Shifting Boundaries

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Psalm 19:7

Confusion increases within the church as our culture continues seeking to redefine the concepts of love, hate, grace, and even Christianity. Numerous voices call out amid the crowd, asserting that love cannot be limited, that disapproval is hate, and that Christians must never condemn. In fact, the Law of God lurks as an enemy to modern thinking and even to the modern church where Grace triumphs over all.

Yet, Christianity without Holiness founded on the Word and Sovereignty of God is simply man’s sugar-coated acceptance of all sorts of sin. In the church, we long to show mercy so we refrain from gentle correction. However, without the law of God bringing conviction for sin, mercy is unnecessary. Jesus didn’t die to save the righteous (or self-righteous), remember. “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13) “He died to save sinners—of whom I am chief!” (I Timothy 1:15)

Yet, sin can only be recognized with the aid of a standard. “I would not have known sin except through the law…. Therefore, the law is holy and the commandment holy and just and good.” (Romans 7:7, 12) Without the conviction of sin, repentance cannot occur for Godly repentance means recognizing that we have been headed the wrong way and choosing to turn and run in the opposite direction.  “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted.” (II Corinthians 7:10)

The Bible makes it clear, when read as a whole from cover to cover, that grace never contradicts or cancels true holiness. Mercy may remove the punishment for sin, but it never moves the BOUNDARY of right and wrong. If all God needed to do was change His standard to clear us of wrongdoing, Jesus would never have needed to suffer or die. Without a changeless boundary, the Cross means nothing. And Mercy cannot remove the punishment for sin unless that punishment has already been paid—the purpose of the Cross. “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.” (Hebrews 9:22)

Yet, in our modern church, we have an epidemic of ‘cheap grace’, even though a daily reading of Scripture would quickly bring conviction that we must not continue living in our sin just because we’ve said a prayer of salvation. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1) “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:15-16)

In point of fact, the Bible makes it clear that a truly transformed heart will manifest through growth in holiness because the Holy Spirit is at work within us, causing us to become more and more like Christ Jesus. “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (II Corinthians 3:18)

Some people assert, however, that Old Testament boundaries no longer apply to us. Certainly, they are correct up to a point. Upon his conversion, the Pharisee Paul experienced the amazing freedom that grace brings when the Holy Spirit transformed his heart and revealed to him that he no longer needed to keep all the external rituals of the Mosaic Law. However, he warns clearly, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another…. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.” (Galatians 5:13,19-21).

Jesus said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:20-23) Therefore, He gives us His Spirit living within who produces holiness and righteousness pleasing to God. perfect but now“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…. Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:22-24)

Holiness begins in a transformed heart and manifests in a pure lifestyle--perhaps not perfect but able to meet God’s Standard far more often because of the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Notice, Scripture makes clear that the standard has not—and never will be—removed. “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith…. The law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.” (I Timothy 1:5, 8-10)

Now we can better understand why some rules don’t apply anymore while other boundaries reflect the Eternal Nature and Unchanging Holiness of our Creator. When Jesus rose from the grave after paying for our sins, the Holy Spirit showed His church that grace frees us from external rituals to produce holy fruit flowing from a transformed heart. The Apostle Paul wrote at length about the difference between external holiness and inner holiness. The former is abolished while the latter radiates the active residence of the Holy Spirit within a person’s heart.

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.” Acts 15:28-29 The Apostle Paul addressed this statement to Jewish believers who had memorized the numerous requirements of Mosaic Law from their youth.

As Paul began to preach to the Gentiles, however, the Holy Spirit propelled him to explain the most basic elements of true holiness because the Roman society worshipped dozens of gods and engaged in every form of sexuality imaginable. Paul wrote to the Romans, “God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also, the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which is due. Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.”  Romans 1:24-28

Scripture directly addresses many behaviors that God defines as immoral, rebellious, and in direct opposition to His unchanging holiness. Today’s culture wants the church to question and reject God’s boundaries. Movies, music, art, and now our laws pressure us to accept sexual standards as archaic and embrace our “freedom” to participate in sexual encounters with anyone and in any way that we want.   But Biblical standards are based on God’s Eternal Nature. He created us. He knows best.

 “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20

Human Wisdom Can't Be the Standard

I have sat in a University classroom and heard the arguments for homosexual relationships and gay marriage. The most widely used arguments include the beliefs that 1. homosexuality is inherent--you are born that way 2. they are being discriminated against in the same way that the Blacks and Native Americans were 3. everyone has the right to do what makes him/her happy as long as it doesn't hurt someone else.


These beliefs appear legitimate and even Christian at first glance, so I began to pray and ask God why the Bible opposes homosexual behavior without equivocation. Why did the New Testament church continue to condemn homosexuality as well as adultery and fornication and idolatry while dismissing other Old Testament laws as unimportant, like eating pork, touching a woman on her menstrual cycle, and sacrificing animals?


First, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice so we no longer need to do the outward rituals to try to be right with God. Instead, we are to walk in holiness and purity so that our redeemed lives honor God. When we follow His standards and live within His boundaries, we are kept safe and protected from demonic influence as well as the natural consequences of a deviant lifestyle, which include all sorts of physical and mental illness as well as early death.


Second, if happiness and equality are the standard, folks, we are in big trouble. Sadists are happiest when they're torturing/raping someone. Drug dealers are happiest when they're filling our youth up with cocaine and heroine. Thieves are happiest when they're getting away with embezzlement. Pedophiles are happiest when they're having sex with our kids.


The same is true for saying that homosexuals are born that way. Pedophiles use the same argument, saying it is their genetic makeup to be attracted sexually to children. So whose children are we going to allow them to begin grooming? Do you have a problem with an 8-year-old having intercourse with a grown man? Serious vaginal and rectal damage occur whenever a pedophile "loves" a child.
So maybe our society will draw a strong, sharp line between homosexual love and pedophiles, but why? The very reasons to justify and legalize gay marriage open the door to child molesters convincing children that they "want" an adult to make love to them.


If in fact, we justify happiness only when it does no harm, then we must look again at the harm homosexual relationships cause long-term. If gay marriage doesn't hurt someone, why do studies reveal that the LGBT groups suffer more mental disorders, illnesses, and early death then any other group? Why do studies show that children suffer more when they are deprived of parents from each gender? And if happiness is so important to homosexuals, why are they now suing to get married in churches that don't agree with them? They're sure not concerned with other people's happiness if they're doing that!


Having different skin colors does no harm to anyone. But sexual orientations that diverge from one man-one woman do. God did not create a gay gene, nor would He command us to abstain from what we had no power to control. However, every person on this planet has a choice--unless forcibly raped or molested--of who to have sex with.


Sex outside God's law will never bring true happiness. True love is from God. Men, Jesus is the Man in love with you! Women, Jesus is full of love for you! And because He loves you passionately, He died for you and erected moral boundaries to keep you safe from the lies of the enemy, who comes to steal your true identity, health, and life!


You aren't born gay or lesbian, but we are all born with a sin nature that Jesus transforms when we embrace His True Love!!! The Apostle Paul explains that sexual sin is sin against one's own body and comes from the wrong belief that sex is for our happiness rather than God's glory. God designed marriage to reflect His relationship with the church and He chose to create two genders who unite as one to produce offspring.


Scriptures: Matthew 19:4-6, Acts 15:24-29, Romans 1:22-32, I Corinthians 6:9-20, I Thessalonians 4:3-8, Revelation 22:14-16


Research Sources:
http://catholiceducation.org/en/marriage-and-family/sexuality/the-health-risks-of-gay-sex.html
http://www.battlefortruth.org/ArticlesDetail.asp?id=235
http://www.familyresearchinst.org/2009/02/medical-consequences-of-what-homosexuals-do/
http://factsaboutyouth.com/posts/health-risks-of-the-homosexual-lifestyle/
http://standupforthetruth.com/2013/07/it-begins-pedophiles-call-for-same-rights-as-homosexuals/

Seed and Soil

"Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God." ~II Corinthians 9:10-11

I'm so thankful for the breakthroughs God gives us in our perspectives and thought-processes. Often, I don't even realize that I'm thinking the wrong way. I only know that I'm struggling with doing the right thing. Usually my struggle revolves around the realization that I've stopped reaching out to people because I've become fearful of rejection again.


Each time the Holy Spirit puts His finger on this issue, He exposes another layer of misunderstanding about His heart and His ways. Recently, I had once again begun withdrawing then emotionally whipping myself for failure. God reminded me that He doesn't expect me to be like other people in the way I reach out, minister, and give, but I didn't experience breakthrough until He highlighted the parable of the sower and the seed to me (Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23).


I had recently heard a sermon on this passage at church, and the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. First, He reminded me that the seed represents more than just evangelistic words but the total heart of God. The seed represents every act of love, every gift of faith, every word flowing from Father's heart. He said, "Giving time, energy, and resources where there is a need is seed. Your writing is seed. Extending friendship is seed. Patience and mercy is seed. Worship and prayer are seed. And, of course, telling people about Jesus is seed."


As I continued to struggle, not with a desire to obey but with how obedience looked for me as the unique individual God made me, the Holy Spirit spoke again. He knew exactly where to put His finger to free me of the condemnation I was feeling, releasing me to step out in faith again. He said:


"You are not responsible for the soil of other people's hearts, Daughter. Only for scattering the seed. The sower in the Word took no account of the state of the soil. He didn't attempt to assess if the seed would grow. He simply threw it liberally all around, everywhere he walked. He tossed the seed and let it fall in every type of soil. And he let God bring the results.


