Category Archives: Uncategorized

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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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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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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May 1, 2021

Prepared Good Works

By altarofheaven

“You can be my tutor…” the young lady earnestly asserted as she painted a pumpkin on my face. It was the fall of 2018 and we were at a Church fall festival and I was answering a question about what I do. At that time I was a homeschooling mama that worked part time at our Church as a younger children’s director. Fearfully I responded, “Ah, yeah…maybe I can.” I was fearful because even though I had homeschooled my children for 8 years I still felt I didn’t really know what I was doing. {Truth be told, I still don’t. My secret is I depend on Jesus Christ in me.} The young lady that was encouraging me to tutor was at a local girls home called “Under His Wings.” 

The home began in the heart of God and was entrusted to two ladies whom the Lord equipped and empowered to open in 2013. What was especially intriguing about this invitation to join as a tutor was not just that the young lady was asking, but also it stirred in me a call from God to this same ministry just four years before in 2014. During that time my young family and I were in the middle of selling our ‘things’ and surrendering our hearts and lives to be full time missionaries and the Lord directed our steps to my family in California. Six months before we left Alabama, I met a sweet family that had experienced great loss, and by the compulsion of the love of God, I was drawn to them. My new friend had a daughter that was in a girls residential program called, “Under His Wings.” By the stirring of God I asked to visit her daughter, even though she didn’t know me. While I visited and walked the grounds God impressed on my heart, “this is where I’m bringing you…” At the time I had no idea what He meant. I was confused because our plans were to head to a third world Country after time in California with my family. 

Fast forward to 2016 the Lord directs our steps from California BACK to Alabama. BACK to the SAME HOME and HE provided new furnishings for us! It was clear His will for our family was to return to Alabama. Even though I had experienced the love and power of God, the summer of 2016 was a spiritually tough for me and I had experienced what I call a ‘backsliding’ time of when I struggled with self-entitlement and selfishness among other things. During this time it wasn’t that I lacked faith in believing the existence of God. It was more like I wanted both. I wanted the love of God and my sinful desires. I was tired of serving God and I began to rebel. Few people knew this struggle. I’m thankful for God’s kindness which led me to repentance but I struggled to believe God still had ‘good works’ for me to walk out. I believed the lies of the enemy telling me that I was no longer part of the family of God, and that I was useless to God. I remember the words of a Pastor regarding backsliding seasons and how to get out of them—“You worshiped your way to this place, you must WORSHIP your way out.” That was true. I had made myself an idol, and worshiped myself, so I began to humble myself to worship the One True God that same year-2016. 

When I read John 21:15-25 God restored me as He restored Peter who denied Him three times. It was the words of Jesus that revived me as He asked me, “Arcelia, do you love me?” I broke because I knew I had said and done things that showed I loved myself more. I wept and dared to hear His charge, “Tend My lambs,” “Shepherd My Sheep,” “Tend my Sheep.” During that season my Pastor also approached me and asked if I would be willing to join the Church team serving in the Preschool for Sunday and Wednesday services. I knew I wasn’t worthy to this task and I cried to God sharing all the reasons I thought I was unworthy. It was then He shared, “Now, I can use you…” I knew my depravity and flesh apart from Christ and after the horrible experience of walking away I never wanted to grieve His Spirit or ignore His presence again. So I restarted as a lead learner with preschoolers. God taught us about His love and goodness and His power to equip us to do what He calls us to do. Those two years with the preschoolers were so refreshing and renewing to my soul. 

In January 2019 just a few months after the words of that young lady at the Fall festival, the Lord directed me to serve as a tutor at Under His Wings. There’s more testimonies to share God’s confirmation of leading me to Under His Wings I can share at a later time. What I wanted to share today was a testimony of the “good works” that God has for you BeLoved reader. God has good works for you to walk out. If you are sleeping, wake up! If you are entrenched in sin, call out for help—tell a fellow Christian that you trust that will not judge but gently remind you of the goodness of God. Get back in the fight and keep your Armor on and shield of faith up! Remember God’s TRUTH written in Romans 11:29, “for God’s gifts and His calls are irrevocable.”

When we first moved to Baldwin County, Alabama in 2010 I was a one year in the Lord—a new Christian. At that time the Spirit of God encouraged me to PRAY FOR REVIVAL. At the time, I didn’t know what that meant. I do now. Those who have ears to hear I share, pray for revival. Pray revival for your heart first. The Body of Christ suffers when we are not obedient to the assignments God calls us. 

