By: Shelly DeBone ​God’s Love: Did you know God loves you with an everlasting, steadfast, and devoted love? God’s love has no equivalent. It’s all encompassing. Lamentations 3:22 ESV says, “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” God’s love wraps us up in light and never lets us go. He doesn’t court us with His love and then abandon us. His love is merciful and kind. It’s always forgiving and always protecting. It’s full of grace! God’s love is rock solid! How do I know? God has proven Himself faithful in my life. I’ve experienced God’s love in tangible ways. I’ve seen God’s love transform the lives of others. Our doting Father has filled His world with beauty. His creation is a captivating display of love. Take some time and study what He’s made. It's miraculous! But, beyond His creation, I behold God’s love when I gaze upon His Son. Jesus is the embodiment of love. He truly is! ​The Fall: 1 John 4:16 says that “God is love.” NIV Therefore, everything He says and does is born of love. When God first created the Heavens and the Earth, it was dark and empty. He envisioned light. He spoke it into creation, and it burst forth. He saw that it was good. From there God began implementing a grand design for our universe, by orchestrating the placement of every star and planet. And He chose Earth to be our home. He thought up every minute detail. Our lives could be bland, but He chose colors, textures, tastes, and smells that elicit feelings and prompt behaviors. He engineered life cycles. He watered the earth. He warmed it with the sun. He filled the atmosphere with air. An array of flowers, grass, ferns, and trees dotted the landscape. And, one by one He brought forth the fish, birds, insects, and the animals that are all unique and fascinating. And all of His creation had a purpose. In accordance with God’s beautiful vision, “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27NIV He intricately fashioned man and woman with distinct characteristics. He formed them to be helpmates to one another, and to care for their incredible home. They were created to love. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were made in His image, after all. They were created for love, but they were also created to choose. They had minds, wills, and emotions. And eventually they chose poorly. From the moment they fell, our beautiful planet has never been the same. Adam and Eve shared an intimacy with God. But they weren’t God. The fallen angel, Satan, tricked Adam and Eve into thinking equality with God would be better than the life they were living, but it was a lie. "You will not certainly die,” the serpent (Satan) said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 2:4,5NIV In an instant, their eyes were opened to darkness. Sin entered the world, when they ate from the forbidden tree. Fellowship with God was broken, and they were forced to navigate life’s struggles without God’s companionship. Now, they were destined to die. Before the fall, they had God’s unfettered attention. But now, death, pain, and suffering entered the equation, which proved debilitating, disheartening, and distracting, and although God longed to be close to them, they didn’t always know how to respond. From that point on, Adam, Eve, and every living being were lost. Hope: Despite our fallen nature, God never gave up on us. From the foundation of the world, God had a plan to redeem His people. With the same precision and love that He created us, the Father paved a way for us to be saved. Generations after Adam and Eve, God’s people found themselves in bondage. At a time when they needed encouragement, hope spoke, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11 – 13 NIV These verses give us insight into how to respond, in light of God’s love. In His Word, God shared that He has good plans for us. We can trust those plans. “For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.” Psalm 33: 4,5 NLT The Bible clearly states, God’s unfailing love never left the earth. Yet the people were hindered by sin. Sin was certainly an obstacle, but every now and then they’d figure out God wanted to be sought. And when they sought Him, He could be found. It was up to them to do the seeking. Both then, and now, God was longing for reconnection. It’s always been His desire. But he also loves what is just and true, and we’re neither of those things without Him. A chasm had been created. After the fall, we needed a way to get back to God. He would certainly make a way. ​God’s Redemptive Plan: As we read God’s Word, we read about God’s redemptive plan. We learn that a baby was born to a humble girl named Mary. She was an Israelite who lived in a small town called Nazareth. Mary was a virgin, pledged to marry a man named Joseph, when a miraculous event took place. Mary was visited by an angel named Gabriel and when he came to her, he said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1: 28 NIV Mary was troubled as the angel went on, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1: 30-33 NIV Being a virgin, she went on to question how that could happen, and the angel explained that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, and she would conceive. What an incredible proposal! The Holy One of Israel would place the Son of God in the womb of an ordinary teenager, so Jesus could be born, and salvation could come to the world. God’s grand plan came down to a “Yes” from a young girl. Mary’s response was extraordinary. She replied, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1:38 NIV She said Yes! Wow – What a precious gift Mary gave to all of us. She decided to bear and raise the Son of God. She carried Him in her body and brought Him forth. She raised Jesus until the age of independence, but even then, she followed Him. Over time she realized a lifetime with her child was a lifetime spent with God Himself. It forever