Don't Label Children!

When I was growing up I climbed trees, rode bikes, played sports, and did everything the boys did! I went to a private school that made me wear dresses but I wore shorts under them so I could play basketball and hang upside down on the monkey bars during recess! I didn't care about fashion or princesses! I enjoyed playing marbles and camping more than a trip to the mall or getting a stylish haircut! Guess what? I was labeled as a "Tomboy!"

Think about that for a minute. Just because I enjoyed certain activities, and liked wearing certain clothes, I was made to feel like I was somehow less of a girl than the ones who liked ribbons in their hair and spent their recesses playing house! For years I wore that label and when I entered puberty I was a very confused young lady!

Society had stripped me of my femininity, just because I didn't fit into it's mold, and I bought into it hook, line, and sinker! It literally took me years to feel comfortable in my own skin, and even today I have days where I struggle! But I refuse to feel "less than" as a woman any longer, just because I don't fit into an imaginary mold imposed on me by a society of legalistic critics!

Today if you offered me a day of pampering where I get my nails done, dye my hair, get a massage, and go shopping or a whitewater rafting trip I'm going rafting! That doesn't make me any less of a woman than the one who chooses the day of pampering! I am 100% woman regardless of how I dress, what activities I do, the career I choose, or anything else for that matter!

God has created each of us to be different than the person standing next to us!  It is the beauty of our differences that makes us special and unique!  We are doing girls and boys a disservice when we label them! Les Brown, one of the world's most renowned motivational speakers, was labeled as educable mentally retarded during his school years and he lived with that label for years.

In high school Les met a teacher who changed his life forever! He saw potential in Les, and when Les told him he couldn't learn because he was educable mentally retarded, the teacher said, "Don't ever say that again. Someone's opinion of you does not have to become your reality!"  From that day on Les began to learn and as a result he became a successful businessman, an elected member of the Ohio State House of Representatives, and an influential motivational speaker.

Every day I meet people who live under the labels placed on them by others.  It is sad because they are being robbed of experiencing the beauty of their individuality!  They have bought into a lie, and are living far below their potential! As a society we have to stop placing labels on people just because they are different! We have to embrace our differences and encourage the people who have challenges so they can become who they were created to be!

With children, we must allow them to explore their individuality and encourage them to express it!  When a child has challenges, it is the responsibility of the community to help them overcome them!  No one should be labeled, and no one should have to experience the "less than" feeling, that I felt growing up just because they are different!  We are all created beautiful, and we all have the potential to become successful individuals, even if we are different or have challenges!  Let's put an end to the labels, and let's start embracing the beauty of a person's inner spirit!

Don’t Stay Silent!

Do you ever feel unqualified to minister the Gospel of Jesus?

Do you ever feel intimidated when questioned about your faith?

Do you quiver at the thought of stepping out in faith to do the works of God before men?

You are not alone if you answered yes to any of these questions. Many Christians disqualify themselves from stepping out in ministry because they don't feel they are knowledgeable enough to boldly proclaim the Gospel. Others keep silent because of the fear of confrontation. In general most Christians live silent lives of faith doing everything they can to side step uncomfortable situations.

This is not the ministry God has called any of us to. In fact it is in direct opposition to His commission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Yet knowing this truth does not seem to move people out of their comfort zones! So how do we break out of this cycle and become effective witnesses to a world in need of Jesus?

One way is to look to the Scriptures for examples of this kind of boldness and pray that God ignites a fire in us that burns away all fear, doubt, pride, and worry.

When the disciples were taken before the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, they were interrogated about the healing of the crippled man. The Bible says that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit when he spoke to them. These were intimidating men he was speaking to! They were rulers, elders, scribes, and the high priest. Yet he spoke in boldness not regarding his own frailties or lack of education! He didn't recount how many times he denied Jesus or how many times he failed in life!

He disregarded his own imperfections and humbly allowed the Spirit of God to take over and as a result those intimidating rulers became intimidated and they marveled at what they heard and saw! Acts 4:13-14 says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against them."

I love how it says, "And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against them." Imagine the intensity of that situation and how powerful the presence of God was in that room for those men to back down from their accusations and to silence themselves from being able to speak against them any longer!

• This same power lives and dwells inside of you!
• You don't need to be the most knowledgeable!
• You don't need to be educated!
• You don't need to be eloquent!
• You just need to submit yourself humbly to God and allow the Holy Spirit to take control of your mind and your tongue!
• As you step out in faith He will show Himself strong on your behalf!
• Don't live another day in silence!

Today is your day! Live it with purpose and watch what God does for you and those you minister to!

Written by: Holly True Verret

GOD IS STILL ON HIS THRONE!

What circumstances are you facing today that cause you to wonder if you are going to make it through? What kinds of financial hardship are you experiencing that cause you to wonder if you will ever be financially stable? Have you been to the doctor lately and heard the words, “We need to talk” and now you are wondering what you are going to do? Do you have children who are out of control and you wonder if they will ever come around? Do you have a marriage that is on the brink of divorce and you are wondering if it can be repaired? These are just a few of the many trials we face in life that leave us feeling helpless and in despair but what I want you to know today is that God is still on His throne and He knows exactly what you are going through and what you need to make it through! He is faithful and He won’t EVER leave you or forsake you!

Nothing in this life can knock God off His throne and there is not one circumstance in this life that leaves God scratching His head in wonderment trying to figure out how to fix the situation. He is never caught off guard and nothing surprises Him! It is very important to remember what Isaiah 54:17 says. “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the LORD.” Do you know what that means? It means there WILL be weapons formed against us but our promise from God is that those weapons WILL NOT prosper!

Believe me I know how hard it is to accept this truth at times! The season we have been in for over a year feels like it is never going to end and the weapon of adversity in the form of financial hardship, lack of housing, ministry doors not opening the way we want them to, the lack of support, sickness, etc., have left us feeling defeated at times. But each day I remind myself that God is still on His throne and He is creating an incredible victory out of our apparent defeat! And with the sound of every new weapon blazing towards us I stand firm on God’s promise and tell myself this weapon CANNOT PROSPER!

I won’t lie to you, there are days where I do get frightened when I hear the sound of the blazing arrows as they encroach upon us but I have learned to take my thoughts of fear captive and make my thoughts turn towards the Word of God! Sometimes it takes all of my daily strength just to redirect my thoughts but what I have found is that when I do this a peace comes over me that is unlike any peace I could muster up myself! It is the peace that passes all understanding! It comforts me and reassures me that God is for me and when He is for me NOTHING can be against me and prosper!

Sometimes I have to go to Romans 8:31-37 and read it over and over again! It says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

The ONLY way we are more than conquerors is through Jesus Christ! It is not through our own efforts or the efforts of another man! It is through Him only! On days when my head is hanging low because the weight of our burdens seems too heavy to bear, I have to realize I am working in my own strength and I have to relinquish my control of the situation! I have to physically say, “Holly, God is still on His throne! He was not caught off guard by this circumstance! He knows your need and
He promises to supply it according to His riches in glory! Don’t believe the lies of devil! Don’t believe the lies of your own flesh! Believe Him and Him alone! Don’t give up! These weapons will not prosper! You are more than a conqueror though Jesus Christ! God is making a way there seems to be no way! Hang in there girl! It is just a matter of time before God turns your mess into a miracle! He is working. Believe it, receive it, and walk in it!”

I want to encourage you today to begin doing the same thing! I know it hurts! I know your circumstance seems too much to bear! I know you are scared! But I also know that God is on His throne! I know that He is for you! I know that He is orchestrating an incredible victory dance for you to perform when your apparent defeat is transformed by His power! Don’t give up! This too shall pass! Cling to His Word! Meditate on it day and night! And constantly remind yourself that God is still on His throne and He is working on your behalf to turn your sorrow into joy, your pain into peace, and your defeat into victory! Believe it, receive it, and walk in it!

What If God’s Blessings Come Through Rain Drops? What If His Healing comes Through Tears?

While driving my kids to school this morning my son Brayden, who is ten years old, starting talking about the sermon he heard this weekend and how he knew we were going through these trials because God is preparing him to be a pastor. He said that many great pastors, leaders, and professional people have suffered a lot before getting to where they are today. He told a story that Joel Osteen shared last week and how it gave him hope.

We began talking about what things in this life are most important and the kids decided that houses, cars, money, and other material things are not important but what is important is how many people you take to heaven with you. It has been a long seven months of trial to get to this place where the kids understand the deeper things of God in the midst of our sufferings but I wouldn’t change it for anything. They were talking about how people can’t take stuff with them to heaven but how they can take people with them and they decided that would be their focus while they are on this earth.

Can you even imagine how my heart skipped a beat when I heard these words coming from an eight and ten year old? For months they have seen people living in houses, driving nice cars, eating at nice restaurants, buying everything they want at the mall, and they have been envious. They have complained about how unfair it is and how bad they want a house, a nice car, lots of money, and other things. As a mom I have wanted these things for them too but even more greater than wanting them to have these things has been my desire that they would come to understand that all these things will one day pass away but a life hidden in Christ is eternal.

Day after day I would encourage them and try to explain things to them only to be met with more complaints and grumbling, until today when they finally got it! As I listened to their words I thanked God for ministering to their hearts. What a joy it was to hear them say they didn’t want a house unless we were going to invite people over so we could show them Christ’s love and introduce them to a relationship with Him. They don’t want a nice car unless we are going to use it to take people to church and use it to help people. They don’t want a lot of money unless we are going to use it for God’s purposes.

Sometimes God’s greatest blessings come through our hardest trials and sometimes God’s favor comes through our most difficult circumstances. We cry out for justice in the midst of them thinking that God is ignoring us but what I have learned during these last seven months is that sometimes His stillness in the midst of the storm is His quiet reassurance that we do not need to fear. He is not shaken by the thunder and He is not caught off guard by the torrential downpour of rain that floods our lives through trials! On the contrary He is at peace and He wants us to be at peace too knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that He is protecting us and making a way for us to make it through safely!

As I sat there and listened to my children I realized that my life extends far past the number of years I am on this earth and the way I respond to this life will have an impact on how my children respond for years after I am gone. I also realized that the greater lesson of my own personal perseverance is in teaching my children through an example of a peaceful countenance that God is faithful to His Word at all times! They are looking to me to show them that God is real unlike Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, or the Tooth Fairy! And when I react to the trials and difficult circumstances with a peaceful countenance, the quiet reassurance of the Lord floods their hearts and they begin to understand the deeper things of God! Isn’t that really what parenting is all about?

So now when trials come I will say, “We know that pain reminds this heart that this is not our home. What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy? What if trials of this life; the rain, the storms, the hardest nights, are your mercies in disguise?” And I will not complain when the next storm hits me by surprise and I won’t question if God is here in the midst of it. I won’t focus on my own life! I will view it as God giving me an opportunity to show His Word in action to my children and my focus will be on teaching them to trust in Him with their whole hearts and to acknowledge His presence so they will be comforted in knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is making a way there seems to be no way.

“‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near ? What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?”

I Am Not Who I Was! I Am Being Remade! I Am New!

If you knew me in my years of rebellion against God and man you would have shaken your head in disbelief for the choices I made in my life! I smoked, drank, used drugs, and slept around. I cussed like a sailor. I lied to, cheated, and deceived people. I was a fighter and I was a very angry person who jumped at the opportunity to fight with words or actions. My life was in shambles and I was spiraling out of control at a high rate of speed! I could never deny the worst people could say about me back then because most of it was true.

But when the voice of God spoke to me in my early twenties and asked me to give my life over to Him I accepted His invitation because I knew if I didn’t it was only a matter of time before I died from my choices or ended my life out of desperation.

In the years following that encounter with God voices of shame, doubt, fear, and worry bombarded my mind telling me there was no way God would fulfill His promise from Romans 8:28 where Paul says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” But day after day I peered into the Word and I spent time in the presence of God through prayer, meditation, and song, and I battled against those voices; telling them to be silenced in the name of Jesus.

As I was obedient to take my thoughts captive God was faithful to remind that I am not defined by the mistakes I have made. He would remind me that I am a new creation, forgiven, holy and dearly loved, righteous and made in His image! He says I am chosen and He says I am being remade each day into the woman He created me to be.

But during that time something interesting happened. I turned 180 degrees in the opposite direction from my poor choices lifestyle. I became an ultra conservative, “holier than thou” religious fanatic because it was me trying to be right and do right for God because I thought it was what He wanted from me. I tried to do everything right! I tithed and gave offerings. I didn’t cuss. I didn’t drink, smoke, or use drugs. I didn’t sleep around. I only listened to Christian music. I attended as many church services and classes as I could.

My life was squeaky clean in terms of my words and actions but what is interesting is that I found myself to be just as miserable on the inside as I was when I was living in complete rebellion. I didn’t understand it because I thought I was doing right for God and I thought that the more I did right the better I would feel about myself and my relationship with Him.

And then one day the voice of God spoke to me again and told me that I am not defined by the choices I make and that includes the good choices. He said “Holly you are chosen and holy not because of what you do or do not do but because of what I did when I sent my Son to die for you on the Cross! You are dearly loved not because you love me but because I first loved you! You are dead to the old man not because you crucify your flesh each day but because I crucified my own flesh for you! You are hidden in Me not because you signed your name on a salvation card in ink but because I signed your salvation card in My own blood on the Cross!”

His words shook the foundations of my beliefs and shocked me into the truth of the reality of what being a new creation in Christ really is. I finally came to realize that all that I am in Christ has nothing to do with me but it has everything to do with what He did for me on the Cross! I am forgiven because of what He did for me on the Cross! I am righteous in the eyes of God because of what He did for me on the Cross! I am made new because of what He did for me on the Cross! I am holy because of what He did for me on the Cross! My life is not my own no matter what I do or do not do! It is not my own because my life now belongs to Him and He defines my life by the choices He made for me when He shed his blood for me on the Cross!

There is nothing I can do or not do to make Him love me more or make Him love me less. There is nothing I can do or not do to make Him accept me more or make Him reject me. It is not about me any longer! It is all about Him and what He did for me! I no longer have to live in the shadows of shame and I no longer have to live in the spotlight of “perfect Christianity”. It is in Him that I live and move and have my being! (Acts 17:28) And who I am is not defined any longer by what I do or do not do. It is ONLY defined by what He has done! This is the truth I want you to know for yourself today whether you are living in rebellion and making poor choices or whether you are living for God and making right choices.


To Him neither one matters! The only thing that matters to Him is the impact it will have on your life if you fully accept what He did for you on the Cross! You are new! You are New! You are chosen and holy and you are dearly loved! You are forgiven, beloved, and hidden in Christ! You are made in the image of the giver of life! You are accepted and worthy! You have been given a new name! Believe it! Accept it! And as you do you will begin to live in it!

The burdens of shame or perfection will be lifted and you will feel comfortable being yoked to the One whose burden is light! You will be filled with His peace and joy and you will begin to feel comfortable in your own skin. Believe me it is the most amazing feeling you will ever experience in this life! There truly is nothing like knowing who you are in Him and accepting your rightful position as a part of the royal priesthood of the Most High King!

Who Will Love Me For Me, Not For What I Have Done Or What I Will Become?

