Cut Sin’s Power

I 

“O Lord,”I prayed, “ have mercy on me. Heal me,for I have sinned against you.” Psalm 41:4

    Even though you’re a Christian “born again” we have to realize every sin we commit can be redeemed and healed. What a powerful gift repentance can be. 

  Whether it be a damaged reputation, an addiction that compromises your integrity, or for some reason you just wanted to look good to others than actually telling the truth and in turn let the blame fall on someone else. 

    The life-changing reality is that there is no difference between the power to save and the power to resolve sin. The work of Jesus isn’t just for the forgiveness of every sin, but for healing from every sin. Jesus can release you from the power of the sin that has an immense hold on your life.

    Repenting with entire, exclusive trust in the gift of God‘s grace to cleanse you.

If you have walked off of the well worn path of pleasing God 

(by self-effort), start walking down the road of trusting God. 

  In confession we open our lives to the healing, reconciling, restoring, uplifting grace of Him who loves us in spite of what we are. 

  

Mopping Up

 I once heard of a mental hospital that had devised an unusual test to determine when patients were ready to go back into the world. They brought the candidates for release into a room where a tap was turned on, sending water pouring out over the floor. Next they handed the patient a mop and told him to mop up the  water. If the patient had a firm enough grasp of reality to turn off the tap before mopping up the water, he was ready to go out into society. But if he started mopping up the water without turning off the tap, they knew that more treatment was needed.
 You and I would never miss such an obvious step as shutting off the tap before mopping the floor. But the fact is that many Christians live their lives in a way that is, from a spiritual point of view, equally absurd.
 Each of us as believers has been given the mop of God‘s truth. We’ve  been told to use it to help mop up the evil in the world around us. But we can only be useful if we first have enough sense to shut off the flow of evil that pours into our own hearts from the outer arena of battle that the Bible calls the “world” and from the inner arena it calls the “flesh”.

 “Live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit.  Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”   Galatians 5:16

Live free of Temptation

One of the greatest obstacles to enjoying the uncaged life is our ongoing struggle with temptation. No matter how spiritually mature or devoted we are to following Jesus, as human beings, we will always face temptations. Understanding and appropriating God’s promises, however, can empower us in this battle. We can accept his grace and live in his power to find freedom. 

We’re all baffled at our own behavior at times. Maybe you need to control your temper, stop tearing into people, or blowing up. But then that person starts driving you crazy again, pushing your buttons. You know that guy or girl is no good for you. You know you should get to church on the weekend. You know what you should do, but you are constantly tempted to cave. Paul bottom-lines it for us: “I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong” (Romans 7:21). The struggle with temptation is baked right into life. Wanting what’s right but doing what’s not right. But Paul gives us the ultimate solution to our sin problem: “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25).

Our freedom has been won on the cross, but we still struggle to live in that freedom. It’s a battle to grow into the person you really are in Christ. But you don’t resist temptation to hang onto your salvation. You resist it to grow, thrive, and receive all of the good things God wants to give you. That’s why I’m grateful for this promise of God: I will help you stand in temptation. 

God is aware of the temptations you face. I don’t believe he leads you to sin, but he does allow temptation and testing. In fact, the term temptation can also be translated “trial.” God sees to it that no temptation will be too much for you to bear. He always shows you a way out. Resisting temptation is not like flipping a switch. You’re caught in a spiritual battle! You have a spiritual adversary who wants to hold you down in destructive habits and make you lose sight of God’s promises. And you don’t have to look for the fight—the fight will find you. You will find yourself facing difficulties you don’t understand. Yet, difficulty teaches humility, which empowers your future victory. Don’t let the testing become a ground to give into temptation. Stand firm on the promise that he will show you a way out and that victory is possible.

Live free in the promise: I will stand with you in temptation. 

God with us

 At some point, each of us meets the limits of being human.  It may not be through an anxiety disorder. Maybe it’s the stifling experience  of a job where your best skills are never used.  Or past choices who’s consequences still choke and bind.  Or addictions you feel powerless to control.  We all suffer the inescapable reality of sin and it’s fall out in this broken world.  And we can relate to the Psalmist when he described the chords of the grave coiling around him. (Ps 18:5)
       The simple image of Jesus, gods gift to us, being wrapped up in Cloths comforts me with the powerful truth :  he understands the bindings on my mind and so has only someone who has shared experiences can. The concept of Immanuel, God with us, takes on a new and profound clarity.

Wandering Off

"If you went for a walk in the woods, but then decided to wander off the path, and found yourself surrounded by a thicket of thorns and poison ivy, who would you blame? Would you blame the person who built the path? No, of course not. Instead, you'd blame yourself if you were honest, because you alone were responsible for wandering from the path.

In a far deeper way, this is what happens when we decide to leave God out of our lives. For a time, it may seem like wandering away from Him doesn't make any difference; it may even seem easier and freer. But eventually, it catches up with us—just as wandering off that path and into the thicket caught up with you," 

Losing our Way

 It doesn't take much to lose our way.   Perhaps your life feels a drift ;  turned topsy-turvy in the churning, competing undercurrents , my wants, money, church, work, faith, sex, prayer, power, selfishness, just a swirling mess.
                                     In all that noise how do we get back on course?
 Before you begin – know this – you're not alone.
 The men and women of the Bible were also helpless and mixed with emotions. Lots of times, they were deep in the weeds doing their own thing. So if that's you, you're in good company. But remember – those same men and women also got things back on track, and  developed such a rock hard faith that they would stay strong in the face of persecution, would single handedly fight giants, could fearlessly face down armies and perform impossible miracles.
 This is where we are meant to be living every minute of the day. If you're feeling a long,long way from that  kind of actualized, trusting faith, find your way back.

Psalm 73:26 "my flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Romans 3:23 " for all have send and fall short of the glory of God."

1Peter 5:8  " be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Brutal Honesty

There is no one else around. It is just you and the air you breathe. Sometimes  the hardest conversation to have is the one you have with yourself.  Brutal honesty begins when we look in the mirror and speak the truth about what we see.  It requires that you tell the truth about yourself to yourself.  Being honest with yourself about what you really deserve. That kind of honesty is difficult.
 The hardest person in the world to be honest with is the person in the mirror.  No one wants to say those things. No one wants to look in the mirror and admit – I have made some miserable choices.
But  avoiding brutal honesty will short-circuit lasting change. When there is recognition without repentance, desire for change is not there.  We must deal with ourselves truthfully, the awakening must lead to honesty, conviction must lead to confession.
      There is a big difference between apology and a confession : an apology is an expression of regret
(I am sorry).  A confession is an admission of fault: ( I am sorry because I did wrong. I sinned.)
Hebrews4:13
 Nothing in all creation is hidden from god site. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
It's good to spend some time looking in the mirror and speaking the honest truth.
There is something  powerful about going into a quiet room, shutting the door, looking in the mirror, and speaking truth to yourself about yourself.

❤️Sing a Heart Song❤️

 Do you have an ache inside of you today that is almost too much for you to endure?
 Have you lost your will to sing--to dream--to move forward--to Hope ?
" How long, oh Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day? " (Psalm13:1&2)

 There will always be times in life when the days are drab -- when the hours are meaningless.
 In those hours and minutes or moments of stagnation and doldrums, we must embrace a strategy.
   The Psalmist remind me what this strategy is or should be -- " But I have trusted in your
loving kindness;  my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. " (Psalm13:5&6)
 I have trusted!
 When you are down in the dumps of life – – try trusting.
 When you live in the pit of despair – – try trusting.
 It doesn't matter one bit how difficult or how disappointing your life has become, because the loving and kind God has not changed.
 My heart shall rejoice!
 Talk to your heart and tell it what to do : "HEART...Its time to Rejoice!"
 There should be no disappointment so bold as to silence the song of your heart.
 Your personal song is most clear when it is sung in the despair of human existence. Trust me. I know. I will sing !
 Sing when you don't feel like it.
  Sing when your soul is in pain.
     Sing anyway.
 I will sing and I will honor Him!
 So there are circumstances! There are disappointment and discouragement's!
 Could it be possible that when I choose him ...  It brings joy to my heart? !
 Could it be possible  ...  When I sing in spite of my personal pain ...  That He sings with me ? !
            Could it be?!

 Here's a thought to ponder :
 In your heart sing your favorite song when your world is falling apart ---  it is actually a duet because He sings along beside you !!!

