Accept the Truth and Reject the Imposter's Lies

A young man called my office yesterday to ask about the copier we use. He said they had word that the supplies were about to increase in price and now would be a good time to get a case of toner before it happens. I asked him what company he was calling from and immediately he hung up. Imposter. He was actually lying to me to get me to verbally agree to ordering those supplies from a company we don’t do business with. As soon as I asked where he was from he was gone. He was lying and trying to get me to accept it as truth. As soon as I spoke a truth back to him it was over. 

Be careful. There is an imposter out there. He’s disguising himself as truth and he’s so not. He will speak to your fears. He’ll tell you you’re unworthy, useless, throw away and reject. He’ll agree with your negative thoughts about yourself. He will shout yes when you shout ugly. He will clap when you say nobody loves you. He will agree that your prayers are not heard. He will help you live in his lies. He will hand you the lock and let you be the one who locks yourself in to the dungeon of helplessness and hopelessness.

The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. He will attempt to take control of your thought life in three areas: your past, your present and your intercession. If the enemy can get you to believe the lies of your past, your present feelings of unworthiness and that your prayers can’t be answered he has you right where he wants you. Your childhood memories are killed, your hope for your life to have meaning is stolen and your prayers will be destroyed. 

He wants you to believe that you are whatever anyone has ever said about you negatively. He doesn’t want you to move on from your past. He wants you to live in the darkness of your present situation. You may hear a voice inside your head saying you’re too old to change. You may be telling yourself it’s too late, you’ve gone too far or it’s all over for you. Lies, each and every word is a lie. 

You may believe that the one you love and pray for is hopeless. You must learn to accept those who are having issues in their walk with God. But you must learn to reject the lie that they will never change. It’s time to give them to God because His desire for all mankind is that they come to saving faith in Christ. It doesn’t matter what it looks like. God’s plan is for them to be saved, sealed, delivered, set free and living for Him. So keep on praying and reject the lies.

God speaks to our hearts: I have sent Christ to give you life and to give it in abundance, full measure and running over. I want you to be fully informed of the truth, so that you will be a strong believer, full of faith and armed for the day. So today is your day to get stronger. It’s time to reject the lies that you are telling yourself. Quit building the fire for the enemy’s camp. You might have heard these lies and rehearsed them in your mind all your life; but today is the day to set things right. I AM your healer, your purpose, your future, your hope, your truth and your way to live. I bring light onto any situation and will reveal all that needs to be revealed so that you can live a valiant, invincible live for Me. I love you and I have called you out of darkness. I love you and I have made a way for you to live in the light of My Word. No weapon formed against you will prosper. No lie can be your truth as you learn to accept what I say and reject the enemy’s taunts and lies. 

Oh beloved. I know it’s not always easy to rise above the past. It’s hard sometimes to listen to God’s truth while you are being rejected, belittled, or ignored. You may feel like unwanted and unwelcome, but God’s truth will pick you up and set you securely on high. You are accepted in the beloved when you give your heart to Christ. It’s time to learn to live loved and reject the enemy’s lies. It will get easier and easier as you begin to apply God’s Word, His Truth, to every area of your life. Instead of hurts and rejection, you will find acceptance to bloom in your heart. And once acceptance has taken root and begins to grow you will find that other situations will become clearer and you will believe God’s truth about you. 

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s the truth you can live in all the days of your life as you live free and loved and cherished. 

Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Matthew 4:4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

2 Corinthians 10: 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; KJV

Ephesians 6:12-13 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

What Have you Been Hearing?

“So then Faith comes by hearing…and hearing by the Word of God” Romans 10:17

My husband gets tickled at me as he watches me grab bits and pieces of conversations all around the room. Problem is I just get bits and pieces. I may hear two or three words, but then if I don’t hear the whole thing I may perceive a whole different story than was actually spoken. Later I might ask him about the $90,000 house to find out that particular conversation revolved around 90 people not $90,000!

