Sin, Transgression, & Iniquity...what's the difference?

We are made up of Spirit, Soul, & Body and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ephesians 4:23 - Be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

The spirit is the part of man that gives him God consciousness through his mind. The soul is where the Flesh (body) interacts with the Spirit creating desires and emotions.

Exodus 34:7 - keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”

This verse clearly shows there is a difference between, iniquity and transgression, and sin.

Romans 3:23 -  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God.

Sin - Soul
Transgression - Body
Iniquity - Spirit

Isaiah 53 v 5,10 “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: ……thou shall make his soul an offering for sin…”

Let us all continue our journey to having 'GOD CONSCIOUSNESS'.  Choosing to have daily presence with our Lord and Savior, trusting in the Lord  In the midst of a fleshly decision, STOP, and recite this verse:

BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS...
(Matthew 6:33)

Thank you Jesus...for all of us fools...that through YOU and ONLY YOU...you have promised us ETERNAL Life.  By accepting YOU, there is no longer condemnation.  With YOU...a TRUE believer will slowly become SELFLESS...turning away from the world's desire to fulfill our flesh and needs...your peace comes upon our spirit.  We, who believe in You, Lord Jesus, will continue to be hypocritical in the eyes of the world and even with each other...it don't matter what the world thinks...What you think is ALL that matters! 

God is good ....ALL THE TIME....and all the time...GOD IS GOOD!

FREEDOM...

Many, including myself, was privileged to be a part of the Hawaii Pacific District Church of the Nazarenes:  

• ENCOUNTER - PENIEL ( So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." )
• PRODIGAL SON - REPENTANCE & RESTORATION                        
• THE POWER OF THE CROSS
• THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION
• SEXUAL PURITY FOR WOMEN
• SEXUAL PURITY FOR MEN
• FORGIVENESS: THE POWER FOR INNER HEALING
• SET FREE
• SANCTIFICATION

GOD'S CHISEL REMASTERED

FROM THE SKIT GUYS

DESCRIPTION

When God chisels the dead weight out of our lives it can be quite painful. In this new high quality, remastered version of their most requested skit, Tommy and Eddie give a very creative look at a typical believer having to go through the process of discipline.

The writer of Ephesians says “For we are God’s workmanship” (Eph. 2:10). Elsewhere we’re described as a “poem.” God views us as being his original masterpiece.

WATCH THEIR VIDEO: http://skitguys.com/videos/item/gods-chisel

Want Freedom...(Pastor R.J. of Living Waters Church said...)

• Be in 'Daily Presence' with the Lord

John 15:4 - Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

• Have Passion (abiding)
• Character (spiritual growth)
• Mission (John 15:7-8 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.)
• Significance (1 Corinthians 15:25  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.) 
• Greater Things (John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.)

Steps to becoming entirely sanctified: (by Superintendent Robert Killen)

1. Remove all barriers
2. Request / Ask (Luke 11:13  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to.)
3. Receive by faith on the basis of Gods commands / promises.
4. Release by faith (1 Thessalonians 4:3   One final word, friends. We ask you—urge is more like it—that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance. You know the guidelines we laid out for you from the Master Jesus. God wants you to live a pure life. Keep yourselves from sexual promiscuity.)
   
   
   (Hebrews 13:12 -  And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.)
   
   
   (Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”)
   
   
   
   
   TRUST, OBEDIENCE, BELIEVE, FORGIVE, LOVE, HOPE & ABIDE DAILY! (thanks sista Ruby)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

TASTE AND SEE THE THE LORD IS GOOD...

Pastor Gordon Wong of the Bridge Church taught us that our time with God can be 'SAVORING'.  


Merriam Webster Dictionary defines Savoring: 

1. Taste (good food or drink) and enjoy it completely.
2. Enjoy or appreciate (something pleasant) completely, esp. by dwelling on it.

Pastor Gordon showed the congregation a delicious photo of a salmon appetizer from his family cruise to Alaska.  They were able to savor that dish as well as all the other well prepared food. 

We all make the time to eat our daily meals and surely an overly abundance of snacking, too.  Perhaps, when our appetites desires snacking or drinking, we should choose to grab for the BIBLE and practice SAVORING the word of God.  

 

CHOOSE...

