Modern Evangelism: Testimonies and Tips

Testimonies regarding evangelism:

When I think of how "not to do" evangelism, I remember the time that I was going to get an abortion and the woman walked up to me practically throwing a plastic uterus at me. You're going to kill your child. I was so messed up in the head at that time that, unfortunately, it did not keep me from going through with the abortion so there was no fruit in her labors. In fact, after making that awful choice once, I felt condemned to hell and it became easier the second time. As determined as I was that day do you know what MAY have gotten my attention? If she had said, whatever you decide, God loves you and I'm here to talk, listen, pray with you. I MIGHT have stopped in my tracks at their lack of agenda and true concern and love for my plight. Regardless that type of loving approach would have gotten past my defenses and been planted as a seed in my heart. We've got to get out of the mentality that we can force or guilt people into changing. It creates more bondage. However, keep in mind, that bad responses don't always reflect a crash and burn in evangelism. 

A lady planted a seed in my life about ten years ago. I was going through a divorce and she gave me a daily devotional. I was picking up my daughter from her friends house when Alma said "I bought this for you and I've been praying for you." I said little but was angry at my daughter, wrongly so, for sharing my most recent failure at love. I promptly threw the devotional in the back of my car and muttered, "great she felt sorry for me." I didn't throw it away. It was a sleeper agent seed on a timer. I kept it and about a year later had an undeniable meeting with God and the devotional suddenly turned up again like manna from heaven, I would read it daily as I was growing in my relationship with God. I ran into Alma again randomly and asked her to lunch. Through tears, I shared with her that even though I didn't respond well to her that she had planted that seed in my life and it bore fruit. My husband and I had divorced but we reconciled 7 years after our divorce and God had restored our covenant through her quiet prayers and simple acts of obedience. 


I also like to take life groups out on "2x2 missions." I pray for the Holy Spirit to lead and we would draw names to send people out like in the bible Jesus "began to send them out two by two and gave them authority to cast out evil (impure) spirits." Mark 6:7 It was so fun to see how the Holy Spirit would pair up people with similar giftings. A couple of ladies who both have the gift of healing went to a local restaurant. Neither brought gifts to give away since they felt they were to pray for the sick. Imagine their surprise when they saw a walker planted by their table. They looked next to it and began a conversation with the woman who it belonged to. Small world or BIG GOD, she was in a walker because of an illness that one of the 2x2 party's mother had suffered through. They were able to pray for this woman who was offended at the church to have not only her body restored but her relationship with the church. 


Evangelism can mean bringing the kingdom and atmosphere of heaven to earth. Today a little whisper told me to go to Southlake TnSquare. I really thought I would have a divine appointment so I sat on a park bench and waited. Nothing...Did I miss you God? No one came. I then felt led to pray over the area and decreed what I felt led to pray about. As I was walking to my car I saw all these signs about a parade. Then I found out they were having a carnival and a parade that evening. It clicked in my Spirit. Whatever plans the enemy had for that night had been scrapped and God had a new plan to bring his Spirit here through prayer. What we do is important, what we say is power and what we pray changes the world into His Kingdom. Maybe you think I'm wrong...maybe it was a coincidence, my imagination but if I'm right and I heard God and obeyed then I just changed history. God is responsible for the outcome. I just obey! What have you got to lose??


I was studying at LaMadeline's when I looked up and saw a girl working the cash register. I felt like God had something to say so I asked Him. This thought sounded like my own but I heard "tell her I love her and I will take care of her." I tried to reason with this voice-we are in the bible belt and everyone knows Jesus loves them. The voice persisted so I wrote the note on a torn off piece of scrap paper which seemed fairly lame. I also felt like He wanted me to give her $20 which I normally don't do. I have to say that I hated every second of this process and felt awkward. I was knew at hearing and following the voice of God in these situations and really felt like I was making things up. Still, I handed the folded up piece of paper with the $20 inside and said, "This is for you" to which she replied "Is it trash?" This was not going well. "No, it's a note for you." I walked out feeling like a complete weirdo. 
A year later, I went back to that restaurant. The same young lady was there and said, "You're the note lady." Oh great, I thought. She remembers that... I was hoping we could pretend that never happened but there was no getting out of it without lying. "Yes, yes, I am." She came over and told me a little bit of her story. She was single, pregnant and considering an abortion. This is the good news-she KEPT her precious baby and had a little girl. She wanted to make sure I knew that she was a Buddhist and didn't believe in all the Jesus stuff but after receiving the note, she decided not to have an abortion and felt that it would all work out. This is what I feel happened in this situation that led me to give her the note and the money: SOMEONE, maybe a grandmother, maybe baby's daddy was praying or had a praying Momma but there was some reason The Lord could plant this seed and save this life. When I plant a seed, it will not fall to the ground. It can't be stolen by the enemy. It must perform what it was set out to do. When she spent that $20, she was God's. The enemy is legalistic but God can be too. He had a legal right to move in the situation now. We've kept in touch sporadically. She still says that she is very much a buddhist but I know God has good plans for her and her daughter who is alive because someone who was afraid of looking like an idiot, didn't have any clue what God was doing but stepped out and obeyed God anyway. After my two abortions, I should be the LAST person that God would use to intervene and save a life but that is the power of redemption. He gives me beauty for ashes. What the enemy meant for harm in my life, God uses for good. 

As I said, I normally do not give money directly because it sets up a powerful and powerless situation along with a dependency on me as the source. This encourages a poverty mentality and a "have" and "have not" situation when God loves us and is the only answer we need. We are all in need in different ways. Money isn't the answer. God is. If I give money, then they could perceive that coming from a person and not God. Usually when I have given money, I make sure and say that I felt God said to give it and I feel that it is in answer to a prayer for them. Most often, if someone needs money, I pray with them for God to meet their needs and that sets them up for a miracle from God and a relationship. I've seen it happen. I was at Mi Chulas again. They must love Jesus there because I sense the presence of The Lord there and have a lot of divine appointments there along with a lot of chips, salsa and tortilla soup. I get the cheese cut off of everything so I can eat more chips ;) I asked a young girl how her day was going. She said that it was stressful. She had been put in jail over the weekend because she didn't pay a speeding ticket which caused her to be late on her rent and she didn't know what she was going to do. I asked if I could pray for her. I saw her again a few weeks later and she said that the next day after our prayer, a woman who owned a maternity store had come in and out of the blue asked her if she needed a part time job. It would have been so easy to give her a little cash but now she had a steady source of income, she knew that God saw her predicament. He was woo-ing her with His love and promise of provision as His bride. My husband likes to quote the saying, "give a man a fish and he eats for the day. Teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. Money isn't a bad thing to give. Again, we have to be asking the Holy Spirit in every situation. Prayer and faith that He hears is normally the answer for Him to make a way where there seems to be none. 

My daughter had a job and was anticipating her first paycheck. She felt The Lord ask her to send an old friend $200. She was really excited about the shopping she could do but decided to send this friend a card along with the $200 cash. The friend responded that rent was due and there was no money. Even though this young person was a christian, she had considered stealing. She had been praying and then miraculously Monica's card and money arrived at just the right time. How sweet is God? He knows what we need and when we need it. He didn't punish this person but answered her prayer. He loves us so so so much it's crazy for me to imagine. He is faithful! Always and forever faithful! We can ask Him for what we need.  

I'm not sharing these things with you to toot my own horn. No, each time I do something like this I feel vulnerable and out of my element, but I do it anyway because His voice is the louder than my pride or fears. I know it's God and His power coupled with my obedience. He amazes me as I ask Him for confirmations and to see the fruit of these acts of obedience. 

Some tips on evangelism:

There's no formula to evangelism, just follow God. Evangelism is a moment by moment connection with God to stay on course. The following are some tips. It's not an exhaustive list and I invite you to dialogue with God about it but here are a few things that I have seen produce good fruit:


-PRAY! ASK GOD to lead
-intimacy with God so you know how to listen for His voice. you will have no lasting fruit unless you have an intimate relationship with God. 
-put the full armor of God on and bind the plans of the enemy-don't focus on sin or correction. Quite frankly it's none of your business and you have no voice unless you are in relationship with them
-ask the Holy Spirit what to say and stay connected to Him-love is not conditional upon them accepting Jesus
-Don't go in for the kill, in conversations get to know them, listen first before speaking-put the full armor of God on
-ask The Lord to lead you to divine appointments-be alert and watchful



obey: doesn't have to and probably will not make sense
decree: start with prayer and asking God then decree what you feel He is saying 
trust: leave it in Gods hands to fulfill the prayers 
What evangelism has looked like for me:
I like to plant seeds of love- gifts that can't be stolen like a rock that has an encouraging scripture on it or a devotional. I don't try to seal the deal. I allowed the Holy Spirit to bring them to a place where either they are talking to God personally or someone else will follow me. It says that Paul planted and Apollos watered it. We just all need to be doing our part and being obedient to the Holy Spirit. It's not our job to convince anyone of anything. 

We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Fan the flames in your heart. We can dismantle the old bomb of evangelism and do the greater things that Jesus promised. Debunk the stereotypical evangelist. Be kind, gentle and not loud or weird. Remember lost sheep can be skittish but they know their shepherd's voice and they will hear Him in your loving words and kind deeds. Follow Jesus on this Holy Spirit adventure and you will see miracles. 


Heres a link to the full blog:  http://jenniferlovesgod.blogspot.com/2013/10/modern-evangelists-wanted-no-blue-hair.html

Modern Evangelists wanted: no blue hair, must have all fingers, no special cloths needed

Modern Evangelists wanted:
no blue hair required
must have all fingers
no special cloths needed

I've had some crazy "divine appointments." What I consider a divine appointment could be characterized as evangelism or:
Being a disciple of Jesus
Evangelism literally means: bring or announce good news, preach.


my definition of evangelism: A disciple of Christ following His lead to be a good news messenger who shares the love and hope of the Father through a Holy Spirit led encounter. 

I was at Mi Chula's in Southlake one day. On the outside, I looked like anyone else who loves Mexican food but I was alert and watchful as I chain-smoked my chips and salsa.  I had a cute gift bag with a picture of a sun shining on it that said PRAISE. My eyes settled on a boisterous African American lady at the drink station. I felt like it was for her. She brought the sunshine inside with her. I walked up as if I was getting a drink and said, "I have this present and I felt like God said this was for you. I hope you have a great day knowing how loved you are." She replied, "Is it a bomb?" Most people respond with thank you but this was such a fun and maybe a tiny bit of a suspicious reaction. "No," I answered laughing. "I feel like God wants to show you how much He loves you today." What she said does ring true. When someone approaches to evangelize Jesus, it's normally an awkward, agenda motivated, and uncomfortable experience that produces no fruit and, well, sometimes it's a real bomb. However, God is rolling out a new evangelism program from the top down which means evacuating our church buildings to go out and seek and save those that are lost and in need of love. We want to bring people into the walls of the church but God commanded us to be OUTGOING. (see scriptures: Matt.10:8, Mk.16:15, Phil.2:15, Acts1:8, Matt.28:19, Rom.10:13-15, Acts13:47, 1 Chron.16:24, Lk.24:47, Nah.1:15, Matt.24:14, Is.40:9, Rev.14:6, Acts 8:12, Is.52:7, Acts 13:32, Ps.96:3, Acts 26:14-18)
If we try to evangelize those that come to the church only we are literally preaching to the choir. Those that need it most are left out in the cold. Ideally, when we are bringing people to know Christ, we aren't bringing them into a building but INTO an intimate relationship behind the veil with the One who created them and loves them.



In fact, thinking about evangelism in today's world does remind me of dismantling a ticking time bomb. There is the threat of running out of time with souls to save. Saying the wrong thing severs the wrong wire along with our connection. We chose the red wire coming in with some direct truth and it destroyed the relationship and ended up leaving both feeling rejected....or maybe we listened and prayed when we should have been direct with the truth. If we do nothing or make a wrong move, it explodes and blows everyone to hell. Evangelism has been given a bad name and it's time we rewire our connection to the Holy Spirit to make it effective. 

Jesus type of evangelism was healing the sick, raising the dead, making the dirty clean and driving out demons everywhere He went and imparting that ability to His disciples . (Matt.10:8) When people experienced the good news, they were sold out and sometimes Jesus never said a word! Admittedly, we aren't walking in this but He says ask and it will be given, seek and we will find, knock and the door will be opened. Rather than making excuses or living in fear, start asking for opportunities to do the greater things Jesus mentioned.


When I think of evangelists, I think of "televangelists"-crazy colored hair people on TV trying to sell me some special cloth dipped in anointing oil from Israel. With a financial seed sown, this "special" cloth will make all my problems disappear when wrapped within it. I also think of street evangelists who are avoided like the plague. Unfortunately, these two types of evangelists get a lot of attention. They give evangelist "love a bad name." Evangelism just really isn't done in the biblical sense. We invite people to church but normally without relationship. We "sell" our church but forget that the good news isn't found in a church bulletin or building but the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is UPON US! We have been anointed to preach the good news, heal the sick, raise the dead, bind up the broken hearted and set captives free by going out...not necessarily to another country but in our world..wherever we go since our steps are ordered by The Lord. Our current state of evangelism includes grouping up with like minded people while rejecting those who reject our beliefs.


In modern war movies today, bomb makers always have the telltale sign of missing a few fingers. That's what we have with modern evangelism. Bloody hands. God is rewiring the way I think on what this gift of service and ministry really looks like through His eyes. We need to keep all of our fingers and blow up the enemy's strongholds with precision, not us or others.


