TRUTH or CONSEQUENCES

Did you sing this song in Sunday School?  "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak but He is strong.  Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so." There are many who give their lives to Jesus but don't really have a revelation of His love for them. I know, because for a long time I wondered how God could love me.  A lot of that comes from how we have related to our earthly parents as kids.  If you have had any kind of negative experience in relationships with those who were supposed to love you and protect you, it is harder to accept the idea that Almighty God could love you unconditionally.  I had to come to the realization that my parents were not perfect!  They too were trying to find their way.  Often hurt people will hurt people! We have more understanding today, more openness to talk and be real then the generations behind us.  God wants ...

Hebrews 6: 19 tells me that I have hope as an anchor for my soul, firm and secure!  Have you ever thought much about hope?  Let me define it for you...the joyful anticipation of good! It is when my heart is totally convinced that God is good and is looking out for me.  It reminds of Romans 8 verse 28 where it says that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.  So there is one condition...that we love God.  When I live a life that shows my love for Him, I can depend on Him to work everything out for my good. Hope is complete confidence in God's goodness!  It is when I understand that His desire, His commitment, and His abilities are all in my corner saying "all is well, I've got your back".  Later in chapter 10 verse 23 Paul wrote..." Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise."  Hope is not depende...

In Romans 8 verses 14-16 it says, "...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Immediately my mind and heart cry out Holy Spirit, lead me.  Let me hear your voice very clearly.  I want to be a son of God.  (After all, if men have to be the bride of Christ than women can certainly be sons of God!) I am a daughter of the living God!  How do I know that?  Because I have the spirit of God living inside of me and I make every effort to cooperate with him!  I desire to follow him, because I know in my flesh I can still make some very bad choices.  There are many benefits to being a son or daughter of the living God!   I know that God is a good Father, and I know that He will give me the sa...

Shine in the Darkness In camp work and in Sunday School, we always sang the song, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine... let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!"  We are supposed to be shining examples of God's love and His kingdom everywhere we go! I read something this week that triggered the candle idea.  I believe it was in a Bill Johnson book and I wrote it down in my journal.  It said, "Outward manifestations of the Kingdom within, i.e. power, conquest, success, supply, harmony, are all promised.  They do not come as a result of urgent prayer or striving to obtain, but come naturally as light results from a lighted candle." As I pondered that I realized that I am a striver!  I am always thinking IF I do this, than that will happen.  I always have a plan!  I am always at work to earn something.  I remember growing up I heard these words a lot..."If you really loved me, you would....".  So somehow I eq...