The Lord of the Outcasts (Written By My Husband)

The Lord of the Outcasts (Written By My Husband)

I have met many people who claim to have been burned by Christians, or churches. I have heard  many reasons why people do not attend church, or seek after God. Many people who are financially poor are shamed by churches if they cannot afford to tithe. The heavy yoke of the Old Testament tithe is placed upon their necks without mercy. Although the New Testament teaches that a person is to give according to their ability and not under obligation, many churches mislead their congregations. Under the old covenant, many of the poor were allowed to keep, and eat, their own tithe. However, the modern day churches are more concerned with their nice buildings, fine clothes, and prestige, than for the poor.

 

Church should not be a place for a fashion show, but a place to seek after and worship God. If a poor family cannot afford nice clothes, they should be allowed to sit on the front row without shame. The house of God should be a place for people of all races and backgrounds. Racial, or economic discrimination, has no place in the church of the Living God.

 

However, we should keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus and not others. People will disappoint you, but God is faithful and will never disappoint. Don’t reject God because you have been hurt by people. God loves you so much that he became a man, and died on the cross to ransom your soul from the devil. There is no greater love, than the love of God.

 

Not all churches have gone the way of Laodicea. I have attended churches that care for souls, and have no concern for materialism. I recommend a church that preaches holiness, loves people, and reaches out to the poor and rejected. The late pastor David Wilkerson was an example for all ministers to follow. He loved people of all races and backgrounds, and founded the Times Square Church in New York City. Pastor Wilkerson had love for the neglected souls in the inner city. He reached out to those who had been rejected, and looked down upon, by the religious institutions. His church embraces people of all races, cultures, and economic backgrounds. His shining example of Christian love has inspired me for decades.

 

Jesus Christ is the Lord of the outcasts. Christ was rejected by the religious leaders of his day because he exposed their hypocrisy and reached out to sinners. The pious scribes and Pharisees would not associate with those they considered unclean, but Christ came to teach repentance, love, mercy, as well as forgiveness. Christ ate with tax collectors and sinners, in order to reach out to them, as well as other neglected souls. If we claim to follow Christ, we should also reach out to those around us without prejudice. If the world will see the love of Christ in us, they may repent and turn from darkness to light.

 

(Matt 9:9) As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.

10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice. 'For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

 

 

 

Dream of the Golden Bowl filled with Anointing Oil (Written by my Husband)

Dream of the Golden Bowl filled with Anointing Oil (Written by my Husband)

(1 John 3:3) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

 

I recently dreamed that an angel of the Lord asked me, “Do you believe in the eternal security doctrine?” I replied, “No, Christ said that those who endure unto the end shall be saved.” I continued, “If you fall away from Christ even five minutes before your death you will be lost.” The angel said, “That is correct.”

 

  The angel was standing next to a golden bowl filled with anointing oil. Two pipes led from the bowl. One pipe was the Word of God (scripture), the other pipe, had the word holiness written in large letters on it. The two pipes dripped oil into the hands of those who were filled with God’s Holy Spirit. I was told that God would anoint those who walked in holiness. I also understood that a lukewarm church would be vomited out (Rev 3:14-18).  This dream was in reference to Zechariah chapters 4 and 5.

 

Zechariah was shown a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Zechariah was told that this is the Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel (Zech ch 4).  He was shown God’s temple and anointing oil, which is symbolic of God’s Spirit and righteousness. Zechariah was also shown a plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel, he was told, “They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth”.  A plumb line is a measuring tape. Nothing escapes the eyes of the Lord, for we are all measured or weighed by the Lord.

 

You may think God doesn’t see you, or care, if you tell a dirty joke at work, but the Lord knows all things. The Lord knows every thought that goes through your mind. If you look upon a woman to lust after her, you have committed adultery in your heart, or if you hate your brother, you have committed murder in your heart. We are under God’s microscope at all times and we should remember that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

 

Without holiness, no man shall see the Father. If you are living in sin, you are not saved by grace. Grace is not automatic, grace follows repentance. If you repent, and turn away from your sins, God will wash you clean and transform you into a new creation. This is the meaning of being born again. The atonement that Christ provided upon the cross supplies our lack. Our righteousness alone is not enough to provide for salvation. The shed blood of Christ brings redemption only if we make Christ our Lord through obedience. We must allow the love of Christ into our hearts and learn to love our neighbor, as well as live a sanctified (purified and set apart) life. Regardless of your level of faith, if you continue to live in sin as the world does, you are not born again, but lost.

