Help me Lord...

My mind is racing,

With all I’m facing.

Make a decision!

What is my mission?

Time here so short,

Thoughts to sort.

 My heart hurting,

My soul searching.

Asking You, “WHY?”

Battling the lie.

If I could just go back,

To where I got off track…

I would have taken a turn,

From what I’ve now learned.

 

Yet, where I am, I cannot change,

A past of regrets have left me stained.

Help me withstand,

All that I don’t understand.

Help me let go,

All that I don’t know.

 

I cannot look back,

For this takes me off track.

I can only look to You,

You are the only way through.

Provide a fresh start,

Give me a new heart.

 Turn my heart of stoneTo hot, from cold.

Change my thoughts of hate,

To love, from bad to great.

 

I want to be strong,

It’s been too long.

I’m done being weak,

LIFE, I must speak.

Help me Lord, You’ve all I got,

Give me only hopeful thoughts.

 

You are the truth, the life and way,

Now take me into this new day.

Give me strength, love and faith,

In Jesus name, this I pray.

Kick that BAD HABIT....FB!

It sucks us in. Daily.
All our friends and family at the same place.
Able to communicate the latest in your lives at the same time.
Networking at our fingertips.
Some use it for good.
Some use it for bad.
Some feel inspired after use.
Some feel envious after use.

What is it? FACEBOOK.

I've had my own love/hate relationship with it myself. I original got on it since so many of my praying friends were on it during the season my oldest son's asthma began and the doctors were clueless and negligent. I thought then, "what a powerful tool for prayer requests".

Two years later, I start a network marketing business that pushed the social media use to 'expand business'. I went from making $0 to $500 in just a few months, with just a couple hours each day. I thought then, "what a powerful tool to make money".

A year later, I started classes at Summit Bible College where my nose had to be in the books and my attention on typing up homework. The habit of 'checking in on FB' was an easy distraction away from my priorities. I thought then, "what a distraction away from school".

After two years of classes at Summit, and still using FB to spread the great revelations that God was giving me, speaking to me, family members soon grew tiresome of my 'biblical voice' on FB. I thought then, "what a pain in the neck".

For few months after being confronted on being too vocal on my faith, I tried to use FB for the 'entertainment' of it. Or to journal what I did that day. I thought then, "what an absurdity, no one cares that I didn't fold laundry today!".

I had a short season of using it again to network, to help some poor kids get shoes. The funny thing is, all the people who helped me out, were people I had phone numbers to! Hmmmm. I thought then, "what do I really need to be on FB for?"

I soon went back to sharing my inspirational thoughts, yet I felt that torn feeling. Looking back over the last 5 years of FB use, I asked myself: What have I gained through FB? Facebook has given me very little. The closest friends I have on FB, I have their phone numbers, yet seldomly talk to them. Surely FB is not equipping me socially. I then thought, "what a waste of time!"

Truly, truly I say unto you, social media is a waste of time. Perhaps if you are in network marketing, it is useful...but honestly after trying to use it for good, the bad has continued to outweigh the good.

Since being off FB, I am sad to confess that my house is cleaner, we've gotten to bed sooner, and I am less worried about the hundreds of 'friends' I see living life in the fast lane, crazy lane, depressed lane, materialistic lane, drunken lane, and relational dismay lane. Facebook really is derailing our societies priorities. People are addicted to it.

Don't believe me? I know adults who spend more time on FB than with their kids and spouses. They say they don't have time to work out, but they have an hour to waste FB. Facebook is a god in many people's lives.

I had this thought this week too. When parents are hooked on media, where are their kids? Hooked on their own source of media. We are losing family relationships over 'liking random funny pics and videos'. We've got to get a hold of ourselves and time.

THE SOLUTION: DEACTIVATE IT & NEVER LOG IN AGAIN. If you're too scared to deactivate it, then just start with the baby step of deleting the app from your phone. You will be amazed at the great experiences and people you are missing out on!

I've tried this a couple of times in the season of writing a thesis and going through some rough patches. Finally, however, I told myself, "I'm done!" and I'm thinking this last time, is the last time!

 

Join me in my anti-FB campaign as I take back my time, energy, and relationships and make my time on earth truly count for good!

Which Doctrine Do You Choose? (Do you even have to choose?)

