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About the Book
"Christ in His Sanctuary" by Ellen G. White explores the significance of the sanctuary in the Bible and how it points to Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice and high priest. White discusses the symbolism of the sanctuary rituals and their fulfillment in the life and ministry of Jesus. She emphasizes the importance of understanding Christ's role as our mediator and advocate in the heavenly sanctuary. Ultimately, White's book highlights the central theme of redemption and salvation through Christ's sacrifice.
Jackie Hill Perry
Jackie Hill Perry has a way with words, and people canāt stop listening. A gifted poet, rapper, writer, and teacher, she has written books and Bible studies, released hip-hop albums, and taught at events, conferences, colleges, and coliseums all over the nation. Inspired by her powerful testimony of salvation and deliverance from a gay lifestyle and her teaching on the holiness of God, the word is out: God is good, He is Lord, and those who surrender to Him are made new.
The Power of God
Itās a message Jackie is passionate about because she knows firsthand the transformational power of Jesus Christ. She and her husband ā fellow spoken-word artist, Preston Perry ā met in 2009 while performing at an artistās showcase. Impressed with Jackieās poetry, Preston struck up a friendship that deepened over the years. Eventually, they began dating, which presented significant challenges but also great rewards. The Lord used Preston as a source of healing, and marriage forced Jackie to deal with hurts and fears sheād been reluctant to give to God. The couple, who reside in Atlanta, married in 2014. They are now the parents of three daughters: Eden, Autumn, and Sage; and are expecting a son.
A decade ago, Jackie could never have imagined marriage, motherhood, and ministry in her future. Violated and abandoned by men who should have loved and protected her, Jackie was hurting. Fear and distrust kept watch over her heart. Surrender wasnāt an option, even when a loving God promised her new life. Despite some exposure to church and to Scripture, Jackie was adamant that she would never submit to Jesus as Lord.
Her attraction to women started in early childhood and intensified during adolescence. Jackie finally gave in to same-sex desires, along with drugs and other habits that brought comfort, pleasure, and an emotional escape. Suppressing her femininity by wearing menās clothing and assuming the male role in dating relationships, Jackie says every area of her life was characterized by sin and rebellion against God.
Then one evening, 19-year-old Jackie felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Recalling the experience, she says, āIt was a God thing. No one can ever tell me that I saved myself. I had some understanding of Jesus and obedience and Christianity. But I sincerely wanted nothing to do with God on His terms.ā
Even as she resisted, Jackie clearly sensed the Lord speaking to her. āWhen He showed me that all of my sin would be the death of me ā that it was true that the wages of sin is death, but it was equally true that God offered eternal life if I would repent and believe ā I was compelled to trust Him. For the first time in my life, I knew that God was real and He was worth it. Just the day before, my heart was hard as a rock, and now I wanted Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit could have done that.ā
āFor the first time in my life, I knew that God was real and He was worth it. Just the day before, my heart was hard as a rock, and now I wanted Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit could have done that.ā
The Power of Words
Jackie dove into Godās Word and began discovering the woman He designed her to be ā mind, body, and spirit. Seeking to express herself in deeper, more artistic ways, she began writing poetry. Jackie didnāt shy away from revealing her past or the ongoing struggle with temptation and sin. Her poems unflinchingly spoke gospel truth and glorified God as the ultimate source of love and life. After connecting with the Passion for Christ Movement (P4CM), Jackie was asked to write a poem about being an ex-lesbian. Hesitant at first, she felt the Lord prompting her to move forward. Through its confessional lyrics and rock-solid theology, My Life as a Stud shined a spotlight on Jackieās conversion and marked the beginning of her public ministry.
āWhen My Life As a Stud came out in 2009, so many gay and lesbian people who didnāt go to church, didnāt trust Christians, and didnāt want to have anything to do with the Bible clicked on the poem and suddenly wanted Jesus. I realized God had given me this art form where Iām able to speak to peopleās hearts.ā
Since then, she has taken the message of Godās love to artist showcases, faith-based conferences, college campuses, and major media outlets. The foundation of her message is always the Word of God: In His goodness, God created male and female. As the perfect designer of gender and sexuality, God is worthy of trust and obedience. Although same-sex attraction is central to her testimony, Jackie emphasizes that the church should approach the LGBTQ community the same way it approaches other people. Everyone is created to be an image-bearer of the living God with a unique identity and great worth. Rather than labeling someone as āa gay friend,ā itās important to develop genuine, one-on-one relationships the same way Jesus did. By investing in authentic friendships, Christians will be able to share the gospel because theyāre actually modeling it.
The Power of Redemption
Jackie points out that being ādead in sinā goes far beyond someoneās sexual preference. Without Christ, people are lost in every way. But when Jesus gives new life, He forgives and redeems the whole person. She says, āGod saved me from sin, not just my sexuality. I was an all-around sinful person. In essence, sin was my lord. As much as I loved women in a lustful way, I also loved pornography and drugs, bitterness and unforgiveness.ā
Through discipleship, Jackie recognized the holistic nature of Godās redemption. āIāve learned that pride is one of my greatest struggles, even more so than same-sex attraction,ā she explains. āPride manifests itself in so many areas of my life, itās hard to keep up. God didnāt just rescue me from being gay. He saved me from believing Iām a better lord than He is.ā In response to the growing debate over same-sex attraction and the frequent questions she receives when people hear her testimony, Jackie wrote her first book, Gay Girl, Good God, to serve three core groups: people seeking to help and understand those within the LGBTQ community; people within the community who may disagree with some of her conclusions but are still intrigued; and people who are believers, yet have same-sex attraction and are trying to figure out how to love Jesus while dealing with those feelings.
When asked what she hopes the church learns from the book, she says, āI want people to see that how you reach the LGBTQ community is the same way you reach anybody ā with the gospel. The gospel is about God. The method shouldnāt be any different when youāre speaking to someone who is dealing with gluttony or lying or lust. Itās all the same. God is Lord, Heās Master, Heās King, Heās able to save. And the problem with sin is always a problem between us and God.ā
"God is Lord, Heās Master, Heās King, Heās able to save. And the problem with sin is always a problem between us and God."
The Power of Community
Jackie hopes the church will develop greater empathy for same-sex individuals and recognize how difficult it is to walk away from the gay lifestyle. She says, āItās not a random sin that is easily put off. The feelings are real, and it takes time and work and a long process of dying to self.ā Without a supportive church family to encourage and affirm her, the author might have fallen away. The first couple of years as a Christian were the hardest. Jackie had to learn to put off the old nature and put on Christ. The process required spiritual and physical discipline. She had to shop for womenās clothing, an experience that made her feel strange, vulnerable, and afraid.
Temptation was a constant source of condemnation, at times pushing Jackie into depression and doubt as she grieved over her sinful nature. After a decade of growing in Christ, Jackie still faces temptations but says theyāre more subtle and easier to flee. Instead of looking at women as objects of lust, she chooses to see them as image-bearers of God. In evaluating her walk with the Lord, she considers whether she is loving people well, growing in holiness, and bearing good fruit. And she looks to Jesus, who endured the horror of the cross because He loved God with all of His heart. Knowing Jesus didnāt want the cup of suffering, yet accepted it with humility, helps Jackie run the Christian race with endurance.
Endurance and spiritual growth became the inspiration for Jackieās second album, Crescendo, which was hailed as āstunning,ā āflawless,ā and arguably āthe best hip-hop album of the year.ā Although she began experimenting with rap simply for creative expression, Jackie soon saw it as another platform to share the gospel. When asked about the albumās title, the talented artist says, āIn music theory, ācrescendoā means the increase in sound. So I wanted to apply that to faith. When youāre in Christ, as your faith increases, your fruit should get louder. You love more, youāre more generous, more attentive to the needs of people. You listen well. Things begin to change as your faith becomes more evident.ā
She wrote the album to mimic that spiritual progression. The first track begins on a low note with āLamentations,ā a rap about the reality of sin and the tendency for Jackie to forget sheās been forgiven. Taking listeners through an honest exploration of spiritual growth, Crescendo ends on a high note, celebrating how the Lord saved Jackie through His gospel, initiated her Christian walk, and sustains her to this day.
The Power of Legacy
A gifted communicator and lyricist, Jackie isnāt just impacting culture with wordcraft. Sheās also building a spiritual legacy for her children. Because of her childhood trauma, the idea of raising daughters was terrifying. But sheās found so much joy in becoming a mom. Jackie says, āWhen I think of parenthood, I know Iām only called to steward these children and disciple them and hope they will love the Lord with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength. When I was carrying Eden, Titus 2 really spoke to me about the older women teaching the younger women.
"Once I realized what a privilege it would be to raise up a woman in my home, I welcomed the challenge.ā As Jackie reflects on the last decade, she gives God all the glory and praise. Without Christ, she wouldnāt have her precious daughters, would have missed out on beautiful friendships, and would never have experienced being loved by a man for the first time in her life. āIf God hadnāt rescued me, none of this would be possible,ā Jackie says. āLife still has its challenges, for sure. But itās better. Itās so much better.ā
This article courtesy of HomeLife magazine.
