His Name is LOVE

In the world, love may come with conditions. The only exception that I can think of is the love a parent has for his or her child and still at times this seems to be conditional. We will love someone if they are giving us what fulfills us and makes us happy. The problem with this type of love is it can never stand the test. Humans are imperfect beings, failure is an inevitable part of our lives. With this said, this type of love never sticks around, and we are left feeling abandoned and wounded. But I am here to tell you about another type of Love, a Love that never abandons you!

In 1 John 4:7-8 John explains this type of Love, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (NIV). So, as I see it, to experience True Love, I must get it from God because He is Love. I must be born of God and know God. Any other love is not True Love. So, what does True Love look like?

In the Bible, Paul explains it this way in 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but does not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (NIV). If I don’t have the True Love of God and only the earthly conditional type of love I am only fooling myself and others. But if one has True Godly Love they will witness a few things in their character.

Paul goes on to describe love, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 4-7, NIV).  A person with True Godly Love will display patience, kindness, truth, protection, trust, hope, and perseverance. That person will not show envy, boastfulness, pride, dishonor, selfishness, hold grudges, delight in evil, and will not be easily angered. True love will never fail (1 Corinthians 13: 8, NIV)! Paul continues to explain that when prophecies, languages, knowledge stop True love will continue (1 Corinthians 13: 9-13, NIV). The next question is how can I have this True Love if I am bound to fail? Well, the answer is salvation through Jesus Christ.

Paul continues to explain in Ephesians 2: 4-5 which states, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (NIV). When Jesus died on the Cross for our sins he took all the all our failures with him. If we would only believe that Jesus was God’s son and came to this sinful world to give us new life and hope we would be made right with God, the Father. Being made right with God through Jesus is the only way to receive the True love only God, who is True Love, can give. By accepting Jesus as Savior and confessing that you are a sinner and have failed to live up to God’s expectation True Love will enter your heart. I would beg anyone who has never experienced True Love to please examine your heart and decide to follow Jesus, you will never be abandoned or disappointed in putting your trust in True Love.

Your Sister in Christ,

 Jacque Barnes

                                           Please enjoy Our God is Love by Hillsong!

Life's Not Fair!!

Have you ever heard the phrase “Life’s not fair”?  We here this usually when something happens that seems to be one-sided? It happens all the time. Well, I’m here to say that I know that Life is definitely “not” fair and that I am so very glad it’s not! Confused, so was I until I began to understand more about God’s grace. God’s great grace arranged for us to have a way back to Him when we did not deserve it.

Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God, he created them; male and female he created them” (NRSV). In the Garden of Eden God had a relationship with Adam and his wife Eve. The relationship was based on love, but obedience and trust were the anchors. God explained in Genesis 2:16-17 that the couple could eat of all the fruit on the trees except one, the tree of good and evil. God was not trying to deprive Adam and Eve, He was trying to protect them. You see if they were to eat of this tree Adam and Eve would begin to die. Not only a physical death but a spiritual death. Evil would begin to enter their world and Adam and Eve would begin to experience disappointment and shame, the result of sin.

As you know Adam and Eve did eat of the fruit from the tree of good and evil. The result of their disobedience was immediate, and shame took root. God never wanted them to experience evil, but they had made their choice. Although Adam and Eve’s decision was made by listening to the untruths of the Serpent (Satan) the deed had been done and they would have to leave the presence of God and Eden. God cannot tolerate sin, He is complete love and all things good. As 1 John 4:8 states, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is Love” (ESV). Adam and Eve had grieved God, but He still loved them deeply. He explained that they would have to face many hardships but did give a hint about His plan for redemption.

In Genesis 3: 14-15 God explained to the Serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman (Eve), and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (NIV). Sound familiar? Jesus was to be born for the very reason to crush Satan’s head, but at the Cross, as Jesus became our sacrifice, Satan did strike Eve’s offspring’s heel with the nail that pierced His flesh.  

