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How To Survive a Shipwreck (review)

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Ever now and then there comes along a book that speaks to the deepest levels of the human spirit.  ShipwreckJonathan Martin does just that in his newest book, How to Survive a Shipwreck.  With the musings of a poet, the heart of a pastor and the insights of a prophet, Martin masterfully shares the story of his own shipwreck, his struggles to survive and the lessons learned about a loving God that never left his side.
The book is extremely well written.  Martin is a top-notch communicator with a talent for poetic prose.  The book explores the tragic, personal shipwreck of Martin’s life.  He shares the deepest, most intimate details of his life as he shares what he went through as his life, marriage and ministry fall apart.  It’s not very often that people get to look into the darkest parts of a pastor who has fallen.  Martin holds nothing back, save the details of the shipwreck which are not anyone’s business.  He lets it all hang out: the raw emotions, the self-doubts, the intense struggle to survive, to just breathe.  Martin allows the reader a very honest look into his deepest struggles and questions.
What’s it truly like when you are in the limelight when you have so many people looking to you and you blow it?  What happens when you fall and have to face your own music of destruction?  Martin lets you in on this journey to see the devastating destruction and devastation of a personal shipwreck.  You can feel his pain, his agony and his own self-loathing as he battles to stay alive in a sea of uncertainty.  You witness his wrestling with God over who he is, who he thought he was and how God sees him.  You come to a place of hope that there is redemption on the other side of the shipwreck.
I greatly identified with this book as I have been through my own shipwreck.  Whereas Martin’s was one of his own doing, my shipwreck came at the hands of others.  Regardless of fault, a shipwreck is a shipwreck and one must learn to survive the chaos of the seas if one hopes to make it to land.  This book will give you a beacon of hope. As I read this book, I was reminded of my own journey, my own pain, and my own struggle.  But in reading this book I discovered that I had survived my shipwreck, that I had made it to land and that I was completely dry and ready to move on.  Martin survived his shipwreck and became a better man because of it.  I did as well.  I believe that anyone dealing with a personal shipwreck will greatly benefit from the insights in this book.  For those that have never had a shipwreck, I believe you will benefit from the honest, raw story of how one can fall from great heights and be transformed by the love and grace of God.
Very few books would I consider a must read, or even a book that deserves to be read again and again, but this is one of those books.

Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

554. Why Jesus Taught Two Covenants (Part 11): Ministering First to Jews Under the Law

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It is a dangerous doctrine to assume Jesus was usually ministering a message directed at future believers who would be under the New Covenant. Jesus came to proclaim a message for Israelites first, not to those of us who were born as (non-Jewish) Gentiles. He was born under the law to redeem those who were under the law. Righteousness was never meant to be attained by the commandments, but to be received freely as an heir. On this week's podcast, we look at a few more instances of Jesus ministering to these people who were under the first covenant.



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Why You Can’t Set Your Value

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Why You Can't SetThe value of an item is determined by two people – the buyer and the seller.  The buyer actually has more weight in this equation because they are the ones that are handing over money for the item.  If the buyer feels that the item is worth the asking price, then they will pay for it.  The seller, on the other hand, sets the price and has to determine the lowest value he will take on that item.

The point of this is that the item never sets its value.  Because it’s inanimate, it cannot get offended over the seller’s asking price or the buyer’s paying price.  It cannot demand that more money be paid, nor can it argue that the buyer paid too much.

I use this example to show us that God is the one that gets to determine our value, not us.  Yet, we so often times devalue ourselves and feel as if we are nothing.  We look at the mistakes in our lives, what others say about us, how we compare to others and a whole host of other things to determine the value we place on ourselves.

As our Creator, God is the only one that gets to determine the value of a person, His creation.  The highlight of this is that God places unmeasurable worth and value on human beings.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…..(John 3:16)

In Psalm 8, the Psalmist declares that God crowned man with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:5)

Jesus died for humanity in order to show them the incredible lengths God would go to in order reconcile them to Himself as their Father.

Before a baby is born parents place great value on their child.  While I realize that this is not true in every single case, it is the way things are supposed to be.  That baby has never accomplished anything great, has never done anything of value for its parents.  That baby will actually cost his parents more than he can give back.  That baby may even grow up and disappoint his parents because of wrong choices and actions.

Yet, the parents would die for that child.  They would do anything for him.  If that child was in trouble, those parents would do anything in their power to help save their child . . . no matter the cost.

