I'm back... again!

Greetings in His name,

It's been a while but my writing bug has bitten again and this time I thought it best to upgrade. There have been many factors to my hiatus from writing but I still know that the motto behind this publication is true – Live_Life is GOoD! Today’s blog is entitled Playing Church. Hope you find some inspiration, conviction, and queries. love

Shalom,

heidi

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We have all heard the saying, "They just playing church." Why do we say that and why does it appear to be true? One of the reasons may be we don’t fully understand the history behind the word - CHURCH. Church was not initially purposed nor designed to be a place of housing 'religious folks' but we were to be the living, moving, breathing, thriving heart of God. Yes, just like Shirley Caesar with her siblings playing church on the back porch, men and women of God are mounting the pulpit guiding parishioners through worship with no real heart for God – stay tuned next month when we deal with the Institutionalized Church. For many of us we have made our physical buildings more important than Jesus, so much so Christ looks down from above and says I see buildings, with my name out front, filled with people frolicking about their church while not possessing the power to overcome the world, nor their flesh. I encourage you to stop playing – if you are and make Jesus important.

Make Jesus Important: You Got To Be Connected (Psalm 138:8a KJV)

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. It’s good to have insurance but even greater to have assurance. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6 God decided long ago that He would do for you what most can’t and that is to fulfill every promise He has forecast over your life. And not only that but at some point, in life, we have the awesome privilege to bring to Him our unanswered concerns and there find the answer that continues the cycle of God perfecting or God completing all things that pertain to us. God, even though He sits high and looks low, has proven himself to be a Father to me in that He not only sees me, but He knows me, and daily demonstrates that He cares for me. Your concerns, great or small, are God’s concerns. In this verse God is not agitated or overwhelmed by our earthly concerns; things we worry about, people we may fear, and anxiety that come when overcome by life. But God is throwing out assurance that He is completing those things that He has purposed for us from the beginning. If I may give you my own translation of this section of scripture, “rest assured that God is making happen those things He set in motion from the start of time regarding you.”

Make Jesus Important: Work on the Connection (Psalm 138:8b KJV)

Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever. It’s good to have coverage but it’s even greater to have compassion. The Word tells us that God’s compassions fail not. This compassion that God extends to us is eternal and it never changes – unless you play the part of a knuckle head and God have to extend his hand of wrath, which to me is a greater witness of his ever loving compassion. Have you ever heard people say that as a parent decides to bring out the chastening rod, ‘this is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurts you?’ Of course at the time you couldn’t find that true but with age and probably with children of your own you now realize that was shear compassion shining forth. To love me is to correct me. Well God has that same enduring mercy – compassion towards us. Unlike most insurance companies who offer differing forms of accident forgiveness (i.e. so called compassion) the end result, if you don’t meet their terms or if you have not proven yourself loyal, get ready for your premium to go up – SOME COMPASSION! As I said before insurance coverage has proven to be good at times but all the time God’s continued goodness, kindness and faithfulness has proven to be beyond good – absolutely grand! This section of scripture in my own words, “your ever loving compassion Lord flows constantly to me like a river flows.”

Make Jesus Important: Stay Connected (Psalm 138:8c KJV)

Forsake not the works of thine own hands. It’s good to have security but it’s greater to have sanctuary. Because I am fearfully and wonderfully made I can rest assured that God will secure his investment in me. God has promised not to abandon His work. Often times it is our overwhelming concentration on our inabilities that cast us from his hand. Do you not know that you are safe in His hands? In His hands is more than security from the mishaps of life but in His hands is sanctuary. That no matter the event His solace is there. Don’t get me wrong insurance can bring solace but it is only through the security of having it that relief comes. Are you safe today? Have you found a place of shelter in God? Or is it a series of accidents, wrecks, and one night stands; using him only when you need him?

Make Jesus IMPORTANT!

Shirley Caesar’s mother in the song went and looked out and saw Shirley crying and praising God and she knew and said, “She ain’t playing now.” God only knows the heart but I tell you when you have an encounter with the risen Lord He becomes important and those around you will know – you ain’t playing now.

LIFE QUOTE

Find you own Calcutta -Mother Theresa

(Where are you called to find Christ in distressing disguise?)

Let Us Laugh!

A little girl was asked why she was sitting on her watch and she said, “So I can BE on time!”