Because God sent Jesus into this world, He gave us another chance to make things right with Him. Jesus had to live a sinless life and be sacrificed as a perfect lamb to pay for our return ticket home. Satan tried to fool God’s child again, but this time it did not work. Jesus came and did the will of His Father God. He was arrested, beaten beyond recognition, crucified, and killed to save mankind. He came back to life after three days to give us a new life through Him.

God’s only requirement, for us, was in return to believe in what His son, Jesus the Messiah, did on the cross, acknowledge our sin, and ask forgiveness for our disobedience against Him. John 3:16 explains it this way, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. “(ESV).

You see we were “all” doomed, with no hope of ever being right with God. Mankind could not live without sinning. No man could ever keep all of God’s laws and return home to Him, that is until He sent Jesus. Jesus did live without sin and did become our sacrifice. All we had to do was to believe and repent. God gave us the deal of a lifetime. His son’s death for our eternal life with Him. This deal doesn’t sound fair to me. It is rather one-sided, don’t you think?

Fair or not, by choosing to believe in Jesus and asking forgiveness we are choosing life, by denying Him we are choosing death. I don’t know about you, but I choose life with my Savior and King. Romans 5:10 states, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life” (ESV). Jesus is worthy of my devotion, He gave His life to give me mine!!

No, my friend Life is not fair, God did not make it fair. If God was fair I would be well on my way to Hell where I deserve to be. But, Jesus and His selfless sacrifice made it possible for all mankind to have his or her name written in the Book of Life and be given an opportunity to spend eternity with the Father. Revelation 20:15 makes it very clear, “If anyone’s name is not found written in the book of life, he will be thrown into the lake of fire “Hell” (ESV). Jesus, the Messiah, God’s only Son, deserves all the praise and worship we can give Him. Please Choose Life!!

The Amazing Blood of Jesus

When Jesus died on the Cross His Blood did some pretty amazing things. The blood of Jesus has been sung about and preached for two millennia. Since before the time the disciples first seen Him after His death, the blood of Jesus has been a focal point in spreading the Gospel to the world. The blood of Jesus Saves and Frees us, Cleans us, and Gives us New Life!!

If we will admit that we have sinned against God and will confess our sins, God will be faithful (as is His very nature) and will forgive us of all sins and cleanse us from all that is not in His purpose (our defiance) (Amplified Bible, AMP). God does this through the blood of His Precious Son Jesus who died on a cross in order to give us the freedom to choose a life with Him in Heaven.

1 John 1:7 goes on to explain that if we really walk in the light or make an effort to be more like Jesus every day, we will be with Him and He will be with us. By conforming to God’s image, the blood of His Son Jesus will clean up every sin we have committed and will continue to cleanse us from sin no matter what form it takes in our lives (AMP).

Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, offered Himself as a perfect lamb of sacrifice, a requirement for forgiveness of sin during Passover, so God would not only do away with our sin but do away with our dead and lifeless existence and give us a new life with the everlasting God (AMP). The blood of Jesus can give us a sincere heart so we can approach God in a confident way (Hebrews 10:22, AMP). God is so rich in Grace, since the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus, we have been redeemed and pardoned forever (Ephesians 1:7, AMP). We have been set Free!!

In Revelation 5:9 the Heavenly Realm sang to Jesus, “Worthy and deserving are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood, You purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (AMP). All honor and Glory is given to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who sacrificed Himself for us so we could be free from a life in Hell. Revelation 12:11 goes on to explain more of what the blood of Jesus did for his followers which states, “And they overcame and conquered him (Satan) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death” (AMP).

So, as you can see we have been justified and declared free of sin, washed cleaned and given a new life all by the blood of Jesus, [how much plainer can you get], we will not see the wrath of God because of what Jesus did for us. Jesus reconciled us with God, we are no longer His enemy, but precious and love children of God. 

Please enjoy this music video by Kari Jobe about 

the Blood of Jesus

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

An Angry World, but A Loving God

Something is “definitely” happening! People are angry, and evil is rearing its ugly head in ways never seen. Every day I experience things that only happened periodically a few years ago. In my small town, I see homeless people on every corner. People who are just barely hanging on. It’s not only the homeless who seem hopeless but the man who owns the store, the lady who runs the daycare, or the police officer who is supposed to serve and protect. People, in general, are feeling defeated. The prince of this world, Satan, or the serpent, is very serious about stealing our peace and joy, killing our hope, and destroying our lives.

