You are faithful. Every Sunday, you meander in to the “Church in any City, on any corner.” You mingle with a few people in the lobby before heading in to the sanctuary. If you are really spiritual, you will walk around the sanctuary and pray that the Lord would “have His way” during the service. Depending on which auxiliary you serve in, you take your post and you seek to do it wholeheartedly; as unto the Lord. The service begins the same as it has last Sunday and the Sunday before that and the Sunday before that. A prayer to open the service, praise & worship, some church announcements, the choir sings, another prayer, then tithes & offering, the choirs sings again before the preacher, the preaching, invitation to “accept Christ” and join the church and maybe another song to wrap things up. Depending on how long you’ve been a member there you will either head straight on out the door after service or you might stay and mingle a bit with those that you know. Some services are better than others. Some songs are better than others. The preaching might be better this time than the last. The Spirit (or a "spirit") might move a bit which causes more people to join the church or some might have quite emotional outbursts, but for the most part it’s the same ole routine.
Throughout the week you will probably attend some sort of mid-week service or a ministry meeting or two if you have become more involved with the church. Your church may even have cell groups focusing on a certain predetermined curriculum. You may or may not have relationships with other members outside of these services or meetings but there usually isn’t much significance to them unless you have really become friends or if the church has assigned you a mentor or accountability partner.
It all seems good until one day you feel stagnant. Stuck. You're not growing spiritually. You feel like you aren’t enjoying church very much anymore and you can’t seem to “tap in to God’s presence” during the worship portion of the service. And the sermons, well, haven’t I heard this before? You don’t really feel much of anything anymore and the harder you try to “press in”, the further it seems God gets. You just can’t seem to get yourself hyped for these things and you feel like you need a break from it all so you take a week or two off from the weekly activities, but you wouldn’t dare miss church on a Sunday because that would only speak for your lack of dedication and doesn’t the Bible say that we should not become weary in well doing or forsake the assembly?
This is all you have known since you’ve become a Christian, but what else is there? With a pure desire to please the Lord, you earnestly serve your church believing this is the pinnacle of your Christian existence and the key to breaking out of your spiritual rut so to speak. You never learn much of the pure basics of the faith and you struggle with things that you probably shouldn’t be struggling with at this point in your walk but don’t feel comfortable enough with your "brothers and sisters" to tell them you need help. After all, you don’t want them to judge you (or spreading your business) and they definitely don’t want you judging them. You notice many struggles (dare I say blatant and unrepentant sin) in the life of your pastor and other ministry leaders as well which spills over to the members, but who are you to say that they need deliverance or anything else from the Lord. It is not your place…the Lord will deal with them. You just continue to lift them up in prayer. Besides, you don’t really know them anyway and it’s not your responsibility. So long as you do what you are supposed to do and that is go to church and give them your ALL! (I mean give the Lord your all). This is ministry…..probably about as good as it may get.
You are dying on the inside. The very environment that you are in does not foster any spiritual growth and it is painful. You don’t know what to do but seek another church to fill the void that this one has left you with. Finally, one day, you find a church that seems to have all the right things going for them. Loving people with a heart set on serving and pleasing the Lord, and a pastor that seems caring and interactive. The teachings seem to be a bit more challenging spiritually and you think this is the spot. You even do a bit of outreach here and there. Your relationship with the Lord could very well sky rocket here and you will reach the proverbial “next level in God” that you and everybody else have been trying to get to. The last church wasn’t as spiritual as this one. They sinned a lot and made a lot of excuses for their sin. This one calls out sin and has even set parameters (fear tactics) for you to follow so you don't fall into sin. Most importantly, they have taught you how to submit to leadership. (Make sure you don't put your mouth on the man of God. That's rebellion and witchcraft and the Lord just might kill you for that). Finally, something new. Something fresh. This is right where you need to be.
After some time, when the high has worn off, you realize this is no different. The details may vary but you are left in the same state. Sure, you’ve learned a few more things and met some really cool new people, but it is all the same. There has got to be a problem with you. The last place wasn’t good enough and now this place isn’t either. You have strayed from God. You are rebellious in your heart and don’t want to submit to authority. That’s what you have been convinced of. You’ve heard it preached from the pulpit so many times. The man or the woman who is no longer “on fire for the Lord” in services is a sure sign of a backslidden state. Woe unto you!
Again, your desire to please the Lord has failed. You are not steadfast. You have no endurance. What do you do?
Well, I don’t know what you should do but I will tell you what I did.
First, I started to ask the Lord questions without fear. Lord, why do I feel this way? What is the issue with me? Why can’t I just “get with the program”? Is it okay for me to feel this way? Are these teachings what you taught?
