About the business meeting…

I wanted to share a couple things that are on my mind about the business meeting 12/29/2023. 

I think it is extraordinary that the church members were on the same page in increasing the budget allocation for Jered and Julie’s leadership. I liked the way we kicked Jered out of the meeting when one member objected to the 9% increase in his salary as being too little of an increase. I was honored to be a part of that perfect takeover. I didn’t voice my opinion at the time because Jered is my oldest son and I’m emotionally involved in the decision to increase his salary. As a matter of fact I think pastors should be paid the most in our society 100K or more. More than doctors and lawyers. What I would have said would be something like this…

Jered and Julie knew what they were getting themselves into when they said yes to Jesus and started this church. They probably didn’t foresee all of the difficulties and set backs but I’m not so sure that those low points would have changed their minds. Because if they saw the satanic attacks they would have also seen the Holy Spirit driven transformations of some hearts and that is a truly a beautiful thing to behold and worth enduring hardship to be a part of. They have been taking low blows from the enemy just for the privilege of shining the light of the Gospel into a few hearts. Some folks have come and gone. Some on good terms some on not so good terms. But still they kept on marching. And I know that they will continue on toward their calling and many more souls will hear the good news. 

I know most of the church pretty well. And one thing I really wanted to talk about was the motivation for giving the increase in the salary. If we gave them the raise because they  work hard and give to us or we felt sorry for them, we may have missed out on a significant partnership point. In other words If we just felt bad for them or if we were motivated by sympathy for all their hard work then we could be missing out on the opportunity to see the value of unity manifesting itself in that increase. Considering this was a business meeting we needed to look at the budget carefully to make sure that this decision is sustainable. Tammy and I decided years ago, after being prompted by Holy Spirit, that we would tithe off the gross of my business income. That has come with some challenges but has come with great peace and with a solid knowing that Father will supply all our needs. There is also a deep satisfaction that my toil will not be wasted and when this life is over Tammy and I will have at least that to show for it. To me voting for the increase was easy because I’m fully invested myself. How about you? Do you bring the full tithe into the storehouse also? That’s the position to be in to make a quality decision on the increase. In other words it should cost us all something. The other part of the decision is sustainability. Can we keep up that salary with cost of living adjustments in the future? You see church financial decisions based on need are not necessarily healthy decisions. Sympathy for anyone is usually misplaced and emotional and well quite frankly pathetic. But if we are passionate for Christ and bent on our own transformation we can see needs from Fathers perspective. If we really know and believe that Father will supply all our needs then we can surely stand in faith for our brothers and sisters believing that Father will provide for them as well. The first thing I need to see in any person is their transformed potential. And then I need to be so transformed myself that I can see through sympathy and into something more. That something more is wisdom provided by Holy Spirit. When we look at a problem or a person without the usual emotional pitfalls we can better be used by Holy Spirit to speak life into a situation and act in accordance with how He wants to approach a matter. Throwing more resources at a “need” could actually circumvent what Holy Spirit is doing behind the scenes. Therefore, we need to hear His voice clearly and proceed how He wants us to. 

I hear some folks say “I’m an emotional person and God made me that way” well I can’t argue with that except that you might be and most likely are confusing the old man with the new creation, regenerated man. If I’m still being swayed by old behaviors and old emotions then I’m really not transformed and probably believing a lie or two. Our flesh has been crucified with Christ and therefore no longer lives but Christ lives in us and He is the hope of glory. We are not the same. But the devil will try and convince us that we are the same old person based on our failures. However, we are not to judge ourselves on our performance but rather on Jesus’s perfect performance that He has granted to us through the mercy of Almighty God. We have been bought with the highest price. Seeing ourselves as Father sees us paves the way for us to make Spirit driven decisions. 

Several times in worship and prayer I have seen the word FREEDOM in a big banner over the heads of this congregation. I know that we are able to obtain more freedom and more transformation through simple agreement with the Word of God. If He says we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus then we need to embrace that truth and believe it with all our strength and shun all of the thoughts that oppose that truth. If Father says that we are holy and blameless then we must agree with Him and holiness will spring up in our behavior automatically. We need to agree with Him on an individual basis and then we can be well equipped to make decisions in our church family. I know that this year we can grasp these concepts and truths at a new level and press into new creation identity. Transformation will come and we will see great increases in freedom, prayer, hearing Holy Spirit, restoration in relationships, less striving to live sinless, more victory over familiar destructive patterns, more health, more wealth, more substantive living, more of the kingdom of heaven manifesting all around us. 

So back to the business meeting…

1. Are we bringing the full tithe into the storehouse? Malachi 3:10. 

2. Are we taking thoughts captive and believing truth? Personally and corporately. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. 

