Tag: relationship

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

Mirror Image

If we are created in the image of God, then when he looks at us, what he sees is incorruptible. He sees us as whole. So those who believe on Jesus and look in the mirror and see the corruptible or a sinner, are not seeing Christ within them, and need to adjust their perspective. God does not see us as sinners, he sees us as redeemed. 

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27 

“…being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever;” – 1 Peter 1:23 

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 

“My old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me— we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, dispensing his life into mine ! So that is why I don’t view God’s grace as something peripheral. For if keeping the law could release God’s righteousness to us, then Christ would have died for nothing.” – Galatians 2:20-21 

So if we have been crucified with Christ when we are saved, are we not persecuting him when we call ourselves sinners and in effect rejecting his Grace, amazing Mercy, and our own salvation? Are we not saying his sacrifice was not good enough? If we cannot see him when we look in the mirror, it is only because our perspective is off, not because anything he has done. It is like a person who goes through a body transformation of some kind. If you get a haircut after years of long hair or dye your hair another color, you may not recognize yourself at first. It takes a while to accept your new image, but the image Christ gives us is a Holy one. If we have the the mindset that we aren’t worthy, then we need to reread the Bible and look up where it says we are a ‘royal priesthood’ and ‘a chosen generation!’ We are God’s heirs! We are his and nothing can separate us from his Love! (Romans 8:31-38) We need to remind ourselves that the person we were before is gone. For some people, it is easier to accept than for others. We each grow in different increments, but the more we understand the Word, the quicker we grow. So if you’re having trouble seeing yourself as redeemed, or if you’ve strayed from your faith, talk to Jesus just like you talk to a friend and read the word. If we immerse ourselves in the word, we easily recollect it and it becomes our sword, our companion, and our daily reminder of who we are.

“But you are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world. For at one time you were not God’s people, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of God’s mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet, but now you are drenched with it!” – 1 Peter 2:9-10 

Wow! I want to be drenched with the Word of God! What a blessing. But first we must study it and capture its meaning. If we know that we have freedom from the law because Christ fulfilled it and gave us a perfect law – one of liberty or freedom, which frees us from seeing ourselves as sinners. Yet, we still must guard our hearts to not sin in the future. We do this by renewing our minds with the word, loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind. And by loving others, even our enemies.

“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” – James 1:23-25 

Prayer. Father, help me see  Christ when I look in the mirror. Help me to follow Jesus’ example Help me to love others.