Jesus went to hell. And I would replay to those who disbelieve, just because we do not understand how God could do something, does not mean it did not happen. Our thinking is not above God's thinking. He is our measure, we are not His measure nor are we the measure of His word. ]

So Jesus suffered for three days and....then GOD....and here is where it really gets GOOD! I get excited over this part.

Remember the great hymn, Up From the Grave He Arose??? Verse Three!

Death cannot keep its Prey,
Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away,
Jesus my Lord!

Chorus
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever,
With His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

(OOOO, BABY, THAT'S EXCITING! I hope that song gets stuck on replay for you today! LOL! )

Holy Spirit regenerated Jesus in Hell and Jesus turned the tables on the devil!

The very devil who

sowed the tares among the wheat to deceive the people
who distorted the word of God over the generations causing Israel and other nations to choose false gods
who thought he'd won by convincing the Jewish authorities to crucify Christ,
the SAME devil who had access to the courts of heaven condemning humanity as the accuser of God's people

THAT devil was FOREVER defeated when Christ Jesus,

having paid for the sins of humanity,

fulfilled the law and the prophets

made way for the new creation in those who believe,

He restored relationship with humanity with God made available forgiveness for all who would receive it and change their allegiance from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light

THIS Jesus took the keys of hell, death and the grave away from the devil and unlocked paradise where all the Old Testament saints awaited for Messiah's day.

Imagine the joy in their hearts at seeing their Messiah come and get them and lead them out ( Eph 4:8 ), then raising his own body from the grave (Matthew 24) he ascended to heaven and cleansed heaven (Hebrews 9) forever cutting off the devil's ability to EVER come into the presence of God the Father again and accuse His kids!

This revelation makes a continual difference for us NOW! We don't have to wait until "some glad morning" when we can "fly away!"

Consider Peter. The Holy Spirit that was poured out on Pentecost. Peter and the other Apostles were testimony to the change of Covenant. Holy Spirit turned a man, Peter, from an impulsive, presumptuous person to a bold and courageous witness for Christ. The unity of that One Spirit among them, presented a united front to those who refused to believe and instead mocked and spread discord among the crowd. That unity through the presence of the Holy Spirit changed nations. The work of the Holy Spirit alive in each one effected the world around them . The Kingdom was made available to all. Their identity in Him was a firm foundation because it was rooted in the Truth of the Gospel of Christ.

The same is true for all who believe and are converted

Our identity is as John says in John 1, " But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name. " [ Children of God is defined as : those whom God knows to be qualified to obtain the nature and dignity of his children ], Grabbing hold of the revelation regarding our identity in Him, will effect how we see ourselves. It will solidify the reality of who we are and to whom we belong. It will remove the deceit of the devil's influence through those who want to control and manipulate and create chaos. The Peace that passes understanding is a peace the world cannot give, or understand and one we cannot create. It is a gift rooted in the solid foundation of Christ and all He has done. Revelation and understanding that leads to wisdom is found through the Kingdom of God made available in Christ.

1 Cor 15:56-57 sums it up in this way:

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

It was the law of sin and death that is the root of chaos, anxiety, manipulation and so on. It is the focal point on which the devil has sway over those who are not converted with Jesus as Lord. When the revelation of Christ and His Kingdom, all that he did is fully embraced, then the veil of deception is lifted and we can embrace the Law of Spirit Life which is Life in the Kingdom: Righteousness, peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17)

If we do not know who we are, the devil can tell us anything, our experiences and past can define us and our feelings can take us on some wild rides of insecurity, manipulation and deceit. This interferes with the peace available to us as believers. (2 Cor 4) Resting in the knowledge that God is Love comes from this place. He knows our heart and is faithful to His Covenant.

The Holy Spirit is working in every believer to complete what He has started in us individually and in us corporately. And with His motivation of love and compassion in us, we can set aside our own agendas and accomplish the plan of God. He chooses to work through His people, the Church He is Building. He places us within community and among a people with whom we can together accomplish His purposes.

We can rest in the knowledge that Christ is King, unchangeable and consistent. We don't have to have all the answers figured out, we just need to take the first steps in obedience to the instructions given. He will make the paths straight and even out the bumps in the road. If you stumble, He will keep you from falling. If you fall, He will pick you up onto solid ground again.

So rest. In Messiah's day (today) the way has been made, the Promised fulfilled (the Holy Spirit poured out) so that we are free. And it was for freedom (from anxiety, from fear, from bondage to ideologies and manipulation) we were set free so that we can disciple nations.

Go to https://www.blueletterbible.org/ is a great place to start for studying the topic of peace and rest. I would encourage first to pray and ask God to lead your study. Then also to read entire chapters to gain the context of the scriptures rather than simply picking verses and putting them together into a personal theology, it is important to keep in mind both the author and to whom he was writing.

Happy Studying!

May the Revelation of Christ make clear the promises He has in store for those who believe..

Grace and Peace,

Anne

It is Written

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:15:34 GMT

Words with wings...

Dear Reader,

The importance of understanding the power of the spoken word has been highlighted for me in recent days. I know I’ve written about this before, but stay with me for a moment…

Because we are created in the image of God, and He created everything with Word (see John 1), then it stands to reason that our spoken word is also creative. It makes me think of "Self-fulfilling prophecies." We know this is true in the sense that what we set our minds on we walk toward not only physically (I walk to the store), but also emotionally (I feel sick today).

We can speak word curses over ourselves, other people, nations, and situations simply by repeating speculations and how we feel about ourselves or the conclusions we draw about others. Consider some news media outlets and the repeating of lies and tragedy. Should we know about these things? Yes, probably, but for the purpose of prayer. However, often the addiction (and it is an addiction of sorts) to negativity in the guise of “being prepared for the worst,” tends to lead to gossip, speculations (lies) and the propagation of death, doubt, and unbelief. This highlights the need for self-control (our tongue and what we allow to be entertained in our thoughts) and also the need for discernment regarding what is true (temporary/today), Truth (timeless/ precepts from Scripture) and deception. Every True thought (I feel sick today) has a Truth ("Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Prov 16:24).

The Word of Faith movement years ago had some key truths that were accurate and worthy of study and application. They highlighted the reality of Logos (written word) and Rhema word (Spoken Spirit inspired Word). This difference was illustrated in Matthew 4 and Jesus' encounter with Satan. Let’s look at this.

Beginning with verse 3 of Matthew 4:

"...And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” ⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’ ”

[this is logos word, written word. Both Satan and Jesus know the written word and can converse on this level]

^"5 Then the devil *took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ and he *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written:

‘He will give His angels orders concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will lift You up,
So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “ ^[ ^b ^] On the other hand, it is written: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

[Again, this is Logos, but watch what happens when Rhema comes in…]

"Again, the devil *took Him along to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; ⁹ and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Then Jesus *said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” ¹¹ Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him.

Did you notice the difference? Rhema word was added to the written word as declaration (command) in the power of the Spirit of Christ within. Rhema word is the written word with the power of the Spirit behind, in and through it said with the authority given to us through Christ (John 14). When Jesus went to the Father, He poured out the Holy Spirit upon the people. It is only Through the Spirit that we have any Authority in the Spirit to declare and decree a Truth over anything. The Word and the Spirit always agree. The Word must back up our words to have authority.

This leads me to a criticism I often think I hear regarding the power of words. People tend to leap to the criticisms of a revelation before considering the truth it contains. Consider with me the Word of Faith Movement (you can look this up, there are a lot of article, however use discernment). Most Christians are so used to hearing the criticisms they fail to glean the truth and spit out the distortions.

I think every Christian denomination/doctrine does hold a truth or two. The Word of Faith get carried away in their own wisdom and revelations. the most famous being: the “name it and claim it” idea which took the truth of Rhema word and bent it to personal agendas leading to the idea that everything existed for them. Another criticism was about being "little gods" well that came from John 1, originally, and got totally blown out of proportion. And like the Tower of Babel, every movement/denomination built around one revelation or personality ends up self-destructing.

So to be clear: I am not endorsing the Word of Faith movement! I am simply acknowledging the truth it contained that is backed up with scripture (contextual, not cherry picked). Isn't it sad (and frustrating) that we have to sometimes plow our way through unbelief and the pigeon holes people place us in to simply communicate a truth?

But that is a topic for another day....

In summary (and back to topic), I believe it wise to not give wings to idle words and speculation. The wind will take them to places unexpected, unintentional, but still consequential. What we speak, we will walk into. There are facts out there. There are True things out there. But there are also Truths to bring those “true things” into alignment with the Word of God.

Key to remember: the Word of God should be our measure, not our experience, feelings, or personal revelations or conclusions. If we make ourselves our measure for what is truth, it will be unstable because we are limited in our perceptions.

The power of spoken word has been highlighted for me in recent weeks with the loss of our son at 34yrs. The thoughts and conclusions I come to at times are like the wind. I can’t build my life upon my own conclusions, measuring Him or who he knew or situations by momentary ideas that occur to me and seem so wise with my experience as the measure. I have to take what I am thinking about and submit it to the Word of God and ask the Holy Spirit what does the Word say about my idea/self-revelation and conclusion? People close to me who also have a relationship with God can expand on my own perception and help reflect according to the Word. I have found sometimes my conclusion is accurate, but mostly my thoughts can be emotion driven born of the desire for a complete picture and conclusion to the story.

Thus, I try not to speak my conclusions. I find it wise to be careful about what words I give wings to.

A pastor recently reminded me, “Life is not fair, but God is still GOOD.” This truth (Word backs it up, it IS Truth you can depend on). And although I have heard this in the past, it was said at just the right moment for me now. It was a Rhema word because it has a lot of scripture based truth to back it up. It resonates in me even now as a mother of one no longer here, I flow through the waves of the natural momentary sadness regarding the absence of my son and the assurance in Christ that the loss of my son here (on earth) is not the final word.

May the Good Lord, King Jesus be highlighted in your earthly experiences today. May the Joy of the Lord be your strength, and may you see the steps He has prepared for you in the Light of Who He is.

“Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name.” Hebrews 13:15

Grace and peace,

Anne

Study suggestion, plug in "own eyes" or "words" or "speak" or "heart" into a bible search.

The Mystery Altered

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 14:03:51 GMT

The Mystery Altered

Dear Reader,

A question was asked recently in a group setting, "What is to be done about the evils we see in society today?"

The following is my answer to that question.

Ephesians 3:8-12, Paul says,

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places, This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

God chooses to work through His Church. He doesn’t work through joe’s church or jane’s church. He works through His Church, His body which is not a building or an organization with employees and committee chair members. His Church that He is building is formed from living stones upon one foundation, that is Christ. The living stones are the saints, believers in Jesus, the family of God who are called as one Holy Nation to proclaim the truth that Jesus is Lord. With this proclamation is revealed the wisdom of God to the nations that Jesus taught regarding the Kingdom of God. It is through the administration of this Gospel among the nations that all who would believe are received and the ills of this world are healed. Creation itself groans for the people of God to take their place and administrate the Kingdom as Jesus taught and as was mandated to humanity in Genesis.

This Gospel revealed is not for a ticket to heaven, though it is true that eternal life is a part of this message. Neither is the Gospel a message of salvation only, though that message is foundational. But we cannot stop at salvation or heaven and assume that there is nothing more needed. It is the rest of the Gospel that is missing from the messages typically shared. Why? To put it simply, Nickles and noses. The unaltered Word of God for humanity to successfully live the abundant life of the Kingdom with Jesus as Lord may not line up with the agenda or sensibilities of the one communicating the message. Goodwill is promoted over good Truth. Why? Because (and I generalize here) offending the attendees on Sunday morning does not promote the generous giving (tithes and offerings) needed to keep the organization (church built by men/women rather than God) running or pay the electric bill and salaries.

Salvation is needed because sin is real. And only through proper initiation (repentance, baptism and infilling of Holy Spirit) can alignment with the Truth and sensitivity to What God is Saying NOW happen. Only through the one Door, Jesus, can one can successfully overcome the adversities and walk successfully in Destiny fulfilling the purpose of God upon the earth. The Gospel revealed is not for someday, somewhere out “there.” The Gospel is for NOW. It is for the living and the believing people of faith to be successful WORKING parts of the plan of God upon the earth for the good of ALL humanity and creation.

What was the mystery revealed? The church. His Church through whom He fulfills His work for the GOOD of all addressing evil and bringing an end to the influence of evil among us.

But as long as the church lacks identity as HIS and is divided regarding what is “truth” according to Scripture, His voice upon the earth can be distorted or silenced because of division and compromise affecting His body, the Church He is building. And this happens because we lack the understanding of the ENTIRE MESSAGE Jesus and the apostles preached. The church man has built has settled for Sunday morning group therapy sessions on the hardships of life instead of receiving the downloads of King Jesus and the marching orders of His Faith that has lasting effects on entire communities and nations.

Ern Baxter, in his message regarding Covenant said this: God’s word is final and non-negotiable. He has decreed what He will do in and through His Word. You can accept it, or you may reject it, but it cannot be altered. The ills of today, [the corruption and misalignment of truth and faith] have all derived from humanity altering [tampering/ adjusting] the Word of God to satisfy personal agendas and a personal sense of right and “wrong.” [my summary]

The world does not have the answers to Spiritual problems. They have to alter the word of God to convince the people of God that they know what they are doing. They don’t. And the church man builds, in its divided and distorted mess, is of course silent because they don’t know what to do either. Only the Living Stones among the rubble of man-made doctrines can see and hear the truth and they must be willing to rise up upon the firm foundation upon which THEY STAND and shake off the dust of tradition and codependent compromise declaring TRUTH unashamedly and confidently as David did when he faced Goliath. Only then, will the world see and line up with TRUTH and the answers will be provided to heal our land. This only happens through the mandate to the church Jesus is Building (of which the first Apostles were the beginning) in

Matthew 28: 19-20.

¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

May the church Jesus is Building stand boldly before the throne and receive the marching orders for their assignment. May the stand for truth as Jesus and the First Apostles lived and taught, go forth to heal every nation, discipling each toward a whole and healthy place.

As individuals among the Body, living Stones upon the firm Foundation, may we have eyes to see our identity purpose and placement within the Body of Christ, the Family of God and from there fulfill our destiny as revealed through His Spirit within.

May we have ears to hear and heed the instructions sent forth from the Throne of Grace without altering the instructions to satisfy the level at which or natural self is willing to operate.

May we truly "Surrender All" for the Sake of Him Who Loves us most.

Blessings,

Anne

Finishing Sentences

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 14:57:11 GMT

Finishing Sentences

Dear Reader,

Recently I've been working on listening. Actually, I am most always working on that skill. It's so easy to get off on tangents while someone else is speaking of how I think I should respond and what I think of what is being shared. Quieting the mind to hear the other person is difficult. I never realized how focused I was on ME and what I THINK.

I think we get quite relaxed in marriage regarding conversation. For example, my husband and I will typically finish one another's sentences. Sometimes I like the way he ends my sentences more than I do my own. He is good at seeing the whole big picture of things and summarizes easily. However, I mostly enjoy it because he makes me laugh. He’s a funny guy. At times, though, it can be annoying if I’m trying to say something serious. Altogether, I am becoming more and more aware that it is important to let people finish what they were going to say without trying to figure out feelings, whether I agree, and how to respond at the same time they are sharing their thoughts. This not only leads to a much longer conversation, it also involves humility and patience not to mention trusting myself that I won’t forget what is important.

And there is the issue.

With the invention of computers and the internet, we are used to quick answers at our fingertips. It seems tedious to wait for the answers. Emails are better than snail mail, instant payments are better than writing a check and adopting another person point of view is easier than researching for our own answers.

Regarding faith...

It is easier to listen to the preacher or teacher and adopt their understanding than it is to search out the truth for ourselves. Easier to piece together personally preferred scriptures into a personal theology than it is to take the scriptures in context regarding the original author and the intended audience and that audience's understanding and THEN apply THAT truth to our lives. Listen to the teacher YES, but more importantly, do your own studies as well. How else can one distinguish truth from untruth?

It can seem like too much work and we typically think we are so smart, don't we? Can't we be our own measure for what we believe? Aren't our experiences and philosophies enough?

Humility is a great virtue as is self-control and patience (see Galatians 5:22).

Our impatience, I suspect, also leads to our finishing God's sentences for Him. He reveals a truth, prophetically speaking or written in Scripture, and we jump ahead with our own interpretation and strategy for obedience and understanding. And, if we are honest with ourselves, we may feel quite "smart" in the process. “Oooo! That was DEEP, can’t wait to share it and what it means!” While I do advocate sharing what we discover, it is typically a little different from sharing what we think. I a group setting we invite conversation and possibly a greater understanding or correction of what we think a truth implies for the church overall. To depend upon ourselves alone as the measure for interpretation often leads not only to a compromised message but also to a misguided strategy for obedience with an outcome less than what God intends.

And God will let us do it, if we choose. Oh, He will raise a red flag that it is happening and if, by chance we see that "wait a minute caution", the temptation is to rationalize, "Well, maybe I was mistaken..." or “that’s just the devil after me again…”

We all have a frame of reference from which we see the world and interpret what God is saying. I believe that is why prophetic words can be accurate in the receiving, but not necessarily accurate in the interpretation of the one delivering.

For example, a man (or woman) of God can be wearing the lenses of End Time thinking and still receive a word from God. How he interprets that word will have an End Time application for the man of God because that is where his ultimate focus is, but that doesn't mean that is what God meant.

It's difficult to separate between the revelation and the lenses through which they are interpreted. We don't have much practice. The tendency is to go straight from Revelation to Understanding without seeking the Knowledge so we may obtain wisdom . (see blog series)

Ideally, if one receives a word from God (revelation), we must understand that our perspective will undoubtedly want to "finish God's sentences for Him." This will lead to a false understanding of the Word delivered and received. The Words from God were accurate, the vessel through which they were delivered was not.

So what am I saying? Don't finish God's sentences. Don't try to explain them for Him. Just deliver the word as it is heard. Then stop. Let Holy Spirit “finish the sentences as they should” This is what Jesus did.

John 5:19-20 ".. . Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

and to His disciples Jesus said...

John 16:13
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

I believe this is true for us today as well. The Holy Spirit reveals to us what we need to know and say if we are listening. Obedience is up to us.

Grace and Peace,

Anne

Choose Life

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:56:31 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Dear Reader,

As many of you know, we lost our son this past week. He was 34 years old at the time of his death. How? He made choices and alliances that were not good for him. Why? “Why” is a question not in need of an answer. It only leads down a path that will pull me with it. I have my guesses as to the “why,” but that is all they are and not worthy of sharing at this time.

I am again reminded of the ant illustration from my last post “Kairos.” Go back and read it if you are unfamiliar with the imagery. In summary, the ant was given direction and it chose the safety of what it knew rather than venture into the unknown that held the fulfillment of the promises made. This illustration has played over and over in my mind. The ironic thing is that I put that blog onto the website just before I found out about Stephen.

My son was given choices, and as with everyone God Loves, free will is given. And every choice good and bad, has a consequence or reward, maybe both. However, when we choose life, obedience to Christ, the rewards are eternal. I think of the admonishment in Matthew about laying up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy. I also think of the admonishment from Christ to seek the Kingdom and all these things (our desires and what we deem essential) will be added unto you.

(Side question: Why did Jesus say “seek first the kingdom” and not “salvation?” )

Finally, I think of the Psalm 37 that says, “delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

It is the desires of the heart that people seek. If the heart is filled with darkness, it is darkness it seeks, if it is filled with light, it is light it seeks. With counsel we are more likely to make good choices if the counsel is sound. In isolation, self is the measure rather than Christ and things are more likely to go awry. In our natural self, we seek the self-gratification of microwave answers rather than wait for the God timing and Kairos moments.

“Where?” was the question, I asked God first. “Where is my son now?” The truth is, I’ve been assured in many ways and times that He knew God, had a relationship with God and at the memorial service he was commended to God. The devil didn’t win. Sounds so strange. If the devil didn’t win, why isn’t he here with me now? Another “why” question. It’s okay to ask them, just don’t chase them.

Our lives upon this earth are so short in the grand scheme of things. A mist, grass, flowers fade… However, eternity is forever. I am incredibly grateful to have known my son, to have spent time with him—quality time, talking of life, love, and freedom in Christ. I had just come to the place where I knew I had shared all I could, and He knew the truth. God alone knew the choices he would make. The bases were covered as far as faith and what I could do was concerned.

Life is to be cherished.

Always.

