Satan is an imposter, yet a real enemy!

1 Peter 5:8-9 HCSB "Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world."

For the first time, I had to laugh out loud at this verse...let me explain. Peter warns us to be on alert because Satan is out to destroy followers of Jesus Christ.(this is not where I laughed). He then uses a metaphor in describing Satan, as "like a roaring lion"...Don't get me wrong, he is a REAL enemy and he can get a hold of fellow Believers and trap them in his web of deceit so we have to be on guard and alert at all times!
We have this imposter, satan, trying to trip us up..an IMPOSTER! That is who he is, an IMPOSTER! What do imposters do? Pretend to be something or someone they are NOT! With this truth, how are you and I going to live differently? Can we live differently? YES, by the power of the Holy Spirit, abiding in Christ, and by studying the Living Word of God! That's how we defeat this imposter! Amen!

Our enemy wants us to be scared stiff...which means we will not "DO" what God has called us to do as Christians. All of us are commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age."

All authority was given to Jesus and now He is with us to the end of time...If this truth doesn't stir you to live differently, in the POWER of the Holy Spirit, then you are not in the battle to win! I challenge you to examine your heart, asking God what is holding you back from living in victory? I am not saying victory=happiness or a pain free life, on the contrary Jesus says we will have suffering and some will even hate us because of His Name (Matthew 10).Bearing the name of Christian does not exempt us from suffering...KNOW THIS truth because it will set you free!

In order to have victory in our daily lives we have to understand our enemy! He has been defeated by Jesus at the cross! However, satan is trying to put fear in Believers so that we are not a threat to his kingdom. Imagine with me for a moment...that Believers all over the world knew satan was defeated and an imposter, and we lived in such a way that we rebuked him when he came "calling", we ignored his temptations, and we lived in the POWER of the Holy Spirit because we have the victory in Christ Jesus....How would our world look if that were the case? I know it would be different!!

Being a Christian simply means we have the victory, through life or death, we have the VICTORY!AMEN!

Who thinks they can have VICTORY as WE live out life as Christ Jesus and in this truth?
I DO, I DO, I DO!!! This takes more than belief...but ACTION IN THAT BELIEF!!
Remind satan that he is only an imposter...and that JESUS IS THE LION OF JUDAH! And as he tries to remind you of your past, simply remind him of his future!

Have a blessed week!

Lord, I Want to be Moldable!

Have you ever heard these words in the depths of your soul?
"Are you willing to be molded into the image of My Son, Jesus Christ?"

I have heard them on more than one occasion, and it happened again this morning. I simply replied,"Of course, Lord, I want to be molded into the image of Christ."

My heart's desire is to be ALL God wants, therefore, my heart beats to please my Abba Daddy!

The molding began many years ago. I remember having a conversation with God about wanting to do His will no matter what and He spoke clearly to my heart,  "Satan has asked to sift you. I have told him to go ahead, because you will not deny me for you are My servant."
Job, right...Peter, right...but Angie?? "Okay God," I said, "Help me to never deny You as my Lord, no matter what comes my way!"

I meant it then and I mean it even more so today! I have been through the testing, and the beauty of testing is that God has to approve the testing of my faith. The testing has to go through His hands before it can touch His children. He allows Satan to test His children. You know, Christ promises us many things and one of His promises most Christians don't like to hear is what He said in John 16:33, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you WILL have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

We love knowing He has overcome the world, but we don't like the trials and sorrows He promised we would face. Naturally we hate when bad things happen to good people. But the trials, sorrows and testing are all part of our testimony. I am joyfully bearing the trial I now face!

I was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Well, this past Thursday God asked me again, "Are you willing to be molded into the image of my Son, Jesus Christ?"

On Thursday May 24th I will have brain surgery to remove a tumor that has been slow growing and causing me to have constant headaches for a LONG TIME! I have not shaken my fist at God and asked, "Why me, God?" Instead my heart sings praises! He has filled my heart with pure peace and joy! Knowing He has a purpose for allowing this trial that could possibly bring sorrow, I have peace like a river because it has gone through His hands first. He knows what He is doing, and I am trusting Him!

I did have a conversation with Satan, and told Him that either way, He doesn't win! If God sees fit that my physical life ends on the operating table, my life has been lived to glorify God and I WIN! I believe My Redeemer lives, therefore, I live! Whether on earth or in heaven with my Savior! I WIN!!

God knows the outcome and I am trusting Him to do what He does best, and that is Glorifying His Name through His servant! I am His servant! I will continue to be who I am no matter what the devil tries to throw at me! I would think by now He would get sick of me not falling for his tricks, but I said yes to God's calling to be on the front lines. I am His Princess Warrior! I have committed my life to serving Christ and I will not go down without fighting for all souls I encounter for the purpose of them being united with Jesus. For He is the One and Only Way, Truth and LIFE!

I am here today because He lives! I am here today to bring Him glory! I am going through this today for someone to know God is faithful, no matter what we see! I am here today because I want to be molded into His image!
Be blessed! Angie

Are You Following The Shepherd's Voice?

John 10:3b-5 "He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought them outside,He goes ahead of them. The sheep follow Him because they recognize His voice. They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him because they do not recognize the voice of strangers."

John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me."

We live in a day and age where everything/everyone is fighting for our attention. Some are "screaming" for it, or "flashing neon lights"...We have our own minds to battle with daily and our thoughts are often the loudest and our biggest competitor. You know what I love about Jesus; His patience for His own! He simply speaks and will keep on speaking with His still, small voice until we recognize the One speaking and we listen then follow Him. He doesn't have to do cartwheels, throw us a party, or use a bull horn to get our attention, He simply speaks as John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me".

If we are putting Him first in ALL we do, we will hear His voice over all the "noise pollution" in our air waves. We will follow Him no matter the cost, because He is the Good Shepherd! As the Good Shepherd, He will keep us safe and guide us to find "pastures of rest and peace".

I wish to reiterate John 10:3b "He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out." In order for Jesus to lead you out, you have to first recognize His voice and say "yes" to following Him. Have you done that? Have you heard Him call your name, and your response was, "Not today Jesus, I still wanna live my own life, my own way, after all you only live once."

Or have you found yourself lately wondering who was speaking to you? Have you found yourself, hearing from God, and then another unfamiliar voice rears its ugly head? If this is you, which most Christians go through this from time to time, then STOP:
S= Silence yourself before God
T= Take time to praise Him for who He is and all He has done
O= Open your heart to Him so He can speak to you
P= Prove faithful to your Shepherd and follow Him

He knows your name, He is calling you to follow Him. Are you following your Shepherd's voice?

Father God, You are the Good Shepherd, our Wonderful Counselor, our Great Provider, our Savior, You deserve all praise, honor and glory for ALL You have done and continue to do! May we open our hearts to hear from You. Speak to us, give us direction and may we prove ourselves faithful by following our Shepherd's familiar voice! In Jesus'Name, AMEN AND AMEN!

Following my Shepherd's voice,
Angie

My Daddy's Eyes!

On February 15, 2007 the good Lord decided it was time for my dad's suffering to be over. After many years of drug and alcohol abuse he damaged his liver to the point of needing a transplant. Years before all of this he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior! He had been saved for about 18+ years to my knowledge and during that time he was a walking testimony of God's mercy and grace. Anyone who would listen, heard his testimony. He was a blessing to so many people! I didn't always feel this way.....

Unfortunately he was absent when I was a child and into my adult years because He made the choice to put drugs and alcohol above being a daddy. When he did come around I avoided looking him in the eyes because I was so angry at him for being absent. I chose to not honor him because I felt he did not deserve it after all he had done or didn't do as a father. I held a grudge and justified it because of his sin.

Years later when I was about 28, I got a call that my dad was in the hospital and the Dr's didn't know if he would make it through. Honestly, I DID NOT CARE! I had a heart of stone when it came to him. I believed that if I kept him at a distance, it would hurt him. And if I didn't let him close to me, he couldn't hurt me any longer.

When I got that call, I had just given my life to the Lord, so the Holy Spirit quickened my spirit.."Have you honored your parents? Have you obeyed your parents?" I was immediately convicted and yet offended at the same time. I cried out to God telling Him why I didn't honor my dad. I said, "He doesn't deserve honor! He has never been in my life really for me to obey and respect him. Why should I when he hasn't earned it! Why should I love someone who doesn't acknowledge me?"

The Lord said, "Because it is my command..I don't give you a command for you to follow only when you feel like it or have reason to. If you love Me you will keep my commands (John 14:15). Again, the Spirit of the Lord spoke, this time penetrating my soul! I decided to listen, which means hearing and then obeying, and go see my dad in the hospital and ask him for forgiveness.

When I was little, my dad being high and drunk, looked at me and said, "You can't be mine, you have blond hair and blue eyes." Those were the most crushing words I ever heard. From that day on, I searched for "my daddy's" eyes. My momma had the most beautiful brown eyes and so did my oldest brother. So my whole life I figured my dad had brown eyes too.

A beautiful and amazing thing happened that day I walked into my daddy's hospital room! For the first time, since I was about five years old, I looked into my daddy's eyes. To my surprise his eyes were the same as mine!

When I looked into my daddy's eyes that day, I saw the most beautiful blue eyes! Eyes that were filled with the love of Jesus! Eyes of compassion! Eyes that were remorseful for the words he had once spoke to me...We both teared up as I bent over to give him a hug. Through the tears, I whispered, "I am so sorry". He said, "I am the one who is sorry, you have nothing to be sorry for." And the healing began!

For more than five years, my daddy and I became extremely close..we talked for hours on the phone about Jesus and all He had done..we spent time together on special occasions and just got to know eachother.

If it wasn't for Christ coming into our lives, we would have never been able to do this and I would have never seen the resemblence...We both have our Daddy's eyes, our Heavenly Daddy that is: )

Have You Experienced True Peace?

Charles Spurgeon once asked his congregation, "Are you pacifying your own conscience by crying,"peace, peace when there is no peace"?

He was speaking to people who were living in sin (fleshly desires), blatant rebellion against God, all the while telling themselves they were fine..."God doesn't expect me to give up promiscuity, drunkenness, cursing...etc." Actually he demands it for His child! See for yourselves by reading Galatians 5..

Many have a false perception of Jesus, meaning, they "believe" in their head that He died on the cross for their sins and to many this means they can keep living according to the flesh...after all, didn't Jesus forgive me that day on the cross!?

Truth is, Jesus had to die a horrible death, in order for sinners to be reconciled to God. Our sins were placed on the Innocent Lamb of God so that we could be made right with God! Being made right with God, or reconciliation, means to have peace with God! The Bible is clear...

2 Corinthians 5:17-21(NLT)
"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Until you truly surrender of your life to Christ, you will only experience a temporary artificial peace. To have lasting peace, one can only have it through Jesus Christ, KNOWING He is the Prince of Peace!

It all starts at the foot of the cross! "I am crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:19b-20

Can God Trust You With Silence?

"If Jesus Christ is bringing you into the understanding that prayer is for the glorifying of His Father, He will give you the first sign of His intimacy - silence."~Oswald Chambers

During my reading of "My Utmost for His Highest", by Oswald Chambers, God spoke to my heart. How many times have I wondered why God wasn't speaking to me? Wondered if He even cared about my struggles...I even wondered if I did more to get His attention, such as fasting, spending longer amounts of time with Him in the morning reading His word, would He speak then?
There were times that I had cried out to Him for help, understanding, or healing with no answer...
Did He hear my cries for His touch. Doesn't He want me to hear Him and feel His presence? I even wondered if He was truly with me. Have you ever felt that way?

