Living Above the Sun Ministries

"These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." -Hebrews 11:39-40 True faith has the courage to count on Salvation, this is why it is the pinnacle of all of faith. From Able to all the great prophets of old never received salvation, or the new covenant. They never knew personally, THE Messiah, but they believed in the promise of a Redeemer, the promise of Jesus, and of a new covenant. What makes them courageous? What put these great men and women on faith into the hall of fame? Faith believing Salvation. 1 Peter 1:10-12 tells us: Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glor...

"A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants." -2 Timothy 2:24-26 Every Tuesday night I serve in my churches Addiction Ministry. Many people get squimmish and shocked when I mention the word addiction and ministry all in one sentence. I can only imagine what mental image they have in their mind. Some people joke, and say things like, are you going to see the addicted people tonight? Some other people question why I serve in this particular ministry, what do I have in common with these people? God has taught me a lot through this ministry, and even more He has lead me to some wonderful friends. He is growing me in this ministry. Go...

"I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God ; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord." -Psalm 40:1-3 Where do I start? The past few weeks and months have held great excitement for me. God has continued to do a great work in me, as I follow Him in obedience. Not only walking in obedience but continuing to read His Word, and learning who He is, and what He has done. I've been in a process of healing, and overcoming. I have found myself more than ever applying my life verse to my life...probably why it's called a life verse right? I've had to make peace with my past. I've been saved for 10 years but have not been living in that new nature God gave me, or claiming all the new things He had for me. Instead I continued in my selfish ...

The Christian story begins with creation in harmony, unity, and peace; and it ends with a restored creation. Between these two bookends is the drama of redemption. The covenants are major acts of this drama. Christ’s work is intimately related to and fulfills each of the five covenants that God initiated in the Old Testament. Covenants are about God’s activity and intention to redeem us , and the covenants tell us about ourselves—our condition, our brokenness, our dignity, our role as images of God, our suffering, and our calling. A covenant is a life and death relationship with God on His terms. The Greek word, "diatheke" refers to a person's last will and testament or to other solemn agreements involving benefits and responsibilities to all involved parties. In the New Testament, the word is often used as an equivalent to the Hebrew word "berith", especially in theological contexts. It is a binding agreement, a contract between at least two parties. It ...

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see! If there is one thing I have learned about people, it is this: People want to remain in their dark world because they do not want their sins exposed. Darkness covers our sins, and blinds us to the fact that we need a Savior. The light makes people face who they really are. Jesus said He was the light of the world. We too are the light of the world, because the Holy Spirit lives within us. I have noticed that many times after Jesus healed he told the people to go home and tell what had just happened. However, the healed didn't want to go home, they wanted to stay with Jesus and hang out with Him. It's not that Jesus didn't want them to follow Him, but Jesus knew that these people had a testimony. Unbelievers will know we are Christians by our love, yes. But they will also know we are Christians by our testimony which can only be hear...

Often times in the Bible we are referred to as the sheep of God’s pasture, and that Jesus is our Shepherd. I was reading in the book of Ezekiel the other night. As some of you know, I’m reading through the Bible in 90 days again. Anyway, Ezekiel has become a favorite book of Bible of mine. Chapter 34 is about God being our Shepherd bringing us back to the sheepfold. Ezekiel 34:12-16 New Living Translation (NLT) 12 I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 13 I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. 14 Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and give them a ...

"You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out He hates all of the same people you do." -Anne Lamott God has been teaching me a lot about grace especially in the past week reading through the Bible in 90 days again. Many times in my life I feel like when another "Christian" if that is really what they are treats me so bad I wish God's wrath on them, but they too remain his Children covered by his grace and mercy and blood. I guess that's why he commands that we love and pray for those who hurt us because we are just as guilty as the people who offend us. I read things in the Bible and I don't understand how God can be "okay" with what just happened, such as Jacob stealing Esau's birthright and blessing. Esau got mad! He wanted to kill Jacob. But aren't we all Esau? We don't understand how God can still love that person because we sure don't at the moment. But that isn't God's c...