Why?  Because the child doesn’t set its value, the parents do.

That child could come to his parents and tell them how bad he is, how rotten, how much he has messed up and how he doesn’t deserve to be called their child.  The parents would tell him to stop talking like that. They would encourage him, build him up and tell him all the good things that he is and has to offer.  They wouldn’t hold his mistakes over his head. They would tell him what he can be, what they see in him.

Why?  Because the child doesn’t set its value, the parents do.

Why, then, do we do the same with God?

We come to God in prayer and tell Him how awful we are, what a rotten sinner we are, and how much we have messed up.  We feel as if we have to beg Him for forgiveness.  We tell him how unworthy we are of his love.  We go to great lengths to remind God of how messed up we are.

Some of it is because we believe that’s how he sees us.  We believe that God sees us in that pitiful state and that as we beg for his mercy and forgiveness he takes pity on us and extends mercy.  I know this is how I saw him for a large part of my life.

Sometimes, we listen to the lies of condemnation from the devil, the accuser of the brethren.  We end up believing what he says more than we believe what God says.

In the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) we see how God is because the parable is really about the father.  In this parable the youngest son asks for his inheritance and then proceeds to go off and blow it.  He ends up losing everything — money, home, friends, and his dignity.  He winds up feeding pigs which would have been the lowest point a good Jewish boy could have ended up at.

When he finally came to his senses he decided to return home.  He didn’t feel like he could be his father’s son anymore but he believed that he could at least be one of his father’s servants.  He had set his value and it was very, very low.

However, the story has a different outcome than he thought it would.  As he is approaching home his father sees him, runs to him and begins to joyfully kiss and hug him.  The boy tries to explain what he has come home for but the Father won’t listen.  The father reestablishes the value of the son by putting on him the best robe, a ring, and sandals on his feet.  For time’s sake, I cannot explain the deepness and richness of this parable.  What we need to understand is that the father set the value of the child and it was high.

The son’s mistakes and rebelliousness did not change his value.  Neither does yours.Human Value

Please, I beg of you, if you tell God how awful you are . . . stop!  Just begin to thank Him that you have great value to him. Thank him that you are loved and worth everything to him.  Thank him for his grace and mercy.  As you do this, you will begin to see yourself as he sees you . . . valued and loved!

Stop devaluing yourself.  Stop listening to the devaluing voices of others.

You don’t get to set your value.  Your Father in Heaven does and he sees you as immensely valuable, worthy of dying for!  He would have rather died for you than to be without you.

That, my friends, is what amazing grace is all about.

553. Why Jesus Taught Two Covenants (Part 10): Forgive Others or God Won’t Forgive You?

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In part 10 of our series, we take a look at something Jesus stated about forgiveness. He said people should pray they will be forgiven as they forgive others. After the prayer, Jesus said they would be forgiven for sins based upon the condition that they forgive others for their sins. This was not good news to the Jews who were listening because it was based upon their ability instead of the gift of righteousness that would come through Christ. Jesus went on to tell them about something they were ignorant about — God's righteousness. They should begin to seek this instead of trying to establish their own righteousness through the works of the law. As believers, we no longer seek this gift because we have already become His righteousness.



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You Don’t Have To Carry The Burden

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Hebrews 12:1-2 says,

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (NLT) 

Jesus is always working in us as we keep our eyes fixed on Him!

Don’t make the big deal about what you do (how you behave). Just a warning though: This may make some people (self-righteous people) mad.  

Make the big deal about what Jesus has done for you through His finished work on the cross. This way of doing life will remove the heavy weight you may be carrying of trying to fix yourself. It will also bring you great peace and cause your behavior to improve. Yes, you read that correctly. This way of approaching life will cause you to grow in Christ. Why? Right believing leads to right living! You will be changed by the Holy Spirit as you keep our eyes on Jesus!  See 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Here’s an example from my own life that just happened today:

I was sick today and had to miss the last day of volunteering at JUMP Camp. I started getting a sore throat yesterday about mid-day and it turned into a cold and flu type thing. I’m sitting here in my bed in the same pajamas I woke up in, just to give you an idea.

I do not believe God puts sickness on us or that He allows it, but I do believe there are times when we experience negative things in our life as a result of the natural consequences that come along with our poor choices. This is what happened to me today.

