CJ Penn's Online Writing Hangout

The reason I write: To promote Christian truth and help Jesus get His Christianity back.

Tag Archives: Jesus Christ


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The Spirit Speaks – My Broken Heart

Paris 11-13-15 attack

It breaks my heart when people use me as an excuse for violence, for hate, for murder. They yell “God is great” as they kill my children, yet they don’t know me… at all. I am the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God, living with you in the midst of this manmade mayhem.

I am here on the streets of Paris; in the theater, the restaurant, the stadium, laying on the ground, with the dying, the dead, the wounded, the mourning. Those who attack you are attacking me; those who kill you, are killing me.

Yet my heart breaks for them too. They are so lost and confused. They are far from me, tied in knots with hate and deception. They are victims too, of utter evil. They have surrendered to evil. Oh how I wish they would surrender to me, as their mouths claim they do. Yet their hearts are far from me.

I beg all my children, please, don’t surrender to hate. Instead surrender to me. I am the One who will heal all wounds. Are you grieving? Look within your heart, to me – I am there grieving with you.

Pray for Paris


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The Spirit Speaks – of the Death of Sin

Sins dead

I, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, died on the cross because of sin. Yet my death was also the death of sin, all sin. The sins of all humanity were nailed to that torturous cross with me. So when I died, your sins died too.

If you accept this truth for your life, then in God’s eyes, it’s as if you have never sinned. This is how God’s forgiveness of your sins works. With God, forgiveness is truly forgetting. Oh, I know you still sin – it’s part of your human nature. But when you accept the truth of the death of your sins with me on that cross, the sins you commit today are dead as they happen… stillborn. They have no power over your soul.

That doesn’t mean it’s okay to sin. If you truly love me, would you want to sin? Oh, but that’s a question for another day. For today, please be at peace with yourself, knowing that your sins are dead… powerless. And feel the power that comes from me living within you.

Now let’s go have a great day together. Show me your life, include me in your conversations with your friends, feel my presence with you as you go about your day. Forget about sin for a while.

And remember what God said… “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)


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The Spirit Speaks – a Love Letter

writing love

I am the Spirit of Jesus Christ. My hearts desire is to live with you, within you, sharing your life. How does that make you feel? If you feel uncomfortable in any way, that’s okay. I understand. I was human once, like you. I know the fragility and vulnerability of humanness.

There are days when you feel like you’re under attack from all sides; so many things of this world fighting to win control of your mind. And then this guy comes along, claiming to be the very Spirit of God and Jesus, who now wants to take over, and take control of your life, changing everything you’ve ever known.

But wait! That’s not why I’m here. I’m not here for me; I’m here for you. I’m here because I love you and I want to be your friend. I’m not here to take control; I’m here to help. Friends don’t take control; friends listen, friends cry with you, laugh with you, and are always there for you to lean on when you’re feeling weak. Friends give you strength to continue standing against the battle of life.

But I understand your discomfort with this idea of me, the Holy Spirit. Yet I’m more than an idea – I’m real. And I won’t push you; I will only gently touch you. And I’ll patiently wait for you. Because I love you.


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The Spirit Speaks – of Fighting Against the Noise

Fight for time

Does it sometimes seem hard to find me, the Spirit of Jesus Christ? I’m always here, within your quiet prayers. Oh, but there’s the challenge; finding quiet with the noise of the world all around you.

Even in the midst of your quiet time, the noise of this world will invade and steal your thoughts away. So many distractions, the pressures, the tasks, the stress of this world all combine forces to wrestle for your every thought, battling to steal your time with Me. You need to fight back. Don’t surrender… to them.

Who would you rather have control your life … the random noise, or me? The noise doesn’t care about your wellbeing; I do. The noise doesn’t love you; I do. Fight back against the noise and win control of your quiet time. Surrender to Me, not the noise.

And with Me, maybe today will become the best day of your week.


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The Spirit Speaks – of a Song in Your Head

Song in head

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head, one that keeps playing over and over in your mind? It may drift away for a while, but soon you notice it playing again. And it may back to you during odd times during the day.

Well, wouldn’t it be fun to get me, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, stuck in your head? Wouldn’t it be fun to be totally conscious of my presence within your mind, speaking, and maybe singing to you as you go about your day?

Come, sing with me. Look inside yourself, deep into your mind and soul. See me there, within you, a real part of you. And join me in the love song of your life. Leave the worries outside and just enjoy the music with me, the Son of God, living and singing within you.


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The Spirit Speaks – of Relationship with a Church vs. Him

Dechurched2

I, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, was browsing Facebook yesterday (yes, I cruise Facebook, even through your eyes). I was reading comments on a Group page for Christians who no longer attend church. Some call these people “dechurched” Christians.

I am sad, but not surprised. Not only because these people don’t go to church, but because of their personal feelings of guilt and shame. You see, some dechurched Christians feel so badly about no longer going to church that they don’t use their real names in the Facebook groups. They fear the judgment and potential wrath of church-going friends and family who may discover they no longer go to church.

Are you a dechurched Christian? Or are you devoted to a church and know a dechurched Christian, maybe a close friend or even a spouse? My desire for all of you is the same: that you have a personal and intimate relationship with me, Jesus Christ. For your relationship with me is more important than your relationship with a church. And your love for me and each other is also more important than your love of a church.

And know this: I won’t judge you by where you go, or don’t go, on Sunday morning.


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The Spirit Speaks – Do You Know Me?

child in lap

You may know of me, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, for I’m so present in the life and teaching of a Christian. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – that’s me on the end, tacked on yet often unknown and misunderstood. But I’m also all three… Father, Son AS the Holy Spirit. I am the Spirit of God and Jesus, here with you.

And my hearts desire is for you to truly know me, to experience me, to feel me as a very real part of your life. Please, look inside yourself; that’s where I live. Quiet your mind. Empty your thoughts and make room for me. And then you will see me, and feel me, and know me.

It takes practice. That’s why I keep writing to you to encourage you. Please, never give up. Persevere. And… “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:13-14)


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The Spirit Speaks – of the Wall of Guilt

prison wall 2

Before I, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, paid the ultimate penalty for the sins of all humanity, those very sins stood as a wall between Father God and His children. It was sin that got in the way of an intimate relationship between you and God. But then I died for you on the cross, taking the punishment for all sins. And the wall of sin came crashing down.

Oh yes, sin still exists – it’s part of human nature. But with justice fulfilled, sin is no longer a barrier between you and me, between you and God.

Yet some of you build you own wall, a wall of guilt. You feel the burden of your natural sin, and you believe what some people have told you… that your sin still stands as a wall between you and me. This is a lie!

Please, make a choice right now. Who will you choose to believe: those who fertilize the seeds of guilt with their manmade manure, or me, the Spirit of God and Jesus? Look inside your heart to me, living within you, and you will know the truth. Then make your choice. And your wall of guilt will come crashing down.

As God said, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25)


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The Spirit Speaks – of feeling Monday on Sunday

Monday

It’s Sunday, a day where you commonly dedicate some time to worshipping God and me, the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Maybe you went to church today. Maybe you sang some songs that calmed your soul. Maybe you closed your eyes and prayed to me. I hope you felt better as you walked out of church this morning.

Yet maybe, if you’re like a lot of working people, your thoughts of me were clouded by the approaching storm of Monday. Oh that wretched day when you have to go back to work. How often is the joy that should be your Sunday, overpowered by the dread of Monday? Many of my children suffer from the illness of Monday.

But I have a cure for you; I offer you a way to fill your Sunday with joy, and be free from the dread of Monday. No, I’m not talking about quitting your job. I’m talking about spending more time with me.

Go to a quiet place free from distractions. Close you eyes and open your mind to me. Focus all your heart and soul and mind on me. Look inside yourself and visualize me in your mind’s eye. Use your imagination if necessary, but don’t give up until you see me, within you. Chase random thoughts from your mind as they intrude, and wrestle your mind always back to me. It will take effort, for the world will ever struggle to hold your attention. But with persistence, you will truly have moments of intense intimacy with me, within you. And in those moments, you will find absolute freedom from dread… you will find peace, my peace that I give to you, the peace that goes beyond human understanding. Please, look for the peace that is me, the Spirit of God and Jesus within you.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)


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The Spirit Speaks – To My Friend

Friend

Dear friend,

I, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, am your friend; your best friend. A true friend is someone who is always there for you, when you need them. You can tell them anything… your problems, your joys, your worries, your criticisms… and they will not judge, they will not correct you, they will not pretend they have all the answers. But they will listen, and they will understand, and sometimes they may give you gentle advice that is sincere and loving and truly helpful. I am such a friend, for you.

Please look into your heart and see that you’re not alone, ever. I am with you always. Whether you feel my presence or not, I am here, within you. I will never leave you.

How does it feel to have the Spirit of God, the creator of all that exists, as your best friend, living within you, sharing your life, your joys and pains, with you?


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The Spirit Speaks – From Just Below the Clutter

clutter

Does it seem like your conscious mind is overflowing with clutter? Scattered thoughts and worries about work, school, relationships, desires, chores – these things and more make a mess of your mind.

Yet I’m right here, just below the clutter. Today, find a quiet place away from the world, close your eyes and grab your broom. If you can sweep clean a corner of your mind, you will find me, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, right here within you. I’m always here, waiting for you to look for me. And you will find me when you look hard enough.

