Tag: God’s heart

Leading Through Fear & Uncertainty

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From our mission work in Asia

Leading Through Fear and Uncertainty

There are moments in leadership when the path ahead is anything but clear.

The plans we carefully crafted change. The outcomes we hoped for remain uncertain. The challenges in front of us seem larger than our resources, our experience, or even our courage.

In those moments, we have a choice.

We can resist, retreat, and cling to fear. Or we can move forward despite the uncertainty, trusting that purpose is greater than our anxiety and hope is stronger than our doubt.

I have faced this reality many times through our work serving people experiencing homelessness and survivors of human trafficking. Some situations carry significant risks because the goal is not simply to meet a temporary need. The objective is freedom. The objective is restoration. The objective is helping someone escape exploitation, poverty, or circumstances that have held them captive for far too long.

Whenever we step into difficult situations, there is always a question that emerges:

Is the risk worth the reward?

For me, the answer has always been yes.

Every life restored is worth it.

Every child given a second chance is worth it.

Every person who discovers freedom, hope, and dignity is worth it.

Over the years, I have found two forces that are more powerful than fear: love and purpose.

When we live with a clear sense of purpose and a genuine love for others, our “why” becomes louder than our fears. That does not mean fear disappears. In fact, there have been many moments when fear felt overwhelming.

Fear has a way of screaming.

Love often whispers.

Yet I’ve learned that courage is found in that whisper. It is found in the quiet reminder to remember why we started. It begins as a small seed, but when nurtured through faith, conviction, and action, it grows.

That seed of courage moves us from saying, “Someone should do something about this” to asking, “What can I do about this?”

It challenges us to ask deeper questions:

  • Why am I here at this point in history?
  • What unique gifts have I been given?
  • What role am I meant to play in this story?

The truth is that none of us can do everything.

We are not superheroes.

But we can all do something.

Perhaps your leadership journey does not involve life-threatening situations. Perhaps you are leading through organizational change, economic uncertainty, staff turnover, or personal challenges. Maybe you are carrying the weight of difficult decisions while wondering what the future holds.

If so, I understand.

And while every situation is different, I have found that the principles remain remarkably similar.

Remember Your Why

When uncertainty rises, reconnect with the reason you stepped into leadership in the first place.

Who are you serving?

Who benefits from your vision, wisdom, and perseverance?

Purpose has a way of steadying us when everything else feels unstable.

Use What Is Already in Your Hands

Many leaders spend so much time focusing on what they lack that they overlook what they already possess.

Experience.

Relationships.

Wisdom.

Skills.

Faith.

Resilience.

Take inventory. Often, the tools needed for the next season are already within reach.

Focus on What You Can Control

Fear tends to magnify everything beyond our control.

Great leadership focuses on what can be influenced today.

You can control your attitude.

You can control your words.

You can control your behaviors and responses.

You can choose to lead by example.

One step at a time. One decision at a time. One day at a time.

Let Feelings Inform You, Not Direct You

Fear is real.

Ignoring it is not leadership.

But allowing it to dominate every decision is not leadership either.

Feelings are indicators, not dictators.

They provide information, but they should not determine our destination.

Acknowledge the fear. Evaluate the situation. Then move forward with wisdom and purpose.

Love Still Wins

One of the greatest privileges of my life is hearing stories from individuals whose lives have been transformed. Every letter, every testimony, and every story of restoration reminds me why this work matters.

Love changes lives.

Love restores hope.

Love overcomes fear.

And every time I witness someone’s journey from despair to freedom, I am reminded that the reward far outweighs the risk.

For me, it is far better to step into the arena and serve than to sit on the sidelines wondering why no one intervened.

The world may never need us to do everything.

But it does need us to do something.

So whatever challenge lies before you today, remember your why. Lean into your purpose. Let love speak louder than fear.

You may discover that courage was there all along, waiting for you to take the next step.

—

About the Author

Through writing, speaking, and nonprofit leadership, I am passionate about helping individuals discover purpose, lead with courage, and create lasting impact in their communities.

To learn more about our work serving individuals experiencing homelessness and survivors of human trafficking, visit:

https://OperationGodisLove.org

Love,

Erin Lamb

The Power of Being Seen

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Soul Sunday: The Power of Being Seen

Your investment doesn’t have to be millions of dollars to make a meaningful impact.

