Saturday, November 26, 2011

Life in Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:


 1 The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
   I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”


Our Valley Of Dry Bones

As we survey the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and Transgendered community around the world we see a significant population of people who have been taught that God doesn't love them.

They are worthless.
A mistake.
An abomination.

Many are told that Salvation isn't an option unless they change their sexual orientation...one that was never chosen to begin with.

This has left a void within the hearts of tens of thousands of people.

Feeling as though God does not want them, many in the GLBT community try to fill the hunger that their soul cries out for in unhealthy ways such as addiction to drugs, alcohol, pornography, and sex.

Many of our brothers and sisters in the community rebel from the positive things they learned about Jesus growing up because they've believed the lie that He doesn't care about them.

And others, trying to reconcile their once dearly cherished faith with the very real feelings of their sexuality, fall into deep depressions and sadly, far to often, death.

This has left a large number of our GLBT brethren dried up and spiritually lifeless.

Can You Hear The Dry Bones Rattling?

 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

Can't you hear the rattling sound?

As men, women, and transgendered people around the world hear the message that we are ALL "whosoevers" SAVED by grace, can't you hear the dry bones start to move?


As organizations like The Gay Christian Network start to reach our community in country after country can't you hear the crackling sound as lifeless bones begin to bond together? 



As straight supporters such as Kathy Baldock and Jay Bakker rise up proclaiming the truth of an inclusive Gospel for everyone can't you see the tendons growing and the flesh covering the bones?

God Is Breathing Life Into These Bones

 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

Is your spirit stirred by the rush of wind as these once lifeless bones begin to breathe?

As GLBT persons stand up for ourselves, for our community, for our belief that we truly are Children of God, more and more dry bones are beginning to breathe.

In Nations around the globe, one by one, people are shaking off the shackles of the status quo and proclaiming that Salvation belongs to us too!  The Blood of Jesus was shed for ALL PEOPLE!


Every hour new life is forming around once spiritually dead bones.

Redeeming The Dry Bones

 11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’”


As we see a valley once filled with the dried up bones of GLBT people begin to spring forth with new life, our Father offers us a message of Hope.


This is the very message that is spreading to the USA, to Slovenia, to Australia, to the UK, to Singapore and South Korea, and to all people around the world:


My GLBT Children, you are no more to consider yourselves as second class citizens in the Body of Christ. 
Take hope in knowing that I love you and you are equal in my eyes!
I speak life into your dry bones even now and proclaim that from the GLBT community will arise mighty Prophets, Teachers, Pastors, Apostles, and Evangelists!  
You will go out and spread the Good News of My Salvation, says the Lord!
I have called you for this hour. 
You have been created for this very time.
The great revival is going forth throughout the GLBT community for in these days and in My Body, you Will Be Separate No More!
I call you up from the valley.
I call you out from your slumber.
Awaken NOW my Children!
Arise! says the Lord....Arise!


Wake Up!


In the prophesy that God gave us above He has said that this is the time for us to arise!


This is the time to spread His message of Hope, Love, Mercy, and Salvation to all people, especially the GLBT community.


This is the time to Let Our Lights Shine!


This is the time to use our breath and be vocal about how much God has changed our lives; how He revived us when we were once a pile of lifeless bones.


This is the time for all of us to speak Life into the dry bones of those around us.


This is the time to show Christ in all we do and be the salt and light to our community.


Arise!




As always remember:


God Loves You!
God Created You!
God Affirms You!


Until Next Time,


SavedByGrace

Monday, November 7, 2011

Your Sign From God

God Loves Me!


Say it out loud, "God Loves Me!"


Write it on your bathroom mirror and read it a thousand times until you accept it:

GOD LOVES ME!!!


As I type this tonight I know there will be people reading who want so badly to believe that the God they once knew as children still knows them by name today, still remembers their innocent prayers, and still loves them.


There are men and women, boys and girls, who are at the end of their rope.


Have you given God just one more chance to make a difference in your life?
Are you looking for a sign from God almighty that He actually cares for you?


YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR SIGN:


YOUR FATHER GOD KNOWS YOU, CREATED YOU, AND LOVES YOU WITHOUT CONDITIONS!

His favor is for a lifetime; 
Weeping may last for the night, 
But JOY comes in the MORNING! 
Ps 30:5 (NASB)



Have you been told that you aren't good enough?
Is there a voice inside of you whispering that you don't measure up?


Are you one of many who feel disqualified from the Love of God because you are Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, or Transgendered?


Are you out of the main stream "Christian" movement?
Are you too poor?
Too rich?
Too liberal?
Too different?
Too depressed?


Have you been hurt?
Have you hurt others?
Have you made mistakes that you wish you could take back?


Is your life riddled with sin?
Are you held captive in a prison of addiction?
Is your life a mess and you don't know which way is up?


No matter how far your life has fallen you are not beyond the reach of God's arms!


There is No Gutter so deep that God's love cannot find you and raise you out of it.


Romans 8:35, 37-39 explains to us:
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... 

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NOTHING can separate you from the LOVE OF GOD!


Learning and Truly Accepting that God Loves You is the key to unlocking the Power of Freedom in your life!


He loves you so much that He sent His son Jesus to take your place, to pay the price for YOUR sins, so that you could have eternal life through Him!


Our Daddy God knows everything about you and still loves you without conditions!


He has a plan for your life.


He has a destiny for YOU that only YOU can fulfill!


When the chorus of voices grow louder and louder with their message of hopelessness, take a stand and proclaim:


"GOD LOVES ME!"
"GOD CREATED ME!"
"GOD ACCEPTS ME!"


And, if you start to wonder if God really cares about you then look back at this blog post.
Read it and know that He led me to type it just for You.


This IS YOUR Sign From God!


As always Remember:


God Loves You!
God Created You!
God Accepts You!


Until Next Time,


SavedByGrace

How He Loves Us- David Crowder Band