Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Thyatira

To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:


These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Pergamum

To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:



These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Smyrna

To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:



These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Ephesus


To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.~Revelation 2:1-7

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Tainted Saints

I knew a pastor that had abused his wife physically and emotionally. I knew a pastor that lied. I knew a person who paraded as a pastor, but was no longer "licenced". I knew a pastor that stole. I knew a pastor that was manipulative and controlling. I knew a married pastor that flirted with women in the congregation. I knew a pastor that was addicted to pornography. I also knew a pastor that gambled.

In my time, over the years working with different churches and church leaders, I have seen many things. In fact, what I have seen and heard could have and did destroy careers, marriages, reputations...and churches. It is not just the pastors that I had seen operating in destructive manners, but congregation members too. It happens.

What perplexes me the most is the plank-in-the-eye syndrome, or in other words, the lack of grace and mercy that these pastors (I am going to pick on "pastors" today) refused to exhibit towards others who may have been stumbling in their own walk. The spirit of self-righteousness was (is) alive and well in our church leadership - sadly.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds~Hebrews 10:24

As I navigate through the trials of my own walk with God, I look to my brothers and sisters in Christ for examples, for support, for understanding...for acceptance. When I look at these pastors, knowing their sin, I expect understanding. It is being able to relate to the struggle of plodding through miry clay, wanting to give up - yet holding on to hope, trying to see things clearly, and letting the Lord work in you to do all that is necessary(...the struggle...)that connect us. It is because of this experience in life that we are able to encourage others, to spur each other on in our walk with God. We are not islands. Yet, more often than not, we deny the truth of our character flaws and dress in the facade of convenience to keep our pride intact. (Catch the irony there?) It would seem that I expect(ed) too much.

Where grace and mercy is given and grace and mercy is received,...So, grace and mercy is to be passed on.

My rant for the day.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Celebrate Women's Day


What do you do when disappointment comes? When it weighs on you like a rock, you can either let it press you down until you become discouraged, even devastated, or you can use it as a stepping-stone to better things.~Joyce Meyer

Featured Post

They Did Not Realize

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. ~John 21:4