Several years ago, OGL, the nonprofit homeless outreach I founded, was invited to Indiana to help lead community outreaches. During one of those trips, we spent time listening to the stories of people experiencing homelessness.

One gentleman, whom I’ll call Jon, shared his journey of traveling from state to state in search of work.

As we talked, he shared a lesson I have never forgotten:

“People think it’s the big things that change lives, yet forget the seemingly small things do too.”

Curious, we asked him to explain.

He told us that during his travels, people would often hand him a bottle of water. It seemed simple, almost insignificant. But to him, it meant survival.

“I had hunger at times, but I didn’t go thirsty. I’m thankful for the people who simply handed me a bottle of water. They saved my life.”

His words challenged my perspective. What we view as small may be vital to someone else.

Since that day, I’ve made it a habit to keep bottled water in my vehicle. You never know when a simple act of generosity might meet a critical need.

Another encounter comes to mind.

Near a local university, I noticed a man sitting alone with his head down. He appeared discouraged and withdrawn. From a distance, I called out, “Hey buddy, are you hungry? We have food.”

He lifted his head and smiled—a wide grin that immediately changed the atmosphere.

We sat with him for a while, listening to his story. Before we left, he thanked us in a way that stayed with me long after the conversation ended.

“You don’t know how many people walk past me as though I do not exist. You saw me. Thank you.”

Those words were a powerful reminder that people are not only hungry for food. Many are hungry to be seen, heard, and valued.

A bottle of water. A shared meal. A smile. A conversation.

These actions may seem small, but their impact can be profound.

As we move through our days, may we remember that kindness does not require great wealth, influence, or resources. Often, it simply requires awareness and a willingness to care.

The smallest act of compassion may become one of the most meaningful moments in someone else’s story.

Love thy neighbor. ❤️

—

What is one small act of kindness someone showed you that made a lasting impact on your life?

Love,

Erin Lamb

Founder/CEO of Empowered & Free

Empowered-free.com

God Highly Values You!

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A lesson from my jeweler: what’s valued is not easily accessible.

My jeweler knows me; when I see her, she’s comfortable pulling diamonds and gems out of the case and handing them over to me. She knows who I am; she’s vetted me and sold me several pieces. You’ll note that everything that is real and costly is locked up – you cannot grab what you want. You’ll notice they do not offer diamonds at the price or availability of costume jewelry.

In human relationships, I’ve witnessed people offer themselves over to people who treat them horribly. Their open access, refusal to vet people, and lack of any boundaries lead to being used, abused, and mistreated.

Cheap and easy works well for fast food; it’s a recipe for disaster in matters of the heart.

I am not stating that materialism is the key to a good relationship, nor playing hard to get. I am stating that things shift when you start viewing access to you as something that requires vetting people. It is wise to see your value and worth and cease placing diamonds (your heart, body, time) in the hands of those who are not trustworthy. It means you allow people to see who you are, yet access to your inner world is reserved for those deemed trustworthy.

Early in my life I desired to love everyone and be an asset to everyone. What I learned were hard lessons. One lesson was love and access are not the same. You can love people and set boundaries with their access to you.

I talk about this in Relationships 101: Foundational Wisdom for Better Relationships. We choose the level of access people have to us.

I love traveling and I am planning to return to Asia soon. When I purchase tickets, they provide access to seats based on what we paid for in the ticket price. First Class seats are reserved for people who paid that price. Economy guests are not provided First Class privileges.

I was guilty of providing VIP treatment to economy people. I provided best friendship to lukewarm friends. I over invested in consumers. It was unwise and unhealthy.

When we know how valuable we are, we are highly selective of who has the closest access to us. We can love everyone. Trust is earned. Access is contingent on trust.

God placed such a high value on you that He paid the highest price to secure a relationship with you. You are not considered low value to God. It does not matter how others have interacted with you or treated you! What matters is the Creator of the Universe thinks the world of you! You were created on purpose. You are a handcrafted, original gem from the imagination of God.

Live loved.

Live on purpose.

Love,

Erin L Lamb

Now What?

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Radical Christianity in a Politicized Environment.

I started thinking lately of all the people who are losing their jobs, health insurance, federal funding, support, and they do not know how they will feed themselves or their children. Last month when we were out in the streets, there were double to triple the homeless out. One lady informed me that based on a recent Executive Order, they lost the funding to support transitional housing. Transitional housing affords the homeless temporary living quarters until they can become gainfully employed and afford their own home. Now they are back on the street.

