Letter to New Christians

Congratulations! 

The angels in heaven are rejoicing over your decision.
Lk 15:7&10


If you answered an alter call, made a public confession or a private repentance, get Baptized!  When you are baptized, the Holy Spirit is imparted to you.  Even Jesus (full of the spirit from birth) did this as an example for us.  Mt 3:13-15  (Studies have proven that baptized Christians have a different DNA after baptism as opposed to before.  You will TRULY be a new person.)  Mt 28:19, Lk 11:13, Acts 11:16

The Holy Spirit is a piece of God's Spirit that will live in you from now on.  This will give you strength and conviction to help you live a Christian life and make contact with him easier.  Mk 12:36, Lk 12:12, Jn 14:26   You will receive the "gifts of the spirit" so you can begin to use and develop them in the name of Jesus, your savior.

It is a sad situation today that most Christians get very excited over new converts but churches have few programs set in place to help you understand what comes next and what it is to be Christian, let alone if you are new to the concept.

First, BRACE YOURSELF !  Satan is mad.  If you haven't already, you will be facing some pretty heavy trial/temptation.  This is why you need the Holy Spirit to draw from strength that is imparted from God.  The Enemy does not want followers of Jesus.  His time is coming, he knows it and he is getting very desperate.  You can count on him coming at you.  Get ready to fight the good fight and get as close to Jesus as you can. 
I Tim 6:12, Heb 10:32

It is not easy to be a Christian - especially today.  In many countries, Christians are put to death for their belief.  America today, is becoming more and more conflicted over Christianity.  Indeed, there are fewer converts in America and a growing number in third world countries.

With the Holy Spirit to guide you, you will be turning your life around.  You will be feeling the tug of right vs wrong in many facets of life:  entertainment, fashion, prayer, Bible study, substance abuse, tithing, holiday celebrations, literature, media and maybe even your diet.  This will all depend on your situation and how fast you mature as a Christian.  Big or small, changes are coming.  If urged by the spirit, you will be happier for the changes.

Cheer up!  There is lots of good news.
You are now a child of the Most High God, an inheritor of everything that Jesus (our brother) inherits.  Stand up straight, have some pride in how you present yourself; be confident.  A changed attitude will take you farther.  You are a child of the supreme being, an Ambassador of Heaven itself.  You are the light in the dark of this world and the salt of the earth.
Mt. 5:13  You are God's righteousness.  God will send His angels to give charge over you. Ps 91:11
If you find yourself getting low and being tempted by pity, get out and do something for someone else; any small thing.

Yes, times are tough, but you now have God, your new spiritual Father, on your side.  A father that loves like no other, never leaves you, provides for you, wants you healthy, prosperous and happy.  He is as close as a conversation, a prayer, hymn of praise, the Bible.  He wants you to converse with Him, dump your problems (no matter how small) and ask Him for whatever you need.  Jesus was refreshed after He gave of Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well.  God is a giver.

Don't go crazy and start throwing out the baby with the bath water.  God wants your happiness and He is not unreasonable.  Don't get too hard on yourself.  Don't worry about being formal with God; just talk to Him.  The Spirit will show you what to do.  Be sure to listen for His prompting.  Relax, God's got your back.

Find a Bible based church that teaches Jesus.  It is commanded to be part of "the body" (the church) and tithing is a great blessing.  Take communion regularly, to thank God for healing and covering our sins with the blood of His precious son.  Give of yourself and your finances to help others and you will be replenished.  No one can give like your new Father.  I truly believe that everything we give and share is given back to us with interest.  Your Father will not let you go without because you help another.

You don't have to go off to "Timbucktoo", stand on a street corner and predict the end of the world or start preaching to your family and friends.  Just relax and live your life as you think God wants you to.  Do no harm.  A time may come when the Spirit will kick you softly in the butt and urge you to do something.  Be the light in the dark and teach by example of right living.  You will develop a constant smile and a glow from within that will draw the world to you - just like Jesus.