 

Many churches teach that we are all filthy sinners, living in a fallen world, with a fallen nature, and we cannot live right. Consider this, Satan and one third of the angels were living in the perfect environment of Heaven, yet they chose to sin against God.  Adam and Eve were living in a perfect world without sin, but they also chose to sin against God. My point is, whether we live in a perfect world, or a fallen world, we have the ability to choose good or evil. By the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit, we have the power to live a sanctified, disciplined life. We must unlearn the junk that the   Laodicean churches teach. Consider the curse that travels the entire earth expelling the evil doers (Zech chapter 5). 

 

(Zech 5:1) Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll.

2 And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I answered, "I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits."

3 Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth: 'Every thief shall be expelled,' according to this side of the scroll; and, 'Every perjurer shall be expelled,' according to that side of it." 4 "I will send out the curse," says the Lord of hosts;" It shall enter the house of the thief  And the house of the one who swears falsely by My name. It shall remain in the midst of his house And consume it, with its timber and stones."  5 Then the angel who talked with me came out and said to me, "Lift your eyes now, and see what this is that goes forth." 6 So I asked, "What is it?" And he said, "It is a basket that is going forth." He also said, "This is their resemblance throughout the earth:

7 Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket";

8 then he said, "This is Wickedness!" And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth.

9 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven.

10 So I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are they carrying the basket?"

11 And he said to me, "To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base."

 

 

Humility and a Servant's Heart: Written by my Husband

Humility and a Servant's Heart (Written by my Husband)

 

(Matt 20:25) But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

 

The ways of this fallen world are contrary to the ways of God. Many boast of their knowledge, or seek after money, power, or fame. However, God is opposed to the proud and gives grace to the humble. Those who desire to be first will be last, and those who desire power, will be brought to shame. If you want to be great in the kingdom of God, you must learn to be a servant to all. We are not above our master; Christ came to teach us the ways of the Father, as well as to give his life as a ransom for many. Christ was an example of servanthood; he came to serve, rather than to be served. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples in humility and told us to do likewise. The lust of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life will pass away with this fallen world, but those who do the will of God will live forever.

 

(1 John 2:16) For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

 

The apostle Paul was given many great revelations and performed miracles through the power of God’s Spirit, but he was also an example of humility. Paul said that God gave him a thorn in the flesh (a messenger from Satan sent to buffet him), so that he would not become puffed up, due to his many revelations. Paul prayed three times that this thorn be removed, but God said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” It is better to be humbled by God, than to lose your soul.

 

I have seen many ministries fall because of pride, as well as the love of money and power. Many of the generals of the faith were spiritually killed, because they were given over to the lusts of their flesh. Sexual immorality and greed has killed many ministries. Kenneth Hagin Sr. is the founder of the heretical prosperity gospel. On his deathbed, Hagin repented for leading many astray with this deceptive doctrine. He urged other ministries to abandon what he called the Midas-gold doctrine.

 

Sadly, this doctrine which justifies fleecing the flock, is very much alive. Many television evangelists, mega-church leaders, as well as common churches worldwide, embrace this doctrine of spiritual death. The ministers who rob the poor, in order to live in mansions, and drive luxury cars, will answer to God on Judgment Day. Christ said that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter heaven. Pastors, teachers, as well as other ministers, need to lead by example, as the early apostles did. Rather than to be served, we need to learn to serve others. Let us all walk in the fear of the Lord.

 

(Prov 16:18) Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

 

(John 13:3) Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." 8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean." 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

 

Advice on how to Reach a Hurting Friend

 

I am working 40+ hours a week at my new job and I no longer have much time to write.  I especially miss working on the two new novels I started before I started work, but I will get back to them some day.   I am pleased, however, to share my dear hubby’s wonderful blogs on this site as well.

 

I started to write a blog last week that I might finish when I have a few more spare minutes, but this subject is more on my heart today.

