First Class Citizen

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Published: Thursday, 12 April 2018 21:00

Written by Bethany Looyenga

God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce, "This is God's year to act!"

Luke 4:18-19

Children of God, women and men, are first class citizens in God's Kingdom. One is not above the other, for in God's eyes He created them both to be coheirs with Him. Many women are held back and oppressed, they are told that their purpose is to be under the man, but God sent His Son, Jesus to redeem women from that curse!  He came to restore, renew, and revive the authority to rule with men.  Jesus loves women, and He uses them to spread His amazing gospel throughout the world, He uses them to build armies and to defeat the enemy of our souls.  He has chosen them and He has called them to be first class citizens in His Kingdom. 

One of my favorite songs is "Ghost" by Mercy Me.  It's about the Holy Spirit living inside of us.  This Spirit is inside of women today and calms our fears. This Spirit gives women power to love, power to preach the Message of good news, power to announce pardon to prisoners, and power to  recover the sight of the blind.  This Holy ghost brings light to the burdened and sets them free, he leads through darkness and all the unknown. He does not choose to do this through men only, He chooses to work through those that listen.

Sisters in Christ, I am here to tell you that God wants to act through you! Just as he saved the Jews through Esther, won the battle through Deborah, and announced that He had risen through Mary. Sisters, rise up today and claim your citizenship!

What Will You Choose?

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Published: Thursday, 05 April 2018 21:00

Written by Bethany Looyenga

I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse.  Choose life so that you and your children will live.  And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him. Oh yes, he is life itself, a long life settled on the soil that God, your God promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

When you think about the life you are living, do you consider that it is your choice?  Or, is life some random fate that has been handed to you, and it's not that good?  Are the days full of vibrancy, or just the same boring routine that slowly brings you to a spiraling halt?

I've felt both ways in my life.  I've walked around "living" like I was choosing death.  It's taken practice for me to believe that life is good, full of blessings, hope, and strength.  There have been so many battles inside my head that pointed towards death; it was hard to believe in the good life. But, as I've confronted the lies that I have believed about life, my life has had more and more breakthroughs. 

When I choose to believe that God is good and that He desires good for my life, I feel blessed.  Even when there are struggles with various avenues in my life, my choices of belief impact my prosperity. Prosperity emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually are all rooted in my beliefs.

What about you? Are you believing lies about who God is and who he created you to be?  Are you choosing life over death, blessings over curses?  Have you asked God today to envelop you in His Life? 

I've read about people that are suffering greatly, but hold fast to the belief that God is for them and loves them; this belief has given them riches beyond any other. This is Kingdom riches. 

What are you believing and choosing today?

The Gift of Life

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Published: Friday, 30 March 2018 10:06

Written by Bethany Looyenga

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

Psalms 23:6

Life is precious. Jesus lived to the fullest, and when He sacrificed that fullness on the cross for us, He announced that it was finished. What exactly was finished? It was the payment for sin--my sin and your sin. He gave each of us the gift of life--eternal life.

We had a death in the family today, and it is sad. Even though we believe she will see Jesus, death brings a finality to her life here on earth. And, sometimes that finality is difficult to come to terms with.  My husband and I have lost both of our parents, and as we live life we recognize that we are the oldest generation living in our family. There's a movement forward as our kids raise their kids, and become more developed in their own lives, we move into a new position.  Life is a movement of circles.  Both my husband and I have worked hard to make the life for our children a better one.

Our parents worked hard for that too. I am thankful for the gift of life that was given to us, the lessons learned on the journey have molded me. I want to leave a legacy of hope and courage to my own children. I want them to celebrate my life through their life.

 Isn't that exactly what God wants us to do through Him?  Jesus celebrated what he had here on earth, he defied death.  His compassion for life gave him a richness, that each one of us can tap into.  And, when he died, he knew Glory was waiting.  Glory in the assurance of eternity.  Glory is inside of us, it's this very day. We suffer loss, and contemplate the finality, but Glory still reigns.

Take ahold of all that life encompasses today, and bask in the beauty of the wonderful gift he has given you!

Beautiful Bride

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Published: Friday, 23 March 2018 06:07

Written by Bethany Looyenga