I explained in my last blog post about the importance of getting enough sleep and admitted that this has been a difficult discipline for me. So during this past two weeks while volunteering at JUMP camp I was hoping to get on a better sleeping schedule, but I didn’t follow through as I should have. I may have gotten a full 8 hours of sleep 2 out of the 7 nights. This left me with 5 other nights where I got less than 8 hours and on two or more of those occassions I got between 4 and 5 hours of sleep.

Not cool. Thank God the lack of sleep didn’t affect my interactions with the kids or adults at camp because it could have caused me to be crabby. I shouldn’t have taken that chance. I’m very thankful I wasn’t crabby, but felt peaceful the whole two weeks (whew). I did experience some tired spells at different times throughout the day though.

Then yesterday about midday it hit me, I started getting a sore throat. I get sick so very little that this was a surprise to me until I remembered how very little sleep I had gotten. In fact, as I am typing this I am recalling that the last time I got sick was during a time when I wasn’t getting the right amount of sleep either. And I have no excuses. I could have gotten in bed earlier if I really wanted to. So I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I need help in this area.

Something very important I want to point out though, is that I have had zero guilt and condemnation over this. I have been sad that I disobeyed God by not getting in bed when I should have, that I had to miss my last day of JUMP camp and also had to miss another very special event tonight that our family was invited to, but no guilt or condemnation. I have a closer relationship with God than I have ever had before so, of course, it makes me said when I disregard His leading.

But that was it. My genuine act of repentance didn’t take all day and it never does for me anymore. I already know I’m loved, righteous and forgiven in Christ and I think about that A LOT. In fact, everyday and all throughout the day.

The Bible says it’s God’s goodness that leads us to repentance, which is why I’m more genuinely repentant now than I have ever been before. It’s the natural result of having my mind on God’s goodness more than I ever have before. I hope you’re experiencing this same freedom!

As a believer in Jesus your position of being loved, righteous and forgiven never changes according to what you do or fail to do. It was never established based on you to begin with. Your position in Christ is established on what Jesus Christ did on the cross for you and your acceptance of that.

Even though I know I opened the door for the sickness through my disobedience, I’m fully expecting to get over this very quickly. It’s not like I have to be sick for a certain amount of days to pay my dues and then I’m clear. This is not a punishment from God. In the new covenant of God’s grace we don’t get punished for our sin, thank God. Jesus already took all the punishment for all of our sin in His body on the cross. Jesus’ willingness to go to the cross changed everything!

I also want to be sure I clarify that every time we are sick or have a negative circumstance, this does not always mean we’re living out natural consequences from some choice we made. Many times these things just happen as a result of us living in a fallen world. The devil will continue to attack us until that glorious day when God throws him into the fiery lake of burning sulphur.

Seriously, I’m just sayin’ – this is going to be one of the happiest days of my life!

Revelation 20:10 (NLT)

Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Until this day arrives, we have to fight the good fight of faith and remember that we have authority over the devil.

Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses. –1 Timothy 6:12 (AMP)

Ok, I just got a fresh revelation on the importance of us knowing we are completely forgiven in conjunction with us walking in our authority in Christ from reading this next scripture.

Colossians 2:14-15 (NLT)

14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Jesus paid our debt and by paying our debt and securing our complete forgiveness, he disarmed and shamed the devil and his demons by His victory over them on the cross.Then He gave this authority to us, His followers!

And then He gave this authority to us, His followers! Through the cross, what Adam and Eve had handed over to satan was now being handed back to us believers – all because of Jesus. I told you the cross changed everything!

Luke 10:19 (AMP)

19 Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on [a]serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.

My good friend Cally had to fight the good fight of faith and remember her authority in Christ recently as she got some routine blood tests and her numbers were really high, indicating possible cancer. Her doctor wanted to do an exploratory surgery on her. I watched her rest in Jesus’ finished work and all that He has provided for her. From that place of rest I also watched her follow through on a specific protocol that the Holy Spirit led her to follow.

She received grace to implement this protocol AND she just received the great news last week that every one of her numbers are completely normal. Her doctor cannot explain it, but Cally can. No surgery needed. And Cally has already been able to speak into several doctor’s lives as a result of this miracle!

Cally didn’t carry the burden of her healing because she understands that when Jesus said, it is finished, He meant it is finished! She stayed in peace, relied on the power of prayer and God’s Word and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit.

This is not the first time Cally has received a miracle either. Another one of her miraculous stories is in my book and in this blog post titled Victorious Living.

