Is All Shame Bad?

Shame. Such a powerful word and such a dangerous took if used to hurt yourself or others. When used wrongly or misunderstood, shame blocks us from living life fully.

Nowadays, people have rejected all shame as bad. It’s almost like a counter-revolution. But not all shame is bad. Healthy shame is quite wonderful because when used properly, its vulnerability and humility can lead to closeness. This is the shame that comes from taking accountability, for causing harm either by knowingly or unknowingly to another person with your words or actions. It’s the shame of disconnection.

One of the first emotions mentioned in the Bible is the blueprint of Life, which is a shame. Adam disconnected himself from his loving source of Life by doing something that God explicitly asked him not to do. God said to Adam. “It’s important that you don’t do this-don’t eat from this tree.” But Adam chose differently. Just like a child who does something that a parent asks him not to. Adam did the same. This was a disconnecting act in Adam’s relationship with God, his loving parent.

And that way okay. Adam was human, he made a mistake. The problem came afterwards. Instead of owning up to the mistake, to this hurtful gesture that caused the disconnection, he made excuses.

God asked Adam the question: “Where are you?

God wasn’t looking for Adam’s physical location. God has a highly attuned GPS for knowing where people are.

God was asking Adam, where are you in the spiritual sense? Are you going to choose vulnerability and humility and take accountability for your actions or not?

Adam chose not. Instead, he blamed his wife and God, “The wife, You gave me…”

Big mistake. His decision plunged the world into darkness that were still trying to dispel.

Everything would have looked differently had Adam owned up and taken accountability for his actions. If Adam would have owned up there would have been the ultimate connection, the ultimate act of intimacy, and the world would have been in a state of bliss.

We have this choice all the time. When we make mistakes, we can choose intimacy and closeness or distance and disconnection. We’re human, and making mistakes is part of our DNA. We can unwittingly say or do harmful, unkind things to people. We take actions that are not in alignment with our highest selves and wind up hurting those we love.

As a woman and mother. I have a million ways and opportunities to make mistakes. I made mistakes and hurt my husband and my children. I’ve let my shame almost ruin a great marriages and I’ve made mistakes that hurt my children. They have asked me questions that I was nervous and anxious about or answer with impatience. Or answered in a unkind way. It wasn’t until after I almost lost my husband and my children were raised that I chose to let go off my shame and connected to my family.

I’ve had friends and I have lost friends, because I chose to make them feel uncomfortable. Now I have friends that are kind and trustworthy that has never failed to bring connection.

Choose Connection Over Disconnection.

This is healthy shame. It causes you to say to yourself, “Hey, my humanness caused me to hurt that person. They don’t deserve that treatment from me.”

This leads to connection and your little world will look a whole lot different. People will feel loved in you presence. They will feel safe. And you will have the intimacy you desire.

Walk On The Word

You know that feeling you get when you’re sitting at a stop light and the car next to you is overusing their bass? Whether you enjoy those vibrations or they give you a headache, you likely recognize that sound waves exert pressure.

When those waves are bounced between aligned surfaces, they can create what is known as a “standing wave.” This is when the total pressure from the original wave and its reflection cancel each other out. And get this , an object if properly positioned, can levitate off the ground from that sound.

Researchers in Switzerland have developed a way of levitating, manipulating, and moving objects using nothing but sound. Through testing sound wave that have frequencies too high for humans to hear, scientists have learned how to simultaneously levitate several objects next to each other and move them around.

How does it work?

Objects placed between two horizontal surfaces, the bottom one (from below) emitting high-pitched sound waves and the top one (from above) reflecting the waves back, can be levitate.

There is a truth found in Matthew: 16-19: “Whatever you bind on earth has already been bound in heaven.’ Two realms, above and below, working together.

When God’s Word is spoken spirit controls matter. Lesser authority submits to greater authority. This is not trying to explain Jesus’ miracles in terms of science. But look how science closely reflects spiritual things.

This can open up so many wild connections to the imaginative believer. The Bible says that God spoke and His word formed the material realm. Jesus said, “My words are Spirit and they are life. -John 6:63 The word is alive and active in more than one dimension.

When we speak below what God is speaking above it creates an “original wave” that enables us to do the impossible. Jesus spoke a word to Peter while walking on water. All He said was one word “come” and Peter stepped out and walked, not on water but on the “Word” Jesus spoke.

What shaking are you experiencing? The earth itself is currently in upheaval. Yet, there is a word for your situation right now. This word pulsates power. Nature cannot tell if it’s you or the creator talking. It is the same sound that caused the spiritual realm to transform over 2000 years ago. Speak it.

It’s Time To Put God First

My Pastor Texted this message to our church this morning. I thought I would share his message.

It’s time to put God first. The enemy comes after you all day long, and if you’re going to “stat ahead of him” you need to pursue God first thing in the morning. Meditation is praying and praising God with Psalms, and the words of Psalm 5 are the specifics for this pursuit.

Today’s Prayer: Father, Thank you for leading me in your righteousness because of my enemies. I am listening for your voice, and I receive Your Spirit for the grace to fight and win every challenge I face today and every day. You promised blessings and life to those who meditate in your Word.

Psalm 1. I am looking up to you, for those blessings and that life. Remember… Meditation is praying God’s Word a lot.

Give ear to my words. O’ Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry. My kings and my God. For to you I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning I will direct it to you. And I will look up. Psalms 5:1-3

I do not usually share things from my pastor but, this was worth sharing.

Becoming People Of Prayer

In Jeremiah we are told “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” These are powerful words; a promise from God. Why then would we not pray, prayer can become just another option for us ; something to pick up and put down for our own purposes. But it can and should be so much more.

Prayer is a mighty vehicle for us. It is something we use to carry out the purposes of God. We know prayer can increase our our purposes. We know prayer will boost the harvest. We pray so we can lead. We pray so we can be a witness to others. We pray so we can have fellowship with God. We pray so we can hear from God.

Prayer and the life of prayer are spiritual practices. I cannot explain who prayer changes your life. They must be experienced. I believe that prayer changes things. But it is not prayer that the changes things. Prayer has no power on it own. If simply being enthusiastic about prayer as a powerful vehicle we’re enough, I could pray to anything and receive an answer. Prayer doesn’t change things. It is not prayer or even a life of prayer that brings us power, it is the God to whom we pray who has all power.

Paul said in Thessalonians 5:16-18, “rejoice always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus.” You and I have been called to do something: pray continually. We are to pray without stopping.

Prayer is essential in the life of a believer. Whatever has gone on in the past, you can decide today that you’re going to become a person who prays, a person who maintains a lifestyle of prayer. I’ve made the decision. Have you?

How can you pray continually? The key to rejoicing always and pray continually is to lean on God all the time and to call to Him repeatedly and often. Praying is like keeping the radio going in the background. Keep that connection open to talk to God as you go through your day. Be aware that He is at your right side at all times.

Here are some ideas about praying continually:

  • Begin your day with a grateful attitude.
  • Get real with God.
  • Incorporate prayer into every day chores or at work.
  • Tell Him what He already knows. God is all knowing.
  • Pray while to wait.
  • Sing a song of praise while your driving or are alone.
  • When you mess up, admit it.
  • Give up worrying. God has everything under control.
  • Stop taking once and awhile. Instead, just listen.
  • In your alone time pray.

I pray and acknowledge God throughout my day. If all you have time to say is “Jesus Jesus Jesus” that’s a prayer and it will bring Him closer to you. But don’t use it as a constant prayer. Get deep with God.

Start From Heaven

How do you solve the problems you’re dealing with; the ones you’re dwelling on; the problems that are on your mind?

The Lord’s Prayer says, “on earth as it is in heaven.” But the original text from the Bible actually says, “as it is in heaven so on earth.” Maybe it’s about letting heaven reach your life. First as it is heaven then let that touch your life.

Would if we started by forgetting the problem that’s on earth. And focus on what comes from heaven. All good things come from heaven. Forget about the problems your dwelling on and start from heaven. Get your eyes on the Lord; in His love. Start with the answer which is from heaven, then let it also be on earth.

Messiah is the answer. He didn’t start from earth, but from heaven and came down to earth. This problem of yours is going to be solved when you forget about it; get your eyes off of it. Trust the Lord and get your eyes on the Lord and heaven. Let it be so as it is in heaven, so let it be in your life.

From experience I have found when I stop trying to solve me problems and focus on God and heaven my problems usually solve themselves.

Seek to live your life not from earth to heaven, but from heaven to earth.

“But, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Understanding True Holiness

Holiness should always be “unto the Lord.” Any time we are it “unto men,” it’s wrong and misguided because it’s just pride and pretense. Jesus condemned the Pharisees not for their acts of piety, but because they preformed themselves to impress others. Not only did they lived by a long list of religious “do’s and don’t, ‘ they also kept a scorecard on others who didn’t live up to their list and denounce them for it. Some people grew up in homes and churches that did this, and when they squirm and think of believers with somber faces and pointed fingers in accusation. That’s not Bible holiness, that’s legalism. And God hates it and the Bible condemns it.

To understand what true holiness is, think of the word “contamination,” it’s one of every hospital’s greatest concerns. It’s why doctors in an operating room insist the their surgical instruments are constantly sterilized; caps, gowns, and gloves are worn; and the environment in the room is cold, held at a temperature where germs cannot live. Are you getting it?

Now adjust the lens a little bit, and you’ll see the Spiritual application. True holiness does not isolate you from the world it insulates you from the contaminants. Apostle Paul corrected the Corinthian church for their approach to the communion table; “In eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.” – 1 Corinthians 11:21- So Paul addresses their spiritually sloppy anything goes attitude. “For this reason many are week and sick among you, and many sleep. (have died)

What’s the answer? “Holiness unto the Lord.

The Lord’s Last Word On Holiness:

He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still. -Revelation 22: 11-

Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. -Revelation 22: 12-

The point being made here is not that evil is to be encouraged. Rather, people can do as they choose, but God will not change His plans.

In the context of death and the end times, this is a dire warning. Unbelievers who reject the gospel do not receive a second chance to be saved if they die. Eternity doesn’t change anyone’s status. The person who die’s in an unsaved condition will be unsaved throughout eternity, and the saved person will be saved throughout eternity.