Ultimately, it was revealed to me (by the Lord Himself) that I was looking to church to fulfill what only the He could fill. I had the incorrect view of what church really was and what it was supposed to be. I was also shown that Christ's teachings were at conflict with this “system” and it would be impossible to reconcile being free from it and being a part of it at the same time. My desire for Christ had surpassed what these churches and services could offer me, but I didn’t know any other way. My pursuit of Christ had always been confined by the church and its beliefs and not by the Spirit or the Scriptures. In essence, there was nothing wrong with me. Everything was right and going exactly as planned to help me make my great escape! Escape from Churchianity and into the bosom of Christ! And that was the beginning of a long, and admittedly, hard road.
What I have described above is ritual and routine that stems from religion. Pretty much all religions. It may be packaged differently depending on the religion and even denomination within Churchianity. Trust me…this will get you nowhere with God. It will be as if you are walking in circles. It is quite insane and you know what the definition of insanity is. We serve a God that wants us to know Him just as He knows us. No ritual, no routine, no performance or man pleasing required.
Do not wait for the pastor or preacher to tell you what to do nor should you allow the environment of whatever ministry you attend to determine or set the standard for your walk with God. Pursue the Lord first and foremost with your whole heart. The Lord WILL connect you with like-minded believers when He sees fit. Sit as His feet, let Him teach you, cry out to Him. Trust Him in the wilderness. He will provide for your food. He will answer your questions and wipe your tears. It will all come to make sense as you continue to seek Him for His perfect will. You will see what the Church truly is and Christ's direct role in and above the Church and everything will flow from there. You MUST start with Christ as the head and allow things to be worked out from there. You cannot begin with man and think it will get you to Christ. And do not become weary in well doing for you will reap a harvest if you do not faint.
Look to Jesus, the AUTHOR and FINISHER, of our faith. He will never lead you astray.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
T.V.
You don't always need the TV on. For what does it profit you? Feeding you with food that provides no nourishment. You don't always have to have the TV on; to distract you from your flaws and perpetuate them all at the same time. You REALLY don't need to have the TV on; to poison your mind with a poison that doesn't kill immediately...it lingers to torture you slowly...almost painlessly until you just give in. As a matter of fact, TURN THE TV OFF and listen to what your brother has to say and just reflect on your day...because I am sure you missed something important. Your daughter is crying and wants to play, but instead...you turn the TV on (or it turns you on) and you tantalize and titillate one another until your senses diminish and the picture fades. And the only thing that's real to you is what comes out of that box. READ A BOOK!
Love Letter
I was looking through a box and found an old journal that I used to keep. I ran across two short pieces that I wrote like back in 2008 or so. The first is entitled "Love Letter." Here it goes:
If I wrote you a love letter, it would say this:
I haven't the words to put together to accurately proclaim my love.
You are the fresh breath that I've needed and never will I forget, My Love, that the sun rises with you and all things live for you, My Love. And there is nothing, I mean nothing that can ever replace your love.
It is deeper than the deep and wider than all that is wide. It is true, it is pure, it is undying. Unselfish, selfless and relying.
I could have sworn I had found you before when deception I lived for, but I was only living a lie time and time again.
I nearly gave up, My Love. But you sought me out with your love and gave me the Reason to love....My Love.
Freely I give you me to love unconditionally because without you....there is no me.
That's what I would say in my love letter to you, Jesus.
If I wrote you a love letter, it would say this:
I haven't the words to put together to accurately proclaim my love.
You are the fresh breath that I've needed and never will I forget, My Love, that the sun rises with you and all things live for you, My Love. And there is nothing, I mean nothing that can ever replace your love.
It is deeper than the deep and wider than all that is wide. It is true, it is pure, it is undying. Unselfish, selfless and relying.
I could have sworn I had found you before when deception I lived for, but I was only living a lie time and time again.
I nearly gave up, My Love. But you sought me out with your love and gave me the Reason to love....My Love.
Freely I give you me to love unconditionally because without you....there is no me.
That's what I would say in my love letter to you, Jesus.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Reflections
Why good morning to you this morning! I am up a bit earlier on a Saturday than I am usually accustomed to. My daughter (YES, I said my daughter) wanted to wake up so I have been up for the past hour or so.
There have been quite a few changes since my last entry. All changes for the better I would say but these changes did not come without challenges. I just thought I would take a few moments to jot down a bit of what has happened.
Well, the first MAJOR change (which I mentioned in the first sentence) is I had a baby! I remember a post awhile ago saying how ready I was to bring a little one in to the world. Shortly after that, I found out I was pregnant. Now, she is already 8 months old. My how time flies! And we love her dearly. She is so much fun and enjoyable. I am sitting here feeding her breakfast in between typing spurts as we speak. The thing I love about her the most is she is always (at least 90% of the time) happy and smiling! Someone said, "This baby has the joy of the Lord!" All I could say was AMEN! That she does and through her God has given us even more of His joy and love. Praise the Lord for little Charity!
