Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. - Jude 1:22-23 NIV
/
shutterstock.com
I hope this passage from Jude 1:22-23 touches your heart in many ways. Maybe you can relate to what it was like to be trapped in the emotional turmoil of your sin and having someone reach out to you with God’s hand of mercy. They looked past the nastiness of your sin to see your hurting soul inside. They met you where you were at, loved you enough to touch your heart, and walked with you to Jesus. Maybe the Lord has put it on your heart to be the one who reaches into the fire and brings others to safety. No matter what side of Christ’s outreached hand you are on, you are part of the vision of Reconciliation Ministries.
Thank you for touching my own heart as well. The Lord began to speak these verses to me way back in 1999 as He was calling me into a deeper level of personal transformation, and into full time ministry to the sexually and relationally broken. Thank you for partnering with Reconciliation Ministries through your prayers and financial support to live these verses. Your love and support touched my heart deeply and helped me receive much needed healing. You’ve truly reached into the fire in Metro Detroit, parts of the US, and even internationally. You truly are showing mercy to rescue bothers and sisters trapped in sin through the grace and love of Jesus Christ.
If you’re relating to Jude 1:22-23 from the perspective of someone trapped in the fire, please know that you have a loving, caring community of Christians that aren’t condemning you. We’re reaching into the fire and inviting you to walk with us to Jesus. He can help you overcome the things that keep you spiritually trapped, and help you experience His transformational love. The Reconciliation Ministries community is willing to walk with you and hold you up in prayer. Call us today at 586.739.5114 and let us walk with you to Jesus.
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” – John 8:11 NKJV
/
Image courtesy of getty images via www.unsplash.com.
So often, those in the church who are struggling with sexual sin are afraid to go to the church for help. Just like the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11, they’re afraid the church leaders will drag them to Jesus and ask Him to stone them. Jesus is different. Instead of condemnation, as we reach out to Him, we experience His love. He offers redemption, cleanses hearts, and empowers us to “go and sin no more”.
Much like the woman at the well in John 4:4-42, transformed lives don’t stop with the one who was directly impacted by Jesus. Historically, it is believed that she came to the well alone during the heat of the day to avoid the rejection and scorn of the other women in the village. They knew her dirty little secrets. Instead of contempt, Jesus looked beyond her sin. He spoke directly to the needs of her heart. When He told her to go and get her husband, she tried to change the subject to something more spiritual. He offered her living water; the only thing that could truly fill the void in her heart. She accepted His offer and her life was transformed forever. The healing didn’t stop there. She went on to evangelize the entire village and introduced them to the Messiah. The impact of a changed life goes far beyond the one who is changed and empowered to “comfort with the comfort that we’ve been comforted with” [2 Corinthians 1:4].
You can walk with brothers and sisters in need. You can help them get past the crowds and obstacles and find healing at the feet of Jesus. You help lower them through the roof to the feet of Jesus [Mark 2:1-12]. You matter. If you’ve already received healing, we at Reconciliation Ministries encourage you to share the healing you’ve already received from Jesus with whomever He puts in your path. If you need healing, reach out to us at 586.739.5114 and ask how we can walk with you to Jesus. If you’re not in our area, we can help you find trustworthy Christians who can help wherever you live. In Christ there is hope. In Christ, you can have a future free of sexual sin. In Christ, you can have an eternal impact.
Jesus Forgives Abortion
/“I tell you, her sins – and they are many – have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” – Luke 7:47-48 NIV
www.shutterstock.com
Are you surrounded by a dark cloud of condemnation because of something you’ve done? Do you hate yourself because of your past and feel like the shame of it will be on you forever? Luke 4 tells us the story of a sinful woman who crashed a dinner party given in Jesus’ honor. The woman wept as she anointed Jesus’ feet with her tears and a jar of expensive perfume. Surely the woman wasn’t clueless about the judgmental attitudes of the “spiritual” people at the party. Nevertheless, she threw herself at Jesus’ mercy. When Jesus noticed that some of the people there were getting an attitude that He was letting this sinful woman touch Him so intimately, He decided to show them how deep His forgiveness runs. The self-righteous people didn’t accept her, but Jesus did. In recognizing the severity of her sin, she was empowered to experience the depths of Jesus’ mercy. In experiencing the depths of His mercy, she was able to understand the fullness of His love.
