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You are not your surroundings, you are created in His image!!

God is calling us to walk as His sons and daughters without compromise. We are created in His image, not the image of Covid, not the image of a bad economy, not the image of victims, not the image of what others think of us, not the image of our career or ministry, and not even the image of our family. We are created in the image of a powerful, loving, creative, holy, and just God. Let’s spend time meditating on that this week and ask God to show you more about that. You see as a man thinks in his heart so is he. Just take five minutes a day and ask God who you are in Him, then open your spiritual eyes to see it and receive it! Only when we see Him can we see our true selves!!

Born for Relationship with God

As I ministered to a client about the spirit, soul, and body the Lord began to show me something in Genesis 2:17. Many see that verse as talking about Adam and Even eventually dying. But I have always seen it as much more than that, as the death of the spirit. But the spirit could not have actually died, because a body apart from a spirit is dead, as Paul said. But what did they die too, they died to their full connection with God and their ability to walk in His freedom, love, and holiness, thus peace and joy. They were now slaves to fleshly passions, and could not freely go into the presence of the Lord anymore. I began to think that the word die is a strong word for God to use for this. Dead is dead, gone for good, without a resurrection. Then I began to see that the connection they had with God was so full of life and flowing freely back and forth, that God saw fit to use the word death to describe what would happen to them if they disobeyed. Ponder that for a moment, they had a connection with God that none of us have ever experienced consistently, day after day. They had no bad thoughts that got in the way, just pure connection, love, relationship with the Father! That is what we were meant to have, we are born for that. We are born created in His Image, and were meant to reflect that image through our relationship with Him!! Wow! Lord I long to have that depth of connection, don’t you?

Dr. Lisa Winchell

Jesus the Passover Lamb – His glory for your shame!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! I am humbled and floored. I was reading last night, I read John 2:24 and my eyes wandered to the other page to my right John 3:34-36 and they became powerfully connected. “during Passover, many believed in His name, seeing the signs He was doing. But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all men. He did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew what was in man.”  Next chapter “The One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. the Father loves the Son and has given everything into His hand. He who trusts in the Son has eternal life. He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

So this man/God/Jesus who has the Creator’s Spirit without limit in Him, doing miracles for these people He could never entrust Himself too. He, who came to preach the good news of the gospel to the poor, set captives free, heal the brokenhearted,  and give sight to the blind, did all this for us but could not trust Himself to any of us fully. He knows what is in man, He will never receive back all He has given because we are not capable and only by Him are we partly capable of not betraying Him daily. He has come to give us full participation in eternal life, with Him, this people He can not even entrust Himself too. Yet He shows up on this earth that He could wipe out in a minute and lays down the glory of fully being God only, to put on a man suit for people He can not entrust Hisself to fully. Michael Kouliannos, In The Jesus Book, adds to this so powerfully, talking about Jesus’ torture and crucifixion, laying there with deep wounds on a dirty floor, eyes swollen shut from beatings, sweat, and blood everywhere. He is then taken to see this high authority, Pontus Pilate. A place you typically go dressed your best.  But Jesus had no choice in the matter, in that moment. He went as He was.  Yet, Ps 88:9  says “My eye wastes away because of affliction.”  Jesus had decided before the foundation of the earth how this would all go down. After quoting Ps 88:9 Michael continues, “It was His decision to stand before His accusers looking this way (it was planned from the foundation of the earth). Because He chose to become a spectacle of shame, we will shine with glory in Heaven. He trades His beauty for our disgrace that we may receive His beauty.” This Passover, Good Friday and Easter. Let’s remember the man, Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit pouring out His love for each one of us so we can be free from sin and be transformed into His Image on this earth, and enjoy His glory for eternity. We are a blessed race!! We have the greatest God ever!! There are none like Him! Truly!! Has He won your heart? Whether you think He has done anything else for you or not, This is His love that brings you eternal joy, even beyond this earth!!

Walking Away from Sin by His Love and Grace

I had a dream last night. As I considered and prayed about the dream I realized it was part of a series of dreams over 8 months or more. I will not give all details but rather the substance. Some are walking down an “aisle to be married to perversion.” (symbolic for most). You don’t feel it is a problem because many around you don’t say anything. In fact, some pastors you know do not see it as a problem. You feel at ease and are assuming that is God’s peace or at least a lack of His conviction. Yet there is still a “knowing” in you which makes you almost wonder why everyone is okay with you in it or not saying anything. But remember when you or I have engaged in a lifestyle, attitude or process that seems to be well accepted by many, over a period of time, we get numb to God’s conviction. Especially, if someone can find a pastor or ex-pastor to confirm it with words like God loves you right where you are at, so I do to”. They stop there instead of truly loving you by saying “this choice, attitude or behavior is ungodly and will hurt you. and grieves the heart of God. Let me lead you into freedom.” In the continuum of dreams, in this last one I heard come out of my mouth (I was a representation of the church and individuals) “No, I am not doing this” and walked away with great strength and peace.”. God wants you to know whatever you may be engaged in that is not biblically considered godly, you can keep getting led by the enemy down that aisle unaware or you can go the Word of God and allow God to show you how much He loves you and has delivered you FROM unrighteousness, not into unrighteousness. “therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled” Study Hebrews 12, and let God bring peace and wholeness through His love, His blood, discipline and a harvest of righteousness in you. In my dream, I saw that is possible for many of you to just say no and walk out of the “wedding hall”, so to speak. Whatever agreement you have made with unrighteousness, its time to say no by the grace of the Holy Spirit that is all over you right now, call on Him and ask for more grace. He will give it to you!

We Belong to a Kingdom that Can Not Be Shaken

What can be shaken will be shaken, but since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude-through this we may offer worship in a manner pleasing to God, with reverence and awe, For our God is a consuming fire. Heb.12:28 We are not of those that shrink back to destruction, but those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:39. Though they (the enemy and his diseases, his chaos, his poverty, his persecution) will fight against you, they will not win, for I am with you, to deliver you. It is a declaration of the Lord. Jeremiah 1:19 I was thinking about something David Wilkerson said years ago, in countering some people’s concerns that America would go through a great persecution phase. He said something like this, “Americans are wimps, God knows that American Christians would not come out well in persecution therefore we probably will not deal with as much as others.” I laughed, at how right he was and considered it a few times. But as time moves on, we get greater revelation on things that build on previous believers’ revelation. I agree with David’s premise but I do also see how God will USE things like the present scenario to strengthen American Christians. (I am not saying God sent the virus, it is the enemy fighting against us), God will prepare those He loves for whatever will come. We can even see how the economy got so strong right before this happened-preparation. Also, large parts of the church have been sensing and declaring that a great move of God is coming, and have been empowered in deep ways – preparation. Most of you can look at your lives and see great times of growth that were followed by great pain or hardship -preparation. God loves us and He prepares us. Will we answer His call to respond to HIs preparation in faith, not shrink back but allow our “faith muscles” to be tested and grow. We can come out of this a mighty army to be dealt with in the spiritual realm, or we can remain weak even as David saw decades ago. This world and God’s time clock will not wait on us. But God will never leave us behind, He worthy to be worshipped and worthy 

Standing Strong and Having Compassion

Standing against fear and having compassion! It is important to understand that every believer operates in different gifts of the spirit. Those that are more gifted in prophecy, discernment, words of knowledge, etc are going to be more instructional even in their natural statements about what is going on in the world. Those that tend to the prophetic will be more assertive in their approach to lead people away from things like fear, sin, etc. Those that tend towards the gift of mercy are going to speak, even naturally, from the perspective of mercy and feeling what those hurting are feeling. It does not mean either is wrong. It does not mean that those that take on the fight against fear and sin don’t have compassion for those hurt by the pain and disease creating it. It does not mean those who feel the pain and go there with people in their words or posts, don’t see the intense ramifications of the fear or sin. We are all different parts of the body, called to be who God has called us to be. What we are not called to is accusing each other that others do not see this or that or are minimizing this, or judging and not loving these people, etc. Yes, there are weaknesses each person with each gifting has, and each of us grows to have more of the part we need from God to bring balance. But we will always tend to the approach that comes from the giftings God gave us. God’s word is full of all of these because He, the Holy Spirit, is the one that fills us with His gifts in the first place. In one place in the Word He is firm and takes a strong stance against fear, and sin, in another place He is showing great compassion for those hurting and scared. God hates fear and sin, but He loves people. This is why there are different messages coming from godly people who care enough to speak out against the fear or sin and to have compassion for those most vulnerable in sin, sickness, or pain of any kind.

Choosing Personal Responsibility rather than Blame

I never saw this in the Word before. Did you know that Moses blamed the people for his anger? Deuteronomy 1:37 As Mark and I were pondering it this morning I began to see that not taking responsibility for your behavior can keep you from going into the Promise Land. We know that Moses struck the rock twice in his anger. He was tired of the people complaining after many years, and God tells him to strike it once for water to come out (a typology of Christ being sacrificed once only). But he strikes it twice and as a result, messes up God’s visual of His plan to only sacrifice Jesus once. I have always been taught that is why God would not let him go into the Promise Land. But I see something much deeper here. Moses was not truly repentant. You can not be truly repentant if you are blaming someone else for your anger or sin. Could this be the real reason Moses did not go in? Did his lack of personal responsibility keep him out of God’s best?  In comparison, King David, the only man in the bible called a man after God’s own heart, did repent when he was confronted. The kingdom was not ripped from him because of that. Yes, he suffered some consequences but he was still King and did much more for God. In comparison, Adam and Eve. They also blamed each other or the serpent. Rather than taking responsibility for their sin. As a result, they were not only put out the garden because of the original sin but so many more curses upon them and one of their kids later killed the other. Could this also be because they never took responsibility for their sin? I do believe that blaming others for our sin will keep us out of the promised land!!

By Dr. Lisa Winchell

2019 Word, from God’s word

Do you hear Him calling you, this first day of the New Year??

“Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling. Come away with me!
I have come as you have asked to draw you to my heart and lead you out.
For now is the time, my beautiful one.
The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone.
The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers. The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. I hear the cooing of doves in our land, filling the air with songs to awaken you and guide you forth. Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth.
The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, “There is change in the air.”
Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me.” (Song of Songs 2:10-13 TPT)

50 Shades of Grey and Abusive Men

I am seeing a strange likeness in 3 things, the fascination with 50 Shades of Grey, the church helping abusive men keep their wives trapped, and sharia law trying to sneak in our country. What is the likeness? The utter degrading, despising, and not covering and protecting woman. Woman that God created to be precious daughters of His, to be treasured and loved. The interesting thing is from the 3 above, the first is considered “sexy”, the second is considered “Christianity”, and the third I believe most in our country would deem a twisted law and despicable. The church needs to get unconfused about what is abuse and what is not, and how God hates violence as much as He does divorce (Malachi), and what is adultery and what is not. (pornography and flirting are both adultery, ask Jesus in Matt, 5:28) I have said many times that the Church carries a great authority on this earth, If you open up “our” (church) closet and find abused, sexually used and psychologically destroyed women in there with their abusive husbands that “we” have put our stamp of “god” on, then we lose a level of authority on this earth to drive out the darkness being pitched to our daughters in things like Shades of Grey. Remember Satan is an opportunist, he will always find an open door to keep the church powerless and him pressing his agenda. Ask yourself and your leaders have we opened that door for him, or have we stood with the daughters of God, as God Himself would and allowed abusive men to receive their consequences, and be buffeted by the enemy (1 Corin. 5:5, or 2 Timothy 2:25), so that they too may be delivered!  Many men would repent and turn around if someone would allow them to have a wakeup call and face the abuse they learned from the enemy and their wounds of the past.  We need to stop getting in the way of the Holy Spirits’s work in their life, and start allowing them to face the truth with their consequences.  A repentant heart is seen in a man who understands why he no longer has a home to live in, until he gets the help he needs.  A repentant heart puts the pain of the family before his own inconveniences of having to attend counseling weekly and pay for it.   A repentant heart will stop at nothing to bring healing to those he has wounded, once he realizes how badly he has wounded them.

This is a tremendous read from another Christian Counselor.

http://foreverymom.com/…/enough-enough-church-stop-enablin…/

THE STRENGTH HIDDEN BEHIND YOUR WEAKNESSES

by Lisa Winchell

The Strengths Hidden Behind Your Weaknesses

 

We believe temperament is inborn, and God given.  According to Psalm 139, God formed your inmost being.  He knit you together in your mother’s womb.  He put the strengths, and traits in you that would lead you to what He has planned for you. You were not created to be someone else.  You were created to be YOU.  You have been created in His Image. You are able to bear His image to the world around you, through your individual traits.  If you try to be someone else, the world around you is going to miss out, and you are going to miss out on enjoying the person you are.

 

You might say, “Hey, what about those weaknesses, and failures I regularly have?”  Weaknesses are not fun. But our goal at In His Image Counseling, is to help you to see your weaknesses as the strengths God meant them to be.  When I review your temperament profile with you, we cover strengths and weaknesses that are in your unique God given temperament.  But according to the Word, every good gift came from above.  God does not give us weaknesses. So where did they come from?  Consider this, Adam and Eve were created with their own unique temperament as well.  Let’s say, maybe Adam was a melancholy and maybe Eve was a sanguine. Adam would have been very analytical, sitting under a tree for hours thinking about what to name each animal and plant. But when Eve came in from hanging out with all the cool animals, and hugging on them, and wanted to spend time with Adam he would have been happy to put everything down and forget about his task to enjoy his wife.  When it was time to go to sleep he rested easy.  Eve would have enjoyed, the animals, and engaged them and her husband in lots of fun conversations and exciting thrill seeking activities in the garden.

 

Before they allowed sin in their hearts, there was no fear in their hearts, therefore there was no impatience, fear of failure, offensiveness, or self-centeredness. When sin entered, fear, shame and guilt were the first negative feelings they felt.  These weaknesses would then cause Adam to start tossing and turning, because of concern that someone may not understand why he named that animal what he did, 100 years later.  Eve would have become, “it is all about me”.  “Adam, you never listen to me, I need you to pay attention to me, all the time”. :). This would be coming from her insecurities based in fear.   These may be a little exaggerated. But the point is that sin, causing fear, shame and guilt is what causes the traits God gave you to be weaknesses in your life.

 

So what we do at, In His image Counseling, is help you discover what strength each of those weaknesses were meant to be.  Such as, a melancholy deals with perfection issues. So what strength could be hidden in that trait?  God gave the melancholy the passion to be excellent, in all that they do.  They love to do their best as unto Lord. That passion is led by love and faith. Perfectionism is driven by fear.  All we have to do is work on letting go of the fear, and excellence will replace perfectionism.

 

Sanguines can have a tendency to walk away from people when they are speaking, because the sanguine is no longer interested and prefers another conversation.  Could there be strength in that?  Sure, God made a Sanguine to be able to shift from one thing to another to keep things moving and interesting.  When they are operating in self-centeredness/sin/fear they follow the flesh and use that to meet their own needs only. When they are operating in the Spirit, and love, they are honoring to people and listen well, and move on to the next person or thing with grace which draws the whole room into enjoying the sunshine the sanguine has brought into the room.

CALL FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL TEMPERAMENT PROFILE

813-684-7927

www.inhisimagecounseling.com