What does it mean to be born-again?

How to be Forgiven & Born Again

JOHN 3:3

"Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'"

The Word of God teaches that unless we are "born-again" we cannot see the Kingdom of God.
This means:

· We cannot "live" in the Kingdom of God;
· We cannot "receive the benefits" of the Kingdom of God;
· We cannot "understand" the Kingdom of God;
· And, we cannot have "eternal life" in God's Kingdom;

... Until we become a born-again Child of God.

Being born-again is a supernatural experience that is - in some ways - much like that of being born from our mother's womb. The difference, of course, is that we are not physically born-again, but rather, spiritually transformed in our spirit man. When we were born from our mother's womb, we did not need to understand the process before we could enter this world. Yet, since the day of our natural birth, we have been continually growing in our understanding so that as adults we can begin to comprehend the miraculous wonder of conception, pregnancy and the childbirth existence.

Being born-again is no different. We don't need to fully understand the concept in order to become a Child of God. We simply believe in faith on the price that Jesus paid for our sins; and then, supernaturally, God plants His seed of righteousness inside of our hearts. That seed will grow throughout our lifetime as we gain a greater understanding of our born-again transformation. From that day forward we will be ever-maturing from that of a new born babe in Christ into a sanctified Child of God.

JOHN 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

God's Word promises eternal life to everyone who confesses with their mouth and believes in their heart that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:10). Being a born-again Child of God is really simple, and yet, many will fail to understand how to become a Christian because of their unwillingness to turn from a life of sin. Sin separates mankind from God. God is holy and He cannot co-exist with sin. As hard as we may try, we can never completely rid ourselves of sin in order to walk in the favor of God. In fact, everything about our human nature pulls away from God. Romans 8:7 says that we are incapable of following God's laws because our human nature is hostile toward the truth of God's Word.

JOHN 3:21

"But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

It is only when we allow the light of God to shine down on our hearts that we can see the truth about our sinful condition. Stepping into the light of God requires that we humbly come to the throne of grace with a true heart of repentance from all known sin. Repentance is not just saying "I'm sorry", neither does it try to justify thoughts and deeds with rational explanations of "why". Rather, repentance is a change of our heart and mind. When we repent, we admit our wrong doing or wrong thoughts while standing spiritually naked before God.

In order to be supernaturally transformed (born-again) we must first recognize that we are a sinner who needs a Savior. As God shines His light of truth (His Word) upon our hearts, our response should be a sincere cry of relinquishing our will to His. At that same moment, as we put all of our trust in the belief that Jesus is, indeed, the Son of God, and that He died for our sins; the breath of God blows the wind of the Holy Spirit into our innermost being as we are gloriously changed from a sinner to a saint. We don't have to fully understand it all. We just need to accept, by faith, that God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to make a way for us to live in His Kingdom... now and for all eternity.

MARK 11:26

"But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Realize that repentance and being forgiven by God are synonymous with forgiving others. After all, how can we expect God to forgive our sins, if we are not also willing to forgive those who have sinned against us? 1 John 3:15 tells us that if we hate someone, we are a murderer and we should know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding within their hearts.

1 JOHN 4:7-8

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

In order to truly know God, we must be willing to lay down all grudges, bitterness, wrath, jealousy, malice, envy, strife, and revenge. God is love. If we are to be a born-again Child of God, we too, must agree to love the way Christ loves us. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins even when we didn't deserve salvation. Is there someone who doesn't deserve your forgiveness? Yet, in order to be more like Christ, you will purpose in your heart to forgive them.

JOHN 3:18-19

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

I think John 3:19 explains the reason that Jesus is such a stumbling block for those who don't want to believe He is the Son of God. So many religions accept that Jesus was a prophet or that He was a good man and they may even go as far as to say that He was born of a virgin and that He even died on a cross; however, in an effort to hide from the truth of one's sinful heart, many choose to follow a lie - a false religion - in an effort to make themselves feel as though they will have eternal life... IN SPITE OF THEIR LOVE FOR SIN.