One of the sins that causes the most shame is abortion. The shame and condemnation can be debilitating for the woman who had an abortion. Some women are coerced into having an abortion by abusive men who use violence and threats to force the woman to take the life of her own child. Sometimes family members pour shame upon an unwed mother. The woman, afraid of losing any shred of support, may agree to have an abortion rather than being abandoned by the few people in her life who feign acceptance as long as there is compliance. Some men were heartbroken as they stood opposed to the abortion, but powerless to stop it. Abortion is devastating. Truly it is a grievous sin, but we have a merciful Savior who allowed wicked, evil men to torture and kill Him so that he could take the punishment that we deserve for our sin. Jesus not only offers to take the punishment that we deserve, He offers to carry our devastation and grief. He died to set us free, cleanse us of our sins, and transform our hearts to become more like His. He offers to forgive us of much, so that we can be free to love and be loved much.
If you or someone you love is suffering from the heartache of abortion, Reconciliation Ministries is here for you. We have compassionate caregivers who can hear your heart and walk with you to Jesus. Call us at 586.739.5114. You can experience the deep forgiveness that Jesus has to offer and know the power of His deep love. You can read how Jesus touched Cassie’s heart and brought her healing from the devastation of two abortions by clicking here. Jesus offers hope and healing to everyone who comes to Him. Even you.
A Painful Mother's Day?
/Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
Isaiah 49:15 NIV
www.shutterstock.com
This is the season when many celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. We want to acknowledge that for some of us, those days may not bring about pleasant memories. You may have had abusive parents. You may not even know your father or mother. Maybe your parents were physically present in the home but you felt like you were invisible. Maybe your life would have been much easier if one of your parents weren’t around at all.
Mother wounds and father wounds are one of the leading contributors to sexual and relational brokenness. God intended mothers to provide us with a “sense of being”, that feeling that we are loved and our needs are taken care of. Fathers are intended to empower us to embrace the identity and purpose that God created us to express. Proverbs 22:6 NKJV tells us to “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” If that is true, then what about the opposite? What if we train up a child in the way he or she should not go? The truth is that broken mothers and fathers inflict deep wounds in the hearts of their children. Sometimes we try to numb our pain through sexual sin. Sometimes the wounds draw us into unhealthy relationships. Raising up a child in a way he should not go has its painful effects. It inflicts deep wounds.
The good news is that our Heavenly Father can heal those wounds. Psalm 27:10 NKJV reads “When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.” God isn’t like our earthly parents. He is safe. He is kind. He is empowering. He loves us so much that while we were still sinners, Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself on the cross… not only to cleanse us from the sins that we committed, but to heal our hearts from the sins that were committed against us. Healing and transformation are huge in the heart of our Heavenly Father. They are huge in the heart of our Savior as well.
Forgiveness with Boundaries
/
Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of conflicting messages about forgiveness. Some of those messages caused more pain to those who were already deeply wounded. Some demand instant forgiveness for truly devastating wounds. Others say we haven’t forgiven if we still feel the pain of the offense. I’ve heard unrepentant offenders insist on forgiveness and demand that trust and reconciliation accompany that forgiveness. What do we make of all this and more?
Forgiveness and healing are two different processes. They are often interwoven. Sometimes our hearts need to experience healing in order to forgive, and sometimes we need to forgive in order to heal. The Lord asks us to be open to Him in these processes. True forgiveness may take time for healing and learning to understand the effects of the offense. Bitterness can keep us trapped in our wounds.
The Lord asks us to lay down our anger and resentment towards those who wound us. Human, emotional forgiveness is different from the judicial forgiveness of one’s sins that only God can provide. Judicial forgiveness from God requires a repentant heart. Laying down our resentment towards those who wounded us is independent of the attitude of our offender. Even if our offender is unrepentant and happy that he has wounded us, human forgiveness frees us from being emotionally captive to our pain.
Forgiveness is also different from trust and restoration of relationship. Trust must be earned. Even though we may have forgiven someone, their continued actions may prove they remain untrustworthy. We are not required to restore relationships with dangerous people. There may also be situations where our offenders may actually be repentant and trustworthy; however, the situation may not require a restoration of relationship. We can practice forgiveness with boundaries.
Jesus Won't Reject You
/He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.
Isaiah 42:3 NLT
If you're feeling hopeless and too messed up to come to God, take comfort in that verse from Isaiah. Jesus will accept anyone who comes to Him for help. No matter how messed up you feel. No matter how badly you’ve sinned. Go to Him. He won’t look at you in disgust. He won’t turn away. He won’t snuff out the last smoldering flames in your heart. He offers forgiveness. Jesus can take you out of your emotional pit and give you peace. He can free you from addictive sexual sin. He can heal the wounds of sexual abuse. He will help you if you ask. Jesus may not calm every storm in your life, but He will carry you through the storms. He promises that He will NEVER leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
Learning to walk in the peace and freedom that Jesus offers takes time. It is a process with many ups and downs. Maybe you’ve done good for a while, only to fall again. You might be tempted to give up. Don’t! Come back to the cross. Reach out for help. If you confess your sin, He will forgive you and cleanse your heart (1 John 1:9). Stick with Jesus, and He will complete the work He started in you (Philippians 1:6).
Reconciliation Ministries and the many compassionate men and women on the support team are here to help you. We offer low cost licensed professional counseling, mental health coaching, and prayer ministry. We offer the Living Waters support group to help you overcome sexual and relational brokenness. We’re excited to announce the return of our Mending the Soul group to help you overcome the devastating effects of sexual abuse. There’s so much more. We are here to walk with you. Call us at 586.739.5114.
If you’ve already experienced the healing power of Jesus Christ, you have an important calling. Share your story. Show the love of God to someone who is afraid to hope. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you comfort others with the comfort that you have received (2 Corinthians 1:4). You can help bridge the gap between the church and the sexually broken.
God has a place for you!
/
God has a place for you! We are all like a puzzle piece. Some are borders. Some are front and center. Some are off to the side. All are valuable! If we put together a 1000 piece puzzle and there is a "minor" piece missing, our eyes seem to be drawn to the missing piece. The entire puzzle loses some of its beauty. You are an important piece of the Kingdom of God. He has a place for you. You may not be front and center, or a corner piece, but you are important. The Body of Christ loses a bit of its beauty if you're not there. Open your heart to the role God has created for you to fulfill. You are important! You are needed!
Photo courtesy of Pierre Barmin via Unsplash.
Stop Living in the Drain Pan!!!
/
When our kids were little, we purchased a series of very used refrigerators for our house. One of them had a problem with the drain pan and the tube running from the refrigerator to the pan. Every so often the pan would overflow and start leaking onto the floor. The pan was full of nasty, moldy water and scum. I’d try as carefully as possible to slide it out from under the refrigerator and empty it without spilling most of the filth on the floor. You can guess how that went. Eventually, the tube from the refrigerator to the drain pan would get plugged and we’d have issues inside the refrigerator itself. More messiness.
A few weeks ago, during my quiet time, the Lord showed me a picture of a nasty drain pain full of smelly, moldy water. Some of the scum formed a plug at the bottom of the drain pan and was holding the water in. I recognized the drain pan and its contents. It represented my residual brokenness. The Lord showed me that was an emotional place I retreated to when I felt insecure and inferior. It was familiar. Sometimes it seemed to offer a strange, eerie comfort. It gave me an excuse to not press through the current challenges and risk defeat. It gave me an alternative to being vulnerable, facing the pain, and trusting the Lord to do a deeper work in my heart. The Lord told me to stop living in the drain pan. He was calling me to trust Him and stand in who I really was in Him, rather than cowering in my human brokenness. I was the one keeping the plug in place. He helped me to renounce the plug and repent for retreating to the false comfort of familiar shame and internal isolation. When I did, all of the nasty water started plunging out. Then I saw a picture of a globe and the ocean water was coming out of the globe and gushing through the drain pan to clean it out and open up the doors of opportunity. There were still some stains on the drain pan. I think they help me remember what life in the drain pan was like. I don’t want to go back there. Then I noticed the water was flowing through me to cleanse others. God wants to do a deep work in all of our hearts and equip and empower us to “comfort others with the comfort we have been comforted with”.