For sake of time, I will not include the verses in their entirety, but I give references so that you can study on your own. And trust me, this is a good practice to get in to. When someone shares their thoughts on the Word of God, you should always verify.

John 17:21 - Our division over doctrines does NOT communicate Jesus correctly. Romans 12:5 – We who are many are supposed to be ONE.

Who is inspiring this post? Two men and their followers.

 

Jacobus Arminius (from late 1500s) and his opponent John Calvin (from early 1500s).

 

Keyword: OPPONENT. Surely Arminius found holes in Calvin’s doctrine and there came his response with a differing doctrine 50 years later. However, let’s point out this was over 500 years ago…and they were about 1470 years after Christ.

 

Ready for my hypothesis?

Both Calvin and Arminius lead people astray.

Let me explain. Hear me out. I may surprise you.

Is this a plan? Perhaps a strategy from our greatest enemy to divide the body of Christ. Create so much division that we are handicapped to reach the world in full capacity.

 

In my eyes, all we do is turn off unbelievers/unsaved with our ‘irreconcilable differences’ over our favorite 'flowers'. Are you a TULIP or a DAISY? Me, I'm a wildflower!!!

 

These old doctrines from C & A have dug deep roots to divide the body of Christ (which is to be ONE).

 

What is an offensive strategy in war? DIVIDE & CONQUER. And unfortunately, so many have fallen for this. Just think of the last time you were having a great conversation with a fellow ‘Christian’ and then the topic of doctrine came up and they said they were Calvinist…what happen to that conversation if you are not a “Calvinist”? It was over and your attitude changed, you became on guard with whatever else came out of their mouth right? Does that even sound Christ-like? No, it doesn’t.

 

 

But why does it happen? It’s NOT biblical…The division comes from our spirit not bearing witness with that doctrine. Divisive, disagreeable doctrines are not of God.

What does the Bible warn us about doctrines of man?

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:14-16

 

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness,your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3

I live by what it says in the Word of God. Refer to Ephesians 4:4-6. Read about ‘ONENESS’. Choosing a man’s doctrine to follow is so unbiblical.  Identifying yourself with a ‘man’s interpretation’ is unbiblical. Read & dwell on 1 Corinthians 3:4-5. It’s right there. “MERE MEN”.

In my eyes, it’s completely unbiblical to even label yourself as anything else than a follower of Christ, a disciple of Christ, and even a Christian. Yet people love labels. So then I offer an alternative: Biblican.

I cannot grasp onto either ‘Calvinist’ or ‘Arminian’ doctrines…it’s so unbiblical to do either by what I gather from the verses I’ve sited.  So then, when people corner me on choosing a Biblical stance, I tell them that “I’m Biblican”…and since it’s a new term, my own, they will ask me, “So then what do you believe?” My response: “Whatever the Bible states. Period.”

 How do people miss what Christ says in Revelations 22:18-19?

I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

YIKES!!!! See, its right there in the Word? Follow what the spirit of God speaks to you! He will speak clearly the truth, and you will hear Him IF you lay down all your presumptions and all doctrines of man that you have come in agreement with.

Do you recall how the people were addressed in their following after Moses BEFORE Christ?

See Acts 15:1-11.

We don’t’ need to add our interpretation or Calvin’s to our views. It’s bias.

 

 

See the divisiveness? How is this 'the Lord'?

 

It's limited, remember. This disagreement is unnecessary and overcomplicates living sold out to Christ.

 

With all this said, I encourage us all to stop wasting our time and energy debating scripture and just start living out the unadulterated Word of God.

 

·        Let’s get back to the simple and pure devotion to Christ – 2 Corinthians 11:3.

·        Let your life show John 14:6.

·        Let’s live John 15.

·        Let’s Matthew 6:33.
 

By all doing all this, we will find God’s will for us personally!

Side note/Personal Opinion:

I feel that there are holes in each doctrinal prescription. One may have more than the other, some may be smaller or bigger…but still there are holes in each.

Question: Would you rather have a boat with 1 hole or 5 holes in it?

Answer: Neither, right? You will sink in either one.

I cannot accept either doctrinal belief as sufficient or 100% scriptural, so then I don’t choose a side. I ask you to seek the scriptures and see what the Lord reveals to you. Don’t just pick one since it seems to be the thing to do. And by the way, Jesus doesn't say you have to?