I have been working for the past 12-13 years in the community feeding and clothing the unhoused. We are not sponsored by a church. We do not solicit donations. We are a group of volunteers going out to take care of least of them. What I’ve learned in my years of serving is it is far easier to get people to sign up to volunteer to see a celebrity Christian or go sit in a comfortable building, than it is to get people to give up part of their weekend to go feed the homeless. It’s far easier to go into a private voting booth and take away the rights of another person than it is to go across the street to share the love of Jesus with a stranger.

I’ve listened as the group I like to call “politicized Christians” talk about how we need the separation of church and state removed. They have advocated for Christians taking over the government because then we would see radical positive change in the world. I’ve watched as these “Christian” government leaders voted to take food and healthcare away from our poorest citizens. I’ve seen the political leaders celebrate firing people and taking away much needed benefits because there could be someone exploiting the system. I’ve witnessed behaviors that I think would have caused Jesus to flip over tables. The words of Jesus fall by the wayside because religion plus the empire is more important than obeying Jesus. It is the epitome of taking the name of the Lord in vain. How we treat the least of them is how we treat Jesus. His words, not mine.

…I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;  I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me [with help and ministering care].’ Then they also [in their turn] will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will reply to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these [my followers], you did not do it for Me.’ Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life.”-Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 25:42-46).

History has proven that when the religious control the government, they do not do the will of Jesus. They build an empire of the elite and are often more oppressive than the non believing. The religious were often a target of Jesus’ harshest words because they had an outward appearance of piety yet inwardly they were wicked and proud. They were harmful to others and not agents of heavenly justice.

I believe our current political climate presents an opportunity for people who claim they know Jesus to get up and go serve the people losing their jobs, healthcare, or funding. Churches are tax exempt because they are supposed to be agents of social justice and servants in the community. I listened to an economist a few months ago who stated we are about to witness the greatest wealth gap in American history. The wealthiest gaining the most and the a good chunk of the middle class slipping into what is considered borderline poor. It may not seem like a big deal to people who are not living paycheck to paycheck, yet interested to see how it all plays out.

The bottom line is radical Christianity is radical love. It is the ability to be so good to people and the community that they question why. Is that what people are encountering with American Christians, or are we indistinguishable from those who don’t claim to know Jesus? In times of crisis are Christians the ones the world desires to run to or are we avoided because we lack godly wisdom and compassion.

I challenge you to look for ways to love you neighbors!

I challenge you to think of ways to share the goodness of God with people who are overlooked, pushed down, cast aside, unloved, and negatively impacted by the choices of other humans.

Politics are not to be more important than revealing who Jesus is to our neighbors and our enemies. Why? Because anything else is idolatry. Idols will not save anyone. At the end of our lives, God is not going ask about our political stance or church denomination. God will examine how we received his son and how we loved!

God bless you!

Erin

Understanding Mutual Love in Relationships

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Photo: Erin Lamb Author 2024

If you’re like me, you were taught to love other people-even at the expense of yourself. Love was modeled in a sacrificial way; it was viewed as selfish to desire anything in return. We were taught to be the “givers” in relationships. No one taught me directly that God desired mutuality in my relationships with other people or at church. The more you offered of yourself, the more people clapped. God was to meet your needs while you were meeting the needs of others. One day it dawned on me, “If I am to get all my needs met by God, why can’t these other people do the same?”

I’ve encountered a number of women in my lifetime who view themselves as “the help” or “the helper.” People read Genesis and tell women they are the “helper” to man. From the translation of the Bible into English until today, women have been considered “the help.” Actually, it began the moment Adam sinned. God warned Eve that Adam would seek to rule over her (because of sin) and she would seek to please him (because of sin). It was not God’s original design. Nor did God name Eve “the helper.” He called her ezer kenegdo. Which has a far more meaningful and powerful definition.

Ezer kenegdo: [Genesis 2:18 can be translated as “I will make a power [or strength] corresponding to man.”…What God had intended, then, was to make a “power” or “strength” for the man who would in every way “correspond to him” or even “be his equal.””]-God’s Word to Women.

I’ve worked with countless women in relationships with men who treat them as their subordinate or they use weaponized incompetence (they pretend they are unable to do certain tasks so their wives are overwhelmed with household tasks or caring for their kids). Mistreating women, treating them as inferior is seen as “normal” or “God’s idea,” when it’s not. The mistreatment of any human being can be tied back to sin. Selfishness is sin. Sexism is sin. Treating people like they are our slaves is not love. God is love.

