Shame

Jesus is the Solution

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” – Titus 2:11 Yesterday we talked about how a Kingdom worldview addresses the problem of sin and shame in the world. Today, I want to discuss the fourth and final question a worldview must answer (and it’s the most important of all): “What’s the solution?“ Quite simply, the cross and resurrection of Jesus are the only true answer to the problem of sin, wickedness, guilt, and shame on the earth. The grace, or favor, that comes to us because we are seen through the Father’s eyes (in the same way He sees Jesus) has the power to break chains and set us free eternally! When Jesus went to the cross, He took every sin you’ve ever committed — past, present, and future — upon Himself, and it was nailed there, never to emerge again. When He died,

November 27, 2022 No Comments

What’s the Problem?

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” – Isaiah 59:2 Yesterday we answered the question, “Where am I?” as it pertains to having a Kingdom worldview. Today, we are going to discuss the third of four essential questions that a worldview seeks to answer: “What’s the problem?” As much as we live and move in a spiritual world where nothing is impossible, we’re cut off by sin and shame, so we can’t fully realize our potential. We sin, and then we feel shame, and then we feel separated from each other, so we sin more and feel even more guilt. We get hurt by one another, and pride gets in our way, so we refuse to have mercy, grace, and forgiveness toward others, which makes it harder for us to come to the Lord.

November 26, 2022 No Comments

The Difference Between the World and God

“For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” – Hebrews 2:17 There is an important difference between what the world offers, and what God offers. The best the world can offer is: Process your issue and move on; even if you’ve been through a rough trial, just carry on. The idea is that if you’ve done something bad or experienced trauma, you talk it out and move on. There is some benefit, of course, in talking about what we’ve gone through, but that’s not what the Gospel is. The Gospel doesn’t say just move on; the Gospel says atonement, which is the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ. The Gospel is not denying

August 22, 2022 1 Comment

Do Your Best and Forget the Rest

“As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ ” – Romans 10:11 Today I want to talk about the importance of not allowing the feeling of shame into your spiritual life. Shame is not from the Lord, and it’s destructive to our psyche. No matter how many scriptures we read or how many hymns we sing about God taking away our shame, many of us still look in the mirror and blame ourselves incessantly when we’ve messed up. We beat ourselves up mentally by saying, “I’m not patient enough, I’m not strong enough, I’m not compassionate enough.” Yes, it’s important to become self-aware when we mess up, as in we own it, we repent, and we take responsibility for it, but wallowing in shame is not God’s plan and not God’s best for your life. He did not give up His only beloved Son

August 18, 2022 No Comments

Re-setting Our Hearts

“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,” – Mark 11:15 Did you know that Jesus was not just the Messiah, but also called to be the Prince of Peace and the King of our lives? With this role of King comes authority to set things right in your life and in my life. Mark Chapter eleven speaks of Jesus entering the temple courts in Jerusalem. He sees the money lenders and knocks over their tables and drives them out. So, why all the commotion surrounding the money lenders? During Passover, many Jews would come from all over to celebrate, but were only allowed to take kosher money into the temple. They had to exchange their currency for shekels that didn’t have any pagan

July 23, 2022 No Comments

Character Produces Hope

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” – Romans 5:3-5 Did you know that perseverance builds character, and character produces hope? The word “hope” in the Bible is translated from the Greek word “elpis.” It is defined as “joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation.” For some individuals, their suffering, pressures, and tough situations have actually transformed them into positive and hopeful people. Despite everything, they’ve learned to walk through life with an inner strength and joy that’s evidenced to everyone. Some of the believers I know who have gone through the worst situations are amongst the most positive people I know. Because of their experiences, they

July 12, 2022 1 Comment

Turn Over Your Cloak and Tunic

“And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” – Matthew 5:40 Yesterday we talked about what it meant in the time of Jesus to turn the other cheek and what that teaches us about how to stand against insults without retaliating. Today, we’re going to look at the second example the Lord gives us in the Sermon on the Mount, this one dealing with how we handle those who steal from us. I hate to say it, but in Jesus’ time, men didn’t really have underwear. Instead, they wore two basic pieces of clothing — a tunic and a cloak. The tunic was the undergarment. Think of it like a man mumu, kind of a big, white sheet that went around their bodies to keep their outer garments from getting soiled. Then they had their cloaks that went over their tunics,

April 7, 2022 No Comments

Our Hidden Self

“For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” – Mark 4:22 Every person has aspects of themselves that they do not naturally reveal to others. We all have layers, and we choose how, where, and with whom we peel them away. This is a normal element of life and relating, and it’s not a terrible thing in general. Clients see the completely covered version of us, our friends see a little more, and our family — usually those we live with and who know us best — see the truly hidden version of ourselves. And then there’s God… There are elements of our soul and parts of ourselves that no one knows about and that we sometimes can’t describe, whether we understand them or not. These are the innermost secrets that only God can see. They

January 28, 2022 No Comments

Living for God

“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” – Matthew 3:17 Today, I would like to share with you one last essential thing you can do to ensure that this year is the finest ever. So far, we’ve discussed consciously relaxing, ruthlessly eliminating hurry, allowing gaps in our life, setting boundaries, and living to please God rather than people. If there’s one thing I want you to remember this year as you strive to live a life of abundance, it’s that pleasing people leads to shame. You will never be able to meet the expectations of others, no matter how hard you try. Consider the hundreds of people you know or have encountered throughout the course of your life, each with their own unique viewpoints, oddities, expectations, and ideals. Is it even remotely plausible that you would be able

January 14, 2022 No Comments

There’s Power in the Blood

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” – 1 Peter 1:18,19 We’ve learned recently that Jesus sent ten lepers on a journey to Jerusalem in order to receive their healing. He instructed them to go and show themselves to the priest, and the Bible says that they were cleansed as they went. But what most of us don’t know is what happened to them once they got there. In order for a person suffering with leprosy to be admitted back into society, there was a ritual ceremony that took place. After the priest examined and declared them clean, he instructed them to take a live dove and dip it in blood and

September 22, 2021 No Comments

Jesus is the Solution

What’s the Problem?

The Difference Between the World and God

Do Your Best and Forget the Rest

Re-setting Our Hearts

Character Produces Hope

Turn Over Your Cloak and Tunic

Our Hidden Self

Living for God

There’s Power in the Blood

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