Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


I don't have a long list of goals for 2011. I am working on several projects that will keep me busy well into the year. I'm excited to launch my CD, Book and go on a tour with a well known christian artist. I'm excited to see God bring to pass many dreams that I've had since childhood. I'm excited to see how He's bringing things together for my friends and family. So many ministers, psalmists, authors and business people in my life are seeing God unfold tremendous blessings and that makes my heart so happy.

I'm thankful for my wonderful husband who has sowed so much into my life and into making my dreams a reality. The true epitome of integrity, godliness and self-lessness. No one outside of Christ brings my heart more happiness than my husband. I am truly excited about standing a long side him in ministry 2011. To share our testimony of hope and healing.

But what I'm the absolute MOST most excited about above even all of that for next year is simply this: LOVE.

My heart has been so full of joy and excitement that it's bubbling over in me about My Love Life.
Loving with an intense fervent love that will make even the hardest heart turn soft. A love that will reconcile even the worst of enemies, and heal even the most shattered of hearts. I've been so blessed by God's unfailing, incomprehensible love for me.  I don't deserve to be loved the way He loves me, but He loves me anyway. And that's the type of  love I am determined to make MY life and to give to others.

The Lord spoke a few words to me on this Love that I'd like to share with you today.

"We often close the door on those who hurt us. Flesh rejects what makes us uncomfortable. Agape embraces and applies healing oil. Not putting a 'face' to the hurt but recognizing the 'hurt' comes from a place- Agape reaches beyond itself, into the hidden chambers and forgives"

When He spoke that to me I was like WOW! Help me to not put a "face" on it when people do things that hurt me, but help me to see them through YOUR eyes and apply grace where they may be hurting. People in and of them selves for the most part aren't "mean" people act out of hurts and it's my job to love those who hurt. But it's SO easy to feel betrayed and allow emotions to get in the way of applying the healing oil ESPECIALLY when the hurt was rendered by someone close to us... But that's when it's MOST necessary and MOST effective.

 I have failed miserably at this lesson, but I thank God for His gentle rebuke and for giving me a chance to get this right. Thank you Lord!

Even spirit filled believers have a tiny, and fragmented grasp on true agape, but within that tiny fragmented understanding are enough sparks to set a BLAZE!

God just energized my heart with this one. I felt like He was telling me to not make any excuses for having a lack of love towards anyone.

 I was in my room the other day and I began to think about the CUP Jesus drank. I started thinking of all the most Vile and despicable sins I could think of... Murder, idolatry, incest etc and Jesus drank that cup! So you and I  could be free.

So who am I to hold a lie, gossip, rejection, people's doubts etc all these "small sips" against anyone? He is the most amazing example of love because He IS love. That's not a cliche, it's the truth. If I say I am like Him then I must also live a life of love, thinking nothing of my feelings and embracing even those who reject me. WOW. 


I'm so thankful for this revelation and knowledge, I'm so excited to now apply what I've been given to te Glory of God!


So.. that's it. Love is what it's about for me.  Whatever you're believing to accomplish in 2011 that's according to God's will, I believe and pray it will come to pass for you. And as you continue on this journey of life remember to do all that you do and say through the gift of LOVE.


HAPPY 2011!  
Alisa

My Love Life

It's that time of year where people are reflecting on what has passed and looking toward the future and what the new year will bring.

This is the time of year when we grab that journal or notebook paper and begin to write out our short term and long term goals. As I sit at my table and look out the window I feel a sense of joy and peace. My 2010 was a great year! I truly have no complaints about how things went and I'm even more excited about my next year than any other time I can remember in my life. God is doing amazing things and I'm reminded of the word He spoke to me ever so sweetly.. "A Pure Heart brings forth my blessings"

And so... My only true Goal or "Resolution" is this... To Walk In Love.

For every New Beginning there has to be a closure. and so I close the door to the past, the old way of living, the old way of thinking, my old friendships and even my conclusions. I'm asking God to help me end this year right so my new beginning is exactly that... NEW!  A clean slate.

I want to walk in Love in ALL areas and in all things. We say "God is Love" and that becomes such a cliche, but it's not a cliche... it's the TRUTH. GOD.... IS.... LOVE... and Anything you or I do outside of LOVE goes unrecognizable in heaven. If our motives for doing what we do is not based solely in love, it's a DEAD work!

I really got that revelation deep down in my spirit. How many things do we do to "seem" like something, or to get a "thank you" or to appear brilliant, or to prove our worth, or to 'rub in the noses' of people who we dislike, or to receive a title, or to be seen, and the list goes on and on. If you are doing ANYTHING for any of those purposes.. It's a dead work!