3. Are we ready to sacrifice some of our comfort to be able to give? 2 Samuel 24:24. 

4. Are we willing to give out of a full cup because we have settled our own minds and hearts first? Philippians 2:12. 

5. Do we truly believe that we are new creations? 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

6. Do we really believe on and insist on believing the truth that we are crucified with Christ and no longer live? Galatians 2:20. 

7. Are we fully embracing the truth that we have been made wonderfully righteous? 2 Corinthians 5:21. 

8. Do we really believe that Christ will supply all our needs? Philippians 4:19. 

9. Are we embracing all the freedom that Jesus Christ has paid for us to have? John 8:36. 

I was really touched by the meeting and I am grateful for the church family that Father has brought together. Let’s really strive to be on the same page together. Let’s let petty arguments fall to the ground. Let’s overlook each others faults. Let’s unite and see what Holy Spirit does next. I’m excited and full of expectation. God bless you and your family! 

Keith.  

Psalm 103:17

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,”

Righteousness is a new creation necessity. It is our qualification to access the throne room of Father. It crucified our old nature so that our new super nature can thrive in relationship to our Creator. This “robe of righteousness” is not just a new covering but it is now intertwined with every fiber of our new creation being. It is now in our DNA. It is inscribed so particularly into our new creation identity that it is never going to be removed. We will always be identified as righteous as Jesus Christ from now on and through all the ages to come. Righteousness is our passport to open communication with Father. It is the pre-qualification for Holy Spirit to indwell us. Without righteousness we live without Godly wisdom, without Godly vision, without Godly understanding, without Godly direction, without Godly teaching, without Godly revelation. His righteousness flows through our blood and into every cell. It is such a part of us that it is impossible for us to be identified by anything else in Fathers eyes. That is why it is crucial to see ourselves from Fathers perspective. We need to “see” ourselves as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, which is the most significant attribute of our born again lives. It is the key that opens up vital communication with our awesome Father. Righteousness will mark us throughout all of the billions and billions of years we will exist in the future. We will see new colors and hear new sounds. We will taste and see that Father is wonderful. We will reign on earth with Christ Jesus for a thousand years and then Father will make a new heaven and a new earth. The new heaven and earth will be ruled or governed with righteousness. Justice will reign. Sin will be gone.  We will be be free to pursue all of the desires that are woven into the fabric of our eternal hearts. We will have no more pain or sickness or death. We will love forever all because Father chose to give us Christ Jesus’s righteousness. Let’s enjoy our amazing gift today and believe that we are righteous no matter how it looks or feels. Let’s simply agree. Amen? 

Father, I’m so grateful for the amazing gift of righteousness. Because of Your grace and love and mercy I am righteous. I’m so thankful that You chose to give it to me rather than me earn it. I confess I would have failed. I will walk in more steadfast confidence in what Your Word says I am. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The old is dead and gone and crucified and I am forever free. I’m going to tell everyone who will listen. I will accomplish all of the plans and purposes that You have for me in this age and I will be free to accomplish even more in the ages to come. I am super blessed and grateful. I love You. In Jesus name. Amen. 

-Keith Murphy

What creates unity within the body of Christ? Is it everyone agreeing on everything? Or thinking exactly the same as one another? Is it a family that never argues or disagrees? NO, it is the Love and order of God.

There is something that the Lord has revealed to me about the type of unity He wants in the Church; that is, a family unit. How can we learn to be a family in Christ? Much of that education is going to begin with being a part of a God centered family in your personal life. God created every relationship to reflect and Glorify him. Think of a God centered household. The husband/father is the leader/head of household; he is to lead, guide, provide, and protect his family by reflecting Christ and fully submitting to him. The Wife/mother is also a leader but in unity with her husband. She isn’t meant to overpower or control him. She is to respect him, and submit in the way she would to Christ’s leading. The children are there to respect their parents while the parents shepherd, nurture, and raise them into maturity so that they can leave the home and apply the very things they’ve learned in their youth to build their own homes. The main piece to this dynamic is Christ and His love, His word, and His truth that permeates through your home. It is important to be in surrenderance and submission to God’s order. Surrenderance is a word which here means: a humble and sincere searching for what God wants from you, not what you think He wants. A well oiled machine cannot function properly if all of its pieces and parts are malfunctioning and not working together. Every piece, every nut and bolt is vital and plays an important role in the machine running properly. The same applies in our homes, and in the body of Christ.

