Steve Simms's Blog, page 21

My favorite holiday is when the sun comes up and shines its light.

Daily writing promptWhat is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?View all responses

If you refuse to do what’s right
You’ll love darkness more than light.
You’ll fade off into the dark of night,
And falsely think you’re out of God’s sight.
Darkness hides; light exposes.
Light enlightens; darkness confuses.
Light gives sight; darkness takes it away.
(John 3:19)

God is all light; He has no darkness. (John 1:5)
Allow no darkness to stay (1 John 1:5)
In your mind and in your heart. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Avoid the deeds of darkness and expose them. (Ephesians 5:11)
Let God illuminate your path (Psalm 18:28)
And transform your darkness (Psalm 27:1)
Into His glorious inner light. (Matthew 4:16)
Then you can be light in the world (Matthew 5:14)
And follow Jesus away from darkness. (John 8:12)
Never let your inner light grow dark. (Luke 11:35)
Quench not the Spirit and God’s light will always shine. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
No darkness can hide you from God. (Psalm 139:11-12)
Come now and let God’s light shine
On all you think, say, and do.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. (Matthew 5:16)
Never let your inner light become darkness. (Luke 11:35)
The Father of Light (James 1:17) wants you to be His child of Light. (John 12:36)
Turn away from darkness and live in the light. (Acts 26:18)
Continually devour the Bible with an open, humble heart. (Psalm 119:30)
Whenever we walk in darkness we lie and do not practice the truth. (1 John 1:6)
Wake up sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. (Ephesians 5:14)
When you’re hiding things and walking in darkness, you’re not following Jesus. (John 8:12)
Lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12)
Let Jesus rescue you from the dominion of darkness and establish His kingdom within you. (Colossians 1:13)
Never stop praising the One who has called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Let the glory of God give you light and the Lamb of God be your lamp. (Revelation 21:23)
Darkness will never overcome the light. (John 1:5)
The Lamb of God is the light of the world. (John 8:12)
Is He your light 24/7/365?

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Camping on a Declaration and a . . .

Daily writing promptHave you ever been camping?View all responses

I’ve spent my adult life camping on a bold declaration about something that I can’t see with my eyes or touch with my hands. I’ve based my all on the content of this declaration. It’s about an invisible person.

God became flesh and lived among people. Now Jesus Christ, the eternal God-man, has nail holes in his hands and feet and a spear hole in His side. As I behold Him shinning radiantly in my heart I can only say, with awe, adoration, faith, gratitude, and surrender: “My Lord and My God.” (John 1:1-14, John 20:24-28, 2 Corinthians 4:6)

I’ve also camped out on this Bible-based prayer for direct and permanent Holy Spirit intervention in and thorough my life. Doing my best to stay always aware of, open to, and surrendered to the presence, power, and leadership of the Holy Spirit has led me to a wonderful life.

Lord, make me aware of Spirit-taught words. (1 Corinthians 2:13) Help me hear what the Spirit is saying (Revelation 2:7) and be unceasingly led by the Spirit, not by my self-driven desires and feelings. (Galatians 5:19-21) Help me be good fertile ground (Mark 4:1-20) where the fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) and the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) of the Spirit flourish in abundance. God, the Holy Spirit, (2 Corinthians 3:17) sent to me by God the Father, (John 14:26) I ask You in the name of Jesus, the God-man, (John 1:14) that You have Your way in and through me. I surrender my all to You.

God became flesh and lived among people. Now Jesus Christ, the eternal God-man, has nail holes in his hands and feet and a spear hole in His side. As I behold Him shinning radiant in my heart I can only say, with awe, adoration, faith, gratitude, and surrender: “My Lord and My God.” (John 1:1-14, John 20:24-28, 2 Corinthians 4:6)

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Times of Refreshing

Daily writing promptWhen do you feel most productive?View all responses

It’s amazingly refreshing when words of hope and encouragement, and insight and revelation, are flowing from within me. It makes me feel peaceful and productive. For years I have been waking up every morning with such a wonderful inner flow. I love to be quiet and focus on it. Then I write the words that come and grow within me. Later I pull them together as a blog post.

