Month: July 2018

Setting Healthy Boundaries

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Morning Devotion: Setting Healthy Boundaries. God Sets Limits and Boundaries. Loving Ourselves Involves Setting Limits With People.

One of the areas of my life God has been infusing with wisdom the past years is boundaries. They are so vital. I learned people treat us the way we let them. What we tolerate continues. I learned people wanted me to be available to drop whatever was happening in my life for them with zero investment because I was too open, too helpful, overgave, over invested, and treated everyone like they were VIP. It appeared I did not value my time or resources so why should they? We must learn to demonstrate value for ourselves. It is not arrogance to value yourself. It is expected from God. Love your neighbor AS you love yourself.

I believe everyone is worthy of love, respect, dignity, and should be treated well. Everyone is not to have the same levels of access to us. Some people have general seating. Some have VIP. Some have no access at all. They are loved, they do not have access to the inner world, classified information, nor access to all my time.

I also learned kindness is telling people that their behavior is inappropriate. Some float through life destructive because they have never been corrected nor had any godly consequences.

My lack of wisdom nor strong boundaries caused numerous issues. The funny thing is, I had quite strong boundaries until I started doing ministry things. Then I was told to love, turn the other cheek, just keep being nice to Susie. Susie on the other hand was destructive, divisive, and creating strife in the church. Kindness was telling Susie, “We love you, God loves you. Your identity is not what you do. We would love to have you stay, yet this behavior is ungodly. What is going on in your heart that you behave this way? If you keep harassing people without repentance, we need you to leave.”

It is imperative that we:

1. Value ourselves the way God does.

2. Value the time and resources given by God and not waste them (everyone and everything is not our assignment-ask God for His assignments and to know when they are over/what the limits should be).

3. Address mistreatment when it occurs.

4. Set limits with people (no you may not call me at 2 am to download your problems, you may not pop in and out of my life and expect me to drop everything for you, no I am not your therapist, and no you may not treat me that way).

5. Assess who has and who should have access to us; what level of access is appropriate.

Access Level 1 (New Person/Toxic Behaving Person):

If it is someone we just met and do not know well, they do not need to know everything about us. People who gossip, are abusive, critical, or cruel also do not need to know everything. General information is appropriate. The amount of time we spend with them may be limited. The amount of info we share may be limited. They are on a need to know basis. In this level, we love the person without giving them full access to the house (our lives).

Access Level 2 (Associate):

This person has a bit more access. They may have more information and trust has been built over time. Associates are like branches on the tree. They do not hold much weight. They can break off and blow away like the wind.

Access Level 3 (Friend):

This person has demonstrated that they love, care, support, and want the best for you. Their actions are loving. They have more access to your time and life. This is a MUTUAL relationship. It is not one sided. Friends are invested on both sides. There is a level of trust on both sides. They have demonstrated with their actions, not just their words, that they are trustworthy and have your best interests at heart. These people can be stronger branches or like the trunk of a tree. They are helpful, supportive.

Access Level 4 (Close Friend/VIP):

This person you could trust with your life, deep inner world, and has more access to you. They are tried and true. They are fiercely loyal, supportive, truthful, loving, hopeful, and willing to sacrifice for you. Their actions are supportive of their words. You could leave your kids or bank account information with them, knowing no harm would come to you. I only have 2 of these people aside from my dad. These people are the roots of the tree. They may not be visible to everyone, yet they are to us. They are strong, supportive, reliable, not going anywhere.

We get into trouble when everyone is given the same access. My heart is just to LOVE people, for everyone to feel included. Yet love without wisdom is not God love. God loves us all; He still sets limits. I think one of the issues is the belief God just accepts anything from us so people should too. This is a lie!! The Old Testament gives us a great picture of what God requires. Jesus fulfilled the law. He did not abolish God’s requirements for access to Him nor His standard of holiness. Jesus gave us a new way, the only way to approach God and fulfill the requirements. Those who treat God loosely, without true respect and honor, will do the same to you. Those who believe God just accepts whatever they offer, will treat you the same way. Misunderstanding grace has produced some abusive people in churches.

Are we setting healthy boundaries? Are we tolerating unhealthy boundaries?

God expects us to love ourselves and set healthy boundaries. Boundaries are like a fence around our lives. People can see the beauty of our heart or lives, yet only invited guests are allowed inside. If they come inside to repeadily burn down the yard, they are escorted outside the fence. Their level of access changes.

May you and I not only love others, may we love ourselves.

