Author: embassychurchnlr

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The Craftsmanship of Individually Being One

When I was young I was fully aware of the fact that I was different. I could hardly be seen as the spitting image of my dad, a brilliant and computer savvy mind. I wasn’t exactly like my mom, a fearless go-getter with a photographic memory. Nor was I easily compared to my sister, a quiet, Shirley Temple look-alike that could spell “encyclopedia” at age five. I was loud, never still, always trying to make people laugh, and the biggest klutz anyone had ever seen. As I grew, the people I met and became friends with just reemphasized and proved my hypothesis. I was a bit of an oddity.

“I was a bit of an oddity”

From the beginning of time, no two people have ever been precisely the same and they never will be. If God desired for us all to look and act alike, or have the same passions, then why are we not all Adam, Eve, Abraham, or Sarah and so on? From an early age, we are presented with a choice:

1) We can conform to the world and try to better fit our environment of family, friends, co-workers and even acquaintances by burying who we are. But, in doing so, we are recognizing God’s handiwork and saying, “no thanks.” All the while taking that life and concealing it in tombs where we will forever hear the laments of “what if?” Or,

2) We could swallow our fears and embrace the workmanship of the Creator (Romans 12:2). This path beckons us to abandon our unrest and learn the beauty of being still long enough for God to pour into us. A cup that chooses to be still is easier to fill with the deluge of truth, light, and life more abundantly.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

– Romans 12:2

Honest confession… I oscillated between both paths until I conceded to the specific attributes God Himself engraved as specifically as a fingerprint in my spirit. When I acknowledged and said “Yes!” to that which the Lord fashioned and knew from the beginning, even before the womb, I took my first steps into not just the good or the acceptable, but the perfect will of God. Adam and Eve in their own way conformed to the world, thinking they needed to be, do, or know something more. Because hindsight is 20/20, they even became self-conscious of their appearance after the fall and tried to camouflage the outcome of conformity. We’re talking pre and post fall here, people. All the while, God called out to them, “Where are you?”, “Who told you, you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11). Both times God was looking for those whom He had molded to perfection and known intimately.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5

We can be one and still be individuals just as God is one and yet is also individually Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This can be experienced in many ways. In nature for example, not every flower produces the same scent or even conveys the same visual experience. Yet, they all spring forth soaking up the sun. Consider the tree. No two branches are the same in size or shape; but, still they are all connected to the tree. 1 Corinthians 12:12-25 and Romans 12:4-8 sheds light on this very subject. These verses create an exquisite portrait of a functioning body. Every part is as important as the other and not a single one is any less a part of the body. How silly would it be for a foot to masquerade as a hand? How inconceivable would it be for an ear to moonlight as an eye? You may be a foot to help the body stand firm. You may be an ear to help the body hear the drumming of God’s still small voice. Either way, we need you. We don’t just need you, but we need you to be YOU. God arranged us all as He wanted us. You are no mistake and you’ve been precisely placed in the body for such a time as this.

Now, there are seasons of change and growth. But even a tree ,whether its leaves are green, brown, or have fallen down, is still a tree. It is instilled in a caterpillar to be a butterfly, but it must undergo a metamorphosis to become what it’s intended to be. Letting go of the sinful nature, crucifying the flesh, and picking up your cross are all necessary. The human body sheds on average about 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells every minute. That’s around 43,200,000 to 57,600,000 a day. If our bodies didn’t shed these dead skin cells, we would be left wide open to a plethora of infections and diseases. Likewise we must shed the dead things daily. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us to throw off the old sinful nature which is corrupt. What’s alive in us is life and what’s dead in us is death. But don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. We are beautiful in God’s eyes when we no longer imitate the ideals and opinions of the culture around us, and inwardly transform by the Holy Spirit. This empowers us with the discernment of God’s will (Romans 12:2).

Romans 12

4 In the human body there are many parts and organs, each with a unique function. 5 And so it is in the body of Christ. For though we are many, we’ve all been mingled into one body in Christ. This means that we are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others.6 God’s marvelous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts and ministries that are uniquely ours. So if God has given you the grace-gift of prophecy, you must activate your gift by using the proportion of faith you have to prophesy. 7 If your grace-gift is serving, then thrive in serving others well. If you have the grace-gift of teaching, then be actively teaching and training others. 8 If you have the grace-gift of encouragement, then use it often to encourage others. If you have the grace-gift of giving to meet the needs of others, then may you prosper in your generosity without any fanfare. If you have the gift of leadership, be passionate about your leadership. And if you have the gift of showing compassion, then flourish in your cheerful display of compassion.

We each have cosmic significance according to Jewish and Christian teachings. It is possible that one person may live their whole entire lifetime for the single purpose of one word in one sentence that is only spoken once. So vibrate with the frequency of your role and ring out the note that is your designated design by the accuracy of our loving God. For the song of all creation wouldn’t resonate with the Conductor’s intended orchestrated arrangement the same, if even one of you were to be silent.

By Bryn Wilson

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You Light Up My Life

  • When you were a child, were you ever scared of the dark?
  • What did you do to help bring peace in the darkness?
  • Check for monsters under your bed? Pray? Sing, perhaps?
  • Did you ever brighten the room with this song?
  • This little light of mine
  • I’m gonna let it shine.
  • This little light of mine
  • I’m gonna let it shine.
  • This little light of mine
  • I’m gonna let it shine;
  • Let it shine,
  • Let it shine,
  • Let it shine.
  • Have you ever wondered about the significance that tiny little tune [those words] could have on you and your profound impact on the world?

“And God said, ‘Let there be light’: and there was light.” Genesis 1:3 (KJV)

  • “Let there be light.”
  • Four simple words.
  • Let. There. Be. Light.
  • The first four words recorded to have ever been spoken.
  • Possibly the greatest four words ever spoken.
  • Dare I say – the most powerful words ever spoken.
  • The first four words of creation.
  • Without these four words, we would not exist.
  • Think about that for a minute.
  • What exactly is light?
  • Light is the emission of energy [the ability to do work; it is how things change & move] detectable by the human eye.
  • God is Light.

“This is the life-giving message we heard him share and it’s still ringing in our ears. We now repeat his words to you: God is pure light. You will never find even a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we share life with him, but keep walking in the realm of darkness, we’re fooling ourselves and not living the truth. But if we keep living in the pure light that surrounds him, we share unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son, continually cleanses us from all sin.” -I John 1:5-7 (TPT)

  • God established himself as the Word of Life.
  • The Word of Life manifested in order to be seen = LIGHT!
  • John 1:1 (KJV) says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  • Light was formed out of darkness by the Word of Life – the SPOKEN WORD!
  • Speak Life.
  • Speaking Life will bring Light into the darkness.
  • Life is Light to live by.
  • “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
  • And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not [could not diminish].
  • There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
  • The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
  • He [John] was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness [be a messenger] of the Light.
  • That was the true Light, which lighteth [shines upon] every man that cometh into the world.
  • He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
  • He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
  • But as many as received him, to them gave he power [authority] to become the sons [children] of God, even to them that believe on his name.
  • Which were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
  • And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
    • -John 1:4-14 (KJV)

Walk in the Light. The Word is a lamp unto our feet and a Light unto our path.

“Truth’s shining light guides me in my choices and decisisions; the revelation of your word makes my pathway clear.” Psalms 119:105 (TPT)

Everything the Light touches is our Kingdom. Let YOUR light shine!!!

By Pam Elders

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Healing: Manna and the True Bread from Heaven

One of my passions has been to research the times and seasons of the Jewish year, particularly the feasts. So, this journey about Healing: Manna and the True Bread from Heaven began with my studying the Feast of Passover, or “Pesach” in Hebrew. Passover is the journey from slavery to freedom.

Passover:

The Journey From Slavery to Freedom

In looking at the times and seasons of the Jewish people, one of the things you would check is the month the feast occurs on the Hebrew calendar. Their calendar is based on the lunar cycle. Passover occurs in the month of Nisan, or Nissan as some spell it. This festival is also known by the following names:
*Festival of Unleavened Bread (The bread the Jews ate during Passover), **Festival of Freedom or Redemption (They were set free from slavery) and ***Festival of Spring or the Season of Our Liberation (Passover occurred during the Spring & they were liberated).
The month of Nisan is referred to as the Month of Miracles because God delivered the Jews with signs and wonders, transcending the natural. Tremendous miracles occurred in the exile from Egypt, which occurred on the 15th of Nisan. Through these miracles, He set His people free from the physical bondage of slavery.

