Collaborative Transformation
  • Blog
  • About the Blogger
  • Contact

Being a Christian

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
 
I love this: A Christian is someone who believes in Jesus, puts their faith in Him, knows Him and lives ‘in Christ’. It is also someone who *follows His example*. There is no greater example in human history than the example of Christ. Paul writes, ‘Follow *my* example, as *I follow the example of Christ*’ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
 
It’s not hard but we mess it up and make it hard because of ourselves. God said it was a narrow and difficult road because He knows we are driven by flesh. We make things harder than they should be because of our wants. If we just surrendered our will and said, here I am Lord use me, it would be easy. Look at the world right now: It wants diversity, equity, and inclusion but only the way It wants it. God sending His one and only Son to die is for every person that will ever live. That’s inclusive. And look what it says in 2 Peter 3:8-9 “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A Day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.”
 
 Then, diverse in Gods eyes looks like this. Colossians 3:11 NLT “In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.”
 
Then He considers us equal as the body of Christ. There is no one better than the other, we are all used and loved, He has no favorites. 1 Corinthians 12:18, 26-27 NLT “But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.”
 
See, it has nothing to do with what we want and how we feel, it is how God set us up perfectly to be right in His sight by following Jesus. In Christ we have eternal life, living trying to please ourselves we have separation for eternity. This country set the values on Christian morals and we knew if we deviated in that this country would be a mess. Welcome to our mess, we have opened the door to sin and the broad road to hell is wide open. Jesus is the way yet we want our flesh. God loves life and told us to be fruitful and multiply but we want to stop that by killing babies and telling people it’s ok to marry someone of the same sex. Life cannot continue like that, it’s outside of Gods design.
 
Then we want to push gender is whatever you want and that can have the same effect, no more life being born. The Creator of Heaven and Earth would not create us to go extinct. But in our selfishness, we are trying to get that done. God has given us free will and wants us all to benefit from His gift, but He will not make us. He is right there waiting for us to choose His Son and then He has given us the ability to work hard to stand against a fallen world that seeks everything but God. All this murder of babies is not new it’s just pushed as a medical condition. If we did what God set up, we would get rid of 99% of unwanted pregnancies. It wouldn’t be a condition anymore. If we believe God made them male and female, we wouldn’t have all this mental confusion which has led to us pushing a mental disorder as real life. We have no fear of our Creator that we want to change what He did in the womb because we think we are smarter.
 
We think equity is what needs to happen when that’s just not how God made it. Equality is what God wants, there will always be people that are better at things and it will lead to not having equity. The NBA is not equitable but we don’t care. The NFL is not equitable and we don’t care, why, because we want the best out there. Equality is making sure everyone has the same chance knowing some will just be better. Equity is giving something to someone who isn’t fit for that things and it hinders the outcome.
 
Selfish people want equity, God fearing people want equality. Thank you God for having no favorites and giving us all the tools needed for right living and eternal life. Help us to see that Jesus is the only way to make this country great. 
0 Comments

He is Thrilling !

8/9/2023

0 Comments

 
Psalms 92:4 NLT
“You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.”
 
Can we get here and live with that awe of what He has done? I am excited that I get to serve the Lord and teach how He can make us grow. Transformation is real to me, and it can be for you if you let go of your desires to follow Him. I went from a fearful person who needed acceptance and needed people to like me to a person that only cared what God thinks. In my early days nothing meant anything but my happiness, I lived for my pleasure and didn’t care about God. I kicked the Christian clubs out of the gym when I was a teacher. Had them removed by the assistant principle and believed the lie of separation of church and state. To leading that same Christian group and sharing with student about the Bible. When you are thrilled with the Lord you will find ways to get things done for Him. I read my Bible at school and left it on my desk opened so when the students can in to talk, my Bible was there, and I shared when they asked me what I was doing. As long as they asked you could talk all day long and answer their questions. I couldn’t stop reading and sharing and God moved me out of teaching to be a pastor.
 