"Scatter the seed and don't look back. Don't hole up to see whether the seeds are growing or to judge yourself by the result of your labor. I don't judge you by other people's soil. Their soil doesn't determine the quality of the seed. You scatter good seed when you store up My word and truth in your heart, when you soak in the love and power of My Presence. I judge you only by your own soil.


"You stop to asses if there's fruit in others' lives and flail your own. But I'm not that way. I see the sower and I see the soil. I see where you've tossed out seed, and I'm not calling you to make it grow. Toss and keep walking. Toss and don't look back. Toss out the seed as you keep going forward in your daily activities and the opportunities I place before you.


"Store up the seed of My love and word in your heart and let it grow within you so that it will always produce in abundance and you'll have more than enough to share. Toss and do not fear."

~Your Daddy God





Casting Down Giants

In quietness and confidence will be your strength. Isaiah 30:15

"Condemnation is the Giant, Sweetheart. The giant of Gath that says he will throw your bones to the dogs. He is the voice of the evil one who knows he cannot touch you but wants to make you cower in fear.


Do you know who you are, Daughter? You are Mine. You are totally covered in the righteousness of Jesus and wholly purchased by the blood of My Son.


What word of the enemy will I listen to? None. And neither must you. You are precious and holy, called by My name. What accusation will I allow to stand against you? None. I know your weaknesses and flaws, and I paid the ransom for everyone of them.


What is condemnation? It is the waves of the sea, driven and tossed by the ire of serpents and scorpions. But you must walk through the waves, and I will be with you. The storm will have no hold on you if you keep your gaze on Me.


You want to perform to silence Condemnation. Child, it cannot be done. Fix your gaze on Me and learn from Me. Ignore the voices of condemnation, fear, and self-pity. Ignore jealousy, bitterness, and wrath whether your own or others. Focus on Truth, on righteousness, justice and peace. Let Me be your joy and Hope will rise within you.


You are Mine. That is the basis of your dealing with the voices of condemnation. That and My goodness toward you. That old serpent the devil would rob you of your joy, but I already paid in full for all your mistakes. Focus on your identity in Me, on the riches of My goodness.


And remember, Daughter: for Me nothing is impossible. In no way will the taunts of the giant keep Me from pouring My blessing on you."

~Your Papa God

Papa's Treasure

"Who are you, Daughter? A woman who loves Me. At times you feel your giftings are few and your anointing small. But do you want to be loved for what you can do--what the Kingdom sees--or who you are?


"My treasure are My sons and daughters. Their devotion and love for Me. Their whole-hearted worship and surrender. Their listening ears and expectant hearts.


"Do you want a man to love you for external measures or for the quality of a pure and lovely heart? You choose. And when you choose, remember--My son wants the same thing."

~Papa God

My Protector

God is an awesome Protector! I’m so thankful He’s my Abba Daddy.

When I first became single again, a vast world of possibilities opened up to me or so I thought. I was free from negativity, criticism, and oppression, and I inhaled the fresh air of freedom with joy and gladness. Accompanying my joy, a deep longing to experience a kind, giving relationship bloomed inside me. I had a vault full of treasure to share and I longed to find a gentle, loving man to give it to.

My joy and motherly instincts attracted attention. A divorced man with two kids asked me to coffee. I suggested we meet at a park instead. He called me on the phone and my heart ached to mother his children and have my own home to care for again. Because I always seek to give grace, I brushed off the somewhat demeaning and arrogant way he talked to others. I told myself his jokes weren’t meant to be harsh. After each conversation, however, I felt a warning that his beliefs weren’t quite in line with Scripture. Attached to his kids, I kept downplaying the growing unease I felt. I offered to babysit his children, but God stepped in. He brought me into contact with people who told me a little more of this man’s background and his children’s strange behaviors. Torn between feeling judgmental and sick to my stomach when he talked about Sophia, a so-called Biblical member of the Trinity, I experienced a demonic attack. I knew exactly where the spirit had come from. A meeting with a new friend confirmed all the suspicions I had been trying to explain away. The man was into witchcraft and even boasted of being able to make his daughter fall asleep on command. I told the man I couldn’t hang out with him anymore because he did not have the same spirit as me. That week, he left the church.