I love that Jesus told his disciples to not be like the leaders in the world who seek to rule over others, that the greatest among them would be a servant. Jesus encouraged MUTUAL love, MUTUAL respect, and agape love (unselfish, sacrificial love). The intention was not that in all our relationships we would behave and love like Jesus while everyone else gets to be Judas. Jesus had genuine friendships: Mary, Martha, John and several women supported his ministry financially. He loved the entire world, yet only a few demonstrated that love in return.

I had to learn from God that the desire of His heart was not for me to have more people similar to Judas and Saul sitting around my table. He actually desired there would be people who value me the person, not how I can mentor them for free, invest in their lives with zero reciprocation, give while they consume, or to be in cycles of mistreatment. I had to learn that love without wisdom can be likened to foolishness. I endured relationships with people who should have only been ministry opportunities, not friendships. People violated my trust, heart, time, investments in them, and then could easily skip off into the sunset. Some left quietly, while some insulted me on the way out the door.

I had to make a choice to keep enduring those types of relationships, or to step away from tables where I was either starving to death or being poisoned. It does not mean all those people were bad human beings. It means they were not and are not the right people for me. I made the decision that I desired God’s best in relationships. I continued to do ministry, and separated people I serve in a ministry capacity from my friends.

I changed. I had to change. I did not desire to get to the end of my life and not experience the best God had to offer. I was also tired of wishy washy, fair weather friends, people who only showed up for their needs/prayer, and when it was convenient for them. I wanted better. I desired better. I wanted to experience genuine God love in numerous relationships before I died. I also no longer wanted to waste the gifts or time God gave me on people who would not value what was given to them.

What has been the outcome? I have people in my life now or those who remained who show up simply to bless me. People who reach out to say, “How are you? What can I do for you? How can I pray for you?” I’ve been invited to beautiful luncheons, given free suite/box seats at sports events, promoted numerous times at my newest job, and my office has an entire section with cards from people with kind notes. I am valued. I am loved. I am appreciated. I am not “the help.” I don’t have to beg for respect, love, attention, affection, or support. It’s freely given. More doors of opportunity have opened. My health has improved. The warfare in my life has lessened. I have zero relational drama. I have fun! I feel a level of safety in the connections around me. I do not believe they are smiling in my face while discussing me negatively behind closed doors. I am not traumatized or in cycles of being mistreated and them asking for forgiveness. They know how to steward my heart.

If you genuinely love people, trust God desires to place people in your life who KNOW how to love you. Trust that God desires His best for you, not just for you to be the best for everyone else. God is good. I had to learn that God did not orchestrate every relationship I had-even with professing Christians. Some of the Christians I’ve encountered in my lifetime have treated me the worst. Then they show up years later with a sad apology. Are they forgiven? Yes! Do I desire them back in my life. NO! I’d prefer to be set on fire or run over by a bus 50 times. There are people we are called to pray for, forgive, and then MOVE ON!

I hope you pick up Relationships 101: Foundational Wisdom for Better Relationships. I put my heart and soul into this book. My two favorite chapters right now are “Get Wisdom,” and “A Healthy Relationship Starts with You.” We can have better. We can have genuine love. We can have thriving friendships. We can experience God love through another person. The first step is to receive God’s love for ourselves. The second is to stop settling for less than God’s best! I’ve yet to meet anyone grateful they settled in life. You don’t have to settle.

If you don’t know how to treat people, the book provides tools for you too.

Get your copy of Relationships 101 today: https://a.co/d/6XFZvyj

Love,

Erin Lamb

Founder & CEO of Lamb Enterprises LLC

Relationships 101 Book Release

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This book has been a labor of love. Mainly because it contains stories from my own relationships and journey, as well as some from soul health clients. I cannot think of anything that can negatively or positively impact a life more than relationships. I believe we were created to have thriving relationships, yet it can be the most stressful parts of a person’s life. I had to learn some lessons the hard way and I call those wisdom bumps. You don’t need to learn everything via suffering. You can learn from my experiences and those of my clients.

Several of my favorite chapters are, “A Healthy Relationship Starts with You,” “Stop Talking to Snakes,” “Are You Watering Dead Plants,” and “Where is He Leading You.” I have an entire section devoted to the interesting characters. It focuses on the “God told me,” people and narcissists. It covers the breadcrumbers (the people who do just enough to keep you connected, yet they invest nothing substantial in you). There is a section on green flags and how to spot a healthy relationship. I put my heart and soul into this book. It covers family, work, friendship, dating, and marriage.

I’ve worked with countless couples in soul healing to see their marriages restored. All but 1 reconciled. The one couple that did not reconcile was because he preferred to be with men. I believe numerous relationships can be restored. Those that cannot, we can learn from them.

I learned I was an overinvestor. I desired to love people the way God loves me and in the end it left me with major deficits in my life. I invested in people while receiving little to nothing in return. I am worth more than that. I also forgave people over and over who mistreated me, yet they were not repentant nor of high quality. I accepted less than what I wanted in relationships. I was a blessing to people who were not a blessing in return. It sounds noble to be selfless, yet I will tell you confidently that God desires more for you!

There is a chapter called Pivot and I had to pivot. I changed. I removed some connections, changed my phone number, stopped being the initiator, ceased giving people countless chances to use/abuse me, and I stopped settling (there is an entire chapter devoted to settling). It’s vital we know what we want, know our own value/worth, and we stop settling for less!

The eBook was released last week and the paperback will be available within the next week. I hope you grab a copy and share with friends.

Link to pick up the eBook: https://a.co/d/5Mryfc4

With Kind Regards,

Erin Lamb

Founder & CEO of Lamb Enterprises LLC and Operation God is Love

Relationships 101 Book Coming…

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Looking back over my life, I’ve made decisions to love people far more than they’ve loved or demonstrated to me. This sacrificial, never demanding reciprocation type, love was applauded by Christians around me. What I learned was (overall) there were not as many people looking out for my best interests on a consistent basis, nor my well-being, my mental/emotional health, or even what I desired out of relationships.

The guidance was, “If you do all these sacrificial things for the church, community, or other people…God will take care of you. God will meet all your needs. Therefore, you should be proud that you invest so much of your self in others while expecting nothing in return.”

It sounds so lovely! Part is true; another part forsakes wisdom.

Love is not selfish. Love pursues the highest good for others. Love does what is honoring. The part that is missing is God is not requiring us to be friends with, date, or marry people who are consumers in our lives. The “God is so proud of you, yet ask nothing of me in return,” is a way for people to make sure they or their church/ministry are benefited with little to no requirements to do anything in return. The lie told is that “you are doing this for God so it’s what God wants for you.”

I have learned throughout my life plenty of people put God’s name on what benefits their best interests and desires. God desires you serve until you’re burned out, instead of God provides you with a brain and wisdom. Therefore, examine what is reasonable and do not over extend yourself. God desires you give as much money as you can to the church and God will repay you. Truth is that church or ministry desires your funds and only if you give with the right motives will it be credited to you. You are not to give under compulsion.

The truth is as follows: God actually desires that we are in healthy, reciprocal relationships that are life giving. God desires we are loved in return. In a friendship, dating, or marriage there should be some reciprocation, mutual investment, mutual respect and care.

There is a difference between ministry, charity, and a friendship. Ministry and charity involve serving in many capacities without receiving anything in return. A relationship is a partnership of two people who mutually invest, support, and give love. It’s not intended to be persistent one sidedness in dating, friendship, or marriage. Yes, there may be a season or seasons where people cannot reciprocate; they are sick, deployed somewhere else, or they cannot invest any time/love/support. It is abnormal to be connected in relationships with people who do nothing but receive (unless it is a baby/child).

What about God? Does He give to us expecting nothing in return. People say “God expects nothing.” In relationship with God, God asks for faithfulness, faith, love, loyalty, that we listen to sound guidance, to go through His Son, and for our entire lives. God loves everyone! God is NOT in a relationship with everyone. Jesus ministered to many people with deep love who never chose Him. They never reciprocated love. They never turned towards Him. And while people will tell you that those people are in a relationship with Jesus, God does not force connection. Jesus said, “whoever desires to be my disciple must deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow me.” Meaning, “I am requiring something of you to be in relationship with me.”

Though people say you cannot waste time, any love you give cannot and is not wasted, I disagree. I do believe if we love with pure intentions there is reward from God. I also believe we can waste our own time by dating the wrong people, befriending the wrong people, and marrying the wrong person. I have had copious client’s suffering through horrible relationships; they are stressed, burned out, and depressed.

I do not believe God ordains all these tumultuous relationships to teach people something or break them down so far they cry out for help. I think humans, myself included, choose people or allow people to choose us who are not for our greatest good. Once in the relationship there is a desire for God to bless it. Yes, there is one known relationship I’ve read of in the Bible where God encouraged a prophet to marry someone we would not consider marriage material. I don’t believe God is ordaining every dysfunctional relationship.

I hope my next book, Relationships 101, helps people to forgo wasting their time, energy, gifts, heart with people who will not properly steward those things. The plan is to launch the book later this year!

God wants the best, not sub par relationships for you!

Warmly,

Erin Lamb

The Peach Groves-Parable

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Photo Source: The Tutu Guru Australia

Parable: Stewardship

There was a wealthy peach grove owner who left his daughter acres and acres of fertile land. Each year the harvest was abundant, more than she could eat or sell. She chose to open the gates to the grove to those from her church, town, extended family, neighboring towns yearly to share the harvest. Some were grateful and respectful. Many vandalized the groves, took way more than needed, threw fruit on the ground, spit on the property, and cursed her for not providing for them year round. The daughter spent weeks to months cleaning up the damage they caused. Her father was deeply grieved by the excessive damage done to his property, gift to his daughter, and the damage to his daughter’s heart.

Local church people encouraged the girl to keep opening the gates because the hungry and needy were in desperate need of love. It was her responsibility to feed them. Though the local churches required money from the town’s people and paid no taxes, they were not feeding the people.

After years of opening the gates and suffering extreme damage, the father locked the gates. He sat down with his daughter and proclaimed, “The gifts and abundance I have given you were not solely to give away. I love and cherish you. It breaks my heart to see you treated this way. You do not owe everyone access to the groves. They were my gift to you. You must manage how you share what I have given you. I am not requiring you to be destroyed in the process of caring for other people. Keep the groves locked. During harvest time, let people know if there will be extra you will drop of what you feel led to give in your heart to the towns. They are not to set foot in the grove. This area is sacred and my gift to you. If they spit on your gift, shake the dust off your feet and do not return to that town. Steward the grove as though it has tremendous value, because it does. You have tremendous value to me.”

The daughter followed her father’s instructions and apologized to him for not stewarding well his gift to her. She kept the grove locked. When she gathered excess from the harvest, she took it to various towns. If they were hostile, entitled, ungrateful or abusive…she shook the dust off her feet and did not return. Her peach grove grew to be even more abundant because she did not spend weeks to months rebuilding what people destroyed. She ceased trusting the local church people who were exploiting the people rather than helping them. She kept the grove guarded! She flourished under the guidance of her father.

Moral of the story: Guard your heart, giftings, resources from God. You do not owe everyone access. Poor stewardship can destroy you! God cares about you and how people treat you. God bless.

Love in Christ,

Erin L. Lamb

CEO & Founder of Lamb Enterprises LLC and Operation God is Love

Empowered-Free.com

OperationGodisLove.org

Marry a Kingdom Person, Not a “Christian”

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Being a Christian is a label in my country that can mean many things. It does not mean that person has a personal relationship with Jesus, obeys Jesus, nor that they even understand who Jesus is. Jesus spoke more about the Kingdom of God than anything else. Don’t let the prophets for profit convince you He talked most about money. He didn’t. I have met countless people who claim Jesus; they do not mirror any aspects of what He said would mark His followers. This includes clergy, pastors, platform ministers with millions of followers. 

Please don’t be fooled by a label, church attendance, and someone saying they are Christian. I had a lady tell me a guy brought his bible on a date. I asked, “Does he live anything in that bible?” It’s not what he says he is, it’s what he is living. 

I would not recommend for anyone desiring marriage to just seek out a Christian person. I have counseled countless people abused by Christians. Gosh, I have been treated like utter trash by quite a few professing Christians. 

A person who truly seeks first the Kingdom of God: 

1. Has a healthy view of the Lord so they will seek to honor God in their interactions with you, knowing they answer to God for their treatment of you. 

2. Will pursue honor, integrity, love, and mutual service and submission. It’s not one sided. 

3. Will repent when they sin and offer forgiveness to you when you sin. 

4. Will yield to God for pruning and godly growth. 

5. Pursues God and their own spiritual health with God. They do not expect you to be their god. 

6. Serves others, has the heart of a servant.

7. Walks in purity. They care about maintaining their purity with God and you. 

8. Builds God’s Kingdom and helps establish it on earth. 

9. Pursues unselfish love! 

10. Cares about the least, last, lost. They share the gospel and make disciples. 

11. Has regular communion with God and discipline of a disciple. 

12. Is a wise steward of what God has given, knowing they are accountable. Where much is given, much is required. 

13. Loves God more than they love you or anyone or anything else. 

14. Listens to God and wise counsel. 

15. Cares about what is best for you, unselfish love. 

16. Pursues you for the highest good, not their personal or lustful gain. 

17. Honesty, loyalty, commitment to do what they promise to do. 

18. Willing to confront you in love about sin or error. 

19. Talks to you to build connection not about you behind your back or so harshly its abusive. 

20. Views you as an equal, not a subordinate. 

21. Takes accountability for their own choices. 

22. Seeks to add value to your life. 

23. Seeks to obey God. 

24. Is passionate about God and their relationship is growing. 

25. Isn’t in love with marriage, a wedding, or the idea of marriage. They are fully in love with Jesus. 

A Kingdom person views life through God’s lens. They seek to do the will of God. They are sold out for Jesus. So, they are not trying to devour you, use you, get you into sin, get you into sexual immorality. They are pursuing God’s best for themselves and you. 

I will be honest that I have met more “Christians” than Kingdom people. It saddens me because Jesus is grossly misrepresented by the masses. My encouragement for those who want to marry is “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness.” Instead of, “God gimmie!!” Say, “God prepare me. Help me to be a Kingdom person. Help me to love you most and yield to your purposes. God make me a blessing so I can be a blessing. Give me discernment to know what’s just good and what’s God (you). Heal my brokenness. Fix the broken parts of me. Grow me up in you. Prune away non fruit bearing parts of me.” 

As someone with years of experience helping married couples piece the broken parts together, please consider working on putting God first, getting healed, and pursuing God. Marriage does not cure things. It amplifies whats broken. Seek God. Seek first the Kingdom of God, not religion. Honor God. If you won’t honor God, you won’t honor a spouse.

Warm Regards,

Erin Lamb

Is This Who We Are? Addressing cruelty in cultural “Christianity“

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Quote by Ghandi

This year has brought out the gold in some people and exceptional cruelty/the worst in others. I call it an unveiling year. We always had issues in my nation; now they are more visible.

I understand there has been stress, uncertainty, life changes, and for some they are living on the edge. We all need grace, kindness, the benefit of the doubt, and mercy is greater than judgement. Then there is a time to stand up, speak out, and set boundaries with people who are way out of line.

I do not know about you, yet I have witnessed things in cultural “Christianity” that do not align with God love (unselfish, sacrificial love).

Face Mask Mania:

I have witnessed grown adults having 2 year old tantrums over face masks. Some have cursed out store employees, destroyed property, and given others COVID. Wearing a mask to demonstrate to your neighbor you care about them is not being weak. It’s actually loving to consider other people.

I have heard people say, “Well, I am not afraid, and this is violating my rights.” Yet the same people wear clothes and shoes into the stores. Those are mandatory. The same people wear seat belts. Those are mandatory. The same people yield to traffic signs.

Sometimes loving our neighbors costs us something. I know of people who have died from COVID. My parents are much older (I came later in life). If someone could have prevented them from getting COVID and chose not to attesting their rights, and my parents died, I would be furious! Yes, God heals. Yes, God protects. God also considers people who are afraid, hurting, not healed, have no health insurance, etc.

I want to make a t-shirt for my merch site that says, “It’s not just about you. I looked at the center of the Universe and found God, not your photo.”

Jesus stated, “Love your neighbor AS you love yourself.” I know this is challenging and can only be done by abiding in Jesus. I have to ask God to help me love some people and to walk in love. I am not perfect. I am still being refined. I try to let Him love through me.

Jesus could have been the biggest ego maniac as the Son of God. Meaning His status was and is King of kings. He chose humility. Humility involves lowering ourselves and considering others.

Degrading and Mocking:

I have been talked down to, mocked, and treated poorly by “Christians” because of my stance against racist things and posting about racism this year. I am accustomed to churchy people attacking me because I do not just go along with the crowd.

There are people degrading and mocking other human beings while claiming to be pro-life. I have seen “Christians” stand up and support a murderer aligned with their political party, yet claim to be pro-life. Some have celebrated the death of someone who was pro-choice. I have seen people using another person’s tragedy to promote their political agenda (using a miscarriage to drag a pro-choice person through the mud). I have heard racist comments from professing “Christians”, leaders, pastors, people claiming to represent Jesus. I have seen levels of dishonor from professing believers that was and is absolutely demonic. It’s not how Jesus behaves nor how He behaved. It is from the pit.

I want to say this clearly. The world watches the way Christians behave. They often see the hypocrisy of the church better than anyone in the church. I have spoken to quite a few people about their gross disappointment with the church especially in the areas of justice, addressing racism, politics (turning a blind eye to gross sin in their chosen political party or political leader while screaming “You’re evil,” at them, for not caring about those terrified about COVID, and noticing extreme arrogance in people claiming to be a Christian especially those who are in a leadership or government role.

I may lose followers for posts like these, yet my loyalty is to Jesus. Despite behaviors of pastors, leaders, other Christians, politicians, and even the President-we answer to God for ourselves! If we claim to be a Christian, Jesus is the standard. God looks at how we live, notes everything we say, and we will give an account for how we represented Him on earth.

I hear people say they would die for Jesus. No you wouldn’t if you won’t even put on a face mask to help those around you. I hear people say they want to lead millions into knowing Jesus. Well, that involves sacrifice and dying to self. Would anyone want to know Jesus by the lifestyle we live in front of them? I see people running away from God due to political and rude professing Christians.

This whole notion that we are the center of the Universe and not God, is not only unbiblical, it’s dangerous. It is dangerous because we can think we are following Jesus when we are actually not following Jesus at all.

I am reading through the entire bible and right now I am in Matthew. The things Jesus said were radical. “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out,” meaning we are responsible for our actions. He did not say, “Blame the other person and scream about your rights.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” I could hear Jesus preaching this today and people screaming, “No Jesus! Blessed are ALL people. All people are blessed!!” There is something wrong when we make everything about us.

Something is wrong in a culture where there is zero consideration for others. Something is wrong when Christians are linked to cruelty rather than compassion. Something is wrong when the behavior of the church looks more like the world than Jesus.

I have ceased looking at my personal Facebook until I can clean it out due to the conflict “Christians” have caused on my page. No person should feel hostage or bullied on their own page. Why is this happening? People think my page is their territory to say whatever they like and quite a few love to make posts about them, especially the posts addressing racism. It’s funny the most vocal have not been recipients of racism. However, they show up to debate me or offer opinions regarding things they do not understand. They are harmful!!! I had to start a private, unseen group to discuss racism safely with people of color.

Who have been the ones causing strife on my page? Professing Christians. I ask this question, “Is this who we are?” Do we truly want to be lumped in the category of cruel, selfish, lacking compassion, mean spirited, narcissistic, uncaring, apathetic, mockers? I know Jesus is none of those things.

My encouragement to the world is “Let’s do better!” My encouragement to Christians is, “Please consider Jesus as the standard, not leaders of our time. Choose Jesus. Follow Jesus.” The same Jesus who flipped over tables and rebuked people to their faces was willing to die on a cross for them. I meet people who will not even endure 10 minutes of being uncomfortable to show love to someone else.

My hopes are people are pointed at the real Jesus! The Jesus who washed feet even though He was king. The Jesus who denied Himself and chose death to give us life. He put Himself in harms way to save our lives. Jesus who went out of His way to demonstrate unselfish, sacrificial love. Are we? Do people seen any hint of Jesus in us? Because we are walking billboards for Him. He wants the world to know Him. Jesus came to point the world to the Father. We have an incredible opportunity to do the same.

God gave the church copious opportunities in 2020 to demonstrate His love, compassion, selflessness, helping hand, and work for justice. Are we adding value anywhere other than our comfy Christian bubbles? The world around us is hurting.

Church buildings may have closed. Street corners did not. I have gone out on the streets almost every month this year; feeding people, clothing people, praying for people, sharing the Gospel, going to protest sites to love people, etc…Operation God is love paid for groceries for families laid off by COVID. One month we had a line of hungry people because no one was coming to feed them. Jesus does not stop being Jesus in a crisis. Jesus shows up with solutions. He invites His followers to do the same.

Taking Supplies to the Streets

May we sink into Jesus, follow Jesus, and represent Him well.

Warmly,

Erin