How Would You React?

Yesterday, I pulled into my local grocery store to pick up a few items.  I drove to the general area where I almost always park, pulled up behind a truck and waited for it to move so I could pull into a parking space.  Suddenly, the truck quickly and loudly pulled away as if the driver was mad at the world … speeding through the parking lot. Instantly, I had a sick feeling … a feeling that I should not leave my car, but I didn’t know why.  I stayed in my car and only moments later, the man who had been in the truck was on foot headed for my car.  He saw that I was still in my car, began yelling something at me and then turned around and walked back to his truck. I realized that he was angry at me for some reason … for pulling up behind him in a parking lot??  This was all very strange.  I took out my phone, got the camera ready, snapped a few shots of him and his truck for my own records, and headed inside the store.  All the while he was yelling something at me.  I couldn’t understand what he was saying and didn’t stick around to find out. I said nothing and walked into the store. I don’t mind telling you that I was more than just a little bit fearful.  He was so loud, people in the parking lot stopped and looked at him to see what was happening.  There  was a woman there who was pleading with him saying, “No, don’t do this … don’t do this!”  I went into the store as quickly as I could and found the store manager.  I explained what happened, which was actually nothing, but me driving through the parking lot to find a parking space. No altercations, no frustration, no horn honking … nothing.  This is indeed one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen take place. The manager headed outside and I went with him.  About that time, the man pulled up in his truck yelling absurd accusations about me to the manager.  I just stood there and didn’t say a word.  When we walked away, I told the manager to watch the video. This was nothing but “much ado about nothing.”

Once inside, a lady approached me to make sure that I was ok.  Yes, I was ok. But, yes, this had really happened! It wasn’t a bad, weird dream! I told her that God takes care of me at that I’m ok.

As I was walking through the store contemplating what had just happened I thought to myself, “The war we fight is not with flesh and blood.” (Ephesians 6:12) This was nothing but an attack … a VERY public attack of the enemy. I began praying for the man, his children’s and his wife’s salvation. (His children were in the truck with him) Through my own experiences in life, I understand that his display is only a minute sampling of what takes place in the home. The woman pleading with him to behave himself is proof of that.

After church today, I went to pick up a friend of mine from her church because there were a group of us going out for lunch. She had told me where I could pick her up, but was unsure of the exact time. So, I drove there and pulled up behind an SUV to wait for her. While I waited, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me that my pulling up here and waiting behind the vehicle in front of me was no different than what I had done yesterday.  I pulled up behind a vehicle and waited patiently … that’s all. The difference in the two was the hearts of the drivers.

I have no idea what is going on in the life of the driver of that truck yesterday, but there’s one thing I do know :: He needs Jesus!

Jesus tells us in Luke 6:27- 28 to love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  Later in verses 32-36, Jesus says to us, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And, if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And, if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be repaid in full.  Jesus then said, “Love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.”

You see it would have been easy to be kind to the man in the SUV in front of me at church. He didn’t speed off, acting crazy, and yelling at me … for no apparent reason. The real challenge was being kind to the man at the grocery store who did those things and began yelling at me and embarrassing me in the busy parking lot full of onlookers at a grocery store. I chose to speak no words to him. I chose to pray for him and his family. I don’t say these things to pat myself on the back, because I’ll assure you that I have not always chosen the proper way to respond to people like this. I used to respond the way I as taught to respond … and that wasn’t always good! (Trust me … just sayin’!) It takes time alone with God to understand how to be led by Holy Spirit, who teaches us as we allow Him to do so. And, I still don’t always get it right. I’m human, just like you. Maybe you’re someone who was taught a different way or the proper way to handle an issue like this from the time you were young and this isn’t a struggle for you. Hey, that’s great! But, I assure you, there is probably a different topic of struggle in your life. We all have struggles. We all have baggage … just like the man who sparked the idea for this blog. This side of Heaven, we, as followers of Christ, will always have something to work on about ourselves.

The point of my telling you this story is to urge you, as a follower of Christ, to love your enemies. It may mean to bite your tongue and simply pray for a person or persons. Let the love of God flow through your life to others. In order for us to do that, we, ourselves, need to be filled to overflowing with the Spirit of God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13  May my lips overflow with praise, for you have taught me your decrees. Psalm 119:171  God’s ways are not like our ways. His ways are higher than our ways. Just as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are God’s thoughts and ways higher than ours. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I was about to cut this blog off here, but I feel the leading of the Spirit to add more onto it. It has been my experience that many within the Body of Christ believe that in a situation similar to this one, it would be their place to preach to the man, tell him “how it is” … or what some would even say, “beat the man over the head with the Bible.” NO … NO … just don’t do it!! Do you know that can do more harm than good? Ensure your servants wellbeing; do not let the arrogant oppress me. Psalm 119:122 I have to tell you that I believe that this scripture is a believer (there is no credit for an author of this Psalm) asking God to protect him from arrogant non-believers (Or maybe eve arrogant believers???). But, I also believe that I have seen arrogance within the body of Christ. And, many times, I have seen this arrogance hurt believers and non-believers, alike.  JUST DON’T DO IT! I cannot stress this enough. This is not love. This is not God. Arrogance is not of God! I have experienced this from believers and I can tell you, first hand, that it is not helpful.

Check your heart.

Think before you speak.

Are you speaking words because you truly want to help (love) or because you want to share your “expertise” or whatever?

Pray, church. Pray! God is the only One who is capable of getting ahold of a lost, hardened heart. Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Church, let’s rise up by hitting our knees! It’s the way to win the lost to the Lord. Invite people to church. Be loving, be kind. Jesus went about doing good. (Acts 10:38) Follow in His footsteps, we can’t go wrong by doing this!

    

To encourage ... or not?

A few weeks ago, I decided to add running to my exercise regimen.  There’s a small lake nearby with a paved trail that’s nearly 2 miles around it.  Now, I’m not really much of a runner.  It’s not my gig, but change is good!!

As I made my way around the lake a few times, I came upon a group of kiddos riding their bikes.  There were 5-7 elementary aged boys and girls.  We met on a small incline.  As I watched them conquer this rise in the pavement, there was one little girl who was struggling terribly.  I could see it in her face.  She looked defeated.  At that moment, I began to verbally encourage her.  “You’ve got this, sweetie … keep going … you doing great!” Almost instantly, she looked up and responded to my encouragement.  A smile came to her face and she made it up that incline.  All she needed was someone to not just notice that she was struggling, but to take, literally, a few seconds and be an encourager to her “dilemma” in that moment.

I instantly thanked God for putting me on that trail that day.  I had been having a rough time, myself, and just being able to help someone does wonders for the soul.  In that moment, I knew I would share this story.

You see how often as we go through our everyday life, do we have the opportunity to be an encourager to someone?  My guess is that it’s more often than we even realize.  I could have paid the kiddos no attention and  continued on my way.  But, I believe that the Lord led me to not only see the little girl, but to speak encouragement to her.  That’s my goal in life; to be aware, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, of others around me who need encouraging.  I want to be the best encourager to as many people as I can possibly be.  You may wonder why this is important to me.  Well, I have had a pretty challenging life.  Not, that we all don’t have challenges in our lives, because, of course, we all do.  But, some of us have more challenges than others.  And, without a doubt in my mind, knowing that my life has had an extra heaping of challenges, I know that I don’t have to look very far to find someone who has had many more challenges than myself.  So, I don’t claim to have the market on challenges.  But, I do believe that I see myself with realistic eyes … because of the the wisdom that God, and God alone, has given me. So, with all that said, I assure you that I know just how important it is to receive encouragement.  And, I also know just how difficult it is to receive NO encouragement.

I’d like to shift gears here and point out that if you consider yourself a follower of Christ, you are in a unique position to encourage others with your words.  It’s extremely important that we make a conscious choice to do this.  I want you to give some thought to Jesus for just a minute.  He gave up Heaven to come to earth to live as a human so that He could relate to our challenges. John 3:13, John 6:33, 38  He died on the cross for our many, MANY sins, rose from the dead, and is now in Heaven at the right hand of our Heavenly Father praying for us … constantly.  He’s praying for us and encouraging us.  I believe He saw that little girl struggling, knew that I would cross her path, and, by the Holy Spirit, laid it on my heart to encourage her, effectively giving her the encouraging nudge that she needed in that moment for what may have been a big breakthrough for her.  What may seem like a  minuscule breakthrough for us may be a huge breakthrough for someone else.  It’s not our job to decide whether or not someone needs or deserves encouragement.  It’s our job to encourage others.  Encouraging us … praying for us … is what Jesus is doing for us.  And, I assure you, from my own experiences, it’s not because we deserve it.  As a follower of Christ, our goal is to be more like Jesus every day.

So, I ask you: “Are you encouraging others in your world the way God is encouraging you?” It’s important that we do encourage others in this walk of life.  As you encourage others, you’re effectively sowing encouragement into your own life. “Do not be deceived:  God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6: &-10  That pretty much sums up what I’m attempting to convey in this blog.  God wants what is best for us. Jeremiah 29:11 He doesn’t want to hurt or harm us.  He is ever unceasingly praying for and encouraging us.  We should do the same for others.  When you have the notion to encourage or help someone else, know that that thought is from God because He is good.  We don’t naturally want to do good on our own because of our flesh and sin nature.  That goodness comes from above.  And, it’s to our benefit, as well as the benefit of the one(s) we’re encouraging/helping to follow through with that thought.

I encourage you to keep your eyes and ears open for folks around you who may need encouragement or help.  Lord, I pray right now for all who are reading this that you remove the scales from our eyes and unclog our ears that we may see what You want us to see and hear what you want us to hear.  I pray that when we see or hear a need, we will respond the way You would want us to respond as obedient children.  Lord, I thank you in advance for opportunities and for the breakthroughs that will ensue due to our walking out Your plan for our lives.  Thank You Father, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen!       

Fake it till you make ... or something like that!

Have you heard the term, ”Fake it until you make it?" Or better yet, maybe you’ve heard, ”Step out in faith for what you're believing God for.”

Over the past several years, life has been challenging ... well, for those who know me well,  they know it's been quite a bit more than challenging for me.  Currently, I seem to be at a point where I'm "waiting" or in a "holding pattern."  In this time while waiting for my house to sell, rather that choosing depression, defeat, or doubt, I have chosen to move in faith for a few of the things I'm waiting on God for.  I chose to move in faith, not because I think I'm some great person, or that I’m entitled.  I have chosen to do certain things simply because it is an act of faith.

I began, in faith, packing everything in my house.  I have prayerfully made choices about things I will and will not keep.  Has my house sold yet? No, it hasn’t.  But, that doesn’t matter.  I chose to do this in faith.  Is there anything wrong with acting in faith.  No, there isn’t.  I believe that’s why it’s called faith.

I also began practicing my guitar and voice for something that I hope God will do in my life … again … in faith.  I think what bothers me the most is that I have been told that “I must think that I’m going to just show up and be put center stage.”  I couldn’t believe my ears.  I actually find this rather disturbing … and most definitely from the enemy!!  If we are to move in faith, doesn’t that mean that we’re trusting God, and not men, to move on our behalf? Either He’ll choose to move on our behalf or He won’t.  Ultimately, it’s up to Him.  Why then, would a Christian community choose to believe that a move like this on my part is arrogance or entitlement?  I don’t actually believe that I’m entitled to anything … other than what God, Himself, has ordained for my life.  Is it arrogance to believe for what I believe God has for me?  I actually thought that was called faith.   ~ Selah

When I saw … or rather, heard these things … I chose to be silent.  I stood on Exodus 14:14, which I’ve been doing a lot lately. “The LORD will fight for you, you need only be still.” This is not a battle that can be won in the physical.  This is a battle for God to fight in the spiritual.  And, quite frankly, whether a physical or a spiritual battle, I find that God is much more able to accomplish what He wants for my life much better than I can fight for myself.  I implore you to do the same if you find yourself in the same or similar battle. (which is the reason for this blog)

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interest, but each of you towards the interests of the others.”  Philippians 2:3-4  We’re to work together as a team for the advancement of God’s Kingdom, not thinking of ourselves more highly than another. ~ Selah

I do believe I’ll leave it right here and let the Holy Spirit “do His thang.”

Like the wise man Forrest Gump once said, “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”

Take care and God bless … angie   

"Thus saith the Lord?"

In the past few months, and especially the past few days, I’ve had several situations where people said, “Thus saith the Lord,” to me with a word “directly from God.”  Ha!  Well, that’s a little too “King James” version for me.  They really didn’t say “Thus saith the Lord,” but they have told me that the Lord was speaking to them about me.  Hmmm … I find this very curious because, as I quietly listened to these things, not much of anything applied to my life.

