Category: From the Author

God Partners with Ordinary People (Morning Devotion)

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Morning Devotion: God partners with ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Man judges by his natural eyes; God sees with His Spirit. Everyone rejected by man is not rejected by God. 

One of my favorite quotes from Kathryn Kuhlman is, “God is not looking for golden vessels or silver vessels, He is looking for yielded (willing-surrendered) vessels.” 

The true power is not in the person. It is in God. 

Jesus demonstrated what flows out of a person fully yielded to the Father. He demonstrated total surrender. He stated very plainly, “I only do what I see the Father doing and say what I hear Him saying.” 

We witness through Jesus the power of abiding and surrender. Intimacy with God produces GOOD fruit. Our strength lies not in our intellect, human wisdom, gifts, titles, accolades of man, or talents. Our strength lies in intimacy with God. Out of abiding flows abundant good fruit (John 15:4-5). 

David was overlooked by his natural father. No one was looking for him. Yet God knew He placed inside of David the heart of a King, a warrior, and a man who understood worship. David would have appeared to his peers as ordinary. Yet God anointed him to be extraordinary and do extraordinary things. 

What is rejected by man is not rejected by God. 

There are many other men and women who were outcasts or overlooked by man and elevated and promoted by God. God isn’t looking for the opinions of people to do His will. He does not function in a democracy. When God chose Apostle Paul, he was first Saul-murderer of Christians. He was disliked and feared. God knew who He created Paul to be. It was not truly about Paul, it was about the power of God and spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles. God often displays His love and power through weak and broken people. Why? It’s not ultimately about us, it’s about God. 

How many times in life have we discounted ourselves or someone else because of the outside package, weaknesses, past experiences, lack of titles, no one else seems to vouch for the person, lack of celebrity, brokenness or imperfections, or lack of star appeal? It is imperative no one is discarded or treated as though they have no value. A diamond in the rough looks like a simple rock. It is a rock worth millions. God does not create junk. Every person has tremendous value. 

It also will hopefully prevent us from worshipping people and turn our faces to worshipping God. God is the One who anoints, appoints, promotes, demotes, gives wisdom, insight, and glorious displays of love and power. God alone we worship. We fix our eyes on God. “God You are invited to do what only You can do.” 

It is not about what we can do or what another person is anointed to do. We will never be qualified enough on our own to do all God called us to do. Why? God is so much bigger than our dreams or limitations. He is GOD. It’s about Him. It’s His story for His glory. His super invades our natural. 

God partners with ordinary people to do extraordinary things so the world can see His outstanding love. It’s not about ego for God. He is after connection, relationship, and intimacy. He proclaims to humanity, “Let Me show You My great love.” He partners with ordinary, imperfect people to bless the world! 

My encouragement is look up to God, connect with His heart, and know God is SO much bigger than any brokenness, pain, limitation, barrier, colored past, lack, or man made qualifications. Man judges with the natural eyes and God looks at the heart. Is God vouching for you? If so, no man on earth can stop Him. The goal is connection with God. 

God is outstanding and He is seeking willing vessels. Is that you? Is that person you think is not good enough or qualified? God uses the small, overlooked vessels to display His awesome love and power.

The miracle is not in who we are or what we have. The miracle is rooted in who God is. It is not about what mankind can do. It’s about what God can do through mankind. 

May the limitations be taken off God and the worship of the titles or people He partners with to bless the world. All eyes on God. He is outstanding!! 

Is the Church Helping or Hurting the Spread of the Gospel? 

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Sweet friends, I am going to dig into some issues tonight because I want us to think about them, pray about them, and examine the question, “Are we representing God (Yahweh), the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, or trying to bully the world into thinking our way? Do we only love some people or everyone?”
Addressing the spirit of religion…

Sometimes the “Christian” way of thinking is not God at all. It is the spirit of religion which is oppressive, demeaning to women, hateful to those who are different or do not agree, full of control, legalism, pride, bullying, self righteousness, and manipulation. It is more concerned about being “right in it’s own eyes,” than loving thy neighbor. It’s void of agape love (unconditional, sacrificial, unselfish love). It is void of Jesus. It is antichrist. It is brutal. If you stand against the spirit of religion, or the idols behind it you may receive a tongue lashing or beating. 

If you do not live in America or do not know Jesus, please do not use the American church as the standard for what God is like. Look to Jesus. He perfectly represents the Father. Please open your bible and examine Jesus. He is still working on His Church so she loves like Him and follows Him. God loves you. 

Please do not allow the behavior of some unloving/misbehaving “Christians” to run you away from God. There are some incredible people who love Jesus and represent Him well in the western church, there is still room for improvement in the body of Christ overall. We are growing in maturity, hopefully. 🙂 

The aftermath of Election 2016…

Some of the evangelical church and charismatic church seemed to back one candidate and demonize the other and anyone who did not agree. It was okay to hurl insults, slander, gossip, dishonor, break friendships, verbally lash people, have a nasty attitude, and act like a crazy person all in the name of God. 

I want you to know God is not a manipulator or control freak. God is also not rude or spiteful. He is not the author of confusion or a lunatic. 

I have yet to see God try to guilt or bully me into doing something. He comes in love then allows me to choose. The devil is pushy, controlling, manipulative, arrogant, selfish, and gets very angry when he does not get his way. There were people who told me, “You need to vote for this person because this person had a prophesy. If you vote for that person, well you are going to hell.” No, I test all prophecies, and I need to pray and seek the Lord for myself. 

I am not a part of group think. I am following Jesus. People are not God. If we truly trusted God, bullying and manipulation would not be needed. Also regardless of the candidates positions, we are called to imitate Jesus. The nastiness that has been spewed out by some believers has been just as bad as the world. We are called to be salt and light. 

