It's All Good when you think about it...

Had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine yesterday. She told me that her pastor made it clear that if he were given a donation of 'dirty money', no matter HOW large the amount, the church would most certainly refuse it. 'Really?'
This got me thinking, & I mean beyond the conversation itself & into the next day. Maybe its my "B-S" radar that goes off automatically at times, ...but come on. Are you kidding me?

1.) dont buy it-highly doubt that a large sum of money would be rejected by any ministry, at least in the Western world
2.) if it is true, what a waste of an opportunity to further God's work, help the needy...buy new china for ladies weekly coffee hour...(the senior's would Love it! ) lol
3) what ARE the motives in rejecting a donation? Is it pride? Or an actual, truly deep reverant fear of God...
4) who does this dude think he is, telling my friends & hundreds of others what he knows sounds good, what he knows won't cause a riot among the onlookers in this traditional church; but mainly...would his actions belie his honorable declarations if indeed faced with a hefty donation?
5) To me, it seems to come down to truth, & motive. If a church refuses certain monies out of a pure respect & honor for God, then they get my kudos. But I still hold my position of not seeing what the big deal is...esp when I look at the story in Luke 7:36-50:

"...He went to the Pharisee's house & sat down at the dinner table. Just then, a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume, & stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, & anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him."

Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you"
"Oh? Tell me."
"Two men were in debt to a banker.One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty.Neither of them could pay up, & so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?"
Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most"
"That's right" said Jesus. Then turning to the woman but speaking to Simon, he said "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet but she rained tears on my feet & dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time she arrived, she hasn't quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, & so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal."
Then he spoke to her: "I forgive your sins."
That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: "Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!"
He ignored them & said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

Jesus had his feet washed with perfume that was purchased by performing sexually immoral acts. But by using that money to bless him, serve him & love him, He responded to her by forgiving her many sins. That says freedom to me...

We have a Defender!

Every now & then, we all have those moments of misery when life treats us unfairly. When false accusations & harsh words are thrown at us. When life as we know it is just too big a burden for our shoulders to carry any further, & we dream of better times. How perfect would it be, to travel far far away & give our tired brains & broken spirits a much needed rest, our hearts some time to heal.

So today while considering such ponderings with my dad, he said the words I had earlier heard the Lord speak into my heart; that He is our Defender. A Protector. A Provider & a God who says he prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies..annointing our heads with oil, as our cup overflows. He shines his face on us & his light all things, exposing the darkness; to be bold & confident in these things; to give our cares to him, for he cares for us. To cast our burden on Him & he will give us rest.

We aren't meant to barely scrape by in life. Or run away from problems; we can stay right where we are, amidst our conflicts/situations & be victorious! We are meant to hold firmly to a God who only wants the best for us...an abundant life. Prosperous. Joyous. Rested. Confident & assured that He is our Defender.

Psalm 56:9 My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side!

Isaiah 51:21-23 "...your God has taken up his people's case: "Look I've taken back the drink that sent you reeling. No more drinking from that jug of my anger! I've passed it over to your abusers to drink, those who ordered you, 'Down on the ground so we can walk all over you!' And you had to do it. Flat on the ground, you were the dirt under their feet."

The Road Travelled

Something that God said to me last week really stood out & ever since, I understand it more clearly to an even greater depth throughout various situations around me. Those words were;

"Never forget where you came from. Never forget the distance I have carried you. For this would not be to your benefit & pride may result; thus inhibiting my plans to use you."

It really made me think...how this makes sense on so many levels. To not dwell on the past of course, but rather...remain in a position of thankfulness & surrender to God for all HE'S done, not only to bring HIM glory, but to remain humble; & ready, willing & able to serve Him (& others who struggle with the very things that He has delivered me from.)

As I & my loved ones -even those not yet living for God--look on my past, we marvel at how God has intervened in my life in such miraculous ways. To glance back, gets less & less painful as my heart is continually flooded with praise & gratitude for His grace. I will never forget what He has done for me & my favorite part is I get to give HIM all the credit:)

Rx for divine health; (heart/sight/hearing/brain function/energy levels)...& SO much more can be yours for the low price of....PRAYER!?

IT's true. whether physical, spiritual,emotional...or all of the above, even scientific research today PROVES prayer to significantly improve overall health; http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21763278-1702,00.html

24/7 prayer rocked the walls of Freedom House once again last week...& one would think 'how disciplined..' however the word discipline isnt a personal fav. because it implies that we have to force ourselves to do something we dont want to do, or wouldn't do otherwise. Do we want to ~by nature~ take time out of our busy schedules to talk to someone we can't see; & not always see the results right away?
Or on the other hand, listening to someone talk about someone we dont know. Depending on the story, it might engage us for a few seconds or so...but no doubt about it; it can be down right dull, flat, boring & then some, to listen to someone go on about someone you have never met.
Brutal.
THats where I believe the connection needs to come in. How does this person affect my life? How could this person afftect my life in a really good way? What is this person capable of doing that no one else possibly could?
So the name of Jesus & all that He is & has done for us & has to offer us, peaks our interest; a connection is made.
Then would be knowing. You get to know him now. You have come to trust him as Your personal savior & friend. You begin to see all the ways that he blesses your life. The changes are good. Circumstances remain, yet there is new hope, based on what you know of him.
Now we enter passion. Your'e amazed by him. youre in awe; in love with him & you long to be closer to him. You long to please him & love him, like he loves you. You long to hear from him & talk to him.

This is the point we need to be at; becuase this is where prayer, while a supernatural experience, has become a natural one; while we love this supernatural God, we naturally are drawn to him, and because we were created as social beings, we long to connect, to really fully understand what he is saying to us.
ITs at this point, that we are healthy children of God. Fed. Connected. Tuned in & still hungry for more. THere is no one having to force us to come to him. we just do. because we're his & he is ours.

So for people who aren't saved; who are lost without Jesus, it frustrates me to no end, to see Gods people push them around, like their commanders in some bootcamp, telling the lost they need to repent & be 'disciplined.'
THese people know they need supernatural intervention in their lives & situations (in most cases anyway). SO why dont we instead stop judging, less barking, be more understanding of where they're at...the Word says "they will know we are Christians by our love" but unfort. the term Christian is thrown around too loosely & known for being uptight, boring & judgmental...

while some just preach till they're blue in the face, while failing ta notice that, well...no one's listening! (the dog tied to the fire hydrant doesn't count:/ ) Basically, we have to know when to just shut up! & Listen more; its at this point the lost will allow us to take them by the hand & connect them to Jesus...the One they need to meet.
Never by force.

Either Way

"I want GOd to bless this team so much people will talk about what He did. But it means we gotta give him our best in every area. And if we win, we praise Him. And if we lose, we praise Him..."

"With God, NOTHING is impossible!"

~Alex Kendrick, as football coach Grant Taylor in "Facing the Giants" 2006

He's the Devil in disguise...

Just came across this pic the other day...& everytime we look at it we howl. At the time I wasnt laughing though..this jackasss for a Santa showed up a half hour or more late, was miserable as sin & smelled of Jack Daniels.

I remember wanting to take my baby & leave....but her dad insisted it would be fine, we'd stay closeby....cause our daughter just couldnt miss out on getting her pic with Santa. So Em left him a special treat--a puddle of urine on his suit! Ha! My girl rocks.

...what is it about Christmas that turns our minds into jelly? For-going all common sense for the sake of...just what exactly? is it working?

Society has almost completely lost focus, & instead welcomed insanity:s

"Happy Birthday Jesus, we need you more than ever!"

Open Floodgates!

God's been hanging out a LOT at our church these days...24/7 prayer, right round the clock, no structure other than [prayer]-time slots, no limits, just welcoming him to move freely, his terms, not ours, not a committee.
Just a buncha people crying out to God, longing to bless him through worship, thanksgiving, open to hearing him & responding/obeying, sweat droplets of intercession...heaven's floodgates swinging open & his glory raining, no, pouring down, within that room on Market Street.
A sure way to walk into an unmistakeable, invisible wall of Gods very presence before you [so thick] you could cry or, stand/sit/dance/kneel speechless & just soak in it. He had so much to say to me that during the time I was there to pray I ended up mostly listening, & it was impacting--in other words I cant describe it but to say he spoke clearer than ever...so aware of him right there literally, so purely, undeniably that I could feel his presence flowing into my bones, through me, stirring up... To many if not all of us involved, he spoke so many words of knowledge, prophetic statements/pictures which he also gave/confirmed to others in the group shortly after.
These are days to expect the unexpected i guess. no, for sure. Days to throw off every last stitch of religious garb we can, praying that he will free us from whats left so to enable him to open our eyes to the things of the Spirit; things we have not yet seen or heard. To prepare us for what lay ahead.