Edification, Exhortation and Abundance

 " So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [[a]morally] to all people [not only [b]being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers]." Galatians 6:10 (AMP)

Edification and exhortation are recurrent themes in Paul's ministry. I find I relate so much to his life. Mostly, I feel kindred in his strong desire for God's precious children to live a truly abundant life in Christ.

As believers, we should share Paul's passion and we are called to edify (build up) one another (1 Thes. 5:11). By ministering to one another in this way, we, like Paul, are exhorting (encouraging specific action) each other to live an abundant life ( 1 Thes. 4:1) of spiritual prosperity in Christ.

Through edification and exhortation we serve, inspire and comfort one another in brotherly love. We nurture and strengthen one another's gifts and talents, just as Paul implored the church to do (Rom. 12:4-8). We become more complete as the body of Christ and better equipped to Glorify our Holy Father in our race!

I pray we will all diligently PURSUE opportunities for edification (Rom. 14:19) and exhortation for the good of the church (1 Cor. 14:12 ); that, through our love for Jesus and one another, we will be passionate and more effective in our mission.

Be blessed and be a blessing, brethren. All in the name of The Son, Jesus Christ, and all for God's Glory. Amen.

by Christa Walton Winn

Transforming Power of Jesus The Living Word

66 books 40 authors over 1500 years 60 generations in 3 different languages Greek Aramaic and Hebrew on three different continents and it gives us the same message. Jesus the Living word has the power to transformed lives.

For over 2,000 years millions of people have come out of darkness into His marvelous light. Living their lives not for evil but for good . A false god calls on his followers to die for him while Jesus the one and only true God says He died for us. 

Jesus without money or arms conquered more people with His love than Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, Mohammed and Hitler combined.

Without science and learning, shed more light on the things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars in history combined, without the eloquence of schools He spoke words of life that had never been spoken before or since and produced an effect of which has never been accomplished by any orator or poet, without writing a single line He set more pens in motion, furnished more themes, sermons, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, songs of praise than a whole army of men and women from ancient times to modern day. 

It's no wonder when Jesus asked the disciples if they were going to leave, Peter wisely uttered"where else are we going to go? You alone have the words of eternal life." 

Even today your professors and educators as knowledgeable and respected as they are will never accomplish in this world as much as this simple man from Nazareth has, why? Because He is God and came to this earth in human form to give us a message of love and redemption. 

Why do you think so many professors and educators dismiss the words of Jesus? It's because they have no answer for the facts I just listed. They cannot comprehend how such a simple man with simple words-could have such an incredible impact on all of humanity. 

For the nonbeliever they have to discredit Jesus or convert to Christ. Therein lies the problem, people love darkness more than the light. If Jesus is who He said he was than we must look at ourselves through His eyes and realize we are not good but sinners in need of a Savior. 

For the believer we just stand in adoration, in awe of a God who loves us. Amen!

Take it up with God Almighty!

In the book of Isaiah chapter 37 there is a certain account of an enemy king trying to destroy the anointed king of Yahweh. This king had destroyed every other king and nation whose gods could not save them and he threatened to do the same to Yahweh's anointed king.

But what did the faithfully anointed king do?

The enemy king (king Sennacherib) marched out to fight against the Lord's anointed (King Hezekiah),  he sent out messengers with his word of destruction (a written letter of threats and destruction).  "Hezekiah received the letter and read it” Then what did he do? 

Without hesitation- "He went up to the temple of the Lord and SPREAD IT OUT BEFORE the Lord."  He did not react, he did not look to anyone else around, he did not answer immediately - HE TOOK IT UP WITH GOD ALMIGHTY.

In prayer he cried out “You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.  You have made heaven and earth. Give ear,  O Lord and hear; open your eyes O Lord and see, listen to all the words Sennacherib (the enemy) has sent to insult the living God."  Isaiah 37:16-17

Hezekiah's immediate response was in adoration and prayer!  With a childlike faith notice he realized the attack was much greater then himself  -  'God look...how dare your enemy insult you, this claim is against the living God'.  Hezekiah cried out for deliverance and the Lord answered "Because you have prayed to me concerning this...

The Lord spoke a word against his enemy  "I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant."

Spread it before the King of kings -Let Him fight the battles-The victory is His!

No Strings Attached

Allowing myself to receive God's love was once impossible for me due to my reward-response belief system.

 But then my mind was opened and through the power of The Holy Spirit, I was able to grasp this verse.

He is the author and originator of love. HE IS LOVE. There is nothing I can do to earn His pure, authentic, unconditional love.

 His love is given freely to me and He says I am somehow worthy. He does not love me in response to anything I do! WOW! 

Once I grasped this, I was able to chose to receive His love, which, He reminded me, was covering and carrying me all along.

by Christa Walton Winn

Overcoming the Compulsion for Worldly Perfectionism

I was once that girl...the one who had to make sure everything was "perfect." What a load I was carrying! Eventually I spiraled into a desolate, dark hole.

 It was inevitable since everything and everyone fell short of my expectations, especially myself! Fortunately, I found completion in Christ, my Rock, my Portion...and nothing can separate Him from me. 

Interestingly, on that journey, I did not see this verse. 

Huge smiles as I read this reminder of how I once was so like Martha and now I (joyfully) am kindred with Mary. Thank you, Jesus!

by Christa Walton Winn 

Love Is A Verb

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything." 1 John3:18-20

Words and actions can indicate our true heart condition.  Whether our words be so incredibly empty or so incredibly full of life and power.  Whether we say too much, or say nothing at all. The Word declares "For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." -Luke 6:45

Therefore our words have the ability to reveal the purity of our hearts or the darkened state of our souls.  How unfulfilling the meaningless chatter can sound or yet how majestic and beautiful can the glory and praises resound?

Jesus never justified with His words His innocence -He died instead to justify us.  Jesus never rationalized His actions when they accused Him -Instead He irrationally took the brunt of the beating.  Jesus did not cry out or act like a victim although He suffered worse than any victim ever should.

His heart remained pure...

His mouth remained guarded...

His actions are now rewarded...

As He sits in glory and praise reigning with the God who knows everything!

by Dawn Mckenzie

Keeping Our Hearts Clean

It's hard to stay clean in a dirty world. As Christians we are called to be " Holy as He is Holy" (1 Peter 1:16) and to be "living sacrifices." (Romans 12:1)

The problem is that we have this flesh to contend with and we're always jumping off the altar.

We like to give the enemy a lot of credit for our bad behavior when we go off the narrow path and get defiled. But the truth of the matter is that we are faced with a choice everyday of our lives...life or death.

We can chose to give in to our flesh or be led by the Spirit. That's the beautiful thing about grace....when we can't He can.

His grace gives us the ability to choose life and to walk in His ways contrary to what our flesh wants to do...for when I am weak He is strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Like Daniel we have to purpose in our hearts not to get defiled by keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. When we do that our feet will be established in all our ways, and our hearts will stay clean before our God and others in a dirty world no matter who or what comes our way.

by Cecilia Trent