There is much to listen to in this world. Even the weather channel no longer deals strictly with weather. You can find politics and other stories if you watch for very long. And when it comes to reporters, even those who are considered conservative will wander over into views that aren’t really that conservative. So much information, only two ears and throw in muffled talk and muted voices and you could make up your own version of most any story.

When it comes to faith, though, we don’t have to take other peoples’ word for the truth. They may be speaking the truth, but for us faith comes by hearing and that hearing should be coming straight from the Word of God. Our best quality of information gathering comes when we go straight to the Word of God for our information.  There are many “channels” of faith talk, but we must always sort through the Word of God for ourselves – straight to the source – to make sure we’ve heard things right.

What have you heard?  Maybe you heard that you are useless, castoff, done for. You may have been given a piece of information that said you don’t fit in, you don’t have the right criteria, you are less than. You may have thought you were hearing correctly when the sentence of judgment came past your ears. Those things don’t feed your faith because they don’t line up with the Word of God. Unless you go straight to the source and find out the truth for yourself, you will be destined to live in the darkness of untruth and half-truth.  Partial information hinders your walk, maims your life and keeps you fettered on the sidelines, unable to break the chains and run free.  

Oh beloved, faith comes by hearing! Hearing the Word of God! Hearing the truth about you! You are not less than, you are more than. You are not beaten down, you are an overcomer.  You can dance free from any chains that seek to bind you by others’ words because you are free in Christ! It doesn’t matter what others say, because it’s not about them. Keep your ears attuned to God’s Word and watch as your faith grows and grows. And when your faith grows your fears subside.  It doesn’t matter what the enemy says, for you don’t have to listen to a word he speaks. He is a liar and the father of all lies. Get that  - the father of, the originator of – all lies. Anything that is spoken about you or over you that doesn’t line up with the Word of God is not a word of faith. You may need to repeat the Word out loud over the lies that come your way or the half-truths that threaten to derail your faith, but lies cannot stand in the presence of Truth.

Every Word of God holds true. The more you hear the truth, the stronger your faith will be. The stronger your faith is, the better your hearing becomes. Eventually you will begin to cast out the things you hear in the background as you discern the difference. God loves you and that’s the truth, backed by the Word of God, and He’s for you – which is another truth backed by the Word, so that you can live with clear hearing and strong faith and that’s what God has for you all the days of your life.

Luke 11:28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.

Matthew 4:4 But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Psalm 119:38 Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You.

Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.

You CAN Walk in FREEDOM!

We watched a rerun of King Kong the other day. The newest version really shows the gorilla as a fierce creature much more realistic than the 1930’s version. His fierceness was overshadowed only by his strength.  Yet for all his strength, he was finally subdued by his enemies. The captors penned him down with enough ropes and strong medicine to knock him out. Their elaborate plan to capture him finally worked, even though he fought them, even though he was stronger, fiercer and bigger.

The word says that the believer is strong and invincible in the face of trials and troubles. We are referred to as more than conquerors and overcomers by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimonies. We are instructed to walk in freedom and be valiant warriors for God.     

Yet the enemy of our soul has an elaborate plan to capture us. Regardless of the promise of spiritual strength to overcome we will fall if we’re not careful. The enemy, our would-be captor, has a cunningly devised plan.  This plan is clever, artful, and ingenious and he has worked hard inventing, developing and formulating the plan.   

Unlike King Kong, who was finally captured, we do not have to succumb to the tactics of the enemy. He’s crafty but we have the Holy Spirit residing in us. This gives us great advantage in the fights of our lives, our hearts, our minds.  As we daily surrender ourselves to God, and declare our dependence on Him alone, we are able to overcome whatever is thrown at us.

