Walking in kindness

Mathew 5:39

Jesus speaks on “an eye for an eye”

But I tell you , do not resist an evil person, if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Come on now, some people are such a challenge sometimes aren’t they!

But Jesus tells us there will be trials with everything!!! So instead of getting mad or running from them try to live as though you were meant to see this person today and that person you are angry or annoyed with may just be teaching you something, even about yourself!  So, be kind, even if they are not. Show you belong to the Lord and follow in his ways, they are always loving and truthful.

As you read through the posts you will see a lot written for changing a heart, watching your step and especially for forgiveness.

Because….God is Simply Kind!

Jesus Calls His Disciples

Jesus shows us that Prayer is essential for making decisions

When the Lord Comes Into Your Life

Your life changes and you are transformed into a new creation.

You are:

Born Again, you trust God, you walk with God, you feel His presence, He knows your name, you worship Him, you love His ways, you adore Him, you are loved, you have eternal life, you don’t love the world but you love His people. you are not ashamed, you are chosen, you are forgiven, you are blessed. YOU ARE HIS

When the Lord Comes Into Your Life

The most misunderstood phrase people hear is: Born Again

Some may think it is 

a crazy Christian wrapped too tight in Jesus.

Or

They are going to try to convert me 

Or even still, 

Someone who is feeling guilty about the things they have done.

Well I’m going to tell you all of the above is true!

When Jesus comes into your life , you are no longer your former self you are a new creation in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4:22 

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

Something amazing happens:

You begin to desire to know more about Jesus and what He did for you, you begin to read your Bible and at first it makes no sense, but as the Holy Spirit is working in you- the words begin to take shape and now you are seeing the world in a new way. You pray more -something great has opened your mind and grabbed hold of your heart. You don’t want to do the things you used to do or say the things you used to say, Christ is now in command of your soul and shaping you to be more like Him.

But that doesn’t mean you won’t trip up a lot! You will- but you now know through repenting and not following that former life you can live freely without worrying about the consequences of the world, now you know God is the one who you answer to, it is He who is your judge. 

Acts 5:29

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

The world will never understand you so be ready for a lot of push back from skeptics, you won’t be the life of the party as you once were, but fully aware of your standing in the promises of God no matter what people say about you. 

When you share your testimony of how God has changed your life there will be people that aren’t going to like it. They may avoid you, try to change the subject or just plain think you are a crazy Christian. 

2 Corinthians 12:10

 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Sharing Christ is part of our walk of faith, if you had not shared what Jesus has done for all on that cross, then how will that person know there is a way of escape from eternal death. Asking Jesus into your life was the best decision you could have ever made.

Everything that you once have done and felt guilt for has been forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. The weight of sin in heavy, but when you come to Christ He is the way to forgiveness of sins. So it is true when you ask for forgiveness of sins and asking Him into your life, then it it done! No going back and reliving what you did- He has forgiven that through His shed blood on the cross we are forgiven!

Now if you are not Born Again into a new creation, new life in Christ, then brothers and sisters it’s not too late to have the most incredible freeing experience that you could ever know. But that doesn’t mean you are free of septics, persecutors or some that believe in Christ yet follow their own way and think you are over the top with your “religion”.  

By the way-It isn’t religion it’s Christianity, following Christ- people made religion and follow and create their own agendas, protocol doctrines and rules, not just churches but any man made religion, false teachings or worship of things or idols.

 Jesus came to save us, not to create religion. 

Remember the one who saves.

To conclude, no matter what others think of you, stand tall, remember who you are in Christ and share your walk with others and show them that you have the love of Christ in you!

Shalom

Nancy

The Christian Writer

God Directs Us To A Better Route

I usually don’t share my dreams but this one I needed to share with you and it really got t me thinking about how God directs our lives.

I was riding on a very tall horse through the woods and I knew the presence of my husband also riding a horse behind me, I rode up to a steep cliff, almost falling but stopped. I looked to my left and there was a better route, so I turned the horse easily to go through a path lined with trees and I looked to my right  there was a shorter leap for the horse to the way down, I rallied the horse, and got him ready to jump. We circled big and took slight run and we made it! Then the dream ended. 

