The Challenge

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray that peace, joy and love are able to overcome all the negatives in your life.

     Today I want to talk to you about "The Challenge".  At the beginning of each new year the Christian radio stations in my area offer their "30 day challenge".  They challenge listeners who just flipped onto their station by mistake or who are just checking it out to listen to nothing but Christian music for 30 days and watch how God begins to change their lives.

     I want to share the stories of some who have taken and completed the 30 day challenge.  One was a man who had anger issues and was often violent toward his wife and children.  He said the music calmed him, made him less angry and some of the teaching on the station actually gave him tools to manage the stresses causing the anger.  His wife declares him to be a different person after just 30 days of nothing but Christian music.  Another testimony was by a 19 year old girl who had never felt loved or wanted or like she belonged anywhere.  Her mom had the station on in the car and she heard the message that Jesus loved her just as she is with all her faults and failures and she decided that if that was true, maybe life was worth living after all.  Christian radio radically changed her life.

     And I have a testimony as well...it was listening to a segment on Godly parenting that caused me to see how I'd thrown away my son for a man that wasn't even faithful to me.  I pulled the car over, wiped my eyes and called my son to ask forgiveness and our relationship is now being restored due to Christian radio.

     I know that God uses this avenue to speak to His people.  A person can be agonizing over a situation in his life and a song will come on that speaks directly to the problem he is having.  It is one way God uses to tell his people, "I'm here, I know, I care, I can help."

     So today, my friends, I am extending the challenge to you.  Some of you already listen to Christian music, some do not, and some listen off and on.  The challenge is this:  Listen to nothing but Christian music for 30 days via radio, mp3, however you get your music.  If you can't find a Christian radio station in your area, you can always stream it online.  Here is a link to the station I listen to: http://www.klove.com/.  Then after 30 days, come back to this letter and leave a comment sharing the difference you are beginning to see in your life.  I believe that everyone who is faithful to the challenge will see a change for the better.

Are you up for the challenge?   Raelynn

The Blame Game

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray that you are in good health and are prospering even as your soul prospers.

     Today I want to talk to you about "The Blame Game".  I'm sure you've heard the old saying that when you point your finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at you.  No one wins the blame game.  The truth is we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, so why blame another when we are guilty too?

     But what about when we blame God?  As the days darken and our society continues in a downward spiral, crime and destruction are on the rise.  Not too long ago there was a school shooting where 20 children under the age of 10 were killed.  I heard many people say, "I can't believe in a God who would allow that" and "If God cares, why didn't He stop this?"  People point the finger at God when a drunk driver takes a loved one or tragedy befalls them in some way.  While they are pointing at God, where are the other three fingers pointing?  They, themselves, may not be personally to blame, but mankind certainly is.
     There are only two things God cannot do:  lie, and break a promise.  Most of the time we are grateful God doesn't break His promises to us.  He's the only One we can count on to always do what He says He will do.  When God created man, He gave him free will.  He promised not to violate that free will.  Man can choose how to live his life and what actions to take.  But when man chooses to go on a shooting spree in a public place or drive a car while intoxicated, we blame God for the outcome.  How does that make sense?
     We've got it backwards, my friends.  It is in those times when our minds scream, "I can't serve a God who would allow this" that we need to realize "I need God to get me through this".  God doesn't violate free will to keep bad things from happening, but He does bring life from death and bring good things out of bad circumstances.  When man is done wreaking havoc, God is there to bring comfort, peace, strength, bring people together, and turn their hearts toward Him.
     Do you know someone playing the game of blaming God?  Ask the Lord to help you show them the truth about God's role in the circumstances.  He's not to blame.  He is there to bring order from chaos, and comfort to their souls.  I can't imagine how people endure tragedies without God.  It'd during the times that we would push Him away that we need Him most.

     Don't blame God when tragedy befalls you, beloved ones.  Cling to Him, draw on His strength.  His grace is sufficient for you.

