New Year New Mind

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

How boring would be to do the same thing, every time, every day.  Never changing your way of thinking, the way you move or the way you speak.  The Lord is offering us a new outlook, not to be like everyone else but to be true to our self by changing the way we think.  Breaking free from the me-first pattern of the world and have our minds changed in order to be able understand what God wants, which will change the way we live.

What does a renewed mind look like, how is that obtained?  If someone told you to have a quiet time, you’d know what to do: read your Bible and pray. But what if they told you to renew your mind? Would you know how to renew your mind? Maybe not.  The renewing of the mind doesn’t have a clear protocol like a quiet time has. Maybe that’s because it can get scrambled by the agenda for the day.

In order for it to be a true renewing of the mind experience, our thinking needs to be transformed. And in order for our thinking to be transformed, our minds need to be fully engaged.

One of the things we need in this New Year is a renewed mind, thinking the way we have in years past will no longer suffice.  There are so many things we have to contend with, but when we renew our minds, we will be better equipped to Pray for healing and safety as well as the peace of Christ to rule and reign in the hearts of those affected the past two years by a nationwide pandemic or other tragedies that have plagued us.  A renewed mind would ask the Lord to use these things for His glory and bring revival around the world. A renewed mind would pray for supernatural protection by the blood of Jesus.

God doesn’t want us to think like the world thinks. His word is life and health, full of promises, abundance, healing, and deliverance. This is the life He wants for us. He wants us to change the way we think so you can access everything He has for us.

A renewed mind would worship, by becoming a living sacrifice to our God, giving up seeking what we want from life and learning to know and serve what God wants. That begins with using our spiritual gifts to serve each other. We must focus our expectation on those things eternal and wait with patience and prayer for our Father to provide. We must refuse to sink to evil’s level, giving good to those who harm us instead of revenge.  A renewed mind takes Philippians 4:8 to heart.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

How do you renew your Mind?

  • Study and apply the word of God – The Bible is God’s manual for us. It is a guide that will help us be successful in this world if we follow it. In order to know what the guide says, we need to study it.   Joshua 1:8
  • Control Your Thoughts – Many people think they do not have control over their thoughts. Well, the Bible clearly states that we can take captive or dismiss any thoughts that don’t align with the word of God. II Corinthians 10:5

  • Be Careful What You Feed Your Mind – We feed our minds with unintentional things which we allow in and they change us in ways that shape our lives, and we are not aware of.  What are you feeding your Mind?  Psalm 119:37

Charles H. Spurgeon writes “Whatever a man depends upon, whatever rules his mind, whatever governs his affection, whatever is the chief object of his delight is his god.”

New Year, New Mind should be our battle cry for 2022!

CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS, CHANGE YOUR LIFE, CHANGE THE WORLD!!

Spiritual Gift – Discernment

(Test the spirit by the Spirit)

 

Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in Your commandments. ~~ Psalm 119:66 (NASB)

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  ~~ Ephesians 5:6-10 (NIV)

 

Discernment is defined as the ability to obtain sharp perceptions or to judge well. In the case of judgment, discernment can be psychological, moral or appealing in nature. In the Bible Discernment is defined as one of the quieter gifts. Those who have the gift rarely speak up unless they discern it’s safe to do so. It is a gift to the church to help us dismiss confusion. Whether you have the gift of discernment or want to become more discerning, studying God word will stretch your discernment muscles.

The bible is always the place to start when it comes to discernment. It provides the basis for sound theology that protects us from error.  It acts like the guard rails on a mountain road, steering you in the right direction.   It also gives general principles for Christian living, because followers of Christ must use wisdom to discern how to apply those principles to the issues of their lives.

The book of Proverbs is a great help in this regard. It helps define “the skill of godly living,” which one must thoughtfully discern, apply, and practice in order to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.

