Author's Comment

Dear readers,

When I posted my last blog, “AND JESUS SAID, I AM”, a few people contacted me regarding various concerns over some of the statements in the post. Because I don’t have any idea how many people are actually reading my blog, I thought I would make a general statement that might help those who either can’t contact me or don’t feel it is their place to make a comment.

First, please remember that I am learning and I am subject to many frailties just as we all are. Writing in a way that places my heart out on the web for anyone to read is a huge risk, but I don’t want to harden my heart to the criticisms, I want to be able to receive the corrections I need to receive and allow the Lord to strengthen His character in me. Some of the things I write might expose places in my heart that need healing and some may expose attitudes that need adjusting so don’t get too up tight if I fall off the deep end now and again. I believe the Lord is faithful to bring correction to me through His Holy Spirit and through my church family.

If you know me and know how to contact me, you are more than welcome to ask me questions about what I right. If you don’t know how to contact me, forgive me, pray for me &/or ask questions of someone you trust.

I encourage you to read what is written, take everything (what you like and what you don’t like) before the Lord and ask Him what you are to do with it. We have a saying in our church, “Eat the chicken and spit out the bones.” In other words, learn how to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit from the other voices and receive from the Holy Spirit and give room for growth and maturity to occur in the one sharing. As hard as I do try to only print what is glorifying to the Lord, I am not always successful at filtering out the “bones.”

The other thing I try to do is give scripture references for much of what I write. I don’t always, but I do try. Please read these scriptures and ask the Lord if he is saying anything to you. They may bring clarity to your questions, they may confirm your thoughts, but it will never hurt to read the scriptures.

I really believe that the Lord was placing a test before us as I wrote this last posting. My test was whether or not I would be obedient and risk getting negative comments. He is also testing me in how I will respond to the comments I have received. How is He testing you?

As I have gone before the Lord regarding “AND JESUS SAID, I AM”, I have decided to remove some of the original post. I was concerned about a few of the lines when I posted the original article and the comments I received confirmed some of what I was sensing. Some of the lines I removed simply to honor the person who expressed concern.

In the end, I hope that this post encourages you and I hope that by tagging along with me through this process the Lord has taught you something of His grace and His ability to refine His children.

And Jesus said, "I AM."

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
I am the beginning and the end, the alpha and omega.
I am He who breathes life and I am he who swallows death.
I am the everlasting Father and I am the Prince of Peace.
My Kingdom is established from everlasting to everlasting and it will continue to grow into everlasting.
I am Jesus.
I am the Prince of Peace.
I am the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb that was slain.
I am all that you need and I am all that can be had.
I am King.
I am victorious.
I have bound the strong man and I am plundering his house.
Speak to the nations my church!
I am a Warrior and I am the Lover of your soul.

Let Me be your Hope.
Let Me be the reason for your very existence.
My desire is this that I would be your sufficiency
and in that place of resting in My sufficiency Hope is born.
In that place purpose is achieved.
Pursue Me with your whole heart, with your whole mind, with your whole strength.
Live life through My eyes.
See life through My heart.
Reign in life through My strength.

(Mark 14:62) (John 1:1) (Rev 1:8; 21:6; 22:13) (Ps 119:25;1 Cor 15:54-55; Hos 13:14)
(Isa 9:1-7) (Rev 5:5) (2 Peter 1:1-4, Eph 1:23) (1 Tim 6:15, Rev 17:14)
(Luke 11:17-26; Eph 1:15-23) (2 Tim 2:3&4) (Eph 6:12; Rom 8:1-14, Gal 5:14-26)
(Jer 20:11) (Heb 11) (Col 3:1 & 2, Gal 6: 7&8)

Lord Jesus, you are my hope and you are the reason for my existence. Teach me, your Church, how to rest in your work. Let me, your Church, be rooted and grounded in your love so that Hope can be birthed in my heart, the heart of your Church. Help me, your Church, to live life through your life. Help me, your Church, to see Life through your heart and help me, your Church, to be an over-comer in this life through your strength.