Love in Christ, Raelynn

You are Needed

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray that each day you go to work you are thankful for the job and the God that gave you the ability to do it.

     Today I want to talk to you about "You are Needed".  One of the basic, core needs of every individual is to feel needed.  If we are not needed by anyone for any reason, what is the purpose of living?

     I was reading in Genesis 46 and 47 where Joseph brought his family from Canaan to Egypt.  He instructed his family to ask permission to live in Goshen (outside of Egypt proper) because they were shepherds and shepherds were an abomination to the Egyptians.  When Pharoah asked Joseph's brothers what they did for a living, and they replied that they were shepherds, he told them to live in Goshen, not so they'd be out of the Egyptian's sight, but rather because the land was fertile for sheep.  He also told Joseph to make the most competent of his brothers the chief herdsman over Pharoah's own livestock.

     Egyptians looked down their noses at shepherds; they would put them away out of their sight.  The ruler of the Egyptians did not.  He gave them fertile land.  He needed them to tend his own sheep.  Men look down at those less fortunate or prestigious than themselves.  They want to shove them away out of their sight and pretend they don't exist.  The ruler of men (God) does not.  He has chosen the poor of this world to be heirs to the kingdom James 2:5 tells us.  He needs each and every person He created or He would not have created them.  Our God is an intentional God.  He didn't create you for the heck of it. You are needed, beloved.  And like Pharoah with Joseph's brothers, He has a very specific job He needs you to do.

     The next time you feel unneeded, stand before the ruler.  Tell Him what you do, and He will not only show you what He needs you for, He will put you in the best place in which to accomplish the task.

     Don't worry about what men think of you, friends.  Every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.  Present yourself to the ruler and find out just how important to Him you are.

Love in Christ, Raelynn

  

Trapped in Topsoil

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray you are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and are not relying upon your own strength.
 

     Today I want to talk to you about "Trapped in Topsoil".  Those of you who know me know that I am not a gardener.  I have a black thumb.  But I've learned a few things through the years about what works and doesn't work in a garden.

     Suppose you have a dry, hard patch of ground with rocks scattered here and there and you cover it with rich, dark topsoil so that the topsoil is all that can be seen.  Then you plant seeds in that topsoil.  How well will those plants grow?  They might sprout if they are being watered, but the roots won't be able to penetrate the ground below to anchor the plant.  Then what happens if a big wind blows?

     There are Christians like that.  They are trapped in topsoil.  They are all excited about the forgiveness of their sins and the promise of Heaven, but they don't take the next steps and remove the rocks (like making time with God a priority in their lives) and they don't allow the gardener (Jesus) to break up the dry, hard ground of their hearts (allow Him to bring healing, forgiveness for others, to show us areas in which we need to change).  These Christians are easy to recognize - they are all sprout, no root.  They are the first to announce they are Christians and to proclaim their righteousness and to tell others what they should and should not be doing instead of focusing on that for themselves.  Jesus called them "Pharisees" and "hypocrites".  We call them "self-righteous" or "holier-than-thou".  They are trapped in topsoil.

     Then there are those who have removed the rocks in their gardens, by changing the things they know to change and have given the heavy digging to Jesus.  These let Him break up the hardness of their hearts so the water (His Word) can penetrate and soften them so the roots can go deep and take hold.  These, the Bible says, shall be like trees planted by rivers of living water whose leaves shall not wither and everything they set their hand to do shall prosper.  Have you seen Christians like this?  They walk in joy, have peace in turmoil, and seem to abound in blessings.  They don't have to claim to be Christians - you can tell they are.
     Which type of plant would you rather be?  Are you trapped in topsoil in some areas of your life?  We all are from time to time.  Remove the obvious rocks in your heart then hand the hoe to Jesus.  He wants your roots to go deep so you can't be blown about by every wind that comes along.  He wants you to bear fruit and prosper.

     It's not too late to tend your garden, my friends.  We all want to have fruit to share with others.

