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

A short story for the season

The struggle is real...and necessary.

Revelation and many teachers

Confidence in Him

1 John 3:18-22

Psalm 37: 1-2

Set your mind on Christ

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