But it had me thinking.

When life’s circumstances get you to the “edge” there is always a better route, one that isn’t so complicated as we sometimes make things into. When you follow Christ there are no easy routes but ways that God can guide you through.

People walk in and out of our lives and we don’t understand why, we are detained in a job or a life “holding pattern” for reasons we could not possibly understand. Maybe it’s a position at work or promotion you have been waiting for and a daunting year by year process with no progress made. But don’t let the things that hold you hostage determine your route- just take a better one as God leads you along.

Just possibly when things don’t go the way you have  the option of two routes-be upset, angry, anxiety filled , frustrated or you can be looking to God to see that all of this is His master plan for you. You may think- “If that’s God’s master plan, it sure isn’t a good one!” But you see the hardest places are where we must stop, pray & look to Him to open our minds for  a change in the circumstances we are facing. He may be keeping us there for a long term reason of strengthening, growing and teaching you patience and sometimes even opening your heart to someone who may be unloveable or needs your love. 

We just can’t know or understand God’s plan, but it’s always a better route!

I think of King David, when anointed to be a King at a young age, do you think he knew he had to wait 16 years to be the King of Israel, he fled from King Saul ’s jealously of trying to kill him, talk about being frustrated? But David was a man after God’s own heart and waited for him to direct him to a better route. David trusted God as even in David’s darkest moments he turned to His Father in Heaven in prayer. Each day was a challenge, but he fully depended on God’s plan and direction.

Do you seek God’s master plan for your life and circumstances?

Or 

Do you remain bitter, frustrated and give up on things because what you thought you should have gotten didn’t happen?

Matthew 7:8

 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Let it go to Him.

Shalom

Nancy

http://www.harvestmetro.com

Be A Listener

One of the hardest part of ministry is having a listening ear. Often times in ministry, our ears need to be attentive and we must ride the conversation through even if it’s cutting in our time or painful for us to listen and understand. Do we feel like the person isn’t getting it or the conversation isn’t progressing, do we turn a deaf ear or turn away when it’s not going in the direction you are hoping for? 

Do we leave someone in their ditch because we aren’t prepared to council or help them?

We don’t know what someone is going through, suffering of health issues or the attacks in their mind. Jesus tells us in this parable of the Good Samaritan to show compassion on whomever God puts in front of us. Yes, you need to set boundaries, not to enable but to help that person when in need, to talk it out or pray for God to open their hearts to an understanding. Can’t say “ok gotta go, talk later” if the conversation isn’t progressing the way you think it should be.

I’ve chosen this scripture that was placed on my heart, it embodies everything that comes from a selfish heart to a good one, Jesus shows us how both types of hearts respond;

Luke 10:25-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

We can not expect anyone to understand or have the answer to how you someone is feeling . But you can show love and compassion instead of  turning away, to be a listener for someone who is struggling. Sometimes it takes more time and energy to power through a conversation, even if there is no solution, that person needs to know you care about them, having a listening ear and to be attentive, pointing them to Jesus to answer their prayer.

Don’t leave someone in the ditch, show them mercy- Go and Do Likewise.

Shalom

Nancy

The Christian Writer

When Your Plans Fall Apart

Everyone makes plans, maybe you have mapped out your plan with steps toward it and a general time when you will arrive at the goal or maybe you have had a lifelong dream to achieve something that you think could be the right direction for you, then as you go along you don’t see progress towards that dream. You wait, you try, you pray, but to no avail that dream, that vision- just isn’t going the way you thought it would and now you are left with- what do I do and where do I go from here?

I’ve had two large dreams fall apart so far in my life, the first one I ran after with a vengeance, I loved the whole process of moving towards the dream, many of the people around me could see that it was only a dream not a reality. It was consuming me as I worked, breathed it in, it was my food and it came crashing down on me in a day’s time. I loved it, it took me away from my family and time with them as I was striving for a dream that now was gone, no turning back or even trying again. It was clear the door was shut, it took me a very long time to recover.

