Posted on by Sami M

Let Go >>> Let’s Go Pt.2

where is my identity?

A primary question I regularly ask myself is where my identity lies. Am I looking to my preconceived ideas of who I am and how I’ve been shaped by the world around me since I was a kid? Am I allowing those ideas or feelings of what I’ve been told or the things I’ve done, or what I tell myself, to rule my life on a daily basis? Who is shaping my identity as a person? Me? Others? Past relationships, World view? Opinion? If I find myself in that place of allowing my identity to be defined by something that is fluid, ever changing, emotional, high and low like waves crashing, and not found in unwavering, never changing TRUTH, then YIKES.

Our emotions, opinions, ideas, and processes of how we do things are all defined by some influence somewhere and depending on where we are at, the source of where we rely on our feedback tends to change. But guess what, God didn’t design us to constantly be searching for all the sources and places to find our truth about our lives, drive, passions, and identity. God calls us to look to Him every single day to see our past, present, and future self and to see the reality of who we were created to be. Because I can guarantee you no matter where you are in your walk with the Lord, your vision for your life will always pale in comparison for the plans He has made for you if you truly walk with Him in fulfilling them. God has given each of us an eternal purpose for our lives, and no matter what the world says to you, you were created perfectly and uniquely in His image to carry His image out to the world around you. That is your purpose, that is your drive. When we don’t look to God to drive us and give us purpose, we will constantly chase and seek every other avenue possible to fill that void in our lives. We will seek material pleasures, the nice car, perfect spouse, pretty house, perfect family, newest things, best vacations, best paying job, etc. We will also operate out of a place of always chasing down the next big thing in our lives, the next event, like that promotion, vacation, bigger house, next expansion, new product, next relationship, new hobby, more followers on social media, more knowledge, etc. We will fill our time with everything but God, and always feel empty once we’ve exhausted the excitement and interest of the newest thing, idea, achievement, relationship, or experience. Then it is on to the next thing, whatever that may be for you.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13

But what if I told you we weren’t designed to chase the material world, what if you believed, that if you lived with none of these things and sought relationship and identity from our Almighty Creator God, you would NEVER feel empty, without passion, love, joy, excitement, drive and an unwavering identity rooted in truth. God is all of that for His people and then SO MUCH MORE. You were created for more than just yourself and whatever revolves around you in your life. God created you for greater calling, serving a greater Kingdom than your own. You are not supposed to be the king or queen of your life. There is only one King, and His name is Jesus Christ Emmanuel, Son of God, and He gave his life for you, so you would have the opportunity to serve our Lord God and take a seat at his heavenly table when you pass through this life and on to the next. God desires to work with you and through you in your life, if you will allow Him. He wants to see you fulfill the calling on your life to the fullest and not squander it on the things of the world that you can’t take to the grave. When you die, God desires that you leave a mark on the world that can’t be erased by the world. A Divine mark of His Kingdom, an impact that spurs others to do the same, make more disciples of Christ, see more people enter the Kingdom of Heaven when they finish their work here. A by product of that being the ultimate unwavering passion and mission of your life, is a beautiful thing, you will be found operating out of a love and joy for yourself and others in your life that can only be defined as Divine. Love and joy of divine nature is like a fire that never burns out or burns others, it spreads and grows touching other people bringing light and a warmth to their lives they have never seen before.

Saying let’s go with God means we trash all the ideas the world throws at us as far as what it looks like to have a good life, be a good person, and be successful. I promise you, with God, pressing into His vision for how He created you, the sinless you, there will be intense growth in seeing who you are and what you can REALLY do when you let HIM do the work. God can help you shed your pride, anger, fear, anxiety, depression, lust, insecurities, frustration, sadness, striving, overachieving, and anything else you could define in your life as a life sucking quality that stresses you out and drives you to seek comfort. With God, you are capable of SO MUCH MORE, because He starts to cultivate this new life in front of your eyes. Those old ways of yourself start to fall away, and you start to see what can be, who you really are, and it DOESN’T CHANGE, because GOD’s TRUTH DOESN’T CHANGE. So as we get further into this idea of Let Go to Let’s Go, I’ll press more into specific ways that we do that and say YES to God’s will for our life. Because man He has plans that you and I can’t even begin to fathom that bring the greatest glory to Him and the greatest positive impact to ourselves and the community around us.