THANK YOU PASTOR GORDON!

THANK YOU JESUS!

BOUNDARIES -VS- BONDAGE

Pastor Gordon Wong of 'The Bridge Church Hawaii' shared a lesson on:

                              "ARE YOU READY FOR FREEDOM?"

Luke 15:11-24 Talks about the 'Prodigal son'. 

Q: What does the word Prodigal mean?
A: Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.

Q: Do we have similar traits as the Prodigal person?

A: Honestly, I read the story and saw the traits of the 'Prodigal person' in other people.  Never connecting that trait to me.  Deception is so sneaky!  As Pastor Gordon spoke, I saw those similar traits of the 'Prodigal person' in me!  YIKES!

As teens or young adults, we simply look forward to the so called, life of 'FREEDOM'.  We can't wait to escape the rules and regulations of our parents, guardians, teachers, coaches, the 10 commandments.   We want to live under our rules and go outside of our foundational boundaries and 'PARTY'!

Sounds like fun? Yeah...right, I'm sure.
 
When we go outside of the Boundaries that the Lord has put around us, then we surely will suffer the consequences.
Consequences are waiting for us. 
Consequences smile upon our intentional wrong choices in life.   

Jeremiah 17:5-8 says,

⁵ Thus says the Lord:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the Lord.
⁶ For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.

⁷ “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
⁸ For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear^[a] when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Remaining connected to God is his desire.  We do not want to be independant from God but be totally dependent on God.  Our God is a God of relationships and we need to desire that relationship with God. 

^{Galatians 3:26-29 - 26} So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

As we become more responsible, God grows our boundaries. 

ONE FALL....

Relaxing on this beautiful Saturday morning, I watched this movie, 'ONE FALL'.  It mentioned how this fellow James received this supernatural healing powers.  It's a movie that was released in 2011, probably did not make it to the top of the movie popularity charts.  It's a 'quirky' movie, but at the very end I was literally in tears and bawling!  We learned that as believers in Christ, nothing is of a coincidence.  Well, I had to wonder why the tears? I googled, "ONE FALL" & lo and behold:
Ecclesiastes 4:10 -  If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!


Ecclesiastes 4:9 - Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.  


Ecclesiastes 4:11 - Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 

We've heard the adage, "Life is a mystery".  Really, life may appear to be a mystery, but trusting in the ways of the Lord makes lifes, 'FAST BALL or CURVES' or circumstances, easier to 'OVERCOME'. 

Daily praying, reading, going to church to learn, and simply making the daily decision to know that every breath we take, every situation we're in that our awesome God, cushions that, "ONE FALL". 

FOR THOSE WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD (Roman 8:14)

Gnosis: Having the intellectual knowledge of God's Word

Epignosis: To become thoroughly acquainted with or knowing God's word & truly living and applying it in our lives. 

William James, Harvard's most distinguished professor psychology wrote: If you wish to be learned you will be learned.

What does all the above have to do with the title...read on.

I learned that as followers of Christ and His teachings we believe in the Holy Spirit (The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. He is fully God. He is eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, has a will, and can speak. He is alive. He is a person. He is not particularly visible in the Bible because His ministry is to bear witness of Jesus (John 15:26).

Regarding the Holy Spirit, believers can be divided into 3 categories:

1. Believer's that understand how to be led by the Holy Spirit & have testimonies and lives that cause many to be saved.
2. Believer's that knows the word of God, but operates out of the emotional realm and who have consequently never learned how to operate our of their spirit man.  This is Gnosis and knowing what God's word says, but not applying God's word.  Therefore, the battle of the mind & emotion is like a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs. 
3. So called Believer's that don't acknowledge any form of divine leadership at all.  They don't believe that anyone can be led by the Holy Spirit and that God has abandoned them.  As far as they are concerned, God exists and they are going to heaven. 

Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. 

Life Through the Spirit
¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Remember that Satan has gone through a lot of trouble to keep believers in Christ, confused, using every deception at his disposal to make sure the keeps us walking down the wrong road.  Satan does not want us to reach our potential to be led by the Holy Spirit.  He uses the same tactics over and over again on saints around the world, therefore, believer's in Christ stumble and fall, only to get up and repeat the same mistakes.