God knows how difficult it’s been for me to learn to heed His still, quiet voice immediately. Attending college at the same time as me, an older man shared his story about a horrible war zone experience and his resulting PTSD and drug use. Clean and sober, he was determined to help others defeat addictions, for which I greatly admired him. I began praying for him and had received several visions of seeing him transformed by the love of Jesus. A year later, he and I ended up in the same class together. His eyes sparkled whenever he talked, his manner showed kindness, and he suggested getting together. I was excited to share the hope of Jesus, and overcame my usual reticence, giving him a music CD and my phone number. He said he’d call me, but as he shared a story about a former girlfriend, the Lord flashed the word “player” across my mind. I wanted to ignore it, but as he waved my number, I said, “I make friends with many kinds of people.” He didn’t call me. I started to feel really bad about the way I had phrased my boundary. I found his number in the phone book and called it, but the Lord already knew: the number was disconnected. As I threw away the paper I’d written it on, instantly it flashed into a condom. I prayed and prayed, listening to the man in class, watching his words and actions take on an aggressive manner around me. He was so strong on my heart, I pushed past his coldness and gave him a book on the Father’s heart. Daddy God wrapped my heart in His love, but the man’s warm, twinkling eyes were building a deeper attraction in me. I begged God for a clear answer, and God answered my prayer. I came to school at an unusual time and saw a woman with her hand on his thigh. She was enough of a friend and espousing Christian that later I asked her about his moral values. She laughed as she admitted he had slept with every willing girl on campus as well as her. Later they married, and I thanked God for forewarning and protecting me.

These incidents as well as others have solidified in me the necessity of heeding the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit. God knows the spirit and nature of a person and reveals the truth when we ask.

Although I based on the title of my first book, Love that is Blind, on a 4Him song about the basics of life, I know now that Love is not blind. Our Father God sees clearly, forgives continually, and empowers us with the ability to change. That’s grace! He also puts up firm boundaries for our protection, warning us not to seek unity with someone who pursues worldly lusts.

Our Abba Daddy desires to protect us from toxicity, especially in romantic relationships. He desires marriage to be a fountain of blessing for a lifetime, but that can happen only when both partners live in surrender to Him.

Offerings

We all have something to offer.

I’m learning that offering what I have brings God glory regardless of how others look upon my offering or receive it. In God’s eyes, there is no offering too small, too scary, too transparent, too simple, or too extravagant to be viewed with disdain. People may look down upon the offering based on standards of this world, but heaven never will.

Think about what you have to offer then think about the little boy with the five loaves and two fishes. His lunch wasn’t enough to feed the 5000 or even a few. It was barely enough for just him. But it was more than enough for Jesus.

Our offering isn’t about the size or expense of it. When we give with all our heart, our Heavenly Father rejoices. Our offering may be intensely personal or a simple turn of phrase, but if we’re giving it as a blessing then it’s intensely beautiful.

A year ago, I offered my house as a place for a Bible study, and it hurt when other homes were accepted instead. I battled with pain. Was it because I’m divorced? A single mom whose kids are a bit rowdy? Living in a low-income neighborhood? Why wasn’t my home good enough? As I cried out to God, He healed my heart with His gentle love and showed me that as much as I wanted to host His Presence with other believers, it wasn’t the right timing. My trying to fit another activity and present a perfect home would have been overwhelming. The kids and I still needed time to be messy and focus on personal healing.

Now as I offer my second novel, His Cloak of Grace, to agents in the hope of gaining representation to Christian fiction publishers, I’m opening my heart for a series of rejections. But as I’ve learned more about God’s refining process and the worth of every offering, I’m finding that the moments of rejection are just moments on my journey—the journey God has for me. No one can ever take away the value of the message He gave me to share: He gave me the plot and characters to write and no one else has that story to share. His purpose for my writing will be accomplished as long as I’m willing to step out in faith and humbly accept the rejections that come as well as the timing of acceptance—even if that’s just one person at a time instead of thousands.

Think of an altar where offerings are often made. Some offerings are just like that…sacrifices. Sacrifices are the offerings that cost us to give. Maybe our time, our energy, our money. Or maybe like Jesus’ death on the cross, an offering may cost our reputation, our followers, our lives. Yet God says to give it—bring the offering and trust Him with both the cost and the result. After all, without death there is no resurrection power.

Offerings cost us when they’re rejected. They cost us our pride, our confidence, maybe our hope. That’s why Jesus allows the refining, so we learn to place our confidence, pride, and hope in Him. Maybe you’ve experienced rejection. Whether in large ways or small, rejection stings and presents us with a choice: to shut down, react in bitterness and anger, or forgive, let go of self-protection, and move on.

In my life, I’ve made offerings that I thought would be immediately accepted and approved only to feel stunned by rejection and quick dismissal. Does that make my offering of less worth or significance? No, nor does it yours.

The purifying process of God’s grace means sometimes our offerings have to go through fire so that our motives and character are refined. As we surrender to God’s timing and purposes for our lives, we discover a greater beauty in forgiveness, submission, and humility. As we gaze upon the face of Jesus, we see there the scars of a soul submitted to the will of Daddy God. “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

I’m still learning to trust God when an offering is rejected as much as when one is accepted. Both require the grace and strength of God in our lives to fulfill God’s plan and bring Him great glory.