Transformation

I have been thinking about how the Lord uses situations to change us for the better.

You know that point when you are right about something but another may not see it the same way – then with time you find out you are not so right? Sometimes disagreements, different perspectives or point of views can be at the root of conflict.

Perhaps, someone has wronged you. Perhaps some devastation in life has caused loss, too much for words to describe…

Rather than seeking for ways to grow or learn from painful experiences, we would choose to protect ourselves from further embarrassment, shame or any other negative perception we “foresee” on the horizon.

We act on those feeling of eminent threat but in the end, only lock ourselves into a sorrowful defensive mode.

Truth is, God is interested in making us holy. This means that we can be completely filled with love, stability, power, strength, humility and more all at one time.

We wouldn’t be driven by our circumstances but rather the circumstances only contribute to making us better people.

What the devil meant for evil – God uses for good. Just ask Joseph. Sold into slavery by his siblings, only to later become their king.

My first instinct  – without the presence of the Holy Spirit – would have been to do harm to them so they could suffer even more than what I experienced.

Does that sound familiar?

Our past hurts can sometimes delude us from enjoying our present status as kings and queens – children of the Most High God and heirs to the royal throne.

When we yield ourselves to the Word of God, He transforms us and changes us for the better… No power of darkness or hell can conquer us because in Christ, we are more than conquerors!

After years in working through service oriented jobs, the Lord has taught me about that abiding perfect, transforming love. The kind that casts out all fear and makes be free from seeking retribution.  Nowadays, it is taking less time to identify when my selfish motives are guiding my actions to make me “feel” better versus making choices that honour God as He causes me to prosper in all I do.

Today dear friend, I encourage you to take a different look at your circumstances and ask yourselves a few things that have helped me over the years:

What is this present challenge teaching me?

How can I demonstrate love in-spite of how I am feeling?

Is my behaviour seeking revenge?

Am I forgiving as much as I have been forgiven by God?

Apply these questions to your marriages, home-life, church family, work setting – wherever you go!

Be encouraged and know that you may go into a thing one way but with God leading you, you will come out transformed and better than you could ever imagine.

Like a caterpillar in enters  cocoon,  and leaves changed with wings, one day you will look back in amazement, and soar over things you once had to crawl through. Open your heart to the process of God and Stay connected to Him.

Have a blessed day!

Jesus Meets You Where You Are

There was a man who was crippled for 38 years laying by a pool side that was known for healing powers; please read John 5:1-15.

Jesus was passing by and asked this man if he wanted to be well.  The man explained to Jesus that he was waiting for someone to help him get to the pool.

At that very moment, He was challenged in one way: to believe God or to continue laying there.

How many times, do we hear of Jesus coming to help us right where we are but instead we choose to find our own way?

Jesus is never surprised by anything about you. When He makes the offer to give you a new life it is always intentional. Jesus planned to meet that man at that time the same way he wants to help you right now.  Think about how many things you have seen or heard, including this blog, about Jesus Christ,the Son of God who seeks to redeem mankind. The one who heals every disease, and who brings the dead back to life.

For 38 years, this man was known as a paralytic.  But now this man in an example to you and  I, thousands of years later, that Jesus can meet us where we are.

Your past is not waste, can be used as a great testimony of what God can do in a moment and how much of a great future you have in store!

The transformation of God’s presence in our lives is instantaneous. When we believe in the power of God in Christ Jesus, miracle, signs and wonders take place.  Depression is broken, and a new mind of peace is the gift of God. We don’t have to live under the bondage of sin: fear, doubt, unbelief will lead us to self-destructive behaviours. Instead, the promise of God is eternal life, reigning with Him. 

Today is your day to see the power of God displayed in your life. It doesn’t matter how long you have been struggling or even whether it was your fault or someone else’s… You could have been abused or been an abuser. You could be drinker, smoker, promiscuous…whatever the case may be, know today that Jesus is at your door, knocking to come in.

You don’t have to wait anymore. Like the man at the pool, believe Jesus Christ. He came form heaven, lived among us here in human flesh, took on our sins, died and rose again defeating EVERYTHING that stands to destroy us. Surely this same Jesus has the power to give you a better life now and in the life to come.

The choice is yours right now.

Like to man at the pool, admit that you cannot help yourself. Believe that Jesus can help you. Accept Him in to your heart and make a public declaration that you receive Him.

After you have received Him, He is yours. You don’t need to sin anymore – no more self-dependence. No more drugs, lying, stealing or anything else that only makes your life more of a living hell. You can be totally free. You can always trust God to come through in the way that is best for you. That’s His plan.

Will you trust Him today?

Until we meet again, get connected! Read the Word of God, pray and ask Him into your heart. He longs for that connection with you – His beloved.

 

Jesus Saves

 

John 3:16-21

New International Version (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

 

God gave His very best for you from before you were born. He gave His son Jesus Christ so that you could be free in this life and most importantly live eternally with Him. 

Would you accept Him today?

Get connected: If you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and accept Him in your life, you can receive the eternal gift of God.

Despite hard times, past failures, future dangers and such the like – you can be saved from every thing that weighs you down.

Stay connected:  When Jesus comes in to your life, you will be made new. He gives the gifts of His Word, His Holy Spirit, prayer, fasting, thanksgiving and so much more to help you in your everyday life. Not to mention the forgiveness, grace and mercy for when you trip and fall and need Him to pick you up. He takes full responsibility for His children and He longs for that relationship with you. 

Sometimes it seems hard because you know where things are going wrong but just consider that the Lord knows too! That never stopped Him giving His life for you. You mean more to God than all the mistakes in this world.

Today can be the best day of your life; accept Jesus Christ as Lord.

 

Be blessed and know that someone is praying for you!

Trouble Won’t Last

I’m not sure what you have been dealing with lately but just know that God is able. There is nothing to hard for Him.

You might not see it right now, but the eyes of faith will convince you that God is on the job.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Sometimes it might feel like you are waiting forever. He is working and it will take some time before what He does is revealed to us. In in the midst of the wait, He promises to be your strength!

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Every time you begin to feel discouraged or anxious, praise God the way you now how to do! If it is your first time, sing, dance, talk to Him…whatever you find in your heart to do, do it for God! Bless Him at all times, your help is on the way!

Psalm 34(NLT)

¹ I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
² I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are helpless take heart.
³ Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
⁶ In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
⁷ For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
⁹ Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
¹⁰ Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

¹¹ Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
¹² Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
¹³ Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
¹⁴ Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;
his ears are open to their cries for help.
¹⁶ But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
he will erase their memory from the earth.
¹⁷ The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

¹⁹ The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
²⁰ For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
not one of them is broken!

²¹ Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
²² But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Trouble won’t last but the goodness of God endures forever. Stay connected!!!

Transparency

Being transparent can be really hard especially if you grew up on the defense. I was taught that I couldn’t let anyone know everything about you. It was so that I was protected against letting anyone use my experiences against me in a hurtful way or judge me by them. The problem is, I became fearful of people over time, even those who loved me the most and I learned to suppress some of the challenges I faced, even after they were over. It became important for me to keep up appearances; you can read about some of those in the previous blogs.

For the past two years I have really been strengthened by the testimonies of others. It is the first time that I have noticed how open and honest some people can be despite having pressure to maintain a reputation from their immediate social circle. I have heard from Christians who once struggled  with addictions, depression, in abusive relationships and a list of other things that I never would know just by seeing how good life is for them at present. The beauty in their testimonies came from an emphasis on a God who rescues us in the deepest, darkest, most horrific experiences that threaten one’s person-hood. Since I have been so impacted by their experiences, I am choosing to be more transparent for the benefit of others as well.

While I think that one should be wise when choosing to share intimate details of their life, I also believe that it is not good to live with the fear of what others might do to us. It has robbed some of us from sharing the grace God has poured out in our lives.  In turn, some people who really need to know that He can heal and wants to restore them from their brokenness, are really missing out on that knowledge. As a result, people who are suffering will continue to feel alone, without hope, and live with a sense of shame. The devil magnifies condemnation. The effects can kill a person before they actually die – if you know what I mean.  Think about how much someone living in that bondage needs to hear about the intimate God who stopped by and was so attentive to offer His strength and has the capacity to transform their lives. He can even cause the bad to work out for good (Romans 8: 28).

Today, I make the appeal to you to stay connected to God and share those testimonies of redemption.  Remember the Lover of your soul who rescued you and how He ministered grace in your life. Remember the release from sinful strongholds of sin and hardships you have experienced. Pray for God to instill that compassion for others to be so strong that even the threat of shame and fear has no place to be cultivated in you. Ask God for boldness to share with others about the work He has done in your life. People will always have something to say but you will over come by the word of your testimony (Rev 12:11).

I encourage you to read the story of a woman who Jesus met at a well in the book of John 4: 1-42.  In His compassion, He saved her from a life of adultery. He did not use her life choices against her but offered her new life. She took Him up on this offer and immediately she was changed. She ran with excitement to share her experience with others. Can you imagine the joy she felt for what He had done for her? She helped others come Him and find this man who met her at the well. She is an example for us all. Below is a video of another testimony that has moved me. Please watch it and think : who do you know that could benefit from your testimony?

Be open, honest and know that He has your whole life in His hands. Stay connected to God – He is happy to have that connection with you.