TRUTH or CONSEQUENCES

The Holy Spirit continually speaks to us, to lead us into all truth and show us who Father God really is.  He encourages us every day to become more like Jesus! He is looking for hungry hearts that desire to hear God and respond to Him.  In cooperation with the Holy Spirit, there are some things that we need to consider as we mature, or "grow up" in the Lord. First, Father is looking for people who are able to keep long term commitments.  In other words, He is looking for the faithful!  When you read the Old Testament, there are so many who started out following God, and ended their lives living for themselves.  When we decide to follow Jesus we must count the cost!  It is a lifelong decision.  Coming to Jesus and acknowledging Him as Savior is only the first step in our walk with Him.  From that point we must GROW.  Like marriage, time has to be spent and our life entwined with the life of Jesus.  Too many people acknowledge Jesus only when it is convenient for

"God DID NOT give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind!"  Paul wrote this word to Timothy, his spiritual son in the Lord.  In some translations it says God did not give us a spirit of timidity. To be timid is to be fearful, hesitant and lacking self-confidence.  It is someone who is easily intimated by others.  Intimidation persuades me to give up my authority in Christ Jesus.  When I do, my spiritual gifts can no longer operate freely.  That causes me to act and react out of my flesh, not seeing or responding as Jesus would.  Then instead of being offensively ready to walk out my faith, I become defensive and shrink back from any attack.  I step into a self protection mode, choosing to find a place of comfort and safety where I don't have to stand against evil. That is a mouthful, but that is what the Holy Spirit spoke to me this morning.  I never saw it quite as clearly as I do right now.  I remember one of my most intimidating moments w

"The Love of many will grow cold..." I would like to challenge you today to take your spiritual temperature.  Jesus warned His disciples that in the last days, times would be difficult.  Much like our day!  Natural disasters, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, not to mention political disaster everywhere! In our Christian nation it is becoming less and less popular to actually BE a Christian!  We are in the times when many are turning away from the faith.  Jesus said in Matthew 24: 12-13, " Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved ." In our nation we are seeing an increase in immorality, shamelessness, rebellion against God and throwing off of moral restraint.  If you try to speak into people's lives they call you old fashion and not hip with the times.  They call us intolerant and mean spirited. The problem is there are many Christians who name the name of Jes