 

A woman named Barbara (not her real name) started in the office around a week after I did.  I almost immediately felt a kinship with her in part to her friendly nature, in part to our prior law enforcement backgrounds, but mostly because she is a fellow believer.  Barbara & I are both shy in nature and private people; we do not like to share personal information to those who are practically strangers.  Yet, one morning when we had a spare minute or two between tasks, she confided in me that she struggles with issues of faith.  She feels as if her mind is a battlefield between Christ and Satan and she is painfully struggling not only to win the spiritual war, but also to understand why this is happening.  My heart went out to her and I  told her I fully believed she was indeed involved in spiritual warfare and quoted to her Ephesians 6:12, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  I also told her that we have a God that intercedes on our behalf and reminded her of Luke 22:31-32, And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

 

Barbara also told me that the only time she ever heard the name of God or Jesus growing up, it was as a swear word.  I have no idea how long she has been a believer or any other personal details as she usually keeps up a pretty big wall.  I have done my best to encourage her and I have been praying for her several times a day, but she still seems depressed.  I know part of her discouragement has to do with the fact that she is struggling to learn her new job and she feels even worse when the bosses assign me the computer work and have her doing the more menial tasks.  Again, I try to encourage her, but the better I get at the job and the more recognition I get from the bosses, the harder it is to break through to her and try to witness to her troubled mind.  I gave her a card yesterday in an attempt to further assure her of my desire to be her friend.  I let her know I was praying for her and wrote some verses in the card including Philippians 4:6-7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  She accepted the card with tears and thanks and said life was hard right now, but then the wall came back up, and she said no more.

 

How does one handle it when trying so hard to encourage one who refuses to be comforted?  I feel as if I am failing the Lord because I cannot seem to help Barbara.  What can I say or do that will get through?  Am I praying the right prayers?  Should I spend a day fasting and praying for her and try harder to intercede on her behalf?  Does there come a time when we draw the line and say we have done all we can and do no more?  Do I simply give up on being her friend?  She has rejected my offers to go on a double date with her husband, Mel, and me (she said it sounded nice but never called after I gave her my phone number).  Right now, she seems resentful with me for the positive attention I am getting at work, but I cannot do a poor job just because she is struggling to learn the job.  Can I?

 

I know you have probably been in this same situation at one time or another: trying to reach someone who feels unreachable.  Here is my advice on how to reach a hurting friend.  This is very much for me as well as anyone reading this. 

 

First and foremost, place your friend in God’s very capable hands.  Trust that He did not bring this person into your life on accident.  Even when you believe you are failing, cling to I Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.  Sometimes it is our job to plant the seed, sometimes it is to water it, and others we are to help reap the harvest.  We very well may not be able to see all our efforts played out.  Just because we do not see a change, that does not mean the person to whom we are ministering is unaffected.  God promises in Isaiah 55:11, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.  Which also means that once someone hears the Truths of God (whatever level of faith they may have), God’s words will sink in.  If that person chooses to reject it, it is not God’s fault, but the stubbornness of the person’s hardened heart.  Also consider Luke 21:33, Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

 

Next, remember, it is NOT about you!  Get over your ego and do not take rejection personally.  When Galatians 6:2 instructs us to Bear one another's burdens, that means we are to try to understand what the other person is going through.  We are to Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Be of the same mind toward one another. (Romans 12:15-16)  We are not to say, “I’d weep with you, but I’m too happy right now.”  Nor, do we need to wallow in depression with them.  Focus in their needs and show both sympathy ad empathy and let him/her know we are there to laugh, cry, and especially to pray with and for them.  Do not assume you know why your friend is depressed, distant, or broken, but ask for Godly guidance on how to help. You might be able to figure out the person is suffering from physical or mental illness, in  a bad marriage, or any number of things that will take the focus off your own need to feel accepted and simply be there when you are needed.  Do not be pushy and let him/her come to you when they are ready.     

 

Do not give up.  Think on Colossians 1:9, We… do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  Notice the words, “do not cease”?  Even if you lose the friendship because the person pushes you away, keep praying and trusting God.

 

Remember, that quite often people will not see a breakthrough because they very well may be surrounding themselves with bondages that hold them back.  Movies, television, alcohol, ungodly music, witchcraft, etc. will always hold a person back from receiving God’s blessings.  Until your friend is ready to let go of his/her bondages, it will be next to impossible to find spiritual healing.  But again, keep praying, and add to your prayers that the Lord will open the eyes of your friend wide to whatever it is that may be blocking the breakthrough he/she needs.  If there comes an opportunity to offer gentle advice on such matters, please give Godly counsel, but do not be judgmental or give unwanted advice that will further turn them away from the things of the Lord. 

 

I do not like to sound like a know-it-all, and I make it clear it  am not dolling out my wisdom but the Lord’s.  Therefore, my last bit of advice is to quote scripture as much as you can.  If you do not know the exact reference, look it up or encourage your friend to look it up as a way to get him/her into the Bible.

