This video, praying from abundance, has been on my mind for a very long time… for the past 7 days it has been an all consuming passion, and finally, it is done!
Enjoy this video designed to deepen your expectancy
Battlefield reports on the news are a constant reminder that all is not well.
In a time when so many of our young men and women are serving on battlefields far from home, it is still difficult for us to relate to the reasons and purposes being served. It all seems so far away. How can we begin to understand our place in a world filled with war when we do not physically see the battlefield?
I have heard preachers of many denominations speak about the battlefield being threefold.
They say it is in, around, and above us. They say there is a battle within, being our struggle with our sinful nature, a battle around us as we struggle against temptation, and a larger battlefield above us in the heavens where countless legions of those opposed to God and those loyal to Him battle to possess the souls of Christ’s church. Some may simplify it and describe the struggle as being in mind, body, and spirit, but I have grown to see these as only three facets of a many faceted battlefield.
Our newscasters water it down for us, speaking of things like the “war in the middle east”, but there are many wars in the middle east. And there is not just a war behind the war, but many wars behind and within each of these wars. There are many dimensions to the struggle. Nation against nation, power against power, riches against riches, politician against politician, religion against religion, race against race, even sect against sect and denomination against denomination! Behind every concept of the battlefield we attempt to comprehend, there seems to lie another more sinister manipulation going on. In truth, even those on foreign soil in the midst of the battlefield only glimpse at the surface of the real battle being fought. How far we have wandered from the plans our God of peace (shalom) intended for us, but WHY? (more…)
But for me, this weekend has been one of mixed feelings that I am sure many of you can relate to. I have had to remind myself over and over… God is in control!
It seems my world was turned inside out by one event after another, and I can only wonder why. What purpose will this serve? What am I to learn? And I wrestle with myself because one of the things that happened is something I know in my heart had to happen eventually, several years ago I even hoped that it would, but now that it has it hurts me deeply.
God is in control!
I never doubted that God was there, I only doubted if He was there for me, and only for a moment until I recognized the enemy had seized the opportunity to tempt me with doubt.
Get thee behind me Satan… God is in control!
I am angry that innocent ones have been hurt by the choices made by one they should have been able to be able to look up to, and now we must all remain helpless spectators as the drama that has begun continues to unfold, causing more pain.
God is in control!
That is the only TRUTH that will carry us through. Peace only comes when we place our burden at His feet and stop fighting to take it back onto our own shoulders. The wisdom I have gleaned is a sobering reminder that wealth is not about how much you have, but about the manner in which you use the things with which you have been entrusted.
With gratitude for the teaching and preaching of Pastor Dawn Anderson of Forest Hills United Methodist Church. My inspiration today comes straight from Pastor Dawn’s sermon this morning.
I have written often that what it all comes down to in the end is one simple question. Who do you belong to? But I never really thought about it in the context of the temptation of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew until today.
The stage is set in Matthew chapter 3. Jesus and John meet at the Jordan River. John does not feel worthy to baptize Jesus, but Jesus instructs him to do so. Now picture this scene in your mind from verses 16 – 17 “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
There is no question who Jesus belongs to as we read the last two verses of chapter 3, but the very first verse in chapter 4 lets us know that the enemy wants Him to falter and tempts Him in his weakest human moment. (more…)
Since the holiday season, I have found myself in several discussions that touched on the concept of prevenient grace. Several of my readers have asked for more information on this subject, and I have waited patiently for God to give me the inspiration and understanding to address prevenient grace in a manner that will edify and encourage my brothers and sisters.
Many envision God as a god of wrath who punishes those who believe the wrong things and rewards those who believe the right things. They would have you place more emphasis on doctrine than on works, and more emphasis on works that on relationship. I do not know their god. What I do know is that we will never be holy, never have a perfect understanding of the scriptures, and never accomplish enough good works to be worthy of the love, forgiveness, and eternal life He has promised to His children. I also know that whatever doctrine you may be hearing from the self proclaimed righteous, they don’t measure up either!
If we are all so badly flawed, then how can we possibly find our way to the presence of His holiness? That process starts when we stop believing in God, and as a result of the prevenient grace he has shown us, we start BELIEVING GOD!
I learned about prevenient grace when I attended Aldersgate Women’s Walk to Emmaus #99, where I sat at the table of Martha. If you have not participated in a Walk to Emmaus, Cursillo, or one of the many “three day’s”, I recommend it highly and would be honored to connect you to a “fourth day” community near you. If you are on your fourth day journey as I am, De Colores!
Prevenient grace is the activity of God wooing us from the (more…)
There has been an interesting discussion going on in recent weeks about what exactly will qualify a person to inherit eternal life. I have come across as much watered down doctrine as I have over the top legalistic doctrine, which has left me asking why so many people seem to be set on doing “just enough” to get to heaven? While the over the top doctrine pushers would have you believe that you must believe exactly as they do, the watered down faction seems to be seeking the quickest, easiest, cheapest ticket that will be accepted at the pearly gates.
In any endeavor, when you seek to do “just enough” rather than to excel, you may technically succeed, but you are only cheating yourself when you give less than your best. Here is a real world example – French Toast.
If I take the eggs and beat them just a little, then quickly dip the bread in the eggs and fry it on up in a really hot pan, I will technically have French Toast. It will be dry in the middle and have crusty egg white on the edges, and maybe a few charred spots, but it will have about the same nutritional value as it would have if I were more attentive to the details. (more…)
In recent days, for reasons unknown to me, I seem to keep stumbling into biblical discussions on the attributes of God. Suddenly everyone seems to be discussing the oneness, unity, and plurality of God as revealed in scripture. The paradox exists in many places in scripture, but is most often cited from the Shema, a sacred prayer recited by Jews the world over, and found in Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” It clearly states “the Lord is one” or “the Lord alone” depending upon which translation you read, however the the Hebrew word Elohim, which is plural, is the word translated to mean God in the singular. (more…)
During the holiday season I found myself engaged in a theological discussion on facebook that brought out many emotions. It began with a post about the un-holiness of Christmas… “When you say Merry (Christ-mass) you are saying really saying (Happy Jesus Death) people do your research this is a very unholy day that God does not like. Jeremiah 10:1-5.”
This, I was compelled to challenge. I will agree that some people do celebrate for unholy reasons, and the commercialization of the season is unfortunate at best, however the spirit of the season brings out the best in many, and Christians of all denominations, even those who have fallen away from Him throughout the year, refocus their attention on Christ during the Christmas season. Initially it made me angry, but as the discussion progressed, I was made to realize that even my anger was born of pride, which oppresses. Humility is born of compassion, which begets wisdom. (more…)
I sometimes feel like a fish out of water. I have had dreams of battlefield visions since I was very young. I have not shared that with anyone for a very long time. I believe that God’s ultimate plan is unfolding now – yes today. Each of us whom He has called, has a critical part to play, some large and some small. It requires a true servant’s heart to do your part, with diligence and excellence, driven by the understanding of how much it matters, with no regard to recognition in this world. That, my friend, is the ultimate love confession.
I was born and raised Jewish, met Yeshua, the Aramaic name of Jesus, in a charismatic church, and now serve in a smallish Methodist church, however, I do not refer to myself a Methodist. This is just where God has called me to serve. I do not believe in the concept of organized religions at all. Most Christian denominations have become religions “about” Yeshua. I endeavor to hold on to the religion, or better said, the faith OF Yeshua. I lean toward, and continue to study, the Aramaic translations and concepts underlying what Yeshua taught during His physical days on this planet.
I am conscious of these things as I write, praying, as I strive to create content that embodies this concept, without pointing a finger and saying anyone is wrong… because it needs to be about communicating Yeshua’s understanding of God, and of Love, in a way that the reader will embrace, rather than reject because it contradicts a doctrine they have been taught in their church. I am clear that God has placed me in this often uncomfortable role as peacemaker and guide, and honoring that role is my love confession in action.
There are no accidents. (more…)
that what it all comes down to in the end is one simple question. Who do you belong to? But I never really thought about it in the context of the temptation of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew until today.
There is no question who Jesus belongs to as we read the last two verses of chapter 3, but the very first verse in chapter 4 lets us know that the enemy wants Him to falter and tempts Him in his weakest human moment. (more…)
In any endeavor, when you seek to do “just enough” rather than to excel, you may technically succeed, but you are only cheating yourself when you give less than your best. Here is a real world example – French Toast.
I sometimes feel like a fish out of water. I have had dreams of battlefield visions since I was very young. I have not shared that with anyone for a very long time. I believe that God’s ultimate plan is unfolding now – yes today. Each of us whom He has called, has a critical part to play, some large and some small. It requires a true servant’s heart to do your part, with diligence and excellence, driven by the understanding of how much it matters, with no regard to recognition in this world. That, my friend, is the ultimate love confession.
