Glorious Freedom!

"Once I was bound by sin’s galling fetters;
Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain.
But I received a glorious freedom,
When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.

Glorious freedom! Wonderful freedom!
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator—
Now and forever He shall be mine."
(Glorious Freedom, Circa 1917, Author- Haldor Lillenas)

We sang this old hymn at church last Sunday and I have not been able to shake it out of my head.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful to have it playing over and over again in my brain, not only because it finally replaced the endless repetition of "Somebody that I used to know," by Gotye, but also because it has served as a constant reminder this week that I Do Have Glorious Freedom!

Glorious Freedom From Sin!

Do you find yourself "bound by sin's galling fetters; chained like a slave, struggling in vain?"

It is okay to answer this question honestly.

Every Christian I have ever known deals with sin and the temptation of sin.

Many friends that I know fight addictions and habits that they struggle to break.

If this is you today, remember that you have Glorious Freedom in Christ!

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "...My grace is enough; it's all you need. 

   My strength comes into its own in your weakness."- (Message Bible)

Don't try to hide your weaknesses from God.  

He already knows about them.

He has already forgiven you.

Our loving Father God wants to use His strength to help you overcome the unhealthy areas of your life.

Surrender your weaknesses over to our Daddy God so that His strength can replace your weakness!

Glorious Freedom From Fear!

There are times in our lives where we battle fear and anxiety.

The enemy uses everything he can to make us worry.

Whether it is your job, or finances, your relationships, or your health; nothing is off limits to worrying!

If you let this fear and anxiety become a habit it can destroy your life by stealing your joy!

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?"- Matthew 6:25-34 (N.I.V.)

By worrying, which is a type of fear, you are taking the control out of God's hands and placing it back into your own.

Stand in the promise of God in Luke 10:19 that says we have the power to tread on serpents and scorpians!

Psalms 91 tells us that we dwell in the secret place of the Most High God and NO evil shall befall us!

"God has not given us a spirit of fear but of Power, and of Love, and of a Sound Mind!"- 2 Timothy 1:7 (K.J.V)

Trust God by learning to live in a place of Rest in His refuge and let Him protect you!

Then you will find Glorious Freedom!

Glorious Freedom From Shame!

If you are Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgendered or any other type of lifestyle that is seen as non-traditional, then you probably know what it's like to battle shame in your life.

There is shame that comes from people's words and actions.

People you have known for many years may have cut you off.

Other Christians may be throwing stones of judgement against you right this very moment.

When you find yourself battling feelings of shame remember this,

"There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus!"

You are beautifully and wonderfully made!

You are made in the image of Almighty God!

You have a destiny, a future, a reason for living that is far greater then you can comprehend!

Our Father God loves you so much, UNCONDITIONALLY, to the point that He would sacrifice His Only Son just to eliminate the barrier of sin between you and He.

Don't let anybody tell you that you are wrong for being gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgendered, straight, asexual, queer, questioning, or inter-sex!

Be true to who you are and live as the person God created you to be!

You have NO reason for Shame!

"Glorious freedom! Wonderful freedom!
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator—

Now and forever He shall be mine." 

Now that you have seen the amazing and Glorious Freedom that is offered in Christ Jesus I pray you will share this message with others around you.

This truly is the Good News!

Share it with your friends and family so that they too can shake off their chains and live in Glorious Freedom.

As always remember:

God Loves You!

God Created You!

God Accepts You!

Until next time,

SavedByGrace

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) - official video

Masked Man

Isaiah 53:5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (N.I.V)


Today I decided to go visit my mom's grave.


It just hit me, out of the blue, that I should go by there.


I have been there repeatedly with my family and my partner on special occasions but today was the first day that I visited by myself.


There was a difference today.


By visiting the grave alone I was given this freedom to be completely vulnerable.


I cried.
I sobbed.
I giggled at a happy memory.
I cried again.


I have a simple point in telling you this story.


At the grave I was completely myself.
I took my emotional "mask" off and expressed what I genuinely felt, all because I had the security that comes from solitude.


It was just me and God at my mom's grave.
No other human was in sight.


Driving home from the cemetery I started wondering how long I've been wearing this mask.


I know where the mask comes from.


It's a defense mechanism.


I put on a mask that looks healthy and happy on the outside to hide various imperfections and brokenness on the inside.


What I have learned over the years is that most of us wear a mask.