How our homes run is a reflection of how ministry will run, and how the body of Christ will run. Take the time to pour into your family and allow the Lord’s divine order to fill your home then pour that into the Body of Christ. I’m positive that will end a lot of the dysfunction that exists within the church.
Take a look at your personal life; Envision your family, then ask yourself: are there any things that harbor dysfunction within in my family? Your answer is most likely YES. And the reason for that is Sin and Satan. The enemy knows that if He can get into the home and destroy it then division will prevent that family from working as a unit. If he can manage that at home, he will have that same foothold within a church. Broken and abused households far outnumber healthy God centered ones. The truth is, there is a real battle against God centered families who are in unity. We must allow Jesus to take us on a spiritual journey to break through any generational curses our families may be under so that our lives are rebuilt on his firm foundation. Otherwise things will remain in disorder and dysfunction.

Now I’m going to get a little personal here. I grew up in a very unhealthy family where plenty of wicked things occurred generation after generation (abandonment, neglect, favoritism, addictions, mental abuse, emotional, physical abuse, and sexual abuse of all kinds) and NO one dared to confront it. Everyone just kept their own dark painful secrets to themselves and didn’t talk about it. Growing up was difficult because I attempted on many occasions to talk about the giant elephant in the room. I tried to voice my pain and suffering and every time I did, I would not be received or comforted. I’d get silenced, or a palm to the face. I found myself striving to be loved and accepted by people that were supposed to be adults I could look up to, and truth is they failed. They failed because they themselves wounded people who would then became products of their childhoods. My family has had a very rough life, full of of pain and trauma of which we pretend not to be aware of. Everyone of them chose to cover their truth in an attempt to maintain this image of being a perfect little family that nothing bad ever happened to rather than confronting it together and healing together. No one truly cared about one another enough to stop the secret things that were going on. You have the blind leading the blind, and no one stepping up to confront sin; secret sins that affect generation after generation, child after child. I too became a product of my families sin. The abuse I endured in my life definitely impacted the way I saw myself, and what I would accept in my relationships, almost every relationship I entered was abusive. I found my worth and my value in the lips and opinions of others and no matter how hard I would strive at pleasing others I always seemed to fail at living up to their standards. I allowed people I love to manipulate, intimidate, dominate, and control me. Before coming to know Christ I wasn’t aware of the toxicity or tactics being used against me, there were years and years of conditioning being done to me.

For this portion, I will be sharing the impact a father/male figure has on children. (Before doing so I want to say that The Lord blessed my sister and I with a loving step father who did accept us and helped my mother raise us. That being said, the dynamic in which we were raised wasn’t a way that reflected Christ in the household. Therefore, things weren’t in proper order). These deeply rooted wounds began with my birth father, a “daughters first love”, the leader of the home, abusing his authority, and showing me my first example of what domestic violence looks like. Those images will never be something that can be unseen. My sister and I moved in with our grandmother and her husband when my mom gained the courage to leave. My grandmother’s husband spoke so many cruel things to me, in addition to hitting and sexually abused me for the majority of my elementary school years. As he had done with several other family members before me. While we lived with my grandma we saw my father occasionally, until I turned 13. At that time, he cut off all ties with my sister and I and told us not to come around anymore. That hurt because we wanted so badly to have our daddy around. As I grew I blamed my dad for a lot of the trauma I endured because I felt that if he hadn’t done the evil things he did, then I wouldn’t have gone through the things I did. I struggled with a lot of anger for years. At the age of 16 my birth father attempts to reconnect with my sister and I because he had cancer. I was so angry with my dad; I wanted nothing to do with him. My mother spoke to me about forgiving him and giving our relationship a chance, so my sister and I did. We allowed our dad back into our lives for a few short months until he passed away. That was probably the worst pain of my life. I felt like I was robbed of so many special memories I yearned to have with my dad and I never got to have them. His death was very traumatic and caused us a lot of emotional distress.

All of these events that occurred throughout the years impacted me so deeply that, as an adult, I’d become desperate in my pursuit of wanting to provide my children with good and involved fathers; I wanted to keep them from being abused in the same ways that I was. Instead I found nothing but more possessiveness, abuse and brokenness. I had unknowingly made an idol of needing to have a good father for my kids and having my idea of a healthy family that I allowed my body to be misused and abused by someone who never loved me. I ended up finding myself in a very similar situation that resembled my mother’s when I was a child. Stuck in a dangerously unhealthy relationship with two daughters who were now witnessing this toxic cycle. I wanted a way out. I knew that I needed to leave but I couldn’t because the desire to give my kids a dad was greater than what was true. What gave me the courage to leave was Jesus. In the revelation I had received, the Lord revealed to me that there was a long line of curses in my family and the time to break through that was NOW. Ever since then my eyes were enlightened and mine and my daughters lives have been drastically changed forever! I know now that the father I was searching for all along was Abba. Had it not been for Jesus I don’t know what things would’ve turned out to be, but it wouldn’t have been good that’s for sure. The fight was intense and it took three years to break completely free from the grips of Satan. However, it was the best choice that could be made, for both my children and myself. The Lord broke through these cycles for them so that they would be able to thrive and grow in a home that is rebuilt on a firm foundation. Having the Lord’s guidance in my life has brought me exactly where I’ve always dreamed of being my entire life. Having him positioned where he belongs in my heart has now given me the ability to love others in my life appropriately.