My Grandmother was a psalmist. She could play the keys off an organ or piano like nobody I know. My cousin inherited that legacy, and he is the most blessed man in that regard. My mother inherited the legacy of song. She has a song for everything and that has passed onto her children. We’ve been sharing with each other what songs are in our hearts these days.

Legacy.

In times of difficulty and heartache we can lean into the legacy and faith of those who go before us in life and in death. We can lean into the hurt and let it pass like an ocean wave without being caught in the riptide of grief. We can remember what God has done, and gain strength and be grateful.

My heart hurts beyond compare. I will remember Stephen’s compassion and love for Jesus that knew no bounds…literally. He went into places I would never go. But he went alone with regard to his faith and this was his downfall. He needed a someone of like mind beside him who also loved Jesus so they could remain accountable to one another and encourage one another to make those good choices. There were good people in his life, I don’t mean there weren't . And he did have many who loved him and could have helped him make better choices…if he had reached out. However, like many of us, we don't understand what it means to live within a Christian community. We often don't realize that a life of faith is not personal. Our life of faith effects others around us making it very much a community thing. Most often, we typically don't realize we need others on this journey, or we are too prideful to ask. Is this what happened to my son? Maybe, I suspect a large part of it is.

We were never meant to live our life of faith alone. If we had, Eve would not have been necessary. God’s creation of which we are a part, was meant for community. The enemy of this faith is not fear, it is unbelief and pride. They will trip us up every time if we don’t get a handle on them.

May your choices be life, may your days be filled with things that remind you of the goodness of God.

Blessings,

Anne

Kairos

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 13:01:09 GMT

Time

I have recently been exploring the topic of Kairos timing. I guess because so many are determined to believe God is going to "step in" at the last moment and make everything right. I'm over simplifying the belief, I realize that and over generalizing to a degree what "many are believing" because it would take me forever to cover every base and opinion. So, dear Reader, take from this blog what you will and know, that I know, that I have made some generalization leaps so I can get to the point of my thought.

Kairos : time appointed (long time, short time) by God for supernatural interjection of His Life Giving Opportunity into real time. (my summarized definition from online sources).

Chronos (Khronos) time refers to minutes and seconds that make up the days and seasons of the year.

In Other words, Kairos is when God Steps In supernaturally to interject His will into our Chronos time. He did this with the coming of Jesus. However, even then, Mary and Joseph had to cooperate. There are other examples (Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses...), and God always works through His people to accomplish His will. That's how He set it up. He loves His creation. He doesn't want to leave them as orphans or abandon his Creation to it's own devices. We have a free will.

Dear Reader, you get the picture, I'm sure (hope).

God is Spirit and He is outside of time as we know it. Since He created time, (refer to Gen 1) by creating the day and night and seasons, then he couldn't possibly be IN TIME. So, outside of Time as we know it, He sees the end from the beginning, thus the phrase, "I am the Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and the End" from Revelation.

Consider the ant, it is very small. What seems like a HUGE obstacle, for us is quite small. We can see it is an easy path for the ant to overcome the obstacle if it will climb over it. We can also see what's on the other side of the obstacle, and if it gives up, turns away and stops to settle for what it knows, we can see what it is giving up. How sad it would be for the little ant (if ants had feelings) to cower in known and reasonable safety behind the obstacle exchanging a lifetime of sweet treats and tunnel worthy ground simply because the instructions to climb over the obstacle seemed too hard, impossible, or foolish to its limited understanding.

Yet, when we harden our hearts (disobedient)to the voice of God, or lack Faith in His goodness, or simply WANT to do things our OWN way, the choice to settle for the known is made all the time.

Just like we could see from our advantage point above with the ant, so too can God can see our entire timeline (past present and future) all at once. He sees the beginning and the end ( Chronos time). He directs our path according to the choices He knows we will make by our own free will( this is my understanding of predestination). He did create us to do the good works. He has prepared in advance for us to do. This makes up what is often referred to as "His Plan" for Humanity being formulated before the foundations of the world were created. This orchestrated tapestry of events is based upon what He knows about us and what He has placed within us (the Church) to accomplish them as a corporate body of believers, each doing their part.

John 17:24

Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1: 3-5

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before ^[ ^a ^] Him. In love ^5 [ ^b ^] He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

1 Peter 1:19 -2 1

^19 ... but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. ²⁰ For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared ^[ ^a ^] in these last times for the sake of you ²¹ who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God....

But we can choose not to participate. And many do choose not to participate according to the Will and Word of God. They decide instead to feed their own appetites and fulfill their own agendas. They use their own strategy to accomplish great things, or horrible things, and reap the benefits thereof. It is not ideal. It appears like it works, but there is always something lacking in that self-actualizing process of working toward full potential apart from Christ. Much of what we seek is not who we are, but rather purpose and destiny. Truthfully, only Jesus can satisfy that purpose (because He created us and put within each of us what it takes to be and accomplish all we were meant to. To seek this self actualization without first understanind identity is getting the cart before the horse in many respects. This can't be done in isolation and contemplation alone. I know from experience, you will end up chasing your tail (going in mental circles). Identity is found in community. We need the other members of the body of Christ to help define what God has place within us. Why? Because they can see what we cannot. Ever tried to look for a pair of glasses (your own) when you can't see clearly? Not easy. We need someone else who CAN see clearly to help us bring things into focus. AH! THERE THEY ARE!

An appointed time comes in each of our lives, (often more than once), in which we are invited to participate in the plan of God for Humanity and for the Kingdom of God. As in the case of the land owner illustration from Matthew 21, the growers were invited to participate in the producing of the harvest (plant, water, watch over, harvest). The only control they had over the harvest produced was the time and energy they invested in the preparation. The seed was God's creation, The germination was the seeds' responsibility. The Harvest yield was what the seed held within according to God's design. The The growers, having put time and energy into the crop, wanted everything for themselves. Their presumption (they deserve it) led to their arrogance (I should have it) and ultimately to sin (murder). So they killed the servants the land owner sent. Then they killed the son.

Sound familiar? It should. This story is often used as an illustration for the coming of Christ among us and the crucifixion etc.

The point I'm keying in on, however, is that humanity has a responsibility when it comes to Kairos moments. Followers of Christ, obedient to the leading of The Holy Spirit in our lives, are invited to participate and respond for the successful completion of the plan of God that the Kairos moments initiate. But in case we might think that somehow we are in control of God's plan because of our participation (presumption, arrogance), well that would be highly inaccurate. We are not that powerful to thwart God's plan through disobedience.

We are invited to participate in the Kairos moments presented to us by God, and those Kairos moments are not dependent upon us for their success. God's plan for His Kingdom will be accomplished with or without our help. He invites us to participate not because He needs us, but because We need Him and the way to blessing is through our obedience.

Esther 4:13-14

¹³ Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the other Jews. ¹⁴ For if you keep silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

It is Good For Us to do as we were designed to do. It is not a good thing, it is the BEST thing. This obedience strengthens our faith. Participation teaches us who we are and to Whom we belong. Our identity in Him is revealed to greater levels and our purpose and destiny gets to leap forward toward the "mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4).

So when a Kairos moment is presented, those who believe, see it as an opportunity. But don't wait for Kairos moments to " fix everything broken " as some are apt to do as if God must do more than he has already done to give us the authority to deal with present struggles and circumstances. With lenses of defeat those who wait for God to fix it but don't participate in the fixing when He leads them to do something, are also those who read the news headlines and then seek answers according to the narrative that comforts them. I admit it is comforting to think Jesus is going to come and make it all better as mom or dad, aunt, uncle or grand parent would come and "make it all better" when we were hurt as a child. However we are not
children. We are supposed to put away childish thinking (1 Corinthians 13). Hebrews 3 says, " Do not harden your hearts when you hear His voice as the pharisees did in Jesus day."

We (believers in Christ) have been given all we need in Christ, because of all Christ accomplished, to deal with the world system. The world system will lie to you. They puff up like a big puffer fish and say "look how big I am!" Our response as the Church should be like David facing Goliath, LOOK HOW BIG MY GOD IS IN ME! And in obedience and with His direction, we deal with the world system bringing it into alignment with the Word of God and not allow it to bring us and Truth into alignment with what it (world system) wants or requires when it conflicts with His Word. Sometimes this causes conflict and for the tender-hearted and seekers of harmony this can be a problem. To them, I would ask, Who are you? To Whom do you belong and where is your allegiance? Who is Lord of your life? Christ didn't come to bring peace to a world system, He came to bring an abundant life to His people ( John 10 ) . The invitation is for everyone to join Him, exchanging the kingdom of darkness for the Kingdom of Light. (Romans 8). But you must choose this day whom you will serve.

Dear Reader, let us pray as one that we all will seek out the will of God in as much as we are responsible for within our sphere of influence. We pray as Jesus taught, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!" Thank you, Lord, that the kingdom is already among us and we will be faithful to administrate the of the will of God in our lives. We pray that it will then be magnified because we, the church Jesus is building, are many despite what the world would want us to think. We know and declare that the Kingdom of God, according to Romans 14, is "righteousness (right relationship with God), Peace (wholeness) and Joy (gladness, delight) in the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) (KJV). May we continue to walk in the way of Blessing as we obediently follow after Christ.

Amen

There are many more times in Scripture where Kairos is used here's a link for your study: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2540/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/

Old Wineskins

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 15:15:34 GMT

Consider This...

Hello Reader,

Within a denominational mindset I would interpret scripture (read and understand) as the founders of my denomination laid out in their sermons and teaching. In this way I believed I was being a good Christian. What was really happening was that I was being a good United Methodist Believer in Christ as understood by Wesley and all those who followed him. I look now at where the United Methodist church is and I am quite sad regarding its division, however I am very glad to not be in covenant with that denomination anymore.

Yes, “Covenant”. What do I mean? That word has been hijacked a little in our culture. We either mean a “marriage covenant” or we mean some cultic restrictions of some kind. Neither is what I am talking about here.

A covenant is an agreement of a sort, but more.

A covenant with someone or something invokes loyalty, responsibility, and commitment. As Believers we are in covenant with Christ. Our obedience to Him is our part. His part is that He keeps His promises as laid out for us in Scripture. Hint: It involves much more that a “ticket to heaven.” In Him we are one body, His body on the earth with a mandate to take care of the earth and administrate or "steward" His resources and disciple the nations.

This is what every believer is to do. It was laid out for us with Adam in Genesis 2 and with Abraham and with Israel. It has always been the mandate of the Church and has never changed.

However, when I was within the denominational system, I found myself loyal to that denomination regarding what I believed and taught. I was loyal to that denomination in attendance and participation. I went to workshops and seminars to do all I could to help it grow and spread the Gospel of Jesus as the Methodists understood it. I was loyal and committed to upholding the United Methodist Understanding of Scripture as I was taught. If there were things I did not understand or inconsistencies in the teachings, then it was my fault because I simply didn't "understand" and I obviously needed to learn more. I was blessed to have "authority" over me to which I could turn for the United Methodist Understanding.

These are the Lenses of Denominational Thinking that I am referring to. It’s never a conscious thing. But if you look for it, you can see it clearly.

When I stepped out of the United Methodist church the first thing I felt was a great relief. There was a severing, of a sort, from NEEDING to maintain that loyalty and commitment. Then I felt guilty for feeling so free and unburdened.

"You are just Lazy." "How could you betray the UMC and all your friends?" And people were offended as well as confused. We were on our way to leadership, according to the career projections of how others saw us. We also looked quite foolish to give up a guaranteed salary, house, utilities, always a place to serve, vacation, continuing education, insurances and so on…Severing the ties with the denomination (breaking the covenant) was more than just “quitting,” it was giving up quite a few guarantees---the denomination’s part of the covenant. “You serve us with loyalty and fulfill your financial and professional obligations, and we will give you all this stuff….”

Don't worry, I got over that quickly as the lenses fell away and I allowed Holy Spirit to begin teaching me without my holding Him to the plum line of Methodism. I took in everything. I considered other teachers and preachers. I asked questions regardless of whether I was afraid of the answer or even if I didn't believe there was an answer.

Were the "sons of God in Genesis 6 really fallen angels? Were the giants spoken of the offspring of Angels and men?" What about Revelation? Was there a rapture?" " Are we in the end times?" " What is a soul?" "How is it different from our heart?" "Do we always have a spirit, or do we get it at conversion?" "What does it mean to be converted?" "What really happens at Baptism? Is it just symbolic?"

And so on...you get the picture.

I knew what I had been taught (I went to Seminary). But I wanted to KNOW for myself. And it was hard! The teachings of years and years had created some very deep ruts in my understanding that just didn’t simply “go away.” I kept finding myself falling back into a pattern of thinking that only led to dead ends.

Here is an example of what I mean:

“I’m a sinner saved by grace” I hear that all the time. People try not to be arrogant as they point out what someone else is doing wrong.

“I WAS a sinner, and I am saved by GRACE” is the proper way to think of this.

YOU ARE BEING ARRAGONT! YOU ARE A SINNER! EVERYONE DOES SINFUL THINGS! ARE YOU SAYING YOU ARE PERFECT?! EVEN PAUL SAID HE HAD A HARD TIME DOING THE RIGHT THING (ROMANS7!)!

YIKES! Can you see the bible hitting me over the head repeatedly? That was what went through my mind just when I asked the question. Talk about a “rut in my thinking!”

Here is what I learned once I let go of my previous understanding and ignored the condemnation since in Christ there is no condemnation, so it isn’t from Christ, correct? Anyway:

First, understand that Paul is making a case in Romans, and you have to read the WHOLE THING, not just the parts that fit a narrative you prefer. Sorry to be so direct. But it’s true.

Second, to identify myself as a “sinner” than either:

1) I and my sin are more powerful than Jesus’ ability to cleanse me of sin (and that’s NOT arrogant?)

2) Jesus is a sinner too because He says He is a part of every believer.

3) Jesus did not complete the job he was sent to do

4) Jesus lied when He said He’d send the helper to come and teach us because He doesn’t help us to not sin.

5) Paul lied when he said that God completes the work, he begins in us.

Since none of these things are true, then there is faulty thinking in identifying myself as a “sinner.”

Do we make mistakes? Sure. But they aren’t life sentences (normally). We can repent, apologize, correct them if possible and make better choices. We are not, however, in a sinful state as we were before conversion when Jesus took all that stuff away and made us into a new creation so we could be a functional part of the Body of Christ on the earth, a citizen of the Kingdom doing the work of the Kingdom. The point is we progress toward reflecting the Character of Christ upon the earth with purpose and destiny. A “sinner” can’t do that. As new creation, made righteous in Him (Romans 8) I couldn't play victim to my impulses anymore. The Law of Spirit Life was now in play in my life.

These are uncomfortable things to think about. They were for me. If we say we are NOT a sinner, then we have to take responsibility for our mistakes and don’t do them anymore.

These are the types of questions I confronted (and still confront). In doing so, I prayed A LOT and searched and made maps on paper to trace the arguments of Paul (YES, maps are helpful!). I made timelines of events to trace the lives of the patriarchs .... All very academic, but it was what I knew.

Then I got baptized. Really Baptized as in, under the water, you can't breathe, immersed. Words were said, prayers were prayed, and I believed...really believed. I wasn't just going through some symbolic ritual and "getting wet." I remember jumping up and down a little afterward just to let out a little of the Spirit that seemed to be tickling all up and down my spine.

From that moment on, I was being realigned. Put into order. And the first thing that fell away was fear and anxiety over unanswered questions. And part of what filled me was the assurance that God had all the answers, and I could just simply ask until I got an answer.

While I do not regret my seminary training or my degree nor my time in denomination, I still do feel that if I'd known then what I know now, I would probably have made different decisions.

All in all, I didn't really need a seminary degree, commentaries etc, (though history is helpful in understanding the context of scripture).

Holy Spirit is a wonderful teacher, but if I limited my learning to just me and what Holy Spirit was teaching me, I would miss out on the bigger picture. We weren't made for that all the time. Our brains are just a bit limited when it comes to perspective. God chose us to be in community for this reason. If that were not so, He would have stopped with Adam and never created Eve.

"It is not good for Man (humanity) to be alone"

And here is my point (finally): When I left denomination and invested my life into Life as a Citizen of the Kingdom of God, dots began to connect between the old and new testaments regarding events and what the prophets said and what Jesus said and taught. The dots also connected FINALLY regarding what Paul and the Apostles were saying to the churches. And even REVELATION finally made sense as it crowned it all into ONE MESSAGE about Christ, not a divided bunch of books with different messages! When I threw out the old popular, denominational thinking and considered the context, new revelations, and things I had previously dismissed were brought together all pointing to Christ, who He is and what He’s done, who we are in Him with purpose and destiny.

Finally, and this is probably the biggest change for me personally, and I’ll end with this. When I stopped going to Sunday service or a bible study seeking a “group therapy” moment to edify myself for the coming week, my focus shifted from ME and Jesus to Christ and His Church. And with THAT shift, my anxious need for assurance, significance, and validation from other people simply fell away. There is just no foothold in my mind for them anymore. They were all replaced by an accurate Christology, an empowering Eschatology wrapped in a Theology that did not have to change with the wind of another question asked.

God can handle the questions.

Blessings, Reader.

Thanks for staying with me through this long post!

Have a wonderful day, may your eyes and ears be open to the Truth and the assurance of His Grace. May you have the courage to ask the questions you avoid with the expectation of His answer, that is Christ.

Anne

When the Church is Strong

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 14:48:44 GMT

Transformation of Wimps to Winners

Dear Reader,

Consider the following as it has been revealed to me in recent weeks.

Jesus said evil cannot prevail against the Church He is building in Matthew 16. The “gates of Hell” from my understanding, are the decision-makers and the gate keepers of the kingdom of darkness. Because Jesus does not just proclaim things to be "hopeful" but rather as a matter of fact, than we know the evil decision-makers and gate keepers (what is let in and what is let out) do NOT win against a united and faithful Church Christ was talking about.

Would you agree?

It stands to reason, then that the Church He is building should be effective in Him to proclaim the Good News and administrate the Truth. So why isn't it?

This question was asked recently and it has had me thinking...

From my study of the book of Acts and the birth of the Church Jesus is building under the authority of Apostles and Elders who are united, the church IS strong as they are rightly aligned, united with one voice, one gospel and one baptism. In the face of this unity, evil is overcome as light overcomes the darkness and the things produced by the deeds of darkness will scatter. We will look for them, but they will no longer exist. The church in Acts did not need to go looking for evil to vanquish. It simply became illuminated by the Light of His Love in the presence of and proclamation of the truth by as those who believed. They walked in obedience with His Spirit, the Truth of Christ, with Righteousness, Peace, and Joy and they manifested the Kingdom of God among the people. And God backed up His Word with signs, wonders and miracles. In this way, they were BEING the LIGHT Jesus spoke about in Matthew 5. And naturally speaking, light dispels darkness and things of the darkness scatter. In the Light of His Love shining through His people, evil is exposed and brought into right alignment with Truth.

When I see the news headlines and notice the encroachment of evil reports and doings, this is the exposing pf evil. They are skirmishes, local battles of a war already won. The seemingly constant rebellion against authority, accountability and boundaries has always been going on, we are just now seeing it because the prayers of the saints have called for it to be revealed. The really sad thing is, that the prayers of the people of God asked for it to be revealed so God could do something about it. But God has always worked through His people to deal with evil. Have you noticed that? So while so many are waiting for God to rescue them, He is waiting for His church to employ the tools and authority to deal with what is exposed.

Humanity was created to live an abundant life in Him (John 10), that includes free will to choose whether or not to comply with the truth and how He set His Kingdom up to operate. This is our choice. God is not mad at sinners who do not want to be a part of what He is doing. He has no desire to punish them. He is patient, as He was patient with Israel. He is angry at sin, however and the evil and the twisting of truth because it hurts His Creation. It doesn’t hurt Him. He is all powerful, all knowing, everywhere. His mercies are new every morning. His grace is boundless and empowering, NOT JUST forgiving.

Can we agree that it is not enough to simply expose the corruption and evil among us? If we do nothing about it, it remains. Right? But so often we wait for someone else to "fix it."

Because the church Jesus is building has no lack (from my understanding of what I read and God is not a liar and Jesus is not a false teacher, prophet, king), than we have all we need to do the job he has laid before us to do, correct? Isn't our toolbox of righteousness and justice is FULL of His wisdom and instruction if we will simply ask and receive what He is saying? The problem is being aware of what He has given us and be obedient and do our part. Our provision and protection, our wisdom and Truth are found in Him. And God does not despise those who ask for His wisdom. The wisdom of a fool will be their undoing just as Haman’s plots to kill Mordecai brought about his own end (Esther 7). The wisdom of God is not just for individual justice, but justice for all. Consider Esther and her obedience according to the instruction of the Lord. She was instrumental for that time in saving an entire people.