All I did was let that excitement help me live for Him and He has moved me to 4 different churches as adult Pastor, associate Pastor, executive Pastor, and now lead Pastor. All I desire is that people believe that Jesus is real and will make a difference when we surrender ourselves for Him. This takes us constantly needing Him. When we struggle, we keep seeking Him. It means that reading His word for transformation is key and praying is a must. We start to see that faith in Jesus is the only thing that can comfort us in this world and that He want us to be bold and courageous always, when it’s easy and tough. We need to remember He is truth and love. Truth that will set us free from ourselves, and love that will make us obedient to Him. Not a love that keeps us looking at ourselves. Remember to have this verse ready all the time, “you thrill me Lord, with all you have done for me…!” Amen 
0 Comments

Christianity and the church

8/2/2023

0 Comments

 
As we see church attendance decline and the celebrating of sin rise, it makes for a lukewarm lifestyle that is no good for anyone. We are warned in God's word that it will get worse, and the believers should stay strong and not deviate from God's grace which is Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Timothy 3:12-15 says, "Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. 14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus."

This warning to Timothy is what we need to remember as this world continues to fight for self-truth, it is His truth that will need to be lived and shared by believers. It's time to not just say we're Christians, it's time to actually be Christians.

The church should push through and stay true to the truth God set forth, in Christ we are saved, in the world we are dead in our sins.

In Christ means we desire His truth, and we seek that reality. In the world means we ok our way of living that contradicts what God says. It's hard to die to self and the churches are feeling the pressures and changing what God says to keep people happy. That is dangerous and what keeps this false narrative going. 

2 Timothy 4:3-4 says, "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and the chase after myths."

We are warned because it is happening, and churches are more excited to make people feel good than to challenge them to step up to God's standard. The latest Barna study has 28% of people 39-57 attending church in 2023. Before the pandemic it was 41% and in 1999 it was over 70%. What changed? there was the push to close churches and the over celebration of sin and the government's desire to get votes. 

In 2022 and 2023 we have pushed the LGBTQ community and we try and make it the norm, and we have major companies pushing this illness as something that needs to be accepted.  Churches fell into this trap and some denominations disregard the Bible for their belief of inclusion which is biblical exclusion from heaven. 

The free will was given by God and this country is free to believe anything they want. Which will make it get worse like the bible shares. But just as a person believes their truth is truth and we should call them by their pronouns, Christian's should be able to share their beliefs without the backlash that we get. The world wants it their way but no one that disagrees can have their belief. 

I love God and people, but I love God more and believe Jesus came to show us the way to eternal life, and that is only through Him.  Why when Christians share that viewpoint, they are called names and cancelled?  I believe the entire bible shares what is wrong and what to do right. It doesn't care about our feelings it cares about our eternal destination.  We see in Leviticus what not to do in chapter 18 and it is clear when we start to do these things, we desire instead of what God shows us we struggle. 

We get the same warnings to the churches in the New Testament because it is a great big personal struggle that keeps us lost.  The fact that we keep pushing it more as a country shows why we see church attendance declining as it is. Romans 1:24-34 talks about what happens when we live sexually immorally. So does Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:3-8, Colossians 3:4-5, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:10-11. 
These are all books inspired by God and for our good. Jesus is the Word who became flesh, so if it's in the bible Jesus mentioned it. Unbelievers need to be reached but lukewarm Christians are the biggest problem with the numbers declining and I pray that we stand true and push forward in His truth and stop all this sin celebrating. God Bless and God be the glory. Amen 

0 Comments

Church

7/5/2023

0 Comments

 
The Church:

 Acts of the Apostles 16:5 NLT
“So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.”
 
This is because they taught truth and people wanted to hear it.
 
We have an obligation as Pastors to not only train and equip people to do the works of ministry, but we need to strengthen them as well. We strengthen them by teaching the truth and how we can keep growing to know Him more and more. We aren’t called to teach only the fluff that makes people comfortable and lacking in the salt needed to make change. We teach them the things that will strengthen them in this crazy world which we are temporary residents of.
 
Acts of the Apostles 18:23 NLT
“After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers.”
 