Love in Christ, Raelynn

Stovetop Christianity

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray you are each experiencing the blessing of the Lord and are feeling His presence as you go through your days.

     Today, I want to talk to you about "Stovetop Christianity".  Now, don't go looking in the Bible for that phrase - you won't find it.  I just made it up to illustrate the concept I am bringing forth.

     A Stove top usually has 4 burners: 2 in front and 2 in back.  Except in the case of large families, get-togethers or professional cooks, the back burners are rarely used except as a spot to let something rest or cool.  In fact, front burners are replaced three times before a back burner usually needs replacing.

     Having a Sunday School teacher for a mom, my children learned about Christ early on.  At age 5 my son accepted the Lord, fully understanding the choice he had made.  He was baptized at age 6.  At age 9, he was miraculously healed from a sledding accident on Mount Lemmon which had caused many broken bones, a punctured lung, and required him to be air-lifted from the mountain to Tucson Medical Center.  God was front-burner in my son's life - active, cooking, boiling, being stirred.

     As my son approached high school, college, military and marriage, God got relegated to the back burner of his life.  God was still there.  My son still believed in Him, but his life had become too busy to actively interact with God as he had earlier in his life.  There wasn't time for prayer, Bible reading and church-going.  He had a life to live.  His relationship with God was left to cool on the back burner - the one that doesn't get used.

     We all have times like that in our lives, but my prayer is that they are few, far between and short lived.  My prayer for my son every day is that God would become front-burner in his life again.

     Recently, changes have happened in my son's life.  He told me he is talking with God again.  I sent him his deceased step-father's Bible and I pray he is reading it.  A year ago July, my son was miraculously spared in a car accident which destroyed his car in flames.  I see God simmering in my son's life again and I'm praying for a full rolling boil.

     Have you checked your stove-top lately?  Which burner do you have God on?  Is He on low heat, medium, or high - or is He cooling down in your life, set aside on a back burner?  If so, that can change.

     It's time to get cooking again, my friends.  Turn up the heat on your relationship with God and let Him prepare the gourmet life He has for you.

Be blessed my friends, Raelynn

Empathy in Action

Good Morning my Beloved Ones,

     I pray that you are allowing healing to take place in your hearts and lives and are being strengthened for the days to come.

 

     Today, I want to talk to you about "Empathy in Action".  What is empathy, some of you are asking.  It is a deeper, more sincere form of sympathy.  Sympathy says, "Gee, I'm sorry that happened to you."  It's passive.  It's the expected response when something bad happens to someone.  Empathy says, "I understand.  I've been there.  I feel your pain.  I'm going to help you through this."

 

     Jesus is the picture of empathy.  It's the whole reason He came to earth in the flesh, was born as a human (not in a fine home, but in a stable).  It's the reason He was homeless (Matthew 8:20).  It's the reason He was hated and misunderstood.  Jesus felt every emotion we feel, encountered every situation we will ever face and had even felt forsaken by God.  Jesus had been tortured and even had to experience death.  He endured all this so that when we struggle or fall, He can stand up for us and say, "But, Father, I've been there.  I know how hard that is to handle in the flesh."  Jesus feels our pain because he's experienced it.  He can help us through because He, Himself, has overcome.

 

      We, too, are called to be Empathy in Action.  Galatians 6:2 tells us we are to bear one another's burdens.  We do that through empathy.  It's the reason we are allowed to experience the difficult and terrible things in this life.  

 

     My mom has had a difficult life.  She has had to go through things I'd wish on no one.  Two of the hardest were the death of her oldest son and surviving breast cancer.  My mom is the kindest, most loving and giving person I know.  She loves Jesus with all her heart.  So why did these heart-wrenching things happen to her?  They happened so she could experience empathy in action.

     

     When my brother died, mom was devasted, but her good friend, Twinkie was there for her.  Twinkie is a pastor's wife whose son died many years previously in a drowning accident.  Twinkie understood what my mom was feeling.  She felt her pain and was equipped to help her through it.  Recently Twinkie was diagnosed with breast cancer.  And my mom was able to be there for her.  She understood what Twinkie was feeling, knew the thoughts and fears she had, and was equipped to be empathy in action for her friend, as her friend had been for her.