marked her. And Jesus can do the same for us. Yes or No? The remarkable thing about our salvation, is it requires a response like Mary’s. Will we say Yes or No to God? When we say Yes to Jesus, the Lord of the universe breaks into our ordinary existence, and He comes to live inside our hearts. In much the same way Mary carried Jesus, we have the privilege of carrying him, too. With a contrite heart, Mary shared “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” Luke 1:46-55 NIV Mary had always believed God had a good plan for her people. When she was asked to participate in God’s loving plan, in humility, Mary agreed. And that’s our calling too. ​We find Jesus in God’s Word: Some of you may be wondering, how do you love and trust a God who you cannot see, and you don’t really know? Fortunately, a roadmap exists of how to love and trust Jesus. That roadmap is called the Bible. A full portrait of God is found in the Bible. God’s Word is His love letter to humanity, and Jesus loving presence is woven throughout the written Word. Jesus was there at the beginning. Colossians 1:16 NIV says, “For in him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” God created the earth and everything in it, and then God came to earth, in the form of His Son, born of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless life, and during his earthly ministry, we saw the living God at work, performing miracles, healing the sick, and delivering the oppressed. Through Jesus death and resurrection, it was God’s plan to “reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1: 20 NIV Jesus reconciled us, when He died on the cross for us. And He chose the cross because it took the shedding of innocent blood to save us from our sins. It was the pivotal point of God’s redemptive plan. And, when you read his Word, you’ll see how much He loves us. He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again, and he did that for you and me. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV It’s the great exchange. By dying in our place, Jesus proved his love for us. We deserved the death he suffered, and he took our punishment instead. That’s grace! And there’s nothing like grace. Love God and Love Others: Jesus showed us what it takes to love the Father and how to love others. It requires grace, charity, forgiveness, and sacrifice. 1 John 4:11,12 NIV says “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us.” We’re called to respond to God’s love with love. We’ll know we’re living in God’s love if we humbly ask Him to take our sin, and ask Him to come into our hearts. We’ll say Yes to Jesus and No to ourselves. We’ll lay down our will and begin living for him. For “greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” 1 John 4:11 NIV We will publicly proclaim that Jesus saved us, and we’ll let the Holy Spirit guide our steps. A heart that truly loves Jesus will obey him. John 14:21 NIV says, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” We’re imperfect beings and we won’t always get this right, but we can be assured that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV We will share the good news of the gospel so others can know him, the way we do. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16 NIV The Greatest Commandment: Mark 12:28-33 NIV describes how “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them (the religious leaders) debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. ”Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Love is greater than sacrifice. It’s profound. Many of us put value on the frivolous things we do, day in and day out. We uphold our achievements, and all the things we’ve accumulated. But God doesn’t place value on those things. Loving God with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength and loving your neighbor as yourself may feel impossible, “but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19: 26 NIV We’re selfish beings, but we carry God’s Spirit. And the same God who raised Christ from the dead can help us to live according to His good purposes. When we love God well, and love people too, we’re producing the kind of fruit God planned for our lives from the beginning. It’s good fruit. And, that fruit will direct people to Jesus. He said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 NIV There’s a famous Christian hymn written in the 1960’s by Catholic priest, Father Peter Scholtes, and it’s called They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love. The title says it all. They will know we are Christians by our love. “Let him lead me to the banquet hall and let His banner over me be love.” Song of Solomon 2:4 NIV We ought to wave love like a banner. Love saved me. It’s a joy to love in return. I Said Yes. Will You? There was a time that I didn’t know God. He revealed Himself in ways that held a mirror to my sin. I couldn’t run away from the reality that I was a sinner who needed saving. In God’s kindness, He didn’t leave me in my pitiful state. He came into my life, and He saved me. I was given a choice and I said “Yes” to my Savior. Will you say “Yes” too? It’s the greatest decision you’ll ever make. The God of the universe wants a restored relationship with you. Have you ever experienced a broken relationship. I have, and it’s painful. Jesus made restoration possible. He died for you, but He’s alive now, and waiting for you to ask Him into Your heart. Bring your hurt, sin, and shame to Jesus, and lay it all down at the foot of the cross. Ask Jesus to take the things you’ve been holding onto. He’ll do it. I promise. And, then ask Him to walk with you all the days of your life. When you do, life with Jesus will open your eyes to the riches of His grace. You’ll see Him touching every facet of your life, and you’ll realize you’re not alone. Jesus loves you! And He created you to love Him, and others, in return.