We have only two choices

 You have two choices now and only two.  Choose your master each and every moment. One will give you power and love ; one promises the same but lies and lead you into misery
 Think of your mind as divided. Part of it is caught in the lives of the flesh and your old will;  The other part is one with Jesus,  Who is the truth and shares the will of the Father.  Your choice is to believe one or the other. You cannot believe both at the same time.
     You cannot see two worlds at once, or darkness and light at once.
       You cannot serve two masters, as Jesus said. (Matthew6:24)
     You cannot serve both God and the system of the world called mammon.  You cannot serve both both fear and freedom. You cannot serve both offense and forgiveness. You cannot serve both love and judgment. You get to choose one master or the other.
   Which will you choose.  All of your life comes down to this very simple choice in every moment. What do you choose to see? Who will you put your faith in :  your old self, or Jesus in whom you live and move and have your being? Who will you listen to :  The holy spirit within you, or the flesh and the accuser of that flesh?
     Consider all the schemes that your flesh promised would bring you salvation from the storm. Has listening to the guidance of the flesh ever saved you? Be honest with yourself and you will know the truth.  You will listen to madness, or you will listen to truth. Two choices. One is your prison; one is your freedom.
   But do not judge yourself for your own madness if you cannot hear or see the truth, for now we see only in part. Even awareness of your blindness is a giant step forward in your journey of seeing.
 So then, be glad even that you can now see your blindness. You are blessed and see already !

The Conflict Within

 We think and say we believe in Jesus, but we are anxious for tomorrow and cringe with fear in the face of the storm. We are Christians with various procedures and doctorines, and judging with anger, not only ourselves but all those around us, yet in our daily lives we seem to be the same, stumbling in the darkness and lost.
   Have we lost sight of Paul's teaching? The evidence shown by those who know the Father is this: love.  Not just any love, but the unique kind that loves enemies, not only those who show us love in return.  A love that is patient, showing no jealousy or arrogance, keeping no record of wrong, not seeking his own and not provoked by another's behavior. This is to love as Christ loves, submitting to each other without judgment.
   We call ourselves born again, baptized in water and the spirit. We are diligent in taking communion, singing in choir, serving in church, tithing, reading the Scriptures, gathering in Bible studies, going on missions.
 And yet rivers of love, joy and peace do not flow from us like living waters, and so, as Paul said, all of these profit us nothing.
 We all believe the Word of God without question, and that word is a person named Jesus, through an in whom all that was made exist.  When we say the word is living, active, sharper than any two edge sword,  we are talking about Jesus, who alone is the Word.
   What we believe is shown not by what we say or even think, but by how we live. To believe in Christ is to be and live in him. Thus few Christians seem to actually believe in Jesus. They only believe many things about Him.  Jesus made it clear, he was the only way to experience the Father and thus manifest true power and love in this life. Maybe our fixation with the next life has distracted us from following him in this life.
 Our journey is to find peace, love, joy, and all of the fruit of the Spirit, by truly believing in the identity of Christ and Christ in us each day.  You can't believe in Christ without also believing in who you are, one with and in Him. To believe in Him is to place your identity in Him.

What if we're wrong?

  From all that has happened to us in our lifetime, all we have encountered and experienced, we have drawn conclusions about life and how to make it work. We form our  conclusions in order to protect and provide for ourselves. We build our belief system brick by brick, just as if we were a bricklayer building a house.
   We consult our experiences to determine how the world operates, who we are in it, how to avoid pain, when to promote ourselves, and more.
    All of these moments, and all the conclusions we draw from them, are stored in a place called the heart.  "A mans heart is engaged with his belief system regardless of his condition. Whether alive in Christ or spiritually dead, the heart is in constant danger of being compromised and wounded.
    No wonder two kingdoms -light and dark, are at war over such a beautiful and vital piece of real estate. Is it any wonder that mens hearts are in serious need of renovation?  In our core, our center, or stored attitudes, beliefs, and conclusions shaped by our experiences.  These need Gods attention, because we don't get by without being hurt, missed, or wounded in this larger story and at the central core of places.
 The Scripture tells us,
" Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life." Proverbs 4:23
 What every man has left unguarded for much of his life need his and Gods attention.  There are things growing there and wandering about that we have left unattended far too long.
    There is a remedy for the false - self life from which we all suffer.  There is another kind of life, another way of life, and it is almost too good to be true. Almost.
 It is the life of a son of God, one who knows how to fight and knows how to rest, knows how to be loved and, in time learns how to love.
               " Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives
                  to his beloved is that about overcoming self "
                                         Francis of Assisi
   Overcoming the "false"self, the other layers of a man, both the good and the messed up and simple, that he mistakes for his deepest identity.  Seeing what has to be overcome is a huge step toward actually overcoming it.
   Somethings need to be unlearned. (I wrote an earlier blog on "Renewing Our Mind" and spoke somewhat about unlearning.)  One of the first steps in our training is to circle back to what has already taken place in our story.  What we have learned along the way and why we have become the way we are requires our focused attention if we are to become truly free.
   Regular visit with God to explore one's personal history or standard practice for men to shed the "false"self and to become true men.  Here are a few questions to ask God during your visits with him.