God is love. God loves people. God is Holy. God hates sin. He has made a way for us to be reconciled to Himself. He sent His love, in the form of a man named Jesus, into the world to touch, heal, and save those who will sincerely believe that He is the Christ.

GALATIANS 2:20

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Jesus gave His life for you and I. Will you give your life back to Him and accept His outstretched hand of mercy, grace, and love? God does not want anyone to spend an eternity in hell (separated from His love). He wants everyone to live with Him forever!

If you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior... If you want to be born-again... If you want to be forgiven... Pray this simple prayer with all of your heart:

"Father God, I confess that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe, in faith, that Jesus is truly the Son of God, and while I may not understand everything right now, I do believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, He walked the earth as God in the flesh, He died on a cross, and He was raised from the dead by the power of God. I believe that you, Lord, love me so much that you made a way for me to have eternal life. I confess _____________ (fill in the blank for all known sin). Lord, help me to turn from sin. Change my heart and mind so that I will become more like you. Wash me clean and make me a brand new creature. God, please cause me to understand the Bible. I pray that your Word will come alive in my spirit as I seek to know you more. I give you my life. I worship you. I praise you. In Jesus Name, Amen!"

Now, tell someone that you have made Jesus your Lord and Savior. I would love to be the first person to know that my gift of love (this article) has brought you to eternal life. Comment to me about your born-again experience on this blog... or, click onto my web-site and write to me personally. Now, go and sin no more (John 8:11) for your sins are forgiven and you are truly born-again! Hallelujah!

Yours in Christ,
Deborah

Deborah Ross Ministries
Strengthening Families & Encouraging Women
http://www.deborahrossministries.org/

Faith in God

Faith that "Really" Believes God's Promises

Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:1 is my favorite passage of scripture. In fact, I have this verse etched on my (pink) leather Bible cover. It's the one that was specially made for me while on a mission trip to Brazil a few years ago.

God's Word is a journey of faith. A journey that teaches us to "not" rely on our natural senses and intellect, but rather to put our trust in the unseen. Of course, God did give us natural abilities that should be used to their fullest potential; but, when those who call themselves Christians have exhausted their own strength, God is faithful to make us more than conquerors... if, we will "really" believe Him and trust in His Word.

Hebrews 11:6

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Every person who professes Christ as their Savior "believes in God". In fact, even those who follow after other religious practices believe in a god of some sort. What sets the Christian faith apart is the fact that Jesus Christ came to earth, as God in the flesh, to live among men and to "reveal" God's desire for the human race. Jesus "did" the will of the Father as an example for all of mankind. God sent His Son so that we might understand the depth of His love, the reality of spiritual warfare, and the pathway to eternal life. Jesus broke the curse of sin and death so that we could live as God originally intended as a people who can talk and walk with God on a daily basis, knowing that we are the apple of His eye.

Hebrews 13:8

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

What He did then, he is still doing now. Our responsibility, as born-again believers, is to cultivate our faith so that we can be partakers of Kingdom living; glorifying our Heavenly Father by our "belief" in His good plans for our lives.

Looking back at Hebrews 11:6, certainly, no Christian has a problem believing that "God is". Rather, the stumbling block for those of weak faith lies in their ability to believe that God is "a rewarder of them that diligently seek him". The problem with this is that the first part of this verse says, "it is impossible" to please God without faith - faith that believes "he is" AND that He "rewards".

Do YOU believe God's Word? I mean, do you "really" believe in God's desire to do the miraculous in your situation? I think the hardest part of walking in faith is when an impossible circumstance presents itself and we are positioned to either "believe for a miracle", according to God's Word, or to doubt that God is interested, willing, or able to intervene on our behalf. This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and it is at this crucial crossroad that the "test" of our faith hangs in the balance.

So how do we grow our faith, becoming able to make the right choice when faced with adversity? Answer: By reading God's Word AND by hearing God's Word.

Romans 10:17

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Friend, it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains, but none-the-less your mustard seed faith must be "fully persuaded that, what (God) has promised, he is able to perform" (Romans 4:21).

