August 26, 2023

Sowing in Suffering

By altarofheaven

“May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.”

This was a call from two missionaries that sold themselves into slavery to share the Gospel to slaves in the West Indies. This became the call of Moravian missions.

The mission has not ended. 

There are many today fighting with hard hearted and rebellious hearts. Their hearts are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 

The sin committed against them. The sin they committed against God and others. 

They need to experience the Gospel. They need to see how much they have been forgiven so they can extend that same forgiveness and release the bitterness they are holding. They need to begin with receiving forgiveness for their sins. 

How do they experience this Love of God? Through God’s children, His vessels of mercy and grace. God’s kindness leads to repentance. This does not mean we allow them to continue in sin, but we love them through it and remain in the throne room often to pray in agreement with Jesus Christ who is interceding for them. 

We humble ourselves through the fight and remain in Christ allowing His strength to work in and through us for His purposes. Even when they hurl insults at us and break our hearts. That’s sharing in the suffering of Christ. We must not fight in the flesh, but we must pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus and experience His power through our weakness. 

God does not wish anyone would perish but all would come to the knowledge of the truth. Do you believe that? 

Who are you fighting on your knees for beLoved? Do not stop sowing God’s Word and watering them with your tears….keep the faith and remain steadfast. 

Psalm 126:5-6

“Those who sow in tears shall harvest with joyful shouting.

One who goes here and there weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Glorify God, Magnify Christ, Edify the Brethren.

Bread for the Brethren: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

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August 12, 2023

Being Ignored

By altarofheaven

The other day I was sharing something very important to me about God to someone I felt would understand. They have an Apple Watch. Do I need to finish the story?

I left the meeting feeling not fully heard or understood. I also felt like an inconvenience, a box to be checked, a speed bump preventing them from their day. It hurt and made me sad. I was offended and angry. When I recounted the offense to my husband, he told me to stop. He did not jump into the tornado of my offense. I saw I have a choice; To continue being offended or forgive. Our Pastor just preached on Matthew 5:21-22 “The devastating Consequences of Anger & Contempt.” How anger and contempt are seeds to murder. I dared to pray and ask God for help to forgive this small offense and forgive me for defiling others in my anger. The next morning, I realized I may not have an Apple Watch, but I have done that to others…to my own children. I have done it with my phone, my laptop, even my journaling. It pierced me to think of the times I made my children feel unseen. Then I realized the times I sat alone with the Lord reading the Bible and journaling, only to interrupt with a “quick check” of my phone, just as this person did with their watch. Then I realized the Truth.

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all need grace and forgiveness I am thankful God helped me to obey Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you.” I desire to forgive because I have been forgiven for so much and I do NOT want to grieve and ignore the Holy Spirit who lives in me. The gospel is a supernatural truth and I need the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to share with others, why would I want to ignore and deny His power?

I’m learning un-forgiveness is a HUGE barrier to experiencing the power, gifts and fruit that God freely gives to those who walk in repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who do you need to forgive? Don’t ignore that nudge in your heart to take that first step.

Glorify God. Magnify Christ. Edify the Brethren.

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May 4, 2023

Unity in Identity

By altarofheaven

Do you remember that ‘fun’ game of musical chairs? I never thought it was fun because I hated how someone was always left without a seat feeling like an outsider. How is that fun? What were we trying to cultivate in our hearts? The fastest gets the seat. Did that build or tear down relationships? This version of musical chairs still happens throughout our life, and it destroys relationships.

I’m understanding more about the value of the prayer that Jesus Christ prayed in John 17 “That they may be One, as You and I are one…” There’s security in belonging. There’s security in unity. There’s security in being in a tribe. You have identity. We are meant to have identity in Jesus Christ.

Our society chooses to identify in other ways too. We identify with favorite sports teams, we are encouraged to have school pride, and we even identify with the things we do such as public school or homeschooling. It doesn’t end there either. If you homeschool then it’s whether you homeschool with this curriculum or that. It doesn’t pose a problem, until we end up overidentifying with these things instead of focusing on the identity and unity we have in Christ. 

As I reflect, it’s been like this for so long. I had to choose which group I would hang out with in School: the military base kids, the dancers, the athletes, or the scholars in the library. I was a floater. I hated to choose because I didn’t want anyone to feel left out. It’s painful to watch the youth go through this same scenario as they walk into a room and immediately cling to their friends while ignoring others.