But the miracles didn’t stop with the parting of the Red Sea. When the children of Israel found themselves at the bitter waters of Marah (meaning “bitter” or “bitterness”), God told Moses to throw a certain piece of wood into the water and He miraculously made the water sweet. It was also here that God told the children of Israel, “Ani Hashem Rof’echa”, “I Am God your Healer.” This occurred in the second month – the month of Iyar – on the Hebrew calendar.

There are some significant aspects about the month of Iyar: *It is the second month on the Hebrew calendar. **One of the names is Month of Healing. The rabbis believe that the gates of healing are open to us during Iyar – whatever needs healing gets healed. (“I am God your Healer”). ***The entire month of Iyar is involved daily with the Counting of the 49 Days of Omer, which is all about teshuvah/repentance. ****It is the month of the Second Passover – representing second chances. This occurs 30 days after the first Passover.


In the month of Iyar, God began to rain down manna from heaven for the children of Israel to eat. And, for the next 40 years they ate manna – the bread from heaven or “heavenly bread”.
If this month—Iyar—is the month of healing, the month that God told the children of Israel that He was their Healer, and the month He began to send manna from heaven, did healing come to them by eating the manna?

…MANNA…


The manna that God provided for the children of Israel was perfect – it provided all the human body needed to stay alive and healthy day by day. This included healing for their bodies. In fact, several Jewish commentaries stated that the manna healed all who ate it. Some commentaries even said that God performed miraculous healing’s at this time restoring limbs, eyes, ears and broken bones. The reasoning is because of the children of Israel having to journey 40 years in the wilderness. They would have had to be in
good health – young and old alike. So, for 40 years, the manna brought healing to the people and sustained their lives in the wilderness. But this ultimately ended when they reached the borders of Canaan. If we look at the fact that God used a “bread from heaven” to heal His people and sustain their lives, then we see the connection with Jesus – Yeshua – the One who is the True Bread from Heaven, our Healer, and the One who came that we might have not only life, but eternal life.


JESUS, the TRUE BREAD from HEAVEN

When Jesus opened the book in the synagogue and read out of Isaiah 61:1 in Luke 4, He was revealing Who He was. One of His attributes was “Healer”:
17 “And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

In the Bible, we know there are numerous instances where Jesus healed the sick. The people would bring all that were sick and He would heal them. In some instances, the Bible says He healed them all.

Matthew 12:15—”But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;”

Luke 6:19—”And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.”

Jesus also brought sight to the blind, as in the story of blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52. He healed all manner of sickness and disease.

Matthew 4:23—”And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”

But it was in John 6 when Jesus revealed that He was the “Bread of Life” and the “True Bread from Heaven” which took place “near the Jewish Passover festival”.

We see a connection here with the Old Testament–the Jewish Passover “festival” – the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Freedom and Redemption. (There are so many more connections with Jesus and Passover which I won’t go into in this post.)

It began with the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves of barley bread and two fish, which was a miracle—miraculous provision. Then, the next day, the people began to search for Him because of He had fed them the loaves. In talking to Him, they referred back to the manna,
31 “ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus’ response was,
32 “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.  33  For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

He went on to declare, “I am the bread of life.” 
Jesus told the people that day that although their fathers did eat the manna, they are “dead”:
49”  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.”

But, He went on to say that if they believed on Him – the “living bread” – they would not die but would live forever.
50 “ This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Another connection with the Old Testament, of course, is in Isaiah 53:5 –
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Then it was confirmed in I Peter 2:24 –
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”


In this comparison, we see that both the manna and Jesus, the True Bread from Heaven, brought healing and life to the people – the manna for the appointed time. Jesus heals yesterday, today and forever. He came that we would have life and life more abundantly, and ultimately, eternal life. When He said, “It is finished”, in John 19:30, it was finished forever.

“I am God your Healer”

In the New Testament, it was “near the feast of Passover” – in the month of Nisan – that Jesus, revealed to the people He was the “True Bread from Heaven” – not just for then, but for all time. He still heals, He still delivers, He still restores sight to the blind and He still sets the captives free forever and ever.


One point of interest to me in the parallels of the Jewish month of Iyar and what we have been studying is that, not only is healing paramount, but also the great emphasis on teshuvah/ repentance. We have been praying for healing for people and nations in this season we are in. For the Jews, it’s the Counting of the Omer—the 49 days leading up to Shavuot/Pentecost. The rabbis believe healing cannot occur until teshuvah is done. Hence their Counting of the Omer. For us, it’s the place of growing closer to God, to know Him, which involves repentance.

By Maribeth Alexander

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The Sower Sows The Word

“The sower sows the word.”

My definition of humility begins with ‘I am…’. I am virtuous. I formed my idol for self-glorification and fashioned it from my opinions of what you should be. I am not even aware that I do not understand. 

“The sower sows the word.”

My definition of discipleship ends with ‘I am impassioned.’. My commitment wanes between the moments that move me. I filled my void with rocks instead of soil. If I don’t feel you, you must not love me.

“The sower sows the word.”

What I defined as ‘most valuable’ a time ago, I now value much less. Worry over the approval of men restrict me. I love the noble cause more than I love you. The budding fruits I was to feed myself, others, and you are stunted.

In listening to the Parable of the Sower, Jesus sowed the Word [himself] into a crowd composed of four different groups of people. Many of us recall the moment where we ‘heard and understood’ and became as ones having ‘good ground’. We responded to the Word that was sown. But the Word of God is not sown only once. If we are followers of Christ, we live a lifestyle of the Word being sown into our hearts, as the Lord’s Prayer says ‘give us this day our daily bread’. The Word is sown every time we read scripture or hear ‘the still small voice’. ‘Good ground’ is not a moment, it is a choice we make every day.

Seed is planted in its season, continually.  The yields of previous seasons have little bearing on yields of the current season. Each planting season requires that we have thoroughly and properly cultivated our garden. Philippians 2:12 says ‘continue to work out [cultivate] your own salvation with fear and trembling’. Salvation is by grace, but we must cooperate with grace ‘with fear and trembling’- the reverencing fear of God. The Word is sown and the Holy Spirit brings forth fruit, but only after we have properly judged our own hearts to ensure that our ‘soil’ is hospitable to the Word. We exploit God’s grace when we don’t judge ourselves. If we don’t continue to judge ourselves – a lifestyle of repentance- we produce no fruit and what fruit that has begun to bud will stop growing and rot away. 

Each planting season requires that we have thoroughly and properly cultivated our garden.

Romans 10:10 says ‘For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.’ When the Word sown in our hearts finds soft, deep, and fertile soil, we grow in understanding and trust of the Word which leads us towards righteousness. The fruit that is then produced from the seed of the Word is an ‘abundance’ of the Word itself, as was said in the parable ‘…who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty’. Luke 6:45 says ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ and what we speak, which is the fruit of the Word that was sown into our hearts-our confession- is unto our salvation. 

Fruit is meant to be eaten. When we go through trying times, truths that are deeply rooted in our hearts give sustenance to our hearts. Truth [the Word] encourages us, convicts us, gives us wisdom, and draws us closer to God. Feeding on these truths, the Word is replanted in our hearts from the seeds of our fruit. However, the fruit we produce is not only about us. Our fruit is for the Body of Christ, for the world, and for Jesus himself.  What happens if the time comes to feed people from our fruit, but we have only immature fruit or no fruit at all? You can’t give what you don’t have, and you can’t reproduce what you don’t grow. Instead of judging our barren soil and making changes[repentance], the temptation is to flaunt our beautiful, lush green leaves and hope no one notices our fruitless or abortive limbs. But in season, when Jesus becomes hungry and comes to eat of your fruit… he will notice, just as he noticed the barrenness of the fig tree. [Matthew 21:18-19] Matthew 5:13 says ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.’

From the perspective of an observer, it looks like the sower indiscriminately sows seed- spilling it on to the wayside, tossing it into shallow, rocky soil, and sowing it among thorns. From the perspective of the sower, he is sowing the field for maximum yield.  This is the mercy of God. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 says ‘… God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” If it had been impossible for the soil to change, the sower would not have sown it. Soil can be tilled and broken, rocks can be dug up to create space for fresh dirt, and stubborn weeds can be pulled and thrown away. The sower is sowing. It’s not too late to cultivate your garden. 

“The sower sows the word.”

I am a self-centered man and am easily distracted- Have mercy on me, O God. The emptier I become, the deeper you will go. You desire truth in the places where I hide. Make me to know Wisdom.  Create in me a single-minded spirit, and show me idols I have built that take my heart away from you. Teach me how to love the way you do, and create in me a genuine, penitent heart.