My challenge for you today is that you will begin to cultivate your faith. Ask God to help your unbelief (Mark 9:24). Ask Him to help you memorize scripture. Then, when you are tested, ask God to help you persevere and to be patient while you "wait" for His promise to manifest in your life.

Romans 4:3

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."

Will you believe God's Word? I mean, will you "really" believe God's Word? Being righteous is simply a matter of believing the Word of God and trusting in His love for you.

And remember... When someone says, "But what if God doesn't?" You simply say, "But what if He does!"

Mark 9:23

"Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

Hallelujah!

Sincerely in Christ,

Deborah Ross

Deborah Ross Ministries

Strengthening Families and Encouraging Women

http://www.deborahrossministries.org/

Forgiving Others

FORGIVENESS...

...is a PROCESS
...that begins with a DECISION

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First, comes the OFFENSE!

Next, BITTERNESS. Then, UNFORGIVENESS. And finally... TORMENT!!!

James 1:15 tells us that once lust is conceived, it brings forth sin. Then, once sin is finished with you, it brings forth death.

Unforgiveness is a conceived sin that is designed by Satan to kill YOU.

The unforgiveness you hold in your heart does not hurt the other person; but rather, it slowly destroys "your" entire being, robbing you of "your" life, all the while separating you from the presence of God.

Oh, I know firsthand, the pain and suffering caused by that gigantic bitter pill that was shoved down your throat... against your will. You didn't ask for it; you didn't even deserve it. You've tried to get rid of it. Yet, here you are, going through the motions of life on "automatic pilot". No joy. No vision. No peace. Just a nagging replay of your offense, going over and over and over again in your head. You want so desperately to be freed from this torment... But how?

First of all, let me tell you that you "are" capable of forgiving. No matter how vile your injury, God has given you the strength, power, and ability to overcome those demonic forces that have hurt you.

I remind you: forgiveness is a process that begins with a decision.

Once you have determined in your heart that you must forgive, you'll need to stick with your resolve until your emotions line-up with God's Word. The ONLY way to do this is through PRAYER... and lots of it!

After my husband defiled our marriage of eighteen years by gambling our finances away, lying, alcoholism, drug addictions, and secretly (so he thought) lusting over pornography, I was angry and frustrated to no end. But, once he crossed the sacred line of our marriage vows (after all that I had already put up with) by committing adultery, it was as if Satan, himself, shoved a nine-foot-tall glass of bitterness down my throat. I was poisoned! And now, this poison made me think I'd never be the same. I thought I'd never be able to get over the hell that he put me through for so many years. I was mad at him; I was mad at the adulteress; I was mad at an in-law for deceiving me concerning my husband's whereabouts; and, I was mad at God for allowing this to happen to me!

Luke 17:4

"And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him."

I knew that the Word of God said you must forgive "seventy times seven", but I was hoping that I had reached that magic number of four-hundred and ninety so that God would allow me to harbor unforgiveness toward my husband - forever! Desperate for help; I ran to my church and sought counsel from a pastor on staff. I learned so many things from our sessions that helped me to forgive and I'd like to share some of them with you now.

First, when the Bible speaks of "seventy times seven"... it's not a finite number, such as four-hundred and ninety. When Jesus told Peter that he should forgive "seventy times seven", He was actually saying, "You must always forgive." Let's look at another passage of scripture that confirms this point...

Matthew 6:14

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"

Ouch! Did this mean that God would not forgive me of my sins, if I didn't forgive everyone else of theirs... including my husband?

Mark 11:26

"But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

You see, I was a born-again, spirit-filled Christian who had enjoyed the power of the Holy Ghost for many years prior to my offense; and now, I couldn't bear to think of ever returning to that place of separation from God's presence. I knew I would have to forgive "everyone" who seemed to have taken part in my demise, but I was completely overwhelmed at the enormity of my dilemma. Everything in my life appeared to be broken and I couldn't see any sort of light at the end of my tunnel.

Thankfully, this godly counselor gave me the following pieces of wisdom that saved my mind and made it possible for me to move forward in God's Will of forgiveness. First, he said, you must forgive your husband, as well as everyone else who has offended you throughout this trial. This does not mean that you have to stay married to your husband (Matthew 19:7-9 - according to scripture, divorce is permitted in the case of adultery - but this is not God's perfect plan); it does not mean that you have to associate with the adulteress or even keep company with your in-law. You "do" however need to stay in fellowship with God.

Then he said, "You need to compartmentalize your offenses so that you can deal with one hurdle at a time; leaving all of the other people and problems in the Lords care until you are ready to handle more." Learning to separate the troubling aspects of my life, to deal with one thing at a time, was a huge piece to the puzzle of my forgiveness journey.

And so, I decided to work on forgiving my husband, first. Of course, I knew I couldn't stay mad at God. After-all, without His blessings I'd never be whole again. He is my breath, my life, my strength, and my source. I needed Jehovah Shalom (My God of Peace) to restore my soul. I cried, "God help me!", as I literally ran to my closet - many times a day - screaming, crying, arguing, reminding, begging (yes, even begging) God to help me to forgive. I quoted scripture. I bound up principalities and powers. I bound good things (according to God's Word) to me, my husband, and my children. I pleaded, "God, take this bitterness from me! Help me to forgive!" Each day, the Lord would take my bitterness from me and I would be strengthened, but the next day... I would have to start the process all over again.

It's not that the Lord didn't take it; rather, I kept taking it back. The devil would flood my mind with horrendous thoughts and images sending me into a panic attack as adrenaline surged through every cavity of my soul. This was truly the hardest battle I had ever fought.

It took me about a year to purge the bitterness that consumed by being. I don't recall the exact moment, or the exact day, but I just know that at some point I became free. Of course, throughout this year long prayer vigil, I prayed for my husband (the one who offended me). Thankfully, he became a born-again believer shortly after our marital collapse; and so, I decided that if I had to forgive him, then I wanted the prize for my hard work. I wanted my marriage to be restored... and it was! Hallelujah!

Your situation may not require restoration with your offender. Perhaps you were violated by a stranger, or maybe by an acquaintance. Regardless of "who" hurt you, forgiveness mandates that you pray blessings and not cursings upon your perpetrator. If you find that too hard to do, start by praying for their salvation - that is more than enough. If the person claims to be a Christian, then pray that God will open the eyes of their understanding so perhaps they'll feel remorse over hurting you and ask for your forgiveness. If they don't... it's OK! Pray for them to not suffer the consequences of the wages of their sin(s) toward you.

I once witnessed someones house burning down in the middle of the night shortly after they blind sighted me with hideous rage. Through this instance, the Lord taught me the importance of praying for my enemies. That person, and their entire family, were not born-again believers and they would have all spent eternity in hell - had they died in their house fire that night. Was their house fire the wrath of God? That, I don't know; but, what I do know is that God spoke to my heart about the importance of praying for those who have offended me.

Ephesians 4:32

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Forgiveness. How do you forgive?

* Realize that forgiveness is a commandment from God... it's not a suggestion.
* Purpose in your mind and heart that you will purge "all" bitterness and malice toward your offender.
* Cry out to God DAILY asking Him to take the bitterness from you - UNTIL IT IS ALL GONE!
* Compartmentalize your problems so that you can accomplish one thing at a time, leaving the others in God's hands until you are ready to deal with them.
* Pray for your offender. Pray blessings and not cursings.
* Read your Bible.
* Praise and worship God in the midst of your pain. (This really confuses the devil.)
* Don't rehearse your bitterness. Only speak of your testimony in light of what God has done to turn things around, according to His Word - and not according to the desires of your flesh.
* Speak the truth in love. If possible, tell the person that they offended you. Perhaps they'll repent. If they don't... you must still forgive, for your sake!

Remember what Jesus said as He hung on the cross... "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." This should be your example. This should be your goal. When you choose to forgive, you create fertile ground for God to work a miracle. Who knows? Maybe "your miracle" will be a restored marriage, mended relationship(s), a new job, born-again family members, your offender becomes born-again, financial prosperity, healing in your body, a dream accomplished or ____________ (put your secret heart's desire here). With God, all things are possible!

Matthew 5:44

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luke 6:28

"Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you."

...Forgive and be free in Jesus name!

Please know, I share the details of my marriage in a transparent way because I want you to know that if Jesus can save our family, change my husband, and heal my broken heart... He can do the same for you. I now have a wonderful husband who is a born-again man of God. He is the head of our household and is completely free of all addictions. The Word of God is true and powerful!

For more teachings on FORGIVENESS, please click this link and order the CD or DVD of FAITH, FORGIVENESS, FUTURE. http://www.deborahrossministries.org/

Another great resource for FORGIVING and for overcoming ADDICTIONS, GENERATIONAL CURSES, and STRONGHOLDS OF THE MIND is the double CD set titled ROOT DIGGER, NOT A RUG SWEEPER. Click the link here to order yours... http://www.deborahrossministries.org/

Yours in Christ, Deborah

Deborah Ross Ministries
Strengthening Families & Encouraging Women
www.DeborahRossMinistries.org

Forgiveness...

FORGIVING YOURSELF from SINS of the PAST

1 John 2:12

"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake."

While a life of sin may start out as a joy ride that eludes to glamour, laughter, freedom, and fun, the final destination is always that of destruction. In fact, Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The hidden treasure at the end of a sinful rainbow is always a pot of dung. Guilt, shame, and brokenness are just some of the hideous surprises that await those who have been duped into believing that they can dance with the tip of sin's tail.

 

Romans 3:23

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

God's Word tells us that everyone has sinned. We've all made bad decisions and poor choices that have brought us to that place of unrest in our soul. While our intentions may have been to "do the right thing", our sinful nature (apart from God) always seems to lead us down paths of trickery, leaving us empty and void - deep within. The pull of sin is a constant "tug of war" inside of everyone; challenging our conscience with cleaver justifications, all of which are in direct opposition to God.

Then, there are those "sinful situations" that were completely brought on by the evil devices of others. Maybe you live under the shelter of another who is trapped by the claws of sin. Sadly, "their sin" has drug you down a marsh pit of filth that seems to have stained your life forever. You may feel that you have spiraled too far out of control - that you could never be reconciled to God. As anger and rage consume the core of your being, you wonder how you could ever be forgiven. Even more, you wonder if you could ever forgive yourself.

Psalm 51:10

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

Precious friend, God knew that we would never be able to free ourselves from the snare of sins grasp. That is why He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. You see, Jesus left His heavenly abode to come to earth and rescue all who were scarred from the wages of sin. When you repent of your sin (repent means to turn; to change your mind) and trust in Jesus as you Lord and Savior, He instantly washes you clean and sets you on high. He delivers you out of the grave that held you captive; the grave that blinded you from the light of God's goodness. At that same moment of your conversion, the Holy Spirit (comforter, counselor, teacher) comes to live inside of you. You are born-again! You are a brand new creature! God says that your sins are as far as the east is from the west - He does not even remember them! Wow!

 

Psalm 103:12

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

Of course, the devil won't give up so easily. He is on a mission to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). His tactics are dirty and his methods are cunning. Since he can't do anything to keep a Child of God out of heaven (because God has already sealed them with the Holy Spirit of promise - Ephesians 1:13), his next plan is to render a Christian as ineffective in the Kingdom of God. If he can keep you doubting how much your Daddy (Abba Father) loves you, or keep you feeling as though you are a second class Christian, unforgiveness toward yourself will hinder the flow of God's blessings into your life. Unforgiveness is a sin. And God cannot bless sin. The devil knows this, and so he reminds you of the things you once did, and the person you once were, in an effort to cause you to linger in self condemnation.

Romans 12:2

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

So, how can you rise above the devils scheme of unforgiveness - the unforgiveness you have toward yourself? By renewing your mind! And, how do you renew your mind? By reading the Word of God!

Precious sister in Christ, forgiveness is a process. Don't be discouraged in your Christian walk if you are having trouble forgiving yourself. It will come. You will reach a day in which your past sins will seem like the story of another. The closer you get to God - through reading His Word - the farther away you'll be from the pain of that horrible "pot of dung" you once lived in.

Let me encourage you today to READ YOUR BIBLE. If you are a new Christian, start by reading the New Testament, first. Always pray before you read God's Word, asking Him to reveal Himself to you. The Words of the Bible are referred to as "bread" because God's Word brings LIFE to your soul, spirit, and body. As you continually feed upon the Word of God, you will be strengthened to conquer self condemnation - once and for all. Faith, peace, and forgiveness will rise up within you. You will be made whole!

Romans 8:1

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Now, if condemnation is coming to you from outside sources (someone is continually telling you that you are a bad person) you'll need to learn to repel words of discouragement within your spirit man. Ephesians 6:11-13 tells us to put on the whole armor of God - each day - so that we can be victorious in our Christian walk. Remember, you are not wrestling with "flesh and blood" but against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places. If someone is bashing you for no reason, they are simply acting as a puppet in the devil's hand - probably because of their own insecurities. Pray for them; and, if at all possible, avoid being around them. If you cannot avoid their company, practice closing your ears with spiritual fingers. Silently ask God to protect you from receiving words of discouragement - even while that person is still speaking. Remember, they themselves are victims of "sins grasp" and they probably don't even realize that they are acting as the devil's advocate.

Proverbs 18:21

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

Are you speaking life to yourself? As a Christian, you need to minister to yourself with your own mouth! Instead of speaking negative thoughts of "what a bad person you are" or any such words of self-condemnation, start speaking praises of how God saved your soul and changed you from the inside out. Begin to share your testimony saying, "This is who I once was. This is when I gave my life to Jesus. This is who I am now." As you do, your perception of yourself will change. You will teach your mind to agree with your born-again status as a Child of the King. Remember, words are powerful; so be sure that the words you are speaking continually give glory to God by praising Him for your new life in Christ Jesus.

Mark 12:30-31 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

God has forgiven you, and now, you must forgive yourself. God loves you - and He wants YOU to love you, too! When Jesus said, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself", He was saying, "I want you to love yourself, first (because you were made in my image); then, you'll be able to truly love others.

So "how" do you forgive yourself?.....

• First, you must be born-again.
• Next, you'll need to renew your mind by reading your Bible.
• Then, you'll need to practice closing your ears to the naysayer; always remembering to pray for those who persecute you.
• In addition, you must practice speaking words of encouragement to yourself by praising God for His forgiveness.
• Finally, you need to be patient. The day will come in which your past sins will only be a fact and no longer a feeling.

God loves you! He wants you whole! He has forgiven you and He remembers nothing about your past. Hallelujah!

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

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Isaiah 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness..."

Yours in Christ,
Deborah
Deborah Ross Ministries
Strengthening Families & Encouraging Women www.DeborahRossMinistries.org

Healing a Broken Marriage

 

I AM...

THE NAMES OF GOD reveal HIS CHARACTER

Colorful, Majestic, Righteous, Creative, Loving, All-Knowing, Wonderful, Bright Light ... multi-faceted and beautiful human perceptions of the God of the universe! But what are the names that God has called Himself? Who does He say that He is?

I am reading a book by Marilyn Hickey entitled The Names of God and I thought you'd enjoy gleaning from my studies. (The ISBN number is 1-56441-014-5)

Remember, these names reveal God's character. He "is" who these names say that He is and He "does" what these names say that He does. This is a powerful study!

Meditate on the names of God and the meaning of each one. I pray you'll receive a new revelation of who God is and what He wants to be in YOUR LIFE. Enjoy!

ELOHIM = Total power and might. Complete sovereignty. Complete creativity. The God Who Makes Covenants.

