Steve Simms's Blog, page 39

My Favorite “Album”

Daily writing promptWhat’s your all-time favorite album?View all responses

One definition of album is “a blank book for holding a collection of items.” I fill up the album of my memory with the things that I have heard the risen Jesus say and the things that I have seen Him do. One of the ways that I do that is by daily writing and posting those things on my blog (and on Facebook and X). They have become my all-time favorite album.

This is what I heard in my heart this morning:

I’m a Jesus-writer.
I love writing for Jesus.
I want to write for Jesus
All the days of my life.
I listen with my heart.
And some thoughts come from Christ.
Then I use the Bible
So I can verify them.
His sheep hear His voice.
And I write what He says.
I love hearing from Jesus.
I want to hear from Jesus.
All the days of my life!

If you will keep God’s insights in your sight, hope will never be out of sight. The devil is the accuser and he’s good at his job. He doesn’t need you to help him out. Be kind! Keep hope alive.

I’d Like to Be Better Informed About My Own “I Will Nots”

“I Will Nots”

Pharoah refused to obey the Lord because he had a hardened heart. When God used Moses to tell Pharoah to “Let My people go,” Pharoah replied, “I will not.”

The Bible tells Christians: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.” If you have any “I will nots” between you and God, you have hardened your heart.

Here are some “I will nots” that are very common among Christians today: “I will not obey . . .”

* “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven.”

* “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

* “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

* “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

* “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

* “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

* “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

* “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.”

* “Repent.”

* “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.”

* “When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your sins.”

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The music that matters most

Here’s the big picture: Music that is heard by the ears is temporary. Music that is heard with a humble, tender heart can change a person’s life forever. Open your heart to hear the music of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

A nation’s government is temporary. If you change it, the change won’t last. Human beings are eternal. When they truly allow the living Jesus to change them from inside out, that change is forever. Seek first the change that lasts — the kingdom of God within you, not the kingdom of human government. To politicize Christianity is to focus on human governments and ignore inner the kingdom of God.

Many Christians today seem to have a hardened heart like the Pharoah in ancient Egypt. When they hear what the Lord says they refuse to obey: “Love your enemies.” “Bless those who curse you.” Where are God’s love-governed people who live moment by moment under the direct heart-to-heart leadership of the risen Jesus? Christians should stop the slander, scorn, spitefulness, and smear tactics and start showering people with Christ’s love.

It is time to let God’s people go free from human control and religious manipulation so they can worship Him in spirit and in truth. Then they can go beyond routine, gather in Jesus’ name (instead of in the name of a church, a preacher, or a ministry) and be led by God’s Spirit.

Churches need to do more than lecture people. They need to train and empower people to open their heart to God and to each other and to speak as the Spirit leads them. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26.) Don’t just find and attend a Spirit-filled conference, church service, or revival. Be one 24/7/365.

Here’s a sign of hardened hearts. Christians are supposed to be one big spiritual family. Instead, we have divided ourselves into tens of thousands of independent religious organizations each one doing our own thing. Oops!

When you repeat someone’s lies (intentionally or unintentionally) you’re being a liar. Refuse to make accusations without personally having solid, tangible, irrefutable proof. It’s easy to cry cheater (and convince yourself that people are guilty of it). It’s hard to prove it beyond any doubt. (The greatly increasing anger and hostility in America is on the verge of breaking it into pieces and totally destroying the economy.) Hardened hearts desperately need to let God’s inner music soften their soul.

God loves people.
You should too.
Let His love
Flow through you.
In all you say
And what you do
Speak truth with love.
If you’re unwilling
To “love your enemies”
You’re not following
The risen Jesus.

Two Misused Words

There’s nothing “great”
About spreading hate.
There’s nothing “reproductive”
About abortion.

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How I Celebrate and Make Everyday a Holiday

I celebrate being alive and make every day an enjoyable holiday. You can to. Here’s how:

Go through your daily life with never-ending conscious awareness of God, refusing to be distracted from Him! It’s easy to walk away from a time of prayer, a Bible study, a devotional, or a church service and leave your short-term focus on God behind. It’s easy to feel good about having done your religious duty and then to put God on the shelf until tomorrow, or next week, or next religious activity.

If you like to set God aside for a while and go do what you want to do, you’re overlooking the all-consuming inner fire that He is. You’re missing out on fully experiencing Christ in you the incredible hope of glory who ever flows from deep within as rivers of living water. You’re not remembering to continually taste and see that the Lord is good. You’re neglecting to always rejoice in the Lord with joy unspeakable and full of glory. You’re forgetting to abide steadfastly in His presence and peace that passes understanding. You’re avoiding praying without ceasing. You’re trying to satisfy your inner hungering and thirsting with something or someone other than the presence and power of the risen Jesus.

Jump into the inner rivers of the Spirit and be continually swept away from self-focus. Ever stir up the heart-fire of the inner presence of the living Jesus. Continually surrender to, adore, and interact with Christ in you. Be mended moment by moment by His mercy and ever surprised by His joy! The way to grow is to go.

I Can’t Hide So Why Try?

If everything about you is already known in the places that matter the most, why try to hide things from anybody? That’s a lesson I learned very early in life, and that realization has caused me to be radically open and honest.

For example, if a drug dealer finds out that the police and the FBI have a list of all his customers and records about all his transactions over the past several years, there’s no need to hide what he has been doing. Since the facts are all already known in the places that matter the most, he can be completely honest.

As a small child living in a non-religious home, I had a strong awareness of God. (Later I became an agnostic and finally a passionate Christ-follower.) As a young child, I realized that God already knew everything about me (all the details of my life).

I have always had a rational mind, so I began to think that if God (the most important Being in existence) already knows everything about me, there is no need for me to hide things from anybody else. Living openly and honestly over the years has given me great inner peace. (Hiding stuff from people takes a lot of work, frustration, and deception.)

When God gets your full attention, He will lead you beyond your good intentions into the center of His will. Too many Christians are oppressed and obsessed by blame and anger. Let it go. “Bless those who curse you.” “Love your enemies.”

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Invisible Food

Humans need invisible food in order to keep hope alive. Burgers and fries (and even broccoli and carrots) don’t offer enough nourishment for people to thrive. For inner healing and mental health, we need to daily dine on the encouragement of inner peace, joy, and kindness. We all need the nourishment of faith, hope, and love.

One day Christ’s disciples were concerned that He wasn’t eating. He told them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” He was talking about feeding on the Spirit of God. “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” (See John 4:31-33.)

God told Moses that His name is I AM. I AM is the Almighty, the eternal Creator of all that exists. He is directly communicating with people today and calling us to exit our self-effort and self-focused lifestyle and to continually give our all to Him.

Jesus (Emmanuel–I AM with us) said: “My sheep hear My voice.” To be “led by the Spirit” we must hear and obey the voice (the inner promptings) of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Jesus is the fire that burns within the heart of His surrendered followers and empowers and directs them through the inner flames of His Spirit. Will we “walk in the Spirit” or will we quench the Spirit and live by our human thoughts, feelings, and desires? I AM is calling you. Will you go where He sends you and say what He tells you to?

Seeing the Holy Spirit work is as easy as 1-2-3.

1) Gather with a small group of people who want to directly hear from the risen Jesus.

2) Have everyone present listen to Jesus and notice what He says or does in her or his own heart.

3) Let each person say and/or do whatever Jesus prompts him or her to say and/or do.

If you do these things, you will experience the risen Jesus working in and through the people present in deeply heart-touching ways as the Holy Spirit directly leads the meeting.

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Running From Self-Righteousness

I used to be self-righteous, thinking I deserved God’s approval. Now I run away from self-righteousness every day so that I can rely on God’s mercy instead of my own goodness.

Self-righteousness hardens the human heart. It tries to boost itself by blaming others. Self-righteousness is based on pride, true righteousness on humility. Self-righteousness likes to advertise its self-proclaimed virtues.

