Tag: encouragement

Thrive or Escape

Recently, I have seen some Christian friends concerned over some man-made statue in front of the UN and others worried about things going on in this world. And I am repeatedly reminded that we were not given a Spirit of fear and that is not what God intended for us, to live in fear. It says in the Bible:

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

What is a sound mind? Using good judgment. I’m reminded of the disciples, who had Jesus in the boat, still feared the storm! Would you still fear the storms of life if Jesus was right beside you? Well, he is! He told us he would never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) If you know him well, you can feel his presence. He’s looking for real and a strong faith. We should rebuke the storms of life and have faith to know he will save us from them. Also he gave us power to calm them. That through his resurrection; he has empowered us through the Holy Spirit. This should make us realize nothing man can do or build will harm us.

Matthew 8:26 TPT “But Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith?” Then he stood and rebuked the storm, saying, “Be still!” And instantly it became perfectly calm.”

John. 14:12 NLT “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”

And last but certainly not least is if we have this bold faith to declare our faith in Jesus, why are we looking to escape? The Bible disproves escapism. Most of that “let’s leave” teaching was fulfilled in 70 AD and escapism has only been taught for the last two hundred years in the church. Why else would God tell us the righteous shall never be removed from the earth and that his home will be among his people? Why would he say he would never destroy the earth after the flood and that he would never leave or forsake us? If you want to be in the presence of Jesus, you simply must enter in, because he gave us the key. He tore the veil and we have the right to enter the throne room, by our inheritance. It’s time to claim it, by being all he’s called us to be.

Isaiah 45:18 NLT For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. “I am the Lord,” he says, “and there is no other.

Proverbs 10:30 NLT “The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.”

Revelation 21:1-3 NLT “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.”

If Gods home is among his people, why would anyone want to escape? Where will they escape to? Don’t they think that would be disclosed in the Bible? God tells us everything, why would he leave these details out? He says he reveals the hidden and secret things. I want to know my destiny which is a return to God’s original purpose, heaven on earth. God by my side!! Let’s not destroy what God has made or escape his gift to us.

One Word, Best Gift

As I was having some worship time this morning, I was thinking, ‘What is the one word I would use to describe Jesus?’ I thought of all the words assigned to him: Master, Savior, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Redeemer, Mighty God, Emmanuel, Christ, Lord, Son of God, Son of man, the Word, Lamb of God, New Adam, Light of the World, King of Kings, King of the Jews, Rabbi, Chosen One, I Am, Bread of Life, Creator, Only Begotten Son, Alpha and Omega, Almighty, High Priest, Prophet, Teacher, Advocate, Mediator, Judge, Chief Cornerstone, Shepherd, Living Water, True Vine, Branch, Bridegroom, Dayspring, Carpenter, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, The Way, the Truth and the Life, The Image of God, and the list goes on. I’m sure I’ve left something out so don’t mark me off on this. As you read through those, can you see how much is used to describe him? It’s remarkable, isn’t it? Just think then how can we define Jesus with one word?


I sat there on the floor of my sewing room, pondering, because I decided I needed worship time more than I needed to do whatever it was I had been doing. I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of having an intimate relationship with Jesus and what that has meant to me in my life. I thought, ‘What would that one word be to describe Jesus?’ The words came flooding out; precious, loving, dear, merciful, cherished, best friend, loyal, and the list went on and on. I couldn’t put one word on such an intimate and beautiful relationship that I’ve had with him. He is so loving and so caring. He is there for me any time I need him. He is Always by our side. The only reason we may think he is not, would be because the world gives us distractions, but he is there. We just need to seek him and recognize that he meant it when he said he would Never leave our side. I felt his presence as I thought of this, and I talked to him. I asked, “How do I tell someone else all that you mean to me? How do I describe you in one word? It’s simply impossible!” But think about it, could you describe your favorite family member or best friend in one word? Maybe there is one word that stands out for them, but I don’t know of one word that stands out for Jesus other than love and best gift.

Jesus is the best gift that I could share with anyone else, with you, because if you take the time to get to know him, he will change your life. Your life will become more peaceful and more relaxed. He will center you and I’m not saying that in a new age way. If you put him at the center of your life, the rest will fall into place. It’s not that you won’t have trials, we live in a fallen world, but when you do have trials, take them to Jesus and he will help you with them. But more than that, he gives us a new life when we believe on him. He gives us grace. I asked one of my daughter’s for her one word for Jesus and she said grace. Funny that she said this as she was shearing her son’s hair because he had just cut it with the scissors so low that she simply had to shear it. She did not punish him, because by his life choices, he had punished himself. He was hiding in his room because he didn’t like what he had done. She gave him grace. How often do we hide out because we are ashamed of what we have done? Yet Jesus has seen all the mistakes, all the sins, all the things we think are irreparable and he fixes us. He fixes our problems, our too short hair, he shears away the mess, and he loves us through it all. We were created for relationship with him. He brings us back to him through his death and resurrection. Jesus died for all our sins and mistakes, so that we might have a new life in him. He died to give us life more abundantly.