Q: How does Satan do this to believer's in Christ?
A: Neutralizing us to indoctrinate us into a program where we look to our emotions or outward circumstances as a basis for God's leadership and direction in our life instead of yeilding to the Holy Spirit's inner witness in our spirit man. 

Q: How can you tell if we've been affected by satan's deceptive ways?
A: If we look to these believers as role models of being led by the Holy Spirit, we easily become confused.  Although they claim to be divinely led, they go through one situation after another, suffering defeat again and again.  The bottom falls out of everything they do as they make bad decision after bad decision. 

Q: Why is the devil so avid in his oppostion to our being led by the Holy Spirit through the inner witness?
A: Just the fact that Satan fights it so hard ought to tell us how powerful and how dangerous to his kingdom this divine leadership can by!

We must continue to crucify our flesh, daily!  Thank you Jesus!

Thank you Pastor Mel & Tim (The Bridge Church Hawaii)

 

Did you know that we become what we idolize? Do you also know that our Lord is greater than all our problems?

^{Psalm 115:2-8}

² Why do the nations say,
   “Where is their God?”
³ Our God is in heaven;
   he does whatever pleases him.
⁴ But their idols are silver and gold,
   made by human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak,
   eyes, but cannot see.
⁶ They have ears, but cannot hear,
   noses, but cannot smell.
⁷ They have hands, but cannot feel,
   feet, but cannot walk,
   nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
   and so will all who trust in them.

PUT GOD FIRST AND HE WILL PRIORATIZE OUR LIFE! 

Most of us are thinking, "Yeah, right...easier said than done". 

Every person on the face of this earth is experiencing adversity - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

• Relationship problems with our -
• Spouse
• Children / teens / young & old
• Parents
• Friends
• Enemies
• Financial problems
• Health problems
• Career problems
• Bullying problems
• Identity problems
• Anger problems
• Deceptive problems
• Gambling problems
• Addiction to drug problems
• Addiction to alcohol problems
• Addiction to food problems
• Addiction to pornography problems
• Stealing problems
• Unforgiveness problems

PICK ONE OF THE ABOVE - THAT'S YOUR IDOL & THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE CONSTANTLY PUTTING YOUR TIME & THOUGHTS & ENERGY INTO.  

YOU HAVE BECOME EVERYTHING AFFILIATED WITH THAT PROBLEM! OMG!

THE SOLUTION & YOUR CHOICE: READY

BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS 

Matthew 6:33

How is it possible to co-exist and have sorrow and joy at the same time?

Seriously, you wonder, how can this be possible to experience sorrow and joy at the same time?

After contemplating this question, I realized that through death of some people did I actually experience both emotions at the same time. 

Before accepting Jesus as my Savior, death was so sorrowful.  There is a feeling of dullness, emptiness, and eventually resentment.  Many unanswered questions.  No person, no event, no words of comfort, no friends, absolutely nothing can take away the tiny seed of resentment that was growing inside me.  Death was an event that frightened me and more so when I had my own children.  We think we can do everything possible to prevent death, but we understand that upon birth death awaits us...so I thought.

Learning there is eternal life and choosing to believe, no longer made death as frightening. 

The loss of someone so dear is sorrowful. Believing and knowing that eternal life awaits our loss is so endearing and that is joy.  Here, is where I've experienced sorrow and joy at the same time.

Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything (2 Corinthians 6:10 NIV)

Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated—or not—in the details.

People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right;

when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all. 
(2 Corinthians 6:10 Message)

Thank you Pastor Mel & Tim of The Bridge Church

ME ... YOU ... A PENCIL? HUH?

MOTHER TERESA once said, "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."  Once we understand that, we might actually become useful to God.

A CALLING VERSUS A CAREER WHAT'S THE DIFF?

Pastor John Ortberg said, "American society does not talk much about calling anymore. It is more likely to think in terms of career. Yet, for many people a career becomes the altar on which they sacrifice their lives.

A calling, which is something I do for God, is replaced by a career, which threatens to become my god. A career is something I choose for myself; a calling is something I receive. A career is something I do for myself; a calling is something I do for God. A career promises status, money or power; a calling generally promises difficulty and even some suffering-and the opportunity to be used by God. A career is about upward mobility; a calling generally leads to downward mobility.