The self-righteous are too proud to see or to admit when they are wrong. If you always think you are right, you are self-righteous.

Self-righteousness is a trap. Humbly asking for forgiveness leads to freedom. Self-righteousness is the weapon of the insecure.

Self-righteousness enjoys seeing itself as better than other people. It over looks its own faults and exaggerates the faults of others. It sees kindness as weakness. It withholds compassion.

Self-righteousness has no need for the risen present Jesus. It’s satisfied with a distant religious Jesus.

Self-righteousness keeps people from fully experience the mercy, forgiveness, and grace of God. It’s a terrible deception. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no not one.” Self-righteousness blocks personal and spiritual growth.

“The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit.” –Charles Spurgeon

With you/in you/through you
 
Christ is called
Emmanuel,
God with us!
Jesus has
Sent His Spirit
To now live in
And to lead
His followers
From within:
“Christ in you,
The hope of glory.”
Stir up the gift
That is in you.
Refuse to
Quench the Spirit.
Let His presence
Overflow
From your heart
Day and night.

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I Was Asked If I See Myself as a Leader

Self-deception is rampant. I want to look beyond myself and my pride so I can discover truth (whether I like it or not). I want to live in reality, not in self-righteousness. Am I a leader? I don’t know. What do you think?

In contemporary society’s heavy fog of constantly spotlighted feelings, opinions, desires, distortion, deception, cravings, and confusion, many people arrogantly claim that they are right and anybody who disagrees with them is wrong. They think that they are good people but that the people who see things differently than they do are bad people. Let’s get real.

There is some good and there is some evil in every individual person (including you). It’s easy to see the evil in people who you see as a threat, but all that does is increase your fear. Instead, first begin to recognize, attack, and overcome the roots of the evil fog in yourself. Then you can begin to see the good in your opponents and to love your enemies so that they can see the good in you.

Anger intensifies day after day. It grows into fear and insecurity. It sees people as threats. It morphs into hostility and a desire for retaliation. Anger justifies itself. It ignores logic and rationality. It inspires insults and accusations. It makes feelings and opinions more important than reality. It can suddenly lead to violence — even to angry mob violence.

That’s why the Bible says, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” When anger is carried overnight it gets stronger. Imagine how it grows if carried over months, years, and decades. If you are angry, don’t be its slave. Obey the Bible. Get rid of your anger before sunset tonight. Then you will be able to see things much more clearly.

Anger distorts truth. Without truth we are slaves to falsehood. Break free from anger’s bondage. “The truth will set you free.” Humbly seek it.

Peace

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” –Henry David Thoreau

Quiet desperation leads people into anxiety, accusation, anger, and an abundance of mental health issues. It annihilates inner peace.

I believe that God is calling people (of all ages) who are burning with His inner fire to help bring His people out of the pain, pride, and political dominance of Egypt and into the peace of the kingdom (direct heart-to-heart government) of God. To do this we need to demonstrate the presence, power, reality, character, and love of God in our daily lives.

The early Christians “turned the world upside down” by doing things Christ’s way instead of following their own thoughts, feelings, desires, and opinions. They had the faith and humility to rely on spiritual weapons instead of on human anger and/or physical weapons. Are we willing to do the same?

The biggest problem in America (and other countries) is our divisiveness. We have to share our country with people we disagree with. If we continue to demonize and to try to dominate each other, we will blow America apart. Then no group or party will have what they want, and we’ll all continue to suffer from (and escalate) chaos and violence.

If we love America and don’t want to destroy it, it is essential that we begin to find ways to work together so that we can “ensure domestic tranquility” (peace with one another) and all of us get part (but not all) of what we want. When a presidential debate looks like two angry and scared children pulling on the same stuffed animal, the future is dim for America.

It’s time for God’s people to turn away from the worldly Egyptian-style weapons of self-righteous divisiveness, arrogant accusation, and continual blame. It’s time to show kindness and compassion to the people we disagree with. It’s time we start “speaking the truth in love.” Jesus meant it when He told His followers to “Love your enemies,” and to “Bless those who curse you.” If you are unwilling to do what Jesus said, are you truly a Christ-follower?

The Bible warns us of misinformation and disinformation. The Bible calls it deception and this world is filled with it. I love Jesus and do my best to follow and obey Him moment-by-moment, but I can easily be deceived by the cunning of the devil and of human beings. I’m sure there are many times in your life when you (like me) have been deceived and tricked into false self-destructive attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. We all have. (Even now, none of us fully knows the truth because “we see through a glass darkly.”)

We need to listen to and believe the Bible and the Holy Spirit, not to our own supposed ability to know if something is true or false, (or right or wrong). The Bible calls that “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Eating from that prideful tree messed up Adam and Eve. And it messes up all of their descendants as well.

Whatever your age, be a peacemaker (both within your own heart and in your nation and the world). (I believe that the term “elder” in the Bible doesn’t refer to a church office. I believe that it refers to senior citizens of the kingdom of God who passionately and humbly love, follow, and obey the risen Jesus day after day.) Young or old or in between, will you be one of those people?

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Taking Off My Shoes So I Can Put On the Best Shoes Ever

I don’t like to go barefooted. I like to keep my shoes on. However, sometimes I need to take off my shoes so that I can clean my feet and so that I can put on even better shoes.

God called to Moses from a burning bush. He told Moses to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground.

Jesus told His disciples to take off their shoes and then He washed their feet. Today God’s not looking for holy places but for holy feet attached to people who have been made holy by the blood of the Lamb and by the indwelling presence of the risen Jesus — people who will daily be led by the Spirit. Their feet bring demonstrations of the good news of “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” everywhere they go.

Take off your shoes. Step out of the prideful human ways of walking. Go beyond routine religion. Put the Gospel of peace on your feet and begin to walk supernaturally in the Spirit.

If a church is just presenting information about Jesus and not training the members of the congregation to daily listen to Him and walk in His shoes, it isn’t fully proclaiming and demonstrating the Good News of walking in the Spirit. It’s time for a shoe change!

If people aren’t trained to turn on the faucet and regularly drink the water, it does little good to teach them the details about the plumbing. (If churches don’t train people to open up and experience Christ’s living water day and night, merely teaching them the details of the Gospel won’t impact their life very much.)

As I watched a preacher, filled with passion for Jesus, talking about the Bible in front of a stone-faced congregation, I wished that he would lead the people into experiencing and expressing life-changing passion for the living Jesus instead of just excitedly sharing information about Him. Information about Jesus will be little applied and even forgotten, but experiencing “Christ in you,” burning like a never-ending fire, will empower people to continually spread His presence, power, and love to everyone they meet.

Preaching with passion and trying to get Christ’s living water to flow from the heart of people in a church service is like preaching to a shut-down faucet and trying to get water to flow. I’ve tried that many hundreds of times and it’s not very effective (preaching to a passive congregation, not to a literal faucet).

To get water to flow from a faucet you have to turn it on and open it up. To get Christ’s living water to flow from people’s heart you have to train them to open up their heart and stop blocking Christ’s inner rivers. Then you have to give them opportunities to open up in the meeting and speak from the Spirit as the risen Jesus prompts them until person after person begins to open their heart and let the Spirit lead them to humbly and honestly do what Jesus tells them to.

Preaching to people who are passively parked in church pews (or chairs) is like trying to steer a car that is parked in a garage. No matter how hard you steer, you won’t change its direction. The Bible never says, “Sit and hear a talk about the goodness of God.” It says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Church is one man
On a platform
Trying to inform
People about God.
The Gospel is
Jesus the Christ
Working to transform
People from within.
“Christ in you,
The hope of glory.”

The sound
That creates
Holy ground
Is the sound
Of God’s voice.
Open your heart.
Hear His word.
Let Him confound
You with awe
Till you abound
With the fruit
Of His Spirit.

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