THE BRIDES CLUB – BLOG #12

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BLESSED

Psalm 113:2-3

Blessed be the name of the LORD now and forever. Everywhere—from east to west— praise the name of the LORD. For the LORD is high above the nations; his glory is higher than the heavens. Who can be compared with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high?

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.

What about blessing the Lord? What about blessing the name of the Lord? What about the joy we receive regarding blessing the name of the Lord? What about the blessings that overtake us when we truly worship and praise Him?

What about the blessing it is in blessing the name of the Lord? Do I want the blessing of the Lord to overtake my life? Of course I do! But, do I also want to bless the Lord as well? Absolutely!

He is my Maker, the Lord, my God (in whom I trust), and He is worthy of praise.

Matthew 16:17

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

God wants you to know who He is. The Spirit of the Lord wants to reveal to you who the true and living God is, descriptively. He wants you to factually be grounded in the truth of who He is. He wants you to be able to know who God is and what He is capable of. He wants you to recite and recall His goodness in your life and in the life of others (ex. Your personal testimonies and the stories of Bible characters that came before us.)

Matthew 16:15-16

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

He cares, what you think of Him. He cares that you know what He is able to do.

He does not have an issue with defending His own honor and showing others or doubters, His power. (See the story of Moses for reference.) He is not a God who demands our praise without earning our trust, or showing us that He is trustworthy. He is the God, who graciously reveals Himself to the oh so undeserving. He knows that He is the One who is deserving and has|had no problem proving this to us, through His actions.

Jeremiah 32:27

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?

Deuteronomy 32:27

But I feared the taunt of Israel’s enemy, who might misunderstand and say, “Our own power has triumphed! The LORD had nothing to do with this!”’

1 Samuel 12:22

The LORD will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the LORD to make you his very own people.

Psalm 106:8

Even so, he saved them— to defend the honor of his name and to demonstrate his mighty power.

Isaiah 37:35

‘For my own honor and for the sake of my servant David, I will defend this city and protect it.’”

Isaiah 48:11

I will rescue you for my sake— yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols!

Psalm 34:5

Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Hebrews 13:7-9

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.

Isaiah 45:5

I am the LORD; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me,

Exodus 3:14

God replied to Moses, “ I Am Who I Am . Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.”

Blessed be the name of the Lord, Most High! Knowing who God really is and what He is capable of is the true blessing, and every other blessing follows that.

Jacob understood that God was and is, God, the only One willing to wrestle with Him until the morning, and able to bless him still. (Genesis 32:22-32)

This reminds me that God is the One who sees you in all of your imperfections and wants to bless you still. He is the One who has seen all that you have been, the good and the bad and has decided to be with you always (Matthew 28:20). He is the One that will wrestle with you in the midnight hour about your ideas, and the oppositions you experience, about the things you may not understand, and work and walk you through it all. He is the God who does not lose His patience with you, sees and knows all of you; and has still decided to bless and anoint you to prosper and to prevail on this side of life.

Don’t despise His hand on your life. Don’t despise the blessing you receive by honoring and blessing His Holy name right back. Don’t despise the blessings and gifts that God has given you to use. You are made for such a time as this. You are blessed!

His Bride, By Design

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THE BRIDES CLUB – BLOG #11

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CHOSEN

Chosen in the most unthinkable way. Chosen in the most unconventional of ways. Chosen because of another’s rejection. Chosen because you were willing. Chosen because you refuse to quit. Chosen because, although the way you got there might not of not been the most socially acceptable; but after being there you understood the weight of the blessing or grasped the knowing that it doesn’t or didn’t have to be you(rs). You understand the fight it took and it takes to get there.

Chosen because the word of God can not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). Chosen because of the prayer of intercessors. Chosen, for a purpose greater than yourself. Chosen to cause others to jealous for and over Him as well (Romans 11:11). Chosen to display His glory. Chosen with the understanding that it didn’t have to be you; chosen with the understanding of, and that it is you.

I am captivated by the story of Jacob (Genesis 25-49), and at different stages in my life it is for different reason.

As a new believer:

I had been captivated by his ability to wrestle for what he wanted. Jacob, although blessed with the greatest blessing his father could speak over him, still had to “do” in order to obtain. In his life and when recalling his story, I understand that his wrestle with God was one among many of the wrestles in his lifetime. It was proof that he learned at least one thing throughout his wrestling, and that one thing was “I will not leave this moment of wrestle without a blessing, or without receiving what I am able to obtain from it.” His wrestle, I believe showed us as readers that, not only was he given this blessing, but that, he was also willing to do what it took in order to maximize the outcome of the blessing. He was willing to go the distance in personal relationship with God by trying Him for Himself, as well as taking God’s instruction and direction on what to do next. He wasn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves to accomplish what had never been done before; nor was he lagging behind regarding the way he processed outcomes and the systems in which he should do things. Jacob was wise and he didn’t just take the words of others regarding who God was, He wanted to try and test God for himself. He wanted to serve Him on a personal basis. Jacob’s courage to wrestle with none other than God Himself until – He blessed him was admirable , but I don’t want us to forget that the wrestle may also come at a cost. Because isn’t that what life is about? Some sort of wrestle, some sort of tug, some sort of petition, some sort of belief, some sort of stance, some sort of faith, some sort of wild and radical personal relationship with your Maker – that leads you to say “it is only me and You in the fight of faith. “ “I am the conduit and You are the power. “ “Bless me, enlarge my territory, I pray for increase, bless me indeed, oh Lord enlarge my territory.” (1 Chronicles 4) – This really is what life is about – You, on your faith journey with your Maker – It is just you and Him, what will it be?

In later years:

I had been captivated by Jacob’s birth story? That him and his brother would wrestle with one another in their mothers womb. Or, that Jacob couldn’t wait on his own entry to into the earth, he exited the birthing canal visibly clinging to his twin brothers heel. What an entry! I’d love to see the expression on the midwives who witnessed this happen.

We often times associate God’s blessing with righteous living, now don’t get me wrong, righteous living; will definitely lead to God’s blessing. It’s completion in your life, help the ability you have to maintain or handle the blessing, assist your longevity in the faith, it can also result in the abundance of God’s flow and presence in your life.

But, what if you aren’t starting off there? What if you don’t have the assurance of your “credentials” to fall back on? What if righteousness has been a struggle for you, what then? Do you tuck your tail and continue to walk on, hoping that God’s blessing will locate you if you are “lucky”enough? Do you remain until He changes you? What if you encounter God at a moment where you feel most unrighteous or the most unworthy, what then? What do you do when God’s blessing has decided to locate you, and not you it, what then? These are some of the places I believe Jacob found himself, maybe even Moses. So what then? What do you do when it isn’t all because of you or for you, that God has decided to bless you?

Do you ignore the call? Do you ignore the truth of your choosing? Do you ignore the blessing of God that is chasing you down?

Or do you grab ahold of faith and the incorruptible seed from the living and abiding word of God?

(1 Peter 1:23)

And, now:

I am captivated at the fact that Jacob was and still is blessed, and had been chosen to be blessed at that. Chosen to be blessed in spite of himself. Chosen to be blessed in the midst of his wrestling. Chosen to be blessed although nothing, not even his own doing is hidden from God. Chosen to be blessed to carry on the legacy of His grandfather, who was among the names of the chosen. After some years of being a Christian, I can confidently say that I firmly believe that God’s choosing vastly depends on us? That His choosing could involve any one of us if we would just _________________. I’ll leave you to fill in your own blank.

His Bride, By Design

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THE BRIDES CLUB – BLOG #10

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FORGIVEN

Knowing you are forgiven. How does it feel to know that you are forgiven? Does it take on a new meaning based on who has forgiven you? Are you automatically lifted by its implications? In your opinion, what is the best thing about forgiveness? What is the worst?

Being forgiven by God for every sin that I have or will ever commit is truly groundbreaking for me. The implications of that forgiveness can shake or shape one’s entire existence and for some it has done exactly that.

1 John 1:9

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Ephesians 1:7

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Matthew 26:28

for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

Isaiah 55:7

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

What is most important to me about forgiveness is that no one else can forgive with such implications. And that when we decide to take on the likeness of God in that way we are able to shake and shape things that would otherwise never be shakable or shaped.

For example, when a woman or man chooses to forgive their spouses infidelity in order to recover what the enemy thought he stole and build an even more fortified foundation under the feet of their family. The implications that this type of forgiveness can leave on generations to come, lives and legacies and the like are incomprehensible.

Or when a child chooses to forgive the flaws of their parents and the generations that came before them, with an attitude of Jesus, saying “forgive them for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34; the saving of souls, the demolition of generational curses, new legacies and patterns all hang in the balance of such a courageous act as this.

When an individual chooses to forgive someone in whom they will never hear the words “I’m sorry.” from. Someone they’ll never experience display even the slightest bit of remorse for what they’ve done, the level of warefare their forgiveness exhibits is unfathomable to the here and now. We don’t get to note take all the implications of a forgiveness like that.

It is troubling to know that some will live their entire lives unaware of the sea of forgiveness that is available to them. If only they would go to the right source for this forgiveness. They’ll never know that on the other side of their revelation of the truth there is a tangible freeness only felt by knowing the forgiveness of the Savior of the world. That there are scriptures like:

Micah 7:19

Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

John 8:10-11

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Hebrews 8:12

And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Psalm 103:12

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

they have yet to grasp because they haven’t had an encounter with the One who is able to do just that. It is heartbreaking to know that some carry around a guilt that shapes their decision making and possibly even their opportunities because they are unaware of the place they can go, in order to get those burdens exchanged, Matthew 11:29.

Their is an entire body of people, as unbeknownst to them as I’d suppose it would be; walking around with things that need forgiving and things that they need to forgive. It they only knew that there was and is a person they could go to for the forgiveness of sins. If they only knew that the power of or to forgive lived on the inside of them too.

What would their world look like? How would the lives around them be affected for the better? Whose trajectory of life would change? Who would be restored back to health? Who would live to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Whose story line would be completely changed?

We can never underestimate the power of forgiveness, the power it has to save and to change, and the power it has to remake an entire life and legacy.

His Bride, By Design

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THE BRIDES CLUB – BLOG #9

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FREE YOURSELF

Let’s talk about freeing yourself. But before we do, here’s a scripture that you can meditate on:

Galatians 5:1 NIV

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

What a burden it is to be slave to anything but the will of Christ. The irony of the freedom found in being a slave to what is true as well as the truth in Jesus Christ, is simply breathtaking. Which is why the Bible instructs us not to be slave to anything or anyone:

1 Corinthians 7:23 NIV

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.

Galatians 1:10

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

2 Corinthians 5:9-10

So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.

For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

Romans 14:11

For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the LORD, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.

Romans 2:7

He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

I recently came across a scripture in the Bible. Each time that I read this scripture I am reminded of the freedom we are to possess in Christ. Imagine trying to do an hour long exercise while having both your arms and legs attached to 20lb weights. No matter how physically fit you are the weights would begin to have an effect of you. No matter your potential, the weights would interfere with it. No matter your progress, your progress would become more strenuous than if you would have chosen to do the workout routine without 80lbs of added weights attached to you.

This is the same illustration that the following scripture gives:

Proverbs 6:5

Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net.

NIV

Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

It says that if you have made a pledge or agreement that binds you to something or someone, you should free yourself. You see, we weren’t ever meant to live in bondage to anyone or anything. From the beginning of time, and even in the time of Adam and Eve, God wanted us to remain free. Free from knowing what we shouldn’t know, free from the wrong understandings, free from the weight of sin and free from others. He understands that being bound to anything is no way to truly live. Which is why He’s enabled us with the gift of free will (John 3:14-21). He’d like for us to exercise our own will, to choose Him. God would like for us to choose to give our wills over to Him in order for them to be molded by Him. He knows that force isn’t the best means to true love or devotion, that does not waver.

We oftentimes speak and meditate on God’s ability and willingness to free us, but seldom times discuss or acknowledge the ability that He has given us to free ourselves. God desperately wants us to live freely in His will. He wants us to live, lives that aren’t weighed down by any burden, wrong way of thinking or frankly by other people. He knows that if our loyalty is divided by people pleasing, the fear of man (Proverbs 29:25) or wanting to be the crowd’s favorite (John 19:12) more than we want to gain His favor, it will water down our witness (Revelation 12:11). A life completely devoted to God is the best life that any of us can live (John 10:10). The reason for this is simple (1 Corinthians 7:17, 1 Corinthians 14:40, 1 Corinthians 14:33). If there is only One in whom any single one of the 8 billion people on this earth want to please and that one is the same One across the board for us all; life would go smoother, things would be different and the world would be a better place. The focal relationship for each individual on earth and in life has always been their relationship with God as their Maker and Master, first, and from that relationship every other relationship, interaction and intention would flow.

Tap into the gift of freeing yourself so that you can live more freer, for and in the presence of Jesus. God has given you the ability to do so, take the opportunity and move forward in life and liberty. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

Proverbs 6:7-8

“It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it…”

yet:

: in addition : besides

: on top of everything else : no less

: continuously up to the present or a specified time : still

: nevertheless : however

His Bride, By Design

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THE BRIDES CLUB – BLOG #8

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FORGIVEN

Forgiven for purpose.

Psalm 32:1-2

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!

Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

How beautiful do these words sound, coming off the page? How freeing are they to you?

We can easily get yoked to a “woe is me, I am a filthy sinner, who can’t get anything right.” type of mentality. We can stand in the forgiveness of the cross and do absolutely nothing with the life, the costly work that Jesus’s cross, paid to redeem. We can get caught in cycles of self pity and of blaming our past for our present, and for our future’s. But this stops today. Hopefully by the end of this blog, you’d of had a wake-up call to the truth and the gift of forgiveness.

Romans 6:15-16

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

I completely understand the desire that a blood bought believer has to do what is right and to live a holy and separated life, unto the Lord. I get it, I get how badly we’d like to be pleasing to the Lord and never do a thing to grieve His heart. I honestly believe that this mentality should be our hope. To live a life that pleases, and is in complete, surrender to God. Does life always look like those words? of course not…

But is that the desire? sure it is…

Ephesians 6:12

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Did you know that this scripture applies to you as well? You can never wrestle against yourself in order to get you to “live right”, it will never work.

The beauty of this is that you, do have authority over your own body. You can control your own self and in that, it is perfectly okay to rule over yourself; just as you would a principality or any other thing, authority, or power in the dark world that didn’t belong in your life.

1 Corinthians 9:27

I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 6:19

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

But opposite to an evil spirit or an evil authority of the unseen world; you can, grace yourself, be kind to yourself, live a life that is understanding, as well as a life that is learning and growing, towards yourself.

Have you ever tried to change the behavior of someone you know or knew by being mean to them? If they are anything like me, or even you, that probably didn’t work.

What I’ve noticed in parenting my little, over this short span of time (thus far) is that he responds better, overall (or completely) to my softness rather than, my strict “get that thing done, because I said so” mommy mode. We are pretty similar to this, as well. We respond better to God’s kindness than we do to His reproof. Both are necessary, and we learn to appreciate all types of His correction, over time, but initially He does not necessarily start off with correction that is not patient or kind (,so to speak).

Romans 2:4

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

How much more forgiveness, then? Do you know that we…

All those who have repented of their sins, received the finished work of the cross, and Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; have the right to experience the full benefit of forgiveness.

1 Corinthians 6:20

for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

You have been bought at such a high price, your sins paid for by the One and Only spotless Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19). Do you understand that there will never be another? That what Jesus did was done once and for all (Hebrews 10:10, Hebrew 7:25-28), never to be duplicated or replicated by anyone. None but Him could complete His work and now that same anointing has been passed down to you and I.

Therefore it is a disgrace to live a life of condemnation:

Romans 8:1

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Therefore it is sinful to be yoked again to the bondage of slavery and that includes the slavery of self pity:

Galatians 5:1

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Therefore you have been forgiven, delivered, saved, set free and sanctified for such a time as this:

Esther 4:14

If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

And finally, therefore you must live and act like it. You must walk and talk like it. You must move and give like it. There is a God who did not hold back as it relates to you and the freedom you now possess. So it is our duty to, not allow ourselves to be held back by guilt, shame, self loathing thoughts, self sabotage, lies, the illusions of defeat, self pity, judgement that you have no right to put on yourself and the like…

We, you, have been called to live free. To live a blood bought life, on purpose and for purpose. To put shame in its place and to live as the redeemed of the Lord! Now don’t you ever forget it!

(Psalm 107:2)

His Bride, By Design

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THE BRIDES CLUB – BLOG #7

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COMPLETE

What completes you? What makes you whole? Where are you most secure and complete in life?

Do you ask questions about when you’ll be made whole? Do you feel incomplete at times? Do you have places in your life that are less than complete, and you wonder when they’ll be made that way?

This blog’s purpose is to remind you that there is hope even in the most hope drained of moments. It’s meant to remind you that Jesus’s first coming, didn’t have any loose ends. He came, completed what He was sent for, and is currently awaiting His return. It is to remind you that in His next return He is coming, as a, ruling, reigning and triumphant, King. In better words, He is coming back to show the devil who IS, boss (Exodus 3:14, John 8:58), to put him in his much deserved place and us in our rightful, (filled) place.

Please understand that contrary to what this world may think, YOU have the better place in history, YOU have the better earthly as well as, eternal seat. YOU will laugh best! Jesus Christ, is coming back for a spotless bride, will you be ready?

I very recently spent a time in worship, and that time, brought back to my remembrance how far I have actually come in my faith. The words “the devil’s gonna try to take me out of tha church but, ya can’t take the church outta me.” rang and reigns true to the fullest extent, to me. the devil can try, but he cannot steal or have your testimony.

We overcome by the blood and by the word of our testimony (Revelations 12:11). Do not hand it over.

That moment in worship reminded me of how indebted I am spiritually to the church that I was raised. Let me remind you, if you need this reminder, that there is NOTHING more valuable than a sole (Proverbs 11:30, John 3:16). And, there is NOTHING that is worth, your soul.

A brief ovation if I may:

Calling all ministers of The Gospel. Your work is great and the work you do matters so much to the Kingdom of God. Don’t stop, don’t quit, don’t lose heart, great is your reward. Thank you for the eternal impact you are making and the dent you are leaving in this world. For the one who wants to quit, please don’t, the world needs you!

Jesus is moving, most assuredly in a way that He never has before (John 14:12). God corrects, those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). And, when He wants to do something big here on this side of life, He start with, fixing what is broken. He’ll start with mending and correcting, He’ll tend to the branches that need it, and then He’ll send them back out to produce more fruit (John 15:1-5). Don’t get weary in any of those seasons (2 Thessalonians 3:13), remember the goal is gold (1 Corinthians 9:24). You are coming out golden, if you do not lose heart (Revelations 3:21).

Hold on to what is true, do away with what is not true (Ephesians 4:24). God is on The Throne, He has not left office! He knows the exact time, the exact moment, the exact space and the exact place. Trust His movement and trust His knowing. (2 Peter 3:8)

His Bride, By Design

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THE BRIDES CLUB – BLOG #6

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CHANGED (BY IDENTIFYING YOUR ENEMY)

2 Corinthian 3:18

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Phillipians 2:12 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

…obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

As believers, change is something that we’ll never stop undergoing. This doesn’t mean that we’d continually have to recover from ongoing falls, but it is more so, an ongoing regeneration of our spirit man. We are transforming from fallen nature, into our Christ-like nature. Therefore we do not lose heart.

2 Corinthians 4:16

…our spirits are being renewed every day.

We drastically experience change when we learn to identify our enemy – and as we learn the ways in which he works.

When we understand who our enemy is, how he works, and the way he uses things, places and people – we are better able to repel his attempts at getting us to keep on or put back on the old man.

Ephesians 4:22-24

throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

ESV

and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Changed by identifying your enemy:

When we know who our enemy is we are better able to identify who our enemy is not. We aren’t swayed in our position of faith. We are confident of what is being knocked down and out through our prayer and fasting. We know our target and continue to aim at his hell bent assignment concerning us, our lives and the lives of those we pray for. We understand that our arrows never miss because we aren’t wrestling against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12).

We are changed through the identifying of our enemy because, contrary to popular belief what we don’t know can still hurt or affect one (Hosea 4:6,Ecclesiastes 1:18). We need to know that there is a such thing as an army of the Lord (Joshua 5:13-14). There is no need for an army if there is no identifiable enemy, present or predicted war, know threat, or nothing to protect and defend.

Please understand, that from the moment of your conception or even before then the enemy plotted against your life. Even while you worked for him and was his biggest advocate, he still hated you. There is no middle ground with God, or with the enemy. And although satan would love for you to believe that there is, there really isn’t. Either you are on God’s side or, you are on the side of the devil. Either way the enemy’s intentions towards you are not life giving. They are mistaken and must return to their sender.

All my life, up until the moment I was taught otherwise, I did not know, nor did I have the slightest clue, that I was actively serving the devil. You see, I thought that since I was “good enough” and did what was right, most of the time I was somewhere in the middle of all of this. I mean, I didn’t actually know Jesus, but I whole heartedly believed that He was real. I knew of Him, heard many of the Sunday School stories about Him and other well known Bible characters, but never actually knew Him.

Little did I know at the time, or at any other moment that satan believed in Jesus too. he more than knew of Him, and completely understood Jesus plans and thoughts towards me.

It isn’t believing that Jesus is real or that He exist that changes us. It is the active renouncing of our place within the kingdom of darkness and boldly proclaiming and accepting our new life into the Kingdom of Light that changes us. We become new instantly and in a moment, and then have to clothe ourselves in this new way of thinking, new way of being and new way of living as we journey on in our new life in Christ.

Anything and everything before then, our service is and was in allegiance to the evil one, or to a way that was in opposition to God’s way. No matter how good the deed was, we are not saved and made new and right by or through what we do, we are saved by faith through grace (Ephesians 2:8). This truth is truly mind blowing, it clears things up completely. When we see this aspect of our lives as truly black or white, and with no grey areas; approaching life, gets easier. We understand that no matter how small a sin may be, sin is still sin. We understand that no matter our intentions, our consciences must be made right by the One true God, who is altogether pure and holy. We understand that we could never be made right in and of ourselves. We also understand that the lines that define a life won over to God are clear and not at all blurred. There is clear evidence of the life that commits to the process of sanctification, and no good deed can replace the|that process.

His Bride, By Design

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The Brides Club – Blog #5

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REDEEMED

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

my Rock and my Redeemer

my Rescue, my Help and my Redeemer

Too many of the redeemed get so caught up in the question of – being redeemable that they don’t focus on the opportunities, miracles, move(s) of God that have been made available to them through The Redeemer. What I mean by this is that the redeemed get to doubting, by believing that they are, somehow unredeemable or as if the life that is had is just too hard for God to make new, fix and|or to transform.

They focus so much on their capability to be found redeemable that they forget to look at the ability of the One who Redeems in the first place. This thought process tends to leave one confused and wishy washy in their faith. It is extremely hard to believe for something while believing the exact opposite thing at the exact same time.

To re· deem means to:

: to free from what distresses or harms: such as

: to release from blame or debt

: to change for the better

: repair, restore

: to remove the obligation of by payment

: to make good

: to exchange for something of value

: to offset the bad effect of

: to atone for

: to make worthwhile

Synonyms for the word are:

rescue, deliver, ransom, reclaim or save

The dictionary typically uses the word in order to better describe and define it. The words they used to display a deeper meaning or an example of the word redeem is, “redeem an error”. The word redeem is an action word and the only thing that was needed in order for the word redeem to be applied was the word “error”.

An individual can be burdened by guilt in such a way that leaves them believing that they don’t even qualify to be saved, that even their “error”, trial, circumstance, problem is somehow not “good” enough for The Redeemer to spring into action.

He is a God that neither sleeps nor slumbers (Pslam 121:4), He is always in action, He is always, The Redeemer. Remember that the word redeem only needs an object in order to act. The object doesn’t need a specific ranking in order to qualify for, the redeeming.

If I take my mind off of my own ability to be or become redeemable and switch it, on to God’s ability to Redeem; I am more likely to receive, experience and believe the results that have been there all along.

Galatians 4:5

to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Psalm 103:4

He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

God didn’t need much in order to redeem. All the redeemed needed in order to be redeemable is to, just be. There is no rank in redeeming, we were all in need of a Savior, all in need of redemption, all in need of a Redeemer. Which leads me to remind you that, you are redeemable, don’t ever forget that. In order to redeem something or someone, that one would have to be deemed redeemable, or capable of the act.

You are…

Maybe you’ve wondered what was wrong with you more time than you’d like to even admit out loud?

Here is your reminder that you are indeed deliverable, that God has deemed you as reachable and able of rescue. The enemy of your soul would love for you to believe that you, of all 8 billion people is somehow desolate, on an island all by yourself, or that you are somehow “a special case”, that nothing can be done with you.

And the lie detector determines that, that in fact, is a lie! You are reachable.

Isaiah 59:1

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you…

And because of this you have every right to believe that you can be rescued. Yes rescued, and redeemed!

More than rescued and redeemable, you become an offspring of God, a product of His Spirit and He has decided that you are an heir, (one who receives or is entitled to receive something).

Psalm 107:2

Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

Isaiah 35:9

Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it.

As we come to the revelation of God’s love, and as we grasp and hold onto it, this very wrong presumption addressed in the paragraphs above is completely debunked. When you truly know the love of God towards you, you know that there is no such thing as impossible, the Rock and the Redeemer has made it all reachable, receivable as well as attainable.

Isaiah 41:14 CSB

Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel. I will help you” — this is the LORD’s declaration. Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

When the Lord declares a thing, it is different from any other declaration. It’s the Lord’s declaration, nothing trumps that. You can be possessive about these truths, especially when you belong to Him and He belongs to you. YOUR Redeemer, MY Redeemer, is more than you’ve acknowledged. HE IS, the Holy One of Israel, there isn’t another.

Proverbs 23:11

For their Redeemer is strong; he himself will bring their charges against you.

Ephesians 6:13

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

His Bride, By Design

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THE BRIDES CLUB – BLOG #4

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ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance. Who doesn’t want acceptance? Who doesn’t long for it? Who doesn’t, at least like the feeling that being accepted brings to them? The feeling of satisfaction, the ones of assurance that come rushing to our minds. Acceptance brings about a sense of safety, and an assurance of peace.

Acceptance is something that every human desires, we can trace this back to the story of Cain and Abel, or even further back, into the Garden of Eden. We desire to be accepted by others, to be accepted by the right crews, by the right groups of people. We want to be accepted by the right establishments, associated with the right places and connections of power. We long for acceptance in every area of life.

Once I became saved, my desire to know the ways God had accepted me was of utmost importance. I’d stay up late at night searching scripture to find out what it said about me. I’d write them over index cards and recite them over myself as I stood in the mirror in the morning preparing for my day. I’d write, rewrite, rehearse and commit to memory all of the scriptures that spoke to my identity and the new creation, in Christ that I had become.

Now that I look back on these details, I also understand how important the things that I had accepted were, and the role they played in my understanding and reach of my overall acceptance in Christ.

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

I understand that my invitation to call on the Lord has always been available. I understood that this invitation had never been withheld from me, but that there was also specific reaching on my part that needed to be ignited.

Romans 10:9-13

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”

God’s desire is that all of us, all 8 billion, should reach repentance; should arrive at and get to the place of that repentance. He wants us to attain it, He set it before us, it is in our reach and in our grasp. I oftentimes envision God as a pacer. Not one pacing back and forth aimlessly, but as One pacing back and forth with a movement similar to a glide. I envision His presence, His Spirit, His agents effortlessly gliding across and over the air waves, the wind, in and out of rooms, spying and peeking on hearts and persons, gently waiting for the moments of their salvation. Looking back and forth at the progress of the influence of His Spirit on every human life. Slowly and patiently waiting for the movement of their hearts in and towards His direction. He is not late, He is not worried, He knows the time and ending of every pathway, and yet He does not force a thing, He gently waits on our reach.

Ephesians 2:8-9

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Could you imagine, could you grasp that acceptance is at the reach of every individual on the face of the earth? It is a free gift, by and through God’s grace, but depending on what they themselves accept – that gift may or may not be reached? Whether it be what that individual accepts as truth, what they accept as a gift in life and for their lives, all these things can quite possibly allow the gift that God offers to never be reached.

Everything is upon the presumption of what we accept or the presumption(s) that we accept. John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. God, the Holy Spirit is that advocate, if we choose to accept Him.

1 Timothy 2:5

For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

Will you accept these words? Accepting that Jesus is the One who has made being accepted by the Father available to all mankind changes things.

Romans 11:16

And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

John 15:1 BSB

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard.

John 17:9

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.

Accepting that there is a difference changes everything. The reach is available to all and every, but Jesus prayed for those who had already accepted the call to higher living in the midst of this world. Those that already accepted the call to reach and attain their belonging in Him.

Access, Accepted (by believing these truths)

His Bride – By Design

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THE BRIDES CLUB – BLOG #3

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The thing about FOMO

There is good FOMO and then there is, bad FOMO. The good type, is the type of FOMO where there is an important position and|or placement; or an important opportunity that presents itself, and you don’t want to miss out on that. Or, when you are thinking about your schedule and raising your child(ren), as well as factoring in the kind of upbringing you’d like for them to have; and you are reminded of how fast it all goes by and that missing out on that experience can never be an option.

There is a bad FOMO as well. A FOMO that has been heightened by the convenience of everything being so easily accessible in this day an age. There is a FOMO attached to not being at the same rate of growth as another in your age group, who shares similar values, has had a similar upbringing and the like. There is a FOMO that brings about anxious and unwanted feelings and even invites in the “pit in your stomach” feeling too.

FOMO isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It helps our processes of thinking and contributes to our decision making. I oftentimes think about the preparedness that FOMO brings, one similar to the Bible story of the ten virgins. Where they were in such anticipation of the bridegroom, that things had to be right. They had to be ready for His call, their lamps had to be trimmed, and they had to have enough oil in order to remain ready. See Matthew 25:1-13 for the full parable.

I’ve had both types of FOMO. There are specific scriptures that I run to when the bad kind of FOMO tries to steal my joy. Here are a few of them:

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Phillipians 4:6-8

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Romans 1:17

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Isaiah 40:31

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Bad FOMO can be daunting, it can make you feel like you are the only one who has, or will ever experience loneliness or the moments of separation that God can allow one to journey on. It can make you believe that if you do things God’s way, His intentions are to hold out on you. It can make you think that another opportunity will never come your way if you miss out on the current opportunity; all of which, are not true. Which is honestly why it is so important for us to renew our minds in the truth of the Word and in the clarity that it brings.

Good FOMO is ultimately directed at what God is up to in our lives or in the life of the Body of Christ as a whole. It is eager to find out what God is doing, where He is going and the way He is moving. Similar to the phrases and lyrics we find in well known Gospel or Christian Contemporary Music like:

“Lord, whatever you are doing, please don’t do it without me!” or “My hearts one desire is to be Holy.” or “My treasure, Lord you are. My friend and King…”

The heart of this type of FOMO is to be in the center of God’s will at all times. It is to be deeply rooted in His Word. It is to know God’s secrets and is to be connected to His throne of Grace. It is to know Him more and to know His heart deeper. Whatever you do this year, keep the good FOMO and do away with the bad type of FOMO. It will serve you in the end.

His Bride – By Design

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