JEHOVAH = The Revealing One.

EL SHADDAI = One who is more than enough. He who is all sufficient.

ADONAI = Master, Owner, Lord.

JEHOVAH JIREH = He who meets your needs.

JEHOVAH M'KADDESH = He who sanctifies.

JEHOVAH NISSI = Jehovah, my Banner.

JEHOVAH ROPHE = Jehovah Heals.

JEHOVAH SHALOM = Perfect Peace.

JEHOVAH TSIDKENU = Jehovah, my Righteousness.

JEHOVAH ROHI = Jehovah, my Shepherd.

JEHOVAH SHAMMAH = He is present and alive. Jehovah is here. Jehovah is there.

EL ELYON = The God Most High.

JEHOVAH TSEBAOTH = The Lord of Hosts.

JEHOVAH MAKKEH = The Lord, our Smiter. The one who chastens us.

JEHOVAH GMOLAH = The Lord of Recompenses.

JEHOVAH ELOHAY; EL-ELOHE-ISRAEL; JEHOVAH ELOHEENU = The Lord, my God. The personal God of Israel. The Lord, our God.

Yours in Christ,
Deborah

Deborah Ross Ministries
Strengthening Families & Encouraging Women
www.DeborahRossMinistries.org

What does the word "salvation" mean, anyway?

DON'T OVERLOOK

the meaning of

SALVATION!

SALVATION

Deliverance; Health; Welfare; Aid; VICTORY; Prosperity; Rescue; Defend; Liberty; To Be Safe; To Preserve

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Have you ever pondered the word "SALVATION"? Do you ever question God's Will for your life? Is God only interested in where you'll spend eternity? Exactly what does the word "salvation" mean, anyway?

Early on in my Christian walk, I often found myself flipping and flopping over truths from God's Word. I would read where Jesus healed the sick, but then questioned God's Will when it came to Him healing me. Then, I would see where He delivered saints of old from impossible situations, but wondered if He "could really" or "would really" deliver me from the mess I had gotten myself into. One of the most perplexing questions for me to settle in my heart was that of "God prospering His children". While it was easy to see how God blessed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with earthly substance - and I understood that my Christian faith placed me under the same covenant that God made with Abraham - I still found myself unable to fully accept God's desire to bless me. It seemed each time I would grab hold of God's love for me, some naysayer (oftentimes another Christian) would cause me to doubt my faith.

Matthew 18:3

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

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Hebrews 11:6

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

The scripture teaches us that childlike faith is precious in the eyes of the Lord. In fact, God says it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him without it. Have you ever noticed how this world tries to mold and shape your adult mind with "reasoning" and "logic" that hinder acts of faith; when really, God just wants us to step into the supernatural realm of endless possibilities? He is the God of the impossible!

Matthew 19:26

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

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Mark 9:23

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

OK, so to settle my wishy-washy belief system, I decided - years ago - to buy a Bible concordance and study the word "salvation" for myself. It seemed the television preachers were confirming my inclinations of believing that God desired to do me good, while my local Christian authorities caused me to be "very cautious" in my faith. I wanted to know... "What DOES the word 'salvation' mean?"

Matthew 6:10

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

It may surprise you (as it did me) to know that the word "salvation" means so much more than a ticket to heaven! While heaven is a place of magnificent eternal splendor in the presence of God; and, heaven is surely a worthy prize for keeping the faith through earthly trials and tribulations; it is only a part of "God's idea" for what it means to be a child of the King. You see, God is our heavenly "Father" and He WANTS TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO HIS CHILDREN!

Matthew 7:11

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

When "I" first found the definition of the word "salvation", my heart leaped for joy. I no longer felt that this earthly life was meant to be a time of constant and "unchangeable" suffering. I had a new hope that God would clear the path and make a way for me to achieve my goals. Revival of my soul birthed a concrete faith that was "unwavering" knowing that my Daddy (Abba Father) was "able" and "WILLING" to see me through to the VICTORY in all circumstances.