DISCLAIMER: I am non-denominational, and I am non-doctrinal. I just want to be biblical. I just want Jesus & His Word. (Psalm 119 & John 1:1-5).

What is your purpose in life?

I don’t want to be famous. I just want to speak life over people’s walks with God. I want to motivate others to hunger after God to the point they keep showing up to pray and read their Bibles so that can hear God and learn the joy and excitement of living a spirit-led life.

Most people I know who have made huge mistakes or been victims, they or the people involved were truly NOT being spirit-led; regardless of their label “Christian”, “church leader”, etc. God never leads people down a path that is destructive to themselves or others.

Hence why I am such a proponent and encourager for people to figure out what is it is to live a devotional life. A life of simple and pure devotion to Christ! (Check out 2 Corinthians 11:3.)

This is the purpose of my life (I'm pretty sure). To encourage you, motivate you, inspire you to pursue God with your whole heart and being, daily, so that you are living at the center of His will and you fulfill your purpose in life.

So you call yourself a Believer, huh?

Do you want to bear the name “Believer”?
Then – START BELIEVING Friend.

Check out Hebrews 11:6 in your Bible. Here are the main points it makes:

1.    Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God).
2.    Those who come (go) to God must believe He is (God).
3.    We also must believe He is a rewarder of those who SEEK Him.

One conclusion: FAITH SEEKS GOD. Note, this is an on-going action, not a past-tense, single occurrence.

Thought: If you are NOT seeking God, yet call yourself a ‘believer’, I fear you do not have the faith that pleases God.

Note: This is not a ‘works’ message. This is a ‘you will know them by their fruit’ perspective. Do you call yourself a football star, but not play football? Do you call yourself a millionaire, but do not have a million bucks in the bank? So then, can you call yourself a believer, if you are NOT believing?

Question: How often do we forfeit God’s plans because of our lack of believing Him, His Word?

 
Hey Believer, the Word says:
-        He will never leave you or forsake you. Do you believe that?
-        There is now NO condemnation for those in Christ. Do you believe that?
-        With God, ALL things are possible. Do you believe that?
-        Apart from Jesus, you can do nothing. Do you believe that?

So then believer, why is your life not reflecting your belief?

Daily we are faced with decisions and opportunities that challenge our beliefs. How are you doing with those tests and challenges?

Is your life marked by distrust, disbelief, and despair? We’ve got to recognize when it is headed that way and dive into the Scriptures that are relevant to what we are enduring. We’ve got to inspire ourselves and ignite that faith to believe with the Word of God. We’ve got to pursue Jesus, be with God, be with Jesus to make things possible and resurrect our hope and the faith that pleases God.

We have to have a devotional life.

We have to set time aside (daily) to pour our hearts out to God. We’ve got to make time to be raw and real with God and leave ourselves available to Him to minister to us, our hearts, and move in our lives. We've got to spend time with the Lord to make it through the demands of life, here in this world, with this deteriorating society and culture. We've got to be with God, in Christ, filled with the Spirit.

Before we can be a disciple (a student/learner of Jesus' and God's Word), we have to be a "Believer".
  

This week, find 2-3 verses (or more) that you will make your life verses that you will choose to believe no matter what the circumstances say! And decide this day, are you truly a ‘Believer’ of the Most High God, Jesus Christ?

OFFLINE & LOVING IT!

Yep! Been OFFLINE and loving it...although, it makes it difficult to share my blog without being logged into FB.

I have NOT been on FB recently.

I’ve been ‘offline’, ‘logged out’, and so free.

In just the first few days, the fruit of patience appeared on my branches.

My anxiousness has diminished.
I’ve had a good dinner ready in time for my husband’s arrival home from work.
I got more chores and errands done in a timely manner & with less stress.
I’ve had more conversation with my kids.
Opportunity knocked on the door and I was available to answer.
I’ve had time to hear from the Lord on direction for ministry and my future.

 

I’ve come to the conclusion that the BAD of FB definitely outweighs the good.

Disagree? That's fine. But I challenge anyone who doesn’t believe me to LOG OFF…or even better, deactivate their account for 1 week.

I doubt many will take this challenge. Or least the ones who need to take the time off, won’t. The ones who don’t have a problem, they’re never on there to start with and will stand up to this challenge. But trust me, it’s worth it to log off…and when you do, it's convicting to see how much your life is out of order with FB in it.

