It's bound to happen

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

From the beginning Christians faced persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ, including the apostles. They faced horrible deaths at the hands of the opposition, as did many early church leaders. Truth is, Jesus warned them that persecution was inevitable. Persecution would come because others hated Him (Jesus) and others would hate them as well on account of believing in Him. (John 15)

Jesus’s life was in danger from the beginning. King Herod had ordered that all male children (2 years and younger) were to be killed in Bethlehem, trying to stop the prophecy of the coming Messiah (Matthew 2). As Jesus continued His life and ministry and performing miraculous signs and wonders, His opposition grew stronger and stronger against Him. Ultimately leading the leaders to nail Him to the cross.

After His death and resurrection, the apostles continued His works and they too became targets. There were multiple accounts of worldly and religious leaders telling them not to talk about the name of Jesus (Acts 4).

The thought of persecution for our faith has been brewing inside of me for a couple months now. And recently I’ve been hearing more thoughts and messages about persecution from others. I have learned through the years of my life journey, when a message starts to come from multiple areas, God is intentionally getting a message across and preparing us for something to come.

Persecution is bound to happen and usually happens when we take a stand or a courageous step in our faith. We live in a world where the message of Jesus Christ is attacked, and others are trying to stop it from being preached. Although, we may not be facing death for our faith in Christ, we still face persecution. We will face rejection from others for our faith, and many times we will be verbally attacked. There will be people who will try to shut us up and tell us we shouldn’t or can’t talk about our faith in Jesus. There will be people who are against us and turn others against us because of our faith. Unfortunately, it may even people who are close to us, including our family and close friends. Jesus never said we would have peace in this world, but that we may have peace in Him. 

I pray He grant us that peace today!

What do I think?

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)

What do I think?

I think we’re all trying to walk this life journey together.  Trying to discover our true self and where we belong.

I think we have two opposing spirits for our soul, God and the enemy, Light and darkness.  

I think we all have to sift through our stuff, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  We have to face our own demons, our own dark side and acknowledge the Light that breaks through.  

I think the enemy robs us with his lies and deception. The lies that we are unworthy or not enough.  He projects guilt and shame that keeps us in hiding.  He attacks at the core of our being and we live in a false self perception. 

I think living in false perception of our self keeps us from true community and relationship with others, most importantly God.

I think there is a greater He in this world, our God and Savior who speaks His Truth against those lies.   He claims us as His own, He says we are worthy and loved!

I think God gives people the gift of faith to see past the false wounded self of others.  He enables us to see the person He sees them as  and the good within them!  

I think if you knew my true thoughts, you’d be surprised.  I think your loved more than you know.  I think people care more than you think.  I think you should stop believing the lies of the enemy.  I think God speaks to you and you need to receive His eternal words of love, grace, and affirmation over your life.  I think your a pretty amazing person and pray you would see it too!

Meeting God...

Where do you meet God?  Maybe the better question is, where does God meet you?  

It can be normal to think we can only meet God is in a certain place. However, God is omnipresent, everywhere, and often God meets is in places we don’t expect.  

He met Moses on the mountain through a burning bush and instructed him to lead the people out of slavery.  

When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." - Exodus 3:4-5

Jesus revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well, while she was living in a shameful state. 

The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." - John 4:25

He interceded Saul on his way to persecute Christians, calling him His chosen instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles. 

And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"  And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. - Acts 9:4-5

God often shows up in the very places we’d lest expect!  Never underestimate where He might meet you, reveal Himself to you, and/or lead you as His chosen instrument for a specific purpose.  

Lord I thank you we don’t have to be in a certain place to meet you.  You meet us where we are at, you meet us when we least expect it.  I pray today Lord would meet with us, direct us, reveal yourself and your plans to us.  In Jesus Name, Amen.  

One Voice

¹ In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ³ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight’” (Matthew 3:1-3, ESV). 

John the Baptist arises on the scene early on in the book of Matthew.  Although, we see him in the New Testament, he is considered to be the last of the Old Testament prophets.  A prophet who would deliver God’s message to the people.  He would be the one voice crying out in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord!  The Gospel of Luke of fills in some more details for us regarding John the Baptist. 

³⁹ In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, ⁴⁰ and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴² and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:39-45, ESV).

While Mary was pregnant with Jesus, she went to visit Elizabeth who was also pregnant with John.  This account tells us how John leaped in her womb at the visit of Mary and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit. God prepared him before he was born to be the one voice crying out, prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  In other words, he was born for this! 

