SomeTimes I HaVe to SpeaK OuT...

I could write an essay on this...but I am going to try to stick to a paragraph....
I have lived almost 6 (count 'em) decades and I have seen many presidential elections...Some of them, I was actually old enough to remember..
Without fail, in each election, the word "Anti-Christ" was brought out in public rhetoric...This becomes more prevalent "as we see the day approach."

Granted...many politicians ARE "anti" Christ...(and, by the way, so are many Religious leaders)....But none have been THE Anti-Christ (despite predictions).
Can I tell you something? The devil is a deceiver. As are many in politics. When that Anti-Christ comes, you know, the one the Bible tells us about...most of us - even the theological, ecclesiastical born-again US...are not going to recognize him....Don't deceive YOURSELF...(He ((Satan)) owns the patent on that - let him keep it) ....The man (or men) you are accusing of being this infamous character - is (in all probability) not him...I mean, HITLER wasn't even "him"... You haven't seen him yet...you probably won't recognize him when you see him...in fact, he may embody the very political platform that you support...that, after all, is what DECEIT is all about....
If you don't like the man in office, that's your privilege...but don't try to make him THE anti-Christ. This finger-pointing, spotlighting, political witch-hunt needs to stop in our country...it is so very unbecoming and it is so much of a determent to the cause for Christ....
If anyone had to described the "Christian" political soap-box "preachers"....I seriously doubt that the word "LOVE" (which, by the way is what GOD is)...would even be considered.
Give it a rest....
We do better to set our minds on things above....
And now...I have spoken out....
Godspeed!

The Blank Page....

I have written hundred of essays and discussions...some by demand and others by direction (from above)...one of the hardest things I have had to learn (on inspirational writing) is that just because there are days when your page is blank, doesn't mean God has left the building....it simply means...rest...relax..and wait...don't force it till it flows...So today my page is blank, but my life is full....Godspeed to you all! VSW

The "3's" in Peter's Life

Peter’s denial of Christ is something all believers are familiar with. Jesus spoke it, and it happened(which is fodder for another time – The spoken Word) three times.

And then what?

I’m sure Peter was consumed by guilt.

Probably every step he took afterwards in the company of the Lord was plagued by condemning thoughts. ‘What was I thinking??’, ‘How could I???’, ‘I blew it.’, etc. (Somehow I think we’ve all been there.

But the threes in Peter’s life do not stop there. Take a look:

In the Gospel of John, Peter and Jesus were walking along having some male bonding time while fishing. I don’t know about you, but I think Peter was a bit uncomfortable on the heels of the 3 denials. I think he was especially uncomfortable when Jesus asked, “So…Peter, do you love me?”

I think he probably physically flinched when asked that question. Ouch!

Three times, the Lord asked. Three times Peter said yes, and three times Jesus said, “feed my sheep.”

Sometime later, Peter was seeking the Lord in prayer on a rooftop. He was given a vision that became the prompting for Peter’s life song. Three times.

Yep, three times the sheet came down, the animals walked around on it and Jesus told Peter, “Nothing I have created it unclean.”

Immediately following this, three men came to Peter to take him the house where he was to truly begin his life purpose: Declaring salvation for all men – because no one God created is exempt (unclean) from the transforming power of the gospel.

My point: There were lots of threes in Peter’s life. The denial first, of course, and from there it appears that Peter needed to hear some things three times. Why?

Our more legalistic brethren and sisteren (a word made up by a friend of mine) might say that this was God’s way of reminding Peter of the denial so that he (Peter) would not “think more highly of himself than he ought.

I don’t think so.

I am a grace loving, mercy giving child of The Most High God and I submit to you that the threes in Peter’s life were never to remind him of what he had done, but confirmation and affirmation of where God was taking him. A reminder of God’s love. An affirmation and confirmation of God’s purpose in Peter’s life. A way of saying, “You, Peter, yes you, are worthy.”

Jesus spoke very clearly when He said that He did not come to condemn the world, but to save the world. The nagging voice in your head that speaks to you of your past failure, is never the voice of God. It is the ENEMY of God that tries to lay the “guilt trip” trap. Don’t fall for that. Don’t ever think that you, as His child, are anything less than 100% righteous, and 100% worthy.

Sometime later in life, In his 2^nd book, the 3 chapter (another 3), Peter  said this: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (vs 9). This was Peters reflection of his own ministry, and his encouragement to others who have “denied.”

Remember: Guilt trips are never from God’s travel agency. They come straight from the “other side.” And lest the legalist yell, “CONVICTION! God convicts us!”  you can be sure that “conviction” is never GUILT.

I thank Him today and evermore for His grace, love and mercy. I thank Him for the freedom that comes with knowing that He created nothing ‘common or unclean’. I thank Him for the three’s in Peters life that mapped out Peter’s lifesong.

Grace, not guilt. That is HIS way.

Amen.

Refreshing....Renewal.....

I can remember in younger years thinking that it would be so great to take a respite in a spa somewhere in Hot Springs, AK..or the like....A place where you could pamper yourself physically and simply relax your mind....

HOW AWESOME that my Father has provided a constant, daily - even hourly renewal and refreshing of body, soul and spirit...and it doesn't cost me a dime, and I don't have to travel cross-country to get this...it is delivered (free shipping) to my door upon request.....

Ephesians 4:23-24 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

(What does the picture have to do with this? Absolutely nothing - I just like it)

Amazing Grace

As I "Googled" certain ministers of the Gospel who preach GRACE rather than legalism, I found exactly what I thought I'd find: Criticism and Name Calling (False Prophets).

This makes me a bit sad.

