Category: Jesus

But God!

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By: Jessica Huber 

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I read this question on a social media page the other day.

*What drink made you never want to drink again?

There were several comments of people chiming in with all different kinds of alcoholic beverages .. along with stories of horrible experiences and how sick it made them.

There was a time where I would have jumped right in!

BUT GOD! And I find myself saying this more and more lately!

But God!
God is Amazing! He is a Chain Breaking, Freedom giving, Life Saving God! He is the ultimate healer!

I saw this post and immediately my thoughts went to a completely different direction. My first thought was .. and without hesitation I might add…The Living Water of Jesus Christ .. After I tried that I never wanted to drink anything else.
I am from a family where drinking was always our way. Always our way to celebrate, our way to deal with disappointment, depression, it was our way of fun and excitement, to let loose to have confidence as well as an answer to stress relief. You name it alcohol was always invited.

This became my way for so long. Until I had that One Drink that Changed Everything!
Now My WAY IS JESUS
THE WAY The Truth and The Life!

It is true that sometimes a negative experience will drive us away from something harmful. But for how long and to what extent? My point is that the goodness of God did this for me in more ways than one bad, or even several bad experiences could have.
For example, I lived through my cousin being killed by a drunk driver, I watched my family grieve and have their lives torn apart. I lived day after day wishing it were me, trying to make it through and comprehend a life with out my best friend. Yet, still I did not quit drinking… I took a break only for a brief time. I vowed never to drink and drive, but I still found myself stepping into vehicles with people behind the wheel who were under the influence. That negative experience should have been enough, after all it was the worst pain to this day that Iv ever felt. Nope, it became my excuse to drink more. My answer to the question could have been many different drinks that I have consumed over time, truth is I’v been sick more than I’d like to admit and still went right back to that kind of poison. I’v had moments of shame and regret that still bring tears to my eyes… and I have to listen for His voice.. saying you are forgiven my love!

The worst drink, the worst experience could never override What God DID in my life!

The Power and Love Of Jesus Christ is more than enough to break through. More than any nasty tasting drink more than any terrible hangover or tragic trauma! He Alone Was the answer for me!

The Drink that He offered was the drink that made me want to quit drinking.
The Living Water of Jesus Christ!

If there is something that has a strong hold on you today.. or if you unsure of your stability.. I would like to offer an invitation to drink from The Eternal Well.
If you do not know JESUS CHRIST as your Lord and personal savior, then there is no better time than right Now. I don’t care if it’s alcohol, shopping, drugs or food, I don’t care if it’s needed attention from people.. what ever it is that allows you to reach for ______________ fill in the blank. If you reach for This before you reach for God then I’m here to tell you.. God is Greater and We need Him! We can not do it on or own or in our own way. He knows How to fill that empty spot! This fullness will not end in shame or regret, it won’t end in self loathing, it won’t end in disappointment or a spiraling cycle. Instead He Gives LIFE, HOPE, FREEDOM, LOVE, JOY, PURPOSE, and so much more!
Will you be free from troubles in this world? The answer is an absolute no, but you will be free from the burden of them. You have a God that says ..are You weary, are you hurt, are you struggling? Come here, let’s swap, give me your burdens and I will give you rest, strength and hope. You have the opportunity to fill the blank with Him! I’m weak …BUT GOD! I’m tired.. BUT GOD! I’m sad and lonely.. BUT GOD! I’m scared.. BUT GOD! I hurt.. BUT GOD! BUT GOD IS GREATER!!

Romans 5:8 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 4:10
Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:14
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Now is the opportunity..
Maybe you feel like you were on the path to having a relationship with him and you’ve allowed the world to have a little too much space in your heart, now is the time to re dedicate. Maybe you really never gave it a thought at all or maybe it’s something you’ve said you will do… somday. Well are you tired of being tired?
Let Him be the one to fill your blank space!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus,
for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I am tired of doing things my own way. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. I am taking this step to repent and turn to you. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. Fill the emptiness in my heart, help me to trust you. Help me to understand your love, grace, your mercy and peace. Help me to receive the Knowledge, That From this point on I am Holy, Righteous and Redeemed… yes…Clean!
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, I invite you into my life as my Lord and Savior.

