Created for GREATNESS!

One of the hardest things about living in this world as a Christian is not letting your mind conform to the earthly/carnal/temporal surroundings. The longer you are separated from Kingdom ways, which can be found in the Word of God, the easier it is to begin to think and act like the rest of the world who know so little of God’s ways. We become less and less heavenly-minded and begin to lose our focus on the eternal life that awaits us.

I know that’s why Paul urges us in Romans 12:2 to “not be CONFORMED to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind.”

The Word of God will transform our carnal way of thinking that we are naturally born with, and once we are born again by receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we must continue our transformation process because we aren’t “home” yet. Although we are citizens of heaven, we still have a temporary residence here on earth and because of that we are subject to its environment. We HAVE TO renew our mind daily with God’s Word.

I’ve personally experienced instances where I have been pulled into following society’s timeline or approval process, measuring the way I lived my life with the world’s standards and regulations. One instance, in particular, is measuring success or accomplishment by popularity and quantity when using the finances, time, talent, or drive that the Lord has so graciously given us to use on this earth. Often we use them to make sure we advance in this life for ourselves, but God’s plan is to use them to bring Him glory and reach people for His Kingdom. To the world, the more people hearing about the accomplishment, the greater the success and the more difference your life just made by contributing your gifts, time, or finances. The world is all about outward appearance, how something looks on the outside.

But the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

If the world saw a story in the newspaper about a shepherd that left 99 sheep to go after 1 that had gone astray, they would consider it absolutely foolish! “You could have lost even more! Think of all of that business you could potentially lose!” I hear.

Or what about King David (who was anointed the next King of Israel and awaiting his throne) who faithfully served King Saul even when he sought to kill him? “Honor his authority?! That throne is rightfully yours! Tell King Saul to take a hike!”

Or how about a man from Nazareth who changed the entire world forever with just twelve people who gave up their entire lives to follow Him? “You have HOW many followers on Twitter…TWELVE?! LOL I have 6 MILLION…I’m WAY more influential than you!”

Ok, the last example may be a stretch, but in today’s culture, many people truly believe having 6 million followers on Twitter is the epitome of success, “living the dream,” and truly “making it.”

Now, I’m not saying that the Lord can’t use someone to advance the Kingdom who has 6 million followers of Twitter, but why do we think that He chooses to use that person over the one who only has twelve Twitter followers (in the context of influence, of course)? My point is that we must break ourselves free from the mindset that your life only matters when people hear about your accomplishments or contributions to society. The world says “MORE, MORE, MORE = GREAT, GREAT, GREAT.” But God is looking at the motive behind our drive to be successful. Let’s face it, we all want to do something great. But I have to ask:

As Christians, is our success becoming about us, or are we pointing others to Jesus?

Are we using our life’s accomplishments to make a difference in the world even if it just for one person and your name isn’t in the headlines, on Billboards, on T-shirts, commercials, the credits of the latest TV show or movie?

Are we ok with being an “unknown?”

 

John the Baptist began to lose disciples when Jesus came on the scene, but John knew His purpose on this earth: to prepare the way for the Lord’s coming; to point others straight to the King of Kings so that they can enter the gate of Salvation.

“More of Him and less of me,” John declared in John 3:30. This should be our mindset too as we prepare for the Lord’s second coming.

It is our nature to be self-centered, to long for recognition, to be applauded for our efforts, etc. Of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting credit for a job well-done, but we should always remember that “we are not our own. We’ve been bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Anything we do, we should always give the credit and the glory to the One who gave us the ability to accomplish it and want nothing more than for others to grow and mature into a strong, healthy relationship with their Heavenly Father and Creator. He sees each life as precious and doesn’t weigh one life more important than another.

So to the stay-at-home mom raising those little ones, you are doing great things! You are successful!

To the CEO of that multi-million dollar company, you are doing great things! You are successful!

And to that youth pastor with a group of ten kids who you minister to week in and week out, you are doing great things! You are successful!

Just REMEMBER, that success is to advance the Kingdom and win others to Christ…one person at time!

Give God the glory He deserves, not only with your words but with your heart…He created you to do great things!

Chasing God's Dreams

It seems that I have been made more aware as of late of the amount of distractions from the things of God and confusion that the media is bombarding our society, specifically our youth. I know that these tactics by the media are nothing new, but as each year passes, it just seems to be ever increasing and less and less salt, light, and truth can be found in that arena of our American culture.

Last night, I was asked to teach children’s church on short notice just as my husband and I were headed out the door to make it to sound check for our midweek service at our church. There was no curriculum planned for the night, and our pastor ensured me that I could speak to the kids about truly anything that the Lord had placed upon my heart. For someone who sometimes needs structure or guidelines, this massive amount of flexibility flustered me a bit, but I trusted the Lord would speak to me if I just inclined my ear if even for a moment. On the way to church, the Lord dropped the topic of dreams in my heart and told me to focus on Jeremiah 29:11 to let the children know that He has big dreams for them that are always for good and to bring them hope and a bright future. As we sat “cross-cross applesauce” in a circle on the floor, I asked each child what they dreamed of becoming when they grew up. The boys wanted to be firefighters and policemen, of course, but I was amazed that each girl in the room didn't have aspirations like that to help others and make an impact in their sphere of influence. No, they didn't want to be teachers or nurses or even mothers (it seems that not many young girls long to be that anymore…); every single little girl told me that they wanted to be either a singer, dancer, or a celebrity. I didn't stomp on their dreams, just encouraged them that they can do anything they work hard to do, but my heart was truly heavy for them.

