Scripture Truth

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading] Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way.  [/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] Our small group started the Priscilla Shirer study, Can We Talk? last night. The six-week course was designed to encourage a more effective prayer life. The first week’s lessons are about the tongue and how we use our mouths. Start with the tongue I’ve taught on prayer for years, but beginning with the tongue was a little unexpected. It’s a great starting point, though. Two verses in James explain why: “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;” James 3:8,9 nasb The mouth is all I can see of the animal in the photo above. My first thought was “llama,” then “donkey,” and, finally, “horse in the winter with long hair.” The mouth captures my attention in a way it wouldn’t if closed. It’s so unattractive that I can’t tell if the rest of the horse is beautiful or not. My mouth, too, has all too often dominated how I seem to people over the years. I’ve spoken without thinking or, worse, said what I thought without caring about the consequences. As someone I love once said, I used my mouth like a weapon. I was good at it, too, if slashing the hearts and confidence of others with your words is a skill to be admired. The Heart-Mouth Connection The heart-mouth connection is real and more evident in what we say than we’d like. What came out of my mouth, in the past and more recently than I’d like to admit, had more to do with pride on my part than a desire to impart truth. I believed “my” way was best, what I wanted was what should be done. It didn’t take me long to learn the squeaky wheel gets the grease, the loudest voice is the one we hear, she who persists the longest often gets her way. I’ve known this, and lived it, most of my life. All those adages may be true, but they don’t tell us about the hurt those loud, squeaky voices and those arrogant words leave behind. The consuming fire in our mouths I’m sorry for the arrogance with which I’ve spoken over the years and, if I could take those words back, I would. Words once spoken, however, can never be recalled. That, my friends, is why James describes the tongue as a consuming fire and why he says no one can tame it. Only God can extinguish the fire and bring balm to our mouths. Clean the heart and tame the tongue  If we want a right relationship with God, we need more than clean hearts and hands. We need clean tongues, as well. Let’s think about our words for a moment, if we can stand it. How did we speak in the last week, the last month, the last year? Were our words a fountain of life or a spewing fountain of poison? Did we bless God and cursed our neighbor? Did we speak words that demean and hurt or build up and encourage?  If we want to please God, to have a sweet and intimate relationship with Him, we must allow Him to tame our tongues.  The choice is ours. Will we surrender this tiny bit of our anatomy to His control? Will we allow our words to bless, encourage, flow with kindness like a river of love washing over those who most need it? I choose surrender, repentance, cleansing, change. I want my mouth to be a source of blessing to all I meet. What about you? “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21kjv [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]You might also enjoy reading: How to Wrestle With God When the Answer to Your Prayer is Delayed Real Prayer Moves Us Closer to God Becoming a House of Prayer: Five Simple Steps When the Prayer of Desperation Becomes Through the Roof Prayer [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]I’m so glad you took the time to read all the way through to the end. Thank you. If this post blessed you, please take a moment and share on your social media platforms. It’s a huge help if you also pin to Pinterest. Here’s a pinnable image to use:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/3″][vc_single_image media=”67327″ media_width_percent=”75″ media_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.leannahollis.com%2Fproper-prayer-begins-by-taming-the-tongue%2F|||”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row unlock_row=”” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”2″ column_width_percent=”75″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” font_family=”font-377884″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]It’s hard to tell this story without going into the specifics, but there’s no need to dredge up the past again, so please bear with me. More than a decade ago, I went through a terrible time. Two people, in particular, plus a third who helped in the gouging of my heart, had the greatest role in that awfulness, and, for a time, I considered them all my enemies. What does the Bible say about loving our enemies? …Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you…” Luke 6:27-28  “repay evil with blessing…” 1 Peter 3:9  “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 Those passages are perfectly clear. When we, disciples of Jesus, have an “enemy,” we are to pray, bless, and love them. This behavior is not optional. It’s what disciples of Christ are supposed to do, so I did it. There was nothing amazing or saintly in my decision to obey. It was simply doing what a Christ-follower is supposed to do. Disobedience is always sin. Not to love my enemies, bless them, or pray for them would’ve been disobedience to the command of Jesus. It would’ve been a sin whether I felt justified in my anger or not.  