When Love Let's You Down

Pastor Janet Peterson
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Penang, Malaysia
PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

Lets reflect for a moment my precious brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus on Genesis chapter 29. Jacob had worked seven years to earn Rachel's hand. He didn't realize until he lifted the veil on his wedding night that he had been deceived. He had married the sister, Leah, who was not Miss Malaysia or Miss America or even Miss Israel. So he had to work seven more years to get Rachel, the one he really wanted. Now he's got two wives. The Bible says (vs 30), "he loved also Rachel more than Leah." 

But Leah, like every woman, had a very deep love hunger.

Genesis 29:31 reads, "And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren." (vs 32) "And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.." 

Interesting isn't it? She's looking to this man for the love and the identity she needs and she's coming up empty.

Well, soon after she finally has another baby, Simeon (vs 33). And it says in (vs 34), "And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi."  

Again the man does not give her what she needs. Finally in verse 35, " And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, " Now will I praise the Lord....:'" Do you see the picture here? Leah had hoped to find her identity in Jacob's love, but finally, after three times of counting on a baby to secure her man's attention, she didn't get it, so she refocuses her love hunger from Jacob to Jehovah; from her husband to her Heavenly Father.

There's many a woman who has been disappointed by a man; hurt by a man. There's frustration, there's bitterness. If you're a woman, maybe you've been hurt by a father whose love or approval you could never seem to win, or maybe a boyfriend or a husband has let you down like Jacob did Leah. Or maybe you've been abused or betrayed, abandoned. It could be that you've had positive relationships with the men in your life but they still haven't been able to be all you need.

Leah, like so many women, was looking at the wrong place for identity. No woman was ever meant to derive her identity and worth from the approval of a man. 

She finally said, "I'm going to turn to the Lord." Maybe you ought to do that. The coat that reflects a man's identity didn't fit the woman in his life. She was never meant to find her identity in being his girl by wearing his coat. Every woman is headed for disappointment and chronic insecurity if she's trying to define herself by some man in her world.

It's a liberating day when you discover that no man could do for your worth what the Lord can do. Grasp this beloved, God loved Leah; her man didn't. He gave her His divine blessing when her man wouldn't give his.  Learn from Leah. Don't waste time trying to find your identity in the fickle, fragile love or approval of people. Look beyond them to the Lord. Start drawing on Him for all you need. 

Say to yourself "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want."

Beloved, your identity is that you are a unique, masterpiece creation of a loving God. If you've given your life to Christ, you're a daughter of the King. He thought you were worth dying for. What you get from any man is just a bonus.

Maybe you've never experienced the love of Jesus for yourself. If you want to have that begin for you today, bring your love hunger to the only One who will never disappoint you or ever disappear on you, your Savior, your Shepherd, your beloved Jesus Christ.

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One World Religion

By Jonathan D. Payne - Founder / The ACJ
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PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

My heart is greatly saddened today as I read that Kenneth Copeland has joined his ministry to that of the Catholic church today (March 25. 2014). And no you did not misread that! As a ministry that reaches millions, he now gives voice to the very apostasy that the founders of this country ran from.

Did you know that it was at first unlawful in the United Sates to have ANY church of the RCC on it's shores?

The signers of the Declaration of Independence:
Religious Affiliation                  # of signers % of signers
Episcopalian/Anglican                      32           57.1%
Congregationalist                            13           23.2%
Presbyterian                                   12           21.4%
Quaker                                            2             3.6%
Unitarian or Universalist                    2             3.6%
Catholic                                           1             1.8%
TOTAL                                           56            100%

So we see that Catholics were not an assuming portion of the founding of the US. Also do note that Episcopalian/Anglican were not “little c” Catholics at this time in history. There was a great falling away from Catholicism at this time. Note the aforementioned was a direct dissolution of Papal Authority by England.

So we see a new apostasy gaining ground here in the USA. A video on YouTube addresses this very thing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPordT1X6Sg), as well as many others. So all the “head-in-the-sand” reactions are because of lack of knowledge, or a determined undermining of the precepts of Christian faith.

I is always necessary to know what you know, then KNOW it.

Understand that we are facing two fronts against the people of faith, this apostasy and the efforts of this current president to marginalize or subvert faith in God. We are a nation and people who were given the greatest gift in TRUE Christianity. We need to be steadfast and aware at all times. 

The Last Days are indeed here.

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May God's glory and presence fire the brilliance of your souls, for you are greatly loved indeed.

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Mock Not God's Provision

By Jonathan D. Payne - Founder / The ACJ
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PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

It's about giving and not getting. Today we see so many so-called Christians seeking the things of the world. Cars, houses, money, relationships and many other things. It is all about the view of God that they carry in their hearts. And many are the preachers that preach “prosperity” sermons that tickle the ears but deny God's truths. 

That is why I am not a great supporter for the corporate church, but that is grist for the mill another day.

Love is the cornerstone an foundation of our faith (Matthew 22:37-40), and that is the thing that is needed to be understood concerning our Walk Of Faith, do we walk in love. Of course I do mean walking in the wisdom of love, and not this weak and flimsy thing that many consider is the love wherewith God speaks of.

We need to walk in THAT love at all times.

