Names

I have changed my internet provider and naturally had to change my e-mail addess. It was more difficult than when I first got one back in the 1990's. More Amys in the world, I suppose. My new one is amyb_love@att.net  That is amyb with an underline and then love and at att.net.

After it was set I looked at it with joy because it says "Amy be Love." But immediately I thought of all the times Amy does not be Love but be's something else like irritated, impatient, or offended. However I'm keeping the name and hope to grow into it completely. I learned long ago that a name means the nature of something.

I recently saw some of my cousins for the first time in over 50 years. Their first question was why I changed my name from the one I had for 39 years. And I told them.

First, my parents were expecting a boy and didn't have a girl name picked out so it was a month before my name was submitted to the authorities. I've wondered if during that month I chose one for myself.

Second the person I was excelled in failure of all kind. My two athletic parents were horrified at the clumsiness I exhibited at a very young age - and kept!
 
My name was the same as a movie star who was a sex symbol and in 6th grade, the boys would roll their eyes and say "Woo hoo!" when they said my name.

Me with that old name failed in almost every area of life. One night when I was in my mid-40's, I dreamed that God said "I have given you a new name." I was excited and asked what it was but heard only silence. The next night I went to a ladies weekly prayer group and one woman said "I had a strange dream about you last night. You were preaching and saying, "I am Amy." I couldn't imagine myself preaching but was thrilled at the new name. When I got home I looked up the meeting and it means "Beloved." Yay! Four years later I changed it legally.

My cousins understood -they all had a few self-image issues themselves. Don't we all?

The new e-mail address gives me a constant challenge to remember not just to be loved but to love others as I am loved. GOD IS LOVE - that is His nature and it is our new  nature also.

I'm determined to live it out and I hope you are too!

Please use the above e-mail address to contact me since I haven't yet learned how to change the automatic website information. I said yet because I am more confident these days :-)!

God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. I John 4:16

Blood Covenant

I really enjoyed my own sermon this morning. It seemed like I was seeing Jesus’ perspective and then His sense of humor as I taught about the Blood Covenant.

We often don’t receive what He bought on the cross for us is because we don’t understand what a Blood Covenant is. We are used to contracts in which we find loopholes,  or just out-and-out break. Covenants and Promises are not as solid for us as they should be.

Blood Covenants were the way of life for many people back in the “old days” and in some places today. Two persons or families or tribes entered into an agreement to help each other, the promises were listed, and they sealed it in blood, their own blood. Often they drank each other’s blood. And the covenant was sealed to their descendents for generations. Anyone who didn’t honor that covenant was subject to be put to death, even though it may have been their great-great-great-great grandfather who made the agreement in the first place.

The difference with God’s Covenant is that He didn’t allow His people to drink blood. They walked in it, sprinkled it on altars, and put it around and over doors but they were forbidden to drink any blood at all. The soul life is in the blood according to the Bible. We at this point in history know that means the DNA, including the physical and mental traits of the being whose blood it is. God didn’t want us becoming like sheep or cattle - or other people. So drinking blood of any kind was forbidden.

When God brought His people out of Egypt, He had them sacrifice a lamb and put the blood over the door, and they ate bread and herbs along with the lamb. The angel of death passed over the houses where the blood was. When God’s people were delivered out of Egypt, we are told there was no one sick or weak, the Egyptians gave them lots of gold and other expensive things, for forty years their clothes and shoes didn’t wear out, and God fed them miraculously. They began celebrating that “Passover” time annually - remembering what God did for them - health, provision, protection deliverance.

When Jesus came along, He preached the good news of God’s love and brought about many healings, deliverances, and miracles of provision. His twelve disciples and many others believed that He was the Messiah, the One sent as the Savior. Then one day He said something astonishing. We read it in the 6th chapter of John.

 Truly I say to you, except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you.

WHAT??? Cannibalism? Drinking blood? Who is the Son of man anyway?

 Whoso eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed.  

He's talking about himself? This man could not be from God! Eat his flesh, drink his blood. GROSS! And forbidden by the true God.

