Ministers of a New Message

I don’t know your church or Bible background, but I can pretty much sum mine up in one word...confusing.

I have a rich heritage of family who were faithful to church, diligent studiers and vibrant preachers or song leaders. I attended Christian schools from Kindergarten - college. I’ve not been lacking in the Biblical perspective or emphasis in my education.

However, the enemy kept me confused and blinded for a very long time. It reminds me of the time I was teaching 8th grade science. A particular chapter was overwhelming to me and I ended up just reading the chapter to my students. I just couldn’t come up with a way to explain it, because I honestly didn’t understand most of it myself. After the lesson one day that week, one of my 8th grade boys came up to me and said, “That was the best lesson you’ve ever taught!” 😳 (Note to self: never spend hours preparing fun lessons again...)

There have been many times when I’ve read passages of Scripture, even “taught” them and didn’t understand what they meant. When questions arose, I’d just say what my pastors and teachers had told me, “You don’t have to understand, you just have to believe.” But in my spirit I wasn’t satisfied. I wanted to understand. And I felt ill-equipped to be a leader or teacher.

Then I read 2 Corinthians 3:6 (emphasis mine):

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; NOT of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

I’d been trying to understand and teach a “law” that had been fulfilled and I couldn’t make sense of it. Now I knew it was because God would never equip me to teach a message that had expired!! Apparently, I’d been teaching something that produced death rather than life. And when I look back on my own experience, I can testify that I did not feel life in the messages I had heard. 

When I started investigating this “new testament” that was not of the “letter” (law) my eyes were opened to the new message (grace) Christ had come to communicate. The message that His Spirit IN ME was speaking. The message that belief produces behavior, not the other way around. 

The voice of the enemy had been loud and I had not been able to discern the voice of the Spirit for many, many years. I was confused into thinking that I could just read the passage and accept that I’d never understand. But now, the voice of the Spirit was booming and I was beginning to understand that I could actually know the “mysteries” I had wrestled with for years.

Mark 4:11 “...Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God…”

Romans 11:25 “...For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,...”

Romans 16:25 “...according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,…”

Ephesians 1:9 “...Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,…”

If you feel ill-equipped to teach the gospel, be assured that you are an ABLE MINISTER, with or without a theology degree. God has given YOU the ability to communicate His truth. Take some time to refresh your own understanding of the gospel, and then trust God to help you communicate this life-giving message.

Your Co-Minister,

Rebecca Monroe

Unfair Grace

A teacher asked his students to line up for recess. All but one quietly walked to the line remembering to push in their chairs and leaving their desks clear of pencils and papers. As the teacher turned around to grab his jacket, he heard a loud crash! He turned back around to find that one student had toppled another student's desk and chair in her rush to get to the line. Without a pause the teacher demanded that each child go back to their seat to put their heads down and quickly explained that they would miss their entire recess.

How unfair!
.
Sounds familiar, though, right? Because of ONE man's sin, the entire world stands condemned.
Romans 5:19 tells us that because Adam disobeyed God, ALL men became sinners. 1 Corinthians 15:22 tells us that our destiny is death!
That's a little extreme, don't you think? How unfair!

Another teacher asked her students to line up for recess. All but one noisily rushed to the line forgetting to push in chairs or knocking pencils and papers off of desks. One student stood up quietly, pushed in others' chairs, and picked up fallen pencils and papers as he walked to the line. The teacher told the class that because of this child's right behavior she would allow all of them to play.

How graciously unfair!

Sounds familiar, though, right? Because of ONE man's obedience the entire world is offered forgiveness.  Romans 5:19 tells us that because of Christ's obedience, ALL who believe are made righteous! 1 Corinthians 15:22 tells us that our destiny is life!
That's a little extreme, don't you think? How unfair!

God's grace is completely unfair, but I am so glad that it is!

My husband wrote this song to express the victory we have in Christ because of God's Unfair Grace. Listen here, and then download the rest of the album on iTunes! It will NOT disappoint!

Sin from one
Condemned us all
In sin's grip
Born to fall

Unfair
To say the least
'Til hope arrived
For death's defeat

By faith
We're saved
By grace alone
By Jesus' blood
Our souls atoned

Oh pardon full
Now rest and peace
Unfair Grace
Has ransomed me

Now with the morn
I'll sing aloud
Praise forever
Love came down

Took my place
to pardon me
Unfair Grace
Now I receive

By faith
We're saved
By grace alone
By Jesus' blood
Our souls atoned

My only need
My rest and peace
My Jesus won
My victory

I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God to Whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

By faith
We're saved
By grace alone
By Jesus' blood
Our souls atoned

Our only need
Our rest in peace

Our Jesus won
Our Jesus won
Our Jesus won

The victory

-Blake Monroe

Feelin' Fruity

Without the Holy Spirit in your life, it is impossible to exhibit real, 100% fruit! Just like the ingredients list for a Watermelon Jolly Rancher doesn’t include any actual watermelon, an unbeliever can only mimic what they think is real.

But someone who possesses the Holy Spirit possesses His fruit! That means that you have real, 100% love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is now part of your very core (pun intended). This is why you feel rotten when you behave opposite of this fruit. It’s not who you are anymore.

Our minds (part of our flesh) are often still tricked into thinking that we want to sin. Sin does exist in our flesh, but not in our spirit. The flesh and spirit are now at battle (Romans 7:14-20). This is why Paul urges us to “...be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1).” Our hearts have been made new. Our minds must be renewed to match. In James 1:24, we’re compared to people who look in a mirror, walk away, and immediately forget what they look like. We must constantly look into the mirror of truth that reflects our new identity in Christ so that when we walk away and we’re tempted to act un”fruity” we will remember who we are. So renew your minds with the truth that you are new (2 Cor. 5:17), that you are right with God (Rom. 5:1), and that you are filled with His fruit (Gal. 5:22-23)! 

Now that is something sweet you can chew on!

A Simple Equation

Any number X 0 always = 0, huh!

As a third grade teacher, I often found myself making up silly chants like the one above. While chants are great for instilling one message in a child’s mind, they are also really great for getting kids to line up quickly and in a somewhat fashionable order. Admittedly, the latter was my cherished result, but I’m glad that my third-graders-turned-college-students-overnight still know the truth about multiplying numbers by 0.

Unfortunately, in our spiritual lives, we forget this very basic equation:

ANY SIN (even your 1,893,423^rd one) X CHRIST (zero sins) always = RIGHTEOUSNESS (zero sin)

1 John 1: 9—“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Psalm 103:12—“…as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Hebrews 10:17—“…I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

It doesn’t matter how large the first factor gets, the answer is always ZERO sin! Christ knew before He died 2,000 years ago how many sins we would commit, and He forgave all of them on the cross. When we add variables to Christ’s work on the cross, we change the equation!

There is NOTHING else needed, no additional confession, no additional penance, no additional good works to cancel out the bad.

Nothing.

Zero.

That makes me wanna say, “Huh!”

Prisoner...But Free

As a prisoner

All rights as a citizen 

No longer apply

As a prisoner

Any dreams for the future

No longer matter

As a prisoner

All cravings and addictions

Cannot be indulged

As a prisoner

Favorite activities

May not be enjoyed

As a prisoner

Choices and variety

No longer exist

I know prisoners

Who today have hope in Christ

Chains of sin broken

I know prisoners

Whose guilt, remorse, and regret

No longer bind them

I know prisoners
Whose faith has cleared their record

Truth has set them free

I know prisoners
Blameless, righteous, forgiven
No longer guilty

I just spent two days alongside men who have committed gruesome crimes. They have been stripped of every right and privilege they had as a citizen. Yet, they are more free than many who are not confined to prison, because they have experienced the forgiveness and healing that comes through Jesus Christ. They have hope that even though their lives on earth will be spent inside a maximum security prison, it is not their end. They have joy in knowing that they can have (and have had) an impact on the "outside" world through what they're learning and pursuing inside prison walls. They are speaking Truth into their children's lives, stopping the generational cycle of crime one child at a time. They are sharing the hope they have with other prisoners whose lives are being changed. For two days, I shared tears of joy and pain with my brothers. For one day, I watched men be dads, uncles, grandpas to the children they love. For life, I will be forever changed.

When Celebrations Become Painful Reminders

One year ago, Mother was diagnosed with cancer. Today, she is cancer-free!

People love to celebrate wonderful occasions...birthdays, half-birthdays, spiritual birthdays, adoption days, pet birthdays, dating anniversaries, wedding anniversaries, work anniversaries, addiction recovery milestones, holidays, and more! It is a worthy cause to rejoice in the momentous events in our lives. This morning, I enjoyed using Face Time to sing "Happy Birthday" to my now 9-year-old nephew! I am rejoicing that he was born. What an amazing kid!
Another anniversary comes up this week, though. The 7th anniversary of losing my almost fiance in a car accident. What makes it even more difficult is that Mother's Day falls around this anniversary. every. time. While my grief was great and there are still waves that come up out of nowhere, I can't imagine it being anything close to what his sweet mother feels every day, and especially on Mother's Day.
It is an amazing thing to celebrate mothers. I have the best mother in the whole world! One day of honoring her doesn't even begin to adequately celebrate all that she is. There aren't enough Hallmark (R) cards to express in words what she has been to me. On Mother's Day, I will be singing her praises! But my mother has a mother, too. Her sweet Mother Dear went to Heaven in 1999. On Mother's Day, my mother will remember wonderful things about my grandma, but she will also miss her a little more than on other days throughout the year.
Some were not as fortunate as I to have a mother who loved me and cheered me on to do good things. They will hurt this weekend. Some never resolved relationship conflicts with their mothers before laying them to rest. They will grieve on Sunday. Some never knew their mothers and will be reminded that all was not well when they were born. Eyes will blur as they view picture after beautiful picture on social media sites, if they can even bear to look on Sunday. Some have desired children for years, and Sunday will remind them that they are still unable to stand alongside the other mothers in the church. Some have lost children and will never hear the wonderful words "Mommy, I love you," again. Sunday will be unbearable. Some mothers have watched children make painful, hurtful choices. On Sunday, their tears will fall.
If I could stop all of the annual reminders of everyone's grief and sorrow, I would.
But, I can't.
So, I will be praying for those who are hurting through this weekend. They will not be far from my mind. I will weep with those who are weeping.
But I will also take the opportunity to rejoice with those who are rejoicing, celebrating the mom who after years of trying, finally gets to be called, "Mommy!" I'll be jumping for joy with the mother whose child has returned to the Lord. I will be praising the Lord for the amazing moms that I know who are using their God-given gifts and abilities to nurture their children in knowledge of Him! I will be thanking God for the women in my life who have been spiritual moms. I will call my mother with sheer gratitude that God healed her from cancer and that she is still just a phone call and a few hours' drive away. I will call my grandmother and remind her once again that she is responsible for all this mess! I am so thankful for mothers. They are worthy to be celebrated!
Do I fear the grief that one day Mother's Day will hold painful reminders? Sure. But while the celebration is sweet, I will not withhold my joy.

Ecclesiastes 3:4
There is a time to weep.
And there’s a time to laugh.
There is a time to be sad.
And there’s a time to dance.

While there is rejoicing to be done, may we not withhold our celebration, for there will be plenty of time to grieve in days to come.

Weeping in the Sowing

I planted some seeds about 15 years ago, seeds of encouragement and love in the life of a young girl that so desperately needed affirmation and attention. After a couple of years, life's paths took us in different directions and I lost touch. When we reconnected a few years later, it was evident that there had not been much watering and nurturing of this tender plant. She'd been tattered by life's storms and the disease of sin had left some pretty significant scars.
It's amazing how blooms are still possible in what seem the most dire of circumstances. She began a journey of transplanting and regrowth. It was a hard journey, one full of ups and downs, good choices and bad choices. Then she had a beautiful baby boy. I saw growth like never before. She began holding jobs for more than just a few months, making better choices about the people she would spend time with, and making a greater effort to surround herself with a community of believers.
But the weeds had never been removed. They have been so entangling for so long that she simply
cannot recognize them as weeds. The weeds have some attractive blooms in the form of happiness, security, escape, and the affirmation and attention she has desired since I've known her. Plucked from the ground and placed in a decorative vase, the arrangement is quite lovely. A man that dotes on her, the ability to have and do things financially, a fresh start in a new location far from the life in which she grew up, opportunities for her son. It's as beautiful as the flowers on my desk this morning.
But we all know what happens to even the most beautiful of cut flower arrangements. Even if we add the plant food for a week, the flowers will eventually wither and die.
Oh, if only we could be satisfied with the arrangement in which God has planted us. He is the source of our nourishment, health, and stability. We see the arrangements that are pulled together for others, the displays of color that bring joy and satisfaction...temporarily, and we want that. But we fail to realize that the most fulfilling place to be is rooted in the truth, whether we like it or not.
While I look at the areas of my own life where I've allowed the weeds of deceit to cause discontentment, I'm also grieving for my sweet friend, praying and waiting for the rejoicing that will come when she surrenders to God's best for her life.

Psalm 126:6
He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

Forgiven Forever

Before you committed your first sin
Sins were forgiven forever.
Before you confessed your sinful nature
Sins were forgiven forever.
Before you continued to struggle with sin in the flesh
Sins were forgiven forever.
You are a child of God, a perfected saint, because
Sins were forgiven forever.
You have a new covenant written on your heart, because
Sins were forgiven forever.
No offering or sacrifice is needed, because
Sins were forgiven forever.
Your sins are remembered no more, because
Sins were forgiven forever.
Two thousand years ago
Sins were forgiven forever.

Hebrews 10:11-18
And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,  “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

New

Name - from sinner to saint
Eternity - from death to life
Walk - from flesh to Spirit

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Summertime in My Heart

“To everything there is a season…”

…except, of course, for flip-flops. I’m pretty sure even Solomon would have agreed. I mean, didn’t he wear sandals year-round?

It’s so hard to say goodbye to summer…some years harder than others. It’s not that I don’t love other seasons. I love the Fall colors, crisp air, pumpkins, and crunchy leaves. I even love a good Winter snow…if I don’t have to drive in it or shovel it.

But, I miss the sun shining in the mornings urging me to start the day with a smile.

So how do I get through the shorter, darker days? 

I remind myself that I have been given the Son…eternal, bright, and glorious.

Every day the enemy tempts me to forget that I am a completely new creation. He lies about my identity, my worth, and my purpose. He wants to keep me in the dark about the power that I now possess in Christ.

My flesh is used to old habits and sin patterns that confuse and conflict with my spirit. I often place myself back in the chains that have already been broken, and I behave as though I believe the lies of the enemy.

So, I must surround myself with truth. Every day I review what Christ did for me and in me. I read parts of Hebrews and Romans to refresh my memory about my new life, status, and position. I rehearse 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 to dispel any notion that I’m still part sinner rather than fully saint.

Truth melts the cold that threatens to defeat and discourage, and just like the unknown hymn writer says:

               It is summertime in my heart.

               It is summertime in my heart.

               Since Jesus saved me, new life He gave me.

               Even in wintertime it’s summer in my heart.

So, I may be packing up most of the flip-flops (keepin’ a few out just in case), and replacing them with boots, but nothing can replace the summertime that Christ has brought to my heart!

Meditate...Yoga Style

I know there are some in my circles that would not approve of even trying Yoga. Honestly, I've not actually researched why or why not to do it, but I had heard some warnings against "emptying my mind."

Regardless, I went along with someone who'd benefited from the stretching and thought I'd just give it a try. It was very relaxing and felt so good to stretch and release some tension. I was even sore the next day, which means there really is some physical benefit. Due to the warnings, I was prepared for the end of the class when the instructor did, in fact, lead through a process of "emptying the mind." I didn't follow her instructions, well not completely anyway. I did choose to stop thinking about the issues I'd been trying to resolve all day and began secretly rehearsing every Scripture passage that came to mind. While the stretching was beneficial and stress was relieved, I believe it was the focus on God's Word that ultimately left me feeling refreshed and energized for the next task of the day.

Recently, I was challenged again to "...meditate day and night...(Psalm 1:2)" on a particular passage of Scripture. I forced myself to read it over and over, say it out loud, quote it without looking, and as any good teacher would...add some motions! The verses have become precious to me and have come to mind even when I'm not purposing to think about them. They have proven to be "...profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the [wo]man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16)."

I believe that Scripture teaches us to fill our minds with "...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, ...excellence, ...anything worthy of praise...(Phil. 4:8)." So, whether or not I continue to stretch in various poses that improve posture and balance, I will continue to fill my mind with Scripture while emptying it of all other thoughts tempting to consume me. I will choose to meditate day and night on His Word, lifting my hands in praise, bowing to the Divine who lives within me. Namaste.

The best Valentine's Day message...EVER!

Of all the messages you'll receive today...some heartfelt, some manufactured, some honest, some fabricated...there is one true and clear message that you must hear. It comes from the Lover of your soul!

John 3:14-18

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Based on the above verses, fill your mind with these lyrics today:

"Not Guilty Anymore" by Aaron Keyes.

(You can click the link at the bottom to listen...beautiful song!)

It doesn't matter what you've done.

It doesn't matter where you're coming from.

It doesn't matter where you've been.

Hear me tell you, "I forgive."

You're not guilty anymore.

You're not filthy anymore.

I love you.

Mercy is yours.

You're not broken anymore.

You're not captive anymore.

I love you.

Mercy is yours.

Can you believe that this is true?

Grace abundant I am giving you.

Cleansing deeper than you know.

All was paid for long ago.

You're not guilty anymore.

You're not filthy anymore.

I love you.

Mercy is yours.

You're not broken anymore.

You're not captive anymore.

I love you.

Mercy is yours.

There is now therefore 

No condemnation

For those who are in Jesus.

You're not guilty anymore.

You're not filthy anymore.

I love you.

Mercy is yours.

You're not broken anymore.

You're not captive anymore.

I love you.

Mercy is yours.

You are spotless.

You are holy.

You are faultless.

You are whole.

You are righteous.

You are blameless.

You are pardoned.

You are mine.

You're not guilty anymore.

You're not filthy anymore.

I love you.

Mercy is yours.

You're not broken anymore.

You're not captive anymore.

I love you.

Mercy is yours.

You're not guilty anymore.

Not guilty anymore.

Click here to listen to this song. May your heart be overwhelmed with God's love today!

Out With the Old

We love new - new toys, new clothes, new friends, new books, new projects, new seasons, new jobs, new houses...new years. All hold the promise of something exciting and fresh, and frequently offer closure from some old things - friends, projects, seasons, jobs, and years - that weren't so wonderful.

I especially love new crayons - sharp, unused, perfect Crayola® crayons. I love them so much that I don’t actually want to use them because the moment I do is the moment they begin their decline. Call it OCD, if you must, but I’m willing to bet that many of you have stocked up during school supply shopping season just as I have. A girl can never have too many boxes of brand new crayons, right? In fact, knowing I have a few extra boxes in the drawer helped to relieve some anxiety when I sat down to color with my niece this Christmas (God bless her 6-year-old, not-so-gentle grip) and when my 14-month-old nephew got a hold of what he must have thought were carrot sticks.

So as the Director of Children’s Ministry (a.k.a. authorized purchaser of brand new crayons), my New Year’s challenge to all of you is to throw out the old crayons! All of them! Who wants to start a new year anyway with all of those broken, dull crayons that are missing their wrappers so that you are not even sure you've grabbed black, midnight blue, or denim?

“But, wait!” you say, “I can melt the old crayons and make a candle with my kids.”

Ummm…right. Okay, go for it. But, your child will never be able to use the crayons for their intended purpose again…ever! And chances are, the basket in which you've been collecting the pieces has fallen over countless times in the craft/linen/toiletries closet, and you still haven’t purchased the wicks or collected all the baby food jars you need for the project…and your child is now 18.

“But, wait!” you try again, “Waste not, want not! We’ll just add them to the basket, and eventually all of them will get used up.” Seriously? When have you ever placed a basket of crayons on the table in front of a child and they've willingly chosen the fat ones with specks of other colors all over them, the ones with the wrappers torn down, or the ones that are so small they have to pick them up with their fingernails? I’m guessing…NEVER. And, let’s be honest, you've never chosen those either. Am I right?

 So let me say it again: Don’t save them, and definitely don’t throw new ones in with the old. Throw them away, and start with a NEW box!

In many ways, we view our salvation like a box of new crayons. We have been born again. The old is gone and we have become new. We are new creations. We have the new life of Christ. So beautiful. So perfect. 

Unfortunately, however, we also try to mix our new life with our old.

So how do we throw out the old? How do we live in this new righteousness that we now possess through the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25)?

Let me share with you what has been working for me since I have embraced my new life. I confess I still have hurts that are easier to hang on to than to forgive, habits that are self-gratifying and addicting, and hang-ups that keep me from experiencing the fullness of the “abundant life” that Christ died to give me (John 10:10). So, I’ve taken one at a time and have experienced true freedom from them in this way:

• I daily saturate myself in the Truth that I have been made new! Some days it takes more effort than others, and I listen to sermons online by preachers that are known for their new covenant teaching. Other times I call my mother, because she never forgets to remind me Who I am in Christ. Sometimes I go back and read portions of books that have changed my attitude toward righteousness, like this quote that I love from the book The Hurt & the Healer by Bart Millard (lead-singer of Mercy Me) and Andrew Farley (Best-selling author and pastor of Ecclesia, a church in Lubbock, TX):

God has done more than credit righteousness to our spiritual bank account. He has actually brought real change to our human spirit, the core of our being. His Spirit has come to live in us, and he has literally and actually made us new and righteous on the inside. We have undergone a change of nature. This is very different from God simply calling us righteous or looking at us “as if” we were righteous. It is a new birth, a regeneration, a DNA swap, a heart surgery, a literal transformation as we have been born of God’s Spirit (John 3: 6; 1   John 5: 4).

Farley, Andrew; Millard, Bart (2013-08-15). Hurt & The Healer, The (Kindle Locations 558-562). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

That means that these hurts, habits, and hang-ups are not me anymore. They are the old life that has been replaced, and I’m coloring with the new.

• I have forgiven those who have hurt me, and have confessed my faults to dear brothers and sisters in Christ who pray for me and who check in on how I’m doing. I know, easier said than done, but there has to be a reason that the Hebrew author said, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16, NKJV).” I have experienced this healing. It works! And in addition, I have been blessed with the added bonus of new and dear friendships. 

So, away with the pride that kept me using that dull red…or…ummm, orange red?…or maybe that’s scarlet…crayon!

• Stop sinning. Again, you’re probably thinking, “Not so easy.” And you’re right. The web of deceit has entangled us, and it’s hard to break free. But what did Jesus say to the adulterous woman in John 8? 

He didn’t say, “What were you thinking you horrible woman? You are not permitted into the temple again until you’ve confessed in front of the town, met for counseling with our head Pharisee, and gone through a Bible study about sexual immorality (which consequently may entice you to think about it more than you ever have).”

Nope, in verse 11, Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Basically, He said, “Stop. Here’s a new, whole, spotless, creamy white crayon. Don’t use the old speckled one anymore. ” 

I have struggled with some very bad habits (shocking, I know). Let's just call them what they are...sins. Every time I am tempted, I have a choice. Because I now possess the righteousness of God through my belief in His Son, I have the power, the desire, and the ability to say no. I can even stop after initially choosing yes. I can gladly claim victory over these addictive behaviors. Jesus Christ can break the power of cancelled sin and set me free. It doesn’t mean the temptations have disappeared. The Enemy is too hateful to take them away. I am tempted often, but I look the other way, turn to another channel, and cry out to God as I step in the opposite direction. Don’t misunderstand me to say that sin is no longer a part of my daily battle. I still have flesh that gets tired, irritable, hungry, and craves immediate gratification. But I’m dropping my old crayons-one at a time-as I reach for the new ones I’ve been given.

My prayer is that in this new year you will experience and embrace the newness that is “You in Christ.”

So, out with the old! In with the YOU!

~Rebecca Phillips

This Season

Fall. Halloween. Football. Breast Cancer Awareness Month.These are just a handful of the seasons October brings. If you don't believe that these are all seasons, visit any store today and you'll find paraphernalia for all of them! And just like weather seasons, these items will soon be gone from store shelves and you'll be packing your own back in boxes to be replaced with your Christmas decorations.

What came to mind as you read those words? I'm guessing that nostalgia was stirred from the deepest depths of your soul, maybe not when you read "football"...but...maybe.
Fall makes me think of pumpkins, banana bread, hayrides, leaf tag, and sweatshirts. Halloween inspires jack-o-lanterns, pillowcases full of candy, my mother's rice and chili, spider webs, and headless scarecrows sitting in rocking chairs (I know, dark stuff.). Football did not become a part of my life until I started coaching cheerleaders, so the word doesn't conjure up team colors and tailgating recipes, although I'm learning that these are vital to my survival in the South, but I think of the "Star-Spangled Banner," megaphones, cowbells, bleachers, and...well...footballs. Breast Cancer Awareness Month causes tears to build in the corners of my eyes as I think about pink ribbons, 5K races, hats, bandannas, and Cherry Vanilla Bagels at Panera.

I could have added a name or two with each of the items listed above. In fact, it's not the banana bread or the bandannas that stir the nostalgia, but rather the memories of people I love that shared these moments with me. In addition to countless childhood memories, I have shared bonfires, beach trips, birthday celebrations, white chicken chili, fall festivals, and football homecomings with dear friends...all in the month of October.

However, despite the fond memories of Octobers past, the season also tempts a sadness that I won't see any of my family this month, I'll miss my nephews' first birthdays, and I don't have a husband and kids with whom to create any new nostalgia. The memories make me long for the past and for future moments to share with my family and friends.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds me,
"To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:"

Whether the October season brings fond or painful memories or thoughts, God's purpose for these events in our lives is sure, and they come but for a season. As you reflect on past seasons while placing your newly "fundraiser-season-purchased" Caramel Apple Pie candles around your home, I pray that your thoughts toward your next season, whether joyful or sorrowful, will be filled with the confidence that God's purpose will far extend the existence of your freshly-baked pecan pie, and that it can be savored far longer than your Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Confession Brings Healing

I was six years old, but I can remember like it was yesterday. I had been reading a book from my 1st grade teacher's "special" shelf. It was a big book with chapters. To this day I can't tell you what it was about, because quite frankly I didn't like it, and I didn't finish it. However, that didn't stop me from making up the end of the story when my teacher asked me how the book ended. I was more concerned that she believe I'd actually finished the book than I was about whether or not she'd probably read the book and already knew how it ended.
One night when my mother came to tuck us in for bed, I asked her-hypothetically, of course-the question that had been plaguing me for weeks, "If someone lies to someone else, do they have to tell that person, or can they just tell God?" I don't remember what my mother told me, but I do remember scheduling a time where I could go tell my teacher that I had lied to her. What a feeling of relief swept over me when I'd finally "...confessed my faults one to another (James 5:16)." I had told God countless times, yet relief, peace, and healing came when I confessed to my teacher.
God was preparing my little heart at age six for a huge truth I wouldn't come to understand until I was 33! The truth that AFTER the cross, confession of sins is to each other. AT the cross, my sins were forgiven once and for all!
Confession to one another allows relationships to be mended, private sin struggles to lose potency, and addictions to lose power. Hurts, habits, and hangups become distant memories that only remind us of God's grace, mercy, and power in our lives.
May your healing begin today.

Whole Wheat Bread

I have a few friends who are unable to eat hot, fresh, whole-wheat bread regardless of its nutritional value. Dieters trying to lower their cholesterol and increase their fiber intake are encouraged to make the switch to this delectable treat, but it's poison to the Celiac. After years of tests and research, a friend's doctor finally diagnosed celiac disease. Immediately his diet had to change from the foods he'd eaten for 50+ years to a diet free of any gluten. You'd be surprised at just how many food products this includes, from the obvious bread to simple seasonings you might sprinkle on your chicken before grilling. Once he made the switch and began feeling great, he didn't even desire those foods. He remembered what they tasted like, and maybe for a split second thought about trying a bite, but knowing the consequences of even just a little gluten caused him to quickly dismiss those old desires.