Recently, I had a situation where someone was trying to limit my voice. Basically, this person, was telling me I didn’t have a say and not to teach the very things God had spoken to me to teach.  There was a time this would have crushed me, but I quickly began to see the enemy was at work once again. 

You have to realize, it took me a long time to realize God’s calling on my life.  My calling would use the very voice God has given me - to speak and teach.  Ironically enough, my voice has been the very thing the enemy has tried to attack and keep silent throughout my entire life.  The enemy had me believing the lies - no one listens, or your voice doesn’t matter.  I believed those lies for almost my whole life, until Jesus began to change that and free me from the lies!  He began to speak truth to me – your voice matters and you have a voice now use it.  A while ago I had heard a quote from Lisa Bevere, “When the enemy oppresses, it is always because he fears what we might become.”  God's plans for me was to use my voice, no wonder the enemy would try to come against me and hold back my voice.   

And so, in this recent encounter, I quickly realized the enemy was trying to resurface those old lies he had told me my whole life, but God’s timing is perfect.  I had just been away on women’s retreat and wouldn’t you know the theme of the weekend – breaking lies!  Even though the enemy was trying to cheat me of my God given destiny, it was His perfect time and God affirmed me once again, my voice matters, now use it!  Not only has God affirmed me, but my testimony and calling has been confirmed by other mature believers as well. 

God has given me a voice to use for His purposes, to do the works He has prepared in advance for me to do. In other words, I was born for this!

One voice matters! 

One voice can lead someone to Christ!

One voice can bring someone to repentance!

One voice can shine light into the darkness!

One voice can strengthen another!

One voice can free the multitudes from bondage! 

One voice can bring justice!

One voice can affirm the will of God!

One voice can speak Truth!

One voice! One voice can make a difference.  How is God calling you to use your voice for Him? 

Father God, we thank you that you did not remain silent.  We thank You that You continue to speak to us today, You speak through scripture and even more personally through Your Holy Spirit.  Father would you give us the courage to speak Your words boldly to others even when someone else tells us to keep silent.  Continue to use us as Your vessels to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to lead others to repentance, and to shine light in this world of darkness.  May you give us the words to speak for others when they cannot speak for themselves, a voice to strengthen and encourage others, a voice that brings freedom in times of bondage, and a voice that brings justice.  Father may we be hearing directly from You to affirm Your will in this time and season we are placed, and may we always speak in truth!  May we be a voice that prepares for Your will and work in our lives and those around us.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Be Still

"Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in this earth!" (Psalm 46:10).  

Be still!  Not so easy, is it?  We are so accustomed to distractions.  From our busy schedules, social media, friends, and our own thinking. Ever notice when you try to be still and your mind starts racing about things or suddenly you feel like you have to check your social media.  Well truth is it’s hard to hear God or feel His Presence with us with those distractions. 

BE STILL!  Find a quiet place and sit with God.  It’s well needed time alone.  Turn off the distractions, stop listening to your friends and your own thoughts.  Just be still my friend, and talk to God.  Ask Him what He wants you to do, where He wants you to go, and what He wants you to say.  Then just be still and listen.

Lord come and be with us that we would sense Your Presence by our side.  Come and speak to us that we would hear from You tonight.  Lead us in the path You have for us.  in Jesus Name, Amen.

Take Control

Cain became angry when God did not find his offering acceptable.  The Lord said to him,
“Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  If you do well, will you not be
accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.  Its desire is contrary
to you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:6-7).  God will always give us an opportunity
to deal with the sin in our lives.  However, we must realize, sometimes there is only a small
window of opportunity before sin takes us to far, or a situation becomes irreversible.  Although,
we may not actually hear the voice of God, He still speaks to us today.  Sometimes, God
speaks through the words of another person, sometimes it’s the inner conviction of the Holy
Spirit.  You know, when you just have a sense or a feeling that cautions you about something
and/or the weight of sin.  DON’T IGNORE IT!  That very well may be God cautioning you to
walk away from something/someone, to deal with the surfacing anger, and/or to reach out for
help.  God will never tell your sin doesn’t matter, God will never tell you to hurt yourself or
someone else, and God will never tell you to hide in shame.  Friends hear me on this, if sin
is pulling at you, YOU MUST RULE OVER IT!  Don’t delay in what God is telling you to do,
reach out to a trusted person who can help!