He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that eats me, shall live by me.  (John 6: 53-57)

He did it again!!! No way! We are leaving this crazy man who will probably be struck by lightning any minute now !!! And they did. (John 6:66)

Jesus turned around to the twelve disciples and asked if they wanted to leave too. It’s interesting to find out that not a one of them said “Of course we don’t want to leave you, Sir. We love you.” They stood there and Peter said “Lord where would we go?” They knew He spoke truth but...

Can’t you just imagine later when the celebration of the Passover came and Jesus was with the twelve as they remembered what God did for their forefathers? He picked up the bread. “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Do you think there were audible sighs of relief? If I’d been there, there would have been from me. YAY! We don’t have to be cannibals after all.

And then, He took the cup... “Drink...this is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

WOO HOO!!! We just drink the fruit of the vine, not the blood of a man. What a relief!!!

And Jesus said “When you do this, remember Me.”   (Matt. 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, I Cor. 11)

From now on you don’t have to remember how the angel of death passed over the firstborn of Israel because of the blood. Because of Jesus’ blood, you are now a part of the Firstborn who died in your place so you can have eternal life. Remember.

From now on you don’t have to remember how the Egyptians gave gold and expensive treasures to God’s people, and how they were fed with manna in the wilderness - the Messiah became poor so that you can become rich. Your needs will be met according to His riches in glory. Remember.

You don’t have to remember how no one was sick or weak as they came out of Egypt. He bore your sicknesses and carried your diseases and by His wounds you are healed. The prayer of faith in that promise will heal the sick. Remember.

Deliverance from Egypt was a type or foreshadowing of your deliverance from this world and it’s bondages. The Passover meal of remembrance was a type or foreshadowing of Holy Communion where we are to remember all that Jesus did and bought for us in the New Covenant.

It’s a Blood Covenant sealed with the Holy Blood of Jesus Christ. And God will never break it. Ever. Remember.
And Receive!

gods of this world

About 16 years ago I taught a study on the gods of this world and how dangerous it looked that our society was following Israel’s mistakes in worshipping them, under the deception of political philosophies.  I remembered that teaching last week and looked up the handout. I was horrified to see how very much we had increased that worship in our nation.

We need to remember that we are not wrestling with flesh and blood. Politicians, government officials and the media are not our problem. We are wrestling with principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this world, who use both the ignorant and the sold-out to bring about their will in the earth.

Christians need to ask for grace, mercy, forgiveness, deliverance, and wisdom for human beings and fight against the demonic strongholds that use them as puppets.

GODS OF THIS WORLD

1. Molech – King – Chief Diety of the Ammonites (Ammon – Tribal Culture)   

And you shall not give any of your children to sacrifice them to Molech, nor profane the name of your God. Lev. 18:21

And they built the altars of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to sacrifice their sons and their daughters to Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.  Jer. 32:35

Thou hast searched me, and known me…For Thou hast made my inward parts; Thou hast knit me together in my mother’s womb; I will give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. My frame was not hidden from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written – even the days that were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.                Ps. 139: 1,13-16

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”        Matthew 25:40                                                                                                                                                               Today – Abortion, Infanticide, Pedophilia, Child trafficking

  

2. Ashtoreth – Increase – a Sidonian diety ( Sidon – lie in wait and take provision)                                                     

And they forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtoreth. Judges 2:13

If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, put away the strange gods and Ashtoreth from among you, and prepare your hearts to the Lord and serve him only, He will deliver you…I Samuel 7:3

For the love of money is the root of all evil. I Timothy 6:10

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

Today: Socialism, Corporate and Personal Greed, Financial Dishonesty

3. The Baals – Possessor, Master, Husband, Owner – Canaanite god of fertility –  Master of the Flies, Possessor of a Village, Possessor of the Accursed

And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother…for he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the Lord God of Israel…    I Kings 22:52,53

And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God…and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.  II Kings 17:16

Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s.  I Cor.6:19,20                                                                                               Today: Sexual Sin of every kind, Physical Addictions

4. Chemosh – Subdue, be Powerful

Will you not possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess?  Judges 11:24

The people of Chemosh perish, for your sons and daughters are taken captive. Jeremiah 48:46

