No Hot Coals Necessary to Gain Focus God’s Way

Be careful if you are a follower of Tony Robbins. He is certainly not interested in your well being. In fact he will have you put your safety in jeopardy by having you walk across hot coals in order to gain your focus. The medics on site warned the people they might get seriously burned. This did not matter to Tony, he told them  just to simply think of something cool touching their feet and not to think about the pain! Yeah right!

Now, I could certainly understand if one of my children were in a burning building and I had to run across hot coals in order to save their life. I would be thinking about them and so they would be my focus, not myself. In the most amazing way our savior focused on us when He was enduring His torturous death. His focus was on us, not himself. So to walk across hot coals while the people around you are chanting yes, solely for self gain is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. He teaches us to focus on others, not self. John 15:13.

So what is next? What if Tony asks his followers to drink something that might make them very sick and could possibly kill them? Does he then teach them not to let their sound judgement stop them? Maybe he will tell them to just imagine it is Kool-aide.  

Joseph Smith was another grandiose manipulator causing people harm to their spirit by asking them to live a polygamous life along with other foolish doctrine. Polygamy was and still is, against the will of God. It does great damage to the women that are forced to practice it. 

I am so grateful that my good shepherd would never ask me or any of His sheep to do something that would harm their body, mind or spirit. He would never ask them to walk across hot coals in order to gain their focus. 

We must beware of false teachers that are seeking their own glory and will harm you in the process. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits….Matthew 7:15,16, or the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth , and be turned aside to fables.2 Timothy 4:3,4, Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8

So the next time you hear a false prophet ask you to walk across hot coals, practice foolish doctrine or drink the Kool-aide, run straight to the Good Shepherd that will help  you to lie down in green pastures and will comfort your soul. He will give you the true focus that will last for eternity! And you will not burn your feet!

No Hot Coals Necessary to Gain Focus God’s Way

Be careful if you are a follower of Tony Robbins. He is certainly not interested in your well being. In fact he will have you put your safety in jeopardy by having you walk across hot coals in order to gain your focus. The medics on site warned the people they might get seriously burned. This did not matter to Tony, he told them  just to simply think of something cool touching their feet and not to think about the pain! Yeah right!

Now, I could certainly understand if one of my children were in a burning building and I had to run across hot coals in order to save their life. I would be thinking about them and so they would be my focus, not myself. In the most amazing way our savior focused on us when He was enduring His torturous death. His focus was on us, not himself. So to walk across hot coals while the people around you are chanting yes, solely for self gain is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. He teaches us to focus on others, not self. John 15:13.

So what is next? What if Tony asks his followers to drink something that might make them very sick and could possibly kill them? Does he then teach them not to let their sound judgement stop them? Maybe he will tell them to just imagine it is Kool-aide.  

Joseph Smith was another grandiose manipulator causing people harm to their spirit by asking them to live a polygamous life along with other foolish doctrine. Polygamy was and still is, against the will of God. It does great damage to the women that are forced to practice it. 

I am so grateful that my good shepherd would never ask me or any of His sheep to do something that would harm their body, mind or spirit. He would never ask them to walk across hot coals in order to gain their focus. 

We must beware of false teachers that are seeking their own glory and will harm you in the process. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits….Matthew 7:15,16, or the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth , and be turned aside to fables.2 Timothy 4:3,4, Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8

So the next time you hear a false prophet ask you to walk across hot coals, practice foolish doctrine or drink the Kool-aide, run straight to the Good Shepherd that will help  you to lie down in green pastures and will comfort your soul. He will give you the true focus that will last for eternity! And you will not burn your feet!

Is Depression your new Identity?

Many people identify with depression by saying words like “I am depressed.” The feelings of hopelessness just won’t seem to go away. That nagging narrator in your head rambles on telling you that you are not good enough, that you will fail, that circumstances in life will not improve. Friends and family in their best effort to help tell you to think of the positive. You read articles with special tips to turn things around, you see the doctor to get a new prescription and yet nothing seems to be working.

So where did this come from? Just treating the symptoms is like putting a band aide on a gunshot wound to the heart. Understanding the root problem, the very core of where this came from is the only way to actually eradicate the root cause.  Jesus said

“Then you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:32

You see when we use the words I am, we are speaking of our identity. Who and what we are. Do you even know who you are? What are your passions, talents and abilities? What is your purpose in this life?  Feelings like sadness, come and go like the waves in the ocean. This is why we cannot base our decisions on emotions.

So who are you? Start with the truth. God is the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6

You are His child when you come seeking Him as Father. He will give you the truth through His Word and He will fill you with Life and Purpose. He will expose the lies from the enemy. Lies that would tell you that you are not good enough, that you will fail, that life will never improve.

Your new Identity will be  words like these:

*I am God’s chosen. *I am beautiful. *I am loved. *I am talented. *I am at peace. *I can do all things in Christ. *My life has value, meaning and purpose. *I am a great mother, father, wife, husband, sister, or brother. *I am a great friend…..etc.

As you discover the truth and your purpose in life,  joy, energy and happiness will return to you! Depression will be a thing of the past!

Then you will know who you truly are.

 

Are Mormons Christians?

This is a long debated subject that has been asked since Mormons have professed to be Christians. Recently Joel Olsteen has taken some flack for answering this question pertaining toMitt Romney. We could ask this question to any individual from the many denominations and cults professing to be Christians.” The real question should be whether or not the institution one adheres to is Christian.

An individual of different religious denominations and cults will be influenced by their particular belief system regardless of what they call themselves or believe they are.

I know this to be true as I felt I was Christian while I was Mormon. At that time I adhered to Mormon doctrine and my belief that I was a Christian.  I now adhere to biblical Christian views and consider myself to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, a true Christian.

I have great compassion on Mormons that feel they are Christians. Many love Jesus Christ with all their heart. I know I certainly did. This is why God tells us we cannot judge a person. We do not know their heart. What I do know is that the individual that truly loves and seeks after Jesus will find the truth as I have. Jesus is the only way, the only truth and the only life. And no one will come to the Father except through him, see John 14:6, this is because He and the Father are one in the same, the only true God. They are not separate beings, see John 10:30.

What we can judge however is the institution. The institution of Mormonism is a different gospel than what Jesus Christ taught. (2 Corinthians 11:4) As believers in Jesus Christ it is our duty to seek the truth, and to know who Jesus is, and what he taught. (Luke 12:31, Matthew 6:33, Psalms 105:4,) These are instructions from Jesus himself.

The word seek means to study, to pursue, to understand, to learn and to consider. True seekers desire to know the truth.

The Mormon religion teaches quite the opposite of seeking. In fact they do not want you to know about their institution and it is their goal to keep you from finding out about their history, and the fact that they are preaching a different gospel.

If you know nothing about Mormonism,  I am almost certain you have not noticed that I have given two doctrines from the bible that conflict with Mormon teachings. The first one is that Jesus is the only way. In Mormonism we must add Joseph Smith’s approval. “…no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. . . . Every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance. . . I cannot go there without his consent. . . . He reigns there as supreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in heaven.” Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, 289.

The next of many differences I present in this article is Heavenly Father and Jesus being one in the same. As Christians we believe the Bible when it tells us that Jesus Christ is God in flesh. To take away Jesus’ identity and place him next to another god with flesh and bones is definitely a different gospel.

As Christians we must seek, search and know if the institution we are adhering to is preaching a different gospel. We can only determine whether or not an individual has accepted the Truth into their life by the belief system they adhere to. Just as we can be certain that any institution that does not profess Jesus Christ is the only Truth, the only Way and the only Life is not Christian, we can be certain that the individual in question has not yet found Truth.

Sleep Well & Improve Your Life

We all know that sleep affects how we feel and perform in the day. The problem is most of us are not practicing habits that will improve our sleep. Here are just a few suggestions to help you get the sleep you need

1. Don’t shirk your housework. Make your bed everyday-launder the sheets often.
2. Take your vitamins in the morning. Certain types, like B12, can cause vivid dreams, which can wake you.
3. Quit the afternoon coffee run, or any snacks containing caffeine or sugar.
4. Get rid of electronics in the bedroom. Charge them outside your bedroom. Keep your bedroom sacred. Allow only sleep and sex.
5. Practice letting go. Write everything down and commit to dealing with it in the morning. Adopt prayer and meditation as a nightly practice.
6. Keep the hours prior to bed quiet. Read and listen to relaxing music.
7. Dim the lights at least one hour before hitting the pillow.

Some excerpts from Joanne Chen, additions by La Vonne Earl

Loved into the Light

Loved into the Light

Shining God’s Light on Mormonism

Ch. 16 “Is the Church Safe or Judgmental?

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” – John 8:7

God did not come to judge, but to show the way. The Bible says in John 3:17, “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” Jesus’ great love for all mankind is evident in all He says and does. He does not want anyone to perish (1 Timothy 2:3-4). Jesus lived a life of forgiveness and mercy. He is so quick to forgive, and if He possesses any judgment at all, it is on those who refuse to forgive (Matthew 6:14-15). He requires that we forgive others as well. You can see that in 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 4:32, and Colossians 3:13.

Jesus was safe to be around when He walked the Earth—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. He never condemned anyone. He came to bring truth and light, to show others the way. The only people Jesus ever criticized were those of His own religious group who were condemning the prostitutes, murderers, tax collectors, gluttons, drunkards, and other “sinners.” Jesus criticized the religious leaders of His day who were making it hard for the “sinners” to experience the love, grace, and forgiveness of God. He wanted to make it easy for the Kingdom of Heaven to reign in people’s lives, not more difficult. Those who set up roadblocks received His harshest words.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

 – Romans 8:1

Love as Jesus Loved

We should not criticize sinners and people who do not “measure up” to our idea of righteousness. Jesus never did this. He loved the prostitutes. He forgave murderers. He invited greedy tax collectors to join Him. He shared food and drink with gluttons and drunkards.

We need to help people, not condemn them. Jesus criticized the Pharisees, not to gain power or prestige, but to help the common people who labored under the oppression of the Pharisees. We should include everyone and love them into the light. Judgment and exclusion causes resentment and rebellion.

Jesus taught with love and loved the people He taught. He made everyone feel like each day was a new day. He taught that His mercies are new every day. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Jesus makes all things new (2 Corinthians 5:17). He has not changed since He was resurrected and became our intercessor from Heaven.

When Jesus met with the woman at the well, He did not judge her but instead offered her living water. He was her defender then and He is our defender now.

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.”

– 1 John 2:1

Did you see what that scripture said? He said that Jesus is our advocate. That means He is our lawyer in God’s court. He is on our side, pleading our case and, when we have guilt, taking the punishment for us.

Jesus calls us to follow His example and care for His flock. “Then I will give shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15). When Paul was speaking to the Ephesian Elders, he admonished them, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).

To be appointed to care for Jesus’ flock one would need to take great care not to harm them. God gave specific instruction on how to do this. One of the commands that He gave was in Deuteronomy 12:32, “See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.” This means that every word that comes out of your mouth as a leader, apostle, prophet, and so forth needs to be what Christ spoke in the Bible. At the very least, they must be words that convey His heart. Read it again!

“Then I will give shepherds after my own heart.” – Jeremiah 3:15

Despite this, the Mormon Church issues guidelines that are very judgmental and require us to pay for the sins of others. A Mormon prophet made this statement on a woman’s virtue, “Also far-reaching is the effect of loss of chastity. Once given or taken or stolen it can never be regained. Even in forced contact such as rape or incest, the injured one is greatly outraged. If she has not cooperated and contributed to the foul deed, she is of course in a more favorable position. There is no condemnation where there is no voluntary participation. It is better to die in defending one’s virtue than to live having lost it without a struggle.”[1]

This is not the heart of Christ at all! Have they studied what is in the Bible? Do they understand that there is no condemnation in Christ whether voluntary or not (Romans 8:1)? We can’t pay for the sins of another; therefore we have no power of condemnation. Only the righteous, only the holy Son of God can condemn. But He did not. He came to save. He died on the cross for our sins and paid our price. There is no place for our condemnation. Statements like those made by Mr. Kimball hurt a person who is seeking relationship with Christ. How many of us have sinned? How many people have sinned, and then came to Christ later? How many Christians have sinned and then sought forgiveness and cleansing from God? Who are we to deny them that?

