UPDATES from LAM:

Reminder of the Teleconference teaching opportunities. The sessions have started so in order to get in on the next series, please contact us.

• Teleconference teaching - Cell groups to start September 26th for a 6 week period. Teaching on "6 Basic Principles for Freedom." If you are interested,please contact me so I can schedule you in one of the meetings available on Wednesdays or Thursdays. I am offering morning and evening sessions.
  
  Email your request to: truthfrees@mindsync.com.
  Or visit the Website for more information - mindsync.com/lam

Be sure to visit the LAM website to take advantage of the teaching materials provided to you. Books and DVDs are also available, along with live teleconference teachings on a variety of subjects.

Departmentalizing God by Linda Lange

Have you ever been stressed? Well, that is a silly question for most of you… of course you have from time to time. One of your children moves back home, you are working at taking care of their needs, your own needs and the needs of those still in the home. You have schedules to keep, bills to pay, plans to make, etc. Stress is a part of your make up. But… is that from God?

Why do you think we have stress, anxiety, fear or worry?

Because we departmentalize God.

Have you ever found yourself in a place and say, "Boy, I've gotten off track somewhere." And you can't figure out what went wrong? You've been feeling "bad" and even guilty where you are in your life. I can tell you that you departmentalized God in your life.

Let me share a story of what I mean.

I went on a 2 day trip with my mom and 3 sisters to Reno, Nevada for Hot August Nights - display of old restored vehicles. I've never been before and also a chance to visit with my family.

I took God everywhere I went. I mean even when I sat down at a slot machine. I took him in the bathroom with me, out looking at cars. And you know what I discovered, even though I knew not to gamble, that when I took God with me IN those things, He let me see those things through His eyes. Instead of putting the money in the machines, I noticed hurting and sad people all around me. They all looking for that "break" in life to end all their problems with a jackpot! But these were ordinary people. All looked like they were spending their food money or bill money. I wondered around and even took time to say hello to a few that were alone and sad. Even though I knew that I wasn't to be in the casinos, I still took God with me. The Bible says that even though I make my bed in hell, He is there.

I used to think if I left God at the front door, that's where he stayed. Then when I went into a place I knew I should not go into, I was Okay. But the truth was, I became guilt ridden the whole time I was there. But this time I noticed I wasn't at all feeling guiltly or shameful. I went in there and took God with me, He let me see the situation through Hi eyes and when He did this, I realized and had peace about staying outside or in my room. I didn't feel any guilt at all, only His love, peace and His joy. He didn't judge me or condemn me, He loved me "through" it.

I used to departmentalize God based on what was going on. For instance, when I went to work, I left God outside the door. I would get so wrapped up in my work that I wouldn't even acknowledge Him in it. Then when I left to go home, He was there waiting for me and we'd drive off together. I departmentalized God and now I know those times I didn't take Him into my job with me, things weren't so peaceful. The joy of the Lord wasn't there and I began disliking my job and what I was doing. I couldn't wait to get out of there every day, and looked forward to weekends, and dreaded Sunday's because work was just around the corner.

If I took God in my job with me "acknowledging Him in ALL my ways" I do believe things would have been better. I did take Him in the last few years before I retired because I finally saw what I was doing. Because you and I know, He was there all the time. It's that I didn't acknowledge He was there that my peuney little mind assumed He wasn't. And the Bible says, "whatever you believe, so let it be done to you." If I didn't believe God was there at my job, then He wasn't. If I believed God was there, then I would see things that could only be Him.

Other areas that I departmentalized God. Shopping. I would go shopping and need specific things, but did everything on my own. I would sometimes get frustrated, exasperated with people, impatient, and angry realizing now it was those times I left God out of that moment. I would have Him in some moments, especially those when I would spent time in my chair studying. But I now know I can have him even if I'm not sitting in my chair. Like ironing or cleaning my house. I would say, "When I get done with this laundry I'll read the Bible." But the truth is, can spend time with God WHILE doing my laundry. If we don't departmentalize God, then we won't have that yo yo effect in life, nor get off the beaten trail because you took God everywhere you went. He's there anyway, you might as well acknowledge His presence, because if you don't, that will lead to guilt and shame, but if you do, will lead to peace and change.

So next time you have a list of things to accomplish, put God after every item to remind you that He wants to go with you, no matter where you go! He's there anyway, you might as well just acknowledge Him.

I pray that you stay constant in God's love. No matter what sin you think you have done that may have caused you to get off track a bit, remember, Jesus paid for your sin. Be restored dear saints. Go to Him with everything, in everything, and while doing everything, then and only then will you truly understand the relationship He wants with you. This relationship of "knowing God" is really "knowing His heart." That's what we all desire, and that's what we all yearn for.

I WANT TO LIVE! By Pete Plitt

Tragically, we live in a country that in spite of advanced medicine and technology, is plagued with dismal statistics on cancer, heart disease, and dozens other life threatening illnesses. So much so that pretty much all of us know someone who is or was fighting for their lives, perhaps within our own family. Be we sinner or saint, the odds are the same by the numbers. In other words, there are just as many folks dying with cancer in the church as in the world. What's up with that?

At church or during our own study time, the Word tells us throughout that we are healed by the stripes of Jesus, that He bore those sicknesses and pains, [I Peter 2:24] and having paid the entire penalty for that sin byproduct called sickness, we no longer have to put up with it in our own bodies. When what we read doesn't seem to want to match up with what is happening in our physical health, it can get confusing, frustrating, aggravating, and down right maddening. The enemy tries to get us to wag our finger at God and accuse Him of not "hastening to perform His Word." Once we regroup and remember that God is for us, not against us, [Romans 8:31], the next volley of lies will be anything from it being a sin issue, to it being some great cosmic classroom episode in which we are to learn something by this tragic event. Room doesn't allow to address all of the other reasons we didn't get Jesus kind of results, but suffice it to say that any idea short of God's position is not only false, but is going to be void of results.

If one really wants to live, the first truth to seize hold of is that Jesus has done all He is ever going to do in the health provision arena. The quicker we get plain honest with the Word and grab on to this, the sooner we can begin implementing miracle working force against the problem. Remember, the clock is running. Renewing of the mind can take time. Building up our faith comes line upon line. We have to offset the mental damage the devil has done over time. What we don't want to happen is to have the effects of a deadly disease outrun our faith building. If we stand around debating whether Jesus really wants us healed now, or if maybe He's got a different agenda, we lose precious moments of cracking open the Word and devouring it to build faith, fervently praying, particularly in the Heavenly language that comes straight from the Throne of God, to both build faith and have obstacles revealed to us, like unforgiveness, false doctrine, etc. [Jude 1:20, I Corinthians 14:2]. Also, surround yourself with like minded belivers, and be gracious to those you need to ask to go. It is, after all, your life you're fighting for.

Nobody likes to be called irresponsible, but every time we wait for God to do something that He has already empowered us to do, we fail in our responsibility, and it can be deadly. If you're believing for a better car and fall short, it's not as critical. If you're fighting for your life, there's no time to mess around. The writer of Hebrews speaks to the death issue in that through fear, an actual "nature" or spirit of fear within them, humanity was kept in bondage. He goes on to state that the power of death has been crushed. Hebrews 2:14-15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." We need to start acting like Jesus really did deliver us, not only from death, but from the fear of it. The devil is no longer our true enemy. It is what we allow him to convince us of that is, meaning, we can become our own worse enemy. Jesus gave us the victory over the curse through His blood, but we still have the final say as to what we are going to believe. Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." We no longer have that spirit or nature of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. [II Timothy 1:7]

The instruction that Jesus has given us can move our head from a place of fear of death, that place that has a way of gripping our very insides when the doc utters the bad news, to a place of peace and boldness that makes everyone else look at us like we've gotten a little weird. We stop thinking and talking like the world of no hope. Since Jesus did the hard part of substitution, that is, doing our dying for us, then we don't have to submit to that conquered foe. Galatians 3:13 calls it being redeemed from the curse of the law. Not just from sin, but from all of it's by-products. Look at Genesis - was sickness was a problem before sin became a factor? After the fall, hell really did break loose and showed up in every nasty perversion of God's best. Where God showered love, now there was also hate, peace was challenged with worry, and ultimately, life started getting push around by death.

We may not live forever on this present planet, but Paul offers some food for thought. In Philippians 1:21-25 he makes it clear that he was very excited about going on to his heavenly home, but then in considering the need here, makes this amazing statement in verse 25, "And having this confidence, I KNOW THAT I SHALL ABIDE AND CONTINUE WITH YOU ALL for your furtherance and joy of faith." That's a pretty bold posture! It's that wonderful place of seeking God's will and using our own free will. The goal is to walk where those two elements are completely compatible. Later in II Timothy 4:6&7 Paul says, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" Once your course on this earth is done, go home. Not whittled away by some heinous cancer, but in full health, full of years and wisdom. In verse 8 Paul goes on to say, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: AND NOT TO ME ONLY, BUT UNTO ALL THEM ALSO THAT LOVE HIS APPEARING." Fight the good fight. Complete the course God has put before you. Don't let any device of the enemy shorten that course and, consequently, rob you of your crown. It's the only crown worth fighting for.

If you or someone you know is dying, there is a God in Heaven Who not only wants them to live, but gave us the answer on how to obtain long, healthy life. Let's just get common sense points out of the way for starters. Eat God made food, not that packaged stuff that is void of life giving sustenance. Drink plenty of pure water. Get off your sofa and get some exercise, fresh air and sun. We really do reap what we sow. Even good ole sinner-boys that really take care of their physical bodies can stay dis-ease free into old age. Next, do a check up from the neck up. What's in your head and rolling off of your tongue? Life? Death? Yes you can tell your prayer buddies about your dilemma or your frustrations, but for the sake of prayer assignment, not to get agreement and focus on the problem. Isn't it strange how it can actually feel good to bask in self pity? How perverted is that? Once the issues are presented, then it's time for Worship. It may be difficult if you spent much time focusing on the horror. The devil will take full advantage of that opening to play havoc with your emotions and mind. Here's where you press into worship in spite of feelings.

Again, you cannot have much success in fighting off death if in the back of your mind you are hanging on to someone's testimony about how God "called that Saint home," or "left that young boy in his wheel chair," giving place to a "double mind" [James 1:8]. You must decide now that death and sickness as tools of the curse are not His will, and that's where reading and speaking the Word comes into play. Faith comes by that constant exposure to the Word [Romans 10:17], just like doubt follows stories of people that didn't know how to access healing. The provision was there for the taking, but instead of burying their nose in the Bible until faith finally overcame the doubt, they got distracted and ran out of time itself. It really pays huge dividends to just stay in the Word and keep your mind stayed on Him. To renew the mind to God's way of thinking really changes one's perspective - to God's way of thinking. Get into the Gospels and follow Jesus around for awhile. God's will Personified turned no one away, postponed no healing, delayed no resurrection.. The only ones He had a hard time getting though to were the one's full of themselves. Matthew 13:58 "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

Being the exception is rarely easy, but you'll be in good company. Jesus had to undo considerable damage to the people's thinking of His day, but when some embraced the "Light," they started getting the same results. If we wish to live and not die, perhaps that is our cue.

Tom's Tidbits by Linda

"You are free to be"

My husband is so secure in who he is, he never once did anything because of what others may think. He said and did things without worrying if someone was going to like him or not. Not the case with me. Just recently the Lord brought me through one of the biggest life changing revelations to date, and it was in the area of worrying aobut what others think. I am going to share that whole story in next month's article, but to relate to my husbands "one liner" I am finally free from ALL co-dependency in thinking I needed to fix everyone by making sure they are Okay. As a teacher, it goes with the territory but can get out of balance and frustrating if I think I'm going to change anyone. Then there are other times it's not about teaching but about living side by side with others. I have to tell you that I am so free today in that area that I now have a Holy Ghost boldness. When you are secure in who you are you walk in more truth than you ever dreamed possible. No longer worrying about stepping on toes, but walking truly in what is called, "walking in Love." Not to be brash but to be courageous and bold without worrying what people will think. Speaking truth at all times is God's greatest desire for us, and now I realize what that really looks like and have actually experienced it, this is true freedom. I realize all that matters is what God thinks, I have more peace, more security in who I am, and truly walking in that freedom of just being. Tune into next month's article when you will see the amazing story on how God brought this to pass in my heart and life.

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