Steve Simms's Blog, page 4

Neighborly Advice

Daily writing promptWhat makes a good neighbor?View all responses

There is still hope and joy in this world. Caring and compassionate neighbors can help you find it.

Focusing your fixation
On positive expectation
In a negative situation
Will change your narration
And minimize frustration.

Strong faith-filled evaluation
Will bring hopeful expectation
To a difficult situation.
Align your evaluation
Always with the Word of God.
When you can’t change your situation
You can change your evaluation.
There’s no impossible situation
When we yield to God’s animation.

In every situation
I seek a saturation
Of Jesus living in me.
(Matthew 6:33 and
Colossians 1:27)

Try Faithfulness

Daily writing promptWhat could you try for the first time?View all responses

Faithfulness? Faithfulness is repeatedly and consistently doing what is right. Being continually faithful to God in small things produces great strength. This is how faith works. Faith is faithfulness. When faithfulness is the hardest rise to the occasion. Persistently seek to be faithful to Jesus Christ in all things, big or small.

If you will faithfully and actively keep the stones rolled away from the entrance to your heart (Romans 8:14) God will continually overflow you with Christ’s resurrection life and power surging from within you as living water. (John 7:38-39) Daily put the Book of Acts into courageous loving action. “Be a doer of the word, not a hearer only.” (James 1:22)

My life with Christ has never been a dull documentary. It’s always a power-packed action adventure. (Acts 1:8) There’s nothing more exciting than being a Spirit-led child of God. (Romans 8:14)

Every distraction
From stepping out
In Spirit-led action
Is a subtraction
From genuine faith.
True satisfaction
Comes from actively
Relying on God.
(1 Thessalonians 5:19)

Here is faithfulness. Christians are called to give our full allegiance, devotion, and obedience to King Jesus and to the invisible kingdom of God ahead of any other nation or national leader. (Matthew 6:33)

Christianity isn’t about any particular nation. It’s about people “from every kindred and every tribe.” (Revelation 7:9)

I Want to Love Like Mother Teresa

Daily writing promptWhat principles define how you live?View all responses

Mother Teresa
Was a walled-in nun
In a pain filled world.
When she left the walls
To help heal the pain
Person by person,
The world took notice.
I try to go
And do likewise.

I believe that Mother Teresa was a true evangelical. I’ve never found anything hypocritical about her even though I have read many books and watched many videos about her.

Mother Teresa humbly demonstrated Christ’s love to everyone she met. She radiated kindness, peace, patience, joy, and the rest of the fruit of God’s Spirit. She didn’t try to force people to change by manipulating them through words, legalism, or self-righteousness. She just loved, loved, loved.

Mother Teresa and I would have disagreed about numerous Bible passages. Still, I greatly admire how she helped make multitudes of people around the world aware of the love, compassion, forgiveness, and healing of Jesus Christ. I wish more people who call themselves evangelicals would do likewise.

Evangelicals, if you really believe the Bible when it says, “God is love,” and when it says, “Humble yourself,” then show your confidence in the Bible by doing what it says. Humble yourself to the point of openly loving your enemies and publicly blessing those who curse.

Why are many Christians so angry and defensive? Why do so many of us ignore some of Christ’s commands and act like they don’t exist?

If Christians would obey Christ’s commands to “Bless those who curse you,” (Luke 6:27-28) “Love your enemies,” (Matthew 5:44) “Turn the other cheek,” (Matthew 5:39) and to forgive people “Seventy times seven times,” (Matthew 18:22) there would be a lot less anger, accusation, and hostility in society. However instead of obeying those hard commands from Jesus, Christians seem to be some of the loudest and angriest spreaders of accusation and hostility. Why is that?

Jesus didn’t die and rise again to start a weekly Sunday morning religious performance. He died and rose again to bring about the transformance of human hearts from cold to compassionate. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Does anybody know of a church that will stay centered on the presence and active leading and Headship of the risen Jesus when they meet instead of being centered on a sermon? I want to worship with people who will do that and will strive to obey Christ’s commands to love. O see can you say, Jesus Christ is “my Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)

Jesus wants Christianity to be hierarchy-free. He said: “You are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:8-12)

It’s Easy to Put Off Observing

Daily writing promptWhat have you been putting off doing? Why?View all responses

You can’t appreciate what you won’t observe. You are probably overlooking a lot of things. Look and see!

True faith is much more than merely believing in the existence of God. True faith is to continually observe, experience, rely on, and obey God’s presence and reality. To dare to courageously see what you’ve been unwilling to see about where you stand with God is the first step to a better life.

Train yourself to observe, obey, and openly surrender your heart to God. No one can explain or understand God, but everyone is invited to surrender to and daily rely on His presence.

When you begin to notice, observe, and cooperate with what God is saying and doing within you, your life will soar to a new level. By using the power of observation, you can see God tracks all around you and even within you. Look and notice! No one can explain or understand God, but everyone is invited to surrender to and daily rely on His presence.