The second dream was similar except that I felt God was calling me to it and worked on it for a very long time, studying, praying, hoping a door would open but the difference was that this time I relied on God’s leading to bring me to it. I could not except that what He was leading me to was very different journey than my mapping out had hoped for, believe me I tried and tried to go in the direction that I thought would get me there, there again, I found myself delusional to think that I was achieving anything great. That was the problem, “I was achieving” I was counting on my success to fulfill what God’s plan was for me, He is so gentle and patient, He waited for me to come to an understanding.

God had given me a different direction to go in and it was hard for me to except that.
But you see God did something in both dreams, He gave me an opportunity to see truth in what I was striving to do.
Was I really suppose to be consumed by a dream?
Was I to see what would happen if I did achieve it?
What would I have been a slave to and what was I a slave to for so long?
Did I take my eyes off God and look at the dream not Him?

Hey-I’m not saying to give up your dreams, because if you have them and you feel led to follow it, go for it-what I am saying is, have a dream, map it out and let God direct your path, if it’s not going the way you wanted or right for you He will guide you to what is, maybe it won’t be exactly what you wanted- but MUCH BETTER!
Why do I say that?
To those who believe in Jesus he does not throw crumbs, He gives the bread of life, He leads you to fresh water which is so much more satisfying to the soul than anything you can achieve here on earth!

Make your plans and see what God is going to do with them, pray for them, don’t give up, something is coming and it could take a while but you will see how much He loves you just by preventing you from things that are wrong for your life and others around you.

Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course

but the lord establishes

their steps

Shalom,
Nancy
The Christian Writer

Hope When There Is No Hope

Have you been struggling with many different circumstances that you just have no answer for. Well you are not alone in this, there is hope when you think there is no hope.

God sees your heart and knows what is going on so don’t worry about what isn’t or is happening, allow Him to guide you through the darkest of days.

There is hope that tomorrow will be a s better day for you. What you are going through will not last.

We can only see what our eyes tell us, but it is what is unseen that we hope for and as we pray and have faith that God will show you the way, it is then that we can find the solution to what is wrong. When you are finding such things are happening to you, maybe it’s time to step back and wait for God to show you what to do. For He is in control, not us.

Be kind to people who frustrate you, be gracious to those who are not fair and be hopeful for all that God promises you. He will not leave you or forsake you, it is He who guides your path and makes a way. Now you must do your part and believe that He will.

Jesus tells us in John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Shalom
Nancy
The Christian Writer

And Then The End Will Come

When will the end come?
Get your stuff ready, build the shelter, hoard the food, live like nothing matters….            all a farce.
In every generation, many have been fooled by someone that can sell you a bridge with your name on it. Let’s face it false teachers selling their agendas on end time events are gaining popularity as more and more people are being duped into their agenda, they make a feeble attempt to match up the Bible with their “opinion” on when these events will take place- “Did you see that thing in the sky?” Or “How about all these earth quakes, hurricanes and floods?” And so on and so on-this has the effect of placing fear/anxiety/hopelessness in the hearts of people who don’t know the truth of the Bible.
Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Brothers & Sisters if you don’t know the Bible you will be tricked into believing and buying these false teachings. There is no sequence of numbers, blood moons, natural disasters or potential wars- Jesus says these are birth pains and tells us to look for the signs,
Matthew 24:4-8
 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Confirmations that we are getting closer:
– False Messiah’s (false teachings, anyone who leads you away from God) Some will fall away from God and follow false teachings of spirituality/growth potential/positive influencers or pastors following their own agenda and twisting the truth of the Bible.
– Nations are gathering against Israel, boycotting their products and services, the UN vote to block the move of the embassy to Jerusalem and the ongoing Gaza boarder war. You can read more on this link: https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-10-most-anti-semitic-countries/
Many countries are defending and gathering together to go against Israel, what we must do is to watch watch and wait for what will be coming next.
– Persecution
Jesus continues on to say that those who are Christians will be persecuted, which is happening now more than ever. The morals and values in which we seek are not God honoring.
Matthew 24:9-13 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
If faced with the decision to worship Jesus or be thrown in jail, possibly put to death, many will run, trying to save their lives. God is still in control and the gospel will continue to be preached all over the world, regardless of what people think, say or do.

