Steve Simms's Blog, page 191

Life is full of boomerangs called consequences

Life’s a boomerang. It takes what we think, say, and do, and throws it back as consequences. To blame people for your choices is to proclaim that you’re their puppet.

Your consequences follow your behaviors. They don’t cause them. If you don’t choose to motivate yourself, you’ll miss out on much life has to offer.

Life gives us the freedom to create consequences, but not the freedom to easily escape them. You can’t outrun consequences. You eventually run into their arms. Lying is usually a lazy, cowardly attempt to avoid circumstances.

Disapproval comes when you violate someone’s belief system. Guilt comes when you violate your own belief system. Consequences clearly demonstrate that all actions, words, and thoughts are not equal.

Many of our problems are the consequences of our choices. Wrong choices cause their own punishment; wise choices, their own rewards. Both are called consequences. When facing a self-caused mess of consequences, remember that regret, remorse, and repentance are much more effective than denial.

Freedom creates bondage when it makes choices that lead to bad habits or addiction. When you create storms, you should expect a lot of wind and rain in your life. Cruelty is never a good choice.

Consequences don’t just happen to you. They’re caused by your choices. You can always choose to create better consequences for tomorrow than you created for today.

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Christ in a pew isn’t the hope of glory

The most powerful person in the room, when Christians gather, is the living Jesus, yet we act like He’s not even there. Christians know how to stare at a preacher. Now let’s dare to be aware of Jesus’ real presence and take Him everywhere!

The Bible never says, “Christ in a pew, the hope of glory.” It says, “Christ in you, the hope of glory!”

Too much Christianity has been dulled-down to a doctrinal fact-sheet–a creed that people don’t heed. The living Jesus has been “creedosized” (turned into doctrine). Oh, that we would “realize” Him (experience Him as real)! Christian creeds that don’t help people directly connect with the living Jesus, aren’t doing their job.

Jesus isn’t a fact-sheet to bind-up
And file-away in your mind.
He’s the living Savior you need to find!

You can’t be Spirit-led,
If Jesus is just
Dead information in your head.

We need to realize:
Jesus is more
Than what we see
With our eyes.
He’s alive!

Without a salvation testimony,
Christian creed and ceremony
Lacks Resurrection reality!

Christianity is about the dead Jesus rising!
Not about cool church advertising!

A church’s creed and organizing
And even it’s advertising
Can create moralizing,
But not Spirit-led energizing.

Too many Christians
Feed on creeds
But starve
For lack of Jesus-led deeds.

The modern Christian creed:
Go to church, brag about grace,
Then live life, at your own pace.

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Founding confusion . . .

What an irony
That America’s founders
Called tea-tax tyranny
But slavery a right!

The cruelest tax ever levied was human slavery. It stole everything from people and then sold them as animals.

The big elephant in American history: Many of our founders and heroes were human traffickers.

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To surrender to temptation is to give away your freedom.

Every temptation is an attack on your freedom. Temptation tries to override your ability to say no and to enslave you to its command. Freedom requires continual resistance to temptation. To surrender to it leads to a downward spiral of ever increasing bondage.

Yielding to temptation never frees you from it. Every time you give in to it, a temptation gets a stronger hold on you. The greatest threats to your personal freedom are temptations.

Temptations make bondage look appealing and demonstrate that we don’t really want freedom as much as we say that we do. They try to override your freedom by compelling you to do something that you would rather not do. Temptation decorates a prison and makes it look like a party.

Temptation is a trap set to steal your freedom. The bait of bondage can appear beautiful and lead us away from freedom. When you step in to enjoy temptation’s bait, boom! You’re caught in it’s trap! To swallow the bait of bondage is to be fished out of the living waters of freedom.

If you seriously want to “fight for freedom” then resist and overcome temptation. To give in to temptation is to give up freedom.

Unwanted habits reveal the absence of freedom. Freedom comes from resisting temptation, not from surrendering to it.

Although people like to talk about freedom, we often prefer being in bondage to pleasure. Comfort often deceives us. It’s hard to think outside a comfortable box.

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Without inner freedom, we aren’t really free

Inner chains matter. We can’t truly be free if we’re bound by them. Inner freedom requires the ability to say no to anything that enslaves your thoughts or feelings.

When you’re dishonest, you’re not free. You’re in bondage to the lies you tell.

Calling opinions facts isn’t freedom. It’s deception!

Freedom is often presented as doing what ever you feel like, but without self-discipline, there is only bondage. If you’re stuck in certain feelings or thoughts or behaviors, remember that being stuck isn’t freedom! If you’re not able to keep thoughts you don’t like, out of your mind, you’re not free.