What about you? Are you living in your own drain pain? Do you retreat to a familiar hiding place of brokenness when you feel like you’re in a situation that reminds you of your past failures and current shortcomings? If you can relate, I encourage you to repent and take the plug out of your drain pan. Allow the Lord to clean your heart and empower you to stand in your true identity in Christ. You’ll find a strength you’ve never known before, and out of your belly will flow rivers of living water to bless others for the good of eternity. God is calling us out of our familiar hiding places of brokenness and into His marvelous light.
[Photo courtesy of Michael and Dianne Weidner via Unsplash.]
Michigan Bans "Conversion Therapy" for Minors
/Dan Hitz is the Executive Director of Reconciliation Ministries of Michigan, Inc., a member-ministry of Restored Hope Network. He is a licensed professional counselor, an ordained minister, and an EMDR trained, certified clinical trauma professional. Dan began his journey out of homosexuality after surrendering his life to Jesus Christ in 1984.
Michigan is set to become the 22nd state to ban “conversion therapy” for minors when the law takes effect in late October, 2023. As the director of Reconciliation Ministries, I have had multiple people ask me how this law will affect the ministry. This article will look at the law and respond to the question of how it will affect the ministry.
House Bill 4616 prohibits “mental health professionals” from practicing “conversion therapy” with minors. You can read HB 4616 on the Michigan Legislature by clicking here.
House Bill 4617 defines the term “conversion therapy” and adds it to Michigan’s mental health code. You can read HB 4617 on the Michigan Legislature website by clicking here. It defines conversion therapy as “any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behavior or gender expression or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward an individual of the same gender.” The definition of a “mental health professional” according to Michigan’s mental health code includes licensed therapists such as a licensed professional counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, and registered nurse.
It is unfortunate that Michigan’s conversion therapy ban forbids licensed therapists from helping minors overcome unwanted same-sex attraction, and forbids licensed therapists from helping minors work toward embracing their biological gender. The law clearly states that mental health professionals are only allowed to help minors embrace same-sex attraction and/or embrace a transgender identity. This law applies even if the minor states that he or she does not want to embrace his or her LGBTQ feelings, and attributes them to trauma endured during childhood sexual abuse.
We have looked at the misleading nature of the term “conversion therapy” in past newsletter articles such as “The Equality Act and Cancel Culture”. The effectiveness of change allowing therapy has been explored in the articles “The Truth About Counseling” and “What Does Research Conclude About Counseling for Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction or Gender Dysphoria?” These articles and more are available on the Reconciliation Ministries website at www.recmin.org/newsletter-archives.
In response to the question of how this will affect the work we do at Reconciliation Ministries, we will continue to explore our legal options and stand fast on the Word of God. We uphold the belief that God ordains physical sexual expression to be practiced exclusively within the marriage covenant between one biologically born male and one biologically born female.
Through the years, the number of minors that we have worked with has been a small percentage of our participants. We have only worked with minors under the conditions that the parents fully explain the focus and values of the ministry before the minor comes to the first session. We have only met with teens who were freely willing to come in and talk with us. We maintained a respectful atmosphere and invited anyone we work with to disagree with us, ask questions, and make their own decisions. There have been teens who have agreed with our convictions and those who have not. Through it all, biblical seeds have been planted and mutual respect has been maintained.
Reconciliation Ministries will continue to work with adults who seek change allowing therapy to overcome unwanted LGBTQ feelings. We will continue to work with minors experiencing heterosexual struggles, including pornography addiction and recovery from sexual abuse. While the conversion therapy ban applies to “mental health professionals”, it does not apply to “biblical discipleship”. We will work within the parameters of the law to provide the best biblical care possible to anyone seeking to align their sexuality with their Christian faith. Please pray for us as we uphold the calling the Lord has given us.
© 2023 Reconciliation Ministries of Michigan, Inc.
Hope Deferred - Dan Hitz
/Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12 NIV
All of us at one point or another will experience the crushing that Proverbs 13:12 refers to. It may be the dashed hope of a lost loved one repenting and returning to Christ, unanswered cries for physical healing, or the unfulfilled hope for freedom from painful thoughts that we just can’t seem to shake. We know Jesus could swoop in and change our situation in an instant. But He doesn’t. For whatever reason. Our hopes are deferred. It ain’t happennen… At least for now.
What is our response during those tough seasons? Can we sincerely rest in the Lord, and trust that He is working in our hearts even if we don’t understand why He isn’t moving the way we think He should? Do we get ticked off at Him? Are we like the man who seemingly waits in vain at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years, not even sure why he’s still there? Can we trust that in spite of the unanswered prayers… the deferred hope… for whatever we are longing for, the Lord is doing something deeper in our hearts that is much more important that the thing we are immediately focused on. Most of the time He doesn’t share the details. Sometimes, years down the road, we realize what He was doing in while we were in the wilderness. Sometimes we never figure it out. No matter the case, He is faithful. He does care about you and has your best interested at heart. May our hearts remain open to Him, even when we don’t understand Him.
I’m in a season now where the Lord is beginning to revive lost hope. There was a desire and vision that I truly believe the Lord placed in my heart. It was precious to me. It was also dashed to pieces. Very small pieces. Not only was hope deferred, it was lost. My heart was sick. In some ways, it is still healing. And now, I see the Lord beginning to set things in order to step once again into that vision. At times I find myself excited that He is resurrecting things. Other times, I find myself afraid to hope again. I don’t want my hopes dashed. I don’t want to run ahead of Him, pull a Moses, and spend 40 years wandering the wilderness. I don’t want to pull an Abraham and create an Ishmael. But I do want the Lord to do whatever it is that He wants to do in my heart and my life.
If you’re like me, you may sense a pain in your heart when you see others stepping into their vision. Part of you is happy for them, yet part of you still feels the sting. You may wonder why it isn’t you. Try to remember during those times that you are seeing their excitement. You aren’t seeing the years of deferred hope and painful losses that they likely experienced while they were waiting to be in the place they are now. If you know them well enough to ask them, they may be able to share some of those details with you. In time, they may even be able to share some of the deeper things the Lord was doing in their hearts during their time of waiting.
If you’re in a long, drawn-out season of waiting, I hope you can take some time to sit quietly with the Lord and focus on Him rather than the things you wish He would do. Admit any bitterness you may have. Ask Him to show you some of the deeper things He is doing in your heart. Ask Him to help you focus on some of the good things He is doing in your life right now. If you can’t come up with anything good, ask Him to comfort your heart and help you accept the situation you are in now. That doesn’t mean that you pretend a bad situation is good. It means that you ask God for the grace to endure your situation while He shows you how to navigate through it. Remember, He loves you. He is working on something much deeper and much more important in your heart than the thing you are immediately focused on. That’s a difficult concept to grasp. It takes much grace. But it is true.
In 2006 I wrote an article called “Hope Deferred. Hope Displaced”. Through the years, it has been one of the most read articles in our archives. It might help you. You can find the article by clicking here.
The Fiery Dart of Condemnation
/“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”
Romans 8:1-2 NLT
One of the enemy’s biggest weapons against you is condemnation. Condemnation robs you of your faith in Jesus Christ to complete the work that He began in you. Rather than inspiring you to continue resisting sin, condemnation pushes you to resign yourself to sin. It tells you that you might as well keep on sinning, since you can’t seem to get victory anyway. Condemnation also robs you of your confidence in the words and spiritual goals the Lord has given to you. “How can I dare believe that the Lord will use me for His purposes after all I’ve done… after all I keep on struggling with?”
Sin breeds condemnation. The remedy for sin is repentance. Jesus Christ gave His life to pay the penalty of our sins, and He rose from the dead to empower us to overcome our sin. If He is your Savior, He lives in you. Jesus has already provided everything you need for repentance and cleansing. 1 John 1:8-9 NLT reads, “8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” Yes, we have sinned, but confession and repentance is the process whereby we are cleansed from our sin and the weaknesses in our heart. It is a process. The process must be a lifestyle.
If the Lord has spoken to your heart and called you to a special place in the Kingdom, no doubt the enemy has spoken words of accusation and discouragement to you again and again. He did it to Nehemiah and the Israelites as they were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. In Nehemiah, Chapters 4-6, Sanballat and Tobiah hurled accusations and threats to try to discourage the workers from completing the task that the Lord had given them. They even used legal threats to try to get them to stop. The good news is that Nehemiah encouraged the Israelites to trust in the Lord, ignore the enemy’s threats, and keep on building. It wasn’t easy, but they completed the task the Lord gave them. The walls of Jerusalem were successfully rebuilt.
As you continue to walk towards the vision – the calling – the Lord has given you, remember repentance. As you allow the Lord to cleanse your heart, He will empower you to overcome “the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12.1 NIV) and fulfill the task He has give you. Remember the words of Isaiah 54:17 NLT, “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
"We're the Pam now!"
/
I heard the news of the shootings at MSU as I was talking with some of the Living Waters leadership team members. As we were hearing of the chaos and trauma on the campus, I found myself holding back tears and saying how much I missed our dear ministry friend, Pam, who passed away last year. We all agreed that she would be directly involved in the aftermath at MSU, leading crisis debriefings with her unbelievably strong, but gently, motherly compassion. She was skilled at helping people through trauma. The Lord spoke to my heart and I relayed the message to the team, “We’re the Pam now!” We may have different gifts. We may not feel qualified. But Jesus has deposited into each one of us the unique skill sets that He wants us to use to touch lives for eternity. We can pray. We can speak. We can care. We can make a difference to the lives Jesus brings our way. Each of us is a unique vessel for Jesus, skillfully designed to fulfill the specific purpose that He calls us to. “We’re the Pam now!” Go out today and be a light for Jesus in this dark world.
Your Prayers Are Valuable!!!
/
We are so thankful when people let us know that they are praying for the ministry and us personally. We truly need your prayers. They have great value. This was highlighted to me last Monday night. As I was driving northbound on Gratiot Avenue, and just after I crossed eastbound Metro Parkway, I heard a loud bang. I looked in my rear-view mirror as I cleared westbound Metro Parkway to see at least two police cars heading east on Metro Parkway with their lights flashing. It turns out that there was a police chase on Metro Parkway and the suspect ran the red light, went through the intersection, and hit another vehicle. From my position, I’m guessing that he missed hitting the driver’s side of my vehicle by less than five seconds. When I got home, my wife told me that she was in bed and all of a sudden got worried that I could be seriously hurt and started praying for me. I believe the Holy Spirit prompted her to pray for my safety which kept me from getting seriously hurt in a horrible car crash. Never underestimate the power of your prayers. Please keep Reconciliation Ministries, the participants, and our leadership team in your prayers. As it says in James, 5:16b, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
Who Identifies You?
/For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
How confident are you with your identity in Christ? Are you secure in Him, no matter what others think about you? A while ago, it seemed like someone I value and respect threw a negative label at me. To be honest, it really bothered me. None of us like having a negative label put on us. Those labels can sting even more if they come from someone we trust. It brought up memories of other times people threw a negative label at me and I found myself going down a frustrated, angry rabbit hole. I took some time to pray, and the Lord spoke to my heart and asked me who I wanted to be defined by. Do I want to be defined by those who dislike me? Do I want to be defined by those who think I’m a pretty nice guy? In reality, we shouldn’t be defined by either of those choices. Those definitions can be pretty inaccurate and fleeting at best. We should seek to be defined by the One who knit us together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13) and who calls us by our true name (Isaiah 43:1). We should be defined by our Heavenly Father. The more secure we are in Him, and who He declares us to be, the better we can navigate through the challenges and accusations thrown at us by those who don’t see us as God does. As we rest in our true identity in Christ we have peace no matter what others think about us. We have more confidence to make the changes He calls us to make, embrace His transformation process, and grow to be more and more like Him.
Are You in a Spritual Drought?
/When the Lord allows you to go through a spiritual drought, you can either let your roots grow deeper in Him, or spray yourself with Roundup and become a tumble weed.
We all pass through times when it seems like the Lord is nowhere to be seen, he isn’t speaking, and we really aren’t sure if what we do has any meaning. Spiritual droughts are frustrating. Maybe you were excited as the Holy Spirit spoke some great promises to your heart. As the months… and years went on… things happen. The next thing you know it seems like you’re spending 40 years far out in the wilderness like Moses (Exodus 2-4). You’ve had some great victories, but all of a sudden it seems hopeless and you’re running like Elijah (1 Kings 19). As restlessness sets in, we can be tempted to kick a few doors open. To make something happen. Remember Abram and Sarai (Genesis 16)? That didn’t go so well.
