Declare Who You Are in Christ

I am God's child. John 1:12

I am a friend of Jesus Christ. John 15:15

I am justified. Romans 5:1

I am one spirit with the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:17

I have been bought with a price and I glorify God in my body. 1 Corinthians 6:20

I am a member of Christ's body. 1 Corinthians 12:27

I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19

I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Ephesians 1:3

I am holy and blameless. Ephesians 1:4

I am adopted by God to be His child. Ephesians 1:5

I am redeemed and forgiven. Ephesians 1:7

I am lavished with His kindness and wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:8

He has revealed His plan to me. Ephesians 1:9

I have been rescued from darkness and transferred into the kingdom of Christ. Colossians 1:13

I am complete, lacking nothing, in Him. Colossians 2:10

I have the right to come boldly to the throne of God. Hebrews 4:16

I am free from condemnation. Romans 8:1

I am free from sin and death. Romans 8:2

I am called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

God is for me. Romans 8:31

I am in right standing with God. Romans 8:33

Nothing can separate me from God's love. Romans 8:38

I am enabled to stand firm in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:21

I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

I am identified as Christ' because the Holy Spirit is in my heart. 2 Corinthians 1:22

I am guaranteed everything He has promised. 2 Corinthians 1:22

I think on the things of heaven and not of this earth. Colossians 3:2

I have died to this life and live hidden in Christ. Colossians 3:3

The good work which was started in me by God will be finished by Him. Philippians 1:6

I am a citizen of heaven. Philippians 3:20

I do not have a spirit of fear. I have a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

I do not practice sin. Jesus keeps me safe and the devil cannot touch me. 1 John 5:18

I am a branch on the vine of Christ and I produce much fruit. John 15:5

I am chosen and I produce lasting fruit. John 15:16

I ask anything from God in Jesus name and I get it. John 15:16

I am a new person, my old life is GONE! 2 Corinthians 5:17

I am a messenger of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19

I am an ambassador for God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

I am the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

I have been raised from the dead with Christ and seated with Him in heavenly realms. Ephesians 2:6

I am God's masterpiece, I do good things that He, long ago, had planned for me. Ephesians 2:10

I am an imitator of God Ephesians 5:1

I am led by the spirit of God. Romans 8:14

I have been healed by His stripes. 1 Peter 2:24

I give all my cares to Him because He cares for me. 1 Peter 5:7

My joy is full. 1 John 1:4

His angels protect me wherever I go. Psalm 91:11

I am saved. Ephesians 2:8

He has given me everything I need to live godly. 2 Peter 1:3

He has given me great and precious promises. 2 Peter 1:4

I share in His divine nature and escape this world's corruption. 2 Peter 1:4

I am not blind and do not forget that He has cleansed me from my old ways. 2 Peter 1:9

I do not go by what I see, but that which is not seen 2 Corinthians 4:18

I choose to walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 6:7

I have authority over all the ability of the enemy and nothing by any means hurts me. Luke 10:19

Whatever I bind on earth is bound in heaven and whatever I loose on earth is loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:19

All of my needs are supplied. Philippians 4:19

I give myself to God as a living, holy, acceptable sacrifice. Romans 12:1

I do not act like the world, I transform my mind. Romans 12:2

I prove God's good, acceptable and perfect will. Romans 12:2

I do not think more highly of myself than I ought to. Romans 12:3

I do not fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and the rulers of darkness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

My weapons are not carnal, but mighty in God. 2 Corinthians 10:4

I take every thought captive that tries to exalt itself above the knowledge of God. 2 Corinthians 10:5

I am strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10

I am an overcomer by His blood and the word of my testimony. Revelation 12:11

I DO NOT love my life, but His life living through me. Revelation 12:11

I have the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwelling in me and it makes alive and heals my mortal body. Romans 8:11

Declarations are powerful. Speaking biblical declarations confesses and proclaims God's truth in your life, renews your mind, and helps you to stay synced with God's truth and to get in position against the devil. If you do not understand a particular truth listed above, seek to understand what it means. A declaration is not simply spoken but is made consciously out of the heart. From your heart, proclaim them out loud, boldly, and often!

In Jordan: War or Peace

Recently, God placed the situation in the Middle East with Syria and ISIS on my heart and showed me what He would prefer to be the real story regarding the situation.

I didn't seek it out. All I did was looked at the news reports.

When I looked, I saw God's finger pointing towards the side, away from all the bloody conflict. He was pointing in the direction of the nation of Jordan. I followed His gaze and I recognized His Heart's desire regarding the matter.