God is still in the miracle working business folks. In fact, I’m convinced if we wrote down all the good things God did for us we would be astounded by the way He miraculously watches over us! Just this week on the first day of camp my right eye was bothering me really bad. I almost never have eye problems. Sometimes, don’t you just want to say, “you’re so obvious devil.”

I even had to borrow eye wash and saline solution from the first aid station at camp several times during the day to get rid of the pain, but it started hurting again after getting home. I simply prayed over my eye and commanded the pain to go and my eye to be made whole in the name of Jesus and I received the healing that Jesus provided for me through His finished work. It never hurt after that. Healed!

Now, do we perfectly understand everything that happens in this life. No we don’t. Sometimes we have to set aside what we don’t understand and stick with what we do understand and one thing we know is what Jesus Himself said here in John 10:10.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. – John 10:10 (NKJV)

One thing we know is that the devil is bad, but God is good.

Referring back to the title of this post, I refused to carry the weight of my poor choice to not get enough sleep, even after I started living out the natural consequence of that choice today. I still turned and looked at Jesus and thanked Him once again for His love, His gift of righteousness and His forgiveness.

I’m not sitting here feeling guilty or condemned for my wrong choice. I’m still believing wholeheartedly in the healing power of Jesus for my body and am ever so grateful that it is not based on my actions, but on Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

The more you understand your position in Christ, the more immovable you will be, no matter what storms come along.

My friend, always remember you can rest in Jesus’ finished work for every single thing you need!

Make the big deal about Jesus and His perfect life of obedience to His Father. Refuse to make the big deal about you and your failures. When you do this, you will see as I have, that it is 100% possible for you to enjoy a life of peace and rest and in addition, you will notice your spiritual life taking off like a rocket!

If you have not yet made Jesus your Savior and received the wonderful joy that His finished work on the cross has provided for you to live in, please visit my page here titled Jesus In The Driver’s Seat. On this page I explain the good news of the gospel and you will have the opportunity to pray a prayer of salvation, making Jesus your Savior! Jesus loves you and His arms are wide open!

Sandra McCollom

You Don’t Have To Carry The Burden

by

Hebrews 12:1-2 says,

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (NLT) 

Jesus is always working in us as we keep our eyes fixed on Him!

Don’t make the big deal about what you do (how you behave). Just a warning though: This may make some people (self-righteous people) mad.  

Make the big deal about what Jesus has done for you through His finished work on the cross. This way of doing life will remove the heavy weight you may be carrying of trying to fix yourself. It will also bring you great peace and cause your behavior to improve. Yes, you read that correctly. This way of approaching life will cause you to grow in Christ. Why? Right believing leads to right living! You will be changed by the Holy Spirit as you keep our eyes on Jesus!  See 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Here’s an example from my own life that just happened today:

I was sick today and had to miss the last day of volunteering at JUMP Camp. I started getting a sore throat yesterday about mid-day and it turned into a cold and flu type thing. I’m sitting here in my bed in the same pajamas I woke up in, just to give you an idea.

I do not believe God puts sickness on us or that He allows it, but I do believe there are times when we experience negative things in our life as a result of the natural consequences that come along with our poor choices. This is what happened to me today.

I explained in my last blog post about the importance of getting enough sleep and admitted that this has been a difficult discipline for me. So during this past two weeks while volunteering at JUMP camp I was hoping to get on a better sleeping schedule, but I didn’t follow through as I should have. I may have gotten a full 8 hours of sleep 2 out of the 7 nights. This left me with 5 other nights where I got less than 8 hours and on two or more of those occassions I got between 4 and 5 hours of sleep.

Not cool. Thank God the lack of sleep didn’t affect my interactions with the kids or adults at camp because it could have caused me to be crabby. I shouldn’t have taken that chance. I’m very thankful I wasn’t crabby, but felt peaceful the whole two weeks (whew). I did experience some tired spells at different times throughout the day though.

Then yesterday about midday it hit me, I started getting a sore throat. I get sick so very little that this was a surprise to me until I remembered how very little sleep I had gotten. In fact, as I am typing this I am recalling that the last time I got sick was during a time when I wasn’t getting the right amount of sleep either. And I have no excuses. I could have gotten in bed earlier if I really wanted to. So I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I need help in this area.