God is not a bully… 

We see in the Garden of Eden God gave Adam and Eve a choice. He told Adam not to eat from the tree of good and evil, yet Adam and Eve could still choose evil. 

I have been floored by the lack of God love from some believers during and after this election. I even went to God, “How do you feel about women, brown/yellow/dark brown people, foreigners…because some of Your children make it seem as though You only love some people. Please help me to understand. Please help.” My entire life I was taught God loves everyone. This election, some of the church sent the message, “God loves certain people. If you agree with us then He loves you. If you don’t, then you are not loved.” My views are attatched to the Gospel, to Jesus. Yet I did not feel the need to demonize anyone. Neither candidate stood as Jesus, nor represented fully His heart for the world in my opinion. And it’s not just over political views. This election brought out the inner bigot/racist in some people. What was hidden under praise the Lord surfaced in, “Those people.” 

I am being quite sincere in sharing my thoughts. At first I thought internally, “Do not put your thoughts out there.” It has gotten me pretty beat up by Christians in the past. Then I thought, ” Let them beat me because someone needs to say it loudly, ‘Refusing to love is sin. If you hate anyone, you can not claim to love God (1 John 4:8).’” Withholding love and apathy is a form of hatred. If we can watch another suffer and say, “That’s not my problem,” our love tank is running low or empty. Jesus loves everyone. If we lack love or compassion, we can not put that on God. 

You may be thinking, “How could you think this way, America just had 8 years under Obama. Hidden Figures is bringing in the money at the box office. Women are empowered. A woman ran for President. We are all one big happy family.”  I can say this as someone who walks around with tan/light brown skin and as a female; racism and sexism are still a problem in the world and it is still an issue in the global church. Not just racism or sexism, but the lack of love or honor for anyone who votes differently or has a varying opinion. If you do not believe me, scroll through some Facebook or Social Media or even church tv programs, look at the comments. I dare you to disagree with someone on an issue. 

“Let me take out my bible and slap you senseless with it. I bet you feel stupid now.” And the Christian who proved to the internet or world how much Bible they know, just wounded a bunch of people and made God look like a unloving bully. Not sure how that makes people want to know Jesus, but it happens. I have encountered it over and over. 

I have athiest and agnostic associates who were driven away from God and the church by an unloving church and unloving Christians. I have had seasons in my own life where I have said,”God I love You, yet some of Your children are so very mean or unloving. Can I please have a pass not to fellowship today?”

Hateful, unloving, apathetic Christians affect the spreading of the Gospel. The “I am saved. I can treat people how I want. You can’t judge me, there’s no condemnation for me,” is impacting the lost. Why seek a God with followers who are hateful and unloving when you can find some acceptance in the world? 

God is love…

Are we loving the world? Are we drawing people to Christ by our actions or repelling them? 

I have heard people say, “I have not seen any issues,” so that means the issue does not exist. Well, sweet friends, America and the entire world has a long way to go to represent Jesus as He is. I am sure He is not enjoying the fighting, offense, slander, judging, racism, sexism, I hate liberals, gossip, self righteousness, I’ve had enough of “those” people, beating people with the bible, lack of love, celebrating the suffering of another person, etc…He said very plainly, “As I have loved you, love one another. The world will know My disciples by their love. Love your enemies.” 

Jesus did not say you will know My followers by their opinions or political views, or their denomination or country of origin, or their skin color, nor by their church attendance or tithing. You can go to church and still go to hell. 

A country and world in need of an agape love revolution…

This election brought out the boil on the bottom of America we refused to acknowledge. We have some deep spiritual problems that need addressed in the church. While pointing a finger at the world, we have three pointed back at us. Do we know Jesus? We need Jesus. Are we representing Jesus?  We have some idols that need cast down. Some of them being politics, politicians, self, patriotism, and church leaders. Loving people and sharing the Gospel is far more important than who they voted for. 

We have some heart issues that need healed and mended. There is no amount of legislation that can fix heart issues. We need Jesus. There is still a void of agape love from the church for the world. There is still a void of receiving God’s love. We can only give away the love we have received. 

Ditching those people need Jesus…we all need Jesus. 

“Oh those people, they just need Jesus!” We all need Jesus. Did you (we) love “those” people? “Well ‘those’ people are hurting our country or they are reprobate.” Are we sinless? Did we perfectly represent Jesus today? If not, we can put down our bible billy club and thank the good Lord for mercy. 

Not sure why, yet sometimes being saved leads to abounding self righteousness and pride. It is “us” vs. “them”. Do we forget no person was born saved? Do we (the global church) care about the spreading of the Gospel and loving our neighbor or just promoting our ideals and political agenda?

America the Melting Pot…

 “Those people need to go back to their country.” Well, America had inhabitants before European settlers arrived here. They were Natives, Mexicans, and some Africans. Some of my ancestors were on this land before it was “discovered.” 

America is a melting pot of immigrants. If you are not Native, slamming other ethnic groups and telling them they do not belong is childish. I believe in due process of citizenship, yet many ethnic groups including Europeans migrated to America. So if everyone has to go back to their country that leaves some Natives, some Mexicans, and a few Africans to stay. 

Are we loving the ones God sends…

“Please come to our church, pay tithes, serve, and if you get out of line we are going to beat you senseless with the Bible and withhold love. Oh, and you need to think like us and vote like us or you’re going to hell.” Sounds harsh right. Yet I have seen it. I have experienced some of my worst verbal assaults, betrayals, heartaches from “Christians.” Singing and clapping on Sunday, cussing me out or talking crazy on Monday. On a positive note,  I thank God for the loving Christians there are in the world and this country. I pray we all have deep encounters with God’s love. May the global church be known by the agape love of God. 