That hope-filled flow often continues throughout the day. Year by year those flowing words and the presence of Jesus (Colossians 1:27) that I sense with them (that is beyond words), fills me with what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He produces the fruit of His resurrection life within me. The ongoing experience is truly indescribable. I feel Christ flowing as I am typing these words. O how Jesus loves you and me.

Stop and be still.
Let Jesus flow
Inside of you.
Then you will know
That He is God.
(Psalm 46:10
And John 1:1)

God’s intent
Is that we
Implement
What He says.
(James 1:22)

God’s desire for you is:
Don’t plateau;
Grow, grow, grow!

When my perspective
Becomes deceptive
I need for God
To be corrective
And redirective.
(Romans 8:14)

When I started devouring the Bible with a humble hungry heart I was soon convinced that God inspired and directed it because it worked in my life and released an inner flow within me. It still does like nothing else I’ve ever read.

When brokenness is allowed to draw us into greater surrender to and a deeper relationship with the living Jesus the outcome is an abundance of the fruit of the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) Open up and let Christ’s rivers of living water (John 7:37-39) flow from within your innermost being.

It’s amazing how Christ’s inner flow inspires fresh insights in me from things other people write that match what I’ve already written. Right after I uploaded this blog post, I saw something that somebody wrote about not trying to fit in with other people. Then God used it to inspire this in me. Instead of trying to fit in, change your heart so that Jesus Christ can freely fit inside of you, powerfully flow through you, and continually lead you.

The flow keeps coming. I just made breakfast but before I could set down to eat this came flowing from within me: I’ve never believed that Jesus wants faith in Him to be institutionalized. I don’t believe that He wants religious institutions helping us honor Him with our lips while our heart is far from Him. (Matthew 15:8)

There’s more. Just after breakfast a short poem came to me for both a brother and sister who are graduating from high school soon. I wrote them on a card for each of them. Here are the poems:

Always follow Christ
And Light will appear.
Whether you are near
Or you’re far from here,
He’ll keep you from fear.

God’s word is near you,
Jesus within you.
Let Him work and do
The things He wants to.
Always see things from
His bright point of view.

“The kingdom of God is within you.” It may look crazy out there in the world that surrounds us, but in here (in my heart) I’m fighting to let King Jesus rule as “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

Don’t write down what the preacher says and the pat yourself on the back for taking notes. If it aligns with the Bible, get up and do it day after day!

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I Prefer Words Over Emojis

Daily writing promptWhat are your favorite emojis?View all responses

I don’t want to have digital images or icons express my emotions and ideas. I prefer my own words instead. I’ve never liked to depend on someone or something to speak for me. I want to speak for myself from my heart. I don’t like to use store bought greeting cards or online emojis or programmed religious words. Instead, I treasure heart felt sincerity.

Speaking openly from the heart takes courage but for me it has always been worth coming out of the shadows and being humble, honest, and real with people. Here are some current original thoughts:

Opinions often oppose truth.

Truth aligns with
Reality.
It’s not for me
To invent it.

We can’t stop our sin
If we deny it
Or we excuse it.
We must confess it,
Renounce, reject it,
Fight and resist it.
It’s easier to
Surrender to it
And simply to say,
“I was born that way.”
Refuse to consent
To the wrongs you do.
Drive them out. Repent!
(2 Corinthians 10:4)

Look beyond
The outward view.
Follow Jesus
Leading in you.

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My Favorite Discussion Topic

Daily writing promptWhat topics do you like to discuss?View all responses

My favorite discussion topic is a very special person. He’s the most unique person in history. He is also the most famous and has probably been discussed and written about more than anybody ever.

Christ alone is my cornerstone and advocate. Jesus said that He wouldn’t leave His disciples as orphans, but that He will come to them. He told them that one day they “will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.” (John 14:19-20)

John, one of Jesus’ first 12 disciples, proclaims: “We have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1) We don’t have to go through preachers and religion to get to God. The risen, present Jesus, Himself, is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

Open your heart and let “Christ in you” be your Bible reading guide. He’ll teach you true wisdom. (1 John 2:27)

Many Christians like to toss around the names of their favorite preachers, but few consistently proclaim that “Jesus is Lord.” Keep your eyes and your heart always fixed on and locked in on the living Jesus.

This is confusing: God said that He will share His glory with no one, (Isaiah 42:8) yet many preachers name ministries after themselves. It’s unscriptural and unspiritual to focus on preachers and their names. (1 Corinthians 3:1-5)

A study Bible is a muddy Bible. It’s muddied by mixing human opinions with God’s Word. When you read the Bible keep your heart open and receptive to the risen Jesus.

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The Risk to Confess

Daily writing promptDescribe a risk you took that you do not regret.View all responses

I’ve taken the risk to openly confess, apologize, take responsibility, and make amends for my wrongdoing many times. I’ve never regretted doing that. In fact, it has always relieved me of a load of guilt and shame. The AA 12 Steps teach that wisdom. Step 5 says: “We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” The Steps go on to talk about repentance: “We made direct amends,” to the people we have harmed. For great guilt relief, confess. Take the risk and do it now.

Every time you fall into a particular sin bring it into the light. The devil works in darkness, so he hates it when you shine the light on his evil by humbly telling a trusted Christ-follower about how you gave in to it. If every time you fall into that particular sin you confess it to that particular Christ-follower, the devil will soon realize that you are serious about living in Christ’s victory and will back off from tormenting you. Try it. It really works.

If you’ll open your heart
To humbly confess
And truly express
To the living God
Genuine remorse
For all you’ve done
That has produced guilt
You’ll experience
Cleansing forgiveness.
To deny your sin
Is to say that God
Who said, “All have sinned,”
Is a liar.
Unless you confess
You’ll stay ever stuck
In guilt and in sin
And darkness within.
(James 1:9-10)

If you sit and hear
A religious talk
But don’t learn to walk
Heart to heart with God
The words that you hear
Will soon disappear.
Some people do that
Throughout the whole year.
(Matthew 15:8-9)

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Actionless in Church (Silent-Group-Sit)

Daily writing promptWrite about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?View all responses

I’ve spent many years as an attendee sitting actionless in church. I wish I had had the courage to speak up more often, but I let the religious system keep me silent and passive. Out of fear of being thrown out I conformed to the concept of silent-group-sit. However, once, as a young Christian I went beyond silent-group-sit. It was my last Sunday in a Presbyterian church before I moved away (so it wouldn’t matter if they threw me out).

I walked to the front after the sermon and knelt in prayer. When I opened my eyes, I saw that several people had joined me. I stood up, turned around, and with a humble and tender heart shared with tears how the living Jesus had recently changed my life.

Afterwards an elderly woman rushed feebly up to me and excitedly said something like: “I wish you had kept going. You reminded me of the way this church used to be when I was a little girl.”

Too many Christians are satisfied with the concept of silent-group-sit in church. They are content to sit and listen to a little bit of Bible information on Sunday instead of personally experiencing more of Christ’s inner transformation during the meeting. Are you?

So why are almost all church services based on silent-group-sit? When Christianity is focused on hearing the same person talk week after week, we tend to walk away from discipleship and heart-to-heart fellowship and shift into simple spectatorship. I think that we like to silent-group-sit so that we don’t have to deal with our deception.

As human beings our perspective is often deceptive. Living in this word that overflows with deception it’s easy to be convinced that we are right when we are wrong, that we are holy when we are not, that we are better people than we really are. Meanwhile God is waiting for His people to “turn from their wicked ways” so that He can heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) It so easy to be Pharisees and to be convinced that we are righteous people who have no “wicked ways” and no need to repent. It takes courage to go Beyond Church.

Christ explained
Is info obtained.
Christ in you
Will change what you do.

Jesus wants you
To be energized
By His presence,
Not formalized.
Refuse to be
Institutionalized
By religion.

Jesus loves me
This I know
That’s why I believe
That the Bible’s so.

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Light Makes Some People Nervous

Daily writing promptWhat makes you nervous?View all responses

Folks who choose to hide
Things deep down inside
To keep them from light
And out of plain sight
Get nervous in light.
They’re scared of insight.

God is light.
He’s darkness free.
He wants to shine
In you and me.
People who say
They know the Lord
But won’t walk in
His light of day
Don’t speak the truth.
If you want to
Truly know God
Walk in His Light.
Receive insight.
Learn to do right
In the power
Of Jesus’ might.
Christ’s light in me
Brings fellowship,
And community.
O taste and see!
(1 John 1:5-7)

Faith without daily
Implementation
And application
Is lifeless; it’s dead.
(James 2:26)

Religious words
From a heart that’s
Distanced from God
Are hollow sounds.
(Matthew 15:8)

Dimness diminishes
The impact of light
And hides God’s insight.
Light shoots straight
It doesn’t curve.
Do you have
The courage to
Look in the face
Of Jesus Christ?
(2 Corinthians 4:6)

Grace is about Christ
Living inside you
Providing His power
So that you can do
What He tells you to.
(Philippians 2:12)

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I Watch and Listen to Someone Special

Daily writing promptHow do you unwind after a demanding day?View all responses

I love to watch and listen to someone special. But not just to unwind after a demanding day. I do it all the time. Keeping my eyes and ears attuned to this person keeps me from getting wound up in the first place. You’ve probably heard about Him, but have you seen and heard Him?

The early Christ-followers proclaimed what they had seen and heard. (1 John 1:3 & Acts 4:20) That was the key to their success. They had personally seen and heard Jesus. They hadn’t just heard about Him.

Today multitudes have heard about Jesus but aren’t personally experiencing and hearing Him as their absolute Lord, King, and Master throughout each day. Instead of listening to and beholding the risen Jesus we try to understand Him by listening to someone analyze and explain him week after week. That’s the difference between the supernatural power of the first Christians and the religious programming that we settle for today. We need to persistently surrender to “the unprecedented category of reality” called “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

I know Jesus lives because I hear Him and behold Him moment by moment. He leads me by His Spirit (Romans 8:14), keeps me aware of His presence, and transforms me from within. (Romans 12:2) I can’t help but speak the things I see and hear from the living Jesus.

We are often prevented from seeing and listening to the living Jesus by various distractions such as political Christianity. Political Christianity is frequently and persistently puffed up with pride and entrapped in ego. It is dangerous and can be cruel. In the past it embraced racial hatred, slavery, forced segregation, KKK terrorism, and even lynching. Learn more @ Off the RACE Track–From Color-Blind to Color-Kind.

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I Use Social Media to Announce Resurrection

Daily writing promptHow do you use social media?View all responses

Resurrection!

Something has happened to a lot of people worldwide for the past 2,000 years. An invisible fire and passionate love for Jesus that won’t go out has entered their heart. I love to meet people like that!

You don’t have to stay
Entombed by your guilt
The stone’s been rolled away.
Now you can live in
Jesus’ bright new day
And walk in the light
Of resurrection.
(1 John 1:7)

Be transformed
From dead wrong
By Jesus’
Living song.
He’s risen!
(Matthew 28:6)

Wrongdoing kills life
But Christ is God’s gift
Who can end your strife
And replace it with
His eternal life.
(Romans 3:23)

To be dead in sin
Is to be empty
And troubled within,
Again and again,
And feel like you’re lost,
Inside your own skin.
But then again, when
You open your heart
To the risen Christ
You can be made whole
Deep down in your soul.
(Ephesians 2:1)

I’m so glad Jesus is living every single day and that I can see Him living in and through His passionately sold-out followers! Pastors and church leaders: If you truly believe that Jesus is alive, then step aside this morning and let the risen Christ personally lead and direct the service. Open up the mic and let people share as the living Jesus prompts and leads them. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

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