Thank You Jesus! Amen!

If you have prayed this prayer in sincere faith, You ARE a New Creation In Christ Jesus! The old is gone the New has come!
Get into his word, get to know WHO your SAVIOR is! Learn about Him! Get to know Who YOU are to Him! This relationship will be the most important you will ever have!

A Lazarus Around Every Corner

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By: Jessica Huber

 

Luke 16:19-31
19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

Think about that last statement of the parable, Abraham basically says .. what’s the point? They won’t believe anyway! It’s too late! If they didn’t believe Moses and the prophets then why would they believe if he sent someone back from the dead?….hmm especially a beggar that people ignored and allowed to suffer day in and day out. Yes, what a Miracle that would have been, what a sign .. but it would soon be forgotten just as the many miracles and signs of Moses and the prophets were.

 

Wow But Jesus!
…We have to pause and just Thank God for His generosity, for providing His word to help teach us and guide us, for never giving up on us! I mean you can’t argue that God considers our thoughts and you definitely can’t argue that God gives chance after chance .. when Jesus came walking this Earth, He did the very thing that Abraham denied to do for the Rich man. He brought the dead back to life, He even used a man with The same Name as the beggar who lay at the rich man’s gate! I personally believe the connection of Jesus bringing His friend Lazarus back to life absolutely points to the importance of this parable.
God gave his only son to give us a chance. The Lord Himself died and Rose from the dead!
How many chances? How many more miracles will be ignored?

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

There was a Canaanite woman who came to Jesus asking for his help. Her daughter was suffering from being possessed from a demond. Jesus told her that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. He said it wouldn’t be right to toss the children’s food to the dogs. Her reply was “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Jesus Commended her for her faith and healed her child.

Jump back to Lazarus… He too longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.

Today we Have a table set before us! Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead so that we would not have to suffer in the rich man’s shoes, begging for one little drop of water. God has given us way more than we deserve, more than enough. It’s right there, we do not have to beg or earn, we only need to desire and partake.

Jesus said “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Our wealth is In Him and we are not to be stingy.
Be kind and gracious while on this earth! If there is an opportunity to reach out to someone in need, do it, that is how God’s love shines through. Show compassion, If even the dogs can look at a person and see that they are in need of help then you can see it too! This world is very self driven, don’t Forget, who ever is First will be last and whoever is Last will be first In God’s Kingdom! Love your brothers don’t look down on them, No matter where they are in their walk!
Lift, Encourage and Support.
Do it while you can! This isn’t Groundhog Day! Even if God sets another opportunity in your path, tomorrow is not promised, why save for tomorrow what you can do today. Love, Forgive, Share!

If You haven’t accepted Jesus as Your Lord and Savior, What are YOU waiting for? Proof and Signs? The proof and signs are All Around, we choose to have Eyes to see! Instead of asking for proof ask Him into your heart, ask him to use YOU! Then You Will See PROOF, proof OF What Gods Love Truly looks like.
This is the goodness the rich man failed to experience and share while he lived.

For us, there is a Lazarus around every corner .. yes some are hungry for food to fill their bellies but the food that fills the soul will last for an eternity… disciples are not just the people we read about in the Bible. WE Are the chance for someone to hear of Salvation. We are The disciples of NOW! People are starving to death and I mean right into an Eternal Death. Tell Them about JESUS! Tell them what He has done for them, tell them that The Lord is not slow about His promises as some count slowness, but is patient toward them, not wishing for any to perish but for ALL to come to repentance.


The rich man was concerned about warning his family and brothers and we should be too! The difference is it’s not too late for us and Someone WAS brought back to life for us! The opportunity is now. Don’t ignore the signs going on around you, because the signs are ticking ticking, Our God has been more than generous with His CHANCES. TODAY if You Hear His Voice do not harden your heart, accept Him as Lord of your Life, consume the word that has been provided and Invite someone to the table.

Be a Seeker

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Are we Seekers? Ask and it will be given seek and you will find! Sometimes we fail to see the good in people, especially those who have hurt us or wronged someone we love. A lot of times we stamp a person with a moment in time and allow it to cloud our vision.

Lord help us to see others the way You see them. Help us to lift and encourage. Lord, you pulled us out of the pit while we were filthy and yet you call us chosen, clean and redeemed. We did not deserve your Love but you gave Grace where there was disgrace. Help us to display that Same Mercy. Lord unveil our eyes. Help us seek your vision over our own sight. In The Precious Name of Jesus we Pray. 

What if we actually Believe in God’s Work?

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IMG_0148By: Jessica Huber

“We try to take life back, right out of the hands of The King of the world.”

This is from a beautiful song by Natalie Grant.

I really like a song that will basically allow for a good self check.
And this one does just that.
It’s So true! We do it. Seriously..,Who do we think we are? We try to take our lives out of the hands of God.
Anxiety, Stress, Worries, they all stem from very real situations. There is no lie about that. So often we put more confidence in the severity of the problem, rather than focusing on The Severe and Powerful God we have!
It’s true that many of these worries are about struggles that can be life altering, there is no arguing that!
What if during the process of this alteration, we learn to embrace the shift. What if Instead of expecting the situation to change when we want it to or how we want it, we set our focus on a sure bet. God’s Goodness, His Love, His Provisions!
I CAN Expect God to be Who He IS!
I know what I’d like to happen, I know how I would hope for this to turn out, but better yet, I want to see God’s Expectations fulfilled!
The situation may not be ideal, but I Can expect God to do something extraordinary In it, Through it and From it!
Look at it in this way! This is happening in an imperfect life, in an In perfect world, it its ugly, but My God is Perfect!
He Is The The Master at working All things for the Good of those who love Him!
He knows the yuck of the world, but more importantly He knows The Beauty of what He can do with it.
I’m not saying there won’t be pain or uncertainty, but what if we Trust that God will do something Glorious? What if, we Trust that out of this darkness there will be a clarity like no other. What if, while In it, we accept the peace and security that He freely gives, and we remind ourselves that God is just.
What if through it, we learn something? What if from it, we are positioned for something that is for a far greater purpose, one that our limits can’t fathom? What if from enduring, we come out of the other end and we are able to see others in a different way? What if through this darkness, God is creating opportunities for the scales on our own eyes to fall? What if this is the moment  to cultivate compassion? We know that His plans are to prosper not to harm, what if we Trust that? What if while in the dark, He is polishing us in a way where we can reflect his light more than we could have before we entered? Think of a Diamond, its found in a dark cave but once it’s been cleaned chipped and shaped, it’s buffed and boy does it shine! We are the same, He finds us in the dark and What he can do with our mess is incredible. We need to stop trying to make sense of the process and instead expect that there will be something that shines! A blazing instrument that He can now use for His Perfect Purpose. What if, we believe the scriptures that we read Day In and Day Out?
Trust In The Lord with all our hearts and lean Not on our own understanding.
The next part is a Promise!
He will make the path straight!
Hand it to the King and leave it there!
Put The Power where the Power Belongs!
Through Him!
Thanks Be To God we are given the Victory Through our Lord Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:57

1 Peter 2:9
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Psalm 21:11
Though they intended evil against You And devised a plot, They will not succeed.

Isaiah 41:10
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Psalm 91:14-16
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

 

The LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the LORD your God loves you. . Deuteronomy 23:5

Heart and Mind God Infused!

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IMG_0032By: Jessica Huber

Matthew 6:21
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jeremiah 17:10
“I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.

What do you want Him to discover when He is exploring your heart and it’s desires?

Romans 8:7
7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

Let’s remember what that Law is.

Deuteronomy 6:5
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength

If we are using His strength, what or who will be able to keep us from Loving Him?

We know from Romans 8:38-39 that Nothing can keep us from His Love..Nothing!

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Then we should definitely be able to keep This Law Within Our Daily Lives. It’s the most important Command and the second is to Love your neighbor as yourself. When you know How much you are
Loved by The Creator THEN you will know how to love others.
Lets move back to the first command of Loving our God with all our heart, If we are to be One with God, that means we are to be God infused. It’s about having a Relationship and with any relationship, learning to trust is important. How can we trust if we do not know who it is we are trusting?

We want God in our Lives, but are we Willing to Get Into the Life Of God?

A relationship is made of two. Both doing their part. There isn’t a person out there that could agree that they enjoy being on the Nonexistent end of a one-sided relationship. Imagine being in a relationship with someone, you know all about them, you know their favorites of life, as well as their dislikes. Imagine that the only time you hear from this person is when they want to use you as a sounding board. Imagine if this person never truly included your interest, your likes, or considered your dislikes. Imagine if they never ask for your opinion or cared to even set time aside for you? Imagine if they never tried to learn anything about you. Would you consider this a productive healthy relationship?

Let’s start getting into The Life of Christ! He already knows all about us, He considers our thoughts and our ways, let’s get to know Him! We do not need to acquire His love, He is already offering that free and clear, but what He does want is our attention. He wants our heart and mind.

So in Loving Our God with All of our heart we are not to put anyone or anything above Him. No person, No Job, No opinions, No hobby, No Nothing. We put Him first and including His Word. The rest falls where it Falls, right into every inch of His Good Will.

Heart and Mind God Infused!
Where to start?
We involve Him with every inch of our lives. We start the morning by waking up, He is present.. Are You ? Talk to Him in your mind, out loud, sing to Him. However you want, Just spend time with Him, In the shower, in the car, Anywhere is perfect. It’s not about an opening and closing of the day, it’s on going. Set a special time to Read the Bible! Here is where you will find the details of His true character. That’s How we Know His truth and how we separate it from anything else that comes our way.
The more we read His word, the more we Hear His voice within our decisions. This is how we receive His feedback. This is how we learn of His opinions, His likes and dislikes.

Let’s start getting into The Life of Christ. Then the next time that we imagine Him giving our heart a good examination, He will find that our heart is full and overflowing with.. Him!

let us pray

Dear Lord,

it’s true at times I have treated this relationship unfairly. I thank you for the Love and attention you give to me each and everyday. All of the intricate details and plans you have for my life, I know I can never thank you enough. But I can give you my heart and my attention. I want to know you Lord on a deeper level. Help me to set my time and rearrange my priorities. I want to know your thoughts and your ways as you know mine. Guid me into your Glory, help me to see the world, through your eyes. Help me to love others as you love them! In Jesus name I pray.

Amen

Do Not Be Afraid He Hears You

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By: Jessica Huber

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I opened to Daniel this morning and I was drawn to a portion I had highlighted from a previous reading. For me it’s such a beautiful reminder that God IS LISTENING! Not Only that, but He Answers.

Dan 10:12
Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.

Do Not Be Afraid! Your God is on the job!
From The FIRST DAY that he set his heart on understanding, Daniel’s words were heard. From the first day!
I love that reassurance. Then a little further down in Dan 10:19 Daniel is told again Do not be afraid. Peace be strong now, be strong.

His response comes with His Presence. His Peace whispers do not be afraid, it opens our hearts to His counsel. It leads us into a rest. His Strength lifts us into a secure and fortified position. Our feet are set secure and Firm on His Name!

The Lord Continues to remind us all through out the scriptures to Seek Him and to remember that He is a God of deliverance.

Jeremiah 1:8
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”

I Am with you.. To Deliver you.

James 1:5
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

When the Lord is In our Midst there is no reason to fear. He wants us to Boldly come to the throne. It was His doing that made that possible.

Hebrews 4
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us 16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Matthew 14:27
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Matt 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Psalm 105:4
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

I hope That whoever reads this today is blessed with the understanding that His Love is For You. May you come to His throne with Confidence. He is Listening, come KNOWING That He Will Answer!

We can not reflect what we do not know

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By: Jessica Huber

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Mark 12:30-31
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

If You know Who you are In Christ, then the second portion of this scripture makes perfect sense.

As yourself hmmmm

We can not reflect what we do not know.

Many do Not Love who they are at all, in fact we have some real self loathing going on. We allow our past to create the internal image. We hold onto regret, shame, fear, resentment, pain, anger, jealousy, and failures. We hold them up and we look into them as if we are looking into a mirror. It distorts the way we see ourselves as well as the way we view the people around us.

The perception of the outside begins to reflect the ugly that’s held within.
So many times we are staring right into a pool of deception, we look to the world to become our mirror. In reality what the world determines as beautiful, will soon perish.
Are we seriously letting the perishable guide our self worth?

We allow ourselves to believe that our worth is found in possessions and people. We even base our worth on our struggles. Let me tell you no one is without a struggle! Everyone has them. But they do not need to define us.

The world would rather encourage us to stay under the control of our weaknesses.
It passes out the labels and we accept them proudly.
We wear them around like name tags.
Hello I am …

We would rather proclaim these labels on ourselves, rather than Claiming The Name JESUS CHRIST over our lives!
So if this is how we look at ourselves, how can we love a neighbor as ourselves. How do we treat people kindly if we can’t even treat ourselves with love and respect? How do we tell people that God loves them if we do not even believe that His Love applies to us as well.

In order to project love we have to first receive Love. To know the Father’s love is to Trust it! We are Loved regardless of our ugly past, we are Loved regardless of our ugly mistakes, and we are Loved despite our present blemishes inside and out.

No you are not a label of the world!

You are a child of The King of Kings, The Lord of lords.
The One Who Can make ALL things New! The One who has wiped your past clean and remembers it no more. Your Lord is the one who restores the broken and projects them into victory!

You Are His if you want to be. The choice is yours! What label will you be putting on today? What will follow after The I AM…
or maybe I should say Who will follow after The Great I AM?

Ephesians 3:19
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

We are to be filled with His Love and overflowing so that we can share it with others.
Will we allow ourselves to receive it?
Will we soak in a love that is pure and true?
Will we hold it up and look into The Face of Christ?

1 John 4:4
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Will we allow God to determine our worth or will we let the world decide?

Isaiah 61:10
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

What have you been reflecting onto your neighbors? Are you passing out the labels that you have accepted?

The Word of God says that You are Holy righteous and redeemed, you are cherished and treasured.
Accept That! Reflect That!

 

1 John 4:16
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Ephesians
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Get to know Our Lord and Savior. He will Show You who you are as you become acquainted with His Love.
He will guide your steps towards His Will.
To be self controlled is to be God Guided! The only way to truly know your full purpose and your potential is to receive it through His direction.

Psalm 143:8
Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.

2 Thessalonians 3:5
May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

 

United

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IMG_8403By: Jessica Huber

satan has been on the prowl lately and he seems to have a particular agenda. That agenda is division.
We are seeing it in our country, we are seeing in our marriages and sadly we are seeing it in our churches.

Church if we are not united and standing strong We fall apart. Remember,
On Christ the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Mark 3
24“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25“If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

We need our churches to stay united in Christ and remember that He is the glue that binds us together as One.
Brothers and Sisters there are people lost, broken and confused. There are people hurting and looking for a way out.
They will be seeking assistance.
Problem is, there are many forms of “help”
If we are not there to Show The Way, they will find another way .

2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

It’s super tempting to seek out answers that will sooth our fleshy desires especially when we are in pain. Answers that will give us the quick and easy relief. It’s a deception and we know that most of these answers are actually damaging and far from easy. They guide us away from seeking God’s face and deter us from His promises.

Lets live as examples, and I do not mean put on a SHOW that we do not have struggles of our own. I mean the opposite, let’s share our struggles, let’s encourage and support. let’s express victory and perseverance through our trials. Let’s be the Compassion and Love of the God that we represent! Instead of talking about one another let’s pray for one another. Let’s take it a step further, we need to Pray WITH one another.

