Diversity

     The Lord has been impressing me with the message that as a body of believers it is vital for each of us to learn to reach out to generations different from our own. The older generation needs the younger and vice versa, the younger needs the older! 
     Each generation is going to see things from their perspective, but we need to realize that God has many dimensions and as His body, we do too! We can learn from each other and we need to! The younger generation has the energy and passion for bringing new things into the body and the older generation have the stability and experience to be a strong guiding force. 
     If we think our generation has the corner on the truth of God, then we are going to be easily deceived and divided. Each of us needs to be aware of and be able to respect the strengths of one another and to gain and grow from them. 
     For the older generation, catch the fresh wave of energy and excitement for the Lord that the younger generation is bringing, but the younger generation, respect your elders, they have seen a lot of life and have wisdom that will help you advance and not make the mistakes they have. Listen to them and learn! 
     Reach across the aisle in church to those outside of your age group, learn to speak and listen to the people older and younger than youself. Everyone has something that you can learn from if you take the time to listen. 
     The world talks about "tolerance" but I'm encouraging you to be tolerant of the people in church that don't look like you, if they're older, they may have wrinkles you don't have, but if they're younger they may dress weird....but it's ok! They are family! We are one body!   

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35   

Which Path Do You Choose?

I was just receiving this teaching about healing from the Holy Spirit. I was seeing so clearly that when we receive healing we are faced with two paths to choose between. Imagine you're walking on a path and then it divides, there is a sign pointing in each direction, one says flesh....one says Spirit.
     There are times we are prayed for and receive healing but we don't "absorb" it, we may not feel healed and we don't put it into our belief system that we are healed. 
     We have a choice to make, we may believe the "symptoms" that we've been dealing with and walk their path or we may choose to believe the "healing" and walk it's path.
     The choice is ours, we are the healed (Isa 53:5), do we walk as the healed or do we choose to trust our flesh more than the truth of the Spirit and the healing?  
     It might be easier for us if we were able to make the choice once and for ever, but the test is in choosing daily to walk in the healing. We may have to remind ourselves by repeating the promises in Scripture....through Jesus' stripes I am the healed, I am a new creation, I am fearfully and wonderfully made! ....or we can listen to our flesh that loves to whine and get attention and demand to be made comfortable.
     You choose your path, are you sick or are you healed? If you accept the healing then find a way to absorb it, and to daily stay on that path! These scriptures help me, but there are many more, find the ones that work for you:

1. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him, and we are healed because of his wounds. Isaiah 53:5b

2 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

3 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

I'm not saying that it is always easy, and Yes, my flesh still fights and tries to win, but I am much happier and healthier when I am listening to my spirit and the Holy Spirit in me!