The litmus test of our love for God is...

I must say my tail feathers have been a bit ruffled within the past few days!  As I continue on, it’s my intention to explain the things I’ve seen and heard in an honest, but to the point fashion.  Although my words may be stern in some places, there is no malice intended in them.  The point I wish to make here is not necessarily that my tail feathers have been ruffled, but in fact, how the things that I’ve seen and heard affect unbelievers and the body of Christ, both in negative ways.  My hope is that we can learn from instances like these and be guided by the Holy Spirit so that the Body of Christ can be most effective in these last days.

I recently had a discussion with a long time acquaintance while I was out and about doing some shopping.  Although I see this person only once every few months or so, I have been acquainted with this person for twenty plus years.   


The conversation started out quite commonly with the typical, “Hey, how’s life treating you”…and so on.  Then it quickly turned to a conversation where this person was telling me that the body of Christ is really hurting because of things like… the ceilings in the churches are painted black and people wear jeans to church and look like bums.  I could go on…but, I’ll leave it at these two statements.


The thing is…this is a free country and we’re all entitled to our opinions…just as I am freely stating my opinion now.  So, I’m not saying that it’s wrong for her to have her own opinions. What bothers me, is the example this person, a citizen in the body of Christ, is making in a fairly loud, condemning way without regard to others within earshot.    


It’s my understanding that as Christians, we will continually have something to work on in our lives until we enter Heaven’s gates.  God sees us as righteous because…and only because of what Jesus did on the cross for us.  None of us are perfect. Only Jesus holds that title.  He finds us in the muck and mire.  Even so, He picks us up and each at a different pace cleans us up.   


So, what if a unbeliever hears the words that this person speaking about how “it’s wrong to wear jeans to church?”  What if this statement keeps someone from attending church for the first time? Aren’t churches supposed to be places that accept hurting people…who perhaps may be wearing jeans? I have to tell you…I like to wear jeans.  I don’t even own a dress.  However, I do wear dress clothes when a situation calls for it.  And, I’m not a rebel; I just know what I like.  The last time I checked, though, I am still very much anointed to do what God has created and called me to do whether I’m wearing jeans or not.


I see this person’s statements as a negative for both the unbeliever and the Christian alike…but in different ways.  These types of statements hurt unbelievers because they already may feel unaccepted by those who are believers before they even darken the door of a church.  On the other hand, it just makes believers look bad and judgmental of unbelievers and believers alike!


Here in the United States, we have a church on nearly every street corner.  But yet…look at the state of our country.  Something is wrong here…and I don’t believe that it has anything to do with the fact that church ceilings are painted black or that people wear jeans to church.  I believe it’s a heart condition…not of all of us…but, of plenty of us.


I have to tell you, I did not grow up in a Christian family.  I did attend church as a child from time to time.  I even attended church camp and received Jesus as my Savior as a child. But my understanding of how God loved me didn’t hit me until way later in my life.  Needless to say, I have had A LOT of things to overcome…more than some folks, but less than others.  I don’t count myself perfect in any way, shape or form.  I will continue to ask God on a regular basis to take out of me what He doesn’t want in me and fill me with more of Him.    


Now, with that said, my experiences while God has been cleaning me up have been incredible.  What I mean by that is that when my “behavior” has been “less than” what some Christians “thought it should have been”, I have been ridiculed, scorned and iced out by them.  Really!  I wish they would have taken the time to get to know me so that they could understand why I was hurting…instead of deciding that I wasn’t “holy enough” to be around them.  There was a time or two in my life where I was so depressed that I was ready to take my own life (and nearly did once) because I didn’t think I could make it any longer.  My Christian friend didn’t help me, rather I was accused by this person of attempting to manipulate with the mention of suicide to her.  I was told that I was no longer wanted as her friend.  I have since then forgiven this person…just so you know.  J


The litmus test of our love for God is our love of neighbor. ~ Brennan Manning   OUCH!      


I’m grateful that God gave me the strength to hold onto Him so that I could get to the point where I have a better understanding of His love…something that wasn’t modeled to me by so many when I needed it the most.  But, I am also grateful that I went through these things in this way.  Yes…I am grateful!  My experiences have given me a unique understanding of what to do and not do.  Of course, I’m not perfect.  I still make mistakes which is exactly why I need the grace of God.


Where are we as followers of Christ if we cannot or will not help the hurting because of our own preconceived ideas of what they should look like or act like?  I’m grateful that Jesus didn’t turn me away because of the miry mess that I was in.  Who am I to turn another away because I don’t believe they’re “good enough”… for whatever reason? 


The fields are ripe for harvest.  But are we willing to accept the look of the ripened field and be Jesus to them?  He cleans us up from the inside out…or have we forgotten that?


Is it so important what our churches look like…inside or out?  What would we do if we didn’t even have a church building like so many around the world?  It’s the living God inside of us that makes the difference…not what we look like or the look of the place we worship.


We, the Body of Christ, need to take off our rose color glasses of what we “think” a believer or even a church should look like.  We need to remember that the righteousness that we partake of comes NOT from anything that we have done, but from everything that Jesus did for us.   As the body of Christ, we need to wake up and smell the coffee!  The time is short!  It’s God’s desire that ALL men be saved and come to know the knowledge of truth.  1 Tim 2:4


Now, it’s not my intention to pick on either of the folks mentioned in this blog at all.  One of them I approached years ago and discussed the way things were handled and the other; I did state my opinions clearly and kindly in opposition to what was said.  It is no secret as to how I felt about what was said in either instance.  However, the things that were said to me recently did stir things up within in me that I have wanted to put on paper for a long time.


God has a purpose for all things, and in His timing, He takes those things out of us that He no longer wants in us…opening our eyes to more of His truth…removing the rose colored glasses, so to speak, and allowing us to share with others as He leads us. 


Please do be in prayer with me for the body of Christ to rise up and be the Church that God intended us to be.  The time is short.                 

 ****Please check out my new blog which I update 2-3 days a week.  It’s more of a day to day inspirational blog.  Thanks!    http://actnowday2daydevo.blogspot.com/

This Home is Protected by...

This Home is Protected by…

By:: angie c tipton

actnow ministries

2.4.2013

 

Lately, it seems as though the hot topic is about gun control.  Although I agree with many of the posts that I am seeing on Facebook, until now, I haven’t had a need to post anything for myself. 

 

Last night, David and I were sitting in our home enjoying an evening watching the Super Bowl game when suddenly Stewie, our dog, began to bark and growl.  Now this really isn’t something that’s unusual.  You see, Stewie “has a mouth on him” and he’s definitely not shy.  We live in the country and he loves to chase squirrels, rabbits and cows.  It’s not unusual for him to run from window to window looking out, scanning for things to chase.  He let’s us know in his own way that there’s something out there that he “needs to investigate.”  This time, however, his response was very different.  He ran to David, began to shake and continued to growl as we tried to calm him down.  We thought that he had seen a coyote or an opossum and was scared.  He did calm down a bit, but really wasn’t acting like his normal self.  We watched the halftime show and still he continued with this behavior for about 20 minutes. 

 

David then went into the kitchen and while doing so, glanced to the front of the house saw a silhouette of a person on our front porch.  At that point, he casually looked around, picked up his shoes and headed for the laundry room where there is another window to view our wrap around porch.  That’s when he saw what Stewie was going on about.  There were two strange men lurking about on our porch.  At that time David came out and told me to call 911. 

 

Now we don’t live within the city limits of our town, so it takes more than just a few minutes for the authorities to get to our home.  In the mean time, David grabbed his gun to protect us from these intruders.  He headed outside and then had me turn on the lights on the other side of the house.  It then exposed these two and they took off, never to be seen again.  The county officers arrived, checked out the surrounding area and assured us and the neighbors that they will patrol the area for the next couple of weeks.

 

I am grateful that we live in a country where we have officers who will come to our aid in a time of trouble.  But, I am also grateful that we live in a country that has guaranteed our rights to keep and bear arms as provided in the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. 

 

With that said, I assure you that I’m no “pistol packin’ momma” or anything like that.  In fact, I’m quite the opposite.  Just today, I remembered something from more than 20 years ago before David and I were married.  I had no interest in guns or any type of hunting at all.  But, in my own naïve way, I thought that if I took David to see “Bambi” the day before opening day of deer season, he would be “moved” to cancel his hunting trip…HA!  Like I said, I was NAÏVE…I didn’t care for guns or hunting.

