Christmas Eve Service at NewSpring Church

I have debated in my heart and prayed about how to respond to articles and blogs that I have seen that present Pastor Perry Noble of NewSpring Church in Greenville, South Carolina as a false teacher and heretic. In particular, there have been blog posts made that target his teaching at the Christmas Eve service, questioning its biblical truth. I feel led to simply share our experience of the Christmas Eve service at Newspring. First, let me say that my family is not a member of Newspring Church. Until Christmas Eve of 2014, we had never heard a single sermon from Perry Noble, at least not to my knowledge. I am in no position to defend Newspring Church or Perry Noble nor am I in any position to persecute the church or its pastor. I have heard from friends that attend Newspring and have seen on facebook the praise that he receives for his sermons and teaching. I have also seen and heard the cries that this man is a heretic, false prophet and a tool of Satan. However, our goal for attending Newspring on Christmas Eve was not to see and hear Perry Noble preach and it was also not to seek out ammunition to charge this man with heresy. We went to worship and praise God for the gift of Jesus Christ.

We were spending Christmas week in Myrtle Beach away from our home church but wanted to worship on Christmas. So after doing some searches of local churches, we felt led to give the Myrtle Beach campus of Newspring a try. Now, some articles I have seen online claim that in this service, Perry Noble attempts to rewrite the Ten Commandments. However, this was not the message I received at all. In fact, the spirit opened my eyes to some truths about the bible that I had not noticed before or at least needed to be reminded of. I do believe that the 10 commandments were laws given to the people of Israel by God through Moses, just as I believe there are many commandments given to us throughout the old and new testaments. Jesus tells us to love one another...that one right there is enough to exclude most of us from being perfect. How many of us have those few people in our lives to whom we honestly just cant seem to show love? I know I do. But the measage I received from God was that there is more to the bible than a set of rules or commands. Am I, as a Christian, not allowed to pray a prayer that says, "Father God, fill me with the Holy Spirit today. I find myself looking on Facebook at the things my friends get to do and have. The bigger houses, the newer cars, the trendy clothes for their kids and I find myself angry and jealous that I cant afford to give these things to my family. Father, fill me with the spirit so that you can change my focus to be thankful for what you have given me and remove my anger and jealousy in Jesus name Amen." And can we not pray a prayer that says, "Father fill me with your spirit because I recognize the things in my life that have become idols. These things I place above you. My job, my family, my desire to go deer hunting or watch the NFL playoffs instead of coming to worship you. Remove these idols from a position that is above you and restore in me the desire that in all things I will worship and praise you first in Jesus name amen."

These are the promises that God opened my eyes to because if I can't pray these prayers and KNOW that God will answer them, then two things are true. One, I will fail and two, what Jesus did on the cross was a scam. Jesus died not just to forgive our sins but to free us from sin. We are a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). But if I have to rely on myself to denounce sin and worldly ways, I will fail. If it is up to me to follow the commandments of the bible then all hope is lost for me. But God promises that along with these commands, he can give us the strength and power through the holy spirit to follow his word and the example given us through the life of Jesus. That is the message I received from God through the Christmas Eve service at Newspring. That by saying yes to Jesus, we say yes to God's holy power through the spirit to live a life that glorifies him. And that is promised to me by GOD.

That is also the message that my 11 year old son Drew received that night. My son gave his heart to Jesus at that service. He didnt give it to Perry Noble or Newspring (nor was he asked to do so)....he gave it to Jesus. He prayed a prayer. I dont know what he prayed exactly because quite frankly that is a private conversation between he and his creator. But as I was praying, I felt a tug on my arm and I looked down and my son had written his name on a little name tag they had in the bulletin. He whispered to me "Mom, I said yes to Jesus." He turned and tugged on his father's sleeve and told him the same thing. He then got up and without asking any of us to go with him, he stepped out into the aisle and with a big smile on his face walked to the front and placed his name tag on a poster that said "Yes". What a bold, public profession of faith! When he came back I looked into his eyes. I saw Jesus in his eyes. Growing up in church, I have seen hundreds of people make decisions for Jesus and the ones that are truly real, you can see something in their eyes and that something is Jesus. I praise God for that. My family, all four of us, will be in heaven.

The spirit moved in that service. I can't tell you about Hebrew words or Jewish teachers or if Perry Noble wants to rewrite the bible as these articles claim. But I can tell you that in that place, on that night, the spirit moved and people were saved. For that, every christian should rejoice and for anyone to say that it wasn't God and that it wasn't real....thats the real heracy.

Be very careful who you call a false teacher. Again, I make no defense for Perry Noble because I dont have enough experience or knowledge to do so just as I dont persecute him for the same reasons. But just remember that the Bible is full of men who were different that preached the word of God. Imagine a man wearing woven camel hair, with long scraggly hair bursting into a church in the middle of a preacher's sermon shouting about the coming of the Lord. I would guess that 98% of these churches would have the volunteer security committee jump up and escort him out yet God used such a man in John the Baptist to precede the coming and announce the arrival of the King of Kings. We should be careful who we lable a heretic or false teacher and have God given assurance that our accusations are true. Otherwise, we are the enemy. We fight a battle against one of our own. I believe the military calls it friendly fire. Just be sure....

As for me, I will rejoice in the fact that the Lord knocked...and my son answered and I thank God that my son heard HIS message and responded to HIM. I am also thankful that we were led to attend the Newspring service. Had we not, that decision may not have ever been made. Had we said "No God.....I want to go to another church because I have heard from other people that their preacher is not a man of God" my son's salvation would have been placed in jeopardy. I apologize to no one for following where God leads me.

Blessings,
Dalinda

Make Sure Your Vacancy Sign Is Always On

Each of us is an Innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus. - Neal A. Maxwell

God will never force Himself on us. Jesus knocks on the door, but leaves the decision on whether or not to open that door to us. Sadly, I think about how many things I must have missed out on. How many times has God come knocking on my heart only to discover I have left no room for Him? God’s plan will be carried out regardless. I am the one that missed out on the blessing of being able to participate in that plan.

Don't miss being a part of God's plan. There is a man in the Bible that almost missed Christmas. His name was Joseph. It wasn't because he was distracted with holiday parties, visiting relatives or completing his shopping list. He just couldn't see how his current circumstances were part of God's plan for his life. 

If Joseph had walked away from Mary, he would have missed Christmas. And he would have missed the life-defining lesson that God's plans aren't always logical in human eyes, but they can always be trusted. 

What at first looked like a huge problem, a troubling circumstance, a total reputation-wrecker to Jospeh, turned out to be the most glorious things in his life when seen from God's perspective. 

God's ways are not our ways. And sometimes in our greatest difficulties we find our greatest opportunities and blessed responsibilities. 

Make sure your vacancy sign is always on! 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Surviving The Holidays And The Blindside Reminders

There is an expectation during the holidays that people should be cheerful. But for those of us who have experienced loss during the holidays, the Holidays can create fresh memories of our loss and a fresh experience of pain and grief. The thought of facing another holiday season causes some people to wish they could sleep from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving until January 2. Loss is always hard, and at the holidays it can seem crushing. The thought of being in a festive mood for two months is just too much to bear when our heart is breaking.

During the holidays, we must navigate a difficult path in deciding how to handle decisions about family activities and rituals. I decided to attend my husband's side of the family Christmas party, just three days after I buried my mother. This was a terrible decision because I was not ready to be around a lot of people, nor did I feel like pretending to be in a festive mood. Well what do you know,  I did the very same thing four years later, after my father passed away. So now, during the holidays, I am often hit by powerful feelings that are evoked by some reminder of the loss. I like to call these "blindside reminders",  if you will. For me, doing the usual traditions and celebrations makes the loved one’s absence all the more painful.

The past few Christmases we have done things a bit differently. Last year, we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Great Wolf Lodge and then headed to the beach Christmas Day night. We had a blast! And it made it much easier for me to deal with my parent's absence by doing something other than the normal routine.

My advice to those dealing with loss during the holidays, whether it's been 6 days, 6 months, or 6 years since you lost your loved one: Allow yourself to grieve. American culture has a tough time with death. For some reason, there is pressure to get on with life within a year after a loss. That expectation is unrealistic and unfair. Most people take three to five years to fully accept the loss of someone they loved. If someone dear to you died during this past year, remind yourself that it’s normal and healthy to want to bow out of some of the events of the winter holidays that emphasize family and togetherness when you are feeling alone in a new and painful way.

- Let others know that you may not be able to do the things that you have done in the past.

- Avoid social events that seem more like an obligation.

- Accept that feelings of anguish are difficult to avoid during the holiday season. Do not expect too much of yourself, and recognize that you are doing the best you can.

I want to love the Christmas season again. I really do! And I believe I will love Christmas again one day. It’s helpful for me to do some things that aren’t shadowed by the fact that the last time we did them, the deceased person shared it.