That's why in Matthew 7:21-23 it says
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

That's a harsh thing Some would choose to NOT believe that God is capable of rejecting someone. But If the things we do.. "tho good" are based on anything outside of LOVE then He WILL say this to you. He can only accept Himself! All the things I listed above are based in self and Pride! (that's not God) God is looking for Himself inside of You and I

I believe God is holding a book and He's reading it, basing our inheritance on what He's reading. I believe that book is called "The Book of MOTIVES"  Man can not always read our motives or know the intentions of our heart, but God does. He sees and He knows.   I have been reminded of this truth time and time again because my heart above all else is to please God and to live a life of LOVE and whenever I miss it or am getting off track He gently reminds me of my error and corrects me so I can continue to live right before Him.

"A defining moment is created by the attitude of your heart"

A TRUE christian doesn't just love those who love them back. A TRUE christian Loves everyone (even their enemies) But I think even deeper than that is the attitude and heart that Jesus has and continues to have. LOVE (not because its a chore or obligation or a threat that "IF I DON'T I WON'T GO TO HEAVEN) But LOVE... Because ... Period!

Imagine................ having no one's imperfections bother you (selah)

yep.. even those ugly people. I recently heard Ivan Tate say: The purpose of ugly people is to deliver you from self.  When God wants to change you, He tells you to reach out and love someone you dislike. When God wants to promote you, He sends someone to offend you. (In all 3 cases, how we handle it and our obedience will determine whether or not we are delivered, changed, and promoted)

I've decided to forgive those who have hurt me. (Forgiveness is Divine Amnesia) Not the fake stuff we give off, but a true forgiveness that when I see you again, there's no awkwardness or a record of all your wrong running through my head. and I'm making Love my Life!

I pray that whatever you're being challenged in your heart to change, fix, reconcile, or let go of that you'll have the strength and faith through Christ to be able to do that. I also pray that everything we do in the remainder of this year and throughout the course of our lives will be done with the motive of L.O.V.E.

LOVE is a command. We don't have the choice or option and if we desire to please God we must keep His commands.

John 13:35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Happy Holidays!

Alisa

God and Sinners Reconciled

This was so beautifully written that I had to share. This is written by my beautiful friend Kristie Kerr. I pray it blesses you as it has me.


The windowsill over my kitchen sink is a sacred place for me.  It is full of mementos and photos of significant things and people in my life.  Its jam packed with reminders of things and people that I am praying for.  I’ve realized that it’s the best place to keep such reminders because of the vast amount of time I spend standing there.

Tonight, as was washing the dishes, I was singing this little song quietly under my breath:

“Hark the Herald Angel’s Sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on Earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled.”

As I got to that last line… I stopped and thought about the words that had just escaped my lips

“God and sinners reconciled.”

I glanced up and saw a little box right in the center of the windowsill.  It was a gift from a dear friend many, many years ago.  On the top, it is engraved with these words, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)”  This little treasure is deeply sentimental to me, because the gift was given to me during a season of my life where I faced a deeply broken personal relationship with someone very close to me.  I kept that box on my windowsill and daily prayed for reconciliation in that relationship.  I prayed in faith that someday I would see that relationship restored, even though there was nothing in my view that would say it was anywhere near salvageable.

I sang it again.  “God and sinners reconciled.”

It’s quite a breathtaking stanza actually.   One line that sums up not only the entire Christmas message – but the entire message of Christ.

God came to earth to make a way for us to be reconciled to Him.

Reconciliation is one of the most beautiful words in the English language.  And it looks even more beautiful next to its ugly cousin:  estrangement.  What a horrible, horrible thing estrangement is.  To have someone who is significant in your life – someone who means something substantial to you to now absent from your world… that is a truly tragic thing.

Parents estranged from children.  Husbands estranged from wives. Friend estranged from each other.  Sisters… brothers…grandchildren… go from closeness to separation.  And I’m not saying that the reasons for these things aren’t valid.  There are very painful circumstances at the core of estrangement – things that are not easily solved or quickly healed.

But tonight, I’m reminded that one of the things closest to the heart of God is reconciliation.  That although you and I did nothing to deserve it – and He had no assurance that his gesture towards us would be welcomed or received – He sent His son to provide a way for us to be back in relationship with Him.

So, in the spirit of the season… in the spirit of striving to be more like Jesus… is there someone you should seek reconciliation with this Christmas?  Making the gesture towards them… in humility, forgiveness, and love?  Perhaps it is simply to start praying for healing in that relationship.  Perhaps it’s dropping a card in the mail.  Perhaps it’s deeper and more significant than that.

Maybe your efforts will go unreceived… and that’s ok.   Maybe your efforts will be faced with hostility.  That’s ok too.  It’s also ok to note that that relationship with probably NEVER be the same as it was before.  And that’s all right as well.  Battle scars can shape a relationship into something completely different – but equally beautiful.

Reconciliation is not just “burying the hatchet.”  It’s not even just “moving on and letting go.”  It’s much more significant than that.  It’s much more spiritual than that.  It is doing the very thing that Jesus did for us.

As I looked at the box on my windowsill, this Christmas my heart is a little fuller.  I’ve seen steps in the last couple years towards restoration in that relationship. God continues to bind and mend things that seem beyond repair to me.  It is absolutely breathtaking to watch Him work.   I am so unbelievably grateful for this precious gift of grace in my life this year.

So, this Christmas, I pray that you will find great comfort in the God who moved heaven and earth to be reconciled to you.  And may His great act of mercy compel you to offer the same gesture to someone else.  In the TRUE spirit of Christmas.

A FORTIFIED CITY

Wise is the man who fortifies his life with good friends.

I read that quote and thought "wow"  How true, but then I did a dictionary study on the word FORTIFIED and I had an even deeper understanding of what it  means to fortify our lives. making sure we fortify it with the right things and how God fortifies us.

Fortified and Fortify:
1. having something added to increase the strength (God is our refuge and our Rock our mighty fortress and our shield) he increases our strength and even BECOMES our strength in weakness) the definition says something ADDED. My personal thought is obviously if you're not saved that you have to get saved in order for Christ to fortify you. If you are saved that being filled with the Holy Spirit is what can be "added" (I use that lightly) to add strength to you. and of course by adding the Word of God and pray to our daily routine will add strength.

2. military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare (I believe its important to fortify ourselves with strong christian friends that can surround us during times of warfare. To make sure that those who stand with us are for us and not against us. To make sure that motives of people within your camp are pure. so often we walk into relationships blindly and in the end we find that those we thought were for us were truly working against us. leeches who suck up all your goods, use you for what you can give them. Tap into your sphere of influence, and then when they have no use for you they cut you off.   Fortify yourself with healthy people full of strength so they can be a defense to you in warfare instead of always an offense. If you're in a leadership position this is especially important so you can have accountability and maintain a level of humility and teach-ability. (There's nothing worse than someone who thinks they know all there is to know a subject and can't receive constructive criticism or correction from others)
To fortify ourselves with the word of God and to wear continually our armor. *Ephesians 6:10*

3. to add nutrients to;  the addition of an ingredient for the purpose of enrichment - I think of this like small groups (if your church has them) or other ministries within your church that you can get involved in. I believe its those extra ministries that I get involved in that enrich my life. I'm able to meet and connect with people on a more personal level that Sunday morning church alone doesn't allow.  

4. on a label (as with a breakfast cereal) tells you that nutrients have been added that weren't in the original ingredients- Hilarious! How many things do we allow in our lives.. to fortify our lives that weren't in the ORIGINAL ingredient? you know... those extra added preservatives and sugars that "taste" good but are bad for us! You know those sins, those thoughts, those friends, that man, that woman, those habits... the list can go on and on, but Hebrews 12:1 tells us to lay aside those weights that easily beset us.
Now I don't know about you, but that right there.. Is GREAT substance LOL!

We can have something added to our lives and that 'something' be it the Word of God, prayer, relationships, church, physical exercise, healthy eating.. can add strength to us!
I was singing the song: A mighty fortress is our God a Bulwark NEVER failing and I thought what exactly is a bulwark?  it's a DEFENSIVE WALL God is our defensive wall. our strength in weakness amen!

Now when I read about fortified cities in the Bible it was a bit overwhelming cause there's so many parts to it, but I was led to a scripture in Jeremiah 1:17-19 and I am so bubbling over even right now with excitement for the Word that God has spoken to my spirit. he says "THIS daughter, is for you"

¹⁷But you [Jeremiah], gird up your loins! Arise and tell them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed and break down at the sight of their faces, lest I confound you before them and permit you to be overcome.
    ¹⁸For I, behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land--against the [successive] kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land [giving you divine strength which no hostile power can overcome].^{(A)
    19}And they shall fight against you, but they shall not [finally] prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.

HALLELUJAH!

You are a fortified city in which God is using to deliver His message. He has blessed you within divine strength to carry out your individual GOD given task on this Earth!

Blessings!

Alisa

God Dream

Been having some pretty intense dreams since July. I love God dreams, and I've been having a few more latetly. There was season where I had tham all the time, but then shifts happen, and it was less frequent, but when I DO have one... WOW... they are quite elaborate and intense.