 

There are hundreds (probably thousands) of good verses you can give, but here is just one more that may help your friend (beside the above ones I quoted): Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.  Proverbs 3:5-8

What Does Repentance Mean? Written by my Husband

 

What Does Repentance Mean? (Written by Mel)

 

(Acts 2:38) Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

 

Many churches today avoid the topic of repentance because they don’t want to offend their tithers. Some also teach that repentance is only necessary one time, when you ask the Lord into your heart. This greasy grace message will give you a fatal heart attack if you accept it. The Lord has spoken to me countless times that most churches are in a state of apostasy, and they are responsible for shutting people out of the Kingdom of Heaven. The apostle Peter exhorted people to be saved from this perverse generation (Acts 2:38-41). Peter told them to Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

 

Saying a prayer, or water baptism alone, will not save your soul. The sinner’s prayer is great if it is prayed with sincerity. You must make Jesus Christ the Lord of every area of your life to be truly saved. This means that you must be born again by turning from your sinful ways, and becoming a new creation in Christ. The Lord showed me that a person should repent of their sins on a daily basis. However, this does not mean that we may willfully sin, then repent, and commit that sin again the next day. True repentance of a sin, is to have heartfelt remorse for that sin, as well as to stop committing the offense. If you are bound to substance abuse, you must stop drinking, smoking, or using drugs, to be truly forgiven and set free. If you are bound by pornography, lying, or stealing, you must stop the sin, and seek the Lord with heartfelt repentance to be forgiven, and set free. Grace is not automatic, grace follows repentance.

 

When a new believer comes to Christ, the Lord will give them grace to grow in their new faith. A new believer will take baby steps at first, and will only be able to handle milk. However, in time, God expects us to grow in our faith, and to produce good fruit and works. We should all grow in Christ, as well as consume the strong meat of God’s Word. Christ said, that any tree that does not produce good fruit, will be cut down, and thrown into the fire. Christ also said, that some will produce 30,60, and 100 fold fruit, but we must produce good fruit to be saved.

 

The works of the flesh will send you to hell. (Gal 5:19-23) lists the works of the flesh, as well as the good fruits of God’s Spirit which will lead to eternal life. In (Gal 5:21) Paul states that those who commit these sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. Christ died upon the cross to provide atonement for sins committed in ignorance, as well as for sins that are truly repented of.

 

 No one is perfect, but through the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit, we have the power to live an overcoming life. We must be sanctified (set apart and purified by God’s Spirit) to be saved. If you willfully commit the same sins as the world, and people cannot tell the difference between you and the unsaved, then you are not truly born again. The word saint is translated set apart, or sanctified one. Are you a saint, or is your lifestyle a compromise of the faith that you claim?

 

Galatians 5: 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

To the church at Ephesus Christ said, (Rev 2:4) Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

 

Like many Christians today, the Ephesians were beginning to compromise with the world and were considered unfaithful to Christ. Christ said, that if you love him you will keep his commandments. When Christians take on the attributes of the sinful culture, they are committing spiritual adultery; unless they repent, they will be lost. Christ said that unless the Ephesians repented, he would remove their lampstand from its place before the throne of God. This passage alone makes it clear that Christians can fall from grace, because of un-repented sinful compromise. That is why it is important that we examine ourselves daily and repent of willful sins.

 

 Christ told the Ephesians, not only to repent, but also to do the first works. The first works is a reference to being born again. When we first come to Christ, we die to our old nature and become a new creation through heartfelt repentance. Unless a believer has a transformed life, they are not truly born again. This passage indicates that when we backslide, we are in need of another born again experience. (Rev 2:7) Christ said, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." This verse is clear that the overcomers will inherit the Kingdom of God. An overcomer is one who endures unto the end and crosses the finish line. You must keep the faith, as well as live a sanctified life until the day you die, to enter God’s paradise. Please also consider the verses listed below.

 

(Acts 3:19) Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

 

(Rev 3:1) "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." '

 

(Rev 2:4) Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

 

(Rev 3:14) "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

 

(Luke 13:1) There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

 

Do you trust in the Good Shepherd? Written by my Husband

 

Do you trust in the Good Shepherd? (Written by Mel)

 

(Psalms 28:7) The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. 8 The Lord is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed. 9 Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.