The freedom of thought is worthless, if you allow your thinking to be controlled by feelings, and desires. It’s dangerous to use your freedom of speech if you ignore your freedom of thought.

Human nature, no matter how compelled or tormented from within, tries to convince itself that it is inwardly free. Signs of inner bondage are everywhere: worry, harmful habits, bitterness, envy, ego, lust, anxiety, anger, discouragement.

No government can grant you or guarantee you inner freedom. You have to win that for yourself. There is one right that no government or person can take away from you–the right to think your own thoughts.

True freedom is when you control your thoughts, desires, and emotions, instead of being controlled by them. No person, government, or emotion can control your thinking, if you will internally take control of your freedom of thought.

Inner freedom is to be no longer compelled or tormented by unwanted desires, feelings, or thoughts. It’s impossible without self-discipline and self-control. It doesn’t just happen.

Inner freedom doesn’t depend on outward circumstances. Political freedom without freedom from inner torment and compulsion, is incomplete. Inner freedom, like political freedom, isn’t free. It requires an ongoing fight to defend it against mental and emotional bondage.

Self is a prison that incarcerates the soul behind the strong walls of feelings and wants. When a thought forces its way into your mind, you’re not free. Inner freedom requires that we untangle self from the control of unwanted thoughts, desires, and emotions.

Every person is a minority of one. Everybody is unique! Pursue inner freedom. It’s up to you to bring freedom to your thinking and emotions. No person can do that for you. Only you can set the rules for how you use your brain.

Jesus entered Jerusalem offering true freedom, not freedom from Rome

The Palm Sunday crowd wanted Jesus to be political. He refused. They lost hope in “the hope of glory.” On Palm Sunday, Jesus faced off with politics and religion. They both rejected Him and teamed up to silence Him.

On Palm Sunday people expected freedom from Rome. Instead, Jesus offered freedom from slavery to desires, feelings and thoughts.

The angry crowd yelling, “Crucify Him,” showed that much of Palm Sunday’s cheering, was fake faith, based on false expectations. Jesus also exposed much of it to be hype, by openly weeping over Jerusalem as He approached it because He knew it would be wiped out by Rome in 70 AD. Conquerors don’t cry during a triumphal entry, but Jesus also wept because He was grieved that the people didn’t comprehend Him.

Palm Sunday didn’t lead to Jesus overthrowing Rome as many expected the Messiah to do. Instead, about 40 years later, Jerusalem revolted and was totally destroyed as Jesus had predicted.

Conquerors were welcomed with palm branches. Jesus was expected to triumph over Rome. Instead He conquered death! Jesus didn’t enter Jerusalem on a conqueror’s war horse but on a common man’s donkey. Being an earthly king (or president) wasn’t what Jesus had in mind when He rode into Jerusalem. The King that Jerusalem thought would confront the Romans was crucified by Rome, without putting up any fight.

Religious leaders often look to the government. In Jerusalem, they used Rome to prevent people from following the living Jesus.

Wanting Jesus as a political savior, the people cheered Him, but when He didn’t support their politics, they yelled, “Crucify Him!

Palm Sunday,
Cheering crowd;
Good Friday,
Jeering crowd:
Follow Jesus,
Not a crowd.

Freedom thoughts (set number two)

Discouragement is a major attack against freedom. Discouraged people aren’t free to pursue their dreams.

If you’re in bondage to feelings and desires, you’re not free, no matter what kind of government rules in your country.

Some freedoms you have to fight for, yourself–freedom from worry, from fear, from discouragement, from hate, from ego, etc.

When freedom ignores the voice of conscience, it gets lost in compulsive thoughts and behaviors.

As long as we are driven and compelled by desires and feelings that we can’t (or won’t control) we’re not free.

Although we think we’re free, if we’re inwardly compelled to think, say, and/or do things against our will, we’re not.

The greatest liberty is freedom from the inner tyranny of our thoughts, feelings, compulsions, and habits.

When a destructive habit, a tormenting thought, or a compulsive craving, loses its control over you, that’s freedom!

Freedom without self-control is an oxymoron. If you’re not in control of yourself, you’re in bondage to someone or to something.

Freedom is the ability to resist and overcome temptation (to exercise self-control), not an excuse for surrendering to compulsions.

When we give in to temptation we give up our freedom to resist it. If you can’t say no to something, it’s your master and has taken away your freedom.

If we don’t have the freedom to forgive and show kindness, we’ll carry the chains of anger, bitterness, and hatred.

Ego is a great enemy of inner freedom. It traps us in a prison of self-focus.

Freedom of thought–the ability to resist unwanted thoughts and keep them out of your mind–is a great liberty!

The freedom to find and continually enjoy heart-felt happiness, is much more freeing than the mere “pursuit of happiness.”

We need more freedom of expression–the inner freedom to express kindness rather than anger, help rather than hate!

Inner freedom matters. Without it we’re dominated by desires, tormented by thoughts, and controlled by cravings.

Inner freedom isn’t free. You have to fight the demons that assail you with enslaving thoughts, feelings, and desires.

When our will is dominated by our desires, we often find that we’re inwardly compelled to do things we don’t really want to do.

Freedom thoughts #1

Freedom is the ability to do what’s right. Bondage compels us to do what’s wrong. Pride and prejudice are demonstrations of bondage, not of freedom.

Freedom begins within. It banishes tormenting thoughts, enslaving habits, and devouring desires.

Accepting responsibility for your wrong actions is a declaration of freedom. Blaming is admission that you’re in bondage.

If you won’t (or can’t) control your thoughts, feelings and desires, you’re not free. It’s meaningless to talk about fighting for freedom, if you won’t courageously fight to be free from the control of your own imprisoning temptations, habits, and feelings.

When you allow any desire to take control and override your ability to choose to resist it, freedom is lost. The most challenging and ignored freedom is the freedom to consistently think, say, and do what is right.

It’s hard to be truly free if we won’t let go of our mental and emotional chains.

When you allow thoughts that you don’t like, to stay in your mind, you’ve given up your freedom of thought.

Cravings, compulsions, and tormenting thoughts are inner thieves that strive to steal your freedom. Our own habits, desires, cravings, and compulsions, limit our freedom more than outward restrictions do. Freedom lies in not being controlled by them.

The key to freedom from bitterness and resentment is genuine forgiveness.

If you have political freedom but are in bondage to feelings and desires, your not truly free.

Daily following and obeying the living Jesus is the way to freedom from mental and emotional slavery.

Jesus c3a — 1) aware of, 2) amazed by, & 3) attentive to

When you let your attention zoom in on and be continually captivated by the living Jesus, life is supernaturally transformed! Attentive listening to the living Jesus is the most powerful prayer.

Living in the presence of Jesus isn’t just something for the hereafter. It’s a glorious lifestyle for here and now! Overlooking everyday wonders, it’s easy to leave the living Jesus unnoticed. The Bible teaches that Jesus is ever-present, but too many Christians act like He’s never present.

The less my awareness of self and the more my awareness of the living Jesus, the more I’m filled with amazement and joy! If churches were testimony-focused, instead of sermon-focused, you’d be amazed at how ordinary people have experienced Jesus.

What do you call someone who is continually aware of, amazed by, and attentive to the living Jesus? If you’re not experiencing Jesus’ presence daily, perhaps it’s because you don’t want to.

Letting Jesus live in and thru you is far more powerful than merely learning about Him. Listen to the living Jesus, not to analyze what He says, but to be set free by His words of life! Jesus isn’t bound to top-down church domination. He can speak to you anytime and anywhere. Listen.

Martha complained about her sister, Mary’s focused attention on Jesus. He told her that Mary had chosen the one necessary thing. Anything that distracts a Christian’s focus from the living Jesus is a distraction.

A Jesus-c3a is
Someone who is
Continually aware of,
Amazed by and
Attentive to Jesus.

We can learn to recognize and respect the humanity in all people–to appreciate the common ground we all stand on.

I’m amazed by Jesus:
What He did in the past,
And what He’s doing in me.

The world is full of spiritual elephants in the room, clear indications of God’s reality that are overlooked and/or denied.

The Jesus zone

Christians are called to live in the Jesus zone, not in their comfort zone. When we trade our comfort zone for the Jesus zone, life flows supernaturally.

The Jesus zone, surrender and obedience to the risen Jesus Christ, is the kingdom of God. Daily living in the Jesus zone, produces a lifestyle of amazement, delight, kindness, and hope.

Your comfort zone and the Jesus zone are in conflict. You can’t straddle them.

Being comfortable is overrated. A comfort zone drones on and on, with a boring tone, leaving adventure unknown. Adventure is much more exciting. When you’re outside of your comfort zone, look for growth, healing, and adventure.

When human control replaces God’s supernatural flow, the Holy Spirit is quenched.

No matter where you go, you won’t find true paradise until you find it within. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Inspiring thoughts motivate you to live a better life. Tempting thoughts seduce you and secretly lead you into guilt and remorse.

There’s no human remedy or relief for remorse and regret, but there’s a supernatural one–forgiveness and healing thru Jesus. Remorse doesn’t need to be a life sentence. It can be removed with these simple words. “God have mercy on me a sinner.”

Human leadership divides Christians into many different organizations, but Jesus said, “There shall be one flock and one shepherd.” When Christ-followers are living in the Jesus zone, they’re united!

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