|City on a Hill - Writings for Refuge

Biblical humility isn't found in placing myself in the right position before people.  Biblical humility is in relation to God Himself, who made all people.  If I find the right place before God, I will naturally find the right place before people.  The conflict that arises in living like this is fear that people won't know I'm humble, kind, and good.  People don't need to know I am anything.  God knows if I am abiding in Him or not.  Wanting others to know my good intentions is a telltale I'm competing with God, not humbling myself before Him. In God's kingdom, the greatest serve the most.  But, I need to see this from God's perspective: Mark 10:35-45 NKJV — Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus sa...

In the Bible, loyalty to God is defined as a willingness to let go of strength, opportunity, ability, and will BECAUSE of a trust in God. Jesus could have done anything, but He only did what the Father told Him to.  The fact that He didn't use all of His strength, ability, opportunity, and that He laid down His own will, was a demonstration of loyalty to God. Loyalty to God is also the door that God's strength enters my life.  It's not a choice for less, it's a choice for more.   It takes confidence in who God is, what the Bible calls faith, to be loyal to Him. *Politics/human power *Money *Identity *Perceived success *Lust *Fear ^These, and many more, called "worldliness" or "mammon" are off-ramps to true power. When the church divides herself between God and these she is lukewarm, AND disloyal. 1 John 2:15-17 NKJV — Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in ...

These are the days to lift my head and see what is really drawing near.  Hope is the currency of 2026. It will buy everything I truly need. Luke 21:28 NKJV — “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Reacting to the events happening on the earth is to be led by my emotions and thoughts and not God.   If I allow my life to be led by reacting to what others are doing, I am truly lost. If I let the Holy Spirit inform me of what is happening BEFORE it happens, watch for it with Him, and then live into the thoughts, will, and emotions of God ABOUT what mankind is doing, I grow in oneness with God while He judges the world around me for it's lack of connection, or abiding in Him. Mark 13:33 NKJV — “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. God is giving the people of the earth over to their own desires.  All judgment is God simply letting man have his own way, and that way leads to mo...

The purest obedience is doing what God says in its simplest form. The flesh always wants to add reason to God's instruction.  We try to find ways to appease God and ourselves.  That is called rebellion by God.   Our reasons are at war with God's instructions. Galatians 5:17 NKJV — For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Well-intentioned people are the most likely to compromise, because they believe their intention is what God wants and they miss the war their flesh is having with God's Spirit.  God knows our intentions lack His understanding.  Obedience cannot be replaced by well-intentioned "getting close." If God calls me to do something, I just want to do it, knowing and believing His ways are different than mine.  Obeying God almost always results in doing something the world wouldn't do. God asks us to give things we wouldn't to...

Song of Solomon 5:9-11   What  is  your beloved More than  another  beloved, O fairest among women? What  is  your beloved More than  another  beloved, That you so charge us?   (10)   My beloved  is  white and ruddy, Chief among ten thousand.   (11)   His head  is like  the finest gold; His locks  are  wavy,  And  black as a raven.   There has never been a person more alive than Yeshua.  Jesus lived, and continues to live, completely free, satisfied, engaged, focused, and joyful.  He knows how to live life better than anyone.  This verve and freedom was very misunderstood by religious people:     Luke 7:33-35   John the Baptist came, and he fasted and drank no wine, and you said, 'He has a demon in him!'   (34)   The Son of Man came, and  he ate and drank , and you said, 'Look at this man!  He is a glutton and wine drinke...

Impatience leaves the heart sick.  A sick heart tries to feel better in impatient (lawless) ways. Proverbs 13:12 NKJV — Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. All lawlessness is sin. Impatiently trying to do what only God can do is sin, not help.  Impatience does not please God. Hope does. Faith hope and love please God. Every promise God makes is a yes. It will be fulfilled.  Patience and faith are required for me to continue abiding in love (obedience) while waiting on Gods timing. Because God is committed to love, He is also committed to free will.  Because of this unwavering commitment to our own freedom, the Lord waits! What an amazing God... A Father that waits on His children.  A King who has tender patience for His subjects.  A Creator who yields His hand to waiting for His creation's readiness to receive all of the blessings that come from it!  Our God is so powerful that He can afford humility. Go...