They strengthened because we all need to grow. As soon as we are comfortable the devil has an opening and he will attack. Truth does not change, so we learn the truth so we can say no when the world tries to change what God set up for good. We are in a time that the church needs to say NO! The world needs God for sure, but we have an obligation to our home first.
 
Acts of the Apostles 1:8 NLT
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
 
We start in our Jerusalem (America) then we spread out to everywhere else. This is where the pastors step up and teach the hard parts that make us struggle in our flesh.
 
Like Paul, John, James, and Peter, they teach and strengthen so the churches know the truth, because the truth is the only thing that will set us free.
 
Romans 1:23-32 NLT
“And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.”
 
1 Corinthians 6:12-14 NLT
“You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.”
 
Galatians 6:14-15 NLT
“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.”
 
As we keep growing and being strengthened we see the transformation as new and we embrace it.
 
1 John 2:15-16 NLT
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”
 
The world is a dangerous trap and as soon as we desire our flesh we get lost in it and we struggle to see truth and we live and fight for our feelings. When that happens we start to think the morals we set this Country on are wrong and we add our own desires. It leads to insanity and people fight for that insanity to where nothing can be insane anymore.
 
1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT
“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.””
 
When we seek we will find and when we find we will say no to the world and stand up against this craziness of gender dysphoria, same sex attraction and killing babies in the womb.
 
We teach on it to strengthen people and we unify so no yeast gets in to cause destruction.
 
There is much more so we keep training and learning how to be all we can be. The church cannot just teach topics of comfort and convenience, but of conviction and power. We must remember, it’s not how big our church is on earth, it’s how many get to heaven through the narrow gate. If you don’t hear the Gospel and the truth at church, get to a church that cares about your eternity not just your money. 

0 Comments

His Standards

7/3/2023

0 Comments

 
Acts of the Apostles 20:28-30 NLT
““So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.”
 
We are aware and ready because we read Gods word seeking to apply it to our lives. It’s never about getting people to church if we lower the standard of what God has done. God set it up perfectly and we share the truth with love, but we still share it. The truth will show us our sin, and we all fall short and have something. We need to die to self and that sin and remember what Jesus did. Our sin can never be okayed, it must be let go and we must repent. Anything that we think is more important than what God has shown us is sin. Our selfish desires are sin, let go and let God. Amen 
0 Comments

pure and genuine

6/22/2023

0 Comments

 
James 1:27 NLT
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
 
When we understand who God is and what Jesus did for us we can understand what this verse means. Taking care of the ones that need it most, and not letting the world corrupt us.

Changing marriage to fit the worlds pleasure is corruption. Pushing that there are more than two genders and telling kids God made a mistake in how He made you is corruption. Trying to make abortion a medical condition is corruption. James finishes with telling us we must refuse this worldly nonsense and work on being like Jesus who would have loved them by talking with them about truth and the behavior they needed to stop doing.

​ Love is not acceptance it’s caring enough to share the behaviors that will hurt them. Sin separates us from God, Jesus came to show us what sin is and that it leads to death. Then He died and rose again to cover our sin so we know the perfect and only way to the Father. Thank you Jesus! Don’t let the world corrupt you, take care of orphans and widows. Amen 
0 Comments

New Creations

5/27/2023

0 Comments

 
1 Samuel 10:6 NLT
At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.”
 
See when Saul is open to accept what God says he was set apart but when he thinks of his transformation as nothing, he turns to the world and the change means nothing. Its ties in with what Jesus says in John chapter 12.
 
John 12:25 NLT
“Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.”
 
Truly this is how we live like Jesus. We don’t get caught up in our desires and lusts and we let go of all that drives our flesh and feelings, and we live the way Jesus showed us. When His example means more to us, then we will understand what it is to live. Look what He says next,
 
John 12:26 NLT
“Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.”
 
Who do you serve? When it is Him and not us, we thrive, and God gets the glory. Amen 

0 Comments

Born Again

5/8/2023

0 Comments

 
 John 3:5-7 NLT
“Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”
 
We have to accept Jesus and believe who He is and we will receive the Spirit that will give us rebirth. That will come a long with a dying to yourself and a desire to live like Jesus. The light will draw us in because we long for that new and we surrender our desires for His truth.
​
 John 3:18-21 NLT
““There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.””
 
