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Comment by Seek on June 5, 2016 at 6:45am

I received a revelation to the truth of something I've questioned a long time.

I once heard Joyce Meyer reference something she'd done years ago and felt convicted to go to the person and confess what she'd done. Since that time, I've often wondered if I had to go back to an incident when I was about 21. Even knowing that I wouldn't know where to begin to find the person to confess to, it still plagued me at times.

Perhaps you've dealt with something similar. Well the answer is simple.

If you can only clear your conscience by doing so then go for it. If however you've been lead to believe this is what you should do to be right in God's eyes, consider this.

Jesus never gave any indication that we should do this. The one reference is ones voluntarily offering to return all the excess taxes he'd taken over the years. But the one glaring truth is that Jesus forgave us of our sins. Forgave and forgot. By thinking we need to make past sins right, we're not believing we were truly forgiven.

So, do you believe you're forgiven or do you believe your forgiveness only comes with strings attached?

Comment by Seek on April 23, 2015 at 7:47am

Beauty Tips

A thought occurred to me this morning that the hardships in our lives are like a good manicure. 

When we get an ingrown nail, it hurts to cut it out, but ignoring it allows it to fester and become more painful over time.  The same thing is true of the hurts in our lives.  If we keep things like bitterness or unforgiveness inside, rather than let them out to God, they can fester and cause us more pain.  They affect us physically and emotionally, causing damage to our relationships with others. 

When He finishes cleaning us up inside, He then gets out the cuticle stick and pushes the remaining problems out of the way.  Then He uses it to clean the gunk out from under the surface, and He follows this up with a good filing to smooth off all the rough edges.  Lastly, He gives us a good shiny hard coat to seal and protect us in Him, and to cause us to shine for others to see.

Comment by Seek on December 30, 2014 at 6:12am

Condemnation or Conviction?

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1

Why is it so hard to love others?  Why do we keep failing to follow God's commands?  Why do we struggle to forgive others?  Why can we not be perfect if we're told to be perfect?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

People may tell you you're not saved if you don't obey God and God says we're not to get angry, we're to give selflessly, to love everyone even when they do us wrong, to forgive freely.  Yet as much as we try to, we keep failing at this.  And when someone points out that we cannot be saved if we're not obeying God, what is that?  It's condemnation.  And condemnation is not from God. 

People say what they think is right, and yet God's ways are right and not what people think.  People think you're never good enough, God says you're good enough.  Good enough for Him that He sent His own Son to die for us even while we were sinners.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Throughout our life, people tell us the negative.  We can clean our room, but rather than being praised for doing so, our parents may say we didn't clean it good enough. We may work through lunch and stay late to finish project at work.  But the boss finds one small mistake in the work submitted and they focus on that mistake and neglect to focus on your sacrifice of personal time to finish the project on time.

It is people who speak condemnation and not God.

Does God want us to obey Him? Yes!  But if we're busy focusing on our failures and mistakes rather than on our successes and those things we do right in God's eyes, how can we strive for the future if we're so busy living in the past?

Satan tells us, you didn't pray long enough, loud enough.  You didn't read scripture long enough today.  You weren't focused enough on the sermon or on God.  Satan tells us...you're not good enough.  

God says we are! We are SO good enough that Christ died for us. 

A desire to pray, spend time in scripture and time with God does NOT come through trying to force it because we're trying to measure up.  But it comes through resting in Christ and knowing we are good enough.  Until we know that, how can we realize what He truly did?  How can we realize the worth of others if we cannot realize our own worth to Him?

Today remind yourself that you're good enough.  Tell satan, and those condemning voices, ENOUGH!  God says I'm good enough.  I may fail, but I will NOT be defined by my failure but by God's Word and what He says about me.  

You've listened to the lies long enough.  Allow yourself to listen to the truth and quit beating yourself up.  Until we realize that all the negative voices we hear of what we haven't done aren't from God, we can't grow much further. 

Pray, Lord I've failed to do as Your Word says today, please forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. 

Now let it go.  You've released it to God.  He's forgiven AND forgotten.  Time for you to do the same.  Stop dwelling on yesterday's mistakes and dwell on tomorrow's successes.

Comment by Seek on December 18, 2014 at 7:04am

An Issue of Trust

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

We don’t start out with a straight path with God, but through staying in the Word, through testing and trials, our paths become straight over time. 

There may be times when you feel as if you can’t trust God, as if you haven’t trusted Him, as if you doubt too much.  I have even had quoted to me:

There was a man who brought his son to Jesus to heal him.  The boy was possessed by an evil spirit.  Jesus told him that "Everything is possible for him who believes." bImmediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"  Mark 9:24

Everyone doubts at times, and often some of our brothers and sisters in Christ may think we are double-minded because they fail to recall their early walk with Christ, or they have not faced the same trials you have faced, or they have walked with God from childhood and didn’t have the same struggle with belief later in life. 

We all need the meat of God’s Word in our life.  By meat, I refer to the deeper truths.  Yet when you are struggling with your early walk, you may need more encouragement than defeat and doubt. 

We all need God’s truth spoken into us and we get that through sermons, scripture, and even from God Himself if we truly listen and accept what we hear from Him, which is sometimes a struggle in itself to believe that it is Him we are hearing from, but we also overcome that with time. 

While it is true, Satan can defeat us emotionally, in the early walk, there are ups and downs while being strengthened.  Even once we are strengthened, we can still face discouragement and depression.  But the longer we walk with God, the better equipped we become at fighting back. 

Comment by Seek on December 18, 2014 at 7:00am

Beating Negativity to Death

Part 1

I was really very negative during the first few years I was saved and people would tell me God won't help me, or God can't help me (that one is my favorite since God can do anything). I've had people all along keep agreeing with those statements. They'll quote "let not the double minded man think he should receive anything from the Lord", or "You must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." and others.  And I always reminded them that I was getting bonuses and raises, a better car, etc., all while negative.  I believe God knew why I was negative and He knew I didn't want to be that way and so He sent these blessings again and again to help change my mindset, and He has changed it tremendously. 

As I spoke with our worship leader one night about his message where he spoke of negativity, he was in agreement with the sentiment that God wouldn't do anything for people who were negative and I stopped him and again brought up all that God has done for me.

On on the way home that night, I began asking God about this.  Where does this idea come from.  I look at that verse in Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  And I wonder.  And I think, but I did believe He was a rewarder, I just didn't know if I was seeking Him enough, if my own heart was right and maybe that's why all the bad things kept happening to me year after year.

I awoke the next morning with something fresh in my mind which was an answer to my questioning of this.  I awoke thinking of the story of Naomi. 

Ruth 1:12-13 Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.”

Ruth 1:20-22 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

Judges 6:13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

Judges 6:15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

1 Kings 19:4 ...He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Comment by Seek on December 18, 2014 at 7:00am

Beating Negativity to Death

Part 2

There are many more throughout scripture and God helped each and every one of them.  Because He knew their hearts.  He says to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  And He knows that transformation isn't overnight and He knows what you're going through and exactly what you need.  Even if you doubt anything will change.  And when we tell people nothing will change unless they can change their own minds, we don't encourage them but ultimately discourage them.  And I'm reminded of Luke 17:1-2 ...“Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.  It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

If discouraging words are a cause for someone to stumble, shouldn't we cease from offering up words of discouragement and instead encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness?

I'm not saying it's ok to be negative or that God wants you to remain there.  Jesus said "If you f ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed".  He says "be transformed by the renewal of your mind".  He says "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  You cannot set yourself free from a negative mindset, only God can set you free, only His truth can set you free, only renewing your mind from what has been planted there for years and taken root, so that it bears a new crop, will set you free from that negative mindset.  And when any of us tell such a person that God can't or won't help them, we are a stumbling block to them.  We plant that negative mindset even deeper.  We've just sown God in a negative light and told someone that God is going to leave them in their mess until they can learn to change their own mindset.  That even though God knows what they need, in going against His own Word, He's not going to provide it because your mind hasn't yet been renewed.  And that until you get it completely renewed, you're on your own.  And that is simply not a Biblical truth.

I truly pray those who suffer from a negative mindset, and those who are consumed with the idea that it's best to push those kind of people away and not have any dealing with them or offer any encouragement can both receive something from this and that we can all become encouragements to one another and lift each other up so that all of our minds may be renewed.

Comment by Seek on December 18, 2014 at 6:16am

GiGo

(God in God out) - Part 1

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

If you’ve ever been around computers, you may have heard the term GiGo, which means “garbage in/garbage out”.  Computers only know how to do what they are programmed to do.  They are fed commands and a sequence of operations that they then carry out to an ending.  If those commands and sequences are fed in wrong, or are garbage, the computer will carry them out to an ending that is equally garbage.  

Computer programming is a comprehensive process that involves activities such as analysis, understanding, and generically solving problems resulting in an algorithm, verification of requirements of the algorithm, implementation (or coding) of the algorithm, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code.  Source code is written in one or more programming languages.  These instructions are considered computer programs and help the computer to operate smoothly. The language used to program computers is not understood by an untrained eye.   

Reprogramming a computer involves locating the erroneous strands of code and then reworking the algorithms, verifying the new code, as well as all the other items that come into play with the initial programming model.

The human brain is a computer in and of itself.  It stores the memories and lessons of our lifetimes.  If we have lived our lifetimes being fed garbage into that computer, we may ultimately put out garbage.  

Once we accept Christ that can change.  However, it is not without the efforts to reprogram the garbage fed mind.  In order to do this, we feed on the Word of God consistently and daily.  Just as a computer may take time to reprogram, so can our minds.  

Comment by Seek on December 18, 2014 at 6:16am

GiGo

(God in God out) - Part 2

But reprogramming doesn’t end there.  Just as a computer, we too must maintain our new source code.  We must test our programming.  Or rather God tests it perhaps though trials and circumstances to show us where we may need more reprogramming in a particular area.  Therefore reprogramming and maintain our minds becomes a lifelong process.  Sometimes code is written and rewritten for redundant backup and we have to repeat Gods code over and over in order to overwrite every strand of old code.

When we first begin to renew our minds, the Bible may also seem daunting to us.  It is because we’re rewriting our programming in a language we are unfamiliar with.  Through continued study and reading, we retrain/reprogram our minds and train ourselves in this new language, this new code.  Or rather the old code that was given us upon creation and was lost to us when the first Adam sinned and fell from grace.  

Programmers and developers don’t just delve in and start rewriting code.  They formulate a plan, typically putting their algorithms down on paper.  This is one reason journaling can be an important part of reprograming the mind.  Another method is a list of written affirmations based on scripture that you should read daily.  Journaling helps not only to get the garbage that is in our systems out, but it also serves as a reminder of our progress, just as a step-by-step record serves to remind the programmer of where they left off rewriting the program.  And reading affirmations aloud daily is like testing and retesting the new code.  It’s running it through our system.  They may seem strange things to say at first, like claiming you are the head and not the tail when you may feel every bit the tail, but a new computer program or new software can feel every bit as strange to the computer user as well.  Especially when they’ve used the same software for many years and are now facing a new way of doing things.

Comment by Seek on December 17, 2014 at 6:55am

Why some Christians struggle with their salvation - Part 1

There is a clear message in scripture that some Christians haven’t yet been in the Word long enough to grasp or have such strongholds built up that it takes a while to break old mindsets.  Paul struggled.  But it was what he realized, the revelation we all need to receive, that kept him from feeling the condemnation many feel. 

 

Romans 7:¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

 

Paul didn’t understand why he couldn’t do those things he wanted to do and did the things he didn’t want to do.  Sometimes we get angry, or people might irritate us.  Those who have the revelation Paul received aren’t condemned by this but they, as Paul did, realize that they have the mind of Christ while still living in sinful flesh.

 

Romans 7:²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 

In Romans 8, Paul says: 

¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.

 

In Romans 6, Paul makes clear that we don’t continue in sin.  But his words there state that offering ourselves as slaves to righteousness (Christ is righteousness) leads to holiness. 

And 1 John 2 says:

¹² I am writing to you, dear children,
    because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
¹³ I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome the evil one.

 

Comment by Seek on December 17, 2014 at 6:55am

Why some Christians struggle with their salvation - Part 2

So it’s clear that it’s a growth process. 

 

John 3:¹ Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” ³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

 

When we are born into this world, we enter as babes, knowing nothing.  As we grow into young men, our minds are trained by what we see and hear.  You may grow up in a Christian home and be trained up in the way you should go.  Or you may grow up in a home filled with strife and worldly things.  We’re trained by our parents, teachers, peers, television, and billboards.  This is why Jesus is saying we must be born again. 

 

2 Corinthians 5:¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

 

We’re starting over again as babes.  This time our minds are being filled with the Word and we grow up into young men and then old men (ladies don’t get hung up on the term men). 

 

When we’re born again, the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us.  But just as faith the grain of a mustard seed, the Holy Spirit is a seed planted in us.  And how does a seed grow?  By watering it.  Water the seed of the Holy Spirit with the Word. 

 

John 15: ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

 

Who is Christ? 

John 1:¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

John 15:¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

To abide in Christ is to abide in the Word.  It is imperative that we remain in the Word whatever it takes. 

 

As Christ told the Pharisees in Matthew 23:26:

First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

 

We will be healed from the inside out by remaining in the Word.  We cannot change ourselves.  As Paul said:

 

Romans 7: ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Comment by Seek on December 15, 2014 at 6:09am

The Key to Signs and Wonders

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

 Mark 16:17-18

Have you wondered why you pray and pray for someone to be healed and they aren't?  God promises believers that we will be able to heal people.  Some people claim this was only for the disciples, but God's Word can't be anymore clear than this.  These signs will accompany those who believe.  It didn't say those who I call My disciples.  Others say that those things were for then.  But there is no scripture saying God took back that promise.  Yet we pray and pray, we lay hands on the sick and they don't recover.  Others might make the claim that the individual who was sick didn't have enough faith to be healed.  Yet when the father brought his son to Jesus to cast out the demons trying to harm him, the man told Jesus "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"  Blaming someone for not getting well by suggesting their faith may be too weak doesn't encourage them and isn't necessarily the truth. 

So why aren't we able to heal the sick, cause blind eyes to see and deaf ears to be opened?

If you are a parent, imagine your 12 year old child asking you for the keys to your car.  You refuse.  He says "But dad!  You said I would one day drive your car!"  You tell him he's too young.  He tries again at 13, then at 14, 15.  When he turns 16 and asks you for the keys, he is now ready to begin driving. 

So did you not care about him those 4 years as he begged and pleaded for you to keep your promise?  Or was it that you knew that he was not yet ready to take the wheel and could hurt himself and others by having that kind of power in his hands while too young to understand the power and be responsible with it?

Consider this the next time you wonder why you couldn't heal that person. 

Also keep in mind that you may be seeing signs and wonders in your life but not recognizing them.  We often overlook the little signs and wonders.  Some might write off some small things in their life as coincidence and choose not to see it as a sign or a wonder.  Often we overlook the little signs and wonders God sends our way as He prepares us for larger things.

Comment by ScribeD on December 8, 2014 at 3:27am

Jesus' disciples begged him to teach them to pray. What would you beg Jesus for today, if you could see him right now?

Comment by Seek on December 5, 2014 at 3:19am

How Does the Truth Set You Free?

We've all heard the term "you are what you eat". Well God says we're what we speak...out of the abundance of the mouth comes blessings and cursings. You keep speaking cursings over yourself. Don't continue to say "I'm not saved", "I'm not worthy", "God must hate me", etc. We seem to want give up on even wanting to try and believe God will help us to do better.

Sometimes we focus more on what God won't do for us instead of trying to see what He HAS done. If you have kids, God gave them to you. A job, thank God. If you're healthy it's a blessing. A roof over your head? Some people don't have that. The list goes on. But we focus on what we don't have.

The ONLY way you will grow to a point where you can believe you're God's child and begin to speak more positive words and stop speaking these cursings over yourself is to get into His Word and stay there. Whether you feel like it or not, read it, play it on CDs or MP3s at night while you sleep, in the car while you drive. It might take years to break the negative thoughts against yourself, but you will NOT break them without the Word as it says...the Word is truth and the truth shall set you free.

You may know every bit of this, but you won't get out of the negative thinking on your own. Believe me, I tried and tried. But only staying in the Word has been bringing about changes. That's why it says it "will" set you free. You have to actually read it, study it, get it into your spirit. You may not understand all you read, you may think negative when you read, feel condemned by what you read. But by continuing in it, those condemning and negative thoughts will begin to subside and be replaced with the truth.

This is all entirely up to you whether or not you make the effort to get into the Word consistently or not. But I'll ask you...do you like feeling as if God doesn't care about you or feeling as if you won't make it to heaven or you're not saved? Can you stand to continue feeling that way indefinitely? You have to make a choice whether or not you want to feel differently and make the effort to get in and continue in the Word for as long as it takes to change the mindset that you're not worthy or that God can't love you or that you can't be what God wants or whatever negative thoughts you have.

Comment by Seek on December 5, 2014 at 3:16am

How Does the Truth Set You Free? (Part 2)

Write yourself a list of what God says you are. IE: I am a child of the most high King. I have a sound mind. I am loved. I have been made righteous. The Holy Spirit is in me. Etc. Put this list somewhere that you are every day and read it every day.

We are fed negatives, by parents, teachers, bullies at school, etc. And we believe those lies. It's like programming a computer with garbage. Now you have to reprogram your computer (brain) to weed out the garbage with good code/words.

That's why God's Word is so powerful and has the power to change us. God did NOT create anything that is worthless. To do so would make Him less than God. Therefore, NO ONE is worthless. They can believe they are worthless, or not even care one way or the other. But the TRUTH, God's Word is the only thing that can counteract the lies we've been fed and grown to believe. He says I created you...therefore we're not worthless cause God doesn't create junk. But it takes an effort on our parts to take steps to get into His Word. You get into it and you start believing what He says about you and notice things turning around. But don't quit just because they don't turn around this year, or the next.

The bottom line is we can make excuses that it's not working because we tried it...we read the Bible for a month or two, or even a year or two, and yet we still had issues we couldn't overcome, so we put it back on the shelf and just decided to keep believing the lies. Some people might stay bound up inside for 10 years. But if you're not in the Word, you're going to stay that way for life. Since only "continuing" in the truth (God's Word) can set you free, why would you NOT want to stay in it?