Years ago I worked with abused children at a residential treatment center. When a new child came into the home the pain of their trauma showed on their faces, in their words, and through their actions. They didn’t trust anyone and they were constantly on guard. All they had ever known was pain, torture, and everything that goes with the life of an abused and neglected child. They had no idea what love was. They didn’t know how to receive it or how to give it but it was evident that they craved both very much!

I was employed to teach these children life skills and classroom etiquette but within a few days of working with them I realized there was something greater I was called to teach them and that was how to receive and how to give love. As you can imagine this was a huge calling because these children had it engrained in their brains that they didn’t deserve love and that they would never be loved by anyone! But each morning as I got ready for work I asked God to teach me how to show them His love and to teach me how to unconditionally love them for who He had created them to be and not to react to the people they had become due to their abuse and neglect.

It began with completely accepting them for who they were with their pain and trauma and not expecting them to be anything different. Then I spoke to them in a loving tone and when they reacted with anger, fear, or anxiousness, I didn’t change the way I spoke to them. I treated them the way I would treat my very own children. I did not accentuate the negative words or actions they displayed, but instead I downplayed them as if they didn’t really matter. These actions caught each child off guard. They were used to being yelled at and shamed. They expected to be punished severely and beat for their actions. What is interesting is that at first the more I treated them with Christ’s love and acceptance, the harder they fought it off: even though it was what they needed and wanted more than anything.

But within a short amount of time as I displayed Christ’s love and acceptance day after day they began to soften and they began to accept it as authentic and real as they discovered it was okay to trust me. Pretty soon their eyes lit up each morning when I came on shift! All six of them raced to greet me at the door and they hugged me tightly and they didn’t want to let go. They would talk over one another trying to get me to pay attention to them first! Over time these children not only learned how to accept love but they began to display it to others in their words and actions. They even began to display it in their artwork at school. They began to believe they were worthy to be loved and they learned it was safe to be loved and to show love.

That year for Christmas I brought them to my parent’s house and watched them enjoy Christmas for the first time in their lives. It wasn’t the presents that made the day great for them though. It was experiencing Christ’s authentic love for the first time and being able to receive it and express it. I sat on the couch with tears in my eyes because it was in that moment I realized just how many other people have been robbed of knowing and experiencing the true love and acceptance of Jesus Christ. I really think that it was during that time in my life where I became passionate about reaching people with the message of Christ’s love and acceptance.

So many people long to be loved for who they are and not for what they have done or for what they will become in life. Whether it is an abused child, an abandoned spouse, a hardened criminal, or anyone else for that matter, people want to know they are loved and able to love! They want to know what love really means! They crave it more than anything in life but they don’t know how or where to find it. They try all kinds of things to try and fill the void only to be left feeling empty and insecure.

But it is only God who knows what love is for the Bible says that God is love! Love is not an emotion! It is the personification of Jesus Christ Himself and He is the only One who knows how to love us and only He can teach us how to accept His love and how to give it to others! 1 John 4:9 says, “We love because he first loved us.” As believers we are called to receive Christ’s love and acceptance for ourselves and then to love others as He has loved us.

If we will do this then we will begin to experience what I was privileged to experience when I worked with those beautiful children! We will see the people around us begin to soften as we consistently display Christ’s love and acceptance and before long we will begin to see them running, not into our arms, but into the arms of Jesus and asking Him to be the Lord of their lives! We will see them craving time in His presence as those children craved time in mine. We will see them become like those little children on that Christmas morning, filled with joy and laughter too great to measure! And we will begin to see less and less people searching for alternatives of counterfeit love and acceptance.

Please join me in praying for the body of Christ to begin to accept Christ’s love for themselves so they will be able to reach a hurting and dying world with the message of hope that is only found in Jesus Christ! Too many people have suffered! It is time to rise up church and become real examples of Christ’s love! I will leave you with this verse from Mark 12:30-31. “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

I Just Want To Praise You!

Have you ever felt like there were shackles on your feet that kept you from moving forward in life? Have you ever been so bogged down by circumstances and trials that it felt impossible to lift your hands to praise the Lord? Does it ever feel like you are sitting on pins and needles in a church service when the preacher tells you to trust in the Lord because He cares for you and He will never leave you or forsake you? Do his words pierce the depths of your heart because everything in your life seems to be spinning out of control and you feel all alone and you feel like God has rejected your pleas for help?

Let’s get real here! We have all been there before! This life isn’t easy and every one of us has experienced times of trial that have left us feeling helpless, hopeless, and in need of rescuing! I am so fed up with plastic Christianity that portrays an image of perfection where no lines or wrinkles show from the years of hardship and pain. Battle scars of trial are covered up by this “Holier than thou” makeup and no one feels safe to share their insecurities or fears because they are afraid of what other people are going to think if they are open and honest about their past or present sufferings.

If we are going to see the oppressed released from the shackles so they can praise the Lord freely we have to make church a safe place to be real! Religion has robbed us of relationship and without relationship there is no intimacy and without intimacy there is no security and without security there is no peace! And there is only one relationship where all of these three exist and it is in a REAL relationship with Jesus Christ! Isaiah 9:6, 7 says, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”

We have to give Jesus His rightful place in the church back so people can experience His life changing ministry of total healing and transformation! Jesus NEVER made anyone who was caught in sin, sick or lame, possessed or oppressed, destitute or devastated put on a happy face of perfection in His presence! He never one time rejected them for coming to Him broken and crippled from life’s circumstances! On the contrary He welcomed them in His presence and everyone who came to Him for healing received exactly what they came for! Then they would leave His presence forever changed and they would sing praises to Him and would tell everyone they came into contact with about this mighty Savior who transformed their lives with the power of His spoken Word!

Lives were changed forever when Jesus walked the earth and it is His desire today for His presence to be welcomed in the modern day church so His ministry can continue until the day of His return! He is not some far off entity that exists somewhere beyond the clouds in a place called Heaven! He is here, on this earth, right now just waiting to be welcomed into the dwelling places that bear His name on their marquee signs! We have to stop making church a place where man made rules and regulations are the main focal point of the ministry! We have to create a safe environment so the people will come in droves looking for this Savior who has the power to completely heal them and deliver them from whatever ails them!

If you have never heard it before in a church can I be the first minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to tell you I don’t care where you have been, what you have done, what you are suffering from, or what has crippled you; I welcome you into the house of the Lord! You do not have to wear a mask of perfection and you do not have to put on Holy makeup to cover your battle scars! Jesus loves you unconditionally and He accepts you no matter where you are or what you are going through!

Don’t stay away from Him just because of past experiences with church! Come into the presence of the Lord and sit with your Savior, healer, and deliverer! Allow Him to release you from the shackles that have you bound! You don’t need to go to a physical building for this to happen! It will happen right where you are because Jesus is with you right now just waiting for you to ask Him to heal you! He is REAL! He is PRESENT! He is WILLING! He is ABLE! Don’t wear those shackles any longer that are keeping you from moving forward in life! Allow Him to release you so you can begin to praise Him and so you can go and tell others of this mighty Savior who has transformed your life by the power of His spoken Word!

Perfect Peace In The Finished Work Of The Cross!

"In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:1-3

When is this day to come for us who believe in Jesus Christ? Is it on the day of His return or is it for today? Mayhem, chaos, trials, wars, and tribulation surround us! The evidence of destruction in the lives of mankind is displayed on the news every day and the threat of attack on the soil of our land is reported to be at our door step. But the prophet Isaiah speaks a word from the Lord for those of us who believe! “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.”

This word is not a word given to us for the day of Christ’s return because on that day we will be transported into perfect peace for eternity! There will be no need for us to be kept in perfect peace during times of trial and tribulation for there will be no more trials or tribulation! So the word Isaiah is speaking is a word for us today! It is a present word of promise that the God of our salvation will keep us in His perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him! But with this promise there is a condition, a condition of faith to keep our minds stayed on Jesus no matter what we see or hear!