It is very important to remember that when people are already experiencing the great stress of grief, the additional strains of the holiday season can create distress that is almost unbearable.

Time does indeed heal most things. But everyone has his or her own sense of timing. If this is your first holiday season since the loss of a loved one, give yourself permission to feel what you need to feel and do what you need to do to get through it. Find ways to honor the memory of your loved one and to accept the support and care of those who love you.

Blessings,
Dalinda

For Me, The Game Of Pretend Equals Suffering

Yesterday, I released myself from a toxic situation. I am so tired of pretending that everything is okay to appease everyone else. It’s beyond exhausting!

Some people think there is bravery in hiding your emotions and courage in pretending as if everything is dandy and that the world is your oyster. 

Pretend as though everything is “fine”? No thanks. Just hearing the word “fine” triggers a bit of anger in me. How many times did I answer the question, “How are you?” with “FINE”, when in fact, I was far from feeling fine! I quit. I quit the game. The game of pretend is over for me. I refuse to do it. I choose healthy behavior, and pretending is not a part of healthy behavior. I've spent years playing the “fine” game, and it is a really unhealthy game. I understand why we do it. We do it to avoid having to feel the truth of any given situation. We do it to avoid being vulnerable. Most of us have been trained well at the game of pretend. Yesterday, I changed the rules. Many people around me will most likely not be too happy. That’s okay. If they choose to continue playing, that is their choice. For me, the game of pretend equals suffering. I no longer choose to suffer. I chose the path of looking at my life and feeling the pain that was blocking my authenticity. I chose the path of truth. In order to be authentic, we have to feel. We have to be real with the emotions that come up in our lives.

In this situation, I will most likely be viewed as the person who "rocked the boat"  And really, “rocking the boat” to me just means I started speaking up and saying what is true. I think of this as a positive thing, but not everyone will agree. Some are not yet willing to own their actions. But that doesn’t mean I am going to stop saying what’s true for me. And it doesn’t mean I will go back to pretending all is well. 

I have to take care of myself. I will allow people in my life who are authentic and respectful of the real me. They love and support me for who I am. They encourage me and lift me up. They show up for me in ways that I never thought possible. 

Pretending is a strategy that won't effectively solve your problem. Some people believe mistakenly that by pretending, or ignoring issues that need be addressed, everything will work out. The maxim fake it till you make it, if you will. Or, the idea that if you just act positively and think positively all will be well. Most of these situations stem from our tendency to avoid pain and discomfort in the moment. We don’t want to do the difficult work that is required to have happiness. Unfortunately, happiness doesn't result from living a life where we have constant pleasure, but from thoughtful and intentional choices and lifestyle. 

Everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made. If you want a different result, make a different choice and move forward. ✞ 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Take Time To Pray

God's been teaching me a lot about His strength in the past few years. He's been showing me that so often we go at it backwards. When you want to be first, you need to be last. When you want to be at the top, you need to start at the bottom, and when you want to be strong, you must admit you are weak. Only then can we create room for God to work in us and FOR us. ✞

Blessings,

Dalinda

Let Jesus Take The Wheel

Sometimes we allow stress and fear to take the wheel, even though we know better.  The Word reminds us that “The Joy of the Lord is our strength”.  This doesn’t just mean in the easy times.  This is at all times. He promises to meet us, even in those times that seems like we are alone.  When we give our burdens over to Him, we too, can sing praises in “our jail cell”. 

If you are believing God for something don't put Him in a box, let Him take the wheel. Ask according to HIS will and watch Him bless you above and beyond!!!

Whatever it is that you are believing God for, He is able to give you far MORE than you can possibly imagine.  Too often we pray for such and such and God is wanting to give us more.  I think all too often we put a limit to our blessings because we see with finite minds when God sees infinitely! 

Blessings,

Dalinda

Are You Feeling Defeated And Discouraged?

In this life, we all yield to something. We give way to pressures or duties or calls or desires, but we all give way to something. 

Sometimes we lose our perspective, we get defeated and discouraged. We order fattening pizzas and awkwardly burst into tears. And so God uses His Word and the encouragement of others to get us back on track to remind us to keep doing the things He has called us to do.  

It is obvious to me at the moment, that God wants me to be patient. He wants me to have a better attitude in the waiting. He wants me to inhale, exhale, and praise Him and show faith by waiting with a heart that KNOWS the Lord will not let me down. He wants me to exude patience! He wants me to "talk" and "walk" faith in the waiting. 

Thank you, Father, for doing the most remarkable things, in spite of my very unremarkable faith. ✞ 

Blessings,

Dalinda