WHEN CONVENIENCE CREEPS INTO OUR LIVES

Definition of Convenience: anything that saves or simplifies work, adds to one's ease or comfort, etc.,

Pastor Gordon taught that when we allow CONVENIENCE to creep into our lives, there will be a high price to pay and we will suffer the consequences. 

The question is how does CONVENIENCE affect our relationships?  What's the effects? 

Pastor Gordon gave a wonderful analogy of driving to the convenient store.  You get to park right in front of the door.  Simply walk in and pick up your water bottle, back to register & in no time you've paid $1.10 or more, but you got your water.  Then he went to a larger store, had to walk all the way in the back to grab a case of bottled water, walk all the way to the register where there is a line.  Waiting patiently, he pays $3.99 + tax & had to walk all the way back to his car.  Definitely not very convenient.  But, each bottled water came out to .23 cents for inconvenience. 

So what's the big deal?

You meet a wonderful person & fall in love.  You get married and in no time there is a lack of communication, someone or both starts to do their own thing. 

Get the picture?

RELATIONSHIPS WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE CONVENIENT!

As weird as this may sound, the more inconvenient our relationships are the better our relationship will be.  Think about this...PAUSE....

AHA MOMENT?  DID THE LIGHT BULB GO ON?

Just like our relationship with the Lord:

• We need to have a daily presence with God
• Requires great commitment (willingness to grow)
• Changing our culture of our Spiritual life

Visualize this: There's a Bible on the table & you balance the bible on your thumb.  That's like most Christians that go to church & simply hears the word of God, which is easily snatch able.  Try holding the bible with your finger & thumb and this would be like us hearing and reading the word of God.  Still, someone can come & snatch the bible right out from us.  Third, imagine holding your bible with your thumb, finger & middle finger. That would be like the believers in Christ that go to church to hear the word, and opens up the bible to read and study the word of God.  Still, easily snatch able.  Forth, holding the bible with your thumb, finger, middle, & now with your ring finger.  Now we are memorizing the word of God but still snatch able.  Finally, we will hold the bible & including the pinkie finger.  Harder for anyone to snatch Gods Word from us.  Pinkie finger is applying the word of God. 

1. the Thumb is HEARING the word of God
2. the Finger is Reading the word of God
3. the Middle finger is studying the word of God
4. the Ring finger is memorizing the word of God
5. the Pinkie finger is applying the word of God

Thank you Pastor Gordon Wong of The Bridge Church!

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD (taught by Mel & Tim of The Bridge Church)

Thanks giving is to be as much a part of the believers life as breathing. 

2 Thessalonians 5:18 - "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Psalm 100:4 - "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless His name." 

GOOD MENTAL HEALTH begins with a thankful attitude of heart.  Proverbs 15:13 / 17:22 - "A merry heart does good like medicine...He that has a merry heart has a continual feast."

DEPRESSION is the inability to see the goodness of God around you.  David frequently expressed his depression, "I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of God in the land of the living."
Psalm 27:13-The eyes of faith SEE the goodness of God even in the midst of adversity.  Gods purposes, plan, and provisions are always good! Romans 8:28 & Jeremiah 29:11

James 1:17 - "Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, with who is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

What's holding you back?

There's a movie on Netflix, 'PEACEFUL WARRIOR' based on a true story.  The fellow that went through adversity has written inspirational books.

You ever wonder why we have that dream or passion for something, but reaching & accomplishing that journey simply came to a halt.  We would have every possible valid excuse for quitting.  Quitting is super easy; after all, who likes working hard and pressing through.  We've heard this saying many times, 'get addicted to the process and not the results'.  In this movie, he was told to not look at your destiny but work hard and enjoy the journey getting there. 

Go figure, "how are we going to see and do tomorrow"?  

A WARRIOR RESPONDS BUT A FOOL REACTS.    

Richard Stearns mentions in his book, 'The Hole in Our Gospel', "If your personal faith in Christ has no positive outward expression, then your faith-and mine-has a hole in it".

Richard Stearns book sure puts our walk with Jesus more than going to heaven and being with him.  He mentions that belief, worship, personal morality, Christian community, is not enough.  He reminds us that Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:20: We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  The question we need to ask ourselves, "Seriously, how am I representing Christ as His ambassador"? 

