Tag: Bible

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Less is More

In our world today, to get ahead, you must talk yourself up & make a name for yourself. You have “people” who work for you & your endeavors. This seems very real to us here & understandable. It’s his things work. But the Kingdom of God is paradoxical – almost self-contradictory. With the God’s Kingdom, you must become less to be more.

““But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Matthew 23:8-12 NIV

If you want to work for God – you must serve. Humility is the currency of God’s Kingdom. Be careful about making it about you – because God will always outshine you.

Serve God & serve others. The more we do that, the greater God’s Kingdom becomes.

I ask you to join with me to commit to being more humble & genuine in your walk. I know this is an area I always need work & I would love for you to join me.

Let’s build God’s Kingdom & bring glory to His name!!

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The Power of One

As humans, we care about numbers. How many friends we have. How big our salary is. How many people watch this show. Or even how many people show up to our event.

God is not always like this. Great numbers of people coming to Christ for the first time is special to Him, yes. But so is just one. God will gladly orchestrate a situation for you to reach one person, even if it is inconvenient for you. Check out what Jesus said here:

““Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Luke 15:4-7 NIV

Or the situation with the Woman at the Well:

“Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)”

John 4:1-8 NIV

Jesus was passing through & knew He had to stop there in order to reach this woman. I wonder if it was a bit inconvenient for Him & His disciples. But to reach that one woman mattered enough to Jesus to make His way there. When you read further in John 4, you will see that, because He took the time to reach her, she reached her town.

That is why the ONE matters to God. Because the ONE rarely remains just one.

What does that mean for us? It means that you can make a huge difference. You matter so much to God & to His kingdom. It means that when you are sent on a weird route or you are on a detour you didn’t expect – look out for one that you need to reach. Because God will orchestrate something just like that.

Out of 7 billion people in the world, God celebrates when one comes to Christ. Because each of His children matter to God.

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No Matter What

It seems the older I get, the more I realize how trust in God is our lifeline.

So many bad things can happen to us – it doesn’t matter how “holy” you are. But knowing that, no matter what we face, God has our back & will work everything out for our good. That knowledge brings a peace that knows no understanding.

Whatever you are going through, give it over to God & trust His ways. Lean into Him and find rest.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Shelter

I am in a rather long season of singleness. Being alone can make you lonely sometimes, but it is in this time of “aloneness” that I’ve found a special relationship with God.

He is my shelter & my foundation. My lack of person, in the wee hours of the night, has lead me to late night talks with the Holy Spirit. I can lean into Him and find my hiding place – my safe place, where I can share those things that no one else know.

Psalm 91:3-6 says “Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stocks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.”

This is the promise for me & for you. In the darkness, he will cover you…when the arrow flies, he will cover you…when the person talks behind your back, when you are overlooked, when you feel defeated, broken or misunderstood, he will cover you.

In those “wee hours of the night” talks, remember to tell the Holy Spirit all that is on your heart & let him wrap you up in himself. You have shelter in him.

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Unity

Unity – the state of not being multiple. That is what Christ wants for His church. If you consider yourself a Christ-follower, He is speaking about you & I. It is no secret that, in America, unity is not where we are in our country. So many of us are waiting for our government to unify us, make this country better. But we can’t depend on them to do that. It must start in the church…with us!
So many things could divide us if we let differences matter. I am very blessed to attend a church that is multiracial, multigenerational, and multi-socioeconomic. We aren’t a perfect church because that doesn’t exist. But the fact that we have many differences and yet we are one family says so much. It shows me that unity within the body of Christ is possible.

We are going to be different. We are going to have Democrats & Republicans, different races, some people wealthy and others that aren’t – and still work for the same goal. The Church should be where unity starts.  

Let’s show love to others regardless of how different someone is to us. Speak truth, yes. Preach the word, yes. Live righteously, yes. But love people like God loves. Seek justice for those who deserve it. Treat all people like they have value…because they do. Everyone is made in God’s image.  

Let’s start being the change we wish to see in the world & living boldly. Who is joining me?

““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:26-29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Seen vs Unseen

Remember that our lives are eternal and our God has it all worked out.  Never allow your temporary circumstances to cause you to be in despair about your long term future.

  

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Climb that tree

I grew up in Sunday School.  Our church had the children all go to Sunday School in the morning service and then we were in the Sanctuary in the evening service.  One of my favorite time during Sunday School was when we sang: Jesus Loves Me, Let It Shine, Father Abraham, and of course Zacchaeous Was A Wee Man.

