Freely Gives

Matthew 10:7-8

New King James Version (NKJV)

7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,[a]cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Today I want to say that I am saddened by Christians who have turned God's grace into something that must be earned. I have encountered in the past couple of years a number of Christians who stand in judgment of other believers who have not yet received the full knowledge of Christ, and live still somewhat in the world. They should be embracing their brothers and showing them the truth behind salvation. They are weighing them down with burdens they can't carry without the grace of God. Plainly they are saying “Change and then come to God.” When they should be saying “Come to God and he will change you. “You will never be the same again.” They are not saying “Jesus loves you, but he doesn't love your sin.” or “If you choose to seek him first then he will change you from the inside out.” These Christians are causing separation from God. It reminds me of the Pharisees and the scribes. I find it very disturbing and I want all to know that God sent Jesus to die for our sins because he knew we would never be able to come out from under the bondage of sin without his son's sacrifice. If there are Christians out there that don't understand that God is seeking these types of people. He wants them just as they are to come to him. He wants to put them in his arms and give them his love and healing. He wants them to feel safe and secure and whole finally. Then he will deliver them from those things in their life that are unpleasing to him. Because of our gratitude and love for him we are willing to lay down our sin at his feet and receive his forgiveness. This is how God wants it. He wants it given of our own free will because we love him. This can only happen when we know the love of God for ourselves. Not because someone says to us “Hey you are a sinner and need to stop sinning” But because God says to us “ I love you my son/daughter give me your heart.” When we have freely received from God all his goodness, he wants us to give it to others freely as well. Thank God for his Loving Kindness that leads us to repentance and For his Grace (his unmerited favor). Amen!

The power of a made up mind

Choices and the power of a made up mind

We are our choices. God give you the power to choose. It's called free will, but even though we have free will our choices in the end have power over our lives.

Remember thy creator in the days of thy youth (Eccl. 12:1.) There are always two paths in front of us at any given moment. What path we choose is dependent on one choice we make. That Choice is weather or not to serve God. When you choose God, I mean really choose God as your lord and savior every decision is based on that one choice. Those of you who are Young and are making this choice now Listen carefully because you still Have your whole life ahead of you and this choice will make or brake your life. You adults who have lived some and know the consequences of choosing or not choosing God need to ask yourself “How well have I learned from my experiences?” When do you choose God? Is it early in the morning every day. Is it sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon? Is it in the middle of a crisis? Or is it a continuous choosing that simply goes on and on? This is a mind made up.

Job made up his mind to serve God, so much so that when his many children decided to have a celebration he lined them up the next morning to pray for them, in case they might have sinned. He said as for me and my house we will serve the Lord and wholeheartedly. Why do you think Job was so successful? Godly choices that's why. His Business had a CEO named Lord.

Ruth and Orpah both lost their husbands and were at a cross roads. One path was to go back to their home town and the place they had always known. A place of familiarity and past relations and friends. Or a place of new beginnings, and new people, and a new way of life. The first option would probably provide a husband among the young men they had always known. Men they grew up with. The second was completely uncertain. But God was with the second choice. God's purpose was with Naomi. Orpah chose to go back but Ruth Clung to her mother in Law Naomi and her mother in Laws God too. She chose God. Nothing would change her mind. And every choice she made after that was based on following God. The results of that choice was, God blessed her with a wealthy husband and a child who is in the lineage of Jesus Christ. (The book of Ruth old testament)

Woe to the rebellious children, declares the Lord, Who execute a plan but not mine. (Isaiah 30:1)

Therefore the Lord Longs (waits) to be gracious to you, and therefore he waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of Justice, how blessed are all those who long (wait) for him. (Isaiah 30:18)

What is God waiting for? He is waiting for us to choose God. He is waiting for us to seek him for direction. He is waiting for us to wait for his leading. For you to say what path should I take Lord. Lord means ruler. Is Jesus your Lord? Remember “Seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness and all things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33)

Job knew how to wait for God. When Job lost everything he had every reason to be bitter. Yet when his wife said Curse God and die. He said “WAIT NO! I made a choice.” “I can't give up now.” “I can't” “I Just can't.” He got double blessings for his faithfulness.

Hannah wanted a child very badly. It was considered a curse to be barren in those days. She needed the shame to be removed from her life. So she sought after God with her whole heart she made a promise to God to devote the most precious thing in her life if he would bless her, Her one and only son. God gave her a son and he was a great prophet for God. I would say her shame was removed, wouldn't you? God was just waiting for her to be willing to give her child over to God's purpose. Are you willing to hand your child over to God's will and purpose. It's not always so easy. (1 Samuel 11:28)

The women with the alabaster box who anointed Jesus' feet and washed them with her hair. She was a prostitute. I could just see her running to the house that Jesus was staying in. In desperation she must have been thinking “will I make it in time, will he be there still. This is my only chance.” Running with all her heart leaving all behind her. Running towards her future. She didn't care about the manner of men who would be there. She could careless what they would say of her. She heard it all before but this was her chance to start a new. This was her chance for repentance. So she ran on. Till she fell at his feet and her life changed forever. She made a choice.(Luke 7: 36-50)

I have made up my mind to serve God. In the middle of November 1997 one Friday night when I had lost hope and was in a deep state of depression, I prayed a prayer. I chose God. I said “If only there was a church I could go to tonight” I didn't want to go to the bar with my friends. I didn't want to spend the night crying again. No! I wanted to be with God. Then the phone rang and it was a friend I hadn't seen in awhile she said “Do you want to go to church with me tonight?” I immediately said yes! I knew God had heard my prayer. That night I chose God and I have never looked back. He is my life! He has given me so much since then. I just keep on choosing him.

Mary Magdalene Didn't care about the soldiers who were outside Jesus' tomb She could have been killed. They were there strictly to keep watch and make sure no one touched the body. But She needed to go there. She needed to be with her Lord. To anoint him once again. She made a choice and didn't care about what would happen to her. She made up her mind to serve him in life or in death it made no difference. In her desperate need to be with him she refused to leave with the others and the angels appeared before her to tell her “He is risen.” and then she saw him. She was the first to hear and see Jesus risen. She was at the right place at the right time. Because she made a choice.

We all have choices and we all go through trials that test our faith to far limits but when you have made up your mind to serve God to allow God to rule and reign in your life Not only are you blessed but God has compassion on you and gives you much grace. He executes Justice on your behalf and shows you favor. He puts you in the right place at the right time and he shows up just when you need him most. When you pass a test he gives you a double portion of blessings for your faithfulness. He makes even the little things of everyday life go so perfect that you have to say “Thank God I couldn't of Planned it better myself.” That is what happens when we Choose God, when we choose him first. So what do you choose? Have you made up your mind? By Virginia Toussaint

A new day!

His mercy's are new every morning. Start each day off with a fresh new out look because everyday is a chance to make things better. Yesterday is over no sense looking back. Today can surpass all your expectations it's all about your attitude. The best way is to just ask.  

A prayer:

Jesus you are the author and finisher of our faith. I ask that this day begin with faith, hope, and love. You guide my path. You lord set the tone. So that your will be done in my life today. May I be filled with peace and Joy from heaven and as the day comes to an end may I give thanks for all that you have done, all that you are doing, and all that you are going to do In Jesus Name Amen.

 Here is a sermon to lift you up and give you faith and trust, http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/joel-osteen-ministries/

Has life ever hit you with a major blow?

I have had My share of knock downs in my life. The one thing I have learned is that help can not be found buy natural methods but super natural ones. God is my strength and my salvation. On my knees is where my help comes. He will give me the peace I need to cope. He will give me strength when I need it most. He will fight the battles I cannot fight and he gives me the victory before I even know the outcome. I enter into each new trial with a greater understanding of his ability to get me through. Just as James1:2-4 says you will be more patient with, more tolerable with, the blows in life the more you allow God to get you through. It's just like a fighter he has to first learn to take a hit and keep going, He must learn endurance, he must learn to block and move fast, bobbing and weaving to avoid a punch. But most importantly he must learn his opponents tactics and  believe with all his heart he can WIN! That doesn't happen after just one fight. That takes years of training and building up of strength and confidence in his ability. So it is with a Christian believer Faith is built over time and we overcome by our testimony. Each trial that we overcome is a stepping stone to the next and we are transformed by it's blows into a prize fighter for Christ.Our testimony will make it just a little easier for others to get through their own training ring thus we carry each others burdens and live to fight another day.(Galatians 6:1-2)
by Virginia Toussaint
For more on this subject check a Teaching By T.D. Jakes "You can recover from a fall" http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/the-potters-house/

We all have our troubles

How do you deal with stress and trials? Some people throw themselves into work. Others get down in despair, and depression over whelms them. Others get angry, and frustration takes them on a daily Journey of outbursts and everything hanging on a nerve. Many people of faith internalize all of it looking for answers within. They think somehow if they fix what's wrong in themselves then they will understand why they are suffering trials. Well the answer is not inside us as much as it is God's redemptive power. He can get us through. He can do the impossible. He is our savior. Jesus saves! There is a great article on this very subject based on the book "The Christian Life" by Sinclair Ferguson http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/tchividjian/where-to-look-when-youre-in-trouble.html
I found this article to be right on when it comes to how many Christians deal with trials today. It is worth a read weather you choose to read it on a coffee brake or at night before bed. I urge you to take the time and chew on it for a while. by Virginia Toussaint

Bear each others burdens

Recently I heard another preaching on 1 Cor. 5:1-13, 6:1-11 and I have to say that the spirit in which it was preached did not agree with my spirit. I felt a strong sense of legalism on the part of the preacher that left no room for Christ. So I did what I always do, I prayed for guidance and searched the word for answers. A few days later God brought me to Gal. 6:1-10 and I felt from God that the only way to be able to deal with 1Cor. 5 in a Christ like manner was Gal 6. What is funny is that anyone at first glance reading both passages of scripture would say these contradict each other. Lets look and see:

Galatians 6

Bear and Share the Burdens

 ¹ Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵For each one shall bear his own load.

1 Corinthians 5

Immorality Defiles the Church

 ¹ It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named^[a] among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! ² And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. ³ For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. ⁴ In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁵ deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.^[b]
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? ⁷ Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.^[c] 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Now do you see what I mean? and further reading doesn't help much.

Immorality Must Be Judged

  1 Cor. 5:
⁹ I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. ¹⁰ Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. ¹¹ But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
¹² For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? ¹³But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.

Gal. 6:

Be Generous and Do Good

⁶ Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Are you a little more confused I was at first. Then the Lord made me see that rather then contradicting there was a correlation between the two passages. He led me to see that in order to do what is in 1 Cor. 5 and still fulfill the law of Christ we needed Gal. 6 to be practiced in our lives. 

Then he led me to go over these sins mentioned in scripture 1 Cor.5:11, 1 Cor. 6:10-11, Gal. 5:19-21 Which say that anyone practicing these things will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Then he led me back to Leviticus  the law. Lev. 18,19. At this point I said 1 Cor. 5 is legalism and we are supposed to be free from the Law. So why should we shun a brother because he has fallen into a sin that is clearly in the law. Then God showed me something he said you should always continue in all ways to be Christ to everyone by showing kindness and being a good Christian. But that doesn't mean you have to go to the house of a known sinner who refuses to stop sinning and dine with them. Why because you put yourself at risk of being leavened or poisoned in your thinking and spirit. Keep a safe distance. Here is where Gal. 6: 1 comes in 'You who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness" You need to attempt to help them. If they then refuse to repent then you need to protect yourself and have no extra contact with them outside the church. You go to the elders and suggest counsel for your brother. The Elders call your brother to counsel and they again try to restore your brother gently. He refuses to submit and repent. The elders call for a fast and prayer without ceasing on behalf of their brother and begin to spiritually act out 1 Cor. 5:5 Deliver them up to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so he in the day of the Lord Jesus may be saved. This goes something like this: Lord Jesus please do whatever you have to do to bring my brother to repentance I want to see him in heaven when we spend eternity with you. He is suffering from a great weakness in his flesh and you alone can save him from his destructive behaviors. please lord have compassion and mercy for his eternal soul. Sometimes it takes rock bottom to bring us back to our senses. In Jesus name Amen. Now using the example Paul used, The brother who is with his fathers wife. Let's look at what that destruction of the flesh might look like. The brother develops testicular cancer his testicles are cut off. This has caused him to be impotent and the women leaves him because he can no longer perform. He can say "kill me now' and Satan would gladly drag him to hell, but because of your prayer for restoration he may repent and ask for forgiveness and go into remission and testify to Gods loving mercy and kindness. Or he could repent and still dye from cancer but go straight to heaven because you prayed for his restoration. You see how the love law is still working in all this? How Gal. 6 is at work in accordance with 1 Cor. 5? It is my belief that this is how God intends us to be. Remembering ourselves that we don't fall under the same temptation. Why do I believe this even though Paul clearly says in 1 Cor. 5:12 "Do you not judge those who are inside?" and "Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person."  Well one reason is Jesus' dealings with the women caught in adultery  did something very profound he who had no sin and had the authority to stone her showed her Mercy. He caused the others to self examine thus causing them to retreat. So she was not condemned to death. Does this mean Jesus condoned her sins? No he said clearly to her go on your way and sin no more. He gave her a second chance. The other story that gets me is Jonah and how God too showed compassion and mercy but there we see how Jonah's attitude was completely judgmental and lacking in mercy. This shows me that as Christians we should always be on the side of compassion and mercy wanting our brother to repent and go to heaven no matter what it takes. But we should never lose heart or grow weary and lack patience for someones salvation but that we should Love our brothers as ourselves. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you and pray for their weaknesses since we all fall short of the glory of God. Some people have used both these passages as and excuse to pass judgement and to say Their brother is going to hell. They practically have thrown them in and thrown away the key. Just like Jonah.  The way I see these passages that kind of attitude should have them looking behind themselves  for Satan to throw them in next. They already have one foot in the sulfur. Yes I do believe that knowing the difference between sin and good spiritual behavior is a form of judgment we need to discern the difference of right and wrong. That is not only for our own salvation but that of our brothers. I don't believe to take the evidence and decide if someone is guilty and deserving of damnation is our call. That kind of judgment belongs to the Lord. For the Lord has mercy on whom he has mercy Romans 9:18 So we should leave that part to him and pray we all make it into heaven. This has been a long lesson for me and I pray you all are blessed by it. May the Lord continue to fill our hearts with his love, mercy, and compassion so we may always pray for everyone not only those who have fallen into temptation but also  that we might not be tempted at all. In Jesus Name Amen.

Atheists vs Christians: Can't we all get along?

I have been watching the growing debate between Christians and Atheists and I have to say that the general tone of these arguments has me somewhat alarmed. It is my opinion that civility and healthy discourse have been thrown out the window and name calling and outright harassment have taken their place. I think that there are many people out there who are confused about what the other guy believes and that they take that confusion to the extreme. I grew up in a country called the United States of America where freedom was a word used to describe what we as a nation stood for. One of those freedoms, the freedom of religion, is always touted as one of the most important in our nation. In fact, our history shows that this country was started by people who came to the “New World” seeking the freedom to worship God freely and without the regulation of the state. The fact that these same people, upon coming to the new world, immediately installed a theocratic form of government that was just as intolerant ( and some would say more so) as the one which they had just left is fodder for a different post. (See “God in America” by Frontline).

It is this intolerant attitude that I wish to discuss in this post. I see Christians attacking fellow Americans because they are expressing religious beliefs, ( or the lack thereof), on the internet and via other media. I see Atheists attacking fellow Americans for the same reason. I see the word “tolerance” being used by religious fundamentalists in a pejorative manner, as if accepting that others have the right NOT to believe as they do will somehow diminish their own faith. The thing that pains me the most is the fact that most of the people engaged in these hurtful arguments are not “bad people”. It's just that they get so wrapped up in the argument that they forget the laws of civility and common decency. On the side of the Christians: where is Christ in the middle of all that hate? And on the side of the non-believers: how can you get so worked up about something which you don't believe in? There is a great article on the common ground which Christians and Atheists share here. I'm tired of Christians being vilified by non-believers and vice versa. We all need to respect each others convictions and agree to disagree. It's what grown ups do.

For the Atheists: Those of us who believe in Christ are bound by our faith to “Preach the Gospel (good news) to all the world”. It's what we do. We feel that the information we have acquired about God is so important that to keep it to ourselves is practically criminal. In fact our Bible requires us to do so in many different scriptures. I understand that this can be annoying to you. I get it, but in the interests of promoting a more peaceful society, there is no need to degrade or insult someone because they talk to you about their beliefs. I agree that some Christians can be offensive in their approach. Many Christians feel the need to point out that non-believers are headed to Hell for an eternity of torment. This is not something that most people enjoy hearing. These misguided souls fail to recognize that Christ taught and led by example and that a more effective way to communicate the benefits of our belief (in today's world) is through love and compassion and not through fear or hate. You as an intellectual must recognize this for what it is: poor indoctrination. Please don't discount the message due to the failings of the messenger. True followers of the Christian faith make sure that when they speak to others about God and Jesus, they do so with discernment. They respect the person who they are preaching to and also respect the fact that that person may not want to hear what they have to say. If a Christian is not coming from a position of love than they have not learned the first principle of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 13:4) and they are not really being Christlike which should be the goal of every Christian. Extremism is ugly and not indicative of the majority in any belief system so try not to paint us all with the same brush.

For the Christians: Christ came to save the world. If we are to continue in Christ than we must be like Him. Christ did not say “ Love your neighbor...but only if he goes to my church”, He said “ Love your neighbor as yourself”. Most of us do not appreciate being insulted or threatened. If you wouldn't like it done to you than don't do it to others. Christianity 101. The spiritual walk is an individual one and we cannot sit in judgment of each other because that is God's role. Each individual has to come to God (or not) on his or her own terms and spiritual choices are the most intimate choices we can make because they are between the individual and our Creator. Only He can truly and safely judge because only He knows the inner workings of our hearts. So stop telling people that they will burn Hell for eternity even if you think that it's true: it's counter productive in this day and age. That argument was effective in the middle ages when most of the population could barely read. In today's world, there is too much information available and people are making informed decisions based on evidence. The non-believer cannot accept your teachings “because it says so in the Bible”. That is a circular argument. The “proof” that they seek can only come from a personal willingness to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Until they get to that point in their spiritual walk, they will never acknowledge the validity of your claims. They cannot and will not experience what you experience when in the midst of communion with God be it through prayer or in praise and worship. It's like trying to prove the existence of colors to a blind man (Calm down atheists, I'm just making an analogy, I'm not degrading you). Describing the color blue will never allow the blind man to understand (or see)what that color is. The metaphysical cannot be explained to those who are unwilling to acknowledge that it even exists. Jesus was clear that not all would accept Him: (Luke 13:23-24) He was also clear on what we should do in the face of disbelief:(Matthew 7:6)(Matthew 10:14). Nowhere in the Bible does He teach us to force our religion down their throats whether they want it or not. Our God is not pushy, otherwise there would be no free will and we would all believe in Him (because He could do that if He wanted to...it's just not what He is about). Oh and by the way, just because you know the Lord does not make you any better than the next guy. Humble yourself. Salvation is a gift and you are saved not because of who you are or what you do aside from accepting the gift. When sharing that gift with others, don't allow your flesh to overcome you, because then the Holy Spirit leaves the conversation and then you have already lost the argument.

In summary, The only way to reverse the current trend with regards to discussing this subject is to treat each other with respect and to be humble in our knowledge. Knowledge in and of itself does not make someone great. It is how we use that knowledge that defines us. Healthy debate will always refine our positions as long as it is civil. Making fun of the other guy only injects an element into the discussion that can only escalate into an argument with both sides losing out.