notes from lisa...

 I don't know why, but today seems to be a day of Scripture revelation. Not complaining at all , but feeling inadequate--and knowing that I haven't really understood the magnitude of some verses (that I thought I understood) is humbling, as it should be.  Clearly, we’re ALL "seeing through a glass darkly" for now. In these non-glorified, dying bodies we will never grasp every bit of Scripture. We need changed bodies and souls to comprehend all of it. However, if you KNOW the Subject of the Bible...and not just the words of the Bible, then you can know more--a lot more .  God has and will (continue to) reveal some great and precious promises to His children--those who are born again AND seeking His truth, with the help of the Holy Ghost. "...He will teach you all things" [John 14:26]. Without the Spirit alive in our hearts, the Bible becomes a book of rules and regulations--and that is how we will treat the Bible in our interactions with people. With the ...

 I wish we could be a color-blind society; acknowledging and accepting of all cultures. Skin color has nothing to do with who any of us are. Unfortunately, that reality is not a lived experience in this nation. Skin color tells nothing of the heart within any of God’s children.  Black Americans (others, too, but I'm speaking about the experience that I know, at the moment) have longed to fit in, but were never invited. Whenever we have shown up, we're reminded that we cannot be a full participant. There's no permanent seat for us at the table. Our "seat" is brought in and removed, based on our adherence to the (invisible, but very real) line that has been drawn for us in America.  (Please don't stop reading--this isn’t a post about race). It's about how we must be reconciled to God and one another [ 1 John 3:10 GNT  " Here is the clear difference between God's children and the Devil's children: those who do not do what is right or do not l...

 Let me start by saying, if that's the way you choose to give that's totally up to you. Tithing (or not tithing), isn't a Heaven or hell issue.  Tithing according to the Mosaic Law was always agricultural unless the giver had to travel a great distance. Then, money was acceptable. Money existed long before the Law was given. If God meant for money to be tithed, wouldn't He have required that rather than agriculture when He gave Moses laws regarding the tithe? Money was used as early as Genesis 23, by Abraham...so, well before Moses. Grace (or New Covenant) giving is sacrificial.  There's no mention of continued tithing after Jesus died, buried and rose. And, when Jesus talked about the tithe in Matthew 23:23, He wasn't speaking in positive terms. He was talking about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who liked to make a show of everything they (supposedly) did for God. The Pharisees were over the top in everything-- just read that chapter as Jesus rebuked them. H...

 Laws don't add up to righteousness... ever . Do we make laws, for the purpose of drawing men and women to God; or is it really about our comfort in this world? "For if a system of law had been given which could impart life, then righteousness (right standing with God) would actually have been based on law.  But the Scripture has imprisoned everyone [everything—the entire world] under sin, so that [the inheritance, the blessing of salvation] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe [in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s precious Son]" Galatians 3:21 [Amplified Bible]. If our goal is the salvation of the lost, we're most assuredly going about it the wrong way. Soul winning is accomplished by the "Good News" . The Gospel (Good News) is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and that is all . God is not impressed with our gimmicks, our laws, our politics or our church membership. He just isn't. He does...