 My dream was of a team of people (on a missions trip) I looked up in the sky and there were 2 HUGE glowing doves... They filled the entire sky. Then I noticed a wind... A slight flash of light that blew like the wind, leading the team to wherever they needed to go.  They would pray,  and as soon as the wind blew.. they would go to where it took them.

I remember a since of URGENCY in my dream... they were on a specific assignment to get as many people saved as they could and I remember feeling a very intense sense of urgency in my dream.

The wind led to a building and when I walked in it had those winding stairs that lead WAY far up.  As I went up.. up... up.... I would share the gospel with everyone who was just hanging on the stairs.

Then I got to a certain point and looked over the railing and saw a woman. dark complection.. dark eyes.. (very dark eyes) she looked east indian. I was telling her she needed to get saved and she needed to do it fast.. Jesus was coming back and he wanted her in heaven, but before I could share all I needed to share, she cut me off.. very hard like.. "NO I don't want to hear anything you have to say"

Then my dream changed and I was back outside where all of a sudden we saw literal GOLD chunks falling from the sky. At first we didn't know what it was was until I saw someone bite into eat It was literal GOLD BREAD that we could eat. Manna from heaven,

And then I woke up.

I prayed and pondered this dream. I know that God has called me to the nations, and that is being manifested in such an intense and real way in my life right now. I feel a true BURN in my heart for India.

I'm just believing that the Holy Spirit is going to fill that nation with his presence. And even in the midst of opposition (which there is a ton) that people will receive Christ and be assured that He's real by all the miracles that will begin to happen.

I believe that we will read news paper articles in the next 18 months of miracles upon miracles in the India/Pakistan areas.

Glory to God!

Alisa

The Spirit Filled Believer

The Signature of the Spirit

Fruit is a public testimony to a believer's sensitivity to and dependency on the Holy Spirit.  it is the telling sign.  Fruit sets the 'abiders' apart from the 'producers' It's not simply ONE mark of a Spirit-filled life... it is the preeminent mark.  When we see fruit in a life, we know without a doubt that the Holy Spirit has custody over that particular child of God. The person is more than His possession; the person is under His influence.

The closer you get to believers who are truly walking in the Spirit, the better they look. There is nothing plastic about them. You don't get the impression they are hiding something, They radiate integrity!! You get the impression that you could trust them with your most intimate secret. You may even find yourself opening up to them in a way that is uncharacteristic for you.

Intimidation is NOT their game. They don't rely on personality and trumped-up enthusiasm to win you over.  They seem to be at peace with who they are. and they seem almost anxious to accept YOU as you are as well. For that reason you may feel drawn to them. They are the people you find yourself wanting to be like... NOT because of a particular skill or talent, but because of the depth of their character.

I'm not talking about perfection. In fact, you will hear more apologies from the lips of those who walk by the Spirit than any other group of people. Their sensitivity to the Spirit provides them with the uncanny to know when they have offended or hurt someone.  Their internal security allows them to respond quickly once they realize their sin or error in judgment.  They are NOT afraid to admit their faults. They have reconciled themselves to the fact that they are sinners.  However, they are aware that they have within them the power to rise above their fleshly appetites and desires.

Spirit-Filled believers make their biggest impression during troubled times. Then it becomes most apparent that the source of their abiding character is something that lies deep within them.  When all the crutches and props are kicked away and they are STILL standing. No one can argue that their uniqueness was simply a by product of their environment.
They have their down times. They don't win every battle. Doubt and temptation take them out of the race from time to time, but their recovery time is short. They don't stay down long and once they're back... it's as if they benefited from the experience. Specifically, their lives will be characterized by the following nine virtues:

*LOVE*
*JOY*
*PEACE*
*PATIENCE*
*KINDNESS*
*GOODNESS*
*FAITHFULNESS*
*GENTLENESS*
*SELF CONTROL*

I desire to always walk according to the Spirit of God.
I desire to always live my life as an example of Christ's grace, love and mercy.

Don't confuse spiritual gifts and natural talent with FRUIT!
Spiritual gifts and talent were never intended to be a measure of our spirituality.

It's easier to exercise a gift than to walk in the Spirit. it's even easier to think that just because you're excerising your gifitngs that you in some way have aquired a level of spiritual growth. (Be careful)

Read Matthew 7:15-23

I pray that I live, move and have my being in HIM and that I live according to the Spirit of God at all times.

Blessings,

Alisa

Icy Roads. Losing Momentum.

On Saturday November 20th my husband and I drove from our home in Prior Lake to Maple Grove to have dinner with some dear friends. (the drive took 40 mins like usual.) We hung out, prayed cried, laughed, talked and had a plain ole' great time til about 10pm.

As we left, we hopped on our usual Hwy 169 to head home, and low and behold... ICE. (not unusual for a Minnesota winter) but this was blankets upon blankets of ice on the highway.... a LITERAL ice rink on the roads.

As we headed down the highway a SUV to our right did a literal 180 spin (Thank God no cars were coming) as we inched (20 MPH) down the highway, we came upon 1, 2, 5, 9, 14, TWENTY spin outs, accidents and cars in the ditch. People who didn't have enough momentum to make it up a slight hill in the road began to either slide backwards or even completely sideways.

At one point we saw an ambulance with an accident victim in the back and the ambulance was spinning uncontrollably and eventually ended in the ditch as well.
My husband and I were coming up towards an exit where a semi truck was paused.. Stopped right in between the right lane of the highway and the exit ramp, As a small car tried to exit, it began to slide and we had to slow down to avoid hitting it, but as we lost momentum, we too found ourselves sliding.... right into the side of the stalled semi truck!

we tried to move from against the semi, but there was no where to go, everytime we tried to accelerate, our car would smash closer into the semi and our rear view mirror was beginning to crack. All we could do at that point was sit and wait for a cop to come. sit... and wait.   sit and wait.    

As we sat and waited; we witnessed several people sliding into ditches, almost making it to the top of the exit ramp only to be halted by the thick sheet of ice that prevented their tires from moving forward. We saw trucks of every size just pull over in defeat.  At one point we were nervous that someone may slide into us and sandwich us in so there would be no where to go.

Why did I share this story??

As I watched these events unfold before my eyes, I immediately thought about this journey called LIFE. This journey as a christian, striving to obtain the ultimate goal of eternal life. Many people on a road trying to reach their destination, only to have something slip under them and cause them to either: lose momentum, slide into a ditch, or worse yet completely give up in defeat.

What are the things that are causing YOU to lose momentum, get off course, or even causing you to wave the white flag of defeat?  Hurts, Anger, Unforgiveness, Low Self Esteem? Or maybe its your ambition for success, a job, a relationship, un-met expectations, your need to be in control, or your feelings of being out of control.

Whatever it is.. just know that its there to prevent you from reaching your full potential in Christ. Whatever it is, it wants you to live a mediocre existence and settle for less than God's best. It's the Wiles and tactics of the enemy.  (Ephesians 6:10-15) speaks about having on the armour of God so you can withstand against the devils schemes.

The devil's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) God's purpose is for you to have an abundant life.
The devil's purpose is NOT his power. He only has power to (steal kill or destroy) when we give it to him.  We give him that power when we remain empty to the Word of God (I was uninformed of the weather that night, otherwise i could have planned accordingly)
We give the enemy power when we trust in our abilities over God's. when we don't walk in faith. (We tried to move from against the truck, but we needed help.. we couldn't do it ourselves)
We give the enemy power when walk in the flesh and not in the Spirit of God.

God cam that we would have life and more abundantly, so we must stay in the Word, walk according to the spirit of God, pray, maintain an attitude of gratitude towards Him. Seek HIM for his purpose for our lives.

Then we will live the victorious lives we desire and not lose momentum on the icy roads of life.

Blessings,

Alisa  

Humility Precedes Holiness

The bigger I grow in God, the smaller I become."  --Allen Bond

A Holy Man Is a Humble Man
By Francis Frangipane

"Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart" (Matt. 11:29 KJV). The holiest, most powerful voice that ever spoke described Himself as "meek and lowly in heart." Why begin a message on holiness with a quote concerning humility? Simply because holiness is the product of grace, and God gives grace only to the humble.

It is vital we understand that Jesus did not condemn sinners; He condemned hypocrites. A hypocrite is a person who excuses his own sin while condemning the sins of another. He is not merely "two-faced," for even the best of us must work at single-mindedness in all instances. A hypocrite, therefore, is one who refuses to admit he is, at times, two-faced, thereby pretending a righteousness that he fails to live.

Indeed, the hypocrite does not discern his hypocrisy, for he cannot perceive flaws within himself. Rarely does he actually deal with the corruption in his heart. Since he seeks no mercy, he has no mercy to give; since he is always under God's judgment, judging is what comes through him.

We cannot remain hypocrites and at the same time find holiness. Therefore, the first step we truly take toward sanctification is to admit we are not as holy as we would like to appear. This first step is called humility.

In our desire to know God, we must discern this about the Almighty: He resists the proud, but His grace is drawn to the humble. Humility brings grace to our need, and grace alone can change our hearts. Humility, therefore, is the substructure of transformation. It is the essence of all virtues.