 

    They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  I believe that's true.  It gives you the strength to bear one another's burdens.  It gives you the ability to empathize.

 

     Don't sympathize with another's plight, my friends.  "Gee, that's too bad", doesn't help anyone.  Be empathy in action.  Let the traumas you've experienced become a help and a blessing to someone else.  

 

     It's time we quit whining about the raw deal we've gotten and time to use our bad experiences for good.  As Jesus empathizes with us, so we must empathize with others.

 

Following the Master, Raelynn    

The Difference

Good Morning my Beloved Ones,

     I pray that the peace of God rule in your hearts and that fear has no place in you.

     Today, I want to talk to you about "The Difference".  Jesus told a parable in the New Testament about tares (weeds) that grew up in a field among the wheat.  He cautioned the harvesters to let the wheat and tares grow up together, lest when trying to pluck out the tares they pull up the wheat by mistake.  There is a time while they are growing that the wheat and tares look much alike.

     There is a time while we are growing that believers and unbelievers look much alike as well.  We both sin, question God, try to do things our own way...can anyone identify?  I can.  So what difference is there between the wheat and the tares, the believer and the unbeliever, those who follow Christ and those who refuse to?

     The difference is found in the fire.  Everyone experiences fires - trials, unpleasant difficult circumstances in their lives, and it's in these fires that a person's true character is revealed.

     The Bible in Kings, Chronicles, Isaiah, Ezekiel and many other places talks about a people upon whom judgment has come that they might recognize the error of their ways and turn their hearts to God.  These people instead harden their hearts and blame and curse God for their circumstances.  These are the tares.

     Then there are those who are refined in the fires, who allow the impurities to be burned off, who come forth as pure gold.  They are the ones who glorify the Lord in the fire (Isaiah 24:15).  They are the wheat.

     Come harvest time, the difference between the wheat and tares is obvious.  The wheat is gathered into the storehouse and the tares are gathered and bound to be burned.  The growing season is nearing its end - harvest is upon us.  Is there a difference between you and the unbeliever?  How have you responded in recent fires?

     There is a difference my friends, and soon it will be obvious to all.  Be among those that are gathered into the storehouse.  I don't know about you, but I've had enough fires in my life to want to avoid an eternal one.  I choose to glorify God in my fires.  I choose to be wheat.

Preparing for the harvest, Raelynn

     

    

Wild Grapes

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray that you are bright lights shining in the darkness and that no man can extinguish your flame.

Today, I want to talk to you about "Wild Grapes".  Grapes are a wonderful fruit God has given us.  They are sweet, full of anti-oxidants, make juice, jellies and fine wines and are used to represent the blood of Christ in communion services.  But those grapes that grow wild and are not cultivated are hard, bitter, sour, and sometimes poisonous.  They'll grow up and choke out the good grapes if they are allowed to.

     I quote Isaiah 5:1-6,"My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill and he fenced it and gathered out the stones therein and planted it with the choicest vine and built a tower in the midst of it and also made a winepress therein, and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.  What more could have been done to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?  Why then, when I looked for grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?  And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard:  I will take away the hedge thereof and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down, and I will lay it waste..."

     Jesus said in John 15:5, "I am the vine, ye are the branches".  I believe we've just read a description of our day and time.  I believe the very fruitful hill my well-beloved planted his vineyard in could represent the United States of America.  God hedged this nation about with His protection, founded this nation on His principles and gave us His Word and a constitution to live by and expected to see a sweet, healthy society grow up.  But look around you today, my friends, and you will see wild grapes in abundance.  Selfish, unholy, lovers of self more than lovers of God, choosing every evil thing and calling it good and doing whatever they can to choke out the good grapes in the land.