Another change that we have undergone is my husband and I have decided to no longer "attend" church services, but we are beginning to understand what the Lord meant when He said He was building His Church! I will most definitely do a separate blog post for this one because it was quite a journey! QUITE a journey. A time of real spiritual testing (and still is at times). I will say that it all started when I began asking all those questions and feeling awkward about the ministry we were attending at the time. Its funny how you start at point A and end all the way up at point Y without even intending to be there or knowing that its even where you are going. While the first change was probably the biggest, this one here was and is probably the most rigorous and challenging. Even more so than child birth....Well, at least it felt like it at times.
My marriage is wonderful. I mean it has always been, but it seems to just get better and I thank the Lord for that.
Ok, so Charity is getting a bit fussy. I am going to tend to her and get back soon.
Until then.....
Hold tight. Stand Strong. Rejoice for the Lord is doing some great and mighty things!
There have been quite a few changes since my last entry. All changes for the better I would say but these changes did not come without challenges. I just thought I would take a few moments to jot down a bit of what has happened.
Well, the first MAJOR change (which I mentioned in the first sentence) is I had a baby! I remember a post awhile ago saying how ready I was to bring a little one in to the world. Shortly after that, I found out I was pregnant. Now, she is already 8 months old. My how time flies! And we love her dearly. She is so much fun and enjoyable. I am sitting here feeding her breakfast in between typing spurts as we speak. The thing I love about her the most is she is always (at least 90% of the time) happy and smiling! Someone said, "This baby has the joy of the Lord!" All I could say was AMEN! That she does and through her God has given us even more of His joy and love. Praise the Lord for little Charity!
Another change that we have undergone is my husband and I have decided to no longer "attend" church services, but we are beginning to understand what the Lord meant when He said He was building His Church! I will most definitely do a separate blog post for this one because it was quite a journey! QUITE a journey. A time of real spiritual testing (and still is at times). I will say that it all started when I began asking all those questions and feeling awkward about the ministry we were attending at the time. Its funny how you start at point A and end all the way up at point Y without even intending to be there or knowing that its even where you are going. While the first change was probably the biggest, this one here was and is probably the most rigorous and challenging. Even more so than child birth....Well, at least it felt like it at times.
My marriage is wonderful. I mean it has always been, but it seems to just get better and I thank the Lord for that.
Ok, so Charity is getting a bit fussy. I am going to tend to her and get back soon.
Until then.....
Hold tight. Stand Strong. Rejoice for the Lord is doing some great and mighty things!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Awkward Position
Have you ever been in a place (physical, mental, spiritual or where ever) that has been so uncomfortable that you felt as though you were barely able to function? Every movement, every thought, every prayer just seemed so out of place. Well, if so, I can definitely relate.
I am serious about the things God, if not just for the the fact that God is serious about them too. I do not take things lightly and I appreciate genuineness when it comes to dealing with the people of God. My life belongs to Christ and I desire to know HIM for who He is. Sound familiar, relatable. Well Praise God that He has given us a heart after Him. What's so awkward about that you ask?
Deep Breath: Here goes. I have been involved with a ministry for about the past year and a half. Like so many, I was hungry for more of God. I wanted to experience more of God and be among those that do more than just pay Him lip service. I desired genuine fellowship and love amongst the saints and just something more. What more I could not clearly articulate but there was a longing in my spirit. I did not feel that the church I was attending at that moment was fulfilling that desire in me so I ventured on from one church to another, convinced that the Lord was leading and even convinced that my fiance' at the time about the same. At first it was all gravy. The praise and worship was liberating. I'd even let go and danced before the Lord. The preaching was very simple and easy to grasp. I witnessed people operating in giftings that were not widely used in the last church. My fiance' and I were able to minister and serve at a capacity that we hadn't at the last church. The people were loving and the pastor was giving. There were things happening there that I had NEVER heard of in my life. Was this the "something more" that I was desiring? Had the Lord answered my prayer?
Let's focus on this line: things that were happening that I'd never seen or heard of. For a few months things were all good. A-okay. Oh but then, silly me, I started to question some of these things. Not because I doubted them, but because I wanted to know what God's Word said concerning these things. As I started on my journey excited to see what the Lord had to say in favor of these things, I began to realized that some of what I was hearing and seeing did not line up with Scripture. And while I have a relationship with the Lord to where I know I can pray and He will answer, I still wasn't very sure. I am, by no means, a Bible scholar so I wanted to dig a little deeper and see if there were others that were experiencing and believing the same sorts of things. To my surprise, this thing was bigger than I thought! Much bigger, and the more I saw the more skeptical I became and the more I studied the Word the more I was convinced that I was amongst a people that were following after things that they shouldn't. What a pickle!