At some phase in each of our lives, we all will be confronted with the impurities of our hearts. The Holy Spirit reveals our sinfulness, not to condemn us but to establish humility and deepen the knowledge of our personal need for grace. It is at this crossroad that both holy men and hypocrites are bred. Those who become holy see their need and fall prostrate before God for deliverance. Those who become hypocrites are they who, in seeing their sin, excuse it and thus remain intact. Though all men must eventually stand at this junction, few are they who embrace the voice of truth; few are they indeed who will walk humbly toward true holiness.

Therefore, sanctification starts not with rules but with the forsaking of pride. Purity begins with our determined refusal to hide from the condition of our hearts. Out of self-discovery comes forth humility, and in meekness true holiness grows.

If we are not enlightened to the depravity of our old nature, we become "Christian Pharisees," hypocrites, full of contempt and self-righteousness. Did not our Master warn of those who, "trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt" (Luke 18:9)? Every time we judge another Christian, we do so with an attitude of self-righteousness. Each time we criticize another church, contempt is the motive behind our words. The irony of our Christianity is that so many churches look upon each other with identical attitudes of superiority! The modern church has become overstocked with those who, thinking they were holy, have become the exact opposite of holiness because they so lack humility!

Yet the humility we seek is drawn from a well that goes deeper than the awareness of our needs. Even in times of spiritual fullness, we must delight in weakness, knowing all strength is the product of God's grace. The humility we hope to find must go beyond the pattern of living proud lives, interrupted momentarily by intervals of self-abasement. Meekness must become our way of life. Like Jesus, we must delight in becoming "lowly in heart." Like Jesus, His disciples are humble by choice. 

Anyone Can Judge, But Can You Save?Hypocrites love to judge; it makes them feel superior. But it shall not be so with you. You must seek earnestly for lowliness of heart. Many zealous but proud Christians have failed to reach holiness because they presumed they were called to judge others.

Jesus Christ did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Anyone can pass judgment, but can they save? Can they lay down their lives in love, intercession, and faith for the one judged? Can they target an area of need and, rather than criticizing, fast and pray, asking God to supply the very virtue they feel is lacking? And then, can they persevere in love-motivated prayer until that fallen area blooms in godliness? Such is the life Christ commands we follow!

To judge after the flesh requires but one eye and a carnal mind. On the other hand, it takes the loving faithfulness of Christ to redeem and save. One act of His love revealed through us will do more to warm cold hearts than the sum of all our pompous criticisms. Therefore, grow in love, excel in mercy, and you will have a clearer perception into the essence of holiness, for it is the nature of God, who is love.

One may argue, "But Jesus condemned sin." Yes, and we condemn sin also, but the sin we must condemn first is the sin of judging others, for it obscures our vision from discerning sin in ourselves! (Matt. 7:5) Understand this: We will never become holy by criticizing others; nor is anyone brought nearer to God through finding fault! 

If we are honestly pursuing our sanctification, we will soon discover we have no time for judging others. Indeed, being in need of mercy, we will seek eagerly for opportunities to be merciful to others.

Yes, Scripture tells us that Jesus judged men in certain situations, but His motive was always to save. His love was perfectly committed to the one He judged. When our love toward another is such that we can honestly say, like Christ, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," (Heb. 13:5), our powers of discernment will be likewise perfected; for it is love alone that gives us pure motives in judgment (1 John 4:16-17).

Do you still insist on finding fault? Beware, Christ's standard of judgment is high: "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone" (John 8:7). Indeed, speak out against unrighteousness, but be motivated by the love of Jesus. Remember, it is written, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). In the kingdom of God, unless you are first committed to die for people, you are not permitted to judge them.

It is also important to note that the ears that listen to gossip or criticism are as guilty as the mouth that speaks it. Do not contribute to such sins. Instead, stop the offender from speaking and entreat him to intercede, as Jesus does, for that person or situation. Your ears are holy, do not let them come into agreement with the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10).

Remember, Christ did not condemn sinners, He condemned hypocrites. He numbered Himself with sinners--bearing our sins and sorrows (Isa. 53). This is the humility we are seeking. Indeed, holiness shines brightly through the meek and lowly of heart.

Blessings!

The Trap

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.   —Proverbs 4:23 

    The spirit of offense poisons lives and attitudes. According to Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, the word offense is derived from a Greek word skandalon, which "originally was:

 'the name of the part of a trap to which the bait is attached, hence, the trap or snare itself....'" It was the part of the trap that lured or snared an animal.

    We easily see that offense is what Satan uses to lure people into full-blown cases of bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness. Satan uses offense to cause us to stumble and fail to go forward with God.

    The temptation to get offended is a trap that should be avoided like the plague. If we would not take poison, we should not take offense. If we would be champions for God we must not be easily offended.