Which brings me to one revelation I’ve had this week…

By letting our kids watch cartoons on TV while we are on FB,

we are raising internet/screen addicts.

But it’s not just FB. Well for me it is. The 5 minutes here and there is already a time-drainer. But I know men and women…they’re on them all. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, what else is there? I’ve heard of a ‘StumbleUpon’ or something. QUESTION: WHO HAS TIME FOR ALL THESE SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS?

Now if social media is your job…your real job, you are justified. If you do online marketing, multi-level marketing, you’ve got a reason…but for many of us, we have ‘real jobs’, ‘real duties’, and ‘real lives’ that we are robbing time away from on these avenues of entertainment. And I haven't even brought up the apps...the games...the other things uploaded to that device of distraction you carry!

What is it really? Entertainment. Entertainment sucks you in. Remember the times before the internet was a ‘necessity’, people were called “couch potatoes” because they sat in front of a different screen. Now with YouTube...you don't even need to turn on the TV, you've got entertainment in your pocket. So are you still a couch potato? Or a new name for a new device, in a new era? 

What can we be called?

• SCREEN JUNKIES?
• INTERNET ADDICTS?
• PHONE FANATICS?
• OBSESSED?
• HOOKED?

Don’t think so? Just this week, I read a few articles on parents who neglected their 2 year old twins and let them starve to death. I saw a story on a nine-month old that nearly died from not eating for about 2 months. The parents? Where were they? Not on crack…well, a new crack: internet games. They were hooked. And many of us are too!

I have 2 boys…I’ve been on FB before, ‘checking in’, ‘checking messages’ with my kids asking me to play with them, fix ‘em a snack…What do we say, “Just a minute…” right? Luckily for our kids, it really is (or hopefully is) only a minute or two…

But imagine these people out there…crying babies for food from behind the doors and their game is more important. But yet, how many of you have kids or spouses crying out for your UNDIVIDED, UNDISTRACTED attention and love. And while they may have their bellies full, they may in fact be starving to death emotionally.

What is it? It’s addiction. It’s idolatry. People who many never have had a drug or alcohol addiction misses it when it's right under their nose. I overcame a variety of addictions and broke free from them. I recognize in myself when I'm just starting to get hooked...and that's when I reel myself in. I know the claws of addiction. I know the lies, 'just this once'...'just a little'. I know them all to well. That's why I unplugged, I recognize when something/someone is fighting to become Lord over my life.

So maybe we “aren’t that bad”…right? We say it all the time. “I’m not as bad as them.” “I’m not like them.” But that’s where we get off course. We compare ourselves to others; others who are clearly not living out their purpose in life.

We have to look into the mirror – the Word of God. The Bible. The Holy Scriptures. The Truth. This is where we will see our idolatrous selves clearly. We will discover that we are slaves to things we have ‘justified’ were ‘necessary’ for too long.

Homework: Go to your concordance in your Bible or www.biblegateway.com and look up the words: idols, idolatry, idolatrous, and idolaters. Tell me what you find looking back at you in “the Mirror”.

What is it going to take?

I peer over the vast sea of people, overwhelmed by the destruction they cause themselves.

If only God they caught a glimpse of what You intend for them.

If only Lord they set You as Lord of their lives, as their only God...and not just one of their many gods.

Some days I intercede for them that they will wake up, repent, and follow You!

Other days I ask if it will take a taste of Your wrath for their eyes to open from their slumber and denial.

My heart is sad for those who neglect You Lord.

With their words they say they love You.
But their actions say they love themselves... and their sin.

Oh Lord, what will it take to turn these lukewarm believers into passionate disciples?

Help them love You first Lord.
Help them let go of their dreams, goals, and sin.
Help them grasp a hold of Your will and Your purpose for their lives.

IDOLATRY

This word is ever present in my vocab these days. It pops up in many of my conversations...because I feel and see it ever present in our culture, society, and homes.

My working definition of IDOLATRY:

• ANYTHING that robs our affection and time from God.
• ANYTHING that is currently ushering in a stronghold over us.
• ANYTHING that is robbing our day and lives of real relationships and productivity.
• ANYTHING that we jokingly say we are 'obsessed with', 'fixated on', or 'have a fetish' of.
• ANYTHING that we are addicted to.
• ANYTHING we admit to 'wasting our time' doing.

