In His Image | A New Ideal

Any other idealists out there? It’s at once both an amazing gift of seeing inspiring possibilities and an uncomfortable burden of realizing just how far that image is from reality. My idealism used to express itself in a sort of perfectionism. I recently went back and read a few journal entries from my young 20-something self, and I saw that perfectionistic worldview coming through full force in my past words. Revulsion and compassion together rose up as I read entry after entry of striving and pleading with the Lord to make the world (or make me) just so. Those words I read evoked a painful emotional state of trying to deal with the impossible gap between the brokenness I saw, and the way things “should be.” And at that time, I thought the perceived gap was the actual gap. Experience hadn’t yet taught me just how limited my own perception could be. I thought that everything that looked broken was broken, and that my painful and uncomfortable feelings were evidence that I needed to take action to change it all. I had a knee-jerk reaction to immediately try to “fix” things that looked askew. 

All this came rushing to front of mind last week when I read these words: “But the Father will send the Friend in my name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26 NIrV). These are among Jesus’ words to his disciples in the hours before his arrest. I know I’ve read this passage before, and it amazes me every time, but this time I couldn’t get over those words. All things? He will teach us all things? Strangely confusing and reassuring to an idealist. 

Later in the same passage, Jesus says more about this: “I will send the Friend to you from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth, who comes out from the Father. When the Friend comes to help you, he will be a witness about me” (John 15:26 NIrV). I wish I could go back and soothe my young self with these words. When I hear them now, I picture a Father who cherishes his beloved children and wants to give them everything they need, up to and including himself, his own Spirit. I picture a tender, honest Spirit who is alive in us, and opens our eyes to the amazing work that God is doing around us which might otherwise be hidden from our understanding. The Friend is not only working in us. The Friend is witnessing, testifying to us, within our very spirit, of the things Christ is doing in the world, and in our brothers and sisters. There’s grace for our imperfections, space to look at ourselves and others honestly in love. The perfectionistic compulsion for me to change things so that they can be acceptable is eased.

Which brings me to something I’ve been learning and relearning (and relearning) since that early time of striving. It’s God’s work, not mine. God will do it. The love we express in our relationships and service can be a powerful testimony of our God, but the redemption is God’s alone. God is at work and holds nothing back; the Father, Son, and Spirit move together in this mysterious dance of redemption and sanctification. The Friend, the Holy Spirit, is real and active, and I can trust the Friend to do sanctifying work in me and in those around me. Sometimes God does things in an order I don’t understand and it can be frustrating or painful. I realize now that I don’t know what the final picture, the “ideal,” really looks like for each person. This is something else that should remain in God’s hands, not mine. So, while I know I will be on this pendulous journey of trying too hard and trying not to try too hard probably until the day I die, I trust the Friend to help me grow. The Friend helps me trust the Father because my spirit glimpses what is hidden from my eyes - blooms of healing and growth and restoration all around me because of the inextinguishable life that God creates and recreates every moment. This promise is not an excuse to stop trying, to step away from the work God is doing through me. Rather it is relief and peace from striving - God takes responsibility for the redemptive work and its outcome. It is a burden too heavy and prideful and spirit-breaking for a human like me.

After Jesus promises the Holy Spirit is coming, he adds these words which seem a fitting conclusion, “I leave my peace with you. I give my peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIrV).

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About the Author

Kayla is is 37. She has been married to her husband, Joel, for 17 years and she homeschools their two energetic boys. She loves stories, being out in nature, meeting interesting people, and seeing others grow in their freedom in Christ.

Ephesians 4 | The Signet Seal of the Holy Spirit

In biblical times, kings would use hot wax or clay and a signet ring to seal vital items. The seal carried the authority and validity of the king. Anyone who viewed that seal knew the king had authorized the document or was guarding the content within. In the fourth chapter of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul references this imagery.

Ephesians 4:30 (NASB)
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

This imagery carries many connotations, which we will consider in this blog post.

