That Ugly Twin Called Self

Being a child of God doesn't mean we're perfect and have it altogether. It doesn't mean that we were born with or even have love for others, show kindness towards others, have peace of mind or peace in our life, patience, self-control, do what is right and live with a pure heart, always loyal to and trust in God, humble, or even helpful. As a matter of fact the complete opposite of that is what our flesh is made of. According to the Word of God our flesh, who we are, is sin. That's our go to, our North; self preservation is human instinct and it comes out looking ugly most of the time. 

So how do we tame that selfish, self centered instinct to self preserve at everyone else's expense? We trust God. We study the word of God and ask God to build our faith, increase our knowledge of him and his love for us, and ask Him to give us wisdom to trust Him with everything. And as for that selfish, ugly side that we all have.... Ask God to fill you with Holy Spirit and mature the fruit of the Spirit in your heart and mind and make His ways your ways. The fruit of Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and gentleness. When you see a believer struggling, just not making the cut at that moment, don't judge them, pray for them and offer them a word of encouragement. We have an invisible enemy who is the enemy of our soul. Bind him in the name of Jesus and call on God for his help, strength and might to be revealed in your inner man at that moment. 

Lisa C

God Sees and Loves You

Who do you think God is? Often we think of God, that superior and powerful being, that's perfect, the same way we think of the adults in our life when we were growing up. If our parents or caretakers were hard, indifferent, abusive or judgemental we unknowingly pin those characteristics to God. We don't know him and assume what he will be like from what we've heard or guessed. We hear from others that he hates sin so we assume he will hate us because we are so damaged, so imperfect, our lives are so messed up, we have sin in our life, we're weak and try to change but can't. 

Well, let me tell you, God is loving, kind, compassionate, empathetic, forgiving and he knows everything about you. He sees your heart. He sees a person that is loved by him and he pours out his mercy and grace. He is forgiving, so forgives, and blots out all of our sin when we come to know Christ. He wants you to know he's with you in the hard places. He's with you in those places in yourself that you want to change, that you wish didn't exist and you can't get away from. Jesus came for you and he is your greatest advocate. 

You see, God sees your heart. He knows the trauma you've been through. He heals you from being raped and prostituted and makes you feel clean from the inside out. God sees that hurt child inside of you that was mentally and physically abused, neglected and alone, left to fend for yourself. God sees that rebel heart, labeled a misfit, someone trying to survive in this world that can be so hard, cold and lonely. God heals those parts too. He will never leave you nor forsake you. And when you walk through storms in this life, he is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. 

God is constant and eternal. He loves us unconditionally. He's strengthens us from within. He changes us little by little and heals us inside. Jesus didn't come to this world to judge you and condemn you. Jesus came to love you, heal you, strengthen you and to give you an abundant life; abundant in joy, peace, hope, faith, his love, grace, mercy and blessings. God is love. And he meets you right where you are. Don't listen to people whom you can't see God's love, peace, mercy, inner joy and strength. Find a church, study the Bible, find the word being taught online. If you're in the Whiteville, NC or surrounding areas come to Whiteville Assembly of God . 

Lisa C

Christlike Virtues - Choose to Do Good

We read in the Holy Bible that Jesus had compassion on people before he healed  them (Matthew 14:14, Mark 1:40-41), taught them because they were helpless and lost (Mark 6:34, Matthew 9:36), fed them (Matthew 15:32), or raised the dead (Luke 7:13-15). How wonderful it is to know that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus didn't heal people, raise the dead, feed the poor, or teach for fame, provision, or fortune (Luke 9:58, Luke 4:8, Matthew 6:31-33).  There were times when Jesus had compassion on someone and healed them in secret (Matthew 9:27-31, Mark 5:35-43, Mark 7:31-37) for numerous reasons.  People today can still receive healing. Healing is a sign of God's mercy and power. 

We see in writings done by Isaiah and the apostle Peter that Jesus suffered so that we can have spiritual forgiveness, physical healing and restoration, and emotional restoration (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17, 1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 147:3). But what I want to emphasize today is that we as believers are to show compassion, forgive others repeatedly if necessary, and to love people selflessly (Colossians 3:13, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Luke 6:35). According to the apostle Paul we are to clothes ourselves with compassion, humility, kindness, forgiveness, and gentleness (Colossians 3:12-13). These traits can be seen by others as weakness or timidity but in reality it takes courage and emotional strength to encompass these virtues. God's grace is the natural source of power to mastering these virtues. When we are kind, compassionate, gentle and forgiving we mirror God's grace (Ephesians 4:32). These four virtues are interconnected to God. Compassion leads a believer to action (Romans 12:15). Gentleness (meekness) which is power under control, is often mistaken for weakness. Someone who encompasses this virtue is generally gentle, quiet, humble and considerate (1 Peter 3:4). Kindness reflects God's own nature. Kindness is an active benevolence toward others (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness mirrors the ultimate grace that we receive from God and is an intentional choice to release someone from a grievance that we have with them (Colossians 3:14). Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the ultimate model of these virtues. 

Jesus referred to himself as 'gentle and lowly in heart" when he went against the culture of his time and welcomed children so he could bless them (Matthew 11:29). After Jesus had been brutally beaten and hung on the cross, he asked God to forgive the people who had beaten and crucified him (Luke 23:34). Teachings by Jesus and his apostles show a very different way of how we should treat people. Jesus taught the famous parable about the good Samaritan to illustrate what compassion does and doesn't look like (Luke 10:25-37). The parable emphasized that we should show compassion, be kind, and help strangers, people from different cultures and backgrounds. Jesus commanded his followers to 'go and do likewise'. Jesus also did a teaching on the ultimate judgement (Matthew 25:35-40). Whenever we feed the poor, clothe the naked, visit the sick, give drink to the thirsty, and visit the imprisoned we are serving Jesus. But when we don't we are in danger of everlasting punishment Matthew 25:40-46). 

We see evil in the world today like it's never been seen before. What was once called evil is good, and what is good is called evil (2 Timothy 3:1-5, Isaiah 5:20). Be the change. By God's grace, be the hands and feet of Jesus. 

Written By: Lisa Collier Clewis 

Take Up Your Cross

How does God define love? If I had to define love in one word I would say love is sacrifice. The word of God defines love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

as: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

We see love in action through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24-26

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 

What does it mean to take up our cross and follow Jesus? What does sacrifice look like for us? Jesus said in Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” When I think of sacrifice from a worldly point of view I think of heavy burden and giving up something that I don't want to give up. But from a spiritual point of view sacrifice is denying our flesh nature and living a life free from sin. For example, you want to get back at someone for hurting you but instead you follow Christ, you pray for that person, you continue to be kind to that person and you have good will towards that person. That doesn't mean you have to continue to associate with that person but when you see him you're treating him with a Christlike love. 

In Hebrews 13:15 we read ‘Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.’ The word sacrifice in this verse is the Greek word thysia. It's pronounced thoo-see’-ah. The biblical definition of sacrifice is victim but when you get a little deeper in the Thayer's Greek Lexicon it is an expression involving a comparison. In this scripture a free gift is compared to sacrifice. Think for a moment about a sacrifice of praise. It's your gift to God. You lift your voice and your hands to him, you proclaim your gratitude to him in front of others or in private and you affirm that you are a believer and a child of God. Through that you are honoring God and promoting His Kingdom. In God's eyes that is sacrifice and this is well pleasing to God. 

Anytime we put God first, choose to look like a child of God instead of the world, choose to try to live a holy life without blame in a dark and perverse world, and stand up for Christ and what's right making ourselves a target to non-believers we are living a life of sacrifice. We are taking up our cross and following Jesus and with these things, these sacrifices, God is well pleased. 

Don't let the word cross prevent you from buying in 100% because we weren't created to carry burdens and do this life thing alone and in our own strength. In 1 Peter 5:7, Peter wrote,

‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’ Peter was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ who preached the gospel at the risk of being killed. He traveled far and wide, risking his life, laying down his life for Jesus. Peter knew where his salvation, his strength and might in his inner man, his promise of eternal life came from. He witnessed Jesus being beaten and crucified and learned what grace is by being forgiven for his denial of Jesus Christ. Thank God for grace and praise be to God for being a merciful God. 

I just want to leave you with a little more scripture. In Matthew 11:28-30 we read the words of Jesus: “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.”

Written by: Lisa Collier Clewis

Kick the Dog

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A dog owner tied his dog to a fence. Every day the owner walked by the dog and kicked the dog. Other people saw the man kick the dog and assumed that the dog was worthless and they too started walking by the dog and kicking the dog who was tied to the fence. But there were some who saw the dog and had compassion on him; and they lavished him with gifts and 

attention, food and water, and kind words while lovingly stroking the dog as if to praise him for being humble and not biting or turning on the owner but they didn’t want to get involved.

One day a man walked by and thought the dog was institutionalized and he set the dog free. He neither berated the dog nor gave the dog food or water but simply left the dog to fend for himself. The dog not knowing what to do stayed by the fence. The people came by who gave him gifts, food, water and praise for not turning on his owner and lovingly stroked the dog but didn’t want to get involved. The dog wanted to follow each one of them home but was afraid of 

what the owner would do. For days this went on without the owner noticing that the dog had been untied.

Then a storm came which was so treacherous that the dog forgetting his owner ran to safety. After the storm, some people found the dog and felt compassion for the dog. They 

called him a rescue dog. One of them wrote an article about him and published it in the newspaper. The owner seeing the article and not wanting to be rioted for leaving the dog tied to a fence kept quiet about his ownership. The man who untied the dog felt responsible for 

leaving him unattended. Those who walked by him and kicked him didn’t recognize him because his surroundings had changed. Those who showed kindness but didn’t want to get 

involved hoped that someone would give him a good home. But those who found him stood back and prayed he’d find a good home. 

One day a little girl walked into the dog pound where the dog was being housed. She stood at the door of the cage and beckoned him to come to her wondering what he would be like as a pet. He started towards her with a glimmer of hope in his eye then he remembered the 

man and the other people who repeatedly kicked him and he lowered his head and backed into the corner as though he couldn’t get far enough away. Three times this happened. Three 

chances passed by because he could not forget the tragedy in his past.

How do you think this story should end? Should the dog leave his past in the past and take a chance on a better future even if he has to remind himself every day that the days of being abused are behind him? Will he be able to separate the past from the present or in his mind 

will he always remain the dog tied to a fence, lonely and mistreated by his owner, and judged unworthy by others? Will he remember the people who did show him kindness and commended him on his loyalty to his owner even though he was abused? Should he stay caged 

in the pound until he is put down? Should someone keep working with him until he learns to trust again and gently remind him daily that he is valuable, he is loved and he is cared about?

What will change the dog’s thinking? Will he ever be free to give his heart to a new owner who will treat him well? What is he thinking?

Written By Lisa C Clewis, 10September201

My Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Father, thank you for the opportunity to serve you, your kingdom, and to draw others to Christ. Thank you for the opportunity to be a vessel that you can use to not only love others but to draw others to you. Thank you for the opportunity to guide others to have a close and personal relationship with you and to teach others what you have taught me, our identity in Christ. Thank you for the opportunity to encourage others with your Word and promises. Father, I come to you to petition you to convict me and people in authoritative positions and who potentially hold the lives of others in our hands of wrongdoing. Father, chastise us when we wrongfully treat others in your name. Father, powerfully convict each and every one when someone uses deception, power and manipulation to control where your love and power should be shown. I ask you to powerfully convict when misuse of power and access is used to deflect those who oppose us. Father, convict the minds and hearts of people who would rather they receive glory, honor and praise where you should be uplifted, put first and receive all glory, honor and praise. LORD, help us to be benevolent. Help us to be kind and good, to manifest the mature fruit of the Spirit to everyone so that others will be won to Christ through our actions. Help us to respect your authority and your power instead of trying to force people to fit into our man-made molds. Help us LORD to let go of the misconception that we can save people and change people because only you can. Father, help us to serve people with the same love and humbleness that Jesus served us. Help us to be the voice, hands and feet of Jesus. Father, thank you for helping me to see through your eyes. Thank you for revealing the hearts of others to me and giving me the strength to not feel crushed by that knowledge. Thank you for giving me your grace to forgive, to love with the love of Christ and be patient while you work through me to help others. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you and others. In Jesus name I pray these things; your will be done, not my will and to you be all glory, honor and praise. AMEN.

Written by: Lisa Clewis

Be Aware of the Devil's Schemes

There are so many rumors going around about the book of Esther. Esther is about a plot to completely wipe out the Jews and it almost happened because of one man's dislike for them BUT GOD called Esther to stand in the gap and his people were delivered from this slaughter by being given permission to fight to stay alive. 

Fast forward to today's times. All we, who are not Jews and who are Jews, who believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Creator and one true God, and that he died for our sins and was raised from the dead is a member of the one true vine, Jesus Christ. We believers are, all over the world, family in Christ. We have one common enemy, Satan. And he has an army, demons, who are here to engage us in spiritual battle and destroy us in every way possible; our unity as one brotherhood, our identity in Christ, and steal the truth from our minds and hearts. 

How does the enemy steal the truth from our hearts? He takes a little bit of truth, puts his spin on it and influences us to believe lies. Read the creation story. See how Eve was tricked and influenced because she wasn't faithful, grateful nor believed what God told her. Even she added on to what God had said to she and Adam. Keep your hearts in check. Stay your mind on God and his ways. Daily make a mental list of what you're thankful for. Read and study the Bible for yourself. Do not take someone else's word for it. Pray throughout the day. Be sober and alert. This world is temporary but eternity... Well, that's forever. 

Written by: Lisa Clewis