Stay cool to rule with King Jesus!

June 27, 2024

Hi All,

Happy you’re in the mix!

My encouragement is to stay with Jesus. He’s developing you. You’re connected to the real future. Never give up!

We’re questing to elevate our Christ-following, understand the times, and strongly impact our circles of influence for THE King.

This week:

> Kingdom dynamic: stay cool to rule!
> Higher thoughts: faith comes, true Father, #1 sign
> Word wealth: taste and evaluate
> Health & wellness: SAD — summer affective disorder?
> And more

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KINGDOM DYNAMIC
Stay cool to rule!

Our ability to rule with Jesus comes from walking closely with Him — we must stay cool to reign with King Jesus!

In Genesis 3:8, Adam and Eve heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.

They regularly walked with God in the cool of the day, and everything in their lives flowed from this cool walk. This intimate connection with Christ was the source of their authority and ability to execute dominion.

Imagine the clear, open relationship between the Creator and Adam and Eve before their disobedience.

Jesus is seeking his lost vice-regents

Unfortunately, because of their disobedience, they lost their authority and hid in shame.

This is a core aspect of human history—humankind hiding in shame instead of ruling over creation. How many historians recognize this?

As David writes, "You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion” (Psalm 8.5-6 NKJV).

Disconnected from Christ, we’ve lost our ability to rule on His behalf. We forgot our royal calling, and we are on the run.

But Christ is calling us back, searching for us as He did for Adam. His desire is to restore our lost dominion. “Adam, where are you?” Jesus is seeking His hiding vice-regents!

Do these words of Jesus have new meaning for you now? … “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 NIV).

Christ Coolness

Christ reconciles us to that cool place—walking with Him, connected and refreshed. It’s from this place that we can overcome the Enemy and live in the true authority of the King.

Don’t give in to being "hot"—anger, greed, lust, fear, anxiety, and turmoil. When we compromise our cool place with Christ, we react instead of reign.

Hell on earth is hot. Even a little heaven on earth is cool.

By renewing our clear connection with Christ, we can develop our dominion in all things.

Flow in the crystal clear, cool river of Christ and rule.

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RENEWING THE MIND
Higher thoughts

The voice: You can challenge UNFAITH, but you can’t force FAITH. Pray for others to hear the Living Voice of Christ and to have soft, receptive hearts. Faith comes. See Hebrews 4.7 and Romans 10.17.

The true Father: When you commit to follow Jesus, the Spirit of the Eternal Father is operative in your life. Of Jesus: “And his name will be called … Eternal Father …” See Isaiah 9.6.

Deception: The #1 sign of Christ’s coming and of the end of this age 👉️ deception. “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Jesus’ first statement in his teaching on the end of this age, Matthew 24).

WORD WEALTH
Taste

The O.T. Hebrew word "ta’am" (tah-ahm) means to taste, discern, evaluate. The meaning began with the tasting of food and expanded to mean testing and appreciating all good things. Psalm 34:8 captures this: "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good," encouraging us to experience the goodness of the Lord in our lives. Prayer: "Holy Spirit, help us to taste and discern what is best in our lives and work. For your glory."

Stephanie Rothman, Biblical counselor

STELLAR QUOTE
Prayers are eternal

E.M. Bounds was an American author, attorney, and a clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is best known for his work on prayer. He wrote 11 books, with nine focusing on prayer

HEALTH & WELLNESS
Extreme heat — summer affective disorder (SAD)?

When it’s scorching outside, it’s not just about being physically uncomfortable. The heat can mess with your mind and emotions too.

With record-breaking temperatures you might notice a shift in your mood.

Amruta Nori-Sarma from Boston University found that extreme heat significantly affects mental health. Her 2022 study showed more ER visits for mental health issues on the hottest days, ranging from anxiety and mood disorders to substance abuse and stress.

Extreme heat, like any pressure, can amplify underlying mental and emotional issues.

Alongside poor sleep, people feel more irritable, struggle with clear thinking, experience heightened depression, and even face a higher risk of suicide.

Heat impacts serotonin levels, the brain chemical that affects mood. It can ramp up stress and fatigue while dialing down feelings of joy and happiness.

• To cope, stay cool with plenty of water, shade from excessive sun, and seek air-conditioned spaces. Keep in touch with friends and family, and get support when needed.

• What gets you in your “happy space?” Try to concentrate on those things. Dial down negative news.

• Above all, find refreshment in prayer, Scripture, meditation, and your faith community to stay centered. Get to the “green pastures and still waters of rest” promised in Psalm 23.

Adapted from Why you feel grouchy on super hot days (Vox).

Go further: Understanding effects of heat on mental health (Mayo Clinic)

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