So now you see, I am still there. My fiance' and I have since married. The people are still loving, the pastor is still giving, the teachings and experiences are still occurring (or at least the claims are being made) and I am growing more and more intolerant of this nonsense. I have had several moments of just crying out to God asking Him to make it all a bit more bearable for me. My husband loves the ministry and I would hate to deprive him of that (especially if he feels he is growing in the Lord). He is not really akin to a lot of the experiences but he holds to the teachings (which aren't all bad) and who can blame him really. If you commit yourself to a ministry you would hope you could consume of what is being offered. Plus he enjoys the opportunity to serve.
Some days are good. Some days not so good. I have gone through many feelings of doubt about my relationship with the Lord while involved with the ministry. I never felt that I wasn't "saved", but I have often felt that I did not have enough faith or was being critical and judgmental or was just plain rebellious and carnally minded. Not able to discern the things of the Spirit. It seems like it would be easiest to just go with this flow, you know. But I cannot. Something won't let me. Some would say its the devil, others would say that I'm battling with my fleshly reasoning and doubt. Very few would say that the Holy Spirit is doing a work in me, but that's what I believe. I cannot submit or fully commit to something that I feel is not of God. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying everything about this ministry is not of God but I feel quite a bit of it is a bit suspect and contrived if you ask me. And while I admit that I would still, in a sense, consider myself a babe in the Lord I am finding this time to be a testing of my patience, character, love for others and commitment to Jesus Christ.
THERE! I said! It is out in the open. Let me say this. I have nothing against any of the members there. Not the pastor, not his wife or anyone. I love everyone that is there but you can imagine how awkward I feel when like mindedness and unity are highly promoted (which should be in the Body of Christ period)and I feel like the joint out of socket. Only getting with "the program" to make it through the service but heart and mind are totally not in it. I believe one of two things are happening right now. I am either dying spiritually or God is really trying to refine somethings in me and show me some things. Allowing me to see where my heart truly is concerning Him when in the midst of uncomfortable situations. While I am in an awkward position at the moment, I know that this will not ALWAYS be the case. God is faithful to those that love Him and I believe that, in time, He will reveal and deliver where ever deliverance needs to take place. Whether it be in me or whomever.
If any of my dear brothers and sisters that I attend service with is reading this, I apologize if I have offended any of you or hindered your faith in Christ in any way. I do not seek to tear anything or anyone down. Please pray that I will allow God to have His way in this situation. That He would make things clearer to me and give me His peace.
Let me say this,(and this is a bit of what God has been showing me) whether you believe that the institutional church is the best thing since sliced bread, needs a makeover by the Holy Spirit or needs to be downright destroyed or whatever (I definitely feel that we are falling short on so many fronts) please be in prayer for those that are involved. Pray that God would draw hearts and minds back to Him and not allow us to be sucked in to the humdrum of the system and to make no idols and to recognize when we have that we might repent and be turned back to Him. For those of you who feel that you should be a member of a congregation or church...please be prayerful. Do not make any decisions based on emotion and be sure, above all else, that the Gospel is being preached and that you are receiving sound instruction in the Lord. The church that you choose to attend should NOT be the pinnacle of your Christian existence, experience or service. Christ and ONLY CHRIST should fulfill that (a lesson that I am sorely learning). Your best work for the Lord is done when He leads you, where He leads you and how He leads you. Whether it be amongst believers in a building or outside of the confines of the church walls. Church should NOT be something we go to but it should be who we are.
1 Peter 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Titus 1:9 - Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
2 Timothy 1:13 - Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-24 - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Be Blessed.
TikaStar*
I am serious about the things God, if not just for the the fact that God is serious about them too. I do not take things lightly and I appreciate genuineness when it comes to dealing with the people of God. My life belongs to Christ and I desire to know HIM for who He is. Sound familiar, relatable. Well Praise God that He has given us a heart after Him. What's so awkward about that you ask?
Deep Breath: Here goes. I have been involved with a ministry for about the past year and a half. Like so many, I was hungry for more of God. I wanted to experience more of God and be among those that do more than just pay Him lip service. I desired genuine fellowship and love amongst the saints and just something more. What more I could not clearly articulate but there was a longing in my spirit. I did not feel that the church I was attending at that moment was fulfilling that desire in me so I ventured on from one church to another, convinced that the Lord was leading and even convinced that my fiance' at the time about the same. At first it was all gravy. The praise and worship was liberating. I'd even let go and danced before the Lord. The preaching was very simple and easy to grasp. I witnessed people operating in giftings that were not widely used in the last church. My fiance' and I were able to minister and serve at a capacity that we hadn't at the last church. The people were loving and the pastor was giving. There were things happening there that I had NEVER heard of in my life. Was this the "something more" that I was desiring? Had the Lord answered my prayer?
Let's focus on this line: things that were happening that I'd never seen or heard of. For a few months things were all good. A-okay. Oh but then, silly me, I started to question some of these things. Not because I doubted them, but because I wanted to know what God's Word said concerning these things. As I started on my journey excited to see what the Lord had to say in favor of these things, I began to realized that some of what I was hearing and seeing did not line up with Scripture. And while I have a relationship with the Lord to where I know I can pray and He will answer, I still wasn't very sure. I am, by no means, a Bible scholar so I wanted to dig a little deeper and see if there were others that were experiencing and believing the same sorts of things. To my surprise, this thing was bigger than I thought! Much bigger, and the more I saw the more skeptical I became and the more I studied the Word the more I was convinced that I was amongst a people that were following after things that they shouldn't. What a pickle!
So now you see, I am still there. My fiance' and I have since married. The people are still loving, the pastor is still giving, the teachings and experiences are still occurring (or at least the claims are being made) and I am growing more and more intolerant of this nonsense. I have had several moments of just crying out to God asking Him to make it all a bit more bearable for me. My husband loves the ministry and I would hate to deprive him of that (especially if he feels he is growing in the Lord). He is not really akin to a lot of the experiences but he holds to the teachings (which aren't all bad) and who can blame him really. If you commit yourself to a ministry you would hope you could consume of what is being offered. Plus he enjoys the opportunity to serve.
Some days are good. Some days not so good. I have gone through many feelings of doubt about my relationship with the Lord while involved with the ministry. I never felt that I wasn't "saved", but I have often felt that I did not have enough faith or was being critical and judgmental or was just plain rebellious and carnally minded. Not able to discern the things of the Spirit. It seems like it would be easiest to just go with this flow, you know. But I cannot. Something won't let me. Some would say its the devil, others would say that I'm battling with my fleshly reasoning and doubt. Very few would say that the Holy Spirit is doing a work in me, but that's what I believe. I cannot submit or fully commit to something that I feel is not of God. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying everything about this ministry is not of God but I feel quite a bit of it is a bit suspect and contrived if you ask me. And while I admit that I would still, in a sense, consider myself a babe in the Lord I am finding this time to be a testing of my patience, character, love for others and commitment to Jesus Christ.
THERE! I said! It is out in the open. Let me say this. I have nothing against any of the members there. Not the pastor, not his wife or anyone. I love everyone that is there but you can imagine how awkward I feel when like mindedness and unity are highly promoted (which should be in the Body of Christ period)and I feel like the joint out of socket. Only getting with "the program" to make it through the service but heart and mind are totally not in it. I believe one of two things are happening right now. I am either dying spiritually or God is really trying to refine somethings in me and show me some things. Allowing me to see where my heart truly is concerning Him when in the midst of uncomfortable situations. While I am in an awkward position at the moment, I know that this will not ALWAYS be the case. God is faithful to those that love Him and I believe that, in time, He will reveal and deliver where ever deliverance needs to take place. Whether it be in me or whomever.
If any of my dear brothers and sisters that I attend service with is reading this, I apologize if I have offended any of you or hindered your faith in Christ in any way. I do not seek to tear anything or anyone down. Please pray that I will allow God to have His way in this situation. That He would make things clearer to me and give me His peace.
Let me say this,(and this is a bit of what God has been showing me) whether you believe that the institutional church is the best thing since sliced bread, needs a makeover by the Holy Spirit or needs to be downright destroyed or whatever (I definitely feel that we are falling short on so many fronts) please be in prayer for those that are involved. Pray that God would draw hearts and minds back to Him and not allow us to be sucked in to the humdrum of the system and to make no idols and to recognize when we have that we might repent and be turned back to Him. For those of you who feel that you should be a member of a congregation or church...please be prayerful. Do not make any decisions based on emotion and be sure, above all else, that the Gospel is being preached and that you are receiving sound instruction in the Lord. The church that you choose to attend should NOT be the pinnacle of your Christian existence, experience or service. Christ and ONLY CHRIST should fulfill that (a lesson that I am sorely learning). Your best work for the Lord is done when He leads you, where He leads you and how He leads you. Whether it be amongst believers in a building or outside of the confines of the church walls. Church should NOT be something we go to but it should be who we are.
1 Peter 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Titus 1:9 - Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
2 Timothy 1:13 - Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-24 - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Be Blessed.
TikaStar*
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Motivation
My husband asked me a really irritating question last night. As he washed the dishes he asks, "What motivates you LaTika?" On the surface, it does not seem to be an irritating question but it rubbed me the wrong way, mainly because I have not been feeling very motivated lately. All I had to offer was an even more annoying, "Every new day that I am able to see is motivation enough for me."
At first hearing, it may have appeared that no thought was put into this. This is not something that I ponder regulary and the nice Christian answer to give would have been, "I am motivated by the blood of Jesus Christ" or "I am motivated in knowing that Jesus loves me and I seek to live my life for Him everyday." Now while both of those are true, all I could muster was I am motivated by everyday. While my husband probably wasn't feeling my answer or thought I answered to hastily, I actually took a moment at that moment to think about it. I even went to sleep thinking about it and the more and more I pondered the thought I began to ask myself the same question. "Ms. Thing, what are you motivated by? Who or what keeps you going everyday?" Still, all I could say, I am motivated by each day.
I realize that each new day God allows me to see is a blessing in and of itself no matter how I am feeling. Each day holds great possibilities. I don't know from day to day what the Lord is going to communicate to me. I don't know from day to day how God will show me how much He loves me. I don't know from one day to the next how much more God will reveal to me about Himself...but I do know that each day I am given is a day worth being motivated about, whether I feel it or show it or not. Tomorrow might be the day that God uses me to lead someone to Him. In a couple of hours I may have the opportunity to be a blessings to someone, not just in word but in deed also. Tomorrow may very well be the day that God delivers me from something that has had me bound. I never know but I am expectant.
So in actuality, my motivation doesn't just come from the day itself but it comes from the fact that I am trusting and believing God to be involved in each of my days and I never quite know what will happen. I guess I just need to be ever mindful of this everyday.
So I guess I have my husband to thank for causing me to think about this and I am so grateful to God that He has opened my eyes through my husband to realize that I can and I should trust Him more each day and acknowledge Him even more with each day, each moment.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?
At first hearing, it may have appeared that no thought was put into this. This is not something that I ponder regulary and the nice Christian answer to give would have been, "I am motivated by the blood of Jesus Christ" or "I am motivated in knowing that Jesus loves me and I seek to live my life for Him everyday." Now while both of those are true, all I could muster was I am motivated by everyday. While my husband probably wasn't feeling my answer or thought I answered to hastily, I actually took a moment at that moment to think about it. I even went to sleep thinking about it and the more and more I pondered the thought I began to ask myself the same question. "Ms. Thing, what are you motivated by? Who or what keeps you going everyday?" Still, all I could say, I am motivated by each day.
I realize that each new day God allows me to see is a blessing in and of itself no matter how I am feeling. Each day holds great possibilities. I don't know from day to day what the Lord is going to communicate to me. I don't know from day to day how God will show me how much He loves me. I don't know from one day to the next how much more God will reveal to me about Himself...but I do know that each day I am given is a day worth being motivated about, whether I feel it or show it or not. Tomorrow might be the day that God uses me to lead someone to Him. In a couple of hours I may have the opportunity to be a blessings to someone, not just in word but in deed also. Tomorrow may very well be the day that God delivers me from something that has had me bound. I never know but I am expectant.
So in actuality, my motivation doesn't just come from the day itself but it comes from the fact that I am trusting and believing God to be involved in each of my days and I never quite know what will happen. I guess I just need to be ever mindful of this everyday.
So I guess I have my husband to thank for causing me to think about this and I am so grateful to God that He has opened my eyes through my husband to realize that I can and I should trust Him more each day and acknowledge Him even more with each day, each moment.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Pretentiousness in Christian music
I would, to say the least, consider myself a musician of some sort. I am not an instrumentalist but a vocalist. God has blessed me with the gift to open my mouth and allow musical tones and notes to be produced that don't sound too bad. I love music. I love the art of writing and creating a song. I don't do much of it but the thought of doing so excites me. I have not always been akin to singing songs about Jesus but from the age of about 18 up until now....if you hear me singing anything it will more than likely be to give praise to my God. Sometimes when I pray I sing to the Lord and I love to enter into His presence by worshipping Him through songs that I sing to Him (in my private times with the Lord). It is also an awesome thing to be able to lead, or as I would like to say, sing WITH other believers as we ALL lift our voices in praise to our God.
As a twenty something African American female I gravitated towards gospel music. Gospel music is essentially what the music industry has termed black folks singing soulful songs in the the name of the Lord about the Christian faith. Would I REALLY call this "gospel" music? I have my opinions and maybe some of those will be revealed as I go along. Anywho, this music (or the sound of the music) related to me on a cultural level. I could identify with the sounds of the voices and the instrumentation of the songs. I will honestly say that many of the songs have served a place in my life to connect me with God to a certain extent. The lyrics were uplifting and many served as a means to express how I felt about Jesus. I have performed, YES I SAID PERFORMED, with several groups and choirs from the time. We sounded great! If you weren't moved by the "spirit", whatever spirit it was, you would be moved by the sound. I didn't realize it at the time but it all had become a show....lights, camera, action, you're on!