What a challenge this is for us because in our humanness it is easy to be deceived into believing the worst and filled with emotions of fear, worry, and anxiety! But in order to experience the perfect peace that is promised one has to counter the deception with the truth of God’s Word! This is why Paul said, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

It is only the Word of God, spoken or written, that has the power to overcome our carnal mind! Self-will can’t do it! Good works can’t do it! Nothing can do it except the Word of God! “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) When the Word of God is spoken the foundations of the earth tremble! The foundations of the soul trembles! The foundations of beliefs tremble! Meditating on and speaking the Word of God is the pathway to a mindset of peace!

When our minds are stayed on Him, He keeps us in perfect peace! This peace transcends doubt, worry, fear, and anxiety! It demolishes strongholds of false teaching and lies! This peace gives us an assurance of our salvation and right standing with God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross! It gives us an assurance of the grace that has been given to us through faith! It gives us the assurance of all things working together for our good and His glory! It gives us the assurance of our inheritance of blessings both here on the earth and in heaven!

This peace gives us the assurance that by His stripes we were healed! It gives us the assurance that He shall supply all our need according to his riches in glory! It gives us an assurance that as He is in heaven so are we on the earth! There is nothing like this peace that passes all understanding! In this peace is where our hope is found! In this peace is where our faith is strong! In this peace is where our vision expands to see the pathway to our purpose! It is the peace that Jesus walked in when He was spit on and beaten on His way to the Cross! It kept Him securely fastened to His purpose even when He cried out and said, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46b)

He was and is and will forever be our Prince of peace who securely fastens us to our purpose when we choose to stay our minds on Him and the finished work of the Cross! We never have to cry out and ask, “My God, my God why have You forsaken me?” He promises to never leave us or forsake us! He is our ever present help in our times of trouble! He is our peace and our hope! In Him we are kept in perfect peace because our lives have been hidden in Him! We no longer have to strive in our own strength to overcome for He has overcome the world!

All we have to do is stay our minds on Him and what He has already done for us! When troubles come we look to Him and speak His Word and the trouble has to leave! When wars come we look to Him and speak His Word and the wars have to cease! When sickness comes we look to Him and speak His Word and the sickness has to leave! “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.” (Numbers 23:19-20)

We are blessed with the blessing of Abraham and the peace of Jesus securely fastens us to it through faith in the finished work of the Cross! The blessings of God for those who believe cannot be reversed! We have to believe it, receive it, speak it, and walk in it, if we are going to take hold of it! We have to align our minds with the truth of God’s Word and meditate on it day and night if we are going to behold the glory of it! We have to stay our minds on Him and when we do He keeps us in His perfect peace from this day forward and forevermore! Amen

The Counterfeit Is Exposed And The Truth Is Revealed!

“Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:9-16

Do you believe God’s Word completely and without a shadow of doubt? Do you listen to His Spirit when He speaks to you regarding His love for you, His provision, and His protection? Do you stand up against the lies that are taught by man and proclaim the truth of God’s Word? Is your mind so consumed with the truth of God’s Word that when a counterfeit word is spoken you can detect it and reject it? So many people are conditioned to believe the lies of man and the devil that they question God’s Word and its validity in their life. They pick and choose Scriptures to justify their down trodden state of mind and reject the life giving, liberating Scriptures that speak hope, healing, and restoration.

They are powerless to overcome temptation, fight off illness, and stand strong in the day of trial and they succumb to the pressures of their circumstances. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) But people don’t believe this and they continue to be broken, busted, disgusted, and full of doubt. It is time for the ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be held accountable for the fallacies that they are teaching the people that cause them to stumble in their faith.

Our God is a good God who gives good gifts to His children! He is a loving God who pours out His love in the hearts of all who believe in Him! He is a gracious God who does not condemn us any longer for our sins! He is a merciful God whose mercies for us are new EVERY morning! He is a just God who fights on our behalf and delivers us from our oppressors! He is protective God who gives His angels charge over us to keep us in ALL our ways! He is a redemptive God who works ALL things for our good and His glory! He is a righteous God who has made us His righteousness by the blood of Jesus! He is a kind God who showers us with His loving kindness! He is a provisional God who meets ALL of our needs according to His riches in glory! He is a strong God who destroys every weapon that is formed against us! He is an active God who works on our behalf to perform His Word in our lives!

This is the God I serve! ALL other gods are false gods! Too many churches are teaching people to serve false gods and calling these gods real! They are not! There is only ONE God and He will not be mocked! It is time to rise up against religious leaders who are giving God a bad name and tell them to stop abusing God’s precious children! Nowhere in the Bible does it say that the Holy Spirit convicts of our sin but it is taught every week in churches around the world. Nowhere does it say that God punishes us for our sin but it is being taught weekly. Nowhere does it say that God disciplines us in harshness but it is a regular teaching in most churches. WE ARE UNDER THE NEW COVENANT OF GRACE AND JESUS PAID THE PRICE ONCE AND FOR ALL FOR ALL SIN!

The Holy Spirit convicts the believer of their righteousness! (John 16:5-11) It is the KINDNESS of God that leads us to repentance! When God’s TRUE WORD is spoken it brings life! You walk away feeling empowered, healed, whole, righteous, loved, worthy, and able to overcome! It is the bondage breaker and the peace maker! Jesus NEVER one time EVER threw people’s sin in their face when they came to Him for help or healing! Not ONE TIME EVER! On the contrary He covered their sin and shame and when people tried to point it out to Him He shut them down verbally! He NEVER made them feel bad for the lifestyle they were living in! In fact He responded to them in LOVE! HIS LOVE CHANGED THEIR LIVES FOREVER! And it is HIS LOVE IN US AND GIVEN TO OTHERS THROUGH US THAT WILL CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES TOO!

It is time to make a declaration of independence from the church of religion that teaches contrary words to the Word of God and take claim to the freedom that has been given to us IN CHRIST JESUS! Rise up today and proclaim the TRUE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE LAND! JESUS CAME THAT WE WOULD HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL! IT IS TIME TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST RELIGION AND WALK IN THE VICTORY THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US IN JESUS CHRIST! RECEIVE IT! BELIEVE IT! SPEAK IT! LIVE IT! PROCLAIM IT! AND WALK IN IT! Then and only then will you experience the New Covenant life that has been promised to all who believe in Jesus Christ!

Misunderstood Scripture Leads People Astray!

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

This is by far one of the most misunderstood Scriptures in the Bible and the one that trips so many people up in their faith. People quote it and use it as a way to show that we are always required to confess our sins and to get cleansed for our unrighteousness. When you take a Scripture out of context you destroy its meaning! It is so important for us to rightly divide God’s Word and understand what is being said before we make a bold confession stated as fact. This verse of Scripture is one of those times. In I John, John was writing to the leader of the leaders who were his followers. Some of the leaders had come into the fold and were teaching false doctrine and professing to be without sin.

So John addresses these teachers boldly with the truth. First he explains who Jesus is in verses one through five and in verse six and seven he says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” In other words to say one is without sin is a lie because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But what sin is he speaking of here in 1 John? It is the sin of unbelief not the daily sins that are committed in the flesh. These teachers of the day were actually making a claim that they were without sin of any kind.

We see this is true because in 1 John 1:10 John says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” The sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ is the only unpardonable sin and the only sin that can keep a person separated from God because if they do not believe in Jesus Christ they will not inherit eternal life which means they will never have fellowship with Jesus on this earth or in eternity. So John is trying to make it very clear that teaching people that they are without sin of any kind is wrong and he is rebuking them for the false teachings that are being spread throughout the congregation of his followers.