Almost everyone you meet wears one that few ever see behind.


The problem is that behind this mask exists the genuine you!


Behind your mask exists your hurts and your joys.
Your brokenness is behind your mask.
Your TESTIMONY is behind your mask! 


But John, It is SO comfortable behind my mask!


Yes, it might seem comfortable to walk around guarded but you are not living genuinely when you hide your true emotions.


By keeping on a mask that hides your imperfections you are taking power out of God's hands and placing it in your hands.


Remember the scripture that says, "We have overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony!" (Rev 12:11)


-By denying our true selves, by shielding our unique experiences and pains from view, we are denying God the access to use them to His Glory! 


-By burying our hurts and weakness deep behind our masks we are holding onto them like a child's security blanket instead of allowing our Daddy God to heal them!


-By trying to appear like the "Perfect Christian" we are in effect making ourselves look even more "UN-Christlike!"


After all, Jesus was crushed for our iniquities.
He understands brokenness.


Jesus was tempted in the desert for 40 days.
He understands fighting off temptation!


In the Garden, before He was led to His sacrifice, none of His closest friends would stay awake to pray with Him.
He understands loneliness.


Make a decision to live genuinely, showing your war wounds from life, so that others can see Jesus at work within you!


It is time to throw off your mask!


We live in a Real world that faces Real problems filled with Real People who need a Real encounter with the Real Jesus!


The days of playing church are long gone and will not offer any hope to today's generation!


It will be Real Christians who rip off their masks and show their testimony; the good, the bad, the embarrassing, the ridiculous, the painful, the REAL TESTIMONY; that will reach those who are drowning in Real darkness!


Will you take off your mask today?


Will you be yourself to those around you and admit that being a Christian doesn't equal being perfect, it equals being forgiven?


Will you try your best to be Christlike in love but leave the judgement behind?


By living each day without our masks, we will be showing others the true Jesus who lives inside of us.
If nothing else, that alone should convince you to live boldly and honestly and.....


RIP OFF THAT MASK!


As Always Remember:


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




Until next time,


SavedByGrace

He Is Risen!

Happy Easter to all of the readers and supporters of MyGayChristianBlog.com!


You all are so encouraging to me and I pray that this Easter you will know that the debts that Jesus paid on the cross were paid for ALL people, including you!


Accept the promises that our Blessed Father has extended to us all through the life, death, and Resurrection of His Son Jesus!


I pray that each of you will walk in Victory with the knowledge that the same blood that saves the white man also saves the black man.
The same blood that saves the American also saves the Chinese.
The same blood that saves the rich also saves the poor.
The same blood that saves the man also saves the woman.
The same blood that saves the straight also saves the gay.


We are ALL "Whosoevers" saved by grace through the blood of Jesus.


Have a blessed Easter Sunday and always remember:


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




Until next time,


SavedByGrace

You Are Welcome

During this Lenten season I have been thinking a lot about sacrifice.


So many of us decide to "give something up" for Lent.
For me this year, I have given up fried foods.
Yikes!


No matter what we choose to surrender until Easter, nothing can compare to the sacrifice that Jesus paid for us on the cross.


When I was a younger guy I used to get wrapped up in the legalism that can come with sacrifice.


I thought that I couldn't make a single mistake during Lent because if I did then Jesus would think that I didn't love Him, or that I didn't appreciate what He did for me.


As I have grown older I now look at Lent through the eyes of God's Grace.
(Incidently, I try to look at everything through God's Grace now a days.)


Instead of sacrifice being  something that we do to prove to God just how much we love Him, it should be a way of saying, "thank you."


He already knows how much we love Him.
He knows our heart.


The lower cholesterol that occurs from giving up fried foods is not going to convince Him of something He already knows!


Instead, allow Lent to be a time to revel in God's unbelievably gracious love for you!


I'm sure you would agree that no matter what we give up for Lent, it is a tiny sacrifice compared to what Jesus did or us on Easter. 


My tiny sacrifice is merely me saying "Thank You."


His Ultimate Sacrifice is Jesus saying "You Are Welcome."


As we enter into Holy week remember that "You Are Welcome!"
You are welcome to His Salvation.
You are welcome to His Redemption.
You are welcome to His Joy.
You are welcome to His Peace.
You are welcome to His Healing.
You are welcome to His Love.
You are welcome to ALL of the promises that life with Jesus offers!


He wants you to have them!
After all, He bought them with His blood.


This week please take time to focus on just how much God Loves You and share that Love with those around you.


Have a beautiful Palm Sunday and Holy Week my friends.


As always, remember:


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


Until next time,


SavedByGrace

Your Valentine From God- Revisited

Below is a re-post from Valentine's Day 2011.

This post received more feedback about how it touched people's lives then anything else I have written before or since on the blog.

I decided to post it again this year.

I pray it blesses you right where you are today.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Here is Your Valentine from God:


As February 14th approaches, sights of hearts and cupids become unavoidable.

A simple trip to Walmart is enough to throw you into sheer excitement, or utter despair, depending on the current situation of your "love life."

We all want to be loved.

That is a basic tenet of human nature.

Tonight's blog post is a Valentine, not from me, but from God.

If God were to send you a Valentine I think it would read something like this:

You are my most beautiful creation.

Your eyes sparkle like the stars in the galaxies.

Just as every snow flake has different characteristics, no one else has ever or will ever be like you.

I have known you before the creation of the Earth and I will be with you for all of eternity.

Each morning I will cause the sun to rise and brighten your day.

Every evening I will showcase the moon in all its splendor to remind you that I am still here with you even in the darkest night.

In the Autumn I will paint the trees vibrant colors for you to enjoy.

During the spring, flowers will bloom, their fragrances filling the air, so that you glimpse Heaven while on Earth.

I love you more then you could ever know.

I love you without any conditions.

I love you so much that I have sacrificed my only son just to be with you.

I see you through Him, you know.

Your heart is pure, innocent, perfect in my eyes.

I send Angels to protect you and stand charge over you.

I send my Holy Spirit to gently comfort and guide you.

Nothing can ever separate you from my Love.

I Am Love.

And, I Love You!

You Are My Valentine,

Yahweh

xoxoxo

This Valentines Day I pray that you will know that YOU ARE LOVED!

The same God who breathed life into man and created the entire universe loves you more then you can comprehend.

No matter where you find yourself tonight, passionately in love or desperately lonely, you ARE someone's Valentine.

You are His!

Nothing can change that.

Happy Valentine's Day and remember,

God Loves You!

God Created You!

God Accepts You!

Until next time,

SavedByGrace

How He loves us- Kim Walker and Jesus Culture

The Enemy of Greatness

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
- II Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)


Have you ever felt that life is a series of mediocre hours comprising a series of mediocre days adding up to a series of mediocre years equaling one mediocre existence that is your time on Earth so far?


What is the purpose of it all?


Where did your dreams go?


When you were sitting in class your senior year of high school were you day dreaming about the life you currently live?


What is your reason for being here?


What is keeping you from excelling to your potential?


If you have been pondering these questions, this post is for you.


Fear is the Enemy of Greatness!


Once you learn to start living a life outside of the shadow of fear you will begin reaching higher then you ever thought possible.


Fear acts like shackles chaining your feet to the ground.
It keeps you stagnate as time marches past you at a feverish pace.


At times it feels like a vice grip enslaving you to a life filled with dull numbness as you forget the plans for your future that God placed in your heart.


How do you break free from fear and rekindle the flame that once ignited excitement about your life?


First, recognize exactly what fear is:




Fear is the Opposite of Faith!


Fear tells us that we cannot accomplish anything great.


Faith says, "I can do ALL Things through Christ who Strengthens me!" 
-Phil 4:13 (NKJV)


Fear tells us that our past is too horrible to live the future that God has called us to.  We've already blown it.  Just give up.


Faith says, "...forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." 
-Phil 3:13, 14 (NKJV)


Fear tells us that we will be crushed by the weight and stresses of this life.


Faith says, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us who can be against us?" 
-Romans 8:31 (NIV)


Fear tells us we are too worthless to be Christians.


Faith says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should not parish but have Everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." 
-John 3:16-17 (NKJV)


Fear tells us our problems are too huge to overcome.


Faith says, "...if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move.  NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU!" -Matthew 17:20 (NIV)


That last verse was said by Jesus himself!


Next, Realize the different ways fear shows itself!


Did you know that worry is a type of fear?


When you worry about your future you are taking the power out of God's hands and placing it back in your hands.
Essentially, worrying is like telling God, "I don't trust you to handle this situation for me.  I want to control it, fix it, make it better in my own strength, not yours."


In Luke 12, Jesus says to His disciples, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body,  what you will wear...Consider the Ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are then birds!"


Doubt is another form of fear.


Believe that God has a purpose for you!
Believe that He created you and loves you!
Believe that our Daddy God knows what is best for you and He desires for good things to happen to you.


Romans 8:28: And we know that ALL THINGS work together for GOOD to those who love God...


See, even the hurts, pains, disappointments; even the mistakes you have made will be used by God to Your Good!


That is a Promise for You directly from God!


By standing in His promises and believing them, you are casting away doubt, which is fear, from your life.


This brings us to our last key to destroying the chains of fear in our lives.




Surrender your fears to God!


The ultimate act of Faith is to give up control of your life to God and His plans for you.


Take a stand against fear and pray this prayer out loud:


Father God, through you I will not allow fear to control me any longer!  
In my own strength I do not have the power to break this fear that holds me back but I know that you have more then enough power to destroy it.  
I surrender to you every area of my life.  
Father God, I give you all of my fears, all of my worries, and all of my doubts.  
I choose to walk in victory, through the blood of Jesus, by allowing you to lead and guide my every step.  
You hold my future and I trust it to you.  
I stand in the promises of your word and claim them for my own life.  
Thank you for your Son Jesus who has already defeated the enemy.  
I choose to walk in that power today.  
It's in your Holy name that I pray, Heavenly Father,


John  (Say your name)




Now that you have prayed this prayer start asking God what His plans are for your life.


Begin to dream again.


Lose yourself in your thoughts and allow that fire of excitement about God's plans for you to burn bright again!


When the enemy starts to send fearful thoughts your way surrender them to God and continue to stand in His promises.


Remember that God's plans are to prosper you and for you to be in good health!


You really can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens you!


Shake off those chains of fear and run toward the calling that God has for you!


Through faith you can live each day in victory over the enemy of Greatness!


As always remember,


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


Until Next Time,


SavedByGrace

Healer- Kari Jobe

Babe in a Manger

This Christmas I have had a thought running through my mind about Jesus when He was just a babe lying in the manger.

Because Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, and not Joseph, society and religious leaders considered Jesus to be a bastard child.

Luke 2:5 says, "He (Joseph) went there (Bethlehem) to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there the time came for the baby to be born and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son.  She wrapped Him in clothes and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them." (NIV)

Mary was not only pregnant before she married Joseph, she even had the baby before they were married!

In these days of constant bickering over "traditional families" it is refreshing to pause and consider that our father God did not choose a traditional way to bring our Savior into this world.

He certainly could have at least let Mary and Joseph marry before the Christ child was born.

Right?

It would have looked better to society.

Right?

It would have pleased the religious leaders.

Right?

God could have made sure that the Pharisees had nothing to complain about just by ensuring Mary and Joseph marry before Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

God didn't choose to do it that way though.

God took what society and the established church at the time would consider a disgrace, a child born out of wedlock, and birthed Him to be the Messiah for all of man kind!

There is Power and Hope in that!

How are you viewed by the society?

How are you viewed by the established church?

Are you too poor to be used by God?

Are you too gay to be used by God?

Are you from the wrong kind of family to be used by God?

Are you the wrong race to be used by God?

Are you the wrong gender to be used by God?

No matter how any other human in the world sees you this Christmas, take solace in the fact that God sees you as His precious son or daughter.

God does not need or seek the approval of the main stream to use someone for His Kingdom!

This Christmas take a moment to reflect on a father God who values YOU more then other's opinions.

He has a plan and a destiny for you that only YOU can do.

Throw off the labels, the hurts, and the pains that others have inflicted on you for being different and rise up as a difference maker for your generation!

Just as God didn't value the opinions of others when He brought Jesus into this world, you should not let other's opinions keep you from living the life that God has planned for you!

Open your heart to the real Christ child in the manger.

God loves you so much that He sent Jesus to redeem YOU!

He sent Him to Earth in a very nontraditional way so that those who feel outcast for being nontraditional would view Him as their savior as well.

I hope that this simple message of Christmas will be a seed that grows in your spirit.

To God you are beautiful, valuable, and cherished so much that He sacrificed His Son!

He loves you and longs for you.

Accepting that love is the best gift you will receive this Christmas.

God bless you and your family this Christmas and each day to come!

Always remember:

God Loves You!

God Created You!

God Accepts You!

Until Next Time,

SavedByGrace

Celtic Woman - Away In A Manger (lyrics)

Fight For Your Joy

Nehemiah 8:10: "...The Joy of the Lord is your Strength." (NIV)


I'm sharing this blog from my own personal experiences in hopes that others will be able to relate and find healing through this part of my testimony.


Each year during the holiday season millions of people around the world fight depression.


It is so easy for memories of Christmases gone by to turn into despair; longings for better times.


Often they build up in our minds as surreal images that are so romanticized they cause our current condition to seem bleak even when it isn't.


Last Christmas was the first year I celebrated the holiday season without my mom.


She passed away in July, 2010 from lung cancer and to be brutally honest, I was not emotionally ready to face it.
I was a mess!
I wondered at times how I would get through some of those long nights in December where I slept on the couch in my living room by the warm lights of the Christmas Tree.


I mourned throughout the holidays last year.
At times I felt lost, overwhelmed by my sadness.


God brought me through those nights though.
His Holy Spirit comforted me and at times I could feel him holding me tight in His arms.


On Christmas morning of 2010 I awoke to share Christmas with my dad.
He spent the night at my house so we could face that morning together.


That morning Birmingham, Alabama experienced our first white Christmas in over a century.


As the flakes fell silently on the lawn, tears streamed down my cheeks as I recalled the many times mom and I had prayed for a white Christmas.
Suddenly, yet gently, those tears of grief began to turn to tears of joy.


That prayer that she and I had secretly whispered together each year since my childhood had finally been answered.


It was as if our Abba Father gently kissed me on the cheek and whispered that everything was going to be alright.
I felt a peace come over me and my faith leapt as I trusted that God really was in control.


That day, our Savior's Birthday, marked the beginning of healing for me from the grief of my mother's death.
That day, which I had dreaded since her passing, was the day my joy began to return.


Christmas 2011 finds me blessed far more then I can believe.


God has done a major work in me, healing me emotionally of so many hurts that surrounded 2010.


He has confirmed my call into ministry and has grown this blog to now reach thousands of people in 30 countries around the world.


To God Be The Glory!


God has totally changed my life on a personal basis as well.
Last January, while attending a conference in Colorado, I met an amazing man.
We fell in love and eleven months later, we are celebrating our first Christmas together.


We have decorated our tree together, attended Christmas parties, gone to concerts, snuggled up to watch cheesy Christmas movies, and even baked our first pound cake with each other!


In so many ways these holidays have been a dream come true.


Even though I am living a beautiful dream with him this Christmas I still find that I have to fight for my joy.


Those moments of sadness from missing my mom still flood me unexpectedly some times.


I understand that is a normal part of the grieving process but it was beginning to dampen each day.


Beginning in November I started to fall into a general malaise, a fog of numbness, even during these joyful times with him.
It was progressively getting worse.


Finally, about two weeks ago, I took a stand!


First, I prayed for God to help me.


He reminded me that I should cherish the memories that are so fond but allow myself to live in the present; to focus not on the people and things I have lost but on the wonderful people and things He has placed in my life.


Then, God gently reminded me to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas.


He sent Jesus as a babe in a manger to deliver us from the bondage of Sin!



2000 years ago our Father God sent His Son to be The Sacrifice, The Deliverer, The Redeemer, and The Conqueror!



If nothing else, that alone is cause for joy!


Since that day that I took my stand to Fight for my Joy I have been able to live life focused on Jesus and the miracle of His wondrous birth.


I'm able to live in the present and keep an attitude of gratitude for all that God is doing in my life.


I encourage each of you to Fight For Your Joy during these holidays.


- If you are down because of the loss of a loved one, cherish the memories that you shared, but allow yourself the freedom that comes from living in the present.
Look around you and begin to thank God for the blessings you have right this very moment.


- If you are alone this Christmas, know that there is a loving Father, our Daddy God in Heaven, who adores you.  
He will give you peace as you focus on celebrating the birth of our Prince of Peace, Emmanuel.


- If you are feeling dragged down by the hectic pace of this Christmas week, take some time to pause, pray, and meditate on the reason we share this holiday to begin with.


No matter what you face leading into Christmas take a stand against the enemy and decide that you are going to Fight For Your Joy!




Don't forget to check back Christmas morning for the annual Christmas Day Post on the blog.


Merry Christmas and May God Bless You with His Joy This Season!


As always remember:


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


Until Next Time,


SavedByGrace