Religious law to a Christian is like whole wheat bread to a Celiac. It seems like such a good, spiritually healthy habit, but it's not! It's actually the opposite...it kills!

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (ESV) - "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

The Galatians, who had not been under the law...EVER...were listening to a little bit of "gluten" teaching, and it was affecting their entire perspective. In Galatians 5, Paul reminds the Galatians that they had heard and believed truth. He wants to know who's been telling them something different. Even it is just a little bit of "circumcision" talk, it's "leavening the whole lump (verse 9)." The gospel can contain no part of the law. In fact, in Galatians 5:2, Paul points out that it's either Christ or the law. And we all know that we desperately need Christ, because we've all failed the letter of the law already, so our efforts now are in vain and have the same end...death.

My friend's health has made a 180* turn since he got rid of the gluten that was killing him. Let's take a 180* from the law or anything that resembles law - rules, legalism, checklists of religious behavior - so that we might have LIFE!

I know you probably only had a wheat toast with peanut butter and cup of coffee's time to read this, but if you have a lunch break today, listen to this message by Dr. Andrew Farley. While I had the "gluten-free" thought on my own a month ago, I was so excited to hear him take the same concept and teach through Galatians 5. He gives much more background on the Galatians than I could give in a short article. Enjoy...you will not regret this spiritual meal!!

Roots

I've always resolved that I would never get "stuck" anywhere. I had the philosophy that staying in one place forever, especially in America, was a cop-out for going the "distance" with God. I wanted to please God by "going into all the world." Thing is...God didn't exactly tell me to do this, and I'm finding that my "staying in one place" is as adventurous and fulfilling as I ever thought living in a foreign country could be.

I usually get a little restless every couple of years and think that it would be a great time for God to move me. I have visited Africa in hopes of finding that He'd send me there. I even tried to go to China...who wants to do that? Even small moves in the same country or city God has never directed.

Oftentimes, we cling to Jeremiah 29:11 as a promise that will grant our wishes...okay, maybe you all never thought about it that way, but I believe that it was taught me from that perspective, that I would get all my hopes and dreams and be successful...unfortunately, my interpretation of one verse taken out of its context shaped years of discontent in my adult life. "Plans for your welfare, not for disaster" - Really? Broken engagement, tragic death of the love of my life, hmmm...pretty disastrous if you ask me. "Future and a hope" - For a while I was not in a job that I loved or felt was the best use of my skills and both of my sisters are married with children who are growing so quickly before I even have a prospect for a husband...hello, what kind of future is this?!

Now, be honest. If this was your "life verse" as a senior in high school, didn't you think it meant that you were going to have a wonderful, beautiful, happy, perfect life? I'm so glad I finally read the rest of the chapter to see what was going on when God told His children that He knew the plans He had for them. They were in exile - okay, I can relate. It would be years - time is flying. He told them to build houses and live in them - oh, wait, you mean settle? He said to plant gardens and eat from them - really, grow roots? Then He says marry and have children - still working on that one. He says to seek the welfare of their location - you mean work hard to improve the place I reside/work/attend church? My prosperity is directly proportional to my input into my surroundings? And while you're at it, don't listen to the lies of false prophets - as if I had time for all of that!

The point is, rather than always waiting for the end of my exile (job, singlehood, etc.), discontentedly searching for what I believed to be my hopes and dreams, God was telling me to grow some roots, to settle in. He was quietly, lovingly assuring me that I am where He wants me to be.

"But God, I don't want to get stuck!"

"You're not stuck, child. You're growing roots so that you can grow and produce."

The cool thing about roots is that they can be transplanted. If God decided to move me tomorrow, I would survive, though it would be very hard to say goodbye. So I no longer feel stuck, but grounded. I am content to stay, though I will go wherever, whenever He says.

But...I am CONTENT to stay.