Thus says the Lord… Do not call on former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. “

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19
Posted on by Sami M

Let Go >>> Let’s Go Pt. 1

Let go of your rebellion

Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Hosea 6:1-3

Re-read that again, and maybe a few more times, line by line, of what Hosea is prophesying over Israel and Judah. The three verses are jam packed summarizing our rebellion against God, His reprimanding of us, redemption found for our souls because of Jesus Christ, and how our Father’s love is steadfast every day of our lives. God wants YOU, all of YOU, not just whatever part you give Him when it is convenient. He desires relationship with you, is for you, with you, and wants to work through you. BUT first we have to let go…

Hosea first speaks of returning to the Lord, to turn from our rebellion against Him. If we don’t, we get to learn the hard way through God allowing us to suffer and soak in misery. God allows us to make bad choices, allows us to turn from Him and follow the world Satan runs. He loves us enough to let us choose wrong and loves us enough to take us back when we realize the poor choices that we made without His counsel. The Father will let you take a spanking from the world if you live in disobedience. He allows it so you can choose to keep chasing you, your desires, and your strength, or you can choose relationship with Him, choosing His desires and His strength. So where do you begin to change and turn to the Lord, and seek His will for your life?

The bible speaks of letting go of your life and relying on God’s wisdom and guidance each day, rather than leaning on your own. So you must let go of YOU, let go of YOUR life, let go of YOUR thoughts, YOUR feelings, YOUR desires, YOUR identity, YOUR world, YOUR passion, LET GO OF YOUR FLESH and EVERYTHING that comes with it. God desires ALL of YOU, your complete and total submission, attention, emotions, feelings, desires, identity, talents, ideas, all of it. Why? Because God is: perfect, sovereign, creator of you and the world around you, all knowing, all seeing, and all powerful, perfectly kind, just, and merciful, grace giving, loving, and kind Father. He knows best for your life; the Creator of the universe, who gave His Son to pay your debt, for your sins, wants to know YOU and wants you to know HIM. We have a heavenly Father who uniquely made each one of us, and knows our every, everything better than we do. Yet we constantly live our lives acting like we know more about us and how we should feel, work, love, play, and spend our time. We act like our own gods on a daily basis making choices and excluding God from them as if we somehow have better plans than He does for our lives.

We have a problem with submission to God, our Father, who created us. We have an issue with living in daily surrender to God and His will for our daily walk. He knows this, yet doesn’t give up on each of our souls. He gave us Jesus, the perfect example of surrender and submission to God, in the flesh for the world to see. If you are unsure of what your walk should look like, get to know Jesus, make Him your best friend. He is the epitome of who God is and who we are called to be. Jesus lived a life constantly seeking the will God had for His life, always working to align His heart, with the heart of the Father. Jesus then outwardly encouraged everyone else to do the same. Jesus didn’t look to His own wisdom, identity, passions, ideas, or work to fill His life and His heart. Even though He was wholly God and wholly man, He looked to the Father, His Father, OUR Father, to seek out His identity, joy, and life mission. If we are really seeking God, and relationship with Him, then that means we are not seeking self satisfaction or self righteous lives. We are called to live greater than our own desires; our hearts are deceitful and imperfect because of our sin, so look to the One who is perfect.

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Jeremiah 17:5-10

We encounter worldly temptations daily like a battering ram, and frequently lean on our own deceitful hearts (corrupted by our sin), but there’s a better solution and it is God’s solution, which is a complete turning away from self focus, to God focus. We are each completely equipped no matter where we are in our walk to seek communion with God each day and get before Him in total submission and thankfulness. If we create a space where we meet with God each day with intention, He will meet us there without fail every time. That is the beginning of relationship and then we see the transformative power of God working in our hearts. From that space where the Holy Spirit is working in our hearts and minds, we start to operate outwardly and not just inwardly. Then we can fulfill the ultimate calling on each of our lives, which is living outwardly a lifestyle of selfless love towards others and a spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ, our ultimate commission.