Disobedience to a hard command is a sin. We don’t like to hear those words, but they’re true.  In the first few hours of that devastating darkness, I sank to my face on my prayer room floor and spoke words of blessing toward all involved. I didn’t feel it, and both God and I knew it, but I did it as an act of surrender and obedience.  I prayed that same prayer over and over again. It took a long time to “mean it” when I prayed, but that effort in persevering prayer changed everything. The outcome of obedience The situation didn’t resolve in the way I’d hoped, but God did a work in my relationship with one of the people, and, over the years, with another one of them. Yesterday, I was in a business meeting with one of the three former-enemy people, who’s doing some work for me. I had to call another person in the trio about the outcome of the meeting.  “What’s up with this? Is he helping you?” the second person asked. “Yeah. He’s a great guy.” “Are you kidding me? He was against you.” I laughed. “Yeah, well, look at all you did, but I forgave you. I’m big on forgiveness, you know. We forgave each other and we love each other now. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him, and nothing he wouldn’t do for me.”  My former enemy was aghast. “Really?” “Yep. This is what forgiving and loving your enemies looks like. They become your friends. This is how I treat you, isn’t it?” “Well, yeah…” Hard but worth it There is no way to communicate how horrible the situation was. I was absolutely devastated by it. More than a decade later, though, I can look back and laugh. God did a powerful work in me, and in the other people involved, as well.  I’ve never even met the third person in the trio, and I don’t particularly want to, but I’d be fine if I did. That’s how a healed wound works. It doesn’t hurt anymore. All that blessing and praying and loving was worth it, even though I didn’t want to do it at the time.  When we live in the shadow of the cross, we must allow it to determine how we live, how we respond to trouble, how we treat our enemies. Jesus set an example we are to follow.  What about loving our enemies is optional? Nothing. Why love our enemies when the world says don’t? Because Jesus commanded love. When I was face down on the prayer room floor, my reality was pain, hurt, fear, anger. I couldn’t imagine the future we all have today, but Jesus could. I didn’t have to envision it, plan for it, or anticipate such a glorious outcome. All that was required to gain the love we share today was one tiny act of obedience at all time.  If we’re reeling from the betrayal or hurt of another person, we have two options. Respond as the world responds or respond as Jesus said. Only one of those choices brings blessing. Only one brings the healing that turns enemies into dear, much-loved friends somewhere in the future.  Which will we choose? It’s a decision that can change the future in ways we cannot begin to imagine, so let’s choose obedience. Choose love, blessings, prayer, and let God use our efforts to do a work only He can do.  Loving as Christ loves is always the right decision.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]You might also enjoy reading: If We’ve Been Liberated Why Don’t We Live Free? Seven Truths You Need to Thrive in Hard Times Becoming a House of Prayer: Five Simple Steps to Change Your Life Will We Make Room for God in Our Lives Asking Why and Finding Answers[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Thank you for spending a bit of your time with me today. If you’ve been blessed, please take a moment to share to social media and pin to Pinterest. This helps expand our digital reach in amazing ways! Thanks for stopping by and for your help![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/3″][vc_single_image media=”67371″ media_width_percent=”75″ media_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.leannahollis.com%2Fliving-in-the-shadow-of-the-cross-and-loving-our-enemies%2F||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]A few months ago I left the office at noon with plans for a productive few hours. I expected to saw down some small trees in the pasture, study a writing text, start edits, clean house, wash clothes, take out the garbage, and cook a real meal instead of reheat leftovers. Before I knew it, bad attitudes I hadn’t yet recognized surfaced and a battle ensued. The dark night of my soul I did very little of what I planned. One thing after another happened, some of it catastrophic, some my own fault, and some so disappointing I sat on the floor and wept like a baby. Self-examination followed and it wasn’t a pretty sight. In the dark night of my soul I saw my own heart. The bleak vision brought even more tears. I faced my sin and bad attitudes. Horror over my pride, critical spirit, and sense of perfectionism flooded through me. God removed all of it once before but over time I allowed a seedling of sin to blossom into a vile, choking weed. Again. I want all the wickedness gone. Permanently. Are bad attitudes without action sin? Are bad