Below are some sure ways to bomb at evangelism:


Debby Downer does street evangelism (Fear Based)  We all know the girl (or guy) on the corner yelling her 'turn or burn' mantra creating her own unpopular and painful open mic night on a busy corner where people can't help but hear. Everyone seems to avoid Debby, and God love her, she isn't getting a whole lot of action. This is the gal who brushes off the rejection of her judgment of the world by quoting scriptures about how they hated Jesus so it doesn't bother her that they hate her too. She's going to keep preaching the "truth" without love. I mean she's there for THEM to SAVE their soul. Ingrates- hmmm wonder how much fruit she is seeing from her efforts to throw seeds at peoples heads and pitchforks at their hearts? My guess is none. 

The Used Car Salesman (Force and/or manipulation)
Zechariah 4:6 says "Not by might nor by power but BY MY SPIRIT says The Lord." God doesn't use force, guilt, coercion or manipulation. Fear tactics, we might sell "Jesus" but they quickly fall away recognizing that they didn't commit with their heart. I call this the bait and switch. We play on their fears or guilt them into a commitment and they are disappointed when their wildest dreams didn't come true. We sold them a lemon that has no engine or heart to keep them running. This false advertising makes them bitter with buyers remorse.

Fear based or forced evangelism creates bondage, rebellion and slavery through fear not love. If you truly love people from your heart and walk in a knowing of Gods love then they will see Him and want to know Him for themselves. I feel the same way about submission. When forced, it creates bondage and rebellion and slavery. Some act like you have to follow Jesus or you have to submit like you have to buy this car and it's your last chance. Yes, following Jesus is a wise thing to do because God is awesome and the best! God would never take away our choice to follow Him from our hearts though. He doesn't want external submission. He wants it from the heart. It's our choice. We need to know that we get to choose Him because He first loved us. We can approach evangelism this way without feeling and applying pressure.



Evangelism Jesus' style:There is no cookie cutter mold or formula for evangelism. We can see from Jesus' life that He was led by the Father through the Holy Spirit to some divine and pivotal moments with impeccable timing.  While we don't need to feel pressure, we do want to understand that God has set this whole thing up and prepared their heart for this moment and we have the choice to be obedient.  I see so much work being done by God to prepare for these divine moments and encounters that we let slip through our fingers.  He chose me with my lack of bible degree, inability to remember the exact location in the bible for a scripture, why? I have no idea. I think angels probably could explain things a little better but it's not my plan. While there is no pressure, we must be aware and obedient out looking for those that He wants to show His love to through us. 

Jesus was bold in confrontation. Please make a note that these special "in your face" war of words were always won by Jesus and were had with prideful religious people who claimed to see but were really blind. They were unteachable with a superiority complex because of their standing in the synagogue and their perceived lack of sin. For all their perfectness and outward zeal, they had zero relationship with the Father or they would have recognized Jesus as His son and their Savior. This type of religion drove Jesus cray cray...He threw tables around He was so angry at their treating His special things as if they were worthless. Jesus was not afraid of His "dark" side and despised the religious performance. Aren't Christians always supposed to be happy, encouraging and turn the other cheek. Anger is a big no-no. Guess pretending to be happy and not dealing with issues isn't biblical...huh? Just keep in mind, His anger was for the religious pretenders.

Jesus could also be kind and gentle. I like to think of what it would like to look into the eyes of Jesus and stare into the windows of His soul and feel the warmth of His light on my face (Matthew 6:22). I have met a few people who see others like Jesus did. Jesus kindness could be seen when He met up with the woman caught in the very act of adultery wisely protecting her from the rabid geologists who wanted to experiment the effects of throwing rocks at human flesh. A rich guy named Jairus begged Jesus to come heal his daughter. Along the way to J's house, a woman secretly stalked Him who suffered from a flipping twelve year period. Can you blame her? Her husband probably was clubbing people so she could get through. She would have been considered "unclean" by their standards but Jesus wasn't afraid of getting dirty. He knew that what He carried couldn't be contaminated. He had the ultimate stain remover in His blood. He went out of His way to touch the "untouchable" lepers. To the the leper who cried out "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean! (Jn 8:1-11) He responded with "I am willing." How kind is Jesus? He also was no respecter of persons or status. He wanted to help those who asked for or needed help no matter what their education level or social status. He loved the sick who knew they needed a doctor. Do we love the sick?

Love (motivation is Love and obedience to the Father) Our love for others must be coupled with an intense hatred towards the enemy who keeps them bound. It's like a momma nurturing, feeding and holding her baby close but willing to die fighting anyone who tries to harm it. She would never wound her baby because an attacker came against it. The anger would be misdirected. Most of us have one or the other. We are all love and nurture but no lions roar or all roar and attacking our own. Jesus's commands us to love AND to cast demons out. Are you walking in this power and authority. The enemy has been defeated. Pray, love God and love people. Love dismantles the bomb of evangelism and creates a direct hit to the plans of the enemy. Giving the love of Christ reminds me of the Motley Crue band member who wrote the song "Kick Start My Heart" after he overdosed on drugs. He was talking about the paramedic, who was also a big fan, inserting not one but two shots of adrenaline directly into his heart. These injections literally "kick started" his heart again. That's the power of the Holy Spirit that we carry with us. We can bring others back to life if we carry His love which allows us to get behind the walls and touch their heart.


I think of the time that I was going to get an abortion and the woman walked up to me practically throwing a plastic uterus at me. You're going to kill your child. I was so messed up in the head at that time that, unfortunately, it did not keep me from going through with the abortion so there was no fruit in her labors. In fact, after making that awful choice once, I felt condemned to hell and it became easier the second time. As determined as I was that day do you know what MAY have gotten my attention? If she had said, whatever you decide, God loves you and I'm here to talk, listen, pray with you. I MIGHT have stopped in my tracks at their lack of agenda and true concern and love for my plight. Regardless that type of loving approach would have gotten past my defenses and been planted as a seed in my heart. We've got to get out of the mentality that we can force or guilt people into changing. It creates more bondage. However, keep in mind, that bad responses don't always reflect a crash and burn in evangelism.

A lady planted a seed in my life about ten years ago. I was going through a divorce and she gave me a daily devotional. I was picking up my daughter from her friends house when Alma said "I bought this for you and I've been praying for you." I said little but was angry at my daughter, wrongly so, for sharing my most recent failure at love. I promptly threw the devotional in the back of my car and muttered, "great she felt sorry for me." I didn't throw it away. It was a sleeper agent seed on a timer. I kept it and about a year later had an undeniable meeting with God and the devotional suddenly turned up again like manna from heaven, I would read it daily as I was growing in my relationship with God. I ran into Alma again randomly and asked her to lunch. Through tears, I shared with her that even though I didn't respond well to her that she had planted that seed in my life and it bore fruit. My husband and I had divorced but we reconciled 7 years after our divorce and God had restored our covenant through her quiet prayers and simple acts of obedience.

There's no formula to evangelism, just follow God. Evangelism is a moment by moment connection with God to stay on course. The following are some tips. It's not an exhaustive list and I invite you to dialogue with God about it but here are a few things that I have seen produce good fruit:


-PRAY! ASK GOD to lead
-intimacy with God so you know how to listen for His voice. you will have no lasting fruit unless you have an intimate relationship with God.
-put the full armor of God on and bind the plans of the enemy-don't focus on sin or correction. Quite frankly it's none of your business and you have no voice unless you are in relationship with them
-ask the Holy Spirit what to say and stay connected to Him-love is not conditional upon them accepting Jesus
-Don't go in for the kill, in conversations get to know them, listen first before speaking-put the full armor of God on
-ask The Lord to lead you to divine appointments-be alert and watchful



obey: doesn't have to and probably will not make sense
decree: start with prayer and asking God then decree what you feel He is saying
trust: leave it in Gods hands to fulfill the prayers
What evangelism has looked like for me:
I like to plant seeds of love- gifts that can't be stolen like a rock that has an encouraging scripture on it or a devotional. I don't try to seal the deal. I allowed the Holy Spirit to bring them to a place where either they are talking to God personally or someone else will follow me. It says that Paul planted and Apollos watered it. We just all need to be doing our part and being obedient to the Holy Spirit. It's not our job to convince anyone of anything. 

I also like to take life groups out on "2x2 missions." I pray for the Holy Spirit to lead and we would draw names to send people out like in the bible Jesus "began to send them out two by two and gave them authority to cast out evil (impure) spirits." Mark 6:7 It was so fun to see how the Holy Spirit would pair up people with similar giftings. A couple of ladies who both have the gift of healing went to a local restaurant. Neither brought gifts to give away since they felt they were to pray for the sick. Imagine their surprise when they saw a walker planted by their table. They looked next to it and began a conversation with the woman who it belonged to. Small world or BIG GOD, she was in a walker because of an illness that one of the 2x2 party's mother had suffered through. They were able to pray for this woman who was offended at the church to have not only her body restored but her relationship with the church. 

Evangelism can mean bringing the kingdom and atmosphere of heaven to earth. Today a little whisper told me to go to Southlake TnSquare. I really thought I would have a divine appointment so I sat on a park bench and waited. Nothing...Did I miss you God? No one came. I then felt led to pray over the area and decreed what I felt led to pray about. As I was walking to my car I saw all these signs about a parade. Then I found out they were having a carnival and a parade that evening. It clicked in my Spirit. Whatever plans the enemy had for that night had been scrapped and God had a new plan to bring his Spirit here through prayer. What we do is important, what we say is power and what we pray changes the world into His Kingdom. Maybe you think I'm wrong...maybe it was a coincidence, my imagination but if I'm right and I heard God and obeyed then I just changed history. God is responsible for the outcome. I just obey! What have you got to lose??

I was studying at LaMadeline's when I looked up and saw a girl working the cash register. I felt like God had something to say so I asked Him. This thought sounded like my own but I heard "tell her I love her and I will take care of her." I tried to reason with this voice-we are in the bible belt and everyone knows Jesus loves them. The voice persisted so I wrote the note on a torn off piece of scrap paper which seemed fairly lame. I also felt like He wanted me to give her $20 which I normally don't do. I have to say that I hated every second of this process and felt awkward. I was new at hearing and following the voice of God in these situations and really felt like I was making things up. Still, I handed the folded up piece of paper with the $20 inside and said, "This is for you" to which she replied "Is it trash?" This was not going well. "No, it's a note for you." I walked out feeling like a complete weirdo. 

A year later, I went back to that restaurant. The same young lady was there and said, "You're the note lady." Oh great, I thought. She remembers that... I was hoping we could pretend that never happened but there was no getting out of it without lying. "Yes, yes, I am." She came over and told me a little bit of her story. She was single, pregnant and considering an abortion. This is the good news-she KEPT her precious baby and had a little girl. She wanted to make sure I knew that she was a Buddhist and didn't believe in all the Jesus stuff but after receiving the note, she decided not to have an abortion and felt that it would all work out. This is what I feel happened in this situation that led me to give her the note and the money: SOMEONE, maybe a grandmother, maybe baby's daddy was praying or had a praying Momma but there was some reason The Lord could plant this seed and save this life. When I plant a seed, it will not fall to the ground. It can't be stolen by the enemy. It must perform what it was set out to do. When she spent that $20, she was God's. The enemy is legalistic but God can be too. He had a legal right to move in the situation now. We've kept in touch sporadically. She still says that she is very much a buddhist but I know God has good plans for her and her daughter who is alive because someone who was afraid of looking like an idiot, didn't have any clue what God was doing but stepped out and obeyed God anyway. After my two abortions, I should be the LAST person that God would use to intervene and save a life but that is the power of redemption. He gives me beauty for ashes. What the enemy meant for harm in my life, God uses for good. 

As I said, I normally do not give money directly because it sets up a powerful and powerless situation along with a dependency on me as the source. This encourages a poverty mentality and a "have" and "have not" situation when God loves us and is the only answer we need. We are all in need in different ways. Money isn't the answer. God is. If I give money, then they could perceive that coming from a person and not God. Usually when I have given money, I make sure and say that I felt God said to give it and I feel that it is in answer to a prayer for them. Most often, if someone needs money, I pray with them for God to meet their needs and that sets them up for a miracle from God and a relationship. I've seen it happen. 

I was at Mi Chulas again. They must love Jesus there because I sense the presence of The Lord there and have a lot of divine appointments there along with a lot of chips, salsa and tortilla soup. I get the cheese cut off of everything so I can eat more chips ;) I asked a young girl how her day was going. She said that it was stressful. She had been put in jail over the weekend because she didn't pay a speeding ticket which caused her to be late on her rent and she didn't know what she was going to do. I asked if I could pray for her. I saw her again a few weeks later and she said that the next day after our prayer, a woman who owned a maternity store had come in and out of the blue asked her if she needed a part time job. It would have been so easy to give her a little cash but now she had a steady source of income, she knew that God saw her predicament. He was woo-ing her with His love and promise of provision as His bride. My husband likes to quote the saying, "give a man a fish and he eats for the day. Teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. Money isn't a bad thing to give. Again, we have to be asking the Holy Spirit in every situation. Prayer and faith that He hears is normally the answer for Him to make a way where there seems to be none. 