Ephesians 4:1-32
4 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 5
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Just to add a little note towards the marriages that are under attack right now. We have people giving up on that unity, in and out of the church body. We need to be reaching out, supporting and pointing our brothers and sisters to The Glue when it comes to this matter.
No marriage is perfect but God created a perfect plan for marriage. Why wouldn’t satan want to rip it apart?
Christ refers to His Church as His Bride. So that should tell us a lot on his thoughts towards the unity of a man and a woman. Husbands and Wives are to be One in the same way that He is One with us! Look what His Love did for us! So we should pay close attention when He commanded that we love one another as Christ loves the church.

Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

Now hold on ladies I know what your thinking! But look
28So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
Who wouldn’t want to submit to that? But let’s be real, that doesn’t always happen.
Believe me I know we have marriages where people are on separate levels when it comes to our spiritual walk! We may not all have a husbands or a wives that live their life for The Lord. That may be confusing when you are being told to submit to that. Here is where your submission comes in.

Submit to God and HE will make your path straight! It goes back to that personal relationship with our Maker. Do all things for His Glory. The Faith is In Him and what He can do with our situations.

Just remember this Isaiah 54:5
“For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.

His Plan is Perfect and Beautiful! Let’s start implementing it! Let’s start reaching out and let’s be examples of His Great Name!
If we can understand The Power that God wants us to have as a unit, the more we will understand the reason for satan wanting to tear us apart.
Don’t fall for it!

This world is wicked and becoming more and more corrupt. Our children are just seeing the beginning of how ugly it truly is. Keep their homes united and Strong!
For those of you who are in the Middle of The struggle, for those of you who are so tempted to find that quick relief, please be encouraged that You are not alone, find your rest in the Lord. Be Still In The Moment and Allow God to move In your life!
Keep Fighting the Good Fight!
God Bless!

Rehab In Christ

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By: Jessica Huber

 

   Recently my dad  had his knee replaced. If you have ever experienced a procedure like that or have known someone who has, it’s quit a recovery process. The wound is rather large. When I first saw his knee it was swollen and wrapped with bandages to cover his staples, yes staples. It’s quite a sight, I have to admit. So you may be surprised to know that they start rehab right away. While you are still hooked to tubes they first have you stand a little and shift your weight around, gradually working up to more movement. You are assisted with a walker and a physical therapist of course.

After my dad was able to go home, he was visited by nurses and and therapists. When he had his staples removed they noticed that there was still an area that had not sealed shut. It still looked pretty scary. They informed him that he was healing from the inside out. His nurse put a few butterfly bandages and assured him she would keep a good eye on it.

Thinking of this, immediately  my thoughts went to our walk with The Lord. In a way we can look at this Journey as Rehab. The moment we accept JESUS as our Lord and Savior the recovery process begins. True, the scriptures say we are now New In Christ the old is gone and the new has come, but that doesn’t mean we are ready to jump from the hospital bed and enter a marathon. It is absolutely a journey that requires time and assistance. We first have JESUS who we can consider the Doctor of all doctors who gives a prescription of the Word. Then we have an entire team in which the Holy Spirit works through. The Church, our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, they are all the assistance needed to help support a stable walk.

The surface does not always show the entire picture. Sometimes we may have areas on the outside that look perfectly fine and you would never know that the inside may actually have a long road to recovery. Other times it may be the case like my dad’s, looking a bit rough on the outside but there is Healing already going on within.
God truly knows the depths of our being and He is the only one who can determine the plan of procedure.

2 Corinthians 5:16 talks about no longer recognizing others according to the flesh.
This is basically taking on the eyes of Jesus.
This brings me to another conversation I had with my dad. He now receives his therapy at the hospital. Just the other day he mentioned another man who is also receiving therapy for his knee. My dad was feeling a little discouraged because this other man was already walking all around the room with ease. My dad is still very sore and although he has shown a lot of progress, his walk is nowhere near as steady as this other man’s walk. I said to my dad, “did you consider that he may not have had the same procedure?” “Or maybe there are other factors such as age or weight?” “Or maybe we are just all different and some heal quicker than others?”

Our spiritual lives are very much the same.
We all heal in different ways. Just because we are Now New Creations in Christ, it does not mean our scars are not visible. It doesn’t mean that we all heal at the same pace. Our injuries are not all the same!
Some of our past hurts are warn on our sleeve while others are hidden deep down, taking a little longer to come to the surface.
We can be so thankful that we have a Personal God who knows and understands our differences.