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[1] Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness.

Here are more statements made by Apostles and leaders of the Mormon Church:

• “There is no true Latter-day Saint who would not rather bury a son or daughter than to have him or her lose his or her chastity — realizing that chastity is of more value than anything else in all the world.” Heber J. Grant, quoted in The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball

Never, never, never does God say we must accept responsibility for the sin of another person! When Christ was crucified, the Romans did everything they could to humiliate and torture the Son of God. According to Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus was stripped of his clothes and mocked (Matthew 27:35). No one knows for certain whether or not Jesus himself was raped. What we do know is that in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ flogging, it is entirely possible that Jesus was naked while he was beaten. We also know that sexual violence was used in the ancient world both by the Romans and by other ancient cultures. There was an element of sexual humiliation in the torture Jesus went through.
Remember, the Bible says that Jesus was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus willingly surrendered; He did not fight; yet He remained without sin. The Word of God does not say in any way that what He endured was His fault. Nor did His father say to Jesus that someone would show Him which responsibility was His in this violation! No, Jesus suffered through no fault of His own. He chose to take this upon Himself solely because He loved us and wanted to save us.

Recognizing a Safe Church

When you belong to a judgmental church, guilt becomes your new companion. Remember, the enemy is the one that comes to condemn, not Christ. Safe churches do not condemn, inflict guilt or use control. They allow you to keep your free agency and make decisions for yourself based on your own conviction from the Holy Spirit.
A safe church will not cause fear of judgment. Fear is not of God. When you are hearing truth from your church, you will experience His grace. You will not be afraid to make mistakes or voice your opinion when they differ from your leaders. Your leaders will respect your individuality and boundaries.

To receive your Free book go to: Faithfunder

Change begins with Education

Change starts with education, and this depends on you.

If you truly desire a great relationship, learn how to communicate in a way to bring about this great relationship you desire. Have you taken the time to understand the way you and others learn? Do you know your own “Love Language?” How about those that you love, do you know their “Love Language? Like this page on FB and join us for a study on communication and love languages.

Do You Carry the Unpardonable Sin?

“If one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save himfrom death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

– James 5:19

Forgiveness is a necessary part of faith. If there is no forgiveness, there is no need for faith. For what does it all matter if we cannot find redemption? No one who has ever sought forgiveness has ever felt that it was an unnecessary part of his or her redemption and walk with God.

As Christians, we believethere is no sin that Christ’s blood cannot wash away (1 John 1:9). Christ turns away none who are willing to come to Him in an attitude of trust and repentance, no matter what they have done, including turning their back on God.

It is a total distortion of truth to teach that Christ’s blood is insufficient. Many religions like to instill fear into believers in order to keep them under their control. This is not of God.  I personally know people that have transgressed so terribly that they often feel there is no hope. But there is hope! Hope in a living God that can save and forgive anyone!

1 John 3:9 says, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. Wow! If you are born of God you can’t sin…and yet every Mormon and Christian continues to sin now and then. So what does it mean?

It means that there are two natures inside of us once we trust Jesus Christ as our Savior. One nature is the flesh and the other is born of God (born again). These two natures, according to Paul, are always in conflict (Romans 7). The nature that is born of God cannot sin. The flesh nature, however, most certainly can sin. The key is love. Love or the lack of love is how we shift from focusing on one nature or the other.

If you love correctly, you will not sin for in love hangs all the law (Matthew 22:38-40). But when you don’t love, you will allow the sin nature to dominate in your life again—and we know that in the sin nature there is no eternal life! No one can get to heaven through their sin nature or the deeds of the flesh. We need the new nature that is born of God—born through faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:4)!