I am now married to an amazingly loving man of God who accepts my daughters as his own and is actively involved in their upbringing. There is still a ton of work to do while raising our girls but we both have the Lord on our side leading, guiding, and directing our families path. I am grateful and blessed to be on this journey with Jesus. He has showed me where true Love is found and that is in him.

Something so precious that I’ve learned from these experiences is that love is none of those things I endured. Love doesn’t manipulate, it doesn’t intimidate, it doesn’t dominate, and doesn’t control. Love doesn’t silence truth. True undefiled love doesn’t allow darkness to thrive. Truth be told, had I not gone through the things that I’ve gone through, the Lord wouldn’t have revealed to me what was going on in the unseen realm: toxic cycles no one seemed to care to break, and painful truths no one dared to confront. There is a massive blessing that was birthed out of this and it is all the Lords doing. I encourage you brother or sister, to be the one who these cycles stop with today! Yield yourself completely to the Lord, surrender your all to Him and allow this journey of freedom in Christ to begin.
Seek the Lord’s kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be provided for you (Matt. 6:33).

In the next part I will talk about spiritual witchcraft and how it works to keep families stuck in generational cycles and how these same cycles follow into the church.

-Natasha Gutierrez

In these next series of blogs I’m going to touch on some really deep and life changing truths the Lord has revealed to me, in my journey of life. Realizing these things has birthed a revelation of what unity in Christ means. Every relationship that exists in our lives all reflect something about God and how His kingdom operates. His order is necessary because it reveals how our homes should operate and how ministry should operate. If you desire to serve the Lord get your self and your home in order and pour that into the body of Christ. There is a time for everything and a lot of the times we tend to take advantage of this very important and crucial step before engaging in ministry.

Before we dive into the deep i wanted to touch on some self reflecting thoughts.

Important things to consider when going through different seasons with the Lord, what is He teaching you now that will be used to help lead others in the future? Where is the enemy trying to cause division in my life now that can be helpful to watch out for when keeping things together in the future? Everything we go through good, bad, and ugly are all used by God for His glory in our lives, nothing gets wasted. Not one experience, and what I want to do is encourage you all to fully engage in your current state of being, what type of season your in and completely yield your self in submission to the Lord and his teaching in your life. Life is hard and can be very discouraging but if we keep our minds open and willing to be taught, the Lord can reveal and direct us in the way HE sees best for us. Everyday is a new day to learn more deeply about our creator and about how He’s created us to live. How we listen, understand, and communicate with the Lord will reflect a lot into how we listen, understand and communicate with others.

If we aren’t going to build relationships with the intentions of listening and understanding others then the foundation of that relationship is already pointless and defeated. We should all get to know others to learn about how they think.

What we should do as believers is seek the Lord to show us how to pour out His love, wisdom and knowledge in the best way possible. I’m not concerned about us agreeing or not, I’m concerned about showing you love and truth and I cannot do in my own strength. Love isn’t based on agreement, and it isn’t based off of enabling or accepting things that are wrong. God is love and His Love is patient, kind, understanding, uplifting, transforming, encouraging, confronting and enduring.

As humans our emotions and understanding of things change, which is why those things shouldn’t be reliable enough to lead and guide people. Blind people can’t lead blind people. Our emotions were created for a purpose but not for the reason of them controlling us. When we get so wrapped up in ourselves and how we feel we can easily miss the greater picture or perspective of things and This is why we need Gods wisdom, knowledge and understanding, because when we abide in His love, and we learn to depend on Him to lead and guide us then that will pour out into others around you.

-Natasha Gutierrez

Sometimes even when I’m surrounded, I feel so alone. Certain days, it feels as if everything is going wrong. I try to do things that will get me back on track, but it seems as if I can’t even think straight. 

Today was one of those days. Except I wasn’t alone… I was surrounded by the spiritual realm. 

I believe there’s demons and angels all around. All the time. Even if I don’t physically see them, at times I sense when they’re near. 

My best explanation to you: when I feel lost, confused, in despair, depressed or some other negative feeling other than God’s love; It is because I’m allowing the demons to steal my joy, to ruin my day. 

