To share Christ’s good news, it’s necessary to use words.

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Steve Simms

If you love Jesus, it’s necessary to use words and to tell people. Your silence keeps them in the dark about where you stand with Him!

If Jesus has done anything in you or for you, tell it! Don’t let the devil gag and silence you. Speak up!

If you’re depending on a preacher to tell people about Jesus, you’re letting the devil gag your voice! I’ve noticed that a lot of Christians talk about a pastor, or a famous preacher far more than they talk about Jesus. I wonder why.

If Christians in America would focus on the risen Jesus with as much passion as they focus on a politician what miracles we’d see!

If Christians were trained to talk
And humbly share
Their heart-felt
Feelings about Jesus
Instead of merely
Listening to a talk
About Jesus
A lot more people
Would walk the walk!

This world that’s awash
In tons of trash talk
Desperately needs to hear
Inspiring Christ-talk:
Spirit-prompted words
That overflow from the heart
Of humble Jesus-lovers!

If Jesus made
Your heart well
You have a tale
You need to tell.
Don’t hide it
Behind a veil.

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Posted in communicating the Gospel, preaching the Gospel, testifying, witnessing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Continually living the time of my life

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?
View all responses

There’s a moment in my life when everything mysteriously shifted. In one solitary instant I was changed inside and out.

That marvelous moment was the time of my life and I’ve been living in the reality of that single moment ever since. It has never faded from my heart and my mind. It’s as though I’m reliving it day and night.

In an instant, totally by surprise, I was dazzled by the risen Jesus. I was suddenly transferred from agnostic confusion, insecurity, and unbelief to complete certainty about the love, presence, peace, and power of Jesus.

Ever since that moment, I’ve been battling for the kingdom of God! With all my heart I want to overcome all the resistance within me and to fully surrender to Jesus. That has been a joyous lifetime pursuit that began in an instant of direct encounter with the living Jesus and continues to this present moment in His presence.

Open your heart to a marvelous moment with Jesus. True prayer, seeking first the kingdom of God, is to humble ourselves. It is to deeply and viscerally hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness as we wholeheartedly and continually pursue His will and surrender our own will to Him.

Never settle for anything less than having Jesus as the King and Absolute Ruler (Lord) of every part of your life! Make listening to and obeying Him your first priority.

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Stepping beyond casual religion and into obeying the risen Jesus

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Steve Simms

Routine religion gently rocks the spiritual cradle, but radical obedience to the risen Jesus will turn the world upside down! In spiritual warfare we must first win within before we win without. We must overcome our inner enemies, by casting down imaginations and bringing our every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Soldiers that harbor disobedient thoughts, feelings, and desires are never very effective. God’s goal for you is that you do not allow even one thought that is disobedient to Christ to be in your mind. (1 Corinthians 10:5.)

Fight the faith fight. Constantly and aggressively resist every bit of demonic activity that the devil stirs up within you. Surrender no space in your mind, heart, and life to the devil and his demons — not one compulsive thought, not one foul word, not one wrongful desire, not one tormenting feeling, not one ungodly movie or show or song or book or game or party.

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Posted in heart religion, spiritual warfare | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Everybody needs to know how to viscerally experience life.

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What’s something you believe everyone should know.
View all responses

Everybody needs to know how to viscerally experience the glorious wonders of being alive. A visceral approach to life is based on deep, sensitive, compassionate, heart-felt appreciation and gratitude.

Perhaps these thoughts can help viscerally open your heart: Keep shrinking hopelessness until you viscerally come to hope! Showing appreciation and gratitude are life-transforming ways to use your time.

I don’t need to travel.
The world’s most amazing sights
Come directly to me for free:
Sun rises and sun sets,
Trees dancing in the breeze,
Incredible cloud formations,
Squirrels doing acrobatic feats,
The bright colors of Fall,
Dazzling stars overhead,
The shape changing moon,
Lightening shows and thunderstorms,
The people I love,
Birds that sing and soar,
Children playing,
All kinds of glorious flowers,
Butterflies and clear skies,
People doing acts of kindness,
A snow-covered landscape,
The new life of Spring,
People from around the world,
And so much more!
Gloria a Dios!

To follow Jesus viscerally,
Not just with outward words
But internally
With all your heart,
Is to scripturally
Align with God
And the leading of His Spirit.
To viscerally
Experience Christ
Allow yourself to be
Deeply and continually aware
Of His presence and power.

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Posted in from the heart, heart care, pure in heart | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beyond “adulting.” Happiness is having a kid’s heart!

Posted on October 29, 2023 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What does it mean to be a kid at heart?
View all responses

Heart-connection transcends personal viewpoints and cultural differences It reveals our shared humanity. Open your heart to people like a small child does. Be honest because deception is a heavy burden to bear. Choose to be happy. Avoid the wrongdoing and wrong thinking that produce guilt. Be kindly playful and pleasantly silly. Be a kid at heart.

Adulting isn’t the ultimate goal in life. Jesus Christ taught that we need to “change and become like little children.” He encouraged people to take “the lowly position” of a child, but what does that mean?

I don’t think Jesus was saying that we should hold on to immaturity and be trapped in it for life. I believe He was encouraging people to embrace the beautiful qualities of childhood: an open heart, honesty, happiness, innocence, playfulness, and wholesome silliness.

“Go directly to Jesus.” People, “even in Christianity, stop this side of getting in Christ and stay in themselves, in a system, in ritual, in rites and ceremonies.” – E. Stanley Jones.

True Christianity isn’t about a church search and a religious place to perch. Experience the risen Jesus. Learn to be continually conscious of His presence, power, and reality. Search: The Joy of Early Christianity.

Jesus isn’t on vacation. He’s not hiding in church buildings. He’s trying to reveal Himself to whoever will be a kid at heart and take the time to notice and enjoy Him.

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Posted in a little child shall lead them, become like a little child, original innocence | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Desperately needing spiritual awakening!

Posted on October 28, 2023 by Steve Simms

When church meets we’re rarely clothed with the mighty power and the life-changing presence of the living Jesus, but if anybody points that out, they’re criticized like the little boy in the story “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” How can we experience spiritual awakening if we won’t humbly admit that we desperately need it?

Christians say that Jesus is Lord but very few believe that the Lord is able to lead and direct a church service without a pastor programming and controlling it. Since Jesus is Emmanuel which means God with us, we should let Him supernaturally lead and direct us when we gather in His name.

Church meets like Jesus is merely a distant and powerless figurehead instead of the living present almighty Lord and Master. Because we don’t truly believe that we can fully trust Jesus to directly and personally lead a church service by Himself, we struggle trusting Him with everything else.

Church services are usually set up so that no one is allowed to depart from the program and freely speak up or pray as led by the Spirit. Thus, the Spirit is often quenched. It’s unbelief and cessationism to think that Jesus will no longer directly lead individuals (and His gathered body) by His Spirit.

Christians can assemble to be led by the risen Jesus anytime and anyplace. The New Testament doesn’t tell us to meet at a particular time and place.

Christianity is about learning to let the living Jesus lead and direct you from within. Many Christians want to find Christ in a religious organization, but our hope comes from connecting with “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

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Posted in revival, spiritual adventure, spiritual awakening | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

My wife Ernie

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
Describe a family member.
View all responses

Our world desperately needs more encouragement, compassion, and kindness. My wife Ernie spreads those qualities everywhere she goes and to everybody she meets. She overflows with words and actions that give people hope.

Ernie keeps her heart open. She listens to people and hears with sincere interest the things they have to say. She celebrates their victories and grieves with them during their losses. She speaks hope-giving words, and she takes people muffins and cookies and uplifting gifts. She writes notes and texts and email messages that are so powerful that many people treasure and keep them. She’ll spend as much time listening to people as they need.

One of the most powerful ways that Ernie encourages people is by praying with them. Her prayers are Spirit-led and full of insights that make people aware of the presence and reality of God.

Ernie loves the living Jesus with all her heart and works to keep her focus on Him throughout the day. She strives to stay sensitive to His presence and His voice. She lets Him prompt her and direct her moment by moment. In the midst of her own struggles and pains, she keeps her eyes on Jesus and His hope burning in her heart.

