Tag: jesus

The Test of Free Will

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2:19-20)

We have all been created with free will. According to theological perspectives, God generally does not override human free will to protect us from our own choices. God can however intervene in circumstances and influence hearts, I know that personally because He has done it in me. Free will is considered essential for genuine love and moral responsibility. This is actually a gift from God that allows us humans to choose to love and obey God, rather than being forced to do so. We are free to make choices, just like in the Garden of Eden, but remember we are also responsible for the consequences of those choices just as Adam and Eve were. I have recently had to make a choice on to how to handle a situation based off of my free will, not a heaven or hell issue, but a moral response that I would have to live with for the rest of my life here on earth. I will say it was definitely a life altering one. This choice was going to permanently change my life, my perspective as well as my future path. On the other hand it was going to be a positive, transformative moment in my life, allowing for more spiritual growth, rest in my spirit, knowing that I had made the right choice for me. I am learning the importance of true rest, not just sleeping, but resting. I have spent a lot of my life restless, tired, worn out all due to choices I have made, that thing called free will. Free will if not taken seriously, is not free at all. The older I get the more peace means to me. Peace of mind, the restfulness of knowing I’ve made right choices regardless of the outlook of others. God tells us in (Joshua 24:15) “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” Decide your own path. I’m choosing the path He is directing me in. I highly advise getting to know the promptings of the Holy Spirit, though God does not stop us from making bad choices, He does influence, nudge or create circumstances that will steer us toward making good decisions if we are paying attention. God is sovereign, and he does protect believers from harm, but it doesn’t mean every bad choice is blocked or reversed, so we still have to be careful when making choices. Again, it’s so important to be still and quiet and listen before making a choice. Remember bearing the responsibility of our choices whether good or bad is ours to bear. That’s the gift of free will. What sort of choices do you need to make today?

Com’n In A Shout’n

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! (Psalm 149:3)

Sunday morning worship is the BEST. I’m not a good singer nor do I have instrumental talent, that’s why I love Sunday morning worship, these people on stage do. They are prayed up and anointed to bring the congregation into His presence. I’m not shy when it comes to worshipping my Lord and Savior. I throw up hands, I will jump, sway, stomp a foot all the while thanking God that no one else can hear me, but Him. Now at home or in my car it’s a whole different story, I let it rip. I’m all in. I love that no matter what I sound like, to God it is beautiful and He delights that my heart is focused on Him and He thinks this is the sweetest sound ever. Isn’t that just like a father? Always seeing the best in his child even when no one else can. Sometimes I just can’t help myself, I get this beating in my heart and overwhelmed sense of gratitude, for how much He loves me. I become so humbled before Him for all the goodness He has done for me, I mean geez …He saved my life! He set my feet upon a rock, He turned my life around, broke the chains that once had me bound, brought joy in the morning after nights of darkness, delivered me from SOooo many things, healed the deep wounds within me, gave me a reason to live, He set me FREE! It makes me want to SHOUT! I feel new strength and hope once I have been in His presence through worship. That is my best description of “JOY.” Nobody can love me like that and I’m gonna let Him know! You know God doesn’t just love to hear us sing praises to Him, it is a declaration of our trust in Him. It shows Him our surrender when we will humble ourselves and worship Him. He actually views it as an act of obedience, adoration, and a pleasant offering. God “inhabits” or dwells within the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), affirming His presence. It shows Him that Jesus Christ really does dwell within us. So if you ever see me shouting praises to God, just know God is rejoicing over it.

The Heart of the Matter is the Matter of the Heart

For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

In the movie the Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man wants a heart to feel emotions like love, kindness and sorrow, believing that without one, he cannot love. In the beginning he explains his need for a heart and later he notes, “Now I know I’ve got a heart because it’s breaking”.

Tina Turner sings a song, “What’s Love Got to Do With It”. This was a song about anti-love, keeping relationships casual and physical, rather than emotional, to avoid heartbreak. Its focus is on, distrust, emotions driven by past pain. It’s about protecting oneself from future hurts by not allowing themselves to fall in love. The chorus: “What’s love got to do, got to do with it? What’s love but a secondhand emotion? What’s love got to do, got to do with it? Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?” This secondhand emotion suggests that emotional intensity is less important than physical experience. Tina Turner stated in an interview in 1984 that she personally believed “love has everything to do with everything,” even though the song fit the “liberated” and faster-paced mindset of the time. The song inevitably denies the importance of emotions.

The movie is a fairytale, the song is based on an era in time, but what does God have to say about the matter of the heart? God views the heart as the center of human personality-encompassing intellect, emotion, and will-and the primary indicator or spiritual condition. As humans we tend to look at the outward appearance, God looks directly at the heart as in the Scripture (1 Sa. 16:7), which is often described as naturally deceitful, sinful, and in need of divine transformation. Scripture also speaks of the heart being wicked; filled with evil thoughts, immorality, and greed. Jesus taught that the heart is the source of all behavior, that what defiles a person comes from within, including evil thoughts, murder, and adultery. God says, he searches the heart, he tests it looking for evidence of His spirit, and then he refines it and blesses it according to our conduct; [“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deed.”] I as many of you reading this have experienced our own story of emotions on the matter of the heart. As horrible as the brokenness and the wounds that we have been carrying from the emotions of the heart are, there is GOOD NEWS. In the Word of God it says, broken hearts are not abandoned, but are the focus of His intimacy, healing, and restoration. God draws near to the brokenhearted, offering to bind up wounds, exchange the emotional ashes for beauty, and transform painful experiences into a testimony of His love and grace. He saves the crushed in spirit (Psalms 34:18). He turns sorrow into joy (Is. 61:1). No matter how shattered the circumstances of your life may seem…”preaching to myself here,” God is the restorer of the damage done. God will use these moments of brokenness to draw me and you closer to Him, a place where His strength and love abound and this is the heart of the matter.

Am I Producing?

Knowing the testing of your faith produces patience. Let patience do its perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (Ja. 1:3-4)

Let’s turn our adversities into opportunities. Let’s become complete and whole. Let’s produce “FAITH.” Faith produces patience, endurance, and perseverance, which leads us to completeness, I want everything God has for me. Faith produces the ability to withstand hardships which in turn should mature us as believers. Eventually it will lead to good works and obedience in God, which I am steadily maturing in with each circumstance presented before me. Faith is our weapon to war against the enemy. If we have the faith to believe God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). Battles seem to be never-ending, but with God we are more than a conqueror. It also produces peace, joy and love for others, that’s where we see the adversity turning into an opportunity. An opportunity to show the love of Christ in any given circumstance; I am still working out the kinks in that area just FYI. Faith is the foundational assurance of things hoped for, confidence to trust God’s promises. I have hope, and I trust, that’s the only reason I am still here. It is an anchor, a grounding for all future hope today, tomorrow, days and years to come. While hope is looking forward with an expectation, our faith is relying on God’s character that He is who He says He is. Faith is the inward certainty that generates the outward expectation of hope. This is where I know that I know comes in. If we will get this seeded deep inside of us, it makes it possible for us to move forward with confidence. Life allows us so many opportunities, yet I have found most require faith to do them. I don’t always feel that kind of faith. I have to stir up faith inside of me, it’s there, but I have to remind myself. Without it I am an “Udder FAILURE,” I have to pray for direction and guidance and be ready and willing to receive. God simply wants me to trust in Him, have “FAITH.” By doing it that way it is perfect, I lack nothing. That trouble situation, self-doubt, rejection, lost loved one, struggle to succeed in what I am trying to accomplish; adversity overcome. DONE! Once you have faith, the test is finished. (Hebrews 12:2), Jesus is described as the “author and finisher” (or perfecter) of our faith. Doubt and faith do not co-exit.

After “It Is Finished”

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations …” (Matt. 28:19)

Jesus gave the command after his resurrection and shortly before his ascension into heaven. Immediately after rising: He appeared to his disciples behind locked doors in Jerusalem and told them, “As the father has sent me, I am sending you”. Shortly before ascending: He gave further instructions near Bethany on the Mount of Olives, telling them they would be his witnesses “to the ends of the earth” after receiving the Holy Spirit. According to Scripture in (Matthew 28:18-20) [And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”] This applies to all Christians as a mandate to share our faith. We just spent an entire week in preparation for the celebration of our Risen Savior, now it’s time to GO! If you gave your life to Jesus at anytime during or before the celebration you have now been commanded to Go …share the good news, be fishers of men, make disciples. This is the mission of the Church to spread the gospel message of salvation, we are the Church, don’t just sit around and wait for the world to come to you, we need to GO to them. If you need a place to start, start with letting others see the change in you. What the cross did for you, your freedom from the sins you were carrying, the hurts, habits and hang-ups the Lord just freed you from, the new love you have for people, even the unlovely. Go … looks different for everyone, just like our fingerprint is different from everyone else’s, so is the way we bring others into a personal relationship with the Lord. For others it may look like evangelism in the streets to the homeless or a co- worker the Lord put on your heart, a schoolmate or a random person at the grocery store. Acts of kindness are a very good tool for everyone to start with. Let me also remind you, that you are not the one doing the calling, the Holy Spirit calls them, you are the tool in which He uses to accomplish His good work, lest anyone boast of his good work (Eph.2:8-10). The purpose of good works is not causing salvation, instead we believers are created to do the good works to show the fruit or evidence of our faith. Remember is was entirely by the grace of God that you were saved and it is by grace that others will be too. Just GO! that is the command, put your individual fingerprint on another soul for the kingdom of heaven.