By Josh Lipsmeyer

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Am I Good Enough?

There are times I deal with the “I’m not good enoughs” and sharing this makes me rather vulnerable, so I would rather not share it—but I feel like I must.  For example, at different times, it could be, I’m not good enough for God to speak to me like that or I’m not good enough to find treasures in scripture. I’m not good enough for God to use me, and the like.

Thinking this way is an IDOL. Although it’s a sneaky one.  This is meditating on lies and completely negating all scripture that speaks of HOW MUCH HE LOVES AND WANTS OUR ATTENTION.  An idol is by definition a “form or appearance visible but without substance”.

Thinking this way is an IDOL.

In his LOVE the “not good enoughs”or “good enoughs” don’t even exist. Those ideas revolve around self not God.  Major pride factor, too, because I’m insinuating at some point I will be “good enough” for God. Your “self-consciousness undermines God consciousness”, a famous minister once said.

1 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down IMAGinations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Imagination has the word image in it. Aren’t idols, after all, false images.  In this case the false image we have of ourselves that God doesn’t think favorably about us.  We have been told that God wants a clean temple with no idols—So we need to cast down these lies about ourselves that we aren’t good enough for God to use, speak to or otherwise.

How do we cast them down? Instead we purpose to think on ALL God has done for us and on His love for us in scripture.  Here’s a place to begin to direct your mind.

Jeremiah 31:3
…Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Zephaniah 3:17
…He will rejoice over you with joy;
He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins],
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Hebrews 13:5
… He has said,  “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”

We build pathways in our mind according to our repetitive thoughts.  Like rivers, these pathways easily form with the path of least resistance when we let our mind wander.  If we want to change the pathways of thinking that are contrary to what God says about us, we must purpose to do so by meditating  on how precious we are to the Lord.  We can take the next step by reading the scriptures above (or ones like them) out loud to ourselves when we wake up, before we go to sleep, and when our mind starts to wander.

By Cynthia Khoury

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What Are You Listening For

A Native American and his friend were walking through the busy streets of Times Square in central New York. Cars were honking, sirens were going off, voices echoed, and the city sounds were practically deafening.

Suddenly the Native American said to his friend “I hear a cricket.” Obviously his friend thought he was crazy, “What? You couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all this noise.” The Native American replied “No, I’m sure of it. I hear a cricket.” But his friend still did not believe him, “Thats crazy.” He said.

The Native American listened carefully for a moment and then walked across the street to a big cement planter filled with shrubs. He looked under a branch and sure enough he found a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed. “Thats incredible,” his friend said “You must have superhuman ears!” “No,” the Native American said “My ears are no different from yours it all depends what you’re listening for.” His friend replied, “But that can’t be! I could never hear a cricket in this noise.” “Yes that’s true,” Came the reply. “It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you.”

The Native American pulled some change out of his pocket and discreetly dropped it on the sidewalk. Then, with the busy sounds of the city still blaring, they noticed that every head within twenty feet turned to look and see if the change that had fallen was theirs. “See what I mean.” Said The Native American. It all depends on what’s important to you.”

I want to ask you a favor… think on what you just read for a moment. What are we allowing ourselves to listen to? Is it really important, or are we just listening to the hustle and bustle of the natural/worldly realm. Are we returning and tuning into the supernatural transcendence of God, to where that is what becomes our instinct and our constant way of listening, or are we giving into what we want to hear.

 “It all depends on what’s important to you”

Revelation 3:20 says “Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear My voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with me.”

During Jesus’ time the bridegroom and his father would go to the door of the bride-to-be carrying the betrothal cup of wine and the bride-price. Standing outside, they would knock. If she fully opened the door, she was saying yes. “Yes I will be your bride.” Jesus and His Father in the same way are knocking on the doors of our hearts, inviting us to be the bride of Christ. (TPT) But get this, the verse does not say “if you halfway listen.” NO. It is telling us to open our Hearts to God! To incline our heart to Him and fully listen to His words.

My pastor taught us in a sermon once that when you incline your heart to God your ear is also inclined to Him. This is why we cannot just “halfway” listen, God knows our hearts and He knows what we allow to be the loudest voice in our life. He knows which way our heart leans which means he knows where our ears truly lay. But even when we choose the hustle and bustle He is still there, faithful and just, whispering our names.

Also I would like to add that I’m hoping you didn’t think this was a one time deal, because it wasn’t. Every single day we have the most important decision to make, am I going to incline my heart and ears to Him today? Or am I just going to “go with the flow” of the world. Let me tell you something brutally honest, as Christians we are not here to just “settle” we are here to EVERYDAY overcome the flesh and chase after God. Always seeking, always listening, and always calling out to Him.

We can never know enough about God, He is infinite (Revelation 1:8, Psalm 147:5). The Bible says that nothing can contain God (1 Kings 8:27), so when you think that you have “learned enough” keep digging because trust me, there is so much more. I’m not saying it will always be easy, but oh it will be so worth it because one day you’ll be able to walk up to God face to face and thank Him for His whisper.

So, what are you listening for?

By Ainsley Wilson

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Worship of the Disciple

Smoke from the smoke machine had risen to the top of the arena by the time the confetti began to fall on the musicians below. The crowd swayed with arms outstretched in adoration as religious imagery flashed across a large screen situated above the drums. Anthems sung with passion proclaiming the resurrection, the awesomeness of the Almighty and the redemptive work of the Savior provoke deep emotion in my body. I can feel the hair on my arms standing up, a large knot had formed in my throat as I choke back the tears.

I am becoming overwhelmed by the majestic sense of beauty before me and it is an all too familiar feeling. It is at this moment that I hear these words spoken quietly in my heart, “Just because you think I’m beautiful doesn’t mean you are my disciple.”

Lets face it, Jesus IS beautiful. Revelation describes him as Alpha and Omega, the Righteous Judge with fire blazing in His eyes. The glory of his appearance is such that the Apostle John falls down at His feet as if he is dead! (Revelation 1:17) The radiance of His beauty is truly awesome! It is so easy to sing songs about His greatness and His great love for mankind. We can loose ourselves in the beautiful sound created by the music mingled with our voices and indeed, our emotions can and often do get the better of us.

Now, I do not want to make light of the importance of corporate worship in the lives of Christians but we err when we assume that worship is nothing more than musical or artistic expression serving to provoke an emotional response; however, throughout the entirety of the scripture worship is described as a sacrificial offering.

“Just because you think I’m beautiful doesn’t mean you are my disciple.”

In the days of the Jewish Temple music and singing accompanied the sacrifices being performed by the priests and the people were responsible for providing their offering to the service. King David in 2 Samuel 24:24 refuses Araunah’s offer the gift him the threshing floor where the Ark of the Covenant resided saying,”No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” Jesus speaks of this cost when addressing his disciples in Luke 14:27, “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

With all this being said, what are the sacrifices we bring to our altars that we are calling “worship”? Does our offering consist of our admiration or our approval? Our opinions, preferences and offenses? Do we come with an offering that cost us nothing or do we offer what is holy and acceptable.

“I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your body a living sacrifice , holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1

Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for us to reconcile us to God and give us life, making way for the sacrificial offering of our very lives. This is the worship that is holy and pleasing to the Trinity. Knowing the Father through the Son as the Holy Spirit transforms our lives every day. This is the point where we become true disciples of Jesus Christ and not just members of His fan club .

By Chad Wilson

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Is Your Heart Healthy?

The heart is an amazing thing, from the moment that God flashes light into the womb it starts to beat. The engine that drives our magnificent bodies doing what it’s made to do without instruction. Our heart leads us more than we think.

The human body is a perfect example of how great God is, the complexities of it are still a mystery to those in science. One example is how the eyes transmit color to the brain, I will let you research that on your own but it is very fascinating! So if we are magnificently made why are many people struggling with “unhealthy lifestyles?”

I laugh when I’m in the grocery store and I see “heart healthy” on packages of food. It’s so easy to focus on what goes in the mouth but Matthew 15:11 says “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” (NLT)

The Treasure In You

Scripture is constantly telling us to diagnose the heart because it truly determines our spiritual condition of health. Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” So let’s think about that, if your heart is where your treasure is and what defiles you comes out of your mouth that can get pretty serious.