She said, "Knowing that my mom has the Lord, is the best thing for me"

A vision of beauty, an essence of peace, a love that is so deep-rooted...adversity can't steal it, time can't rob it, everything of the world can't kill it.  She's in her early twenties, just completed college, moves on forward to graduate school.  Raised in a family that truly believes in the Lord, never voicing out loud why did this happen.  Her countenance is ever so peaceful.  She has a glow and a smile that emits more than just experiencing a happy moment.  She's just different.  Never calling attention to herself, diligently doing the task that she is asked to do.  Her mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer has spread and the discomfort is unbearable at times.  Recently, it was more difficult for her mother.  Still, she comes to work, never a tear streaming down her face.  She comes up and asks me, "how are you doing?"  Care never left this young woman.  Always, at the departments events, laughing along with her co-workers.  Deep inside there must be pain, sadness, and questions.  When asked, "How is your mom doing?" The response she gave will stay in my heart, and she said, "Knowing my mom has the Lord, is the best thing for me".  This child of God, has exhibited faith beyond comprehension to the worldly person, she knows that the Lord has a place for their mother and one day she & her family will be together with Jesus.  Our life on Earth is temporary, and where we go after is Eternal life.  I thank the Lord for placing this beautiful young woman in our department to simply be the Lord's light & an extension of her mother that truly believes in the Lord.  Her mother gave her the greatest gift that she can ever have...the GOOD NEWS. Amen!

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – John 3:16

"Kehaulani"

Kehaulani means "Raindrops from Heaven" and that is what my grandaughter is!  She has a smile that brightens up my day no matter what it is that I may be feeling at the time.   When I'm sick, she's there to comfort me and show me her love.
It was just two and a half years ago that my daughter and I had this conversation.   My daughter at the time was 20 yrs old, single, and living at home.  She had called me on the phone and had asked me how I felt about her being pregnant.  She wasn't sure what she should do because the guy she was dating she liked, but wasn't really serious with.  I told her that no matter what she needed to keep the baby, and that I would help her through her pregnancy.  As a mother it was shock to be hearing this on the phone! I never imagined that I would be hearing this from my only child!   I knew how she was feeling because I too had been in this situation when I was younger and had not made the right decision.  I chose to have an abortion.  At the time, I thought it was the easiest thing to do but it was the wrong thing to do and I realized it years later.  I didn't want my daughter to have to go through the guilt and regret that I had felt for all those years!   God loves us unconditionally, this means even with all of our faults!  There is no condemnation and judgement with God because he forgives us and loves us even when we can't! "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" 1John 1: 9  
Thank God my daughter listened to me and decided to keep my grandaughter!  She is the love of her life, and she has told me that she could never imagine life without her!  We are not alone because our God is here for us, just as the 2 women who created this blog are!  We can pray together and let God's Holy Spirit to guide and help us to get through whatever difficulties we maybe facing. May God's peace fill your hearts!  Me Ke Aloha!!!

Everyone seeks and needs to be Loved. A love that is unconditional, a love that comes without judgement, a love that will never betray us...WHERE do we find that LOVE?

We can search all corners of the earth to find something or someone to fulfill this need to be loved.  People are on a journey seeking something or someone that appears to be extinct.  Never having that sense of peace or joy.  Too often, desperation comes knocking at the door, you peek and know that you shouldn't entertain IT.  You know there could be a long line of trouble, but you're feeling empty, what decisions did you choose?  Yup, the decision that most choose is the one that takes us on a journey of CONSEQUENCES.  Consequence(s) is simply a trouble maker that can literally suck your life away.  

GOOD NEWS...There is only one person in the entire history of this world that died for the entire human race and his blood washed away all of our sins.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one & only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

God already knows that we will either choose him or not & his unconditional love for all of us, is depicted in John 3:16.  This is true love.  He did not say only when you are all cleaned up, then come.  He loves us in every form, shape, or whatever situation we might be creating or be in. 

God says, just come as you are!  As broken as we are, as imperfect as we can be, & with the endless amount of flaws that we have...God's love is simply, unconditional!  No worries, just be you, & you'll start to feel that Love. 