Image: Sharon Martin Counseling

Love,

Erin Lamb

Upcoming Events:

I will be on the radio this Saturday night July 28, 2018 with Pastor Mike Zachman out of Seattle, WA. You may tune in from wherever you are. Call in, we would love to chat with you and pray for you.

I will be in Columbus, Ohio next month and would love to connect with you. See the info below. The event is free, just seeking a headcount for refreshments. Go to Empowered & Free and click on Upcoming Events.

Get Wisdom!

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Morning Devotion: Gaining wisdom is vital to thriving. Let’s talk about relationships-great ones set you up to go further, draining ones sabotage efforts. God desires we have mutual and life giving relationships.

I had a very bad habit of giving people too much; too much access to me, too much availability, too much sacrificing for their benefit. They say you can never give too much-this is a lie.

Giving without wisdom is just as bad as not giving at all.

Giving in the wrong places, sowing into the wrong soil is just as bad as not sowing.

Let me break it down with examples. If I had a million dollars and gave it to someone who flushed it down the toilet, was that a good investment? No! They put the million dollars in the toilet and flushed it. They had no value for what was given to them. So they wasted it. Say they come back a few weeks later and asked for another million. It would be utter foolishness to give them another million. Yet let’s say you did and they flushed it down the toilet. They come back another time and ask for a million dollars. If you keep giving it to them, it’s pure foolishness.

How many times in Christian relationships is there a push to just give, give, and give with no wisdom? There is this push to give money, volunteer everywhere, give people-even toxic ones full access to your life, and just keep enduring abuse and mistreatment.

Jesus was not foolish. God is not foolish. God is a wise investor. Yes God allows His goodness to flow over the just and the unjust. God also invests wisely. God knows before He pursues us who we will become. God knew though Peter denied Jesus who he would become. God is purposeful, not aimless. There is a divine purpose behind everything God does and everything God allows. Even God has a boundary on who has full access to Him. Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father unless they come through the Son.” God also has an expectation on His love. God tells us He expects to be loved in return. He freely gives us love. Love given relationship with God IS expected to be returned.

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

Jesus answered him, “‘Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’ This is the great and supreme commandment. And the second is like it in importance: ‘You must love your friend in the same way you love yourself.’ Contained within these commandments to love you will find all the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.”~Matthew 22:36-40.

We are actually told the greatest commandment is to love God. God anticipates mutual love. I know this is not always taught, yet it’s biblical. God loves without our love. He does not cease loving if we do. God still expects mutual love in relationship. I truly believe one of the reasons humans struggle with loving other people is due to a lack of understanding of how to love God. God is their Mr. Fix it, or trunk monkey. He is not someone they engage with just because they love Him. Therefore they do not know how to just love other people.

We are invited to be good to people, even our enemies. This does not mean we become unwise and foolish. Get wisdom the bible says.

A prudent person with insight foresees danger coming and prepares himself for it.

But the senseless rush blindly forward

and suffer the consequences,~Proverbs 22:3.

Say goodbye to a troublemaker and you’ll say goodbye to quarrels, strife, tension, and arguments, for a troublemaker traffics in shame,~Proverbs 22:10.

Walk away from an angry man or you’ll embrace a snare in your soul by becoming bad-tempered just like him,~Proverbs 22:24-25.

So stop fooling yourselves! Evil companions will corrupt good morals and character.[c]~1 Corinthians 15:32.

[c] 1 Corinthians 15:33 This is likely a quotation from the Athenian poet Menander (Thras. 218). Paul is using this quote to encourage the believers to stay away from those who deny the resurrection.

Some Examples:

If Suzie only calls you to download her issues and problems, when she is bored, and sucks up hours of your time needed elsewhere, why are you answering the phone? Suzie is responsible for her own life and you yours. Yes we pray for people. Yes we love people. We also set boundaries.

I have sent people to ministries that have 24/7 prayer support, told then to pursue a counselor or life coach or soul healing or told them I could no longer be their stand in crisis person. Why? I am not God. I don’t want to be Jehovah Jr. I have limited time, tons of obligations, my own issues, and limited emotional capacity. God has no limits. I can not do all things. I can do all things God purposes me to do. Everything and everyone is not my assignment, nor yours.

If we are not careful, people will put us into the God spot. We do not belong there. Only God can be God. We have some limitations.

If Lucy has a bad temper and goes off on you regularly, and you have addressed this behavior with her and she never apologies and continues to verbally abuse you, why are you hanging out with Lucy? Why? Lucy has demonstrated with her actions that she does not care about you. Continuing to pursue closeness with Lucy is not helping Lucy become a better person. Lucy knows no matter how poorly she treats you, you will be back for her to verbally beat up again.

I am going to say something that may be shocking. Love sets boundaries! I repeat, “Love sets boundaries.”

What are boundaries? This is where someone else’s freedom ends where ours begins. It is self care, not selfishness. It is saying, “I value myself and I value you.” It is also wise stewardship. God expects us to love ourselves. We are told to love our neighbor AS we love ourselves. Boundaries examine what God has placed inside us and around us that needs guarded from just anyone and everyone having access.

I love the phrase, “Build a fence, not a wall around your heart. People can see its beauty, yet not everyone has access.”

If we do not gain wisdom in relationships, we can end up in toxic, abusive, one sided, life sucking relationships. How can I say this? I have walked it out. I just wanted to love people and love lavishly gives without expectation of return (in my mind). Like Oprah’s giveaways, I was going around to any and everyone, “You get love, you get love, you get love.” I would befriend anyone and drop my priorities to help other people. I would take vacation to help other people. I learned the following:

1. Without boundaries people treat you like a doormat or worse; you are something to wipe their muddy feet on and they do not respect you. Lack of boundaries leads to mistreatment, being used, and sometimes even abuse.

2. God did not ask me or you to be the sacrificial lamb for everyone. We are to follow the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit. Yes give, yes love people, and also LISTEN to the Holy Spirit. I had an instance with street ministry where the Holy Spirit told me not to stop for this man begging. I did anyway thinking, “This could not be God. This man is in need.” That man was super nasty squared! God was trying to save me from wasting time, I refused to listen.

3. Some people and things are a distraction! Hear me again. They are a distraction. They come and suck up time and resources when God has other things for us to do or other assignments. Put some prayer on it. God do you want me connected to this? Everything that sounds good or looks good is not God. Learning to set limits and say no is vital.

“Thank you for your offer, I am unable to do that at this time.”

“Thank you so much for thinking of me. I am not able to participate.”

We can lovingly say no.

4. Lack of boundaries is a lack of love for self. I have always hated the love God, love your neighbor, then love yourself last. It is wrong. The true order is receive love from God, love ourselves and God, then love our neighbor AS we love ourselves. God expects us to love ourselves. How do we want to be treated? Why are we tolerating less than that?

5. Lack of boundaries fuels entitlement. Entitlement says, “This is owed to me.” Believe it or not, I have had people demand I be in relationship with them. Or they were quite toxic in choices, behavior and expected close friendship or tried to manipulate me into friendship. Ummmm no. Friendship and relationships are gifts, not obligations. We give thanks for relationships and try to steward them with love. They do not owe us relationship. If we are a poor steward, we may lose relationships.

There are people I love and pray for that do not have full access to me; their access is limited. They have shown repeadily that they are mean spirited, unrepentant, some hostile, and grossly selfish. If they were hungry, I would feed them. Naked, try to get them an outfit. I pray for them. I do not invite them to hang out and talk about my deep inner world. Why? They are going to trample it under foot or go flush it down the toilet. I do not drop my schedule anymore to help others unless God tells me too. I have priorities, obligations, and assignments from God.

This does not mean if someone needs 911 I ignore it. It does mean if I have project work to do and someone needs a ride they can call Uber. It does mean some calls can go to voicemail. It does mean I give people tools to see their own personal breakthrough. It does mean I don’t drop what I am doing for everyone. If I did, I would be driven by people not the Holt Spirit. It does mean I now take a year or so to assess people before I share my inner world-call them a friend.

I have offered way too many people friendship who came into the garden of my heart, poured gasoline, and lit it on fire. They were destructive. I am not wounded nor jaded. I learned something.

I stopped initiating with people who never ever initiated with me or only contacted me if I first contacted them or gave them something or they need something. I learned. Oh baby did I learn.

When people show us who they are, I believe them. I believe what people show me. I am not criticizing nor putting them down. I am assessing a situation based on the evidence. I then set boundaries based on who they are, not what they say. People can chant, “I love you all day,” yet their actions scream indifferent, just here for what I can get, or hostile. Yes we look for the gold, we also gain wisdom! We also function with discernment. We learn to hear and follow the Holy Spirit.

Finally, God wants us connected to people who will steward our hearts, time, and resources like He would. God takes NO delight in toxic relationship. Would we want our children mistreated? Hopefully no. God’s heart is far bigger than ours. God loves His children FAR more than we do.

Activation:

1. If you have children or had a child, what kind of friends would you want them to have? Write it out. Do your friends match that list? Are you that type of friend?

2. Assess who gets most of your time or resources? How are they stewarding what is given? You can waste time with those who have no value for what you offer. How can you better steward the time and resources?

-I have pulled back from super investing as a mentor in people who do absolutely nothing with what is given to them. Why? There are other people who will steward it well.

Bless you! Have an amazing Saturday!

Love,

Erin Lamb

P.S Be sure to check out my latest book Confident & Free Paperback and Confident & Free ebook. If you wish for a signed copy and love in the USA or Canada, please stop by my business website Lamb Enterprises LLC (Live Empowered & Free).

Confidence Comes From Knowing God

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Morning Devotion: God Did Not Create Insecure People. Sin Brought In Insecurity, Fear, Shame, Rejection, Abuse, Hatred, Self Hatred, and Low Self Esteem. Insecurity Is the Root of Many Problems, Let’s Pursue Freedom.

Jesus is our truest model of a healthy person. Jesus was not prideful nor insecure. He knew exactly who He was in relation to the Father. Jesus did not wonder whether or not the Father would provide for Him nor if the Father loved Him.

Jesus was not driven by people pleasing or the demands of the crowd. Jesus often left people without an explanation. They were offended, yet His agenda was to do the will of His Father.

We see in Jesus holy boldness and godly confidence. He was not arrogant, nor bossy, nor did He try to force His will on others through manipulation or control. The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom (Matthew 20:28).

A secure person can get low and take the lowest place. A secure person can refrain from pushing themselves to the front of the line. A secure person does not need to dominate nor control others. They lead by example and others follow. They inspire and influence in a good way. A secure person has no desire to push others into the dirt. There is zero abuse or mistreatment that flows from a secure person.

How Did We Become So Insecure?

It started in a garden. God created two powerful people to coreign together. Adam and Eve were created to coreign together and have dominion on earth. They were not intended to be competitors, nor for Adam to rule over Eve.

After sin entered God simply stated what would happen, not His desire for what would happen. Because of Eve’s choice, she would seek to please her husband (become a people pleaser) and he would seek to rule over her. Insecurity entered the world through two imperfect humans. One (Eve) would diminish her worth and seek to please. The other would blame her and seek to have dominion over her. Inflated ego and suppressed ego are both rooted in insecurity. When we know our true worth we do not seek to diminish ourselves nor dominate other people. Some of what people call normal male ego is simply insecurity and sin. And female self deprecation is also sin.

When we know who God is, what Jesus paid for, and who we are in Him-insecurity must bow it’s head to the Soveriegn Lord.

People state our world is suffering from a sin crisis. I disagree. Our world, since the fall of mankind, has been suffering from an identity crisis. If we do not pursue intimacy with God, we will not have healthy/godly self worth and esteem nor a healthy identity. Why? We can not know the value, worth, identity, or purpose of something without knowing its Creator.

The frame of reference must be God. The things of this world pass away: beauty can fade, jobs can be lost, spouses can leave, money can be stolen, identity outside God can be confused. In the end, we need something (someone) who is eternal. God is steadfast and eternal.

Every human life came from God and is incomplete without a revelation of God. Yes mankind may attempt life anti God and with the mantra of “I don’t need God,” yet there is a part of us that was created to know Him and thrive out of that relationship.

Insecurity is the root of fear, worry, self hatred, abuse, abusing others, putting others down/mistreatment/bullying, racism, sexism, excessive competition, comparison, people pleasing, not setting proper boundaries, overindulging, promiscuity, using people, lack of love, self loathing, putting yourself down, bad relationships, control, manipulation, unbelief, and so much more!

There is a cure and it comes from God. God’s love smashes shame, insecurity, rejection, and self loathing under the weight of it’s power. God says we were worth dying for on that rugged cross. The love of God comes in like a wrecking ball and demolishes strongholds of fear and uncertainty.

Knowing God intimately builds our confidence because our trust is not ultimately placed in us (flawed human beings); it is placed in God. God is undefeated, unshakable, steadfast, dependable, loving, kind, good, hope filled, and pursues the bests interests of those who love Him.

We are not filthy worms just scurrying along waiting on God to pity us. If we are in Christ, we are a new creation! Our spirit is regenerated. Just like a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. The butterfly does not crawl back into the cocoon and say, “Oh what a wretched worm am I!” No! The butterfly flaps it’s wings and flies. It recognizes it is not who it was.

God invites us to live out of His thoughts and the truest identity in Him. He invites us into a bold and confident life! We were not intended to live as worms.

Is Confidence Pride?

Some say if you like yourself or love yourself then it’s pride. False. God said love your neighbor AS you love yourself. We have too many people who hate or dislike themselves trying to love other people. You cannot give away what you do not possess. Insecurity is actually sin; it is choosing to exalt our opinions of who we are above Gods. It is disagreeing with God who says:

We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139).

God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world (1 Corinthians 7:23).

Made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).

Yet what honor you have given to men,

created only a little lower than Elohim,[d]

crowned like kings and queens[e] with glory and

magnificence.

You have delegated to them

mastery over all you have made,

making everything subservient to their authority,

placing earth itself under the feet of your image-bearers. [f]~Psalm 8:5-6.

d. Psalm 8:5 This is the same Hebrew word used for the Creator-God in Gen. 1:1.

e. Psalm 8:5 The concept of kings and queens is implied in the text by the word crowned.

f. Psalm 8:6 The Septuagint translation of 8:5–7 is quoted in Heb. 2:6-8. Today, all things are not yet under our feet. Even mosquitoes still come to defeat us. But there will be a time of restoration because of Christ’s redemption, when everything will rest beneath our authority. See Isa. 11:6-9; 65:25; Matt. 19:28; Rev. 20:4-6.

The righteous are as bold as lions (Proverbs 28:1). I have yet to see an insecure lion. They do not need to boast of being a lion, nor cower in the corner. They know their strengths. They stand tall (if they are not napping). God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)! It’s time for a healthy group of believers to stand on who God says they are and thrive baby thrive!

Love,

Erin Lamb

P.S Check out Confident & Free! Available on Amazon.com or my store on https://www.empowered-free.com.

Confident & Free Book Released

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I released my second book on 7/7/2018. I would love for you to check it out and leave me some feedback.

I truly believe God longs for us to live empowered lives by His Spirit where we are bold, confident, and free!

You and I were created to live confident, courageous, bold, and with healthy esteem. We were created by love (God), to be loved, then to love! We cannot love our neighbor if we do not love ourselves.

Studies show confidence is a better indicator of success than skill. Godly confidence involves healthy risks, courage, and freedom. Dive into this 30 day devotional aimed at drawing you into the heartbeat of God and building godly confidence.

Confident & Free Kindle and Paperback are available for purchase on Amazon.com! Get your copy today!

Kindle: Purchase the Kindle Version Here!

Paperback: Purchase the Paperback Here!

Warmly,

Erin Lamb

Raise Your Level of Expectations With God!

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God longs to exceed our expectations! Is our dream too small and our expectations too low?

Sometimes God blocks that door, opportunity, friendship, relationship, allows that sabotage, allows the heartbreak, or opportunity to pass by because He has a better idea!! As C.S Lewis so eloquently stated in the Weight of Glory, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

God is in the business of increase and upgrades for those who love Him. Every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). God does exceedingly, abundantly, above ALL we could ask or image.

Sometimes our dream is too small and our expectations too low. The greatest pleasure is found in God. The secondary pleasure is in His custom gifts for us.

As a loving Father, God will allow doors to close where we are mistreated or will not be valued. Sometimes that thing that did not work out was a rescue mission by God. Sometimes that opportunity that did not pan out was protection from drama, trauma, and heartache!

God is always looking out for our best interests even when we can not see it, feel it, or know. He is a loving Father who withholds nothing good from us! Thank God for the no!

One freeing thought God gave me once. He said, “I will never allow someone to overlook you who needs to see you.” Rejection is often His protection. And some will not value you until someone they value acknowledges you; that is an opportunist, not a true friend.

Be blessed today and dream BIGGER with God.

Love,

Erin Lamb

God Loves Family!

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Morning Devotion: Jesus stated His family were those who did the will of His Father. Blood is not thicker than Spirit. Find and invest in a spiritual family. One of the functions of the church is to be a global family and body. There are no outcasts or step children or unwanted children in God’s family.