 

24 years later, I would have to say that my stance has softened a bit.  It doesn’t bother me so much to have guns in the house.  David is very responsible about gun safety.  It also doesn’t bother me as much about hunting…which he hardly ever does any more.  BUT, it does bother me to have strangers lurking about my home with ill intentions on their mind.

 

You see, this is the second time something of this nature has happened in the past 3+ years.

 

I approach these things in this way…our home is protected by God Almighty.  I trust that He not only has provided for us, but also protects us.  I have trusted Him to protect us and will continue to do so until the day I die.  But, we also don’t need to be naïve in thinking that we don’t need to take proper measures to protect ourselves.  That would be foolish.

 

Now, we haven’t had any reason to pull a trigger, as those who have attempted to enter OUR HOME unlawfully have fled without incident.  Myself…I believe that to be an answer to prayer.  At the same time, when my husband headed outside to protect us, you bet I was grateful that he not only had a gun, but knows the proper way to use one and is not afraid to do so…only IF needed.

 

I will continue to trust God to protect my family and my home…but know this…

 

“This home is protected by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  If you still choose to unlawfully enter after knowing that, know that Mr. Smith & Wesson is here to protect us as well!”

       

When am I gonna get there?

When am I gonna get there?

By:: angie c tipton

act now ministries

1.5.2013

 

 

I have to say, I honestly did not know what it was going to cost me when I asked God for the ministry that I’ve asked Him for.  I CANNOT tell you how many times I’ve heard Joyce Meyer say, “It’ll be much harder than you think it will and it’ll take much longer than you think it will.”  I certainly haven’t doubted her words…oh how I have found them oh SO true and, at times, oh SO hard to continue on…with an excellent spirit and attitude.  I suppose that’s exactly (part of) the reason it takes so long.  God knows exactly what He’s doing…and His timing is perfect.

 

So, today, I find myself in a place that I never, ever considered putting myself…working as a cashier in my local Sam’s Club.  Mind you…not because I think it a job beneath me or anything of that nature. (I have had a great respect for folks who work with the public in this manner…and even a greater respect now…after working my first Christmas season in retail!  I say that with a smile on my face!!)

 

You see, the way I was brought up, I was taught that the more money you made or the more material things you had, the better off you were.  Now, these words were never spoken in our home…it was a learned behavior.  More than two decades ago, early in my marriage, I still carried on with that learned behavior.  But when my husband and I decided to have a child, slowly through the pregnancy, I began to realize that I wanted to be the best mom I could be by staying home, instead of having a career. (Not to imply that if you have a career and children, that’s a bad choice…it would have been for me)  Well, I was a very young Christian at the time and made the decision to be a stay at home mom.  That was a great decision…something that my husband and I don’t regret.  But, while I was at home taking care of our son, I began to have terrible feelings of inadequacy.  You see, I wasn’t “earning my way,” so to speak…or so I thought.  It was at this time in my life that God began to show me that the only thing that matters is what He thinks of me…money or things didn’t have anything to do with my self worth.  I had nearly 30 years of stinking thinking to get out of me. 

 

Now, fast forward 2 plus decades.  I have been a “stay-at-home mom” for the better part of my son’s 19+ years.  Only here or there did I work outside of the home.  During those years, the Lord took that unhealthy behavior as well as other bad behaviors and ways of thinking out of me and, at some point, I realized that I had a calling on my life for ministry…worship ministry.  Needless to say, that is where I put my focus.  At that point in time, I truly believed that I would not work in the public sector again.  THAT is why I said earlier that I never, ever would have chosen a job as a cashier for myself.

 

So, I’ve been following God’s lead…doing what I believe He’s wanted me to do.  It’s been very rewarding…sometimes frustrating…mainly because walking by faith and not by sight is much easier said than done.  We can’t and don’t always see “the big picture.”

 

So, in mid September of 2012, I had received and awesome word from the Lord that “now” is a new beginning for me…an awesome and much needed word from Him.  You see, I had set down…totally…anything to do with worship/music ministry…purposefully.  I put it all in God’s hands, had been waiting (not always patiently) and by October of 2012, it had been set down for 16 months.  Well, when I got this word, I thought everything was going to move forward instantly…musically speaking.  Oh how wrong I was!  As I was cleaning my home one afternoon, I was considering different places where I might be able to volunteer my time during the day.  I had several places to choose from in our area…outreaches, food banks, thrift shops, etc.  I said, “God, I just want to be around people.  Where do You want me to go where I can be a blessing?”  Well, you guessed it.  He sent me to Sam’s Club…it was definitely a God thing.  Doors were opened and I was ushered through so quickly that it left my head spinning.

 

Two plus months into my career there, I can see some of the reasons why He has me there…His refining methods are amazing!! (I wouldn’t dare say that I know all the reasons why He has me there.)  I have been tested on so many different things at so many different levels; it’s been incredible…WHO would have thought?  And I must say…I’ve passed some and…I’ve failed some.  It’s been a challenge and honestly, although I accept what God is doing, there have been a few times I haven’t wanted to embrace it at all!  I have felt totally like my life is out of control…my control that is!  I have questioned Him…”WHY have You sent me here?”  “WHEN is this going to be over?”…Only to hear silence…but a knowing deep down inside that all is well.

 

Today…a crazy busy Saturday…just when I didn’t think anything was going to go right in my short 4 hour shift, something happened.  In the middle of the many people coming through my line, there was a lady who had a couple of kids with her.  What I didn’t realize at first is that she was “counting every dime that she had” and in reality, she probably didn’t even have a dime.  Her kids were testing her…not in a bad way…they were just being normal kids…but she was stressed and it was a loud and frenzied atmosphere.  Looking back, I feel kind of bad because I didn’t even notice her state of mind because I was so busy trying to get folks loaded up, paid for and out of there as quickly as possible.  In a quiet voice, while holding up her food assistance card, she said to me.  “Will this pay for a soda?”  Like a ton of bricks hitting me, I suddenly realized what was going on.  In an instant while handing her a cup I said, “No, ma’am it won’t…but, your drink is on me today.”  I couldn’t believe how grateful she was for something as simple as a soda for her children.  As she thanked me, she had tears in her eyes.  I said, “Thank you, you’ve made my day.”  What happened there today doesn’t seem like much…it was just a soda…but, it made her day, it made my day and has helped me to see why God wants me there.  You see, it’s not about ME. (which I certainly know, but in very public, fast paced situations, it’s challenging to keep the proper focus.)  It’s about Jesus.  It’s about God working through me.  He had me there at that very moment so He could make a difference in her life.  I just have to be willing to let Him do His thing.  That’s what matters!!  That’s what being a believer in Jesus is about!

 

So, while I continue on this journey with God,  wondering…when am I gonna get there…I continue to pray for more moments like these…and do my best to always remember why I am where I am, whether it be cashiering at my local Sam’s Club or singing my favorite song of praise to my God at church.  It’s always my goal to live Christ minded in all that I do, but I’m human and there will always be things that will challenge me to grow to that higher level that God has for me.  I’m thankful for His grace in my errors and it’s my hope for myself to express that grace to others when I feel they have failed me.  God is good all the time…I want to imitate that to others…always!       

Grace, the Man Healed at the Pool and the U.S. (2nd posting)

By::  angie c tipton

actnow ministries

5.23.2012

 

For the past few months or so, John chapter 5 has been on my mind.  In verses 1-9, Jesus has come into Jerusalem for a Jewish holiday.  Inside Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with 5 covered porches.  Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches and one of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years.  When Jesus saw him, He knew he had been ill for a long time and asked him, “Would you like to get well?”  The man said, “I can’t sir for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up.  Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”  Jesus said to him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”  Instantly, the man was healed!

 

There are SO many items of interest in this passage…the numbers, the Sheep Gate, the meaning of the name Bethesda and even the meaning of John.  What was the purpose for mentioning the porches and is it of importance that they were covered?

 

Numbers have always intrigued me in one way or another, although I’m no math whiz!  As I began looking at John, chapter 5 with 5 covered porches…and in vs. 5 it states that the ill man lying there had been sick for 38 years…the difference in 3 and 8 is 5.  The abundance of 5’s could not be ignored and it didn’t take long to find out that the biblical meaning of the number 5 is grace.  That’s A LOT of grace in the first 5 verses of chapter 5 in the book of John...which, by the way, John means, “Yahweh is Gracious!”   

 

I looked up the meaning of the name Bethesda and was not surprised to find that it means, “House of Mercy.”

 

Now, in vs. 2 it mentions that the Pool of Bethesda is near the Sheep Gate.  The Sheep Gate is the gate where the sheep were brought into the city to be sacrificed in the temple.

 

So, why were there 5 porches and why were they covered?  The definition of Porch is; a covered shelter…or in this case they were porches at “the House of Mercy” covered with grace. 

 

The man who had been ill for 38 years had been lying there for a long time.  I found that the number 38 is found in only a few places in the Bible and refers to slavery.  Yes, slavery…the man was in slavery to his illness…unable to function normally in everyday life.  Anyway, Jesus approached this man and asked him if he wanted to be well.  Notice that Jesus approached him…an act of mercy and grace. And, even though the man made excuses for  why he couldn’t get into the pool to get his healing, Jesus, graciously, looked past all of that and healed the man anyway.  He told him to pick up his mat and walk!  In an act of faith and obedience, the man got up, picked up his mat and walked. 

 

I find all of these things so very amazing!!  Here is Jesus, THE ultimate Lamb, slain for the sins, deliverance and healing of all in the world…near the Sheep Gate…at the “House of Mercy”…that is covered with grace.  He has approached a man who is in “slavery” to an illness that has left him lame, most, if not all of his life and graciously heals him. Because the Pharisees were causing a ruckus about the man being healed and carrying his mat on the Sabbath, Jesus slipped away into the crowd.  He later caught up with the man He had healed and told him not to sin any longer or something worse may come upon him.  There is an abundance of truth in that statement!  When we are made aware of sin in our lives, it’s very important that we turn away from that sin and make better choices for ourselves.  Don’t let that sin back in!  Luke 11:24-25 says this; ^“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’  When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” This is not just true for the man in this story; this is true for us in the 21^st century, as well!  Close that gate and keep it closed!

 

Now, I want to go back to the number 38 after the man was healed.  Jesus told him to sin no more…basically, don’t add any more sin to your life.  If you add (sin) 3+8 you get 11.  The meaning for this number is judgment and disorder.  Like I stated earlier, if you take away (sin) 3 from 8 you get grace.  I think this is very significant to this story!  I also want to point out the meaning of the numbers 3 and 8 separately.  The meaning of 3 is resurrection, divine completeness and perfection.  The meaning of 8 is new birth, new creation or new beginnings. With this continued sin in his life, it meant disorder and judgement for this man.  With the sin gone it meant resurrection, divine completeness and perfection…a new life, free from slavery! 

 

I don’t believe that any of these numbers, names, places or meanings are in this story are by coincidence.  Nothing that God does is by coincidence! He IS in control of all things and causes all things to work for good for those who love Him.  Romans 8:28   And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

Like I said earlier, John chapter 5 had been on my mind for some time…I really wasn’t sure why God kept bringing it back to me.  I kept praying, asking Him to open my eyes, ears and heart to what He wanted me to get from it.  Well, in the midst of Him revealing it to me, He also brought a book to me to read…”The Harbinger” by Jonathan Cahn.  I had known about the book for several months and had even watched a couple of programs about it, but had not read it yet. (Reading IS NOT one of my favorite things to do!) Well, I suddenly felt compelled to buy the book and read it.  When I read it is when I realized why God was showing me all of these things in John, chapter 5.  In the book, “The Harbinger” there is a place where a brief reference to the pool of Bethesda in John chapter 5 is made.  “The Harbinger” is a book about the tragedy of September 11^th and how there are warnings (to Israel in the past and the US currently) all through the happenings before, during and after the September 11^th tragedy.  This is when God showed me that our nation is the “lame one” lying beside the Pool of Bethesda.  That’s right…our nation…the United States.  We (currently) are beside the “House of Mercy,” covered with grace and Jesus is standing there offering to heal our land.  But, instead of the leadership of our country…our Government officials…repenting and reacting in obedience to God, they are turning away from Him…ultimately rejecting His offer of healing, mercy and grace.  Even as our officials look to many other things to “fix” our country (i.e. education, healthcare, military, MONEY), Jesus is still standing there, waiting for us to “pick up our mat and walk.” 

 

Now, in John 5:22-23, Jesus says;  ^“Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,  that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”  WOW!!  With that said, I don’t believe that our Government is being very honoring (nor have they been for quite some time) to Jesus…the One who is entrusted to judgment by the Father.  I don’t say these things to cause fear.  Unlike the enemy, God Almighty does not use fear to control people.  God does, however, send warnings to let those He loves know that they are on the wrong path…case in point…our country!

 

Grace:: A ~ unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification

B ~ a virtue coming from God

C ~ a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

 

God wants to continue to bless our country with His grace.  He is waiting patiently for us to respond.  He is love.  He loves us ALL so very much and He wants the best for us…if that’s what we choose.  He is also holy which means that He CANNOT tolerate sin…which is why the warnings are here…now.   I don’t want to think about what judgment will bring to this nation if it doesn’t, as a nation…the leadership of the U.S., turn from it’s ways and come back to God.  This I do know; we, the body of Christ, ARE His!  Even if judgment does come to this country, we have the security of our Savior.  We are His, He is ours…He will NEVER leave us or forsake us.  Choose to pick up your mat and walk…He’s waiting patiently for us to choose.

 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Receive Him, receive His grace.

 

By the way, the date this was written was 5.23.2012.   (5).2+3=(5).2+0+1+2=(5)   Grace

 

 

 

    

...simply rest.

…simply rest

angie tipton

actnow ministries

6.30.2012

It’s been unseasonably hot here in Arkansas for the past few weeks, actually shattering records for high temps for the month of June.  That hasn’t stopped me from riding my bike.  But, what I observed about myself is that as I was out and about on my rides (20-27 miles), I found that I was getting extremely stressed on the big hills that we have here and the heat was compounding that stress.

One day as I was in the midst of a huge hill at the end of my ride, I felt the Lord impress upon me to “simply rest.”  I knew that I had the willpower to make it up the hill, but I was making it much harder than it had to be because of the way I was approaching it.  In analyzing myself in this moment, I wasn’t breathing properly.  I was gripping the handle bars as if I were dangling from a cliff, hanging on for dear life.  And, as I would occasionally glance at my destination, the hill seemed to grow bigger and bigger as my pace continued to slow down…not a good thing!

I then made the decision to “simply rest.”  In doing so, that meant to breath properly, relax and stop gripping the handlebars so tightly, and quit looking at my destination.  Those were the things I did physically to change.  I had to make a conscience effort to “rest” in what I knew.  I knew that I had the physical capability to make it up the hill as I’ve done it more times than I could count because if I want to make it home, this is THE only way to get there…there are no short cuts!

One of the most important decisions in simply resting, was my mindset.  I had adjusted myself physically, then I told myself, “You’ve done this plenty of times…rest in the abilities that you know you already have.”  At that point, the ride went much better.  I had been wasting precious energy before…actually spending more energy to get up the hill than was necessary.

I find that this scenario parallels our walk with the Lord.  Do you ever find yourself stressing in your walk with the Lord?  It doesn’t have to be that way!  All we need to do is simply rest.  Rest in what Jesus did for us on the cross.  When He died on the cross, He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) He didn’t say that just because his physical earthly life expired.  He said it because He had taken on every sin for every person who has ever been…made a way for every person to be healed and delivered…and made a way for every need that every person who has ever been might ever need.  Yes, it’s true…SO true!  The problem is that we, all too often, don’t tap into what Jesus did on the cross for us.  Once we come to the realization of ALL He did for us on the cross, it makes it easy for us to “simply rest.”  When we’re faced with circumstances that seem so great that we cannot make it, because of what He did on the cross for us, we can rest in Him, knowing that He already has it all worked out.

Now, I’m not implying that we don’t have a role to play in this.  We must do what we can do and then God will do what we cannot do.  He will not do our part of our situation and we cannot do His part.  So, we definitely have a responsibility in whatever our circumstances are no matter how simple or difficult they are.  Simply resting in our part of it will make it much easier.  It will take the stress, anxiety and foreboding out of the task at hand. 

God loves us SO much that I believe sometimes it’s difficult to comprehend!  Do you know how much God loves you? (John 3:16)  Oftentimes, I pray for those around me, including myself, that the strongholds that are keeping us from knowing this truth…His love, will be torn down and that God will open our eyes and ears so that we are capable of seeing and hearing just how much He loves us.  God is not some bully sitting in Heaven just waiting for us to make a mistake so that He can beat us over the head with a baseball bat…NO!  On the contrary…He already knows every mistake we  have made or will ever make…and yes, even knowing that, He still loves us with an everlasting love…TOTALLY AMAZING!!

Now, just because we have accepted Jesus as our Savior doesn’t mean that life is going to be easy. (Acts 14:22) In fact, at times, life is quite challenging as a Believer.  But, if we see this gig through to the end, no matter how difficult, we will make it home…“Home” being Heaven.  With that in mind, there is only one way to the Father in Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.  He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)  And, just as in my bike ride to get to my home, there is only one way…no shortcuts!  It’s the same to get to Heaven…only One Way…no shortcuts!  Don’t accept ANY imitation!

So, when life gets tough, remember to simply rest in what God accomplished for us on the cross.  Remember that He is not surprised by anything that we’ve done or anything that has happened to us.  He already knows.it.ALL!  He has already made a way for every situation…yes, every situation in our lives. (1 John 3:19-20)  Be adamant about remembering that He knows everything there is to know about you and how so very much He loves you so that you can...simply rest…the way God intended when He gave up His life (John 10:18) on the cross for us…simply rest.  

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.    Philippians 4:6-8

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock,
and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God;
many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.         Psalm 40:1-3

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.      Isaiah 40:31

Grace, The Man Healed at the Pool and the U.S.

Grace, the Man Healed at the Pool and the U.S.

By::  angie c tipton

actnow ministries

5.23.2012

For the past few months or so, John chapter 5 has been on my mind.  In verses 1-9, Jesus has come into Jerusalem for a Jewish holiday.  Inside Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with 5 covered porches.  Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches and one of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years.  When Jesus saw him, He knew he had been ill for a long time and asked him, “Would you like to get well?”  The man said, “I can’t sir for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up.  Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”  Jesus said to him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”  Instantly, the man was healed!

There are SO many items of interest in this passage…the numbers, the Sheep Gate, the meaning of the name Bethesda and even the meaning of John.  What was the purpose for mentioning the porches and is it of importance that they were covered?

Numbers have always intrigued me in one way or another, although I’m no math whiz!  As I began looking at John, chapter 5 with 5 covered porches…and in vs. 5 it states that the ill man lying there had been sick for 38 years…the difference in 3 and 8 is 5.  The abundance of 5’s could not be ignored and it didn’t take long to find out that the biblical meaning of the number 5 is grace.  That’s A LOT of grace in the first 5 verses of chapter 5 in the book of John...which, by the way, John means, “Yahweh is Gracious!”   

I looked up the meaning of the name Bethesda and was not surprised to find that it means, “House of Mercy.”

Now, in vs. 2 it mentions that the Pool of Bethesda is near the Sheep Gate.  The Sheep Gate is the gate where the sheep were brought into the city to be sacrificed in the temple.

So, why were there 5 porches and why were they covered?  The definition of Porch is; a covered shelter…or in this case they were porches at “the House of Mercy” covered with grace. 

The man who had been ill for 38 years had been lying there for a long time.  I found that the number 38 is found in only a few places in the Bible and refers to slavery.  Yes, slavery…the man was in slavery to his illness…unable to function normally in everyday life.  Anyway, Jesus approached this man and asked him if he wanted to be well.  Notice that Jesus approached him…an act of mercy and grace. And, even though the man made excuses for  why he couldn’t get into the pool to get his healing, Jesus, graciously, looked past all of that and healed the man anyway.  He told him to pick up his mat and walk!  In an act of faith and obedience, the man got up, picked up his mat and walked. 

I find all of these things so very amazing!!  Here is Jesus, THE ultimate Lamb, slain for the sins, deliverance and healing of all in the world…near the Sheep Gate…at the “House of Mercy”…that is covered with grace.  He has approached a man who is in “slavery” to an illness that has left him lame, most, if not all of his life and graciously heals him. Because the Pharisees were causing a ruckus about the man being healed and carrying his mat on the Sabbath, Jesus slipped away into the crowd.  He later caught up with the man He had healed and told him not to sin any longer or something worse may come upon him.  There is an abundance of truth in that statement!  When we are made aware of sin in our lives, it’s very important that we turn away from that sin and make better choices for ourselves.  Don’t let that sin back in!  Luke 11:24-25 says this; ^“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’  When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” This is not just true for the man in this story; this is true for us in the 21^st century, as well!  Close that gate and keep it closed!

Now, I want to go back to the number 38 after the man was healed.  Jesus told him to sin no more…basically, don’t add any more sin to your life.  If you add (sin) 3+8 you get 11.  The meaning for this number is judgment and disorder.  Like I stated earlier, if you take away (sin) 3 from 8 you get grace.  I think this is very significant to this story!  I also want to point out the meaning of the numbers 3 and 8 separately.  The meaning of 3 is resurrection, divine completeness and perfection.  The meaning of 8 is new birth, new creation or new beginnings. With this continued sin in his life, it meant disorder and judgement for this man.  With the sin gone it meant resurrection, divine completeness and perfection…a new life, free from slavery! 

I don’t believe that any of these numbers, names, places or meanings are in this story are by coincidence.  Nothing that God does is by coincidence! He IS in control of all things and causes all things to work for good for those who love Him.  Romans 8:28   And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Like I said earlier, John chapter 5 had been on my mind for some time…I really wasn’t sure why God kept bringing it back to me.  I kept praying, asking Him to open my eyes, ears and heart to what He wanted me to get from it.  Well, in the midst of Him revealing it to me, He also brought a book to me to read…”The Harbinger” by Jonathan Cahn.  I had known about the book for several months and had even watched a couple of programs about it, but had not read it yet. (Reading IS NOT one of my favorite things to do!) Well, I suddenly felt compelled to buy the book and read it.  When I read it is when I realized why God was showing me all of these things in John, chapter 5.  In the book, “The Harbinger” there is a place where a brief reference to the pool of Bethesda in John chapter 5 is made.  “The Harbinger” is a book about the tragedy of September 11^th and how there are warnings (to Israel in the past and the US currently) all through the happenings before, during and after the September 11^th tragedy.  This is when God showed me that our nation is the “lame one” lying beside the Pool of Bethesda.  That’s right…our nation…the United States.  We (currently) are beside the “House of Mercy,” covered with grace and Jesus is standing there offering to heal our land.  But, instead of the leadership of our country…our Government officials…repenting and reacting in obedience to God, they are turning away from Him…ultimately rejecting His offer of healing, mercy and grace.  Even as our officials look to many other things to “fix” our country (i.e. education, healthcare, military, MONEY), Jesus is still standing there, waiting for us to “pick up our mat and walk.” 

Now, in John 5:22-23, Jesus says;  ^“Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,  that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”  WOW!!  With that said, I don’t believe that our Government is being very honoring (nor have they been for quite some time) to Jesus…the One who is entrusted to judgment by the Father.  I don’t say these things to cause fear.  Unlike the enemy, God Almighty does not use fear to control people.  God does, however, send warnings to let those He loves know that they are on the wrong path…case in point…our country!

Grace:: A ~ unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification

B ~ a virtue coming from God

C ~ a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

God wants to continue to bless our country with His grace.  He is waiting patiently for us to respond.  He is love.  He loves us ALL so very much and He wants the best for us…if that’s what we choose.  He is also holy which means that He CANNOT tolerate sin…which is why the warnings are here…now.   I don’t want to think about what judgment will bring to this nation if it doesn’t, as a nation…the leadership of the U.S., turn from it’s ways and come back to God.  This I do know; we, the body of Christ, ARE His!  Even if judgment does come to this country, we have the security of our Savior.  We are His, He is ours…He will NEVER leave us or forsake us.  Choose to pick up your mat and walk…He’s waiting patiently for us to choose.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Receive Him, receive His grace.

By the way, the date this was written was 5.23.2012.   (5).2+3=(5).2+0+1+2=(5)   Grace