Grace is not a popular message. People would much rather be given a set of rules to follow - a standard to measure against. And if we accept the Gospel of Grace, it takes away our "scales" on which we measure another believer's "credibility." (God forbid that we should relax our stone throwing arms!). And if the believer cannot stand (in our sight) then the poor unbeliever has no chance at all.....

We are a people/society that has been birthed (physically) and nurtured on the "do's and don'ts" of society and the 10 commandments. Rules and regulations, we love them. It is foreign to us to even try to undertand that a person could be driven/compelled to do what is right unless we first point out to them what is WRONG.....

Grace doesn't work that way. The new covenant of Christ doesn't work that way. 

Do you realize that Jesus was beaten to the point that his internal organs were exposed so that we would NOT have to be bound by rules and regulations? Good works count for nothing.

Now, no doubt some will be "rising up" right now and thinking that I am endorsing "license" to sin....No, my friend, not at all....hear what the Apostle Paul says, and I agree

"For the love of Christ compels (to be "compelled" is to be driven/directed/guided) us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh (We cannot make an assumption about any person based on what we SEE). Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;old things have passed away  (we are compelled to do NEW things...things that follow after the teachings of Christ and the Scriptures); behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. "      2 Cor 5:14-21 - (words in italics are MINE and meant to be emphatic - not adding to).

Grace. Not works. Lest we brag (or condemn).

LOVE compells us to follow Christ, and love alone. GRACE is how we obtain that love. Grace alone.

No, Grace preaching is not popular. And although that makes me a bit sad, I know that God is in control...His Word will accomplish what He sent it to do (The WORD became Flesh)...through Grace.....regardless of the critics....Amen, and Amen.

(the picture may appear to have nothing to do with the writing, but when I painted this last year I entitled it,  "We are His Masterpiece - He applies the Blood"...hope that makes sense.)

Yes, OH YES.

A couple of years back, I had to make some major decisions...I had to let go of the things I held on to for comfort...I began a journey and it started with one step. I walked into a life where nothing was my own...resources depleted...and I stood before God an empty vessel...I had no where else to turn...The rigors and inconveniences of the life I led for 12 months were beyond what some would be willing to accept/do/commit to finish...I stood with my emptied out self and I refused to look back...I held my hands out until God took them in His...and He did...Today I forgo some of the things that others would think they have to have..but my life is full to overflowing...my needs are more than met and my wants are sometimes given to me before I ask....Was the "sacrifice" worth it?...There is not a "YES" that would echo far enough and loud enough sufficiently answer....I don't know what else to say. ~vsw 

Know Who You Are....

Lucifer had no power in Eden. None. He could not "mess it up." It wasn't in his power to touch a thing in the garden. Nothing. Man was in charge. It was "Adamville, Incorporated." Not one street light could be put up without Adam's seal of approval. Adam ruled. Adam ran the show. Adam was The Godfather (or in the case, The Godson)...

So how in Adam's name did it all go south?? (and by the way, why is it when bad things happen we say things "went south"?..being a southerner by birth and now by choice, I really don't like this.....but I digress)

Strategy, my friends. Trickery.

Satan wasn't really sure that Eve had been informed of her "status." I mean, Adam WAS in charge...and he MAY have told her about the authority thing..he MAY have told her she was created just a little lower than אלהים 'Elohiym...but maybe he HADN'T told her....It was worth a shot, huh?

So decked out in his Sunday best...looking like the Fred Astaire of the Garden....Satan sidles on up to Eve and strikes up an interesting conversation.

"My, my, Miss Eve, you are looking as lovely as usual on this fine Eden afternoon!" He bows to her.

"Well, thank you kind sir!" she batts her eyelashes, "I'm sorry, I don't believe we have met?"

"Indeed?" Satan asks, "Perhaps we have not, but I am fast friends with your husband, Adam. We worked on our thesis' together at the University." (remember, he is a LIAR)

"Oh, well then, any friend and colleague of Adam's......." Eve relpies coyly.

By this time, I imagine that they were strolling through the trees. Satan stops her at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He points out its beauty and says it's one of his favorites. He probably added that he and God had often shared it's fruit together. (At which point he reaches up and plucks of a succulant apple/pear/plum...)

Holding the fruit in his hand and extolling its goodness, he offers her a taste.

"Oh, no! I couldn't!" she stammers...."God said we could not eat from this tree!"

"Oh really???" I'm sure he winked at her here, "That God! He's a little dramatic at times. I've known Him a long, long time, and the truth is, He knows if you eat this fruit, you'll be as smart as Him. You will in fact, be LIKE Him."

Guys, at this point, Eve should have said, "Look, Dude. You don't know what you're talking about. I AM like God." (A little lower, but in the image and likeness)

Satan took a chance with Eve. He was speculating. He gambled on her NOT knowing the truth.

So, she took a bite.

Adam came home, saw the damage done, copped out, and HE took a bite.

At that point, and that point ONLY, was Satan given any authority over the Garden and its inhabitants.

Adam and Eve handed him the keys to the city. Mankind had fallen. Satan ruled.

It's a sad story of deceit and ignorance on Eve's part, but thank God, it doesn't end here.

Some centuries later, Jesus provided the avenue of redemption. He bought back, with His Blood, what man lost in the garden. Through Him, man is restored to his rightful place. Complete authority reinstated.

If you are in Christ, then Satan has no more authoity over you now, than he had over Eve BEFORE she bit into that fruit. He (Satan) will lie to you at every turn and try to convince you that he has more strength, more power, and more ability than you could possibly have. He is a LIAR. Always has been. Always will be. And that's all he is.

You are BOUGHT with a price.

Satan is UNDER your feet.

Don't let him trick you the way he tricked Eve.

You hear?