     What shall God do with this vineyard?  He'll take away the hedge (the protection) and break down the wall (that keeps the enemies out) and allow it to be trodden down and laid waste.

     I tell you these things, not to scare you, beloved ones, but so that you can be prepared as you see these things come to pass.  But notice
in our passage, the Lord also built a tower in the midst of the vineyard.  Proverbs 18:10 tells us that the name of the Lord is a strong tower that the righteous run into and they are saved.  Praise God!

     You need not fear a land overrun by wild grapes nor the removal of its protection or an invading enemy.  The good grapes are not appointed unto wrath.  Run into the tower, my friends.  Dwell in Jesus.  Let Him dwell in you and you'll be saved from the wrath to come.

One of the branches,  Raelynn

Zombie Apocalypse

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

      I pray that you have life and that more abundantly.

 

     Today I want to talk to you about “The Zombie Apocalypse”.  According to a recent poll, 15% of people worldwide believe in an impending zombie apocalypse (the dead coming back to life and roaming the earth looking to devour the living).  These give scientific reasons how such an apocalypse can happen:  brain parasites, neurotoxins, mad cow disease, regrowth of dead brain tissue, and nanotechnology.  Do you believe in a coming zombie apocalypse?  I do.  It’s already happening.

     In the Garden of Eden, God warned Adam and Eve that the day they touched the fruit in the midst of the garden they would surely die.  Indeed, before transgressing God’s law, death did not exist.  First Eve, then Adam partook of the fruit and true to God’s Word, the day they did, they died.  Adam and Eve did not cease to breathe at that point, they continued to walk around, dead in their sin and from that point on, human-kind learned to devour one another. 

     Ephesians 2:1 tells us that prior to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we were dead in sins and trespasses. Look around you, 

beloved ones, at all the walking dead.  Zombies don’t know they are dead.  Adam and Eve didn’t believe they died when they defied God in the garden and chose to do their own thing.  How many of our friends, loved ones, or possibly one reading this letter are walking around dead in their sins and trespasses believing they are alive?

     But there is hope!  In John 11:25, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”  Let’s end the zombie apocalypse, beloved ones.  Let’s introduce this world to Jesus.  In Him there is life and that more abundantly.

 

Alive in Him - Raelynn

Less Christian

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

      I pray that you are availing yourself of every gift God has graciously provided for you.

     Today I want to talk to you about “Less Christian”.  I was talking with a friend of mine who works for a faith-based organization and she made a comment I’d heard from her on several occasions before: “I’m just not as Christian as some of the others that work here”.  Have you ever felt that way – that you are less Christian than some other believers you know?  Let me share with you what I shared with her.

     Jesus didn’t die less for my friend than for someone else.  He didn’t forgive less of her sins.  If you’ve accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, beloved ones, you are 100% Christian.  What my friend meant was that she doesn’t go to church every time the doors are open.  She doesn’t read her Bible when she’s not at church.  She doesn’t have a prayer life beyond meals and urgent needs.  She’s not as “Christian” as others she works with.

     What would Jesus say to these things?  He’d say that her Christianity is a free gift and not something she has to work for (Ephesians 2:9).  We tend to think that once we’ve accepted Christ and gained salvation, we now have to go to church, read our Bibles daily and spend hours a day in prayer.  You don’t have to do any of those things, beloved ones.  You get to.  Jesus also said in Mark 2:27 that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  You were not created to go to church, read the Bible and pray.  These things were created to be blessings to you.

     In this country we still (for a little while) have the freedom to gather publicly and worship God.  We can feel His presence when we are gathered in one accord and one place.  We can hear encouragement and get direction and correction from a man whose whole job is to bring you words of life, grace and hope each week.  We can open the instruction manual the God of the Universe wrote for us any time we want and read how we are loved, protected and never forsaken.  We can share our innermost thoughts, deepest secrets, darkest fears with One who already knows, loves us anyway and is able to help and we can hear Him speaking to us through His word, through the preaching and in our spirits.

