Your Majesty!

When I hear people say that Jesus is not equal to the Father, or Jesus died because he wanted to, it just breaks my heart. What are they thinking when they read the book of Matthew, of Jesus agonizing in the garden before His death? He willingly gave up His life for us. Even knowing He would be despised, and rejected by us, who He died for. What human would do that? Not me!

Talking with many people about Jesus, it seems to be that the two most common mistakes are when they minimize His humanity (fully human, yet without sin), and minimize His divinity.  “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen the glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father... One and only who came from the Father,” is a title showing that Jesus is God’s ONLY unique Son.  (John 1: 1-14NIV).  

Unlike all believers, Jesus was born of God. “a child is born… and He will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God.” (Isaiah 9: 6).  When Christ was born, God became man. Christ is the PERFECT expression of God in human form.  

In John 14:9-28, Jesus not only answers Philips question, but also explains how God, and Himself, and the Counselor, are ONE. Verse 9, Philip asks, “Lord show us the Father”  God says, “Anyone who has seen me, has seen the Father... I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you... the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,” (NIV).  If you are searching for God, and who He is, it ends at looking at Jesus.

Jesus willingly submitted to God the Father on earth in many physical limitations of His humanity. That’s why people get confused when reading John 14: 28, and Jesus says, “the Father is greater than I.” Or in Philippians 2: 6, “ did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage,”  Don’t stop there, read the whole word, from verse 6-11. “He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man," (NIV).  Jesus did not give up His deity to become human, but set aside the right to His glory and power. The incarnation was the act of the preexistent Son of God, voluntary taking on a human body, and human nature.

"On His head will be many crowns... He was clothed with a [robe] dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:12-13).  Revelation 1:17-18, tells us who believe, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (NIV).

If you still don’t get it, here’s the best view I can give you - God is made up of Three parts, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. All parts have their own purpose, and are yet, ONE.

The egg, made up of three parts - The shell, the white, the yolk. All serve their own purpose, and what they are used for, yet one.

Do you believe God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit are One? John 14:16-17

Do you believe Jesus is equal to the Father? Philippians 2: 6-11

Do you believe in hell (Hades)? Revelations 1: 18

I pray the LIGHT OF THE TRUTH, shines from your head, to your heart, so you don’t miss it.  Remember in Luke, at the last seconds of life, only one of the thieves dying next to Jesus, opened his heart to the truth.  He saw past his shame, to the coming glory of our Lord.

Look to Jesus!

Grace and Peace to you

Kim

Glorious Day!

One day when sin was as black as could be, Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin, He dwelt among men my example is He.  Living He loved us, Dying He saved us, buried he carried our sins far away, rising He justified, freely forever. One day He’s coming, “Oh Glorious Day”

Beautiful song, truth packed in every verse..

God had a plan from the beginning of creation, that His only begotten Son would come and die for the sins of the world, John 3:16. He would be, "despised, and rejected," (Isaiah 53: 3).

John talks about Jesus being, “with God in the beginning... But darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:1-5NIV).  Are you one who has to understand everything to believe? Then you will still be in the darkness. We will never understand everything,  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3: 5-6NIV).  

John 1:8-9, talks about how he, (John the Baptist) was only a witness to the light. “The true light which [lights] every man that cometh into the world."   We can’t make someone see the truth. We are not the source of God’s light, like John, we merely reflect it. JESUS IS THE ONLY TRUE LIGHT. He helps us see our way to God., and shows us how to walk along in this difficult world. Being a witness, our role is to be reflectors of Christ light. We are never to present ourselves, or act as if we have all the answers, but to point them to the PERFECT ONE. The One with all the answers, and the scars to prove it!

If you feel in the dark, ask yourself, What am I receiving? What am I believing? What have I become?  No one else can fix you . No one else can love you with a NEVER ENDING LOVE! It’s your life. What are you going to do? Who are you going to turn to? What have you put your hope, faith, and trust in? What is truth to you?

At the end of everything, I pray it’s Jesus. What a Glorious day it will be for you.

Jesus will NEVER give up on you. His strength, and love is stronger, and deeper than any human.  If Jesus didn’t die, and leave us, like He told the disciples He had to, His spirit would not have come. We would still be in darkness. 