While the enemy doesn’t cause every problem in our lives, he certainly wants to take credit for it and use it to his advantage.  If we are angry and we let that anger rule our lives we are submitting to a rope across our back. If we are discouraged and we don’t allow God to replace it with His courage we’ll find another rope has been slung across us.  I would dare say that fear is probably three ropes – fear will tie you down all by itself. Fear of man, fear of failure, fear of the future – none of these are meant to live in our minds, yet without God’s touch we all have fear. The list of ropes goes on and on: disappointment, tragedy, trials, turmoil, sorrow, unbelief…

Thanks be to God the lover of our soul has a plan as well! His plan includes praise, worship and freedom. His plan keeps us safe, keeps us free of terrors and lets us live without concern of the enemy. We don’t have to be taken captive as we learn to apply God’s Word to every situation that comes our way. Ropes are designed to capture us, but we can use them as walkways to greater living.    God’s plan of living even includes rescue when we’ve let ourselves be captured!  He will not allow us to remain captive unless we choose to. He is our Redeemer, Savior and Friend and His Spirit is strong on our behalf to break every chain and loose every bondage we’ve ever had. Brute force, natural strength won’t relieve you, redeem you or set you free. But God’s power is the overcoming victory for every believer.

Oh beloved, God has a wonderful plan for your life! That plan includes walking in freedom no matter what road you are on. It includes walking in strength and power of the Holy Spirit even in the jungles of life.  God is wooing you with His Word this morning to listen and live free. He will lovingly untie every fetter that seeks to control you and keep you down as you give each one to Him.  He’ll even take away the fear of the only natural enemy you have – satan – and replace it with His assurance. You never have to walk in dread of capture as long as you walk in the light of His Word.

God loves you and He’s for you and He provided your ultimate freedom on the Cross so that you can live free and in the power of His might all the days of your life!

Isaiah 43:1-3 Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.   When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.  When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.  When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Psalm 119:45 I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

Psalm 59:17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.

Psalm 18:1 I love You, Lord; You are my strength.

Psalm 18:39 You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued my enemies under my feet.

Psalm 89:15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of Your presence, Lord.

Have You Applied Your SPAM Filter?

The good news is I am still able to learn new things!  The bad news is I didn’t want to learn what I learned recently while working on my blog I’ve been posting on for quite a few years. I was looking at the comments under the admin part of the blog. I’ve never done this before. Actually I had no idea how many comments were being made!

As I started looking, I was excited to see lots of comments. But when I looked into them, most of which said, “I like your content, visit my blog at…”, I discovered many of them were spam! They were tricks to get me to go to their website and view either things I was neither interested in nor wanted to know. Yuck! 

I quickly learned how to change the settings on the blog so that now the comments will be moderated. That means I can check them through an email to make sure they line up with my values and that they are truly a comment from someone who found encouragement from the Lord or who wants to encourage me as I write. If they don’t line up I will not okay the comment to be posted. I will not let it through.

It made me think about how so many thoughts invade our minds on a daily basis. As believers we may be letting more in than we want. From television shows to internet searches, there is much out there that is totally at opposite with our life in Christ. An off-handed comment, a little dig or a stab at something and we find ourselves trusting what we were never meant to believe. If we let just any old comment enter our mind or let some television’s “truth” become our truth, we are going to find ourselves in the middle of yuck! We’ll be bogged down in spam mail to our hearts and feeling down, discouraged and depressed.

Have you been filtering your spam mail? Do you know how to filter everything through the Word of God so that you don’t get bogged down? God’s filter works every single time you apply it.  It works efficiently and sufficiently – you don’t lose anything you really need and you get everything of what you always need.

Oh beloved, Run to His Word this morning and hear Him speak those love words into your heart – don’t let things through that don’t line up! You cannot allow your thoughts to wander away from the truth of the Word, you cannot allow your eyes to see that which doesn’t match up with God’s Word. And you cannot believe outright lies that try to take over your life. You may have received Spam mail but you can reject it by the power of God’s Word! He speaks to you this morning and says I AM the one who loves you enough to keep you safe. I AM the way, the truth and the life – nothing else is true but what I say. Regardless of what you’ve heard, read or seen – I AM telling you that I will watch over you, guide you and keep you safe all the days of your life. Apply My Truth to every area and watch as you remain Free in My love for you and you stand Fully in my abiding care. I love you and I’m for you and that is what keeps you free!

