Well, hello from Transforming Temples Hey guys, it’s been a while since our last video. Much has been happening in our world today. It has been a difficult time for many. Transforming Temples has been in daily prayer for our nation, leaders, and even more for the body of Christ. Events are unfolding before our eyes just as described in the Word of God. It is a dangerous time when the Church begins to subtly fall away to the ways of the world. Transforming Temples will continue to give you encouragement. We continue to give you the “Tough Truths” blog because we want Christians to be transformed and usable by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray during this we have been praying more and increased our relationship with the Father. I love the body of Christ. The Church is one of my burdens. Transforming Temples is all about you and me continually renewing our minds, NOT conforming to this world system, but letting go to allow God to do His work in us. The ministry focuses on women’s ministry, yet God’s Truth is shared for all. Women wear many hats with many responsibilities and demands placed upon us. We take care of the home, our children’s needs, our spouses everything, our employers, and our ministries. Because people look to us, we must be examples of Christ to the world. This means we must be transformed in how we talk, walk, act, and think.

God wants all of our hearts, mind, body, and soul. We can live by His transforming power if we let Him accomplish His will and plan for our life. And ladies when doing so, people are drawn to you, providing an opportunity to build and disciple those we attract. Let me ask you a few questions. How great is your faith? Are you giving Him all of your heart? Better yet; are you trusting Him with your fears? Fear is one of the main sin problems affecting the world today. If you are walking in Christ, what do you have to fear? We can act on fear in very negative ways and it causes toxic thinking. Look around and see Christians tearing one another apart, the “right” the middle, and the “left”. You have separated yourself from family and friends. You know what I am talking about. (I was there, but thank God His Spirit began growing me out of that behavior.) When I chose to look at the source rather than whatever the situation in life, I realized that He is in control, not me. So you can fight, fear, worry, etc, but God is holding the keys, not man. There is nothing you can do about it but trust Jesus. Turning my attention to seeking God gave me the peace I desired.

James 5:9 tells us “do not grumble against one another, brethren unless you be condemned. Behold the Judge is standing at the door.” Imagine Christ as a judge, the door opens for the court to convene, and you stand before Him. What will you say? We will get back to that. (In this scripture, James is speaking to the believers who were being persecuted for their faith and oppressed by the rich. James tells them to have patience. They needed that kind of patience that enabled them to put up with their hardships without retaliating, which we define as patience in suffering. They also needed the kind of patience that would enable them to lovingly endure the trying and exasperating conduct on the part of their fellow-believers. When trials and difficulties come our way, it is very easy for us to question God, doubt his goodness, and complain about his dealings with us. Brothers and sisters always need patience in our dealings with one another. We are all very flawed, and we can very easily vex our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to realize when we do so that we are not giving a good witness to those around us.

My passion is to see God’s transforming power active and alive in the body of Christ, so much that we may change this world instead of being so easily influenced by it in all the wrong ways. Jesus speaks in John 4:23-24:  ^“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” My desire is not just to be saved and do nothing, rather be discipled to maturity. This means walking in your spiritual gift, being a light to the world, and glorifying God in all you do. We can make a difference when we tap into the power given us by the Holy Spirit. The world needs us, we must do better. Evil is creeping in all around us. We must not be partakers. We must be the different, “peculiar people set apart.

Everything we do should be to the glory of God. Our jobs should be done to the glory of God. Will He say “I am well pleased?” Are we humble or prideful? Are we peacemakers or do we cause division and confusion? Do we try to work together for a common goal, even though we don’t agree on the same things? Do we want the best for all people? And then, Do you know my voice, do you have a love relationship with me? The very questions the Judge (Jesus) will ask you in the courtroom. I am just throwing things out there; Often times we wonder why all these bad things are happening in our lives. It could be a test, but it could be you’re not listening to His voice, you’re not stopping a behavior, etc, you keep going back, instead of seeking God to see what He is telling you. Never fear change especially God-initiated change. It is a good thing. You have to be still and be with God so you don’t miss the quiet whisper, the nudge from the Spirit. God wants your attention, He may want to take you to a whole different place. He wants you to trust Him. Fear, doubt, and lack of trust never work out for the good.

What my eyes see today is a church conforming to the world, very legalistic as the Pharisees who worshipped with their mouth but their hearts were evil and far from God. It reminds me of Matthew 24:11-13, “Then many false prophets will arise and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” We’re not quite there yet, but most definitely heading in that direction. This is why believers need to stand, steadfast in Christ. You will be deceived if you have no relationship with Jesus. You will be proud of your own thinking. If you don’t know God’s voice if you don’t commune with Him, how will He speak to you, and how will you obey? The bible tells us in Colossians 2:8 tells us to beware unless any man spoils you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after CHRIST. The empty deceit of human thinking and the traps of evil spiritual forces of the world will suck you in. This is real and it’s happening right now. We see a form of vain Christianity, puffed up in pride, believing their way is the right and only way. God is judging this very thing in our world. And this is why we need to open God’s WORD, saturate ourselves in it. so we know how to test the spirits to know if they’re from God and not from false prophets, 1 John 4:1.

Proverbs 4:23, states, “Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” God always works from the inside out. It is not about the works we do for Him; (especially if we’re doing it for the approval of man). He is after our hearts and what we can be. What is the condition of your heart? Do you deal with those issues? Pride, hate, racism, jealousy, lust, control, power, whatever it is, it all comes down to the condition of your heart and surrender to Christ. Church, we must do better. All eyes are on us and we don’t exactly have a good reputation nowadays. If you love Jesus like you love your husband, if you love Jesus like you love your job, if you love Jesus like you love shopping, if you love Jesus like you love whatever it is that elevates itself above an intimate relationship with Christ…… well we will continue to be a church going nowhere, further away from Him.

Let’s pray. “Search us God, and know our hearts; test us and know our anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting.” May you continue to point the things out in our heart that is not reflecting your best for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!