Out of his love for his followers he tells them the truth of what they need to do, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) He IS NOT SPEAKING TO BELIEVERS HERE! HE IS SPEAKING TO THE FALSE TEACHERS WHO ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT BELIEVERS! It is really that simple to understand when you put this verse in context. We know this is true because in 1 John 1:10 he says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” A believer never says they have not sinned because they understand that they have and they understand that it was our sin that caused Jesus to die on the Cross!

They also understand that when Jesus died on the Cross and was resurrected He paid the price for all man’s sin past, present, and future. In his letter John made this very clear when he said, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” Propitiation literally means atoning sacrifice! Jesus Christ was the atoning sacrifice for not only the believer’s sins, but the entire world’s sins. John was really trying to get a message across to the leaders who were teaching falsehood to his followers.

But today people who do not understand the Bible read 1 John 1:9 and blow it way out of context as a way to show that we are to continually confess our sins and be cleansed from unrighteousness. This is nothing more than a false teaching. To say that we need to do this is to say that the blood of Jesus was insufficient and tainted because it is saying that His work on the Cross wasn’t a complete work! When Jesus died on the Cross you and your sins died with Him! And at the moment you said yes to Him you were cleansed from all unrighteousness! At that moment two thousand years ago every sin you have committed or ever will commit, were atoned for by Jesus Christ! He is NEVER going to atone for them again no matter how many times you confess them! His work is finished and He is seated on the throne at the right hand of God!

He is NEVER going to come back to earth and die for your sins again! He will only come back to earth to receive us unto Himself at the day of His Second Coming! For many this is a very hard truth to accept because they have been conditioned to believe a lie and because of it they are blinded to seeing the truth. It is easier for them to live in a comfortable lie so they turn a deaf ear to anyone who speaks the truth. But for those who do not turn a deaf ear they are liberated and set free from the binding chains of false doctrine and they walk in the fullness of the joy that John speaks of when he says, “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:3-4)

May your joy be made full today as you accept your fellowship with the Father through your fellowship with Jesus Christ and may you come to the fullness of the knowledge of the finished work of the Cross; so that you will no longer believe the lies of false teachers who tell you that you need to continually confess your sins and be cleansed from unrighteousness! May you come to know the truth that makes you free, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever! Amen

Where Is The Jesus I Met When I Got Saved?" (Part Four)

“For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] Ephesians 2:8-9

I don’t know how you were introduced to Jesus Christ or what denomination or religion you were raised in but what I do know is that you are highly favored and dearly loved by God! An injustice has been done to the people of God through religious teachings that are contrary to God’s Word. My friend today is the day of liberation for you if you were conditioned to believe that you are responsible for your own salvation or for keeping your salvation if you have already said yes to Jesus Christ. Allow me to lift the weight of the burden that has been placed on you by telling you that it is not up to you to save yourself or to keep your salvation through good works!

Salvation is a FREE GIFT from God that is given to you the moment you believe that Jesus is the Son of God who was sent into the world to die for YOUR SINS! ALL you have to do is believe! “For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) There is no ritual you have to go through, no steps you have to follow in order to be saved! ALL you have to do is believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and you are saved!

“But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ's blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.” (Romans 5:8-9) My friend Jesus paid the ultimate price for your FREE gift of salvation! He died on the Cross for you! Without the shedding of His own blood you could not receive this FREE gift! “[In fact] under the Law almost everything is purified by means of blood, and without the shedding of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins.” (Hebrews 9:22)

And here is even better news for you today; there is NOTHING you have to do in your own strength to hold onto the FREE gift of salvation! You do NOT have to adhere to manmade rules and regulations in order to keep it and if you have been taught this you have been taught a false doctrine of demons! “BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized), who forbid people to marry and [teach them] to abstain from [certain kinds of] foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and have [an increasingly clear] knowledge of the truth. For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be thrown away or refused if it is received with thanksgiving.” (1Timothy 4:1-4)

You don’t have to adhere to ANY LAW of man in order to keep your FREE gift of salvation! JESUS LOVES AND ACCEPTS YOU AS HIS CHILD NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO OR DO NOT DO! HIS SHED BLOOD PAID THE PRICE FOR YOUR SIN AND REDEEMED YOU FROM THE RIGHTFUL PUNISHMENT THAT YOUR SIN REQUIRED! My friend Jesus has come to release you from the religious noose that has been placed around your neck by false teachers who proclaim to be ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Jesus is here to restore your heart and mind to TRUTH! JESUS LOVES YOU THIS I KNOW FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO!

“And he brought them out [of the dungeon] and said, Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved? And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well. And they declared the Word of the Lord [the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] to him and to all who were in his house.” (Acts 16:30-32)

My friend Jesus holds you securely in your salvation and He won’t ever let you go! What you are unable to do for yourself in that you cannot keep the law perfectly; HE WAS ABLE! Your righteous requirements to keep the laws of God in your own strength were kept by Jesus Christ and when He shed His blood on the Cross for you; HE SIGNED YOUR SALVATION CARD WITH HIS OWN BLOOD SIGNATURE! I am so sorry if you have been lied to and told anything different and I grieve for the wounds you have suffered from because of the torture you have received from religion! My heart aches for you today as I think of the mental torment that has been inflicted on you by people claiming to be ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! May this truth I share with you today penetrate your heart and mind and may it liberate you from the chains of religion that you have been shackled around you for years!

YOU ARE HIGHLY FAVORED AND DEARLY LOVED BY A GOD WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR YOUR FREE GIFT OF SALVATION! Today I want to give you back the Jesus you met when you got saved! Allow Him to renew your mind to the truth and to restore what has been stolen from you by religion! He is able and willing and He is faithful! Do not believe the lie anymore my friend for it is by grace you have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ and it IS THE GIFT OF GOD FOR YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD!

Where Is The Jesus I Met When I Got Saved?" (Part Three)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.” Matthew 11:28-30

With a blank expression on your face you continue reading the requirements of owning this new car. The list is long and detailed and you are convinced there has been some sort of mistake. This isn’t at all what was presented to you when you were on the car lot. They said this was a free gift! They said this car did everything for you, it even drove itself. As you come to the end of the list you read the last paragraph in the section.

It says, “Next week we will give you another manual. It is filled with everything you will need to know about this car. There are many things written in this manual that may not make sense but we will explain it all to you. Many people own this manual and they all have their own idea of what it means but we are the only ones who know the true meaning so don’t listen to anyone else.”

In total disgust you throw the manual on the ground and run into the house and pick up the phone. You dial the number for the car lot and when they answer you say, “I don’t want this car anymore! You lied to me! You said this was a free gift and you told me that this car would do everything for me! Now I find out that it isn’t true and I have a list of requirements that I have to complete each day in order to keep the car! This is absurd! I don’t want the car this way! Either give me the car we agreed upon or come and get this one and never contact me again! Do you understand me? I want the original car with the original agreement or I don’t want it at all!”

This is a fictional story as you know but I wrote it as a way for you to understand exactly what has happened and is happening in churches around the world who introduce people to a relationship with Jesus Christ. At first they present a relationship with Jesus Christ as a free gift and they explain that He is able to change and transform a life. They tell people that believing in Him is the only way to receive eternal life and present heaven as the ultimate destination for all who believe. Then they tell people that He doesn’t care how messed up (dirty) their life is He is able to clean them up in an instant without them doing anything except entering into a relationship with Him.

They have enticing church services with amazing music, beautiful buildings, and the environment is very welcoming. The services are so dynamic that people want to be a part of it because they are so tired of their old life and they never dreamed or imagined that there was another life possible. They gladly sign a salvation card to receive this free gift called eternal life through Jesus Christ and they completely believe the words of the pastor when he/she says this gift is completely free!