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.  We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

John 8:36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

All God's Promises Are True About You!

My mother went to the beauty shop just about every week when I was a teenager.  She enjoyed getting her hair washed and curled, set and fixed by the beautician. There were always magazines laying around that showed new hairdos and hair color. My mother had very little gray hair, even when she got older, so she never did have color put on.  Both she and my aunt went to the same lady.  It was comforting to know the routine and know the beautician well. She always did a good job for mother and my aunt. 

When you go to a beauty shop, you usually have some say so in how things will go.  The hairdresser needs to know the length you want, the kind of cut you want, maybe even the color or a perm. The overall outcome you’d like to have is important to her. But other than that, she does the thing she does because she’s knowledgeable about all that goes with hairstyles. You wouldn’t say for instance, hey don’t use those curlers, use this kind. You don’t walk around the store telling her what to do, you trust your hair to the one who knows what they’re doing.

You also don’t come into the shop and just sit there wishing you could get your hair done like everyone else is doing. You come to the beauty salon for a specific purpose, to take advantage of all the knowledge and expertise that’s there.  You want to look better, which usually makes you feel better. I know, you may have had a less than stellar experience once in your life, but really you go to the beauty shop to have something done for you that you can’t do on your own.

God’s Word is our beauty shop.  Inside the pages are contained everything we need to possess loveliness of heart and mind.   We can’t perform the needed changes on our own. We can’t fix our own messes, mend our own hearts or cleanse our own minds.  Without God’s touch, we are destined to go around trying to fix things ourselves, which always turns out to be worse than we could imagine.

But with God’s touch on our lives, we find true beauty, true peace and the rich and radiant blessings that are there for our taking. Unlike the beauty shop trip, which can cost a boatload of money, God never charges us for His work in our lives. He just performs His incredible makeover and we bask in what He does. As we leave the presence of His work, we radiate His truth for others to see.

We need to go to God’s shop at least once a day to get refreshed and renewed.   We need to stay close to the One Who has given us an extreme makeover. We need to stay within the reach of His loving care and incredible talent. No one else can make us over. No one else can hide our faults, fix our errant ways and create true beauty that will last forever. No one else can make us feel the way God does. Others may say you aren’t beautiful, you are a cast off, you are unworthy. But God always speaks love to you and His Word is your key to true beauty inside and out.

Oh beloved, take time to sit in the shop of God’s Word this morning, and let Him have time with you.  With His touch, you will feel more beautiful and see yourself as you really are – beloved, cared for, redeemed, made new, and set free. Redeemed to live in the light of His love.  Made new to bask in His presence forever. Set free to show forth the praises of your Savior.  He’s calling you ever so gently to come and sit a while as He pours His truth into your mind and heart.  What He says about you is true. You don’t have to wonder if things will turn out the way you want for He promises that just one touch from Him changes everything!  He loves you and He’s for you and that’s the only makeover you’ll ever need.

Psalm 40:5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list.  You have no equal.  If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

I Peter 3:4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Ephesians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

Psalm 92:4 For You have made me glad by what You have done, O Lord. I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

The Love of God is Full of FREEDOM!

We had a young visitor at church Sunday. He’s recently been released from prison and was looking for a word of encouragement. He has a job in another state and will be living there. He wants to make sure that he never makes the same mistakes again. We prayed for him and with him.


He’s been released from prison. While there, he was released from the prison of his own life. He found the Lord there! Someone came in and shared the Gospel and he accepted Christ as his personal Savior. What sweet release. Don’t you know he’s thankful to be out in the world and be able to walk and talk and go where he wants to? Can’t you just imagine how wonderful it feels to be free as well from the prison bars of his past?