We cultivate relationship with God and change in our hearts through the active Holy Spirit, who Jesus left within each of us, the day He ascended to Heaven. He left us a helper, comforter, wise counsel, and direct line access to the voice of God and Spirit who gives us eyes to see life differently. The Holy Spirit knows the intimate knowledge of each of us and the complete and total nature, thoughts, and works of God. We have access to a mediator, the Spirit of God, who hovered over the waters and darkness in Genesis 1:2 as God created the world. We have that unique access to God, just as Jesus did; we just have to choose to cultivate that relationship, because He’s ready to go to work and grow us. We find the Holy Spirit many times in prayer, worship, scripture, and Christ centered community. It is in these places we find revelation, truth and true change of the heart. Prayer allows us to speak to God about where we need help in our growth, seek wise counsel, hear His voice, praise Him, and thank Him for all He does and has done. Scripture is the unwavering truth and living word of God, which speaks into our lives, breathing sobriety into the chaos we inevitably live in. Scripture without fail, never lies to us, and allows us to understand who God is throughout time, coming to understand His nature, and intentions for His people. Worship allows us to get before God in the most raw and open way. Worship whether there is music or silence is a place to praise, thank, and cry before God for all He has done, and all He has yet to do. Finally Christ focused community is a place where we can meet with other fellow believers and come to meet and speak truth to one another. Community allows us to have a space where we can encourage others, press into spiritual gifts, push on another forward to where they are called, as well as rebuke those falling from the truth.

So press on to know the Lord and let Him shape your life and identity. Allow Him to cultivate your soul and grow you in a way that the world never will. God desires unique and intimate relationship with each of us, so that we can spread His love, and the good news to others, fulfilling an eternal destiny in heaven. God wants to see all people come to know Him, so they can commune with Him at His table. All we have to do to accept and grow in relationship with God is to openly receive all that He has already given us. Hosea speaks of God coming to us as sure as the dawn every morning, and He does, but many times we don’t and He stands waiting. He waters us like spring rains encouraging growth, but we have to accept and soak in the rain. God is very simple with us, but we make it complicated. So the challenge is, will we receive what we are given freely, or will we keep God locked out of our house, only allowing Him to enter when it serves our purposes. God can bring peace, purpose, and patience in process to each of us in our walk. So will you let go of your life as you see it and allow God to give it greater vision? Will you let Him use you for greater purposes leading to an eternity with Him for you and for others? Will you tell God YES, to Him saying let’s go? Will you say yes to let’s go, no matter where it takes you? Will you put your faith in letting go of your life and identity and trusting God with it instead? Will you actively pursue His vision, instead of your own?

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Galations 5:16-25
Posted on by Sami M

God’s Work of the Bible

Time and again throughout the Bible, we have been shown that we have a merciful God who has continually forgiven us and given us grace in the midst of mountains of sin. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God is unchanging and steadfast in His love for His people. We see in the Old Testament, He is continually trying to provide new opportunities for the people of Israel to redeem themselves, and show their love for God. The people always fall short of the glory of God and fall into deep sin. He shows the people of Israel His deep commitment to them through each of the covenants, Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic, which come together to be called the Old Covenant.  The Old Covenant required Israelites to obey the Law (Deut 28) and in return God would protect and bless them (Deut 30:15-18). God unconditionally promised land, lineage, and a future world wide blessing, which is the prophesy of Jesus. In the New Testament we see a change in the narrative, where our Heavenly Father has decided to take it upon Himself to forgive His children of all of their horrendous deeds by sacrificing Himself, through His Son,  Jesus Christ. The sacrificial death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus becomes our New Covenant, a worldwide blessing to all who believe in the Savior of our sins, Jesus, who asks us to follow Him and love all of God’s people. People are now no longer expected to somehow live up to the glory of God, but are instead called to walk like Jesus, the Son of God, living a sacrificial life for the glory of a Heavenly Father who deeply loves us. 

Our God is a Creator and the grand Designer of all we know and see around us every day. He designed each of us and the world around us and has intention for each of us as unique individuals (Gen 1-2). God calls us to be a Holy people from day one, through the end of time, and the Bible is God’s grand design to show us how and why. Adam and Eve start us all off with their fall from God, by thinking they know better than Him, acting in rebellion, and sin enters the world (Gen 3). The continual downfall of people has officially begun for God’s children, we see throughout the first five books of the Bible people chasing God, and falling from God in cycle continually repeated. The world of the Old Testament became so deep in sin and idol worship God brought about the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants to show His people He was present, invested, and would bring wrath to those who disobeyed His commands. Despite the insane amount of sin, God wanted to redeem His people. The Mosaic covenant refers to the 10 commandments Moses was given, and with this God would either bless or curse the people based on their adherence to the Law. He wanted to give His people a choice to love Him and follow Him. With the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, God was pouring blessing upon the nation of Israel, without asking anything of them. He promised them permanent fruitful land, plentiful lineage of people, and an eternal blessing. Yet none of these covenants were enough to satisfy God or make the people of Israel righteous in the eyes of God. Israel and Judah had fallen so far, that they lost the blessings of the Mosaic covenant and lost the presence of God. God foreknew this, because in the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants He continually promised this worldwide, eternal blessing. God knew His people could never measure up, so we see prophets of the Old Testament speaking of the coming of a Messiah, a Savior, a son of David, someone who will redeem the people of God before His eyes. 

Jeremiah was a prophet of the Old Testament and lived through the downfall of Israel. In 31:1-39 Jeremiah tells us of God redeeming His people, loving His people, rebuilding His people, staying faithful to His people, and all of His people will be one people again under His name. Jeremiah goes on to speak of the New Covenant, how it will be like no other, because the Old Covenant is broken by the people continuously, but the New Covenant can not be broken by anyone. The New Covenant is an everlasting and eternal covenant that will be written on the heart of every person. God declares that every person will know Him and will be forgiven of their sin for all time. Jeremiah is given this word by a Heavenly Father who loves every single one of His people, that He is willing to sacrifice Himself for us. 

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Jeremiah 31:31-34

The covenant is said to be written on our hearts, and that a Messiah is coming, and we will be saved from ourselves, our flesh. We will have the opportunity to once again have eternal life and close relationship with the Father like we were originally created to be. Here enters the New Testament and the one and only Son of God, Jesus, who chooses to die so that we may have eternal life and relation with our Father. God created Adam and Eve to be in community with people, His creation, made in the likeness of Him. He wanted to enjoy His creation in a very unique and special way, that is why after creating everything else on earth, God decided He needed people. His creation of earth and all that filled it was not complete without us and when we fell from God into sin, He once again felt  His creation was imperfect and incomplete. God painted an artwork of beauty and ashes throughout the Old Testament to provide proof that He has been with us even in our darkest shame and horror, but still wants us to step into the light with Him. The only way for us to rise to to the perfection of God, the perfection in which He created each of us, so we could stand in the light with Him, is to have His Son die in sinless sacrificial perfection at the hands of His people. God brought Himself to the lowest of all low to show just how humble He is and how perfect He is before His people. God allowed Jesus to die, Jesus allowed Himself to be murdered by the people He so desperately loves. Jesus comes into the world in the complete and perfect image of God. While here for a short thirty two years, He lived a completely sinless life and died at the hands of sinners. While here, Jesus preached the word of God, told the world He was the Son of God, performed miracles, and discipled twelve men who would later spread the Good News after Jesus’ death. Jesus made a massive impact on the Jewish and Gentile community, some believed He was the prophesied Messiah, others say He was a liar and that it was blasphemy. Despite utter persecution, Jesus walked the walk and talked the talk of God. He embodied every aspect of our Heavenly Father in all of His perfection, only in human form. Why, did our Father do this? God did this so we would have a literal physical image of a Man who we can imitate and emulate in every aspect of our lives. God saw and knew that just words, blessings, and curses weren’t enough to hold our attention or help us understand the perfection we were created in. No, He knew we needed a Man, God Himself to walk among the people and show them the way. Jesus walked in love, kindness, generosity, hope, faith, love, forgiveness, prayer, worship, community, mercy, and grace. He embodied everything God originally created us to be and knew that if He abided in the Father and died on the cross, people would understand and know the love of the Father. 

The love of our Father is so massive that He knew the only way to reach us was to die for us. We needed to understand that no greater sacrifice could be given, other than what God could give us, which is eternal life through the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, and in three days He rose from the dead and walked the earth for another forty days teaching His disciples and performing miracles. At the end of His time, He rose to heaven to be seated with our Heavenly Father. When Jesus left, He left the Holy Spirit with us. This is what Jeremiah means, by the law will be written on our hearts and we will know Him. Jesus made such an impact there was no way that His name wouldn’t spread across the nations, and through His ascension we are left with the Spirit of God, our daily guide, living in us. God no longer has to come running to earth to give authority to the people of God to act in power, God gave us His Spirit so we have authority to act on His word every day. We have the honor and blessing of knowing Jesus’ life in deep detailed writings of the unique authors of the Bible, but more than that, we carry His Spirit every day of our lives. The Holy Spirit calls on our souls to be cultivated in the image of Christ.

Our access to eternity with our Heavenly Father is based solely on the actions and mercy of Jesus, who died for us. All we are asked to do is to accept Him as our Savior, repent of our sins, and walk in the image of Christ spreading the good news. The New Covenant is love, walk in love, love believers and non believers, love God, love Jesus for all He did, and find a special intimate love for the Holy Spirit, who is our daily guide. God made everything so simple for us, just love Him, and worship Him, and call others to do the same. Be like Jesus, no excuse, be like our God who we were created in the image of. So simple, be love and honor God. Then we will be found in an eternity with a Father who will say, job well done my child. 

God is on our side, will always be on our side, and we will always have the choice to be on His. God loves us enough to give us that choice. We can choose to chase the life Jesus lived or we can choose to chase the life of the world. One ends in eternity with our Creator who loves us, the other leads to death. There is a choice to be made every minute of every day, walking with Jesus or walking with the world. We can’t have both, expect Jesus to stand in front of the Father when we are judged, and say He knows us, and that we lived a sacrificial life for Him who gave everything. 

Posted on by Sami M

1 Timothy 1:3-17 – Speaking Truth

Paul is writing to Timothy, a young pastor who is overseeing the church in Ephesus. At the time, the church of Ephesus was struggling to overcome false teaching, satanic attack, impoverished leadership, and general divisiveness among the church. Timothy had his work cut out for him to help this new congregation and turn this body of believers back around to the true path Christ has laid out. Timothy’s struggle is applicable to what we see today in our current ‘Americanized’ church, there is a lot that is no longer walking in sound biblical doctrine, and plenty of false teaching to be seen everywhere. Many want to pick and choose teaching the law of the bible, without understanding the nature of Jesus and what He has done. So what does Paul speak to us in this chapter?

nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:4-5

Paul encourages us to stay away from discussion of the world and its speculations, but rather to seek sound truth through our faith in God. Too many people get caught up in discussion not based in faith and truth, but rather by empty opinion. We are asked to rebel against this culture where we are encouraged to have vain conversation and have foolish ignorant controversy between one another. We aren’t to be catering to one another in our faith based on what is easy and palatable in scripture, nor are we meant to bend scripture to fit our lives. Our lives are supposed to revolve around the truth of the living word in the Bible, through a deep rooted faith in our Lord God.

Paul calls us to work out of love that comes from a pure selfless heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. We are to seek God, so that he can steward our lives, and then be able to show others the redemptive mercy available to each one of us. If we do that, then we are able to teach others out of a humble heart, the nature of God, without sprinkling any of it with our prideful assertions. Jesus taught us the way to live our lives through a complete selfless humility through His sacrificial life. Paul speaks of Jesus and how he, Paul, was the foremost sinner, yet Jesus chose Him to carry the cross to all nations and speak the truth. Paul shows us that he was a total mess up, yet because of Jesus ability to see through that, and His unending mercy, Paul was brought to his knees and changed. Paul recognized the depth of his sin, leading him to praise, because there was no saving himself. Only Jesus could, and did, for every one of us. Out of our own gratitude for the mercy we are shown by our God, we should drop our cares and worldly opinions, to only speak and seek out sound truth, rooted in an unshakable faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and what he did for us. Your opinion doesn’t matter, only One does.

But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

1 Timothy 1:14-16
Posted on by Sami M · 1 Comment

Rooted in Christ

By the Holy Spirit I am awakened

Tuned into His word

By the Scripture I am confirmed

Finding Him in my life

By new Faith I gain roots

Becoming grounded in love

By Living Water I grow

Filling my heart with understanding

By Growth I find freedom

Breaking every chain

By Trial my roots grow

Built up in Him

By my Roots I can face storms

Becoming an Oak of Righteousness

Posted on by Sami M

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 – Generosity of Heart

Paul is addressing a heart issue with the body of believers by encouraging us to give generously. I get it, we all may roll our eyes a little at the overused idea of culture telling us to be good, give to others, take care of whats around you etc. BUT what culture is actually telling you is that you can have your cake and eat it too. What I mean by that, is worldly culture is encouraging us to serve ourselves with all of our desires first, THEN, give generously, take care of others, and be good. So the world says only to give out of excess after you have served yourself first, well Paul is speaking to the Corinthians basically saying that is completely backwards. Our personal wants come absolutely last, beyond basic necessities of life, we are to be serving generously the community around us first, then come back to our own wants. Paul first uses a current event with the churches of Macedonia, stating that they are living in extreme poverty, but are finding joy in the Spirit, and are overflowing with generosity. They gave within their means so they could still meet their needs, but also pushed beyond that in order so others can see the Divine in their generosity. Just in case that wasn’t enough to convince the Corinthian church of this image of generosity, he gives us a perfect image. Our perfect image of what this looks like? Christ’s life and complete sacrifice for our lives, so we could have the opportunity to choose relationship with the Father and Heaven for our eternal life. Jesus’ life and death is the epitome of generosity. His works on earth and then obedience to God in accepting His own death, knowing the pain He would endure, is the height of what generosity looks like. Christ gave us eternal riches at His own expense…

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9

Paul asks us if we are ready to give up a life of serving ourselves. Generosity must come from a pure selfless heart, from a place of Divine love for other people. Generosity isn’t meant to also serve our own pride, ego, or make us feel better about ourselves. It is about letting go of your life and giving it to others. So Paul reminds us that we are fully equipped to be generous with a pure heart, if we are ready, because in readiness, we are able to receive wisdom, truth, and overflowing joy from the Father. Therefore all of God’s promises fall upon us like Spring rain upon the earth. So step out of your earthly body and let Heaven shine upon you and water your soul.

Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Hosea 6:3
Posted on by Sami M

Romans 9 – Stop Striving

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’

Romans 9:19-26

Works don’t save your life, Jesus already did. So why do you chase down good works, and not Jesus Himself? The writer is distraught for the people of Israel. Why? So many do not walk in the faith but rather in works, as if works somehow save us. Israelites are God’s chosen people and yet even though God blessed them with land, lineage, and an eternal Kingdom through David’s lineage, leading us to Christ, somehow they think they are able to do what they want and get into good standing with God by their own willpower. In reality, God can do whatever He wants, whenever He wants. As the writer says, He can have mercy on one, and harden another heart. He is saying everyone is one a level playing field, Jew and Gentile.

God molds people as He desires in order to bring glory to the Kingdom of God. He is making a point to say that all people are the creation of God; each person according to His will. It is true that God will allow the hearts of many to be hardened against Him in order for people to see His wrath and power, so that His glory and great mercy shine even greater. What does this mean? God knows many will not choose Him and follow Him, but how much greater is His love and mercy on those who do walk in faith. Instead of Him throwing up His hands and tossing everyone to the fire, He welcomes everyone who desires to know Him and follow Him. He invites them in, to accept their inheritance as His Holy adopted children with the understanding we have a loving God who is also wrathful, but because of Jesus sacrifice will judge us fairly at the end of our time. So what do we pick? Relationship with our God who wants us to join in a daily walk and conversation with Him. Or do we try to earn our way completely missing the point?

What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. 

Romans 9:30-32
Posted on by Sami M

Run to the Father

Turn your eyes to Heaven. Look to the One who love is infinite and great. He knows your heart and breathes life to dry bones. He falls upon you like nourishing Spring rain. So why do you run? Why do you look away? Why do you distract yourself from the Lord most high? Why do you claim much else with your time? Look to the one who makes you whole. He loves you so, and longs to be the One you call in every experience. He calls you to His feet as His child, guiding and encouraging. Be enamored by the great Creator and Father of all. Find your joy and comfort in His steadfast presence. Do not be distracted or doubt, but stay faithful in Truth. He is your prize and your reason for living. Live like a child of a King, using the riches you’ve been given. Run to the Father.

Posted on by Sami M

My Truth in Him

Heavenly Father before we were made, You knew You would break that alter, that table of sacrifice for all time. Broke the cycle of failure and constant repentant physical sacrifice. Our battle is won, the enemy has no hold over this life when we see You. So now it comes to choosing sides, choosing Jesus, complete abandonment of flesh, choosing to live in the light of the cross. There is no stopping Love, You are here and feel You near. So the battle of souls is won, now we just have to choose sides, the world or You, an active reception of our inheritance of Heaven. We are of You, adopted, made whole, and found blameless. We are Yours, but only if we choose You, 100%. So let us not forget all You have promised us. Show us how to sacrifice our flesh, so we can live fully in this liberation of our debt. Do not let us turn our backs or fear our present battle. Help us stand firm in every promise of the Gospel. Jesus, the King of Heaven, our champion, is fully present for us. Let it be known to us that we are victors through Him, and we can’t lose with Him. Remind us daily we have power and authority to crush snakes and wield that staff of truth. Remind us of the Truth we know and help us walk in it. There is a daily unseen battle we fight, so help us receive the Armour You freely give. I am free, so equip me fully, show me the plan, and send me to war, victorious. I will fight for all You put before me, so do not let me sway in the winds of change and spirit of war. Give me boldness of faith, truth, and tools to wield them. I am all in, but I need the minute by minute battle plan and sharpening of my sword. I will cut off the head of every snake that comes my way. Keep me sharp and clear with direction. Many eat the fruit of lies and trust in their own way. But You have given them a chance to choose redemption. Give me the eyes to see, show me where and when. Enable me to reveal light and burn away all of the darkness. Let the light of the cross shine upon the people You ask me to reach. Show me how to be brutally kind , walking like Jesus, but also understanding only the few will carry their cross. Do not relent in teaching me and showing me how to walk in light of others darkness. I am just flesh and bone, but know with You, living in me, I can suit up and cut through all that keeps the people You call upon. Father, You chose to have Jesus leave us with the Holy Spirit. So remind me of Your wisdom, righteousness and fervent love for Your people through the presence of Spirit. Teach me and show me how You call me to fight. Jesus is the pro, so remind me of Truth and give me Revelation to walk like Him. Clothe me in Spiritual Armour and do not let me forget who I am with You. With all supplication and thanksgiving, in Jesus name. Amen.

Posted on by Sami M

Look Out and See

Look out to the world and see. Open your eyes to His glory and majesty. Trust in how He walks and winds as only Divine. Be His image and walk in His grace, enter in His Holy Place. He invites you in, seated at His feet, a child of God to be in awe, every detail, all consuming, never ending. Open your eyes to the beauty of this world and see. A painting of grand adventure, walking, and winding. Walk in awe, walk in wonder, chasing every path He leads. Run up the mountain, see His majesty, entering His presence. Be His child, reflecting His love and joy, never ending. Show the world His light as you walk and wind. Cutting down each bramble and snare with Spirit Divine. Wield His sword, mighty and powerful, walking in peace through every thicket. Conquer the thick of woods and let His path shine brighter than every star. He waits for you arms wide open, ready to pull off the weight of Armour. A place to rest, in His pasture, presence abounding, safe at last.