Beautiful Souls

I Peter 3:3-4 (AMP) Your adornment must not be merely external—with interweaving and elaborate knotting of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or [being superficially preoccupied with] dressing in expensive clothes; but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God.

I was having lunch with two of my daughters and the tiny tyrant (aka my grandson) when a lovely young lady stopped to speak with our oldest. After cordial introductions, my daughter informed me that she was the daughter of her future employer at the preschool. She told me that her mom would stop by soon and to be prepared for the sweet bundle of energy. I turned to the right and there she was in full effect. She began to commend me on my parenting. The God in my child evident of the investment of her parents. It was real and authentic. She was genuinely seeing what I have known all along that God is in my children. Yet, beyond that she made me feel significant in a role that is often marked by insignificance. She made me feel accomplished despite all the ways I know that I have failed my kids. She gave me grace in the abundance of overtures about my sweet girl even looking at her sister to tell her I know you must be the same. I felt validated that even when the world doesn’t make us feel special or important – that the Lord will find a way to do it through another.

Why wouldn’t I feel like a good mom? I have great kids. They all love the Lord. Each one born again. Each pursuing their own life path. I have raised a soldier now in law enforcement who is willing to lay down his life for others. I have a cancer survivor who didn’t just overcome 2% odds of survival but went on to graduate and become an engineer. A daughter and son-in-law in the ministry serving God with their very lives. Another daughter who despite a neurological disorder went to cosmetology school and is now working in a salon. Our youngest still undecided but killing it in school. Don’t get me wrong – they are not perfect but perfectly forgiven. Our partnership with the Lord paid off in our kids. I give Him all the Glory yet I still battle insignificance. Most days, I feel like a less than average parent. I am blessed yet feel insecure nevertheless. Do you?

Do you feel insecure? Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone. The truth is that I have decided that even the most confident person you may know battles hidden insecurities each and every day. The “perfect” lives, filters and images on social media make it worse. I applaud those who post original pictures without inspecting them closely for flaws and imperfections. God has been good to me. He has given me a life of purpose. He scripted a plan for my success. He intends for me to prosper in my soul and in life. Why do I feel small? Insignificant? Insecure?

I cannot see God. I cannot touch Jesus. I cannot sit and have a face-to-face conversation with the Holy Spirit. I cannot see my soul. The condition of my heart is only visualized but not clearly visible in the natural. I am created in the Image of God who to me is invisible. Naturally, it is much easier to constantly examine and evaluate my appearance or how things appear than really get to the important stuff like faith and confidence. The enemy heaps insecurity and insignificance on God’s People because it is the complete opposite of the Truth yet easily conceivable in our natural life. Comparison is the thief of joy. Social media and advertising play a huge role. Add to that the current trend to remove all identity in society right down to gender. It sounds like a good idea. To tear down walls and build up people when in fact it produces even more insecurity. God created each and every individual with a significant plan. He prepared a secure place for us. It will never be found or recognized in this world by everyone. From time to time, God will send messengers like the sweet woman yesterday who sees beyond the natural with supernatural eyes and an overflowing heart.

But let it be (the inner beauty of) the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, (one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature) which is very precious in the Sight of God.

Bell bottom pants are making a comeback, Lord help us. I didn’t like them the first time around and still don’t like them. I have a choice. I can wear clothes I hate to fit in or I can choose to wear what I prefer. I must decide what that is. I choose to wear modest and decent clothing or I could be convinced to let it all hang out because nobody wants to be a prude. The world thinks less is more in this category but I think a little more material wouldn’t hurt in most cases. Note, my conversation yesterday was on a shopping trip. School starts in just over a week and my daughter needed some back to school clothes. Not really! She wanted the perfect outfit for that stellar first day. It is important especially for her “streaks” picture on Snapchat. I say this tongue in cheek because we all like to make a great first impression.

We get all dolled up for church, work and going places according to what others might find acceptable. But what about our heart? What about our soul? Is my inner beauty outweighing my need for other affirmation? I can tell you this. I couldn’t tell you what the lovely woman I met yesterday was wearing. I can’t remember the color of her eyes or what her makeup looked like if she was wearing any. Clueless if she was wearing name brand clothing or even what she had on. I do know this – she had a beautiful soul. As she spoke about the Lord it was with full confidence and love. Her beauty was to build others not tear them down for her own ascent. In fact, I don’t believe any of our conversation was about her. It affirmed me. She talked about the Lord as if He was our close personal friend. She was loving. Kind. And beautiful from the inside out. She connected with the God in me and made me even more aware of Him. Kind of like when Mary went to visit Elizabeth and her baby leapt inside of her. The characteristics of a beautiful soul will make us abound on the inside while becoming increasing less concerned about external things.

Psalm 139:14 (AMP) I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

If you are battling insecurity with a bit of insignificance today, you are not alone. In fact, you probably represent the majority of people you live, work and worship with. The disguise of confidence that is stripped away in private to reveal a struggle so deep that it challenges the God in us every day. Insecurity is an expert weapon in the arsenal of the enemy to strip us of our identity. It is a lie that must be overcome. You are a Child of God. He made you on purpose! He designed you expertly. We must make the choice to praise God and give thanks because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. If there is something wrong with your design – it is calling the One who created you flawed which is certainly not the case. After He created everything – God called it good. You are good just the way you are. Adding Jesus to the mix makes you perfect… for your plan, purpose and every promise predestined for your life. You are complete. Now to be completely convinced so that your soul knows it well. This will change a poor self-image and ugly persona to a beautiful soul.

Out Of Obscurity

John 3:19-21 (MSG) “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”

Our family relocated from the city to the county a few years ago. I became friends with someone who grew up here. She essentially knows EVERYONE. I lovingly and jokingly refer to her as the “Commissioner.” I can rest assured that no matter where we go in the county – she knows someone if not everyone in attendance. There is comfort in navigating the unknown with the Commissioner. I am seldom the stranger in the room because she is my friends so others readily accept the new girl. There is comfort in being accepted. To be affirmed by others as socially acceptable. The fear of rejection is daunting when exploring new places and faces. My friend is well-liked and even loved by others. This has made our transition much easier. The Lord definitely placed her in my life on purpose.

It is human nature to loathe obscurity. Those who embrace isolation are generally in bondage to fear of things like rejection. Cultures and cliques alike will push folks out often unknowingly because everyone is fighting to be seen yet unseen. Take social media for example, so many filtered and altered images of “perfect people” living a “perfect life” when in reality it really is just like everyone else’s or maybe even worse. Comparison is a joy killer and suffocates light in the believer. God made us to be unique. The enemy fights to make us feel obscure.

To live in obscurity is to outside the Will of God. Obscurity means to be ambiguous. Uncertain and of meaning or expression or to be unknown. It defines a person as unknown or unimportant. It is marked by darkness, dimness and in distinctness. “Obscure” as a verb may give us some insight as to who really tries to influence us in this area as it means to conceal by confusion or to make dark, dim or indistinct. Oh yes, it is the liar and deceiver who is the enemy of the human soul that attempts to lock us in a cell of insecurity and obscurity that puts out the Light of God’s Love within us to surrender to the darkness of a lie. Not today, satan. Not today…

We are Children of the Light. God did not put the Light of His Love in us to quickly shove us under a basket. We are to be bright beacons in a lost and dying world. “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness… Why do those created as conduits of Light run to the darkness? Fear. Lack of faith. No truth. There are a variety of reasons catastrophic to our soul. The Light of God’s Love will remove every shadow from our heart, mind and soul if allowed to penetrate the darkness within. Even the most broken heart can shine a radiant light to those around them. We cannot hide from God’s Love or put out His Light without risking eternity.

Ephesians 5:8-10 (MSG) You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.

When I was 14 years old, I moved from my mother’s home to live with my father and step-mother who then moved from Georgia to Florida. I moved a lot as a child. I was always the new kid attending 11 elementary schools, 1 middle school and 3 high schools in all. Yet nothing prepared me for my parent’s revelation. I had not regularly attended church up until this time. My mom informed me that I would be going to a youth retreat with the high schoolers of the church. We pulled up the church and there were three travel buses and hundreds of teenagers. I told my mom that I was not getting out of the car. Well, I did along with my suitcase. She introduced me to her close friend, Millie, who would be my Sunday School teacher and left me. I was petrified.

Our family is visiting a new church. While signing up for a class exploring membership, I noticed a brochure for a women’s retreat. Though this church is not as large as the one attended as a teen, it is still over 500 members. I could feel the Holy Spirit tugging at my heart. I am supposed to attend this weekend with all these ladies I do not know. Ugh! I made many friends that weekend as a teenager but things are different now. I am not stuck. I can choose to do whatever I like – because I am grown or can I? Will I obey? Stay tuned.

I believe the pathway to obscurity is not clearly marked but tiny steps of disobedience that lead us from the Light of His Love into the darkness of isolation. We can put on a pretty face and perfect outfit for the crowd but fearfully hide in pain and agony that someone might see through the facade. Religion often is a great mask to cover real people with significant problems and deep rooted pain. It is in our relationship with Jesus Christ that this is overcome. Our connection to Christ will inevitably lead to real relationships with others because we are to be the Body of Christ. It is unity that He is after because He is building a Kingdom not kingdoms.  His Grace is enough for me. His Grace is manifested in my weakness including insecurities. I am not insignificant. My life matters. Christ deemed me worth dying for. I must overcome my own fear by putting faith in its place to make the connection to Christ that produces Light and live for its continuation which is spreading it all over the world. Your sphere of greatest influence is right where you are. Where you live, breathe, exist and do life. How can we be the Light of the world when we cannot even bring ourselves into the Light of His Love completely?

Philippians 2:14-16 (MSG) Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.

To end obscurity one must live on purpose. Our purpose is to do the Will of God. We over complicate it to allow for excuses. It’s not that hard. “In fact, this is love for God; to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” (I John 5:3) The burdens born in life are those that are chosen. In Matthew 11, Jesus invites us to live a like yoked to Him. That means do what He does, go where He goes, and be who He called us to be. Easy right? I have been married for more than 20 years. Marriage is essentially the same concept. Two people who love each other who make the commitment to walk in unison for the rest of their natural life. Two individuals who must decide to walk together despite mind, will and emotions. It’s not easy. Have you seen the marriage statistics? You cannot have your way all the time. To walk with Jesus is more difficult in some ways because He IS the Way, the Truth and the Life. It is an act of total submission and surrender that comes at the end of self. Yet it is the most fulfilling because it always leads to a rich and satisfying life.

Sitting in church with hundreds of strangers, I feel small, insignificant and a bit obscure. When worship begins, I feel the veil of insecurity begin to fall away. I still don’t know many people in this place maybe a handful. The enemy would like me to go home and hide in my feelings. But I am beginning to see that the Light in me is made to shine wherever I am. I do not have to find a place in the crowd to feel important. I am important because God created me to bring a spectrum of light to His Kingdom that no one else can produce but me. I may not see my place in this picture right now but because I am a Child of God – I don’t have to. When the time comes, God will reveal His Purpose and Plan for me in this moment among these people. Until then, the pressure is off to make a way or even find one. All I must do is take the little steps of opportunity each day to walk in the Light of His Love. The choice must be made in each moment to obey. Simply obey. This is the road less traveled that will lead us from obscurity to purpose. All for the Glory of God!

I Thessalonians 5:4-8 (MSG) Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.

The Apostolic Church

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The Apostolic Church
By Gipsy Smith

“And when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together.” Acts 4:31

Here you will find an account of the model church – the Church as Jesus would have it be. Note for a moment the characteristics of that Church. “And when they had prayed the place was shaken . . .” These people knew how to pray. That is evident. Their Church was in truth the House of Prayer. There was great unity within that Church. They were “of one heart and one soul.” They were concentrated as well as consecrated. They gave of their substance freely. They were generous souls within that Church. There was great grace there also. And surely there was great power. “And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” Note the five great fundamentals which go to make up the model Church of Jesus Christ: Prayer, Unity, Generosity, Grace, and Power. If you want your Church to come up to the Apostolic standard, it must possess all these characteristics.

In the model Church, the people will love to pray. They will love that more than anything else. They would rather go to a prayer meeting than to a place of entertainment. When the Church of God uses the Apostolic standard, it will be a praying church; that will be its chief characteristic. These people prayed! When they prayed, something happened. Some of us would be surprised if anything striking happened as a result of our prayers. But, you see, I am speaking of the Apostolic Church; the sort of Church you say you would like to have in your locality. I am speaking, not of a Church which had grown conventional and cold, but of a conspicuous, outstanding, convincing, converting Church.

Do men and women enter Sunday after Sunday and say, “I am in the place of Prayer – there is the quickening atmosphere of Prayer all about me”. Do they realize that the spirit of unity exists there? Are they conscious of the generosity, the grace, and the power of those whose names are on the Church Roll, and who worship there Sunday after Sunday? I want to tell you something else you would be doing, if you were like the members of the first Apostolic Church. You would come to Church every Sunday morning a little earlier in order to meet in prayer with your minister, and that would have a mighty effect upon the day’s services, upon the preacher and upon the congregation. Another thing you would do is watch carefully the spiritual life of the Church, guard it at every point, stimulate it by prayer and by godly conversation and see to it that nothing is allowed to enter the Church to pollute the spiritual atmosphere or to smother the promptings of the Holy Ghost. There will be no converting power within your Church, no building-up and strengthening of Christian graces of character, if the spiritual atmosphere is violated. You must see to it that all its windows are open to the winds of Heaven, that the breath of God may have full play.

Men That We Need

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Men That We Need
By Erroll Hulse

‘But now we are all little men; there is scarce a man alive now upon this earth.’ –C. H. Spurgeon

From earliest times, God has blessed His people and sustained His church by giving them leaders. While the children of Israel were groaning in bondage in Egypt, Jehovah was preparing Moses to be a savior. When the hordes of Midian filled the land of Israel, driving God’s people into dens and caves in the mountains, Gideon was commissioned, and by three hundred men a great victory was wrought. When Europe was enslaved in the chains of popery and superstition, Luther emerged as God’s sent servant. When England relapsed into darkness, the voice of Whitefield came like a trumpet blast to waken the dead.

All God’s men have been equipped by Him for their peculiar tasks–Peter for Pentecost, Paul for the Gentiles. The scene is always changing, but the Lord has always had His men.

In our day, rank confusion prevails on every hand. We are all acquainted to some degree with the weaknesses that depress the church of God as a whole. The question is, Are we aware of the need for outstanding leadership? And if so, are we praying that God will send us men for the times–men who are equipped, called, and thrust forth? It is not for us to dictate to our heavenly Father the kind of men He must send, but we can envision some of the gifts that we might find in such leaders. Let us intercede earnestly for:

1. Men who have burning hearts of love for God and men, who fear God and nothing else but sin, who have an inexhaustible zeal for God’s glory, and who are ready to die, if need be, for Christ.

2. Men who possess a thorough knowledge of Scripture and who are able to expound any text in a systematic and convincing manner.

3. Men who are gifted in doctrinal comprehension and who love the tried and tested doctrines of the faith.

4. Men who love and study church history, who specialize in the history of evangelical reformations and revivals, who know what the martyrs believed and died for, and who can competently apply an extensive knowledge of church history to the present day.

5. Men who are humble enough to apply themselves to small spheres of labor but who, at the same time, have a world vision, following missionary movements everywhere, doing everything in their power to help fulfill the Great Commission.

6. Men who know how to meet the evils of the age, who have a plan from God for our day, who are competent and aggressive in evangelism, and who are sons of thunder rather than showmen.

7. Men who do not follow infidels but concentrate like the apostles on power in preaching the gospel.

8. Men who will not compromise the truth for the sake of expediency, who have the courage to discard that which is merely traditional, oppose that which is unscriptural, and yet be respectful of those who do not measure up to the spiritual dimensions here described.

May God send us such men.