Ditch us vs them…

In our world there are so many categories of them. Do we care about “them” or is it, “That’s their problem. Give me my Starbucks and leave me alone. I will pray for ‘them.’“Yet that is not the love Jesus showed the world. He did not say to the Father, “Forget them. They sinned. That’s their problem.” Jesus died for all even the most wicked of sinners. There was no “them” to be left behind or cast aside or ignored. What if God treated us the way we treat the world?

Is the church ignoring or mistreating the very people Jesus came to die for? How would Jesus treat “them”. 

I prefer we are all one race of people, human. Men and women have equal value to God. The foreigner and the native born are uniquely and passionately loved.

I stand with Jesus! 

God SO loved the world…

It is not enough for the church to love the unborn. We need to love the person right in front of us. We need to love the Native, the African, the Mexican, the South American, the Canadian, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Middle Easterner, the Indian, the Greek, the Norwegian, the Russian, the Australian, the British, the whole world! 

It is not God bless America and no place else! It is God bless the world! The entire world!! 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is everyone but Jesus has sinned and is in need of a Savior. Jesus gave His life for ALL. Repent (change your mind about sin), confess your sins to God, believe Jesus is the Son of God, ask Him to be Lord of your life. Do not stop there, follow Jesus! Do what you see Him doing. He loved the least, last, lost! 

God loves the whole world! 

May born again believers not only know the Gospel, but abide in Jesus to live the Gospel. Jesus loves the world! John 3:16. The lost need to see Jesus in us the hope of glory. 

Bless you, 

Erin Lamb 

God Created One Race, Human 

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Morning Devotion: God created one race, human. Cleansing from the sin of racism. 

In Genesis it does not say, “Then God created asian people, latino people, jewish people, native people, white people, and black people.” It said God created Adam and Eve. We humans came up with different races of people. God created one human race that has different expressions of His beauty and creativity. 

It amuses me how people cling to labels that were created to promote division and racism. Part of the US census was to keep “white” people from mingling with anyone with brown DNA. Brown DNA, especially African DNA is dominant. 

All of life began on the continent of Africa. Science has proven African is the oldest DNA. If you combine African, Asian, Native, etc…DNA with non brown DNA it is prone to be dominant. There was also a belief that those with brown skin were inferior and their culture was a threat to all things “white”. 

Boxes and labels were created to keep people segregated due to fear, pride, insecurity, and in many cases greed. If you want someone’s land or to exploit them, to ease your conscious you make them less than you. If your neighbor is not human, or an inferior human it does not feel as bad to kill them, rape them, steal their land, or abuse/enslave them. 

The Jews thrown in concentration camps were not considered human. The Africans enslaved were not human, or less than. The Natives raped, killed, and forced off their land were considered savages. The other brown people groups bombed, killed were considered less than. 

The point I am trying to make is racism is sin. It is a sin that greatly grieves the heart of God. It is void of agape love, God love. Those who do not love, do not know God because God is love (1 John 4:8). 

God created one race of people, humans. The labels we cling to were created by humans to promote division. White people are not really white (void of all pigment). White is a crayon color; It is not a people group. Africans can have pink/pale children with blond hair and blue eyes. Black is a crayon color, it does not encompass all the different ethnic groups that emerged from the continent (Africa is not a country, it is a continent) of Africa. There are people all over the world with brown to dark brown skin. 

The pride people take in things that have zero relevance to God astounds me. He sees people He loves. He’s not in heaven taking a census, “Oh wait, did you check the box latino for this one. Great. I need to make sure heaven is diverse, we meet our quota.” 

Father God is not like us, our ethnic group of choice. He is Spirit. Those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. He is not our preferred ethnic group. He also created both male and female in His image. Every human being was God’s idea. God is not like an earthly male. Females were made in His image as well. I will touch on gender and sexism in a different post. 

When He sent His Son He sent Him through the lineage of the Jews; He made a covenant with Abraham. The Jews in the times of Jesus were olive skinned to brown/dark brown, had wool like/curly hair. Jesus would not be welcome today in many churches that claim Him. He would not be considered European or “white”. The portraits of Jesus with blond hair and blue eyes are artists reflections. Some of the earliest paintings of Him and Mary they were both brown. 

My prayer is we examine the labels we cling to. We examine how humanity birthed racism out of sin. The root being insecurity and pride, “Someone must be inferior to feel superior.” 

Racism is also a fruit of fractured identity and a soul void of God love. When we know our value in the eyes of God we can love and appreciate others. There are no inferior people groups in God’s eyes. We humans came up with putting others down to feel good about ourselves. 

Lord forgive us for the sins of insecurity, pride, and racism. You created one race, human. You love every single person on this planet. Oh how you love us. Help us to strip off labels given by man and be clothed in the labels given by You. Help us to view others from Your perspective. Help us to receive Your love and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Break the bondages of pride, insecurity, and fractured identity off our country and world. Heal fractured identities and souls. The world needs Your agape love. Come Lord Jesus! Eradicate the deep roots of fear, insecurity, pride, racism, and sexism in our world. Please forgive our country and our world for our sins. Cleanse us of our iniquity. Heal our land. Let heaven come here. In Jesus powerful name. Amen.

Why Love? (Listening to Papa God)

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Morning Devotion: Why Love? 

When I first started blogging/writing about the love of God it upset some people online. I have had people I care for deeply offline say, “The problem is not God, it’s people. People need to hear about the wrath and severity of God. They need to repent.” 

There is a severity to God, repentance is required and needed. I do not negate the holiness of God. No one comes to the Father except through the Son. He is not a cuddly, mushy, people pleaser. He is a Consuming Fire. He is also 100% agape love. Our view of love is sometimes different from His. Everything God does is motivated by love, even correction. 

I talked to God; He is the One who inspired me to write about His love. This was His reply. 

“Many of My children know of Me, they do not know Me. They know of My love, what was taught to them, yet so many lack reception of My love and true understanding of My heart and character. They have created Me in their own image. Love has not been received or it has been perverted. One can only give away the love that has been received. One can only represent who and what they know. 

My heart greatly desires for My children to know Me. Everything I do is motivated by love, even the things they can not see or understand. I love them. Oh how I love them. Once they know My heart, the words written on the pages of their bibles will come alive in a new way. They will have more confidence. They will walk in My Son’s authority with love, grace, mercy, and power. They will live and love above their circumstances. They will not worry or fear, knowing that I love them. Oh how I love them. 

The world is suffering from a love deficit. The deficit is not because I do not love the world. The deficit is because the world has not fully received all My Son paid for on the cross. He paid for abundant life. 

Abide in My love. Demonstrate My love. Teach and model My love. My love is a love that is both pure and holy. My love does not enable sin or wink at unrighteousness. My love stands to empower righteousness, justice, and purity. 

I want My children, the whole world, to know what My love is and then give that love away. My love is a love that is concerned about the outcasts, poor, widows, orphans, invisible people, and downtrodden in society. 

I love the ENTIRE world, not simply one country, people group, or ethnic group. There is no bias or preferential treatment in My love. I love them all. I created one race of people, My people. My Son gave His life so any person could be redeemed through relationship with Him. He came to save the entire world. I love every tribe, every nation. I love both male and female. All have 100% of My love. 

My love is not divided up into portions. It is given out in whole pieces. It is possible because I AM. I am the all sufficient One. I can give all of Me to each one and never be depleted. They do not have to compete for My love, receive My love. Believe. Receive! 

How I long to see creation redeemed and living/loving from their renewed estate. My Son paid for restoration and redemption so each person who follows Him can stand in their heavenly identity. Love, My love, is the most powerful force in the Universe. They desperately need to know in their hearts, My unfailing love.” 

So…love it is. I have met people who have been Christians longer than I have been alive who do not know nor recognize God’s love. They know scripture. They know how to go to church and pay tithes and serve. They do not know the unfailing, uncompromising love of God. Therefore, they can not give agape to anyone else. 

Agape is God love; unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial love. We can only give what has first been received and release what we carry. I am still learning His love. My heart cries out, “More Lord. Deeper intimacy with You!” 

Papa God, anything hindering reception of Your love, I ask it is removed. Any views of You tainted by experiences with Christians, parents, or the spirit of religion I ask it be bound, healed, and removed. Help us to know You intimately. You are love. Redefine love from Your perspective, from Your vantage point, from Your heart. God may we know the height, depth, width, and vast expanse of Your great love! Thank You for loving us. In Jesus mighty name, amen.

Encouraging Words for 2017! 

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Happy New Year Beautiful People! I know it’s later in the day, yet wanted to share some hopefully encouraging words for 2017! You are so deeply loved! 

Behold I do a new thing! 

Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already – you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there,~Isaiah 43:19.

I love listening to God’s heart about new seasons. The Jewish New Year began in Autumn of 2016. We entered 5777. Now we are crossing over into 2017. 

Thank You God for another year. Thank You for seeing us through it all. For those who faced so many challenges or loss in 2016, I ask for a breathing of new life. I ask for healing, comfort, wisdom, fresh perspective, restoration, and expectation for even GREATER awareness of Your goodness in 2017. 

These are some notes from time with God. Certainly pray over them, ask God for confirmation, and test the words typed here. 

Expectation. Raise the bar on what you are expecting from God:

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen,~Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV). 

Faith is the currency of heaven. I see the Lord moving even moreso in mountains being cast in the sea, parting of Red Seas, strategically moving people into places of greater territory for His glory. There will be more reports of miracles and creative miracles. No man or woman will be able to glory. He will get the glory due Him. 

Those who have been contending for a long time, I see them being renewed in the realm of their faith. As they stand in a place of GREATER expectation, God is moving towards them with answers. My encouragement is to speak life even to the dead places, dry places, and difficult places. 

New Eyes to See: 

There will be greater understanding and revelation for the spiritually hungry. Jesus is the way, truth, and life. Those who seek Him will experience greater heavenly perspective, more profound understanding of His word, and they will see with His purified vision. 

New Mantles: 

Mantles (anointing/ability in the Holy Spirit) will be placed on those who have stated they are not qualified or equipped. I see those saying, “This isn’t my gifting or calling,” being blessed by God, commissioned by God, and sent just as He sent Moses (Exodus 3). 

Many will sense new passions and desires they had not before. There will be a launching into new territory and uncharted waters. He will speak His assignment and confirm His calling. So there is no need to worry about, “Is this for me?” 

Those who have felt disqualified or as though there is no hope to be a partner with God will have refreshing of their minds to see all that Jesus paid for on the cross. The old man was crucified on the cross. The new has come. God is the Qualifier. 

Lost Coins Found/Season of Restoration: 

Prodigals are being pursued by the Holy Spirit and called by name. I see the Holy Spirit hovering and moving around them. Do not stop praying for your lost loved ones. Even if they seem to reject you or God, keep declaring His life giving words over them. 

“So I will restore to you the years that the 

swarming locust has eaten,

The crawling locust,

The consuming locust,

And the chewing locust,

My great army which I sent among you.

You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,

And praise the name of the Lord your God,

Who has dealt wondrously with you;

And My people shall never be put to shame.

Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:

I am the Lord your God

And there is no other.

My people shall never be put to shame,”~Joel 2:25-27. 

I see Jesus walking through devastated fields and crops. They have been damaged. Yet with one move of His hand over the fields the dead crops come to life. I hear the words, “I will restore what the locusts have eaten. I will shift the season.” 

Unleashing the Lions and Lionessess: 

…God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,~2 Timothy 1:7. 

This will be a season for many of the timid to rise up out of the ashes and into their destiny with Jesus. Some have been beat up by rejection or persecution. Some have been battling a spirit of fear. I see the Lord releasing His Spirit of truth to break lies of agreement with the enemy. Those individuals need to renounce their agreement with the spirit of fear and timidity. As they do, they move beyond self focus and their eyes are planted on Jesus, the Deliverer. They go from cowering to roaring!

Deeper Revelation of the Love and Power of Jesus: 

God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,~John 3:16. 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another,~John 13:34-35. 

There will be a rise in reception and demonstrations of God’s love and power on the earth. There will be such a heart transplant to love the unloveable and walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh. 

Those who are hungry and desperate for God will be filled (Matthew 5:6). 

Many in the Body of Christ will begin to move beyond bench dwelling at weekend services to partnership with God for the least, last, and lost outside the worship service gatherings. The great commission will take on greater meaning, it’s not for certain people-it is for every believer. 

Freedom from Affliction/Torment: 

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him,~Acts 20:38 (NASB)

There are so many people tormented and afflicted by spirits that are not the Holy Spirit. I see the Lord pulling people out of ashes, unlocking spiritual cages, and healing even more tormented souls. Deliverance will become a more important part of ministries. 

Appearing Before the Bride: 

I have continued to hear Jesus talk of cleaning, purifying, and preparing His true Bride. During this season I see the Lord appearing before His Bride and asking her to exchange her idols and view Him as He is. He is appearing in such love and grace. He is restoring true worship. 

Programs of man will be interrupted by the flow of the Holy Spirit. People will encounter God, not the god made in man’s image. 

The Bride will rise and reflect Him in better ways as her intimacy with Him increases. The world will see a Bride more similar to her groom. I see Him lifting the Bride in His arms and loving her to greater life. 

Community/Unity/Families: 

There has been such a spirit of division, offense, and misunderstanding unleashed on people. I see the Lord bringing people together across the racial divide, the political divide, the relational divide, denominational divide, and knitting things together that build His Kingdom. 

Misunderstandings will be cleared up and some key bridges built. 

Glory on Earth:

I could see the earth in the hands of God, there was darkness, yet with His breath the darkness was pushed back and the glory of the Lord covered the earth. 

May this upcoming year be flooded with glory, unity, freedom, breakthrough, and profound encounters with Jesus! God is good and He will have the last say.

The Greatest Gift (Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah) 

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On this glorious Sunday morning, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah. 

Though scholars have estimated Jesus was most likely born in Autumn, it is still wonderful to celebrate His birth. 

What a life! If I were to name one hero who walked this earth, it would be Jesus. 

Love came down to a world filled with chaos and sin. He left paradise for a sinful, broken world. He did not come as a fully grown man. He humbled Himself to enter the world as we do, as a baby. 

He grew, learned to navigate through our world with the limitations of being human. 

He did not remain a baby, He grew to be a man of wisdom, and authority. Jesus demonstrated what one person fully yielded to God the Father could accomplish. 

The same Jesus who was before the foundations of the earth, took on flesh, dwelt among us, and eventually took on our sins on a rugged cross. 

He did not give His life for the innocent. He gave His life for the guilty. 

You and I were enemies of God. Yet He chose to pay a price we could not pay. 

What a gift! What a Savior!!

This is a time of year where people spend time buying gifts or giving gifts. I can think of no better gift than God. The Father gave His Son. The Son gave His life. All so you and I could have everlasting life. He is the gift that keeps on giving. 

We have been given through the Son: 

  • Access to God the Father. No longer must be perform cleansing rituals to be in His presence. 
  • Forgiveness of Sins and New Life. There is nothing we can do to make ourselves righteous before God. So He, through our repentance and faith, gives us His Righteousness. 
  • Our Names Written in the Lambs Book of Life. Those in Christ have a destiny sealed in eternity, with God (Revelation 21:27).
  • Every Spiritual Blessing in the Heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Read Ephesians 1:3. 
  • Relationship with God. The greatest gift of all. 
  • And So Much More! 

Today and every day may you and I give thanks for the greatest gift to ever be given to our world. May we not only celebrate family and friendships, and enjoy the passing of gifts to one another, may we celebrate the greatest gift of all; God. 

He has blessed the world with so many miracles, too many to count. He has provided for His people. He has done great wonders. He has been the greatest gift throughout the centuries. God is the gift that will never grow old nor decay. It is His sustaining life that awakened us today! 

From my home to yours I bless you! May you feel the warmth of God’s incredible embrace and reflect on all He is and all He has done for you. 

Warm Wishes and Great Love, 

Erin Lamb 

God Wants to Connect with You (Devotion) 

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Morning Reflection: He is an everyday kind of love. Grow in intimacy with God. 

I love gathering with other believers to celebrate Jesus and love the Body of Christ. Yet following Jesus is more than going to a building on the weekend. 

Following Jesus is being with God Monday through Sunday, chatting with Him daily, communion with God, intimacy with God, hearing His heartbeat, responding to His incredible love. It is a habitation not a visitation, immersion in His glory, partnership with God, being a conduit of His love and power in a dark world. 

The Gospel is not a me centered story or a church centered story. It is God’s story. He is the Author, Finisher of our faith. Jesus is central in the Gospel. 

Following Jesus moves far beyond activity into profound intimacy (knowing God, being with God, and being known by God). Activity will never surpass friendship and sonship. God is after heart, why we do what we do. He is more interested in connection and relationship than our busyness to try to please Him. 

Being with God is far more important than doing for God. Being leads to doing with the proper motive and the grace to accomplish the activity. 

Being with God is not about laziness or passivity. It is about love. Love seeks to give. We surrender all of who we are to all of who He is. He does the same. Can we simply sit for a moment each day and love the One who loves us most? 

If we are driven by activity instead of intimacy and abiding with God, our source is flesh. Only what flows through His Spirit is pure. Apart from God there is not abundant good fruit (John 15:4-5). May you and I continually invest in knowing God for who He is and not the God made in our own image. May we pursue Him for who He is, not for what He has to offer. May we surrender and worship because He is worthy, not so He can bless us. God is good. He is worthy of it all. 

In every season may we dive deeper into God’s love, and get to know Him. 

God bless you! You are SOooooo deeply loved.

Love in Christ, 

Erin Lamb 

I See You Poem-Love Letter from Papa God (Book Excerpt) 

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I have not posted anything from the book lately, so I thought it might be time. In a busy world one may feel invisible or that God’s love is a blanket love. Both are false. God sees you. He loves you. He cares about every detail of your life. He also loves each of us as if there were only one of us. His heart cries out, “I see you. I know you. I love you. I will always love you.” 

I See You

Written by Erin Lamb (Copyright 2011)
Original pen date July 29, 2010

“A Love Letter from Abba.”

I see you,

when the walls have closed in,

the winds have raged too long,

and your heart is tattered and worn.

I see you

in your moments of desperation,

when all else has failed you

and your heart says, “I just can’t 

take it anymore.”

I see you,

when your tears are so great

they have drowned out faith

and left their stains on your face.

I see you,

when you feel isolated and alone.

I see you,

when the doors have slammed

and you don’t know where to turn.

I see you,

when others seem to look away.

I see your distress

and your shattered dreams.

I see the aches and the distress

that you carry from day-to-day.

I see you.

I know you.

I am near to you.

I see you.

I love you,

and I can heal your every pain.

I see you.

I desire you to know;

My love can fill every vacant area in 

your heart.

I have been here to love you from 

the start.

I see you;

the things inside you

that even you can’t see.

My love pierces into the depths of 

where you need mended,

your heart tended,

and the places where the healing 

needs to take place.

I see you,

and only I can make you fulfilled in 

Me.

There is no other love that will take 

you to the highest heights,

so you overflow

and continue to spill over with love, 

joy, and peace.

The sincere desire of My heart is for 

you to know

that I will never let you go.

My love for you will not fail.

My love for you will not end.

My love for you is here for the 

taking.

So when your heart aches,

look up and notice My arms 

reaching for you.

I am here waiting to hold you in an 

affectionate embrace.

I see you,

and I love you.

I will love you, always.

Copyright © 2011 Erin Lamb. Excerpt from, “I Thought I Knew What Love Was.”

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

To read more…Books are available via: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com http://www.amazon.com

You are so deeply loved! 

Erin 

Oneness, Intimacy, and Covenant (Sunday Devotion)

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Sunday Morning Devotion: God is the Source we are the conduits. Let’s talk about oneness with God, intimacy, and marriage (oneness with another). 

If you want me to talk your ear off, ask about intimacy with God. It is my greatest pursuit; I ask Him questions/ search His Word for greater revelation. I am still learning and on this journey with Him. I hope you join me. I hope this post blesses you. 

God invites each person into personal relationship with Him. The invitation is personal, it is a 24/7 lifetime covenant relationship. It is the strongest covenant (commitment) a person can enter into (see Hebrews 8-9 for the new covenant info). 

God does not come simply for weekend visitations. He comes for a habitation-an indwelling of His Spirit. He comes to take up residence. He knocks on the door of our hearts saying, “I want to live here with you, abide in you, and you in Me.” He wants to be one with us. 

How on earth is God one with us? What is this oneness? Well, let’s start off talking about what it is not.

1. We Do Not Become the Other Person

Marriage is a good example of this. Husband and wife are to become one. This does not mean they become the other person (though some twist (pervert) it that way). They do not become conjoined twins who can not function without the other. They do not share a brain or body parts. They are still two individuals with their own likes, brains, dislikes, free wills, and personalities. God is not asking them to morph into the same person. 

God unites two people so they can agape love (unconditional, sacrificial, unselfish love), have a higher level of intimacy (knowing and being known), and so the blessings of each one can flow into the other. They connect deeply and like a conduit there is a flow back and forth. It is intended for mutual blessing, love. 

Spiritually and in the soul they connect through covenant and physical intimacy on a level that goes beyond just friends. Their bodies, souls, and spirits connect. Hence sex being so powerful. You are saying, “Whatever is in your soul or spirit, I invite it into me. Let’s be one, joined together.” 

In the spirit and soul realm, husband and wife are connected (This happens with all other sexual relationships too (1 Corinthians 6:16)). They are not the same person. That’s why when spouses die, or cheat, or are involved in pornography/immorality…one spouse may feel it. 

In death or divorce/breakup spouses may feel a part of them died. Why? They were connected and in covenant. Yet they are not the same person. If that were so, if one died they both would need to die. If one sinned, they would both be guilty. Yet we know this to be untrue. Each individual will give account for their individual life to God (Romans 14:12). 

God enters our lives through an eternal covenant. We repent and receive through faith in His Son Jesus. For born again believers the objective is for the Holy Spirit to take up residence in us (2 Timothy 1:14, Romans 8:11). If we do not have His Spirit, we do not belong to God (Romans 8:9). He is our seal, guarantee of what is to come (2 Corinthians 1:22). 

The Spirit of God (Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost) is connected to the Son, and the Father. They are one. Yet the Father is not the Son, the Son is not Holy Spirit. They are the Godhead manifested in unique, yet connected forms. 

So being one with God does not make us God. God does not become us. He comes in covenant with agape love, gifts, and the blessings of God flow in and through us. We also gain the highest form of intimacy-knowing God and being known by Him. He is the only One who will know everything about us. Through covenant we become the truest and best versions of ourselves. The love He gives, we give it back to Him. 

2. We Do Not Possess Unlimited Authority 

I am one with God, through Jesus. I am not Jesus. I am not Father God. I am not Holy Spirit. Even Jesus said, “I only do what I see the Father doing and say what I hear Him speaking (John 5:19).” 

It is dangerous to try to use authority that has not been given. Authority comes from the top down. God alone has ultimate authority. Even with ultimate authority He works within the framework He created to allow humans to choose. This means control, manipulation, and abuse of authority are a no go. Being one with God does not give us ultimate authority over everything and everyone. We are not demi gods. We do not have ultimate authority over everything or everyone. 

3. We Are Not Equal to God 

We are made in the image of God. We are His workmanship created for His glory. We are, if we are in Christ, raised up and seated with Him in heavenly places. We become joint heirs with Jesus. We do not become equal to God. God reaches down low to raise us up. He does not remove Himself from His throne and place us there. 

As Pastor TD Jakes says, “If God is on the throne, my flesh is on the cross. If I am on the throne, I am trying to put Jesus back on the cross.” 

We are not equal to God. We are children of God. He chooses to adopt us and work through us. He will always be God, the Great I AM, the Creator. 

Nothing God created is equal to His majesty. He values us tremendously, yet does not surrender His throne to us. Why? He is God. He also knows anything and anyone we worship other than Him brings bondage and is fueled by pride. Look what happened to Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-17). God alone is 100% good. 

This is important in the picture of marriage too. God gave earthly marriage as a picture, not for the picture to replace Him or reality. What do I mean? Jesus is God. God alone is to be worshipped. 

Husbands are not God; they are not to be worshipped. They are to be respected and loved just like wives are to be respected and loved. The Church is to worship God. The wife is to worship God. He said, “Have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:3).”

Husbands are to imitate Jesus in their sacrificial, unconditional, unselfish love for their wives. Part of Christ being the Head of the Church is He is the Chief Cornerstone, providing the most support and He sacrificed the most even to the laying down His life. Wives are to respond to that love and support with agape love, respect, and a willingness to yield to what honors God. Husbands too are to be willing to yield (Ephesians 5:21). All believers are to be willing to yield (submit)-same verse Ephesians 5:21. 

Both husband and wife are to yield to God, then each other. Neither is to become God for the other person. If that were so, God would have said, “You must worship two Gods-Me and your spouse.” He did not give us God alternatives. Our primary allegiance is to always first be to God. 

If a spouse tells us to do something that violates our relationship with God or is immoral or illegal, we are to forsake yielding to them and yield to God. Spouses are also to point each other to God. So going along with abuse or what is sinful or wrong is unGodly. 

Husbands who use their position in the family to abuse, hurt, control, manipulate, dominate, or mistreat their wives and/or children will be held accountable to God. 

Jesus told the disciples, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom (Matthew 20:28).” 

God views authority as a vehicle to protect from the attacks of the enemy, empower others, sacrificially and unselfishly love, honor, and serve. 

Jesus is the perfect model for leadership, authority, a disciple, a yielded (submitted) One. Jesus is the perfect model of a pastor or man or human or husband or leader. 

The one given the highest authority has been given the greatest capacity for sacrifice and is to abide in God to agape love. The highest calling isn’t boss or dictator-those are anti God leadership models for humans. The highest calling is agape (unconditional, sacrificial, unselfish, laid down love) and being a servant. 

Confusion comes when the picture of Jesus and the church is misused and misapplied in marriage.

Let’s jump back to oneness with God…

So becoming one with God comes through covenant and His Holy Spirit. God does not become us. We do not become God. We connect with God. Our spirit connects with His Spirit. His Spirit is to take up residence in our physical house. It is a connection that is meant to flow from this life into eternity. It is the only eternal covenant. Marriage is an earthly covenant that breaks at death, or in some cases divorce. 

Oneness with God provides us with: 

  • Intimacy with God/Friendship with God (the ability to know Him) 
  • Joint Heirship with Jesus 
  • Access to God (we do not need a liaison aside from Jesus-He is the mediator between God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5))
  • Gifts of the Holy Spirit
  • Supernatural wisdom, revelation, and insight
  • Forgiveness of Sins/the Gift of Repentance 
  • New Identity in Christ 
  • Divine Deliverance 
  • Profound Understanding of His Word
  • Manifestations of His Glory/His love/His power
  • Partnership with God 
  • Name Written in the Lamb’s Book of Life 
  • Ability to Bless the World
  • Every Spiritual Blessing in the Heavenlies in Christ 
  • Advocate in Christ
  • An Eternal Covenant  

May you and I pursue deeper intimacy with God and increased revelation of oneness with Him. 

Here are some additional scriptures to back up this post: Ephesians 1, Ephesians 5, Exodus 20:3, John 17:20-24, Mark 10:7-9, Colossians 3:19, 21, Romans 14:12, Hebrews 8 and 9, 2 Timothy 1:14, Galatians 5:13-26, Romans 8

Everything God Allows Is Not Necessarily His Will (Wednesday Devotion)

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Morning Devotion: This was all God’s plan or was it? Everything God allows is not necessarily His will. Everything stated or predicted to be true is not necessarily God. 

God is good (Mark 10:18). Evil exists because of the abuse of free will (Romans 5:12). We can choose evil over good. We can choose our way over God’s way. Why? Because love involves freedom. The desire to control people is demonic. 

Nothing happens outside God’s knowledge. He does not prevent every horrible thing from happening. 

This does not mean the following: 

1. God is cruel or loves to punish people. 

The Bible says He is slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8). He is merciful wanting all to come to repentance. 

2. Everything that happens is God’s perfect will. 

God desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), yet we know millions will. 

3. When things happen, God caused it to happen. 

Allowing and causing are two vastly different concepts. To cause something to happen is to have motivations and intentions that pursue that outcome. All the evil we see in the world came from Adam choosing to obey the devil instead of God (Romans 5:12). Did God cause sin? No. Did He give choices? Yes. 

God hates sin. Yet He allows us to choose sin. 

There will not be anyone in heaven who chose the devil over God or chose themselves over God. Why? God will not force anyone to love Him. 

This concept of humans have no personal responsibility due to the sovereignty of God is false. 

God gave both Adam and Eve dominion on the earth (Genesis 1). They were to fill, subdue, reign on earth. They were given authority and dominion. They surrendered it through sin. 

Jesus regained what was lost. Jesus restored what was broken in the Garden. Yet there is still a world in chaos. Why? People can still choose sin. Sin leads to destruction and death. Sin hurts us and others. 

Death, sickness, destruction, brokenness, broken relationships, hurt, sorrow, lust, greed, and all evil were not a part of the Garden pre fall. God knew man would sin, so there was already a plan for redemption. The fall of man happened. It does not mean God caused it to happen. 

God’s sovereignty is also not an excuse for prayerlessness or not doing our part. Saying, “Oh this is just the way it is,” or “God will fix it,” or “I am waiting on God to show up,” or “This is God’s plan or will,” are sometimes excuses to not do our part. God gave us brains, feet, hands, vocal chords, and resources so we could use them. 

I love what Joyce Meyers says. She says, “You know what happens when you do not pray? Nothing. Nothing happens.” 

God enters situations He is invited into. Someone invited God; He revealed His power. 

I want to take you further along this path with the prophetic. Ready? 

Every prophetic word that is true or comes true is not necessarily from God. Say what? Indeed. 

When Jesus walked the earth demons would sometimes cry out, “You are the Son of God.” He would tell them to be quiet because His time had not yet come (Luke 4:41). 

When Paul delivered the woman with the spirit of divination, she was speaking the truth. Her source was not God (Acts 16:16-18). 

Demons and the devil can speak truth. The devil knows the Bible better than most people. Demons also network to understand the workings, patterns, desires, and ways of humans. Just because something true is spoken or predicted does not necessarily mean it was God who inspired the vocalization. 

More examples…Just because it’s spoken and happened, does not mean it was inspired by God. 

I have met several woman over the years who were prophesied to who their spouse would be. I truly believe God speaks and may tell someone. These ladies ended up with men who did not truly love God or them. Two were told, “You will marry this person.” There was no bliss on the other side of “I do.” There was a whole lot of hell; some of those marriages ended in divorce. Some were deeply wounded by the dreams, words, visions that were not reality or did not become reality.

I have had at least a dozen “prophetic” words from people about who my spouse will be, and when he will come. Guess what? None of them match, nor have they come true. Since God is not the author of confusion, what could be the source? 

1. Flesh or soul. 

We have a spirit, a body, and a soul. The soul can sense things too. It does not mean it’s God. 

2. Evil spirits. 

They can interject thoughts, dreams too. Sometimes with people they can insert thoughts that are first person, “I hate my life,” or “I am so ugly.” They can implant words, “You will marry this person.” Hence scripture telling us to test every spirit to see if it is God. 

For relationships, please examine the way the person treats you. Look at the fruit in their life. Look at who they spend their time with and how they treat people who can do nothing for them. Look at how they respond to not getting their way. Look at their life. Is it a hot mess? How well do they love God? Do they truly love Him. How they treat God is how they will treat you. 

God is good. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Lights. Gifts from God are good. People are not perfect, yet when God brings a gift there is blessing tied to it. 

I highly recommend with some words, visions, pictures to sit them on the shelf and to also pray, “God I cancel any enemy assignments of deception. I only want to hear Your voice. I want to walk in Your truth. Holy Spirit lead and guide me.” 

There are false Holy Spirits too…will touch on that in a deliverance/freedom post later. They work to hurt and bring deception. You will hear people say, “God told me to do this immoral, harmful thing.” No He did not. Holy Spirit will not violate the word of God. 

Papa God, help us to colabor with You. Help us to be people of wisdom, prayer, and doing what we see Jesus doing. Help us to have heavenly vision, ears that hear Your truth above the noise, and discernment to know what is You, what is our flesh, what is the devil/his minions, and what is coming from our souls. Anything not of You, please uproot it. Replace it with Your love, truth, and power. In Jesus powerful name. Amen. 

God bless you! You are in my thoughts and continual prayers. You are so deeply loved. 

Erin Lamb