    Many people never become what God desires them to be because they get offended. They get bitter. Offense becomes a stumbling block to them, and they never progress beyond that point. They are the loser and the devil is the winner.Often time people who walk in offense are blinded to it. They hear and see everything as a negative. Offense keeps people from receiving things in love. It is a destroyer of relationships and a killer of your spirit. it will keep you from receiving and living in the fullness of joy that God has for you. Beware of this spirit!!

Example:
A husband looks at the wife and says " hey can you buy some more expensive towels next time you shop, cause the one's you bought are bleeding into the wash.

Offense takes that (distorts it) and the wife hears  'hey you must be dumb, cause anyone with sense would know that the cheap towels you bought bleed into the wash so next time get it right duh!"

I had someone share that her husband was making a comment amongst friends that he wished he had a chef to come to his house and bake for him.  (his statement was said and meant with the purest of intensions) but she took it personal as if he was saying, she couldn't cook. 
she realized that she had a spirit of offense, cause in conversations with people she usually leaned more towards the words spoken being a personal attack against her rather than just what it is "a simple statement or comment"

she would find herself stewing for weeks and months over things people would door say to her.Get an understanding in the midst of misunderstandings and ask God to give you His ears so you can hear things in the way they really are so you don't misinterpret or even assume that it's the enemy using someone else, when its truly the enemy using you.

If you think about an offense over and over again becomes exalted in your mind. It takes the place of where God should be. It becomes an idol as you are thinking and "worshipping" that thought more than God.

WOW! What a concept. Knowing this truth makes me all the more cast down any thought that would prevent me from exalting God in my thought life. God is who I adore and think about. He is the One I worship and dwell upon, not any twisted, offended, thought.
This brings us to the true reality of living. We are no longer entrapped by any offense and the possibility of a new one is no longer a threat to us. We see that stumbling block long before we come upon it and decide to walk around it!

offense brings along with it deception. The spirit convinces you that deeds done and words  spoken are about you, against you, and to attack you, but that is a lie! Don't fall for it.

Ask the Lord to heal your heart. I encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal any offense you have been holding onto. Write down the names of those involved. Ask God to forgive you for your un-forgiveness and release those that have offended you. Pray for them and if you have the opportunity, go to them and ask them to forgive you for your un-forgiveness. 

Also, pray against the spirit of offense. Recognize that its there to keep you from the fullness God has for you. God's purpose is to have His children live in unity and to work together to build the kingdom of God, not work against each other.

No person can do permanent damage to you if you are willing to be mature enough to refuse offense and trust God. This kind of attitude will make you a winner in life.Blessings,Alisa

FORGIVENESS-RECONCILIATION- THE FRUIT IT BRINGS

Forgiveness has been the topic of discussion for about a week now. At first a friend asked a question on facebook "Does forgiveness mean you're buddy buddy with the person after you forgive them"
Then my sister and I were talking about it. then I was faced with it internally concerning a man who had hurt me in the past, then a beautiful woman of God who is like a mom was talking with me about it. It's been in my face for awhile so I figured I should probably do some studying.

After really studying it in the scriptures- God gave me revelation and it has been heart pounding, life conforming awesome!!  I pray you'll read with open heart and the Holy Spirit will speak to you through these words. (Let me start by saying, that I'm in no way stating that I've arrived) I'm just sharing what the Lord gave me for the purpose of challenging, encouraging and blessing you.) Iron sharpens Iron!

Someone who has been offended or deeply hurt will usually feel they have a right to be angry, hurt and bitter. They may even plan to take revenge. In contrast, God asks us to trust him with our pain, trust him for justice, and forgive those who hurt us (Romans 12:17-20).

I was led to Matthew 5:21-26  I'm going to show it in the Message Bible Translation.

21-22You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
 ^23-24 This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
 ^25-26 Or say you're out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don't lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him.

Ok!  First off our words have power and most christians know this, but how often do we carelessly let death fly from our lips without a second thought. I have been guilty. Speaking death about people, places and even events in my life rather than speaking life. but God says in his word that its murder.
Then it says if YOU remember that your friend has a grudge against YOU that YOU are supposed to abandon your gift and go to them and be reconciled (verse 24 of the King jamesVersion)²⁴Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.  Reconciled definition: To reestablish close relationship with;  to settle or resolve

Now how often have you said, "I'm walking in forgiveness, but if THEY aren't in forgiveness then that's just between THEM and GOD"

You're right, if someone is in unforgiveness that IS between them and God, however this scripture clearly states that if you (being a christian) know that your brother or sister has something against you, you're not supposed to WAIT for them to come to YOU... you are supposed to go to them before you try to even give your tithe or offer your gift before the Lord, but how many of us do that?

and be reconciled... now that's a deep one!! and some would say that's a hard one... but you know what God spoke to me??  It IS hard when you're in your flesh and walking according to your own will, but in Christ you do it anyway.