In that moment I try to turn to anything – to make me feel good. Yet that empty feeling remains. 

BUT I AM NOT ALONE!! HE IS WITH ME!

As many times as it takes me I surrender the situation- my day- my life to our Father in the Heavens. And instantly I am renewed. 

-In that moment the presence of God overwhelms me… And it’s nothing like the anxieties/sadness that’s takes over me on a bad day. 

-In that moment, I feel the Holy Spirit, my Comforter. The enemy’s assignment is immediately canceled out! 

-In that moment I know the angels all around me are rejoicing. The demonic powers can no longer be sensed. 

-In that moment I feel compelled to praise the name of Jesus. And give thanks for renewing my spirit, for changing the atmosphere, for the direct access I have, for the freedom I found in Him. He is always waiting with open arms, each time I fall. He always comforts me when I finally turn to him for guidance. He always instantly turns my day around. 

I want each and everyone of you to experience His goodness, every time you’re having the worst day. I love you all, and most importantly you are loved by Him. 

EL

There are always those days/moments when you realize you wish you had said something or said something differently or done something or done something differently. Most of us can totally relate to regretfully missing some kind of opportunity for clarity or correction or for some other reason. It is part of being an imperfect human. As a Pastor I am familiar with these feelings often. I want to be able to communicate effectively, teach clearly, love humbly, lead courageously, and glorify God faithfully. It is good to have those desires, I hope that you share those same desires as well. It is also good for us to be reminded from time to time that our perfection in those areas is not what matters most, but rather faithfully, humbly, and honestly following the Spirit the best that we can. This is a good reminder because it helps to remind us that our relationship with our Father is not a will power performance based religion but rather a life changing new birth sustained by the Grace of God and equipped by the Spirit of God. It also reminds us that we are not the focal point of God’s plans, He has His own specific plans and purposes and I am just a piece of it not the center of it.

Part of the many things that I am blessed to be able to do on a Sunday is teach from God’s word. I am not perfect at it. I do some of it well and other parts of it I need to continue to grow in. Some Mondays I have a strong confidence about communicating well the previous Sunday what I think the Spirit had for me to say for that morning. Other mornings like this one He reminds me that I did ok in representing His voice, but I had some thing(s) missing. I have learned to take great joy in this. Not in missing things, but in appreciating the Spirit making me aware of what I may have missed. To me it does not indicate some strong spanking from the Father, but it does communicate to my a loving correction that I know I regularly need in my life. It is good to have a Good Father, cue “Good Good Father” song lol. The same is true for anyone who Has entrusted their life to God. Thank you Lord for the shaping, the molding, the pruning — the Loving.

Without making this a super long blog post, yesterday morning during service we studied Romans 8:18-30. At our church we typically study through books of the Bible on Sunday mornings and we are currently in the book of Romans. We only really got as far as verse 28. The focus that I was trying to communicate was that in these verses Paul gives us 2 Promises and 1 Purpose (A Biblical kind of PPP plan) that Will Lead To A Freedom and A Security That Only He Can Provide. Not sure if I really got that across but that is what I was going for LOL.

I thought that there was some good content in that message but I was reminded by the Spirit about a question that I should have asked but did not for whatever reason. The cliff notes version is that Paul is basically reminding the Christ followers in Rome (who he was writing the book too) that difficult circumstances will try to be used by the Enemy hijack and divert our peaceful and victorious Spirit filled life in Christ. Paul was trying to provide encouragement to them in the midst of some extremely difficult realities that they were living in and experiencing. They were very much being reminded by Paul where their faith lies because their immediate circumstances were horrible, truly evil, and probably very overwhelming.

After the message I realized there was a key question that I should have brought up and at least discussed briefly during the message but I did not. This kind of realization happens a good amount of the time, because I am a far from perfect clay pot. So I wanted to write a blog post to share it with you so you can at least consider what was not mentioned yesterday and probably should have been. It seemed so obvious to me afterwards and I felt silly for not recognizing it during my message prep during the week. The question I should have at least brought up and asked is the one that many people ask and consider. I ask the question a few different ways here –> “Why do bad things happen to good and faithful people of God“? or “How can God be good and powerful and allow good and suffering in people’s lives?” or one of my favorite wordings, “Is God worthy of my trust event if I am not blessed?”

How about some more personal practical questions that follow in that same vein:

• Can I still trust God after I have asked for good friends and I don’t have them yet?
• Can I still trust God after I have asked for a spouse and have not received one yet?
• Can I still trust God after my spouse of 1 year or 50 years dies?
• Can I still trust God after my child has passed away?
• Can I still trust God after my kids have turned to a life and rebellion?
• Can I still trust God when my mom and dad are a dysfunctional mess?
• Can I still trust God when an undeserving coworker gets the promotion and I do not?
• When life makes no sense can I still trust God?

