Faithful Writers

A personal reflection. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t see something about Paul expounding a different Gospel to Jesus. He is long known for spreading the teachings of Jesus and establishing Christian communities throughout the Roman Empire, and is traditionally credited with writing 13 or 14 books of the New Testament. This should make him qualify as one of the most influential figures in the history of Christian theology. SUCH LOGIC MAKES MY BRAIN REALLY, REALLY HURT! On top of this, there is the apparent conflict between Paul and James about faith and works. THIS ALL DEMANDS SOME RIGOROUS SCRUTINY. For the “time-poor,” this post is in two stages — short and long versions, all in one article, so you get the jist, then can continue if further intrigued. I make no secret that it is the detail that makes me a boring person, which brings the Holy Scriptures alive for me. But, if you pay just a modicum of attention, you will see what is hiding in plain sight in the Biblical Language. Actually, it is not hiding — just waiting to be found. PAUL AND JAMES: FAITH AND WORKS The two divergent arguments cause people to choose a side. Surely they can’t be reconciled. Faith . Romans 10:9 " that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe (G4100) in ( G1519 ) your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Obviously, works are not necessary. Works . In James 2:14–20, James forcibly presents his argument about “ faith without works ." " But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith (G4102) without works (G2041) is useless?” Obviously, works are absolutely necessary. But Who is the Supreme Authority? Someone with whom no one can argue. It is written in John 6:28–29: " Then they said to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work (G2038) the works (G2041) of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe (G4100) in ( G1519 ) Him whom He sent. ” work = G2038 — ergazomai is the verb form of the noun, G2041 — ergon = exert effort to complete a task. believe = G4100 — pisteuō is the verb form of the noun, G4102 — pistis, which is derived from the verb, G3982 — peithō = to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with, to trust, have confidence, be confident. In = G1519 — eis is a preposition used in conjunction with G4100 → G4100 + G1519 → believe in . I use the KJV as the reference because more study has been done on every word in that Volume than in any other book in the English Language. And it can be seen that the KJV translates G4102 in several ways: faith (239 times), assurance (1x), [believe (with G1537) (1x)], belief (1x), them that believe (1x), fidelity (1x). Similarly with G4100: believe (239x), commit unto (4x), commit to (one’s) trust (1x), be committed unto (1x), be put in trust with (1x), be commit to one’s trust (1x), believer (1x). Doubling back to Romans and James and comparing them to John 6:28–29. " that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe (G4100) in ( G1519 ) your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." In James 2:20, “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith (G4102) without works (G2041) is useless?” It can be seen that in plain sight, in all that detail, Jesus, Paul, and James are speaking about exactly the same thing. So that’s the end of the short version BUT THERE’S MUCH MORE AVAILABLE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. YOU’RE WELCOME TO STAY. The official definition of faith (G4100/G4102) is given in Hebrews 11:1. Forget about secular dictionaries. The only reliable Bible Dictionary is the Bible. But the English translation is soooo anaemic. Let’s look at some Greek. A possible re-phrase (surely you can do better) Faith is the conviction about the Holy One, burning intensely hot within me, which is erected upon a foundation that actually exists and can be relied upon. The evidence can be trusted because it would ensure a conviction in a court of law. It speaks of a reality that is beyond the spectrum that our physical senses can detect. So, when Paul writes, Believe in your heart (Romans 10:9), he is referring to having a fire in your belly , NOT a whim of your fancy. “Conviction” is the operative word. We see a lot of opinion on Medium, but conviction goes long past that. Opinion is your preference — conviction is your soul. Heed God’s conviction and let Him change who you are now into what He has in Mind. You certainly can’t do it in your own strength, no matter how hard you concentrate. But Paul is not silent about works He was not against the Saints doing works already allocated to them by God long ago, as is written in Ephesians 2:10: " For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." He defines useful work in 1 Corinthians 3. Here is his take-home advice 9–17. " Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." Who says the Bible has nothing to do with Science? In “Introduction to Physics” back in Primary School, I learned the simple equation: work = force multiplied by distance You can’t stay where you are — there has to be movement. Then there was velocity = rate of change of position in a straight line . You can’t keep going around in circles (lots of speed but no velocity). You may be busy, but it will get you nowhere. (AN ASIDE - It appears this is forgotten as the education machine grinds the minds of the young and vulnerable. My Grandfather was a remarkable man. He had raw intelligence uncontaminated by education. But I digress.) A good example of this was those who haggled with Yeshua by reminding Him how busy they had been for Him, as is written in Matthew 7:21–23 " Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice iniquity!’ (More on this word, iniquity, shortly.) Those desperately arguing with Jesus were industrious and busy — Martha instead of Mary. This is the work that Paul warned against — trying to work your way into Heaven by doing your own thing. Life plans The fundamental weakness of the (small ‘c’) christian church in my part of town is that the Pews scramble around desperately asking, “What is God’s plan for my life?” It’s not necessary to scratch too deeply to discover that the Western Church (by the Grace of God, not all) missed the plot. The true question is, “ What is my life in God’s Plan? ” But the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave us rudderless He lays out His curriculum for the Saints in 2 Peter 1:5–7: " But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." It can be seen that faith is just the beginning. It would be a useful exercise for you to use a lexicon to discover the meaning of the different steps and derive your own understanding of what the list means — don’t trust me. The list looks intimidating, but don’t fret. The indwelling Holy Spirit is there to guide you through Sanctification (metamorphism) using the Written Word of God — but you must not resist Him, “ My sheep know my voice .” Peter goes on in verses 8–9: " For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." And finally, in verses 10–11: " Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." But how do the Saints progress through Peter’s curriculum? You will notice he uses the words diligence/diligent a few times. He doesn’t explain it, but Apostle Paul does. It is written in 2 Timothy 2:14–16: “ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent ( spoudazō G4704) to present yourself pleasing to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” Hint: study the grammar of the Greek word spoudazō G4704 . Etymology of the English word iniquity The etymology of the English word iniquity makes it the perfect selection for that sentence. In simple terms, it means contempt and violation of law, wickedness . But the history of the meanings through the ages shows it to be much more sinister (no offence meant to the left-handed). It has the aroma of “Crooked judge.” That is, someone who knows the Law but deliberately corrupts it. Scary. IT IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH. IT IS LIFE AFTER RE-BIRTH. There is so much more, but a line has to be drawn somewhere. (Did I hear someone sigh, “At last,”?) Conclusions This is yet another case of the danger of constructing Doctrine using only English translations and regarding each text as being the centre of its own universe. Based on the evidence presented here, there is no antagonism between Paul and James, nor does Paul contradict Christ. Peter is also a Major Player. On the contrary, this exercise shows that the Bible, New Testament in this case, is an organic volume which was directed by the Holy Spirit through a Champion Team, not a team of champions. Paul should be there, standing shoulder to shoulder with the other Disciples. Each had skill sets that were synergistic with the others; that is, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The foregoing evidence has not been presented to convince any reader but to allow a personal decision to be made. There is much more to know about this subject. Perhaps you’ll pay another visit sometime. If you have seen something you like, I encourage plagiarism. So, always check everything I say first, then please recycle, rebrand, re-structure, re-issue, re-label, or regurgitate in any manner you please. No need to acknowledge me because it is the Holy Spirit who holds the Intellectual Rights. All Glory to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (We all have a plank in our eye. It’s bigger than we think.) © ネ   Brad Banardict

(Note: This article focuses on both men and women. It doesn’t assume, in any way, a gender-based position.) So you pray and pray... And you think your prayers are not being answered? Or you feel that GOD is too far or His ear too dull to hear our cries? Scripturally-taught, there are 3 major ways GOD responds to our prayers: "YES" (the 🟢 light) "NO" (the 🟥light); and  "WAIT" (the 🟡 light) Most of us fall or can't wait in the WAITING phase. The WAIT is for a reason; GOD wants to cook you and groom you through and through. He wants to ensure that you're adequately equipped: mentally, emotionally, in capacity and in character. On the flip side of the coin, when GOD says "NO", it clearly shows that: • It is not in His Will (our Will must blend with GOD’s Will as well as our timing); or • There’s a danger ahead; or • There’s something you don’t know or you can’t see, which He wants you to know and see. In sum, I just want you to know that: GOD never hates us; a true father never hates his children. GOD is perfecting ALL things for our good, welfare, and betterment - Jer. 29:11 We might not see or understand why He does what He does, but know that He does not do things in our way or how we expect; He has His Way. It is my heartfelt desire that you continue to TRUST Him; for He Who gave us life and started a good work in our lives is FAITHFUL to bring it to completion and perfection. GOD means well for us. TRUST Him; OBEY Him. Amen . © Anya, P.C.

The world is getting darker. In the last days, Scripture tells us, the love of many will wax cold. Men will begin to develop apathy to GOD, to the gospel and to prayer;Men too will begin to be full of hatred, bitterness, anger, jealousy and envy to their fellow brother or sister, their fellow kinsman and friend. There will come a time when no one cares for anyone. Every man to his business. Only a few people, whom I refer to as “destiny-helpers”, whom the LORD sends your way to help, in your journey of fulfilling GOD’s design for your life. The more reason I strive and cry to hide myself in GOD; It is only in Him we can find true and unchanging LOVE. Love so divine. So UNCONDITIONAL. Even in our errors and shortcomings, His heart continues to chase after us. Little wonder David said, "What is man that You're SO MINDFUL of him or the son of man that You CARE for him...?" So, take away the FAKE love and admiration the world gives. And give me the LOVE of JESUS. Love so strong and powerful that it will keep us to the Day of Eternity. 🙇 Love so eternal. Love so loving. "The love is lov-ing." It's giving " AGAPE " Oh, my heart loves, longs, and pants after His love. Oh, nothing and no one can ever PLUCK me out from His love, not even the enemy. (Rom. 8:31-37) Oh, I did nothing to deserve His love. He just sent out His love to me. (John 3:16) Oh, my Lover! So I ask you: "DO YOU LOVE THE LORD MORE THAN THESE?" The same question Peter was faced with. "Think about these things." AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD, WE ARE THE LORD'S!" This post was inspired by GOD through Goodness A. Onuoha © Anya P.C.

‎Where love and Godly upbringing holds sway. Less of frequent shouting, ‎More of forgiving. ‎‎Less of incessant spanking,‎ More of understanding and building intimacy with the child. ‎‎Less of frequent hostility or anger,‎ more of wisdom and correction, but in love. ‎‎More of prayers too.‎‎ Lots of quality exposure to GOD and not just GOD-related activities. ‎‎Are you a parent/guardian?‎‎ Discipline is needed in child upbringing, but not abuse - they are 2 separate waters that do not mix. ‎‎In sum, love, GOD’s wisdom, prayers, Godly upbringing and GOD-exposure, understanding and building intimacy with your child, are all necessary tools in an effective child upbringing.‎‎ Love, GOD and intimacy is are important unless you want your child to run from you. ‎‎May GOD help us.‎‎ © P. C. Anya

‎The world will not understand; definitely, they won’t. ‎The world will only judge us, but our High Priest understands us. ‎He knows our name, ‎He knows our frame, ‎ He knows our fears. ‎He understands our understands our weakness, ‎He knows we are dust. ‎We have an Advocate, ‎We have a High Priest; ‎We have our Defense Counsel, ‎He bought us with His blood, ‎The blood of Calvary that paid the price, ‎And sealed the deal. ‎So we approach His Throne, ‎In the child-like creature He created us, ‎For He is our Unseen Father; ‎The One Who first cast His undying love upon us, even before we knew Him. ‎SO WE WALK IN HIS PRESENCE, UNASHAMED. ‎Cleansed and Clothed by the blood. ‎ SO WE ARE HIS AND HIS ALONE! ‎I AM HIS! ‎© Anya, P.C.