The Fruitful Empty Nest - Lessons for When the Kids Leave Home
We hugged, said our goodbyes and āI love you.ā He walked with us to the car, turned, and walked away. And as we sat there looking at his back, I cried my heart out. Our firstborn child was launched, and I felt like my insides were being ripped out. Two years later, we had a repeat. Once again, after goodbyes, āWe love you,ā and hugs, another son walked us to the car. Watching him as he turned and walked away, those same deep heart cries rose up in me. One last time, a few years later, goodbyes and āI love youā were said, and hugs were given. We went to the car and watched as our youngest son turned and walked away into his new life. And yes, we sat there looking at his back and I cried my heart out. Not that I would never see our sons again, of course. But when our kids left home, I was keenly aware that my life would dramatically change. For years I had anticipated this day and often thought I couldnāt survive the emotion of it all, but I did. Itās been many years now since those goodbyes. And today I am so grateful to God for his sustaining grace, and for the surprisingly sweet joys heās given in each season of life since. New Strength After Kids I had been a āfull-timeā mom, and so obviously when our sons left home, the whole structure of my life altered. No more hurried breakfasts to get out the door in the mornings. No games to go to late in the day. No large meals to prepare that would satisfy teenage boys. No kids hanging out at the house or event-planning with other parents. Oh, yes, life was going to be different, and I wasnāt at all sure I was going to like that! Early on after the kids left, I found myself on my knees before God with a kind of blank, empty feeling, when I found these words: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being. (Ephesians 3:14ā16) That good word assured me that God would fill me with his strength for the new season ahead. Six Lessons for Empty Nests We moms want to be good mothers, and we give everything we have to our children. As Christian moms, we feel a special calling to raise our children to love Jesus and follow him, which can seem especially weighty. And on top of it all, our identity can get so wrapped up in our children that we forget who we are. So when it comes time for the kids to leave home, itās hard! And itās sad. But we need not stay stuck in sadness. We can move forward into adult relationships with our children which have a sweetness all their own. āOur identity can get so wrapped up in our children that we forget who we are.ā If you are in the transition years, anticipating the day when your kids leave home, or are already adjusting to an empty nest, here are some practical steps that have been a great help to me. 1. Pray fervently. No doubt you have prayed for your children since before they were born. Keep praying! As you pray for your child who is no longer under your daily care, you will discover your prayers will become deeper and your relationship with both God and your child will be enriched. Remember, you can cast your anxieties on God, because he cares about you ā and your child (1 Peter 5:7). 2. Place your child in the arms of God. I never understood what it meant to ālet goā of my children. Then someone suggested, rather than letting go of my children to float out into some kind of never-never land, I can deliberately place them into the strong and loving arms of God where they are protected and cared for. āThe eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting armsā (Deuteronomy 33:27). This has been a great comfort. 3. Perspective helps. The aim of parenting is to raise little humans to become productive adults. Throughout the child-raising years, we want to create a nurturing environment so our children will develop and mature. We want our children to be adults. In a sense, we raise them to leave. 4. Prioritize your husband. While our kids are home, they often require the biggest chunk of our time and energy, but the priority still should be our husband. Make time for him when the kids are home, so youāll know each other when they leave. Have fun together now, so that you will enjoy each other later. 5. Personal development is essential. Take care of yourself ā physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Develop an interest or involvement while your kids are home that will carry over into the empty-nest years. One way to do this is to cultivate friendships and fellowship with other women in your church. 6. Plant yourself by streams of water. āA tree planted by streams of water yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not witherā (Psalm 1:3). Get rooted, and stay rooted, in Godās word, take delight in Godās Son, maintain fellowship with Godās people. When you do this over the years, you will be fruitful in every season of your life. Enjoy Being a Child Again Most Christian moms, like me, focus on Godās love for our children. We remind ourselves that God loves our kids more than we do ā and he does. We help our children understand and accept Godās love for them. But I discovered, when my boys left home, Iād nearly forgotten that God loves me, too. He cares about me. He knows my needs. He wants to bless me because I am his child. āI discovered, when my boys left home, Iād nearly forgotten that God loves me, too.ā Mom, if your kids have just left home ā or are soon to leave ā you are about to enter a new season with great potential for fruitfulness. As young women we bore the fruit of the womb. Then the childrearing years were full of great blessing, energy, and vitality. These years were times of hope, of spring and the warm summer sunshine. But, surprisingly, the empty-nest years can be a very productive and fruit-filled season, too. When kids leave home, parenting takes on new and rewarding dimensions. Daily life is different, for sure, but you are still, and always will be, your kidsā mom. In fact, you no doubt will discover as I have, that as the years move on and you and your kids grow older, your relationships will deepen and enrich on many levels. At the same time, fruit that you bear in this new season of life can have an even wider impact now as you stay connected to your local church. Look for ways to be involved with the younger women in your church. You are a seasoned woman who can nourish the upcoming generation of women. Be encouraged, dear mom. God is with you and loves you through every season of life. He will not forsake you. He wants to bless you and make you a blessing! O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. (Psalm 71:17ā18) Article by Linda Linder