Something very important I want to point out though, is that I have had zero guilt and condemnation over this. I have been sad that I disobeyed God by not getting in bed when I should have, that I had to miss my last day of JUMP camp and also had to miss another very special event tonight that our family was invited to, but no guilt or condemnation. I have a closer relationship with God than I have ever had before so, of course, it makes me said when I disregard His leading.

But that was it. My genuine act of repentance didn’t take all day and it never does for me anymore. I already know I’m loved, righteous and forgiven in Christ and I think about that A LOT. In fact, everyday and all throughout the day.

The Bible says it’s God’s goodness that leads us to repentance, which is why I’m more genuinely repentant now than I have ever been before. It’s the natural result of having my mind on God’s goodness more than I ever have before. I hope you’re experiencing this same freedom!

As a believer in Jesus your position of being loved, righteous and forgiven never changes according to what you do or fail to do. It was never established based on you to begin with. Your position in Christ is established on what Jesus Christ did on the cross for you and your acceptance of that.

Even though I know I opened the door for the sickness through my disobedience, I’m fully expecting to get over this very quickly. It’s not like I have to be sick for a certain amount of days to pay my dues and then I’m clear. This is not a punishment from God. In the new covenant of God’s grace we don’t get punished for our sin, thank God. Jesus already took all the punishment for all of our sin in His body on the cross. Jesus’ willingness to go to the cross changed everything!

I also want to be sure I clarify that every time we are sick or have a negative circumstance, this does not always mean we’re living out natural consequences from some choice we made. Many times these things just happen as a result of us living in a fallen world. The devil will continue to attack us until that glorious day when God throws him into the fiery lake of burning sulphur.

Seriously, I’m just sayin’ – this is going to be one of the happiest days of my life!

Revelation 20:10 (NLT)

Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Until this day arrives, we have to fight the good fight of faith and remember that we have authority over the devil.

Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses. –1 Timothy 6:12 (AMP)

Ok, I just got a fresh revelation on the importance of us knowing we are completely forgiven in conjunction with us walking in our authority in Christ from reading this next scripture.

Colossians 2:14-15 (NLT)

14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Jesus paid our debt and by paying our debt and securing our complete forgiveness, he disarmed and shamed the devil and his demons by His victory over them on the cross.Then He gave this authority to us, His followers!

And then He gave this authority to us, His followers! Through the cross, what Adam and Eve had handed over to satan was now being handed back to us believers – all because of Jesus. I told you the cross changed everything!

Luke 10:19 (AMP)

19 Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on [a]serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.

My good friend Cally had to fight the good fight of faith and remember her authority in Christ recently as she got some routine blood tests and her numbers were really high, indicating possible cancer. Her doctor wanted to do an exploratory surgery on her. I watched her rest in Jesus’ finished work and all that He has provided for her. From that place of rest I also watched her follow through on a specific protocol that the Holy Spirit led her to follow.

She received grace to implement this protocol AND she just received the great news last week that every one of her numbers are completely normal. Her doctor cannot explain it, but Cally can. No surgery needed. And Cally has already been able to speak into several doctor’s lives as a result of this miracle!

Cally didn’t carry the burden of her healing because she understands that when Jesus said, it is finished, He meant it is finished! She stayed in peace, relied on the power of prayer and God’s Word and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit.

This is not the first time Cally has received a miracle either. Another one of her miraculous stories is in my book and in this blog post titled Victorious Living.

God is still in the miracle working business folks. In fact, I’m convinced if we wrote down all the good things God did for us we would be astounded by the way He miraculously watches over us! Just this week on the first day of camp my right eye was bothering me really bad. I almost never have eye problems. Sometimes, don’t you just want to say, “you’re so obvious devil.”

I even had to borrow eye wash and saline solution from the first aid station at camp several times during the day to get rid of the pain, but it started hurting again after getting home. I simply prayed over my eye and commanded the pain to go and my eye to be made whole in the name of Jesus and I received the healing that Jesus provided for me through His finished work. It never hurt after that. Healed!

Now, do we perfectly understand everything that happens in this life. No we don’t. Sometimes we have to set aside what we don’t understand and stick with what we do understand and one thing we know is what Jesus Himself said here in John 10:10.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. – John 10:10 (NKJV)

One thing we know is that the devil is bad, but God is good.

Referring back to the title of this post, I refused to carry the weight of my poor choice to not get enough sleep, even after I started living out the natural consequence of that choice today. I still turned and looked at Jesus and thanked Him once again for His love, His gift of righteousness and His forgiveness.