 

Got idolatry?

It's everywhere. I could list numerous things...many that we all own or do. So I will refrain from identifying many of them to avoid the condemnation the enemy would love to suck you under.

I bring this topic up however, to bring attention to you that there is some, somewhere in your life, home, day and I am calling out to you to BREAK FREE from it!!!!

Note: I TAKE MYSELF THROUGH THIS TOO...DON'T THINK FOR A SECOND THAT I DON'T BATTLE THE TEMPTATION OF IDOLATRY.  It's in our fallen nature...there for we are to submit to God...not our nature/flesh.

Ask God this week: What are the idols in my life Lord?

And be ready for Him to answer. Jesus resonated the 10 commandments in the New Testament.

We often hear, "...but we're no longer under the law". True. But we are called to follow Christ's example and teachings, right? And He taught the same principles of the 10 Commandments. And the Holy Spirit convicts accordingly to the Scripture that God has laid before us.

Study Exodus 20:3-17...and then turn over to New Testament. (Matthew 4:10, 5:34,10:37, 5:22, 5:28, 5:40, 12:36, Luke 16:13, 12:15, and Mark 2:27-28.)

Salvation is a gift from God granted by His mercy and grace to those who repent and confess that Jesus is Lord. YES! But we have to relentless pursue God to remain free from bondage.

Once we are saved, bought by the blood of Christ on the Cross...The Lord knows that if we follow His teachings, then we will REMAIN free. We are truly free when we are abiding in His Word and walking it out, walking by the Spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. How much freedom do you have when you are entangled with obsessiveness with fame, power, money, material things? How much freedom do you have when you are ensnared by lust? NONE. Idolatry comes in the door of sin. Sin comes by temptation not being dealt with AT THE FEET OF JESUS!

When we remain in the Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit, submissive to God's will...then we are worshipping the ONE TRUE GOD and free of idolatry.

Meditate, think, dwell on this word: idolatry.

What false idols/gods are trying to control and master you?

Find some?

If so:

• Repent of the idolatry.
• Ask God for forgiveness.
• Break the unhealthy attachment/addiction to these.
• Ask God to deliver you from idolatry.
• Then pursue God - daily - above all things!!!!

It is NOT God's will that you serve anyone, anything besides God....and...

^"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." - 1 John 5:14-15

So what then shall you do???? He is available and waiting to set you free TODAY!

Do our words match our lifestyles?

I observe many Christians who are dead to their convictions. Dead to the truth of the Word. Dead to God. And so then, I wonder then how they call themselves a Christian. Not to judge them, but with a heart that longs to see people living out their spiritual destiny…wondering if they are in fact filled with the Spirit.

I long to see people who are called by Christ’s name humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, so then God will hear from heaven, and forgive their sins and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

1 John 3:18

...They say they believe with their mouths, but their hearts are far from God…

 

In Luke 15:8, Jesus quoted Isaiah 29:13, “Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote…”

The NIV version writes: The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they   have been taught.”

Have you heard “we’re not under the law”…but when Jesus is quoting Old Testament, which that is what He taught from in the synagogues (Read the Book of Matthew)….but because Jesus taught from Old Testament and expanded it to not just our deeds, but our thought life, shouldn't we then heed to the Word of God??? The Spirit of God? Depending on Him to strengthen us to overcome the temptations that easily overtake us.

How many of you believe Jesus is a REDEEMER????

How many of you say with your mouth that you believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior?

This week, do a word study on: deeds, godly conducts, motives, works, and obedience.

Then compare your life to the Word.

 

Let's be a people that makes our life fit

 

 the Word of God!!! 

 

The Lazy Christian.

Is there such a thing? A lazy Christian?

The Lazy Christian does not:

• Pray
• Read the Bible
• Serve
• Evangelize
• Tithe
• Know their personal gifts
• Bear fruit

We are called to live a life set apart FOR Christ.
Yet apart from Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
So then: DOING NOTHING = LAZINESS.

Need a definition?

 

la·zy  (lā′zē)

adj. la·zi·er, la·zi·est

1. Resistant to work or exertion; disposed to idleness.

2. Slow-moving; sluggish: a lazy river.

3. Conducive to idleness or indolence:

Lazy Christ are apart from Christ. These lazy Christians are the lukewarm church. Do they know their destiny? Revelations 3:16 explains it simply.