attitudes not manifested in significant actions still sin? Yes. Whether it’s an overt action or a carefully coddled thought, bad attitudes are sin. There’s nothing sweet, charming, or funny about it. I want to be perfect even as my Father in heaven is perfect but, like most of us, I have a long way to go. The job of disciples includes quick repentance and progessive growth toward a Christ-like heart. None of us will be perfect this side of heaven, but we can be a good bit closer than we are right now. I know I can be. The joy of forgiveness. I confessed my sin, repented, asked for forgiveness and God forgave me. It was that simple but it didn’t seem like enough. I repented some more, wept some more, and apologized to the Lord over and over again. I wanted to “do” more but finally remembered an important truth. Jesus did everything needed to deal with my sin on the cross. My “come to Jesus” moment was soul-cleansing-hard but white-as-snow beautiful. They always are. The next morning, I remembered my bad attitudes and the darkness in my heart from the day before. I didn’t feel forgiven. I felt far away. Snuggle me again, Shepherd of my heart, I prayed. When I opened my Bible to John 1, the beautiful words washed over me like the balm of Gilead. “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” John 1:16 nasb Read those lovely words again and ponder them for a moment.  Forgiveness isn’t about feelings. The fact of forgiveness isn’t dependent upon our feelings. It comes from the mercy and grace of God. Because of His great mercy, He does not give us what we deserve. Instead, through grace, He gives us the forgiveness and cleansing we don’t deserve. And grace upon grace. He continues to give forgiveness every single time we need it. The gift of demolished strongholds Another passage spoke to me in my despair and filled me with hope. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare and not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.”  2 Corinthians 10:3,4 nasb God gave us a powerful weapon, strong enough to demolish even the strongholds and fortresses in our own hearts. The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and our only offensive weapon, is more than enough. The Word of God can demolish all the lies we’ve embraced, all the strongholds we’ve allowed the enemy to claim. The truth of 2 Corinthians is only effective, however, if we know what it says and allow it to do its beautiful work in our hearts. If we are tired of the load of sin we carry, there’s hope. We can do something about it today. Let us confess our sin and embrace the forgiveness and freedom only our loving, merciful, grace-filled Savior can give. Allow faith to dictate feelings and bad attitudes to flee We cannot allow our feelings to dictate our faith. Instead, faith should dictate feelings. If we believe what we say we believe about our Lord our default should be joy, hope, love, and peace. If not, there’s a problem. We are loved, bought with a price, and washed white as snow. Let’s live clean, because we are. “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Thanks for stopping by and sharing your time with me today! I’ve glad you visited. If you enjoyed this content, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, sign up for the twice-monthly mailing list (below) to be notified about my future blog posts, or click here to get a 5-day free Bible study and the twice-monthly newsletter. Before you leave, would you mind taking a moment to pin to Pinterest and share on social media? It helps extend my digital reach in ways I can’t do myself. Thanks again! See you soon. Want to read more? Here are links to a few other posts: Promises of God Fulfilled When the God of the Universe Knows Your Name How to Trust

[vc_row unlock_row=”” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] My life changed irrevocably on September 24, 2013, at 6:21 am, when I posted my first blog post. For more than four years, I’ve chronicled my adventures, faith, and the work of God in my life on a daily basis. I’ve shared my highest highs and lowest lows, my griefs and joys. The blog will soon move to my personal website. It’s considerably more modern and more beautiful. This blog space, however, is very precious to me.  Last night, I spent several hours in the “old” blog’s archive, and realized the photos represented every major event of the last four years. My fledgling attempts at fiction writing, my son’s graduation from college, the time The Clay Papers e-book went to #1 on Amazon and stayed there for four days, my dogs, my trip to the Bahamas, my trips to Jordan when I fell in love with a nation and her people, holidays, Bible studies, volunteering, becoming a missionary, caring for Sam… Everything is documented in the photographs I’ve shared. As I roamed through the digital archive, I re-read the stories, as well. You’ve lived life with me, and I’m eternally grateful. I hope you’ll continue through this transition and beyond. You’ve made me a better writer, because you’ve been such faithful readers, and I hope I never stop thanking you all for such a precious gift. My trip down memory lane took me inevitably to my first blog post, when I trusted God and you with my writing. I’m still grateful for that leap of faith. Reading it again was a blessing to me, so I’ve included it below. I hope it’s a blessing to you, as well. Thank you for making my life so very rich and full by reading and loving what I write. Much love and thanks, Leanna [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”65798″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” shape=”img-circle” css_animation=”alpha-anim”][vc_column_text] The shrubs and landscaping in front of my house were overgrown and threatening to completely block the sidewalk. It seems crazy now, but even though it looked messy and was becoming an azalea jungle, I couldn’t figure out how to fix it.   