Don’t let anyone tell you differently. I don’t pretend to be otherwise. Years ago, I used to pretend I knew it all, not everything, but I’d act all smart. I was trying to “keep up” Kardashian style, and it was the fakest I ever felt, exhausting and soooo empty. I genuinely do have a sponge for a brain and can recall pretty much everything I have ever read and see the connection to many other things in a split second. Here’s where I went wrong with that gift:  I was more concerned about my appearance than God. I wanted to look smart, I wanted people to admire my knowledge, and come to me.  Yes, knowledge is power, but power is nothing without wisdom. Yeah, no, not me anymore. I would much rather meet you in honesty, humility, and my bathrobe, than be a jerk and act like I have all the answers or have my life together, because guess what? I don’t, and neither do you. Most days now, I go around in my bathrobe, hair clipped up/sticking up, and my trusty water bottle in hand. You know how many people God has sent to me looking like that? It’s crazy, and they meet me as a real human. I read a lot, I study a lot, and I take it all to God.  You know who writes everything I’ve written? God. You know why? Because I stepped off my high horse long ago and started to act like a human being, the human being He willingly created. Trust me, He’s completely aware of who I am and my many many quirks.  He knocked my butt off that high horse many a time till I realized that without Him, nothing I knew meant anything to Him or anyone else I was trying to “preach” to, because it wasn’t blessed by the Holy Spirit. They were empty-ish words from someone who kinda sorta let God in on my plan once in a while. (not that God can’t use those encounters, but they weren’t great or encouraging, and very well could have put people off from God) I needed to be humbled and realize my brain, my skills, all of it came from God in the first place, and should be used for His glory. And until I came to that point of maturity and stopped playing a Christian, and actually being a Christian, He wasn’t going to have me going around in His name looking like a know-it-all. So no, I’m no saint, I’m human and I’ve screwed up, I’ve been humbled, but I learned from my mistakes. The best thing every Christian should do is to check themselves. Are you going to God? Do you believe your talents are your’s or from God? Are you using your talents, skills, and gifts for His glory? Is God trying to humble you? Are you listening to Him? Do you act like you have all the answers? Are you going to Him when you need those answers? Can you admit that you don’t know everything when someone asks? Who are you serving? Ever fall off a horse? I have, literally and figuratively, and it hurts. Get back up, dust off the dirt, and go to God, find out what He’s trying to tell you or show you, and don’t act like you know everything, because you don’t. Stop pretending and be a human.  Nonbeliever's need the real so bad right now; they are crying out in pain for it. They need to see that we are human, hear our struggles and praises, and what it means to be Christian.  © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your gift helps keep this work going, blesses others, and means the world to me. You can visit me at Faithful Writers  on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on   Tumblr  and   Facebook.

“Faith is not denying the existence of your giant. It’s choosing to believe God is bigger than it.” — Christine Caine Have you discovered that life has a way of handing you giants? Of course, you have. So have I. But, they’re not nine-foot-tall men with spears, but bills stacking higher than our bank account, diagnoses we didn’t see coming, relationships that feel too broken to fix. Giants show up when we least expect them, and they always look bigger than us. What I’ve found to be true — they specialize in intimidation. They roar loud. They flaunt their size. They whisper that you’re too small, too weak, too late. Doesn’t that about sum it up? The Script Flipper But the Bible flips the script. David’s story in 1 Samuel 17 isn’t really about the size of the boy or the size of the giant. It’s about the size of God. “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…” (1 Samuel 17:45) David knew the math. The giant was bigger than David. But David + God is bigger than the giant. Fear Magnifies, Faith Shrinks Psalm 27:1 puts it in plain words: “The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?” Fear makes the shadow of the big giant look even bigger. However, faith does the opposite — it shrinks the giant. David wasn’t fearless because he had better armor (he didn’t). He wasn’t fearless because he had more experience (he didn’t). He was fearless because he had the right perspective. The giant wasn’t standing against him. The giant was standing against God. That changes everything. Giants Often Fall in Unexpected Ways Notice how David fought. He didn’t grab a sword or shield. He picked up a sling and five smooth stones. A teenager’s weapon. Something no one else would have chosen. That’s how God works. He delights in using small, ordinary things to take down oversized problems. A mustard seed. A shepherd’s staff. Five loaves and two fish. Even a Roman cross. When you feel small, don’t forget — you’re in the perfect position for God to show His power. The battle isn’t about your size. It’s about His strength. What If God Is Already Fighting for You? Paul put it bluntly in Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Read that again. Slowly. “Since God is for me, who can be against me?” Important Note: The Greek word translated “if” is what scholars call a ‘first-class condition’ — it assumes the premise for the sake of argument: “If ( and we all know it’s true ) God is for us…” In English, that sense is often captured better with “since.” Not “maybe God is for us.” Not “if you try harder, He’ll be for you.”Since God is for us — right now, in that trial, in your weakness — who can possibly stand against you? Assumption: NOBODY and NO THING. It doesn’t mean giants won’t show up. They will. But it does mean they won’t win. Our Giants vs. God’s Power Let’s bring this down to ground level. Giant of financial stress : God still owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Giant of anxiety : God offers peace that passes understanding. Giant of loneliness : God promises never to leave you or forsake you. Giant of failure : God redeems and rebuilds what feels lost. Your Giant. Your giant may look unbeatable. But remember — David didn’t fight for victory. He fought from victory not for it. The outcome was already decided because the Lord was with him. The Giants Talk Loud, But God Speaks Louder Goliath taunted Israel for forty days. He had one message: You can’t win. Sound familiar? Giants today have the same script.“You’re not good enough.”“You’ll never get through this.”“You should just give up.” But God’s voice is steady, strong, and unshakable.“You are mine.”“You are loved.”“You are never alone.” When you speak God’s promises, the giants lose their power. Facing Your Giant Today So let me ask you: what giant are you facing right now? What’s standing in your path, flexing its muscles, daring you to try? Don’t measure the giant against yourself. Measure the giant against your God. David didn’t see a monster too big to fight. He saw a target too big to miss. That shift in perspective is everything. A Closing Word of Hope You don’t have to be the strongest in the room. You don’t need the fanciest weapons or the loudest voice. The Lord is your light and salvation. The Lord is your defender. The Lord is bigger than any giant you will ever face. So step forward with your sling. Name the giant. Trust God to aim the stone. And when the giant (trial) falls — because it will — give Him the glory. The battle isn’t about your size. It’s about His power. Reflection Questions: What giant in your life feels bigger than you right now? How might your perspective shift if you measured it against God’s power instead of your own weakness? © Gary L. Ellis

