Before the Beginning of Time

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

God, eternally existing, created the heavens and the earth. The world didn’t just happen by chance, God created every detail with intention and purpose.  He created man and women to have fellowship with Him and with each other.  He created them to have dominion over all other living things, and He created them to be fruitful and multiply.  Beginning with Adam and Eve until the day Jesus returns, we were created with intention and purpose. 

Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.  In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6).

Even when we were separated from God from sin, God having chosen us in him created a way for us to be restored back to relationship with Him.  He predestined from the beginning adoption for His sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. In love, you were chosen before the beginning of time to be adopted as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ.  You were chosen!!

Thank You Lord, Amen. 

The now, and the not yet!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

In Christ, we become a new creation. The hard part is struggling with the in between stage, the now and the not yet. Basically, life on Earth will always have some struggle between the old self and the new self. However, we can and will begin to walk in the newness as we respond to work of the Holy Spirit. Remember anything God has for us is far better than we could ever imagine. Sometimes it’s our fear of the unknown that keeps us stuck in “old.” Or perhaps we think we’re fine just the way we are and don’t want to change. Whatever the reason, don’t cheat yourself of the abundant blessing God has in the new creation He is making you!!

Praise You Lord, you love us too much to keep the same. Holy Spirit would come and do Your work within us. May we let go of the fear of change and find joy in who You are making us! In Jesus Name Amen.

Stop believing the lies!

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).

Words from the Apostle Paul to the church at Corinth.  Ironically enough the god of this world is Satan and we know he is nothing more than a liar.  I heard it said, although he (Satan) may not be afraid of who we are today, he’s afraid of who we will become. That rings more and more true as I continue to walk in faith.  He targets those he thinks would be a force to be reckoned with for God, those who will lead others out of darkness and into the light, those who will share the gospel, and those who seek God’s will to be done.  The enemy plays no favorites, he goes after anyone he thinks could be a threat, and lately it seems he is especially after our children and our youth.  Honestly, that’s always been his game, going after us in our younger years.  He works out of the motto “get ‘em while there young.”  He’d plant lies from childhood, hoping we’d believe them and live a life in bondage from the lie.  He wants to keep us veiled from the truth of who we are in Christ.  If he can convince us we aren’t worth anything, we live out of the belief.  Satan puts out the mirage that the lusts of the world are so great, then leaves you in a pit of regret after you’ve taken the bite.  It’s time to take off the blinders and stop believing the lie.  God calls you to Himself, He calls you to salvation. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or yesterday’s failures, He’s got that covered.  He paid for it at the cross.  He’s leading you to eternal life and freedom.  He’s calling you to walk in the truth of who He says you are in Christ- loved, accepted, forgiven, adopted, free of condemnation, to a hope and a future, mighty warriors for His Kingdom!!  Stop believing Satan’s lies and come home to Father!

Thank You Lord, You know the very best of us.  I pray You remove any blinders and command Satan to release his grip, so that we would be free to do Your will in our life. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Enough for all!

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. - John 10:14-16

A shepherd loves his sheep. That means all of them! Jesus being the great Shepherd loved all those who were His, and the ones still to come. He loves them so much that He gave His life for them, all of them! The most amazing part is that He continues to love the newcomers without loving the ones already in His care any less. There enough love for all!

Father God, praise You for Your unconditional love for us. I pray we remember nothing can separate us from your love. There’s enough room in Your heart to love each of us, as well as those still to come. You bring us home as one, equally loved by You! Thank You Jesus!
Amen.

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.