False Gospels and Fattened Shepherds

More and more we are talking about and seeing shepherds that are not feeding the sheep. They are feeding themselves and being fattened up. They are not rightly dividing the Word. Their pocketbooks and waistlines are a testimony to that. God tells us - Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap Galatians 6:7. Today our sweet Lord led me to Ezekiel 34. WOW!! Shepherds repent. Bow down and humble yourselves before The MIGHTY GOD!!! In America we are taught a humanist gospel. It isn't true. You don't have to better yourself or love yourself in order to minister to others Jesus actually says we are to die to ourselves and pick up our cross and follow after HIM-Matthew 10:37. We are to live our lives as a holy sacrifice poured out like Paul better yet like our LORD Jesus the Christ!!. I am going to put some of Ezekiel up the scriptures that just screamed AMERICA today.....

"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.

'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: "[As] I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because [there was] no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock"-- therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!

Sound familiar?

I may just be rambling but I don't think so. Let God speak to your heart. If you are a sheep that has been hurt by a pastor or those in the church don't allow that to stand in between you and the only living GOD. The One whom created YOU with His very hands. Formed you out of dust and breathed life into you. Allow our good Shepherd, Jesus Christ to lead you to a pasture where you will be fed and healed.

Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Beware of those whom share a different gospel other than or adding to Jesus being the only way to the Father. Beware of those that tell you God is here to fulfill all of your fleshly desires; money, beauty, health etc....Jesus desires to reconcile you to His Father. He desires to change your heart not your circumstances. He desires to fill your spirit with His that you may be able to walk through the hard times that are to be expected in this sinful fallen world. Let Him love you today. And as His humble servant know that I am praying for and loving you today!! 

(I wrote this in 2009) Just reread it and decided to post it :) Enjoy

You have called me to be holy, as you are Holy.

Today I have been thinking about the call of Holiness that we as Christians have.

            but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

(1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV)

            Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

(Hebrews 12:14 ESV)

I find that I have grown tremendously in the years that I have known Christ. I truly am not that dead woman that I was before. I am humbled to serve such a mighty God that would give His life; sacrificing himself for my sin so that I could be made holy through His holy life being laid down for me. There are no words of worship or adoration that give this justice.

There are days though, when holiness just does not seem like something I am growing in. I see the weakness and the desires of my flesh rise up. I speak an evil word about someone, I hold bitterness and unforgiveness in my heart, I judge the heart intentions, I criticize instead of build up…..and my dirty laundry list goes on. In these moments, I don’t feel holy. As a matter fact I feel dirty and defiled.  Then I hear that thin silence of Gods voice calling me to repentance. To holiness. Convicting my Spirit to be washed cleaned and revived in Him. It is truly humbling that He would even talk to us in these places. Grace, HIS PRECIOUS GRACE, pours over me. Oh, Romans 6 plays in my mind, as I think of the sacrifice that was made for me. The precious blood poured out, for me. SO that I can that I could stand  righteous in the eyes of the living God!! I cry out, “oh LORD make me Holy as you are holy. I can’t do it in my own strength. Never let me waste a precious drop of your atoning blood spilled at Calvary. Let holiness and grace embrace in my life today, so that I can have hope to have clean heart and clean hands in Your sight Abba Father!!! “

Thank you Jesus!!

Incorruptible Beauty

I have been thinking a lot about the beauty of the Christian woman. Scripture tells us~            

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

(1 Peter 3:3-6 ESV)

I was at a baby shower a couple of years ago and I heard a few Christian women talking. Fitness, babies, church, and the topic of beauty came up; it was very interesting to hear some of what they said.  One woman said she saw a mother recently out of the house that just looked awful= sweat pants, ponytail, no make-up, tired ( it was probably me), and then said she could never leave the house looking like that. It was quick words sputtered out but isn’t that the reality of a woman’s heart? Most of us are mortified just if someone sees just our everyday getup( and if you act like you have NEVER been insecure about this, you are lying). Many times we work on the outside thinking we can hide what is within, shielding our deep need for Jesus. Because there is a deep deep need inside of every woman that can only be met by a loving and gracious Savior. Now don’t get me wrong. Make-up, jewelry, clothes, fitness, etc….are all good and fun things. But it just seems like God is concerned mostly with the Spirit or the heart of a person.

I believe the NKJV states that we are not merely suppose to be thinking about external things as women. I like that wording. It’s not wrong, but focus more on your Spirit. Even the apostle Paul says ~ for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

(1 Timothy 4:8-10 ESV)

It is also interesting to note the last line of 1 Peter~ And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. I love that line!!! Fear nothing nothing that is frightening. It makes me think of Philippians 4 that says to bring all of your anxieties to God by prayer and supplication and HE will give you the peace that surpasses all understanding and guard your mind and heart in Jesus Christ.

We as women struggle to stay here. We make it here, we are doing well, then life gets away from us, kids wake up in middle of the night puking, or our husband loses his job, death in the family, an unruly teenager, input your life struggles here---- point is; life just happens. In the midst of those times, Gods promise is that if you come to Him, pour out your fear and anxieties and trust in Him. Read Isaiah 26:3 He will give you peace and a gentle and quiet Spirit that cannot be corrupted by this world.

I want to note that it is not wrong or sinful to be anxious or scared. It becomes sin when you try to handle that on your own and do not take it to God. When it consumes you.

My encouragement to my precious sisters this morning is this. Sit with the Lord. Eat and receive of His love, grace, and forgiveness for you. Read His tender words. Let Him cultivate a gentle and quiet Spirit that is not anxious and is fully satisfied in Him. Remember that you, YES YOU!! Are fearfully and wonderfully made by an amazing God. Compliment other women when you see this incorruptible beauty that this world cannot steal or replicate. It is an eternal beauty given by the Spirit of God. Love you ladies. Walk in the beauty of the Lord today!!