All really difficult questions that we all struggle with. There are TONS of more educated, more qualified, more gifted, better seasoned individuals that have written and talked about this very topic and I encourage you to hear and read some of what they say/write. I just wanted to share with you one piece of insight that I pray you will bring to the Father and let Him speak to you directly on.

An insight to me that I find strength and hope in, is not some pithy cute Christian cliche or some deep secret profound truth that theologically answers every issue. A Biblical insight that helps me with this difficult question of “Why do evil acts happen every day with a Loving good God in total control?” is found in the book of Job. Definitely worth your time if you have never read it before. Faithful Job has done nothing wrong and God allows “unfair” and seemingly unloving things into his life. Without a full Book of Job study, the book of Job basically reminds us of these 4 things about God

• We do not exist at the same level of God
• We have to come to grips that we are not His equal
• Many times He does not and will not many times explain Himself
• Many times He does not and will not follow our rules our assumptions

But most importantly to help answer our question, God never gives Job a bottom line answer of why. Job is asking for facts and answers and God just gives job a fuller revelation of Himself. It is incredibly interesting to me how God never actually provided the answers Job wanted God just provided Himself. It is almost as if God is saying, “go ahead Job and ask all the Whys or How Comes you want to but do not expect or assume you are going to get all of the answers you want.” From what we know from Scripture we are never told that Job was ever told about the conversation between the devil and God in Job 2.

It is basically as if God is saying, will you still believe me and trust me even if the answers you are desperately wanting never come your way? In other words we are faced with the reality of, will we Trust Him even if sometimes all we may get is suffering without an answer as to why the suffering is happening?

In a way this complicates it more for me but it also makes sense to me. It makes sense to me that when we are faced with more WHYs than answers, that God is providing for us a chance for us to exercise faith without facts. Isn’t that what Faith is? Sometimes only trusting even when we have zero answers? Isn’t this what Peter was referring to in 1 Peter 1:7?Isn’t that what the Enemy wants to target, our faith? Faith is the critical part of our lives in God and the Enemy is consistently and constantly trying to attack it.

As I write this there are righteous believers and innocent people all over the globe that are experiencing oppression, hatred, violence, and evil. Does the presence of this mean that a Good Loving God is not in control or that He cannot be trusted? Could it be that there are answers, purposes, and a plan that I know nothing of? That you know nothing of? Would I allow those unknowns speak louder than what I do know Christ has done?

Let’s keep asking the hard questions, Let’s keep interceding for our world, Let’s keep praying and fasting, Let’s keep protecting and sticking up for others when they are not able, Let’s keep going to Church, Let’s keep worshipping His name, Let’s keep making ourselves vulnerable to others, Let’s keep allowing The Spirit to be first in our lives. Let’s keep responding in Faith despite not having the answers. Could it be that if Believers respond in greater Faith that this world could experience and see some of God’s supernatural power, plans, and purposes?

Be prepared for no answers or incomplete answers and also be prepared for when you are struggling for a WHY that God will likely only strongly reveal to you a WHO. Be prepared for Your Father to reveal more of WHO He is and less facts about WHAT He does and WHY He does it.

Father show us more of who YOU truly are! Fill our hearts and our homes with more of YOU. We are not in surrender to YOU for what we can get, but rather because of WHO YOU ARE.

-PJ

The word of God never ceases to amaze me. With that being said, some people can continually baffle, frustrate, and leave us in utter bewilderment.  So it’s time to unravel this ethical conundrum. I have chosen to parallel this paper entitled ‘Joyous Choice or slippery slope’ with a topic which has been around. I am speaking on a particular question of all ages.  Which is the correct way we should live?

Whether you see this as a moral or an ethical challenge; many see this choice we have been given as being very difficult.

Others see it as cruel and feel a loving God would not do this and it’s seen more as a church mandate.  Yet some simply shrug it off as nonsense and do as they please.

We know right from wrong, good and evil, and despite your religious views, most people know these two forces coexist.

Yet there are those who chose not to believe and live the way they want.

If you open God’s word and read: from Genesis to Revelation. One thing that never changes is God. His love is constant; His expectations are set in stone.  And the way He deals with people, His creation, His children; is unwavering.

You see when God created us, that wasn’t the end, only the beginning. God has a plan and purpose for each of us. How do I know? Well for one, Jeremiah 29:11 says:

“For I know the plans I have for you” —this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

From the old testament prophets to the new testament disciples and apostles, each of these individuals had knowledge from the Holy Spirit and wanted it known.