Why was this response to be an entertainer or someone famous so common among the entire group of little girls?

Are we raising daughters to chase after approval, applause, and performance-based lifestyles?

Are they beginning to sing “I live for the applause” in their hearts instead of “I live for the Lord” or even “I live to help others?”

Do they dream of that fame and stardom because it gives them a sense of purpose or worth?

Does the thought of the response of their fans make them feel appreciated and loved?

If that is the case, then we are in danger of raising an entire generation of women looking for their worth in the wrong place. They will never find it in the applause of their audience or in the thrill of using their talents for all to see with the spotlight soley on them and their amazing abilities that make everyone feel good. There is so much God has planned for our gifts than to make people feel good!

Don’t they know that He formed them in their mother’s womb for a purpose bigger than themselves, bigger than anything the world can offer?

“Before I shaped you in the womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you…”
Jeremiah 1:5 (The Message)

An opportunity to dream with God- to help Him achieve His ultimate Kingdom plan that all may come to know Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, and become a part of His loving family not only on earth, but eternally in heaven.

So I ask you, how are you helping raise this generation to find their ultimate Kingdom purpose and find their worth in Jesus Christ alone so that they may receive the Father’s love?

I pray the Lord reveals to you how you can guide the young people He has placed around you. I also pray that the Lord would reveal your worth to you through His Word if you are also dealing with feeling valued or precious or are struggling with desires to seek approval from others thinking somehow the applause of men will fulfill you. You will only find your worth in God’s love. Nothing else will ever satisfy.

To Serve or Be Served? That is the Question!

"Ministry" is from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning "to serve.” At my church, our pastors believe that every member of God’s Church is a minister, so obviously that would mean that every believer is called to serve- serve Jesus and serve His Body. Jesus was the servant of all. In fact, He was the Servant King.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (NKJV)

Jesus asks us as Christians to lay our lives down continually, denying our wants and desires, or as the Apostle Paul said to do, “die daily.”

Do we know how to do that?

It is human nature to seek after what our hearts and flesh crave, but we do not have to give into that kind of nature for we have a new nature in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit empowers us to set aside our selfishness and learn how to be selfless like Jesus, preferring others above ourselves. That kind of lifestyle starts in the mind, in the way we think. Not only is the mind of Christ pure and wise, but it is selfless. When we declare that we have the mind of Christ, we are declaring that we can think selfless thoughts and our thoughts will then begin to affect our words, which will in turn affect our actions, which will in turn affect our behavior, which will in turn affect our character, which will in turn affect our destiny.

Who is God asking you to serve?

What do you need to do to lay aside your selfish desires and put someone else’s life before your own?

It isn’t easy, but it is worth it because Jesus promises us that whoever loses his life will find it and find it abundance.

Minister to someone today and find the kind of abundant and amazing life that you’ve always longed for full of so much love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control- enough to both to give out and receive! True abundance!

The Call.

As Christians, we are called to walk on this earth as Jesus walked on this earth, and in an even greater way (see John 14:12). He came down from heaven, wrapped Himself in humanity, and left His thrown to bring His glory down so that all men may learn to walk as He did and help bring more people into His Kingdom. He died on the cross, took the keys to death, hell, and the grave, rose again, and ascended into heaven back to His thrown where is making constant intercession for us as our High Priest. But He didn’t leave us alone; He made sure that we had the same power that conquered the grave within us and gave us the Holy Spirit to help us walk as He did. In addition to being the Son of God, Jesus walked this earth as a Healer, as a Deliverer, as a Teacher, as a Servant King, as a Priest, as a Shepherd, and as a great Friend to all.

When we become born-again believers, we begin to feel a stirring within us to love Jesus and love people like He did. We are able to love because He first loved us, as 1 John 4:19 tells us in the Bible. In Him, everything is possible because He is love and love never fails.

Although I called upon the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior, acknowledging that He died on the cross to wash away my sins, when I was 16, I have really only been a serious and active born-again believer for the last five years of my life. I have been through a tremendous transformation over the course of those five years (you can learn more about that in my book The Vessel: From Marred to Honorable, which will hopefully be available in Winter 2014), and it was just within the last year that I truly started to understand my purpose and calling and how the Lord wanted me to walk out that purpose in the earth.

As believers, we all have the same calling, but many different talents and gifts that we can use to walk out that calling. We are all called to love the Lord God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength and love others as we want to be loved, not so that they can feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but so that they can meet the Man, Love Himself, face to face and come into a relationship with the Father through Him. When we acknowledge what Jesus did for us on the cross, He gives us the right to be called children of God. That means you are a son or a daughter of the Most High God! God loves family because He is the One who created it; He wants us all to be a part of His family not only here on earth but in heaven for eternity. Our job as Christians is to tell others about this awesome truth, even other Christians who may not know! The earth is longing for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed, meaning, we receive the revelation that we are God’s children and we begin to take dominion and authority that the devil has tried so desperately to completely steal from us! But He has already been defeated! Praise God!
Now back to what I had mentioned before, we all have different talents and gifts that God has given us to reach and draw people into His Kingdom. That is where the creativity of the Creator comes into play. All of us are completely unique in our personality, character, behavior, abilities, finances, influence, etc. To try to copy and imitate anyone else is cheating yourself of God’s awesome creativity to be activated in your life. Be who God has created you to be and don’t try to put yourself in a box!

With that said, I believe there are three ways we can fulfill our calling and purpose to love God with our heart, mind, soul, and strength and love others how we want to be loved:

1.      Worship God

2.      Edify the Body

3.      Reach the Lost

Within those three ways that we fulfill our calling, we use our unique personality, character, behavior, abilities, finances, influence, etc exactly how God is asking us to. None of those three ways are more important than the other. In other words, if God is asking you to fulfill the call as a Pastor/Teacher, it doesn’t mean that He views how you grow the Kingdom by edifying the Body more important than how a born-again business man reaches the lost by telling his unsaved co-workers about how Jesus changed his life and how Jesus will do the same for them. Or that God views a teenager reaching the lost by leading a fellow student through the prayer of salvation more important than a young couple edifying the Body by leading a Bible study at their college and career discipleship group at their church. Whether saved or unsaved, you are reaching people and drawing people closer (by Jesus being lifted up in our own lives) into the Kingdom of God.

Yet, we can’t reach anyone or draw anyone if we are not worshipping God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Worship isn’t confined to music and singing, or dancing, or painting, or the first 30 minutes of our church services. Worship is a lifestyle of loving God by choosing to say “yes” to God and “no” to our own selfish desires daily. Through acts of constant obedience, we are giving God worth and valuing His will over our own. When we worship God, He pours into us and then asks us to in turn pour out to others around us, again, saved and unsaved alike. Every single soul is important to Father God and He always desires more of us, whether we know Him and have been a Christian for 50 years, 5 minutes, or do not know Him at all and still need to acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Jesus didn’t tell us to go and make converts; He told us to go and make disciples. If you are a Christian, and want to reach the lost, don’t just stop at leading them through the prayer of salvation, continue ministering until they are a part of the Body of Christ, in which they will continue to grow closer into the Kingdom by being edified by possibly someone else who is supposed to use their gift of teaching and encouragement to disciple and watch them mature and grow into who God has created them to be in His family. And please, don’t forget to live a life of constant worship through obedience to the Father. He will pour into you, as you pour out. Live, move, and have your being in that overflow.

Amen.

Run YOUR Race...

I'm feeling a stirring in my soul to lead worship in a way that I haven't in quite some time, but I know that every season has a specific time. There is a part of me that longs to operate in the same authority I had in previous years, but I know that I do not have to be on a platform to operate in that kind of authority. I can worship freely with that same authority Jesus has given me wherever I am.

And I do.

There is just something about being with a team of passionate worshippers working together and flowing in the Spirit with their hearts knit so tightly together. There is such power in that kind of worship. 2 or 3 gathered in Jesus' name and He is right there in the midst of them. I have had the privilege to do that for over a year at Church in Action on our worship team as well on a team at GHOP since April and it is has been amazing. Being able to lead a group and the congregation is a privilege as well, but in such a different way. I cannot explain how alive I feel when God uses me in this way.

I know that the Lord had to work on my heart over the last year and it is always a work in progress. I am eager for it to be the time for me to step into that position once again. But as I know from previous experience, I cannot and must not focus on a position, but only His Presence. Although others are continually standing in that position, I cannot look at their assignment when I know the Lord has told me to set my heart to follow through with the assignment He has given me.

"Run the race set before YOU."

Figuring out that assignment takes time with the Father to hear His voice and to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit leading and guiding you every step of the way.

Some assignments are obvious just because of location and placement. You know what to do because of where He has you during that season in your life:your job, your neighborhood, your church home, your place of ministry, etc. Some location assignments are life-long and some are only for a certain period of time and the Lord will move you from one place to another to reach people.

It requires time in God's Presence and time in His Word to hear more specific instructions regarding your assignment though. If you listen closely to the Holy Spirit, He will guide your every step and every word the Lord is asking you to speak to help advance the Kingdom.

THIS TAKES DISCIPLINE AND SELF DENIAL.

"More of You and less of me" kind of mentality. All the time.

"Thy will be done" kind of mentality. All the time.

Right now, my locations are laid out before me, yet my assignments are unclear to me. If you are not taking the time out of your day to sit in God's Presence or read His Word, your assignment will remain unclear. And the enemy does not want you to be aware of your assignment and wants you to remain idle and inactive for the Kingdom. He will try to stop all action that the Lord wants you to initiate and try his absolute best to silence your voice. 