As my relationship with God began growing stronger each day, I began to recognize God's hand in different places and at different times. There are countless times that I felt His presence and then there were many times that I did not, however, deep down I knew He was there. I started believing the truth of God's Word over my feelings. Truth is, God is always with us (Hebrews 13:5)!

I believe the title says it all; Can God trust you with silence?

Here's an illustration:
You're on a long road trip with your family and all of a sudden there is silence. Is it awkward silence or is it peaceful silence? Do you feel as though you need to say something to strike up a conversation, or do you just enjoy their presence? Having four children the silence is often welcomed and needed.

On the other hand, lets say you ask a co-worker for a ride home because your car broke down. You get in the front seat, you begin to think of what you can talk about. You don't really know this person outside of work related stuff, so the 20 minute ride seems to take forever...
"How was work today?"
"Good. Stressful but good."
"How's your family?"
"Good. Yours?"
"Great."
"What do you think of this weather we're having?"
"It's been nice."
The questions are forced and the answers are vague.  Then comes the dreaded silence and you think to yourself, "What do I say now?"  It feels very awkward after only a brief period of no words...

So can God trust you with His silence? Do you know Him well enough to just sit in His presence without having to hear Him speak to you? Or is it awkward? Do you try to force a conversation with God or does it feel peaceful just being in Christ Jesus?

I am at a place in my walk with the Lord that I do not feel awkward silence in His presence. I believe Him at His word; that He is always with me and He will never forsake me (Hebrews 13:5), He hears my cry for help (Psalm 18:6), His love for me is unconditional (John 3:16)...He always has an answer for me. Sometimes His answer, "Be still and know that I am God!" Psalm 46:10.

As I sit in wait, His presence is all I need to know!
Psalm 16:11, "You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures."

Manifestation of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (HCSB), "A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial:
to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit,
to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
to another, faith by the same Spirit,
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
to another, the performing of miracles,
to another, prophecy,
to another, distinguishing between spirits,
to another, different kinds of languages(tongues),
to another, interpretation of languages(tongues).
But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each one as He wills."

Acts 11:16-17
"Then I remember the word of the Lord, how He said,'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' Therefore, if God gave them the same gift that He also gave to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?"

I was pondering the power of the Holy Spirit on my way home from work and just really thinking about some teachings that can be misleading. So I have asked God for wisdom when it comes to the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift/s, as well as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I pray for the truth of God's Word to be in my heart and on my mind always as I am called to be His Ambassador.

I have had people of a certain denomination tell me that I was not truly saved since I did not speak in tongues...I had them question my salvation, tell me that I must not want to gift of tongues because I had not told God to give it to me. I am not trying to offend anyone so please hear me out.

Let me give you an analogy: Let's say your birthday is coming up and your dad goes to several stores looking for a special gift just for you. He has watched you grow into a mature young adult and being your dad, he probably knows what you like and don't like. He also knows how you will handle the gift he wants to bestow on you. Now you, knowing your dad will pretty much give you whatever you ask for since it's your birthday, you decide to go to him begging for something you really desire. The begging becomes pleading and then manipulation...all before you have seen the gift he chose for you.

To me if you go to your dad begging for a specific thing for your birthday and he gives you exactly what you asked for, it ceases to be a gift...A gift is a special something, chosen by a special someone, to be given on a special occasion.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe in Christ Jesus as Savior. The gift/s of the Holy Spirit are giving to each Believer according to God's will. I can't go to God and beg Him for something I already have. I can't go to God and tell Him that I would rather have the gift of speaking in tongues over the interpretation of tongues.

The bottom line here is our Abba, Daddy, The Gift Giver, has chosen which gifts to bestow on each of His Children. When I was saved by trusting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and God chose to give me the gift of faith, wisdom, discernment and the gift of interpretation. My life transformation from who I once was to who I am now, is a testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit in my life. I CANNOT live as I do without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and His gifts to me!