​Having Trouble Loving?
If I ask you if you had the love of Christ you would most likely say yes. However, how do we show forth the love of Christ toward those who hate us or do not love us the way we want to be loved?
I must admit that I have a passionate love for Christ and desire opportunities to bless others and pour the Love of Christ into situations where love wasn’t present. However, I was cautioned by the Lord not to get bitter or allow bitterness to creep in towards someone you love simply because they do not see your worth the way that Christ does. Then you find yourself with an approval addiction because you’re obsessed with doing works to show a person your worth so that they can recognize your worth and that they will show more of that love more affectionately in your love language meaning in the way you desire to be loved. The Lord knows your wants and your needs and by the Holy Spirit these needs are provided. However, if it doesn’t come through that person the Lord doesn’t let you off the hook with your responsibility to show purified love even when they hate you without a cause. Remember, we are not loving their flesh, we are loving their soul.
I John 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, He is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.
However, love Is in the spirit of excellence and included is the wisdom how to apply that love to each situation not necessarily how they want but with righteous judgment. Christ doesn’t put us in situations to be humiliated for the sake of love. Jesus already endured the shame on the cross. Sometimes we love from a distance while praying for unity in the Spirit if it be the Lord’s will.
A Godchaser

Is There Room at the Inn?
 
Luke 2:7
And she brought forth her first born son; and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
There are scriptures stating that the Lord was born in a manger because there was no room in the inn. The question is, is there room in the inn of your heart, your home, your life? It is often simple to give acknowledgement of the Lord Jesus Christ without actually applying the word to our lives and allowing the holy spirit to give the increase.
Luke 9:58
And Jesus said unto him, foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Is there room in your life to give birth to the things that Christ has designed for you from the foundations of the world, before he formed you in the womb. Is there room to do a complete work in your life without having to be on your time schedule or doing things your way? Are you willing to let Christ have his way? Is he leading or are you leading? Have you let go of the fleshing things to make room for the spiritual things? To whom much is given much is required. Are you asking for things and yet not willing to carry the responsibility? Are you seeking the hand of the Lord or are you seeking his face? Are you doing what the Lord asked you to do?

-A GODCHASER

​ Ahithophel
II Samuel 16:23
And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and Absalom.
 In times of trouble/warfare, you must make sure you’re around those you can trust. Do they have the same agenda? Do they put the Lord first? Does their counsel line up with the Word of God or are they telling you what you want to hear because you’re going to find a way to do your own will regardless of what the Lord says? The word says that in the last days they will have itching ears and will heap to themselves their own teachers. The word also commands us not to stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful. Are you standing in the way of someone that no matter what you say they are going to rationalize sin?
Ahithophel was a well known counselor to the king and turned away to serve the son of David, Absalom when he was so sure the multitude had turned to serve him as well. Because of the way that it was done and because of the favor on David’s life, the Lord turned the counsel of Ahithophel to nothing as David had requested.
What does the word say? Ahithophel told Absalom to go and sleep with David’s wives. That was a sin. Yes, Absalom did it because it was something he wanted to do, not just because he was counseled to do it. We are in the days now where many will not endure sound counsel. Do you want the truth? Are you willing to apply the truth to your life even if it means losing some things? Is your counsel where they are supposed to be in Christ? Are they seeking righteousness? Know the word and hide it in your heart even when faced with making tough decisions and letting some people go. Then stand on your most holy faith and let the Lord do His job.
 
-A GodChaser

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Why didn’t you say anything?

As we recognize sexual assault and domestic violence on a spiritual level during the month of April, we would like to bring awareness to the symptoms and help answer questions that some of the victims would like answers to. Here are some answers from a Christian perspective. Following is a piece from an Christian writer who overcame rape and molestation.

Self-righteousness and self-affliction
“I can handle it”, “I can handle it better than anyone else”, I’d rather it be me.”
Has anyone else ever heard those words before? My experience with sexual abuse started at the age of twelve. I was somewhat of a “late developer”. My step-father would watch me shower from the bathroom window and he would watch me dress while hiding in the bathroom closet. I was the oldest of three with a little sister, two years younger. From my perspective, I was the strong one (so I thought). I wasn’t as emotional. I was supposed to protect my sister and brother. That’s what big sister’s do. Mom worked a lot and didn’t get paid much to support three little ones. That meant long work hours and not much time for foolishness. If one person got in trouble, we all got spankings. So, there wasn’t a whole lot of tattling going on.
The abuse didn’t start with rape. There was an inappropriate relationship that started first. My mother and step-father were school friends who knew each other from the neighborhood long before they were married. So, for me to “hang-out” with him was no big deal. He knew my dad too! We would “hang out” and talk often. By the time I was a tween the inappropriate touching came as lessons…preparation. I needed to know what to expect from a man, he would say. I needed to know how to please… I had to have standards, he would say… “you’re of another caliber”. There were candle lit dinners…favors when I should have been punished. Don’t worry about it, I will handle your mother, he would say. When things progressed, rationalization started to happen. It wasn’t a lesson. That kind of stuff wasn’t supposed to be taught. It was wrong. My mother works hard, I would rationalize within. She doesn’t need anymore foolishness. It’s not a big deal. If you tell her, everyone will suffer, I ‘d say to myself. If I keep things to myself he’ll be satisfied and he won’t bother your sister. You can handle it. I f he starts messing with your sister, she’ll fall apart. She can’t handle it. We don’t need any drama, I would say.
Spiritually it was if I was sacrificing myself for the sake of the family. This is a deception from the enemy. Christ is the only sacrifice once and for all. He already paid the price. He was nailed with all of these hurts, situations, circumstances to the cross. No matter what happens we cannot and ought not to rationalize wrong or sin. Christ wants us to fight and we cannot fight a good fight in silence and rationalization as to why things happen. All things work together for the good and when Jesus allows things to happen it is for Him to get the glory in our lives. Because I didn’t open my mouth and speak up against the wrong… the sin; similar trial continued to arise in my life until I overcame and spoke in the power and the authority given to me in Christ. Christ wants us to know who we are in Him and call on Him in the time of trouble. If we acknowledge Him in all of our ways, He will direct our paths. Even when it seems that speaking will bring embarrassment, guilt, and shame. He already bore the mockery and shame. It becomes self-righteousness when we think in our little heads we can handle things ourselves, when Christ designed the trial for Him to handle. We cannot do His job and He gets jealous when we attempt to instead of allowing Him to get the glory in the situations. Let Christ be the one you call on, even when things seem so simple.
-A GodChaser