This is what has happened to believers. We either take control of our own lives and proceed with our plans and ignore the Lord's leading or we become drifters and do not take action at all.

"I'll go wherever the wind blows me and do whatever makes me happy or feels right" mentality.

But we are called to be soldiers in the army of God with a Kingdom assignment/mission that will push back the forces of darkness! That requires action! That requires a Kingdom mindset!

But the enemy will use all in his arsenal to keep us fixated on ourselves. If he can get us to become self-absorbed, he can stop advancement of the Kingdom. The most important thing we can do is cast all of our cares upon the Lord and He will take care of the results. Our job is to pray and obey His instructions. Our job is to be vessels for the Lord to use to flow through to reach people. This requires surrender of your will and complete humbleness and obedience.

But it is all worth it. Being in the middle of God's will every moment you can, is so totally worth it.

Not only do I need to keep my eyes on the race set before me, but what will keep me motivated is the prize…Jesus. It isn’t the position…it isn’t the ministry…it isn’t the environment that my eyes need to be fixated on. It is Jesus- the Prize at the end of the race which we are always running towards.

And the enemy wants nothing more than to get you to focus on anything BUT Jesus. He doesn’t want you to know that Jesus is the solution to whatever you are struggling with. He doesn’t want you to know that Jesus is the only One who can satisfy your hunger for wholeness. He wants you distracted, confused, and constantly searching.

And do you know where you find Jesus?

The Word.

Jesus was the Word made flesh when He came to earth and He STILL is.

Are you looking for Jesus? Are you looking for the Prize? Can you see Him in front of you as you’re running your race?

If you can’t, then maybe your eyes are not looking in the right place.

Are your eyes focused on the Word of God or are they focused everywhere else but the Word? Make sure you know when your focus is. Keep your eyes on the Prize of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.

 

Peace&Love,
Emily Rose

Long time no blog...

I have been up since 3 am because I have trained my body over the last few days to only live on about 5 hours of sleep (against my will of course). So instead of just wrestling with trying to fall back asleep, I just gave in and decided to arise early and do a little reflecting, since I never seem to have enough hours in the day to do that anymore.

Well, much has occurred since my last post in February.

I have stood firm in regards to a lot of things that I had been believing for and really hadn't began to see anything manifest until April. Like a speaker I heard yesterday at a prayer conference said, "God takes a really long time to do something really fast."

BUT, God is forever faithful to the end and desires for us to be as well. Jesus tells Peter in Luke 22:32 that he " [had] prayed for [him] that [his] faith may not fail..." And I believe that is a prayer that Jesus still to this day is declaring over all of us.

All things are possible for those who believe, the Word tells us.

 

Things have accelerated so quickly over these last few weeks and my faith has been activated in a way that it never had before. And all this time, as I have waited to see my promises come to fruition, God has taught me the value of trusting Him even when I don't understand everything and even when I don't feel like my prayers are being effective at all. 

But every step of obedience has its rewards. For God IS a re-warder of those who DILIGENTLY seek Him.   

DILIGENTLY in Hebrew is ekzētéō (from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2212 /zētéō, "seek") – properly, seek out, emphasizing the personal intent of the seeker, i.e. the outcome intensely and personally desired by the seeker. This seeking is only as valuable (viable) as the motive which drives it.  to seek out for oneself, beg, crave

So as I look back and see all that God has done for me over these last few months and even more so over these last few weeks, I am in utter amazement. I have been praying and believing that every area of my life would experience the new life that Spring brings because I had faced a very long winter season that had left me feeling so weighed down and utterly discouraged at times. But God is breathing upon that prayer and breathing upon those areas. I am seeing, with my own two eyes, the faithfulness of God unfold in my life: pre-approval for our first home loan (we didn't even think this would be financially possible for us for another year, but has made a way), the permission from the Lord and Paul to join a team at GHOP (Gateway House of Prayer) as a singer there and being asked on a team right away (something I had been desiring to do for an entire year), leadership opportunities at our home church where we are operating in our gifts at new levels we never thought we possible, and finally, the biggest test of faith that I had been standing and believing to happen for about 2 1/2 years-a new job with better pay and health insurance benefits- and believing for about 5 years to one day happen- a job working at Joyce Meyer Ministries. And God has came through on all of them over the last month!!!

And all I can do is praise Him! All I can do is shout for joy because I know that my God is for me! 

And I know that although some of my promises may be unfolding before me, that does not mean the enemy does not want to continue to attack my faith even in the midst of my victory. In fact, he has tried even harder to steal my joy and peace since I received breakthrough. He did not want me to enjoy this victory whatsoever. But guess what devil, I STILL GOT THE VICTORY! And even when I was waiting for the promises to manifest, I STILL HAD THE VICTORY! HA!

I believe that is why Paul urges us in Ephesians 6 to stand firm no matter what. That is the way we defend ourselves from the attacks of the enemy: we stand firm and guard ourselves from his fiery arrows with our mighty shield of faith in the knowledge that Jesus Christ conquered death, hell, and the grave for us! No matter what, we win if we don't quit! Praise the Lord!