Father-- Who delivered the messages and materials that formed the beliefs of my heart?

Jesus--  What happened to me that has brought on a loss of heart?

Holy Spirit--  In my life's journey, who inflicted hurt, guilt, fear, or Shame?

 Find answers with God and you will find your "false"self, -- the enemy of the heart controls-- and that is what always oposses your life with God.

Hunters

“So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field;but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.”   Genesis 25:27

In biblical times, hunting was a primary means of providing food for the family. Esau became a skilled hunter by studying game trails, feeding areas, and other signs in the wild- ( no game cams here men & women). But it didn’t just happen overnight.

It takes time and effort to develop the skills to harvest a deer , a long- bearded gobbler or a limit of mallards and squirrels. Many hunters have all the right equipment but don’t know how to use it properly. All the equipment money can buy is useless unless we understand how to use it properly.

Life can be much like hunting. In 2 Timothy 2:15 God says-“Be diligent to present yourself to be approved to God.” Good hunters must become skillful, prepared, and diligent. The ultimate hunt in life is seeking a relationship with the greatest huntmaster of all, Jesus Christ. He is not hard to find, but we must seek Him.  Matthew 6:33 says “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” God desires us to seek Him everyday. When it comes to seeking God, there are no closed seasons; and, unlike the wild game we pursue, God wants us to find Him through a relationship with Jesus Christ His Son.

Life is Short

 We forget this – but it is so important.
 We waste our days thinking –
 I've got time I'll obey God in the next season of my life
I'll obey God when I get enough money in the bank
 I'll obey God when I'm older
 I'll obey God when I am finished having fun
 I'll obey God after I'm married
 I'll obey God when the marriage gets easier
 I'll obey God when It seems like it's a more logical time to take the step
 But God says that the battle is already won. I want you to step out with me right now, today, don't delay. Life is short!!!
 Don't waste your days. We don't have time to waste our days, there are billions of people who have never heard of Jesus. We have the answer. We have the hope, we have the truth. We have the life. We have Jesus. That's what matters – let Jesus be known.
 Life is short We don't have the time to have a complacent heart.

Could giving Thanks Hold the Key to your Miracle

  Elijah celebrated the small cloud as if it were the abundance of rain.
" A small cloud as small as a man's hand it rising out of the sea." 1Kings 18:44
 The Old Testament prophet Elijah models an important characteristic of walk in the supernatural power of God and receiving miracles. He knew what it meant to celebrate a seed like it was actually the harvest.
 In the same way – we need to start seeing All signs  of breakthrough with a prophetic Eye and learn how to thank God for the small cloud in the same way as we would thank him for the abundance of rain.
 A key to walking in the supernatural power of God is to increase our awareness of what God is doing. We must remember that the harvest is in the small seed, and the outpouring is in the small cloud.  Focusing on what God is doing causes us to be thankful. Instead of being disappointed that we did not receive 100% restoration of hearing, sight or the removal of pain, we celebrate the 30% improvement.
 As a result, our faith is strengthened to keep on believing for the 60% and 80% and ultimately they 100%. Thanksgiving builds our faith, and that faith sustains us while we continue to believe for the complete miracle ---  for ourselves and others.
 For this season and always – be thankful for all of the little signs of blessing and breakthrough. Elijah focused on the small cloud, not the empty sky. All progress, improvement and change are worth Thanksgiving and celebration.  Sure, it may be a cloud the size of a man's hand, but Elijah responded to that little thing as if it were an abundance of rain.
  Then Elijah shouted  " Hurry to ahab and tell him,  climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don't hurry, the rain will stop you." (1Kings18:44)
 Why the shout and urgency??
 Elijah knew that contained in the cloud was the massive outpouring he had heard about it and saw in the spirit.
   In the same way we should give thanks for every sign of improvement, healing, restoration, and progress in our situations. Remember, the seed contains the harvest. And every step forward is a step toward complete breakthrough we must celebrate the seed like it is actually the harvest !