Then within a short time after salvation they are introduced to the manual (church doctrine) and they are given another manual (the Bible) and told what they need to do to keep this free gift. They are told that many churches have their own manuals but that the only real manual is the one they are given. They are told that all other denominations are false and they are warned to steer clear of people who belong to any other denomination. They are also told that the Bible will be explained to them and they are taught what to believe and how to believe. The saddest thing that happens when they receive their manuals is when they are told that there is no guarantee that they will be able to keep the free gift of salvation.

What started out as Jesus Christ as the One who does everything for them at salvation becomes a doctrine that teaches them they are now the one who has to do everything to keep salvation. Christ’s power to save is stripped away and man’s traditions become the doctrine of salvation. I leave you today with Jesus’ words to the Scribes and Pharisees so you can understand exactly what I am sharing with you. People are tired of the traditions! They want the Jesus they met when they got saved back and it is time we give them what they want!

“Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Mathew 15:1-5

Where Is The Jesus I Met When I Got Saved?" (Part Two)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.” Matthew 11:28-30

“By the way did the salesman tell you that this car is completely free of charge? All that we ask is that you come back to the car lot once a week and visit with the other people on the lot and listen to a car care message presented by the owner of the car lot. But don’t worry about the specifics right now just enjoy your new free gift. We will fill you in on the rest later.” With a puzzled expression on your face you look down at the paperwork and decide to take a leap of faith and sign it. There is nothing more that you want than to make this car your very own. Though his last words were confusing you push them out of your mind as he hands you the keys to your new car.

You make your way out of the building and get into the car. On the drive home you discover even more exciting features in the car. One that you didn’t expect and completely surprises you is a computer system that talks to you. When it first comes on and says hello you are startled because you have never experienced anything like this before. But the voice is so soothing and the words are so encouraging that you listen intently as it speaks. Your mind is still reeling over the event that has just taken place that you think you must be dreaming so you pinch yourself to make sure you are awake. As the reality begins to sink in you are overwhelmed with gratitude for the free gift you have just been given.

Within a few minutes you arrive at your house and pull into the driveway. You open up the garage door and pull into the garage and the car parks itself. As the garage door closes behind you, you get out of the car and stand there admiring it for a few moments. Then you make your way into the house and settle in for the night. As you climb into bed you are so overjoyed that you have a hard time falling asleep. But eventually you do and all night you dream about your new free gift. When you wake up you wonder if this really took place and you jump out of bed and head to the garage. As you open up the door the reality sinks in and you are once again filled with an incredible joy that engulfs your heart and mind.

You open up the car door and look inside. When you look in the back seat you see a car care manual that you didn’t see the day before. You pick it up and open it to see what is inside. At first it details all of the features of the car but then you see a tab entitled: What you must do to keep this free gift. You think to yourself, “Wait a minute they said there was nothing I had to do to receive this free gift and they sure didn’t tell me there were things I had to do to keep it. This must be a mistake.” Even though the title annoyed you at first you decide to open it to that chapter and read it. You are surprised by what you see and can’t believe your eyes. The list of requirements for keeping this free gift is long and detailed.

1. Attend a car care meeting each week at 10:00 a.m. either Saturday or Sunday morning.
   
   
2. Come dressed in your best outfit.
   
3. If you have any piercings or tattoos have them removed immediately.
   
   
4. The automatic cleaning system in the car has been deactivated and it is now your responsibility to make sure you are clean before you get into the car.
   
5. If you have children make sure they are quiet when you enter our building. We have a room for them where they will have their own meeting, but make sure they do not make noise in the main building.
   
6.  If you have teenagers make sure their clothes are pressed, their hair is cut short, and they do not wear anything that will give our company a bad name.
   
7. If you cuss, smoke, drink, or do anything else that may be offensive to some people, stop those behaviors immediately.
   
8. If you are used to going to the movies, bowling, swimming with the opposite sex, wearing jewelry, attending concerts, etc. cease these activities immediately. A detailed list of acceptable activities will be provided for you in the coming weeks.
   
9. You are expected to volunteer your time, give us a portion of your income that we will keep track of, sign up for weekly classes, and study this manual daily.
   
10. You have to break off all relationships with people who do not own a car like yours. If they do own a car like yours but they received it at a different car lot you need to understand that their car is a fake. Only the cars from are lot are the authentic. Don’t associate with them.

At this point you have to take a break from reading because you are overwhelmed by the requirements that come with owning this new car. You begin to get angry and you shake your head in disbelief as you think about all of the things that you once enjoyed and how good you felt about yourself before; and now to think that all of who you once were is now not acceptable makes you want to return the car to the dealer. But as you stand there confused by what you are reading curiosity trumps your feelings of anger and you continue reading the list. To be continued...

Where Is The Jesus I Met When I Got Saved?" (Part One)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.  For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.”  Matthew 11:28-30


Have you ever walked onto a new car lot and been met by an overzealous salesman who eagerly wanted to sell you a car?  You try everything you can to avoid him but eventually he wins the cat and mouse game and catches up with you.  Now imagine that this scenario happens next.  At first his words seem annoying and unbelievable but as he eloquently presents the information about the car you are looking at you stop and begin to listen to him.  He tells you that this car is the best vehicle ever made and able to take you anywhere you want to go in ease and comfort.  Your mind begins to race as images of your dream vacation come to mind and you imagine yourself pulling up to the resort in your brand new car.


He tells you the windows are noise resistant so you will not be bothered by the sounds of the road and he says the seats are tailor made for comfort and can be adjusted to your body type so that you will fit securely in them.  Before he opens the door for you to get in you look down at your clothes and they are covered in dirt because you just got done working in the yard.  You hesitate to get in but he tells you not to worry because the car is equipped with a special laundering system that automatically cleans your clothes the minute you sit in the seat.  You think to yourself, “Yeah right, I have never heard of such a thing.”  But he assures you that it is true and just for curiosity sake you decide to believe him.


He opens the door and you slide into the passenger’s seat and are greeted by the fresh aroma of leather.  Your mind begins to embrace the experience as you imagine yourself driving down the road in this beautiful car.  You are so overwhelmed by the initial experience that you don’t even notice that somehow your once dirty clothes are now sparkling clean.  But as you look down you see that your clothes are no longer dirty and you picture yourself in middle of the twilight zone because this is too strange and too good to be true, but you keep silent because you don’t even know what to say.  He turns the engine on and it is so quiet you can barely hear it and then he turns on the air conditioner and you feel the coldest air you have ever felt coming through the vents.  He informs you that this car was designed with a special cooling system that emulates a home refrigeration unit.


As you sit there and enjoy the cool air he switches on the radio and the car is engulfed with the most amazing sounds of music you have ever heard.  He tells you that this car is equipped with a sound system that brings the music to life through speakers that are wired throughout the car.  You have never heard of such a thing and you begin to get excited at the thought of owning this car.  As you shut the door your seat belt automatically fastens around you and at first you are shocked by the experience but then he says that one of the greatest things about the car is that it is designed to keep you safe and there is nothing you have to physically do to keep yourself secure in the seat.


As he puts the car into drive and steps on the gas pedal you notice that his hands are not on the steering wheel.  He notices the concerned look on your face and responds to it by saying, “Oh I didn’t tell you but this car drives its self.  All you have to do is type in your desired destination in the computer and the car automatically takes you there.  It is designed with special micro chips that make it perform at the right speed, stop at lights, avoid accidents, etc. Seriously you do not have to do one thing to drive this car!  All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy your ride.”  Now you begin to be very skeptical because this is over the top and there is no way he is telling you the truth.  But as the car pulls out of the car lot and onto the street his words prove to be true.  You are astonished!  Now you really want to own this car!


It is a miracle car that you never before imagined existed!  Throughout the test drive you discover one thing after another that sets this car apart from all the other cars on the road and you want to own it more than anything you have ever wanted.  As the car pulls back into the car lot and you get out he informs you that all you have to do is go into the office and sign the paperwork.  There’s a skip in your step as you make your way to the office and you have butterflies in your stomach.  But then you remember that there was no sales price on the windshield and you get very nervous at the thought of how much this car must cost.


You hesitate for a moment and actually consider leaving because in your mind it would be better to embrace the experience instead of discovering that you cannot afford to buy the car that gave you the experience.  But at that moment a man greets you at the door and ushers you into his office before you have the chance to say that you have changed your mind.  You sit in a chair and wait for him to tell you the price of the car.  He slides a sheet of paper in front of you and asks you to sign it.  As you are picking up the pen he says, “By the way did the salesman tell you that this car is completely free of charge?  All that we ask is that you come back to the car lot once a week and visit with the other people on the lot and listen to a car care message presented by the owner of the car lot.  To be continued......

Jesus Wore A Dress And Sandals To Church! (Part Two of Two)

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17


In order for us to understand the Word of God we need to be in tune to the voice of the Holy Spirit so that we can discern His voice and hear Him speak.  When we do this we are able to read the Bible and rightly divide it as it pertains to us as New Covenant believers in Jesus Christ.  It also enables us to read passages of Scripture and learn from them without taking them out of context and building an entire doctrine out of them based on our personal limited understanding.


Nothing written within the pages of the Bible is worthless or unnecessary but much of what is written in the Bible was written to a specific people who were dealing with specific problems in their communities.  Trying to take the exact instructions literally and then trying to apply them to our lives today is not only foolish, it is futile!  Certain writings need to be read, prayed about, and then approached in a spirit of submission to the Holy Spirit so that He is able to teach us truth.  The clothing instructions of the Bible are a prime example of this.


Look at what Paul writes to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:48 and ask yourself if this is what you see taking place in your home or church each week.  “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man.” 1 Corinthians 11:4-8


From reading this I guess I need to run out and buy head coverings because I pray and prophesy constantly.  Can you see the absurdity in this kind of thinking?  Paul was addressing a specific people because he was dealing with a certain problem that existed in the Corinthian Church.  To take this passage literally would mean that every Christian woman needs to wear head dresses when they pray or prophesy.  That isn’t going to happen but why?  Because no one has decided to take this passage literally and make a doctrine out of it yet.  But I am sure that it is just a matter of time before someone does if they can see that it will financially profit them to do so.


Now let’s look at another passage of Scripture that addresses women’s attire.  In 1 Timothy 2:8-10 Paul says, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” This is a Scripture that many denominations have taken literally and made a doctrine that says women cannot wear jewelry and require them to wear simple clothing that doesn’t give the appearance of wealth.


But again Paul was dealing with a specific people who were dealing with a specific problem.  When reading this passage of Scripture there are principles we can apply to our own lives without taking it out of context and building a standard of holiness out of it for women.  Principle one:  Women dress yourselves in a way that does not bring attention to your body that could make a man or another woman stumble in the area of lust.  If what you wear causes someone to stumble in the area of lust you are causing unnecessary trouble in someone else’s life.  It is not rocket science!  Just watch the show “What Not To Wear” and figure out what clothing compliments your body type.  Principle number two: Wear jewelry that compliments the outfit!  As women we know when we see a woman who is wearing a ridiculous amount of jewelry or the wrong kind of jewelry for her outfit.  It is not flattering so all you have to do is learn what jewelry goes with your outfit.  It is that simple.  But don’t discount wearing jewelry just because some man or woman has established a manmade law that says wearing jewelry is bad.  Be a sheep but follow the voice of your real Sheppard, Jesus Christ!  He has built heaven out of fine jewels and what is endorsed by Him should be accepted by us.


In 1 Peter 3:3-4 Peter writes, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” Again this is a really simple verse to understand if you allow the Holy Spirit to teach you truth.  Let your beauty come from the inside first before you express it on the outside.  A woman of strong character who has a solid identity in Christ instinctually knows why she is wearing what she is wearing and she only wears clothing and jewelry that compliment her body type or her outfit.  She doesn’t wear clothing or jewelry as a way to manipulate men and women into lusting after her.  She isn’t trying to attract the lustful eye!  People are drawn to her because they sense the Spirit of the living God inside of her!


When it comes to dress for men or women and when it comes to jewelry the Holy Spirit will teach you truth as you seek Him wholeheartedly.  He won’t ever leave you or forsake you in anything you desire to be taught.  He is faithful.  As far as what is appropriate dress for church don’t major on the minors!  I know many women who were once dancers or prostitutes and many men who were bikers or hard core rockers who went to a Christ centered church that didn’t discriminate against them for how they were dressed and guess what? Over the years they changed the way they dressed.  Not because someone told them they had to but because the more time they spent with King Jesus the more like royalty they felt and wanted to dress like royalty!  Believe me when Jesus prompts a person to change by His Spirit He produces fruit that will last.  Behavior modification dictated by man doesn’t hold a candle to life transformation prompted by God.  I want to encourage you today to allow the Holy Spirit to teach you truth!  I will leave you with a word from Jesus so you will know that as you ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom you can be assured that He will answer you. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  (Matthew 7:7-8)

Jesus Wore A Dress And Sandals To Church! (Part One of Two)

I was met by a man in the lobby of the hotel as I was heading out the door to church today.  I stopped to talk to him for a few minutes.  What he said shocked me!  He said, “Oh girl you are lucky you are not going to my church this morning because pastor would not like you wearing pants to church.” I was stunned by this comment and my response wasn’t too eloquent.  I said, “How sad to go to a church where the pastor hasn’t read the Bible.” I felt like Joyce Meyer when she shares about some of her not so eloquent responses to people's comments, so I guess I am in good company.  The man laughed and said, “He has read the whole Bible girl but women are not to be wearing men’s clothes to church.”  At that moment I knew anymore conversation on the topic would be futile because I did not have the time to address his response.  But as I left the lobby and throughout the day his comment really bothered me as I thought more about it.


As an itinerant ministers wife who gets called to speak in different churches each week the topic of clothing comes up a lot because for each church and each denomination there is a different expectation as to what clothing is and isn’t acceptable attire for church.  I also get asked the question about clothing from many people I minister to because each person has been told something different and they want to know the truth.  I know this is a sensitive topic but one that needs to be addressed because so many people are confused by the different rules and regulations about clothing in church.  So I am willing to address it so that we all can grow in wisdom and understanding together as the Holy Spirit teaches us truth.


To begin this study let’s look at what Jesus would have worn to church if he was on the earth today. His attire would be made up of a tunic which is a loose-fitting garment, sleeved or sleeveless, extending to the knees and worn by men and women especially in ancient Greece and Rome.  He would have worn a cloak over His tunic and a sash around His waist that was used to tuck the garment in if He ran. On His feet He would have worn a pair of plain leather sandals kind of like a modified thong that went between the toes like the ones we wear to the beach today.  But His sandals would have had straps that crisscrossed over the top of His foot and they would have had a strap for tightening.  Similar sandals have been found by archaeologists. So if Jesus showed up today in church He would be considered a disrespectful cross dresser who had no respect for God and He would not have been allowed to sit in the front of the church and definitely not allowed to speak from the pulpit. Sound harsh?  But that is exactly what kind of response He would get from most churches especially in America.