Revelation 22:17 - The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!"  Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

How long do we hang on to our hurts, resentments, betrayals, anger, addictions, grudges, & unforgiveness?

The betrayal was incomprehensible. The hurt was devastating.  NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND!  It's their fault. Unconsciously, we start to take ownership of not being wanting to forgive. Unforgiving is very heavy. Imagine carrying a 50lb kettle bell weight everywhere you go.  How about two 20lb bags of grain on each shoulder, daily. These heavy burdens, which is a magnet to our emotions, may be released.  Easier said then done, right?  Let's try it & let go of the 50lb kettle bell weight or maybe exchange it for a 30lb weight and gradually go lighter.  Remove 1 bag of grain or better yet, get rid of both bags. Can we imagine that weight that came off?  We've heard that unforgiving is as if you were giving poison to the other, but in reality, we're the ones that are getting poisoned.  You say, that's absurd. Start observing people with countenance and attitude that exhibits the opposite. Then look for those that you think might be carrying that weight of unforgiving.  Make a choice.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (the Message Bible): Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk.  Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

Romans 12:17: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

How many times have we been told to SIMPLY have FAITH? Almost a "DUH" question, but do we really have faith? Faith means we have a never ending of hope which means we would have peace...but how?

The dictionary will define Faith as: 1. Complete trust or confidence in someone or something
2 Corinthians 5:7 - We live by faith not by sight or We walk by faith not by sight.

How many times have we trusted & had faith that the relationship was going to work out?  How about truly loving someone with all our hearts putting in our ALL into the relationship or situation to have it turned inside out and totally go bad?  How about praying, fervently, for a special someone who was diagnosed with cancer?  What about someone or even ourselves addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography, sex, bulemia, abuse, computer games, food, exercise, depression, etc. - the list can go on.

Physically we're exhausted; Emotionally we're drained; Mentally we just can't think straight; The weight of feeling hopeless is too heavy; Escape is what we desire...

Where and how can FAITH even be considered in the midst of our difficult trials?

Job 30:27 - The churning inside me never stops, days of suffering confront me

Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The Lord is telling us to have FAITH, and simply come to me.  How?  Find a place where you can be alone and just cry out to someone you can't see, but the Lord will be with you.  Be honest, be you, and in your moment of despair, TELL IT ALL & YELL IT ALL!  JUST DO IT!  Then medidate on your heart being mended, be still, breathe in goodness, exhale bitterness...

Believe it, you have just exercised the beginnings of having FAITH.
                           

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

"Intolerance and Indifference can lead to....
                      Teaching of tolerance is still alive and bears fruit..."

Watch this documentary, 'PAPERCLIPS' and how this small town made a big difference.

I hate Religion but I LOVE JESUS...

OMG, This was emailed to me by a very REAL person, Alice.  Thank you Alice!  You will be missed!
Watch this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY&noredirect=1

BE STILL

We live in a busy, noisy, tumultuous society.  There is noise and demands for our attention almost constantly every waking hour.  There are no quiet Judean hillsides for us to retreat to daily for prayer.  Therefore we must find an inner solitutude in the Lord's presence. (Written by Mel & Tim of The Bridge Church)

Isaiah 30:15 declares that the Lord's purpose if for his people to find quietness and confidence before Him.  The indictment was that his people "WOULD NOT" and therefore had no peace.

Isaiah 32:17 - "The effect of righteosness is quietness and assurance forever."

Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am thy God..."

The New Testament similarly reflects the same need to mental quietness when it refers to bringing...

"EVERY THOUGHT INTO THE CAPTIVITY TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST"
(2 Corinthians 10:5)

STUFF

Sometimes we just get so overwhelmed with 'STUFF' and in that moment we need to turn to the Lord first. What if we don't know the Lord or fell away but simply need to vent...try women of inevitable truth.  We're  women that have a heart for the Lord, that also struggles in the flesh, but chooses God's Word as our foundation. 

S.O.S. (Save our souls!) Chaos and Adversities, we need HOPE & FAITH & LOVE...

Women of all ages & circumstances:

These are very challenging times.  Days filled with undending adversities. From the moment you get up to the moment you actually get some sleep, PEACE is what we desire.
Philippians 4:7 - Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can undestand. His peace will guard your heart and mind as we live in Christ Jesus.