The prophet Ezekiel wrote:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

– Ezekiel 36:26

Knowing the issues of people through observation of their lifestyle and hearing from God, there was Hope. Simply stated: God says do this, you do it. If God says do not do something, therefore, you don’t.

God protects us, He loves us, and is patient with us; very patient. 

Regardless of those facts which can be backed with scripture, people are seemingly stubborn, arrogant, and ignorant.

We’ve all encountered those type individuals.

The stubborn like the way things are and see no reason to change.

The arrogant have it all figured out and do as they please.

Then there’s the ignorant (I’ll raise my hand) despite knowing the right choice, would rather go along with the crowd for acceptance. Yes, I was once guilty of this however, I’ve been forgiven, saved and set free!!!

Oy vay, what a mess society has become. Judgment and wrath are both reality and God has the final say.  He will judge us based on how we live. And we Will feel His wrath based on the choice of lifestyle we partake in.

The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:10:

“For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.”

Goodness, just look at the Bible, countless recollections of how God deals with humanity based on the way people live.

The flood: was this just because God could do it? Nope.  Read the story and learn the reason why God ended His creation yet spared a few.

The Israelites wandering in the desert: coincidence? Nope. Read the story and learn the reason for 40 years. This track is roughly 250 miles and could normally be done in 12 days.

Sodom and Gomorrah, again we see how God destroyed some and saved a select few.

Why? Again, the answers are there for those who seek them.

As I was reading through the book of Revelation, I was literally on the edge of my seat. Not so much gripped in mystery or suspense but in utter bewilderment.

When the tribulation is spoken of, people are recorded as still being in utter denial and refusal to repent.

Revelation chapter 16 speaks of the final seven bowls of the wrath of God.  These seven bowls represent climactic moments of God’s punishment for sin. For the first time I really studied this and what I learned was shocking to me.  During this time there will be those who are still blind, have hard hearts, and will continue to be deaf to the truth.

There is the one particular passage which I can not seem to fathom.

Revelation 16:10-11:

“The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues because of their pain and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, yet they did not repent of their actions.”

Hold on, you mean to tell me there will still be people who are going to be in pain due to God’s wrath? Under judgment and they would sooner blaspheme God and gnaw their tongues rather than repent!

So rather than know God, receive forgiveness, be set free from guilt, shame, and condemnation, people would rather live in sin which offers no real and lasting Joy or Peace. Sin which ultimately leads to death and destruction…seriously?!??

I recall a song from a band DC talk entitled “What if I stumble”

The song begins with this thought:

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today

It’s Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips

Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.

That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable…“

We have a choice and quite honestly that is not a design flaw, it is by design. God created us in His image. Yes, you read correctly, the angels and us share in the ability to make a choice.

Lucifer who was an angel, actually one in which was of the highest order, who felt at one point he could usurp God’s authority and kingdom. Yet there is only one God and therefore Lucifer was cast out of heaven. Just a little history/understanding of Satan. Now, back to the point of this paper.

We can Love the Lord God with all our heart or chose to love our self. If we love God, our desire is to please the Father by living the way he designed us to which is in a relationship with Him. This predestined way of life is selfless.

Likewise, if we love self we choose to please self.  By choosing self over God, we ultimately take Him off the throne and in place, put ourselves. Sounds pretty selfish huh?!

As I stated earlier, God has the final say regarding our choice, our lifestyle and our eternity.  The Bible is very clear of His wrath and what to expect if living so. Thereby His judgment should come as no surprise.

There comes a point where each of us decides to make the choice.  Either to do our thing as we have chosen, or live as God desires.  I pray that you have made the correct decision based on facts and not on persuasions or temptations.  Fully know what is the correct way to live.

One more important verse which seems to sum up the right choice:

John 1:12-13

“But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.”

Self-check, Ask yourself: 

Does my lifestyle reflect Jesus?

Do I live according to the word of God or way of the world?

Your answer is between you and God.

That my friend is a joyous choice or a slippery slope.

The choice is yours.

in Christ,

Michael T. La Tulippe

We are all familiar with the saying to put on the Armor of God.

What is the Armor of God?

The best ever!!!

My brothers and sisters, it is time for us to stand up, suit up, step out, and be bold.

“Put on the full Armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.”

– Ephesians 6:11

So what exactly does this Armor consist of?

14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest,

15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.

16 In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

– Ephesians 6:14-17

This is where I began to take a look at the word armor or armour. When a deeper look was taken, I began to understand how strong the armor or armor of God truly is.

The word armor originates from the old French word Armure.  Adversely the root word is a derivative from the Latin word “armatura” which the basic meaning for armor, equipment, armament, or outfit.