I didn’t realize it, but I needed an expert.     My friend, Linda Buchanan, mentioned her new yard man one day. Mr. Bailey was a wonder and a great help, she said, so I called him. That first day, I instructed him to clean up the front and trim the shrubs a little.     I had no idea what he was about to do.     A few hours later, I walked outside to see an enormous pile of brush. Mr. Bailey had trimmed more than I expected. My heart sank as I thought, “My azaleas! He has cut down my azaleas!” I hurried around front to find, not destruction, but order. He had trimmed up the mess and brought it under control.     Instead of a jungle, I had lovely landscaping again.     John the Baptizer’s listeners were in a similar situation. They knew they had a mess in their lives and that something needed to be done. That’s why they had come out to the banks of the Jordan to hear him. Their heritage wasn’t enough to save them, nor their sacrifices. They were in a quandary. What then? What could they do?     He began by giving practical examples of sacrificial behavior. Shortly, however, Jesus would come for baptism, and John would recognize exactly what they all needed. The Lamb of God would take away their sin. They couldn’t do anything to rectify their guilt but Jesus would do it for them and He would soon set them free.     Maybe you, too, are wondering what to do about problems in your life or in the lives of loved ones. You may not realize it, but, like me, you need an expert.     The answer is incredibly simple. Look to Jesus.     He can clean up the mess of your life as well as that of your loved ones. He can clean up the guilt and shame and set you free.   Today, let’s pray for a heart willing to accept the kind of divine pruning only Christ can do. [/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading] And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” (Luke 3:10 NASB) [/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Blog posts ideas don’t always pop into my head fully formed. Sometimes, I open my computer and stare at the blank page, my brain equally blank because I have no idea what to write. On those days, I use an unusual story prompt: my photo app. I open the photo file and scroll through until something catches my attention or an idea comes to mind. Today, I tried a variation on the story-prompt theme. I opened a free photo site and scrolled through until I saw the photo of the roaring lion. A verse from 1 Peter came to mind, along with a few promises of God, and a blog post was born. The prowling lion roars “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 nasb The lion’s roar is a terrifying sound and can be heard up to five miles away. According to lionalert.org, “lions roar to tell other lions where they are, to show how big they are, and to warn lions from other prides to keep away from their home territory.” The lion’s roar is a loud message that says, in a way, “I’m here and so big you can’t get away. Don’t tangle with me. Don’t invade my space.” It’s a message of pride that defies other animals to venture into his territory. Five promises of God we can claim when the lion roars: The lion’s roar proclaims his size. The evil one roars to proclaim his dominance over us. He would have us believe he’s the biggest, baddest lion in the area, but that’s a lie. If Scripture is true, and it is, Satan is not greater, or more powerful, than our God. “Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) The lion’s roar proclaims his proximity. In a way, the roar says, “I’m right on top of you. I have you now.” The enemy of our souls wants us to believe he’s so close we will not be able to resist or flee. Jesus, however, said He and His Father live in us. No matter what the enemy says, He cannot evict our Father.  “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” John 14:23  The lion’s roar proclaims his ownership. When the lion roars to proclaim his territory, he defies other lions to risk entering. As Christians, however, we do not belong to the world or the powers of this world. Regardless of what the enemy claims, he does not have authority over us. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”  1 Corinthians 6:19,20 nasb The lion’s roar proclaims his power. The roaring lion wants other lions to believe he is big enough and powerful enough to defend that which is his. In that same way, the evil one wants us to believe he is powerful enough to destroy us and that God cannot snatch us from his claws nor deliver us in time of danger and temptation. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 niv  The lion’s roar proclaims his victory.  