Hello my Name is...Child of God!

Hello, my name is regret…I’m pretty sure we have met… Every single day of your life…I’m the whisper inside… That won’t let you forget… Hello, my name is defeat…I know you recognize me… Just when you think you can win…I’ll drag you right back down again… ‘Til you’ve lost all belief… These are the voices. These are the lies… How many of us have believed them And how many of us want to believe them, For the Very Last Time!! This world, our mind, the enemy daily pulls us down like the power of Gravity… Praise God, Scripture says otherwise…Let us start this new year with a new mind set… Hello, my name is child of the one true King I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, I have been set free "Amazing Grace" is the song I sing Hello, my name is child of the one true King I am no longer defined, By all the wreckage behind The one who makes all things new, Has proven it’s true Just take a look at my life Hello, my name is child of the one true King I've been saved, I've been changed, I have been set free "Amazing Grace" is the song I sing Hello, my name is child of the one true King 1 John 3:1- Oh see What love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children… I am a child of the one true King What love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children Hello, my name is child of the one true King I've been saved, I've been changed, I have been set free "Amazing Grace" is the song I sing Hello, my name is child of the one true King We must learn to retrain our thinking when we have become a follower of Jesus Christ, We are no longer slaves to those sinful thoughts, but are freed by the gift of the Cross Phil. 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” We must learn to 2 Cor. 10:5- “5 demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Jer. 17:9- The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" Those thoughts of defeat, disappointment, self hatered, regret, etc…must be prayed to refocus on the truth of God’s word…not the lies of our heart and our mind… Hello, I am a child of the one true King John 1:12 - to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…

The One who came, asks us to Go...

Tonight I want you to listen to this story very closely. At the end I am going to ask you tell me who all went to find Jesus? And who did not. Matt. 1: The Announcement of Jesus : “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Luke 2 : The Birth of Jesus : “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. The Shepherds: 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. Jesus Presented in the Temple 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.... 37 a prophet, Anna...She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. Matt. 2: Visit from the Magi : After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Purpose: There are Goer’s – Joseph, Mary, Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, Magi, : Just think about their experience, think about what it would have been like to see, hear and experience angels in real life, think about what it would be like to see the God of the universe as a baby… You see these people first had to leave their comfort to see Jesus... There are Hearers - not willing to leave their comfort...Those people who heard from the shepherds, King Herod, and many today will hear about Christ, yet will never be willing to go and see Jesus...to leave their place of comfort. Just think of the differences in these 2 groups of people with Jesus….those who went and saw…those who just heard…What impacts you more at times…hearing or seeing…if you heard about a miracle that would be pretty cool…but what if you were in the room where you saw the miracle??!!! Or hearing about about this really amazing Roller Coaster ride…isn’t it better to go, see and experience it than just hearing about it?? Many will profess to follow and worship Jesus, but the majority will never go and do anything for Jesus, because they were never willing to go in the first place to really meet Him, so they have nothing really share about Him personally…there is Joy in the journey of getting to know someone, that is how we have stories to share about our families, and friends etc…is because of our experiences with them…many people will never go and follow, Jesus, which means they will have nothing to share..which means they will never be able to worship Jesus..Seeing and worshiping Jesus and telling others about Jesus!!! The Joy of sharing what they found when they met Jesus!!!! Is better than anything I can ever imagine doing. No, it will not always be easy following God’s commands, we will take round about paths…but God still gets us where He wants us to go… His word has promised us that God is with us…He came to us first…now are you willing to “go” find and see Him so you too can be overjoyed and worship Him? Like Simeon and Anna, are you willing to wait on the Lord…being faithful and waiting on the Lord, and making excuses for not doing anything for the Lord are 2 very different things… This Christmas season, I Pray your realize the incredible gift Jesus is to you, and how He too had to "Go" to fulfill God's plan for the world...Jesus comfort zone of heaven...perfect and beautiful worship...to a world filled with hatered and mockery towards Him and all He did for us. God knew...Jesus knew what the cost of leaving His place of comfort would cost Him...my question to myself and to you who read this, is this...are you willing to go...see...experience Jesus...and worship Him? Amen...

A Substitutionary Ram for One Son, Another Son...the Sacrificial Lamb...

I have been walking through the life of Abraham and his family recently. As I was praying about what I should share with my teens last week, the life event of Abraham and his promised son, Isaac came to mind. Like many, I have read this event many times, and many of you have probably already thought about this. But for some reason it just really stuck out to me. And so I thought I would share it with you as well. Genesis 22(ESV) The Sacrifice of Isaac 22 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Now just stop with me for a moment. God asked Abraham to do What? That in and of itself is a hard thing to swallow. But let's look at Abraham's response- "So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him." 1st- It is not recorded what was going on in Abraham's mind...one can only surmise his extreme pain and fear...yet he went... He had plenty of time to change his mind. It says he arose early. He could have chosen to sleep in...he could have gone out and done his chores for the day, fed his family. He could have even gone to consult some God fearing friends of his, asked their opinion on what he ought to do. Prayed about it for a few days...but no...what was his immediate response? "He went." Do we have that close of a relationship with God that when He speaks, we know Him that well and do not question it...and respond as obediently as Abraham did? It's a question I have to ask myself. 2nd- Let us imagine for a moment, going and cutting the wood for the offering...which would be his son...his precious, promised son. Let's really think about that...let it sink in a bit. Don't rush over it...with every strike of the ax, he knew what is was for. He knew that after that ax was lain down, he would have to pick up a dagger to pierce his son upon God's request. Really? Could you be that obedient? I too must ask myself that question. For those of you who are parents, we could only imagine how excruciating that must have been. The extreme psychological anguish that must have caused him. Emotional agony. Even physical pain he may have endured knowing what was coming. Yet...he obeyed. 3rd- O', his precious son, "My father!...Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” You see Isaac was very much old enough to understand what was going on here. And O', Abraham's amazing response, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” I do not believe this is a man who does not know His God. Yes, as human as he was with all that I described above, he still held out hope that His God would come through and save his son from this horrific sacrifice from his very own hands. 4th- "So they went, both of them together... Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood." Again, let's stop here for a moment. Where is Abrahams faith now, again...it is now only moments until he must do as God has asked him to do...Imagine with me, could he look at his son Isaac? Was his son looking at him? Were they both weeping? Let us not forget once again that Isaac is fully aware of what is going to happen. He was old enough to run, to fight, yet he too submitted to his father's will...and was obedient to what they both believed was the very end. His death by his father's hands. 5th- Abraham raises his hands...what most likely felt like an eternity, broken and desperate, maybe just waiting one more second for God to call it all off...and then..."what was that?" "the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” (Oh in that very moment what would have he been feeling? Think, feel, put yourself in his place. Imagine his tear-filled eyes, his aching body, the extreme intensity of that very moment crying out) “Here I am.” (and the angels response,) “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” Have you ever been relieved about something in your life? I am not sure if anything could come as close as to Abraham's relief. His shaking body, going from one extreme emotion to the next- Agony to Joy! Weeping to...well probably still more weeping but for another reason...untying his son as fast as he could...as they stared deeply into eachother's eyes!! "THE LORD IS FAITHFUL! Praise God Almighty, HE has saved my son!!!" Oh dear one's enjoy that moment...take a deep breath, Isaac was saved from the hand of his father. God removed the sacrifice upon him and placed it on a ram. (which should have been a lamb) But, let's not leave this the sacrificial altar entirely, just yet. You see, there was another life event that happened some years later between a Son and Father, with the same request. The Father was to sacrifice His Precious Son. His One and only Son- Jesus Christ of Nazareth. So, how do these two stories differ? (in many ways yes) but this is what I want to point out to you) This time, there was no ram to be a substitute...this time the Father had to crush and pierce His son... Like Abraham, God the Father, loved His Son...even more than Abraham, because GOD is Love...it is the fullness of who He is. It is the very fiber of His character and nature...Love is God and God is love. So when God chose to send His Son, to take upon the world's sin by crucifying Him, like Abraham and Isaac, both were fully aware of what all was to come. Yet the Father did not change His mind and His Son -Jesus Christ- the fulfillment of the Lamb Of God- the perfect sacrifice, not a ram, did not fight Him...He willingly submitted to His Father's will...and died for all mankind... Have you ever thought about how excruciating that was for God the Father? The agony of watching your creation destroy Your Son, because you called it to be? Yet scripture says it "Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him" Now then, why do we wait to respond to His great love? Why then do we turn our backs on Him? Why do we keep putting things of this world over Him, wealth, status, ourselves over and before Him! Look at what HE did for us! He knows and understands every pain you have...This is a good and loving God...

A life well lived

These past few weeks I have been thinking about how we take life for granted...well most of us anyway... Those of us who are happy and healthy do for the most part. We wake up and get on with our life as is and how it always has been. Life filled with activities, family, food, and fun. But is this all that God has for us? I believe He loves watching us enjoy the life He has given us and He enjoys watching us use the gifts He has given us (if we are using them for His glory) But are we missing moments along the way of life and not living our lives to the fullest? I mean, most of will say at this point in my post, "Tiffany, my days are quite full, there is no way I could fill them any more!" But that's my point exactly! We are full of filling...but are we living like we are called to live...a life worth living for our Savior! What is our focus on? What are we stressing about? What are we forcing, pushing in our lives to make it full? And for what? For who? And for why? Jesus said that He came to give life and give it to full, not - give life so we can fill it up and be full of our stuff. Are we filling our moments and hours through out the day with the fullness of Christ and what He desires of us? Or are we just filling our days...with what we feel the world demands of us... This past week I talked with my teens about how we compartmentalize God all the time...we fill our time with school, work, activities, and family etc. But we have even more things to fill our time...it's no longer just TV, it's every App available our there is Cyber world, so that our minds never need to focus on Christ and Christ alone...because there is no more "alone" time...we are always being filled with something... I have had teens in last couple of weeks tell me they are deleting social apps because they feel consumed and overwhelmed with the constant pressure to "social network." One student even told me she was adding up how much time a year she is wasting based on the # of minutes she may spend a day on social networking, when she could be spending that time with God! Way to go teens!! Jesus tells us to, "fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Why would we want to fill our lives with anything else but Him. So today, I challenge you to ask yourself, what are you over filling your life with instead of filling it up with Jesus! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4omFQJEAAVc

Dead Come to Life

A few weeks ago I was speaking to my teens on a series I am doing, “Dead Come to Life.” The Lord placed a vision of a pig’s pen in my mind. Now, I have never been to a pig’s pen, nor do I ever want to be near one, but from what I have heard, it is one of THE smelliest places to be, even worse than being around cows. The Lord gave me 5 different locations in which to speak about. The pig pen being the first, the second was a field cows, the third was of a beautiful peaceful duck pond, the fourth was of the ocean, and the last - refreshing rain. The passage of scripture in which this vision was born from was Ephesians 2:1-10 1-6 “It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.7-10 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” I read that passage to the teens from 3 different biblical versions, the ESV, the NIV, and the last which I have above, The Message. I think it is important to read more than just one version of scripture to get a better read, feel, take, historical accuracy, etc. on what is exactly being said and also for more texture. (For those who know me, texture is very important to me in almost all things, ha ha.) The vision came especially from the first verse. “It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin.” I hope and pray the following encourages you, challenges you, and spurs you to take an honest look at your own life and where you might be in your walk with or without the Lord. God Bless The Pig Pen: Represents those who are willfully rejecting and defying the Lord in their lives. Either as one who has never come to the Lord, or one who has turned away and is running full throttle in the opposite direction. Just like the Pin Pen which is filthy, so too the heart of an unbeliever. Evil is rampant and darkness rules the mind and heart. Sin has a stench that causes us to no longer be able to distinguish between filth and a pure pleasant aroma. The Field of Cows: Represents those who are not believers, but consider themselves good people. These people are those who don’t need God, because, well, they are already “Good People.” So, if you are good, who needs God to help you? These people live in a life of continual sin, chewing their own cud of sin, day in and day out without seeing their need for God’s living bread and His life giving water. They have the inability to digest their need for confession of sin and repentance. The Duck Pond: Represents those who are the “Church” goers. These people go to church, dress the part, sit in the pews, sing the songs, might even pray out loud if asked, might even be an elder, but have no genuine heart, mind and soul transformation in Jesus. There has never been a genuine repentance that has taken place and there is no relationship with Jesus, just religion, just tradition. This is a very scary place to be in life, because behind the pretty picture of their religion, they are still filled with a bacteria of sin festering within them and do not see it, because they have so beautifully painted the picture that is on the outside. If you look at most paintings or children’s books where “Duck Ponds” are painted, they are beautifully surrounded with flowers, lily pads, butterflies and cute little duck families with baby ducks swimming joyfully within their surroundings. Yet, if you really look closely at the duck pond, it is a stagnant body of water where bacteria and unclean living creatures are breeding within it, and all sorts of impurities float about that your eye will never see unless examined under a microscope. Just like these people’s hearts and minds, unless closely examined by God, one might never know how truly impure their hearts are, because they live a “Good life and they are The Church Goer.” The Ocean: Represents those who are in a personal relationship with Jesus, and have made a genuine commitment to follow and serve Him. We would call them, “Born Again Believers.” Yes, these are the ones who are very active in their faith, in their church, bible studies etc., but they are still concealing, struggling and dealing with very personal sin areas in their lives that they fear being exposed or that they are simply unwilling to let go of. There is comfort in sin at times even though it may bring shame and self-condemnation. Just like the Duck Pond, at first glance, The Ocean can seem so beautiful, breath taking, refreshing even - until you run in and submerge yourself tasting the water - forgetting it is not fresh water, but very salty, bitter water. There is a sting of displeasure even in the midst of such great beauty and power. Just like that coveted sin we are holding onto, there is a sting of great shame and guilt that keeps us from living the abundant life that would allow to swim freely in Christ Jesus. The Rain: Represents those who are in a personal relationship with Jesus, and have made a genuine commitment to follow and serve Him just as The Ocean People, but the difference with these people is simply this; they want to be honest in their relationship with the Lord and desire the Lord to help set them free from their addictions, secrets, fears, strongholds, weaknesses, etc. They are willing to seek help if needed and then to do something about it. They are willing to let God be Lord over all areas of their life. They are willing to let Jesus’ shed blood on the cross purify them wholly and completely, inside and out. So today, just as I told my teens, I challenge you with the same questions: “You reside in one of these locations spiritually. Where are you in your walk with Christ? What are you filling your life with? Are you being honest with yourself and with God? Stop, “letting the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. (Stop) filling your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaling disobedience,” surrender today, “Instead, (embrace His) immense mercy and His incredible love, (because) he embraced us (first). Let me close with a Psalm. Psalm 40:1-10 “1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. 4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. 6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but my ears you have opened burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll.8 I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” 9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, LORD, as you know. 10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.”

Times are looking grim these days / Holding on to everything It's hard to draw the line Shut the …., get up… I can't wait to rip my eyes out and look at you / Peace through pain is precious 'specially when it's done by you / Itching is a pulse inside creeping out to come alive / It's just doing what it's gonna do Times are looking grim these days holding on to everything / It's hard to draw the line / And I, I'm hiding in this empty space / Tortured by my memories of what I left behind…” Read more: Korn “Get Up” These lyrics describe so many today… “I am clearly broken and no one knows what to do” Followers of Jesus…I ask you, how deeply do we care about these ones? Many, we see them and feel sorry for them, the broken, the homeless, the abused, the forgotten... IF we are followers of Jesus THEN there must be a response in seeking HIM how to help them. How often do we pass by them with s slight smile, or words of encouragement…words of hope …they are clearly broken…and have no answers to their pain and no one to turn to for answers of hope and freedom…yet we do... Precious ones screaming in the silence of their rooms with their blades and dripping blood… “Peace through pain is precious 'specially when it's done by you, Itching is a pulse inside creeping out to come alive” Followers of Jesus…these are the broken…many who walk among you…hidden are their scars, both inside and outside of their skin. What are we doing to reach these ones, love these ones, save these ones…Jesus has called us to be His hands to hold them, His feet to go to them, His mouth piece to speak love and truth to them, hope and freedom to them, His ears to listen without hate or condemnation to them, His shoulders to them to cry on, His heart to love them… “Times are looking grim these days holding on to everything” Followers of Jesus, these precious ones are grabbing on to whatever they can to find a false comfort... Many of us meet in bible studies and churches and we do our church thing…we may even talk about the hurting…but what are we doing for the hurting…. Let me encourage you today…that even though you are not a trained “somebody” Jesus is their answer…and prayer is the beginning for these precious ones…Prayer for their freedom, healing, and prayer for us to be willing to step out of our comfortable lives and be willing to hurt alongside them…with them…and in the midst of this…see and experience the Power of God…move in theirs and your life.. Matt. 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

So Lord, as you know I have been recently thinking about the Church. After having several conversations with Christians of other denominations and knowing much about their "doctrine" and having experienced much from being with and studying about all denominations, I continue to see the Hand of God in all Christian denominations Lord. As you know...this confuses me. They have your Hand in all of them, yet at the same time...I see all of them far off from you???? Like the Catholics take for example, their focus on sin and confession, I wish more Christian church's focused on sin and our need of confession and their focus on praying for the government and their passion for the saving the unborn, or the Missouri Synod who has this very protective spirit of their people, to guard the Church against anything unholy or unbiblical. The Baptist for their conservatism, the Evangelicals for their desire to go out and reach the lost. The Assemblies of God and their openness to the move of the Holy Spirit in their lives and the Power He can bring. I am frustrated that Godly churches have parts of You...but not as a whole...what have we done? Where have we gone wrong? How did we get here??? I want the real church of God! I want the real deal Father! I don't want just church...I want you...and I am frusting....So what do I do...and where are in our churches today.... I really don't see a lot of You...glimmers...yes....but You....do I really see You?? Do I really Hear You??? You know I am not saying You are not moving in the church today....I just don't know how? Or maybe better yet...How much?? Father...help me see and know what Your will is for myself, my family, and our church, and the Church in general... Something needs to change....I love you Lord....Thank you for listening....always...