What do you talk about the most? “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)

What gets you excited and passionate to carry on conversations? I am guilty of speaking about temporal worldly things. The world has done a great job of trying to program us, but we don’t have to let it happen. I’ve asked myself how can I remember the words of a song I listened to in high school yet struggle to recall scripture? Scripture says “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalms19:14)

Most of us have put our “treasure” in the world and not the only thing that matters, our relationship with God. Proverbs 4;23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Now that’s plain as day! Another word for keep is reserve, now it can get tricky because in order to love you have to give some of your heart, most of us don’t do that. Our feelings and emotions cause us to go “all in” with whatever it is we feel will make us happy. The only thing we should ever go “all in” with is knowing and pursuing the heart of God.

Diligence is a learned skill, in every circumstance we undertake we experience outcomes. Those outcomes may not be what we want or expect and could possibly create a felling called “hurt.” Notice it says “out of it are the issues of life.” So many of us have issues that are deep, I mean deep in our hearts. We may say we forgive but that scar tissue that remains from the hurts of life still remain. Many of you know all it takes is one thought of that moment and it all comes back. This will affect the heart, raising blood pressure, trouble breathing, anxiety and depression.

The thought created it but the fact that it was in the heart is what made the body react with such devastating effects. The heart is the doorway to the mind, the eyes are to a certain extent but they don’t have the memory that we allow the heart of man to have, notice i said we allow the heart to have memory. GOD HAS NO MEMORY!! He is all about moving forward constantly! So we need to diligently keep our heart focused on the treasures of God and not of this world.

The Worst Heart Attack Of All

Our desires need to be for God, I know in many churches across America for hundreds of years worship has been willed when the hearts desires are elsewhere. We have all been in church before holding on to that hurt not letting God remove that scar tissue. The problem is you cant hide. Jesus knew the hearts of everyone he came in contact with. Just think how disappointed he has been when you hold on to a hurt “acting” like you are worshipping. That hurts him way more than what someone did or said to you twenty years ago. Let it go!

A heart attack occurs when one or more of your arteries become blocked. The blood cannot flow through the body. When your spiritual heart becomes unhealthy the “Blood of Jesus” cannot flow through your body. Many of us need a quadruple bypass from the Lord due to a hardened heart and clogged arteries. You can live with a very high blockage rate in the body. Today many of us are doing that with our spiritual life and a “Unhealthy Heart.”

But, hey there’s good news. The Lord is waiting and always ready to perform the operation. Removing the scar tissue, performing the bypass, getting you back to a “Healthy Heart.” I don’t know about you but Im thankful for a physician and surgeon like him that has a 100% success rate.

There Is Hope

You don’t even have to worry about the recovery time because there is none. His results are instant, effective and permanent. All you have to do is let Him in, no secrets, guilt or shame. He already knows the inner depths of your heart and soul. Just be honest with Him and say, Lord, I’ve held on to hurts, guilt and shame, I’ve said I forgive them but I haven’t. When I do forgive I still remember and I know You have no memory, so no-longer do I. Please operate on my heart Lord, and I promise to diligently keep my heart on Your commandments, making You my treasure, so that the mediation of my heart may be acceptable in Your sight, In JESUS name AMEN!

By Jason Thomas

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Daily Bread

I spent a lot of years of my life living under the law, living for religion, without knowing it. I was saved, and my heart’s intent was good. I wanted to know God and I wanted to please Him, but I was going about it all wrong. Later in life, I learned, through grace, that even “good” things, “Godly” things can be “works.” 

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgement and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].” 

You CANNOT earn it. You can’t pray enough, go to church enough, listen to “Christian” music enough, or hand out enough gospel tracks to save your soul. 

I remember a period in my life, just before I understood this revelation, when I felt so far from the Lord. I wanted so badly to know Him, to hear Him, to feel Him, but I didn’t. I struggled, and fretted, and worried, and worked. Yes, I worked. I went to more worship services. I did more devotionals. More Bible studies. Fasted. Went to prayer meetings. You name it, in the “Christian” world, and I was doing it. And the more I did, the further I felt from Him. The further I was from Him. I didn’t understand it at the time. After all, I was trying so hard. Though, now, I understand. 

You CANNOT earn it. You can’t pray enough, go to church enough, listen to “Christian” music enough, or hand out enough gospel tracks to save your soul. 