One thing we need to be aware of, parties on both sides of an issue often use the bible to support their position.  This is where the gift comes in, we need to be able to discern who’s right.    In the process of Christian spiritual discernment God guides the individual to help them arrive at the best decision.

Throughout the bible the ability to discern is spoken of, it was the ability to discern good from evil, judgment, and to discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people.

I remember growing up as a kid, we were told to use our better judgment when we were away from home, of course I didn’t think about it then, but I believe this is where discernment played a part.  We had to make the choice between good and bad, right and wrong.  This carried over into our adulthood where we are exercising the gift or that discernment muscle to make sure that we were living the way that was pleasing to our parents and subsequently the Lord.  During the course of life, that muscle was weakened by the cares of this world, but if we stayed the course, it was the foundation that would bring things back to our remembrance.

This month as we explore the Spiritual gifts, now is as good a time as any to reexamine ourselves – to really know what our gift(s) are, not just for the sake of knowing only, but for using our gift for the sake of the Kingdom.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, help us to use discernment so that we do not believe every spirit, but that we test the spirits to see whether they are from you.  Help us to not judge by mere appearance, but instead judge correctly.   Give us insight to deepen our understanding of the gift you have given us so that we use them for your glory.  It’s in Jesus’ name we pray – Amen!

Goodness And Faithfulness

(Show Them Your Goodness, and They’ll Show You Their Faithfulness)

 

Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.  Galatians 6:10 (NIV)

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? Luke 16 10-12 (NKJ)

 

GOODNESS:  The state of being good, the quality of being morally good or virtuous.

Goodness is the 6th fruit of the Spirit.  It can often be seen in our actions, but our heart also has to be pure. The goodness of Christ should be demonstrated in our lives every day. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Psalm 23:6 (NKJV)

Goodness is shown by God in His activity.  God is the standard for understanding goodness and following Him inspires us to do good. In the long line of evil kings in Israel and Judah, King Hezekiah stands out as one of the only good kings. He showed goodness through his actions and decrees, and his goodness was rooted in his love for God.  When we say that we love God, does goodness show in our actions, the way we interact with Him, other people and/or ourselves?

FAITHFULNESS:  To be faithful to something is to be devoted to it, dedicated, committed, loyal. To be faithful means to be trustworthy and reliable.

Faithfulness is the 7th fruit of the Spirit.  God calls us to be faithful, first and foremost, to Him. He wants us to be devoted to Him, loyal to Him, committed to Him.  When we are faithful there is a reward in Heaven for us.  “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:23 (NIV)

Being faithful gives you peace of mind, you don’t have to watch your back, you are not paranoid, trying to remember every lie you’ve told.  You are focused, not distracted by other people or objects.  Anyone who believes and is faithful to God unlocks His divine blessing.  “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.” Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV)

 

Time To Reflect: 

  • Are there things in your life that you are loyal to that might take away from your goodness or faithfulness to God as opposed to strengthen it? What are those things?
  • Are there some things that you might be loyal to here on Earth that are distracting you from being good or faithful to God?
  • If so, what can you do to reset that compass to make sure that you’re good/faithful to the one true God?

Really take the time to answer these questions!  Reflection gives us greater self-awareness – It allows us to separate our own perception from a situation as an objective observer. We’ll begin to notice our own thoughts and feelings. From there, we can examine our perception by thinking about it as a “story” we are telling ourselves about any given situation.

Then pray and ask God to show you where you are not showing goodness or being faithful!

I believe that if we show others our goodness, they’ll show us their faithfulness!

Let me end with this – As I was thinking of writing this week’s blog, this song came to mind – Great Is Your Mercy by Donnie McClurkin, it speaks of God’s faithfulness and His goodness, here are a few of the lyrics.

Forever faithful towards me
You’re always providing for me
Great is Your mercy towards me
Great is Your grace

Kindness And Gentleness

(This Dual Can Heal Your Heart and Your World)

KINDNESS – the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.  “he thanked them for their kindness and support”.