Holy Spirit is a promise. Signet rings were often used in royal transactions as a promise or a pledge that whatever was contracted would be carried out. In Ephesians 4, Paul indicates that the Lord seals us with his spirit as a promise of what’s to come. The Spirit’s presence and power pledge to us that the day of redemption will come. The blessed day when Christ returns in glory and redeems his people, when we become fully like him, and when his power transforms us fully into his likeness is yet to come, but we have the Holy Spirit and his power to imbue us until that day arrives. (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:14; Eph. 4:29)

Holy Spirit is an impression and impartation of God himself. At its base value, a king’s seal was an impression left by a ring or a specially made tube on wax or clay. Holy Spirit, who is entirely God, is likewise impressed on every believer; a marking of the power and presence of Christ. The fullness of God comes to dwell within and imparts us with everything we need for life and godliness. We are duly marked and impressed with all our King's markings. And as we allow Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we become more and more an impression of who our King is. (1 John 3:24; Tit. 3:4-7; Eph. 1:13; 2 Pet. 1:3)

Holy Spirit is a witness to whoever encounters us. Those who would encounter the signet seal of a king were witnesses to the authenticity of whatever was marked. The impression was clear and identified with clarity to whom the document belonged. The work of Holy Spirit in our lives, his gifts, his fruit, and ultimately our transformation into God’s likeness is a witness to those we encounter. It is a witness to them of whom we belong to and of the reality of our loving father. This is the very reason God sent his Spirit. The disciples received the gift of Holy Spirit to empower them and set them apart as God’s witness. To empower us to be his witness is still his Spirit’s purpose in our lives today. (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:7-12; John 15:26-27)

Holy Spirit is a symbol of God’s power and authority. Those who carried their king's seal possessed the full authority of the king. Whatever message they brought, transaction they were representing him in, or promise made under that seal carried the full authority and power of the king to act upon it. Likewise, the King of all Kings has empowered us with his own Spirit and has given us authority over the heavens and the earth. He has empowered us to be his witnesses and walk boldly upon the earth. God has granted us authority over the powers of this world and the strength to resist the devil who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. He has freed us from the power of death, sin, and our sinful nature and freed us to follow him and his leadership. (Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 3:16-18; Gal. 5:16-25; 2 Tim 1:7)

Holy Spirit is the ratification of God’s covenant with us. A signet seal was a mark indicating the validity of a treaty or a king's work. The Lord has signified the work he is doing within us by sealing us with the promise of Holy Spirit. His presence in our lives indicates the work the father has begun in us. We can rest in his work as we surrender to his Spirit and allow his fruit to bear in our lives. As we allow the Holy Spirit to confirm the word of the Lord and transform us into the likeness of Jesus, we can rest assured in our hope in Christ and our complete redemption.

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About the Author

Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and four kids. He loves Jesus, art, music, and poetry. He currently works as the Manager of Learning Technology Solutions for Los Angeles Pacific University and is passionate about adventuring outdoors.

Rhema | Listening for the Living Word

In our current blog series, all of the blog writers are looking at the concept of “rhema,” a Greek word meaning “the living word of God.” I really like the definition given by the pastor and author, Bill Hamon. He states "A rhema is an inspired Word birthed within your own spirit, a whisper from the Holy Spirit like the still, small voice that spoke to Elijah in the cave. It is a divinely inspired impression upon your soul, a flash of thought or a creative idea from God. It is conceived in your spirit, but birthed into your natural understanding by divine illumination. A true rhema carries with it a deep inner assurance and witness of the Spirit."[1]

I was privileged to experience the “living word” of God as a fairly young follower of Jesus. At that time I was an extreme loner, going days without speaking to anyone, a “rock and an island” as the old Simon and Garfunkel song went. But meeting Jesus was a genuine life-changer for me . I wanted to know Him better and better, so I spent a good bit of time reading the Bible. One day I was reading Matthew 22:36-40:

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

To my great surprise, when I read the last verse, it was as if a neon light was flashing to get my attention (figuratively, not literally, I’d better add). But at the same time, a thought came into my head like a voice from outside, asking me “How can you love your neighbor if you are never with him?”

This was not a thought I generated. I was happy to love my neighbor (as if I really had a clue what that entailed) from the solitude of my own little quiet world. This voiced question was challenging me to join the human race, to start moving within the circles of other people, to establish relationships. I was not to be a “rock and an island” anymore. That’s the message I got that day. Though it was encouraging me out of my comfort zone, it rang true, like a witness in my spirit of THE Spirit. I believe it was God and the very fact that He would communicate something to me was truly awesome. I knew He cared, like a good Father.