     If you are not availing yourselves of these precious gifts, my friends, you are not less Christian.  You are less blessed.  Walk in confidence of who you are in Christ and take advantage of all the gifts He’s blessed you with.

100% Christian and becoming more blessed each day,  Raelynn

Natural Disasters

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

      I pray you get more excited by a beautiful sunset, a newborn baby, and helping someone in need than you do about who wins the Super Bowl or American Idol.

     Today I want to talk to you about “Natural Disasters”.  I recently got a letter from one of the ministries I support, Gospel for Asia.  The letter was an urgent plea for prayer and aid to the regions of India recently hit by a strong cyclone.  The cyclone left thousands dead, homes and churches destroyed and devastation everywhere it touched.

     What’s happened in India has been happening all around the world: earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes like Katrina all wreaking havoc on our planet and its people.  These phenomena have been increasing in frequency and severity in recent years.  Why?  Is God punishing us?  Is He trying to wipe out His creation like He did with the great flood?

     No, beloved ones, these are not supernatural disasters orchestrated by an angry God.  They are not sent by Him to punish us.  These are natural disasters brought on by the sin nature that caused our world to become broken and fallen and worse than God created it to be.  God did not create nor intend death.  The wages of sin is death, Romans 3:23 tells us.  Natural disasters are a by-product of sin and the devastation that it brought to God’s perfectly created earth.  As sin abounds and multiplies in the earth, so does its effects. This accounts for the increase in frequency and severity of natural disasters.

     God knew this would happen, of course.  He warned us in Matthew 24:7, 8, “For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.” 

     Natural disasters are the natural outcome of a world steeped in sin, but thank God, He provides supernatural help.  He gives us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. 

     Be not deceived.  God is not mocked.  Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap, but where sin abounds, grace much more abounds.  (Galatians 6:7, Romans 5:20).

Serving the One who supercedes the natural.  Raelynn

Family of God

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray that you are being watchful, vigilant, guarding your hearts, for the enemy is ever watching for an opportunity to ensnare you.

     Today I want to talk to you about "The Family of God".  The holidays are upon us.  For many it is a joyous time of family, food and fun.  For many others, it is a time of loneliness, depression and isolation.  We were created to be part of a loving family and as those familial feelings are heightened during the holidays, the lack of family is also more keenly felt this time of year.

     My mother once told me as a teenager that "blood is thicker than water".  She was telling me that the friends I was adamantly defending would not always be there for me, but family would be.  I've found her words to be true.  She was talking about our natural family, but I have found an even closer bond with the Family of God. 
 
     In the family of God, you have a loving Father who is patient, kind, who protects and provides, who never leaves or forsakes you.  No one is fatherless in the Family of God.  In this family, you have an elder brother, Jesus, who always stands up for you against the bully and who desires to be your closest friend.  And that's just the beginning...the Family of God is made up of countless thousands of brothers and sisters all bound by that same blood that was shed once for all and has cleansed us from our sins.  Jesus' blood is truly thicker than water.

     Growing up, I was the oldest of four, with three younger brothers.  How I longed for a sister to share clothes, Barbies and secrets with!  I found these sisters in the Family of God.  I know without a doubt that Susan, Evelyn, Sandy, Jeannie and Lori would be there for me the instant I was in need, no matter what that need may be.  We share a closeness I've never experienced with natural family and friends - a bond forged by the blood of Christ.

     I now have brothers with whom I share a special bond as well.  The Associate Pastor from my church in Benson, Joe, after a long day at work came to Tucson to move my furniture from one apartment complex to another across town.  He did it in the rain, got home after dark, didn't complain and wouldn't even take gas money.  He did it because he loves me - because I am his sister.

     What a wealth of love and family the Lord has given to each of us if we will avail ourselves of them!  If you've made a commitment to Christ and have been cleansed of your sins by His blood, you are a part of this family.  You need never be lonely or dread the holidays again!