I’m not sitting here feeling guilty or condemned for my wrong choice. I’m still believing wholeheartedly in the healing power of Jesus for my body and am ever so grateful that it is not based on my actions, but on Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

The more you understand your position in Christ, the more immovable you will be, no matter what storms come along.

My friend, always remember you can rest in Jesus’ finished work for every single thing you need!

Make the big deal about Jesus and His perfect life of obedience to His Father. Refuse to make the big deal about you and your failures. When you do this, you will see as I have, that it is 100% possible for you to enjoy a life of peace and rest and in addition, you will notice your spiritual life taking off like a rocket!

If you have not yet made Jesus your Savior and received the wonderful joy that His finished work on the cross has provided for you to live in, please visit my page here titled Jesus In The Driver’s Seat. On this page I explain the good news of the gospel and you will have the opportunity to pray a prayer of salvation, making Jesus your Savior! Jesus loves you and His arms are wide open!

Sandra McCollom

Will You Let Love Be Your Primary Response?

by

Let LOVE be

I read a book last year, recommended by a friend, entitled Love Does, by Bob Goff.  It made a huge impact on me because the author lives his life with love being his primary response.  Whenever someone is mean to him or treats him poorly he tries to imagine the best scenario as to why they are acting that way.  In this manner of living, love has become his primary response.

That has become my prayer ever since I read that book.  My prayer is, “Lord, let love be my primary response.”  I wish I could say that God has totally answered this prayer above and beyond my wildest imagination.  I would be lying if I said it was true.  The reason is that this is a partnership prayer.  What I mean by that is this:  I can pray the prayer, God can do His part in helping me but there is a part that I must play.

I have to want to be loving.

I have to want to change.

I have to let go of every preconceived idea, pre-judgment and critical notion that I have of every person that I come in contact with.

I have to BE loving.

I have to SEE people as being worth the value that God places on them.

I have to BELIEVE that they are worth loving, that they were born to be loved.

I have to HOPE for the best in them.

And that, for me, has not always been easy.  I tend to be a critical person.  Ouch, that hurt just writing that sentence.  But, it’s true and I cannot let love be my primary response if I am not first willing to come face to face with my own critical, judgmental, self-righteous self.

The good news is…..I am willing to come face to face with myself, deal with my junk and allow God to do in me what I cannot do in myself so that love is my primary response.

Jesus gave us a new command as He was preparing to die in our place.  His command was that we were to love others as He loves us.  His primary response to me has always been love.  Therefore, I cannot withhold love from others, as my primary response, because of the grace that has been shown to me.

What would the world look like if we allowed love to be our primary response?

We would not allow road rage to be a part of our lives.we-cant-always-see-peoples-pain-they-can-always-feel-our-love-quote-1

We would not speak unkind words.

We would not abuse or take advantage of anyone.

There would be a harmonious beauty in the world because love is beauty.

There would be unity within the church.

There would not be a needy one among us.

There would be no divorce, no absent parents, no dysfunctional families.

There would be true tolerance as we sought to live together in peace.

I can hear some of your thoughts now.  There’s no way that this could happen because we live in a fallen world.  If this can’t happen then Jesus came for nothing.  If this can’t happen then love fails and sin always wins.

No, my friends, I dare say let’s bring the future into the now.  We know that in the future God is going to restore all things, do away with sin and death, and love will reign supreme.  Many of us are anxiously awaiting that day.  But what about the now?  What about today?

Jesus taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.”  Well, if that is to be our prayer, then I believe God wants to answer it.  His kingdom is love.  So, when I allow love to be my primary response to everyone I meet, then I am bringing His kingdom into the earth.

When you decide to let love be your primary response then you are bringing His kingdom into the earth.

When the Church decides to let love be our primary response then she is bringing His kingdom into the earth.

When God’s children allow love to be their primary response, we will change the world. To borrow Rob Bell’s title, LOVE WINS!  Love is what changes people.  Love is what melts cold hearts and tears down walls.  Why? Because we were born to be loved!

So, will you begin to pray this prayer with me?

“Lord, let love be my PRIMARY response.”  I don’t want hatred, anger, a judgemental attitude, criticalness or bitterness to be my primary response.  Even on the days that I am having my biggest struggles, I want love to be my primary response.

When you allow love to be your primary response, I promise you will see the world, you will see people, and you will see yourself in a whole different light.

Let love be your primary response.

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