CHRISTMAS WISDOM

The Wise Men in the Christmas Nativity Story were knowledgeable about astrology and the prophecy of Jesus' birth being foretold by the appearing of a star in the sky.

The were not religious men - certainly not Jews - and maybe they were not even very "spiritual."  But they probably had more wisdom concerning Jesus, the newborn King, than Christians do today about Jesus, our King of King and Lord of Lords.

Here is the wisdom of the Magi that many of us are missing:

• They pursued Jesus diligently until finding Him
• They overcame obstacles and hindrances in their efforts to seek the Lord
• They ignored an enemy who sought to keep them from Jesus
• They traveled any distance just for the chance to worship the Lord
• They risked their status and reputations for what they believed
• They studied the truth of Jesus with great commitment
• They freely, willingly and joyously gave Jesus of what they had
• They came to Jesus, prepared to Him their very, very best 
• They worshipped Him openly, and without shame
• They recognized the Lordship of Jesus with reverence and awe 
• And they had one great desire: to simply be in His presence

How easily we take for granted the story of the Magi.  Our Christian knowledge of them has been reduced to three kingly looking figurines of varying ethnicity in the Christmas nativity scene - or a Christmas song no one can remember the lyrics to!

But the deeper truth is that that God Himself provides for us an example of true Christianity in the story of the many men who came to Bethlehem to worship a newly born child. 

How many of us can say that we have done even half of what the Wise Men have exampled for us as Christians?

This Christmas - in the midst of all that we do to celebrate the holiday - let's also add celebrating our own Christianity to the admonition to remember to celebrate the birth of Jesus - our Savior and Messiah; the Anointed One. 

Jesus was born to give us His life.  Let's celebrate Him with our lives, lived in the wisdom of Christmas - everyday.


God bless you - may you know the true joy of Christmas this year and everyday...
~Pastor Deidre Jones

AGREE to DISAGREE?

I may have offended a friend yesterday.

Now, before I know for sure - I want to clarify all the things I know I won't be able to explain, no matter whether she is offended or not.

Because we may just have to "agree to disagree."  

Although, that compromise would not be on the subject matter - the topic that may have initiated the offense - but rather, we may have to "agree to disagree" on who was offended!

You see...

I am a pastor.  I was called by God to be a pastor and did not choose this vocation for myself.  I may not have actually even chosen to be a Christian 31 years ago! Wow...

But what I did choose, from the moment I accepted Christ and instantly knew that the Spirit of the Lord was alive within me, was to "never flake on Jesus and to commit to knowing who He is."

Six months after becoming Born Again, I was already teaching youth groups as an assistant to the Youth Director... and I did NOT grow up in the church as many leaders today did!

I have been teaching, writing, speaking about and learning about the Word of God and Jesus Christ ever since... non-stop.  That means over 25 years of ministry, with...

• A Bachelors Degree in Religious Studies
• A Masters in Theology
• And a Ph.D in progress on the Word of God's Power

I know the Word of God (and keep learning more) and I LOVE the Word of God!  
I know what I'm doing (and keep learning more) and I LOVE what I do!

But I don't do it because of my love for the word of God.  It's all about the people of God!

• And I CANNOT STAND to see God's people living life beat down by an enemy we've been given the power to overcome! But God says stand and see salvation anyway.
• And I CANNOT UNDERSTAND how God's people can say they believe the Word, but don't know what the Word really says!  But God tells me to tell them anyway.
• And I CANNOT BELIEVE it when God's people will still refuse to believe the word of God even when you show them what it says! And God tells me to show them anyway.
• And I CANNOT TAKE it when God's people blame God (or give God credit) for all the funky stuff that the enemy causes in their lives! God says explain it anyway.
• And I CANNOT KEEP QUIET when God's people misunderstand the word of God because they've learned to compare it to their experiences. God says say it anyway.
• And I CANNOT DO anything when God's people are given the solutions to their problems but reject them because they cannot see God in them. He says give them the solutions anyway.
• And I CANNOT HELP but try to empower the lives of God's people with the truths of God's word any way I can.  God says teach them anyway.
• And I CANNOT SIT BY and watch God's people reject the truth of God's word because they are comforted by the lies of the world. But God says comfort them anyway.