Believe is a word of action and surrender, if you don’t have that change and release of the old self you have not let go and turn to the Light. When we love our life and what we desire more than our Lord and Savior, we turn from Him because we are exposed to our sin.
 
This sin is anything that we chose to do that is opposite of what the Word (Bible) says. The light offends us because we want what we want. (This comes in anything you desire more than God.)
 
When we run to the light and live in His ways, we show people what right living looks like, and they can follow us because we follow Jesus. The light sets us free to be bold and love people like Jesus by sharing His truth even when it is not wanted. Amen 
0 Comments

Always do what is right

4/18/2023

0 Comments

 
Matthew 5:10 NLT
“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
 
When you believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior this world will not like it.
 
They will call you names and say you are mean and not understanding. It’s ok, we know the truth and that is what sets us free.
 
Matthew 5:11-12 NLT
““God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”
 
it’s ok that people have different thoughts, I still need to share my beliefs and pray that everyone one will choose Jesus and be saved. I have been around all kinds of people that don’t believe what I do but I will try and share my belief with them because it is important to me. Just as theirs is important to them.
 
We all will sin and it will be in different ways, so it’s never condemning, it’s meant out of love. It’s not love if you believe in Jesus and then don’t share that truth with the world.
 
Keep focused on Jesus and model your life after His and you will understand joy and peace so His will is what you desire.
 
Why is it people expect you to accept their belief in their lifestyle, but they get mad at you for believing in yours?
 
Never worry about what this world says just lock into your belief and fight to live it out always. Care for the people around you by planting seeds and watering it, you can’t make them change but you can always share truth. Amen 

0 Comments

Seeds

4/3/2023

0 Comments

 
Luke 8:12 NLT
“The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.”
 
The seed (word) is going out, the ruler of this world, the devil, will deceive many so they never believe. He keeps them full of this world and the flesh.
 
 
Luke 8:13 NLT
“The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.”
 
This seed gets in and starts to grow but there is no work to learn, there is just basic knowledge. When things are good this seed sprouts a little, then when the going gets tough they stop learning. No effort is put in and it withers.
 
 
Luke 8:14 NLT
“The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.”
 
Here we have the seed (word) getting in but not developing because people want their cake and they want to eat it. Riches are more important than living for Jesus. Their physical pleasure is more important than Jesus. Their family and friends are more important that Jesus, so they have no desire to mature and live differently than this world.
 
 
Luke 8:15 NLT
“And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”
 
The narrow road of people that hear the word and then believe, accept and surrender their will so God is glorified will keep growing. They don’t focus on themselves, or this world, they focus on Truth. When we are opened to truth we start to seek it, and when we seek it we will find it. When we find it, we are full of peace and joy and we get through all the trials and things that will go on in this temporary home.
 
 
Luke 8:16-18 NLT
““No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.””
 
When our soil is good, we shine, and we make a difference with the ones around us opened to His light. It might take time but when we are willing, He is able. When we listen to the correct things we can continue to mature and we build off of His truth and we make an impact through Him. It only happens in His strength not our, and He gets the glory from it so we never feel it is us that can do it alone.
 
When we stop listening to Him, we start losing what we had and start making up our own truth, hence the world right now! 
0 Comments
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    April 2020
    March 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009

    Categories

    All
    1 Chronicles
    1 Corinthians
    1 John
    1 Kings
    1 Peter
    1 Samuel
    1 Thessalonians
    1 Timothy
    2 Chronicles
    2 Corinthians
    2 Peter
    2 Samuel
    2 Thessalonians
    2 Timothy
    Acts
    Colossians
    Deuteronomy
    Ephesians
    Galatians
    Genesis
    Hebrews
    Hosea
    Isaiah
    James
    Jeremiah
    John
    Joshua
    Jude
    Lamentations
    Leviticus
    Luke
    Mark
    Matthew
    Nehemiah
    Numbers
    Philemon
    Philippians
    Proverbs
    Psalm
    Revelation
    Romans
    Titus

    Books to Read:

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.