|City on a Hill - Writings for Refuge

God is not ashamed of human weakness.  He does not despise a broken and contrite heart.   God resists a proud person.  This is one of the biggest challenges in my walk with God: I want to be good instead of being weak.   My flesh tries to be good on its own.  Just as Peter proudly believed he wouldn't deny Yeshua three times, my flesh just wants God to be "happy with me" for being strong, good, or faithful, instead of pleased with me for embracing that I am made to be weak. 1 Corinthians 1:27 NKJV — But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; The strength, goodness, and faithfulness God wants... The kind that is a gift from Him and not an outworking of the flesh... only proceeds from weakness, not the other way around. The best thing I can do when I am failing to be what I know God wants is be REAL.  To tell God I cannot be...

The Key of David is supranatural confidence in the goodness of God . Revelation 3:7-13 NKJV — “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. ...

Knowing what God said is very different from knowing God, just as knowing what Mark Twain said is very different than knowing Mark Twain, or any other character from history. Information can never save a person or make a person righteous, only abiding in... Knowing... God. There are many reasons that the flesh prefers to know about God rather than know God. Shame, pride, impatience, unbelief... These are just some of the reasons the flesh would strive to study God rather than die so the person could know Him. We live in a moment where the false and true will get so close together that the only discernable difference will be the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit isn't "the right information" or even the right emotional approach. The fruit of the Spirit doesn't show up in a conversation, it manifests in a life. Being soft in a conversation isn't the same as being gentle in the way a person lives. Taking the time to listen to someone isn't the same ...

The trap Satan sets for man is self-leadership. Self-leadership is very slippery. Our self, because of the virus of sin introduced to the way we think, what we feel, and what we plan to do (mostly do about evil)... Our self is constantly trying to control life. It just wants to be God. Mostly we want to make good (our idea of good depends on our world view) things happen. Consider this idea with the Lord: resisting what is evil and agreeing with what is good is not the same as being led by God. From Satan's perspective, God's way isn't good, it is evil. Satan wants to be good. Same goes for us. Because of man's rebellion, our way, including our way of understanding what God wants, isn't good. We want to be God.... Mankind does. All people want control. It's inherited from the fall of man. Because we have so many different ideas of what is good, this sin, called lawlessness is hard to detect when we agree about what is "good." There is only one way ...

Proverbs 26:23-28 NLT — Smooth words may hide a wicked heart,  just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot. People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,  but they’re deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.  Their hearts are full of many evils. While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,  their wrongdoing will be exposed in public. If you set a trap for others,  you will get caught in it yourself.  If you roll a boulder down on others,  it will crush you instead. A lying tongue hates its victims,  and flattering words cause ruin. The earth is taking a huge leap into the last days today. Watch. Everyone is being rallied to a war. Both sides lie about their hatred of the other side. Both sides cover their murderous thoughts with lies about good intentions.   The true intention is control . Man taking control of what was God's to do is what broke the world in the first place. Come out of her.  There is n...

Life in God must be progressive.  We are either growing or dying. Leaving everything to follow God's will is progressive. For Jesus it ended with leaving His mother, who was precious to Him: John 19:24-27 NLT — So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did. Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. This was not easy.  Jesus was on the cross, in excruciating pain, thinking of His mother, and leaving Her voluntarily.  He could have stopped it. There were 12 legions of angels in the ready. God gives grace.  No o...

We all have the same God... The same maker, sustainer, healer and provider. This means our only real limitation is our willingness to hear Him, believe Him, and obey Him. We will all live incredibly varied lives. All of our lives will have tribulation and the possibility of deliverance; lack and the possibility of provision; sickness and the possibility of healing, etc. Mostly we toil trying to control the areas of our lives only God can, and neglecting the few things we must do to grow into healthily connected beings... Abiding in the One Vine of life and fruitfulness. Measuring life based on what other people strive in is a futile delusion. I only want to measure my life based on what God gives to me to meet my daily need. I want to grow in a real time connection to the life-giver. Solomon built the temple, but David WAS a temple. David had the better part. Things are not always as they seem. Some people are using the hardest circumstances to grow the best lives because they are ...

When we are offended with God because someone treated us poorly, a situation turned out painfully, we were rejected by people who should have loved us, or we actually failed, we are always tempted to go back to our old life and retrace our steps. John 21:3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. Jesus corrected Peter out of this thinking. There is no going back while still staying faithful to Jesus. If you go back to your old life, loves, pursuits, etc. trying to vindicate yourself, instead of THROUGH the pain of rejection for following Jesus' ways, called the cross, you cannot be saved. There is no option for being a good, innocent, attractive victim in God's kingdom. There are no victims in Jesus' kingdom, only those who signed up for the mistreatment and giving up of control that comes with following Jesus. C...

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV — And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. What I do with difficulty is what determines whether or not I grow in the Lord.  God isn't looking for my ability, He is looking for an open door in my heart. Revelation 3:19-21 NKJV — “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens ...