iamlovedbygod's Xanga

2008/05/16 - Division

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:20:10 GMT

I truly appreciate what is written on the following Xanga site: Is Christ divided? (1) and Is Christ divided? (2)

Below is a portion of my path in light of unity in the Truth.

The way of life or religion of many people is a problem. Once a person is able to look through or, better yet, stop dividing people from himself by beliefs that make the one correct and the other wrong, in essence stop condemning others, then unity in the Truth will be seen. Even Christ did not come to condemn the world (John 3: 17-21), but to bring the message of Hope, of Truth, of Light and Salvation to show the Love of God to the world.

We are the disciples at the head of the crowd following Jesus, wondering at the Good News of Freedom, Forgiveness and healing (Matt 4:23-25). We are the Light of the world (Matt 5:14-16) and we are to be shining that Light through the Love of God to the world. That Light, shining Love, will draw others out of the darkness. But if we have our Light hidden by our denominational condemnation of others, our own egos, our own fleshly sense of who we are which is typically, at least in part, formed by denominational doctrine, then the Light will not shine with the glory and purity it is meant to shine.

The division and denominations in religion is deplorable as it does not reflect the Truth and unity that is evident in Christ Jesus. In a way, Christianity is its own worst enemy; it is the representation of humans plowing their own way to the perceived Truth.

Jesus, while in the form, was constantly aware and yielding to the formless inside his body. We too, are to aim for this goal... otherwise, without that aim, we sin or, literally translated, "miss the mark" of human purpose on this earth. We are called to that unity with the formless, with God, in us. We are called to be holy as our Father is holy. We are called to have the mind of Christ - which is a mind completely transformed from the pattern of this world... transformed from the pattern of ego (flesh self image and automatic responses) and the pattern of this world (sickness, depravity, earthly limitations). We are His ambassadors and, as such, we should be walking in His footsteps which was a devotion to Truth and Love... to Light... to the Creator.

2008/04/09 - Eternal Life

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:29:48 GMT

A friend's post titled contemplating eternal life inspired me to write about some of the things that I've been pondering.

For myself, understanding of eternal life began in the moment that I understood that the kingdom of Heaven is here. Jesus came to reveal and make known the heart of the King and the kingdom of Heaven. He trained up His disciples and sent them out to tell the people that the kingdom of Heaven is at hand and for them to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons (all things that are done by faith and not by sight).

Even from the moment that Adam and Eve found themselves outside of the garden, they could have chosen to live and walk by faith (with God) and not by sight (without God). One pivotal moment of understanding came for me because of the story of the official with a dying son (John 4:46-54). The official asked Jesus to come down and heal his son. It is Jesus' reply that clicked for me; "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." Jesus' words were implying that the official didn't need to seek Jesus in the physical, the official didn't need Jesus to go to the son in the physical, the official only needed to believe for his son and he would be well (it is a spiritual truth). As it was, since the official didn't believe that his son could be healed without Jesus' faith, Jesus stepped in and healed, but Jesus would have been praising and rejoicing had the official had the faith for his son directly.

Jesus did not come to start the miracles of God; the miracles and power have always been readily available to man kind... it's always been based on having faith and not doubting. If a person is walking with Love (aka God), then that person is walking in the kingdom and eternal life with God has already begun.

I often think of when Peter and John (Acts 3) were going to the temple and a man lame from birth begging for money caught Peter's attention. Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" Freely give what you have freely received comes to mind.

Another thought that has bounced around in my head of late is Jesus' preparation of a new heaven and a new earth. Those choosing to live Love are in the first heaven and they experience as much of God in their lives as they are willing to have faith for. All of us are living on the first earth.

To be with Love, or with the Creator, is to be in heaven and to be separated from Love, or separated from the Creator, is to be in hell (weeping and gnashing of teeth).

Matthew 13:41 "The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers..."

Choose to be in the kingdom now... seek first Perfect Love, Truth and Life and all things will be added to you. Eternal life... living with God... live in heaven, begins the moment your heart accepts the rules of Love (dying to self and living for Perfect Love); live for God!

2008/03/30 When Life is Crappy

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:48:35 GMT

When life seems to be pressing in on us and being cruel, we need to focus on Truth (whatever is positive) and use it as an exercise to work on our Faith (assurance in what we hope for).

I encourage everyone to think about whatever is positive, just as Paul suggested. I also encourage everyone to take these opportunities to work on faith... Jesus never implied that a person needs to figure out how things will work out with getting a car, money or anything else that is needed or wanted, He only tells us to focus on the Ask, Believe, Receive pattern. Jesus said to ask anything and believe that it is already yours, do not doubt, and He will give it to you to glorify your Father in heaven and to make your joy complete.

Christianity has turned the word prayer into a word representing "asking, pleading, hoping" and the word faith into a word representing a person's belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (and that line of thinking). When Jesus prayed, it was not at the level of simply "asking, pleading, hoping"; when Jesus prayed it was with certainty and assurance. Prayer is simply communication with the Father. This can happen all day long if a person realizes that their every thought is heard by God and that praying is not simply a pattern to follow.

Also, His life is the perfect life to meditate on in order to understand the "faith" that Jesus tells us we should have. Jesus wondered why the men didn't have faith for calming the storm when He asked, "Where is your faith". When Peter was walking on water, he took His eyes off of his assurance in the hope he had to walk on water and began to "walk by sight" looking at the wind, became afraid (which means started to doubt) and began to sink. Jesus immediately took hold of him saying "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" The official, whose son was ill, went to Jesus and asked him to come and heal his son, for his son was dying; Jesus said, "Go; your son will live." The man believed and later found that his son was healed the very moment that Jesus said he will live. Notice our record of the first thing Jesus said to this man, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." This implies that Jesus knew this man could have had the faith for his son to be healed without physically coming to Jesus. This man could have believed for his son's healing before hearing it from Jesus...

Jesus knew that we should walk by faith and not by sight. He knows that anything that we have assurance in our hope for, we will receive and do. This world and the pattern of this world are nothing; we have been created in the image of the Creator, we are creators.

If there is something in front of you that needs corrected or fixed or something that you earnestly desire, Ask, Believe and Receive. Do not worry or wonder about the "how". Ask and then believe that it is yours. How do you feel when you know something is yours? How do you feel when you buy or win something that will be delivered or picked up later? You know it is yours, you don't wonder or worry about how it will get to you, you feel the feelings of already having it (excited, etc.) and you receive it.

Some people say that this only works if you ask something in "the will of God". I agree, but I don't see that the will of our Father is as mysterious as people today make it out to be. Jesus could only do what He saw the Father doing and He could do nothing apart from our Father. He cursed that fig tree when it was doing as it was designed to do. The tree withered and part of Jesus' joy was made complete in that situation. It's obvious that we can believe for things other than the positive (as in cursing the tree), but I am focusing on believing for things that are positive. When I have a conflict with someone, I pray for both of us; I pray mainly that Perfect Love will be more evident in my life so that I can interact well with that other person.

So when life seems to be pressing in, being cruel, or just plain ugly, we need to stop focusing on that ugliness and focus on the positive or on the Truth and we need to use our situation(s) as exercises in faith by asking, believing (this is the challenging stage) and receiving. We need to begin truly walking by faith and not by sight; walking not by the assurance in the things we see (the problems and our wrecked past), but by assurance in the hope that we have for our current and future.

2008/03/26 - Always Enough Time

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:03:42 GMT

One thing that helped my experience with our Creator was the realization that I am with Him all day everyday whether or not I honor Him or ignore Him. It does not take an extra special quiet time in order to be with Him, share with Him, learn from Him, and hear His leading. Quiet times are very good and can be very strengthening, but the day in and day out... needs to be lived with Him.

He desires more than just a little bit of our time. We have minds that are able to be thinking, pondering or meditating on something even though we are working or doing something completely different from our thoughts. My challenge to everyone would be to master taking every thought captive by thinking upon positive, good and loving things and events.

The world around us is created by our loves and our fears. If we walk by Faith and not by sight, then our fears will diminish as our loves increase beyond imagination. Faith is assurance in the things for which we hope. If someone has assurance that they will begin to have abundant time with the Father and wonderful interaction with Him, then that will come into their lives. We are created in His image. We speak/think things into existence. Jesus said Ask, Believe and Receive. Ask anything, believe that you have already received it and it will be yours… all this to glorify the Father and make your joy complete.

Our Father’s desire is to be loved and to love. He desires you to love Him with Perfect Love and He is always offering Perfect Love to you. Take your thoughts captive to whatever is positive, whatever is Love, and you will find your life and relationships transform before your eyes!

Blessings!!

2008-02-29 Baptism and Physical Traditions

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:25:00 GMT

A friend wrote a post pertaining to the question of water baptism. After reading the post and reading through the comments, I found I had the following to share...