He was pointing to the Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Jordan and His heart is to reach them with the Good News. His heart is to love them and heal them and to bring them into His family. This much I knew for a few months.

This impression got more interesting the other day when I opened the Scriptures to read a Psalm. I felt God saying "Psalm 37". I turned to Psalm 37 and began reading:

The wicked draw their swords
and string their bows
to kill the poor and the oppressed,
to slaughter those who do right.
But their swords will stab their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
Psalm 37:14-15

I am calling your attention to the unique opportunity that has currently formed in the nation of Jordan. As millions of refugees flee bloody wars in neighboring Syria and Iraq, we have an opportunity to love on and to heal these downtrodden people by bringing them the Only Hope as found in the Good News of Jesus Christ. These people, who have been hostile to the Good News for centuries, are now painfully disenfranchised and are congregated in this one area with many needs and a lessened hostility.

Every day, they contemplete their plight. They contemplate their wounds. They re-examine their beliefs. They are ready. They are ready to hear the Good News! They are right there! They are ripe for the harvest!

God charged believers in Jesus Christ with the responsibility of advancing the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Don't wait to do something. Act now. Responsibility fslls on believers like you and me. This opportunity will not last forever.

Come to think of it, if you and I do nothing to help these people in this opportune time, what right do we have to complain when bleak news reports come in from the Middle East? We would have had our chance to release the Kingdom of God among the people there. The Kingdom of God is where lasting peace is. That peace helps them and their nation, Israel, you and your nation, and me and my nation-- that peace helps everyone!

But if you and I do nothing, then we can't complain when we turn on the news. You and I would have known how to bring real peace to these people and this region, but all we did was pound the couch and argue with the news anchor.

Evil thrives on fear, confusion, and pride. When we respond to evil with fear, confusion, and/or pride, it starts a perpetual cycle that enables evil to tighten it's thorny grip and dig in even deeper. Responding with fear often leads to prejudices, paranoia or even paralysis. None of these responses are fitting for representatives of The Prince of Peace. With these fearful responses-- prejudice, paranoia, and paralysis, etc.-- the two sides in the matter are set against each other. This provokes a defensive mechanism from the instigator group. That mechanism often means a relentless venegeance that stokes the fear of the moderate group all over again. Around the cycle goes-- all over again-- creating a stronghold for all the vices involved. You tear down the stronghold by stopping this cycle. Instead of fear, confusion, and subjectivity-- how about living in power and love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7)? How about trying selfless servitude and objective understanding towards the other side?

Case in point is the way Westerners deal (or don't deal) with Muslims.

"Too many Christians respond in the same way to situations like ISIS, the Ebola outbreak, an economy in a tailspin or any other trial that feels completely out of control... When the ground begins to move under our feet, fear tempts us to cut and run." --The ISIS Crisis, Dr. Charles Dyer, Mark Tobey (Moody Publishers)

The key is not to recklessly walk onto a battlefield or run out there and get Ebola. Yes, God can protect you and heal you. At that, I daresay He will! But the key here is simply to not fear the evil involved in the situation. The key is to be drawn to these atrocities in the victory of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit and to be ready and willing as a peacemaker of God to pour the peace of God into any and all people. No matter who, what, or where. It doesn't mean you have to walk into a war zone. It does mean you become willing to do so and you make yourself available to God for such. You might be blessed to send money or reach out to certain International students. Or you might find opportunity in a neighboring country-- like with Jordan today. But do not fear! Do not clamp up and run!

So how do you overcome the fear? In Christ Jesus, you trust God. If you can't find a particular fruit within yourself, then you can renew your mind and repent (change), ask God for that fruit in your life, and ask for the Holy Spirit to fill that particular room of your heart. He will certainly produe wonderful fruits in your life if you ask Him and seek after Him. Then, you ask for Him to help you. You step out in faith. You listen to His voice which will guide you. He will meet you there. And if He doesn't? And even if He doesn't, you trust that He is just. Even if they kill you, God will judge the matter one day-- and you trust that He is just. You are to be at peace no matter what happens.

But Satan, on the other hand, wants fear. Satan wants strife. Satan wants to divide brother against brother and nation against nation. Satan wants military action. Satan wants war. Satan planned war and death to destroy the Syrian and Iraqi people forever!

But God planned their salvation!

Yes! Their salvation! But will these people realize that salvation? Will they realize that peace? That may be up to you and me.