-Anti-christ
Jesus tells us clearly the anti-christ will stand in the holy place (temple) in Israel and proclaim he is God, (He will be highly regarded and people will think he is the savior) that is when things begin to accelerate. Many will fall away and be deceived by great “signs & wonders.”
Matthew 24:14-25 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation, (Anti-Christ) spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!  Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.  At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.

Jesus tells us immediately after those days
Matthew 24:30-31  
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Jesus concludes in Matthew 24:32-34 by saying to be aware of the sign of the times, be aware of what is happening in the world around you. He says : Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away.” That gives us the knowledge to continue serving and looking for Him everyday. Stay in prayer, these days are getting harder for us, the world is turning from God and looking to their own lives for comfort, no matter what happens you know that Jesus promises you eternal life when you worship Him. Stand on that truth everyday brethren, He shall return and when He does the judgement will fall on those who have turned away from God.
Shalom
Nancy
The Christian Writer

#andthentheendwillcome #endtimes #Jesus #signoftimes

You Are Set Apart

I confess I am reading Leviticus in the Old Testament and finding it difficult wondering; how did they keep all the instructions and laws?

I also wondered were they afraid all the time of messing up and not being able to keep them? They did.
That is why the Book of Leviticus deals with their “right Living”, sacrificing for their sins, abiding by the laws and carrying them out, to be a holy nation set apart. Testing was their everyday challenge. Were they going to listen to God or do what they wanted?

Let’s fast forward to Jesus….
In his patience and love tells the Jewish people “I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.” (Matthew 5:17) Jesus said He was the Messiah, many received Him with their whole heart- all were accepted Jews and Gentiles. Many devout Jewish leaders didn’t believe Him and their hard hearts turned away, the message fell on deaf ears. They were praying for a Messiah to save them from Roman rule, but in truth Jesus came to lead them to Himself for eternal life. Through Jesus the laws that kept them shackled could now be broken, but they could not hear or believe it, and they scrambled in stress to keep their laws in tact.

Isaiah 11:1-3. The Branch From Jesse           (Matthew 1:6 for lineage)
 
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
    or decide by what he hears with his ears;

I understand Leviticus it to be God’s instructions of holiness, sacrifices, worship & health, those instructions were instrumental to leading and guiding the Israelites as a holy people, setting them apart to follow God and abide by all his laws.

Why Are you set apart?

You were chosen by God to be a separate people when you came to Christ, there was a new life coming towards you, before Christ you were part of the world and now because of your faith in knowing that Jesus is Lord has saved you and takes you not physically out of the world but spiritually gives you a new life one that isn’t shackled to the earth, but is free to love and know that you have been set free by the power of His mighty blood.

Brethren don’t give up hope, it is for this time you have come into the world , maybe you don’t understand why but God has this great plan to show you how His mighty power works, JUST WATCH!

Shalom
Nancy
The Christian Writer

#setapart #Jesus #holynation # sacrifice #cross #God

There Is No Fear Of God

This is the direction of the world, but for those who seek God there is hope,

hope in Jesus!

I will post this Psalm to encourage you to not look at what the world is doing but to look to God. David witnessed many ungodly acts during times of distress, so he prayed seeking answers and this is God’s message through David as he writes;

Psalm 36

I have a message from God in my heart

    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: 

There is no fear of God

    before their eyes. 

In their own eyes they flatter themselves

    too much to detect or hate their sin.

The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;

    they fail to act wisely or do good.

Even on their beds they plot evil;

    they commit themselves to a sinful course

    and do not reject what is wrong.

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,

    your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,

    your justice like the great deep.

    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house;

    you give them drink from your river of delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

    in your light we see light. 

Continue your love to those who know you,

    your righteousness to the upright in heart. 

May the foot of the proud not come against me,

    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

See how the evildoers lie fallen—

    thrown down, not able to rise!

May you find comfort in what God has spoken,

Don’t lose heart, God knows everything and is in control.

Shalom

Nancy

The Christian Writer

#thereisnofearofGod

#sinfulcourse

#yourunfailinglove,OGod

#Roman3:18

#Luke12:1-12