Unity in Jesus Christ

It's time for the body of Christ around the world, across denominations, to come together in unity! Lets put aside what doesn't matter and embrace what really matters. Jesus prayed this over His people: "I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me." John 17:23 NLT
What really matters?
"Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12



"For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." Romans 10:13

Be Filled with Holy Spirit

A really great 11 minute teaching on being filled with the Holy Spirit and how to understand what that means is located here.
Nisa really explains the concept in a way that is simple to understand and also shares some of her own experience.
Often people are confused, scared, or just never taught on this subject, but it is so important. Taking this step will add so much to your faith, and life as a follower of Christ Jesus. He never meant for us to live life figuring life out of our own. Instead He desires for us to rely constantly on His great power, profound wisdom, and supernatural guidance, warnings and love. Being filled with Holy Spirit is not only a one time event, but every day we can ask for a fresh infilling and great dependence and measure of His love and faith.
Be blessed!
http://www.xpmedia.com/video/10683/be-filled-with-holy-spirit

Our "Not So Halloween" Tradition

Our family isn't a big fan of Halloween. We don't like scary decorations, or themes that are based in the occult or other fear based subjects. I don't believe this honors God or is beneficial to my children.

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5

So what to do, as a family, to be honoring to God and have fun together?

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8

I want to share our family tradition that we have done the past two years (this will be the third!). We live in a neighborhood with lots of kids which means lots of trick-or-treaters, but strangely is also is a neighborhood with lots of scary Halloween decorations ( really scary ) demons coming out of the ground, body parts, etc. . . Not good for little ones! (Or anyone). So we put a BIG bowl of treats and tiny Bibles, and small toys outside with a cute sign, "Take One Please!" and leave our porch light on. When I say treats I mean granola bars, real fruit snacks, vitamin C lollipops, and other better choices. (who thought of giving kids so much refined sugar and other junk right at the beginning of cold and flu season? What a dumb idea.). Anyways. . . .Then I make homemade maple caramel popcorn (its done in less then 10 minutes, recipe here.) And all six of us cuddle on the couch with hot cocoa or cider and popcorn and watch the old Disney Swiss Family Robinson from the 1960's. My 6 and 8 year old remember this tradition and they are so excited for it again. I asked them if they wanted to change the movie this year and they said no. They love the movie and it makes it so special to watch it once a year as a family.

Most important I am teaching my kids something different.

Here are a couple of the many verses in the Bible concerning witchcraft. Consider what your children read, see, and engage in. Is it flirting with what God detests? Is this going to lead them closer to Jesus, closer to love, to light, or farther away?

"I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells." Micah 5:12
"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 18:10

Next post: Yummy Maple Caramel Popcorn!

TWINS!

I love my girls! They are 3 years old now. Adorable, identical, vivacious, emotional, strong willed, creative, and curious.  They are a handful- or two handfuls, that often I feel like I am juggling. Let me give you a few examples from just one afternoon. This all happened after they woke up from their nap at 3pm.I felt lucky they took a nap at all. Especially since my boys were playing gaga-ball upstairs and it was shaking the whole house. When they did wake up I had already got dinner in the oven and was making my late lunch. They woke up grumpy and crying, but I got them happier with some protein in their bellies. A little while later I heard my boys screaming, "Mom, she has a glue bottle!" I turned to see C. running up the stairs and trapped by the upper gate hiding something behind her back. I pulled her hand out with much effort to find an open Elmer's glue bottle and her hands covered with glue. I am thankful I got to that in time! Just a few later I was helping C. in the bathroom and I came out to find I. with a open bottle of turmeric powder (bright orange) on the couch with it spilt all over her, the couch and on her face. I am so thankful for the microfiber, it didn't seem to stain too much. We had a break to read stories, and dance and sing a long to Hillsong Kids worship videos on YouTube. Then a tantrum over not getting to watch a show during the only phone call of the day, and fighting with the boys over the hammock, biting sister's foot when she wouldn't get down from the top of a ride on toy, C. unrolling a quarter of a roll of Toilet paper because she didn't want to have the small roll, she wanted the big one, and spitting grape juice from their popsicles on to the newly washed white dog (they were curious if the dog would turn purple, they love purple!) Don't get me wrong- they have such great hearts. Oh that curious, determined spirit is going to serve them so well later in life. Lord help me to get through it! Oh how I love them to pieces.
Deep breath, say my prayers, start a new day tomorrow!

Slavery Today

Did you know that there are more slaves today (right now!) then all the slaves combined in the over 400 years of slave trade in ships from Africa?

There are a staggering 27 million slaves today.

80% are women
50% are children
Every minute 2 children are trafficked
The age of the average victim is getting younger and younger. Many victims found in brothels are as young as 5 years old. There has been ones found younger than that. . . .
This vile trade brings in 19 billion a year at low estimates, rivaling the illegal drug trade. It is about greed and money.

This injustice is up to us to stop. We must be God's hands and feet to rescue. Everyone is called to do something. The problem is huge, but our God is bigger and His heart breaks for every person He has created in His image that is abused and destroyed.

We all need to seek God to see what our part is to be. Some may be in intercession (including prayer walks), media, political awareness and working for justice in lawmaking. Others may be called to visit brothels to bring God's love and provision, even being part of undercover operations to rescue children. Some people's part is in law enforcement, speaking out, spreading the word, and giving money to fund efforts to free slaves and rehabilitate the abused. The perpetrators need rehabilitation too. I heard it taught by Patricia King recently that everyone who engages in sexual impurity feeds this monster of perversion and abuse around the world. 
"For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." Ephesians 6:12

If we just allow ourselves to picture the little children, teens and women we know kidnapped and forced into this prison where many are forced to be abused by 20 men a day, then compassion will well up in us and we will be led to pray and take action.

Three non-profits that I know and trust that work tirelessly in stopping the sex trade and rescuing the abused are Kampuchea Kids, Cambodian Hope Organization  (both in Cambodia where many children are kidnapped and brought over the Thai border and viciously treated in brothels in Thailand, Malaysia, and surrounding areas),and trustworthy World Vision. This article from the World Vision website is a personal story of one's girls suffering and rescue.

The statistics I quote above are taken from For Their Tears I Died - Stories of Extreme Suffering and Extravagant Redemption in Human Trafficking and Social Injustice, by Patricia King, Michelle Perry and others.
Go let your light shine in the darkness!

Confirmations: The Extravagant Love of God

Last week during prayer meeting at church I kept getting the feeling I was supposed to read part of Isaiah 54 over one of the woman there. I felt compelled for half of the meeting, so at the end I did it. I  said the whole chapter was for her but this one part I needed to read over her as a blessing. With tears in her eyes she said that God had pointed her towards that scripture and she had just read it that very morning! Later the same day I checked my email and the Daily Grace Inspiration from Joseph Prince Ministries was on Isaiah 54 too! Wow.
Now this isn't a new chapter to me. I often will write Isaiah 54:13 in baby shower cards. "All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be the peace of your children." The whole chapter is so beautiful and poetic. It shows the heart of God in such a extravagant way. His love is amazing, personal, and bountiful. He has compassion on those that suffer, and has a great future even for those who feel unloved or unlovable. Read it here Isaiah 54.