To drink or not to drink

To drink or not to drink... that is the question...  Religion tells you not to drink - that's what sinners do, but the first miracle Jesus ever performed was to turn water into wine.  Jesus drank - and he never sinned.  So who do we listen to, God or religion?  Be patient with me on this one because this is surely a sensitive subject and definitely one that God would not want any of his babies to stumble over.  The following verses offer us several reference points into the answer you may be looking for...  (From Biblegateway.com)

Matthew 11:19

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Matthew 9:11-13

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  ¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Luke 5:30-32
New International Version (NIV)

³⁰ But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”  ³¹ Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 15:2
New International Version (NIV)
² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 19:7

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

Romans 14:17-23

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸ because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.  ¹⁹ Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.²⁰ Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. ²¹ It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.  ²² So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. ²³ But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Did you catch all of those?  I was unable to reference anywhere in the bible where it blatantly said that Jesus got drunk, but he openly admitted to drinking.  He certainly didn't seem to have any shame in it.  But Jesus also carried along with him what the bible calls the fruit of the spirit, and one of the fruits is self control (I underlined).

Galatians 5:22-23

New International Version (NIV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Romans 14:17-23 clearly says that righteousness is not about eating or drinking - its a matter of faith and what we believe.  So if you believe that drinking is a sin - don't do it.  But if you feel the freedom to drink, make sure that you're in like minded company, or have the respect to not drink in front of others that feel it's a sin. Your choice is between you and God. 

***Deep within the holiday season and all of it's festivities, be mindful.  If you have a friend that tends to drink too much, be their watchdog - make sure they stay safe and have a safe ride home.  If that person is you, make sure you have a backup plan and someone who loves you to watch over you.  It's not about rules or religion - it's about being safe and staying alive.  God loves you and has a plan for your life - don't cut his plan short.

Dear Jesus,  I pray that those reading this will have an awareness of what you are speaking to their hearts.  Allow them to be set free of addictions, and brought into total freedom.  Watch over my friends and protect them, assign a watchdog to protect them at times when they can't.  Be a guard and a shield, and a place to call home.  Bind up the broken hearted and give comfort, and rush in with your holy spirit of peace.  Thank you for your son and the exemplary life that he led so that we could be free.  In Jesus name Amen!

Wimp or Warrior

Advancing God's kingdom is not for wimps.  Do you have what it takes?

"From the days of John the Baptist until now,

the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."

Matthew 11:12

   Forceful... that's not a word that many think of when they think of a Christian is it.  I feel that the typical image we have of a Christian is a meek mannered, calm, pushover of a person who is easy to manipulate and take advantage of.  Am I hitting this about right?  

   As a Christian, so much in the bible talks about listening to the shepherd and being His flock, that we tend to adopt what I am going to call a sheep mentality.  What do sheep do?  They move about together in a herd, going to and fro, easily frightened, victim to predatory attacks.  This is NOT the way a Christians life needs to be - if you're living your life under these pretenses, are you finding yourself frustrated with the constant wave of battles that come your way?  What would happen if you changed it up a little and started living your life on the offense instead of dealing with the waves of defensive actions you're stuck in because you're a weak  sheep!  Yeah I said it - and Yes I meant to offend you!   What are you going to do - read on or turn me off?  Either way you're not hurting my feelings - but only a true warrior will push past the offense and read on... sheep.

   Jesus was the ultimate lamb so that we don't have to be (John 1:29).  You may feel that Jesus was an innocent victim that should not have been murdered on the cross.  Read closer my friends, he gave himself up on the cross.  He was in total control.  Being a man, Jesus was not looking forward to being slain on the cross - who of any of us would look to death and be all in?  But Jesus said Yes to God - so that he could set us all free from the sin that traps us from being able to be in His kingdom.  In his peacefulness, Jesus was forcefully advancing the kingdom of heaven.  Whipped, mamed and beaten, he still carried his cross to where he was to be crucified.  He had a plan to carry out.  Does that sound like something a sheep would do?  He sounds like more of a mighty warrior than a sheep to me.  But ultimately, he was slain, he became our ultimate sacrifice so that we don't have to be.  Because of Jesus' death on the cross we are made warriors - overcomers of the world when we choose to follow Christ.  "for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the son of God."  1 John 5:4-5

Do you believe that Jesus is the son of God?  If yes - what does that make you?  It says right above in the scripture from John - that when you believe Jesus is the son of God - you are made an overcomer of this world.  There is no sin or circumstance that you are in that you can't achieve victory over.  God is greater than any seed of sin that may lie within us, and he is certainly greater than any addiction we may have.  He has the ability to reach in and take that seed out of us and restore us to wholeness and health.  But we also need to be active participants in the process... remember that following him and growing in him is a choice.  When you finally realize that your life needs a serious change and you're ready to do something about it, you are ready to start forcefully advancing his kingdom.  Take hold of the promises that God has for you.  And if you don't know what those promises are - pick up a bible and start pouring through - ask him to show you where to search, and then listen for the quiet whisper of his heart to yours.  God is alive!  He will speak to you - he will show you.  Kill your sheep mentality.  Sheep are weak.  Weak in the mind, weak in the body... wouldn't you rather be a warrior? This may all be a new concept to you - being forceful and aggressive probably aren't concepts that you hear preached in your church services are they... But the bible is full of strong and powerful people who did some very strong and aggressive actions.  The actions that come to my mind are not ones that involved great battles, they are actions done in a quiet strength but amazing drive and  aggressiveness.  Can you imagine wining a war by singing?  Or saving your family from genocide by fasting?   If you don't know what I mean, start by reading about some of the great battles in the bible by clicking on the following links.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+20&version=NCV  

 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%201&version=NIV

These are just samples of many that are in the bible.  I encourage you to search out for yourself the truth that I have laid out for you.  Test me - don't just listen to what I say and agree - thats what sheep do.

   Can we close in prayer together...

God, in your glory and your power, you have given us the tools to be powerful and mighty in your kingdom.  Awaken the warrior spirits within each and every one of us and bless us with a new understanding of what it means to be a christian.  We are not a meek and defenseless people, we are strong in mind, body and spirit.  Strong and fit to do your will and forcefully advance your kingdom.  Give us the courage we need, surround us with support where we are lacking, release the voice in our hearts that has been crying out for the more of you and overpower the brain into submission of obedience Lord.  Subdue our enemies as we grow stronger.  Bestow upon us a greater boldness to speak life and truth.  We want your kingdom of heaven here on earth Lord, empower us to do your will.  In Jesus name... Amen!

Spewing Hatred

James 3:9-15

New International Version (NIV) (courtesy of biblegateway.com)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

The Righteous Offended

Hey queer… come here

Did that offend you? Then why’d you sneer?

The lies I’ve told myself about you, just to help the world to hate you

The churches don’t even want you near

What does that tell you – you fucking queer

Wait a minute – stop!  Can’t you see…

How those words are bothering me

You haven’t looked inside to see

The beautiful creation – the God in me

I may not sin the same as you do

Who knows for sure the voodoo you do

What twisted spins and lies you weave

Trying to make the world hate me

Is it your faith that makes you throw those stones

Or is it the hatred that lies within your bones

I do not like you – no I don’t

But I can’t stand this fight alone

Hold on my children, stop bickering…

I am the one who calls you free

I created the day, I created the night

I created the beautiful child in my sight

I do not see you as you might

I see you as the morning light

I see you as a sunny day,

A beautiful perfect special way

I see you as the one I love

You’re an angel sent from heaven above

You bring me joy in all the rain, let me wash away your pain

I created you – I love you – I call you dear

I want you to know I’ll hold you near

Come close to me – my child they call queer

My love is not hate

My love is not rejection

My love for you is full of affection

I want to hold you in your dark night

And whisper to you, it will all be alright

Come close to me sweet child I made

I hate you because I'm a Christian.
What?
Hate is NOT a family virtue of the one true King and God.
So if spreading hate is what you're doing - covering it up by masking yourself with a bible verse - then do us all a favor and quit telling people about your faith.  Because if hate is the faith you're spreading - then you are not truly a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.  (ohhhh kick in the gut huh?)

1 Corinthians 13:13 says; "and now these three remain: Faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."

If there is one thing in the "christian" community that irks me is the attack on the gay community.  A different type of lifestyle others have creates an evil within the hearts of those who religiously think they're right - creating an environment of hate.
But God is LOVE - and God loves.  God's spirit is love and no where in the bible did Jesus ever treat anyone with hatred.  Jesus took the greatest of sinners - the dirty - the lepers - and saw them through heavenly eyes - and... he - touched - them - anyway!  Our Jesus came down from the perfection and glory of heaven - he spent time on this broken earth before descending into the pits of hell to rescue his beloved.  His beloved includes everyone - not a single man did he create that he wasn't willing to die for.  So now if Jesus left his throne in heaven to die for you - a righteous man, how much more is he willing to die to save the lost and hurting - the one whose soul is locked up in shame from a world that has spewed hatred from it's lips since the fall of Adam.
The fall of Adam spilled death on the entire world, and because of the fall of one man, we were all sentenced to death... But God!  BUT GOD!!!
Our LOVING heavenly father knows the end from the beginning and he already had a plan worked out before that first slip into sin.  If you are choosing to hate the sinner - then choose whom you are serving - God or Man.  Because God sees the gay man (or woman) - and He still calls him/her beloved - a child he sent his ONLY son to die for.  Because as you cherish your babies, God cherishes him - he cherishes YOU!
God's love is unending - it has no bounds - it is amazing, it is abundant - it is unceasing and unconditionally yours forever.  What is it about the gay man that causes so much hatred?  The ten commandments - courtesy of Biblegateway.com reads as follows... (Exodus 20)

The Ten Commandments

20 And God spoke all these words:

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

³ “You shall have no other gods before^[a] me.

⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worshipthem; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

⁷ “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

¹² “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

¹³ “You shall not murder.

¹⁴ “You shall not commit adultery.

¹⁵ “You shall not steal.

¹⁶ “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

¹⁷ “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

            Of all of these sins - each one carries as much weight as the other - they are all sins according to God - punishable by death - sins that nailed Jesus to the cross - sins that caused the death of our Savior - who was perfect!  So if a single man can truly say that he is not guilty of any of these things is to be the one true and perfect Jesus Christ - and that is impossible because Jesus is already risen and sitting on his throne at the right hand of God. 

            Your sin - your hate - nailed him there - and is Murder!  You are worshipping the ways of the world and your sin is as ugly as the hate you spew on others.

            Jesus - your name is grace and mercy.  In your holy presence there is nothing but love.  I pray for each and every one reading this posting that Love will be a lifestyle.  I pray Lord that we all will have eyes to see others through your viewpoint as opposed to the vision from the world. Gay or straight, man or woman, Lord we are all your creation and we need your love.  Bless us with a revelation of who you are and who you want us to be Lord.  Help us to serve you in a new way.  help us to represent you and the truth of who you are.  Break off the lies that we believe about you Lord and bring us into a fuller revelation of your love.  Without you God we are nothing, but in your presence we are made whole.  In Jesus name Amen

The art of grafting

If you're a horticulturist (Whoa with the lingo already!  But don't turn away just yet)
    So as I was saying... if you enjoy taking care of plants, or enjoy anything about them, you know one thing, that to cut away dead branches is good for the plant.  To remove the dead, allows the living part of the plant to thrive without having to support a lifeless limb.  The lushness of the colors that shine forth when there is nothing detracting from the life of the plant, gives a sense of zen when just enjoying the beauty of such a simple pleasure.
Grafting however, is a way to add life or change to a plant.  The gardner carefully makes specific cuts in the plant, and in the limb that it is to be grafted.  He then carefully binds the two together and tenderly cares for the plant until it begins to take hold and grow.  God is our master gardener, and he is our master grafter... did that rhyme? ok well maybe not.. but anyway.. all my rambling does have a point, and it begins in one of my favorite books in the bible - Romans.  So go grab something warm to drink, come back, and spend some time with me in the hottest romance novel you'll ever read - it's a story of true love.  Shall we begin?
Romans 11:17-24, courtesy of Biblegateway.com 

¹⁷ If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,¹⁸ do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

²² Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.²³ And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

  I'm going to interject some personal testimony here.  I was a dead branch that needed to be cut away.  I was prideful, arrogant, judgemental.  I wasn't getting what I needed from church.  I was looking for acceptance, I was looking for a family, I was looking to God to fix an emotionally damaging marriage and it just wasn't happening.  I became hardened, my leaves turned brown, and quietly, I walked away.  

Sex does not replace love

Being wanted,

Being desired, 

Be loved, 

Being adored, these are all things that I feel pretty safe to say, we all want out of life.  In a world of sex in your face 24:7, the addictive behaviors that sex draws us into are so unhealthy.  Women caught in traps of fulfilling their needs to be loved by having sex with one man after another, the temporary rush of the passionate moment.  Being caught up with each other is so emotionally stimulating and physically feels so good, that it feels like that's how love should be.  It's the spark, it's the fireworks, it's the scene in the movies that has captured our eye and created our longings.  But it's not what love is.  Love is created out of a foundation of capturing each others souls and becoming one in the spirit, before becoming one in the flesh.  Connect with your significant other by getting to know their heart, get to know their passions, get to know their desires and longings.  The physical touch of love is wonderful, and in God's timing, Sex will be amazing.  

What if you knew you had the world at your fingertips, and by indulging in an act of passion ripped it all away from you within a moments notice.  What if you had your fairy tale in your hands, but because your lack of self control got the best of you, you lost it all.  What if its everything you've been waiting for only to find out that it wasn't time, and you are sadly mistaken and your dream ruined?

Can you slow down for a moment enough to hear what I'm trying to say?  You are a precious jewel worth waiting for.  If your guy or your girl respects you, if you both truly believe in your fairy tale, wouldn't you rather wait for the ripe and perfect timing that God has planned out for you?  Or would you rather throw it all away for the unripened fruit that will never satisfy.  You were worth dying on the cross for - by a savior that you have never been able to look in the eye.  If Jesus finds you to be that valuable, can't you put enough pride in yourself to be able to stand up for your purity and wait.  God wants you to have an intimate relationship, after all, he is the creator of all good things, he is the original creator of sex.  But you need to be strong enough to hold out for the moment when, like waiting to blow the candles out on your birthday cake, that special moment when love is allowed to be awakened within you sexually.  Don't fall victim to being like the rest of the crowd.  Be a non-conformist.  Be the holy and sanctified child of God you are destined to be.  There is so much blessing in following God's direction in your life.  Don't miss out on the best... don't settle for a morsel when you can have the whole cake.

  Dear Jesus, I know the temptation facing my friend.  I pray strength and power in them to maintain their purity, or to regain lost purity, and to look temptation in the eye and walk away.  You are the God that saves ~ Thank you for your unending, holy and pure love Jesus.  In Jesus name, Amen

Spiritual Warfare - Conquering your demons...

You have the power!
Fear, anxiety, stress, self doubt, self loathing, depression, hate, anger, addiction- the list of negativity can go on. These are all facets which allow a foothold for the demonic to enter and wreck havoc in your life. I'm not saying that if you have a negative lifestyle that you are demonically oppressed, but I am saying as a believer, this is the gateway for their entry and if you feel overwhelmed, there IS help!

Many Christians do not realize that they can be oppressed by demons. Why? Because the church doesn't teach them and as a result, they do nothing to stop this oppression, which leaves them at the mercy of the Devil. God wants us to come into maturity in our understanding of satan and his demons. He wants us to enforce His victory over their kingdom of darkness. He wants us to know the Truth and the Truth shall make us free. He wants us to grow in maturity and faith and to appropriate His freedom by casting out the demons.

Many people question whether Christians can “have” a demon. A Christian cannot be possessed by demons because possession implies ownership. A Christian is “owned” by God the father. God tells us that we were bought with a great price. However, Christians can be oppressed by demons if they have provided any open doors or legal ground through which demons can work. To stop demonic oppression, the legal ground must be reclaimed. Here is a fantastic article and other resources on how to recognize, lay the foundation for change and take victory over your life once again...... 

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2012/spring/removingdemonic.html#bmb=1

http://www.kcm.org/real-help/article/taking-back-garden-god

God's ways of healing are interesting...

One of the hardest things to heal from in my healing journey, were the feelings of hatred I have felt against the man who sexually abused me as a little girl.  Thinking about him or hearing his name would rouse a fire of hatred within me that I didn't want there.  I prayed to God to help me forgive him, but the wound remained.  The bitterness of a shattered life and damaged relationships that sexual abuse caused, But God!  Recently, a friend of mine and I were talking about our favorite books in the bible.  He said His favorite is the book of James - the same name as my abuser.  A sneer came across my heart and I prayed right there to be healed from this - I have got to let it go... and God listened.  His healing came through the generosity of a complete stranger.  

In our new apartment complex, my daughter wanted to make cookies for everyone in the building.  She  tenderly put two cookies in a sandwich bag and secured them to a pretty sparkly ribbon, and wrote a little note on each to let people know where they had come from.  A few days later, a knock at the door, our neighbor across the hall had been wanting to say thank you - he didn't feel that a simple note on the door was enough, so he bought the girls juice boxes.  Beyond that, he told me that he would be moving the following week and wanted to know if he could give me some things he wouldn't be able to take along with him.  Kind of embarrassed, I accepted his offer... and a  very full shopping bag full of food later, it finally hit me that we had never formally introduced, so I asked his name.  It was James.  A peace and a joy washed over me.  A hurting and painful name, turned into an association of generosity and kindness, and I was finally free to let go.

Princess Complex

I have a princess complex and it's gone to my head.  I lived in a castle and for the longest time, I had been thinking that my prince should show up any day and rescue me from the pit that I was in in my life.  But then one day, the lights went on...  Cinderella didn't really get rescued, she found the strength to break out!  When the wicked stepmother locked her in the tower that dreadful night, Cinderella knew that the man of her dreams was coming for her.  She found a focal point, she found determination, she found her courage.  With the help of her friends, she got the keys and unlocked the door that kept her from her future...  Sounds like a Jesus I know - giving us the keys through His word, and by having a relationship with him.  Jesus died on the cross to be able to give us those keys.  He went into the pits of hell to find them.  He valiantly stole them and now they are yours.  YOU have the keys to unlock the door of your prison.  What is it you are needing to get out of?  A dangerous relationship?  An addiction?  Poverty?  Mental health issues?  Take the keys Jesus is handing you and be free!  Read through the pages in the bible and feel God's love wash over you.  If you're new to this - you probably don't even know where to start.  Try Psalms... specifically my request for you is Psalms 139.  These are words that God wants you to hear - because He loves you, He values you, He ADORES you!  Be the prince or princess in your fairytale.  If you don't have a bible, there are many free resources out there.  One of my favorites is www.biblegateway.com