     Find a good Bible-teaching church where people greet you when you come in and you can feel the genuine love of God.  Then get involved.  Attend Bible studies, special events, and get to know your extended family.
   
     Thank you Lord, for the blood of Christ - for its cleansing and healing power and for the large and loving family you've gift-wrapped for each of us with that scarlet ribbon.

Your sister in Christ,  Raelynn 
 

Transformational Meditation

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

      I pray that you are able to discern between the “wisdom” of this world and the wisdom of God and are choosing to walk in the truth.

     Today I want to talk to you about “Transformational Meditation”.  Did you know that the Bible encourages us to meditate?  Meditation gets a bad rap because Transcendental Meditation is used in mysticism and eastern religions as a way to achieve a higher level of consciousness.  God want us to achieve higher levels of righteousness.  He uses Transformational Meditation.  Let me explain the difference….

     Psalm 1:2 encourages us to meditate on the Word of God day and night.  Phillipians 4:8 tells us to meditate on the things that are virtuous and worthy of praise.  David pled with God to let the meditations of his heart be acceptable in God’s sight (Psalm 19:14). 

These are examples of Biblical meditation.  It means to think on, ponder, carefully consider, and when we do, it transforms our mind (hence, the catch-phrase “Transformational Meditation’).  It is the filling of our minds with the good things of God and being transformed into the image of His Son.  It is the polar opposite of Satan’s counterfeit – Transcendental Meditation.

 

    Satan wants us to meditate too.  But his type of meditation involves emptying our minds and chanting mantras (which are often the names of demonic gods), and allowing free access of our minds to spirit guides (demons) who will lead you to enlightenment (the belief that you are a god yourself).

     Don’t be deceived, beloved ones.  Think, ponder and carefully consider how you choose to meditate.  God’s way fills your mind with His Holy Word and makes you more like Jesus.  Satan’s way empties your mind and makes you more like him.

Transforming, not transcending - Raelynn

Living Sacrifice

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

      I pray that you are slow to anger, quick to forgive and that you also extend that forgiveness to yourself.

     Today I want to talk to you about “A Living Sacrifice”.  A while ago the Lord spoke to me in my quiet time.  It sounded like He was addressing one of the seven churches in Revelation:  “I see your works, that you’ve been faithful in this and that, but I have this one thing against thee.  You’ve dedicated unto Me your time, your money, your talent, but you refuse to let Me rule your body.  You still feed it anything you want, and are too lazy to exercise regularly.  You let My temple fall into ruin.”  So of course, I repented, started walking before work each day, started watching what I eat and vowed to give Jesus lordship over my physical body.  I was faithfully dedicated to this endeavor for six weeks – then I went on vacation.

     I didn’t bring my walking shoes for my week away – I was going to sleep in, relax.  I was on vacation.  I wasn’t going to worry about what I ate – I tried new restaurants, snacked while watching TV and movies I don’t get to watch at home.  I was on vacation.  Over the course of a week I’d had pizza, cocktail weenies wrapped in bacon, chocolate, an entire bag of Doritos and I slept in and lounged around all week. 

     When I got home on Monday, I went for my walk and started eating healthy again.  Vacation was over.  But my poor body!  I got stabbing pains in my stomach and spent all Monday night vomiting.  My stomach still hurt and I had a headache all day Tuesday.  Wednesday, I was still queasy and nearly skipped church that evening.  Thank God I went.  The Pastor quoted Paul in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you, therefore, brethren that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable act of service.”  In that moment the Lord showed me that the foods I’d put into my body were like poison to my previously cleansed system - no different than drugs or alcohol.  He also showed me that I hadn’t just taken a break from my routine as I told myself, but I’d taken back lordship of my body.  I’d taken back my living sacrifice.

     The problem with living sacrifices, beloved ones, is that they have a tendency to crawl off the altar!  The Lord is gracious and merciful.  He purged my body of the poison I’d put in it and I am once again on track with diet and exercise and am submitting my body unto God.