In times of spiritual drought, it is important to stay the course, to remain faithful to the last words, the last instructions, the Lord spoke to you. Even though it seems like He’s a million miles away, it is important to draw nearer to the Lord and allow the roots of your faith to grow deeper. This feels so counterintuitive. We may not sense the Lord’s presence, but He is there drawing us into a deeper relationship. He is a faithful father who gives good gifts to His kids. Sometimes us kids get more focused on the gifts than the Father who gives them. Sometimes we get more focused on the calling than the one who gave the call. It is actually God’s mercy that brings the drought and draws us back to the One who gives life. His refining fire – or root deepening drought – purifies our hearts and brings us back to the most valuable calling of all… that we love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind (Matthew 22:37).
If you’re in the middle of a spiritual drought, don’t try to twist God’s arm and make something happen on your own. Don’t try to numb the restlessness with sin. That equates to giving up and spraying yourself with Roundup. It dries up our hearts even more. Our roots become brittle. We are at risk of becoming a tumbleweed and being blown further out into the wilderness. Instead, go against the forces of nature and continue to seek the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. He wants to strengthen your roots and wrap your heart around Him, more than His promises.
If you’re in the middle of a spiritual drought, we’d love to pray for you. Send us an email at info@recmin.org and let us know how we can pray. We would be glad to do so.
Intimacy in Communion: The Broken Body of Christ
/While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Matthew 26:26 NIV
www.shutterstock.com
The Lord showed up in an intimate and powerful way at last month’s Restored Hope Network annual conference. It was a beautiful time of worship, equipping, and celebrating testimonies from men and women who have overcome same-sex attraction and gender confusion. God is still in the business of redemption and transformation!
I was honored to lead the communion service towards the end of the conference. Most of us have heard the communion story in 1 Corinthians 11 countless times throughout our lives as we celebrate communion at church. Usually we focus on how Jesus offered the bread and wine, representing His body and blood. We celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection and so much more. We may even talk about examining our hearts and the importance of forgiveness and repentance. These things are truly important; however, the Holy Spirit gripped my heart with the depth of intimacy that Jesus shared with the disciples during the Last Supper. It brought an even deeper understanding of Jesus’ offering.
We can see more of the depth of intimacy in the Last Supper as we read through the account in John, Chapters 13 through 17. Jesus knows the hour of his death has come and he, the faithful rabbi, begins to share the most important thoughts on his heart with his beloved disciples. He begins by washing their feet (13:4-12). He then shares many of the concepts that we hold dear to this day. He tells them that the hour has come for him to be glorified and prepares them for his betrayal. The intimacy between the group was so strong that Peter knew that John was the one who could ask Jesus who the betrayer was and receive an answer (13:22-26). Jesus gives them a new commandment to love one another and he has loved them (13:34). He tells them that he is going to prepare a place for them (14:3), and is sending them the Holy Spirit (14:16-17). He tells them that he is the vine and they are the branches (15:5). He reiterates his love for them as he says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (15:13) He warns them of the persecution to come and says a time is coming when “anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God,” (16:2b) and lets them know that he is preparing them to withstand the persecution (16:4). He assures them that even though they will be suffering sorrow like a woman in labor, their sorrow will be turned to joy (16:21-22). Jesus tells them to ask the Father for anything they need in his name and the Father will grant it (16:23). Jesus finishes up his last teaching session with his High Priestly Prayer in John 17. This is my favorite prayer in the Bible. Jesus shares his heart even more intently as he prays to be glorified, prays for his disciples, and prays for all who will ever believe in him. As soon as he finished this prayer, he and the disciples crossed the Kidron Valley and entered the Garden of Gethsemane where he would be betrayed (18:1).
The Lord gripped my heart with the most beautiful thoughts of intimacy as Jesus offered his body in Matthew 26:26. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’” The Lord showed me a contrast that was pretty blunt, but at a conference for men and women overcoming LGBTQ struggles, it fit. Jesus offers us his body in a holy, pure way. The Lord reminded me of the men who had offered me their bodies in a sinful way. Their offering did nothing but fuel my insatiable desire for sin. Their offering plunged me deeper into bondage and despair. Jesus’ offering of his body brings life. He offers redemption and transformation. Cleansing and freedom. He offers eternal life. There’s no comparison.
Freedom March Minnesota 2019
I pray that you know the love and intimacy that Jesus shared with his disciples at the Last Supper deeply in your soul. May you joyously receive Jesus’ beautiful offering of love, redemption, and transformation. May you live according to your true identity in Christ every minute of every day. May you experience Jesus’ offering to the fullest.
If you or someone you love is struggling to live according to your true identity in Christ, Reconciliation Ministries can help. Call us today at 586.739.5114. We would be glad to walk with you to Jesus, the one who offers you beauty for ashes. You can give him your mess, and he will give you his hope.
Videos for HOPE 2022 will be posted soon.
You can watch the conference videos from previous years conferences at https://www.youtube.com/c/RestoredHopeNetwork/playlists
In Loving Memory...
/
Heaven has gained a precious soul. Our dear friend and ministry team member, Pam Farlow-Wolgast, passed away last week. She had a tremendous impact on those she ministered to and carried the gentle peace of the Holy Spirit while she walked in the authority of Jesus. While we are happy that she is now rejoicing in the presence of Jesus, we miss her greatly here on the earth. Pam impacted this ministry greatly as she served as a licensed counselor, prayer minister, and Living Waters team member. She helped in the expansion of the ministry to help those who are overcoming the pain of sexual abuse and trauma. Most of all, she was a dear friend and godly mother figure to many of us. Her words of kindness and godly wisdom will continue to speak to us throughout eternity.
Pam’s Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Friday, May 6th at 6.30pm at Great Lakes Church, 39051 Dodge Park Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313.
37 Years of Transformation
/I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20 NIV
I was overwhelmed with the love and transformational power of Jesus Christ when I was Colorado Springs at the end of January for the Restored Hope Network board retreat. I arrived a day before the meetings to see some of the beautiful scenery in the area. The presence of the Lord was with me in a tender way as I drove through the sandstone mountains. My first trip to Colorado was in the summer of 1984. I was twenty-three years old and very far from Jesus; struggling with bulimia and bound by homosexuality. It was during that trip that a friend told me how much Jesus loved me and how much I needed Him. I dedicated my life to Jesus a few days after we returned from Colorado and things have never been the same since. I had no idea what life in Christ would be like. Some struggles like bulimia fell away instantly. Others, like homosexuality, lingered.
Although looking relatively clean on the outside, I continued to wrestle with obsessive homosexual thoughts. As much as I tried to fight my unwanted same-sex attractions in my own power, I couldn’t find victory. After battling for over fifteen years, I finally came to the end of myself in 1999. I had no more strength left for the fight. I was finally honest with God and told Him that everything I had tried to do to fix myself didn’t work. I surrendered to Him. I gave Him permission to do whatever He wanted to do to change me. He did. And He is.
Dan Hitz and Tom Cole, circa 2003.
Within a short time of my surrender, God supernaturally introduced me to Tom Cole, who directed Reconciliation Ministries at the time. I became a participant in the Living Waters program and hope was birthed in my heart as I heard the personal testimonies of men and women who fought the same battle I was fighting and found freedom. I learned more about the love and grace of God, and how Jesus’s death and resurrection really can transform our hearts. The more I allowed the Holy Spirit into the dark areas of my soul, the more I experienced His love and healing. The obsessive homosexual desires began to fall away and I began to understand who I really am in Christ… a dearly loved, redeemed, son of Father God.
I am so thankful for all that the Lord has done in my heart in the 37 years since that trip to Colorado. I am thankful for the men and women who prayed for Reconciliation Ministries and supported the ministry financially. They provided the opportunities for me to experience the healing power of Christ. Your prayers and financial support of this ministry can provide opportunities for other men and women who are bound by sin to experience freedom. Please make a donation today by clicking here. Your prayers and financial support can change lives for eternity.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16 NIV
/
Image used under license with www.shutterstock.com.
I’m sure you’re very familiar with John 3:16. It was likely one of the first verses that you ever learned. It’s also a verse we need to be reminded of frequently. We might know this verse in our brains, but it’s important to know this verse in our hearts. God loves us. It doesn’t get am simpler than that. He also made a way for our salvation and transformation. These truths are among the important foundations of our faith. However, we are all very much a work in progress. We are constantly walking in the tension between who God declares that we are, and who we see when we look in the mirror. It is during our times of struggle that we need to remind ourselves of some of the basic foundations of our faith.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.