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before.” Acts 3:19-20

*If you have been a reader of this blog for years than you know the journey of growth God has taken me and I invite you to prayerfully consider supporting Under His Wings as a prayer warrior or in any way God shows you. I have been quiet on this blog for sometime because God was teaching me how to be a DOER of His Word not just merely a hearer or speaker of His Word. Thank you for your prayers. Let us continue “..to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

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August 15, 2020

In Mourning

By altarofheaven

751EF274-C183-4DC7-8016-2E105514C551All sin is unrighteousness.
I can’t rejoice with unrighteousness and I mourn for the stumbling blocks placed before others. It’s not that I don’t want people to be happy in this life. It’s just that I really believe in an afterlife. Heaven and hell exists and it’s hard for me to see people led blindly to a place where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
I don’t scorn the lost.
I mourn for them.

I don’t share the Gospel for legalism but for love. (Mark 12:30-31)
I don’t share the Gospel to condemn, but to lead them to the one that brings no condemnation–Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-17; Romans 8:1-2)

I don’t throw stones, but introduce them to the Chief Cornerstone–Jesus Christ (John 8:7; Ephesians 2:20)

I don’t think I’m better than anyone for I know my own depravity and temptations to sin. I know it is by grace I’ve been saved through faith in Christ.
I can’t tolerate sin because sin brings death.
I can’t condone sin because sin brings condemnation.

I know this first hand.

That’s why I can’t help but plead to the lost, begging you, on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God! Make Jesus Lord of your life today and He will bring you to the Father. I’m praying for you.

To the brethren I say…
May we not be surprised or distracted by the behaviors of others, but remember the root cause….a rebellious heart. This rebellious heart keeps us from knowing God. We once had a rebellious heart until God gave us a new heart and put His Spirit in us. We must remember we were given this holy calling according to God’s purpose and grace. We must not fall asleep and get caught up in the ‘pleasures of this world’ forgetting our ministry of reconciliation. People are dying without Jesus Christ!!

We must prayerfully MOURN for the lost not scorn them!! We must humble ourselves and allow God to love others through us. For it is the kindness of God that leads to repentance.
Who is in your sphere of influence that needs to hear the Words of Life? I am praying for us.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16

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March 23, 2020

An Invitation

By altarofheaven

Hello! Those of you that have been reading here may have noticed I was quiet here for many months. It was due to several reasons…my mouth was almost silenced but I can still say like Jeremiah, ”

“But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.” Jeremiah 20:9

If you read my testimony you may remember in 2008 my husband and I did a competition on who can read the most books in a year. When we discovered the Bible had 66 books we began to read the Bible even though we were not Christians. The rest is God’s story. The Bible is God’s Word to us, a way He speaks to us. A way we can know Him.

During this season of ‘quiet’ my husband and I have chosen to read at least one book of the Bible everyday in addition to our daily readings. Jesus said in John 17:3

“This is eternal life to know the One True God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent.”

Will you join us in this exciting adventure? If yes, just send me a comment and I’d love to hear how God is revealing Himself to you this season.

Be blessed BeLoved.

Glorify God. Magnify Christ. Edify the Brethren

 

 

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March 13, 2020

Faith & Unbelief

By altarofheaven

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It’s fascinating to me that Jesus would spiritually heal someone by forgiving their sins based on someone else’s faith. And equally intriguing Jesus would physically heal based on someone’s unbelief.

Mark 2:1-12 tells the story of four men carrying their paralytic friend to Jesus. They removed a roof and let down his pallet to get him to Jesus. Verse 5 says, “And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son your sins are forgiven.” When the scribes reasoned in their hearts that ‘only God can forgive sins,’ Jesus confronts them on their poor reasoning and unbelief and  shows His authority to forgive sins by physically healing the paralytic.

What a mystery! In the mixture of faith and unbelief there’s a potential miracle. There are many in my life I am taking to the feet of Jesus and I am praying He sees my faith and heals them. However, I’m encouraged to know that even if there’s unbelief present, He could still show us His glory through a miracle.  He is over all things…even unbelief.

Dear reader, do not grow weary of taking your friends to the feet of Jesus.

Luke 18:1-8

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