     I pray you are submitting your bodies as a living sacrifice unto God, my friends, in whatever manner He requires of you.  Let Him be Lord of all.  It is our reasonable act of service.

 

Making sure the sacrifice stays on the altar, Raelynn

 

Who's Hurting Who?

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

      I pray that you are more concerned about the lost and hurting than you are about what you will eat or what you will wear today.

     Today I want to talk to you about “Who’s Hurting Who?”  Recently I had the privilege of attending a service by Dr. Ravi Zacharias, a world-renowned apologeticist.  For all his lofty titles and accolades, I found him to be a humble man from India with a deep love for God.  Dr. Ravi made a statement during that meeting that greatly moved me.  I want to share it with you.

     He said, “If I love you and you don’t love me back, I hurt because I’ve lost something.  If God loves you and you don’t love Him back, He hurts – not because He’s lost something, but because you have.”  Think about that, beloved ones.  God doesn’t need our love.  He is love.  It is not He who suffers if we don’t love Him.  We suffer.  And when we suffer, God hurts, so great is His love for us.

     How many times when our prayers aren’t answered as we think they should be, a loved one dies, the innocent are hurt or something happens that we don’t understand, do we try to punish God by withholding our love from Him?  “I’ll show Him- I’ll quit going to church, praying, believing in Him!”  And who suffers when that happens?  Who’s hurting who?

     God loves you.  He loves you so much He gave His son to die for you.  If you love Him back, you get the benefit of His grace, mercy, peace, protection, provision and blessing in your life.  If you don’t love Him back, you miss out on all these things and have to try to struggle through this difficult broken world on your own.  That hurts God because He has so much He wants to give you, if you’ll only accept it.  He doesn’t want anyone to perish.

    Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, with all your strength.  It’s easy to love someone who loves you, who gives you things and is involved in your life.  No one does that more than God.  When we withhold our love, we are only hurting ourselves.

Because He first loved me - Raelynn

Water Everywhere

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

      I pray that you are no longer wise in your own eyes, but are full of the wisdom of God.

     Today, I want to talk to you about “Water Everywhere”.  “And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters…and God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place and let the dry land appear and it was so.”  Genesis 1:6, 9

     One of the hardest concepts for people to get their mind around is that of the trinity:  One God in three separate personalities but still one God.  Over the years of teaching children, I’ve often used an egg to illustrate the trinity.  One egg in three parts: shell, white, yolk, each of which can be used separately, but all 3 parts make up one egg.  Recently though, I heard a better illustration for adults.  God is like water.

     In our passages from Genesis referenced above, we see that in the beginning, water was everywhere.  It had to be divided to create sky, and gathered into one place to create land.  Like water in the beginning, God is everywhere.  This water represents the Father, the Creator, Almighty God.  This water had no limits, no boundaries, was so vast it is hard to imagine.  This water could not be contained or held in one’s hand.

     But God, in His infinite wisdom, knew there would come a time when mankind would need a tangible God: a savior, one whom they could touch and interact with.  So as in Genesis 1:6, when God divided the waters from the waters, He allowed part of Himself to be manifested to us as Jesus, the Son of God.  He would be born in the form of a baby to live and grow as we do, to experience everything we experience, to feel what we feel, to learn the effect sin has on us, to die like we die.  Jesus can be represented as an ice cube:  still water, but in tangible form.  You can hold it in your hand, you can ingest it, it can become part of you.

     The Holy Spirit can be likened unto steam.  Again water, but in the form of vapor that we cannot see, but fills the air and we can see and feel its effects.  Steam is a form of power and the Holy Ghost is the power of God.

     No one can explain God.  He is unfathomable, a mystery, but God wants us to know Him and understand His purposes in our lives.  I hope this description better illustrates who God is for you, beloved ones.

     Jesus said to the woman at the well in Samaria, “…but whosoever drinketh of the water I give him, shall never thirst again.”  Drink of the living water and thirst no more.  He’s not hard to find.  There is water everywhere.

 

Wading in deeper - Raelynn