Hence the offense... 

People don't like it when you challenge their comfort zone!  People don't feel good when you tell them that what makes them feel good is a lie.  And people get offended when you tell them that what they feel empowered by is powered by someone other than God.

And it doesn't matter how many letters, symbols, degrees or years you have behind you.

What matters is, God says love His people anyway - any way you can.

And so if my friend is offended - I can agree with why.  And I can also disagree with why.

And maybe I could be offended and she might agree with why, or she might disagree with why.  Either way, we will have to agree or agree to disagree!

But I won't be offended...  I CANNOT! I would be a hypocrite if I did!  And I pray she isn't either.  Because offense more than anything else will keep God's people from receiving His best. 

Matthew 13:57-58 "And they were offended in Jesus. But He said unto them, 'A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.'  And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

Praying for YOUR Power, Love and Peace - 
~Pastor D

 

LET'S GET REAL!

So, let's get real a minute...

How many of you are actually happy with the direction your life is going?

*** Before you answer, I'm going to insert a little story:

Four days a week, at 6:45 am, I walk a mile around a local area of office buildings.  I walk, praise and talk to my Heavenly Father and the landscapers keep it clean and trim and it's quiet.  Usually at that time of the morning, the sprinklers come on or have recently been on - depending on the day of the weak.

But lately I have seen snails even when the sprinklers haven't been on.  And if you know me, you KNOW that I cannot stand snails! I hate them; they are gross; sorry, Lord - not sorry!

But, thank God I did see them - because I would have been out for the count and still horrified disgusted if I had stepped on one!  And, getting to the point - each day, I only saw one - all total 4.

1. One big one, headed the wrong direction.
2. One medium sized one headed in the right direction
3. Another really yucky big one, headed in the wrong direction
4. And finally, one little tiny one, headed in the right direction and almost there!

Where is there?  And which directions were right and wrong?

Well, the way I see it - snails belong in the grass.  If a snail is on the sidewalk headed toward the street and far away from the grass - it's headed in the wrong direction!  Even the medium sized one - while facing towards the grass, had a long way to go from where it was on the sidewalk.

But that last little one - it seemed to be doing way better than the others! It was facing the grass, moving in the right direction and didn't have too much farther to go!

Here's why these funky, yucky snails are so significant to the question I've asked at the top of the post...

Realistically, most people just are not happy with the direction their lives are going.  Some don't even know if they even have a direction - they just go through the motions, on their own little "hamster wheel of life," convinced that's all there is.

Each morning that I saw these slimy critters, I was in the middle of asking my Heavenly Father about the direction of my own life and the ministry He's asked me to pastor for Him.  

And let's be real... I admit it, I was also comparing my circumstance to others of my "peers" who seem to be doing what I want to do; what I'm trying to do; what I hope to do and also... what I don't have the money or the members to do!

I told you I was going to get real!

But here's the real deal...

God spoke to me through those nasty old snails!

1. Yep, some ministries are bigger; doing big things and seem more mature, and seem like they've got it going on.  But really, they are just headed in the wrong direction.
2. Other ministries, while yes, they are still bigger than mine, doing big things and headed in the direction I'm hoping to go - they also might just be running towards the end of their course and may not actually make it to their desired destination.
3. Some ministries are doing big things, they are out there in the world with high visibility, moving fast and making progress, but that might be the peak of what they accomplish.
4. And while I may be little and I may be slower to get there - I am headed in the right direction; I'm almost there and I have the potential to get bigger, do big things and continue on for a good, long time.

I hate snails.   And maybe I don't always like the process either.
But, just like I trust that God MUST have some good purpose for nasty snails, I also trust that His purpose for me will be accomplished so long as I just keep heading in the direction he's given me.

So, what about you?  

Maybe it's time to get real with yourself.  Are you headed in God's direction for your life?

If not or not sure... consider becoming member of The House of His Glory and let's let God be the lamp unto our footsteps - together.


Power, love & peace, ya'll - 
~Pastor D 🌠

TOTAL POWER

Getting past the "everyday;" the regular; the expected and accepted that everyone is striving so desperately for (emotionally), yet with such casual, almost negligent and dismissive effort, is a struggle most cannot comprehend - nor have they tried.   

And yet, it is the struggle I am emotionally, physically and spiritually challenged with - 

everyday.

Most beloved, widely accepted and respected preachers who are learned scholars and theologians are not preaching towards this end. And the few that are, are not accessible to the most and while most of their teachings promote and describe what I am ascribing to, they still have a mix of the traditions that hover at the corners of hindrance for me.

I'm talking about Total Power.

Its description would be ineffective without first outlining the necessity to accomplish “complete relationship” before achieving Total Power.

Complete Relationship is a continual cycle, morning to night – through the night until morning again. 

Complete Relationship wakes with awareness and acknowledgment of a love waiting anxiously for you to arise and participate with His plans for your day.  You step into complete relationship as easily and regularly as you step out of the bed and into the bathroom.  It says “good morning” with thanksgiving and acquiescence, asking with excited anticipation - “what will we do today, Lord?”

Complete Relationship sets precedence for the day with praise; worship and devotional time.  It communicates; it listens, it learns, it expresses and receives love.  It receives guidance and glory!

It is a guidance and a glory that the complete relationship carries throughout the day and uses for the complete manifestation of Total Power.  And at the end of the day, complete relationship prays again with thanksgiving, accomplishment and joy entering into sleep without leaving Presence or purpose until the waking of the new day and the next day’s expression of power.

Total Power.

It is a power conceived in confidence and understanding; gestated in belief; born with boldness and wisdom; with grace as a mid-wife and faith the delivering doctor.

Total Power in God:

• Is obedient 
• Is timely 
• Is trusting
• Is confident
• Is faith-filled

Total Power is different than "absolute power" - which is the kind of power they say "corrupts absolutely."  

Unfortunately - many Christian Leaders have attempted to walk in "absolute power" and have fallen publicly exposed, dejected and revealed as absolutely corrupted.

But Total Power is given to the Christian - leader; member and Believer - who walks in absolute resolve; relationship; surrender; submission and love with the One who is Absolute.

His Absolute Power is our Total Power.

• Total power loves totally
• Total power heals wholely
• Total power prospers abundantly
• Total power delivers completely
• Total power examples Jesus implicitly

Total Power is given to you - the choice is yours whether you will accept it and live powerfully in Total Power... everyday.


Power, love & peace -
~Pastor Deidre

·          

TRUE TRUTH

It may seem like venting...

It may sound like ranting...

You might think I'm simply disgruntled and bitter... when reading my recent posts.

But I prefer to use adjectives like: 

• Frustrated
• Concerened
• Disappointed
• Anxious and...
• Hurt

...for the Church.  ...for you.  ...for us.  
...for the whole body of Christ, the Kingdom of God,
the children of the Most High God - those of us with the indwelling Spirit of Truth.

We need to know the TRUE TRUTH.

I want you to know the True Truth about who you are; what you can do; what you should have and how you can have it.

• Yes, God is Sovereign, but YOU have absolute authority in the Earth - you have the last say in the ways of your life and in the world around you. That's the Truth.
• Yes, God is still on His Throne, but YOU have dominion in the Earth - you are the kings and lords that have rulership and leadership in this world. That's the Truth.
• Yes, only Jesus is the Healer, but YOU have been given the ability and privilege to heal, be healed and choose divine health for yourself and others. That's the Truth.
• Yes, you have been filled with the Spirit of God, but He wants to fully immerse YOU in supernatural gifts so that you will have power over the enemy. That's the Truth.
• And, yes, God owns the cattle on a thousand hills; Yes, the Earth is His an the fullness thereof, but, He has given YOU ALL things that pertain to your life and your godliness so that YOU will prosper - in spiritual riches AS WELL AS financial wealth; tangible goods; emotional and physical prosperity; success; abundance; blessings and the Blessing of God so that YOU can be a blessing to others, advance the Kingdom and build the Church Jesus said to build.  And that is the True Truth.

You have more power than you know and that's the Truth.

The ball is in your court and that's the Truth.

All your prayers are yes and amen and that's the Truth.

The devil is real and afraid of YOU and that's the Truth.

You have purpose; peace; strength; joy; grace; faith and all the love you need to overcome every attack and destruction of the enemy and that's the Truth.

-  His lies are death.
-  God's Truth is life, and life more abundantly.

When you live a life of True Truth you will live the life of Christ that He's promised YOU.

And that's the True Truth of God... for you,  ...for us,  ...and for the body of Christ, 

...the True Church of Jesus.

Be the Church.  Live in Truth.


~Pastor D

IT'S NO WONDER!

It's no wonder our teens are shooting in their High Schools, what with...

• the video games they play
• the movies they watch
• the shows on TV
• and the reports on the news

But then again "we" make them and then "we" give them permission.

And it's no wonder our children are depressed and committing suicide, what with...

• dysfunctional, destructive families
• limited options for successful employment
• bullying and hatred
• and access to ALL kinds of guns

But then again "we" teach them through our actions and the way we treat others.

It's no wonder that our children struggle in their sexuality, what with...

• sexually explicit commercials; movies, video games and TV shows
• exposure to gender and orientation confusion displayed in all the above
• political and public leaders sexually harassing and abusing women  
• music and YouTube videos that debase, demoralize and expose them to porn

But then again "we" create; promote and vote them into their worlds.

And it's no wonder that "Millenials" and younger don't trust or respect us, what with...

• our cops who kill minority youth
• the president who promotes political racism
• a government that does not support the needy and under-privileged
• and a higher educational system that financially rapes their students

But then again... "WE" go through it all just the same as they do.

Maybe it's time we stop wondering what to do or if there's anything that can be done and instead, be a wonder.

The wonder of creation is that God loves variety! And there are a variety of Christians in the world.  We cannot and should not be the same as one another and do not have to be the same to be unified in our beliefs. And so, with

• Christians of every political party...
• Christians of every ethnicity...
• Christians of every denomination...
• Christians of every economic status
• And Christians of every AGE...

"WE" can be a wonder, together.
 
It's time to stop wondering and be a wonder.  It's time to be The Church.  

It's time to be that chosen generation; a royal priesthood; a peculiar people; a holy nation; One in Christ Jesus.

It's time to stop wondering about the world and be a wonder in the world.

It's no wonder Jesus hasn't come back yet... The Church still has so much work to do.


Let's get to work ya'll - 
~Pastor D
 

MORE

Do you find yourself wanting more from life?

Do you ever feel guilty for wanting more because scripture says to be content?

And then do you feel bad about feeling guilty because guilt is not of God?

Only then to remember that what is of God are His promises of abundance?

That's when you're back to square one - wanting more.


Your cycle repeats at "square one," but it ends with square One.

John 17:3
"I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." 

Yes, Jesus is in us and we are in Him. But we have not been made perfect in His Oneness.  How do I know? 

• Is Jesus in perfect health? 
• Does Jesus walk in perfect relationship with the Father?
• Does Jesus walk in perfect relationship with all of us?
• Does Jesus walk in perfect provision and prosperity?
• Does Jesus walk in perfect love?
• Does Jesus walk in perfect authority?
• Does Jesus walk in perfect power?
• Does Jesus walk in perfect wisdom and understanding?

 And yet, He is in us and we are in Him and He desires that we be made perfect in Him.  He desires that we walk in His Divine perfection - the perfection of our salvation:

1. Deliverance
2. Healing
3. Protection
4. Long Life
5. Abundant Life 
6. Eternal Life
7. Whole life - nothing missing; broken or lacking.

 That's what the perfection of salvation offers each of us.  And that is the very definition of the words "saved" and "salvation."

Are you walking in the fullness of your salvation? Deliverance? Healing? Safety? Long life and divine health; abundance and prosperity; peace of mind and contentment?

No?  Do you want more?

The more you want for your life is the "more" Jesus has provided for you through your salvation!

Yes, you want more - you are supposed to want more.  And you are supposed to be living with more; walking in more and DOING more so that your life will be a witness of how much Jesus loves you and will love anyone who comes to Him.

Love doesn't withhold.  Love isn't stingy.  Love doesn't let you hurt.  Love will not let you wallow in sickness.  Love doesn't tolerate strife.

God, who is Love wants His best for YOU!  He wants you to want more so that He can give you more.  And it is the enemy who makes you feel guilty so that you will not receive what God has for you.

There is more waiting just for you.  Receive more through Jesus... today.