Adults do it too. When I was pregnant the questions were if I would have a natural birth or c-section, bottle or breastfeed, cloth, or disposable diapers. Other questions included if I would work outside the home or stay home? Homeschool, public school, private school or unschooled? It’s healthy to have community and encouragement around these topics however, when we begin get offended when others don’t choose our convictions, we can begin to exclude people. We begin to lose the ability to know how to treat others that are not in our ‘identity’ group and ignore them. 

This should not be the same for Christians. I can understand how the world clings to the things and identity of the world, but Christians—our identity is in Christ, not in what we do, but in who we know. Our unity is Jesus Christ. And when we meet people that are different from us and do not know Jesus Christ, we have an opportunity to introduce them to the One that has a seat waiting for them….

Glorify God. Magnify Christ. Edify the Brethren.

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”John 17:3

“And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together [j]with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved through faith; andthis is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10

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February 28, 2023

Spiritual Coma

By altarofheaven

“I need you to…” her voice trembles with fear, afraid to offend, afraid of saying something selfish. She pauses, gulps, and continues, “I need you to fight.” Her eyes lock on with her friends and fill with tears threatening to burst at the next blink. The recipient of this exhortation lays still soaking in the plea of her beloved friend. She’s tired. She’s distressed and discouraged. She wants to let go. She sees no fruit of the labor and has believed the lies of the Devil. She’s beginning to lose hope, to lose faith. The words of her friend sting and begin to stir something deep inside. She feels like sleeping beauty after she touched the forbidden spindle. Her forbidden spindle was sin. Her perfectionist heart wants to give up and not believe God could save her from her thoughts and sin. But He does. God sends His people to minister to her. The very fruit she couldn’t see was now giving her manna to feast on. She wearily lifts her head feeling unworthy to look at the face of God after continual betrayal and yet her friend is there to lift her hands as God lifts her head. 

Her friend reminds her of the Gospel. 

Her friend reminds her of the lost in the world that needs to hear the gospel. 

Her friend reminds her of her purpose: To glorify God. 

Her friend reminds her how this purpose is fulfilled: through Christ alone. We empty ourselves to be filled by His Spirit. She reminds her, “He will complete what He began…”

I know of someone who was in a spiritual coma. She was spiritually sick. Her face is now where it should be…beholding God. 

Dear reader I was in a spiritual coma six years ago and thought it was over for me. I learned during that season God is the one that holds us fast. When we ‘let go’ we find that He never does. This experience helped me to understand what Peter must have felt when Jesus restored him after denying Him. I also remember the charge given to Peter, “…and once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus also told Peter to, “Tend my lambs,” “Shepherd My Sheep” “Tend My sheep.”

My face is now beholding my God and Savior Jesus Christ. By His grace, today I strengthen my brethren in a gentle and compassionate way because I know I am beset with weaknesses. I am praying you behold God and walk out the good works He has prepared for you. Be steadfast.

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  I Corinthians 15:56-58 

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January 14, 2023

Spiritual Identity Theft

By altarofheaven

Who are you? According to Oxford Languages Identity is defined as, “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.” Discovering who we are is a quest we journey on in life as we look to others for affirmation and acceptance. There is great freedom and peace in knowing the truth of who you are and where you belong. This peace is stolen by berating daunting doubts from one who wants company in his misery. His name is Satan. Lucifer was once enjoying this peace and acceptance until he became discontent and wanted to be God. His consequence was to be brought to the lowest part of the pit of Sheol (Isaiah 14:12-15). In Hebrew Lucifer means, “shining one, light bearer,’ and Satan means “the accuser or adversary.” Today Satan roams and whispers lies to tempt us to doubt our identity. 

When Jesus was baptized heaven was opened and the Spirit of God descended like dove and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17). While Jesus was in the wilderness to be tempted by the devil one of the first temptations was a provocation for Jesus to doubt His identity, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread” (Matthew 4:1-3).

God the Father just affirmed Jesus as the Son of God and that’s the area where Satan goes after first…His identity. 

Satan still does this today. He desires discord, disharmony, and discontent. He relishes in destroying relationships beginning with your relationship with God. Hell was never created for you and me. Just for Satan and his followers. Why else do you think Jesus Christ commands us, “Follow Me…” We can either follow Satan to hell or follow Jesus Christ to God the Father in heaven. What is the truth about you? Who are you? 

