The Spirit of Absalom

"...So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel." -II Samuel 15:6

If Absalom were alive today and decided to be the running mate for vice-president along side the presidential hopeful in 2012 election, it's possible that he would give his victory speech on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. The presidential hopeful never saw it coming. To his knowledge, his vice-presidential running mate had been campaigning along side him. Or so he thought.

Absalom was handsome and charismatic just like his father David. He had a way with words. We can't deny or down play the wisdom of Absalom. Doing so is what caused the hearts of the men of Israel to be so easily stolen. Did any of these men ever ask the question, "Why is Absalom always at the right place at the right time?"

While most men were sleeping, Absalom rose up early and positioned himself at the city gate. The city gate was the perfect place for him to stand, smile and shake hands. Jerusalem was the nation's capital. Therefore, all local and national leaders would travel there daily to settle legal matters. Major business transactions took place there as well. He was strategic because anyone entering or leaving the city had to go through the city gates. He was sympathetic while listening to the complaints of the men of Israel. Here, we see, a politician at his finest. 

Can you hear him telling the men of Israel, 

"If only I were the judge. I would make sure you got justice."

**********

Absalom is not whispering in your ear, but you hear the words of Absalom when someone wants to help you solve your problems "because Pastor is too busy to listen to you." Absalom will tell you that your pastor or your leader don't recognize the gifting that they see dwelling within you. They may even offer to mentor you at this time. You eagerly agree because you've been waiting for someone to finally see your potential.

Don't allow Absalom to whisper in your ear. Absalom may tell you that they support your pastor or your leader, but in the same breath say there's a better way. His way. Before you know it, he's stolen your heart.

Praise Report: Shilah is showered with blessings!

I just wanted to take some time and share a few things with you. Trust me, there is much more where this came from. My blessings go way back. However, here recently, the Lord has truly been working in our lives and I am so thankful to Him.

I will start with last Sunday. My husband and I came to church and realized that we hadn't brought the check book, and he whispers to me that all he has is $5 cash for the offering. I have been praying a lot about tithing and discussing it with him. It's not something we have actually done yet, but a little birdy (my pastor's wife) told me that God blesses even the desire to give so.... Desire in hand we put our $5 bill in the envelope and placed in in the basket.

Now this is significant because I had gotten a call from my union around the 3rd or 4th. I was informed that there was a mistake in the amount of the deduction from our checks and that I should compare last month with this month. That should be the difference.

I did and it was about $13. I thought okay no big deal, right? Then on Tuesday last week I checked my email to find a notification from the State of Washington (my employer) that I have an auto-payment being deposited for $56!!!! It was very much a work of God that we did receive back 10 fold. I shared this with my husband and now he is beginning to see how this faith in finances works.

Secondly, during our prayer meetings, we were praying for our leaders in government. I have prayed specifically for Christine Gregoire, our Governor here in Washington. She approved massive cuts to the caregiver's programs and medicaid due to budget shortfalls. It was supposed to be any where from 6% to 18% cuts to home caregivers and nursing home funding. Which for me, that meant losing 27 hours a month. There were eliminations of hospice care for the dying, dental care for adults over 21, vision, etc....

The Union has been fighting in court and took it to the 9th circuit court of appeals.
Since the beginning of this corporate prayer, I have received automated updates by phone from the union every Sunday night. Every week we are regaining something. Last week it was the hospice and dental care. Then, last night, I got another automated call. It stated that they were in court Friday and the injunction was granted. We are to work our regularly scheduled hours!!!!

I don't know why I am always in awe of God's works when he answers prayer because I KNOW He does. I have learned and been reminded of things I have learned as a child, since coming back to church. I know that the Lord is blessing my family. He HAS changed the way I am seeing things from using my "right now" eyes to using my "eternal" eyes. We are blessed so much. God has moved mountains of obstacles from our path as a family. At first it was something as small as the ability to get up early enough for church on Sunday morning to now, the ability to change the decision
of the Governor of the State of Washington!!! Amen!!!! Praise God!!!

Finally, I have also been praying for my family and that they be delivered from alcohol. I was speaking with my Aunt on Saturday and she told me that my Dad has stopped drinking and that He has started going back to church with his wife. The church was about to just cancel their praise and worship team as they had lost some of their musicians. Well, my Father plays base guitar and harmonica and another man just joined their church as well and he plays the drums!!!! God is Good all the time and all the time God is good.

I just wanted to take another moment to share my love for my new church family. I am so excited to be able to join with you all in praising God and re-learning how amazing it is to fall in love with my Heavenly Father again. My cup runneth over!!!!

God bless you all as He has me!
Shilah Jackson

Shilah Jackson is married to Michael Jackson. (yes I know ;) They have 5 beautiful children. She loves loves loves to sing!!! Shilah sings like most people breathe! Her favorite passage scripture is Psalms 23. She loves her Lord and Savior with all her heart. She is so excited about knowing Him and knowing who she is in Him.

Spiritual Renewal Starts With Prayer

As we begin this new year, many of us reflect on the past year and the things that we want to do different in the new year. Sometimes we can reflect too long on the mishaps of the past and miss what God wants to do in and through us today. At the start of each year, we vow that this year is going to be better than the last year. We make resolutions only to have them dissolve before we get started. Frustration sets in because we've prayed over and over again to be set free from things that have held us captive.

If you're anything like me, you need your mind and your spirit renewed. 

For a long time, I wondered why I felt like I couldn't get a breakthrough in my prayer life. I always thought my prayers were powerful. I spoke the right jargon during my prayer time. All the while, there was a blockage. I was encased in a glass box looking that the promises that God had for me.

Why couldn't I get to them? I see them. They are within arms reach.

Then the thoughts race through my mind of all the times people and things hindered me from receiving those promises. They kept me from moving forward. They hurt me. They gossiped about me. They abused me. They lied on me. They....they....they....

It wasn't until one day when I realized "they" had power over me because I wouldn't let go of the past. The only control others have over you, is the control you give them. I allowed people that I hadn't seen in years to control me from afar. Why? Because I had not completely applied the Word of God in my life.

Isaiah 43:18-19 says, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Hitting the rewind button to continue playing the past will cause you to miss our on what God has in your future.

Let's start this year off by renewing our spirits through prayer. The prayer that's most powerful is the prayer of inviting God to come into your heart. Maybe you have prayed this prayer before, but you can pray it again. Maybe this is your first time praying it, and you're hesitant. Those feelings are normal. I do want to say that in order to move forward, we must seek forgiveness for our past and present sins.

Will you bow your head with me and say this prayer?

~ Dear Lord Jesus, forgive me for my sins. Cleanse me from all righteousness. I believe that you died on the cross. Were buried and on the third day, and God the Father raised you from the died. Right now Lord Jesus, I open the door of my heart. I receive you into my heart as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus name. Amen. ~

If you said that prayer, you're on your way to a spiritual renewal.

Remember this, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." -II Corinthians 5:17

In Marriage, Take the Time to Give Each Other More

Take the time to be gentle;
remember that words harshly spoken
trouble the spirit.
Take the time to talk to each other;
the secret to all understanding
is in open communication.
Don't be afraid to say
what's on your mind,
and listen wisely.
Take the time to remember
that you chose one another
to learn and to grow with;
you each have something valuable
to offer.
Be a good teacher and a good student.
Take the time to be alone,
so that you can gather your innermost thoughts
and share them with each other
when you're together.
Take the time to be thankful.
You have chosen your path together;
take the time to make it the way you want it.
If change is needed,
do it gracefully.
Take the time to be loving;
it is the one thing everyone needs.
Always, in marriage,
take the time to give each other more.

By: Gayle Saunders

Book of Ruth Chapter 4 ~ Boaz Redeems Ruth

If you can imagine this scene in your mind. Boaz, determined to get the woman that he fell in love with pacing back and forth in front of the city gate. He told Ruth that he would take care of everything and for her not to worry. At the city gate, there was so many people going about their day to day routine because the city gate was the hub of the city. Interesting enough, the city gate is where all the legal matters were taken care of as well. Boaz was smart. He knew at the city gate he could take care of everything plus have the witnesses that he needed.

After reading this story, one may wonder how long did he stand at the gate waiting for this relative. Time wasn't a factor because here's a man that's determined to redeem Ruth. Boaz is just like Christ. Christ waits around for us to redeem us from our life of sin. He doesn't get impatient for us to come through the city gate and see Him there with His arm stretched out for us to run to them. Christ is there and He paid the ultimate cost to redeem us. Boaz is willing to do whatever he has to do to redeem Ruth. What makes Christ willing to do what he did to redeem us? What makes Boaz willing to do what he needed to do to redeem Ruth? Love.

Boaz was a wise man. He didn't come to the city gate without a plan or strategy. Notice when he first talks to the kinsman, he didn't mention Ruth. He wanted to know if the kinsman would redeem the property first. Property had to be redeemed before people could be redeemed. When the relative found out he had to redeem a widow, and a widow who was a Moabite, he backed down. Redeeming Ruth would complicate the kinsman inheritance in 2 ways. First, he feared if he had a son with Ruth, some of his estate would be transferred to Elimelech's family. Second, she was a Moabite and under the Mosaic Law an Ammonite or Moabite couldn't enter the congregation of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 23:3).

Boaz was willing to put himself in this complicated situation. Christ put Himself in a complicated situation when He came into our lives. When Christ came into our lives, it wasn't to complicate it more, but to give us hope. Boaz was Ruth's hope for not becoming a desolate widow. Boaz knew that he could take care of her and give her the life she deserved. Christ came in to give us abundant life. He didn't want us living in the sin of desperation trying to please our flesh only to reap more corruption. That wasn't his original plan for us. He knew that in order for us to live the life He intended for us to live He had to redeem us.

When Boaz redeemed Ruth, Ruth wasn't the only one who received a blessing. So did Naomi. Naomi was so blessed that all her friends gave praise to the Lord in verse 14. When Christ redeems us from a life of despair, others around us are blessed as well.

God used the Book of Ruth to prepare us for the births of King David and the King of Kings, our Messiah Jesus Christ. Ruth wasn't aware that her life would be recorded and read for many generations to come. She didn't fully understand her purpose in life. She didn't know that through her lineage the Savior of the world come. You and I may question our purpose in life. Be sure my friend that your purpose is great. Greater than you know. Live your life in such a way that many generations will read it after you're gone and they will find their purpose in life.