 

We live in a very stressful world and many people feel a since of hopelessness. There are many hardships in life and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. However, the Good Shepherd has promised to lead us through green pastures, beside the still waters. Do you trust the Lord Jesus Christ with your path in life? If you have truly made Jesus the Lord of your life, you may rest in his care, in the midst of the storms of life. If Christ is the captain of your ship, you will make it safely to the other side. Peace and joy are among the fruits of the Spirt that God has promised those who are sanctified (set apart from the sinful world). You must be truly born again to know the peace of God. To know God, is to love one another, as well as to pursue holiness.  

 

(Philippians 4:7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

 

If you have a relationship with Christ, God’s peace will guard your hearts and minds. (Phil 4:7) tells us to meditate on praiseworthy things. If we keep our minds focused on Godly things, we will keep the enemy at bay. Fear and anxiety are the opposite of faith, and they will empower the enemy in our lives. If you have faith that God has good plans for your life, and you put your trust in him, you will have peace and joy. When we go through the many fiery trials of this life, we must walk by faith, and not by sight. Stand on God’s Word, and know that He is faithful to keep His promises.

 

 When Christ ascended into Heaven, he sent us the comforter, God’s Holy Spirit, to lead us and keep us. It is God’s desire that we allow the fruits and gifts of His Spirit to operate in our lives, so that we may overcome this world. To stand firm in Christ in the midst of spiritual Sodom and Gomorrah, we must have the power of God’s Spirit at work in our lives. The comforter is the Spirit of God who dwells with us, as well as in us. If we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, then why should we fear men, demons, or the trials of life? God Almighty, is stronger and greater than Satan, or our fears. Trust God, and walk in the fullness of life that He desires for you!

 

(John 10:11) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 21 From my Marriage Book

I want to share one more chapter from my book, “The ABCs of a Joyful Marriage” with you.  When you read the blog I posted before this one, “Fear Not,” you will probably understand why I wanted to share this chapter with you, in particular the section titled, “Keep Holding On.”

Week 21

Keep Holding On & Keys to Success

 

Keep Holding On:  Your wedding vows will be tested, but keep holding on!  When most people stand before a minister on their wedding day and make vows promising to stay together no matter what life may throw at them, they do not actually believe those vows will be put to the test.  They are mimicking the words the official is telling them to repeat because they are tradition.  At that exact moment, life is full of love and promise.  They are marrying the love of their life and soon they will be on their way to a romantic honeymoon.  Financial problems, illnesses, sorrow, and temptation do not exist in those blissful moments.  Nor did they seriously consider such things while in the joyous moments they were falling in love and planning a future together.  Marriages fall apart when one assumes their love has made them exempt from real life after the “I dos” have been promised and the honeymoon has ended.

Thinking about worst-case scenarios is not a healthy way to build a relationship, so I am certainly not suggesting you waste time on doom and gloom.  This week is about analyzing our vows before we take them and every day after. 

If you marry a wealthy person, seriously stop and think if you love him/her or the money.  If your mate suddenly lost everything, would you leave him/her for someone else?  If you had to downgrade to a smaller house and car, would you throw a fit and make your partner miserable?  Or would you stand by each other’s side and hold hands as you both wait in line at the food bank?  Will you keep holding on?

Will you stand by your spouse no matter what he/she looks like?  If you married a beautiful woman that turns the head of other men, are you more proud of the fact that she is eye candy, or do love her for her character as well?  What if she suddenly gains weight after having babies?  Will you insult her and make her feel horrible for a natural occurrence most woman go through, or will you tell her she is sexy no matter what size dress she wears?  What if that super handsome man gets into a car accident and his face is scarred?  Will you still tell him how good-looking he is and mean it?  What if your wife loses all of her long, beautiful hair to cancer?  Will you hold her hand as she vomits after chemotherapy?   Will you run away if mental illness surfaces because you cannot stand to see him change?  Or will you do all you can to get him the help he needs?  Will you keep holding on?

There are many scenarios under categories that I cannot begin to touch them all.    Nevertheless, I think you can see where I am coming from.

I did not marry a wealthy man, but our finances became even less comfortable a little over a year after we married.  Facing tough financial times, even losing a home, was difficult.  However, I knew before I married Mel that I would live in a tent with him.  He is my home.  If he suddenly became a millionaire, I would not love him any more based on money.  Our love is based on each other’s character, not on things we can and cannot afford to buy that month.  Yes, there was stress, and as money issues are the number one reason marriages fall apart, our marriage was tested.  There was never talk of divorce, only talk of regret that we did not do more to protect our finances.  Neither of us played the blame game.  We clung together and our love and marriage grew stronger.  We kept holding on.

Will we be tested in our marriages only once?  While I would love to say that is the case, I am certain we all know that we will be tested repeatedly.  Whether it is money, illness, or an attractive co-worker, you will face temptation.  That is why it is so very important to make up your mind now that you will always honor every part of your wedding vows, no matter what.  You will you keep holding on.    

Keys to Success:  If you want the keys to unlock a successful marriage, the number one rule is to let God be at the center of your marriage, and the number two is to learn to let the husband be the leader.  I can guarantee that if you follow these two principles, your marriage will be romantic, loving, and joyful.

I once had a woman ask me how (I think she meant why) she could (or should) submit to her husband who insisted on making every decision.  First, not all husbands know how to be leaders in a marriage and women do not know how to be led.  Our society has become so brainwashed and roles are often reversed in the media.  Men are over-the-top bullies or too passive.  Women are too independent and aggressive.  There needs to be a good balance.  There needs to be love, respect, and communication. 

Men know how to be leaders in a job, but not necessarily in their own home. A good boss allows his employees to have their opinions, but he is ultimately the boss and his final decision stands.  This is true also in a marriage.  Spouses should be free to debate issues when they disagree and the husband does not automatically make every decision as a dictator.  However, if it comes to a point where no compromise can be made, the husband gets the final word and his decision ultimately stands.  Genesis 2:24 states that the two become one flesh, which means marriage is a partnership and the two of you make decisions as a team.  God meant for Eve to be Adam’s helper as a part of him, not as his servant. 

A good husband will never be a bully and refuse to listen to his wife’s opinion on any matter.  Of course, not every husband operates this way.  It does not mean he is a bad man, just improperly trained.  I worked in law enforcement (as a civilian) for seven years, and cops do not become chief overnight.  It takes many years of training and experience to reach your way to the top. You must learn to be a good leader and that takes studying and learning from others.  No one becomes an expert spouse overnight.  Reading marriage books (not just this one, of course) is an excellent way to learn as well as talking to others that have successful marriages.  There is never any shame in asking for help from a spiritual leader or counselor if no solutions can be reached on your own.  It is better to seek help from a neutral party rather than a family member or friend who will be sure to take sides. 

We all learn by example and not all men come from homes where the father was the leader.  I have seen far too many homes where the wife rebelled against the husband and refused to let him lead because she was too set in her ways or did not want to be, what she considered, controlled.  For example, I knew a husband who did not want his wife wearing cleavage-bearing tops or short skirts.  Rather than respect her husband (or the Lord) and dress modestly, she rebelled because she felt he was being too controlling and even encouraged their daughters to dress provocatively, which was also against the husband’s beliefs. 

In addition, some wives are the leaders because the man is too passive.  I knew a family with thirteen children where the mother ruled the home.  Each son married an aggressive woman who also ruled their home, and their daughters married men they could control.  I spoke with one of the daughters that confided in me that she had been given a bad example by her parents. She and her husband were learning he was to be the head of the home.  She said they now believed in the principles of Ephesians 5:22-33 and were beginning to apply them to their family.  She said it made for a much happier marriage and things naturally fell in place, as it was more natural to let the husband be the leader.  They both had to learn to change their patterns and make adjustments, but it proved to me that it could be done.  The passive husband had become a loving leader.  The aggressive wife was still a very strong woman, but now much more respectful of her husband’s role and enjoyed it more that way.  She said their marriage finally now felt more like a partnership for the first time in almost twenty years. 

The absence of a mother or father in the home will also make it very difficult for a man to know how to lead if he has never seen it in action.  You cannot fault a man or woman who do not know the proper Biblical roles if they have never seen how it is supposed to look.  One or both of them may not have grown up in ungodly homes. 

The only way to deal with all these issues is through Biblical guidance, communication with each other, and outside counseling if necessary.

 

Marriage-Enhancing Ideas for the Week: 

 

Keep holding On:  Make the decision here and now that, no matter what, you will always hold on tightly to one another and never let your circumstances come between you.

Art Project Option: For some reason, this phrase keeps making me think of a rodeo cowboy.  This week find artwork or a photograph (on-line or even from a catalog) of a bucking bronco and cowboy (or draw them if you can), or use a horse statue or stuffed one if you like, along with a doll.  Print or write the words, “Holding on and still going strong!” (or something along those lines) on the picture.  If using the toys, you can drape the paper over the horse like a blanket.  Frame if you like, and be sure to place it where you will be reminded how committed you are to one another.

 

Keys to Success:  Are you practicing the principles of Ephesians 5:22-33?  If you are having issues in your marriage where the wife is the leader, the husband does not know how to lead, or it is every person for him or herself, then please talk things through and seek counseling if needed.

I know the obvious thing here would be to suggest you make paper keys and hang them up somewhere with Ephesians 5:22-33 written on them (you could still do that if you like), but instead, I am going to suggest spending a small amount of money this week.  I have seen keychain sets where one key is a heart with a keyhole and the other is a fancy key that looks as if it would unlock that heart.  See if you can find this set (I believe they cost less than $5), divide the set amongst the two of you, and attach it to your everyday set of keys.  That way, you will be reminded everywhere you go that God wants the best for you and your marriage and you will be encouraged to practice Ephesians 5:22-33.

The Sin of Racial Prejudice, Written by Mel

 

 

The Sin of Racial Prejudice, Written by my Husband, Mel

 

The Lord gave me several dreams that I need speak out against the sin of racial prejudice. I am a white man who grew up in the south, as well as the mid-west, and I have witnessed the ugliness of racial hatred. I remember a song that I sang in Sunday school many years ago, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red, and yellow black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.” This song reflects God’s love for His children of all races. We are all God’s creation and we should love one another, regardless of race, culture, dress, or economic status. If you hate your fellow man, then how can you love God? If love is not perfected in your heart, then you don’t know God. If the love of God is in your heart, then you truly are born again, and are both salt and light. If God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you then His attributes should shine forth from you. Hate is the highway to hell, but unconditional love for your fellow man, will provide entrance to God’s eternal kingdom.

 

This nation has a very dark past. America is called the land of liberty, but slavery existed in the south until 1865. African people were forcefully removed from their homelands, and were sold like livestock to rich plantation owners. Husbands, wives, as well as children were separated from each other and sold to become beasts of burden. The Lord raised up Abraham Lincoln to free the slaves. Although it took a bloody civil war to accomplish this, finally the oppressed people were set free. Unfortunately, President Lincoln was assassinated, but his legacy lives on. However, the oppression of African Americans continued. Black Americans were denied basic civil liberties. African Americans were forced to sit at the back of the bus, to use separate bathrooms, drinking fountains, swimming pools, as well as restaurants. This segregation of a race of Americans was immoral, shameful, as well as unconstitutional. The Lord raised up a minister named Martin Luther King Jr., to speak out against this oppression. Although this man of God was assassinated like President Lincoln, his words of freedom cannot be silenced. The Lord has instructed me to remind everyone of these facts.

 

The Lord gave me a dream about this. I dreamed that God was an African American person made to sit at the back of a bus. A black female angel also on the bus was conveying a message from the Lord about how unjust this was. I understood that to segregate a person based upon their race, was to segregate God. If you oppress God’s children, you have oppressed God. In another dream, I was witnessing the civil war. The Lord said, “I hate slavery, the south was in rebellion against me.” I understood that the blood of the oppressed, cries out to the Lord God maker of heaven and earth.

 

The Native American people have also been severely oppressed by the so-called civilized. Many tribes of aboriginal peoples of this land were lied to and moved from reservation to reservation. Many tribes were slaughtered. Men, women, and children, were viciously killed like animals. At the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, American troops made promises to the Sioux people. They were told to turn over their rifles to the troops in exchange for provisions. As soon as the Sioux men turned over their rifles to the troops, the soldiers opened fire and murdered these defenseless men. Many Cherokee died on the trail of tears from forced relocation, which resulted in starvation and sickness. The Native American people did not see the love of true Christianity, rather the oppression of Satan, from the self-righteous. However, there were many Christian missionaries who showed the love of Christ to the Native American peoples. Some missionaries gave their lives for the people to whom they ministered.

 

During World War II, Japanese Americans were put into concentration camps.  Most of these Americans were patriotic citizens. Many Japanese Americans were forced to hide under the streets of Baker City, Oregon and elsewhere. This is another example of the sin of racial prejudice. All over the world, people are persecuted because of their race or ethnic group. As Christians, we should speak out against all forms of hatred.

 

(1 Cor 13:1) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.