You are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)

You are deeply loved (John 3:16-17)

You are not perfect (Romans 3:23)

You have been given a gift (Romans 6:23)

If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ and turned to Him, then you are a child of God and there are so many more truths about you Satan tries to deflect and devour.

You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

You are forgiven (Acts 13:38-39)

You are holy (Ephesians 1:6)

You are redeemed (Colossians 1:14)

You are saved (Ephesians 2:5-6)

As Christians if we are struggling to believe these truths it’s because we are believing a lie from the enemy who is tempting us to doubt our identity in Christ just as Satan did with Jesus in the wilderness. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. 

Another reason we as Christians struggle to believe these truths could be our hearts are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin in our lives and we have given Satan a foothold. God gave a way out for that too through confession and cleansing (1 John 1:9) and you can do that now.

Jesus Christ came to give life abundantly. The life of a Christian is repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith help us to remain in Christ and prevent spiritual theft from the enemy. Keep pressing on my brethren.

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9

*Glorify God, Magnify Christ and Edify the Brethren

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December 15, 2022

Crushing Joy

By altarofheaven

A smile in the midst of a tear.

A laugh choking out a cry.

A wave to deflect a concern.

A silent suffering takes place each day in this world because it is full of depravity, depression, and darkness. It’s worse when you are surrounded by vanity fair, and everyone looks like they are fine…except you. You are not fine. You are hurting in place no one can see: the heart, soul, and mind.

You go through each day feeling lonely, lost and unseen. There is One that sees you and is near your crushed spirit. There is One that wants to save you and keep saving you. His name is Jesus Christ.

Maybe you do know Him but still experience this sadness because the enemy whispers lies causing you to doubt the goodness of God. You experience this sadness because this world is not your home.

The uninterrupted joy that our hearts yearn for is only found in Jesus Christ. He can take the pieces of our shattered soul and spirit and make something beautiful. It’s hard to believe but it’s true. 

I won’t drag or push you. I will just wait here with you and love you through these moments. 

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

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December 13, 2022

Conceived and Born of the Holy Spirit

By altarofheaven
Image Credit: http://www.fullofeyes.com

Christmas is one day of many that Christians ‘remember’ the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ. We remember how God humbled Himself to experience the temptation and pain of humanity that He would one day save. When Mary asked how she would bear a son even though she was a virgin, the angel Gabriel answered:

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and for that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35

Jesus Christ was born of the water of the womb and Spirit of God. Later Jesus tells a Pharisee Nicodemus this is the only way to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, “…Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which Is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5-6

Jesus Christ is the first born of all creation. Born of the water and Spirit. He led the way to gain access to the kingdom of God. It’s interesting how we cannot choose to be born of the water, but we can ask God if we can be born of the Spirit. That is a prayer He desires to answer. If you lack in faith, just ask God to reveal Himself to you. He will. For Christians, the Holy Spirit does not just “overshadow” us, He comes to live IN us!!

BeLoved reader, I pray this Christmas you follow the steps of Jesus Christ and are born of the Spirit of God and gain the access to God the Father your soul has yearned for: to be fully known and loved.

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October 29, 2022

The Privilege of Serving

By altarofheaven

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

Lately I’ve been realizing how much it is a privilege to be asked to serve. When God provides me an opportunity to serve in an assignment that I think is impossible for me to do, I’m learning to pray first. Praying to Him helps me to calm my anxieties and rest and trust Him. If He asked me to do something, He will provide all that’s needed. He already gave by giving us His Son Jesus Christ. 

If you have been asked to do something that is beyond your ability, and it requires you to die to self. Stop and give thanks to God, for asking you to serve in this way. Remember you are now a disciple of Jesus Christ, and we should always be ready to serve Him. Consider it an honor that you get to live God’s truths, not just meditate on them. The Holy Spirit does more than overshadow His chosen children, He lives IN you.

Yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit and you will experience the reward of learning more about yourself, but most of all you will have the greater gain of knowing God in a more intimate way….now that’s eternal life!

“The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35

“The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life on My account will find it.”  Matthew 10:39

“…for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

“And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

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June 4, 2022

inSECURITY

By altarofheaven

The fear of missing out (FOMO) has become a “respectable sin.” The root of the FOMO is discontentment. The root of discontentment is a lack of faith to believe that God loves you and He can be trusted. It’s like the Garden of Eden when the serpent successfully tempted Eve to believe God was withholding good from her. That’s the Devil’s tactic—to provoke you to be insecure.

Insecurity can lead to:

  • Impatience: We take matters into our own hands, or we allow our mind to wander.
  • Unkindness: “Hurt people, hurt people.” We begin to tear down others.
  • Jealousy: We covet and desire what others have.
  • Boastful and Arrogant: We overcompensate our feelings of insecurity by bragging to others about what we have or what we know.
  • Act unbecomingly: We have outbursts of anger or anxiety.
  • Seek your own desires: We act selfish and have a ‘me first’ mentality.
  • Provoke: We end up acting like the Devil by PROVOKING others by manipulating them to be insecure like us. We become a slave to the Devil and his unrighteousness. 

Insecure people rejoice in unrighteousness because misery loves company. Insecurity ultimately leads to broken relationships. This is not what God wants for us. Relationships are important to God. Relationships are eternal. It begins with our relationship with God.

God wants to LOVE us. For us to be His BeLoved child, we are to Be. Loved. By Him. God proved His love by sending Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Saved from what? From this SIN SATURATED world that provokes us to insecurity. Just as Noah and his family entered INTO the ark for the salvation of a flooded world, we can enter into the ark of a New Covenant: Jesus Christ. We will be IN Security as we hide and abide in Jesus Christ, not insecure. Only then can we help others that are struggling too.

I know this because I experience it. Even as a 13-year-old Christian I can still struggle with FOMO in a variety of ways however, I’m learning the tactics of my enemy. Instead of participating and believing the provoking lies of the enemy, I am choosing to expose them. The word ‘security’ can also be used as ‘confidence.’ The Devil is always trying to knock our confidence in God and in our identity in Christ. Instead of having a fear of ‘missing out,’ we should fear the LORD. As a sojourner in this world, I am choosing to walk IN the SECURITY of my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. I’m choosing to walk in the Spirit. Want to join me on this journey?

Today I’m praying you experience the LOVE of God like you never had before, and you experience security in Christ…for His glory and namesake.

Glorify God. Magnify Christ. Edify the Brethren. 

“We love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

*This post was inspired by God’s Truth: 1 Corinthians 13; John 15:5; Romans 7:25;8:1-6; Ephesians 5:11; Hebrews 11:7; Luke 22:31-32; John 3:16-17

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March 12, 2022

Spiritual Status Check

By altarofheaven

During air base defense training, one of the reports we learned about was the ACE report. ACE reports were designed to give leadership a status check after a battle. ACE stood for:

A-Ammo: How much ammunition do we have?

C-Casualties: Did we have any casualties?

E-Equipment: What is the state of our equipment? Do we need to replace or replenish anything?

Years later, this acronym is helpful to me in evaluating my spiritual status as a Christian, along with the status of my fellow brethren that engage in spiritual warfare. Being involved in ministry provides many ‘opportunities’ to engage in spiritual warfare. There are days when you are tempted to be discouraged, disheartened, and demoralized. It is through these times I like to conduct a status check on myself and fellow brethren and ask the questions:

A-Ammo: How much of GOD’s WORD is in us? Are we still walking in Christ? God’s Word is the Sword of the Spirit. Do we just ‘know it’ in our head or are we using it?

C-Casualties: Who is still with us? Do we have anyone that needs to transition and retreat out of the battle for rest and respite?

E-Equipment: The Armor of God. Are we still wearing it?

There was a time in my Christian walk when I was not a ‘target’ for the enemy because I was just reclining and enjoying my salvation. I was no threat to the plan of the enemy. The moment I began to walk out the good works God has prepared for me, there have been many enticements to give up. However, it is the LOVE of God that compels me to continue. I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. The more I read the Bible and learn about the promises God has made and kept, my faith in Him grows. 

God is real, and can be trusted. 

God said He would send Jesus Christ: He did. 

He said His Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment: He does. 

He said Jesus is coming back: He will.

If you are a Christian, you understand what I’m saying because the Holy Spirit teaches you. May we wake each morning and do our ‘ACE’ reports. Do not let you heart become hardened by the sin you see in the world. You know how it ends. Keep praying and walk out the good works God prepared for you.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity. Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.” Proverbs 24:16-18

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