Yet, while I believed what I saw in the concordance about the word "salvation", my mind continued to question this finding. It is funny how we can sink back into doubt and unbelief after our initial decision to believe. Weird! So, to conquer this fleshly debate in my head, I would read the definition of the word "salvation"over and over and over again. For months, I would write it down, speak of it, think about it and ponder the fullness of this word "salvation"; the word that God speaks of repeatedly. I was determined to stop the leak in my soul that deflated my confidence in God's love for me.

You see, until we can fully comprehend God's love for us (as much as humanly possible, that is) our faith will be weak, oftentimes wavering. Then, we'll wonder "why" God didn't do for us what He did for others. Certainly, God is sovereign and reserves the right to do things in His timing for your benefit and for His glory, but just the same - HE IS NOT A MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE! The biblical examples of His goodness toward those who "trusted Him with their whole heart" ARE His Will for you and I still today.

Numbers 23:19

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

My friend, THE LORD WANTS YOU WHOLE! He wants you whole "in this life" and in the "life to come"! While our earthly journey is short and full of "tests", know that this life we now live is not meant to be an unending hellish experience. When Jesus gave the example of how to pray He said, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Jesus came to earth to show us the Will of the Father. When He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, made money appear in a fishes mouth, supernaturally fed 5000 with five loaves and two fishes, cast out demons, and even raised the dead; this was not something He did for show. No, He wanted to convince mankind of how much God loves them. Then, He said, "Greater works than these shall you also do."

John 14:12

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

God wants your eternity to begin NOW... on earth! Your earthly journey is to be "the beginning" of the many blessings God wants to bestow upon you. He wants to take you from glory to glory - as you trust Him and lean upon His every promise.

Be encouraged today! Salvation has come! Jesus has paid the price for YOU (and me) to live in VICTORY, now and forever! So put on that godly armour and "having done all, STAND" because the Lord is on your side!

Ephesians 6:13

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the

evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Yours in Christ,

Deborah

Deborah Ross Ministries
Strengthening Families & Encouraging Women
http://www.deborahrossministries.org/

DEBORAH ROSS MINISTRIES and the REMNANT WOMEN supporters reach around the world sharing hope and love found only in Jesus Christ.

At Deborah Ross Ministries, our desire is to open God's Word to all that have ears to hear. We deliver messages of faith, hope and love that transcend cultural, generational, and denominational boundaries.
Utilizing all forms of media in conjunction with our dedication to on-location events, Deborah Ross Ministries is on a mission to strengthen families and encourage women.
Our vision includes (but is not limited to): speaking events; conferences; Bible studies; Internet web-site publications; email encouragements; television; radio; the sale of audio / video / books and other printed publications; creative and artistic worship in music, song and dance.
By illuminating scriptures that teach life transforming principles and by imparting an atmosphere of faith that cultivates fertile ground for miracles, Deborah Ross Ministries and its Remnant Women supporters desire to boldly proclaim God's promises to the nations!

Some of our global friends in Christ include...

Pastor's Pavan and Ruben in India...

In India, Pastors Pavan and Ruben are using DRM devotionals and Bible studies to teach the women of their community.

Pastor Meshack in Kenya...

Pastor Meshack, of Kenya, uses DRM devotionals in ministering to men and women of his community.

Pastor's Michael and Ishrat from Pakistan...

Pastor's Michael and Ishrat enjoy sharing DRM devotionals. They will be starting a Christian television show soon and have asked DRM to send DVD teaching materials to be aired via their broadcast. Your support helps us to produce materials for this purpose.

Pastor Imran Rasheed, Pakistan

Pastor Imran Rasheed of Pakistan has offered to supply translators for DRM materials to be produced in their language. He has a large ministry that offers many different facets of the ministry of Jesus Christ for the people in his area.

Mark 16:15-20

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

Thank you for YOUR support and thank your for praying for our friends around the world! Together, we can make a difference.

In Christ,

Deborah Ross

Deborah Ross Ministries

www.DeborahRossMinistries.org