Now let’s discuss the topic of women’s attire in church and where the idea that it is wrong for a woman to wear pants to church came into existence.  It began with people quoting Deuteronomy 22:5 which says, “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the LORD your God.”  Number one this was a law for the people under the Old Covenant and it does NOT pertain to us today because we are under the New Covenant but for discussion sake we will look at this Scripture because it is the one that brings the confusion in churches today.  First of all men did NOT wear pants in Bible times so it cannot be referring to pants.  In fact there are several Scriptures that I have found that pertain to men’s clothing and not one of them refers to pants.  I have listed a few for you to look up for yourself.  They are 1 Samuel 24:4-5 & 11, 1 Samuel 15:27, Haggai 2:12, Zechariah 8:23.


For thousands of years men wore what we would consider skirts or dresses today.  Pants didn’t even come into existence until a few hundred years ago.  With this understanding it is absurd to think that Deuteronomy 22:5 was referring to pants.  If that was true then women couldn’t wear underwear, socks, t-shirts, shoes, or anything else a man wears.  Can you see the absurdity here?  So if this is the case, what is the acceptable attire for men and women in church and does God even care what you wear to church or is He concerned with something more important?  Jesus gave us the answer, though He was addressing the Pharisees who were appalled that He didn’t wash His hands before dinner.


Luke 11:37-43 says, “And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.”


In other words Jesus was saying, “Quit majoring on the minors because when you do you miss what is most important!  Nothing you can do on the outside can do one thing to make you acceptable to God!  Clean up all you want and look good but that doesn’t change the condition of your heart!”  God doesn’t care what anyone wears to church on the outside!  He cares about the condition of the man or woman’s heart who attends church!  He wants the people to be naked and unashamed in their hearts before Him and ready to receive from Him!  Whether they are in pants, shorts, sandals, torn clothes, dresses, or anything else does not matter to Him.  Now tomorrow we will address what other New Testament writers meant when they spoke of dress but today I want us to understand that God is not looking at the outward appearance of any man, woman, or child when He sees them enter into worship!  He is ONLY looking at the heart!

To be continued……

Enough Lip Service! Start Living The Word!

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:22-27


People are hurting!  Families are starving! Children are crying! Men and women are fighting! Churches are closing!  Ministers are quitting!  Teenagers are lost!  Widows are suffering!  Orphans are alone!  Single parents are flailing!  Divorcees are depressed!  The homeless are ignored!  And the list goes on and on of people who are in need and the reality is that the body of Christ is failing in its call to be Christ’s hands extended to a hurting and dying world!  And this should not be but until something changes in the hearts and minds of Christians it will continue!  Jesus came to give us life to the full, abundant, and overflowing so that we could in turn give it to others.  Anything short of fulfilling our call to be His disciples in the earth is nothing more than lip service and dead works religion.


In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:13 – 20 Jesus said, “"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”


"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”


As the body of Christ we have to get the point where we accept our righteousness in God through Jesus Christ and grow up out of our religious mindsets and begin to do what He has called us to do in actions if we are going to see change take place in the world.  This is what James means when he says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”  During this transition in our lives we are discovering that most of the people who call themselves Christians do not back up their profession of faith with action.  It is the most disturbing thing I have ever personally witnessed because it is completely against what we are called to do by God.  This is something other people have shared with me in the past but it hasn’t been until I experienced it for myself that I have felt the sting and effect of its venomous bite! What I have learned is that this is a real problem, its effects are painful and long lasting, and it is a very common problem in the church today.  But what I have also learned is that it is curable and the wounds people have experienced from it can be healed but we will have to walk in love one for another in order for it to happen.


Throughout the Bible God speaks about our responsibility to care for one another, strangers, widows, the poor, orphans, etc..  Jesus amplified this in the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.  It is time for the body of Christ to mature out of childish mindsets and actions so that we can fulfill God’s call to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world!  1 John 3:16-20 says, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”


I am calling the body of Christ into action today and praying that the body will listen and respond!  Life is not a dress rehearsal!  We get one opportunity on this earth to answer the call to be the disciples of Jesus Christ and to do the work He has called us to do in this world!  It is time we take a stand against foolishness, false doctrine, selfishness, infighting, denominational divisions, gossip, lies, and every other tactic the devil uses to deceive us and it is time we exercise our rightful authority over all the power of the enemy! (Luke 10:19)  It is time we look on each other with love in our hearts and ask what we can do to meet the needs of our fellow man.  It is time to lay aside foolish arguments and judgments and start living the Word of God in our daily lives!  Let’s make a commitment today to turn lip service into life service and make an impact in this world with the true Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Love And Grace! The Only Anti-Venom That Works! (part 22)

"And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” Exodus 19:3-6


How many times do we read Old Testament passages and skim over them because we do not see their significance or importance because we are no longer under the Old Covenant?  But when we do this we miss the beautiful life giving pictures that God is trying to show us.  There isn’t a word written in the Bible that does not have a meaningful message for us to learn from.  God speaks through His Word and His Word is alive!  That is why the writer of Hebrews said, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)


Since I have allowed the Holy Spirit to teach me the Word I no longer skim over any passage.  I ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the hidden truths that apply to me and I wait on Him to reveal them.  Sometimes it comes quickly and other times I have to wait a long time; but He is always faithful to reveal it in His time.  This passage of Scripture is one of those passages that I used to skim over but not anymore.  In order to understand this passage we have to look back at other passages of Scriptures so that we can gain a full view of the beauty within its verses.  As we know the covenant came through Abraham and then God spoke it to Isaac in Genesis 26:1-5.  Now Isaac’s son Jacob was also visited by God in a dream and God spoke the covenant promise to him.


Genesis 28:12- 15 says, “Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”


Now in Exodus 19:3-6 we see God confirming His covenant once again to Moses at Mount Sinai by reminding him of what He did for the children of Israel, outlining what they need to do, and then establishing a promise of reward for their obedience.  What a beautiful image of a loving God!  As New Covenant believers this is what the Holy Spirit does for us each and every day.  He reminds us of what Christ did for us on the Cross, outlines what we need to do; which is to believe by faith in the finished work of the Cross. Then He establishes His promise: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)


But for the children of Israel and for many people today they miss the point of what God is saying.  He is saying, “I Am the One who has done it all for you and all that I ask of you is to believe.” Where people got confused then and where they continue to be confused today is in thinking that it is something they can do themselves.  They read the commandments of God and the requirements of the laws and work in their own strength to keep them perfectly.  But that was never and is not today what God asks of anyone.  He is asking us to believe by faith that what He has promised He will perform and to bring to remembrance His goodness in delivering us out of slavery and into His glorious freedom.


We see this play out in the next passage of Scripture in Exodus 19:7-9.  It says, “So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD. And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.”  Do you see it?  The people said, “We will do” but then God says, “Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and BELIEVE you forever.” God was looking for a people who would allow Him to speak to them and then believe His voice and that is what He is looking for today.


Now read what happens next in verses ten and eleven.  “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.”  In His loving response to the people’s “do” mentality He doesn’t punish them.  No, He instructs Moses to consecrate them.  What a beautiful picture of love and grace!  Consecrate means to set apart, make holy.  Even then God was trying to convey a message to the people that He had a desire to speak to them plainly and openly and that He would make them a holy people, set apart for Him!  But they missed it then and today many believers miss it even under the New Covenant!


We have to come to the place where we understand that there is nothing anyone can do for God that God has not already done for us!  When we understand this, then everything that God asks us to do is birthed out of His Spirit giving us the desire to do it; not us striving in our own strength to obey perfectly.  Jesus Christ obeyed perfectly, even to the point of death on the Cross to amplify this truth for us!  As we will see in the next few chapters of Exodus and you can see throughout the entire Old Testament; the children of Israel missed it and they suffered grave consequences as a result.  Let’s pray that we learn from their mistakes so we do not miss it in our own lives today! God is speaking, are you listening?