How are you dealing with things? Do you feel free? Or are you still bound to the prison of your past? Are you feeling terror that you will be made to pay for your mistakes over and over? Are you wondering how you can ever get truly free?

There is hope for the hopeless and help for the helpless! God has made a way for you and I to live in the light of His Word. To be saved from the penalty of our past. To be made free from the wrath to come. And to live a life that is pleasing to Him! You can live free in love, free in peace, free in success, free in value, free in your heart.

Oh beloved! God is your answer – He holds the keys to release you from everything you have been kept imprisoned by. From the things you’ve done to the unforgiveness pronounced on you by others. The love that God has for you is full of FREEDOM! The care God has for you is full of PEACE! For He pronounced your debts cancelled and you have a ticket to live forever in the light of His glory and grace! Run to the Lord, your Redeemer, and give Him all your troubles and cares and watch as He changes you into the free believer you were always meant to be.

John 8:32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

Romans 6:17-18 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

2 Corinthians 3:17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Psalm 119:45 I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

Free To Be Me In Christ!

It was one of those times my mother was visiting at a friend’s house. I spied a girl next door and we struck up a conversation.  She invited me over to play.  We went together to play in her garage. I found out she was a ballerina and a little older than me. I wasn’t more than 4.  The playtime turned into bullying as she insisted that I had to stand on my tiptoes like a ballerina before she would open the garage doors and let me out. I was panicky but at age 4, I didn’t even think about crying for anyone to rescue me.  The friendship turned quickly into performance and I could not perform! It was ghastly. I tried knocking at the garage door but was quickly pushed away. Finally, my mother came looking for me.  I honestly don’t remember even telling her what happened. I may have, but I do still remember the terror of being locked away and having to perform. I also remember the tremendous relief at having my mother rescue me.

Performance. Perfection. Personality. Often the walk of faith can become a contest with these three.   We get saved and then we forget. So we begin to perform.  We find that we feel better when we’re achieving, executing and implementing. Busy becomes our best friend and cohort. If we can stay busy we can feel like we’re accomplishing something. Often though it’s a hamster’s wheel we find ourselves on.

While we’re busy performing we find that we need to be perfect – at everything. Perfection is the enemy of grace.  Why? Because grace says “Accepted as Is”, while Perfection says, “Keep working on it you’ll be good enough eventually”.  Perfection’s ally is comparison.  We look around at what others are doing and hope we can measure up.

If that wasn’t enough to garner attention and find release from the need to perform, here comes personality. Our nature is to become like those we’re around to find value, worth and esteem. Although I was not a ballerina, I found that I was trying harder and harder to be like my task master so that I could be granted good enough for release from the prison of that garage.  My usual childlike personality became frantic, terrified and ashamed.

We cannot make it out of the prison we are in on our own. You and I are destined to be prisoners all the days of our lives. Unless we are rescued! Rescue will never come at the hands of Performance, Perfection or Personality. It only comes from the One Who came to rescue, redeem and renew those who could not find freedom on their own.

Oh beloved, are you fighting for freedom? Are you searching for some measure of perfection to find peace? Have you found yourself wishing you could be more like “them” so you could be accepted?  Run this morning to the One Who made you just the way you are! Run to the Arms of the One Who says Accepted! Jesus is the Only One Who can set you free so that you can be truly free! Let Him show you the keys He holds in His hands. Let Him love you all the way to Calvary and beyond. Let Him teach you from His Word that the stone at the tomb was rolled away for your complete and total freedom! He loves you, loves you, loves you and He’s on your side – saying you are His, you are perfected in Him and His plans for you are awesome! Now that’s worth a Hallelujah!

Deuteronomy 24:18 Always remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God redeemed you from your slavery. That is why I have given you this command.

Psalm 107:2  Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

Luke 1:68 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.

Psalm 78:35  Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer.

Isaiah 48:17  This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.

Isaiah 49:9  I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’ They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare.