Worthy or Unworthy?

This is my daughter Bella. Of course. We recently went to Bath&Body Works with my parents and Bella picked up this adorable little ducky. She asked for the ducky to which I replied, Sorry sweetie we don't have money for this right now. she responded with You have to go to work and make the money so we can give it to the lady and we will buy the ducky? and i said yes honey thats right.

She has no real concept of money, but she knew she was valuable to me and worthy enough to approach me and ask for what she wanted.

I was remembering a conversation I had with a young woman several years ago. I had just become a Christian maybe 5-6 months and was working at a large chiropractic firm doing mall screenings (health screenings). This woman came into my booth and sat down filled out our questionnaire and under occupation proudly displayed exotic dancer. I asked this young woman if she had thought this through. She hastily replied yes. I went on to enlighten her about the weight her occupation would carry on her resume. She mentioned to me she was going to go to law school and was saving for that occasion. I asked her what she would put down on her resume for the last 5-7 years that she had been a "dancer". She said she never thought about it. We then got discussing about God. She related she did not feel worthy to approach God or receive anything from Him. I told her I could settle it for her- "You are not worthy." I said emphatically. We are truly all sinners but because God's grace, mercy, justice, and love for us, He sent Jesus by whom we can have access to the Father.

I hear people say things like, 'No don't look at me I'm just a worm, it's all Jesus' 'I don't want to boast in myself it is Jesus' Now i suppose these statements are not entirely wrong but it procreates a defeatist mentality. We are no mere worm, we are the chosen elect sons of the Most High whom by His will and desire Fashioned us in His image and likeness that we also ought to bare His strength, wisdom, glory, love, truth, honor, mercy, generosity and He leads us in a triumphant march!

Thoughts...?

A Vacation day with the Poms

Photobucket Album

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My wife says " you haven't blogged in a while" so here ya go :)

More to come as later we will go to the beach with my parents today :) will have pics

Check ya later

Salvation- Thoughts on the Whole Truth

So I go an opportunity to minister to a client today. She has 3 children 2 girls and 1 boy all BLIND. really one has nothing to do with the other though :) anyway in talking to her about various aspects of her life and struggles she was facing concerning her daughters I related a simple illustration about salvation.

In the US I have noticed a lot of what we preach tends to be like " Please please get saved, Jesus will fulfill your every need He's great" and so some are "coaxed" into an emotional decision to "accept christ".

She was interested so i continued...

Then 3-9 months down the road when trial and storm hit they say "where's Jesus to make my life all better" and Jesus says i didn't promise to make life all better but that I would never leave you. so that person gets discouraged, embittered, convicted, depressed, and eventually leaves the church that "no one obviously cares about me".

An alternative approach:
Take the ticket at the top of the page, we loose, forget, decline to use the word Redeem. Redeem defined is 1 a : to buy back : REPURCHASE b : to get or win back
2 : to free from what distresses or harms: as a : to free from captivity by payment of ransom b : to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental c : to release from blame or debt : CLEAR d : to free from the consequences of sin.

in order to redeem something someone must pay the cost or penalty in order to take possession
There is a penalty or cost for Sin= God's Wrath and Judgement but Jesus paid the penalty for us by being perfect and not only dying but raising from the grave. So He gave up His life to gain a life with us His creation. Now when you "accept" the free gift available to you you are redeemed from the penalty of Sin. this means you now belong to Jesus because He redeemed you. You are not your own and you can not live your life how you want...

Just thoughts...random at that.

As a Side Note : 0

We are so cute :)
Well many of you may know bianca and i celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary! we discussed some goals and dreams at the beach, we saw a movie (at the movie theater !!) and we went to a large seafood buffet (which was not so great but not awful :)

It was nice just to be with bianca and for a limited time just be married, not worried about bills or bella or the stuff of "life".

Many of you who read this have had a strong impact on us and helped us get to this point. you know who you are and thank you.

Naturally Supernatural

Recently (the last few months) God has placed several things on my heart, one being the topic of evangelism. How do we do it? We are going to a Vineyard church now which is been of course an adjustment. I have not yet read the book, Naturally Supernatural, but just the title explains what God has been doing in me.

You see, or rather what I don't see is the bible recording many miraculous events in church/temple. What I do see is the majority of the miraculous outside. These miracles were not done on command as some demanded of Jesus hence the response "Only a perverse generation seeks a sign" but out of His ordinary life. Walking a long and BAM someone He meets is blind or another who is a demoniac.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the more we just commune with God, and learn to discipline our flesh, we won't have to pray for an hour before we go out witnessing to get "into His presence" we will simply abide in HIM so that when we come across those He wants to reach we will simply listen with ears to hear and respond accordingly, that is according to His will.

To those of you who read this and think ... God... use ME??!! well.. yeah. God wants to use you, certainly He is smart and powerful enough to figure out how to, so the only other variable in the equation is WILL YOU YIELD??

We all mentally, egotistically, socially, spiritually etc would say we want to be used of God, we would probably all agree we believe He can use us, so do we really believe it?
sometimes we can have a mental comprehension without a piercing of our spirit, without a revealed word in due season, because anyone in psychology or ministry :) will tell you, " you will act upon that which you believe". Having already laid down the previous statements now we visit James who says "show me your works that I might know you have faith" faith without works is dead.

If we really believe what we say and have convinced ourselves we believe then we will take action according to our faith.

Blessings friends

Remebering the Rest

I have been thinking a lot about this. Pastor has been prophesied over that this 2007 is the seventh year of the church and it would be restful and "break". I have been claiming it for my life as well. Something hit me though. Entering into His rest is not necessarily doing nothing, but rather being in a state that the Holy Spirit is always enduing with power, GOd is always imparting strength for our weakness. I believe that until learn total abandonment and surrender and be "weak" for GOd we can not see His strength, and when we embrace His strength we can relax because it is not US doing anything it is HIM, therefore this is rest. It speaks in I Cor. about carrying about the Death of Christ in our bodies that we may also display His power. This is the context of the earthen vessels in II Cor. Is. 66:2-3 talks about how to get GOd's attention, a broken and contrite spirit, so that the Potter can take the broken pieces of clay, melt them down and reform them into something that could only be made by the Master.

So let us contend with all we are against lethargy and laziness- that is the Spirit of SLumber- and work dilligently 6 days :) and the 7th rest in God's presence and power.

The Mountain top experiences are to prepare and equip us to go back down and through the valley, thereby Faith to Faith, GLory to Glory.

just thoughts...

Updated pics of the Poms in South Carolina

Photobucket Album

Untitled Song

The Following is a lyrical poem thing I felt inspired to write well unfortunately not selling many people to see a timeshare presentation. No copyrights so feel free to use any portion, all I ask is that when it becomes the next hit like "Shout to the Lord" you send me a copy :) I hope that it inspires you and reminds you of the powerful redemptive Blood of Jesus that removes us from the "Works System".

Untitled???

Though we’re born in iniquity

And our soul be bent

You shed Your Blood so freely

That we could repent

We’ve been stained with sin

A scarlet bond was made

But He was pierced and bruised and striped

To break us of our chains

Have you any sick?

Have you any poor?

Have you any hungry?

We have His Name and more

We call fire from Heaven

He’s the Bread of Life- the unleavened

O Lover of our Soul

It’s only You we want to know

Exchanged from darkness to light

Scarlet garments to robes of white

He paid the greatest price

To be with us for life

No more debts to pay…

Not to me

Not to them

Not to You

Because I am Redeemed X4

Wars, Battles, and Scars

So I realize that as of late my posts have been shall we say, less than uplifting and not so insightful. When I decided to blog it was more to bless others with knowledge and revelation that the Lord has graced me with, but I have let trials and storms veer me off course. Now, I would like to present to some and introduce to others, the LORD, Jesus the Christ:

a little sermon that the Holy Spirit is speaking to me:


Theological Truth: God is able to use whatever you give Him

Intro: I was working with a fellow sales person named Fran, who said to me, "Jeff, do you know how I avoid burnout?" I said "no". Fran said "do you know those balloon clowns the ones that you hit and they just keep coming up with a smile?" I said "oh yea" she said " That is how you have to be to make it in this field"

Statement: Be Dead to self not in Debt to self

I. Preparing for the Battlefield
Too many of us get hit and we are so loaded down with guilt and fear and rejection we can't get back up, b/c we pop (referring to the Balloon Clown getting knocked down) But you see the clown gets up b/c it doesn't feel the blow, it's an inanimate object- Did you hear me? We need to die. Oh we like to talk about it, Power, give me Power Lord- there is no resurrection power without Death.
A. Phil 3:10, Gal 2:20, 2 Cor 4:10-11 Death necessary part of process to power

II. How to Die?
A. Worship- The act and process by which we surrender our flesh that the Spirit of God may be
manifested in our natural realm
1. Money- Peter and Taxes-Mt 17:27 Elijah and the cake- 1 Ki 17:13
Concept of tithe, time and substance
2. Body- Ez. River of God

III. Spiritual Disciplines- how to kill the flesh
A. Fasting
B. Speaking in Tongues
C. Simple obedience to the Holy Spirit
D. Daily prayer and Bible reading
1. b/c you are hungry not just b/c you are "s'pose to"

IV. Going to war
A. Define- Purposeful engaging of an enemy, surrendering will to a cause not ones own but made ones own
B. Know Weapons
C. Know Enemy
D. Know Battlefield

Closing: Some of you are still saying" You don't know me, you don't know what I've been through, how I've been hurt, and that's true but I do know what He went through and it was harder and longer and tougher and His shed Blood avails MUCH

Good News
Bondage Breaker, Deliverer of the Damned

Getting Up

(Don't know why I chose this pic, but love you Dad)

A new theme is arising in my life as of late: Get Up!

In basically every arena of my life. Physically, Spiritually, Mentally, Socially, Financially, etc...
As some of you may know couple years ago Bianca and I ventured on a quest for health (not necessarily just to loose weight), we accomplished our goal and consequently lost 140 lbs combined. However over the last several months the weight has crept up and i am basically back at my starting weight [around 190]. This has made it difficult to get up in the morning

Mentally I am beginning to be lethargic, Financially I can ONLY go up :), Socially I am losing a desire of starting any relationships because what I am really seeking is someone to pour into my life not Just pour into others. Spiritually I have fallen, no guys not apostate or heretic, but just feel myself losing fervor and momentum.

I know what I would tell other people in my situation, Fast, Get in the Word, Press in to Christ, Keep getting up, Don't Give up and these I am doing. I just have been asking the Holy Spirit for a fresh fire and fresh annointing because in my own strength I am ready to lie down and rest for a bit. But the enemy is always about, no time to be lax.

Apostles of Faith in our Time

These Young and Seasoned men and women of God are the pioneers in my life who believed in me when I wanted to quit. Who drew out courage when all I knew was fear. Who after time and time again of failings picked me up and showed me how its done. Above all, they never quit on me and never let me quit on me.

In our lives we go through periods where when younger we think we know everything, then as we age we begin to realize the magnitude of the world and how little we know about some certain things, and then I think some of us find that except for God's Grace, we comprehend so very little.

Of course as Einstein would argue it's all relative, but I am rambling a little bit and the point of this entry is to appreciate those gone before me, those who helped make my crooked path straight, and encouraging me to pour into others lives. We never fully know for we only now in part until we see Him fully then we are fully known.

So find someone to help pour into your life the gold nuggets that God has shown them and grab someone else "weaker" in the faith and strengthen them to be bolder and stronger than you.

Beat Down

Ah, it's in times like these when the Holy Spirit speaks to you and gently reminds you saying " You did pray and ask to be more humble, to see me more, to know My ways". Only what I failed to remember is that His choice method of working out the kinks as it were is purging by fire. Oh He will take you through the fire and you won't be burned, as long as you die.
So I have been stepping out for the Lord lately and this last week has been a beat down. Yes don't worry friends I will get back up, I always do.

I will keep pressing towards the goal, keep running to win the race, for I know the crown in which I desire will be an incorruptible crown.

Vacationing?

This was a couple days ago at the beach right outside Coral Beach Resort and it occurred to me that we are no longer tourists but locals and we can go just about whenever we want :)

Praise the Lord for the CITW Podcast! I am going to very soon be approaching several of the churches in the area to preach some revival services, if anyone of you who would read this would like to send me an email with a reference letter for ministry I would greatly appreciate it.

Need prayer for Divine appointments and meetings specifically with other denominations, money to repair my scooter ~$2-300, increased sales at work, possible part time job, a ministry Bianca and I can do together.

whats it like here any how?

This is a cool beetle around here

Spanish moss - it's everywhere

this is called Wisteria is really pretty and i like the purples

The beach, what else should i say?

and for all you reptilian enthusiasts this is a 16ft 1500lbs alligator feeding on a 20 lbs chicken you get at Jewel :)

Minor Prophets

As of late the Holy Spirit has been taking me through the minor prophets. The last time I went through was in bible college, and all i really remembered was an overwhelming sense of God's Judgement. I just finished Amos and today will be reading Micah. Amos and Hosea I found of particular interest so far. God through these prophets does project His Voice and sharply rebuke His people for their lackadaisical relationship to Him and incorporation of other gods (stress on little "g"). Then with a greater fervency than His rebuke He calls them back to Love, back to righteousness, back to the Spiritual.

As a side note, I met with our youth/kids pastor Shane, who is a great guy definitely in love with the people he ministers to and that seems genuine. Yesterday he and I met to talk about my possible involvement in the youth ministry their and among other things he gave me a book to as he said "help you get familiar with The Vineyard and its theologies and philosophies" which is called "Empowered Evangelicals, bringing together the best of the evangelical and charismatic worlds". I couldn't sleep well last night so i ended up reading most of it. Bottom line I find their theology lacking in a few areas and their philosophy of ministry passive. They do believe in the ministry of the Holy SPirit but not that baptism as a second work of grace seperate from the salvation experience but that there are "fillings" and God sovereignly choose when/if He will "Show up". I suppose i could say they have a mental understanding and spiritual and social acceptance of the Holy Spirit but no regular experience of Him.

I found myself a bit like Israel in the wilderness, God all around me, but very little manifestation.

Prayers: There is a trend of pretty abject poverty and abuse in this area carried along by several preachers and pastors who fall into temptations causing them to fall and then that news spreads like wild fire, so the Church in general does not have a safe or necessarily good reputation.

Praise God I have a job and i will be looking for a second one today my wife and Bella will be joining me FINALLY in just a couple days.

Legacy

So today was my first church service at Seacoast Vineyard in MB, Sc. I know you are all on hinges ;) It went very well, Pastor Tim Holt preached about leaving a legacy and how our decisions matter to the future of history to our nation, state, churches, cities, families, etc.. at service i met a young boy Donte' have had cerebal palsy (youth leaders sound familiar?) i felt prompted by the Lord to go pray for him i did and he got :half healed: one leg straightened up, but his grandma had me pray for her and she did get fully healed of Arthritis in her knee, it was so bad she had to cook in a chair because she can't stand in her own strength.

God is good.
I believe God is going to start a legacy in our family down here.

Ask and you shall receive

I have now been here since Tuesday may 22nd at 10 pm est, and have had 2 job interviews and accepted 1 today so yes i have been here 3 days and already God opened up a door for a job. I will be working for BlueGreen Resorts as a salesman, but really i get to just kick it with locals and tourists paying for their dinners, going to shows, and then selling them on taking a tour of 1 of 4 resorts in MB. BTW, i get full beneys and can stay at ANY of their resorts for a week for $75 !!!!

Not bad for the God of the universe ey? C'mon Give Him Praise :)

Testimony; I pray specifically that we would raise enough money so I could drive the moving truck down here ( *Check*) I also prayed that i would secure a good job within the week and half before Bianca comes down ( *Check*).

Conclusion: God Loves me and my family and He is Well Able.

SurReal

Hi Everyone,

Greetings from the Church at Conway?! or er uhm well I made it Praise God! I will try very hard to post something every week. It is surreal for me being here even now, i mean, I'm here i've made it and yet i still feel like calling up connor or timothy and hanging out or praying or fighting :) I know that God has amazing things for us down here, and to all of you who read this for what it is worth, I am sorry, So many of you I feel now that i did not truly appreciate you or rather express fully my gratitude and so to the youth leadership, my closest friends, I will miss you utterly and will keep in touch.

Pray for me: Job, Adjust, Learn how to navigate the area quickly, build relationships and what ever the Lord puts on you hearts. Oh and oppurtunities to minister in other churches, especially Non Full Gospel ones.

Please email me any prayer requests you all might have. Healingpoms@yahoo.com

Loving you all from afar, in the Spirit very near,

Jeff

So full can't empty?

So I concur with Lexi. I have been so busy it is easier to just read someone elses blog for 3 minutes rather than gather the 1000 thoughts i have and put it into some format you as the reader will not only enjoy but that makes sense. So far i have not succeeded :)

Garage Sale:
We are having a garage sale this weekend with lots of stuff and furniture so if you are interested please call us or come to maria's house. http://s178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/healingpoms/Furniture/ you can go to this link if you want to see some of the stuff.

I got to minister to a few people this last week, some of them were from the WCA, willow creek assoc. i was doing some chair massage for them. it was neat to be used of God in words of knowledge for them they were touched. again God used me today to minister words of wisdom to a Japanese client at my job. I feel alive and satisfied when God uses me like that.

I have been starting to go through the book of Daniel... Whoa... good stuff. 2 big impressions of the book so far, Daniel besides being a man of integrity and excellence knew his God!! and God is well able to humble the proud!

Lastly, I feel as though I need more of an outlet to teach. I do not think I am much of a preacher, but i know God has blessed me when i teach the word of God... Got Bible Questions? :)