So as I walk out these next few months ahead of me, I will continue to praise God for all that He has done for me and all that I know He will do for me in the future. That is real faith: "speaking what you are expecting, not what you are experiencing" (PDW).

Walking by faith and not by sight.

I am so, so, SO thankful for this new season! Ready for the winds of refreshing to continue to blow over me and continue to encouragement my heart that new life has arrived. 

And I end with this: know that God is no respecter of persons and if He has done all of this for me, He WILL do it for you. Just believe!

Peace&Love,

Emily 

Salt and Light

The Pitfalls of Comparison

Here are my notes from my teaching on 2/10/2013 at CORE at Church in Action...

A few weeks ago, I was in prayer and was having a difficult time letting some thoughts go regarding the direction of my life. The enemy seems to flood your life with so many distractions that will cloud your mind, bring confusion, and cause you to question God or grow bitter towards others and mess with your love walk. For me, because of the way I was raised and also the environment I spent a majority of my life in (theater/acting/performance), I was so used to looking at other people's lives and measuring my life with their's. Whether to make myself feel better or give myself a goal  to work towards. If you do not read the Word of God, this is how most people make decisions in life. They say, "Well, that's how so-and-so did it so that seems like a good plan." Or "So-and-so is just so successful in life, and seems to have everything they want. I will just follow what they did so I can have that kind of happiness and have those nice clothes, car, job, house, spouse, etc." Ulimately, you grow resentful towards others and envy starts to grow in your heart. Envy will cause you to look for reasons why you deserve what someone has.

But the problem with that mentality is this: COMPARISON EVENTUALLY LEADS TO UNGRATEFULNESS, WHICH EVENTUALLY LEADS TO SPIRITUAL DEATH (EMPTINESS OR A VOID IN YOUR HEART).

I've noticed over the last several years, Facebook, instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and pretty much any other social media outlet is a huge door to comparison. Your eyes begin to get fixated on earthly things instead of things of the Kingdom and God's plan for your life and this messes with your decision-making. In regards to material things, you are now spending money you don't have and are not just now trying to "keep up with the Jones'" but everyone in the entire world! People's lives are constantly on display and it is a great temptation for us to become disatified and unthankful for what God has given us. We're not happy. Not only that, but we aren't happy for one another. "Everyone is getting married, having babies, getting an education, getting a house, getting a raise, a new job, a new car, pursuing their dreams, making connections to further their job/ministry, traveling, wearing the latest fashions, making more money, going on vacation, losing weight, AND WHY NOT ME?! IT'S NOT FAIR...WHAH, WHAH, WHAH!" and list could go on and on and on...

The moment you take that step into comparing your life with someone else's is the moment you will find yourself in a deep, empty pit. You will never be satisfied in life if you walk down that path. The enemy will tempt you and lead you to the very same pit that he was cast down into when he began to compare himself to God (we will talk more about this later...)

COMPARISON-->ENVY/COVETOUSNESS-->PRIDE-->SELFISHNESS-->BITTERNESS-->UNGRATEFULNESS

COMPARISON LEADING TO ENVY/COVETOUSNESS

PROVERBS 14:30 (KJV)
"A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rotteness of the bones."

SOUND in Hebrew is marpe= healing, remedy, calmness, wholesome, yielding

You can forget about living in peace or feeling complete or whole if you enter into the land of envy or covetousness.

JAMES 3:13-16 (NKJV)
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have the bitter envy and self-seeking (selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there."

That kind of wisdom (verse 15) is the mentality of the world and James calls it demonic. We are not children the dark (Satan/demonic), but are children of light!

EPHESIANS 5:8-11 (NKJV) tells us what we are supposed to do as children of light
"For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."

Paul tells us also in Colossians about wisdom from above in Colossians:
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)

He urges us to "put to death [our] members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walk when you lived in them." (Colossians 3:5-7)

When we were disobedient, we were "foolish, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another." Titus 3:3 (NKJV)

Going back to Colossians "Covetousness, which is idolatry...": You are worshiping what you don't have. Whether that is material things, a person, or a situation, that thing, situation, person, position is now placed above God and God's plan for your life. You have made that thing, situation, person, or position an idol in your life. And we know what the Bible says about idolatry from what was given to us in the 10 Commandments. You have left trusting God and if you don't trust God, you are walking in your own understanding, walking your own way, and you are in PRIDE. You become self-centered and concerned too much about yourself and your life.

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-6a (NKJV)
"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..."

When we walk in selflessness and humble ourselves, God will give us grace. Proverbs 3:34b

LUSTS OF THE FLESH (LIST OF MAJOR SINS (which ENVY is listed among them) THAT WILL KEEP US FROM INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD: READ GALATIANS 5:16-26

All sin is based in selfishness. "Selfishness hinders the full power of God operating in your life." -Pastor Rochelle West

SELFISHNESS= concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others

Selfishness triggers the law of sin and death to operate in your life. The only way the law one can overcome the law is by love, which imitating God, who is love (love does not envy...it is not self-seeking...)

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

This very act is the definition of selflessness and humbleness. And we are told to imitate this kind of love to our brothers and sisters.

Selfishness is rooted in fear as well-which is contaminated faith. Selfishness makes you bitter and ungrateful and you aren't operating in love at all. You are now completely disconnected from God. There is no way to please Him because all of those other sins comparison leads to have sucked the life out of your faith. (Hebrews 11:6) You are in danger of falling into a pit. The enemy has tempted you to fall straight down into a pit that he did when he was cast out of heaven.

READ EZEKIEL 28:12-19: a description of Lucifer/Satan
verse 15: "you were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you."

PERFECT in Hebrew is tamim meaning without defect, blameless, without blemish, upright (righteous), with out spot, undefiled

Us- righteous,without blemish under the blood of Jesus=how God sees us
2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

The enemy did not get that chance to be washed clean of his iniquity:
THE FALL OF LUCIFER
ISAIAH 14:12-15

This is why the enemy has used the trap of comparison since the fall of man.
GENESIS 3:4-5 "and you will be LIKE GOD."
ISAIAH 14: 14 "I will be LIKE GOD."

The motive behind their disobedience was comparison which lead to covetousness which lead to pride, which lead to selfishness, which lead to ungratefulness for what God had already provided (all rooted in fear) which lead to spiritual death.

In fear? You're not in faith. Anything that is not of faith is sin. (Romans 14:23) The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) Spiritually, then eventually sometimes after disconnection from God and living as a son of disobedience, natural death.

When we compare ourselves with another, we are saying we would do a better job planning out our lives than our Creator, the Most High, acting like Satan who fell and caused Adam and Eve to fall. Whoa, that is a dangerous place to be!

We are all guilty of comparing our lives to someone else's life at one point or another. The only way out is to repent, plead the blood of Jesus over your life, and set your eyes on Jesus. The moment you compare your life with another, is the moment you have taken your eyes off of Jesus and you will sink. Keep your eyes on Jesus and His Word. Cling to Him, abide in Him, and you will remain full of love and nothing else can satisfy you. You won't want anything else than what He has for you. His promises for you will be more than enough. You will begin to trust God with all of your heart and lean on His understanding, not your own. When we do that, He will direct our paths and He will never lead us astray. Ultimately  we've been given the choice of how to walk through life. We can choose to be thankful or ungrateful, selfish and bitter, or generous and loving. It is up to us. We can be like Paul when he said, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content; I know how to be abased (live humbly), and I know how to abound (live in prosperity). Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11-13)

Christ will strengthen you when the enemy comes at you with every distraction and temptation  "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able  but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (ENDURE!)." (1 Corinthian 10:13)

Focus on the Lord and His promises for your life. And when the enemy sends thoughts of comparison your way, just begin to praise God and thank Him for His faithfulness and all that He has given you. "Praise is the language of faith. Be thankful!" -Dr. Larry Lea The enemy will eventually leave you alone because he doesn't speak that kind of language. Resist him with your gratefulness to God and he has to flee from you! And if you do end up in a pit-remember, it isn't permanent. Praise will save you out of the Pit and Jesus will pick you up out of the Pit. God will use it all for your good and will turn your mess into a message!

TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO OF THIS TEACHING, VISIT MY SOUNDCLOUD ACCOUNT.

The Lord has need of it...

Jesus told 2 of His disciples: 

“Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’” Luke 19:30-31

This passage in Luke came to my mind when I began to think of some opportunities that have begun to open up for me lately in regards to sharing my testimony and my faith in God with others. It seems like we always start to question God when He asks us to tell someone about Jesus or give an offering that seems too big for our faith or pray with someone who desperately needs it.

He wants us to step out. To be bold for Him. He wants us to spread the gospel and tell others of His great love. And we shouldn't hesitate.

Why? 

Because the Lord has need of us. 

So my question to you is this...will you loose your voice, your time, your talent, your finances, your life (which really isn't your own anyway for "you were bought with a price" 1 Corinthians 6:20) for the Lord?

Because He needs it.

Will you let His presence ride upon your shoulders into the streets wherever He asks you to go?

The Lord has been speaking to me about releasing my testimony now more than ever and I believe He is asking many of you to do the same.

He wants to use you for His glory.

Will you share your story of how God has delivered you, healed you, saved you, protected you, blessed you, cleansed you, restored you??? (...and the list of course goes on and on because He is such a good God!)


Why? 

Because the Lord has need of us. 

He needs us to point others to Him so that fellowship can be restored with the Father. Will you be a willing vessel for the Lord? Will you be carrier of His presence for all the world to see?

What are you waiting for? God is counting on you to carry Him into the streets so that others may see His glory and encounter His love.

Be bold. Be humble. Be a carrier of God's presence. Wherever you go.

We have lots of work to do and He needs every one to do their part in spreading the good news that Jesus gave His life for them so that they may come back to their Heavenly Father without the stains of sin! They need to know that Jesus makes all things new! We were born for such a time as this! The fields are white...the harvest is ready!

Be blessed!

Peace&Love.
Emily Rose

Just not now...

Those three words seem to be the words I have had to say quite a lot over these last several months. And I am not a fan of having to turn down opportunities, especially when they seem so right, so perfect.

But the timing may not be...

Sunday morning before church, I was reading Psalm 37 and I think the Lord was trying to prepare me for a decision I was going to have to make later that night...

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) tells us to:

"Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart."
[The Hebrew word translated “delight” (עָנַג, pronounced aw-nag) literally means to be delicate or feminine (Strong’s, עָנַג.)  It carries the idea of being pliable or sensitive.  In this particular context, it means to be dependent upon God and to derive one’s pleasure from Him. ]

When we read this verse, we usually picture the word delight meaning to enjoy God, which in a way it does. But as I went deeper researching the Hebrew meaning of the word, I realized the verse almost seemed to be a command to us.

The Lord is trying to tell us that He will give us the desires of our heart once we FULLY DEPEND ON HIM AND HIS WAYS. When we have a full revelation of who God is and what His ways are like, we can take genuine pleasure in Him. Not because of what He can do for us, but just because of who He is.

We see in Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV):

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts."

When we understand this, or at least ATTEMPT to understand this statement from the Lord, we see that God's plans may be difficult to comprehend for us humans because they will always be higher than our's.

So how do we walk through life when we have to be the ones making the decisions?

TRUST IN THE LORD. WAIT UPON THE LORD.

"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." Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

And of course...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths." 
(Proverbs 3:5-6; NKJV)

Then the Lord really hit me with this one in Habakkuk:

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry." (2:3 NKJV)

There are opportunities in your life that have yet to completely unfold and there are promises that the Lord has spoken to you that have yet to manifest, but before you give up or take matters into your own hands, trust and wait. The Bible says that God's promises are YES and AMEN (so be it). If whatever you're believing for, praying for, hoping for is supposed to happen. It will. In GOD'S TIMING. 

You may find yourself saying, "just not now..." but know that the Lord has not forgotten about you. He knows exactly what He's doing. He holds your precious life in the palm of His hand and He won't let you fall. If you lean on Him and depend on His ways, You won't be able to help yourself finding delight in Him and the desires that He placed in your heart will unfold right before your very eyes. 

He is ready to give them to you. All you gotta do is....WAIT. :)

Peace&Love.

Emily Rose

Believing and Trusting

Believing in something seems to start in your head. You make your mind up to believe and that's that. But there comes a point when you let that belief settle down in your heart and it becomes stronger. It starts to go deeper and take root in your heart. You then begin to trust in that belief and it takes a lot more to break that trust because it has gripped your heart.

Believing in God and believing in His Word allows your mind to grasp it, but it can be a struggle every day. Paul wouldn't have called it a fight if it wouldn't be a daily battle to hold onto our ability to believe:

"Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12 (NLT)

This tells me that there is a struggle for our faith. If the enemy can take away our ability to believe in God's Word, then there is no way we will ever be able to trust God. 

In Mark 9, a father had asked Jesus to deliver his little boy from a tormenting spirit. He proclaimed, "I do believe; help my unbelief." (vs 24: ESV)

We can declare all day long that we believe God's Word and let that belief stay in our minds, but the enemy's easiest access into our lives is in our mind. He will try to distract you with thoughts and send other people to speak into our lives things that go against God's Word. We live in a fallen world (in which Satan is the god of) and we are going to come across something at least once a day that goes against God's Word (unless of course you become a shut-in and do not turn on your computer or TV or answer your phone). 

That's why we have to CONSTANTLY stay in the Word. The Word purifies and cleanses our minds of all that junk that enters it by what we see and hear throughout our daily lives.

Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

When we meditate on the Word day and night, our faith grows and takes root in our heart and we then begin to trust God. And like Psalm 1:3, we are like trees planted by streams of water. It takes a lot for a tree become uprooted, especially when it has been planted for many, many years. 

med·i·tate  (md-tt)

v. med·i·tat·ed, med·i·tat·ing, med·i·tates

v.tr.

1. To reflect on; contemplate.

2. To plan in the mind; intend 

(thefreedictionary.com)

I want the Word to go so deep down in my heart that no matter what happens in life, my trust for God is never broken and my faith is never affected or decreased. We know that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). The enemy will try to damage our faith and destroy any ounce of it we have, but keep reading the Word! Meditate on it. Let that belief take root in your heart and your faith will strengthen and grow such a strong foundation of trust towards God and His Word.

Meditate on the Word so much that it moves from your mind down into your heart. And remember to keep watch over that too! 

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Lord, help us learn how to trust You. Keep us hungry and thirsty for Your Word for it strengthens our faith and help us fight off the enemy's tactics. Thank You for never leaving us and always loving us even when we fail. You are forever faithful and forever good. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Peace&Love.

Emily

Created to Worship

Did you know that everyone was created to worship?

YEP.