unsplash.com For many true followers, a day will come when stepping away from the traditional church setting won’t just be an option, but a necessity. I know nobody asked for my two cents on this, but I’m in a mood today. Why of all days?  Because I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of the church in America. Everywhere I look, I see these giant buildings with plush carpet, polished wooden pews, and not a penny spared on the pulpit, and it finally just rubbed that one last nerve cell I had left. Churches, everywhere,  are dropping like flies under the weight of the world at a pace that makes me think I’m living having a bad dream, or in a B-rated movie sometimes. But then I realize I’m awake. I grew up always knowing there were the dos and don’ts in the Christian faith, regardless of denomination; well, that’s gone out the window quite spectacularly lately, and what hit me over the last few days is this:  We are truly witnessing the collapse of “the church” in America; there’s no stopping it, the dominoes have been flicked.  Maybe it’s time for a couch session? I’m serious, but not to take a nap on, or sprawl out on, and lay out your worries to a therapist because we can’t handle a bumped knee or side eye anymore. But a couch and maybe whatever random chairs you can find, all in a circle in a living room in someone's house.  To find God once again with friends and family, laughing and crying, venting and praising, all mixed together and out of the scheduled order of a church. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I suggested that? If you thought, Heck no, I love my church. Well, kudos to you. Just double-check why  you love it so much.  If you're in the opposite boat, maybe it’s time to try something else?  You do know you don’t need a building called a church to have church, right? And it sure as heck isn’t required to be on Sunday, but that’s a whole different topic for a different day, let’s just focus on what the priority is right now. Your relationship with Christ. A time will come when you can’t get that in a church. Wait, let me rephrase that.  A time will come when that won’t be allowed  in churches. Every day, more churches are falling to this world's demands. Not God’s. Maybe this nation needs that. Maybe the churches that serve themselves need to be brought to their knees? Not harsh, just truth. The church in America (actually all over) is rapidly changing and declining, and by that I mean Christianity as a whole at this point is declining.  I know I‘m not the only one sensing the end of the Christian church around the corner.  Well, I shouldn’t say “end” per se, maybe more like a major product overhaul and rebranding, complete with extra added additives that make people sicker. Leave the walls behind I don’t think it would be a bad thing, to be completely honest. Something needs to happen because Christianity, real Christianity, the Bible-believing kind of Christianity, is disappearing before your eyes and being replaced with pseudo-Christianity.  Now, if you're where God wants you to be, stay there, and listen to what He’s telling you to do or say. We are capable of planting seeds in a Godless church. But if you're feeling something deep down in your soul, listen and pray. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone; the only thing that’s good for is a participation trophy that isn’t going to impress God on judgment day anyway.  Open your Bibles, do not rely on humanity to teach you the word of God; that’s God’s job. Consider a home Bible study with friends and family. Consider there are many, many other ways to be a community of believers that break away those damn walls that are stifling the Holy Spirit from doing His thing. Here me out I don’t pray for God to speed up His timing towards Revelation; I’m not in a mindset of wanting churches to collapse in order to herald Him closer, not even close. What I want is Christianity back and not butchered, and the ones doing the butching brought to their knees.  Because I believe that exposing the false teachings out there will encourage people to get off the dang fence they are straddling and take a stand, one way or the other, and draw them back to each other in God’s company . Learning and studying His word together as I should truly be. So I say: More God. Less Walls. And find that comfy couch. © Jane Isley Like what you read? Help keep the kettle warm by buying me a cup of tea  — every sip sparks a new idea and supports my work. 💡

Shield up, thoughts down, as you thump to this I think it wise to guard our hearts, not only because the Christian God says that the very issues of life flow from it, but also because emotions can join in and then our senses will shred that sucker to pieces. Think I’m kidding? I wish. My mind is my favorite place. There I can imagine all sorts of things. Wild and exciting things, treacherous and unimaginative realities, horrors beyond any blood-soaked limitation, I can do it all. I can be it all, but what I find most fascinating is the ability to connect with words. Words are fantastic! They carry healing, but they can also whip. I’ve experienced the euphoria and harrow of both. I have endured the brutality of being called things I am not. I have been exposed far too young and far too often that finding a holy, sacred balance between the intense desires to share the enormity of what’s unfolding in my mind versus removing the shackles of a frost-bitten past can be extremely difficult. Yet I push, and I push, and I push because I want a very large space to be. Call it overcompensation