ONE Way

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

I was at a funeral this week for a man that was given just a few weeks to live. This man had experienced hell on earth in many different ways, and he had a faith in Jesus that what Jesus did on that cross was real and it was for him, death would not win because Jesus had already conquered death once and for all. He knew in just a few short days he was going to Heaven and Jesus was the only way there. He wasn’t scared, NO fear! He knew the devil was real and he was a liar. He had the Holy Spirit living in him, guiding him through all truth, it just resonated in his whole being. No questions what-so-ever, truth is truth, believe it or not, he believed and we should too. The day of the funeral was a celebration day, not a sad day, because how could we be sad about where he was? A place we all want to go to one day. Of course he will be missed by many, but the awesome part of that for those of us that know the truth, we know that we are just going through a temporary separation and soon we will all be together once again. Our friend is not gone for good; he is in heaven awaiting our arrival. When the Pastor was with our friend shortly before he left this earth, he asked him, “are you okay?” Meaning did he have any reservations about what was about to take place. The Pastor said, “In the 20 years of being with those that are dying, I never met a person so prepared, so sure and so ready to go” and not because he was suffering or in pain, though he was, but because he was just that certain of where he was going. We would be wise to prepare ourselves for the truth in such a way as our friend did. Death is not the end; it’s the beginning of a life that we will never be able to obtain here. We will have for the first time a direct, unhindered communion with God. To actually be in His presence, the “Heaven of heavens” a place where our souls find true rest. So, the answer to the question is: Yes, Jesus is the ONLY way to get there.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9-10)

Prayer of Salvation “Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. I confess that I am a sinner, and I believe that Jesus you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. I ask you Jesus, come into my heart and be Lord over my life. I repent of my sins, and I trust in You alone for my salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Four Petals

This is a symbolic reminder of the Passion; the cross at the crucifixion; Christ’s sacrifice.

Spring is here and the dogwoods are in bloom, I captured a few photos on a recent ride through the woods. Dogwood flowers symbolize rebirth, resurrection, and Christian faith. Also, representing love, purity and strength. The four petals represent the cross, the center represents the crown of thorns and the reddish notches on the tips of the petals symbolize the blood-stained nails from the crucifixion. As one of the first trees to bloom in the spring, it represents renewal and new beginnings. Due to its bloom time, the flower is used during Easter to celebrate resurrection hope. The Bible does not specify the exact type of wood used to build the cross of Jesus Christ. Olive or oak were common and readily available in the Jerusalem region during Roman times and the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition suggest the cross was made of three woods: cedar, pine and cypress, yet there is no direct historical evidence that the dogwood was present in the region in any sizable quantity. What I have found is a folklore surrounding the dogwood tree. The dogwood was the largest and strongest of forest trees, hence it was chosen as timber for the cross on which Jesus was crucified. After resurrection, Jesus took pity on the dogwood’s sorrow at being used for this purpose. He decreed that henceforth the tree would remain slender and twisted, unable again to be used as an instrument of execution. You will not find this story in scripture, it is for those who find poetic clarity in its imagery, seeing the dogwood blossom as a allegory that draws attention to Calvary. What we can find in scripture despite the legend are some biblical truths: Christ’s Sacrifice-“[He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His stripes you are healed.] ( 1 Peter 2:24) There was a cross. [Joseph who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate asking for the body of Jesus, Pilate ordered it be given to him. Joseph then took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone in the entrance of the tomb and went away] (Matt. 27:57-60) there was a tomb. After the Sabbath, the first day of the week,[ Mary Magadalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. There was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it] (Matt. 28:1-2). Verses 5-6; [The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen. Come see the place where he lay”] and there was a resurrection day. And there we have an empty tomb and a risen Jesus! And a beautiful dogwood tree in the early spring reminding us of Christ’s sacrifice for us.

He Has Risen

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. (Matthew 28:6)

This is not the tomb where Jesus arose from, it is a picture I took of a enormous rock while riding 4-wheelers through the mountains. Easter is just a few days away and this picture started me thinking about the tomb they had placed Jesus in. We, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion as told in the Bible (Matthew 28:6). It signifies victory over death, sin, and the promise of eternal life, it is a celebration of the new covenant, sins are forgiven and in turn we are offered eternal life. This is our hope, hope in Jesus. Easter is celebrated on Sunday; that’s the day the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead. Easter/Resurrection Sunday is celebrated as a unique, world changing event that occurred on the first day of the week, validating the Scriptures and as tradition would have it it also marks the end of Lent. Revelation 1:18 (NIV): “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades”. I also was dead in my sins until I gave my life over to Jesus. He took the keys and opened the prison doors of my heart and set me free. John 11:25-26 (NIV) “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die'”. Because of the resurrection I have hope and assurance of my future and eternal life, and you can too. Even though this physical body, this shell will one day pass away, my spirit will live forever and ever with my Lord and Savior, for I have been redeemed. “He is risen indeed!”

Root of Bitterness

“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15)

Do you have some unchecked resentment, anger, or toxic attitudes that are growing beneath the surface? If so, these roots eventually will cause you emotional, spiritual, or relational damage, usually stemming from offenses, disappointments, unresolved feelings of being wronged, betrayed or unforgiveness. I assure you this force will spoil your joy and ruin your peace. In the scripture above we are warned about the trouble it will cause, a deep-seated animosity toward others around you. Like this tree the roots were under ground, you weren’t able to see them until one day they grew outward. Our bitterness is like the roots of the tree, it isn’t always seen until it produces “fruit”-outward actions like sarcasm, hostility, negativity, resentment, or bad behaviors caused from pain, jealousy, or lack of forgiveness, the list goes on and on. The consequences if left unchecked, can lead to severe anger, broken relationships, isolation, faith being challenged, even physical/emotional sickness. By addressing it, bringing it to light, forgiving our offender, practicing intentional joy, and relying on grace we can overcome and rid this root once and for all. This is not just a personal feeling, it spreads and it affects others. As I sit here ruminating on this root I realize how many times I have dealt with this in my life and as easy as it is to write what I know to be true, it sometimes is hard to follow, that’s why I need grace. I need the Holy Spirit, my Paraclete, my Helper. Jesus promises me an “Advocate,” “Helper,” “Counselor” in John’s Gospel to be present with me forever. He is the One who comes alongside, indwelling in me offering guidance into truth, comfort, and strength, never leaving me alone instead making it possible for me to overcome. This is where I find myself being honest with God and myself admitting my anger and forgiving the offender. This is where I stop the ruminating on the offense and move past. This is where I replace negative thoughts with gratitude for the positive aspects of my life. This is where the good fruit grows.

By the Grace of God

But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

God’s grace has made me who I am today, just as Paul saw his conversion from “persecutor” to “apostle to the Gentiles” to be a free and wholly underserved gift of God. I to have been set free through the salvation provided for me through the precious blood of Jesus. Sin has a way of creeping in, and God has provided a way to be freed from it. Easter is approaching and I have had Jesus on my mind and just what all He endured for me to have this freedom. Many years ago, an evangelist came to my home church and his message was titled, ‘The Price Has Been Paid.” I was a new Christian at the time, so I was just learning of this thing called forgiveness of sins and how, who and what all could be forgiven. This message was so intense in how he described what Jesus went through, from the drinking of the cup, what all was in that cup, to the way to the cross and finally on the cross. By the time he finished his message I was bawling. I couldn’t believe God would allow His Son to go through all of that for me. I knew I was a sinner in need of a Savior, but I never expected my Savior would have to pay such a price as that. As a mother I have sacrificed. As a wife I have sacrificed. As a friend I have sacrificed. I have never sacrificed like that. I remember the one area of forgiveness I was struggling most in was, forgiving myself. At that time, I had a knowing that God had forgiven me, others had forgiven me, but I was hung up on forgiving myself. I felt so bad about certain things I had done in my life, but there was a part in this teaching that night about forgiving ourselves. This was the part that changed everything for me. Ivan Tait the evangelist said, “If you cannot forgive yourself, you are saying to Jesus that He didn’t pay a big enough price for your sins.” That was all it took. I knew that moment it was time to lay it down at the feet of Jesus. Since then whenever I find myself being convicted of something, I don’t hold on to it, He paid the price for me to be who I am, and His mercy and grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). I have received that unmerited favor, I didn’t earn it, it was a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9) free to me because He paid the price. Today again, I thank you Jesus; for what you have done for me, transforming me through your power and love.