The Agape Force
Agape First has officially launched a group for parents of prodigals! We are building an army of pray warriors committed to seeing our children bow their knee to Jesus. The Agape Force is going to be a force to be reckoned with–a force of love that will help to set the captives free.
WHEN:
Tuesdays, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
WHERE:
River of Hope Church
3300 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Introducing Agape Force
Worthy Is the Lamb!
Last year, I recorded this song, Worthy. But for one reason or another, I never released it…it just never seemed like the right time. Until now.
With the ungodly legislation passed by Minnesota lawmakers, the words of this song seemed especially apropos. Regardless of what is happening in culture, I will continue to make myself ready for Jesus, My Bridegroom King. And, I will give myself to helping others prepare themselves as well. Why? Because Jesus is worthy of a prepared Bride!
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
-Revelation 19:6-7
Therefore, we don’t lose heart. The Lion is coming for you and me! What a glorious day that will be!! And, Beloved, it will be worth the wait.
I hope you enjoy the song. Listen on any major streaming service like Spotify, Youtube or Apple Music.
Worthy
Diggin Up the Roots part 1
When I was a little girl, very little, maybe like 4 years old, my brother Joe had gotten a tick on his chest. I remember we could see part of it but it was definitely “stuck” in him. I cried and screamed because I didnt want my brother to get sick from the bug and it wasnt like all the other bugs we just squished with our fingers.
I remember very vivdly all that happened next. My dad had a talk with Joe first. Then he pulled something from the junk drawer. I can still see Joe’s eyes closed so tightly. And then my dad lit a match! I hit my dad and yelled dont hurt my brother!
My mom took me and plopped me on the couch and that’s when I got a talk. Mom told me that my dad wanted what was hurting Joe to be gone and the fire was gonna help make it go away. It may hurt a little bit at first but ultimately it would be better for Joe. Dad knew what he was doing and we just needed to trust him and let him do what needed to be done. Dad would never hurt Joe and loved him very much.
Decades later I would find myself all alone in this little town, living in a house by myself. As I sat on the floor of my prayer room the Lord brought back to mind that “plop and talk” with my mom.
As painful as it has been at moments, diggin up the roots was happening because my God is a consuming fire. And when we draw near to Him, the sin falls away and dies, like the tick.
Today we hear so much about, Come as you are because God loves you just as you are! Absolutely God wants us to come as we are but it is because of His great love for us, He doesn’t want us to stay where we are! He made a way for us to come to Him and find repentance. It is only in true repentance that we can find healing. When we find healing, then as we continue to draw near to Him we will become more like Jesus and this is where we are transformed.
You see, we are to come to Him as we are, broken and weary, but He came so that we wouldn’t stay that way. He came to seek and save the lost! There isnt anyone more lost than those who are broken. He came to bind up the broken hearted. He came to give the weary, some rest.
Diggin up the roots isnt about “losing yourself” in something new. Its about shedding the old so you can be something fresh and become who were previously held back from being. The “old is gone and the new has come” is not about be controlled, its about taking control by not letting the chains that have taken hold of you for so long, do so any longer.
Just like my dad lit the match to get rid of the tick on my brother, our heavenly Father is the fire to get rid of the sin that is hurting us. It may hurt because it is stuck to us, that sticky sin. But our Father is SO good, and He knows what He is doing. Trust Him.
The Meeting House Interview
Daren Mehl shares his testimony of coming out of the gay identity and lifestyle as a Christian on The Meeting House podcast with Bob Crittenden. Aired on Faith Radio June 22nd, 2023.
The Hope Report – Daren Interview
June is both a month of intense warfare for Daren Mehl and a time to thank God for the radical rescue mission that saved him. Years ago, Daren and his future wife were both same-sex attracted – but one touch of the Holy Spirit changed everything. They repented and turned toward a journey of healing and discipleship in Jesus!
Today, Daren serves as Associate Pastor of Warroad Community Church and is Associate Director of Agape First Ministries, an organization that helps people struggling with sexual and gender identity while standing for Biblical truth. Join us for Daren’s powerful testimony on the Wednesday edition of the Hope Report at 1 Eastern!
The Hope Report is here to do just that….bring hope in the name of Jesus Christ. This faith-based podcast provides a community for believers (and anyone curious about faith!) where we can give each other a hand up in the same way that Jesus gives each of us His hand whenever we need the support. The Hope Report is brought to you by the Lindell Recovery Network, an addiction-focused non-profit serving recovering addicts, and hosted by Melissa Huray and Jason Perry, both of whom have had lives touched by addiction and other struggles. The podcast features inspirational testimonies and interviews, bible studies, addiction counseling and resources, regular segments with military and law enforcement veterans, and opportunities for listeners to engage with the community.
Support this show here by donating to the Lindell Recovery Network https://lindellrecoverynetwork.org/
Massive savings at mypillow.com and mystore.com with promo code: HOPE
The Heart of Creation
I must confess, I am not great at blogging, it’s difficult for me to write blogs, one because I stink at typing, and I really don’t know what to talk about, although my brain thinks a great deal, about some really deep things.
I am not good with grammar and punctuation, and I really stink at spelling, I’m grateful this thing has auto correct.
I have a wide variety of interests in life, mostly…Jesus, He is the love of my life.
So the heck with how I’m “suppose to be” and “suppose to blog” I’m just gonna do my thing and if you like it you like, if ya don’t that’s ok too.
Today I was watching a video on Facebook, this girl was autistic and had some really interesting things to say about herself, mainly i liked the fact that she was just herself, she was dressed much like a male cowboy might dress, and right away I made a judgment. I will see if I can post the video here, if I can figure it out lol.
The things is, I began to wonder how Jesus saw people? Like, did He see through all the messy flesh of how we act and behave and just see the heart and or the soul of who we are underneath all the pain and hut we experienced in life?
If so, I want that, how can I do that? So often, I see the Jesus in me, and I like so many things about how God made me, its really exciting to be me (most of the time) although being 59 and living alone, sometimes makes me think I’m losing my marbles…LOL.
The Bible, when I read it, makes me reflect my own self, it forces me to look inward and it allows me the opportunity to see where I fall short and ask the Lord to help me, not the book of Psalms though, that makes me wanna call down the fire of God. And sometimes I do:) I think sometimes we have to, I don’t believe we should just allow evil to prevail on earth without calling those things that are not as though they are. Anyway..
Peoples hearts, what gets in the way? Why is it so hard for me to A. See beyond the things that that hide our true self, under our hurts? And B. Why is it so difficult to allow others to see the “real authentic self” under all my hurts and messiness?
Jesus lived His life in a fishbowl, He was always Himself, and it didn’t seem to bother Him what people thought of Him. Why? Because He was confident in knowing who He was in the Father? What was it?
How did He see the heart of people, it fascinates me so, I long for that.
Abba, help me to see peoples hearts the way you do, help me to not judge people based on their looks, or if they are gay, straight, anything, just to see the very center of who it is that You made them to be, and then Father, help me to show others the same.
I would love to hear your thoughts, you can write back. I really wish you would, I like conversing, maybe we could get a up of tea…
God bless you.
Lets see if I can post that video.
Luca
Freedom Watch Friday
Join us on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Fridays as we partner with the Lord in prayer and worship for the captive, the Church and the next generation to encounter the Kingdom. God moves at the sound of our voice!
Freedom Watch Friday
Join us on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Fridays as we partner with the Lord in prayer and worship for the captive, the Church and the next generation to encounter the Kingdom. God moves at the sound of our voice!