This fifth fruit of the Spirit is kindness. Kindness is selfless, compassionate, and merciful; its greatest power revealed in practice to our enemies and amongst the least of these. We are called to love your neighbor; and to show kindness to EVERYONE. It’s the ultimate expression of your love for God. It’s how we tell Him that we are choosing Him in as much as He chose us. … Indeed, kindness not only makes others happy, but it also uplifts our spirit too.

True kindness is taught to us in Ephesians 4:31-32, “31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Truly kind people will actively look for opportunities to show kindness.  This means that kindness involves action.

For a perfect symbol of Biblical kindness, we need look no further than Jesus.

In Mark 1:40-42 – Jesus took pity on a leper and healed him of his disease.  He didn’t see the man as a leper but a human being who was sick and needed his help.  Through this, Jesus taught us that kindness should go beyond social stereotypes.  We should look at where the person is coming from and understand their circumstances.  Only then can we develop genuine compassion.

 

GENTLENESS:  Is the 8th Fruit of the Spirit.  It is the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered.  Gentleness in the bible means showing care and respect for others in the way that you act and speak.  It also means giving up the right to judge what is best for ourselves and others. God is not as concerned with our comfort as He is concerned with our spiritual growth, and He knows how to grow us far better than we do. Gentleness means that we accept that the rain falls on the just and the unjust and that God may use methods we don’t like to reach our hearts and the hearts of others.

 

I remember as a young believer I visited a church for the first time and the first person I encountered was an usher, who wasn’t very gentle.  My first instinct was to turn and leave, but something prompted me to stay.  I was seated next to a lady who was kind and very helpful, this changed my total experience and I eventually joined the church.  If my first impression had been all that I took away from that worship experience, I may never have gone back.  But because of the gentle spirit of the person, I sat next to, I had a change of heart.

 

When we are filled with the Spirit’s fruit of gentleness, we will correct others with easiness instead of resentment and anger, knowing that their salvation is far more important than our pride.   This is so important, especially as a Christian, the way we treat someone could affect the way they see God.

 

John the Baptist the fiery preacher, showed true gentleness when he said, “He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease.”  (John 3:30)

 

How can you show kindness and gentleness to those you meet?  Remember doing so shows the heart of God to those who need truly need it.  This holiday season we will encounter a lot of people, with lots of different personalities and circumstances, let’s be intentional about showing both fruit to anyone we encounter.  I promise you it will change their lives or at least your heart.

 

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’  ~~ Matthew 25:40 (NLT)

Patience and Self Control

A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.  Proverbs 15:18 (NIV)

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” Titus 2:11 (NIV)

Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.  We all need to be patient in life. And that’s because, without patience, it impossible to serve God. … Patience is the ability to hold back and persevere through all forms of temptations and trials. It is one of the main qualities we need to put on as Christians.

Self-Control is the ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations.  Self-control is essential in behavior to achieve goals and to avoid impulses and emotions that could be negative. Self-control is an effort that is intended to help achieve the goal of success. Failing to control oneself often leads to failure.

As we look at the two differing, but very similar definitions of these two words, we have to ponder whether we can have one without the other.  Let’s take a look at the life of some of the biblical characters who exhibited these virtues.

Patience

  • Abraham and Sarah trusted God and they waited patiently for him. This doesn’t mean they waited perfectly. They took matters into their own hands at times. But God’s grace covered them, and He still fulfilled His promise, in His perfect timing.
  • Joseph trusted God while we waited. He could have been scared and angry at what his brothers did to him and how he ended up in jail because of a lie. But he faithfully worked with a good attitude while he waited through life in Egypt. He became friends with the king and God used his new relationships to provide for his family.

 

  • Hannah was constantly mocked because of her inability to become pregnant. This went on for years. However, Hannah demonstrated grace and dignity by holding her tongue and continued to pray for a child. God honored her diligence and patience, and Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son, Samuel.

Self-Control

  • Nehemiah showed self-control and didn’t fight back when his enemy came against him. Instead, while working to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem, Nehemiah strategically stationed some of his men to be guards while the others worked. Nehemiah knew that God would protect them. He acted calmly and with self-control
  • David could have killed Saul, who was trying to kill him! David showed self-control because he knew that God still wanted Saul to be king. David said to Saul, “For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands”. 1 Samuel 24:11
  • Jesus exhibited self-control when Satan offered Him control over the whole world, but Jesus knew that God’s kingdom would eventually be the only kingdom. Jesus is the perfect expression of all the fruits of the Spirit, including self-control. The bible tells us that while Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He instructed His disciple to have some self-control when he wanted to fight those coming to arrest Jesus.  ~~ 52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” Matthew 26:52-54

To be successful in life we need both of these virtues, they go hand in hand:

Self-control can help reduce impulsive behavior, eliminate bad habits, improve mental focus and enhance your decision-making capacity.

Patience helps you make thoughtful decisions, cultivate lasting relationships, find inner peace and learn to be kind to others.

Do you see the similarities? The question remains, Can You Have One Without the Other?

When You Live At Peace, Joy Will Follow

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” So you are the one who is filled with peace. You are the one who is filled with joy. Romans 15:13

 

The word ‘Joy’ appears nearly 200 times in the Bible, which helps us understand just how important this second sweet fruit of the Spirit really is. Joy is a condition of the heart, a good feeling that is based on a much wider range of good things than peace is. But they are so interwoven that there could be no true heart experience of Christian joy without the heart experience of Christian peace.  The good feeling of joy that comes into the heart doesn’t just come from the absence of worry or conflict; it comes from other things as well.

The bible has just as much to say about Peace, it appears approximately 300 times with the highest occurrences in the book of Isaiah. One of my favorite scriptures in Isaiah is Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”  Peace in Galatians 5:22 speaks of knowing that the Lord of the universe is always there and you resting in that. It’s not just knowing, but it is also living it out. Peace is sitting in comfort and knowing that God is by your side no matter what is going on in you or around you.  Peace happens when anxieties are removed, when fear and conflict are not troubling your heart.

Joy and Peace – If we were to explore the difference between these two experiences based on our relationship with Christ, here is how we could view it from a biblical standpoint; The Bible says God gives us joy and peace. It tells us that real joy comes from God and is ours forever. The joy that is found in God’s presence isn’t static; it changes and restores us.

Even with this perspective, it can sometimes be hard to find contentment and joy when we receive so many messages in our day-to-day lives that we’re not smart enough, beautiful enough, or successful enough. If we could just work harder, eat healthier, or be a little less stressed, then maybe – just maybe – we will finally be at peace.

There’s always something that going to be missing in that statement, so back to the bible we go.  Paul gives us more examples of joy and peace in Philippians 4:11-13 where he states that because of Christ, nothing can change the way he feels or the condition of his heart.

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

After all the things we’ve gone through in our lifetimes, we should choose peace over happiness, which is the pursuit of desires and ambitions, whereas peace of mind is the ability to let go of those ambitions and desires. The achievement of peace is the ability to simply deal with things the way they are. In fact, this state can put you in position to then experience more happiness.  I also choose joy over happiness because when I choose joy, there is hope, with joy, hardship offers growth and opportunity. With joy, self-esteem and self-respect are everlasting, no one can take them away.

As I am writing this, I start to ponder where you are in your personal life journey, are you truly experiencing the joy and peace that the Lord desires for you, or is it just that temporary happiness, which is based on what is happening around you at the time?

Know that when you choose Christ, you choose peace – He is the Prince of Peace, and the Joy of the Lord is our strength.  Choose wisely.

Shalom – Peace be unto you!

Love – The Ultimate Fruit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit is the evidence—the outward display—of the Holy Spirit’s work within a Christian. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The fruits of the Spirit demonstrate the character of a life submitted to God.