Dare to set aside your agenda, your plans, your program, and your desires. Then observe what Jesus does. God observers are overcome with awe and love for Him. Be one. Be aware. Listen, wonder, ponder, and observe what God is saying to you.

Observe what religion (not the Bible) calls “The Lord’s Supper.” It was a full meal that Jesus shared with His 12 closest disciples. It is described in four books in the Bible — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and 1 Corinthians.

The meal took place around a table not at an altar. Jesus spontaneously interrupted the meal to use two of the items to describe His coming crucifixion. He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and passed it around the table for His disciples to eat. He told them that the bread represented His body.

Next Jesus took wine, thanked God for it, passed it to His disciples, and they all drank some of it. Then He told them that the wine represented His blood of the covenant (a reality shifting commitment that God made to humanity) which was about to be poured out for many. Jesus also told His disciples that He wouldn’t drink any more wine until He drinks it in the kingdom of God, but He told His disciples to do so in remembrance of Him.

Jesus interrupted His final supper with His disciples and focused on the bread and wine as a way of helping them to observe and notice the significance of His coming death. Two thousand years later interrupting a meal to savor some bread and wine could be a powerful way to remember Jesus and how He used a meal to help prepare His disciples for His coming death.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone spontaneously interrupting a full meal (like Jesus did) to use bread and wine as a way to help people focus on and remember Christ’s sacrifice. Perhaps we should try it.

What do you think people would do if in the middle of a meal someone said: “Hey everybody. Let’s remember what Jesus said about the bread and the wine. Let’s take a moment to focus on them. Let’s pass them around and partake of them together so that we can remember Jesus and His death. Let’s also remember that He rose from the dead and is present both inside of us and with us at this very table.” Perhaps routine religion has over formalized what Jesus did with bread and wine.

What you observe
You will preserve.
Always reserve
Room within you
For awareness
Of God’s presence.
Refuse to swerve
Away from His love.

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Maturity (Step-by Step)

Daily writing promptWhen was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?View all responses

I heard the word (and acrostic) PETS throughout the night last night. A powerful way to feel “like a grown up” is to put PETS into daily action.

PETS for spreading faith, hope, and love are:

P — Pray with people frequently — out loud, spontaneously, and from your heart. (Matthew 18:19-20)
E — Encourage all the people who you can whenever and wherever you can. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
T — Testify often about what God has done and is doing in your life. (Revelation 12:11)
S — Sing a lot with people. Freely and joyously belt out God’s praises together. (Isaiah 52:9)

The more I follow those 4 PETS with other people the more I experience trust in Jesus, optimism, and deep affection for people. Gather frequently with two or more people and let the PETS fly. (Hebrews 10:25)

Let the words spoken by God through the writers of the Bible be spoken directly to your heart today. Applying PETS in your daily life will help you do that.

Christianity isn’t about hearing a religious speaker. It’s about being a constant God seeker. (Matthew 6:33 and 2 Chronicles 7:14) If your heart isn’t open to God, you will be blind to Him.

When life feels like
Futility
Open up to
Humility.
Acknowledge your
Fragility.
Set aside your
Ability.
Experience
Tranquility.
Get to know the
Utility
Of faith in God,
Develop Christ-centered
Perceptibility.

I’m Seeking to Give My All to None of These Nations

Daily writing promptIf you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?View all responses

Praise and adoration belong to God — not to any nation! A Christian’s calling is to continually follow and obey the risen Jesus, not to get wrapped up in and focused on politics, current events, or entertainment.

If you truly believe that Jesus is alive, present, and active in the world, live every moment of your life like He is! Some people say that Christianity is about going to church. Others say it’s about going to Heaven. The Bible says it’s about growing from glory to glory into the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Give to God what is God’s. (Mark 12:17) Always give Him your all in all — your radical and total love and obedience. (Mark 8:34)

Anytime
And anyplace
Can be your place
Of worship.
Always seek
God’s face.
Never let
Anything
Take the place
Of God
In your heart!
(2 Chronicles 7:14)

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I’m Attempting to Abide

Daily writing promptWhat’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.View all responses

Hey good looking (all nice and religious) what ya got cooking in your soul? Where is the fruit of the Spirit in your thoughts, feelings, desires, opinions, and actions. I don’t know about you, but I am constantly attempting to abide in the presence of the risen Jesus Christ. Are you abiding? Or are you being cut off?

Jesus appointed His disciples “to be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” (Mark 3:14) Jesus is the vine and His followers are the branches. (John 15:5) A Christian’s first calling and primary purpose is to be with Jesus and to stay intimately connected heart-to-heart with Him.

To bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) we must remain yielded to the presence and power of the risen Jesus Christ. (John 15:4) When we stay always focused on what Christ is saying and doing inside of us (Colossians 1:27) we will be continually empowered to go be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) and to proclaim and demonstrate (1 Corinthians 2:4) His presence and good news wherever we are.

If Christians would focus on actually living the way the Bible teaches instead of mainly merely sitting to hear a religious talk once a week, many of our society’s problems would be solved. “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)

What are several things you have learned in church this year? If you can’t think of anything that’s proof that passive sermon hearing is a weak and very ineffective way of learning. Discipleship requires so much more.

When most people think about Christianity they think about church attendance. When I think about Christianity, I think about Jesus alive from the dead. I think about Him being powerfully present and active in people’s heart and lives day and night.

The Bible says, “Quench not the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) The Holy Spirit has been so quenched by religion and tradition that today we need to unquench the Spirit.

Let Christ reside
Deep down inside.
Refuse to hide
Anything from Him.

Jesus Christ arose
So why sit in rows
Of church pews or chairs?
We should never doze
In Jesus’ presence.
Let’s go where Christ goes.
Let Jesus enclose
You with His great love.
Let Jesus expose
And repair your heart.
Be someone who glows
With light from Jesus.

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I’m Always Attempting Unquenching

Daily writing promptWhat’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.View all responses

My ongoing goal is unquenching. I don’t want to be shut down and held back by negative beliefs, attitudes, and actions. I want to unleash the best life has to offer to flow from within. I continually strive to unquench “the new wine” of God the Holy Spirit.

Explanations about God won’t unquench the Holy Spirit in your life. Continually experiencing God and surrendering to His will will. Not quenching the Holy Spirit requires effort, focus, and self-denial.

Boldly and radically set aside all the stuff, all the desires, and all the cares of this world (Mark 4:19) that quench God the Holy Spirit in your life. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) Then you will unquench rivers of living water to freely flow from within you (John 7:38-39) and empower you (Acts 1:8) to consistently and faithfully follow and obey the risen Jesus. (Mark 10:21)

To quench God the Holy Spirit or not to quench Him? That is life’s most important question. Quench your pride, self-will, and sin, not the Holy Spirit. (Mark 8:34) To quench temptation, have the faith to unquench God the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 6:15)

It’s easy to quench God the Holy Spirit. All you need to do is to ignore Him. If you won’t consistently quench your thirsty desires for having your own way, you’ll continually quench the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:17) To unquench the Holy Spirit fully and freely forgive everyone. (Mark 11:25) To unquench the Holy Spirit humble yourself. (1 Peter 5:6)

Unquench the Holy Spirit by going beyond mentally analyzing and scrutinizing religion. Begin to literally taste and see that God is good. (Psalm 34:8) When the Holy Spirit is fully unquenched revival and spiritual awakening occur. (Psalm 85:6)

At the wedding celebration at Cana, Jesus supernaturally gave the guests wine that was better than their best wine. Jesus wants to supernaturally give you much better than your best. Let Him continually fill you and lead you with the new wine of His presence. He already knows what is in your heart. Don’t cling to your own will until He turns your tables over. (John 2)

It’s not a good thing
To sit on a bench
And silently quench
The Holy Spirit.

To quench
The Spirit
Is a sinch.
Simply
Ignore Him.

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To Truly Believe and Rely on God

Daily writing promptWhat was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?View all responses

“I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) Make room for Jesus to help you overcome your unbelief.

What is unbelief in God? It is trusting in, relying on, or depending on anything instead of God: Self-effort, human plans, politics, independence, church, money, pride, family, intellect, entertainment, a preacher, talent, skill, whatever. Anything that distracts or disrupts your heart-to-heart connection with the living Jesus is unbelief. Keep your faith on Christ alone. (Hebrews 12:2)

If you’re unaware of Jesus living and working in your life, you’re crowding Him out. (Mark 4:18) Make more room for Jesus to live and work in your life (Mark 1:2-3) by consistently denying yourself, taking up your cross, and obeying Him. (Mark 8:34) For many practical ways to do that, google, The Joy of Early Christianity.

The Christianity that matters is the Christianity that’s in your heart and in your actions. The rest is just fluff.

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Holy Spit — This is Unusual!

Daily writing promptWho are your favorite artists?View all responses

Jesus, my favorite artist, took a blind man by the hand and led him outside of his village. (Mark 8:23) Our pride has blinded us all to various degrees. We humans need to let Jesus lead us outside the village of our blinding habits, perspectives, traditions, attitudes, and zones of comfort.

Next Jesus did something very unusual and humbling for the man. Christ spit on the blind man’s eyes, touched him, and asked, “Do you see anything?” (Mark 8:24) With holy spit dripping from his eyes, the man said: “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

Then Jesus touched the man again. Suddenly the formerly blind man could see everything clearly. Will you humble yourself and let Jesus lead you out of the cozy little village of your favorite habits, perspectives, traditions, attitudes, and zones of comfort? Will you let Christ spit in your eyes without complaining about the afront to your pride and ego?

Humility is extremely powerful. “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6) We humans desperately need humility. It’s essential for genuine spirituality and clear vision.

Get low
And let God.
Learn to flow
Wherever
Jesus leads.

True humility
Allows you to see
From God’s perspective
Instead of your own.

To grow
With God
Let go
Of ego.