I Am a New Creation In Christ and I Am Still very much receiving daily therapy. If I neglect to receive it, I see that my spiritual body gets stiff. I’m in need of that constant movement, that constant oiling of the Holy Spirit. It penetrates deep down inside my joints and allows me to press on and walk this life with Christ.

We are not to look at others according to the flesh, because we do not know what God is personally doing in their lives. We are not to compare ourselves or judge others. It’s important to consider the stages of the healing process, God may be working with someone at a pace that He knows is best for them. Maybe you know someone who is just in that first stage of movement, you might be tempted to to think they should be further along. remember rehabilitation starts even when wounds are still fresh, this person is being pushed to move and shift, consider that this change can be painful. Even after a period of time we have areas that need stretched and exercised, this can be quite a work out. Let this be a time to exercise ourselves in compassion rather than  frustration. Maybe the scars still look a little rough but we can Trust That God has a plan of rehabilitation and he’s working from the inside out.

Maybe you are that man walking swiftly around the room or maybe you are the guy still using a walker, maybe you have just gotten out of the hospital bed, or maybe you are still considering the surgery altogether. I want you to know that wherever you are, Christ Is With You! I want you to know that you have purpose and God sees you as a finished work from beginning to the end.
Know this, that he wants us to look at each other in the same way that he looks at us.
Let’s remember that we all have to start somewhere, and that we are all in different stages within our healing process. Let’s trust our loved ones in The Doctors care and act alongside not as a hindrance but as the assistant that God would want us to be within this process.
Be Encouraged and Give Encouragement!
Have Patience with yourself and With others in their recovery time.

It is my hope that God Blesses you with this message today.

 

Verses to reflect on

2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 

2 Corinthians 5:16-21
16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Philippians 3:14-17
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

 

 

 

 

Ignorance is far from Bliss

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By: Jessica Huber

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Proverbs 4:19
The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.

A friend of mine shared a verse and commented on something she heard, “you can play the Christian but have a bad heart.” There is truth in that!
It directed my mind to my own studies! I just Love when God connects his children through sharing his word.

I recently read a story in Acts 19 and in the beginning Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

It goes on to tell about these Jewish priests who tried to go around casting demons out of people. They were saying “In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches”
One day the evil spirits spoke back to them and said.. JESUS I know and Paul I know about, but Who are you?? Then they attacked the Jews. The scripture says they were left naked and beaten.
So what was it that had these guys wanting to perform these miracles? What drove them? Were they using the Lord’s name for a self gain? Who knows, but their hearts apparently did not really believe That JESUS was Lord, it most certainly did not contain The Holy Spirit.
They were exposed!
Goodness, the evil spirits weren’t even fooled by their declarations! These men were of no threat whatsoever and the evil spirits pounced on the fact that the priests had no connection to JESUS at all!
This became an example to others and The Name of The Lord was seen to be truly honored and not something to be thrown around.

People can claim themselves to be a Christians, they can consistently sit on a church pew, they can and do even speak The Holy Name of Jesus but who are they deceiving if even demons know better. The only one getting played is the one who stares back from the mirror.
Apart from Christ we are nothing.
Apart from Him we are left wide open for the attack!

What is it to be called a Christian? Where is the proof found?

I The Lord search The Heart and Examine the mind!

Proverbs 27:19
As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man.

Matthew 7
21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

John 3:1-21
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Romans 8:14
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

The Holy Spirit is the revealer and the connector, He is the interpreter of The Way The Truth and The Life.

1 Corinthians 2
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”
the things God has prepared for those who love him

10these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.c14The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the spirit.
We are known by the fruit that we produce as Mathew 7:16 says
by their fruit you will recognize them.
This fruit is the Evidence. The fruit shows if we have the Holy Spirit Working and dwelling within, it also show if we do not.

Matthew 7:18
“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

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

John 15:5-6
5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

May your heart reflect The Glory of The Lord!