Scripture says that our focus is to be properly set:

Colossians 3
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

As we remain active, not passively waiting for some "end" to come and "save us," I have a problem with this philosophy. I bring it up because it is part of the problem. I used to believe that some mysterious rescue was surely on the horizon for us. I'd much rather be rescued than have to solve a problem. "Calgon, take me away!" LOL Right?!

But, seriously, as I studied, much of what I was reading and understanding flew in the face of my carefully crafted understanding of a rapture and soon to be end time. And I couldn't call all those people back and correct my error. A lot was at stake if I changed my thinking. But I did.

Dear reader, I mean not to criticize anyone personally . Nor do I seek dash anyone's hope of rescue and thus plunging them into a state of anxiety or fear. However, I would like to offer another perspective.

Consider this:

The Church Jesus is Building is His body upon the earth. Yes? The church is not a building made by human hands. It is the people. We are the church.

And Jesus said he came to defeat the works of the devil and he did! Didn't He?

Didn't He Go to hell, suffer a penalty that was ours, for three days? Afterward wasn't He proclaimed innocent? (thus turning the tables on the devil)

Did He not take from the devil the keys of hell, death and the grave meaning that Jesus took away the devil's ability to accuse God's people. He could no longer hold anyone hostage with the threat of hell, death and the grave.

1 Corinthians 15
" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord"

Didn't Jesus triumphantly raise from the dead, and in doing so usher the people waiting in Abraham's bosom up to the courts of heaven? Scripture says those saints were seen in the street (See Matthew 27)!

Hebrews then said He cleansed the courts of heaven and the devil could no longer have access to God to accuse God's people. (My summary).

In doing this, He set everything in motion for His Church to be his hands and feet vanquishing evil and fulfilling John 10, and 12:31).

And we want Him to DO MORE????!!! REALLY!

This is why I believe the devil has no power over God’s people other than what we LET HIM HAVE. To my understanding, Jesus did "pay it all." As His body (The Church He is building) we CANNOT come into a ‘woe is me” agreement with evil or evil “times”.

Therefore, how can a believer passively wait for some theoretical rescue to make everything "right" for us? I believe the reason we do not yet see what God has ordained through “His Kingdom Come, His will be done,”(Matthew 6) is because the Church currently, does not know who she is, nor is she aware of all the tools given to her, through Christ, to do the work prepared in advance for her to complete. God is not going to swoop in and do our job for us. When has He ever done that?!

And here was the final straw, the "kicker truth" that made me cringe the most when it was dropped into my mind.....

What makes us so special that NOW He would bypass His decrees regarding His Church (Matthew 16) because WE are negatively affected by foolish leaders? Are we forgetting the holocausts, diseases, and death of the past? Do we not know our history? Why didn't He "take the Church then?"

This is typically a contextual error (understanding of end times that Paul spoke of) There is a context in Scripture, there are authors, there are audiences and while we CAN find valuable truth and examples by which to live (in this way the Scripture are for us as well), we must not assume that WE are the audience to which Paul wrote his letters (for example), any more than we can assume an old dusty letter found in an attic somewhere written 50 years ago was intended for us. Truth contained? And we must guard against reading Scripture with our understanding alone rather than consider what the original audience understood. End time for Paul was the end of the Old Covenant. In Matthew 24, this too is regarding the end of the Old Covenant, the Temple sacrifices etc)

OUCH! Truly I did feel a bit "kicked" when I considered this perspective for the first time.

We do have wonderful timeless truth to freely enjoy and be encouraged by that is found in Scripture and we are wholly forgiven and can embrace that reality. It's okay to change our thinking.

God Loves You immensely

You (we) are His creation with wonderful works created in advance for us to do. (Eph 2:10)

You (we) are His.

We have a seal upon our hearts, Holy Spirit, is our counselor, friend, teacher, a blessing to us. (2 Corinthians 1:22)

Our Father "owns the cattle on a thousand hills" (Ps 50)

We have no lack (Ps 23,31,Matthew 6, Luke 12, Romans 8)

Jesus died and rose again, seated at the right hand of the Father. (Mark 16:19)

The Father in Him, and He in us, are there (spiritually speaking), in a decision-making place, a place of authority through His faith in Us. (Colossians 3, Hebrews 4)

I could go on, but you get the idea.

I believe God chooses to work through His body, the Church, to manifest the Kingdom of God upon the earth. It is done through His people who stand for truth and righteousness not being cowed or swayed by the world system and its "wisdom." It is not God who delays His return, rather it is the Church that delays the Matthew 6 prayer being fulfilled.

How? Because from my experience, we have failed in being the Church Jesus is building. The church has yet to be of one mind and purpose. Man’s church that he builds is no substitute for the one Jesus is building, Man's church is filled with conflicting agendas and an incomplete message. As the CREATION (and not the Creator) our ideas have limits because our perspective has limits. Humanity will always resort to their own ideas and strategies and then succumb to temptations when left on their own. We need Him. We need each other.

Philippians 3:13-15
"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect (mature), have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; "

The proper focus gives no foothold (advantage) to evil. It closes the gates by which temptation and sin (ours or others)enter our lives with with the purpose to manipulate and accuse. The proper focus, (Christ and His Kingdom, our identity in Him and as part of the Body of Christ) frees us from the Kingdom of darkness which seeks to only steal, kill (body and relationships) and destroy. Proper focus and allegiance to Him dispels the darkness of death, doubt and unbelief and exchanges it all for Love, Life, Faith, Family, and Hope eternal.

This Christian life is not for wimps to remain wimps. We were created to be winners in the Faith.

Dear Reader, thank you for taking the time to consider what I am saying. And may you boldly speak the truth in Love and His Word and Spirit reveals it to you. And with His compassion at the root of every decision and action, may any wimpy or passive stance against lies and deception become and aggressive grace that removes that which corrupts and kills (figuratively and literally) that which God has created to be good and whole. May boldness, like a lion, rise up among us to reclaim what the enemy has stolen, do the will of the Father, proclaim the Word of truth and love, and transform His Church into the unified Light of Grace that empowers and administrates Who He is among us…the Kingdom of God.

Psalm 37:23-34
"The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24
When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the Lord is the One [f]who holds his hand.
25
I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his [g]descendants begging bread.
26
All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his [h]descendants are a blessing.

27
Depart from evil and do good,
[i]So you will abide forever.
28
For the Lord loves justice
And does not forsake His godly ones;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
29
The righteous will inherit the land
And dwell in it forever.
30
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
And his tongue speaks justice.
31
The law of his God is in his heart;
His steps do not slip.
32
The wicked spies upon the righteous
And seeks to kill him.
33
The Lord will not leave him in his hand
Or let him be condemned when he is judged.
34
Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it."

Excerpt from The Journey

Fri, 19 May 2023 15:09:54 GMT

Choices and expectations

This excerpt is from a book I am currently editing and will eventually publish. It has been in process for a while now. I did put one version out some time ago, but since then new perspectives and revelations have come to light that I wanted to include. It is gaining chapters and insight. So it is no longer available except for a few print copies of the old version.

The story is an allegory of a woman who has many questions about faith that she is tired of ignoring or simply dismissing as "mystery." Have you, the reader, ever gotten tired of living as if the questions don't exist? Have you ever simply chosen to believe what someone else believes simply because it is easier? I have. The only problem is, when hard times hit or more questions pop up, what someone else believes is not as stable as what I believe and know for myself.

So this is where the woman is in her faith journey and as she follows the path she has found her self on, she is finding the answers in unexpected places and through unexpected company. This excerpt is from about a third of the way through the book and much has happened before this moment. We pick up after she has met up with another group traveling together along the same pathway. After having camped in a clearing along side the path the night before, this conversation takes place the next morning. The Woman was on her way to continue her journey and at the edge of the clearing there is a split in the path. She has to make a choice and she doesn't want to make a mistake.

The sun was rising and there was movement in the camp. I decided to move on, but I needed to find the path first. I walked the perimeter and finally found it just on the other side of the clearing. There were three entrances to choose from. One of the travelers appeared from around the corner ahead as I was contemplating which one to take. He smiled.

“Which one?” I asked Him, gesturing toward the paths. Maybe he would know the answer having been on the path longer than I, or so I believed.

He shrugged, “Not a clue,” he replied, offering me an amused smile and returning to his task. “You take one and I’ll take the other, we’ll see if they meet," he suggested, over his shoulder.

I’d have done it too if I hadn’t seen the sparkle of amusement in his eye before he turned away. I was a little annoyed and feeling a bit dismissed. The comment seemed snarky to my ear. Ignoring my feelings, I decided to pursue the issue of the path. I had been so focused on my own objective I'd failed to consider that he also had a focus. While I was contemplating paths, he was in the process of carefully choosing branches and sticks and adding them to the growing pile nearby. Looking around, I helped add to the pile.

“Haven’t you been doing this awhile?” I asked a bit surprised at his calm acceptance that there was two and not just one entrance to the path.

“Oh, for about ten minutes,” he answered. Confused, I stopped and looked at him. He was grinning. “The wood. I’ve been gathering wood for about ten minutes.” He said pointing to the growing pile of stick with a laugh. I couldn’t help but smile. There was no offense meant. He wasn't being snarky in his earlier comment. He seemed like a fun person and I remembered his silly dance I had observed from the night before.

“No, I mean the path," I clarified and followed up with, " Haven’t you been following the path for quite a while?”

“A bit,” he answered, respectfully. Seeing my seriousness regarding the path, he abandoned the jokes to answer my questions. “We’ve run into spots like this before. The answer comes clear. We pray. We listen. That was part of what we were doing last night, stopping to listen to the Holy Spirit to reveal the next steps. Nothing has become clear yet. We are just waiting for everyone to report in this morning before we start out. Sometimes there is no wrong answer and we can choose whatever we want to go or we just start walking and the answer comes clear in time,” He offered.

“Then it becomes necessary to retrace steps and adjust,” I added, thinking about my own journey. I was already doing that…walking and trusting that something more would come clear and adjusting as needed.

"But how do you know that the choice doesn't matter and any way is a good way? " I asked.

"People are not puppets. God doesn't direct our steps as one would a robot. Rather, we are free to make choices. God knows the choices we will make, He will warn us if it is a wrong one that will hurt us or someone else or not work to our benefit. He works all things out for our good, as the scripture says. However,some hard lessons can be learned from a distance rather than from in the middle of trouble. So, God gives red lights, so to speak. If we hear nothing specific we just make a choice and start walking. When we are in tune with Him, if correction is needed, it will come. "

I looked at the entrances to the path again. He seemed to not be afraid of choosing the wrong thing and making a correction. I wasn’t quite sure why that seemed so profound but I felt like someone had opened a window in a stuffy room somewhere and I was finally feeling the breeze. I turned to speak with him, but he’d already picked up the wood and was headed back to camp. The message was clear: Conversation over. I could follow him back to camp or not, choose a path or not. Where I was from, etiquette called for an invitation to follow or at least a “goodbye.” In my experience, his choice to just walk away without a word could be taken as rejection or insult or acceptance. I stood for a moment not sure what I felt by his decision or what I should do. He was obviously not bothered by the uncertainty of choices to be made regarding the path and he wasn't concerned about what I was going to do, but the conversation, to him was over.

"Things are just done differently here." Came the thought. I wasn’t sure why, but I was sensing more than one new perspective invading my thoughts, and I couldn’t quite define them as they were still in process. Yet, I could not find it in me to be offended or disappointed, I was glad for the expanded view of life presented.

What would it be like, I wondered, to have no one expecting me to do anything? What if there was no offense taken by anyone by my choices? No balancing act between what I wanted to do and obligation. Just acceptance without judgment! I smiled. Freedom.

I was in the process of turning back to the paths, having at least made a choice to continue on, when he turned and with a amused tilt of his head called out, “Do you want some tea?” He awkwardly shifted the sticks he held in his arms, dropping one or two. Another difference. Usually, people offer coffee from where I was from. Tea was different. Oh my, what a day of adjustments for me, and it was just getting started.

I laughed and changed my plans. The path could wait for a bit. Tea sounded great, coffee better, but tea would do. Abandoning for the moment, the next decision of which path to take, I followed him back to camp picking up wayward sticks that happened to fall from his arms….

There are so many things in this excerpt. I'll try to do unpack a couple here.

First, there are personality types that like to examine every choice and then choose. If no fear or anxiety is involved, then it's just a personality trait and no problem there. But that wasn't what was going on in the story above. That desire to examine the choices and choose does not become an issue unless it is complicated by fear or pride.

It can be frightening to make a mistake. I once had a counselor say to me with admonishment, "You aren't piloting a plane, no one is going to die if you happen to make a wrong choice, are they?" I can't even remember what it was that I was deciding. Probably something like what job to take or not take or whether or not to travel somewhere. It can also be frightening to be successful, because with success comes responsibility and more choices! Catch 22 here. EEK!

Over the years what typically slowed me down in making choices was that I did not want to disappoint or hurt anyone (fear). I also did not want anyone to think badly of me (pride). I wanted to be loved and well thought of (I was looking to others for identity, didn't realize it). However, after further reflection ( and many confusing moments), I realized those "expectations" were often my own fabrication. I projected my own ideas of what was expected upon another person based upon what I would do or how I felt. Why? Preemptive strategy. I wanted to head off any adverse effects of my standing and what others thought of me.

The revelatory truth, regarding this pattern of thinking, came out of a series of confusing moments when what I was trying to avoid happened anyway and it wouldn 't have happened, if I'd just done what I wanted to do in the first place!

Did you follow that?

The uncomfortable and cringing revelation was this: To speculate or assume people think like we do is not only misguided, it is a bit arrogant. Why? Because it makes US and how WE SEE the world as some kind of measure for everyone else as if it is the ONLY perspective that is worthy of consideration.

Secondly, it is also IDOLATRY to look to others for identity. God has already identified us as HIS, sealed with Holy Spirit and a part of the church Jesus is building and the Kingdom of which He is King. He says we are forgiven, beloved, whole, a work of art with purpose and destiny! Why would someone else's opinion of us matter?

I did not even know I was doing any of this. It had become an automatic way of navigating the world. When I realized it, repentance (180 degree turn, STOP IT!) was the only redemptive fix. No, it wasn't easy. But it is doable with Holy Spirit's help.

The only measure we should be using is the one revealed in Scripture and that measure is based upon LOVE. FAITH. HOPE.

it was for freedom we were set free from the law of sin and death. Why would we want to live under the kingdom of darkness and the laws of sin and death, fear and anxiety? As believers we can boldly step in the way He has for us and in the freedom which He brought us through His victory.

While there ARE absolutes, guidelines for life set for us in Scripture, and it is a GOOD thing to be considerate and wise when making choices (large and small), it is quite another thing entirely to hold others (and ourselves) accountable to the laws of expectation WE CREATE because they seem "right" to us.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Further study: Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 13,

Grace and peace,

~Anne

Revelation, Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom series #4

Tue, 09 May 2023 14:34:51 GMT

Wisdom

Dear Reader, Proverbs 24:3-4 says:

“Through wisdom is a house built and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

We want a strong house, right? I don’t just mean a brick and mortar house, I also mean a household (family relationships) and such. So, while Revelation from God is great, and the gaining of knowledge is helpful, without understanding, the ability to wisely apply the wealth contained in the revelation is handicapped by our own limitations.

When I was presented with this series of progression from Revelation to Wisdom, I wanted to know more. I wanted to be wise in my applications of the truth regarding the Gospel message and the truth it contained. That is what started this series and you can go back and read any that you may have missed on the main "blog" tab on the website.

As I have done with the blogs 1-3 in the series, I employed the help of blueletterbible.org . II like to know the original meanings of words and how they fit into what the author was trying to convey to the readers. From this, I am able to gain understanding for application in my own life.

Regarding the topic of Wisdom, I found the following characteristics. I expanded the simple list (in bold) that was given on the website, with my own understanding according to scripture references I found and my own experience as well .

1. Wisdom skillfully defends home (people and possessions, gifts and purpose) from enemies seen and unseen employing spiritual as well as physical means available with Spirit instruction and strategy. At times it does appear as simple as physically locking a door. It also appears spiritually when we lock gates against enemy attack by saying “no” to anything that might enter our lives through our mental and emotional vulnerabilities. This may look like turning off a particular TV show or game that distracts or causes unwanted contemplation. It may mean distancing ourselves from toxic relationships that foster hate, anger, and manipulation. It may mean simply adjusting our speech to reflect life and not death, partnering with the God perspective rather than the world systems rationalizations, skepticism, and verbiage.

2. Wisdom involves the administration or stewardship of resources and blessings, talents and gifts that we have received. This may include tithing to whomever you receive spiritual edification from, this may mean offerings, free will gifts to those whom you appreciate as edifying your spiritual growth. It may mean wise investment into businesses and opportunities that Holy Spirit directs, or you understand will benefit you for Kingdom sake.

However, administration or stewardship of resources includes much more than financial means, though that is the first thing we think of, thanks to the stewardship campaigns we have been a part of. This administration or stewardship could be of knowledge and understanding. Apostles (first Apostles and present-day true Apostles) along with those under their leadership (apostolic) have been given stewardship of the Gospel of the Kingdom as Jesus taught throughout His ministry and was then demonstrated by the First Apostles (Acts).

If we define the Kingdom of God as the administration of His rule and reign through the church , and then we read the Gospels and Acts along with the letters by Paul and the Apostles to the churches, we get a picture of what this looks like and sounds like. This is an enlightening study to do as a small group. The question to ask as you read is, “According to this passage and the ones before (context is important), what does the Kingdom (administration of Christ’s rule and reign) look like? What examples support this understanding?

For example, consider the passage from Matthew 6 about the birds of the air and worry. What does the Kingdom of God look like? It looks like people who are not striving. Why? Because their hope and confidence is in God to care for them as he does the birds of the air. What does this look like? It looks like the provision for food and shelter is within our reach and when we are obedient to how God has created us (not how sin has influenced us) we have all we need.

Administration or stewardship of this truth would be living it out in our own lives as Holy Spirit directs us through His word and His counsel. It also means we share this truth with others around us, encouraging believers in Christ to exemplify the Kingdom truths as revealed in Scripture.

3. Shrewdness regarding finances, it is much like stewarding them as applied to managing assets and gaining wealth and influence for a Kingdom purpose. Strategy is the word that comes to mind and the Scripture from Matthew 10:16 (NASB),

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves”

Some use shrewdness for their own gain, however the people of God ought to use shrewdness for a greater purpose than their own agendas. It is to be used with the God’s agenda in mind. In return, they are also blessed because of their faith in God as provider and strategist rather than solely themselves or looking to other people. Notice it is the focus and intent of the heart that is different from what the world system teaches. Hebrews 11:6 (AMP) says,

But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

4. Wisdom includes prudence or common sense and this is closely related to shrewdness. It results in good judgment with foresight by thinking ahead to the effects of a particular application of understanding. Prudence involves self-control in the advancement of God’s agenda for humanity. Judgment and decision-making are made according to what the Word says about whatever it is to which wisdom is being applied. One could say that the prudent believer does not “get out of the boat until they see Jesus on the water.” If we do anything before God says “go” or continue to do something (say something) when God says “stop” then in our presumptive state, we sacrifice the prudent part of applying wisdom. Presumption works against prudence and is akin to arrogance. It is something to be aware of and be sure to honestly assess our own motives and the situations in which we find ourselves. Presumption would lead us to come to conclusions ahead of getting all the facts and risk pushing people away from the Gospel rather than drawing them to the Gospel. Presumption says, “I know it all, I don’t need you,” and this is applied not only to God but to the community of faith of which they are a part.

5. Finally, wisdom is ethical . Revelation, knowledge and understanding gained by the Spirit of Christ is applied ethically (properly, morally, right, fairly, honorably) according to the Word of God to advance the plans and purposes laid out before us by Christ. The Kingdom of God is an ethical Kingdom, not as the world defines it, but as Jesus defined it. The Ethics of the Kingdom could be found all throughout Jesus Teachings regarding the rich man, the parables of the Kingdom in Matthew 13, for example. It is the way in which the people of God conduct themselves and apply what they receive from God. There are no lone rangers in the Kingdom, and every life is valued.

This concludes the series, Revelation, Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom. I hope you have gained from it, and it has spurred your study into areas yet to be discovered. We should know what is true and not just what someone else says is true.

Blessings to you, and may the Lord grant you Revelation with the courage to search out the knowledge that leads to understanding to wisely apply the truth to life. May the Kingdom of which Christ is King now, seated in heavenly places be found exemplified in your life for mutual benefit.

Grace and Peace,

~Anne

This Hope I Have

Fri, 05 May 2023 14:59:42 GMT

The importance of the source

"My hope is built on nothing less, then Jesus' love and righteousness

I dare not My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand."

[ Lyrics: Edward Mote (1797-1874)

Music: William Batchelder Bradbury (1816-1868) ]

Hope : to wait for with full confidence; to trust in;to build as on a foundation; expectation of receiving

Some time ago, I came to a place in my Christian journey where I was experiencing frustration and disappointment with my efforts in response to the niggling need to:

be a part of something greater than myself;
to be contributing to the proclamation of the Gospel;
to be doing something I loved without striving,
to be obedient to the vision God gave me as I understood it
to not waste my time on things that wouldn't last or were not received...

I experienced constant frustration as time and time again I resorted to rationalization and "reworking the plan" to gain the momentum to "try again." But nothing seemed to work and what I was working toward seemed constantly postponed in an seemingly endless loop of trial and failure to succeed...

...according to the results I was expecting.

And until I realized the root issue, I could choose to continue on the merry-go-round of ideas or simply give up altogether. The root issue? Perspective which resulted in where was I placing my hope. I thought it was in Christ, but I don't think, at the time, I knew what it meant to place my hope in Christ. Not really. Oh I knew the vocabulary and the teachings others gave regarding it, but I didn't know it for myself. I'm not talking about simply hope in salvation, "one day I'll go to heaven when I die." But all hope, hope for future, hope for life, hope for help and provision, and so on...

This is a very important and key understanding that Holy Spirit was working out in me. If hope is constantly being dashed, it might be helpful to really know those answers and honestly consider where and on what and where our hope is being placed. The truth of this answer can reveal the reason why it may feel so exhausting and defeating to place hope in anything and why emotions and plans are constantly changing with the wind--and not always in a way that encourages joy.

And here is what I learned:

If hope is placed on finances (for example), then the success and failure of that hope is dependent upon the success or failure of those finances. If finances are strained, then the scarcity of finances can accuse a person of being lazy or inadequate to provide (or whatever mental tape may play in a negative judgmental sense). If finances are abundant, their abundance can deem a person as favored or successful.

There are about 130 verses about hope in Scripture to look up and digest, should you choose to dive in the topic. It is worthwhile to do, but here are a few highlights from my study:

John 5:45 says, “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set."

In the verse above from John 5, The religious leaders that were persecuting Jesus because he was healing on the sabbath. The truth about Moses and what Moses prophesied was what accused the leaders because it was showing their blindness or willing ignorance regarding the truth of who Jesus was according to those prophetic declarations of which they should have all been aware.

I am keying in on what Jesus said about hope and where hope is placed and the difference it makes.

Natural things like finances, people, or even circumstances and what we believe about that source of our hope, can function as an accuser. Accusations can play a role in our identity and sense of value and purpose if we choose to believe them. And often we do because the accuser is cunning and mixes in just enough truth to make the lie believable. Sometimes we don't need the accuser's help and we do it to ourselves. In this way, misplaced hope can effect our understanding of our own identity in Christ because it tends to leak into other areas of faith such as assurance, the dependability of God and His word, and so on. I undermines the truth of who we are in Christ (in our own minds). To place hope in something that is undependable can cause havoc with emotions and hope to be deferred continually until we simply wear out and give up, like a dried-up rubber band become brittle. And hope deferred makes a heart sick , according to Proverbs 13.

If we are successful in placing our hope in something other than Christ and receive rewards from the world system, because we know how to "work the system" for our own benefit, this too can be a trap. What happens when suddenly the world system crashes or fails us in some way? Are we worse off than before? Will God still be blamed for something He did not tell us or advise us to do?

And finally, a misplaced hope causes one to abandon or postpone the God Given dreams and visions of who we are to be and what we are to be doing in the Kingdom according the the Plan of God for humanity. Everyone has a part to play and are important to the body of Christ upon the earth. As members of the Church Jesus is building, we have a mandate from the beginning to disciple the nations. Unfortunately, the cares of the world around us can choke out the vision and short circuit the hope inspired by the Love of God that brings forth faith.

A sure place to put hope is in something or someone that does not change and does not deceive. There is only one place that can be found and that place is in Christ. He may bring correction at times regarding what we are hoping for, and it is always for our good and the good of those around us. Many times He corrects us because our understanding to too small and if we could do what he is inspiring us to do on our own, what testimony would that be to others? Many times the hope/vision given to us is much bigger than we could achieve on our own. Not only do we need Him, but we also need others of faith to come along side us. God will finish all that He has started within us as He brings into fuller focus and develops all that He has placed in us to be all we can be in Him. This hope never disappoints. This hope is an anchor to feelings, reasoning, and emotions that may respond to circumstance, but cannot be overcome by them because the anchor is sure. We know in whom we believe!

But what does placing our hope in Christ look like?

Well, for one, Placing hope in Christ accepts and receives our identity in Him. The seal of conversion (Holy Spirit) placed upon believers says to God,

We are His,

Beloved,

Forgiven,

Delivered,

Saved for a purpose and destiny,

Justified,

Not condemned

Not orphans or abandoned,

Placed into the family with an inheritance

With this hope in Him we are not shaken.

Hebrews 12 tells us that the Kingdom of God cannot be shaken or lose its footing. It is not like shifting sand, but rather rock-solid in its character. (Remember the story of the man who built his house on the rock?) Those who believe in Him and are sealed with the Promise (Holy Spirit) are citizens of that Kingdom. Therefore, their hope and faith are not shaken either, not when the foundation of their Hope is in Christ and His Kingdom.

… so that by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us. ¹⁹ This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells], ²⁰ where Jesus has entered [in advance] as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of ^[ ^a ^] Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:18-20 AMP

May the Hope we have in Christ be our anchor in Truth in the circumstances and concerns that want to toss us here and there with the worries of the world sitting on our doorstep. May this hope, born of HIs Love for us, so fill our life and thoughts that faith cannot help but be active and alive in us and through us.

May you experience health, wealth (state of mind) and prosperity and provision regardless of the news reports.

God will not abandon His own.

D a vid placed his hope in God and in Psalm 37 He says,

"I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging for bread."

Peace and Grace,

Anne

Also, for study, consider:

Psalm 52:9

Romans 5: 1-3
Ephesians 1:11-13
Colossians 1:26-28
Hebrews 3:1-6

Hebrews 10:23

I Once Had a Dream (or two)

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 15:35:37 GMT

Tidal Waves and a Dragon

I once had a dream in which I was with many people old and young in a home or building of some kind. I don’t know why we were together. I don’t know the circumstances of the gathering. I do know there were windows, and we were not far from the sea.

Passing the windows, I looked out to see a tidal wave heading our way. People scrambled in fear to find shelter or high ground. I did the same, and the wave came, but the dwelling we were in did not fall. The water came through the windows and filled the place and reached over my head, but I did not drown. I helped small children caught in the wave, their legs too short to find the ground I still felt beneath my feet. Picking them up from the waves, I placed them on the couches and chairs, propping them up one against the other for support as the water continued to drain from the building. Then I turned back to the window.

And when I looked out the window right behind it was another wave, and then behind that one was another and another and they kept coming and we kept getting wet, but the dwelling we were in did not fall and the furniture never moved, and no one was lost.

Then I woke up with the assurance: We will get wet, but we won’t drown.

This dream was around 2018 or before. Covid had not yet hit the US. The corruption in Washington and other authority places was just beginning to be uncovered.

As the reader of this blog, I don’t know what you think of dreams. Do they mean anything? Is something from God being communicated? Are they only our subconscious working things out? Are they the result of inner conflict or the pizza we ate the evening before?

I think all of these explanations and more could apply. I know most dreams I’ve had have been the result of a book I was currently reading or a problem I was trying to work out. So, I don’t assume every dream I have is from God unless it sticks with me in a certain way that dreams from Him do and I recognize it unmistakably. Anything from Him is supported by the truths found in Scripture.

In 2017 (about) I had dream about a dragon. It was big and a very dark color with tall vertical spikes sticking up from the end of its tail like the drawings I’ve seen of a Stegosaurus. It roamed through the country whipping its tail back and forth drawing together groups that would never have worked together before. When they came together, they found a common hatred and began to burn and pillage all they came in contact with. The dragon’s intent was simply to create chaos and destruction. This dragon’s goal was to destroy.

Just destroy.

This was before the current political and cultural chaos now ensuing upon our nation.

But it was just a dream, right? What was the assurance from this dream? It stuck with me and didn’t just fade away. It made a mark somehow so I prayed about it. Then I remembered that in movies etc, dragons always had a vulnerability in their armor somewhere. Interesting. I’ve looked for where I wrote this dream down and cannot find it. (I have a ton of journals. It’s there somewhere and I’ll find it when I no longer need it, I’m sure.) I can, however, look in Scripture to find what God says about evil.

This I know:

Evil tries to magnify itself, make itself bigger than it actually is. That dragon started out as a snake (serpent) in Genesis. So he’s puffed up a bit since then.

Evil wants converts and to steal.

Evil’s only weapon is to Deceive. So, I know all the noise conveyed to me of sin, doom and gloom is only part of the story, and it is probably a much smaller part than I am being asked to believe.

Evil demands compromise away from Truth.

The Psalms, poetically, and other Scriptures describing the life of Christ among us, the Acts of the Apostles and Paul’s testimonials and instructions to the churches, in all of these places it says evil does not ever win.

Ever.

Evil devises traps for others and then like Haman in the Story of Esther, ends up destroying themselves.

Evil wastes away. That is, it wears itself out. Those under the influence of evil can’t keep up with their own lies and schemes and it comes back to bite them.

Evil provokes people away from Spirit Life to a place of sin and death. The result? Spiritual Starvation. Sin and death offer nothing but momentary satisfaction and that isn’t even real satisfaction. It’s an empty existence, full of empty promises and betrayal. That existence always seeks for wholeness in all the wrong places because the wholeness sought only offered through Christ and they refuse to receive it. The more they lose their grip on what they think will make them happy, the more frantic and erratic their behavior becomes.

The dragon dream was about this evil moving in and working behind the scenes. In light of what Scripture can tell us, Evil may be present in the world, but the church Jesus is building will not be overcome by it (see Matthew 16). We have a hope. In Chapter 17 of John, Jesus prays that His disciples would be sanctified by the truth. The Word of God is the truth.

Sanctify means to cleanse internally by restoration of soul through knowledge of the truth (blueletterbible.org), John also used the language in 8:32 when he said the truth would set us free. Free from what? Sin, obviously, and also wrong thinking that leads to sin. Truth also sets us free from the trap of lies and deception. Truth lights up the dark places and reveals what is going on and what God says about it.

The dream of the waves, I believe are waves of grace and also waves of things that seem to overwhelm us. We see that all around us, just watch the news, if you can find a reliable source to see what I mean. It can feel like waves of events and it effects us. The waves are also waves of the Spirit moving among us. This too is happening! Do not despair. Ask God to help you see what He is doing and get on board.

The dream of the dragon, we know that one. And it goes along with the waves of events that seems to want to steal our assurance from us so we end up reacting rather than responding with truth to the events.

However, the people of God are not without hope. This is our anchor.

Hebrews 6:18 (NASB) says, “so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us. ¹⁹ This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, ²⁰ where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

His faith in us can accomplish much.

Philippians 4: 12 (NASB) “I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

We may feel a bit overwhelmed by current events or personal circumstances, but we are not defeated. Consider Paul's testimony:

2 Corinthians 4: 7-12(MSG) " If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives!”

Grace and peace,

Anne

The Peace Jesus Offers

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 14:29:32 GMT

Wholeness in Him

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:25-28

The peace the world gives comes at a cost: compromise with the world system and they leave you alone. They may even promote you. In exchange, the illusion of calmness and harmony is offered.

However...The peace Jesus offers to all who believe involves wholeness. This wholeness/completeness endures throughout all the world system might throw our way because in the Peace Jesus offers as the prince of peace the believer has identity. The believer knows who they are and to whom they belong and to which kingdom (darkness or light) they are a citizen. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God all the benefits of that Kingdom and that the King has decreed are available:

health
healing
wealth
provision
strategy
wisdom
knowledge
understanding
salvation
prosperity
promotion....and more.

How? Because he has told us what is good for us. It is good for us to love one another as He loves us. It is good for us to forgive and receive forgiveness. It is good for us to obey the instructions of Holy Spirit and the Word of God contained in scripture.

It is good for us. He is in our corner working all things out for our benefit. Even when we misstep in our walk with Him, He brings us back into alignment with Him. It is here that we find our place, the people with whom He chose for us to walk and work beside for His glory.

It is good to submit our agendas to Him and to governance he places over us within the community of believers. We should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to and reject or turn a deaf ear, a blind eye, to the counsel and the perspectives of His word and that governance. We do this to our own detriment.

Neither should we think lowlier of ourselves than we ought. There is no place in the Kingdom for false humility. Poverty of spirit leads to a poverty mindset. This is a manifestation of pride in itself. Too proud to try to succeed because of fear of rejection or fear of judgement. It is a rejection of assignment when the fear is of success because responsibility that comes with the assignment moves us out of our comfort zones. False humility is an attempt to stay on everyone’s “good side” in order to keep everyone happy and receive their validation of how “humble and kind” we are. I am listing these things because I am familiar with them having committed the false humility angle myself. It was quite a wake-up call to discover the root of the insecurities it produced was not “victim” or “self-preservation.” It was pride.

To be “humble” is to honestly assess ourselves, the good and the ugly parts, in the light of God’s forgiveness and grace and respond accordingly. Poverty mindset and the orphan mindset have no place in the kingdom because all are wealthy (a mindset, not a bank account balance) and all believers belong to the church Jesus is building; the community of faith with identity, purpose and destiny.

John 14 1-5 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”

In other words, this analogy regarding placement within the Kingdom means everyone has a place. There are no orphans. No one has been abandoned. When Jesus went to the cross, died and suffered in hell for our sins, rose again and ascended into heaven to the right hand of the Father, He was preparing a place for us. Holy Spirit was than poured out at Pentecost to dwell within the believers so we may be where he is…at the right hand of the father. A place of governance, citizens of the Kingdom, ambassadors of the Kings decrees.

It is about relationship. It is NOT about a ticket to heaven. There is so much more to this relationship then getting to heaven. A lot of GOOD things that are GOOD for us and the way of blessing results in an abundant life full of peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

Blessings and Peace,

Anne

Two natures?

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 14:21:49 GMT

Who's in Charge?

I recently heard a message regarding a "beast within" and it prompted a lot of thoughts and sent me to scripture for further study. Here is what I discovered:

When we equate the carnal (soul) nature with the sin nature, we end up with a philosophy involving a dual nature that is continually “fighting” and must “feed the one we want to win.” I used to believe this way, it isn't unusual but I don't think it's accurate and nor is it healthy. This ongoing battle cannot be the final result of saving Grace if we are going to use Scripture for our measure. We were not meant to live in this state.

(Immediately one might think in response, "Yeah, but Romans 7!" and to this "I say Yeah! Romans 8!" )

The initiation into the Kingdom of God (complete conversion) puts to death the sin in the believer. It changes not only the essence of a person (cleansing them from sin) it also changes the focus of life and brings to life the Spiritual nature of Christ in us and The Law of Spirit Life becomes possible in Christ.

The natural (carnal, flesh or soulish) self can still choose to not obey, of course. This is disobedience and those choices in thought and deed, need to be repented of and corrected, however that does not make a person have two natures or two sides of our personality always in conflict. The saved person is no longer labeled as “sinner” in the sense of an unconverted person whose sin was not removed at baptism. We are not a “sinner saved by grace” as an ONGOING characteristic. The “sinner” WAS saved by Grace (one time and done) is now considered cleansed of all unrighteousness.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

The sin nature was cleansed away, done away with, case closed. What is left is a person made right with God who now simply has thought patterns that need realigning with the Word of Truth. They are now righteous, made right with God, no longer condemned. Often times the idea of being a sinner and having to fight some "sinful nature all the time in order to be obedient is adopted. Why? Could it be an unconscious way to excuse oneself from to not living up to the Christ nature within… “Oh, so sorry, just a sinner saved by grace, no one is perfect… Right?" Possibly. More often than not, however, it is what is taught and understood when the Gospel is only partially proclaimed.

Experiences and our reactions/responses to them, create automatic pathways of thought and actions and are triggered continually throughout our life by circumstances and the feelings and reasoning it invokes from the past. It is the way we have lived and over a period of time became the way of dealing with the challenges and joys of life. Many do not know any other way to live. The concept of soul and Spirit is illusive even thought the Bible clearly indicates that we are spirit (come alive at conversion), soul (intellect, emotions and reasoning, the carnal mind), and body (our physical, fleshly self).

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

When I was young, I had a way of dealing with new places: schools, specifically. I moved often and developed a pattern of how to interact with new people and finding friends. Part of that pattern was to sit back and get an idea of who NOT to associate with given the social cues around me. Sometimes it meant taking a chance with participating in an event or decision of someone whom I deemed advantageous to be friends with. Everything was based upon my interpretation of the social cues: who was =ignored? Made fun of? Who was popular? And so on… My soul was making decisions. The first issue with the soul is perception. I had to interpret the cues and all I had to measure them by was my own experience and how I felt in the past experiences. Meeting new people, for example, wasn't an issue until I ran into someone who was a bit dominating in how they related to others. Because it hurt my feelings or encroached on my personal space, I made assumptions: "they don't like me" "something is wrong with me" and so on. ( I was a child, what did I know? My experiences were limited. However how I felt in the situation stayed with me and was used as a measuring rod for how to make friends--or not.

When making decisions according the the Spirit of Christ within leading rather than what has developed over the years and how we feel, it changes things. It's a bit easier to see where our perception of things may be different from someone else. It means we can recognize when we have reacted (knee-jerk decisions and actions) rather than responded in a way that is wise and uses the Word as our measure and not ourselves (Hebrews 4:12). Living in this way brings our focus up off ourselves and onto Christ and His Kingdom.

We can agree everyone has thought patterns, (accurate or not, edifying or destructive), and having been developed over a long period of time, they can be hard to set aside for better choices. In Philippians 3 Paul describes the sources of his own thought patterns he used as a measure for decisions and had to overcome with Truth of the gospel. Aligning our "usual way of dealing with things, is what I believe Paul meant when he said we should “take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ (His Word)." In doing this, the soul (by the Spirit unction and discipline) replaces old thought patters with new healthy ones. For me this was instrumental as I became more apt to think and act along spiritual means with Christ as my measure rather than myself and how I felt. It led to freedom from second guessing (though I do still at times), continual need to seek forgiveness, and the crushing sense of shame and guilt that would sometimes overwhelm me when I step out and make a stand for something.

It is the enemy of our faith that wants to keep us silent so we cannot overcome with the word of our testimony (Christ) and the blood (forgiveness). This enemy (satan) wants to remind us of our past, keep us in a prison of regret and fear and away from the grace and freedom that makes setting captives free. Especially when the captive is ourselves.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

But let me be clear, there are NOT two natures that we are dealing with within us. I have heard this preached often and it may sound good, but according to scripture, converts to Christianity (by confession, baptism and infilling of Holy Spirit), become a new creation (one creation). If we keep believing that we have a sinful nature as well as a spiritual nature, than we say all Jesus did was not enough and our sinful self is much stronger than the blood of Jesus applied through baptism to cleanse us from it. Can we still come boldly before the throne of Grace with this understanding? See Hebrews 10 and read slowly.

Am I saying we don’t make mistakes? Fall back into old patterns? NO, of course not. We make mistakes. But if we deny the saving power of Christ in our lives, by identifying as a sinner then we end up living according to the old law of sin and death, denying the fact that Jesus took the keys of sin and death AWAY FROM Satan, and we live as if the law of sin and death is still in effect for us.

If a person is living by the law, (and we can choose to) then we live as if our sins are only covered and never really done away with. Atonement is repeatedly sought for the one who believes this was. They tend to search for the assurance (at least I did) through various religious rituals and traditions as a sort of "penance" The example in my case was repeated trips to the alter for re-dedication to Christ. I wanted that feeling of being right with God that I once experienced when the first confession was made. It didn't solve my problem though. I didn't understand the full gospel message of what Christ had done and I didn't understand what "soul" and "spirit" really was. I guess I thought it was all the same thing.