If you don't know where to start reading the Bible, the book of John is always a great choice.  You can read the Psalms (a personal favorite of mine is Ps 91).  David was a song writer, shepherd, king, warrior and prophet.  Proverbs is good to learn how to live a Christian life.  Romans will teach you the grace of God. 
You can always read this blog. 

Perhaps the best promise to a new Christian is "Fear Not"; a constant reminder from God that a believer can rest his cares in the loving grace of God and sleep through the storms.

May God's amazing complete peace be with you.
Amen

www.seek-and-find.net 

Redemption Covenant

This plan of redemption, this great mystery is the grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus that covers us with the blood of the perfect sacrifice to be seen as pure in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.  We have been redeemed from all our past, present and future wrong doings.   Bible says, "Once and for all."

Here's how it works:  

We do our best to live according to Jesus example and don't worry about anything else.  We are pure in the sight of God.  We do not have to work for our salvation; God gave it to us through Jesus.  When God the  Father, looks at us He only sees righteous beings.  He cannot see past Jesus pure blood of His son that covers us.

The blood sacrifice was installed when God killed animals to clothe Adam & Eve after they sinned.  Then, God was angry with Cain because he gave an offering of vegetables from the ground that God had cursed.  Abel followed what he was taught and gave a blood offering.  Nothing is cleansed without blood.  We don't need animals because we are redeemed to God by Jesus blood.

We don't have to stop and repent of every wrong thought throughout our day.  Recognize you did did it and know you have been forgiven - 2,000 years ago.  It is done for us for all time.  Jesus cannot crawl back up on the cross to be another sacrifice every time someone sins.   The plan is magnificent in it's simplicity! ! !  What a clever God we have.  What a loving Jesus.

We are the righteousness of God through what Jesus has sacrificed.  God is righteous because of His loving grace to us.  We are righteous in His sight.

As God's perfect law, the 10 Commands make a great guide line.  Just don't expect to keep them or judge yourself when you fail.  You do not have to follow the letter of the law for your salvation.   You cannot get into  heaven on your own efforts.  YOU NEED THE BLOOD OF JESUS.  He already shed it.  You are going.  You have your ticket.  Stop trying to make your salvation all about you.  It's all about Jesus.  Only He is perfect enough to atone for us.  

Believe.  Faith.  Love God above all else and love your neighbor as much as yourself.      -      Easy- peasy!

God made it easy for us because man failed time after time.  God knew we could not save ourselves.  Accept it.  Be free.  Claim Jesus.  The great "I Am".
Amen

Jesus Loves YOU

Sometimes we just need to hear it.
We definitely need to know it.

Are you depressed?  Sad?  Confused?  Lost?  Lonely?  Lost control?
Talk to God. 
I know, it sounds too simple.  It is a cliche'.  Maybe it's a cliché because it works.  He loves you as an individual.  He knew you in your mother's womb.  He knows every thought you have and loves you anyway.  He cannot not love you.  He is the total capsulation of love. 

You don't have to go to a great cathedral and use fancy words.  Talk to Him while you work.  Sit down with a cup of tea and talk to Him.  Worried coworkers will think you crazy?  Just project your thoughts His way.  He can read your mind.  He knows the secrets in your heart and mind that you have buried.  He understands what you feel.  Of course He will hear you.  We so often underestimate Him.

Read His word.  Don't know where to start?  John is a great book.  Try the Palms or Proverbs.  You can find reassurance and answers there.  What day of the month is it?  Pick that number and read that Psalm or that chapter of Proverbs.  He will speak to you.

Think of how much He loves you.  A mighty spiritual being that lives outside of time and space made Himself a minute speck of flesh and blood to become acquainted with what it feels like to be human.  He left His place of serene paradise to come to this earth of pain and suffering to know you; to spend time with people; and, He enjoyed life.
 

Then, He made the ultimate sacrifice to be tortured beyond recognition and die in agony so we might have a chance to know that serenity in paradise with Him forever.

Think on the calm, quiet, still, order and health He offers you.  Just sit and think about it.

What do you need?  Ask Him for it.  Nothing fancy here, either.  All you need to do is think what you need and direct those thoughts toward Him.  He already knows but just wants enough faith from you for you to ask.  Your Father wants to give you your hearts desires; to see you happy and well.