It was hard for me to forgive you all your sin- having to take it all upon myslef. it was hard for me to drink of that bitter cup,  but in Matthew 26:39  Jesus said, Let this cup pass from , BUT never the less, not MY will but THY will be done!

God wants His family reconciled with one another. he wants to come back for his church that is without a spot or wrinkle... (wrinkles = divisions) (spots =sin)  God's order was NEVER for people who love him and live for him to be divided. that was NEVER His plan, but what happens is WE get in the way. We allow our own logic, flesh, hurts, understandings, religious traditions, insecurites, and junk to get in the way of the divine order God intended. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.  Are folks divided and hurt in heaven? Is there unforgiveness and folks not speaking in heaven?  (I'll let you answer that)

Romans 5:10 says when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.
(Reconciliation takes death to self and our need to hold grudges)

2Corinthians 5:18 says But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself  and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].  

WHOA!!  reconciliation is a ministry and the ministry is to bring others (unbelievers) into harmony with him, but how can we bring others into harmony when WE (believers) aren't in harmony with one another?  it just won't happen.

The Fruit that forgiveness and reconciliation brings is this:

peace with God, justification, Fellowship with God, adoption, Love, times of refreshing, joy, restoration, indwelling of the Holy Spirit. and So much more!

I pray that we all will come into the true understanding of forgiveness and reconciliation and not only will we understand it, but just like in 2 Corinthians 5:18 we will all by Word and Deed LIVE the Word and bring others into harmony with Jesus Christ our Lord!

Blessings and Favor.

Alisa

He Won't Let Go Of Me

Thinking about the stories in the bible that I've grown up reading and hearing all my life. Stories like Noah and the Ark. Jonah in the whale. Moses who parted the read sea. Job who endured great trials. Paul who was once a hater of christians who turned out to be one of our fore-fathers in the faith of Christ. Even stories about Jesus himself in his strength, his compassion, and his weakness. ALL of these stories were written as reminders, encouragement, correction, and examples to help lead us, guide us, and cause us to live a great life of victory and truth in Christ.

I think about the scripture in 2 Corinthians 3:3-6 (I love the Message Bible translation)

Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it.
 ^4-6We couldn't be more sure of ourselves in this—that you, written by Christ himself for God, are our letter of recommendation. We wouldn't think of writing this kind of letter about ourselves. Only God can write such a letter. His letter authorizes us to help carry out this new plan of action. The plan wasn't written out with ink on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. It's written with Spirit on spirit, his life on our lives

It's very interesting to me to think of my own personal life as Book that is being read. What kind of book is it? A suspense, a autobiography, a thriller, a romance novel?   I'd say all of the above!! 
My life up to this point has been a progression of bullet points that tie in to the main Title. 
You know how you prepare a presentation and you have a MAIN heading and then bullet points that tie it all together? that's my life so far. 

And it's interesting when I think about how many people are reading or have read chapters in my book. What will they say? Did it inspire? encourage? hurt? condemn?  I don't know, I can only hope and pray that it has been a blessing. Reading of great rejection and brokeness, now entering a season of great restoration and promise.
It's a story of hope I think, that God love me.. inspite of me.  I love the words to my new favorite song by Isreal Houghton and new Breed "you hold my world"  One line says:

"you hold my world in your hands, I am amazed at your love. I am amazed that you love ME"
and then it goes on to say.. "you won't let go of me, never let go, never let go"

That's the title of my Book. HE WON'T LET GO OF ME - being born out of wedlock, my biological father left and I've never seen him. *He's holding Me* Then suffering abuse under the hand of another man. I felt worthless. *He's Holding Me* I came to know the Lord at a young age, but didn't really live the life. I fell into depression, anorexia, low self esteem, promiscuity, and despair. *He's Holding Me* I finally got to a place of health and met my husand. Married him at the age of 18. Went  through drama with him for many years. I then decided to separate from him *He's Holding Me* Then after a year of separation we reconcile *He's Holding Me* I was told by doctors that I couldn't have kids, but the Lord touched my womb and now I have three kids *He's Holding Me* all the way up to this point *God has been holding me*

And He's holding you! don't misunderstand the things you've gone through or are currently going through. it's all about God getting the glory out of it. And He's holding you. You are living, breathing, walking talking book for people to read.  Your gifts and abilities are not negated because of your circumstances infact God is using your circumstances to be a a testimony of His power and faithfulness.  So be encouraged, *He won't let go of you*

Blessings,

Alisa