I'm not saying trips to the alter or some things are wrong in themselves. It is just that the focus of the seeker can be misplaced because they do not realize that what they are dealing with is not a tenacious sinful self identity. Rather, what they are dealing with are old thought patterns that need realignment. They are not in the dangers of hell because they feel something. They simply do not believe in the totality of what Christ did for them, and how could they unless they knew the whole gospel message?

Many are still living in servitude to a law that was satisfied and put away. It would be like paying a mortgage on your house even though it had been paid it off completely long ago.

The word of God, when we say it out loud, study and learn its truth will overcome the old sinful thoughts and actions of the when it is applied to old thought patterns. In this way our thinking is brought into alignment with Truth.

As time goes on, we think more like Jesus, see the world through His eyes rather than our own and our perspective on things changes. Our responses to life and the decisions we make become more life-giving and we are freed from a life driven by the past and how we felt about it and look toward a future fill with possibilities because of Christ and all He has made available to us by His Spirit.

“What the law could not do, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as an offering for sin, He condemned the sin in the flesh (notice the wording) so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)

Flesh our soul is not sinful, God made those parts of us for a purpose, but they were never meant to be the decision maker or leader of our thoughts or behavior in the Kingdom of God of which we were adopted/made citizens of at conversion. And we do not have two natures. We can still be confronted with old thought patterns and soulish reactions when walking out our faith. The Spirit is saved, the soul is in the process of being saved. And the body will be resurrected on the final day when Christ hands the Kingdom back to the Father, complete, fully manifested through His church, in Him.

Blessings,

Anne

**Please note that my blog is only where my study took me and not meant to be a commentary on the particular message I heard or of the speaker of that message. I often take any message I hear and if inspired, will dive into a study of my own. I am sharing that study.

~ Anne

Intent of the Heart

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:55:57 GMT

Root of Bitterness, Faulty Conclusions, the unseen enemy within

Goliath had been taunting Israel, looking for a fight. The Philistines were an enemy of God’s people and Goliath, a 9 ft, giant of a man was one of their champions. His task was to send a message to Israel through his fighting superiority. Scripture goes into great detail about Goliath’s armor. Reading from 1 Samuel 17: 5

He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale-armor (overlapping metal plates) which weighed 5,000 shekels of bronze. 6He had bronze shin protectors on his legs and a bronze javelin hung between his shoulders. 7 The [wooden] shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; the blade-head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And a shield-bearer walked in front of him. Shouting insults and taunts at the army of Israel, he was successful in keeping men of God confused and intimidated. They were paralyzed as they searched desperately for strategy. 8Goliath stood and shouted to the battle lines of Israel, saying to them, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not the Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.” 10 Again the Philistine said, “I defy the battle lines of Israel this day; give me a man so that we may fight together.”

One of the first things I see in this section is that the Army of Israel is described, not as “God’s People,” but rather “servants of Saul.” I think this is significant. In 1 Samuel 8: 11-19, Samuel warns the people about choosing a man as a king rather than having the LORD as King. The admonishment and warning of Samuel is clear and being played out. Israel chose to identify with a natural King rather than God and as a result their identity and covenantal promises were compromised:

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

The second thing I see is that the enemy intentionally violated the boundaries. Evil is no respecter of boundaries that are put in place by people who do not belong to God. It doesn’t mean that the enemy succeeds in the attack, but the boundaries are tested to see what compromise will allow. Goliath was doing this as well and the compromise of previous generations had robbed the people of God of identity in Him and the knowledge of His protection. I do not believe that God turned a deaf ear to them, necessarily, rather I think that the people had become dull of hearing God, unlike David who was a “man after God’s own heart.” (Acts 13:22)

Verse 11 of 1 Samuel says the men of Israel were “dismayed and greatly afraid.” I think anyone could relate when facing a giant, it is quite natural to be dismayed at the natural and historical shortcomings we know of and be greatly afraid of what the enemy could do to us. I think the same perspective came over the army of Israel as they faced the giant Goliath.

For a while, it was difficult for Israel to look past the taunts and the armor evil displayed by the enemy. He was gigantic, formidable, and impossible to defeat. However, David’s identity was not as a servant of Saul, but rather as one chosen by God to be king. David’s identity was in what God said of him, NOT what Goliath was saying about him. Goliath was not in covenant with God and therefore unable to access the covenantal promises of God. Goliath did not regard the God of Israel to have any standing or power with which to defeat the Philistines. And yet David, after rejecting the armor/protection that Saul offered (who was also out of covenant with God), took on the identity God gave to him and the past victories he had won because of this identity.

See Verse 36 “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.”

What we don’t expect is attack from within our own ranks-the one standing beside us. So focused on the evil without, we are not often prepared for the issues of other believers that leave an opening in the shield of protection that we are supposed to maintain within the covenanted community of Christ. The ones that are supposed to be watching our back are, like us, distracted with personal concerns, insecurities, and identity issues. And unfortunately, these distractions can stir the elements of a mistaken identity the soul creates and as a result, it leaves an opening for an enemy (like Goliath) to step across the line of protection to challenge with the temptation to compromise, stir insecurity, and reinforce pride.

This happened to David who had been sent by his father to bring food to his older brothers (he was the youngest). He had already been anointed by Samuel to be the next King—right in front of his older brothers who had all been passed over for the honor. Needless to say, there was probably a root of bitterness starting to grow in one or two. Remember Joshua and his coat of many colors? His dreams and the betrayal of his brothers? This is not a new strategy of the enemy. We need to be aware of it and not let it divide and conquer by stirring mistaken identity issues.

So, David brings the food and upon arrival, the story says that he questioned the situation regarding Goliath and the fear of Israel in the face of the giant. The event contradicted what he knew of God and the covenantal promises given to the people of Israel. Consider the following conversation:

Verse 26-31 “David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.” When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him (David) speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?”

He (David) then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

We know the rest of the story, how David killed Goliath with nothing but a sling and some stones. What I have been keying in on lately, however, is Eliab. It is my interpretation of the events that among other challenges, Eliab had a problem. He and his brothers had been passed up by Samuel as the next King of Israel. They had many reasons why they should have been chosen and yet it was David, the youngest, who got the honor and a root of bitterness was planted, or nurtured if planted long before, who knows? Sibling rivalry is not a new thing.

Eliab measured what David said and did according to his own perceptions and feelings. Look again at how David responds to Eliab in Vs 29: 29-30

David heard Eliab but did not let Eliab deter him from his goal. He’d obviously dealt with his older brother in the past. He turned away and refused to absorb Eliab’s comment regarding his own intent or the motive if his heart, even though someone close to him, who knew him well (maybe), was assigning the intent to him by his own presumption and speculation. I also found David’s response interesting and somewhat instructional for when someone imposes upon me false intents or motivations. While David did confront Eliab’s accusation (corrected it), he didn’t waste his time trying to change Eliab’s mind. He just “turned away to someone else.”

In the New Testament, Jesus talks of “shaking the dust” off our feet (Matt 10:14) and also not to “cast pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6).” These are instructions for response regarding sharing the Gospel with unbelievers who do not want to receive the message of Christ and His Kingdom. Another scripture says a “prophet is not received in his own home” and as a result he was not able to do any miracles in that town (Matthew 13:56-58). Jesus also taught his disciples to work out the issues, if possible. If the issue cannot be resolved, then I believe it would be the case to turn away as David did, and don’t waste time with words. Let the believer’s testimony be evident in how they live.

One or maybe two years ago, a picture of “turning away” (disengaging) appeared very clearly in my mind. It was like when you realize you’ve taken the wrong direction on a walk, maybe, and simply turn around or take a left or right to get back on track to where you needed to go. No condemnation, no accusation, no blaming, or anger or hurt; just a simple turn/course correction. It pops up now and again when I realize I’m not being heard (in the least) or when, like Eliab, someone is assigning wrong motives and intent to what I am saying or doing. If it can be clarified, I do, but in some cases, nothing can be done. While I do not totally “burn the bridge” in the relationship, I do step back and find that “turning away” to be the best course of action.

Colossians 3:12-17 says: So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

So today, let us embrace the identity and character of Christ in our dealings with others including those within the community of faith. Let us hold our shield of protection steady for which we are responsible. Let us exhibit the mind of Christ in our thoughts, word and deeds leaving no opening for the enemy of faith to move in and manipulate the truth.

Blessings,

Anne

Revelation, Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom series #3

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 15:39:58 GMT

God Gives Understanding

Revelation, Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom typically flow in this order, but they don’t have to. There are times when I am reading and studying and have an "aha!" moment of revelation when understanding pulls everything I've learned together into a cohesive application. So although I'm suggesting a progression, the emphasis is on relationship with God and His Word in us being wisely and accurately applied.

In a previous blog (or post) I used a reading analogy to describe how I perceived this progression. Typically, a revelation may come somewhat like a story is revealed to a child as it is being read. I have seen children then get to know the story so well, that they recite it while pretending to read. This is demonstrated before they gain the knowledge of learning what the letters and words say. Understanding then dawns regarding the principles of reading when the meaning of the words and sentences comes together to communicate a thought or idea conveyed.

In this blog, I’m applying that analogy to the receiving and understanding of revelation. My premise is:

Revelations I am talking about are from God to our awareness and not our own imagination.
Revelations from God are not new revelations, the Scripture reveals them as well and did so long before we receive them.
God says what he’s going to do and does what he says he will do.
If a new revelation comes along that is not in or supported by scripture, then it is probably not from Him. This is how cults get started and theories become doctrine, even when they are not true.
We cannot add to or take away from scripture to suit our wants and desires.

What does Understanding do for us? I did some research and here is what I found:

With understanding we accurately handle the word of truth (2Tim 2:15)
It leads to integrity (Prov 15:21)
Understanding helps us to know when to speak and when to be quiet; produces an excellent spirit. Prov 17:27
Understanding draws out the counsel of the heart no matter how deep it resides Prov 20:5
Our own understanding can mislead us, the understanding of God can direct our path (Prov 3:5-6)
Understanding is part of the great commandment in Mark 12:33
Paul had a lot of knowledge gained through schooling and such, but it wasn’t until he received the revelation of Christ that that knowledge became understanding and the Scriptures all made sense. What made sense was the mystery of Christ and his Kingdom seen throughout the counsel in his letters to the church. Eph 3:4
Paul prayed the Colossians would be filled with knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Why? So they may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, (see Colossians 1:9-12 for this list)
Spiritual wisdom and understanding are fueled by knowledge. Without knowledge (of the scriptures, will of God) our wisdom and understanding are weak and without power. Limited knowledge leads to limited ability to understand and act wisely.
Understanding brings assurance. Assurance is important so that we have a firm foundation from which to act or not. Col 1:9
God gives understanding 2 Ti 2:7
Understanding can be darkened as one is alienated from the life of God through the ignorance caused by the blindness of the heart Eph 4:18
Purpose of understanding is that we may know Him and that He is Truth and in him we find truth in Christ 1 John 5:20, Eph 1:18
Knowledge rejected leads to vain imagination and foolish heart darkened (Rom 1) We see this pattern today not because Romans 1 is just now coming “true” but because it is a reaping and sowing principle set in place by God. We find it all throughout scripture. Not understanding this leads to many misunderstanding regarding prophesy that gets lumped into “end times” theologies. If we consider our own history, Knowledge of God and His statutes is good FOR us and keeps us on the right track. To reject them as our culture has done in favor of convenience and self-indulgence has led to a lawlessness. Why? Because of the principle of reaping and sowing, not because some ancient prophecy is now just coming true.

Understanding is most effective in spiritual maturity (1 Co 14:20). We have to be grownups understanding that not everything is about “us.” The mature know how to wisely apply the understanding and therefore accurately interpret the Revelations the Spirit reveals to them. The mature don’t think all revelation is for them alone although there may be a personal application. Revelation is meant for the Church as a whole. There are broader implications of truth than just me, myself, and I. The personalizing of scripture into devotional moments alone, has caused the people of God to become tone deaf to the leading of the corporate body of Christ by the Spirit of Christ.

A few points I’ve found helpful to remember:

God doesn’t say to one person one thing and then something else to someone else regarding the same subject. God is consistent and constant. He does not change his mind.
It is necessary to know the history of the times in which the scriptures were written. It can put things into perspective, and we are less likely to apply something to our NOW that was meant for another day and time. While the principles of how God acts can be brought forward into now this is because he is consistent. The wicked will always be caught in their own traps, for example. But it would be inaccurate to say that the earth is going to endure a worldwide flood because of the wickedness of humanity.
Our misunderstandings can often be traced back to wanting to satisfy our agendas or taking shortcuts in gaining the knowledge for understanding.
Through understanding we gain insight; the insight leads to wisely applying the knowledge and understanding we gain.
Revelations are first applied to us personally, then they are for the corporate body of Christ. Otherwise, we are always either pointing a finger of accusation/blessing toward our enemies, or constantly focused on our own situations resulting in a “belly-button” type faith (inwardly focused).

May the Spirit of Christ (our teacher, friend and advocate) grant you revelation and joy as you “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 AMP

Blessings, happy studying,

Anne

Revelation, Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 20:49:58 GMT

Knowledge

Revelation leads to Knowledge

Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, a family] is built,
And by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation],

And by knowledge its rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24:3-4

If I am reading the lexicon correctly, the “knowledge” in this verse would take on the meaning: “knowledge of God”. So rooms, life and family are filled with “Knowledge of God.” To see the lexicon entry, click here The knowledge of God is the source of the precious and pleasant riches.

Hmm…. what does this mean? If we take the metaphor to its conclusion, the décor, the furniture, the things we use in house and the way in which we arrange/apply them, both tangibly and spiritually, are there because of knowledge and the way we use it.

But what IS knowledge? According to the verse it is a building material, but not like wood or nails. But the house doesn’t just put itself together, we have to engage with it and be actively involved in what we learn so we can apply it correctly.

The difficulty in most bible studies is that we have one word for something, and Hebrew and Greek languages might use several depending upon what the author is trying to say. The word Praise in Psalms is another word like that. In this case, I counted 15 different Hebrew/Greek words that translate into our word for knowledge. As a result, I would need to seek out the specific verse and the usage of the word in that verse to be sure I was getting the correct meaning. I couldn’t just pick a 21 ^st century meaning and apply it to all as has been done with the word Praise.

They spell them all out for you and here is the website if you want to do your own investigation. I use Blueletterbible.org for much of my research since it seems to be the most thorough. I will summarize for you here what I discovered, but see for yourself, if you are so inclined:

Knowledge can mean we simply become aware of something, and it is unavoidable. Something flashing across the television or seeing a picture on the iPhone. It’s just there and it can’t be “unseen.”

Another word in scripture indicates a growing knowledge such as child in school becomes aware of the relationship between letters, sounds, sentence structure. They have knowledge of some of the mechanics of reading. That doesn’t necessarily mean they can read. Only when they put the concepts of reading into practice, ask questions, allow correction, can they fully grasp what they know, and apply the knowledge correctly. The knowledge of the individual elements leads to an overall understanding.

And finally, for this discussion, knowledge indicates relationship, a participation in the truth. For example, in the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25), the “goats” never knew Christ. In other words, they had no relationship or connection with Him unlike the sheep whose knowledge of Christ made a difference in how they lived.

Proverbs 1 says the beginning of knowledge is to fear the Lord. Those who do not fear him mock and scoff at the knowledge are considered fools. I think of Matthew 13: 15 also used in Acts 28: 27. Both of these references come from Isaiah 6:10, which says.

For this people's heart is waxed gross (lazy, no desire for more), and their ears are dull of hearing (ignored, refused to listen), and their eyes they have closed (choosing not to see); lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. [NASB, parenthesis mine,]

These verses are describing a people who willfully chose not to know or understand truth. It was true in biblical times, and it is true today and that is their choice. I don’t’ know why people would do this, unless they like the darkness that ignorance offers. If I don’t know I’m doing wrong, than I can keep doing what I want, right? God gives us choice to grow in knowledge and whether to pursue a relationship with Him, the source of Truth. THIS. IS. OUR. CHOICE. And we can cast no blame upon another for the lack of it when the tools (Scripture, Christian Fellowship, Prayer) are within reach and the revelation of something out there bigger than us is present.

Revelation is a kick-start to becoming knowledgeable. We are given certain truths by way of the Spirit, typically through prayer and reading the bible asking for understanding. Once the revelation is given and knowledge is imparted, it is then up to us whether or not we investigate and grow in that knowledge. Since there are no new revelations, and everything revealed to us is in Scripture and is consistent with Scripture in its context. We can use the tools given to us to seek out and learn more about it.

Faith is a revelation that I have been seeking out and gathering knowledge regarding for the past few years. Early on in my Christian life I thought faith was something I “kept.” I had to work at it to have more. I thought if I didn’t feel like I had faith to do something, then I must not have enough faith, or I had failed in some way to keep it safe.

But as I grew in knowledge and understanding I discovered faith doesn’t work like that. It isn’t based on how I feel. Faith is a noun. Hebrews 11 says it is a gift to me and I have all I need. Believing is the verb and it involves our interaction with faith and how we apply it.

In Mark 4 Jesus asks the disciples why they are so fearful and “where is your faith.” I think he was being satirical in this passage. They were choosing fear over faith, not that I blame them, really. Who wouldn’t be a little fearful? What the passage pointed out in addition to the fact that faith is given by God to us and it is His faith within us that we use, is that we cannot be fearful and faith-filled at the same time. This was new knowledge gained for me and something I would not have known had I neglected growing in knowledge that began with a revelation.

God’s goal in all of this is that we destroy the works of evil and live an abundant life. The tools are there. Get to know them.

Blessings and peace to all, may this week kick-start a quest for truth that energizes and encourages with strategy and grace.

Anne

Revelation, Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom Series

ab2014st@gmail.com (Anne Bradshaw) — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 16:00:15 GMT

Revelation

1/17/2023

Revelation leads to knowledge. And knowledge leads to understanding. Understanding leads to wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge and understanding in a way that is obedient and consistent with the Word of God. First, we must seek revelation.

So, what IS revelation and how do we get a revelation? Revelation is the uncovering of a truth, and it is not something we come up with on our own. We CAN have personal “revelations,” that is things that we learn over time. As in “OH, So it works THAT way! I get this with computer programs. I’m currently learning how to use quickbooks, a bookkeeping software, but those “revelations” are not what I’m talking about here.

In the spiritual sense, “a revelation” is revealed by Holy Spirit to our soul, and it is often in response to sincere questions or quests for truth regarding the things of God. It is a result of a seeking after His will in our lives with thoughtful prayer and meditaiton upon His word. Once a revelation is given to us by Holy Spirit, we need to do something with it to hold onto it. Otherwise, because we are human, we will forget what we were shown and fall back into old ways and thought patterns.

It makes me think of the story of the 10 Talents in Matthew 25, in which the servants were given a different amount of talents (equivalent to about 15 years wages). Those who did something with the talents (invested) were given more upon the master’s return and the one who buried the talent had that small amount taken away from him altoghether. Jesus then says: “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”

This story brings then brings to mind a verse in Hebrews 11:6 that says:

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

So, in reflection of what Paul says, I would say regarding the story of the “talents," that the currency in the life of a believer would be faith. In a way, it follows a similar pattern: We have to invest it, use it and the most wonderful thing about it is, that it is a gift to us (see Hebrews 11), just as the master in Matthew gave the talents to the servants. We all get faith as a gift to use. We don’t have to come up with it on our own. So striving for faith, having too little or too much is not possible.

This revelation in turn leads me to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:14-16 which says:

“ ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

It may be just my tendency to take things I read somewhat literally, at first, but in the past, when I would read this passage in Matthew, I would think about a light shining as something I did . That if I lit the light of Christ in my life , than I should not hide His presence. This was my understanding or “my revelation," and personal revelations often sound good, but they are not always accurate with all of what scripture teaches. The revelations from God to our spirit reveal a truth and are always consistent with scripture and are always something we would not have otherwise thought of.

Regarding Matthew 5:14: Unlike my previous understanding, it isn’t we who light the lamp, We ARE the lamp God lights . Did you see that? I totally missed it for years. If you saw it, you are ahead of me! LOL. So WE are a light on a hill. WE are God’s creation to do the good works prepared in advance for us to do, (according to Paul in Ephesians 2:10). God did not create us to hide us. Therefore, I cannot simply choose to “follow Jesus” and keep it all a personal endeavor behind closed doors. I must shine as God intended, upon a hill, for all to see according to His design within me.

This leads to an aside I’d like to share:

I cannot adopt another person’s way of following Christ just because I think I’d like it better or it would be fun and call it “God’s plan for me!” It would totally burn me out in every way, eventually. I know because I've tried it. For example, just because I CAN teach (and did), doesn’t mean that I should assume a teaching certificate (again) and teach 3 ^rd graders. Okay, if I do, but unless it is quite clear to me that is what I should be doing, there is a better way to use my teaching gifts that edifies the Kingdom of God. I’ve discovered over the years that when I am obedient to the leading of Christ, what he has for me to do does not “burn me out” at the end of the day, week, month, year, etc…God’s plans for me don’t cause burnout unless I run out of “oil” to draw on. Sure, I can get tired, but usually it’s quickly remedied when I realize we haven’t kept the connection with God as I should, or a retreat of some kind is in order. We all have a part to play in the plan of God and we must be faithful to that plan. If we don't know it, seek it, try out things.

When I am obedient to His leading, shining the light of His presence takes no effort. Lamps don’t work or strive, they simply draw on the power given (oil in their day, electricity in ours). Therefore, we must simply draw on the oil He provides. It’s a covenant relationship and God is always faithful to provide the oil. We must in turn be faithful to draw on that oil and let the light of His presence shine in the way He has designed it to shine within each of us. The light often involves revelation of His intent for his people.

Next time we will look at “knowledge”

Blessings

Anne

New Years Encouragement

ab2014st@gmail.com (Anne Bradshaw) — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 15:14:38 GMT

Victory through Him

A new year has started and people, including myself, make resolutions or rather, they vow to do something better this year than last year. By now, some have probably fallen away from those resolutions and gone back to life as “normal,” or they will in about 3 months. I have an encouraging word regarding this pattern.

Grace.

Let me explain and see if you agree…

Do you remember learning about Jesus for the first time? I do. The message regarding sin and salvation tugged at my heart and I committed my life to Him. And then began the quest to do the right thing all the time. This resulted in many trips to the alter. I didn't understand grace for myself. I didn't understand bringing thoughts captive to Christ. I didn't understand that although I had a new nature and was saved, I still had old thought patterns to deal with and that didn't make me a failure, it made me human and I didn't have to stay in a place of defeat. I didn't understand the victory from which I was now living as a believer in Christ even though I'd confessed, received the forgiveness offered and was baptized. The continued struggle to be "good" was very real.

Near the end of Romans 7, Paul describes a similar struggle to be "good enough." If we stop there in our reading, we may find either comfort in the fact that he too struggled, or we can find and excuse for just "being a sinner saved by grace." Neither are good choices. Both keep sin in the forefront of our mind, always trying to do the right thing rather than on the Law of Spirit life that us free from that sin. Done. A completed deal. Christ paid the price. We simply have to apply it. But how can we apply something we do not understand? It isn't just a "ticket to heaven." The law of Spirit Life is a tool belt for life lived successfully.

In my studies, I've come to the conclusion that I do not believe Paul ever meant to have a division between Romans 7 and chapter 8 as our current bibles divide it. The Apostle Paul in a prolific writer, and he loves run-on sentences, and his subjects and tangents can run all over the place. I usually end up making notes and word maps while looking things up when I study his letters. But that's just me. Suffice it to say, he is not always an easy read. And Romans is no different. He has one subject in mind here and he's saying it with a lot of added stuff. Those verses at the end of 7 that describe a person conflicted with two natures is a person BEFORE conversion and he contrasts it with the verses we define as Chapter 8. The LAW OF SPIRIT LIFE is what makes the difference. He is no longer that way and the rest of chapter 8 tells us how he is different and why.e.

I still hear committed believers talk about their struggle with two natures. They seem stuck in Chapter 7 and have yet to apply Chapter 8. While two natures most likely do conflict BEFORE we are saved, how could that still be true AFTER our conversion? How could we have "two natures" if conversion brings about a new creation? Would we now have three natures? I don't think so. (Consider Ephesians 2, Colossians 1, 2 Corinthians 5) And then there is the parable about pouring new wine into an old wine skin (Mark 2, Luke 5) In context, those verses are talking about the Old and New Covenant, but I think it applies to us as well.

How our feelings both physical and emotional and seeking to satisfy those feelings is to set our minds on the flesh, as Paul says. This would be our agenda, what makes ME happy and how I FEEL, "follow your heart ", etc…you get the point. I am not saying we should discount those things, certainly not. They are a part of who we are as God created us. However, setting agendas based on those struggles, I have found, only keeps alive old ways of thinking. How? By allowing us to fall back into old patterns of living. Isa 43: 18-19 God admonishes the people through Isaiah NOT to call to mind the former ways that he is doing a NEW thing because he wanted them to step into what He was doing.

The pattern is there.

Why would we want to keep old thought patterns alive? Unless we LIKED the old dysfunctional ways...? Unless we WANTED to keep doing sinful things? Maybe we like the predictability, or the attention that telling others of our struggle brings?

Of course not.

NO serious committed believer in Christ WANTS to remain in the old ways that proved dysfunctional or disobedient. That is not the attitude of one who has truly changed their allegiance from darkness to the Kingdom of Light. Remaining in the old patterns of thought and behavior will result in self-destruction over time. Why? Because it wasn't what we were made for any more than a car was made to run on sugar water rather than gasoline. It is not that old thought patterns don't ever enter the mind of one who is converted, far from it. Everything we do or say begins as a thought. It's what we do with that thought that is important, and that is up to us to choose.

From a place of Victory in Christ, dysfunctional/sinful thoughts are brought into alignment with the Word of God (Scripture) and the Spirit (received at baptism). So we have to know Him and know His Word. We have to know the scriptures and what He said. The believer is not a helpless victim of old ways and the goal is never to somehow keep them alive through wallowing in regret, remorse. Destructive thoughts to linger by entertaining them instead they are confronted with what God says about them and about us, His Kids. If help is needed to do that, then help is available through Holy Spirit, the Word and also other believers who may have ideas that help. If we were meant to do it all alone, God would have never created Eve. That is why God puts us in community.

It takes time, and grace for self as well as others. Thanks be to God we are set free from the chains that hold us to that old thinking by His Spirit and His Word.

Be encouraged. Read Romans 8.

This is Spirit life.

Blessings,

Anne

* This is just my experience. I am not a mental health counselor. Sometimes professional help is needed and this is not a failure, just a reality.

Found in Humility

ab2014st@gmail.com (Anne Bradshaw) — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 15:38:11 GMT

Regret is a Thief

Reflecting on Genesis 32. Jacob is preparing to meet up with Esau and the regrets of younger years are producing fear of retribution and stealing his peace. I can identify with Jacob here and I can think of two reasons for what Jacob is experiencing. The first would be that there is indeed something Jacob needs to come to terms with. His actions caused harm regardless of the fact that he may or may not have been justified in what he did or that he was simply obeying his mother. He went along with it whether or not he knew what he was doing at the time. Secondly, he needs to recognize and apply the wisdom maturity has brought him. He is a bit older than he was and has experienced similar deceitfulness that he used against Esau. He reaped what he sowed. Time to "face the music" and he's getting a chance to do it in person. Esau was on his way.

Starting a new year can bring reflection of the old and Jacob isn’t alone in having regrets. Everyone has them and they can produce shame and fear, just like Jacob experienced. And like Jacob, some even try to gift their way to forgiveness, I know I have. I remember laying awake at night agonizing over past mistakes made wishing for a “do over.” However, wallowing in regret or remorse over past decisions and mistakes only stole my peace and joy, (not to mention my sleep) it never did fix or change anything regarding in the past. On a positive note, the past cannot define who we are presently, nor can it determine what the future will be. If regret is experienced, it is because maturity has allowed us to see the difference between right and wrong, and it takes humility (not humiliation) to accept the difference and respond accordingly.

Remaining in a "regretful or remorseful" place does not make one mature nor does in in any way make things “right”. It is not a way to stay “humble,” either as some Christian traditions tend to indicate by constant "sin and damnation" teachings. Christ already paid for our sins and remaining in that place of condemnation adds nothing to the present, it does not edify anyone. The constant state of condemnation simply denies the saving transformation of Christ at conversion. The abundant life intended by Christ for those who believe, is found through Christ's forgiveness (for self and others) which He made available for all to embrace and walk in the way of blessing.

Don’t get caught in regret. With humility, embrace the forgiveness that in yours in Him for yourself and others, and move forward.

Know Christ, know peace (wholeness).

~Anne

Lost in Iniquity

ab2014st@gmail.com (Anne Bradshaw) — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 15:33:24 GMT

A Perspective on Jacob's Story

I’ve been working on discipline lately. I’d rather “go with the flow” rather than a schedule. I don’t think I’m alone. As a result, I’m reading through the Bible. This is something that usually breaks down for me about Judges. Some stories I really don’t like, and I’ve come to one in Genesis.

Jacob’s story…is not my favorite. I skim it and read what I’ve been taught, generally. In other words, I have to work hard to strip away what I’ve been told about Jacob’s story and really see what is on the pages.

So, what is it about the story I dislike so much? It’s an incredibly sad story or bitterness and deceit. Chapter 30, where I am today, describes the rivalry between Rachel and Leah, her sister. How could anyone treat another person this way? How could servants be used in such a personal way just because of the bitterness and blindness of another? Even Jacob gets “hired” for his “services!” And the conniving skills of the daughters of Laban, are not unique to them. If you read earlier in the book of Genesis, you’ll see they had a good teacher regarding deception and manipulation.

And then it dawned on me. What is being shown in this story is the incredible need for a savior. Only through Christ are we able to see people and situations clearly and consider a viewpoint other than our own. Only through Christ, can we forgive and create a new and life-giving relationship out of an old unforgiving one full of bitterness, regret, and anger.

Only through Christ.

The people of Jacob’s time did not have Christ. They did not have His Spirit within to help them, to counsel them, to teach them.

We Do. We have no excuse when we are His. We as believers, are not helpless victims allowing bitterness to take over our lives. This is a choice.

Jacob’s story is a study account in the effects of Adam and Eve’s indulgence with the tree of knowledge of good and evil as it is passed down through generations. The fruit of which allows one to be deceived by evil, to consider a way other than that which gives life to all. It makes us selfish and full of fear. God did not want us to live like this forever, thus the barring of Adam and Eve from the tree of Life until a way could be made for Christ.

These are my thoughts on the story so far. I’ve only gotten to chapter 30. I welcome your response, what have you seen?

Blessings,

Anne

The Church

ab2014st@gmail.com (Anne Bradshaw) — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 14:54:08 GMT

Another blog about church?

YES! another blog about the church. Consider this....

Our communities, our states, our nation, the WORLD needs the church that Jesus us building , to step up and take her place. But what IS the church? In Matthew 16 Jesus says he will build the church and the gates (rulers, decision makers) will not be able to prevail( overcome, withstand) it.

But what does this mean? It certainly is not something we can build ourselves with programs or ideologies. Our marching orders, our definitions, our identity can be found in Scripture and it is non-negotiable. We cannot change it to fit our pet projects or desires. But over the years the term "church" has been modified to mean different things to different people.

The church is made up of individuals..

There are many things we talk about when referring to what we have traditionally understood as “Church.” When I think of church I immediately think of white patent leather shoes in spring or a brick building, stained glass windows with a steeple. When I think about what church does, I think of fellowship dinners and feeding the homeless. When I think of church exercises and faith, I think of Sunday morning worship and singing and bible studies and Sunday schools. And there is a comfort in my memories. I was a child. I was safe in the church where I identified. I was converted, baptized and I received the Holy Spirit and a calling. It meant I would go to heaven when I died, that Jesus was with me always and somehow I had a victory...of some kind.

I would not want to take those memories from anyone. I don’t ever want to downplay or criticize where I have been. Where I began my faith journey is not to be ridiculed because it is a part of the tools with which God formed and blessed me to be the person I am today. But there is more.

To understand the church we must first understand who Christ is and who that makes us to be individually as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven/Kingdom of God.

Speaking about the individual within the Kingdom of God I turn to Scripture which says “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. To “become as a child” we subconsciously understand as being innocent and in need of protection and provision. “ Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong… .” Is taught to the children and echoed with nostalgia as adults. Typically, whether we realize it or not, the average person when incorporating this verse and others like it, comes to think of themselves as children before God needing Jesus to make it through the hard times, to provide for needs, to heal when we are sick, and so on. I know I did. The everyday understanding of what it means to be “child-like” brings to mind a person solely dependent upon the grace of God for everything, a large part of this understanding, with regard to whom we are grateful for being the source of all good gifts, is accurate. We are grateful and blessed for all He has done for us with regard to identity, purpose and destiny. Without Christ we would be condemned, lost and without hope. He did make a way for victory over sin and death and we must have faith as a child in the sense that we do not allow experiences to steal faith and keep us from believing in what God has said and is saying now about us and to us.

However, as long as we think of ourselves as children in the classic sense: innocent, without understanding/experience, dependent as well as limited in our abilities, we remain powerless to defeat the powers of darkness or influence the world around us. We remain victims of life and what the world can do to us financially, health-wise and socially. The people of God, then learn to live a life of reaction on defense against the world and it’s invasions and trespasses rather than as citizens of a Kingdom where Christ is king. When we realize that being a child of God, son of God is NOT about being “child-like”, but rather being heirs of a promise, everything changes.

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,

The Spirit of Christ within is the Spirit of a full grown and powerful Christ the King (rather than of a baby in a manger or Jesus dying on a cross). Embracing this reality, we become heirs of victory as well. The people of God, and therefore the Church, are not child-like sinners, saved by a loving, graceful father because we can do nothing good and are helpless on our own . This idea is perpetuated by the teaching that God must do the healing, delivering and and all we have to do is storm the gates of heaven with as many pray warriors as are able and pray that he will change things. The presupposition, whether we realize it consciously or not, is that he is either unaware of what is needed or somehow believers must twist his arm with as many prayers that can be gathered. The Kingdom of God is present now. Jesus said the Kingdom has come near, is at hand. People could identify it by the Spirit because of the fruit being produced (sick healed, people delivered, truth revealed). In this way, when we do what we see the Father doing and say what we hear the Father saying, when we imitate Christ and he is Lord of our lives, we govern as Citizens of the Kingdom God just as Adam and Eve governed the earth before the fall. Christ came to remind us of our identity. That governance was not ever taken away. It was “deceived away” as Satan confused the mind and evilly set in motion his plan for silencing the voice of God upon the earth.

God gave us the means, by his Spirit within, the power to heal and deliver, to share the gospel and so many other things! But the people of God do not often live in the fullness of Christ that was won for them either because they have been deceived into thinking they are unable to do so, are ignorant of what it means to live the abundant life. In addition, remaining ignorant of the truth can be a convenient excuse not to exercise the power and responsibility of full grown Christians.

We need to know who we are in Christ so we may grow up in Him to be who He said we are. If the Christ we know is a baby in a manger, that infancy is as far as we will get. Even thinking of ourselves as a “child of the King” is endearing and comforting, but it puts no demand upon us to be anything more than a child at play or in need of care. Our churches are full of infant Christians looking to have their diapers changed, noses wiped and fed bottles of pleasing words and anecdotes with an occasional burping. Hebrews 6 tells us we must move past the elementary truths into maturity. Look at the list of “elementary truths!” Can you imagine that raising the dead is an elementary truth ?

If we have a firm foundation of who Christ is and who we are in Him and why, then we can see ourselves, others and situations more clearly. We will know the difference between the storm of emotions that sometimes arises and the truth that lies behind the situation that needs attention. We will know the difference between what someone says about us and the reality of who we are in Christ. We can reject the false claims and embrace the Truth. A firm and accurate foundation on Christ gives us identity. Identity gives us purpose and purpose gives us a destiny to walk in. As long as the church is blinded to who they are in Christ, she stays an infant, powerless and ignorant of the mandate that is on her. When we are sure of our foundation and identity we are not afraid to speak up and let our voices be heard.

But being the church is not about our individual lives. We were made to work in commuity with those of like mind that we can walk beside. One can do much, but many can change the world. Consider the impact of 12 disciples in the 1st century! It is about representing Christ where we are and beyond. We now see people getting involved in politics that profess their Christian faith. This is Good! Our faith should infiltrate all parts of our life with obedience to Christ. It is our obedience to Truth that brings about correction and change. As we vote and participate in community, state and national decisions, we are representing Truth and righteousness. As we pray and intercede for those in decision making roles, we support and bring about what they need as they are obedient to truth where they are called to be. This is how change is made. The church must come together, moving toward the same goal.

Be blessed,

Anne

Eyes to See

ab2014st@gmail.com (Anne Bradshaw) — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 00:04:40 GMT

Eyes to See

I read Matthew 13 today and immediately thought of our political and social climate. It would be so easy to say this was about today. I'd be wrong, however. This passage is about what happened in Jesus' day, not ours. The very people whose hearts had grown dull (cold)then, are the ones who could not see or hear truth, freedom, righteousness, justice are the ones who chose not to understand and crucify Christ.

So, if this is not about today, the 21st century, then it is simply describing the fallen human condition. This is what happens when hearts grow cold. It leads to unspeakable things, and we have read and witnessed these things that cold hearts bring. However, we have no excuse today. There is a way to NOT have a cold/dull heart. We CAN have eyes that see and ears that hear. We CAN understand by the Spirit of Christ what we are to do, say and live.

The problem is that fallen humanity wants compromise. They think they know what will make them happy. Like a two year old, they don't like to be told no. They don’t like to be told they are wrong, that there are boundaries and standards for successful living. Even science and data that backs up the truth is sidelined in favor of a preferred narrative. Success in their eyes is a type of deceiving freedom where they become slaves to the very thing, they thought they were free to enjoy. True freedom in Christ does not involve a slavery to anything, but a willing loyalty to good, truth, and righteousness (being right with God).

But wait a minute...isn't this what the church has done over the year? Tailor the gospel message to fit a 20 minute time frame, never offend anyone, get attendance up and money in the offering plate to pay for the preacher's salary, the lights and building? Sunday morning was never meant to be an evangelistic effort, it is to hear what God is saying to His people and act upon that instruction. The power of that obedience among the people is a witness to the unsaved that may come and see the churc at work and be saved. But we were never meant to make the whole service about them. This truncated gospel and wrong emphasis is partly to blame for the hearts growing cold. Church has ceased to be relational or relevant. The answers to real issues are not found and so believers in Christ are left to find their own way. Is it any wonder that the answers found are secular and not sacred, vague and not victorious, death and not life?

If anger, resentment, and anxiety are creeping into thoughts and conversation, it is wise to consider the truth of Isaiah’s prophecy below in verse 15. If the people of that day had opened their eyes they would have seen. And having seen, they would have heard. And in having heard, they would have understood, and God would heal their broken hearts.

To open the eyes means to consider that the agenda and point of view to which one has ascribed may be in error. We can tell by the fruit. Is it truthful? Has time born out that truthfulness of their words, their plans, their intentions and efforts to be representative of Christ? Is it good for all or only some? Is it causing harm or benefiting only a few?

It is time to open our eyes and see that the current path of the world system is not always for the good of anyone but the agendas of those in charge. It is time to open our eyes to what the Scriptures say as one story as to who the Church is and her role in being the body of Christ and His Kingdom.

“ ¹³ Therefore, I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ And [d]in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘You shall keep on listening, but shall not understand;

¹⁵ And you shall keep on looking, but shall not perceive;

For the heart of this people has become dull,

With their ears they scarcely hear,

And they have closed their eyes,

Otherwise, they might see with their eyes,

Hear with their ears,

Understand with their heart, and return,

And I would heal them.’

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Prayer and declaration:

Lord, help us to have ears to hear and eyes to see what you are saying to your people about life and today’s culture. May we be true and faithful representatives of your Will, your Word, and your Way so that all may benefit from the freedom you offer through Christ. We declare that our communities will know the Love of Christ and be changed to reflect His saving Grace. We declare that our government will be faithful to their oath of office. We declare that all plans against the United States and her people will be rooted out and become void. We call in Righteousness, Peace and Joy over this nation and all nations across the earth.

Control or Sovereignty?

ab2014st@gmail.com (Anne Bradshaw) — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 17:10:17 GMT

Is God in Control or is He Sovereign?

For this piece, I am using the definitions I found online for:

(a)Control: to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate, command

(b)Sovereign: supreme power or authority.

Where in scripture does it say God is in control? I looked, but couldn't find any place in Scripture where is said this specifically. Old Testament writers seemed to imply it with "God made them do this or that" kind of terminology. However we live in the New Covenant, so I wanted to see what Jesus said about it, though he also lived in the Old Covenant era, He introduced the the New Covenant in which we live.

I guess the impetus for this blog is the fact that I’ve been hearing that statement from a lot of different sources lately. One recent place was in a devotional, it was a good devotional, even though the word control might have been a little misapplied. A better word might have been the word sovereign. But we like the statement “God is in control” …. why?

Maybe it's because....

It’s catchy, bumper sticker
There are songs about it that are nice to listen to
Good teachers taught us about it
It gives security in a troubled time.

And if we are honest, however, it also provides peace by indirectly letting us off the hook regarding responsibility of confronting social and cultural, political hot topics and injustice. This choice is definitely not made consciously, I'm sure, but it doesn't change the fact that the more it is postulated that God is in control the less responsibility we feel to do anything about what's going on around us.

But it doesn’t make any sense. If we take the reasoning to its conclusion one can understand how atheists are born, why folks stop praying, stop attending church gatherings, why the world is in the mess it’s in. Why the church today is operating at a subnormal level of effectiveness. Reasoned out, the idea that God is in Control means everything is by his design, right? Creation, invention, good, bad, evil, the situation at the border, disease, corruption …everything is by his design. If he were in control, Adam and Eve would never have eaten from the tree of Knowledge. We would not have free will. We would be puppets and he the one holding the strings. God would have firmly held those reigns…but he didn’t.

“But He works everything out for our good!” is a common response. Let’s look at that too, while we are at it.

For whom? For whom does he “work things out for good?” What does the rest of that verse in Romans say? “… for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Those who love God…who is that? According to John 15 it is those who abide in him, follow his commandments who love Him. What are his commandments? This also gets misquoted too. Some say the 10 commandments…remember, that’s old Covenant. We live in the New Covenant.

What are the commandments according to Jesus? John 15 also tells us: ““This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” Notice it does NOT say “as you love yourself” that would be using yourself as a measuring rod, what if you woke up one day not liking your recent choices and therefore not love yourself very much? Can we then not like our neighbor? I think not. NO, the commandment is to use the Love of Jesus for us as the measure. These are the people who “love God” they obey Christ. He is Lord of their life. And because they obey, they make good choices, and those good choices work out for good.

In addition, because of the idea that “God is in control” Christians have separated themselves believing God will take care of the sinful people and we just keep being Christian where we are and that’s enough. Another half-truth and more misapplied scripture about being separate but holy. If we investigate the matter further, however it was more about a tax break (501-C3) if preachers kept politics out of the pulpit. Now why would the government want that? To remain in control, of course. Unlike God, they don’t mind being puppet masters over people. And Christians are formidable when they make a clear sound regarding what is Scriptural, just and true.

Matthew 16 says the gates of hell cannot withstand the Church Jesus is Building. So, preachers didn’t touch politics and were/are rewarded tax-wise. It also keeps the people happy not to make any waves and the people pay their salary. Does this make them a hired hand (John 10)? In some cases, I think it does end up being like this.

So, the world systems continued to do what they sinfully do and spiraled right down the moral drain of debauchery. Then what? Then the theories of “End times” came around and we excused ourselves once again believing that it was “all just going to get worse” and there wasn’t much we could do…but God was in control, so we’ll be alright… Incidentally, the early Church scholars and preachers never taught or even discussed "End Times, Rapture, etc" This didn't come about until after the second World War.

I sound harsh, I suppose, but I spent too many years thinking this way to ignore it.

If we read carefully we will see End times or Last days that the Apostles and Jesus spoke of culminated at the end of the Old Covenant around AD 70 with the sacking of Jerusalem. It was horrible according to the historical records of Josephus. Look them up if you want. There are free online resources. There has never been a time like that since. The last days are behind us…that was the Old Covenant ending (Jerusalem destroyed, temple burned, AD70, Matthew 24) and the New Covenant beginning. Jesus was speaking in the present tense about the present generation of his time who asked him the question, "when will this happen?" (Matthew 24) It follows right after the woes (judgments) in Matthew 23. It is a follow up conversation. The only way to throw Matthew 24 and Revelation of Christ Jesus into the future is to read Scripture through 21 ^st century lenses and misapply the context and audience…reading Scripture though the lenses of today’s “main-lies” news sources. Jesus did not speak in "double meanings," either. He was quite direct when he told the disciples that it would happen in their lifetime. Did He lie? Was Jesus a false prophet? NO. It all happened as he said it would.

The Last Day, the day Christ return is before us, Jesus is coming back, but not until there is something to come back for which is the Church functioning as she is supposed to be, designed to be, empowered to be (Read your bible). So, He waits on her as she waits on Him. But He’s done all He is going to do, so what is the Church waiting for, exactly?

All this to say, God is SOVEREIGN, not in Control. I think most who claim the statement about God in Control mean "sovereign" because when they explain what they mean, they are describing sovereignty, just as the devotion did that I referred to earlier. However, accuracy in our words is important if the church wants to make a clear sound. We need to be speaking the same language and not some muddied mess. God’s Sovereignty allows for choice. God builds with Family, with covenant, with Faith.

Striving

ab2014st@gmail.com (Anne Bradshaw) — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:34:11 GMT

Striving instead of Living

I always thought of striving as an active thing requiring movement and sweat. Like Adam in the garden after the fall. By the sweat of his brow, he strove to survive, to succeed and what came so easily before. Suddenly, simple things like obtaining food, held a promise just beyond arm’s reach. A way of working had revealed itself. A way that coughed up dust along with the harvest.

I can see him now—Adam. The moments after God had revealed the consequences of their actions. The new clothes God gave probably felt a little funny, maybe they itched after not having to wear anything at all. I imagine the idea of being exposed felt alien. However, I bet the fear of being naked overrode the desire to throw off the garments. Funny how fear can so quickly short circuit freedom. The idea of being vulnerable, visible, and violated. It holds so many back from the freedom found in Christ.

Imagine with me:

Adam itches his shoulder and begins his walk to the place where food had always been found. He’s hungry spiritually and it is manifesting naturally. His hunger increased and the desperation to find food came more often after that terrible day. The Day Listened to Another Voice. They were cautioned. God’s desire for their good so clear in the cautioning. “I want you always with me, Adam, like this, like now. But I want you to be with me willingly, not as something dead or without purpose. I want you to choose me, choose to love me and know I desire only good for you. I will care for you. There is no need to strive. See? I have given all to you but this one thing you must not do: You may not eat of this tree. If you do, you will see more than you need to see. In time, when you are ready, I will share with you. But for now, please, Adam. Stay away from that tree and believe.”

He should have listened. He should have stopped Eve. He wanted to see what she’d do. His curiosity got the best of him. And now it was done and now he was very hungry; hungry for what was, for the presence of God with nothing between them. To walk again and talk and laugh and enjoy His presence. But like the clothes he now wore, something separated him from that place that once was. With a sigh, he returned to his task and looked again at the place where fruit once hung within easy reach.

Now more plants were visible between him and the fruit than ever before. And these plants had sharp points and the edible food was on the other side. Pushing away the thorny plants he found they didn’t move that easily as they once did. These plants mounted their own defense. This was another change from The Day. Suddenly now everything seemed to prepare for the worst. Defenses were found more often than openness. Even between he and Eve, defenses had risen up as suspicion and the possibility of evil intent seemed now possible in everything. These plants simply illustrated the change. He couldn’t be mad at them or even irritated. Creation was simply doing what was natural for them in the state that His and Eve’s choice had now placed them. The consequences covered everything.

Pulling his hand quickly back he examined his palm. A bright red dot marks the location of contact. He rubbed it and looked again at the thorny bush, the fruit beyond, and remembered God’s words to him that terrible day:

Cursed is the ground because of you;
In ^[ ^a ^] toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life.

Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
And you will eat the plants of the field;
By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return. [i]

Looking across the path to his left, he saw Eve. She looked at him sadly and adjusted her garment God had made for her. “She must be thinking of what had happened,” thought Adam. “Maybe she’s ashamed of me,” he thought. A new feeling touched his soul now able to see more than one side of a situation, the negative as well as the positive outcomes. His mind raced. “What if she doesn’t want to be with me anymore?” He thought as he watched as Eve. She looked down at her feet and suddenly startled leaping back and falling onto her backside, she picked up a large stick nearby and stabbed at the brush at her feet. Movement in the bush beside her told him what had happened. Again, God’s words came to Adam in remembrance as he rushed toward her and the threat:

And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman, {speaking to the serpent]
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.

Their eyes met. He picked up a nearby branch and went to her side chasing the serpent back further into the trees. He was never again going to compromise his role as priest, king, guardian, and protector. Walking back to the thorny briars and Eve, they began to work together to find their way to toward their goal. He mentioned to her the thought he had just before he came to her rescue. “No,” she corrected. “Do not be afraid. I will always love you. Do not worry about such things with me. We are a part of one another. Who could understand me like you do?” Adam smiled in response, his heart lighter for having revealed the threat of the thought and chasing it away as he did the serpent, back to the bush...

This place of striving is an exhaustive effort to be sure all works out well. Making lists, checking them several times while helpful to a degree, can become obsessive and paralyzing as no project can be undertaken without The List. After all, without The List something could be missed, something vitally important and then what would one do? New problems are then created as the frantic mental moments of striving for equilibrium, commences. In this place, the striving place, righteousness, peace, and joy are set on the back burner to simmer as one actively pulls forth their own resources seeking something God already provided. Like Moses in the wilderness, beating a rock for water when God told him to simply speak to the rock for what was needed, finding provision by our own hands alone causes us to step into the place of God and denies what God said he would do. Not that we are not to be responsible and accountable. I don’t think God intended for Moses and the Israelites to sit in the desert and simply call forth water and food and destination without putting into practice what he called them to do. They had to walk, to follow the cloud and pillar of fire. When they saw the pillar of fire move, they moved. The work of their hands built the Tabernacle, but it was by God’s design, not their own. He used their creativity and minds, but the actual blueprint, the outcome, the fruit of the labor, the harvest was God’s doing.

Likewise, as believers, living life in the Kingdom of God we are required to do something. We are required to obey the leading of the Spirit. We do what we see the Father do, we say what the Father says to say, and so on. We use our creativity in the avenues of blessing that edifies and strengthens the body. But we do not strive to do God’s job for him. We are not to take the place of God and orchestrate the outcome or redesign the plan He has put into place, so we feel safe.

In the place of constant striving to assuage our fears and be sure everything goes according to OUR plan; God is no longer God. He is denied His rightful place in our hearts as Lord and King. Deep down in this thinking process, the real concern for me was that He (God) may miss something vitally important, and I will get hurt or someone else will get hurt due to my overlooking a component of “the plan.” Historically speaking, where is scripture did God “miss something vitally important failing to provide and save?”

Wars! One might say. FREE WILL I answer. PRAYER, LISTENING to the SPIRIT’s leading, I answer.

Consider the testimony of a woman in the Pentagon on 9/11 [ii] . Linda Herbert, a retired army colonel, was in a dangerous place. Planes had already crashed into the Twin Towers, and at first, they thought it was a spoof of some sort. That couldn’t possibly happen in USA, could it? So, they did not hurry, but they were on high alert. She was headed back to her office when her superior stopped to talk to her. This positioned her behind a pillar that protected her when the plan did hit the pentagon –into her office! She felt fearful so she prayed, aloud in her prayer language and she prayed until she got an answer, and she did! “Get out now! Go!” was the command. Despite the danger and the fear, she felt she obeyed! She did not STRIVE for a LOGICAL ANSWER necessarily, she OBEYED! She got up immediately and ran to another corridor then she hears the voice of the Spirit of God say, “TURN LEFT!” and as soon as she did a fireball came through the corridor and incinerated all in its path. Had she not turned, it would have included her. In the interview, she reported that others testified that because they knew she was “preacher and Jesus freak” and so when they saw her leave and FOLLOWED and were saved! They followed a woman of FAITH who did not stop to listen to her own reasoning, ideas, strategy. She did not STRIVE for an answer because the Spirit of God is faithful to those who BELIEVE. They were saved from a terrible end.

[i] Genesis 3:17-19

[ii] https://www.facebook.com/TheVictoryChannel/videos/244265967477419 (MINUTE 42:30)

What in the World is God Doing?

jbradshaw@storeht.com (Jim Bradshaw) — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 13:01:44 GMT

Or, what the heck is going on in America?

Any comparison of the United States to the Israel of the Hebrew scriptures is very misguided. The Israel of the Bible was established as a holy nation by God under the Mosaic Covenant. That Israel no longer exists as the Mosaic covenant ended in 70AD with the destruction of the Temple, the results of Israel’s leaders rejecting the Gospel of the Kingdom. The United States has no such covenant. So, believing such a relationship exists between God and the United States is based upon a pretense.

Now, I do believe the United States has had godly influences in its history that demonstrated great benefits of freedom, and thus is unique in its existence in that manner. And, I believe some significant leaders in its history have called upon God to help the nation be good for all people. While there may be some kind of “covenant” that individuals made with God for this nation, make no mistake we are not talking about a covenant as found in the bible concerning the nation Israel.

Furthermore, the reality that the United States has had some dreadful influence with ungodly decisions does NOT excuse us to pray for the United States, its leadership, and its people. The “experiment” known as the United States has had great heights and lows. To believe God has not engaged with the existence and continuance of this country is also misguided. So, praying and believing good for the nation is not wrong, even while the judgments of God expose the short-sightedness of almost everyone who has United States citizenship.

Beyond the United States, there are all the nations of the earth to consider, and God does not love one nation more than another. The problems of the earth affect them all, some more than others. God has raised up a solution to the evil we see in the world that make the people of all nations cry out for help. Please note that this solution is NOT the United States. While God has used the United States at various times to be a great help to other nations and with our prayers may continue to be so, it is not God’s solution.

With Jesus Christ as its foundation, God has raised up His Church to be One Holy Nation (Old Covenant Israel is its shadow) to declare to the nations the Gospel of the Kingdom. This Holy Nation with this holy mandate from the Lord Jesus is to be the solution to the problem of evil among the nations of the world.

So, the biggest problem on planet earth today is NOT evil. It is a divided church. A divided church does not address the problem of evil in the world effectively, as the problem of evil runs rampant within it. We could say that all this shaking of the nations of the world with all the problems they are currently facing is ultimately to shake the church as we know it to become the Church Jesus is building it to be for the sake of all nations!

Now some will say the church has always been divided. They say look at the Corinthian Church as found in the Apostle Paul’s epistles. However, that example reveals a lack of understanding of the Church Jesus is building (Jesus is not building a local church here and there but one Church coming out of heaven). In John 17 Jesus prays first for His original Apostles to be One, like he and the Father are One (The Unity of the Spirit that the Church is called to maintain exists eternally in the heaven of the heavens). The Apostles (and Prophets) are the foundation of the Church with Jesus Christ as the Head Apostle and Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). Soon after 70 AD the calling to be apostles became an ecclesiastical calling to be bishops (elders and bishops were no longer synonymous), thus losing the true gift that comes with the true calling. That right there is how the Church started to become a divided church with the infusions of the doctrine and religious practices of men (and I mean men masculine here… can’t blame women with this!). You could say rubble started to gather upon the true foundation, upon which we must sort out with 2000 years of church history in order to re-discover and recover the authentic foundation of the Church Jesus is building.

So, what is God doing today? He is calling the Church of His Son who is the Firstborn from the dead, to awaken to its True Identity, Purpose and Destiny. While there are too many misguided leaders calling themselves an apostle and/or prophet today, there are a few authentic ones. The Truth is God is awakening believers to discover their true calling in life and proper placement with the Body. You can tell by their humility, not motivated by riches or fame, but by The Truth of the Gospel revealed to them as found in the scriptures. True Apostles have the keys of the Kingdom, the revelation of the Mysteries of Christ, His Kingdom and His Church, and given evidence of such with the demonstration of the Spirit and signs and wonders as they preach the Authentic Gospel of the Kingdom. This Gospel does not present a truncated “Jesus is your personal savior so you can get to heaven.” Rather, this Gospel presents Jesus, crucified and risen, as both Lord and Christ. This gospel is more command than invitation: Bow your knee to the King of kings! This gospel reaps disciples who hate nothing but sin and love nothing but God, willing to lay their treasures at the apostles feet for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on earth.

So, have you heard the authentic gospel? The truth is that most believers have not. The scripture outline for this gospel can be found in Acts 2 and 13, with elements found throughout Luke's other recordings of preaching in the book of Acts. You can also find the substance of this gospel throughout the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in Jesus’ proclamations. Please note, in those gospel writings the Kingdom is at hand. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom is now here as Jesus has been inaugurated as King, Lord of heaven and earth, sitting at the right hand of the Father, from where He pours out His Spirit upon all flesh. Through the foolishness of preaching, people may be dynamited out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light as they repent, are baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Such new believers discover their identity in Christ through the Church that Jesus is building and find their integrity as true disciples within their spiritual family (a particular allotment of believers).

In conclusion, while there is “a whole lotta shaking” going on in the world, God is not asleep. He is calling His Church to the center stage… to fulfill its identity, purpose, and destiny for the cause of Christ among the nations that belong to him. He is calling the saints to overcome evil by the word of their testimony, the blood of the Lamb and the willingness to love not their lives against the threat of death. Let us then pray Psalm 2 and other governmental like prayers (See the Acts 4 prayer that alludes to Psalm 2). Let us learn the Christ from the scriptures that reveals him to be both Lord and Christ. Don’t put off for tomorrow what needs to be believed and practiced today, for the sake of the nations of the world starting with our own.

In the Spirit on the Lord's Day

jbradshaw@storeht.com (Jim Bradshaw) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 14:46:13 GMT

Why Sunday?

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day…” Rev 1:10.

The initial audience (the seven churches) to which John wrote this epistle entitled “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” understood the meaning of “the Lord’s Day.” Outside of its immediate audience context we cannot presume we know what is meant without consideration of other scripture references and church history. The church in history has understood the Lord’s Day to be the first day of the week (Acts 20:7 and 1 Cor 16:2), that day of the week (our Sunday) that Jesus rose from the dead (John 20:1). While the Apostle Paul states that one day is not necessarily better than another in the context of Christian freedom (Romans 14:5), this does not exclude the conviction of designating a day of the week as “The Lord’s Day” for the purpose of gathering akin to the gathering on the sabbath day in Judaism. Thus, we may safely presume that gathering on the first day of the week distinguished the Christian movement to be separate from Judaism’s gathering on the traditional sabbath day.

Hebrews 10:25 states not to neglect the gathering together of believers which can be applied to any day of the week. However, the Church gathering on a designated day of the week is not meant to be legalistic, but strategic . Unfortunately, this weekly gathering over history has become too often a religious ritual and exercise, or even worse, a promotion of personal ministries (disciples primarily following “charismatic” leaders, sitting to face a stage), than a voluntary (Psalm 110:3) strategic Kingdom of God advancement gathering. This will always be a challenge that I believe may be overcome by being Spirit-led people.

So, I am writing about the Lord’s Day gathering from this strategic, Spirit-led purpose. Right away from an evangelical perspective many see the purpose of the gathering as a recruitment meeting. “Bring a friend to church” is a popular promotion to populate the attendance and eventual membership on a given Sunday. While encouraging others to worship is certainly not wrong (to invite friends to join you in worship on a given Sunday gathering), the emphasis of more “butts in the seats” often misses the purpose of the strategic gathering. Its purpose is not first and foremost to convert non-believers during this particular weekly gathering, though it is quite acceptable for that to happen on this occasion as well as any other occasion. Evangelism is a seven day a week opportunity to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom and witness to Jesus the Messiah King with the call to respond! Rather, the strategy on the Lord’s Day is to accomplish the mandate of discipling the nations in coming to Christ as Lord! This purpose is so much bigger than a preaching service to gain converts.

Please note, we can meet whenever we want, how often we want, with any God-given purpose in mind, given we are led by the Spirit as instructed by scripture . We can hold crusades, we can minister to one another, we can gather for a particular proclamation, teaching, fellowship, or particular prayerful purpose. We can combine them as we wish and as led by the Spirit. My concern here is the functional, purposed-filled, and strategic One Church gathering on the day designated as the Lord’s Day.

On the Lord’s Day I believe there are four common movements of worship from Scripture and from the practice throughout Church history: Praise, Scripture, Proclamation and Prayer. The Church gathers according to the Word of the Lord. From the testimony of scripture, The Church believes we are to voluntarily gather as One Body (in many allotments across the planet) for God’s purposes on the earth. So, we gather to present ourselves as One Church before the throne of God (See John’s testimony of being in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day Rev 1:10 and then in Rev 4:2 finding himself in the spirit before the throne of God). It is from the throne of God that the Judgments of God are declared from heaven and decreed upon the earth from the administration of Christ the Lamb who was slain and Christ the Lion of Judah who roars God’s justice and righteousness (Rev 4-5).

Thus, the Church gathers as One on the Lord’s Day for the Judgments of God (His justice and righteousness) upon the nations to be revealed upon the earth. Now, before you think I am saying God cannot wait to punish the nations, please note that the judgment of God from the standpoint of Christ as Lord is first and foremost “forgiveness” for those who respond positively to the proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom. There are consequences for those who choose not to repent in response to the gospel proclamation (see 2 Corinthians 2 :15-16 concerning the affects upon others with the message of the Gospel believers carry). One reason I believe the nations remain being led by corrupt governments today is because the church as we know it is not fulfilling its mandate with this strategic purpose of the Lord’s Day gathering. We think we gather on this day to win some local sinners when in fact we gather to win the nations!

This Lord’s Day gathering is considered a “governmental” meeting. This meeting is where we let Christ, the Head of His Church, govern us and the nations according to His judgments, statutes, and decrees. Isaiah 9:6 says the government will be upon The Messiah’s shoulders. If Christ is the head of His Church, then He is governing through His Body on the earth. The Lord’s Day gathering is strategic in how The Messiah King governs the earth through His Church. Could you imagine what God would do through His Church if we all voluntarily “showed up” as truly One Body in this manner? It is from this governmental meeting the Church Jesus builds is collectively commissioned with assignments towards discipling the nations following the prayers declared at this meeting (think “who will go for us?” from Isaiah 6:8, also a throne room scene like Rev 4 and 5).

So, let us consider again the four movements within the Lord’s Day gathering for worship while considering this strategic purpose, for Christ to govern the nations of the earth through His Body, The Church. With praise we boldly approach the throne of grace. The Presence of God is with us and within us by the Holy Spirit. When we gather in our many allotments across the globe on this designated day, we magnify the Lord together as One Body. In this gathering we do not make the Lord more than what He is to Himself, but to us and to the nations! Our praise to God helps we who gather to recognize together that we stand in the Presence of the Lord, and thus we present ourselves to receive our assignments to fulfill God’s purposes on the earth. The time that it takes to come to this point in worship is determined by the Spirit and not by our wrist watches. It may be shorter or longer than another allotment, but the purpose is still the same: To be aware that we stand together by the Spirit in His Presence before His throne for His Word and His judgments to be declared and our assignments received.

As we collectively enter His Presence (we are collectively aware that we are before the throne) we are ready to hear the Word of the Lord from the holy scriptures and from the prophets. I mean “prophets” in the most general manner, those who through the Spirit of God (any Spirit-filled believer) declare the word of the Lord according to the Word already revealed. The Word and the Spirit agree. This is why we must judge any declaration, that it remains consistent with the Word and the Spirit (and thus why we prepare, train, and raise up accountable leaders who are responsible for the release of sound words according to Scripture). The proclamation illumines and inspires us to what has already been revealed in scripture, and thus directs our common prayers in response.

To re-affirm our common union in our response to the proclaimed word that are to be declared in our prayers, we break bread together. Celebrating Holy Communion reminds us of our union with God through Christ, and with one another, as accomplished through Christ’s redemption, the gospel story. We are free to celebrate this Holy Communion every Lord’s Day as led by the Spirit as necessary for our allotment that is gathering. This is not to be a religious ritual to fulfill. Rather, this is meant to be a meaningful, Spirit-led remembrance that honors the direction of the Lord from scripture and accomplishes the purpose of re-experiencing our union through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The elements of bread and wine remind us of the covenant establish by God the Father with the Son from the beginning. We are reminded that we are one by The Spirit as we break this “bread” and drink from the “cup” together as a corporate body. By our participation in this sacrament, we have been reminded of our inclusion in God’s eternal covenant through Christ according to God’s eternal plan and purpose. This is the basis of our authority on the earth, whereby we are in the Spirit seated with Him at the right hand of the Father. Because of what Christ has accomplished for us on our behalf, we get to participate with Him in the gathering of the nations under His Lordship starting with our prayers and declarations. The participation with Christ with partaking His “body” and “blood” establishes us to pray with His authority and with One Voice for the nations to be converted. Our assignments with action follow these prayers (as above, “Who will go for us?”). We do not have to celebrate Holy Communion to gain what has already been given to us by the grace of Christ. Rather, it is the Lord’s admonition to celebrate His Body and His Blood to re-invigorate this reality as needed. It is also to realize the seriousness of who we are and what we do as the Body of Christ, and to partake without “discerning the Body” (1 Cor 11:29) may result in needed correction among the Body. Many allotments will find Holy Communion meaningful every Lord’s Day gathering, and that is certainly not out of order in relation to the Lord’s direction in scripture about it.

The prayers of the people, the prayers of the Church that has gathered, have an outlined agenda given by the Lord in what commonly is called “the Lord’s Prayer.” Unfortunately, instead of using the Lord’s prayer as the outline for the content of our prayers in response to the word of the Lord, we have religiously made it a rote prayer repeated endlessly with no fervency or conviction about what we are praying. There are other supportive prayers found in scripture that also help us pray accordingly to the Lord’s prayer agenda (e.g., Psalm 2 and Acts 4:24-30). When we pray together with One Voice, we exercise the authority of God upon the earth for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done.

Consequently, the climax of our gathering as One Church on a given Lord’s Day is to pray in agreement God’s will upon the earth, all in line with scripture and inspired by the Holy Spirit. The sad thing today is out of all four movements, prayer is probably the least effective thing we do together on a given Sunday (and thus reveals our current weakness). Too often when we do pray, it is mostly about our needs than for the nations to repent in response to the proclamation of the Gospel. Thus, the gathering to praise, to hear the scriptures read, to hear the related proclamation, to celebrate our common union in Christ and then to pray is according to the mandate given to us by Christ the Head of His Body to disciple the nations.

The ineffectiveness of the church as we know it today can be seen in this disconnect when it comes to the Lord’s Day worship. We are so focused on our ministry being built up that we miss the whole purpose of the gathering, which is for the ingathering harvest of all nations in response to the Gospel of the Kingdom. Because we mistakenly believe more in our self-serving ministry than in God’s ministry for the nations, we build our churches and our ministries according to our ways (the ways we have been taught by those who do not understand the true strategy of The Lord’s Day gathering). I believe among other things this is why the church as we know it is the mess that it is as we see it today. The proper actions and assignments will follow the proper prayers.

Therefore, it is time to reform ourselves, the church as we know it, starting with the revelation of Christ as Lord and King among the nations of the earth (proclaiming the authentic gospel). While ministering to one another is appropriate among life within the Body of Christ, it is not the mandate that the Lord has given us for this strategic governmental Lord’s Day gathering. We do not exist for ourselves. As Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet, not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me” (Galatians 2:20). This is to be true of each and every Christian disciple and of the entire Church as One Body on the earth, accomplishing the Kingdom purposes of Christ our King according to the eternal plan and purpose of God.

Supernatural Giving for Supernatural Living

jbradshaw@storeht.com (Jim Bradshaw) — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 12:55:05 GMT

The Measure by which we Give

“…give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 ESV

This exhortation to give follows several other exhortations in preceding verse: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” All of these exhortations follow the biblical principle that you reap what you sow.

Verse 38 applies this sowing/reaping principle to giving. I believe it applies to every kind of giving. However, unlike the previous exhortations, this one has an extended explanation in how one reaps from sowing in giving. He says the return would be done in “good measure…” This measure is an evaluation for sowing in giving and thus reaping from such giving. The evaluation is: “For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

So, the measure relates to how you give and how extensive you give. If we are giving only in one manner, we have limited our sowing through giving. So, giving with money is good… but there are also other ways to give. We can not use our financial giving as an excuse not to give in other ways. In other words, giving is not limited to only one measure of giving. We give finances… and the measure that we give is what we reap. We give time for others… and the measure we give is what we reap. We give our abilities… and the measure we give is what we reap. We give our lives… and the measure we give is what we reap.

Consequently, holding back in our giving because we fear we will not have enough is not the measure by which we should give. The measure by which we give can be found in the scriptures the refer to not only tithes and offerings, but in the giving of ourselves through the example of Christ. “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” 1 Cor 4:5. The ability to live in this manner is supernatural by the Spirit of Jesus alive and working in us and through us. Thus, supernatural giving gives evidence of supernatural living!

Jim's Ministry

jbradshaw@storeht.com (Jim Bradshaw) — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 17:18:48 GMT

Time to be fully engaged!

I have been called to work towards the reformation of the Church through the re-discovery and recovery of the authentic revelation of the Gospel of The Kingdom which was first given by Jesus to his first apostles (Matt 13:11). My first charge of this responsibility comes through my presidency of Apostles Theological Seminary (ATS... website: atsvirtual.org). From this responsibility I “blow the trumpet” concerning the need of reforming the church as we know it. I go through the open doors given to me primarily through my relationship with Apostle Dave Viljoen as my spiritual father who leads the ministry of Apostolic Working Company (AWC). I also work with my relationship with Apostle George Kouri who is the presiding elder of the Communion of Apostles and Churches (CAC), with whom Apostle Dave Viljoen works AWC to be in covenant (relational commitment agreement).

The AWC and CAC are the ministries with whom I am covenanted. They do not function as denominational entities, but rather work towards the reformation of the One Church Jesus is building. Every denomination (and every contemporary expression of Christianity to date) has attempted to determine itself as a better and truer model of church based upon its best understanding of what it means to be the church. Unfortunately, 2000 years of church history shows that Christianity has departed from the original foundation of the Church laid by the apostles and prophets in the first century, with the Lord Jesus the Christ as the chief cornerstone. Any attempt thus far for reformation still show that what we have as church today is a far cry from its beginnings.

Our ministry (ATS, CAC and AWC) is working to restore the authentic pattern and foundations first given. This is a tall task indeed, and not something we presume to be able to do on our own apart from the participation of the whole body of Christ (every true believer) along with work of the Holy Spirit with the proper understanding of the scriptures. We as a ministry do not think we are it. We have come out of our subnormal backgrounds, and we still have not seen the authentic Church in practice that Jesus is working to build through proclaiming, demonstrating, and administering the Kingdom on earth as in heaven. We also do not discount that God is working even despite the dysfunctional reality of the church world as we know it. In our work towards reformation we do not ignore church history, but rather try to learn from it.

A foundational scripture we used to bring attention to our efforts is found in Galatians 1:8-9 that states if someone preaches another gospel (than the one the Apostle Paul first preached to the Galatians), then let him be accursed! In that immediate context the “other” gospel was the adding on to the message that the Gentiles needed to become like Jews (referring to the law of Moses and particularly to circumcision) prior to truly being united with believing Jews in the Kingdom of God. The group promoting this distorted gospel were called Judaizers. However, my point in bringing this up here is not just a Judaizer distortion of the gospel, but ANY distortion of the gospel will result in people being accursed. And, I am thinking in particular that the fruit of such a distorted gospel will be a dysfunctional church. Unfortunately, the effects of being accursed from a different gospel started within the New Testament era, as noted here in Galatians.

The original apostles submitted to one another to preach only the Gospel of the Kingdom as revealed by Christ and recorded in the New Testament writings. And so, these apostles had the original revelation and practiced the great commission with The Holy Spirit’s help while defending against distortions of the gospel. Starting with those who wanted to have "disciples following after themselves" (see Apostle Paul’s warning in Acts 20:30), a bastardized gospel has produced accursed fruit. Today we have an accursed dysfunction accepted as normal for church, and thus we are fighting to re-discover and recover the original against this sub-normality.

So, I am investing my time towards dialog with leaders and the distribution of materials to any interested ministers regarding this recovery and re-discovery of the authentic revelation found in the scriptures (some of these materials can be found at our website: selahministriesandresources.org). The first door that opened to me concerning this ministry has been in Africa. Contacts in Kenya and South Africa thus far have welcomed my ministry for this purpose through my relation to ATS, CAC and AWC. Now, I am also beginning to build relationally where I live, having moved to Blairsville, Georgia at the end of September 2020. So, I am ministering through local contacts, through remote connections with those I know in the United States and in Africa. I also schedule trips in Africa to relate to and to teach leaders in person. My main ministry is through ATS. However, my contacts through the CAC and AWC have help me towards finding open doors for ministry related to my ATS function as President.

The move away from my business Storehouse Treasures located in Palm Coast, Florida to a home in Blairsville, Georgia has encouraged me to focus more on ministry. I am grateful for those who have supported and will support Selah Ministries and Resources because it enables me to seek after and accomplish the cumulative God-given assignment on my life. My wife Anne and I believe God will continue to graciously provide our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus as we seek to serve him in this manner. We pray people are blessed by what we write and record via video on our website, and that those moved by God to give towards our ministry would do so. To God be the glory as we continue to serve Him with gladness.

Where do we begin?

jbradshaw@storeht.com (Jim Bradshaw) — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:15:48 GMT

"...He who began a good work in you..." (Philippians 1:6)

Beginning something new requires much energy and focus. It just does not happen. As Apostle Dave Viljoen says, “Nothing happens automatically. Everything requires spiritual energy.”

As believers we have a head start advantage. That is, we have Christ in us the hope of glory! We have the Spirit of God working in us to accomplish the purposes of God on the earth through us.

We are not alone in our endeavors. Not only is God with us, but we are part of Christ’s Body that has a collective purpose concerning the proclamation and demonstration of the Kingdom of God on earth.

So, God in us gets us started to what we are to be and do. We may have a long ways to go and a high places to climb that requires much energy and focus. However, starting our day in prayer is analogous to starting out with God… we will be someone, get somewhere and accomplish goals from this starting point.

God initiated the “start” in us. So, what are we waiting for? He is still at work in us from the start! “He who began a work in you… will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.”

In Christ we are destined to succeed… together!

Entering Into His Presence

jbradshaw@storeht.com (Jim Bradshaw) — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 14:31:46 GMT

I Love to be in Your Presence!

Entering into God’s Presence is not easily done. The problem is not trying to get God to show up. He is already Present by His Spirit. The problem is getting past our soulish demands for the attention of our “needs.” The practice of fasting heightens this challenge brought by the soul… so that we may learn discipline to submit our soul and body to the desires of the Holy Spirit within us. So, fasting is not about moving God to us, but moving us to God. Fasting is not required… just a discipline to help us govern the soul by the Spirit of Christ within us. Thus, we properly practice such a discipline by grace for discipline’s sake.

So, entering into God’s Presence requires our focus upon God… who He is… His characteristics of love, mercy, grace, kindness, and all that is good in God’s nature. That is why we often close our eyes… so that what we see that stimulates the soul is closed off, while we allow ourselves to focus upon God. This is not easy, and it does not just happen in a moment for almost all of us. We must learn to quiet our souls (and the demands of the body) while we enter into His Presence. God is there, awaiting our attention… for us to simply enjoy His Presence. At such a “place” we do not demand anything from God, but rather give our full attention to Him… who He is, how He sees, what His heart is all about.

This is easily stated from an objective point of view. In other words, I can write this down so much easier than to practice. However, that is not an excuse to stop in the moment of life and to enter into His Presence. We can do this… all we need to do is to start trying and be determined to succeed by HIS GRACE! This is never a soulish endeavor. We can’t force ourselves into God’s Presence. Rather, it is quieting the soul so that the Spirit may permeate our consciousness.

Wow… that’s good what I wrote… but oh so much better to experience! Let’s go there… as in the Psalmist refrain… “I was glad when they said, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” The house of the Lord was the “place” in the old covenant where the people recognized where the Presence of the Lord existed. In the new covenant this “place” is within us by the Holy Spirit. Every true believe has access to the Presence of the Lord. It is the reality of our relationship with God through Christ our Lord. What then are we waiting for?

~JIM

Living in the Presence

jbradshaw@storeht.com (Jim Bradshaw) — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 14:23:25 GMT

Abiding In Him

To effect your sphere of influence, you must carry something, that is, bring something to "the table" for people to consider. I believe the greatest reality that I can bring to anyone is The Presence of God. I want God to live in and through me. This is easily stated, but rarely practiced by most believers. Why? Because in order for God to live in and through me , I must first live in and through Him. It is the operational priority in order to truly carry The Presence in a manner that changes things... or may I say, changes lives.

I am learning that I cannot presume to be living in and through God in Christ by simply "believing" I am in Christ. While that is a start, more importantly we must have intentionality. That is, I must want to know Him, just as I want to be known by Him. Oh, He knows me. That is not the issue. Rather, it's about me... and you... intentionally taking steps to know Him on an every day and every moment basis. We must get to know about His Heart, His Word, and His Love. In this we learn how He sees things, or more importantly, how He sees people. In this way of knowing Him, we gains His heart, His mind and His eyes and we learn to live through Him. This is possible... because God has made it possible through Christ. What remains is for us... you and me... to learn how to live in and through God, and to practice it!

What does it mean to know someone, to have a relationship? We must converse with them, share our thoughts and understandings. Likewise, knowing God involves relationship. Just as we must spend time in the presence of another to build relationship, likewise, we must spend time the presence of God, intentionally conversing with God, expressing love to God; worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth. Learning to listen to what He says and teaches us enables us to live and have our being through Him (John 15).

Amazingly, God is present to help us because, quite honestly, it takes some effort, intentional thought and action, to set aside the distractions and get started living in and through Him. How much of life have we wasted because we have neglected to practice this! Please understand that I am not saying we need to practice more acts of piety in order to gain this reality (pray more, fast more, read more, give more, worship more, ad nauseum) Neither am I am saying these practices are bad or to be neglected. Rather , what I am saying is that we must be responsive to His grace; His invitation to come away with Him into His heart, His life and His Spirit. In that place we discover a scripture that speaks to us or we hear a word to us and for others. His invitation is to walk together, and to be aware of His Presence. This not only effects our relationship with others, it is the basis for living in an authentic relationship with our God and Father.

How is this done? Well, here's the kicker... it takes TIME! And, it takes Intentionality on our part. There is no simple step by step process. I suggest we simply start by saying to God, "I want to live in and through You." I have found God to be gracious in response. He provides opportunities to enter that place of living in and through Him. For example, You may see a person who is already doing that to gives you inspiration, You may find a scripture that starts your journey, You may hear a word from nowhere that gets your attention like never before.

This blog topic comes because of a devotion and prayer time I had today, God spoke to me about my need to be more serious about living in His Presence and it truly impacted me. No matter how long we have practiced the Christian life, we never truly "arrive" at a place where we don't need to learn more . So, don't miss out by neglecting to respond when God calls you near or points out a way to grow your relationship with Him!

We are each unique and yet common together in our humanity. Responding to His beckoning call and amazing grace as it comes to us is vital to experiencing His presence and living through Him. Thank the Lord for pursuing us with your love and grace. Respond with love and adoration and praise to God! Learn to walk with the Lord so that we may be like Jesus everywhere we go.

~Jim

Kingdom Truth : Victory

jbradshaw@storeht.com (Jim Bradshaw) — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:38:05 GMT

Victory

As believers our faith in God through Christ can and should shape us along the way in life. For example, when negative things happen, often our faith helps us overcome... as our faith gives us the victory. (1John 5:4-5).

However, when things happen beyond our usual perception and expectation of life (like an untimely death), our faith can be shaken. We lose our sense of homeostasis... usual sense of balance in life. We just don’t bounce back so easily. Questions remain unanswered and emotions remain raw. “What the hell just happened? God, this is not fitting into our love for you.”

If you have been angry with God that’s ok. He can handle it. However, you have been feeling God is aware and knows. The passion of Christ exists for us to know that God himself firsthand has experienced the human condition and suffering for the effects of sin and the fall. Although we believe we overcome all things through faith in Christ, some things can just knock us for a loop and make us “punch drunk.” No one ever wants to be there or live there. The suffering can be unbearable for us. How do we get out? “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

What is needed is a renewed fresh experience of the grace of God. Grace is God’s ability and God’s power given to us even though we don’t deserve it, let alone understand it. As we surrender to all that God is wanting to be for us and open our hearts to His healing for us, God’s amazing grace restores and refreshes us to come back into His alignment for our lives together. We re-learn and re-pent to confess Jesus Christ is Lord regardless how we perceive and see and understand things in life. God does want the best for us. He will help us navigate through the painful disappointments in life to see the bigger picture of His Kingdom and eternity in light of His revealed will, word and way as seen in scripture. God has not given up on us. Let’s not give up on Him. The riches of His grace in Christ Jesus are more than sufficient to restore you and keep you.

God is love. When we learn and experience His grace continually, we will always find it to be amazing! May the love and blessing of God be yours today through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jim

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