The one greatest thing Jesus wants from all his followers is for them to become love. In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus is asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” Jesus commanded us to love. These are the two greatest commandments, but we spend very little time talking about what they mean and what they look like.  This article will discuss our command to love, and also what is the definition of love used throughout the Bible. Do you love yourself? This is one of the first places to start, because if you do not love yourself then you cannot love others.  God thinks you are lovable, and it takes laying down our pride to come into agreement with what God says about us.  This is a huge step to receiving the love of God.  You can only give to others what you have for yourself.  Jesus thinks you are awesome, so you should too.  As you see yourself as lovable you will be able to go confidently before the Lord and thank Him for loving you.  As you get filled up with God’s love it will overflow from you and you will be able to give love to others, even the ones who do not deserve it. No longer will your tank constantly be on empty trying to get filled up by other people who also have an empty tank. God is love, and He has an endless supply to give you. He is a good Father. Maybe you did not have a father that knew how to love, but God will teach you and bring healing to all the broken places. I was preparing for a Bible study class I was leading on this topic and asked the Lord to help me clearly communicate His heart.  The verse Zephaniah 3:17 came to mind “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” God sings over you!!  He delights in you!  I asked the Lord to share with me the song He sings over me.  I should have written it down, but it was such a beautiful moment I did not want to ruin.  It made me weep, and I know this probably sounds fruity, but God wants all of us to know His voice.  In the song He expressed His joy in me coming alive in Him and knowing Him.  Joy, that I heard His voice and ran after It, and now I get to grow up in the purpose and plans He created me for.  Then He shared His heart’s cry for all His children to know Him in this way.  He said that He prays over each one of the little lives He creates before placing them in their mother’s womb. I saw the image of him tenderly holding a little life and lovingly speaking over it. His hope is always that through all the distractions, through all the lies of the enemy, and all the traumas life brings that this little one will hear His voice and return to Him. Imagine loving your child so much and then sending them into a broken world. By this time, I was bawling my eyes out.  If we could only understand the depths of God’s love. So, what is so powerful about love? John 14:21 “He that has my commandments, and keeps them he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."  Matthew 22:40 NKJV "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Love accomplishes all the commandments, all the prophets spoke, and love embodies all the “fruits of the Spirit.”  If you obey and surrender to God Fathering you into how to become love, Jesus says he will manifest himself to YOU! This is why the Christians who see clearly the call to become love and purify themselves through obedience and reliance on the Holy Spirit have a character resembling Christ.  As you die to yourself, go all in without looking back at the old life, and seek to become love as Christ is love; HE will continue pouring HIS love into you.  True love is laying down your life for those you love.  Jesus can only bring new life to the areas of the old man you are willing to crucify on the cross. As a result, Jesus will come more and more into the areas of your heart you surrender to His Lordship, enabling you to LOVE MORE LIKE HIM!! Growing you, strengthening you, and lastly empowering you to go do the same things Jesus did! This is amazing! My friends it also does not have to be a long drawn out process. Surrender your life today and go all in for Jesus. It does not have to be 20 years of hanging onto your old life with white knuckles slowly prying one finger off at a time. There is freedom in surrender. In John 14:16 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.”  The way of salvation is through Jesus, but if we look closely at his life and follow his example we will be walking in love.  The old saying, “What would Jesus do” used to be popular, unfortunately it became a saying with a lack of understanding of how to apply it. Often, I try to stop and ask Jesus what he would do in that situation or what he would say.  It is always much better than however I would respond naturally. The Power of Abiding John 15:1-17 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other." The root word “abide” in the Greek is “meno” which means: stay, remain, dwell. The author of the book of John is known to have one of the closest intimate relationships with Jesus and emphasizes the command to become love within his writings.  John is also recorded as laying his head on the chest of Jesus, showing the closeness of their friendship. John also marks love as the only indicator of whether or not you know God. (Read “Knowing God” to learn more.) We must stay soft hearted and yielding to the Lord Fathering us. Humility is key, and honoring others above ourselves are ways to display love. For myself I have not arrived, but I can confidently say I have grown and am completely different from who I was even 3 years ago.  John 15 is a special chapter in the Bible for me.  One I would often read when the storms of life would come, and I could only see the disaster in front of me. I would rest in the presence of Jesus and focus on the new life I had because of what He did on the cross for me.  Just as Moses lifted the serpent and all who looked at it were healed (Numbers 21), I would look to Jesus. I would also read the books of John and 1 John, and just rest in His presence. As I did this more and more, I became aware of the moment His presence touched me. As I spent more time in this place that presence would stay with me longer. It stayed with me as long as I would keep my focus on Him.  