The Bible explains the character of Satan this way, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made” (NIV, Genesis 3:1).  Ephesians 6:11 also states, “He has great power and intelligence, and a host of demons who assist him in his attacks against God’s people” (NIV). Satan is cunning and crafty and an enemy worth paying close attention to. You see our attacks are started in the spiritual realm and end in the flesh.

Satan will plant thoughts in your mind, thoughts like judgment and resentment. With this will come a haughty spirit and a feeling of being superior. When people start to feel their beliefs are higher than others conflict begins to happen. This seems to be nothing to worry about until people get so involved with their own selfish lives and opinions hatred starts to grow out of control. People begin to choose sides and draw battle lines. Proverbs 18:19 states “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle” (ESV). In my eyes, this is where we are at today, not just in my little town but in every community across this country and the world.

We are at the door that leads to destruction, my brothers and sisters. I believe that we are not only at the door but have turned the doorknob. Satan is wringing his hands in excitement! Although he realizes he is doomed, he wants to take as many of God’s children with him as he can. And I am afraid that he is going to succeed if we don’t reach out to our Savior and Protector Christ Jesus.

Jesus died so we could be saved from a future with Satan. Jesus paid the price that redeemed us from lives of hopelessness and doom. Jesus is the only one who can stop this conflict and hatred that starts in the mind and destroys. 1 Peter 5:8-9 states, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (NIV). 

Stopping and turning toward the One who holds peace and hope in His hand can change your direction that leads to defeat, failure, and a future with Satan.  If you don’t know Jesus Christ please consider this, He is good, He is hope, peace, and joy. Jesus loves you and was there for you before you were born. He has all the answers to your questions and will give you a new life that can be filled with joy and peace of mind. You see Satan is "NOT" welcome in the mind of a Christ follower. He may aggravate you, but He is defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When you leave this world, when your body dies, you will be met by the one who gave it all just to love you forever. His name is The Prince of Peace and Lord of Lords Jesus the Son of God.

As you can see the only way to be set apart from the conflict and wickedness of this world is to keep your eyes and thoughts on Jesus Christ. Looking through the eyes of Jesus at your neighbors will start to change your mind and restore your sight. Jesus Christ is love and wants to love us, so we can love others in the same way, not judging, or resenting. Jesus, through Philippians 2:4 states, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others” (ESV). In James 1:19 Jesus gave more good advice which states, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (ESV).

Yes, the world is in trouble, but walking with Jesus will help you to live a life that will produce love, joy, and peace. And with that, you will begin to step out and help others to take the hand of the one who loves them and can Save them. For the fact of this life is this, “For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son (Jesus), that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal (everlasting) Life” (Bible)!!

Thanks for your time,

Your sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

Abba's Blessing

One of my favorite passages in the Old Testament or Torah is the Aaronic Blessing. This blessing, as far as I know of, is the only blessing directly from God. This blessing was given by God to Moses. Moses was to instruct Aaron the High Priest to sing this blessing over the Israeli people often. The passage is in Numbers 6:22-27.

This passage is so beautiful and has always been very calming to me, but I never knew exactly what it meant until I began to study it from a Hebrew perceptive. The English translation from the King James Version was what I was taught all my life until all the new translations of the Bible began to come on the scene and shine a new light on the old version.

 The King James version of Numbers 6:22-27 states, “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them” (KJV). This left me a bit confused. The words bless, keep, shine upon, and countenance did not help me to believe that God was giving me His blessings. Newer translations began to make it a bit clearer.

The Message Bible is one version that began to help me wrap my head around the meaning, Numbers 6:22-27 from the Message Bible stated, “God spoke to Moses: Tell Aaron and his sons, this is how you are to bless the People of Israel. Say to them, God bless you and keep you, God smile on you and gift you, God look you full in the face and make you prosper. In so doing, they will place my name on the People of Israel—I will confirm it by blessing them” (MSG). In this version, I see God is smiling at me and giving me a gift. God is looking at me in my face and blessing me. I was starting to feel that God “The Father really loved me and wanted to bless me. But when I started to read the Amplified version I became more aware of the Fathers love

The Amplified Version of Numbers 6:22-27 states, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you]; The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor], And be gracious to you [surrounding you with loving kindness]; The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life]. ’So Aaron and his sons shall put My upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” (AMP). As you can see the meaning is beginning to come together.

As I began to understand more about the Aaronic Blessing I began to want to understand the Hebraic perspective of these verses. I knew enough to understand that the Hebrew language could be complicated so I found a website that helped me understand it better.

To understand the meaning of the Blessing one needs to understand the keywords of the verses. Words like bless, keep, face, shine, gracious, grant, and peace. These keywords have such deeper meanings in the Hebraic language (Benner, 2018).  

In Hebrew, the word for bless is barakh which means to take a knee or kneel. The word also means to show respect to another person. (Benner, 2018). When God blesses, us He is kneeling in respect to us with open arms. Just like an Earthly father might do as he is waiting for his child to run to him.

The word keep in Hebrew is shamiyr, which means thorn. In the ancient days, sheepherders would use thorn bushes to construct fences around their sheep to protect them. In these verses, the Father is embracing us in His strong protective arms. No harm can come to us in his embrace (Benner, 2018).

The next keyword is face or paniym in Hebrew. In these verses the Father is giving us His full attention, not taking His eyes off us (Benner, 2018).  

Shine has the meaning of light in Hebrew. In these verses, the word shine would reference bringing light to darkness. God is looking directly into your face and showing you, He is there for you (Benner, 2018).

The word for gracious in Hebrew is hhanan. Hhanan means to protect and lift up. God is letting us know that He will protect us and keep us from harm (Benner, 2018). His blessings will never end.

Grant in Hebrew is siym, which means to be brought to a place that has been prepared for you in advance. Our God will bring us to a place that He has already prepared and made ready for us (Benner, 2018).  

And lastly is the word peace or shalom in Hebrew refers to making complete again after a time of trouble (Benner, 2018).

Here is the Aaronic Blessing translated from Hebrew to English it states, “YHWH will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection. YHWH will illuminate the wholeness of his being toward you bringing order and he will give you comfort and sustenance. YHWH will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete” (Benner, 2018). As you can see the interpretation is a bit different from the English version. It makes me want to study more of the Bible with the Hebrew meaning.

The way I see the Aaronic Blessing after reading this is God kneeling down and waiting for me to run into His protective arms. After He hugs me tight for a while he pulls me back and looks lovingly into my face and reassures me He is there and will never leave me. As He hugs me again He lets me know that I have a place with Him and that I will have peace and His name forever.

The Hebrew version of the Aaronic Blessing has helped me to really understand and feel the love that Father God, Abba, has for me. As His child, I am blessed and kept with more peace that can be explained. Numbers 6:22-27 has always been special to me, but now I take it as a special gift from my Father Abba.

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

Reference:

Benner, J. A. (2018, August 29). The Aaronic Blessing, from a Hebraic Perspective. Retrieved from   

http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/language_aaronic.html

Expect the Unexpected

I have been surprised many times during my life, some good, some not so good, but most surprises have gotten my full attention. The unexpected is never expected! Getting to know Jesus and the love He has for you can change your life in ways you never expected. He will catch you by surprise and set a fire in your soul that will never die. I would like to discuss a few of the things Jesus has done, while on Earth, that has caused people, then as well as now, to expect the unexpected.

From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus did many amazing things. He changed water into wine at the request of His mother Mary. As His ministry grew Jesus caused the blind to see, and the crippled to walk. He raised the dead and feed thousands with a handful. Jesus became known as one who produced the unexpected. All the miracles Jesus did during His Earthly ministry where life-changing, but the most significant unexpected miracles came at His death and resurrection.