The Unpardonable Sin

In the Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball, he writes, “Eternal life hangs in the balance awaiting the works of men. This process toward eternal life is a matter of achieving perfection. Living all the commandments guarantees total forgiveness of sins and assures one of exaltation through the perfection which comes by complying with the formula the Lord gave us….Being perfect means to triumph over sin. This is a mandate from the Lord. He is just and wise and kind. He would never require anything from his children which was not for their benefit and which was not attainable. Perfection therefore is an achievable goal.”[1]

He says that perfection is an achievable goal, yet he goes on and states that if a person sins against the Holy Ghost and/or commits murder, he cannot ever achieve perfection. Therefore there is a point where it is not achievable. Here is what he says, “All sins but those excepted by the Lord—basically, the sin against the Holy Ghost, and murder—will be forgiven to those who totally, consistently, and continuously repent in a genuine and comprehensive transformation of life….This earth life is the time to repent. We cannot afford to take any chances of dying an enemy to God.”[2]

He mentions here the sin against the Holy Ghost…the unpardonable sin. Here are the verses from the Bible:

“And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

 – Matthew 12:31-32 (NIV)

Jesus spoke these words in response to an accusation made by the Pharisees. Envious of Jesus’ power to heal and cast out devils, they accused Jesus of casting out the devils by the power of Satan. Jesus responded with a dire warning about blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.

So exactly what is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?

To understand it, we need to examine exactly what it is that the Pharisees did.

1. They wanted to discredit Jesus in the eyes of those following Him. In effect, they were trying to recapture their power base from Jesus. Jesus was stealing much of their influence, and they wanted it back (Mark 15:10).
2. They knew that Jesus was doing these miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit. They knew He was true and taught truly (Mark 12:13-14, Luke 4:14). Yet they intentionally tried to deceive the people into believing that He was not.
3. They attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan (Matthew 12:24).
4. They intentionally and deliberately did this even knowing full well it was wrong.

The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is when you, knowing better, either attribute a work of the Holy Spirit to Satan or a work of Satan to the Holy Spirit. In order to do this, a person has to consciously reject Jesus Christ. Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). If you have no faith, then it is impossible for you to be saved. We must believe Jesus Christ, who He is, and what He is in order to allow Him to save us. This is what the Pharisees were doing. They were deliberately rejecting Jesus Christ who was a work of the Holy Spirit.

“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.”

 – Matthew 1:20 (NLT)

Jesus’ birth, ministry, and life were works of the Holy Spirit. To reject Jesus as the Messiah, as our Savior, as our only way to Heaven is unpardonable. You will not go to Heaven unless you trust Jesus as your Savior. The Pharisees were denying this by their words and actions. How can they find forgiveness if they do not want forgiveness? If they would turn to Jesus, accept Him as their Savior—as the Messiah—then they too can find salvation and forgiveness.

The scary part about all this to me is that Mormon doctrine seems to reject Christ as our means to Heaven and focuses on our works to get to Heaven. How is this different than what the Pharisees were doing? The Pharisees wanted control over people’s lives. They didn’t like Jesus’ teaching and the simple trust of Him to attain salvation. Mormon Doctrine seems to be very much in line with Pharisee Doctrine.

God’s Forgiveness Versus Man’s Works

Mormon Doctrine teaches that forgiveness must be earned. They believe that you must prove your worthiness for salvation and forgiveness. Christians, on the other hand, believe that forgiveness is something that you get when you seek it. It is freely given to those that want it.

Here are some of the Mormon views from Kimball’s Miracle of Forgiveness:

1. “The reason is forthrightly stated by Nephi, ‘. . . There cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God . . .’ (1 Ne. 15:34). And again, ‘. . . no unclean thing can dwell with God . . .’ (1 Ne. 10:21). To the prophets the term unclean in this context means what it means to God. To man the word may be relative in meaning—one minute speck of dirt does not make a white shirt or dress unclean, for example. But to God who is perfection, cleanliness means moral and personal cleanliness. Less than that is, in one degree or another, uncleanliness and hence cannot dwell with God.”[1]

2.  “No one can repent on the cross, nor in prison, nor in custody. One must have the opportunity of committing wrong in order to be really repentant. The man in handcuffs, the prisoner in the penitentiary, the man as he drowns, or as he dies—such a man certainly cannot repent totally.”[1]

3.“One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation.”[2]

This Mormon Doctrine takes salvation out of God’s hands and puts it in man’s hands. It takes any hope we have in a loving and forgiving God and places it in the ability of a man to do the proper works at the proper place and in the right time—an impossible task according to Scripture. Jesus did not come to judge or condemn the world (John 3:17).  He came that, through Him, we all might be saved!