A victory in advance of battle is nothing more than a prideful boast. We may experience battle with the evil one, but we have all we need for battle, and we fight a defeated foe. “Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13 The promises of God are all we need  God has already given us the defensive weapons to protect ourselves from the onslaught of the evil one. He has also given us the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, which is the only offensive weapon we will ever need. We must know Scripture, however, to use it. We do have power, but we must be prepared before the lion roars. Lions roar because that’s how they’re made. The evil one also roars with pride and defiance because that’s who he is. Fear and defeat are his objectives but we can stand firm in the face of his tactics if we remember the truth and the promises of God. The power, authority, and ownership of our souls were bought by Jesus with His precious blood. The enemy’s claim on us is broken. We have been set free, from sin, death, and the roar of the lion. We can live free Today, let’s evaluate the roar of the evil one in our lives. Do we tremble with fear when he threatens? Does fear cause us to run straight into his lair? Let’s remember Whose we are and the promises of God we’ve been given and live as those who have been redeemed. We were set free by Christ, so let’s live free. Five promises of God every Christian should claim: POWER: The Lord in us is greater than the enemy of our soul. Period. (1 John 4:4) PRESENCE: The Lord loves His own and He makes His abode with us. The enemy cannot invade. (John 14:23) FREEDOM: Our Lord bought us with a price and the enemy no longer has authority or ownership of any area of our lives. (1 Cor. 6:19,20) PROVISION: God will provide a way out of any temptation we face. (1 Corinthians 10:13) VICTORY: The battle is fierce but we have all the armor and weapons we need to be victorious. (Ephesians 6:13) Thanks for stopping by and sharing your

[vc_row unlock_row=”” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] About a year ago, I wrote an in-depth online, in-your-place-at-your-pace Bible study on the book of James. After I finished writing it, I posted it as a dropbox file for readers to download to their computers. I quickly learned that most of my readers use their phones or tablets to access the blog, not a computer. The Dropbox file was an epic fail. Doing what I should’ve done to start with I tried converting to a series of six blog files, as well as a print version, but neither worked well. Recently, I decided to do what I should’ve done all along. Make an e-book. As part of the preparation for uploading the file, I spent days reworking my document endnotes (“footnotes” placed at the end of the book instead of the bottom of the page). I went through every link to be sure it worked and reread the text several times to check for errors. I studied James and was kicked in the repenter again. Once all that was done, I signed in to Amazon’s easy create-a-book site and went to work. I designed a lovely cover, uploaded the photos and file, corrected formatting, and was almost ready to hit “publish” when I noticed something odd. No mention of e-books was on the web page. I fretted with this for an absurdly long time before I realized one critical fact. It was the site to publish print books, not e-books. Arriving at the wrong destination I went to the wrong website and was seconds away from a book I didn’t want. Where I meant to go was not where I’d arrived. I backed out of the print site and went to the e-book prep site. An entirely different bit of formatting needed to be done. Because I work on a MAC, the e-book Table of Contents and internal links all had to be done by hand. It was way past bedtime when I finished. Eternal destinations The problem of arriving where I didn’t intend to go was quickly solved by opening a new tab on my web browser. The problem of an eternal destination error is not as easily solved, however. Just as I had two publication options (print or e-book), we have two eternal destinations. Heaven or hell. We choose our destination in advance and, unlike publication options, once arrived, the choice cannot be undone. As James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote, our faith is revealed by our works. Faith that isn’t manifested by works is dead. In other words, if our faith doesn’t change us and make us more like Jesus, we need to consider whether we have saving faith or not. Those are hard words, but they come straight from Scripture. I’d soften them a bit and wrap them in flowery prose. James does not. He’d rather offend and save a soul than cushion someone in comfortable words that usher them straight to hell. James urged those to whom he wrote to examine their faith. We’d be wise to do the same. To what kind of faith do our works give evidence? Is Christ clearly seen in our words, our actions, our deeds? If all we do is sit on a pew once a week, can we, realistically, expect that kind of faith to take us to heaven? According to James, it’s life-altering, behavior-changing faith that assures our eternity with Jesus, not attendance at a series of meetings, no matter how well-intended. If we want to spend eternity in heaven, let’s be sure that’s where we’re headed. None of us can enter God’s home on our goodness alone. We’re all sinners. It takes faith, covered by the grace of God, to enter Heaven. How to make heaven your home The Bible gives a few simple but life-changing steps we must follow: Address our sin If we break the laws of our government, we must pay the government-determined penalty for that error. In that same way, if we break God’s laws we must pay the penalty He specifies. Sin is the “church word” for breaking God’s law. The Bible says all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23) and the penalty for that is death. (Romans 6:23) It’s not enough to admit we’ve done wrong. We must also repent. That’s another “church word” that means to be sincerely sorry enough for what we’ve done wrong that we don’t want to do it again. When we repent, we tell God we’re sorry enough for what we’ve done that we want to stop doing it. Forever. We also ask Him to forgive us. Trust Jesus  Jesus came to earth as a man, fully God and fully human. He lived a sinless life so that He could be a perfect sacrifice, or payment, for our sin. He died and rose again. His death paid for our sin penalty. His resurrection (coming back to life) proved He had defeated sin and death and has the power to make us new people who are in right standing with God. (Romans 4:25) It’s easy to console ourselves by saying, “I’m a good person” or “I’ve done a lot more good than bad.” Those things may be true but they aren’t enough to satisfy God’s requirements. We don’t go to heaven because we’re good, but because we’re forgiven. Obey Jesus The Christian life is not a once-and-we’re-done decision. If we accept Jesus’ payment for our sin, we must also accept His authority in our lives. (John 14:15) It sounds harder than it is. Read the Bible to know what God expects of us and do what it says. It’s that  simple.  It’s not always easy to do what God expects, but Jesus also gives us the power to do whatever He asks. (1 Corinthians 4:20) “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Maggie the Wonder Dog is usually the most placid of early-morning risers. She wakes up just enough to go outside for a quick potty trip, then hurries back upstairs to snooze on the end of the bed while I study, write, shower, and get dressed. Mornings are not her favorite. Today, however, I put her back on the bed after her visit outside and she sniffed something interesting on the covers. She went nuts, sniffing, scratching, and trying to get under the sheets. Nothing I did helped settle her down. She’d had a bone on the bed a few days earlier, but long since moved to a better place. I retrieved it in the hope of calming her frantic search. The bone wasn’t “it.” I offered her a stuffed bear, a chew toy, and another sliver of bone. She rejected them all. I commanded her to sit. She ignored me, completely intent on her search. Finally, I opened my Bible and left her to it. She sniffed, scratched and searched all through my quiet time. “That dog is driving me crazy, Lord. You’ll have to speak loud for me to hear over her scratching,” I prayed. (I know. Maybe not the most churchy of prayers.) Seek and you will find… What I read next made me laugh out loud. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah29:13 nasb The words of Jeremiah came alive as I watched Maggie’s focused, relentless, energetic search. She was so much like us humans. Some search for power, control, peace, or security, but we’re all searching for something. Our quest gives direction to our lives and, in some ways, our destiny. For what are we searching? What is the one thing we want more than anything else? Do we seek God with unrelenting focus? If so, we have an iron-clad guarantee. If we turn from the things of this world and seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him. Today, let’s turn our hearts heavenward. Put our search for God and His ways before all the worries and concerns of this world. Seek Him, His Kingdom, and His righteousness and everything else will fall into place. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 nasb Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Thanks for sharing your time with me today! I’ve glad you stopped by. If you enjoyed this content, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest or sign up for the twice-monthly mailing list (below) to be notified about my future blog posts. Before you leave, would you mind taking a moment to pin to Pinterest and share on social media? It helps extend my digital reach in ways I can’t do myself. Thanks again! See you soon. Want to read more? Here are links to a few other posts: Will We Make Room for God in Our Lives? On Being Beloved Daffodils: Harbingers of Hope  Worship at the Judas Rock: When We Identify With the Betrayer When the God of the Universe Knows Our Name Asking Why and Finding Answers Repentance and the Benefits Package [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Here’s an in-depth, life-changing digital Bible study to help you grow in your Christian faith: (This is an Amazon affiliate link, which means I might make a few cents from your purchase but it will not change the price you pay) [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] Want to know more about Leanna Hollis and her ministry of prayer and outreach? Click here to find the latest ministry newsletters Scroll down to sign up for her blog/writing newsletter. It also includes links to current ministry newsletters. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row unlock_row=”” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] I was at the bedside of a dying woman some years ago. In her last few days, she talked about her brother. She didn’t describe what he’d done, but she was still angry more than 75 years later. The memory gnawed at her all her life and left a root of bitterness so deep it became anchored in her heart. We talked about the importance of forgiveness, but she chose to hold the memory and the anger close as if it were a kind of prize. Holding the memory was a prize, but it wasn’t hers. Her tight-fisted hold on the past was a trophy for the evil one. When bad things happen, and they will, we can process the bad thing, forgive, and find the healing only Christ can give, or we can hang onto it and let it devour us with anger and bitterness. The choice is ours. Which one makes sense to you? Overcome evil with good Evil abounds in this world, but we are to overcome evil with good. That’s not my own Pollyanna-style foolishness. It comes straight from Scripture. “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 12:21 NLT Sometimes, terrible things are done to children, and they leave a lasting impact. I hate those wicked deeds. There are acts of betrayal that feel like you’ve been kicked in the gut and trampled in the mud, and they can leave a lasting impact, too. I hate those acts of betrayal. What I hate more, however, is the way those terrible deeds and acts of betrayal gain the upper hand and destroy the rest of our lives. They can, in a way, train us to believe we deserved the evil or that everyone betrays, everyone will act in an evil way. Those are lies from the evil one and there is no freedom in them. Choose freedom “It is for freedom that Christ set us free…” (Galatians 5:1) Christ died and rose again to give us freedom over the wickedness in our own hearts and the wickedness of others perpetrated on us. Processing our hurts may not be easy and freedom isn’t cheap, but it is possible and we can have it if we want it. If we’re willing to work for it. I’ve had my share of hurt and betrayal and I’ve tried to let God heal it all. Recently in staff devotions, I mentioned a beautiful thing that happened. Years ago, someone said terrible things about me and was unkind. I forgave it, mainly because forgiveness was better for me than holding on and letting bitterness have a root. God eventually restored the relationship. I now enjoy the sweetness of restoration. “I know she hurt me, but the odd thing is I can’t remember what she did.” That’s healing. Not only has the hurt lost its power over me, but it’s also lost its hold in my head. I took those thoughts captive and asked God to remove them, and He did. Is it possible to forgive and forget? “I can forgive but I can’t forget” is a common adage, but it’s not Scriptural wisdom. Let’s agree to stop quoting this bit of trickiness from the evil one. If God can help us forgive, He can handle forgetting, too. You may not believe this right now, but, it is possible to forgive and forget. If we’ll take our thoughts captive and give them to our Heavenly Father, He’ll deal with them. We can’t keep pulling them out of the capture-bag and massaging them to see if they still hurt, though. Do we want a free heart and free head or not? It’s easier than we might think. Here are a few simple steps to forgive and forget: Remember the beginning of the hurt. Examine the original hurt an look for all its roots in our lives. Address each area, “dig it up,” then forgive it. Offer the hurt to God in a metaphorical capture-bag. Continue, one by one, through the hurts in our lives until the thought-capture-bag is full, then hand it over to the Only One who can remove it. Stop rehearsing the hurt. When the memory resurfaces, speak forgiveness again. That sounds simplistic, I know, but the theory is right. Only God can help us process the biggest of hurts, but He’s more than able. He stands ready and willing. He’s waiting for us to choose freedom. We may need help from a pastor or Christian counselor, and it may take time, but we can be released from all our hurts if we want it. Today, let’s choose freedom. When we do, we’ll find we’ve made more room for God “.…and to know that love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19   /> Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Thanks for sharing your time with me today! I’ve glad you stopped by. If you enjoyed this content, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest or sign up for the twice-monthly mailing list (below) to be notified about my future blog posts. Before you leave, would you mind taking a moment to pin to Pinterest and share on social media? It helps extend my digital reach in ways I can’t do myself. Thanks again! See you soon. Want to read more? Here are links to a few other posts: Will We Make Room for God in Our Lives? On Being Beloved Daffodils: Harbingers of Hope  Repentance and the Benefits PackageMissed Lessons and the Failure to Change Finding Good in the Midst of

[vc_row unlock_row=”” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”80″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text css_animation=”bottom-t-top”] The Unfaithful Servant Jesus told the parable of a master who entrusted a bag of gold coins to each of three servants. He didn’t give them detailed instructions. Instead, he trusted them to do something with what they’d been given. When the master returned to receive their report about the money, two servants heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” but one did not. The unspoken expectation was for them to use the money to make a profit. One servant was afraid and hid the money in a hole. When the master asked for an account, the money was safe but the servant had no profit at all. He made all kinds of excuses. He didn’t trust the master, but he was also afraid of him. The faithless servant wanted to do the safest thing. The master accepted exactly none of his excuses. The Leanna paraphrase is coming up: “You knew I expected you to do something with what I entrusted you and you did nothing. I’m done with you.” He turned to one of his other workers. “Take the money I entrusted to him and give it to my best servant, the one who did the most.” No doubt the faithless servant felt it was unfair. He probably whined all the way out the door but his excuses made one thing clear. He knew his master expected something from him, yet he refused to make even the least effort. His lack of effort brought no reward and, in fact, reflected both his poor understanding of his master and their tenuous relationship. Well done, good and faithful servant The other two servants understood their master’s expectation for a return on his investment and were eager to please him. They made a profit from the money they’d been given and presented it with enthusiasm. In return, the two faithful servants heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” from their master. It was high praise from an exacting taskmaster. Jesus compared their experience to the final judgment when He sits on his throne. The sheep on his right will be surprised by his commendation. (The Leanna Paraphrase is coming up again.) “Well done, good and faithful servant. You served me in so many ways. Come on in and receive your reward.” Those servants will be so surprised! “Jesus, I don’t remember doing any of that.” He’ll just smile. “Dear one, I saw every act of service as if you’d done it to me. Thank you.”  (from Matthew 25:34-40) Those are not the exact words, of course, but you get the gist. How to be a good and faithful servant: Know whom you serve The first step in becoming a good and faithful servant is to know the one we serve. The faithful servants clearly knew their master well. They knew he had high expectations but was also fair and rewarded hard work. Their efforts reflected their relationship with the master. In the same way, we serve Jesus most effectively when we know Him in an intimate way through time spent in prayer, in-depth Bible study, and steadfast obedience. When we make an effort to know Jesus in a personal way, we begin to learn what He expects of us and the kind of selfless, loving service He expects. How to be a good and faithful servant: Recognize your talents  Last night, I had an experience with my little dogs that brought the moment of “Well done, good and faithful servant” into focus in a new way. I let Maggie and Mamie, my two Shih Tzus, out the back door one more time before we went to bed. Mamie was surprisingly efficient and was back inside in no time.  Maggie, however, was another story. The rumble of the train as it passed through our town was barely audible in the distance. Maggie doesn’t like the deep rumbling sound so she barked her hardest to make it stop, just as she always does. I finally grew tired of the barking, stepped outside, and walked toward Maggie. Her little barking did nothing at all to stop the big train, but I said what she waited to hear. “Good job, Maggie. You can come in now.” It’s a Shih Tzu’s job to be territorial and protect its owner. When Maggie barks at the train, she’s doing what she was born to do and waiting for affirmation of her faithfulness. Like Maggie, we are also uniquely created and equipped to serve in specific ways. Whether we are best equipped to preach, teach, sing, or serve meals to hungry people, we all have gifts and abilities we can use for the kingdom of God. We were never intended to keep our “talents” to ourselves nor to hide them in a hole. How to be a good and faithful servant: Do something with what you have The master didn’t expect the servants to make a million dollars from their bag of coins. He simply expected a good effort and he rewarded those who did something with what he’d entrusted to them whether they’d made the biggest return or not. In the same way, Jesus does not expect us to preach the greatest sermon ever heard, sing the most popular song in the world, serve the most hungry people, or give every penny we have to the poor. He doesn’t expect us to bring every person in the world to Him on our own. Jesus simply expects us to follow where He leads and serve with the gifts and abilities He’s entrusted to us. If we are gifted in childcare, he expects us to serve children with love to the best of our abilities. He expects a cashier in a grocery to serve faithfully, honestly, with love and good cheer. If we’re a writer, He expects us to write and let someone read what we’ve written.