Over the years I have had a few more of these experiences, but what I’d like to share now is that I’ve learned a way to encourage God’s living word to us. It’s called “Lectio divina” which is Latin for “sacred reading.” The Latin name reflects how old this type of Scriptural reading is (from the 6th century), but it continues today to be a blessing in our personal relationships with God. A short description of the practice speaks of taking just a few verses of the Bible, reading them several times very slowly, while asking God to show you what He’d like you to see. When you’ve settled on a word, phrase or concept, you meditate on it, thinking of everything you can that is related to it. Then you speak to God about it. You listen for Him, you share your thoughts, you listen, you pray, back and forth like a real conversation. It’s often at this point where you understand why you were supposed to stop and focus on this particular verse and what, if anything, you are to do about it. Then finally, you just sit quietly in the Presence of God for a bit, like you would in the presence of a good friend, where nothing is required, nothing is judged, just enjoying each other’s company.

To close, I’ll share a quick “sacred reading” from the other day. I was reading John 15:1-4:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I felt I was to focus on the phrase that is in bold above. I began to recognize some things I was doing out of habit that weren’t helpful in my desire to abide in Jesus. They weren’t especially bad things, only distracting things that subtly bumped me off center. My prayer was then to ask Jesus to go ahead and prune those things from me and show me how I’m supposed to participate!

God is so good. He wants relationship with us more than any perfection in our behavior. He wants our participation and seems to honor even our stumbling attempts at it. He truly wants to transform us from the inside out to be more like Him, when we’ll experience ever greater freedom and love.

1. Bill Hamon (1987). Prophets and Personal Prophecy: God's Prophetic Voice Today Volume 1. Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, Inc.

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About the Author

John lives in Pleasant Hill with his dog, Gunnar, and a multitude of guests who enjoy the peace and beauty of the Cascade foothills. With three children and three grandchildren all living in Oregon, he is continually blessed with their company and the good food that always accompanies their get-togethers!

Advent | Wonderful Counselor

As Advent presents a time to pause and reflect, the CitySalt Blog team has crafted some additional writings to accompany our church services in preparation for Christmas. In addition to the regularly scheduled blog posts every other week, we are aligning with the sermon series derived from Isaiah 9:6 and sharing personal reflections each Sunday of Advent.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

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When I first heard about the unique way our pastors were going to be approaching advent, I was immediately taken back to a profound revelation I received from the Lord about 20 years ago. It was one of those life altering moments that dynamically shifted the course of my relationship with God. Its effect reverberates today and continues to be worked out daily as I choose to embrace its truth.

As a young kid, I grew up in a Christian home with parents who professed faith in Christ and went to church on most occasions. But as I personally began wrestling through life’s challenges, I would read scripture and wish that I could have Jesus physically present with me to tell me how I should respond to each trial I was facing as a young man. I envied the disciples who could ask Jesus any question they wanted and receive his wisdom.

It wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties that I went on a journey through John 14-16. Within those chapters, Jesus, the disciples’ Wonderful Counselor, breaks the news that he has to “go away;” that they won’t see him anymore. I had never seen it before, but like walking into a telephone pole while sending a quick text, there it was. Jesus shares the following truth:

John 16:7 (NLT)
“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”

This simple sentence upturned all my pubescent apple cart desires for the physical incarnate Jesus. “It is better for you that I go away…” I reread that sentence multiple times and another proverbial pubescent quote came spilling forth from my lips: “Whatchu Talkin’ bout Willis?”

Throughout these chapters, Jesus breaks down the importance of the coming of the Holy Spirit. He reveals that he now wants to lead his disciples through the indwelling presence of this Holy Spirit. Take a look at

John 16:12-14 (NLT)
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.”

Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will be the one to lead, to guide, to counsel us into all truth, and that what the Holy Spirit reveals to us, is coming straight from HIM. Our wonderful counselor is not so far off as we might sometimes imagine him. He has offered his wonderful counsel to us moment by moment, via the Holy Spirit; and the same Spirit that marked the apostles on Pentecost dwells within us today.

May we all take a moment as we enter this advent season to thank the Father for sending us his Son. Let us take another moment to thank Jesus for sending us his Spirit. And may we also thank the Spirit for revealing the wonderful counsel of the Wonderful Counselor, while giving him a moment to speak truth and lead us through whatever life circumstance we find ourselves in this Holiday season.

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About the Author

Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and four kids. He loves Jesus, art, music, and poetry. He currently works as the Manager of Learning Technology Solutions for Los Angeles Pacific University and is passionate about adventuring outdoors.

Common Ground | The Holy Spirit is our Common Ground

As I write my blog post during Pentecost, I realize our common ground is the Holy Spirit, via the connection He gives us to Jesus, to God and to each other. I have a diverse group of friends of differing opinions and backgrounds, fears, loves and life experiences--Christians, Jews, lawyers, pastors, writers, carpenters, workers in all fields and persuasions.

I believe the Holy Spirit in me wants the best for all these people. I want them to excel and succeed and have their best lives. I treat them with love and respect as best I can and find that they treat me in kind. There are, of course, disagreements sometimes but more often than not, we are able to work things out and come back together.

Fiddler on the Roof is one of my favorite movies. Released in 1971, it tells the story of a poor village in pre revolutionary Russia and how they must face the changes in the world while the Jewish main character, Tevye, must deal with marrying off his three beloved daughters as they come of age. I recall a story Pastor John once told that is also depicted in the movie as Tevye is on his rounds delivering milk one morning:

MORDCHA: Why should I break my head about the outside world? Let them break their own heads.

TEVYE: He’s right. As the Good Book says, “If you spit in the air, it lands in your face.”

PERCHIK: That’s nonsense. You can’t close your eyes to what’s happening in the world.

TEVYE: He’s right.

AVRAM: He’s right and he’s right? How can they both be right?

TEVYE: You know, you’re also right.

Google script link.

This scene makes me chuckle. I like it because it shows an example of listening to other people and hearing their values, not just their words. Their words may seem to express opposite opinions, but often after breaking down what they truly mean, we find common ground in the values behind them.

I see this happen often on Facebook. I am delighted when I see several people from the different slices of my life agree on something and I shout (quietly, to myself), "You, see! There IS common ground!" It shows me that, in the end, we are all just humans with struggles, trying to find a way to take care of ourselves, our families and our friends.

God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, the true common ground, not only between my friends, but also between them and Him. I am here to remind them of His link to them in times of need and joy, and to be salt and light that can bind us to each other and bring us together in Him.

Acts 2:2-12
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Matthew 22:8-10 (NIV)
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Matthew 5:13-14
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Tevye meets Perchik in the circle of the village. - He's right, and he's right - they can't both be right.

This scene is longer then the excerpt above, but contains the excerpt in context.

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About the Author

Mark lives in Oregon with his lovely wife, Darla and enjoys reading, writing, playing games and working to make the world a better place. He currently serves CitySalt church as a sound engineer and on the church council.

The Holy Spirit and Pentecost Resources

It is my pleasure to draw attention to the THIRD person of the Trinity and what we referred to as Pentecost recorded in Acts 1-2. This passage has special significance for Christ-followers not only looking to the past, but is very relevant to our present and future.
 
I recently participated in a Boeing Factory tour near Seattle. From our tour guide I learned that two men were intrigued by flying and decided to strap themselves to the wings of a single person plane to enjoy this innovation. They were later inspired to come up with a way to propel groups of humans to fly higher than ever before. So what started out to be a small beginning, has now become huge industry. The innovative work of William Boeing in the early 1900’s led to creating shared traveling experiences in the air, that take people all over the globe and actually helps us feel like the world is a much more knowable place.  
 
Similar to the Boeing’s significant of the airline industry, Pentecost represents an important moment in the unfolding narrative of God's pursuit and redemption of His beloved creation. Similarly, Boeing and Pentecost involves an invisible power that impacts the trajectory for all of mankind when we choose to work with it instead of against it. Boeing may have changed the way we live and experience the world, but Pentecost has changed the way we live and experience God and has altered our existence for all of eternity. 

On Sunday, June 4th we dedicated our service to talking about the Holy Spirit and Pentecost followed by a time of openness and prayer for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit for empowered living. Here are a few follow up resources that I trust will help feed the hungry soul of those who want anything and everything God has promised for His followers.

Luke 11:9-13 NLT
9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.

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The Holy Spirit By The Bible Project
Video Overview

Check out this brief overview of the Bible with a special emphasis on the presence and participation of the third person of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit .

YouTube Video Link | TRT 4:10

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Alpha Course Film Series on the Holy Spirit
Episodes 9-11

Check out the following video resources from the 14 week discipleship video series known as The Alpha Course.  Nicky Gumbel is an Anglican priest, author and the developer of the Alpha Course. Since 2005, he has been Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton in the Diocese of London, Church of England.The Alpha Course welcomes everyone, especially those who might not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers by fostering an environment of hospitality where people can bring friends, family and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith in a safe and respectful way.

Click on the links below to watch YouTube videos that are approximately 30 minutes long for each segment.

Who is the Holy Spirit? | Alpha Film Series | Episode 9 (click to watch)
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What Does the Holy Spirit Do? | Alpha Film Series | Episode 10 (click to watch)
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How Can I Be filled With the Holy Spirit?  | Alpha Film Series | Episode 11 (click to watch)

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The Radical Relocation of the Presence of God
by Jerry Cook

Check out the following excerpts from the book, The Monday Morning Church by Foursquare pastor and author, Dr. Jerry Cook. Jerry's insights and practical way understanding the significance of Pentecost and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit has been a refreshing contribution to the mission and expression of the church.

The renowned pastor wrote six books, including the bestselling Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness, The Monday Morning Church and his most recent, The Holy Spirit: So, What’s the Big Deal? With his wife, Barbara, he also wrote Choosing to Love: The Odyssey of a Relationship.

Click HERE to download excerpts from Chapters 1-2 of The Monday Morning Church that talk explain the Radical Relocation of the Presence of God.
 

"The Old And the New" by John Rice

I heard a statement recently that really caught my attention. It went something like this:

“In the Old Testament if a Believer touched a leper, he was pronounced ‘unclean’ and had to be removed from the congregation. In the New Testament if a Believer touched a leper, the leper was healed.”

I have treasured the Old Testament all my Christian life and argued for its inclusion in the teachings of our modern day church, even defending it against those who would say it isn’t relevant to us Christians anymore. Some think of the Old Testament as just an old history book, which presents an angry, vengeful God who is Himself transformed in the New Testament by the coming of Jesus. I would still argue that this is a false conclusion and that while the Old Testament does record the history of ancient Israel, with all its struggles and battles, it also paints a picture of the true character of God and man.

God is characterized through his interactions with people as a patient, compassionate, wise, forgiving and loving God. In fact, the Lord describes Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:5-7 in this way: And God passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished.” David also describes the amazingly gracious character of God in his psalms, as does Isaiah and other prophets.

Even though the Old Testament is as much “God’s Word” as the New, what Jesus does when He comes to earth, born of a woman and very much human, yet equally divine, is truly world-changing. The New Testament speaks of a new covenant with God, which allows us to live in a radically different way from the way our brothers and sisters of the Old Covenant lived.

So back to the statement I heard recently, mentioned above, we see an example of this huge difference. In the book of Leviticus, chapter 14, we read what the Israelites were to do if anyone had an infectious disease. That person was to “wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’. As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.” Now to be sure, this was an ingenious way to keep infectious diseases from spreading through the whole population in a time when there was little medical knowledge for a nomadic desert people. In fact, the requirement to shave and wash wasvery advanced hygiene in those days.

Nonetheless, contrast this to what Jesus did and instructed His disciples to do. He constantly laid hands on sick people and restored their health, their sight, their wholeness. Paul and the other apostles went around healing the sick, lame, diseased and possessed. The power which Jesus ministered in and with which He empowered His disciples, was the same power that raised Him from the dead after three days in a tomb. It was the power of God’s Holy Spirit, which Jesus sent to His people on earth during Pentecost 50 days after He had been resurrected.

God is the same God in the Old and New Testaments, but when Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to live inside all of His followers who invited Him there, everything changed. I can’t even begin to understand what power lives inside me. I struggle with the faith for that sometimes. But I do know that God keeps His Word and that Jesus said we would do even greater works than He Himself did because of the Holy Spirit. I choose to believe Him and seek to open up to Him in every way He wants me too. Help me, Lord! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven….and help me play my part!

Exodus 34:5-7

And God passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished.”

John 14:12

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.