The Mormon view as expressed in Kimball’s Miracle of Forgiveness has left a lot of people bereft of hope. How can a person ever be that perfect? And for many, who look back on a life spent outside of God and indulging the flesh, they are left wondering how could they ever dig themselves out of such a deep pit? This brings on depression and a sense of helplessness.

Christians, on the other hand, do good—not to earn forgiveness, but because they are already forgiven! They get to go to Church. They get to pray. They get to be a blessing to others. They get to serve God with their life. They don’t have to. They get to. They do from a thankful and praiseful heart. They do good not to impress a holy God, but out of love for that Holy God. There is a huge difference. They continue to improve and deepen their repentance in the pursuit of a greater holiness. They know that the repentance that brings forgiveness is simply a brokenhearted cry for hatred of sin, love for God’s holiness, and trust in the God who ‘justifies the ungodly’ by faith apart from works (Romans 4:4-5). First John is written that “you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” –  Ephesians 2:8-9

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” – John 5:24

“May God’s peace and love be upon you. May you walk confidently knowing you are loved by the most high God. May you take assurance knowing that nothing can separate you from His love, but your own desire to not want Him as your savior. Thank you Lord Jesus for Your peace. Amen.”

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[1] Ibid, pp. 19.

[2] Ibid, pp. 206-207.

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[1] Ibid, pp. 19.

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[1] Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 208.

[2] Ibid, pp. 14-15.

Finding the Purpose in Pain

Have you ever wondered the reasons behind the pain you are experiencing? What if what you were going through could be used to glorify God? Would you use it? Would you glorify Him? 

The disciples had asked if the  blind man that Jesus healed in John chapter 9 had sin in his life, and possibly this was the reason he was blind. Jesus told them the reason the man was born blind was so that the power of God could be seen because of his blindness.

Life is God’s gift to us. No matter how painful, it is still a gift. Often it is through painful experiences that we find our faith and our true purpose in life. Each day is a blessing from God. Instead of cursing God because of our perceived injustices, we must thank God for the opportunities to glorify him.

Remember the greatest injustice in this world was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He did not deserve it, it was completely unjust and yet He gave His life in order to glorify God. Out of that injustice came the greatest purpose in life, to save your soul.

God can take anything in life and use it for the greater good. He will give purpose and meaning to your pain. Are you ready to surrender your life to Him and allow Him to turn things around in order to glorify Him? If you will trust Him  you will receive the blessing He is waiting to give you. Just as the blind man was willing to trust Jesus in order to receive his sight, be willing to trust Jesus in order that He will use you to glorify Him.

Happy Easter.

Loved into the Light, Shining God’s Light on Mormonism.

Loved into the Light, Shining God’s Light on Mormonism.

Check out my new book arriving June 2012!

Loved into the Light is a powerful emotional appeal to Mormons, ex-Mormons, and Christians of all faiths to take a close and careful look at the religious system they worship in. The book takes the reader on a self-examination journey of their spiritual state to determine if they are truly following God as found in Scriptures or bowing to the tenants of man.

 

Loved into the Light is about freedom in God and deliverance from the bondage of man. Written from the personal experiences of an ex-Mormon family, it exposes the emotional, mental, and physical damage that is done as a result of laboring under teachings and leadership that contradicts and conflicts with the Bible, the Word of God.

The book covers many different aspects of Mormon doctrine that led to near disaster in the lives of this one Mormon family. It covers topics such as:

• Rules
• Your calling and true service
• Temple Ordinances
• Mormon Garments
• Eternal Progression (becoming a god)
• The validity of the Bible versus the Book of Mormon
• The Mormon Priesthood
• Racism within the Mormon Church
• And so much more

Loved into the Light, is a frank appraisal of the consequences of certain beliefs and doctrines within the Mormon Church and, by extension, the beliefs held in any church. The book is a warning about the dangers of wholeheartedly adopting beliefs and doctrine that are not taught by God through His Word.

It also provides the keys to healing for those who find themselves injured by a religious system. It demonstrates the full love of God and how any person can find deliverance, freedom, and healing from God and His Word.

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God Bless and thank you for checking out my book!

La Vonne Earl