That is one of the best words I can tell you about Jesus, is that he gives Life and he gives life more abundantly. Not only does our life on earth become better, but we gain eternal life by believing. Our sinful nature is replaced by a new nature. Our old heart becomes fresh and new. I have seen this happen where people who didn’t care about life, others, or themselves even were brought back to being happy people by trusting in Jesus. He is our (more words to describe him) transfiguration or transformer!  To transfigure means to transform into something more beautiful or elegant! I love that word, because that is what Jesus does to us when we allow him to. Will you allow Jesus to transform you today? I pray you have or do.

You can pray this with me: “Jesus, I come to you and ask you to forgive me of all my sins, I want to follow you. I believe you died for me and I give my life to you. Please accept me back into your fold. In Jesus’ name. Amen”

If you asked Jesus into your life for the first time or if you have had a long absence from God, then I suggest you find a good ministry to follow in your area. May you find the one word which is the best gift in your life. To me that word is Jesus.

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. – John 10:9-11 NKJV

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” – John 14:6-7 NLT

So, from now on, we refuse to evaluate people merely by their outward appearances. For that’s how we once viewed the Anointed One, but no longer do we see him with limited human insight. Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new. – 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 TPT

Is Projecting Constructive or Destructive?

What is projection? Projection is when we take a behavior and transfer it over to another situation. There are several applications to projection. For instance, if we have a low self image because of our weight, height, or intellect, etc., we might find someone we deem inferior to us and then put them down in an effort to make ourselves feel better. While this may sound like a negative way to boost self image, people do it every day. Gossip is a form of putting others down. How does bullying start? Because one person feels inferior to another for some reason. Perhaps they were made fun of by their peers, siblings, or sadly, their parents. Instead of being the victim, they later victimize others.

Another form of projection is to think that others should take up the same causes that you have. If you’re all for sheep eating green grass, then everyone else should be, right? If you believe that the version of Bible you read or your church is the right one, then everyone else should also, right? That’s a projection of arrogance and superiority. That line of thinking says that you are the only one who thinks correctly and promotes you as perfect. Others perceive you to be haughty and overbearing and you don’t understand why they don’t see things your way. Sound familiar? I’ve been there before. On some issues, I still am, but I try to be open-minded, while still staying grounded in the Word, led by the Holy Spirit. That is the crux of life as a Christian. It is who Jesus Christ left us, the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. But are we truly listening? Are we being guided? Did we hear the Holy Spirit tell us to argue with others? Let’s see, the Holy Spirit’s character is to comfort, to bring forth truth, to establish peace. No, I don’t think the Holy Spirit ever told me to argue with a friend or family member.

Then one of the ways projection hurts Christianity the most is by those who project their own mindset, their own thoughts, or the actions of others towards them on God and on Christians in general. Because, somewhere, someone professing to be a Christian hurt them and they decided ‘how could Christianity be real? How could God be real? How could God love me if I have these thoughts? How can I trust another ‘Christian?’ How can I trust another church?’ Well, here’s my answer, 1. God did NOT cause any bad things to happen to you! He didn’t give you or anyone else bad thoughts! God is LOVE! He Loved you so much, and everyone else in this world, that he gave up his own son to die and brought him back to life. You may say, ‘Well he knew he was going to bring him back.’ Oh? Why? Because he’s God? So then you Do Believe in God? Because everything within us cries out for our creator and if we nearly die, we cry out to him. Don’t let a near death experience test you to find out. Get off the fence and follow his Son, who was a perfect example of a human being and perfect love. 2. Mankind will fail. There’s not a single person out there who’s not going to disappoint you at some point. There are few, very few Christians who lead a life sold out completely to follow Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to lead them. Everyone has a weakness they won’t relinquish control over. 3. As far as thinking others think like you, there are some people who are not out to hurt you and who have very pure motives. If you’re tuned into the Holy Spirit, you’ll know which ones are pure and who to avoid.

There’s another area of projection I’ve seen Christians do in their walk, that thwarts their spiritual growth. Some Christians may think another believer has more spiritual knowledge than they do, so they belittle the one they deem beyond them. Or perhaps they’re afraid to move forward with God, to take the next step, so they criticize everything another believer says or believes, putting down their church or doctrine.

Jesus wasn’t looking for a set of rules, he came to free us from the law! He wasn’t here to participate in sacraments, traditions or even a church, nor a building, he was looking for true worshippers, whose lives were lived by example, those who would follow him. He wanted those who were led by the Holy Spirit, doing the Father’s will. His “church” was/is not bound by walls, or certain days. If we project anything as Christians, May it be the love of Jesus Christ, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control, grace, compassion, patience, peace, comfort, and joy.

John 4:23-24 But the time is coming-indeed it’s here now-when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Hebrews 8:1-2 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.