A better way to lead up to Easter....

So Lent starts tomorrow---I’ve never bought into it besides the fasting part which is something we regularly do anyway and not one time of year.

Then today I thought about how the media and society respects Lent—they take it seriously because makes them feel Christian or spiritual.

So I thought how about if I use Lent to speak to others about God, Jesus and faith??

so I have to choose something to fast from—no red meat, I do that normally so that wouldn’t be anything special.  I could fast from chicken but I’m like NO WAY!! I love it too much and I don’t mind eating just fish I ate fish for a whole week 2 weeks ago J

So then I thought ok here is what I’m going to fast from for 40 days leading up to Easter!

1.    My own strength in overcoming defeating thoughts.

2.    Fear/anxiety and doubt with regards to unanswered prayers.

3.     Negative words.

4.    Self-defeating words towards others and myself.

5.     Red meat

6.     Soda

7.     Impatience

I think if more people fasted from issues of the heart we’d be a better city, state, and peoples.

I want to share with others what my fast will entail because that can start a faith based conversation.

Keep me accountable and in prayer!

I challenge you all to do the same thing as me---

Adelante y Avanza!

Bea Z

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

Freedom

“Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.  So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.  Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”---Gal 3:23-25 NIV

“Before this faith came, we were all held prisoners by the law. We had no freedom until God showed us the way of faith that was coming. In other words, the law was our guardian leading us to Christ so that we could be made right with God through faith. Now the way of faith has come, and we no longer live under a guardian.” New Century Version

What a revelation for me!!! What a renewal and refreshing thought!! I used to always think and believe the law in the Old Testament was something so how you say limiting and demanding.  But no when it was in effect it was to be a guardian!! It was to say “hold people down” until Jesus came—until the fulfillment of faith came—until it was time to believe and live freely.  Now that we are living in the grace of Jesus, we live a life in freedom but not a freedom in our flesh but a freedom in spirit!  Our flesh’s version of freedom will not please God—it will please itself. That’s why the law was needed—so flesh pleasing wasn’t running wild and ruining people’s lives.  Now that we are justified by faith it means we are made righteous even though we are not always righteous.  This sounds so simple but God has been revealing this to me; so man I am understanding salvation more clearly. A result of this revelation is I’m loving more…I’m loving the lost more---I’m judging less. I am not thinking things in my heart that is condemning people no matter who they are---I’m not always successful in this, but I am allowing God to work in me.  I believe many of us especially those of who were born in the church need to have a revelation of true salvation and how it works. We need to understand the concept of grace and Jesus justifying us.  We like to justify ourselves all the time, but how does Jesus justify us? We no longer need a guardian we have Jesus, and our relationship with Him isn’t one of guardian and person needing guardianship but rather a love relationship with passion! A Passion for prayer and the word and passion for spreading His gospel. The reason I wouldn’t  and couldn’t evangelize before was because I didn’t have a true understanding of salvation and God’s gift etc. But man the past 2 weeks I’ve had such eye opening revelation on this topic---its given me the chills no joke. I have felt the fear of God like never before and a reverence for His work---its unexplainable. Yesterday I had an experience I was sitting down with my Bible and prayer journal in hand and started writing. All of a sudden as I was writing I started to weep and something took my hand and I kept writing. They weren’t my words—they were God’s words.  I wanted to stop writing out of fear---but kept doing it---and when I stopped read what I had written and God again spoke to my life. He was writing me notes on this topic based on my devotional time.  I was fed so much I went to church stuffed!! I kept thinking about this topic of faith and being justified by faith.  What justifies me is my faith---if I believe in Jesus for salvation I must believe Him for everything else. The enemy attacks our faith because that is what justifies us and opens us for blessings! 

We are no longer under a guardian---so why act like we need one??? In our intimate relationship with Jesus we know what we can and can’t do but it’s not a burden to us—but rather out of our love and devotion we just do!  We don’t desire anything of this world—we don’t desire the off limits---we want nothing to do with it.  So why would we act like we need a guardian?? We have Jesus and He has us;  there’s nothing more spiritually romantic that this!

Adelante!!

Bea Z

Generation Glory

Iglesia Cristiana Adonai

The Easy Sin to Fall into---

Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good. If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake.-Prov 19:2 New CenturyVersion

 Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.-Holman Christian Standard Bible

 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet. NKJV

 I was led to this verse this morning---wow---I provided 3 different versions because I know some of us get it better with different wording. But we can’t get away from the King James Version---we can sin if we act quickly without knowledge.  Not because God doesn’t like quick decisions but because when we make them we don’t wait on the knowledge of what God wants or doesn’t want—that’s how I understand it. I’m sure there are also other reasons why---but wow we can sin from a hasty decision!! I’m still chewing on that---I normally don’t think a quick yes or no can lead me to sin . It could be a sin because I am making the decision without trusting in God or making it in anxiety or fear.  And what about the big one decisions made without faith—and anything done without faith is a sin! Wow serious business here.  The knowledge of God’s will and plans is easily found in His word and in moments of intimacy with God.  We can’t tell people what to do or what decisions to make, but we can speak into them about the knowledge of God.  Today more than ever, I am equipped with Word and knowledge from God on how to deal with different situations and circumstances. On my own strength and my own knowledge, I am helpless and sinful.  This morning I was inquiring of the Lord for specific situations---I inquired and now I’m in silence listening to His leading. It’s amazing how He answers---it’s not too long before He begins to pour into me. And in different methods and different avenues but all of it is in agreement.  Whether I like what He has to say or not He is speaking.  Like with Elijah He can speak to guide me in any environment—wind, rain, earthquake, or silence.  He can speak in any element or season.  I must be listening no matter the circumstance or environment.  

It’s so easy to make hasty decisions especially when we think certain ones don’t need our inquiring of God---but I found the David method of inquiring for anything is simpler and much more precise. The will of the Lord will prevail anyway why waste my time where God’s will isn’t and be hurt and frustrated?  I’ve experienced both before--I find when I inquire of Him even for small matters God is gracious to me and gives me favor in those small things.  It’s when I begin to feel rushed and pressed for time I risk making the wrong hasty decision and falling into sin. It’s when I feel I know what I’m doing and am in “God’s will” I risk sinning by making a hasty decision. (MY OWN KNOWLEDGE CAN LEAD ME TO SIN whereas GOD’S KNOWLEDGE IS ALWAYS GOOD) There are so many of us believers in a hurry…let’s slow down and enjoy God’s timing and peace. Rom 15:13 says may I hope while I trust.  This means waiting and trusting in God can be a season of peace and Holy Spirit hope which brings results and is power.  

Think on this word today—let God speak to the specific need/area where you have acted rather quickly.  Keep in mind knowledge from God is different than human knowledge so when we read this verse let’s not be fooled into thinking this refers to human knowledge we already possess etc. Don’t want anyone missing out on what God has for you in His Word by faulty interpretation.

Aprovecha y Avanza! 

Bea Z

Generation Glory