A few months ago, I met with a married couple where the man did most of the talking.  At first, our conversation was light, fun, and interesting.  I didn’t know these folks and I thought he was being kind.  They were folks from the church I attend and because I was on the worship team at the time, I was highly visible to the congregation. On a weekly basis at church and/or in public, I would get a lot of compliments from people I don’t know.  I have learned to graciously accept the kind words, but not allow myself to be moved by those words. (giving praise to God for not only the gift, but allowing me to use that gift to worship Him.) But, this situation was a bit different.  I was looking to this person as a leader and I suppose I allowed his words to carry more weight than I should have.  This was a learning experience for me.  Just a short  week later, what I realized is that he used that flattery to “draw me in,” so to speak.  He then began to speak “on behalf of the Lord,”  His words started off encouraging, but then, they went to the negative side.  Now, the way I’m explaining this here sounds very “black and white,’ easy to see from hind sight.  But, in the midst of this, it was very subtle. Right in the middle of our second meeting, the three of us, I got up and walked out.  I went and spoke to a friend of mine whom I’ve know for more than twenty years to vent and to have her pray for me. It was then that I realized that this was an attempt of the enemy to bring me down.  You see, the Lord is encouraging, even when we make mistakes.  The enemy condemns and lies.  I could see, in the spirit, a dense fog, that, after talking and praying this through with my friend, completely dissipated. His statements were not from God.  He may have said, “thus saith the Lord,” but, this was not from the Lord.  Afterwards, I prayed and asked God to show me what had happened.  The Lord told me that it was this man’s flattery of me.  He spoke kind words to me and I let them affect me.  It was definitely a learning experience.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been leading a small group of women in a book study. God is teaching us His ways, opening our eyes to how He loves, cares, and feels about us and wants us to not only know this, but mimic Him and have the same cares and concerns about the lost.  In the midst of this, one of the women spouted out to me: “The Lord is speaking to me that you’re a stumbling block.” with regard to me musically speaking.  I was like … “What?”  She repeated it and I, very kindly, said to her, “Well, that’s not what the Lord is speaking to me.”(I literally had to repeat this to her two or three times.)  Again, she insisted that she had a word from the Lord.  Now, her words were confusing and didn’t make any sense and she even got to a point where she, herself, said she was confused about what “the Lord” was supposedly saying through her.  Well, this I know: God is not a God of confusion.  This was the enemy.  It clearly was not a word from God.  This was not my first incident with this person in this type of situation.  She has, over the past few years, for some reason, made it her “mission” to “direct my steps.” (which, by the way, I absolutely do not buy into.)  A few days later while I was in the midst of worship (worshipping the Lord in music singing and playing the guitar), I received a message from her, telling me that she was quitting the book study and again, she had another word for me that had no bearing on my life or the content of what I was teaching.  I shared this with a couple of close friends.  They too, did not see any bearing.  This person is deceived and they don’t even know it.

Now, I believe these types of situations happen to people a lot within the church.  I also believe in the ministry of prophecy.  None of these situations fall into the category of true prophetic words from the Lord.  None of them.

This is why is so very important for us to know who we are in Christ!!

If I had bought into all that has been said to me now or previously, my life would be a mess.  The first three months that I was in California a few years ago was a very intense test in this area, in which I believe I passed.  We have to know who God is and know His voice to keep ourselves from the perils of the enemy.

With the exception of the intense three months in California, these situations started off very “good and positive” and then went “bad,” so to speak.  Not everything good that is said is from the Lord. And, likewise, not everything bad that is said is “truth.”  I cant stress enough about how important it is to keep our eyes focussed on the Lord.  He is our Rock; our solid foundation that keeps us stable.

Since I began writing this blog a few weeks ago, I’ve had two other similar situations happen where people I was investing time into have turned on me in very vicious ways verbally.  I considered these people not just friends, but close and good friends.  When they began speaking untruths to me and trying to bring me down, I just walked away.  I love these folks and pray for them, but I know that I cannot have this type of dysfunction in my life.

Not everyone who says; “Thus saith the Lord, is speaking for the Lord.”

Be very cautious as to who you allow to speak into your life.  The enemy comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly.  John 10:10  These are the words of Jesus.  I don’t believe that the people in these examples purposely intended any harm.  I believe that they truly believed what they were saying to me.  But, here’s the important thing; I know who I am in Christ. I knew that what was being said to me was not the truth.  With the man who was the leader, I did struggle to stand up for myself because of my respect for his leadership.  But, as with the others, I knew that I knew that I knew that I must walk away … which we must do when something like this happens.  Not everyone will be for you. Not everyone can go where God is taking you.  We must cling to Him and know who we are in Him to be able to stand firm and not be swayed like a reed shaken by the wind.

“Thus saith the Lord.”  Weigh the words that follow that statement very carefully so that:

1. You aren’t deceived in any way.

2. You don’t miss anything that the Lord may actually be speaking to you.

3. Pray for wisdom.  James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let Him ask of the Lord and He will give it to you without reproach.” He will not fail us.  Trust in Him.

Seeking the Fringe

This path I've been on for the past several months has revealed a lot to me. I have had to deal with folks who have it within their power to help in a good way, but have either chosen otherwise, or just sort of helped but certainly not all that they could have ... all because they don't have "time." They're just too busy ... or ... their definition of ethics and integrity is framed by their "career," which is NOT true integrity as defined by the Word of God. It's the world's ethics or integrity.

Folks, we live in a world with many, many hardened hearts. The only thing that will soften a hardened heart is the love of God found in Christ Jesus ... the ONLY way to our Papa God.

We need to show the love of God to these people whenever we can. More importantly, we need to pray for the salvation of those who are lost and don't know Jesus as their Savior. If we, as the body of Christ CHOOSE not to show the love of Christ and pray for those who are lost, then who will??

Are you a true disciple of Christ who is willing to go to the fringes to seek that one who is lost? Or ... are you a consumer only ... one who attends church, warms a church pew every week, but does very little to reach the lost? Church is not about being entertained.

There is a difference.

One day those of us who are true followers of Christ will live eternally with God. But myself, I don't want to get to Heaven and realize that I missed someone because I didn't want to be disturbed ... or because I chose the easy path. ~ Selah

angie

Following and leading ... or just following?

I’ve had something stirring in my heart for awhile now, and especially the past few days.  I guess a question that sums it up is: What are we, as followers of Christ, doing to lead others to God? 

I recently was in the midst of a few folks who are followers of Christ and a few topics came up that seem to be a “faux pas” in the Western Church.  I believe I’ll address a few of these things here.

As we were discussing Jesus casting demons out of people in His day as part of the lesson, someone stated that he thought that just maybe there were still demons that possessed people today.  Of course there are!!  As this situation unfolded, I felt led to share my limited understanding of this.  I shared about how I had worked with a group of women and we did cast out demons in Jesus’ name.  As I shared, both astonishment and a hush came over the group.  One person even said, “I don’t know that I could have been a part of that.” My question is:  Why not?  If we are disciples and followers of Christ, are we not called to do what Jesus did?  Jesus, laid hands on people and healed them.  He prayed for the blind and gave them sight.  He cast demons out of people.  These are just a few of the things that Jesus did.  Why is it that there are churches full of “Christians” who choose to believe that these things are not for this day and age?

We live in a time where people who are afflicted with the demonic, don’t know it and are often sent to doctors in the belief that it is mental illness.  Now, although there are folks who do have physiological problems that do cause mental illness, not all people need medicine to treat their issues.  Some are demonic issues and some are physiological issues.  The problem within our society is that we, for the most part, choose to not believe the demonic part of that statement.  I have witnessed a young woman diagnosed as bipolar have demons cast out of her.  Afterwards, God transformed her mind and she was no longer taking meds for these issues that were obviously misdiagnosed not only by the secular doctors, but also by pastors in her church.   

These things are real, but for some reason, our society has decided that they, for the most part, don’t believe it.  

One of the things I said during our discussion was the Jesus had the Holy Spirit without limit.  This is the same Holy Spirit that lives in us … the same!  There is no reason why we shouldn’t be doing the same as Jesus did!  So, my question is:  

Why are we just sitting back doing nothing about situations like this?  I believe it’s because of our unbelief.  The majority of the Western church simply refuses to believe.  This is nothing new.  I was reading in Matthew 17 today about how a man brought his son to Jesus to be healed.  The son would have seizures and often fall into the fire or into the water.  The man had taken his son to the disciples and the disciples were unable to heal him.  Jesus then called them (the disciples) a faithless and perverse generation.  Later Jesus told the them that it was due to their unbelief that they were unable to cure the boy.  He said that they must have faith and also, this situation called for prayer and fasting.  Now, if the disciples, who walked and talked with Jesus missed it, I can see how easy it would be for us to miss it, as well.  

But, what if God is trying to get our attention here?  Just maybe He wants to remove scales from our eyes and unclog our ears.  What do you believe?  Do you believe that God has made a way for you to lay your hands on people, pray and heal others and cast demons out?  Or do you choose to not believe?  What are you doing for others in this respect?

We live in a society that, more often than not, chooses to live the “easy life.”  We have churches full of “Christians” who come from generation after generation of Christians who are now coasting on the prayers of the generations of the past.  We have Christians who believe that because someone is having a difficult time, they need to walk away from that person and not help them because that “issue” is beneath them and it’s best that they not associate with that person.  Trust me, this is true!  I, more often than not, have had people … “followers of Christ” walk away and not offer any help whatsoever simply because they “didn’t have the time, or didn’t want to get involved, or simply chose to have no compassion.”  Is this how we see Jesus when He encounters people with troubles or sickness in the Bible?  No, it isn’t.  

Why do you go to church?  Is it because it’s a social event?  Do you go because of “good programs?”  Do you go because you’re expected to go?  Do you go to praise and worship God?

If you go to praise and worship God, what do you do with what you have received from God in that experience?  Do you keep it to yourself?  I’ve had people say, “Wow Angie, you really put yourself out there,” when I have shared my experiences.  Or, “Wow, you’re really in tune with the Holy Spirit!”  Well, my question is: Why aren’t you putting yourself out there?  Why aren’t you in tune with the Holy Spirit, as well?  This lifestyle that I have chosen isn’t just for “special people.”  I’m not special.  I’m simply choosing to live my life to the full as a follower of Christ.  Isn’t that what God wants of all of us?

Look, Easter / Resurrection day is only a few days away.  It’s the time of year that we take note and celebrate the truth that Jesus, while sinless, sacrificed his life for all mankind.  I ask you: Did He die so that we could sit back, coast through life, and then go to Heaven when this life is done?  No … He didn’t!  It’s His will that none … NONE, should perish.  2 Peter 3:9

Are you allowing God to work through you to reach the lost in your world?  If you consider yourself a Christian, what are you doing to advance the Kingdom of God?  God isn’t telling us that we should all be missionaries, or sit on street corners with signs warning of the end, etc.  It’s actually fairly simple.  We simply have to be intentional about living a life led by the Holy Spirit.  I have to tell you that I don’t believe there are very many Christians who choose to live their lives this way.  Far too many people attend church, head home and then go about their lives with no intention of being led by the Holy Spirit.  Sure, we pray, meet with our  Christian groups during the week, and head back to church the following Sunday and repeat and repeat and repeat.  But, what are you doing to reach the lost in your world?  Are you coasting through life just to make it through so you can enjoy Heaven in the next life?  

Folks, there is an arrogance within much of the church that believes that this is the way we should live our lives.  This isn’t truly living a life of a follower of Christ. We can go to church, praise and worship God, learn everything there is to know in the Bible, be inspired by awesome stories of God’s goodness to us, but if we’re not doing anything to share with the lost, what good is any of it?

Jesus’ ministry on this Earth was three years long.  Look at what He did to help the lost and hurting.  He was a friend to sinners.  He met them where they were and sincerely loved them.  Are you able to sincerely love someone who won’t attend church with you?  Are you able to simply allow God to work through you without demanding that the non believer do things the way you want them to?  God’s ways are not our ways.  We are not God.  Only God is God.  Jesus loved people and walked with them.  Jesus is our example.  I wonder how long he walked with us without demanding that we live our lives a certain way before we accepted Him as our Savior?  He is our example.  ~ Selah 

 Look at the “religious leaders” of His time, what did Jesus have to say to them?  Well, just to name a few things, He called them a “brood of vipers” and “whitewashed tombs”.  He described them as having the cup clean on the outside, but the inside of the cup dirty, meaning that they had a great appearance, but anything deeper than that appearance and He wasn’t impressed.  They were superficial.  They knew the scriptures by heart.  They had a plan and acted accordingly, but, when the Savior of the world stood in front of them, they didn’t even know it.  They saw Him spending time with sinners, healing them and casting out demons.  Then, they accused Him of being led by Satan.  Their faith and belief system was superficial simply because Jesus didn’t fit the mold that they had been taught.  I don’t want to live my life that way.  I choose to live the way Jesus did to the best of my ability.  I believe His way is not only much better, but, the only way.

The beginning of 2018, I posted a blog about making time to reach the lost and hurting in our world like the good Samaritan.  I believe that God is trying to get our attention.  I believe that many of us do truly love the Lord, but that our process is somewhat flawed.  The Western church believes too much of what is taught in our seminaries today … not that it’s all flawed.  That’s not what I’m saying.  But, what I am saying is that we are all called to be disciples of Christ, not just “the leaders” who have attended seminary and are now paid to lead a church.  It’s not just the leaders job to lead others to Christ.  Many of our churches are designed to “feed” followers, but are not set up to teach us to be true disciples of Christ.  We are all called to be disciples.  We all have a specific purpose for our lives no matter where we work or spend our time.

So, with all that said; What are we, as followers of Christ, doing to lead others to God?  Are we following Christ and leading others to Christ ... or just following? ~ Selah