Listen! God is calling to all His children:  

"LOOK! LOOK! I HAVE PREPARED THE SOIL! I HAVE WEEDED OUT THE TARES! WHILE THEY ARE AT WAR, I HAVE GATHERED THE PEOPLE IN ONE PLACE! I HAVE PREPARED THE WAY! WHO WILL GO?" God says, "EVIL DESTROYS ITSELF. IT'S PATH LEADS TO DESTRUCTION. IT'S WAGES-- DEATH. BUT I GIVE LIFE THROUGH MY SON. RECEIVE IT AND BE GLAD! BE VERY GLAD! FOR SOME MAY NEVER HEAR MY WORD. WHO WILL TAKE IT TO THEM?"

Yes, who will take it to them? Who will go?

An Invitation to Perspectives

It's January, snow covers the ground and fresh semester cycles are beginning everywhere. Whether you are a student, a working adult, a stay at home mom, or a retired couple, I want to share with you an amazing course called Perspectives.

​Perspectives is short for Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, a course created to help believers from all walks of life see how they can get threaded into God’s story of redeeming people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to Himself!

From Genesis to the prophets, Jesus Christ to the early church, and Constantine to today, students will see how God has been moving, how the global Church has responded, and what the greatest needs in world evangelization remain today. Though Perspectives does study missions, it isn’t a class about missions, but a course on how every believer can be intimately woven into the story of God using His people to be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth!

Perspectives is a ministry of the U.S. Center for World Mission, a non-denominational ministry that exists to enhance the effectiveness of the mission movement. The course, however, operates almost completely through a network of trained volunteers. Here is one such volunteer. The course impacted me so much that I have been helping prepare for YOU to take it too!

I'm honored to invite you to the upcoming semester of Perspectives! This class changed my life and it consistently changes it's student's lives! The hit rate is amazing! The course clarified and strengthened my understanding of what God has been doing and changed the way I live for God's purposes! The course indeed threaded me into what God is doing from four perspectives: from the biblical perspective, from the historical perspective, from the cultural perspective, and from the strategic perspective. The course is so rich and in-depth; you really don't want to miss it!

Over 15 weeks, we have 15 different speakers from around the world lined up to teach students about what God is has been up to! The speakers are amazing! The most unique aspect of the course is the diversity and quality of the speakers. Generally, every class schedules a lineup of Biblical scholars, missionaries, pastors, professors, and mobilizers who bring a wealth of experience and passion to each lesson. Some speakers are flown in just to teach you and some speakers are more local. Your speaker could be a businessman who’s using his company to bless an impoverished African country, a pastor from a local church, or a missionary fresh back from Timbuktu. When I took the class, we had speakers from India, Mongolia, and the Middle East! Don't miss  out!

After classes, we have an incredible book and study guide written especially for this course. This book and study guide are the meat of the course-- and they're LOADED! The Perspectives book is a collection of some amazing articles by a wide variety of Biblical scholars, historians, missiologists, and practicioners. The Perspectives study guide helps students navigate through the book and ushers students through the study of God’s mission and character through the Bible, Christian history, culture, and the task remaining in world evangelization. Each week, students will do a few hours of reading and a review. Who knew readings and homework would change your life? Yes! No joke! At the end of the semster, students will receive a certificate for their accomplishment! The certificate isn't useless either; it will benefit you with many non-profit organizations.
Perspectives is for anyone from about the upper-high school age and on. There is a registration fee-- I know, I know, we all hate that too!-- but it is totally worth it! Registration cost varies by class. Check your particular class page for more information. Regardless, the investment will be well worth the cost! There are 3 levels of registration but the Certificate Level is the recommended level (over key reading) for getting the full impact of the course (unless you need college credit). Some students have found sponsors. If you need to, check with local churches or generous individuals who might be willing to help you out!

 There are many classes throughout the country and throughout the world as well. To find your class, visit the Perspectives Classes page!

Spread the word about Perspectives. Share this post. Talk about Perspectives with your friends, family, and anyone who may be interested. If you can't make the class, maybe someone else can. Or maybe they'll go with you next year or whenever it is you take it. You're on the scent now. Get them started on the scent too! We can't wait to see you there!

The Michael Brown Shooting Tragedy & Proverbs 18:17

Recently, I began to contemplate a way to once more convey here the knee-jerk mistake I see many people making in the aftermath of the most recent media-sensationalized tragedy-- this time being the Michael Brown shooting tragedy. However, before I could begin an effort to do so, I came across this excellent article by Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association (AFA) and host of the Focal Point talk radio program. You can find the article here or visit the AFA website here.   

"The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him" (Prov. 18:17, ESV).