Worship is giving something or someone worth. It is what you devote your time, your devotion, your affection, your finances, your heart to. If you allow yourself to really reflect on this, you will know in your heart where all of those things in your life are going to.

If you worship anyone or anything besides God Almighty, the Bible calls those people or those things idols. And when it comes to God, He doesn't want you to give yourself away to anything or anyone but Him. He's not egotistical or prideful, He just loves us SO MUCH and wants us to see the world and people like He does. Worshiping God creates an atmosphere in our hearts that is conducive to letting God mold us into His image. It becomes a breeding ground for selfless love to be produced in us.

2 Samuel 16:7 says:
"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (NIV)

When we allow the Lord to mold us and change our hearts, we will be able to love others with the Father's love.

In prayer one day, the Lord dropped this song down into my heart:

Cultivate the ground of my heart

Til it yields a harvest of lasting fruit

For Your purpose

For Your plan...

How does God cultivate the ground of your heart?

By worship.

By worshipping God Almighty and surrendering your life completely to Him. And worship is not just singing to the Lord (although that's important). It is denying yourself and saying "yes" to Him every single day of your life. From seeking Him in prayer or telling a stranger that God loves them by praying with them or giving them a hug, every "yes" to God is worship. When we love God with all that we are, our hearts can't help but overflow with His love for others. 

So it is true. Worship IS a lifestyle. It is constantly telling God "More of You and less of me." EVERY DAY. And every time we obey God and say "yes" to Him, we give Him glory. We give Him worth because He sees us growing up and maturing. Every Father wants to see their children mature and succeed their love walk.

So who or what do you worship? Yourself? Your plans? Your job? Money? Nice clothes? Everything in this world will pass away, except for Love. Let God speak to your heart today and see if there are areas in your life that you are holding back from Him. The more we say "yes" to God, the more He can molds our hearts and they will overflow with His perfect Love. 

Give God worth today. Even in the little things. :)

Peace&Love.

Emily

Here I stand, Lord.

It's been an intense 2 months. A lot of transitions. A lot of pruning. A lot of growing.

When Paul and I decided to to step down at Wrecked and become more involved at Church in Action, we didn't know that the Lord would need us to dive in so quickly. But what I have been hearing consistently lately is "the harvest is great, but the laborers are few." God needs us to get serious and not waste a moment of time.

I could move whenever a door opens, but that would not be wise at all. So I have been waiting on the Lord and trusting that He will position me exactly where He needs me. There can be no room for comparison or questioning God's timing or ways. Who am I to question the Creator the Universe? I can read Job to see the rebuke he got from God when he did. No, I must stand firm and boldly say, "Here I am, Lord. I will go, Lord. Lead me and I will follow."

 

I am starting to understand the body of Christ more and more each day. As Jesus reveals more to me about His body and His bride, I begin to see my purpose more clearly as a member of it. I may not confidently know if I am a hand or a mouth, but I do know I am called to love and make disciples wherever I am, even if it doesn't look like I can in a medical office answering phone calls and verifying insurance benefits. He has me EXACTLY where He needs me. I don't need to know why. He's God (I am not), and He says so, that's why! Until He tells me to go, I must stay put and "work at it with all of my heart for the Lord" (Colossians 3:23). If God wanted me to move or to constantly travel from country to country, then He would tell me this and make a way for that to happen. I would know without a shadow of a doubt that I have been chosen to proclaim Christ to the nations as a traveling missionary. But He has not told me to. I have recently realized that my husband and I have been called to be a a part of the wallet for the body and this season is focusing on it now more than ever as we get closer to being out of debt. Praise God! We have jobs in the secular world to help propagate the gospel and send missionaries to places outside of St. Louis.

 

Although it doesn't seem as exciting, I know that I am doing MY PART to help fulfill the mission of advancing the Kingdom of God. I cannot wait for the day when I get to write checks to missionaries to take care of their financial pressures. I get even more excited when I think about meeting others' needs by feeding them, clothing them, and helping them get out of debt (my heart is for the student who has bought the lie that you HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT TO STUDY SOMETHING YOU MAY NOT EVEN FIND A JOB DOING WHAT YOU STUDIED and is strapped with thousands of dollars of debt before they are even 25). How can we advance the Kingdom if we are all in horrible debt? This is an epidemic in America and we are so blinded! This will be a part of our ministry, I know it.

 

Another part of our ministry that God has been revealing to us has to do with justice. I know that when you take a stand for something that is wrong, there will be 10 other people who want to tell you to shut up and sit down. Now when you bring God's name into it, sadly, there will be thousands more people who do not want you to speak up at all and will attack you. This is because the devil wants to silent us and take our authority by deceiving us into thinking we have none. He doesn't like it when light is shed upon the dark things he has worked so hard to create in our world. But we must shine bright!

 

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

 

I will shine bright for you God!

 

3 more days until JUSTICE PRAYER GATHERING and I can't wait to gather with a group of radical Christ followers to pray for our city, nation, and world. And as we speak, people are attacking it and me. But we must stand firm and be BOLD. In the end, it will all be worth it!!!

 

Peace&Love.

Emily