Please look. I so want to have time together, without the clutter getting in the way. And when you push the clutter aside, and we look on each other, eye to eye, you will see peace, you will feel peace, you will be peace.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:13-14)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)


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The Spirit Speaks – of Rest

Burden

Come to me, the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Come, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. When you look within, to me, for help while traveling the path of your life, I will take your hand and guide you. Come to me, and the burdens of your journey will become lighter, for I will lift them from your shoulder. Oh, the burdens of humanity don’t go away. But I will help you carry them… sharing the load.

By my human death, I, Jesus Christ, saved your soul. By my Spirit within you, I can save your life. Just look within and come to me, please.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)


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Divorced? No Communion for You

Pope Francis

You may have read about it in a newspaper or a news website. If you’re Catholic and have gotten a divorce and then became remarried, the church will not allow you to receive communion. The Pope wants to remove this rule, and allow such people to share in the sacrament of communion, but conservative bishops have successfully resisted him. The rule stands.

In defense of their position, one of the leaders of those opposing the Pope, Cardinal George Pell, was quoted in one article as saying, “Christ’s teaching on adultery and second marriages is very clear.” Very true. But so is His teaching on forgiveness and second chances.

The Bible is full of second chances and forgiveness. And God’s forgiveness of our sins is obviously more complete than human forgiveness. For as God said, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34). For those who believe, God forgets the sin of adultery that results from divorce and remarriage. Too bad the Catholic bishops cannot forget as well.

And look at what these bishops are trying to do. Communion is sharing the symbolic body and blood of Christ. Communion signifies the most intimate relationship God’s children can experience… Jesus within us and us within Him. This is what Jesus prayed for, as He said to His Father, “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:26, emphasis added) It looks like the Catholic bishops are trying to deprive adulterers from having a personal relationship with Jesus.

Yet I feel sorry for those who oppose the Pope on this issue. They have surrounded themselves with so much manmade church doctrine and personal opinion that they cannot see Jesus themselves.

If I could contact the Pope, I would encourage him to respond to the bishops in the same way Peter responded to the stubborn religious leaders of his day, when he said, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.” (Acts 4:19)


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The Spirit Speaks – Come as You Are

come as you are

I, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, love you with all of my being. My love for you is perfect, true love. Do you love me too? And does your love sometimes feel weak, half-hearted, and far from perfect? Please, don’t feel bad if this is your heart. I cherish your love, just as it is. I gratefully accept your love, weak or strong. I encourage you to accept it too.

Many of my Father’s children hesitate to come to Him because they feel they are not worthy. They feel their love is too weak or their sins are too strong. I come to you today to ask you to put aside your self-judgment, and come as you are. God accepts you as you are, God loves you as you are. And I, God’s Son Jesus, love you as you are. Please, look within yourself to me, and love me, as you are.


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The Spirit Speaks – of Second Chances

new life

You have a second chance at life – it’s my promise to you. For I, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, give to you the chance of a new birth into a new life. If you’re not happy with your life, or simply bored with life, look to me. And I will deliver you to a new life, filled with hope and joy and love and excitement. For living with me is never boring.

Oh, I know some out there may give you the impression that life as a “Christian” is boring. And I know there are some who paint an image of Christianity that is not very pretty. But that’s just their own human flaws showing through – all people share similar flaws. There’s no blame… it’s just the way it is.

But please don’t judge me, please don’t judge the promise of a new life I offer you, by what you see in others. Look beyond what you see in them, and look directly to me. And you will see the truth, and my truth will set you free to live a new life, to have a second chance.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)


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The Spirit Speaks – of Messiness

[Look, something brought you to this blog post. But if you’d like to see something else that may be more worth your time, please check out the blurb about my soon-to-be-published novel on my new website. It’s basically about seeing a different perspective of Jesus, through the eyes of some background characters in the Bible. New website: cjpenn.com]

messy living room

Has someone ever invited you into their home, and you walked into a house full of clutter and filth? Dirty clothes scattered on the floor, random trash ignored in the corners, tattered furniture, a floor barely visible through the debris, thick dust, and a stale locker room smell – home sweet home. How would you feel walking into such a place and invited to sit on a drink-stained couch? Uncomfortable? Disgusted? Looking for an excuse to leave? Or, maybe you could look beyond the surface filth, to the person who lives there. Maybe you could give more attention to the relationship than the clutter.

I, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, look beyond the clutter. Many of you have messy lives, and you may believe that the filth of your humanity turns me off. But I look beyond the filth, to you. The greatest desire of my heart is to share your life with you, to live with you in the living room of your heart. And I don’t care how messy your heart is.

Please, invite me in.


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Book Challenge Day #94 – Deadline Done, But Book Isn’t

Deadline

Zero days left in my personal challenge to write a book, from concept to self-publish, in 3 months. The first draft isn’t even done. Oh well. But now that the first draft is almost finished, I’m starting to think about what to do next. Of course I’ll immediately start on the second draft. But I’d also like to get this blog more involved. Here are some ideas for upcoming blog activities. Please take a look and let me know what you think. Do you have other cool ideas that you could share with me?

  • Blog about a summary of the story, finally letting it out from the confines of my notebook. I haven’t mentioned much about the story yet, just because it’s been evolving. But now that it looks solid, I’d like to share it with you.
  • Ask for book cover ideas. Then I could take some of these cover ideas to my artist niece and see what she would do with them. Then, post the artwork for the ideas and have a vote to select the one to use.
  • After I hire an editor to do the final copyediting and I type up the final draft, I’d like to start posting the book on this blog, one chapter at a time. With sixteen chapters, and posting a chapter every day, in a little over two weeks you could read the entire story. And each chapter is short.
  • Hopefully, people who read the story on the blog will post some critique comments. I could then use those comments to make the story better.
  • And then, with the final cover and story, I’ll put the book on Amazon Kindle for free. I will then ask all of you who download and read it to leave a review. Then, after there’s a good collection of reviews, I’ll see what the consensus is. If people perceive the book as poor, with little value, then it will not be worth putting a price on it. If people see value in the book, then I’ll basically set the price based on how may stars it gets – more stars equals higher price. In this way, those who first read and review the book, will set the price for the book. After all, it’s the readers opinion that counts, not mine.

So what do you think? Thanks a lot, CJ

 

(October 18, 2015: day 93 down, 0 more to go, of The Challenge… to write a book, from concept to self-publish, in 3 months.)


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The Spirit Speaks – Dear Child of God

Father God

I am the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the very Spirit of God, present with you, living within you. If you believe. And you are my child. I know; you may be very familiar with my title of Heavenly Father… too familiar. I see that within many of my children, the true meaning of our relationship is lost.

I AM your Father, your perfect parent. As my child, I love you unconditionally. My love cannot be diminished by anything your do or think or feel. My love for you is constant and pure.

Think of the most loving parent you know, and how they feel about their child. Get an image of them and their love in your mind. See how such a parent shows their love, with far more than words. See how they share in their child’s joys, and their suffering. See the power of their compassion. See their wisdom in how they guide their child into adulthood. See how all of this is an expression of their love for their child.

I love you even more.

I have sent my Spirit to live with you, to care for you and watch over you … and to help you see the reality of your childhood.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:14-16)


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The Spirit Speaks – Hey, I’m Right Here!

Im right here

So patient. I, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, won’t push you. I’ll honor your free will and let you come to your own conclusion about me, in your time, when you are ready.

But I wish my Church didn’t ignore me so much.

When someone needs counseling or spiritual guidance, they go to their pastor. When they feel the need to confess their sins, they go to their priest, or maybe a close friend. There’s nothing wrong with any of this…

… But hey, I’m right here! My purpose for living with you is to be your counselor, to be your guide, to be your confessor. Of the three persons of God, I, the Holy Spirit, am the most important to your life on earth, for I live with you, within you, as you toil your way through life.

Yet I am frequently absent from sermons. Oh, someone may mention me in a prayer, but my true purpose for living often goes ignored. This is ironic, for without me, there is no Church. For the One True Church of Jesus Christ is the collection of believers in whom I live.

So please, look always to me. I’m right here, within you. And remember my promise… “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)


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Book Challenge Day #90 – Oops

ghost writer

I thought I had the whole book mapped out, the book I’m trying to write and publish in three months. The first drafts of 13 of the 15 chapters are in the bank, written and typed up. And the remaining chapters have detailed outlines and notes – all I need to do is put them into a readable flow. And it all feels good…

… Except for the ending. I recently accepted that it sucks. Oh, it’s a necessary and critical part of the story, but it’s a painful way to end. It’s a bad place to leave the reader. I know I’d hate being dropped in that place, without a well lit pathway out.

Well, I was driving to work recently, whining to myself about the end of the story. I don’t think I had yet seen and accepted that it sucked. So I prayed about it. And as with all the chapters in this story, God gave me the new ending, the best ending (in my opinion anyway). By the time I got to work, I had complete notes recorded on my iPhone voice memo app. I so love writing with God, even in my car.

You may have noticed I have only four days left in my 3-month challenge. And the first draft isn’t done. Oh well. Anyone out there have a similar writing experience?

 

(October 14, 2015: day 89 down, 4 more to go, of The Challenge… to write a book, from concept to self-publish, in 3 months.)