Jesus’ True Family

While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking for him to come out and speak with them. Then someone said, “Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to have a word with you.” But Jesus just looked at him and said, “Let me introduce you to my true mother and brothers.” Then gesturing to the disciples gathered around him, he said, “Look closely, for this is my true family. When you obey my heavenly Father, that makes you a part of my true family.”~Matthew 12:46-49 the Passion Translation.

Some of my best relationships and substantial support has come from spiritual family. I acquired some spiritual siblings who treat me exceptionally well, some older siblings who invested wisdom and love, and even a few mentors who fathered me (all my focused long term mentors have been male).

I am thankful for spiritual family. Some say blood is thicker than water. I say the Spirit of God is thicker and a stronger bond than blood. Our blood relatives may not even inherit the Kingdom, sad but true. Our blood relatives may share our natural DNA yet that’s it.

We are to love our natural family to the best of our ability, yet our highest priority is to do the will of our heavenly Father. The natural family of Jesus did not always get His agenda. He chose to do the will of the Father over their desires.

Who is My Family?

The people who come along side you, support you (what is godly-not what is ungodly), love you, are loyal to you, and speak truth in love are family. The Godhead is my greatest family, support, and through them I acquired an amazing family that will continue on in eternity. My hope is to also cultivate safe places for others in His Kingdom to have family. I open my home at least one holiday to those without natural family to be loved on, fed, and included. Why? My family reaches beyond those who share my DNA. God’s family became my family when I entered covenant with Jesus.

Jesus had siblings, Mary and Joseph had additional children which would be His half siblings (see the passage at the beginning of this devotion). One of His siblings was named Jacob who wrote the book of James.

One would think growing up with Jesus who did not sin, there would be some form of validation of the diety of Jesus. Yet the natural family of Jesus did not always see who He was nor understand what He was called to do.

When Jesus was younger He stayed behind in the temple and when His parents confronted Him about it, He replied, “Did you not know I would be about My Father’s business?”

After being separated from him for three days, they finally found him in the temple, sitting among the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard Jesus speak were astounded at his intelligent understanding of all that was being discussed and at his wise answers to their questions.

His parents were shocked to find him there, and Mary scolded him, saying, “Son, your father and I have searched for you everywhere! We have been worried sick over not finding you. Why would you do this to us?”

Jesus said to them, “Why would you need to search for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be here in my Father’s house, consumed with him?”

Mary and Joseph didn’t fully understand what Jesus meant,~Luke 2:46-50 the Passion Translation.

We may be called to things by God our friends and natural family do not understand. We may be the black sheep, scapegoat, or outcast in our own natural family. We may be misunderstood, persecuted, ignored, or mistreated by the ones who share our DNA. This is sad, yet there is an eternal family excited to know us. We are never without family if we are in Jesus. We become grafted into a holy family. There is not perfection in the church, yet there is in God. There are some really great people who do love well, who are supportive, who will celebrate the way God created us. God sets us in families and the natural family is not the only one.

If your natural family is not a safe, loving, supportive, or good place-know God has a family for you and it’s His family. If you lost loved ones and have no natural family living, know God has a family for you and it’s His family. If you have a deep longing for community and love, know God has a family and it’s His family. You are not alone nor without family. Someone may just be praying for someone like you. You belong in the greatest, most noble, and royal family.

And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus,~Ephesians 3:6.

You have all become true children of God by the faith of Jesus the Anointed One! It was faith that immersed you into Jesus, the Anointed One, and now you are covered and clothed with his anointing. And we no longer see each other in our former state—Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female—because we’re all one through our union with Jesus Christ with no distinction between us,~Galatians 3:26-28 the Passion Translation.

If you do not have a spiritual family, ask God for one. God loves to set up family. Family is more than a spouse and kids. Family is a committed group of people who choose love over and over and over. It is a committment to love. God wants us in a community where we are valued, cared for, celebrated, honored, supported (what is godly is supported), and treated with respect/dignity. God will answer our prayers to be connected to a healthy, thriving tribe.

Papa God I ask for true family for everyone who reads this. I ask that your Holy Spirit wash over each person and fill any voids from natural family. I ask for divine appointments to find their tribe and may it be a safe place, loving place, healing place, and full of your goodness. I ask God for every person to have connections where they are genuinely loved. Set up the divine appointments for godly family. Help each one to invest in those families and thrive! Heal any wounds created by natural families and heal any grief from lost families. In Jesus powerful name.

Love in Christ,

Erin Lamb

P.S Book 2 Confident & Free will be released this month 7/7/2018. I hope you pick it up on Amazon or my company website https://www.empowered-free.com.