Because I fear the Lord, love Jesus, and believe the Bible to be the TRUTH; I am called narrow minded. Because I don't accept what the culture says is "acceptable", or follow what is "politically correct"; I am called old fashion. And just because I don't agree with another person's choice; I am considered a hater...
The other day someone said to me, "The bible is an outdated book of fairy-tales. It was good in 1950's but doesn't fit our day. I mean, I believe in God but He doesn't expect us to follow that 'old book'."
After a few moments, he made a racial comment saying, "I'm SICK of blacks complaining about justice and within a few seconds he said with excitement, "Finally gay and lesbian have equal rights to get married!" WOW! Who is narrow minded?
The one calling me narrow minded, old-fashioned, and a hater because I don't agree with their lifestyle, and I believe the Word of God IS relevant for today, is the one that needs a fresh look in God's holy mirror. It breaks my heart when hate/prejudice against a person or group of people is justified for any reason.
God proved He loves ALL sinners but HATES sin when Jesus died on the cross. I may disappoint some of you reading this but I must say that a person's skin color is NOT A SIN! Jesus died for THE HUMAN RACE! Me marrying a black man and having bi-racial children, IS NOT A SIN! I will side with my God and say, "I love ALL sinners!" I am a sinner just like the rest of the human race. I chose to sin or not to sin. By the power of His Holy Spirit living in me, I can overcome sinful choices when I allow Him full control of my life by daily dying to self.
Hate/prejudice for ANY reason is SIN! Hate cannot reside in my heart because His Holy Spirit dwells in me and
He is full of love. Hate and love cannot coexist! If you call yourself a
Christian and have ANY hate for a person regardless of your reasoning, I
plead with you to ask God for His heart. He is the only One who can
change you and that change is from the inside out.
Yes, I admit I am a Jesus freak, I'm in love with God, and I will not change my beliefs because "times have changed"! I will continue striving to please my Lord and Savior because He is worthy! God is STILL on the throne, His word is STILL true because He is
TRUTH and HE doesn't change with the times!" I pray that people will
stop believing the "god of lies" and turn to the God of TRUTH!
His Word is clear...
Matthew 24:35, "Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear."
Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever".
Dear Lord, help us to not give into the ways of this world but to always stand firm in our belief in You and Your word. If there is any hate in our hearts for a person for any reason at all, please reveal it so that we can repent and love as You love! For You are the One we will stand before in the end. In Jesus' name I pray.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Love as Jesus Loved and Serve as Jesus Served
John 13:35 (HCSB) “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Early one morning as I was praying about a situation, God spoke to my heart and had me read the story in John 13, when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. I had studied this passage over the years and one truth that stuck out to me; Jesus washed ALL of their feet! Peter, Andrew, James, His beloved John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas the one to betray Him.
The truth that Jesus served His enemy, the one to betray Him, had such an impact in my personal life that I was compelled to share it with our Deaf ministry.
I asked for twelve volunteers and designated one to be Peter and another to be Judas. As their teacher, I put on an apron, grabbed a towel, pitcher of water and bowl and got on my knees and humbly washed their feet. I looked into each of their eyes with love and after I dried their feet I signed, “I love you”.
I explained that I imagine Jesus, who is full of love and compassion, looked into the eyes of each disciple showing them what LOVE looks like. I imagine when Jesus got to Judas, He tried looking into his eyes but Judas was full of selfish pride he could not look at Jesus. Jesus continued to serve Judas with the same love he shared with the others. After this Jesus said, in John 13:13,“Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.”
When the Lord first revealed this truth to me, I was extremely upset and said, “Lord, I CAN’T serve the one who has betrayed me. It’s not fair. I can’t! I won’t! The hurt is beyond anything anyone should have to experience!” Then He spoke gently to my heart and said, “Daughter, I know you can’t but if you learn from Me, I will show you how and in time you will be able to truly love and forgive this person.” I had thought I forgave but when the Lord showed me this story in John, I realized true forgiveness is seen through my actions. I surrendered all my pain, my “right” to hold a grudge and asked my ABBA to help me forgive as He forgives. That day I was set free from bitterness and love filled my heart for the one who betrayed me.
I believe the Lord wants us all to learn from this story. It’s easy to love and serve those who love us. It’s easy to forgive those who seek our forgiveness but what about the one who doesn’t. What about the one who has hurt you and won’t admit their wrong. We must ask the Lord to give us His heart to forgive, love and serve them too,and by this the world will know we are His disciples.
Lord, heal my pain, my scars that are so deep and help me to forgive as You forgive,love as You love, and serve as You serve. The world is watching. May they see You through me. In Jesus name!
Early one morning as I was praying about a situation, God spoke to my heart and had me read the story in John 13, when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. I had studied this passage over the years and one truth that stuck out to me; Jesus washed ALL of their feet! Peter, Andrew, James, His beloved John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas the one to betray Him.
The truth that Jesus served His enemy, the one to betray Him, had such an impact in my personal life that I was compelled to share it with our Deaf ministry.
I asked for twelve volunteers and designated one to be Peter and another to be Judas. As their teacher, I put on an apron, grabbed a towel, pitcher of water and bowl and got on my knees and humbly washed their feet. I looked into each of their eyes with love and after I dried their feet I signed, “I love you”.
I explained that I imagine Jesus, who is full of love and compassion, looked into the eyes of each disciple showing them what LOVE looks like. I imagine when Jesus got to Judas, He tried looking into his eyes but Judas was full of selfish pride he could not look at Jesus. Jesus continued to serve Judas with the same love he shared with the others. After this Jesus said, in John 13:13,“Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.”
When the Lord first revealed this truth to me, I was extremely upset and said, “Lord, I CAN’T serve the one who has betrayed me. It’s not fair. I can’t! I won’t! The hurt is beyond anything anyone should have to experience!” Then He spoke gently to my heart and said, “Daughter, I know you can’t but if you learn from Me, I will show you how and in time you will be able to truly love and forgive this person.” I had thought I forgave but when the Lord showed me this story in John, I realized true forgiveness is seen through my actions. I surrendered all my pain, my “right” to hold a grudge and asked my ABBA to help me forgive as He forgives. That day I was set free from bitterness and love filled my heart for the one who betrayed me.
I believe the Lord wants us all to learn from this story. It’s easy to love and serve those who love us. It’s easy to forgive those who seek our forgiveness but what about the one who doesn’t. What about the one who has hurt you and won’t admit their wrong. We must ask the Lord to give us His heart to forgive, love and serve them too,and by this the world will know we are His disciples.
Lord, heal my pain, my scars that are so deep and help me to forgive as You forgive,love as You love, and serve as You serve. The world is watching. May they see You through me. In Jesus name!
Thursday, July 4, 2013
I AM FREE!!!!!
John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free."
Galatians 5:13 "For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love."
I AM FREE! By the precious blood of Jesus, I am set FREE! I am no longer bound by sin, no longer bound to self! I am FREE to live for God because He set me FREE the day I gave my life to Him! How can I be so confident and KNOW I have been set FREE? The Bible tells me so! Jesus speaks about the freedom He gives. Read the passages of scripture once again. If you have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ, you too are set FREE!
Unfortunately, many Christians do not understand what it means to have freedom in Christ. Some are still bound by sin because, sadly, they are believing Satan lies over Jesus' truth. One reason is because they rely on others to tell them what God's word says instead of spending time reading His word for themselves. This leads to spiritual weakness and the end result is using our freedom in Christ to satisfy the sinful nature.
What sin has you held captive? What is IT that has you bound up to the point of exhaustion and you are no longer trying to get out from under its yoke? Seriously?! I am not talking about a moment of sinning, because we all fall from time to time. I am talking about the sinful behavior that the world says is alright if you do it. There may even be sin that no one else knows about except you and your Savior. Yes, He knows the addiction that continues to control your life and so does Satan. Satan keeps screaming in your mind,"(Your name here), come on you know you want to. You're already thinking about it so you might as well do it. No one is watching. Come on just one more time and tomorrow you will try again. After all didn't Jesus die for all sins, He will understand."
The TRUTH is, Jesus DID die for ALL SINS but He didn't die for us to stay in our sins and use His precious blood as a reason to keep on sinning! He was tortured, beaten beyond recognition, and mocked by onlookers as He died on the cross. Praise be to God, after three days in the grave, HE AROSE! He defeated death to set the captives free! This freedom cost us nothing but cost Him everything! He proclaimed to the world that day, "You are worth my blood being shed!" In return for my freedom I will proclaim to the world, "I was once a slave to sin, headed to hell, and now I am FREE in Christ!" It may cost me friends, family, popularity among the masses but all I can say, "HE IS WORTHY! I AM FREE!!!!"
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