 

For the next 5 weeks we will look at the Fruit of the Spirit, Week 1 is that decisive fruit – LOVE.  The famous expression, ‘love conquers all,’ which is credited to the Roman poet Virgil, speaks volumes.  It suggests that there is no force in the world that cannot be overcome by love

 

For the sake of time the remaining fruit will be grouped together in twos.  It is my prayer that you will be encouraged and inspired and begin to see God working in and through your diligence to live for Him. After all,” we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

 

As I get started, I first must ask the question, what is Love?

Love is defined as a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person. 

There are different kinds of love, the bible speaks of the different kinds of love, the most familiar ones in the Greek are Eros, Phileo and Agape.

  • Eros is the sexual or romantic love, it is not used in the New Testament but may have been used in the Septuagint translations of the Old Testament.
  • Phileo is the friendly or brotherly love or a love shown to a friend closer than a brother, we see this in John 5:20 and John 16:27

  • Agapeis the self-sacrificial love, that’s important in the New Testament. This word speaks of a mindful action rather than an emotional feeling.  It describes the love God has (1 John 4:8) and shows his Son, (John 17:26) and Christians (John 14:21).  It is also used in describing God’s love for the entire human race (John 3:16) or (Romans 8:5).

When we seek love, especially earthly love, it may fail us. When we love imperfect broken people, the love can also be imperfect and broken. But when we seek and find love with the creator God, we find a perfect selfless love that is eternal.  The kind of love, that loves us through our mess and restores us into a person who is lovely and love who can love others.

One of my favorite scripture give us a glimpse of what love is – 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  8 Love never fails.

I could go on and on about this topic but as I bring it to a close, I pray that we understand what love truly is or is not and that we will choose love over anything else, because as scripture says, “Love Never Fails”.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father thank you that you loved us so much that you sent your only begotten Son Jesus, to die for us.  Even when we were sinners, He was willing to give His life to reconcile us back to you.  We could never repay you for the sacrifice, but what we can do is love at all time, the way you do.  It’s in the matchless name of Jesus, we pray!  Amen

Mary Magdalene: The Scandal

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. ~~ Luke 8:1-2

Mary’s nickname Magdalene may mean that she came from the town of Magdala a fishing town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in Roman Judea.

The Gospel of Luke 8:2–3 lists Mary Magdalene as one of the women who traveled with Jesus and helped support his ministry “out of their resources”, indicating that she was probably relatively wealthy. The same passage also states that seven demons had been driven out of her, a statement which is repeated in Mark 16.

Mary Madelene has been depicted in many movies about the life of Jesus.  Jesus is said to have loved her more than any of the others because of her understanding. Some readers have interpreted Jesus’ “love” as physical, not just spiritual, and that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were intimate — if not married.  Beneath centuries of misinformation and conspiracy it is said that she was Jesus’ wife whom he fathered two children with.  In another movie “The Chosen”, we discovered that the character called Lilith for most of the episode is Mary Magdalene.  The Episode showed how the demons were cast out of her by Jesus.  The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith, the creators of The Chosen probably chose that name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. Also noted in this movie, Mary is in the “Red Quarter”, implying that she is a prostitute, again the Bible never suggests Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. However, some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 is about a sinful woman who was forgiven. Over time, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her that way.

One thing the scripture does say about Mary and that is she played a starring role in one of the most powerful and important scenes in the Gospels. When Jesus was crucified by the Romans, she was there supporting him in his final terrifying moments and mourning his death and she was the first woman that Jesus appeared to after his resurrection.

9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. – Mark 16:9-10

When Mary told the Apostles that Jesus had risen, none of them believed her. Yet she never wavered in her belief.

She gives us an example that as Christians, we too will be the target of ridicule and distrust, and that all manner of untruths may be spoken about us, we must hold on to our belief in Jesus, that he is the way and that he will show himself to us, when we are at the lowest point in our lives.

My question to you today is:  When you are faced with challenges as Mary was, how will you respond?  Will you stand firm in your belief or will you succumb to the ways of the world and hide out in hopes that no one notices that you are a follower of Jesus?

Jesus said, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26

PRAY FOR YOUR NATION AND GOVERNMENT

 

1I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 

Not everyone that reads or listens to us are in the United States, but just like those locally they need our prayers.

1 Timothy 2:1 introduces an appeal to be persistent in prayer.  Similar lists of prayer requests occur in other letters from Paul, for example in Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6-7, and 1 Timothy 5:5.  The author of 1 Timothy solicits all imaginable forms of prayer. This builds the hope that Christians might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.

According to Paul, prayer needs to be offered to all, which includes all mankind, both men and women, both city and nation.  They are to be spoken “for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions”. Paul emphasizes “all” in both 1 Timothy 2:4 and 6.  His words reflect both the teachings of Jesus and his own letters.

When it comes to praying for our leaders, the beforementioned scripture gives us clear instructions on how to pray because our leaders need God’s help. All of them. So, as we pray, we should ask for God to reveal areas where we have not represented His love to the world around us. We all need His mercy, and when we realize just how imperfect we are, we should be humbled to offer deeper supplication (prayer) for the imperfect men and women who lead us.

Please note, that although our nation may be in crisis, we serve a God of restoration. … Prayer works and praying for our nation and government during turmoil will reap a harvest of revival and healing  —  If my people, who are called by my name would humble themselves and pray…..then will I hear from Heaven.

We should also note that the simple act of praying for our leaders can help them step into God’s will for their lives, and ultimately the people they serve.  If the leaders of our country/nations do not have a biblical worldview, rather than complain or be angry, we can fight through the power of prayer, we can pray for their minds to align with God’s Word.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, we pray for our President, our Government, and Nation. Please give them divine wisdom to lead our country. We pray that they would serve and revere You in their words and actions. We humbly ask that You grant them grace to know how to unify their place of influence.  Please, raise up leaders who will work to protect our freedoms so that we can live peaceful, quiet lives in godliness and dignity.  Please, provide our leaders with reminders each day of why they decided to dedicate their lives to public service and use that commitment to encourage them. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray – Amen!

 

 

Kiss and Make-up

So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Luke 17:3

 

I struggled with how I would share today’s message. I worried. Would it require me to be too transparent?

There could have been many ways to share this reconciliation journey. One way would have been to share from the viewpoint of me as the 7th of 10 children. Because there was always a need for us to forgive one another for one thing or another and we did so many times. Today I choose to share the story of reconciling with a husband. We have been divorced for 10 years. In 2010 after many discussions and challenges I decided to leave the marriage of almost 7 years. I moved away from my husband, family, and friends. I built a life for myself away from everyone.

Fast forward to 2021, in February of this year, my son reached out to my ex-husband regarding a business venture. I hadn’t spoken to him for 10 years but as they talked my ex asked about me and told my son to tell me to call him. At first, I didn’t know why he would want to speak with me, and part of me wanted to say no. I didn’t want to relive the pain our divorce caused me, but I relented and called him. As it turns out it was the best thing I could have done. I was able to tell him all the things I had held in for all those years. He allowed me to talk about everything I had experienced because of the divorce. He allowed me to be real and often raw and because of this encounter, we have reconciled.  We are on a great path and have been seeing each other for the past 6 months. Here is where the transparency comes into play, we have literally kissed and made up. I can truly say that reconciliation is the restoration of friendly relations. That holding a grudge can end up hurting you as much as the person who inspired it.

We must remember that reconciliation is the final step in the forgiveness process, it is the “cherry on top”—an extra bonus when and if it happens. It takes two people to reconcile, but only one to forgive.

I leave you with this scripture – Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”