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon him, for He cares for you.  I Peter 5:6,7  You judge if it’s right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God. Acts :19,20                                                                                                                                                                                    Today: Government Control, Tyranny or Controlling Spirit of any kind, public or private

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:12

Squash the ANTs

"The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds...casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."                                     II Cor. 10:4,5 
I was studying a book and cd by Dr. Daniel Amen the other day and he told the story about a boy he counseled who had negative thoughts constantly. That same day he went home and there was an ant invasion in his house and as he frantically tried to get rid of the ants he thought “This is how that boy’s mind is.” And he came up with an acronym ANTs - Automatic Negative Thoughts. I shared the following material at church and with a group of women at a Christian rehab center so thought I would also share it here. It’s taken from Dr. Amen’s material but I reworded some things and added the scripture verses to kill the ANTs with, and the FEAR acrostics (can’t remember the sources.)      
                                   
                                         Automatic Negative Thoughts
       Some breeds of ANTs you may recognize:                                                                          
1. All or Nothing “Since I messed up this time, I won’t ever be able to do it. Might as well not try.”

2. Always/Never “I’ve always been this way.” “Nothing will ever change for me”

3. Guilt “I should have...ought to...shouldn’t have...” _______ “Therefore I deserve:

4. Labeling “I’m...a jerk... lazy... fat... loser... slob... wimp...stupid... have no control over:___________ ” I’m _______________________________.

5. Fortune Telling “It will never work for me...Nothing ever changes...It’s in the cards...my destiny. It never fails..._________________________________

6.Mind Reading “My boss/spouse/friend/coworker/pastor etc. is mad at me/ hates me/doesn’t love me anymore. I know because they didn’t (or did)___________________

7. Blame “It’s in my genes...My parents taught me to act this way... If I don’t ____________ others will_____________”

FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real        
             Feeling Estranged And Rejected

Truth

“I will never leave you or forsake you.”Hebrews 13:5 “Confess your sins and He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you of all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 “If God be for us who can be against us? Romans 8:31 Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

Childishness?

I have always loved Cinderella. The Disney movie came out when I was 7 years and 1 month old. I thought at the time that the best thing in the world would be if I had a movie theatre in my home and a movie camera and the reel from Disney, and could watch Cinderella anytime I want. I never thought that would happen but guess what? On my kitchen counter is a miniature movie theatre called a dvd player and right beside it sits a dvd of Disney’s Cinderella.

In my room I have a replica of Cinderella’s castle along with other castles, and several coaches, the kind Cinderella rode in. And I have the Cinderella story figurines and several Cinderella dolls. Put up - where I can get to it anytime I want - is the Cinderella “play castle” (like a doll house) that my husband bought me when we went to Disneyworld in December. That was the same week that my three daughters surprised me with a luncheon at Cinderella’s castle, including a picture of the four of us with Cinderella - because they knew there was nothing I would like more!

I’ve really questioned myself on my indulgence in this childhood fascination and also worried that I am way too much of a romantic. But the Lord showed me something this week and I am grateful to Him.

I’ve always known that the books Heidi and Pollyanna had a great deal to do with who I became. Much more than the Bible - which I didn’t read until I was in my twenties. But I realized some years ago that those two books both quote the Bible and are parables - stories of Christian girls who overcame some tough circumstances with the help of the Lord. They adopted attitudes based on Christian principles and taught me how to walk in love - as well as I was able at the time.

But what about Cinderella? This week when I was questioning the Lord about whether my Cinderella collection is wrong, He showed me something. When I think about the movie, it’s not the romantic dance with the Prince I remember; it’s not the scene where the fairy godmother transforms her into a beautifully dressed young lady ready to go to the ball. What I remember most about Cinderella is her gentleness when abused, her self-control when fussed at and lied about, her happiness about a made-over dress, her ability to sing and rejoice in circumstances of poverty and overwork. She got angry and she got sad, but always she had hope - and kindness.

No wonder she was my heroine. Heidi and Pollyanna came later, but Cinderella was the first one who showed me a lifestyle of hope and kindness, who showed me that a choice of goodness will result in joy.

And I realized that when I look at my “childish” collection, that message is what resonates in my heart.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2,3