My daughter had a job and was anticipating her first paycheck. She felt The Lord ask her to send an old friend $200. She was really excited about the shopping she could do but decided to send this friend a card along with the $200 cash. The friend responded that rent was due and there was no money. Even though this young lady was a christian, she had considered stealing. She had been praying and then miraculously Monica's card and money arrived at just the right time. How sweet is God? He knows what we need and when we need it. He didn't punish this person but answered her prayer. He loves us so so so much it's crazy for me to imagine. He is faithful! Always and forever faithful! Don't be afraid to ask Him for what you need.

I'm not sharing these things with you to toot my own horn. No, each time I do something like this I feel vulnerable and out of my element, but I do it anyway because His voice is the louder than my pride or fears. I know it's God and His power coupled with my obedience. He amazes me as I ask Him for confirmations and to see the fruit of these acts of obedience. We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Fan the flames in your heart. We can dismantle the old bomb of evangelism and do the greater things that Jesus promised. Debunk the stereotypical evangelist. Be kind, gentle and not loud or weird. Remember lost sheep can be skittish but they know their shepherd's voice and they will hear Him in your loving words and kind deeds. Follow Jesus on this Holy Spirit adventure and you will see miracles.

Running with the Turtles

Have you read the old fable "The Tortoise and the Hare" or heard the saying "that slow and steady wins the race?" I appreciate this tale more now than as a child.   I mean who wants to be a slow turtle even if you do finish the race?    

I  began to learn the art of resting in Him and letting my inner turtle come out while training for a half marathon.  Instead of performing for the crowd, I had to pace myself during training to not expend all my energy in the first mile.  I had to train my body to take little sips of it to get through the grueling miles.  I knew that God had set me up to run this race. I agreed to run it to raise funds to battle Leukemia and Lymphoma not knowing anyone who had this potentially deadly disease but during my training a family member was diagnosed. 

During training, my flesh would fail time and time again.   The failure was very consistent.  Each and every time, I met my breaking point where I felt I could not go on but I had committed.  Could I quit when I had a family member going through the exact thing that I was running for?  so I had to show up relying on His strength. It's a team effort though.  I’m willing to show up and then He provides what I need but, dang, it's hard to rest in Him ;)  Should it be HARD to REST? but that's the way it is when we transition from our human strength to His.

Instead of running with the Nike Swoosh signifying Just Do It on my back,  I felt like I was carrying some really nice and heavy Louis Vuitton luggage and not the zippy roller kind.  I play soccer, I like to hike, participate in bootcamps, I'm not a fitness wienie so I did not understand why I didn't just magically have wings on my shoes.  One day, I limped home after my running buddies had left me in the dust.  I was embarrassed that i couldn't keep up.  I was hurting because I had tried to.    I'm usually a cold soldier who "pretends" to have it all together but this running was getting the better of me.  I exaggerated my limp as I came into the house really wanting God to see it. I'm not prone to fit throwing, trying to get sympathy, or allowing my emotions to get the better of me because I like to be "strong."  Well not on this particular day... on this day, I had a MELT DOWN of the two year old degree!   I saw a pillow on the couch and thought, "That won't break anything if I throw it," so i did.  I was too afraid to cuss out loud at God but boy was I trash talking Him in my head  ;)  I bellowed through my house, "You could heal me and you won't!!!  You don't care about me!  If you did, you would help me run faster and my leg wouldn’t hurt and it wouldn’t be hard and you aren’t even listening to my prayers!  What?  Do I have to beg you? Oh, Yeah, and those girls who left me were mean!" I saw a book on the coffee table. I picked it up and thought it was a safe venting utensil so I threw it at the wall.  (Don't worry it was a paperback)  

I was picking up the pillow to give it another toss when the kind lady who cleans my house poked her head around the corner and asked timidly, "Are you okay, Jennifer?"  I stopped in mid-throw and rant like a kid toilet papering a neighbor's house. GULP.   Dang, when did she get here?  Probably while I was out getting my butt handed to me on my run.   I apologized and said it was nothing.  She asked if I was hurt since I was limping. She guided me to the couch where she sat me down. This amazing and humble 90 lb woman took my shoe and sock off and prayed in her language.  She massaged my nasty and sweaty foot as I tried to protest.  I finally quit telling her no because she pretended not to hear me.  I just cried and cried at the embarrassment of the humbling situation.   She said that she had an elderly neighbor with no family that she changed diapers so this was not uncomfortable for her for.  I cheered myself momentarily in the fact that I wasn't wearing a diaper even though I was acting like I should be.   She liked to care for people who needed help but the problem was I didn’t like receiving help.   What an example of the heart of Jesus towards me felt like Peter, when He said "Lord, don't wash  just my feet. Wash my hands and head as well." (Jn 13:9)  He wanted to love me in this way and I had to let my plastic and useless self-sufficient armor to receive it.  Not a comfortable feeling for me.  I couldn't always be the strong one and rely on being wantless and needless.  I wanted to help others, give to others but she loved me and gave to me and that was a hard and humble pill to swallow.  She didn't judge me for my fit or correct me and tell me how good God was.  She showed me.  Her hands were His as she washed my filthy feet. 

I think we go through seasons and learn lessons in life that build the foundation for the already won victory in every area.  Some seasons are harder than others.  I can tell you that I wrestled with God while training for the half marathon.  He brought all sorts of things out of my heart that were hidden and didn't belong.  I had injuries that He didn't miraculously heal. He's freaking God for Christ's sake so it was within His power to do so but He chose not to!  In my weakness, He was proving that He was strong.  Did I want to be like Jacob, wrestle with God and have a permanent limp or would I let Him carry me?

Have you seen the deodorant commercial with the tag line "Never let them see you sweat?"  Well, I had a Jennifer tag line, “Never let them see ya cry.” To say crying was out of character is an understatement but God was unearthing my reliance on my own strength.  On another melt down day,  I literally stopped and sat down at a picnic table during my run and had a boo hoo, snot slinging fit.  Sure, the kids on the jungle gym at Harmony Park looked at me funny but they didn't judge me because they aren't afraid to show their emotions to anyone when they aren't happy with life.  They looked on with a comforting and empathetic “I know, baby.  I know. We've been there. Get it all out. Somebody get this lady a juice pack and change her diaper asap.”

Running may come easy to some but it did not come easy to me. Step by step when my flesh would fail me, I would cry out to Him-sometimes in anger, sometimes in fear that I couldn't go on…that I would fail but I didn't quit when it got hard.  I learned to persevere by asking for His help, walking when I couldn't run, to limp when I hurt and taking a rest when I needed one.  I can't stay that slow and steady WON the race but I finished and it was a glorious experience crossing through the finish line after 13.1 miles.  I CAN say that I enjoyed every second of it which was a big surprise and victory for me after my dismal training.  

The most important thing that I learned was that it's not by might nor by power but by His Spirit.  I think in those times, we learn to fly on wings like eagles with our God and see things from His perspective up high and that's the season that I love:  We no longer have to push our way to the front, show our strength by sheer will, have to be number 1 but neither do we have to seek people's help in getting to where we need to go.  He provides every single thing we need along the way.  God ushers us on a private jet to the front of the line. Wow! What a Dad! 

Life is like a marathon.  We are running the race with endurance.  Looking for the finish line and for His kind of victory to become a reality in our life.  He wants us to run to Him as a little child and that may mean tears or it may mean acting immature with Him when you don't get your way just as long as we come to Him.  My husband makes me mad but I'm not going anywhere.  If we stick with God through the hard times and don't turn away from Him, we begin to understand how faithful He is and a deep abiding trust is born.   We will make it to the finish line. We trust Him, that come what may, we will get to the other side together.   If we give up on God, turn away and divorce Him then we will never experience the deep intimacy that only comes from sticking together through the hard times.  It may mean telling Him that you are done trying but there’s a beauty in that.  He carries us.  He loves you especially then because we are truly resting in Him.  

Wherever you are in the process, there will be a transition where you learn that the flesh is weak but in your weakness He becomes the only strength that you need.  In Him we find not only rest but also the victory.  

Muffin Mafia Princess

Muffin Mafia Princess

I was eating at a local restaurant when two adorable little girls who were about 4-5-ish came in with their mothers.  Holding hands, they skipped in both dressed in complete cute-ness with matching blue ballerina costumes.  

They were seated at their table when one little girl's mom excused herself for a potty break and maybe for some time away from the energetic little ballerina princess ;)  At that moment, the other mother/daughter team's food arrived.  The Mommy-less young girl eyed their food and noticed that the other "couple" both had muffins.  

The little girl immediately, and loudly I might add, shared of her love for muffins as she looked longingly at the pair sitting on the table that were not available to her. Think whiney and picture her tiny hand on her hip, as she then looked at her dear friend and asked, "Can I have your muffin?"  Her friend shook her head, "No, this is my muffin."  That’s when the Little Ballerina Princess went to her alter ego: Muffin Mafia Princess.   If this little girl had, in fact, been recruited at this tender age into the mafia, she would have put a hit out on this tutu wearing traitor that she had once called friend.  I think Muffin Mafia Princess (MMP) would have settled for half of the muffin but tutu wasn’t giving it up.  You find out who your real friends are in situations like these ;)

She looked at her friend's mommy and this time changed her tone to demure, "Could I have your muffin please?" Her bestie's  mommy responded with a "No, you have your own food coming."  "But I didn't order a muffin," she said in distress. She kept repeating how much she liked muffins and this went on for several minutes while momma was taking her siesta in the baño.  She looked around several times for her mom as if she knew mom could somehow make this muffin thing happen for her. Others looked on with disapproval at the spectacle that MMP was making.  I could almost hear their thoughts:  demanding, selfish, be quiet,  you’re a loud little girl, you don't deserve a muffin acting like that.

Mom decided to return and MMP started quizzing her about the muffin quandary.  Finally, the owner of the store came over and apparently after overhearing the little girl’s not so quiet pleas said, "I found a muffin for you!" I didn’t get the impression that she was trying to quiet her.  No, this was a grandmotherly type who probably would want someone to have mercy on her own grandchild in the same situation. The other little girl, sensing a loss of superiority said, "But she didn't order a muffin so she shouldn't get one." Some best friend you are ;) The owner of the restaurant then explained that she could give her a muffin as a GIFT.  The parable of the workers in Matthew 20 mentions that people get jealous when others receive something as a gift instead of working like they did for it.  In verse 20 the owner says "Don't I have a right to do what I want with my own money?  or are you jealous that I'm generous?"  

At the site of her desire fulfilled, the  distraught little Muffin Mafia Princess was suddenly transformed back into Happy Ballerina Princess.  She beamed and said thank you as if the muffin placed before her was a golden crown and maybe it was.  She had her muffin injustice made right. She realized she wasn’t a muffin pauper but a muffin princess.    

Some might say that muffin girl should be happy with what she ordered but what if she  didn't realize a muffin was available to her until she saw that her so called friend had one?  ;)

Some could argue that her attitude was all wrong, she might have been considered petulant, manipulating, begging, badgering, indignant and she was even demanding to have what she was missing out on but available to others.  As for me, I was laughing and secretly trying to video ;) I was also thinking of the persistent widow mentioned in Luke.  Talk about a pit bull.  This lady threatened this judge so much it was making him physically ILL! 

Luke 18: 1-8 Then Jesus taught the followers that they should always pray and never lose hope.  He used this story to teach them: "Once there was a judge in a town. He did not care about God. He also did not care what people thought about him. In that same town there was a woman whose husband had died. She came many times to this judge and said, ‘There is a man who is doing bad things to me. Give me my rights!’ But the judge did not want to help the woman. After a long time, the judge thought to himself, ‘I don’t care about God. And I don’t care about what people think. But this woman is bothering me. If I give her what she wants, then she will leave me alone. But if I don’t give her what she wants, she will bother me until I am sick.’ The Lord said, “Listen, there is meaning in what the bad judge said. God’s people shout to him night and day, and he will always give them what is right. He will not be slow to answer them.I tell you, God will help his people quickly. But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find people on earth who believe in him?”

Other people are not the answer.  We cannot and must not look to them for our help.  Where does our help come from?  Our help comes from The Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.  We can't have an expectation that our bestie or her mom are going to give up their muffins to feed our hunger.  The owner of the muffins on a thousand plates (Psalm 50:10) has what we need and if we ask Him then we can trust that He will answer us.  

 I think the store owner represents the heart of Father God and He doesn't think the way that we do.  God's in charge and when He hears his children cry, by God, He answers.  People who don't know this about God have a hard time understanding generosity.  Gifts must be earned, you must be patient discouraging persistence asking even though that is contrary to what God says about asking. What we don't understand is that kids who have their needs met can then CHOOSE to give and be generous knowing that they will be provided for.  Being a parent takes wisdom and kids who know they are loved and don't feel like they have to earn love and provision by being good, can proactively give out of a spirit of abundance and not reacting to life out of a spirit of poverty. 