Then, thank Him.  Thank Him and go on with your day believing that this Man/God loves you so much that your slightest want or need is His absolute joy to give you. 
Jesus loves YOU

What a beautiful God we have.
Amen

No Rose Garden

Today may sound a bit stern, discouraging, harsh - even frightening.  I tend to "call it as I see it" but remember: I have read to the end of the book and I know who wins.  Besides, I'm in a bit of a "snit" today and I have a right  (If you have a right, I have a right.)

So, you have chosen to be a Christian?
Can you drink from the cup?  Ps 36:1

Society has a cancer called "sin" because she spurns her foundation, Jesus Christ.  "Everyone has a right".  A right to murder a fetus. Ro 3:15  A right to get drunk and operate a motorized vehicle on a public street.  A right to cheat on their spouse because they are bored with them.  A right to abuse a child because their dreams did not get fulfilled.  A right to stop a majority from prayer in school.  A right to be respected even if they are lazy, unkempt, loud, rude and crude.  A right to benefits in a country where they hold no citizenship or reject it's laws..  A right to unnatural sexual choices.  Ro 1:27  I could go on for hours.
Note: The prostitute in Rev 17 is an immoral society.  Babylon is an oppressive and Godless government.

Freedom is not to do what you want but the right to do what you should.

Being a Christian today is not always pretty.  And . . it ain't gonna get any better.  We are in the final generation before the coming of our Lord.

Suffering is the fire that forges the steel that is the Christian.  After all, there was a lot of suffering before the resurrection.  Learn to embrace your cross.  As a Christian, you have chosen a path of one degree or another.  Learn to turn to your Savior in prayer for your peace and strength.  He needs proud warriors.

Happiness is a choice, honesty, faithfulness, sobriety and the sex of your partner is a choice.  Hell is a choice.  We are not made to fit in but to stand out.  We are the light in a dark world and the salt that gives it flavor.

Story:  When I made my (absolute and final) decision to follow a Christian life, I lost my husband, home, step children, a business and friends.  I chose to turn from a way of life - repent means to turn around.  Everything seemed to fall apart all at once.  I found myself one evening sitting in the back room of my studio with a loaded gun in my hand.  That small voice came to me and whispered, "You cannot give life, so you cannot take life."  I put the gun away - scary.

When my pastor, at that time, realized what I was going through, he said, "We gotta get you dunked right away".  He went on to explain that baptism brings the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that would give me the strength to deal with my trials.  If you have chosen a Christian life style, you need to be baptized - it works.  Ro 6:4

* There is scientific proof that after baptism, a person's DNA is different.  We truly are born again.

The Enemy is coming after you - HARD and, he is sneaky.  He does not want new converts.  He wants to take the throne that Jesus earned.  He hates you - venomously!  He is jealous of you, as a child of God.  He hates you have the favor of God.  He hates you have the Holy Spirit with you.  He hates that God hears your prayers.  He hates you are destined to reign on this earth in the new Jerusalem.  Rev 21:2 

We are in a spiritual battle.  Satan himself wants you miserable, suffering, defiled, polluted, lonely, sick, confused, devastated, sitting with the loaded gun of surrender. 

Good News:  It's all good.  Believers have the weapons of the Holy Spirit, prayer, communion, anointing, faith, discernment and the support of the church.   Our heavenly father offers an amazing support system.  He wants us happy with our choice.  We are forgiven, loved by Almighty God Himself, promised a place with His Son and will not face judgement.  As believers, we are already forgiven; Christ did it all for us.  Ro 3:24

B E A U T I F U L:  Jesus continues to do it all.  Call on Him for anything, anytime.  If you lack faith, are afraid, confused, lacking spiritual strength, pray and ask for these things.  Jesus has enough for everyone and He wants to give to you.  He loves us.  He loves you as the greatest father you could ever know.  You have chosen the narrow path, the right choice - door number three.  There is no turning back; the victory is already ours.  Christ won our battle on the cross.  Jesus has only to come back and claim His prize.  You

Amen  Amen  Amen