Discover the real you

April 6, 2019 Gaspar Anastasi

For so long, our lives have been driven by the desire to please others and gain their acceptance. Unfortunately, that lifestyle causes us to lose sight of our true identity (who God created us to be).

Not knowing our identity results in joylessness, depression and lack of fulfillment in our jobs and relationships and ultimately an overall unhappy life!

This issue often starts in childhood. With good intentions, our parents try to mold us into the people they want us to be. They reward behaviors that fit their expectations and punish what doesn’t.

This sets the pattern early in life of denying the real person inside and living the “big lie”. We eventually alter our personalities and behaviors to fit in and gain the acceptance of whomever we’re with.

The price of self-denial

We pay a price for living the big lie, because not knowing who we are is a tremendous loss. As Christians, when we read “Put off the old man and put on the new,” we reject the wrong person! We miss out on being transformed into the likeness and image of Jesus.

That’s why we experience chaos in our inner world: fear, anger, jealousy, inferiority, to name a few. We hide and deny that world even exists inside us. Or we cover it up with religious activity like joining the choir and going to church all the time. Or we blame others or circumstances for our discomfort and emotional instability.

Yet, just as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He called you and me out of the grave and brought us into new life. Jesus came to set us free from slavery to Satan, so that we are free to live the life for which He created us. It’s high time that we shed the grave clothes!

The road to self-discovery

Here is how the Holy Spirit can lead you on this journey of self-discovery:

• Don’t deny your feelings. Instead, discover why you feel the way you do. Your feelings reveal the hurts, the wounds and the many times you’ve exchanged your true self for the person everyone wanted you to be. Invite Jesus into your inner world to transform you.

• Let God reveal His love for the real you. You’ve often crucified him or her instead of recognizing how valuable that person is to God. Remember, the first commandment is to love God with all our hearts and then to love others as we love ourselves. Ask the Holy Spirit to help in this. Stop believing Satan’s lies about your true value.

• Cultivate lost and forgotten dreams and passions buried in your heart. Don’t deny them any longer. Be strong enough to say “no” to things you used to say “yes” to. People-pleasing eventually disappears when you discover and consistently live the life God created you to live.

In conclusion, the first step to a successful Christian life is to discover the real you. But it doesn’t end there. Secondly, let God transform the real you into a mature Christian. Aren’t you tired of living the big lie? Start the journey to discovering the real you today. You won’t be disappointed!

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Jesus: Made in America

March 30, 2019 Gaspar Anastasi

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Making positive change, Success & victory

Whatever became of the Jesus we read about in the pages of the Bible? And who replaced Him with the modern American version?

Many still believe “Jesus is the way the truth and the life and there is no other way to the Father except by Him (John 14:6).” Yet many Christians have mistakenly embraced the heretical belief that God’s grace has done away with His laws.

Jesus Himself said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17).”

We’ve made grace a license to do whatever pleases us instead of the ability to do whatever pleases Him! Some seem to believe that, when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, there’s no need to repent since sin is no longer an issue.

Belief in these heretical doctrines results in acts like:

1) Marking, cutting and defiling our bodies with tattoos. The word clearly says it is an abomination to mark our bodies with tattoos like those who follow other gods. It also tells us our bodies are not our own; they are the temple of God.

2) Walking away from strong committed relationships because of offense, ignoring the mandate to resolve differences and to love one another as Christ loved us. Meanwhile, our love and honor for one another is proof to the world that the “Bible Jesus” is real and alive in us.

3) Failure to attend or commit to a local church and using our time, talent and treasure to help advance its God-given mission for our community. God hasn’t changed His mind about having a prosperous church. But we ask our church to serve us instead of serving others in the body to manifest God’s kingdom to our local community. So we come and go from local churches, shopping for the best deal to help us build our kingdom, instead of committing to build God’s.

4) Refusal to submit to godly authority and be spiritually fathered. Some see any spiritual authority as a hindrance to advancing their own agenda. Maybe one reason there are so few spiritual fathers today is the lack of sons and daughters willing to submit to godly authority. Please note: There are times when the “Bible Jesus” will say no and stop us from doing what feels and looks good to us.

What does Jesus say about all this?

The “Bible Jesus” says about His word: “Heaven and earth will pass away but my word will never pass away.” And in John 14:21: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” First John 2:3 says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

There is no tension between God’s grace and His laws (His word). God’s grace (defined as His ability given to us to do His will) makes it possible to obey God’s commandments, not do away with them.

What a great deception Satan has sown! And he has covered it up by offering us an alternative Jesus. Don’t fall for that lie!

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The victory is already yours.

December 10, 2018 Administrator

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Success & victory

Two things are very important for us to remember when we find ourselves in a conflict.

1.We are not fighting against flesh and blood. As simple as that may seem to remember, it is one of the most difficult to keep in mind when conflict actually arises and our “enemy” is before us. We so easily get caught up in the personal emotions of the moment that we lose the ability to live out of our spirit mind. Instead, we often choose a soulish response. In other words, we are led by our anger, jealousy, fear, rejection, etc., instead of the Holy Spirit. When we let Him lead, the Holy Spirit helps us to stay focused on the real enemy, rather than the person/people in front of us.

We must choose every time to see the conflict through God’s eyes instead of through the lens of our own feelings and emotions. This choice will determine whether or not we win the battle we face. The second important truth is this:

2. We are not fighting to get victory in our lives. Rather, in any given situation, we fight the battle having been given the victory already by Jesus—through His death, burial and resurrection. You and I are just securing these victories that are already ours by resisting and putting the devil where he belongs: under our feet. Isn’t it great to know that you already have the victory over sickness, brokenness, marital problems, fear, depression… (not trying to get it)!…

Follow the yellow brick road.

December 8, 2018 Administrator

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Success & victory

There is no quick fix for being lost. To get from where you are to where you want to be requires two necessities: time and change of direction.

I know too many people who believe that, if only their problems were fixed, their life would be perfect. They really don’t understand that their problems aren’t the major issue. The real issue is that they’re traveling on a wrong path.

Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right unto a man but its end is death”. Consider this: Rules and laws can be broken, but principles either make or break you. Anyone who follows a principle—not just rules and laws—ends up with the same results, in spite of the speed bumps along the way. Ten out of 10 times, following the principle leads to the same conclusion.

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy was told to “follow the yellow brick road” to find her way home. Following that road, no matter how many twists and turns it made, assured her of reaching her desired destination. Although she encountered problems along the way, she made it home.

Do you know where you want to go? Have you found your “yellow brick road”? No matter how excited we are about our future, if we don’t know those two things, we’ll never reach our God-given destiny.

Things won’t just work themselves out unless we’re are on the right path. Looking in the rear view mirror today, we see the road we’ve been traveling on. If we continue on it, the outcome will always be the same as in the past. (A lunatic is a person doing the same things over and over but expecting different results!) The path we travel determines where we end up in our marriage, business, health, walk with God, etc. Here are a few important truths to help us stay on the road to a successful life.

1) Decide where you want to go. To paraphrase Proverbs 29:18, a person without a vision has no direction and they live their life going in circles! Spending time in God’s presence will reveal what you were created for, so you won’t waste time, the greatest resource He gave us, wandering aimlessly through life.

2) Choose the road that leads to your final destination. If history tells you that the road you’re on leads to a dead end, be willing to get off. No matter who travels that road, they will end up at the same place, so choose your path wisely. The right principles are easy to identify because they work for everybody. Observe people around you who are successful in their marriages, businesses, health, etc. and take that same road, because it will lead to good things.

3) Be patient. Focus on your course of travel, not the problems along the way. Remember that there are speed bumps on the journey to success. But as long as you’re on the right road, problems and delays won’t stop you from crossing the finish line and reaching your God-given destination.

4) Ask yourself, “Am I on the road to success? Is this the path that leads to victory?” If not, take the time to change directions and follow your yellow brick road to the destination God has planned for you. Remember: Not all roads lead to success!

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Good idea or God idea?

December 1, 2018 Administrator

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Making positive change, Success & victory

Everything we do begins with a decision, and every day we make a multitude of them. Each decision brings with it good or bad consequences—consequences that will be compounded daily. If you don’t like where you are right now, it’s time to stop blaming others and recognize the part that your own choices have played.

Your destiny will be determined by choices you make today and, although you can’t go back and change your yesterdays, they influence your todays and tomorrows. The God of all creation has planned a great life with a great ending for us, but our decisions can hinder those plans.

In Deuteronomy 30:19-20, God reveals the incredible power and privilege of choice we have been given and He encourages us to make the right choices. But He also warns us of the serious consequences of making wrong choices.

The responsibility of having God’s awesome plans fulfilled in your life is squarely on your shoulders and no one else’s. Here are some obstacles you should avoid.

1. People’s opinions probably influence our choices more than anything else. We make decisions (consciously or subconsciously) to obtain their acceptance. Know that you are extremely valuable and special in God’s sight. Stop trying to be a cheap copy of a great original! When God made you, He threw away the mold. Low self-esteem will directly influence the choices you make. Spend time with God and let Him reveal your true identity—the one He gave you.

2. Faulty motives like attention-getting, self-gain, ego and pride also influence our decisions. Ask God to search your heart and reveal the reasons behind your decisions. Galatians 6:8 says, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” We should use our God-given freedom to make decisions that will advance His kingdom—not our own.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Will the decision I’m about to make promote God and His agenda or me and my agenda?

• Will God receive all the glory from the decision I’m about to make?

• Will this decision focus the attention on God or me?

3. Money issues affect a lot of our decisions. We can easily be blinded by the power money holds over us. Mark 6:24 says “You cannot serve God and mammon.” Money can be a huge factor in deciding who we hang out with (or not); who we will and won’t serve; who we will or won’t go the extra mile for. We become a “respecter of persons” based on how people can benefit us.

4. Ethnic, family and religious traditions, prejudice and faulty beliefs also influence us more than we realize. Our choices are so critical to our destiny! It’s a good idea to take time before jumping into anything. Think it through and invite God into the process. Ask Him to reveal to you whether it’s a God decision or just a good one!

Your life’s destiny depends on making right choices. So today, right now, make a quality decision to start making great decisions.

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Pick your battles wisely.

November 24, 2018 Administrator

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Making positive change, Success & victory

Every day you engage in warfare. Your battleground may be on your job where someone gossips about you, and you are determined to straighten them out! It may be at home where you contend with your mate about family, finances or your relationship. The question we need to ask ourselves is: Is this battle worth fighting?

Too often we get consumed with battles that have no spoils and actually leave us in a lose/lose situation! We’re worse off after such battles than before we started.

A great warrior—before he invests his time, energy and his life—will choose battles whose victory promises great spoil. As warriors in God’s army, you and I need the wisdom to not fight unnecessarily. Satan loves to pull us into no-win situations so we miss the important battles we should be fighting, the ones that bring great victories. We’re called to engage in battles that advance the kingdom of God, promote us in His kingdom and that will spiritually mature us.

Retaliating against someone who cuts you off on the road or trying to prove how important you are by making someone who dishonored you look bad… these are not battles worth fighting. There are no rewards because they don’t advance God’s kingdom. In fact, they damage our spiritual growth and misrepresent the God we serve. As sons and daughters of God, we are His ambassadors here on earth.

Long before David becomes king and before fighting the battle God designed for him in which he defeats Goliath (1 Samuel 17:17-30), he brings food to his brothers on the battle field. It is here that he hears the giant Goliath ridicule Israel’s army. When David asks what the prize would be for defeating Goliath, he is told that he would have favor with the king, could marry one of the king’s daughters and live tax-free for life. That’s quite a spoil isn’t it?

While David is talking to the soldiers, his oldest brother Eliab starts to ridicule him in front of the men: “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness?”

I believe the one thing that made David a true champion was his ability to engage in the battles that were the Lord’s and ignore the rest. He had the wisdom to walk away from Eliab (a battle with no spoils) and, instead, spent his energy on the battle the Lord had anointed him to fight!

David understood his value was in God, not in people’s opinions of him. Because he turned away from the wrong battle that day, he was available to fight the Lord’s battle and be promoted from zero to hero… from a shepherd over his father’s sheep to king of Israel, watching over God’s people.

Before you engage in warfare, ask: “Is this the Lord’s battle? Will it advance His purposes and plans in and through my life? Will it cause me to grow spiritually and be a better representation of Jesus?

I encourage you today to pick your battles wisely. Be strong enough to walk away from the many to fight the few that fulfill your destiny, the ones the Lord calls you into—not the devil. When a battle is the Lord’s, the spoils will be great!

We love hearing from you! If this blog post has been a blessing to you, please let us know by leaving a comment below!…