I would not use the “Jesus did it” stance pertaining to water baptism. Jesus fulfilled the law; are you going to fulfill the law yourself because “Jesus did it”? Jesus walked through all of the Jewish traditions; are you going to walk through all of the Jewish traditions yourself because “Jesus did it”? The one thing that we are to do is to Love and that is still not because “Jesus did it”, but because Love is what the heart of the Father has always desired of His creation.

Water baptism, a Jewish feast/meal/supper, robes, hats, etc… physical traditions are not where pleasing our Father God lies. Pleasing our Father God lies in Perfect Love, which is found by seeing less of us and more of Him in a life. When we get the flesh with those fleshly reactions out of the way, then the Spirit can move and guide us in reactions that show the fruit of the Spirit and that fruit is the fruit of Love as God IS Perfect Love.

As humans, we can definitely partake in the physical traditions, but they should not become our “new law” and the physical traditions should only be representative of spiritual truths as Jesus lived them out and explained to those around Him. Physical traditions are of no consequence to the heart of the Father. These physical traditions may boost faith for people and, in so, they are beneficial to their hearts, but for the next person they may become a law and replace the Law of Freedom of which the Spirit of God is the minister here today… and that is not beneficial.

In Truth, spirituality is not to be based on or dependent upon physical traditions. Salvation and living here on Earth all comes down to Perfect Love – the heart of the Father has always desired to see His Perfect Love in His creation.

2008-02-27 Assembling

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:38:45 GMT

I found a post titled assembling together with which I completely agree... following are my thoughts from where I've been and where I am today.

Oddly, when my family found ourselves moving away from the building (aka organized religion), I knew that I still loved the people and that I still wanted to be with them, but that I wanted to be with them in settings where we could interact, share, and encourage one another. We are still on their email list and, so, we contribute to and volunteer for the activities and gatherings where we'll be able to interact with them.

From what I understood when we moved away from the building assembly, it was because of the lack of true interaction and frustration over that limitation. It was revealed to me recently that my family was not removed from the building assembly because we are somehow more mature, but that we were separated from the building assembly because we do not know how to love the people in that setting and as such that was becoming a stumbling block for our walks and faith. My hope is that we will get past the physical setting of the building assembly and if I have assurance in that hope (aka faith), then I know that we will be back with them and it will be a completely different setting and interaction with the people than it has in the past.

That group is changing into a format where they have the seats set in a circle fashion and there is not "one" person that leads a lesson. I'm not sure if this is an every week occurrence yet or not, but that is definitely a move in the proper direction as compared to each one contributing. Now my hope, for them, is that each of the contributions are inspired by their interactions with the Father and, as such, Truth and Perfect Love (aka the Spirit of God) is reigning like never before in their midst.

2008-02-17 All Made Righteous (Cont'd)

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:40:56 GMT

The "gift of life" is the resurrection; everyone receives the resurrection but not everyone gets the kingdom... some people get the second death after the resurrection.

The love that people have shown is what brings them into the kingdom.

Jesus' words in Matthew come to mind.
Mat 25:31-41 Jesus will sit on His throne and all the nations will be assembled in front of Him. He will separate them from each other as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Those on the right inherit the kingdom because they fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed strangers, clothed the naked, cared for the sick, visited those in prison, etc. because of their love. And what's funny... is that the righteous reply asking Him when did they do these things for Him. They didn't even realize that this was glorifying their creator, that this was the main concern of their Father's heart; that they shine love into the darkness of this world.

Paul said in vs18 all men condemned and all men given life and in vs19 as many were made sinners, so also many will be made righteous. This made me think about what it is to be righteous and whether that has any difference from righteousness (because I know that our faith is counted as righteousness). I did not realize (or do not remember) before tonight that it is not always the same root word or original word being used when we see the words righteous and righteousness. I can send you a page with the different words and the references if you are interested.

to be made righteous is to be made innocent. - righteous is a state of being
to have righteousness is to act - righteousness is an action

Because of the death of Jesus on the cross, God no longer has a record of wrongs for people, but His kingdom is defined by Love. As Jesus is judging in those last days, He's not taking into account whether someone committed murder or any of the list of "sins", but is looking specifically at expressions of Love. People who's lives are defined by Love are children of God. Anyone who says they Love God yet hates their brother is a lier (John). Anyone who says they have faith, yet does not have the works of Love has dead faith (James).

Anyone who accepts you (a child of God), accepts Jesus and anyone who shows Love to others, accepts or Loves Jesus whether or not they realize the fullness of the situation.

2008-02-16 All Made Righteous

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:34:31 GMT

Rom 5:15-19

(15) But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

(16) And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

(17) For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

(18) Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

(19) For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

The first Adam brought condemnation for all men… or guilt for all men.

The second Adam brought justification and life for all men… or innocence for all men.

Rom 5:18-19 Adam’s trespass led to guilt for all men and Love's son's righteousness led to innocence for all men. All men are made clean before God whether they know it or not and everyone's love is being recorded (not their sin as their sin was nailed to the cross) and when each person comes to the judgment they will be judged by their love (not by any wrongs or "sin"). God is not keeping a record of wrongs.

Too often, humans chase after their sin trying to rid themselves of it when, in the spiritual reality, humans should be chasing after Love and in so doing their “sin”, or less than beneficial behavior, would decrease as Love increases in their lives.

Jesus reconciled the world to God. There is no sinner’s prayer; it truly is come just as you are. This would also mean that anyone that follows the Light (whether they know that the Light's name is Jesus or Yeshua or whatever) is part of the Kingdom.

Seek first the Kingdom. That Kingdom is Perfect Love.

2008-02-09 Alcohol does not equal sin...

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:35:08 GMT

This question came across my vision and thus a stream of thoughts... I agree with the person who posed the question in the midst of his blog entry.

Do you see anything in Scripture that would suggest drinking an alcoholic beverage is a sin? If so, please present the case with Scripture and or references.

Our god is the thing that consumes us. Our idol is the thing that consumes us. If we are consumed by a substance, then that is our focus, our god, our idol. If we are consumed by perfect love, then that is our focus, our God, our idol. Putting rules and laws in place in order to make something “unlawful” does not change the heart or desire or consumed-ness of a man.

Jesus declared the Father, revealed the Father, brought the Father out where the Father can be seen; He interpreted the Father; and made the Father known (John 1:18). The things that Christ did are the Father’s work (John 4:34). Jesus can do nothing of Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it, he cannot; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner, for the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing (John 5:19-20). Jesus’ first public miracle was turning water into wine.

Jesus can do nothing on His own initiative. As He hears, He judges; and His judgment is just, because He does not seek His own will, but the will of God who sent Him (John 5:30). Jesus did nothing but the will of the Father who had sent Him. Jesus turned that water into wine, He partook of wine, He, at times, actually looked like a drunkard and a glutton (food).

If consuming alcohol is a sin, then Jesus was a sinner. Anyone want to accuse him of that?

2008-02-09 Temples of God - Not the Flesh

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:23:36 GMT

I used to think that these bodies we live in were what Paul was referring to when he wrote in 2 Cor 6:16. “What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we are the temple of the living God…” But what sense does it make for our bodies, these things that will pass away, to be called the temples of God.

We are the temple of God and these bodies will pass away and even without these bodies we will still be the temple of God. We will still be… actually at that time we will be completely one with the Light… completely one with God.

Jesus did not walk around judging based on outward appearance and outward actions. He did not judge a person based on the flesh; His reality is the spiritual reality. He judged the heart of a man. It does not make sense for the ‘temple’ that Paul was referring to… to be the fleshly body that we live in.

What we are really to be taking care of is our hearts; clean the inside so that the outside will be clean also… otherwise, we are just white washed tombs. What goes into a body does not defile a body… it goes through and comes out as waste. What comes out of a mouth… that is what defiles because “out of the outflow of your heart so the mouth speaks” (Jesus).

It’s not about the alcohol, it’s not about drinking it or not drinking it, it’s about your heart. If it causes your brother stumble because he’s put some law on top of himself, then that law does not apply to you but out of your Love you will respect him because to him it is sin – even though we know that nothing going into our mouths defiles. This doesn’t mean that we keep our mouths shut and not explain to our brother about the liberty that is ours in Christ Jesus. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. (Rom 14:16)

But bear this in mind: The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Rom 14:22-23)

If you doubt it, don’t do it. That is what “cleansing the temple” is all about. It’s about faith in our liberty in Christ Jesus. The Spirit is about the transformation process. The temple is eternal and our bodies are not, but our hearts are where our soul and spirit dwell (and consequently where the Father dwells) so it is eternal. So don’t focus on changing outward things like the Pharisees did, focus instead on where Jesus says sin is, in the heart. If sin is the absence of faith, then fill your heart with faith in the God who justifies the ungodly! Living by the Spirit is a heart change, not a walk change. Once the heart changes the walk will follow. It is by faith that we acknowledge the Father in all our ways and He makes straight our path.