 I can’t see God responding to our needs the world’s way.  He would be cruel and unkind if He did.  Sometimes He does say no and we trust Him but don’t stop asking Him.  Be persistent.  I was praying for my daughter to get a job in the field that she desired to work in.  She had a job offer but it wasn’t where she wanted to be.  Some advised her to take what she could get.  Sadly, without hearing from the Holy Spirit, I did too because I didn't understand this concept and was motivated by fear that another opportunity might not come.  When she followed our earthly wisdom, she was miserable.   In faith, she left that job and God miraculously opened the door for a job.   When I prayed, I felt God said, “My answer to Monica is always yes.  I have to put some things together for her but the answer is yes.”  He wasn’t teaching her patience that would come regardless.  He was teaching her persistence and believing that He wanted to give her the desires of her heart.  She didn’t have to take a job that didn’t line up with her dreams...that she doesn’t have to marry someone that she doesn’t like.  He’s a good Dad and every GOOD and PERFECT gift comes from Him.  Sometimes we settle when we should be asking our Father for what we want. Hope deferred makes the heart sick but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)  

The passage below shows how God is the greatest Dad and we can ASK HIM FOR WHAT WE WANT.  He doesn’t give us lettuce when we ask for a muffin just like the owner didn’t rush her non-muffin food plate out to quiet her.  The owner brought her what she asked for.  If we really want something, He will get it. I’m taking God at His word when He says:

Matthew 7:7-11 “Continue to ask, and God will give to you…Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Do any of you have a son? If he asked for bread (a muffin), would you give him a rock. You people are so bad, but you still know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him."

Earthly wisdom's moral of the story:  You snooze, you lose.  You get what you get and you like it.  Too bad so sad. Sucks to be you but I got a muffin, Sucker.

Poverty mentality moral of the story:  Get it while you can because there may not be any more.  Your needs and desires are irrelevant.  You are unimportant and should be wantless and needless.  You are selfish if you have needs.  God's holding out on you because you haven't been good enough.  He gives everyone else the best but not you. 

God's moral of the story:  

He loves to give His children good gifts and he's not judging us. When you have faith that He loves you as His child, you look to Him to meet every need and aren't afraid to ask.  He wants to give us the desires of our heart...even if it's a muffin. ASK HIM!

The World Needs a Hero

It was a typical hot Texas summer  Sunday.  We let our teenagers sleep in and went to our normal 12:30 pm church service then headed out for our family lunch.  

However, there were a lot of things that weren't typical about this day as I look back now and review this day forever etched in my mind. We had a pleasant afternoon breeze instead of our normal suffocating and sweltering heat so when offered a covered patio seat, we took it.  My husband, Jonathon, and I received a gift card to Coal Vines, a local wine and pizza restaurant so we decided to try it for a change rather than our usual Brio brunch.  As we sat down, we noticed the table of eight women enjoying their mimosas like gaggling geese. We ordered our late lunch and were enjoying our time with the kids. 

The women next to us were having so much fun that we might have missed her first cries for help but her frantic scream silenced them. "He's trying to kill me!" she both cried out and whimpered as she came out of the boutique and into view.  The young teenage girl was visibly in distress.  We all sat stunned unsure of what to do.  Assessing the potential seriousness of the situation, and in a split second,  my husband and I both jumped out of our chairs and I ran to her. The mellowed and stunned party of eight looked on startled and confused. They were closer to her but made no movement.  My husband hanging back so as not to frighten her further.  

I was holding her sweet little shaking shoulders.  "Who, sweetie? Who is trying to kill you?" I asked.  She just kept repeating that someone was trying to kill her.  "Is it your boyfriend?  Are you hurt?" I asked.  She quickly jumped behind me and pushed me in front of her like a shield and said, "That's Him!"  A man walked quickly out the front door of the boutique next to the restaurant.  He was only 20 yards away from us. He stared at us with cold, dead eyes.  I stepped back and she held tighter.  It was creepy and I wasn't sure if he would come for her.  I made the decision in my heart that he would have to go through me first.  I was not going to abandon this fragile and scared little bird behind me.  The character walking towards us did not look like this beautiful young girl's boyfriend.  He had long hair and was tucking something in his back pocket that we later found out was a knife. I looked for my husband to help because I thought that it might be a gun.  I didn't see Jonathon because he had gone back to our table and was sprinting to his truck to get our concealed handgun (yes, I have a license)  Instead of coming towards us the  unkempt and scary looking man then took off running and quickly disappeared.   

We called 911 and then focused our attention on the girl.  She was shaking, crying and holding on to me.  I held her and said, "It's okay, sweetie.  God saved you.  He preserved your life.  We never eat here and He sent us here just for you so He could protect you."  She caught her breath and wanted to call her dad who arrived in a jiffy.  I also told her father that God had intervened for his(His) daughter.  

This sweet, precious and terrified young woman then related what happened and we were finally able to piece things together.  She was 16 years old and had been working at the boutique alone.  A man had come in claiming to be an inspector and had asked her to lean over and unplug an outlet so he could test it.  He then put a knife to her throat.  He told her that they would walk together to the front door and that she was going to lock it.  He didn't tell her what he would do next but, unfortunately, we can guess that he intended to harm her and, in doing so, alter her life forever.  His plan went awry because God had a very different plan for this brave young woman.  As they started walking towards the door, she took off and that's when she ran out into the light and into God's planned rescue.  


In these pivotal moments in life where there is no time to weigh our options or assess danger, we have already internally decided what we are going to do long before we show up.  We can either hang back and regret it for the rest of our lives or take a chance and potentially put ourselves in harms way.  On 9/11/2001, many brave heroes took that chance and paid the price.  Thankfully, I didn't have to that day but, by my choice, I was made willing.  Mother's know this with their children.  It would be a fight to my last breath and death if someone tried to harm my children.  God loves us like that BUT MORE!  God NEVER ignores our cries for help.   He put himself in harms way and didn't JUST die for us.  He endured torture that marred him beyond recognition...that was far worse than death.  Stripe by stripe, He loved us in a way that no one else ever could or would.  He is the ultimate hero because He loved us first and without reciprocation.  His love for us knows no ends.   What if we hadn't helped this young woman and said this is NOT MY PROBLEM? She still would have gotten away from the maniac BUT she would NOT have known that God protected her and was her rescuer.  I believe that meant more than her physical life being preserved.  Her soul was potentially preserved.  I know that seed that was planted will bear fruit.  Instead of being a victim, she knows that God loves her.



Each day offers us new opportunities to love others and to be heroes.  Some aren't as dramatic as the day I described but we can all be a shield from the enemy over someone in our own uniquely built way.    The enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus brings life and we carry His power. We can defend and protect them by using the gifts that He has given us.  If your gift is encouragement you can lift someone up when they are down or you can be a shoulder for them to cry on.  For those who have lost hope that the angel will ever stir the waters up for them again, we can challenge them to get up because life can be good again.  

I have a friend, Polly, who once worked in a topless bar and now she spends Fridays traveling to local strip clubs.  She and her team at www.wearecherished.com bravely battle the enemy for these women's hearts by giving them gifts that show they are cherished daughters. The enemy and some Christians say these women are trash but God says they are His Princesses.   I have another friend, Rebecca, who is throwing a baby shower for a same sex couple.  We can't control people but we can love them.  She isn't condoning anything but following the lead of the Holy Spirit and being obedient.  She has spent countless dollars and hours planning this shower to show them that God doesn't hate them but, in fact, loves them.  If and when the opportunity presents itself, Rebecca will speak, but, regardless, she has planted a seed of love and IT WILL BEAR FRUIT because of her obedience. Being led by the Holy Spirit means that you do what He tells you to do,  when He tells you to do it.  I remember when I'm tempted to judge that Jesus saved his harshest words for the religious and "perfect" people and His love and compassion for those sick, needy, and broken.  Just like Jesus stood between the woman caught in the act of adultery and her accusers armed with stones in their hand, we must be willing to die before we have any authority to speak to their sin.  Rebecca's love for these women COST her  and she now has a voice in their life that rejection, hate or disgust would never allow.   

There's a superhero in Polly and in Rebecca and in me...there's a superhero in all of us and His name is Jesus.   Let Him loose.  

http://biblehub.com/isaiah/58-6.htm

http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/1-4.htm

http://biblehub.com/john/5-7.htm

Is God Two-Faced?

Is God Two-Faced?

God’s Justice and Grace

Part 1 of 2

When I truly submitted my life to God at the age of 32, I felt peace for the first time.  Yet, my glasses to view Him were the wrong prescription.  Distortedly, I viewed His justice as harshness and the graceful peace through performance lenses.  Based on our skewed perceptions and some hell, fire and brimstone, some of us see His justice as a weapon to be used against us.  Growing up without feeling love perverted my view of God's justice and grace.  If God was a two-sided coin, then some days I'd flip my God coin and feel like it landed on a harsh task master. Other days I'd flip it and feel a distant, disinterested "tails" telling me I hadn't earned his approval or grace once again. Every sermon I heard seemed to reinforce this view because of my vision problem:  try harder, do better, stop sinning and start doing good.  

We seem to find what we are looking for.  Instead of seeing God for who He is, with bifocal intensity, I constantly stared at my reflection.  My flaws were "funhouse mirror" big and His grace and love couldn't be found in the picture.   I wasn't being transformed into His image because I was staring at my own.   I  started working for God by getting involved in a recovery program where all my efforts seemed futile. The spiritual treadmill that I had myself on was exhausting, and I quickly tired and felt empty.   I experienced frustration most of the time because His grace wasn't for sale.  

As two sides are part of the same coin, so justice and grace are two sides of the same God that seem counter to each other but can't be separated. The urban dictionary defines two-faced in the following way, "When someone is nice to you in person but when not in person talks sh*t behind your back," while according to Merriam-Webster, it means  "hypocritical."  It's hard to explain God because He is indescribable.  Our definitions don't fit Him.  Using Urban dictionary-onics He is nice in person but behind your back, He is talking some sh*t to the enemy of your soul. 

God expresses His grace and justice, not in hypocrisy, but like a mother lioness who gently nurses and cleans her cubs with a soft touch.  In the event of a predator attack with intent on harming or separating her from her beloved babies, she would literally have the offender for lunch.   God's love is protective and ferocious like a Lion roaring so loud that the earth under our feet trembles.  He is The Lion defending His Pride in absolute dominion for His kingdom. No contest, He is the King of our jungle. This is the love of our Father and those are pictures of what His justice looks like.

"God is not a human that He should lie, not a human being, that he should change His mind...".  Yet, He has a personality that seems incongruous at times.  So how do you get to know God?   He says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."(Jer.29:13).  He seems elusive at times in our lives, yet, we are able to see Him, like Moses, face to face as one speaks to a friend (Ex.33:11).  God is feared by all for His justice but gives His friend's grace.  As we seek connection and intimacy with Him, He calls us friends.  In His gaze, we can see His unyielding love and His grace-filled justice.

A single mountain has different sides that have different climbing terrain. One face of the mountain can be gentle, forgiving, beautiful and pleasant to experience and the other side, sometimes known as the "north face" can be hard, unyielding, unforgiving, and even insurmountable...  There are so many facets, or faces, of God like a brilliant diamond-- reflecting His heart to us.  He loves us so much.  He is a God full of grace...a kind God.   He wants us to "...experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully." (Eph 3:19).  We could know Him for a thousand years and another thousand years more and never have fully experienced  who He is.  WOW!   "...Day and night they never stop saying: Holy, Holy, Holy is The Lord God Almighty" (Rev.4:8).   To be enraptured with gazing at His face, as if we were two star-crossed lovers finally reunited.  The distance had felt so great that we never wanted to stop gazing at Him for fear that we might miss another moment being caught up for eternity in His wonderfulness.

We are His and He is fierce for our hearts. His justice is protection at all costs even at the cost of laying down His life. If we accept His love and sacrifice, We will be reunited with Him in eternity and never, ever experience the fear of separation from His love again. Since "...the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God," (Deut.4:24), He is not willing to be separated from us. He will destroy anything that hinders us from being intimate with Him including our actions, our apathy, or other's actions.  We choose other things to love, befriend, to gaze at, to adore, spend time and money on or to give our body and souls to.  God’s powerful grace transformed me from an unfaithful woman who was addicted to attention into a faithful woman who is dependent upon His attention. Still, "If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is." (2Tim. 2:13) He never gives up on having our hearts.   

In Ezekiel 30, God is so devastated and angry that the Israelites rely on Egypt for protection. Once again, God's people become Egypt's slaves trusting in Egypt's strength and protection and not God’s.  God says He "...will break the arms of Pharaoh, then Pharaoh will cry out in pain, the kind of cry a dying man makes." How is that for graceful justice?  It is a singlehanded wrecking ball intent on destroying and removing anything we trust in other than Him.  

For me, my Egypt was men and their attention. I looked to them to fill the insatiable yearning and hunger for attention and affection but it never satisfied. I would walk away from each failed relationship feeling used. How could it be a  love that could be trusted  when they were using me and I was using them to get my addiction for attention filled...there is no giving in this type of love, only taking.   Love The Lord your God with all your soul and strength. He cares for you and loves you tenderly. His destruction and removal of all of the things we cling to other than Him can hurt but, in reality, it is so loving.   As a husband would be jealous for His bride, His love would break the arms of the man that would try to steal His wife.

Admittedly I used the "two-faced" phrase to challenge your thinking about God, to reflect on your pre-conceived ideas about who He is as a God of justice AND grace.  Some of us like to camp out on the "grace" face of the mountain and others are more comfortable seeking justice but He is both.  You now have an opportunity for you to seek answers from Him for yourself...have a face to face meeting.  We can then each see a side of God up close and personal in our lives that we can share with others. 

Jesus, break our chains and the arms of anything that keeps us from receiving your love for us.  We want to speak to you face to face as a friend.  I ask that you would reveal a true picture of grace and justice to every person reading this blog.  Help them to see you clearly with new vision in Jesus' name and by His power.

Part two is coming sooooooon!