Jesus was arrested and convicted of crimes that He had not committed. He did not fight these charges and was beaten beyond recognition and crucified on a Roman cross as punishment. He died and was laid in a tomb, as was the custom in Israel. His friends and family were devastated and began the mourning process. Many things happened before and after the death and resurrection of Jesus but these happenings are insignificant when compared to the unexpected truth that was about to unfold.

To the average person in Jerusalem that Passover week, crucifixions had become a part of life. But the crucifixion of Jesus was not at all expected. Many people thought Jesus was the one who would save them and defeat Rome but as He died on the cross they lost all hope. Little did they know that Jesus was doing exactly what His Father, God, had sent Him to do. Jesus was to give Himself up as a Passover sacrifice for the sins of people. His resurrection was a sign that anyone who would believe in Him would be set free from their sins and could have a relationship with Father God. Jesus was and has always been the bridge that spanned the distance, created during the fall of Adam, between God and his precious children.

You see Jesus is our Savior and He is my all!! Without Him, all hope and joy would be lost. Jesus has already paid the price for our true freedom. Just accept this free gift and let Him do the unexpected in your life. You will never be disappointed!! Thank you, Jesus!!

Have a Wonderful week Expecting the Unexpected from our Lord!!

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

My Best Friend

More than not I am on the other end of the “My brother's keeper” situation. Don't get me wrong, I do serve others and take great joy in encouraging and witnessing to people about my Savior Jesus, but many times I am the one who is in need of being encouraged. You see I have suffered from bipolar disorder from childhood.

My life has not been “Normal” as the world would view it. It was not until I was in my 30's that I was diagnosed. As a young person, I did not know how to “reach out” but I did know how to “act out”. I would get better for a while but the same old wall of dread would show it's head once more and I would sink again. My family had no idea what was going on, they just thought I was defiant and selfish. Thinking back I don't really blame them. There were many times that I was out of control and needed help. I needed someone to look past the defiance and self-destruction and see the pain and defeat that was at the core of who I was.

It was not until I finally figured out that God was not ready or willing to let me die that I gave myself completely to Him. I had tried to commit suicide three different times, but as you can see it never succeeded, although it was not from a lack of trying. I can remember waking up and crying because I was alive. I really wanted to die and rid myself and my family of the pain. “BUT GOD”, had a different plan. I did not like it, but I had no other path left than to give my life to Him, I certainly did not want my life any longer. I only had one request that He would hold me tightly and never let me go because I knew when I felt better I would be trying my hardest to get out of His grasp.

Well, I did try to squirm out of God's hands a time or two and guess what, He did not drop me!! He held onto me like I was the most important thing He possessed. So I decided to put some effort into this relationship. You see from the start He was carrying me and loving me which made it easier for me to follow Him and began to love Him back. He was my Savior. Not just the Savior of my physical life, but the Salvation of my soul, He is my Best Friend, Jesus!!

Hey I can still be a hot mess and depression is still looming around looking for a place to land, but one thing is certain, I have my Jesus to help me through. I can promise you that when I do finally leave this world when God decides the time is right, I will be holding my Best Friend's hand, with joy and peace in my heart. This world no longer has a hold on me!! The Father, my Abba, is holding me like I am His most precious possession.

If you are suffering in this life, please consider giving your life over to Jesus. If you do I can promise you that you will never suffer alone again. He will never leave you and never disappoint you. You see He gave His life for you, you are that important to Him. He also defeated death and lived again so you could have a new life with Him if you chose to. Please pray and ask Him to take your life and make it new. Ask Him to forgive you where you have failed and never let you go. My friend this is what life is about, a life of peace and joy with the Savior Jesus Christ! Beautiful, just Beautiful!!

Have a Blessed Week!

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

Becoming More Like My Superhero

Most people have a hero, someone he or she can look up to. From childhood to old age, most of us have someone that we admire and what to be more like. Whether it be an imaginary childhood superhero like Superman or a larger than life civil rights leader like Martin Luther King Jr. the truth is we all have that inner want to become greater. The world has its heroes but there is one who rises above the rest.

As a Christ follower, I want to become more like my Superhero my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In fact, all true believers have the desire to grow and become more like Jesus Christ. God the Father (Abba) placed that desire in us, through the Holy Spirit, when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Although this desire has been placed in our inmost being it can be difficult to grow and become Christ-like if you don't follow three simple rules.

The first rule to follow would be to immerse yourself in God's word, the Bible. Studying the word of God every day helps to keep you on your toes when the enemy or Satan comes around to torment you. With the verses of the Bible pressed into your memory, it is easier to ward off the attacks of Satan. Reading the word of God is also very important in learning what God expects from you and what our rights are as children of God. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 explains, “As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scriptures is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (NIV).

The next tool to becoming more like Jesus Christ would be prayer. Praying not only lets your request be known to the Father but opens the doors of communication with our Creator. God loves us and wants us to enter into a real relationship with Him. Praying for others is one of the best ways to feel the presence of God in your life. Paul expresses this in Ephesians 6:18 when he stated, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people (NIV).

Finally, serving others is a tool that is most overlooked by many but one of the most important. To become more like Jesus Christ you have to take the servants position. As Mathew 20:27-28 states, “Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (NIV). In Ephesians 6:7 Paul also states, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people” (NIV). Believe me, once you began to serve others, especially the poor in spirit and those who lack material goods, God will begin to pour out blessings on you that you could never imagine.

With that said, I am as weak as the next person when it comes to keeping my “Spiritual” tools in shape, but if I just try and incorporate a Bible reading plan, daily prayer, and servitude into my life I might just become more like my Superhero and Savior and less like me.

I'll leave you with another of my favorite verse, 2 Corinthians 3:18, “We are all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, and being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. From this comes the Lord who is the Spirit” (NIV).

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes

The Many Faceted Creator

God has many different names that can help us know Him better. In the Bible, these names reflect different characteristics of God. When I started a study on the names of God I was amazed at how these names have helped change my perception of Him during both trying and good times in my life.

The first name I always think of is Jehovah, which many people use to address God. Jehovah means “Lord”, but not to confuse it with Adonai which also means Lord. Jehovah refers to God as He made the earth and the heaves and who is seeking relationships with His children (Genesis 2:4, Bible). Adonai, on the other hand, is plural and is used to refer to YHWY (YAHWEH) the name of God that according to the Jewish people was to never be spoken. Deuteronomy 3:24 demonstrates this, “O Lord [Adonai] God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours (NIV). After these distinctions, I would like to share a few of God's many names.

.

Many of the names of God start with El which simply means God. To begin with, the name Eloah means God is mighty, strong. or prominent In line with this the name Elohim is the plural form of Eloah and also means God is mighty, strong, or prominent, but reflects more than one. Elohim (in my own opinion, but certainly not everyone) gives reference to the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Genesis 1:1-2 states, “In the beginning, God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters (NIV). Genesis 1:26 states this plural meaning a bit clearer, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in our own image, after Our likeness (ESV). As I have explained, El (God) has many characteristics. These characteristics give us a better idea of God's love for His children.

El Jireh, or “The Lord with provide” was a name given to God by Abraham when God provided a ram to be sacrificed instead of Abraham's only son Isaac. In Genesis 22:12-14 an Angel of God called out to Abraham saying, “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide (NIV). Today this name also gives us reassurance that the Lord will provide for us when we are in need.

El Rapha, or “The Lord who heals” was first mentioned in Exodus 15:26 when God said, “I am Jehovah who heals you, both in body and soul. In body by preserving from and curing diseases, and in the soul by pardoning iniquities (NIV). Amazingly this verse was prophesying how Jesus, the Son of God and our Savior would give healing to our bodies and forgiveness for our sins. The healing came by the flogging and beating Jesus received before His crucifixion and the forgiveness came by the spilling of His blood as he died on the cross. The perfect Lamb of God was sacrificed. 1 Peter 2: 24 states, "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds, you have been healed." (NIV).

El Shalom or “The Lord our peace” is a name given to God by Gideon after seeing the Angel of God. Judges 6: 22-24 states, “When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face! ”But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”So Gideon built an altar to the Lord here and called it The Lord Is Peace (NIV). Today we can still have the assurance of His name, El Shalom. In John 14:27, Jesus stated, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (NIV).

Finally, I will leave you with my personal favorite El Shaddai or God Almighty, the mighty God of Jacob (Israel). God is all-powerful. In Genesis 49:24, El Shaddai is described like this, “his bow remains steady, his strong arms stayed limber because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob (El Shaddai), because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel” (NIV). Today we can rest in the name El Shaddai because God is still our strength and our steady and strong arm. There are many more names that characterize God, and I would recommend you do your own study. Not only will it help you discover God in many new ways, it will give you a better understanding of your relationship with the Creator of all things.

Thank you, Father, for Your many-faceted and all faithful existence!!

Enjoy this music video from Amy Grant "El Shaddai"

Have you Experienced a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?

A Wolf in sheep's clothing refers to anyone who does not present themselves in truth. This phrase has referred to many people but my topic today is anyone teaching the word of God in an untruthful way. In Mathew 7:15, Jesus Christ states, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (NIV).

These days you cannot turn on your television without someone giving his or her opinion about what is right or wrong. Many of these people are preachers who are supposed to lead people to the truth about Jesus Christ and His free gift of salvation. 2 Peter 2:1 explains this, “But there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord” (NIV). This verse goes on to explain that many will follow these false teachers and the “Truth” will be disrupted. These false teachers will exploit people and make up stories, but they will face destruction (2 Peter 2, NIV). These verses are not talking about other religions or cults, it is talking about the Church then and now. There was in the beginning and still today many who claim to be true Holy Spirit filled preachers of the word of God who are wolves in sheep's clothing. With that, I must remind you there is not a perfect church on this earth, But the truth of God will stand firm. 

Jesus taught that the wheat (true believers) and the tares (unbelievers) are being grown together so there will always be opposition. In Mathew 13:30 Jesus stated, “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn” (NIV). So as you can see true believers may be surrounded by unbelievers. Jesus goes on to explain in Mathew 13:38, which states, “The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the Kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one” (NIV). So how do we know what is real and what is false? I found an article by Colin Smith who is with The Gospel Coalition (TGC) that has helped me spot false teachers.

The first question to ask is about the teacher's source of information he or she is sharing? Is the source the word of God or is the source from somewhere else (Smith, C. 2013).

The next thing to look for is a “Different Message”. Is Jesus Christ the center of the message? If not beware! (Smith, C. 2013).

Number three would be the position you take as a result of the message. The true believer will make solid efforts to change if the message is true. If the message is from a false teacher the message may leave you questioning your motives to change (Smith, C. 2013).

The fourth trait to look for is the character of the people the preaching is producing? Are the people pursuing the fruits of the Holy Spirit like goodness and self-control or are they marked by gossip and backbiting (Smith, 2013)?

Number five would be, does the message have a different request or appeal. The true believer will appeal to the Holy Bible for his or her message. The false teacher will appeal to the human nature (Smith, 2013).

The sixth concerns the fruits of the spirit that are being produced. Is the message resulting in a life lived for Jesus Christ? The results of false teaching is a lack of change where people still seek after earthly desires instead of the desire to be near to the Father (Smith, 2013).

Lastly, does the message lead you to a life with Jesus and a love for others? Does the message explain the only way to life everlasting is through the Lord Jesus Christ (Smith, 2013)? In Mathew 7:21, Jesus explains, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the ones who do the will of my Father who is in heaven” (NIV).

So as you can see true believers need to be careful of who they trust to guide them. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to protect you from the lies of these false teachers and you will learn to spot that wolf before he or she causes damage.

I'll leave you this week with 2 Timothy 2:19, which states, “Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn from wickedness” (NIV). It may take some time, but the desire is there and The Holy Spirit is always trying to guide you in the right direction.

Have a Wonderful week making sure you are nowhere near that “Wolf in Sheep's Clothing”!!

Your Sister in Christ,

Jacque Barnes