The Bible warns us to be sure we hear from both sides and collect full information before we make up our minds. This ancient wisdom of Solomon has been validated again in Ferguson, Missouri. 

The early narrative, spun by racial-grievance mongers, was that Michael Brown, a harmless teddy bear of a boy, was shot by a racist officer because he was black, that he was shot for jaywalking, and that he was shot in the back execution style. 

Riots, mayhem, violence and looting ensued, so unremitting that Gov. Jay Nixon has finally been reduced to calling in the National Guard (after complaining all week about the "militarizing of the police." (Missouri Democrats, by the way, including Nixon and Rep. Clay did not call Attorney General Eric Holder in to "investigate;" they called him in to "prosecute.")

But cracks are starting to appear in the Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton/New Black Panther narrative. A caller to a local talk-radio program in St. Louis, who claimed to be a friend of Officer Darren Wilson's significant other, gave what she said was the officer's version of events.

The account goes as follows: Wilson stopped Brown and his friend because they were walking in the street. The officer told them to get on the sidewalk. They responded belligerently. The officer tried to exit the vehicle, at which point Brown slammed the door shut to prevent him. Sometime during the stop, Wilson learned via police radio that someone matching Brown's description was a suspect in an armed robbery at a nearby convenience store, a burglary that had happened just minutes before. He observed what looked like the contraband in Wilson's hand.

Now dealing with a criminal suspect, Wilson ordered Brown to stop so he could be detained, at which point apparently Brown stuck the upper half of his body into Wilson's squad car and lunged for the officer's gun. In the tussle over the weapon, it was discharged one time inside the vehicle. Following the shot and his apparent inability to wrest control of the gun from Wilson, Brown took off. Wilson, as police protocol dictates, pursued him.

Officers, of course, cannot simply allow a criminal suspect to run away. With gun drawn, Wilson pursued Brown and ordered him to stop. At some point, Brown stopped, turned around and confronted Wilson with angry epithets. And then apparently after taunting Wilson, he charged him. Wilson then fired six rounds, each of which hit Brown, the last of which entered his skull and killed him. According to the radio caller, he fell dead practically at Wilson's feet.

This account has been inadvertently corroborated by a conversation between an eyewitness and a bystander, caught on tape by a man using his phone's video recorder. The eyewitness twice said he saw Brown charging Wilson. He said Brown "doubled back toward him" (that is, toward the officer) and "he kept coming toward him" even though the officer was firing at him in order to get him to stop.

The account of Wilson's friend indicates that Wilson thought Brown was hopped up on something, from the way he was charging and the fact that not even five bullets could slow him down. (This will make the toxicology report extremely important, which likely won't be released for a week or so.)  Now this woman's account is a third-party account and obviously requires confirmation. But that evidence is slowly trickling out.

The first autopsy, for instance, performed on Brown at the direction of his own family, reveals that all six shots that hit his body entered from the front. Not a single entrance wound was found on his back. This destroys the testimony of Brown's accomplice in the cigar heist who claimed that Brown was shot in the back as he was fleeing. 

The autopsy report is consistent with the accounts that Brown was shot while he was charging the officer at full speed. Even the Brown family's pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden, admitted Monday morning at a news conference that the fatal wound on the top of Brown's head is consistent with the possibility that he had his head down and was closing on Wilson in an effort to spear him. 

The surveillance video from the store, which Eric Holder did not want the public to see, reveals Brown—all 6 feet 4 inches and 292 pounds of him—to be aggressive and violent, stealing a batch of cigars and shoving the store owner against a display rack. He was not the "gentle giant" the radical left wanted us to think.

Holder has ordered a federal autopsy, likely because the family ordered autopsy does not play into the racist narrative he intends to foster. It's also possible that the grievance mongers had some awareness that the facts might challenge their meme. Not wanting "to let a good crisis go to waste," they hurried to whip as many people into a frenzy as they could before the facts could challenge their version of events.

So while at first blush this incident was painted as a racially motivated execution, fresh information reveals that this incident likely had nothing to do with race at all. It was about criminal behavior. It was about strong-armed robbery, assault, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer,and physically coming after him with violent intent. 

Do we know everything at this point? Of course not. We do not, for instance, yet have Officer Wilson's official account. But we do have enough evidence to begin thinking that the hyperventilating we have heard from the press (which actually printed a map to Officer Wilson's home) and from race-baiters is unlikely to be true on any salient point.

So it turns out the Bible has been right all along. "The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him." Good advice for everybody, including the press, Eric Holder, the governor of Missouri and the president of the United States.