If something changed and my eyes shifted back to my problems instead of standing in faith trusting Him, I could feel that presence lift and almost a heaviness on my chest. There was a time I had 2-3 weeks solid of that sweet presence filled with peace, love, and joy that lasted morning till night. Regardless of the ups and downs of life, He carried me. I learned how to receive love from Jesus, how to love Him through intimacy, and how to carry that love to the people around me. Jesus is always with you and me, but you will know the difference when His manifest presence enters the room. You also do not need a worship band to experience His presence. You can go to your room and shut the door. It was through this intimate love relationship with Jesus that I became aware of sinful responses and habits I had that were outside of love. Even having an attitude of the heart that was less than Christ would cause that sweet presence to lift. Now, you live by faith and not by feelings, but as Christians we should be filled with peace, love, and joy which is evidence of the Holy Spirit within us. So now when feelings of offense, hurt, anger, frustration, feeling sorry for myself, stressed, being overwhelmed or complaining rears its ugly head I renounce it and nail it back to the cross where it belongs. It is His presence in my life I desire to cultivate daily and share with others. Google: “Father Lawrence” to learn more about cultivating the presence of God. So, what is love? The world around us has twisted the definition of love to be all about oneself, lust, approval, affirmation, need and identity from others. Basically self centered and at other people's expense. This is why people fall in and out of "love," they were never in love to begin with. The need just ran out, because love never fails. There are two definitions in the Bible I have found regarding love. The first definition is Jesus, because Jesus was love. 1 John 4:16-18 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus."  Hang tight as I come back to this and why there are so many crabby Christians with poor attitudes. The second definition of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast. It is not proud, rude, or selfish. It is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. It never delights in evil, but always rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.”  Ouch! When I first started weighing my actions, responses, and attitudes through this verse; I wept when I realized I did not love my husband.  I had expectations of affection and affirmation.  I kept a record of wrongs as I would allow my mind to run with the piece of mind I wanted to give him. I would pick up my “rights” instead of laying my life down as Jesus did.  In fact, as I studied exactly how Jesus responded, all the wise people in this world would consider him a doormat, when in fact he is the only man with the strength to obey the Father perfectly. Not once on the cross did you hear Jesus complain about all the backstabbers.  He never acted like a victim when the world turned on him.  He also never stood up and said, I have had all I can take of you cowards. He did not sit on the cross and shame the people that worshipped him days before but were yelling "crucify him" then.  He willingly laid down his life, so those who received his sacrifice could have their sins washed away and be restored back into children with a purpose and inheritance. So why don’t Christians love like Jesus? This is a sobering question, and the Bible answers is clearly.  Before answering I do want to say this: There are many Christians who do love like Jesus.  There is often also much going on behind the scenes that you are not aware of.  I have wrongfully made judgements before, but when I had a chance to peek behind the curtain, I saw love displayed where nobody would ever see it. I had to repent for making wrong judgements without even talking to anybody. So, as you read this; focus on your own heart, and your own relationship with the Lord.  Often if our initial response is to point to somebody else, then we are the ones who need to hear it for ourselves the most. Let us look at scripture. 1 John 4:7 -8 “Dear friend, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” We talked about crabby Christians with bad attitudes, but here scripture gives us the answer: they do not know God, at least not as good as they could.  Sometimes not as good as they want everyone to believe.  The motives of our heart can be impure, and we won't even know it unless we get before the Lord.  Sometimes we want people to see us as “religious” or “spiritual” and we like the attention.  Sometimes we even serve in church in a self-centered way to make us feel better about ourselves.  The other reason is simply because we compare ourselves to others instead of to Jesus.  When I shifted my focus from people to Jesus my life has been transformed. I can truly say the process is a joy. Sometimes painful, but truly freeing. I am thankful the process continues. Knowing God and receiving His love helps to correct these things.  Do not allow a quick devotional, prayer during your meal, doing ministry, Bible reading (for knowledge not relationship) or even going to church, replace knowing God.  The more you know Him, the more you will become like Him. In the next post I will look at Jesus’s example of how to love. Especially under pressure. Application: 1) Open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and pray over this definition of love. Take the last conflict you had and pray through this verse and see if there was an area in your heart that was outside of love. 2) Thank the Lord for revealing His truth to you. Name what He pointed out to you, and repent by expressing your sorrow, ask Him to take the sin from your life. Thank Him for His forgiveness and nail it to the cross. Now ask the Lord to show you how to respond in love. Then we have to set our hearts on dying in that area so Jesus can be Lord. Additional Reading: John 14 & 15 1 John 2,3,4, & 5 1 Corinthians 13 Romans 12:9-21 Ephesians 3:14-21 Ephesians 5:1-2

“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’ “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’” -John 3:1-3 (NIV) Darkness to Light I’m sure when Jesus spoke these words, it came as a bit of a surprise to Nicodemus. Modern-day Christians have normalized the phrase “born again,” but for Nicodemus it would have been anything but normal. Being “born” brings about very specific images; and although Jesus’ wording may have seemed unusual at the time, it was no mistake. Childbirth is quite an incredible process. There is certainly discomfort and pain for the child passing from womb to world, but there is also the matter of entering into an entirely new environment. To be born requires a change in location and a change in circumstance. John 5:24 says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24 NKJV) The second part of John 3:18 says, “whoever does not believe [in Jesus] stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18b NIV) These verses very clearly tell us what condition -what circumstance- each one of us was in before knowing the Lord. Because of sin - because of the fallen state of the world- we were dead, we were condemned, we were unclean, we were separated from God. This is true of each and every one of us from the moment of our physical births. Much like a child inside their mother’s womb, there is nothing that we can do in our own strength to move from our state of sin and separation into a new state or condition. Additionally, just as a child doesn’t fully experience what it means to be alive until they are born, so we cannot experience life in the Spirit, and ultimately