So what then shall they do? Luke 13:5 has the first step of the solution.

Folks, the end is drawing near. There is no time to procrastinate abiding in the Lord. I long to see the Body of Christ full engaged living a biblical lifestyle that attracts the unsaved to Christ.

How will the world know that Jesus Christ transforms lives,

if your life looks no different from the world?

Where did you get off track? Refer to the list above. The starting point of living out a 'changed life' starts with a 'devotional life' of prayer and spending time in the Scriptures/truth! In this time, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and you will begin to bear fruit, find your spiritual gifts, serve, give, and evangelize.

The Christian life is intended to be active, not passive.

Matthew 28:19-20 gives the directive: Go and make disciples! This is not an optional commandment, it is what the Lord Jesus calls us all to. It's up to you to spend time with the Lord to find out who in your life you are to lead and direct toward Christ. God speaks. His Spirit leads and convicts. Obedience is key. Obey the voice of the Lord, the nudge of the Holy Spirit and you will find yourself being an "active participant" in the work of God.

Otherwise, you will remain the "spectator Christian"...the Lazy Christian. And that my friend is just down right boring. No wonder sexual immorality, alcohol, drugs, porn, the Internet, money, -- FILL IN THE BLANK -- is so attractive and consuming your time. You are not aggressively engaged all that God created you to do FOR HIM.

John the Baptist said it best: I must DECREASE, He must INCREASE. It is to be about HIM, not us!

When it is about US, our lives, dreams, comfort, choices....we become disengaged with Jesus...and resort to being Lazy Christian, living the lukewarm powerless life fulfilling OUR will, not HIS will.

It all begins with repentance. Luke 13:5. Repent of the selfish lifestyle and call onto the Holy Spirit to fill you with the power to overcome your fleshly desires and give you the passion to live sold-out to Christ. And then daily - stay plugged into the power source!!!!! This is when you crush the lazy, spectator Christian lifestyle and you will produce the kind of fruit that is imperishable...that which will stand with it refined by the fire coming!

Pain can last a lifetime...

Pain.
Comes and goes.
Sometimes it's seasons.
Sometimes it's a blow.
A blow to the gut, a blow to the heart.
Mind left confused, feelings torn apart.

Nevertheless, pain.
It's a deep hurt for many.
Many find their healing sooner than others.
Others endure pain for a lifetime.
There is help in your time of need.
There is One who can heal.

On another note:
If you abuse an adult, who was an abused child....watch out!
If you bully an adult, who was a bullied child...watch out!
If you verbally attack an adult, who was verbally abused...watch out!

Don't be surprised if you get what seems to be an exaggerated response to your abuse, name-calling bullying...You just ripped off a sore scab off a deep wound. You will get this kind of reaction anytime you repeat the offense to the wounded. Please, if you love someone who was abused at some time, please don't repeat the abuse!

It's amazing how common verbal abuse is and has been for the last couple of decades. Name-calling and cussing is sadly day-to-day life for many children. These broken children grow up and become broken adults. All it takes is a name-calling session to break their heart and bring the pain from childhood back to the surface.

"Well they need to just get over it"...if you say this, or have heard someone say something like this...I assume that they were never really abused as a child. They don't know what they are talking about.

Now, is there healing available for childhood abuse? Yes.
Does it take time? Counseling? Divine intervention? Yes.

Healing can happen. Inner healing is actually a very necessary ministry these days and is available.

I hope this gets some people thinking about this topic.

I also hope it will help some:
1. Find hope if they were abused and lean on Jesus Christ in a personal way for healing.
2. Stop abusing if they are an abuser of spouse or children.
3. Grow in compassion if they think people should 'just get over it'.

So many of us have walked miles in shoes no one else would ever be willing to wear. Trust that the Lord knows what you have seen and where you have been. Those who have hurt you were operating under their impulse and through their freewill. We are not robots, any of us. Yet, there is a living water that quenches the thirsty soul...and it is found in Jesus Christ. There is hope for the abused...and the abusers.

Email prayer requests to: thediscipleshiphouse@gmail.com

Got Marriage?

The M word: Marriage.
It is the cornerstone of the church.
It is the foundation of the future.

It takes two to tango, for sure, but often times I observe ONE doing the work of the two. Both adults signed up for this, both should remain faithful to keep their vows.