The Israelites died in the desert, a whole generation, when they were freed from Egypt. Why? Because they were complaining, equivocating, and generally cursing their luck of freedom before the throne of God. Their complaint? They had it better in Egypt when they were slaves!

Really? So back breaking labor, death, and being someone's property were okay, because hey, you ate better!

Many today are slaves to this world even as they claim kinship with God. The seek the things that they deem are prosperity items, the toys of the world, to show they are somebody. Being God's child isn't enough, you had MORE when you were in the world!

Really? Eternal life, assured salvation, God having your back and such, DOES NOT come from walking in the world. But maybe you sure ate good!

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May God's glory and presence fire the brilliance of your souls, for you are greatly loved indeed.

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A Time Of Renewal

By Jonathan D. Payne - Founder / The ACJ
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PRINCIPLES OF FAITH
It is spring, a time of renewal, redirection and growth. This not just for the flowers, animals, and after school breaks ending. This is a time for God's people to renew their faith, their commitment to this walk of faith. We have endure the cold of winter, physical and the winters of our lives.

We need to reach up to our Heavenly Father even as He reaches out to us.

No matter who you are, life CAN BE better! And the only person that can change our lives for the better is God. It is He that gives us hope for the future, a blessing of life given by a Holy Father who loves His children, deeply and in truth.

We can all look back at what has been in our lives, but take a reassessment of where you are today. Think about the changes God has wrought in your life, the gifts, the blessings and the continual knowing that He is there - and will always be there. God never denies His children of His love for them. We are the ones that need to continually seek His face, and His loving arms.

So we need to remember God's Grace in our lives, it is always there.

So this spring of God's renewal in the world, seek His renewal in you. You may be surprised at what gets thrown out in the spring cleaning, but even important the things we MUST keep in our walk of faith. In that we just may find we have everything.

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May God's glory and presence fire the brilliance of your souls, for you are greatly loved indeed.

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Seek Righteousness

By Jonathan D. Payne - Founder / The ACJ
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PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

Man contends, strives, falsely builds, destroys, interacts and often walks in solitude alone. These are things of the human condition, and we are indeed human. But then we bring these things into our walk with God. This should not be so. God is majesty, joy, grace, peace, and an undefinable glory of life itself.

These are the things we should reflect out, if we are truly His children.

We live in this world and are responsible for our lives in it. But we often lose sight of the HOW we should conduct ourselves in it. Being a person of faith requires walking IN that faith at all times. It should be WHO we are and WHOSE we are. We MUST express in this life, so does it not make sense that to prolong it, as in eternal heaven, we should do and reflect those things of God in life.

Hardships come, I know personally of the hardships life can bring, to you AND to those you love. I used to be able to play the guitar professionally, yes I was a musician, but now can not play one. It gives me great pain for it was a way out of the stresses of life and it brought me great peace. So what about now? I find my peace in the joy of the Lord, and walking His path of righteousness,

I count myself blessed to know God and to know the realness of His presence in my life.

So I do not cling to the things of the world. We ALL need to live in it, yes, but we must not be OF it, in any manner. We must walk in the faith whereby we are called. This then becomes our living testimony before the throne of God. We must walk in righteousness.

“Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.” 2 Samuel 22:25

So we see that God blesses according to our righteousness.

So all the praying for riches, unmerited treasures of life, these are all in vain and will gain you nothing. Only your walk of righteousness gains you anything, even life eternal. So this is what we should seek and stop our contending, our striving, the seeking to build in and of this world.

We must STOP our paths of destruction, false interactions, and walk uprightly IN this world before His throne. Then we gain everything.

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May the light of God's presence and glory fire the brilliance of your souls. You are greatly love.

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Know God, Know His Truth

By Jonathan D. Payne - Founder / The ACJ
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PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32 (KJV)

Do you know God or just know about God? This is a crucial question to those who think they are saved, but have no relationship to that which they, or who, they profess. And these days of persecution will only get worse, while the Body is only getting diluted and weaker by following the ways of the world. 

Many are those who only follow the “glass beads” of the world, no matter what they are or how they are presented.

God is looking for a sanctified bride, and children who belong to Him. As these days grow darker they are harder to find, and even more harder to keep your own walk set on the right path in life. Too many are the distractions and the following of the “leaders” on television, etc. Why are you not a leader in your own life, family and those who you call friend? 

They should not have to look any further than that.

Truth is what sets you free and gives you wings to fly. God's truth of things, and His mirror for your life. We should not be counting on Grace, but rather living in it. You should be so full of the light of God that we shine no matter where we are, or what we may be doing. Sometimes it is the greatly stressful situations that let us shine, or just the everyday mundane things of life, however it may be, in which we need to shine.

The sobering thought is that many seek the heavenly kingdom, but do not desire to change themselves in order to enter it! What good is there for us to seek, but not DO that is required to enter therein? Why do we refuse to acknowledge the One who we so desperately seek to acknowledge us, and gain His favor of eternal life? 

And then decide to just parade around as if we have something no one else can acquire? I don't think so.

All of mankind is God's children, though many will be lost. My suggestion is NOT to be one of them! How? Know God, intimately, dearly and in truth. It is in that we gain eternity, the place where home is. Taking the path of faith is not for words (no matter how good they may sound) only, but mostly for our actions, day in and day out, to acquire it.

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May the light of God's presence and glory fire the brilliance of your souls. You are greatly love.  

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