 “Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you... but when he, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guild you into all truth.” (John 16:7-13NIV).  

This light is reflected by other believers who have, "received him... [and] believes on his name," (John 1: 12-13).  He gave them the right to become children of God.

I thank God for His plan from the beginning, how Jesus died to, "ascend unto [his] father, and your father; and to [his] God, and your God." (John 20: 17).  We have the gift of the Holy Spirit, and life for eternity with Him and all our loved ones who believed.

Have a Glorious day

Kim

Change my Life

(This is not the artist, Ashes Remain, who sing the song - but these 2 young men did a Great job with it, I wanted to send this one.)

Are you still awake tonight, broken up inside?

I got the inspiration for this devotional by looking into my grandsons eyes, when he is really giving me his attention, as I try to tell him something that will protect him from getting hurt. Also by continually praying for my dad, and his doubts. He told me, it’s not that he doesn't believe, he just has a lot of doubts. Well so did Thomas. God understands our doubts, but there is no hope for us if we don’t believe why Jesus came.

I’ve always called my dad doubting Thomas, who has to see the nailed scared hands, or has to understand everything about God that our little minds just can’t.

Thomas just wouldn’t believe the other disciples until he could, "see in his hands the print of the nails," (John 20: 24-25).  Jesus wasn't hard on Thomas for his doubts, because doubt leads to questions, and questions lead to answers. Doubt can also turn to stubbornness, and if that becomes a lifestyle, it will harm your faith. Don’t give the devil a foothold into your thinking. He will take you down. Quickly ask Jesus to renew your way of thinking.

Jesus says in John 20: 29, “blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe.” Just like a child, when you tell them something, they trust and believe you. But they don’t always listen. Sometimes they like to test you. Like if you try to stop them from touching something hot, and they touch it anyway. They get burned for doubting, and not believing you. Our lives will get more and more damaged, until you give God your FULL attention on why Jesus came. He doesn’t tell you that you have to understand it. He just tells you to believe it.

"Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." (Mark 10:15).  Why should we have faith like a child? Adults are not as trusting as children. Children don’t need complete proof, or understanding of things. They believe, because they trust. We don’t have to understand everything, and we won’t. It should be enough that God provided complete forgiveness, and a way to heaven through His Son, Jesus.

What does it take for us to stop doubting, and just believe? Usually Pain! When everything else is stripped away, all the things you hold dear, JESUS IS STILL THERE, with His nailed scared hands reaching out to you, ready to change your life. He can fix your heart, your hurts, open your eyes, and set you free. You won’t be able to ignore it anymore. Stop letting the devil steal everything from you!

Jesus can make the dead man in you come alive!

I know, because He changed my life.

You could spend your whole life searching for proof, but all the proof you need is in God’s word. If you’re not in that, look at the testimonies of other believers. Appearances of Jesus are all around you in Christians who are mirroring Christ in their walk on earth. But don’t look too hard at them, because we are just sinners who fall down and get up. Jesus is the ONLY PERFECT ONE, equal to His Father. 

Look to Him with faith, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," (Hebrews 11: 1).

  

Are you calling His name? JESUS

Do you need a miracle?

Believe by faith

Kim

Carry me to the cross - then I'll embrace him there.

Jesus will carry you all the way, everyday, but you have to embrace Him. How has your way been working for you? Are you left feeling all alone? Well you’re not. He’s waiting at the cross for you to embrace Him.

The things in our life that seem impossible, and every step is exhausting, they are not sent to discourage us. They come to motivate us to attempt things that would be impossible, except we have been given this great strength that God has placed within us through His Spirit, so nothing is impossible through Him.

Do you think Christ road wasn’t daunting at times, dark, lonely?  You better really think again, and get a good visual of our saviors suffering. Yes He is the Son of God, but He came to earth fully human.

There is several books in the bible that talk about Jesus AGONIZING in the garden: Mathew 26: 36-46  - Mark 14: 32-42. 

I remember this scene in the movie, “Passion of the Christ.” It really let you see how scared Jesus was.  “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22: 43-44).  Can you just imagine being that scared? Are you in a place right now that you are feeling alone, scared of the outcome? Jesus has been there, and He wants to carry you to the cross. Only then will your eyes open, and you will see Him for who He is. At the foot of the cross you will see your healer, savior, redeemer, everything you have been searching for.

Jesus was so overwhelmed, "even unto death," (Matthew 26:38).  I don’t think God’s word could have been any clearer to us of how some trials in our life can take us to this point. What do you do? Do what Jesus did: "[He] fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [will]." (Matthew 26: 39).  Jesus showed us how difficult the road can get. It will be daunting, it will be exhausting, but Jesus was never alone, His father carried Him all the way, and Jesus wants to show us we’re not alone either. He will carry us.

Then came the scene of Jesus, after being beaten beyond recognition, He fell to His knees, and embraced His cross, to finish the work His Father gave Him to do. This scene spoke to my heart so loud, like Jesus was saying, “This which you have given me to do, to die for the sins of the world, is almost finished, I’m almost home.” 

I don’t know how you see it, or how God is speaking to your heart. I can only pray you open it and let Him in. He is carrying you, ready to embrace you. Ready to change you inside. See Him when you get to the foot of His cross.

Grace and peace to you

P.S…. I love you dad, and we are always praying

Kim

Never been a GREATER LOVE

We can never repay Him, but we can give our life in the pursuit of knowing Him more.

Listen and Believe… He is the Author of salvation, and the Perfecter of our faith.

In the book of John, when Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant that whatever debt was owed, was wiped away. Jesus satisfied divine justice, and our debt was settled to God, when He died on the cross for our sins. The receipt is nailed to the cross.

We can never be good enough, or do anything to earn God’s love. The most amazing thing to me, is you can never lose His love for you either. He’s always loved us, even while, “we were yet sinners.” (Romans 5: 8).

The road to Jesus is not a roundabout road of laws, it is not obeying this, or that.  It starts with a straight road of faith. Just receive, believe, and become, then you will truly live. "[Many] received him, to them... became the sons of God," (John 1: 12-13).  A sinner, (which we all are by nature) who knows they are a sinner, and in need of forgiveness, are well on the straight road to Jesus. In Luke, a woman merely touched the hem of Christ's garment, and was made whole. 

Believing by faith, and welcoming Jesus into your heart as Lord of your life, you are reborn. This starts the change inside of you, changing our attitudes, desires, and motives. Being born again takes a moment of faith, but becoming Christ like is a lifelong process.

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin." (Romans 7: 14-25NIV).   No one in the world is innocent, not one of us deserves to be saved - not the person who doesn’t know God’s laws - and not the Christian who does, and tries to keep them. We all have the ability to make excuses for what we do. Never underestimate the power of sin. We can never fight it in our own strength. Jesus is our only hope. He is God’s provision for victory over sin. And when we fall, He lovingly reaches out to help us, again, and again. We must depend totally on Christ for our salvation. Once you truly have accepted Jesus as Lord of your life, you’ll know something is different about yourself. What breaks God’s heart, will break yours. You can never lose your salvation.

Do you think we owe God anything?  I believe I do, and that is to love Him with all my heart, mind, body, and soul. "We are debtors," to God’s grace, (Romans 8: 9-15), and forgiving mercy.  To God, I owe my life.

There will never be a “Greater Love” than “Abba Father”

Believe by faith.

Kim

While I'm Waiting...

“this thing is from me,” (1 Kings 12:24).  God is in ALL things. Pain will leave, when we learn to see God in all things.

We all have times of waiting in our lives. Sometimes it could be painful to wait, but let the pain, lead you to peace.  There is a way to get to peaceful waiting. Keep your hope in Jesus.

Things like health issues of ourselves, or loved ones, financial problems, marital problems, questions, like why someone had to die so soon. So many things for us to worry about that causes anxious, uneasy feelings inside. Things that cause us to be in fear, and loose our peace.  It’s in those times it’s so hard to move ahead bold and confident. Patiently waiting, taking every step in obedience, serving Jesus, worshiping Him through it all.

There are many quotes in the bible of running the race: Isaiah 40: 31, 2 Timothy 4: 7.  Hebrews 12: 1-2, “run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Here’s my favorite part) Let us FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS.” There’s no other way while you wait.

How could you be peaceful, and wait faithfully, when the wait isn’t easy? Trust God’s word, and hold on to Jesus. Remember the storm in the book of Matthew, if we take our eyes off of Him and focus on what our situation is, we will sink deeper, and deeper, and loose hope. "his disciples came to him... saying, Lord, save us: we perish.  And he saith unto them, Why are [you] fearful, O ye of little faith?" (Mat. 8: 23-27).  This a great visual of what focusing on the storm, or keeping your eyes on Jesus, can do.

When we realize that Jesus has the power to control the storms of our fears, and hurting hearts, it helps us to deal with whatever we are facing. It doesn’t remove the problem. It just brings a peace, "Which passeth all understanding," (Philippians 4: 4-7).  True peace comes from knowing God is in control. Turn all your worries into prayer. Whenever you feel that anxious feeling, stop and pray. Wait in worship.

Grace and peace to you

Kim

Trust in Jesus

What will you do when your time has come, and your life is done? What will you say to the Holy One?  Jesus died for the sins of the world. Problem is, some choose not to receive this truth.

There was two thieves hanging on their own cross. Their time  to die was about to come. One wanted Jesus for what He could do for him, the other one had it right, he acknowledged Him as Lord. Which thief are you? The humble one, or the arrogant one. The one with faith, or the one in disbelief. The one who received Christ, or the one who didn't? What a visual God gave us at the crucifixion! How the world is still divided, even today, with Christ in the middle.  There was no time left for the thief to do anything. Just to trust in Jesus.  "And Jesus said unto him... shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43.)  We are saved by grace alone, not by works, or anything we can do.

The truth of God’s word, and standing before God in judgment, is a fact. It is going to happen. Here is some scripture you can look up...

Romans 14:10 - "we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ."

2 Corinthians 5:10 - "every one may receive the things done in his body... whether it be good or bad."

1 John 4: 17 - "we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in the world."

Revelations 14: 7 - "Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgement is come,"

 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4 :12 NIV).  No One else is God’s equal, no One else is God’s begotten Son, born of a virgin, no One else had the power to rise from the dead, no One else died for our sins.  "by grace are ye saved through faith... not of works... it is the gift of God," (Ephesians 2: 8-9).  

If life was always easy, and sin didn't keep us from the presence of a Holy God, we would never need a defender, a redeemer, a savior. But because sin does matter, and life has its many challenges , we need to get to know God more intimately through Jesus to face them as He did. As we face challenges that will stretch our faith, and experience each time how God gets you through, we learn to depend on Him more, trust Him more, verses ourselves and our own decisions.

“Fear God and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgment has come.” (Revelations 14:7).  God’s final judgment will not be put off forever.  Have you confessed your sins, and trust only in Jesus to save you? If so you have nothing to fear on judgment day, the judge of all the earth will take your hand and bring you home. “You will be with Him in Paradise.”

Grace and peace to you

Kim

The Way

"The Lord... hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor... to preach deliverance to the captives..." (Luke 4:18).

Do you sometimes feel like you’re being held captive, a prisoner in your own body?

I know a lot of people who some times feel this way, even some Christians: Always trying to avoid certain people. Well there are some people you can’t run from or even try to avoid; like the one you’re married to, your children, a co-worker, a boss, a teenager who pulls at your last nerve. So you might as well know Who to run to. The One who gives you, "peace... [beyond] all understanding." (Philip 4:7).  The One who tells you when to move, or be still. The One whom when you see you, "rejoice with joy unspeakable..." (1 Peter 1:8).

Some think they find freedom in religion, or a church. What religion, or church set anyone free? You’re still a prisoner in your own body, being held captive.

Here is some scripture for you to see, true freedom is found in a Person...


Isaiah 43:1-3 - "through the rivers, they shall not overflow... through the fire, thou shalt not be burned,"


Isaiah 49:9 - "say to the prisoners... their pasture shall be in all high places..."


Isaiah 61:1 - "the Lord hath anointed [Isaiah] to preach good tidings unto the meek... and the opening of the prison to them that are bound..."

Matthew 12:18 - "Behold... my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased..."

 God gave us His Son, not religion. It’s falling in love, a relationship with Jesus. Not a building, or religion, or  a denomination.  In Him, in His life and death and resurrected life, that we have true freedom, that we have life.

When you get this in every part of your being, it’s truly life’s blood running through your veins. You’ll stop avoiding, running, and start looking at Jesus more.

You will never get away from mean, selfish people. It’s always around you, in front of you, and behind you. But so is your defender - Jesus.  His glory shines all around us. He gives us the words of life so unfailing in the bible.

So be set free inside. Don’t let the enemy keep stealing your joy. Pray for His wisdom, and discernment.

Lift high the King of Kings, and the Great I Am, and He will bring you peace that passes all understanding.

Grace and peace to you

Kim

Already There

If you look up the word shepherd in the dictionary, you will see the meaning as being a caretaker of sheep, an overseer. In the bible, Jesus is "that great shepherd of the sheep," (Hebrews 13:20). Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for guidance, to lead them.

Jesus is the shepherd, we are the sheep. Not the frightened, passive animals they are, but the obedient followers. Our shepherd knows, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23).  We will reach these places only by keeping our eyes on Him, not our worries, or our circumstances. It’s very possible your circumstance may never change, but our Great God is very capable of changing you to experience His promise of peace, in the midst of it all. Do we focus on the problems, or the One who goes ahead of us?

We are in a world where things are out of our control. So it is hard to see where things are going, and where He’s leading you. Fear and questions can begin to take over.  But we have to remember, whatever awaits us, is encountered by Him first.

Jesus is, "the good shepard who giveth his life for the sheep," (John 10: 11-14), Jesus goes on ahead of us. We have to trust Him, and know His voice. If you are not in a relationship with Him, who wants to shepherd you, you will be distracted by the voices of the thief and the Robber.

God is out in front. He is our tomorrows, and tomorrows can fill you with fear and questions. All the tomorrows of our life have to pass through Him before they can get to us. Remember, “He’s already there!” Our future is Gods memory.  (Selah)

Grace and peace to you

Kim

Motion of Mercy

God gives us the strength to give something for nothing. He helps us be like Him, and as a result gives us a glimpse of the Kingdom that’s coming.

The motion of mercy is changing the why, and the way that we are.  Moving our hearts to live for the lost, loving till it hurts (and it does), no matter what the cost, like He loved us first.  “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5: 8).  God sent His Son to die for us, not because we were good enough, but because He loved us. He loved us before we even turned to Him.

I was unsatisfied, hungry and thirsty, so in need of help, so unworthy. Yet when I cried out to God, He ran to me. That’s the motion of mercy.

When I think of where I was, it makes it easier not to judge anyone, but to have compassion for those who are in need of Jesus. We are all Spiritually bankrupt without Him.

Once He fills you with His love, He calls us to action, and for our hearts to be filled with compassion for those in need of Jesus.

Paul knew His calling, but he also knew what awaited him, “prison, and hardship,” (Acts 20: 23 NIV).  However, none of these things stopped him from his calling. It doesn’t seem fair, but the bible tells us, in following Jesus, we will suffer but, "we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:17). 

Our mission as Christians is to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. We can’t make anyone’s eyes open, or change who they are. You can only share how God changed you, and leave the rest up to Him. Trust Him and how He is using you, making you stronger, and more Christ like in the process.

He never said it would be easy, or that we would even understand everything.  The book of Proverbs tells us: "Trust in the Lord with all [your] heart; and lean not unto [your] own understanding." (Prov. 3:5).   But He does promise to "go before thee," and never leave you. (Deut. 31:8).  

Jesus has been so faithful to me, even in the heartache, and pain. But I am so thankful to where He is taking my heart, and mind. I can testify to God’s promises being true. He sets me upon a rock, and helps me to stand firm in my faith, and to this I say, “AMEN, Glory to God” 2 Corinthians 1: 18-22.

He changed the way I was, and now I have better understanding of why. “That’s the motion of mercy,” It changes your heart to be like His.

Grace and peace to you

Kim