It's very much easier said than done, right? I know. So an accompanying discipline that ALL married individuals should remain faithful in then would be: PRAYER.

Imagine if you will, a marriage where BOTH husband and wife were equally committed to praying for themselves, their marriage, their children, their finances, and their ministry. Can you imagine what a powerful team that would be? They would be on track and winning people to the Lord, right?

Which is exactly why Satan, the devil, the believer's archenemy hates praying, God pursuing people. Consider a family. A mom, a dad, and oh, two kids. If the dad won't fulfill his role of a godly role model for his kids, if the dad won't encourage and love his wife unconditionally, the wife is overwhelmed with chores and lonely. She can easily become bitter and resentful and then very disrespectful. Five years of this will kill hope. Five years of no counseling will leave them both unequipped to deal with the problems that all the complacency began. Five years of NO SPIRITUAL WARFARE will leave the couple defeated and bound under the lies of the enemy. One of the devil's favorite lies: IT'S NOT WORTH IT!

The devil. The liar. If you read your Bible often, you will see where God trains us to know that the devil is a liar, he goes around like a roaring lion looking for some to devour.

His favorite delicacy: MARRIAGES!

 

Now, I don't know what kind of teaching you have sat under for the last few years of your walk. I don't know your church-teaching background. I don't know if you read your Bible. I don't know if you even have a prayer life. But I can say this, if you are married - then you need to learn to pray and do SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

 

At the end of this I will list out verses for you to study to support this prayer discipline. But for now, let's look at life of families and I will give you prayer words that I would use in my life in each scenario. And for this post today, let's assume both husband and wife are Christians.

 

NOTE: When we are believers in Christ, we have the authority to rebuke the devil. Our authority is in Christ and the devil is under the authority of Christ. And the devil must bow down to commands IN JESUS' NAME!

 

Scenario 1: Spouse has an addiction and it is wreaking havoc in the home. They become consumed with this "thing" so much so that they neglect their family, no affection, no conversation, no responsibility...they are lost and drowning in it.

• First, my main thing that I would start praying for my spouse is 1) his/her spiritual walk. The Spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. A phone's battery will go dead if it never plugs into the charger right? So then, pray that they will be convicted to spend time with God. It is God who can do a work in our hearts. Intercede for their walk with God.
• Second thing I would do is 2) take authority over the spirit of addiction, rebuke the bondage that the enemy is entrapping them in. Also, include praying against the flesh that is trying to rule over them. I just need to list an example prayer below....

"Lord, I lift up my husband to you...and in Jesus name I pray that you would begin a work like never before. God I lift up his heart, do heart surgery. Heal the brokenness, heal the hurt, and soften his heart. Soften his heart to You. God cause his heart to be so sensitive to Your voice, Your conviction, Your authority. God, I pray a submissive spirit over my husband today! Cause him to be unable to avoid you. Invade his life. Invade his dreams, his thoughts, and day. God, send people to him today that will be speakers of truth, speakers of Your Word. In Jesus name. And I take authority over this bondage of sin. The addiction/bondage that is controlling him, I pray in Jesus name that you would release the captive. God set him free, in Isaiah 61 is says you bring liberty to the captives, please God free my husband from this addiction of NAME IT: (alcohol, sex, pornography, internet, food, games, gambling, Facebook, YouTube, - whatever it is that he is in). Break off the control it has. Take authority over the pull, the pleasure it brings him. Make him physically ill when he sits down to it, put a knot in his throat and convict his heart for his family God, in Jesus name. God give him a vision of what he is doing to us. But give him strength to overcome it. Give him strength to pray and agree with the work You are doing....And in Jesus name devil, I rebuke you. I rebuke you off my marriage, I rebuke you off my husband. I command every spirit of darkness to flee in Jesus name. Satan, you will not steal my husband and my marriage. I command you to take your claws out of my husband in Jesus name. I rebuke your addictive spirits in Jesus name. I rebuke the lies my husband is under, in Jesus name. I rebuke your work in our lives - Devil you have no authority in Jesus name, so be gone, leave, and stop it in Jesus name."