“It was for this freedom that Christ has set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].” Galatians 5:1

After I had gained this newfound freedom, I was determined not to “be subject again to a yoke of slavery,” so a lot of the things I was doing before, I stopped. One of the things I stopped doing was reading my Bible and having “quiet time,” just so I could check it off the list. I needed to give myself some time to de-program and rest in His grace. And just in case anyone out there is getting worried about me…… it was a this point in my life where I started to love Jesus more than I ever had. 

Fast forward a few years, and I started sensing the Lord nudging me back to these things, especially reading my Bible and making it a priority to take time to silence everything else in my life in order to hear Him. 

One Sunday, my pastor spoke about two altars. First was the personal altar, where you get your instruction and sacrifice your wishes, will and wisdom to hear God. You deny yourself. Second was the corporate altar, where you worship God in unity, and everyone is in agreement, heart, mind and soul. He made this statement that spoke volumes to me: “You’ll never be effective at the second altar, until you deal with the first altar. The problem with church is that people haven’t gone to the first altar.” 

I knew I needed to go to the first altar. This time, however, I was going because I wanted to, not because it was on the to do list. I was going, and I still go, because I love Him, and because I want a real relationship with the one, true God, not the law He died to free us from. 

Shortly after I’d made this “full circle” in my life, I was reading and praying one day when I clearly heard the Lord say, “He calls you to the altar for YOU, not for Him.” In this moment was the realization that the God of the universe, does not need me. He gains nothing from me coming to the altar, but I gain everything. He calls me to the altar for me. Because He has something for me: daily bread. 

John 6:35 says “Jesus replied to them, ‘I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].’”

The Lord showed me, recently, that every day, every single day, He prepares something for me and brings it to the table. Then He calls me to the “altar,” to the “table,” because He wants to give me something, show me something, tell me something, encourage me, love me, spend time with me, and every day He shows up, big banquet table, fresh baked bread, and waits for me. But when I CHOOSE not to go, I miss out. The next day, He shows up again with something new, (not what I missed from yesterday), and whatever I didn’t show up for the day before, I didn’t get to taste. I missed out, because He calls you to the table for you, not for Him. 

What are we exchanging our daily bread for? What other gods are we worshiping with our time, thoughts and attention? What are we prioritizing over Him? What is more important than coming to the table with Jesus? 

Are you praying for or asking God for something? Are you wondering why He isn’t answering or providing? And is it possible that maybe, just maybe, He prepared it, and you didn’t show up? 

Brandi Edwards

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Sin Is Fun For A Season

I used to think that it had to be easier to keep from sinning years ago compared to today, when life was much simpler. The fact is, we are all born into sin. We don’t need anything but ourselves to accomplish that. We can sin with our own thoughts and words. We don’t even need anyone else to help us. We do it all on our own. That is a scary thought. Thank God for Jesus! The penalty for our sin has been paid in full!

Romans 6:13 says “ And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

We must stop presenting the members of our body to sin. Our whole lives we are constantly being delivered from the power of the old sin nature. It pulls at us constantly. God loved us so much that He sent His son to die for our sins. I know we have all heard that statement time and time again but it still blows me away. Jesus paid the price. He did this so we would be able to have repentance for our sins. Every day we must renew our minds and repent. It is not a one time deal. IT’S EVERY DAY.

Pauls Secret

Paul tells us that the secret of progressive sanctification is to know the truth. “Reckon it to be true and yield ones life to the Holy Spirit.” What is sanctification and what does it mean to reckon? Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity, of being made or becoming holy. Reckon means to consider or regard in a specific way. Reckoning on the truth of God’s word is to put faith into action. It is the step of faith, which not only trusts God’s word but acts on it as well. We must reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ!

A Day to Day Attitude

The ongoing sanctification is a day to day attitude of life which we allow the word of God to dwell in us. To dwell in us means to keep His word close to our hearts and on the forefront of our minds. Luke 6:45 states that “…for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.” What we keep close to our hearts is what comes out into the world, whether it be by speech or by actions.

Every day we must renew our minds and repent. It is not a one time deal. IT’S EVERY DAY.

The Reward

Sin is easy and sin is fun. Nobody wants to tell you that but it’s true. The reward from staying on the narrow path and following Jesus is far beyond anything in this world you could try and acquire or do. Being a believer can sometimes be very difficult when you are trying to do the right thing. His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9). God has a plan for my life and yours. If we let him, His glory will shine in our lives and then we can be a vessel to help lead someone else to Jesus.

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Author Amber Thomas