Renewing Our Mind

  It is said that most spiritual growth comes from and through unlearning.
 You might say a learning what?   Unlearning everything that the world has taught us which is in conflict with what Jesus says is true. (Including some religion)..
   As we unlearn those lies, we are transformed by the renewing of our mind. As we repent, or renew our mind, we will see that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and withIn.
 Jesus Taught-- Repent, (change your mind)  for the kingdom of heaven is here and within you.
 And what is this renewal? Becoming like a child once again? To see as a child sees with simple faith?
 Above all, what we need to unlearn are the lies that block our vision of who our Father is and who we are as sons and daughters -  remove the clouds that block the light already within us.  Pluck out all the planks of offense that block our vision.
   Renewing the mind is nothing less than wiping out the old operating system of this world and living in a whole new operating system, the one written by Jesus.
 True knowing isn't a function of the brain, as the flash would have us to believe, it is a function of the heart.  The heart is the seat of love or fear. It is where you experience either the Father or the lie that has replaced him.
 Grasping for God with the intellect is often the flesh's tricky way of silencing faith.  In truth, we are saved from darkness, both in this life and the life to come, by grace through faith, not by grace through intellect.
 His way, the opposite of the way of the world, will save us from the storm.
 So let go and trust! And they chains placed on us by flash will fall away...!

How can I know the Spirit is there ?

   I have been a believer for many years, but as in my previous few pages, I have had a hard time believing and knowing that the Holy Spirit is guiding me.  I have always felt bad when sinning because I knew it was wrong, but there have been times in my life when I sinned knowingly and didn't care.
                     After some study here's what I found ;
 You know the Holy Spirit is in you because in three places (Ephesians 1:13-14) (2 Cor. 1:21-22) and (2 Cor. 5:5)  every believer Sins knowingly from time to time, and then feel sad about it later. That's the Holy Spirit convicting us, and moving us to confess so we can be forgiven and restored to fellowship.
 When believers sin it doesn't mean we aren't saved. Even the great Paul said that no matter how hard he tried he couldn't stop spinning.   (Romans 7:18-20)

How to Regain that Fire (Part 2)

    When we're on fire for the Lord,  The Holy Spirit is the driving force within us. When we've quenched the spirit we're no longer on fire for the Lord.

 Since God put his spirit in our heart as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (2Corinthians 1:21-22)  He never goes away.   Therefore, people can regain the ability to hear him. But just as ignoring him was an action caused by a motive, the decision to begin listening again must be caused by the opposite motive.  We must be willing to yield our independence and heed his advice.

 And just as it took time to lose the ability to hear him, it will take time to regain it. His voice will be very quiet at first but will become easier to hear as I practice listening to him and accepting what He says.  With practice, we will begin to hear him more clearly again and noticed being more "on fire" again.
So if you no longer have that fire for Him, this is how you get it back.

Unquenching the Spirit. (PART 1)

  When we continually ignore  the Holy Spirit,s guidance we will lose the ability to hear him.  This is called quenching the Spirit. This has been bothering me for obvious reasons.  Since I have indeed quenched the Holy Spirit somewhat lately;  as we all do from time to time.  Can it be restored by restoring my fellowship with God?  My searching produce this ending for me, as I already knew the answer !!actually beginning.
--------------------------Here's what I found. ----------------------------
 People lose the ability to hear the Holy Spirit by consistently ignoring his advice. They ignore him because their   ( me) are unwilling to yield their independence to him.  Since He's a counselor and not a commander, he can't make us obey him, so we just tune him out.
   In truth, it's actually a bit more than just losing the ability to hear him.   It's actually a bit more than just losing the ability to hear Him. Paul said, "Don't quench the spirit. " in 1 Thes. 5:19  he literally meant "Don't put out his fire. "

You Learn by Living

You gain strength,courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself----I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.  You must do the thing you think you cannot do...

                                                                Eleanor Roosevelt

come back

It's been nearly a year since I have posted anything on this blog and  think its time to ty to make a comeback. see ya soon bloggers .  PaulP