for decades trapped beneath a pile of rubble, but no part of me wants to slow down. But, then I hear a whisper. Caution. Because it is my heart speaking, the overflow of a river being made pure, and who’s to tell where that may lead. It’s terrifying, yet more so exhilarating. The curiosity unleashed; what if I can finally do it? What if I can finally break free from me? What if I can loose all of my inhibitions? What if I can un-tether the deepest, darkest, most perplexing parts of my soul? Will there be anyone left to entertain? Will I have gone too far? Unraveled too fast, and instead spooked everyone away? I may, and it’s a deeply perplexing thing, but it feels too good to stop. To want to simply find out, how much guarding have I’ve been doing? Is it in a fashion that does not honor the Christian God, instead dims my light? What if what I’ve assumed is guarding is really hiding? And what if I’m ready to connect mind, body and soul? Will the world be ready to catch me? Perhaps… But the world is so fickle. No, it will never do. I think more so, my mind should stay fixed on my Savior, the Author and Finisher of my Faith. The beauty of Who He is far more captivating than any of my five senses have beheld, albeit they’ve beheld much. I am sooo eccentric. Lol. 😆 But, every day, more and more, I am learning to not be ashamed of that, but to fully embrace it and run with it for the simple reason to just become all that I am destined to become. And I’ve learned I can not do that by throwing pieces of me away. I can only accomplish this completeness I desire, by willingly giving pieces of me away. I have been told many times that I am too much, and I get it now, more than ever, light makes darkness very uncomfortable. I did not come to this conclusion through observation. I speak from the recesses of my own mind, not yours. Yet, I remain resolute. Guard your heart, sure, but as I learn to let more light out, and more of your light in, I will enjoy the pour. Every layer exposed, heart laid bare, yet simultaneously guarded because innocence is as unfamiliar to me as righteousness. Neither never at my hand to give. © Freshly Squeezed Chronicles

unsplash.com By Guest Writer:   Sienna Krieg Dear Non-Christians, I wanted to write this letter to you because you are loved. And I desperately hope you know that. There is so much hate and tension between us, and I want it gone. It’s tough to come to terms with Christianity, Jesus, and God. It’s tough to come to terms with atheism, agnosticism, and other beliefs. Let’s face it, it’s hard to comprehend beliefs that we are unfamiliar with . And it’s even harder to understand beliefs we strongly disagree with. I’ve been on both sides of the coin, one where I didn’t understand Jesus and the other, entirely devoting my life to Jesus. It’s really funny how life, or to me, God, works. Just when you think you really know something, a new revelation occurs that completely changes your worldview. The truth is, constantly getting humbled is a part of life. I’m writing this letter to acknowledge that not everything I say is correct. I have been aggressive about my standpoints in Christianity, and I apologize for that. I am passionate about Christ, and that will never change. But instead of being aggressive about it, I want to be gentle yet assertive. I know many other Christians struggle with gently talking to non-Christians. Many times, we are so passionate and caught up in ‘being right’ that we end up being hostile towards others. It’s a fine line that we cross, because for us, Jesus is ‘ the truth, the way, the life’. Sometimes we get caught up in trying to win an argument, rather than gently planting seeds. My honest opinion is that you will encounter many other Christians who will be hostile towards you for your views, but you will also meet Christians who accurately spread God’s Word without trying to fight you. My hope is that you will not judge all Christians based on a few individuals, but rather judge each person individually. Everyone is on their own journey, and many have not yet learned to ‘be quick to listen, but slow to speak’ (James 1:19). Christians are not perfect, just as everyone else is not perfect. It’s uncomfortable facing the truth of our humanity, and I hope we can all at least agree with that. But I do want you to know, there is a God who loves you and is waiting for you. He will never turn away from you, and is hoping that you will come to Him. Even if you want to scream at Him, question Him, or talk to Him, He will be glad that you are at least having some sort of connection with Him. God loves it when you make an effort to know Him. And if you aren’t ready for that, take some time to ponder my love letter to you all. Ask me questions, challenge me in the comments. You might be confused about how this is a love letter, but I want you to know that you are loved, regardless of whether you believe in the Lord or not. I love you, my neighbor, and want to represent to YOU what Christ has done for me and countless others. You are wonderfully and uniquely made. I pray that this message finds you and plants a seed. Love, Sienna. © Sienna Krieg