Armor is the American spelling of the word meaning a tough protective covering.

Armour is the preferred spelling in all the other main varieties of English. Other than the spelling, there is no difference between the words.

Now, let’s step this up a bit and gain some more knowledge.

Another word which comes to mind is Amour; that word in French means love.

When you think about the Armor of God and think of the love of God as described in

1 Corinthians 13.

 

And again apply this further in our understanding of Armor.

 

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13: 4 – 8:

Love is patient

Love is kind.

Love does not envy.

Love is not boastful.

Love is not conceited.

Love does not act improperly.

Love is not selfish.

Love is not provoked.

Love does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness.

Love rejoices in the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things

Love never ends.

As Christians, we are the embodiment of Jesus and in turn, represent the Father’s Love.  As the body of Christ grows in strength and confidence, the enemy becomes, angered, annoyed and weak. Although we may not physically put Armor on, being wrapped in the Father’s Love provides the basis of protection.

Think of love as the chainmail which you put on underneath the armor.

Now, as a Christian, we apply the full armor of God as prescribed above in Ephesians 6.

Truth like a belt around our waist,

Righteousness like armor on our chest

Feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.

In every situation take the shield of faith, The helmet of salvation

The sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request.

Now we are ready, prepared and able to show up with boldness and shine as we are fully in the Armor of light; the Armor of God.

We no longer desire what is offered by the world. Our satisfaction is found in knowing the savior and living in the will of the Father.

The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

– Romans 13:12

 

And hasn’t it been said, without Love you have nothing?

Therefore anything we possess without love is meaningless.  Everything we do is thereby motivated with the love of God.

By knowing this, putting on the whole Armor of God is attainable and we become a threat to the enemy.

Timeless.

What is timeless?

Love is timeless.

God is timeless.

God is love.

 

If you looked at the word of God from cover to cover, beginning to end, Genesis to Revelation; we would see the general theme of love.

 

Early on we read verses like Jeremiah 31:3

“…I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you.”

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world…”

Verses such as 1 John 4:7-12 exemplifies how our knowing God is knowledge of His love.  Love is from God, love is of God, and love is God.

If God was, is, and always shall be; thereby timeless – therefore so is love.

If we actually did a biblical search on:

• The love of God

• God is love

• God of love

• God’s love

And so on, we would find hundreds and possibly thousands of examples of His love.

A love which is freely given.

We understand how much God loves us. From the beginning, we see how God does everything in love.

 

“Hold up” “wait a minute” you stop me at this point, you brow shows concern, and the questions begin.

“Ah, you remember the flood, the ark, and Noah; where was the love?“

“Or how about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?”

And I am sure the list could go on and on.

 

At this point, I would simply smile, sit back, and open the word of God.

Let’s take a look at some of the issues you mentioned and see if, in fact, love was the reason.

We know God is a just God. We also know God, the Father, disciplines those who don’t adhere to his word; correct?

And discipline is an act of love.

Like or not, a parent disciples their child out of love. Discipline is thereby a corrective action to mold us, make us, bend us, and at times; break us.

As humans, we have fleshly desires, selfish attitude, and self-interest at heart. However, you may feel that those human traits or characteristics are by design as since God created us; then that fault is on Him.

You do realize we were created in the image of God. We have free will, and we also know God’s will.

Our one key facet which makes us desire to do the will of the Father is we know we were created in love to be in a relationship with our heavenly Father.

Then why the flood? Why Sodom and Gomorrah?

Those people which lost their lives choose self over God. Rather than living self-less and according to God’s commandments. They wanted to do their own thing, selfishly live the way they wanted to; with no regard for their Creator.

Whoa, this paper seems to be getting a bit deep for my liking; can’t I just live normally and enjoy life?!

My question would be, define normal and the things that you find enjoyable. You don’t have to tell me, simply keep that answer for yourself. Your choice is between you and the Father.

Now go a step further with what you defined as normal and those things you believe to be enjoyable. Ask yourself: Is what I am doing, how I am living, pleasing in the eyes of the Father?

I am not here to judge you or perhaps make you feel guilty. Your conscience, by His design, is a moral compass as it were. The Bible is what God wants for us. How to live, how to act, how to enjoy, and how we are to conduct ourselves.

As I started out with regards to Timeless. Hopefully, I have illustrated:

Love is timeless.

God is timeless.

God is love.

Love is timeless.

May you find joy in knowing the Father through the Son.

May you always have a loving relationship with God and others.

Lastly, l leave you with this verse to ponder:

2 Thessalonians 3:5

“May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.”

Be blessed.

Written by: Michael T. La Tulippe