I identified with Zacchaeous because I’ve always been short (and I am still short).  I sang that song all the time.  But as a child, I didn’t understand the implication of his story in the Bible.  

Zacchaeous was a sleazy guy – at least that is the implication I get from the word.  Tax collectors often  took more money than required from the citizens and lived off the money they stole from hard working people.  As a whole, they were despised.

The day Christ Jesus came into Jericho, out of curiosity and anticipation, Zacchaeous climbed up in a Sycamore tree to get a better view of Jesus.  This got Christ’s attention and He decided to go to Zacchaeous’ house to eat a meal with his family.  That was a great honor.  An honor bestowed on someone greatly despised by most.  In the end, Zacchaeous’ heart was changed because His encounter with Christ.

This story gives a great picture of how God responds to us.  How we can live terrible lives and then, when He moves our hearts, we respond.  Seeing that we respond moves God.  

Dear reader, you can be someone who has a pedigree of sin, but if an encounter with God moves you to change, God recognizes and respects that.  He seeks the broken and those who are bound in sin.  He loves it when those who were lost are found.

It doesn’t matter what happens, God loves you and waiting until you are 100% His.  You are not too far gone.  You are deeply and dearly loved.

If you find yourself in the same situation that Zacchaeous found himself – not only a sinner, but someone who is despised by those around them because of their sin, do what he did and change your position to see Jesus better.  Reach out to the Christ, the one who bore all sins, including yours. 

Pray this with me: Lord, I am a sinner in need of a savior.  I have sin in my heart and I confess it to you now.  Whether I have known you for a long time or just meeting you, help me know you and understand you more.  I want to walk close with you.  Help me give up my sins in order to live a better life.  I love you, Jesus.  Thank you for all you do.  In you’re name, amen

 “Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:1-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Be blessed, dear reader.

  

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Road to you accepting you – Conclusion

After all three steps:

(1) Humble yourself before God

(2) Kill the lies of the past and

(3) See yourself through the Father’s eyes

there is only one thing left to do.  Walk boldly in who God made you to be.  Step into the future with fervor.  Don’t back down.  Don’t look back.  

I’ll leave you with a few scriptures to ponder.  My prayer is that we all, including myself, truly understand why we are here and how much God honestly loves each of us.  Be blessed friends!

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭138:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

  

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Road to You Accepting You, Pt. 1

In 30 years of life, I’ve struggled quite a bit with self worth.  I know I am not alone.  In fact,  I am pretty sure you are someone or you know someone who are struggling/has struggled with it.  It is a hard thing to overcome, but to live a bold life in the Kingdom, we must overcome.  We must understand who we are in Him.

No, not being prideful or boasting about how you are better than everyone.  But understanding the power God has placed in and on your life.  Understanding that He has a purpose and a plan that no one can take from you.  YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.

To do this, to accept yourself as a worthy son or daughter of God, one must go on a journey.  It isn’t something you can just do one day because you are bored.  There are steps to this that may take time and effort. Change never happens overnight.

The first step may not be what you think it is.  It may not be what the world says is the right way to accept yourself.  But this must be your first step in any journey in the Kingdom.  Be humble before God and acknowledge that you are not perfect and in desperate need of Him.

Have you ever tried to be perfect?  Ever tried to never get anything wrong?  It’s hard and discouraging.  But why is it that way?  It’s simple – because we are sinful creatures, being born into sin and have to fight our flesh on a daily basis.  God is our source, our savior, our keeper.  He is the one who is perfect. We need His presence everyday to combat this awful flesh of ours.

As we all know, Lucifer believed that He was perfect and, subsequently, was sent to Hell.  As humans, created in His image, we have the wonderful Grace that God provided through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, we can now live a new life if we are born again.  But we must practice humility.

1 John 1:8-9 says: “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

He is faithful and He is all we need!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says: ” Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

When we are weak, then we are strong!  Be humble before God and confess you need Him daily!  How do you start this journey – designating a time to pray every day, reading His word every day, fasting, cutting the things of the world out of your life.  In doing this, great things will happen.

Live boldly, dear friends.  Many blessings!

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Under grace

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Declare liberty over the wages of sin today.  Remember that Christ paid it all so that you can claim that freedom and walk in grace.  I am so thankful He did!

“Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭143:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