Ernie is always hungering and thirsting to know Jesus better. She regularly reads the Bible with an open heart and then tries to do what it says. She is always looking for opportunities to put the Bible into action.

Life with Ernie is fresh and exciting because, no matter what we’re going through, I see Jesus living in and working through her. What a gift she is to me and to all who know her.

Posted in encouragement, family time, inspiration | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Notice Jesus Now

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Steve Simms

Have you noticed?
Jesus is here,
Jesus is there,
Jesus is everywhere.

I woke up with this thought in my mind and heart this morning. “Christianity isn’t about a religious organization. It’s about daily surrendering to and being led by the living Jesus.”

God wants people to daily follow and obey the risen Jesus, not just to be a good member of a religious organization. He uses painful circumstances (that He doesn’t cause) to bring us to the point of brokenness and surrender to His presence and to His will. In addiction recovery that is called “hitting bottom.” When we are desperate and have nowhere else to turn, we are most willing to open up to the risen Jesus and let Him take full control of our life.

Notice Jesus now, right where you are! Why wait until you have tried everything else and are full of despair? Breathe in the air of Christ’s presence now. Refuse to let Jesus go unnoticed, unobserved, and unfollowed in your life.

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Posted in insight, rock of revelation, spiritual insight | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

I specialize in the food I most crave.

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What food would you say is your specialty?
View all responses

There’s a hunger that leads to ongoing joy, not just to the temporary satisfaction of a full stomach. There’s a thirst that releases continual flows of inner peace, not just the short-term soothing of a drink or two. I specialize in satisfying the hunger and thirst that is a deep inner longing in human hearts.

Most people are hungry and thirsty for meaning, purpose, and inner peace. However, we too often try to satisfy our search for significance with substitutes of food, drink, drugs, and various diversions and distractions.

There’s a deep inner craving that calls out for more to life! Accept no substitutes for your inner longing for serious significance. Seek and you will find. You can be filled with faith — the inner food that makes life meaningful. Taste and see beyond the natural with your heart, not just with your physical tongue and eyes.

Humbly open your heart and partake of the inner healing and comfort that God offers. Dare to ask God (whether you believe in Him or not) to show you the truth. Then start to notice what begins to happen in your heart, in your mind, and in your circumstances. You’ve tried everything else. Why not give God a chance?

Physical food will never fully satisfy our inner longing, no matter how great it looks. My wife and I recently feasted on giant nachos at a mall in Costa Rica, but as good as they were, the satisfaction they provided only lasted for a short while. However, we have both found amazing satisfaction, joy, and inner peace from the risen Jesus that has lasted for decades!

Posted in spiritual adventure, spiritual awakening, spirituality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Remembering Jesus Freaks

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What major historical events do you remember?
View all responses

I remember when millions of people were visibly excited about Jesus and talked about Him wherever they went. When I first started seeing people like that on my college campus, I was scared of them, and I went to extreme measures to avoid contact with them. Sometimes I would even hide from them.

But then one day I got too close, and I listened to two Jesus Freaks talking about how they met the risen Christ. In an instant something changed inside of me, and suddenly Jesus was real and alive in my awareness. I’ve never been the same.

The Jesus Movement continues in my heart throughout the day every day. Although it is now considered a historical event (watch the recent movie Jesus Revelation) Jesus is more real to me now than ever! I don’t just remember the amazing things I personally experienced and saw Christ do during the Jesus Movement. I continually experience His presence, His voice, and His actions in the present.

Christianity today
Is way too tame.
It’s stays stuck
In a religious frame
That keeps it the same
Week after week.
It’s time to proclaim
In Jesus’ name
That there’s so much more
And to boldly reclaim
The reality of Christ’s presence.

We’re usually unaware
Of breathing air
But if we don’t
We will die.
It may not seem fair
But the fact is there.
You may not be aware
But it’s not just air
That’s keeping you alive.
Refuse to let life’s glare
Distract you from Jesus.

Here’s my story. It still amazes me when I remember it.

Posted in experiencing Jesus, getting high on Jesus, Jesus revolution | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments