Confidently Confident in Christ

Confidence in Hebrew means: 

a refuge, security, or assurance:--confidence, hope, sure, trust.

Have you found these comforts in Christ? Have you placed your confidence in Him?

"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." 1 John 2:28

"Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." 1 John 3:21

Is your confidence in Christ? Oh I pray it's not been placed in man. What shall that hope be but broken? 

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." Psalm 118:8

"Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint." Proverbs 25:19

There is none faithful so much as the only One, the Messiah who died & rose again. The opposite of hope is fear. What is the gain of where your confidence is laid?

Follower or Pharisee

Follower or Pharisee 

Can we really say we love Christ and skip the pain this brutal world holds?

All in all, they're reachin' out but so many church people are too busy handlin' "God's business" that they cain't take 2 minutes to stop and witness. 

How dare we call ourselves the church, while we're lookin' out for our own. Money, clothes, fancy wheels; sure to pay the tithe thinkin' God's riches will here & now unfold. Folks, this goes against the Gospel Jesus told! 

Whose willin' to touch the "dirty" hand and pull these people buried in their sin. After all, to who was Jesus speakin' when He drew the line in the sand? Was it not the well dressed "religious" men?

It's time to get your heart right, put down self and step into the Light, that's the real reason Jesus sacrificed His life. 

The world will always love it's own. Feedin' into all the lust, mistrust & the lies. Backbiting, self gain, drug dealin' all in a "legal" way.

Do what you do, but don't claim Christ if you can't see the pain others are goin' through. Remember Christ died for more than just you. 

He came to set all captives free, healed the lame and gave sight for the blind to see. Do you really follow Him or are you just another Pharisee?

For the "stunna's"

For all them "stunna's", that's all about them flashy rings, latest toys and the finer things. 

Stack it up, stack it up, stack it up tall. Enjoy it now cuz soon it'll fall. This things is most certain of all!

You can have everything that money brings and all that stuff that'll make ya sing. 

But when death has it's final sting, to hell with the soul for whom the bell tolls. 

You may be fly now, but what about that eternal sound? Without the blood of Christ, you will be hell bound. 

So when your people see you 6 feet deep, what will be the legacy you leave?

Will they have comfort in all you achieved or will they be bitter knowing you died a sinner? 

Naked you came in and naked you'll go, so what price have you paid to sell your soul?

Christ OWNED it!

Name calling? If it fits... OWN IT! 

If you ...lie, you're a liar... 

If you ...steal, you're a thief...

If you ...hate, you're a hater...

If you ...murder, you're a murderer...

If you ...cheat, you're a cheater... 

If you ...lust, you're an adulterer...

If you ...slander you're a destroyer...

If you ...gossip you're a gossiper

If you ... Say 1 thing & do another yours a hypocrite 

If you ...deceive another, you are a deceiver 

If you ...manipulate you are a manipulator

If you ...push others around you are a bully... 

If you ...want what others have you are a coveter...

If you ...stab others in the back you are a backstabber  

If you're HUMAN, you're a SINNER... OWN IT! 

"For all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God."  There's MANY names we ALL fit. Admit it, we've done one or more & not only broke God's laws, we've BROKEN HIS HEART! 

Though there are *many* ways we fall & fail, many names we could/should be called... There is ONE WAY to be restored to the Living God. 

In our place, though undeserved, CHRIST OWNED IT! He paid it all, the sin debt we couldn't afford, it's not accepted by mere words or by works, but rather a FREE gift to ALL who come with a REPENTANT heart & believe! It's the gift of forgiveness, grace, healing, acceptance, mercy & love. 

In Christ, there is RESTORATION, if... By Grace, you OWN it!!! 

He's told us before

Jesus said, "Behold, I have told you before." Matthew 24:25

How incredible is His Love to speak!? How unworthy are we to be spoken to? He's given us every instruction we need to live a life pleasing in His sight. 

He shown us in unspeakable measure the heights & depths of His Love for us; greater than our minds can contain. He's told us before! 

In our weak humanness, He is our strength and He is with us always! He leads us and guides us, in all things. He's told us before! 

Much the same, it's His Love that warns of things to come. He calls us to repent, to turn from our ways unto Him, to correct & chastise us when we are wrong. He's told us before!

He said He will return and told us the times of that season. He said there will be much distress among nations, kingdoms & homes. Even in the skies; the sun, moon & stars to the great shakings upon the earth. He's told us before! 

So much has He told us before! Are we listening to that which He speaks? 

Shadows & Sandals

I was blessed with amazing good ole fashioned "FaceTime" with my kids today. Hand in hand, face to face & eyeball to eyeball. Each in their own way said, "I'm watching you". 

While walking with Jayden to pick up Kaylie from school, we were chasing each other, laughing and picking dandelions. It was great! 1/2 way ther Jayden made a game of walking in my shadow. He kept saying, "look Mommy, I'm in your shadow!" Then run again only to come back & do it again. 

The Lord spoke to my heart, saying, "Your son is in your shadow. He sees, he hears, he absorbs all. Your actions, reactions, your demeanor." This game Jayden was playing is a true portrait of raising our children! 

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." 

Later this evening, my daughter & I got some one on one time too! Laughing, joking, hand clap games long talks & silly songs. It was a blast! 

This afternoon before we left to run errands, she grabbed a pair of my flip flops. She said "look Mama, I'm walking in your shoes!" She said it with excitement! The Lord whispered to me, "You set the standard for how she views life, she will follow as you lead."

Same day, similar messages. Truth is, I'm not a perfect parent. I love them with all I have and can give. If I'm not walking with Christ, how can they see how amazing He is? If I follow Him, steadfast & continually they will learn the way in which they are to go!  

Do we realize the impact we have on them in daily life? 

No limits to His Love

There is no mountain too high, nor valley too low... That the hand of God cannot reach. 

There's no soul too destitute, impoverished or too poor that the Love of Christ cannot beseech. 

This Love has no bounds, nor can it be defined. For it passes the comprehension of every human mind. 

There is no sin too stark that this Love  does not extend. For all who believe the Master to be their, Lord, Master, Savior and Friend. 

His hand is outstretched, despite our depravity of our sin stricken nature; His Love is beyond measure! Will you accept His gift to treasure?

Only one thing can rob you of His gift to you. This thing called doubt, my friend. If you simply come and believe, His Love will set you free and forever His hand will be upon you for eternity! 

More than a thought or simple belief. Even the demons believe and they tremble! See, He desires a Love relationship with you. 

Constant communion, conversation and growth. A heart trade and a new life remade. Just a few additions you'll gain when you accept His hand and walk in His grace. 

You see, we are all as filthy rags; not one deserves all He is nor all He gives. Yet they are free to those who abide and come to the cross with nothing to hide. 

Broken to be Blessed

"And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." Jeremiah 18:4

Marred here in Hebrew means: ruin, destruction, waste, decay

This is who we are apart from Christ! We are marred, without hope and damaged goods. However, the Potter looks at this vessel and sees what it can be, rather than what it is. So, He recreates it! 

He doesn't just "start over" though. He breaks the existing mold. Crushes it to fine powder and then adds new water to it. Think about that! The life we once knew & "loved" really isn't life at all. The flesh may be pleased but the spirit is on death row. 

Until He looks at us, sees what we CAN be. Sees we CAN be made NEW! He breaks us in ways we never thought possible, He strips who we once were and He crushes that old life so He can create us to be who He needs us to be! 

He adds His Living waters, His Holy Spirit, and breathes NEW life in us! We no longer have the same purpose, but become NEW CREATURES! 

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

Do you understand why it's impossible to hold onto the old you and serve Him simultaneously?