eternal life, until we are born of the Spirit… until we are born again. Being born of the Spirit will bring about a change of circumstance and a change in living condition that is no less evident in the spiritual realm than the change that occurs in the natural after the physical birth of a child. Even as a newborn child moves from the darkened state of the womb to the bright and stimulating world at the time of their birth, so a person who is born of the Spirit moves from death to life and darkness to light when they pass from sin and separation from God to forgiveness and eternal life. Why “Born Again”? Many parents speak to their children while they are in utero. They read to them. They sing to them. They play music for them. All of these efforts, though beautiful and maybe even beneficial, don’t change the fact that until a child is born, they cannot fully enter into a reciprocal and functional relationship with their parents. A baby may even recognize their mother’s or father’s voices, but they don’t REALLY come to know their parents until after the moment of their birth. Just like being born in the flesh allows a child to enter into a relationship with their parents, being born of the Spirit allows a person to enter into a relationship with the God who created the mind, body, and spirit of man. Many people know about God. They may believe in Jesus and the death and resurrection. They may go to church. They may know Bible stories and try their best to be good; but unless they have been born again, they cannot truly know the God of the universe – the one who created them and loves them. Even those who have not been born again hold the affection and love of Father God, much like the love that parents begin to feel for their unborn child long before they actually meet them in person; but even though God’s love for humankind is greater than any of us here on earth could imagine, His love alone will not save us. We must be born of the Spirit, or as Jesus said "born again," in order to become part of the kingdom of heaven. How Can I Be Born of the Spirit? After Jesus told Nicodemus that anyone wanting to enter the kingdom of heaven must be born again, Nicodemus had a question for Him. John 3:4 says, “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” (John 3:4 NIV) You might find yourself wondering the same thing as Nicodemus today. “How can I be born again?” The Bible gives us the straightforward answer to this question. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved… for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Romans 10:9,10,13 NIV) When we believe that Jesus is who He says He is, call upon Him, and declare Him Lord of our lives; we are choosing to walk through the door of Christ into new life… new birth. Even so, just as an unborn child cannot really bring about their own birth or their own entrance into life, so we cannot bring about our own spiritual birth. The WORK of being born is done by the one who gives us life. In the case of physical birth, this work is done by the mother. In the case of spiritual birth, this work has been done by Christ. Even though the work that leads us to eternal life has been done by another, that doesn’t mean we won’t be changed. In fact, it is impossible to go through the process of being born without being changed. An unborn child cannot breathe, eat, or see the world while they are in the womb. They take their first breath, begin to eat, and see the world with their own eyes only after they are born. The way they live, survive, and thrive changes from the womb to the world. Likewise, it is impossible to go from being lost in sin to being found in Christ without being changed. When we pass from a life of sin to new life in Christ, we cannot remain the same. This decision to go from sinner to saved is often difficult, and it can be painful for those being born of the Spirit, just as it is for a child born in the physical. Luke 14:28-30,33 says, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:28-30,33 NIV) When Christ calls us to follow Him, He asks us to consider what that really means. He doesn’t just want lip service. He wants our entire lives. He calls us to obedience, and obedience will always bring about change. The process of change through obedience can be very painful. The process of submitting to Christ can be uncomfortable, but when we willfully pledge ourselves to Christ and to a life of submission and obedience, we can rest assured that not only will He give us the strength to obey and submit as we walk in new life, but that new life will be more than worth it! When Christ died on the cross and was raised back to life, He did the complete work required for us to be born again. All we need to do is accept that work and allow it be applied to our lives. When we accept it and submit to Christ’s work on the cross, the painful process of transformation will naturally occur and we will be empowered by Christ to walk through it. Why Can’t I Just Stay the Way I Am? An unborn child cannot distinguish the world with his or her eyes because even though they HAVE eyes and the ability to open them and look around, they themselves are inside of the womb. They can only see the world that they are currently a part of. Even if some measure of light makes its way through the abdominal wall and the lining of the uterus to the baby’s eyes, they can still only see within the confines of the space they occupy. They cannot see nor fathom the world that awaits them after birth. They can’t breathe air. They can’t eat food; instead, they are supplied oxygen and nutrients through the umbilical cord which is a literal lifeline from the mother to the unborn child. Certainly, any baby would be content to remain in the only world they know even though that world is meant to be just a temporary holding place for them. However, life as it was intended to be cannot begin until a person is born. The truth is, if a child were to stay in the womb - if somehow the woman did not go into labor and the child was not forced into the world - that child would eventually die. To NOT be born would be an ultimate death sentence to the unborn child. This same thing is true in our spiritual lives. If, in the spirit, we stay in the condition that we were born into - sin, condemnation, and separation from God - then we will ultimately die. This spiritual death is much worse than the physical death that a baby trapped in the womb would experience. It is an eternal death. It is a death that we will never be able to escape from once life on this earth is over. Just like a baby in the womb, those who have not been born again - born of the spirit - may be very content to stay in the condition that they are in. They may think that they are experiencing a full life, but the Word of God tells us that there is only one way to experience a full life. Just as an unborn baby will never experience true life until they exit they womb, we will never experience true life in the Spirit until we are born again. John 10:10 tells us what kind of life waits for us depending on who we align ourselves with in this world. There is no room for being wishy washy. We are either for Christ or we are for Satan. Jesus tells us what Satan, the thief, has in store for us. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” (John 10:10a NIV) Jesus also tells us what He, himself, has in store for us when we commit ourselves to Him. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b NIV) Here is the same verse with a little more context. "So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:7-11 ESV). We can only be born again and enter eternal life through Christ: not a knowledge of Christ or an understanding or appreciation of Him, not even a shallow love that is based on the way that we feel about Him. Having vast knowledge or a strong appreciation for Christ and what He has done for us will not give us eternal life. There is only one way to enter eternal life. There is only one way to be born again. We must choose to make Jesus the Lord of our lives and put our faith and trust in Him. The Oxford Languages online dictionary defines Lord as, “someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler.” When we make Jesus Christ Lord over us, we give Him the authority and influence in our lives. We give Him rule above every other power in this world including our own fleshly wants and desires. 2 Corinthians 5:15 tells us that Jesus “died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:15 ESV) Jesus gave everything for us. When we make Him Lord of our lives, we are giving ourselves back to Him. This is the only way to eternal life. This is how we pass from death to life, and this is what it means to be born again. What Does the Bible Say About Being Born Again? “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” – Romans 3:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 (NKJV) “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8 (NKJV) “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” – Romans 5:1 (NIV) “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” – Romans 10:13 (NKJV) If you are ready to make Jesus the Lord of your life, pray this prayer right now; and then tell someone that you did! “Lord, I give myself to You. I want to serve You. I want to know You. Thank You for Your sacrifice for my sins. Thank You for dying in my place and rising again. I love You, and I put my faith in You today. I make You the Lord of my life right now. Come in and make all things new. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Bonnie "BJ" Potts shares her story of how she went from feeling unwanted, broken, and unloved to being restored in all things. Listen to the hope and love she found in Jesus.

Pastor Jay Gillcrest was adopted as an infant. He struggled feeling insecure about looking different from the rest of his family. His life changed when he went to a sports camp and met Jesus there. God gave him a new identity.

Teri Ocha's story is such a beautiful example of God reaching into the life of a beloved child and bringing life and restoration. From the start of Teri's life, she faced abuse to the extent she fled her home as a young child and lived on the streets. Homeless she found comfort in gathering with others that have faced similar circumstances. She sold cocaine to get by until she encountered Jesus. She met Him on the first encounter. He continued chasing her down and saved her just before she was going to take her life. Since that time Jesus has not only restored Teri's life, but He has truly blessed her. Now she is a wife, mother, respected businesswoman and teacher within her church. Satan meant to steel her life and purpose, but God had plans for her.

Shelly DeBone had a story of sexual abuse by a neighbor, alcohol creating instability in her home, which led to partying and more trauma. When Shelly came to know Jesus, He gave her a new story.

Every day you have the opportunity to get alone with the God of the universe. One of the biggest things that gets in our way is perspective. If we feel like it is a Christian chore, it will feel like a burden and really won't be very rewarding. If you see it as a privilege and expect God to meet you there, hearing your prayers and even talking to you it should actually get you excited! The one thing God desires most is time alone with His children, loving on them and filling them up with who He is. It is in His presence we are changed. John 17:3 NIV "Now this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." I used to believe eternal life was when I got to heaven. When I studied this verse, I realized eternal life starts now! Jesus literally defined eternal life as knowing God. I have the opportunity to KNOW God the best I can here in this lifetime. You Live What You Know Matthew 7:23 NIV “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never KNEW you. Away from me you evildoers!” What we truly believe will be represented by how we choose to live our lives. It can be easy to replace knowing God with work, hobbies, church attendance, ministry, or even reading your Bible for knowledge. If you don't have intimate prayer time with the Lord, the scriptures you read will not come alive in you with God's loving heart. Knowlege puffs up, but it is love that edifies. Having time alone with God to just listen, ask a question and chew on it, and mull over scripture allows a quiet place to hear the Lord speak to you. The word edify means "to instruct or improve," and the Lord will edify you as you spend intimate time with Him. I think we have all met a few Christians that know the Bible well but were super grumpy and have missed the call of Jesus to become love. They just don't know God as well as they could. This means it is about relationship. (Discussed more in Jesus Commanded Us to Love). Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Rest in the Lord vs working to earn his favor.  You have already won His favor, He sent his son to die for you! Works is anything done apart from the Holy Spirit. Our prayer life should come from a place of rest as well, not striving. Knowing God Transforms You It is through KNOWING HIM you are transformed. 2 Corinthians 3:18 We go from faith to faith and glory to glory. “But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” You approach the Lord with an unveiled face, like a beautiful bride. Boldly and with confidence approaching the presence of God.  It’s in this place that you are transformed into His image from one place of glory to an even higher place of glory as you continue standing in His presence. You are fueled to live the Christian life without striving or becoming legalistic (rules without love), trying to earn salvation.  We are not robots, God does not want us mindlessly doing work for Him.  We are beloved sons and daughters, and because we have tasted His goodness and seen how good He is, we WANT to reveal His kingdom to the world. By knowing Him and His love, fear of death falls away.  Fear of man falls away.  Fear of what you have to give up to follow Him disappears. Your heart aligns with Him, and you see how good He is and want more. It is the goodness of God that leads to repentance (turning from sin). His perfect love casts out all fear. How to talk with God Ephesians 3:12 “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Go to God in confidence and freedom that He WANTS to spend time with you. Because of Jesus you are totally clean and righteous, able to go boldly before the Father. 1 Peter 4:7 “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.” Berean Standard Bible. It takes self-discipline and an act of your will to get alone with God. Sometimes I have to stay up till 1:00AM to get the time I need. I also know if I'm struggling to have a clear-mind I have usually been allowing other things to occupy my thoughts instead of the Lord. If I don't get much sleep, I know God will give me the grace the following day to accomplish the tasks at hand. I also know I can look at my lack of sleep as a reason to have a bad attitude or I can look at Jesus who never gives me a reason for having a bad attitude. Time with Him first thing in the morning helps get my focus where it belongs so I can serve my family. John 14:13 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” This is a promise from God. Ask and step out in faith and receive. If you ask for boldness, believe it and go be bold! If you ask to be fired up, believe it get on fire for the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:3 “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." This verse is so meaningful because I was diagnosed with a short-term memory when I was a child.  I would read the Bible and try to memorize verses throughout my adult life, but it seemed like the verses would not stick.  I grew in understanding and always had a desire to share Jesus, but I realize I carried a lot of it as head knowledge and it hadn't gotten down into my heart in a way that transformed me. It was the intimacy I had with the Father that brought it to life. As I asked God questions like: What is grace? What is the finished work of the cross? Teach me about the power of the blood of Jesus. Help me understand the authority you gave me. Show me Your love for me. and more; these verses were written on my heart.  Because I fed on the Bread of Life, the living word, scripture will flow out of me without even trying. Because He has truly become my life, there is no trying.  When I lose focus of the Father I will stop and ask the Holy Spirit to show me the truth that is written on my heart. Sometimes there is a lie I am believing about myself, situation, or another person.  We can ask the Holy Spirit to show us His truth, which is often scripture buried in our hearts. Then renounce the lie, and put on truth. John 10:27-28 NIV “My Sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. It is so important to know the voice of our shepherd.  This is something you can cultivate the more you practice and align your life with His will. Follow Jesus’s example: Jesus was always slipping off to be alone with the Father. Luke 5:16 We also need to get away from the things of life regularly and prioritize this time. Matthew 6:5-8 NIV “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like the pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” God rewards those who seek Him in humility and faith.  Lift the prayers up on your heart like a fragrant offering, but trust the Lord hears them.  Sitting silent before the Lord is powerful, I honestly see things on my heart that are answered without even praying. Learn to receive from Him in your secret place. Make sure you leave plenty of time to sit and receive His love. Often you will hear Him speak in these times. Don't put a time frame on it; take all pressure of time off by turning your clocks and putting your phone aside. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. When you spend time with God come to Him with any anxieties you are having. Trust Him to take these things from you and to walk you through it. Come with thanksgiving, God loves a thankful heart. John 15:5 NIV “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  I encourage you to read all of John 15. As you train yourself to abide in the Lord and hear His voice you will find your life will become more fruitful for the Kingdom of God.  If you squeeze an orange, you get orange juice, if you squeeze a Christian why don't you get Christ? Instead, we often see hurt, offense, worry, anger, frustration, or victimhood. The more we abide in Him the more we will produce Christ in our life. Hebrews 4:12 NIV “For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." The word of God is living.  As you pray over the word and ask the Lord to search your heart, He will show you where your attitude and thoughts are outside of Him.  One day I was outside working and my husband was in with my son and my attitude got grumpy, I kept trying to shake it off and I could not. I started praying over 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and when I got to envy this lightbulb went off.  I never thought of myself as a person that had envy, but the Holy Spirit made me realize I was envious of the fun things my husband was doing with my son while I was working. That gave me the opportunity to renounce that lie and to bless my family and to thank the Lord I had a husband that enjoyed my son. As you pray over scriptures the Lord will use them to purify you and call you to a deeper place. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV “For God has not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound-mind (or self-discipline). This is another promise. These are important character traits to recognize in God and traits the Lord said He also gave you. You can stand on this verse when you are not seeing these realities in your life. Stop and pray over them. Other translations say self-discipline.  This is a key element to getting alone with God.  Even on days when you do not feel like it or cannot think straight. Let us practice hearing from the Lord First command all other voices to be quiet: the enemy and your own carnal mind. Ask Holy Spirit to speak to you in a powerful way. Expect a response. It will seem like your own thought. Be confident it is from God as long as it lines up with scripture. ·        Jesus how do you feel about me? ·        Jesus, would you reveal to me any lie I am believing? ·        Jesus will you show me how to put on the new identity you gave me?

Pat DeBone was raised "right." He grew up in church and had a loving family. He liked to party hard, and it wasn't until he had a family of his own, he realized he didn't know God for himself. When his young children started asking questions, he had to face the fact he didn't know. Pat's life changed when he made the decision to know God, and his family has been blessed as a result.

YOU were made in the image of God. Not only that but God gave you dominion over all things on this earth, even over Satan. The definition of dominion is sovereignty or control. Genesis 1:26-28 KJV "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." The issue came when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, they handed over that dominion to Satan. When Jesus died completely as a man on the cross taking the penalty of sin upon himself even though he was completely pure (sin free), he died and went to hell taking back dominion (Revelation 1:17-18, Hebrews 2:14, Colossians 1:13, Colossians 2:15). Jesus has all authority to release those who call on his name from the penalty of sin which is death. YOU are a son or daughter of God. Romans 8:15-17 NIV "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Please hear me, Jesus did not die on the cross because he thinks you are a horrible person. Jesus knew you were worth it, and he died to restore you back into sons and daughters. When you truly understand what it means to be a son of God and understand what your inheritance is you will live from a place of sonship and the way you live your life will change. YOU are a conqueror and loved by Jesus! Romans 8:37-39 NIV "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." You have victory in whatever you are facing through Jesus and not only that he will walk you through it. He has given you every tool in your toolbelt you need to conquer the things this world and the enemy throws at you. You may not know all the tools in your possession yet! YOU are righteous! Yes, that is right sin no longer has power over you and you are right with God because of the blood of Jesus. Totally clean! Romans 8:1 NIV "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." God created you with a purpose and a plan for your life. When you make Jesus the Lord of your life God sees you for exactly who he created you to be, not the version that got twisted by sin and the hurts of the world. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." God has equipped you with every weapon you need to walk in victory. Ephesians 6:14 NIV "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness." As a Christ follower we must understand all of the weapons we have been given to walk in victory in this life. You may not feel righteous, but it is by faith that you accept and believe the things God says about you. As you focus more on who God says you are the more you will start walking in it, and you will look back in 6 months and see how much you have grown into what you chose to believe by faith. YOU have Jesus living inside you. This is the most exciting news one could have. I was always told this growing up, and sort of understood it as an adult. Honestly, I am certain I don't fully understand the power behind Christ living in me even now. The word "Christian" actually means "Little Christ like ones" and we actually start to become more like him the more we surrender our lives and yield to him. One of my favorite verses Colossians 1:27 NIV "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory." This means wherever you go, you get to take Jesus with you! This should give you a peace and joy, but also confidence. The "hope of glory" means the hope of God's promise to restore us and all of creation. 2 Corinthians 13:5 "or do you not realize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?" YOU are holy, blameless, and above reproach. Colossians 1: 22 NKJV "in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in his sight." God doesn't want us identifying with being a sinner. We are supposed to view ourselves the same way God sees us. You are dead to sin, and alive through the Spirit of Jesus that lives inside of you. It is a matter of learning how to walk as the new man and by faith believing you are who God says you are. For myself I realize it was a lot of head knowledge for a long time. It was through praying and asking God to help me understand that I am holy and righteous that helped me to believe it in my heart. If you are having a hard time accepting any of the scriptures, continue walking by faith and not feelings. Pray over it and ask God to help you believe it in your heart. This is one of the key steps to putting off your "flesh" (old nature) and putting on Christ. Good places to read in your Bible that discuss much of what was covered are Romans 6,7, and 8 which will talk about the old sinful nature and what life is like "trying" to live holy. It is impossible!! Romans 8 talks about life empowered by the Holy Spirit and the peace you are promised. It's being sin conscious vs Spirit focused. The more you focus on sin and trying to correct it the more you fall into sin, and it leads to guilt, shame, and condemnation. All things from the enemy, Satan. God is the author and giver of life. You have freedom when you live by the Spirit. You will also have peace, love, and joy. When you focus on who God says the "new born again" you is, you will start to believe these things about yourself, and it will actually start to become the new you. Often Romans 7 is quoted to show we are still sinners, but the entire book of Romans was meant to be a single letter. Not one line being taken from the letter out of context. As you read the entire letter you see, Paul, the author was comparing the mind focused on sin vs life lived by the Spirit. Colossians 1, 2, and 3 will explain the power of what Jesus did on the cross for you and me. I hope this encouraged you. Keep growing and going after God, and putting on the identity He gives you. He rewards those who seek Him.

Cindy Kenny went through the common struggles of unhealthy relationships, tragic loss of her father at a young age, and wanting to do the right thing, but still wanting to experience all the world had to offer. Hear how the Lord set her free from herself and forever changed her life. Through Jesus she found it is possible to live with peace and joy every day. #sex #purity #whywait #dontbelievethelie #shame #REBELLION #peaceandjoy #nolovelikejesus

In this video Phylis Schone shares her story of a traumatizing experience that led to being terrified of death. A life of heavy drinking and a void she didn't know how to fill. Hear her share about how an encounter with Jesus transformed her life and gave her assurance she had nothing to fear about dying. #fearofdying #terrifiedofdeath #fillthevoid #jesussetmefree #salvation