Category: God’s Heart

We Need Healthy Souls!

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Why Soul Healing Matters…(short excerpt from my third book-Overcoming Church Hurt & Abuse coming out this summer & Masterclass this June)

I have encountered so many people who go to church, pray, fast, tithe, forgive, read the bible and their life is still a mess. Some are physically ill and no matter how much prayer they receive, they do not recover.

There is hyper focus on the body and spirit in communities of faith. People sometimes ignore the soul.

The soul is comprised of the mind, will, and emotions. This part of a person does not instantly become like Jesus when a person repents and places their faith in Him. It is the part of the person that requires continual yielding to God and the mind needs renewed.

Along with renewing the mind, people often come to God with histories of brokenness. These things do not always just magically disappear. They can have a host of problems in their emotions, behaviors, habits, defense mechanisms, and after years of giving themselves over to sin or being sinned against suffer greatly in their soul. Some can read the bible all day and still struggle with lust, anger, rage, pride, insecurity, eating disorders, addiction, depression, and some cases they hear voices or can have a false Holy Spirit. Some have buried their trauma instead of offered it to God. They suffer in silence or some simply create relational dysfunction everywhere they go.

Unhealthy people hurt themselves or others. Unhealthy people also attract unhealthy people.

When there are wounds in the soul, people will overreact to things. Something that is small to one person becomes major to them. Those with soul wounds may have a distorted view of events. They may suffer from hyper suspicion, a hyper critical spirit, or struggle with intimacy.

A wounded soul may struggle to love or be loved. You can love a wounded person with all your might, and they cannot receive what you offer or they accuse you of bad motives.

Physical sickness can also flow from the soul, not originate in the body. I have worked with several cancer patients and their sickness was also deeply imbedded in the soul from unhealed trauma, cursing their body (I hate being a woman), overgiving/codependency, or generational.

The more the soul is healed, the more the person begins to see good fruit emerging in their life.

I have spent years working with dissociative people (those wounded so greatly their personalities split), victims of abuse/severe abuse, and those who seem stuck no matter what they try to do. What I have seen are those issues were living inside the soul. There were wounds as far back as in utero. Yes, babies in the womb can be wounded. Yes, they can hear when mom and dad are discussing things. Yes, they can sense when they are unwanted. I had a lady who struggled her entire life with intimacy because she was wounded as a baby. Her parents had no idea their actions impacted the rest of her life.

We can preach to people all day, yet are they getting better? Is anyone getting healed and made whole. Jesus made people whole.

A broken bone requires more than a bandaid. A broken soul requires more than prayer and quoting scriptures. If no one deals with the root, there remains the manifestation of fruit. Soul healing is inviting God into the places that are broken so He can bring total healing and restoration.

I have met with so many people over the years who had significant breakthrough once their soul wounds were healed. Some required extra sessions, help, therapy to deal with bad habits, yet in 95% of the cases they saw remarkable improvement. God loves to heal, not just the body-the soul.

If you are interested in soul healing, be sure to check out empowered-free.com. The upcoming Masterclass registration closes June 7th. Class is June 13-15 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. The class is best suited for those in inner healing and those who want to learn faith based tools. The tools used are rooted in Christian faith.

To join Masterclass, a 3 day (24 hours Intensive training), go to:

https://www.empowered-free.com/book-online

Love,

Erin

Communication-A Building Block to Healthy Relationships

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Communication is one of the building blocks of a healthy relationship. People don’t know what we do not tell them. I don’t know any mind readers. In an age where people prefer to talk about people behind their back rather than to their face, God gives us better counsel. He says, “If your brother or sister sins against you, go directly to them in love. Make sure you check yourself (make sure your spirit is right) and you are not in sin, then gently go talk to your brother or sister.” It does not say, “Push that person into the dirt, shame them, call them names, or be mean spirited.” It also does not say “go tell everyone except the person you have the problem with.”

I had a lady once who all of a sudden started treating me poorly. She did not tell me anything. She just acted funny. Years later, after she processed her issues she randomly said to me, “We are good now. I processed my issues with you and we are good.” The problem was I never knew there was an issue. She was upset because I was receiving certain attention from a particular ministry that rejected her. I was clueless. I only knew what she showed me.

I also had an instance with a gentleman I was trying to serve and love as a brother in Christ who took my sisterly love as romantic. He treated me poorly. I was trying to fulfill John 13:34-35. He saw it as me chasing him, which I did not, for girlfriend status. He never communicated to me his perceptions. He kept inviting me places then ignoring me when I got there. I thought the invitations to group things were invitations for friendship. He told others how he felt. He never honored me enough to ask me questions or talk to me. So others talked about me behind my back with false understandings of my intentions. One brave person told me what was going on so I could move away from this person and stop trying to be his friend. In hindsight, I should have stopped initiating kindness the first time he ignored me. People show us how they feel about us with their actions.

Over the course of my life, I have lived through the “friends” who talked about me instead of to me. I will tell you it is impossible to build a relationship with someone who is not honest and does not communicate. It is challenging to trust people who talk about people all the time behind their back. If they gossip to you or talk badly about others, they will gossip about you or do the same to you. I ask people, “Have you talked to this person, or are you just venting to me? They don’t know you are upset if you do not communicate.” I don’t purposely befriend people for close relationships who prefer to talk about people rather than talk to them. Why? It is not healthy.

Every relationship I have ended, I had a conversation with the person, if I could and it was safe to do so. I have had a few stalkers and hostile people, they get blocked and reported if they refuse to respect boundaries.

Healthy communication builds bridges and can save relationships. Talk it out.

Sometimes we just are not a great fit, even in circles of faith. That’s okay. Sometimes that person just fades out of our life. Seasons change. Yet I did not just disappear and never say anything.

Every person, if I could and it was wisdom, I had an issue with I approached directly in love (either in writing (I process best in written form) or phone or in person). Why? Because people cannot read our minds. Sometimes people are clueless how their behavior impacts others. What we refuse to discuss festers in our souls. People also treat us how we let them. People don’t know our boundaries if we do not set them.

Maybe there is someone to reach out to have a conversation, clear the air, cut the ties, build a bridge, or just to move along.

I appreciate greatly the people in my life who were courageous enough to communicate. A few have had the wrong spirit or absolutely the wrong perception, yet even ungodly feedback can be taken to God. “God what they see is not what happened, yet it bothered someone greatly so I take full responsibility for any unintentional harm. I repent to see my brother or sister healed. If I hurt or harmed someone on accident, I still take responsibility and take their concerns under consideration.”

In order to build any healthy relationship with God or anyone else it requires communication and honesty. I don’t do pretend. I won’t smile in your face and talk nasty about you to everyone and their momma. Why? Because love is authentic and cares about your reputation. Love cares about you!

May we communicate. How has communication helped your relationships? Are you communicating to the right people?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Warmly,

Erin

He Came Like Thunder & Rain (Confident & Free 2019)!

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I am overfull from the Confident & Free event this past May 17th and 18th. God did incredible things in and through us. We received comments such as, “This was life changing! This is the best conference I have ever attended. I have never felt so FREE! God healed my body. I made new friends. I grew to believe in myself. I was given confidence. My fire was relit. God did such a work in me. My life is forever changed.”

Reports of healing and transformation are still pouring in the door! We have received reports of 65 people being physically/emotionally healed. We had a lady who was mostly in a wheelchair get up and start walking around. When I saw her empty wheelchair, I thought, “Where did she go?” I found her down the hall talking and chatting with friends. Her face was glowing.

Another lady has had chronic and debilitating back pain for 13 years and has reported after prayer she is pain free. It’s days later and she is still pain free! There are too many God stories to type here. I mean thank you God!

I am still unpacking and processing the weekend! I have been wowed by God. If you attended, we want to hear your God stories. Shoot us an email at info@empowered-free.com or comment or message us on facebook (facebook.com/erinlambauthor). I want to hear what God did for you!

People were activated to go share Jesus! We had one lady who had not shared with strangers before who reported she just can not stop telling people about Jesus. My dream was an encounter that led to activation! People were activated.

People have asked when is the next event and if we will bring this to their Nation. I don’t know what the future holds. A two day event takes 10 months to pull together. I would like to rest/recover from this one. I am sure my intercessors would like a mini break too! 😉

One last story. Saturday night we were pressing in during worship. It was simply a powerful time. At one point a lady stated I prayed we would give God whatever was in our hand in exchange for what was in His. It began to rain. There was no rain in the forecast. The band began to play “Let it Rain!” It began to downpour. I cried out, “More Lord!” It began to thunder!! He came like rain and thunder, in the Spirit and natural. People were stretched out on the floor before Him. God longs to wow us! He loves to wow us!

God is moving us out of living as orphans, as shackled, and into confident, bold living! The righteous are as BOLD as lions!!

If you could not be with us in person, you can grab recordings at Grab Confident & Free Recordings!

If you wish to see a few of the videos or more photos, hop over to facebook.com/erinlambauthor.

If you were in attendance and wish to stay updated with speakers, I am including their info below. Some asked how to sow into those speakers, so that info is included by request! We did not take up offerings at the event! We did raise over $1500 dollars for charity (human trafficking, clean water projects, children’s home/orphans, and the poor) through ticket sales.

I don’t like begging for money. God blessed me through ticket sales to cover the event and have 20% of sales to go to charity. We also were able to get one child sponsored for tuition for school in Cambodia! I am working on getting all three sponsorships! Extreme Love Ministry info can be found at Extreme Love Ministries.

If you wish for more info about sowing into speakers, please connect with me via lambenterprisellc@gmail.com.

Love in Him,
Erin
Xoxo

He is a Lion & a Lamb

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Both a Lion & a Lamb (Jesus is roaring over His Bride!) Wakey Wakey!

I have not ever preached so passionately in my life until this year when God started speaking to me about revival and awakening a sleeping bride. I teach. I love to teach. I love to dissect the word of God and take you on a journey. It is not a loud journey. Yet God showed me some things that released the ROAR. So when the microphone hits my hand, it’s like 10,000 lions want to escape from my face. I don’t plan it. I simply told God, you can say whatever you want to say, however you want to say it. My heart is like David. I must worship the Lord and how it looks to everyone else is not my problem. Is God pleased? Then I am satisfied.

God showed me in a vision a field full of sleeping and overfed lions and lionesses. Their bellies were overfull. Meanwhile, behind them far off in the distance there was a pit of sulfur with the dying. Jesus (as the Lion of Judah) was trying to recruit lions and lionesses to go with Him into that black, dark, sulfur pit. The lions were sleeping, grazing, and in their own world of comfort. He began to roar. I mean a fierce, shake the ground roar. Some of them awakened and stood to their feet. Some went back to sleep. They looked at Jesus, ignored the roar, and went back to sleep. The ones who awakened, He pulled them into a line and roared over them. They transformed from fat to lean. He gave them each an assignment. He then led them into the pit of sulfur on a rescue mission!

Jesus came to seek and save the lost, not create fan clubs, cliques, and entertain people. Jesus offended so many people because He did not come in the package they expected. Jesus was crucified and hated because He did not fit the norm. The issue is some people want the God of their comfort zone, of their manmade traditions, and the God who never violates the way they think. If and when God reveals another aspect of His character or nature they reject what does not conform to what they already know.

We can not receive from God or anyone else under the spirit of offense. “Oh their worship is too loud, oh they do things weird.” Maybe God likes loud. Heaven is not quiet. Maybe what God is doing is a new thing to us, but not to Him. He is not weird, our perceptions of what is normal and proper sometimes are cultural and not Kingdom! My point is God cannot be put in a box. I had to learn to stop judging what I did not understand and ask “God is this you?” And if it did not violate scripture and God was on board to set aside my preferences. It’s not about us, it’s about God.