 

The prescription is: Do this daily. Yes, continually intercede.....because, this prayer will morph. As you intercede for your spouse, God will show you more to the problem. Perhaps, your spouse has this addiction, you start praying over them, and maybe really, they are struggling at work, but not sharing this. Maybe someone is harassing them, or tempting them, or something....something bad enough to push them to want to escape to that vice, that addiction. If God is to show you something like this, then you start praying over that situation, ask for confirmations, and even pray for a new job/opportunity.

 

Scenario 2: I hear this often in marriages. People who have been married 1 year, 3 years, 5, 7, 10, 20....those aren't magic numbers....just arbitrarily picked to point out, it happens at any point....But what do I hear? Those dreaded words: "I just don't love you anymore". People are funny. People are so fickle. Obviously, I am a HHHHUUUUUGGGGGEEEE advocate for PREMARITAL COUNSELING. This weeds out a lot of potential spouses that will desert you and who are not ready to really marry. But, often many bypass this in the name of SOMETHING: lust, convenience, pressure from parents, pressure from peers, pressure from the calendar saying 'you're getting old'....SIDE NOTE: If you're not ready to marry - DON'T. Period. That's a whole other topic..... So how would I pray if my husband, God forbid, came to me and said, "I just don't love you" or "I'm not in love with you". Anyone who knows me, knows my husband better watch out because I would go to my knees and pray, and pray and pray.

• First, I would pray for myself in this situation. Pray for God's protection over my heart and mind, and a myriad of things like: God protect my heart, keep me confident. Show me my identity in You Lord....along those lines for sure.
• Second, the key thing I would take authority over is the lie! The lies of the enemy trying to rob my marriage of it's purpose. Again, the devil is a liar. It would go something like this....

"Lord, in Jesus name, come minister to me. My heart is wounded from my husband's words that he's not in love with me...never will be, never was. Lord heal my heart. Give me the mind of Christ. Take authority over my thought life....take authority over depression and give me your strength to endure this season of prayer and intercession for my marriage and husband. Protect my heart from bitterness and hopelessness. Increase my faith and do a work in me through this. Give me endurance to pray until we come out on top, and keep me mindful to continually pray. Protect me from the lies of 'just find someone else', 'it's not worth it', 'tap out', 'give up'. God, put a determined spirit in me to intercede for my family. I know that you have a plan for me and my husband. God help us get there....and devil, I rebuke the lies you are speaking to my husband. I rebuke the lie of 'no love'. I rebuke the lies of hopelessness you are speaking to him. I rebuke you devil off my marriage in Jesus name. I take authority over any generational curses from our past ancestors, I rebuke the curse of divorce. I bind and tie any words of death spoken over our marriage in Jesus name....Devil, leave and stop in Jesus name...and so on..."

 

With this one you can pray all kinds of things, and yes, again God will begin to reveal things of their past that is influencing....lies from counselors or worldly friends...lies, lies, lies.

 

Why do I know these this works...outside of my personal testimonies of this kind of prayer working...the WORD!!!! Again: Read your Bibles, daily.

 

Ephesians 6:12: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 

John 8:44: ....(The devil) He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

 

Matthew 16:23: But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan". (Jesus simply told Satan what to do...the devil has to bow down to Christ and our prayer will execute Christ's authority over him.)

 

Matthew 17:21: (Jesus said)...."But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Study this section, it's when the disciples were unable to cast out demons....search my blog for a post on fasting...I'm pretty sure there is one.)

 

Isaiah 61:1: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners...

 

1 John 5:14-16: This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death...

 

I leave you with this last verse w/ the underlined being what I stand on always when praying for the success of my marriage.

IT IS GOD'S WILL THAT

OUR MARRIAGES SURVIVE & THRIVE!!!!

 

So then...will YOU partner with God and intercede on your spouse's behalf and for your marriage, for your sake and your kids?

 

Consider this...the enemy loves to lure us to sleep and be complacent in prayer so that he can rip us off of our family and our walks with God...our children's salvation. The devil will use ANYTHING to keep us from serving the Lord in our fullest potential - by the Spirit of God!

 

So now...what's on your agenda DAILY? PRAYER!

 

****Note: This is not an exhaustive list of verses, nor are these exhaustive prayers...nor is this the only tool in the toolbox for scenarios like this....although: THIS IS A STARTING POINT...because I know that when you show up to prayer, God will show you great and mighty things to lead you down the path of victory. (Read Jeremiah 33:3 - this is why I pray so much!)