The spirit of religion tries to keep God in a nice little box and open it when needed. God does not fit in any man’s box.

Jesus is a Lion (Fierce/Bold/Confident/Assertive) & a Lamb (Humble/Gentle/Meek). He is not the weak, fraile, lifeless image nailed image on the cross some wear. He came off that cross and rose with ALL power in His hands.

If we only see the Lamb, then we will miss God’s holy anger against injustice, abuse, and things that harm humanity. We may tip toe around things we need to firmly (with love) address. The righteous are as bold as a lion! If we only see the Lion we may attack the wrong things and not operate in love.

I am convinced God is not always represented in His full spectrum. God can be quiet and loud. God can wipe tears and rebuke the devil. God can cradle someone in His arms and also ask another, “Do you want to be made whole?” God can be gentle with the sinner and sternly rebuke the Pharisee, “You are white washed tombs? Why do you clean what is on the outside and not inside? You are bloody vipers (this is in the Bible).” God can invite everyone into His family through His Son and also say, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say? Many will cry out Lord, Lord and I will say, ‘Depart from Me. I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness.’ I would rather you be hot or cold, not lukewarm lest I spit you out. Repent and go back to your first love.”

I strongly believe God wants to move us past our ideas of who we think He is and how we think He should do things and into, “God who are you? Show me who you really are? Break me out of religious mindsets and thinking I know best. You are God. I am not. Help me to move with the momentum of heaven and whatever you want to do Lord, I am willing!! I will look foolish for you. I will not live shackled by fear of man or be limited by offense over what you want to do!

God has revealed Himself in so many different ways in the Bible. God is both a warrior and a humble servant. God is both a lover and a fighter. God is both a mother and a father to His children. God knows which aspect of Himself is needed to be displayed.

May you and I pursue the depths of who God is. It will take all of eternity to know Him completely. May we pursue knowing God. He is both a Lion and a Lamb. Please don’t reject a move of God simply because God wants to present a side of Himself that goes against “This is how we do things or this is how things should be done.” What does God want? Who does God need to be for us in the moment?

Last note. The Shack movie offended so many religious people because God was presented as female and African American. The Holy Spirit as an Asian woman. God can take on what we need. God is Spirit and those who worship God worship in spirit and in truth. God has certainly mothered me. I am grateful for the attributes of a mom wrapped up in God. Mothers, women were made in the image of God. Yet I saw so many ugly statements about that part of the film. What if we miss out on knowing God simply because we refuse to let Him be who He is instead of who we want God to be? We, humans, can desire our preferences just like the Pharisees.

Love,

Erin

Changing the World Starts With Me & You!

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I love chatting about world change. What I love even more is participation in world change. It requires more than dialogue. It requires people willing to step out and do something about the issues they see.

When I went to Cambodia last year, I was unprepared to see rows of child prostitutes. I was not ready to see toddlers who had been sexually abused. Yet, there they were. I cannot forget their faces. They are etched into my memories. Along with the children are the people living in piles of trash, walking out gross trauma and carrying wounds from a genocide. The compassion in my heart grew as I saw a culture devastated by the hands of evil.

What can one person do to change the world?

We cannot do everything, we can do something. We can look for our slice of the pie and get busy participating in solutions. I decided one way I could help was by funneling money into education programs. The literacy rate in Cambodia is 37%. Lack of education leads to exploitation. I could also raise awareness here in the USA, find out how human trafficking and exploitation was impacting my own country, and be part of the solution at home.

Confident & Free Conference in Columbus, Ohio is more than a 2 day party! It is an opportunity to be part of the solution. 17% of the ticket sales have already been sown into charity and I hope to sow more! It’s buying someone back from darkness. It’s bringing hope to the hopeless. It’s pulling the vulnerable out of the trash heap.

It’s also my heart to give people who are not asked to speak on platforms often or at all chances to share their gifting. A few of our speakers are new to the conference circuit. I believe both genders need to be empowered!

We are almost a week away from Confident & Free 2019! I am excited to see so many of you from across the USA (16 different states) and Canada. I am expecting big things, mostly for God’s love and power to be on display.

Thank you for buying tickets which will help rescue women & children out of slavery and help the poor(break systems of poverty).

One of the things that excites me about this event, other than seeing you and sowing into worthy causes, is the agenda to empower YOU to do EVEN GREATER things. You won’t be sitting idle watching us do everything. There are times of activation and participation! Yes you get to play. You also will have soaking time to be replenished, restored, and poured into. We are pressing in so you leave with EVEN GREATER passion, energy, encouragement, love, hope, wisdom, and encounters with God!

There are still a few slots available. Don’t wait for the door and risk our being sold out.

https://www.empowered-free.com/book-online.

I want to see YOU there! You and I can make a difference and BE the change we wish to see in the world.

Love,

Erin Lamb

Founder of Operation God is Love & Lamb Enterprises LLC

OperationGodisLove.org

Empowered-Free.com

If Jesus Took On Flesh Today

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If Jesus took on flesh today…

Jesus had no outward beauty to draw people to Him, I wonder if He walked into our services today if we would greet Him.

A middle eastern Jew, with brown skin, a carpenter’s son-would we include Him?

Humble, not ego driven, the one who would choose to wash feet instead of push His way to a platform-would we even notice Him?

Loving, honoring, and respectful of all people-would we try to persuade Him to love who we love and dislike who we dislike?

Interested in the least of these, the poor, the outcast, sinners/prostitutes/tax collectors, would we join their table or insist He leave them to join ours?

Non political, focused on representing heaven on earth/the Father’s will, would we try to convince Him to join our political party and campaign for our rights?

Unmarried and without a girlfriend, would He be banned from ministering in our churches or restricted to the least amount of responsibility in leadership? Would He be consistently pressured into finding a mate or allowed to be who the Father created Him to be?

Insistent on loving His enemies, would we join Him in His quest to build bridges instead of cliques?

Moved by the tears of the broken, would we lay down our pride and selfishness to sit with the broken?

Deeply moved with compassion to heal the sick, would we put aside the miracles are a side show to simply love the person right in front of us?

Taking the Gospel to those in need, would we join Jesus or simply watch from the sidelines or encourage Him to do everything?

Moved by the heart of the Father He would rally others to do the same. Would we join Jesus or tell Him, “I am not called to do that? Give me the assignment where I am most comfortable?”

Would we join Jesus or deny Jesus?

Would we follow Jesus or just be a fan of Jesus?

Would we cast aside our selfish ambition to truly be a disciple who begins to look like Jesus?

Would we change the world with Jesus or simply pray Jesus do something?

It is one thing to profess love for Jesus, it is quite another lay down our lives for Jesus.

Would Jesus be Lord, or an ala cart add on to enhance our lives yet cost us nothing?

Would we be willing to follow the loving King or simply remain in the stadiums cheering with our “I love Jesus” merch?

Are we spectators or lovers?

Sold out or only in it for fire insurance?

In love or in like with Jesus?

Love will cause us to lay our pride and selfishness aside to look out for our neighbor, the least, last, lost, broken.

Love will call us out of our comfort zones and onto the frontlines with Jesus.

Love will mend us over and over when the attacks of darkness seem relentless.

Love will propel us into a glorious heaven centered destiny where His name, the name above all names is glorified.

Love dissolves our prejudice and man made boundary lines.

Love destroys hatred, bigotry, and sexism and loudly proclaims, “In Christ all are one.” One Body, one church, one Lord!

Love pushes past political lines to say, “You too are made in the image of God.”

Love pushes past “Me first” and lives for “God first! God be glorified!!”

Love breaks the shackles of “Us vs Them,” and builds a table prepared with a feast to say, “The King loves you. I will treat you with dignity. Come to Jesus.”

Love seeks to reconcile the world to itself.

Love is not a concept, not a noun but a verb.

Love has a name. It’s Jesus!

May we seek Jesus, know Jesus, abide in Jesus, focus on Jesus, exalt Jesus, and align with the heart of Jesus.

Painting: Jewish Jesus of Nazareth (Source Pinterest)

Lovingly,

Erin Lamb

We Love Moms & Grandmas!!

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I love the creativity of God! I love the differences between the genders and the value/worth God places on both. I love Eve’s Hebrew name meaning. Her name in Hebrew is chawah. Her name means breathe life and the one who would cause all in the future to live. More than birthing babies, women were created to be life givers! Being a life giver can be birthing ministries, businesses, mentoring others, nurturing ideas, cultivating creative solutions, birthing innovations/inventions, sustaining life, speaking life, protecting lives.

I have not given birth to natural children. I have birthed several ministries, books, and a business. I have helped to raise, mentor, and nurture other people’s children. So women who have not given birth naturally, you are celebrated too! Our identity is in God, not natural motherhood.

I noticed in my years of ministry and business that so many women are pressed down to believe they matter less, their value is just in their looks/sex appeal/marriage/ability to have children, they must take care of everyone and put themselves last. I have wiped so many tears of women who simply did not and do not feel good about who they are.

God loves women! Women were God’s idea and not just to assist Adam. Her name also means warrior and Eve was an expression of God on earth. In His image, God created them (plural) and gave them (plural) dominion (Genesis 1:26-27). Eve had no shame or insecurity before the fall. She stood equal to Adam. What was lost in a garden, Jesus redeemed on the cross. Women were created to reign and rule with Jesus. She is not a sidekick or maid, she is a joint heir.

Know a mom or grandma or spiritual mom this season who may benefit from a confidence boost? Grab Confident & Free for her! It is not a gender specific book, it’s a God specific book.

From today through May 13th save 30%.

Go to https://www.empowered-free.com/shop.

Use the coupon code MomsRock!.

Love,

Erin

Living Brave!

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Happy Choose God’s Voice Over Haters or Mere Humans Thursday!

Encouragement to elevate God’s opinion above people’s opinions.

Giving thanks for my parents this morning. They taught me to listen to God’s voice above the noise of people. They spoke of endless possibilities not limitations. My encouragement to every person is get to know God for yourself and don’t let spectators move you or push you in the dirt. People who try to diminish others already see their potential and are usually insecure, petty, jealous, and unhappy with themselves.

Your age, gender, race, ethnicity, where you grew up, who you don’t know, lack of elite connections, lack physical appeal to others, or even being disliked or unsupported are NOT limitations for God. God+Nothing=Everything! When God is for you, it’s MORE than the world against you. No mere human being can stop the momentum of God. Who dare stand in His way!

You can succeed with God!

You can beat the odds with God!

You can find superior support in God!

You can win with God!

You can overcome with God!!

It’s not what people call you, it’s what you answer to that matters. The Father calls me Judah, which means praise. I do not answer to the negative words of people. It’s not my name, nor my identity.

Learn to say, “I don’t receive that,” when people speak death over your life or dream. We listen to God, not those speaking from their flesh or out of the soul or carnality.

And when you make it, some of the people who tried to stop you will go on to tell others how they know you. Live under the given approval of God. God can do anything. I have known Him to nudge people thousands of miles away when I had a need others right in front of me ignored. My hope is not in people, not in the church, not in my family, not even in myself. It’s deeply rooted in Jesus! God NEVER fails.

God is your cutting edge victory against ALL odds.

Love,

Erin

Empowered-free.com

Thank You! (Confident & Free 2019)

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Thank you to those signing up for Confident & Free 2019. So far 17% of the ticket sales has been sown into the following combined efforts (International Justice Mission (ending human trafficking), Extreme Love Ministries (education programs for at risk children for human trafficking), the Happy Givers NPO (children’s homes, clean water projects, rebuild of Puerto Rico), and additionally 18 people have been sponsored for this event. I am hoping we sell out to reach the target goal for education programs and assisting the poor with real solutions.

When you look at the ticket price for the event, I hope you see a child getting clean water, a home being rebuilt in Puerto Rico, a woman or child rescued from slavery. This event is not lining my pocket, it is helping (hopefully) to save lives. The charities received their payment of already sold tickets already. I will be the very last person paid, if I see anything at all.

Thank you for those coming!! We have guests coming from 15 different states and Canada.

I bless you and thank you!!

Charity info: extremelove.com, ijm.org, and thehappygivers.com.

If you have not signed up yet, seats are filling. Once we sell out, there is no overflow. Tickets are also a bit more at the door.

Go to https://www.empowered-free.com/book-online

Warmly,

Erin Lamb

Founder & CEO of Lamb Enterprises LLC

Be Kind Not Rude

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Happy Jesus is Not Rude; Love is Not Rude Tuesday!

Love is not rude, is not selfish,-1 Corinthians 13:5a.

Even the rebukes of Jesus are from love. Jesus is not rude. Jesus is not a jerk. Jesus thinks about how His behavior and words impact others. If the nature of God is love, compassion, and kindness-why are we seeing such rudeness on display from professing Christians? I see it on social media. I have seen it from pulpits. Encountered it within Christian groups.

Even last night a guy popped on my instagram to accuse me of spreading false prophecy over a post about raising money and awareness to end human trafficking. The post literally said if we pursue justice, stand up against evil, we could see our world change for the better. I blocked him-no harm no foul. It’s not what people call you, it is what you answer to that matters. And to use a slang term, “Aint nobody got time for that!” Prayed for him and moved along.

I was not offended, I am deeply saddened by the way some “Christians” misrepresent Jesus online and in real life. On social media we are not the only people who see our posts and comments. The world watches how we treat each other. If we are nasty to each other what on earth would make them want to be in our family? We talk about God love, yet do we live it? Jesus stated the world would know His disciples by their love, not their titles, church attendance, or political party. Is love present in our communication? Are we rude, sarcastic, and dishonoring? The world watches how we behave.

The Bible says, “Do unto others what you would want done to you.” This principle manifests in our lives in a good way when we abide in Jesus. It manifests in a bad way when we abide in the flesh. The flesh can be quite proud, rude, and petty. Those who live by the Spirit of God are the sons and daughters of God. We are to be Spirit led, not fleshy.

Carnality, like insecurity, is our frenemy (pretends to be of benefit, yet is quite toxic). Carnality is hyper self focused. It does not regard others as better than itself. It just tells it like it is, or does what is best for self. If there are casualties-“oh well, can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Carnality cares more about protecting ego than loving people.

Paul said the following about carnality: ..you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?-1 Corinthians 3:3.

Rudeness is a weak person’s imitation of strength or power. People who feel weak or powerless can overcompensate by being rude or nasty to others. It’s far easier to look at the speck in the neighbors eye than focus on the log in our own eye. Especially if there is God love deficit.

The truth is, we are not weak or powerless if we are finding our identity in Christ. It takes His strength to be gentle instead of hostile. In a world of clap backs and insults, His Spirit shows us how to effectively communicate so we address issues without destroying people. Sometimes rebukes are necessary, yet they must be rooted in love. Our power source is Jesus, not our flesh. We don’t have to prove how powerful we are. We abide in love and use His power to lift the broken, not become the person breaking people.

The next time someone is rude to you, understand the issue is most likely something internal they are struggling with; fear, insecurity, feeling powerless, feeling inferior, pride, carnality. If we find ourselves being rude or unkind, may we repent and ask God to fill our love tank.

May you and I be Spirit led not fleshy.

Loving not rude.

Considerate not hostile.

Powerful in Jesus not petty!

Love,

Erin

P.S be sure to check out our 40% off all products sale. Good through April 27th. The promo code is Passover. https://www.empowered-free.com/shop. Also seats are filling up for Confident & Free 2019! You won’t want to miss this epic event. We have people coming from 15 different states and Canada. It will be a blast. You can register at https://www.empowered-free.com/book-online. Part of the ticket sales will go towards helping rescue a woman or child from human trafficking.