Then one year, I had the privilege of being elected as El Presidente of my college gospel choir. We did the same thing as usual, we performed but with limited musicians and limited voices (quality voices truth be told). During my tenure as "El Presidente"(lol) I began to realize that this was so much more than just singing at what we called GospelFests (GospelFest - a day when several colleges get together to perform at a concert) and at other events around campus and surrounding areas but that most of what we were doing was futile if none of the members in the choir were growing spiritually. There were so many issues afloat amongst the young people in the choir that it wasn't even funny. They had so many questions about God and some weren't even sure if they were saved. Truth be told, I was not very confident in my relationship with the Lord either and had my fair share of "college mishaps". Most of us did not have our bearings in Christ and His word and didn't quite understand how to get there, but singing in the "gospel choir" was a means to maintain some association with Jesus regardless of what we did or said after rehearsal or those many performances. I will say this, I did experience growth while in the choir but it was definitely NOT because of the choir or because of any of the songs that we sang. It was because of the people I met in the choir and some the things I'd experienced while in college. And the fact that I actually had an earnest desire to know the Lord.
Then after college I was involved in a group of young people that sang but there were some bumps along the way and the Lord disbanded that...and rightfully so! Here is the point...while I believe that there is definitely a place in the Kingdom of God for music, we must know its proper place. Can Christian music change lives and convert others to live a life submitted to the Lord Jesus Christ? Possibly. David played his harp and and the evil spirit in Saul was lifted as he played but it was only a temporary solution. But as I have seen lately, Christian music (gospel, contemporary, rock, hip hip, rap or whatever genre it is in) has become rather self serving and tainted by many, many...(did I say many) strange and worldly spirits.
What makes (some) Christian music pretentious? Personal agenda and it bleeds through every pour and fabric of the song from the production choices to the lyrics. When listening to your Christian musicians/songs of choice ask yourself these questions:
- Does this song appeal more to my emotions or is it edifying my spirit?
- Are the lyrics Biblically sound? If the song is not actually Scripture, are the themes and content of the songs strongly based and rooted in the Word of God?
- Does the background music (beats, instruments, production etc.) take away from or drown out the message that is being portrayed by the lyrics? I have listened to Christian songs that I like just because of the beat where the lyrics were secondary. This is not wrong all together but should most definitely NOT be the first criteria. The beat can be hot but the lyrics could be garbage.
- Why do I like this song? What is it really that appeals to me? Be truthful with yourself.
- What is the actual focus of the song? Is it to give praise and worship to the Lord? Is it to edify and encourage the saints ACCORDING TO WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS?
- Does the song give me a false hope in my own ability to overcome?
Ask God to give you more discernment concerning this subject through His Holy Ghost. For those of us who love music, in all of its forms, it is a difficult thing to do but as we follow the leading of His Spirit we will find Truth!
Hallelujah!! (Praises Be To YHWH)
As a twenty something African American female I gravitated towards gospel music. Gospel music is essentially what the music industry has termed black folks singing soulful songs in the the name of the Lord about the Christian faith. Would I REALLY call this "gospel" music? I have my opinions and maybe some of those will be revealed as I go along. Anywho, this music (or the sound of the music) related to me on a cultural level. I could identify with the sounds of the voices and the instrumentation of the songs. I will honestly say that many of the songs have served a place in my life to connect me with God to a certain extent. The lyrics were uplifting and many served as a means to express how I felt about Jesus. I have performed, YES I SAID PERFORMED, with several groups and choirs from the time. We sounded great! If you weren't moved by the "spirit", whatever spirit it was, you would be moved by the sound. I didn't realize it at the time but it all had become a show....lights, camera, action, you're on!
Then one year, I had the privilege of being elected as El Presidente of my college gospel choir. We did the same thing as usual, we performed but with limited musicians and limited voices (quality voices truth be told). During my tenure as "El Presidente"(lol) I began to realize that this was so much more than just singing at what we called GospelFests (GospelFest - a day when several colleges get together to perform at a concert) and at other events around campus and surrounding areas but that most of what we were doing was futile if none of the members in the choir were growing spiritually. There were so many issues afloat amongst the young people in the choir that it wasn't even funny. They had so many questions about God and some weren't even sure if they were saved. Truth be told, I was not very confident in my relationship with the Lord either and had my fair share of "college mishaps". Most of us did not have our bearings in Christ and His word and didn't quite understand how to get there, but singing in the "gospel choir" was a means to maintain some association with Jesus regardless of what we did or said after rehearsal or those many performances. I will say this, I did experience growth while in the choir but it was definitely NOT because of the choir or because of any of the songs that we sang. It was because of the people I met in the choir and some the things I'd experienced while in college. And the fact that I actually had an earnest desire to know the Lord.
Then after college I was involved in a group of young people that sang but there were some bumps along the way and the Lord disbanded that...and rightfully so! Here is the point...while I believe that there is definitely a place in the Kingdom of God for music, we must know its proper place. Can Christian music change lives and convert others to live a life submitted to the Lord Jesus Christ? Possibly. David played his harp and and the evil spirit in Saul was lifted as he played but it was only a temporary solution. But as I have seen lately, Christian music (gospel, contemporary, rock, hip hip, rap or whatever genre it is in) has become rather self serving and tainted by many, many...(did I say many) strange and worldly spirits.
What makes (some) Christian music pretentious? Personal agenda and it bleeds through every pour and fabric of the song from the production choices to the lyrics. When listening to your Christian musicians/songs of choice ask yourself these questions:
- Does this song appeal more to my emotions or is it edifying my spirit?
- Are the lyrics Biblically sound? If the song is not actually Scripture, are the themes and content of the songs strongly based and rooted in the Word of God?
- Does the background music (beats, instruments, production etc.) take away from or drown out the message that is being portrayed by the lyrics? I have listened to Christian songs that I like just because of the beat where the lyrics were secondary. This is not wrong all together but should most definitely NOT be the first criteria. The beat can be hot but the lyrics could be garbage.
- Why do I like this song? What is it really that appeals to me? Be truthful with yourself.
- What is the actual focus of the song? Is it to give praise and worship to the Lord? Is it to edify and encourage the saints ACCORDING TO WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS?
- Does the song give me a false hope in my own ability to overcome?
Ask God to give you more discernment concerning this subject through His Holy Ghost. For those of us who love music, in all of its forms, it is a difficult thing to do but as we follow the leading of His Spirit we will find Truth!
Hallelujah!! (Praises Be To YHWH)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Book of Eli
WARNING: If you plan on watching this movie you may want to read this AFTER you have seen it because I am going to straight up spoil it for you.
There have been some rave reviews about this movie among the Christian community. It has been heralded as a "must see" for Christians. My puzzled response to that statement every time is why...no seriously WHY?
My husband and I went to see the movie the second night that it was out. It was defnitely not my first choice but I went along with it anyway. For those of you who don't quite know what the movie is about here is brief synopsis http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1037705/synopsis:
Eli (Denzel Washington) has been on a journey for 30 years, walking west across America after a cataclysmic war that turned the earth into a total wasteland. The world has become a lawless civilization where people must kill or be killed. The barren roads belong to gangs of cutthroats who rob and kill for water, a pair of shoes, a lighter, or just for fun. Eli is a peaceful man who only acts in self defense, and becomes a warrior with unbelievable killing skills when he is challenged. After the war and the "Big Flash", Eli was guided by a higher power to a hidden book and given the task of protecting the book and taking it to its final destination. Eli guards the book with his life, because he knows that the book is the only hope that humanity has for its future.
If you are looking for entertainment value, shootouts, fight scences, knife wielding with somewhat of a decent plot and a nice twist at the end then this movie will accomplish its purpose for you. Even if you are looking to explore an enlightened life path you may be inspired. However, if you are looking to find a message that is of any real intrinisic Christian value you will need to keep it moving. Now, this is not a bash on this movie. I actually found it entertaining because I like movies with action and that keep you wonderning "now how is he going to get out of this one," but as I watched this movie, I could not help but have a lump sitting in the pit of my stomach. Its like I could sense what effect it would have in the Christian community. Some days later, that feeling seems to have been confirmed.
The problem that I have is not with the movie itself. People of the world make movies to entertain and chock full of worldly messages. The problem that I have is how this movie has been received and perceived by those that call themselves Christians. I will hi light a few themes that would have some believe this.
- Eli's book is the Bible
- Eli quotes from the Bible (even before he slays like 20 men)
- Eli supposedly hears a voice that comes from within that leads and guides him (much like the Holy Spirit.) He admits that it is not his voice but just calls it a "voice." The voice also tells him that he will make it to his destination and being protected.
- Eli seems to be divinely protected. As he is being shot at it appears that bullets are repelled and have no power over him and he fights with an almost "supernatural" strength. Even when he is shot at nearly point blank range in the abdomen, although weakened, he survives.
- Eli is a very meek and humble man in attitude and appearance (but he will cut you if you mess with him so BACK UP)
- Eli refuses to have sex with a beautiful young woman
- Eli even seems to have a constant prophetic type of "knowing" about situations that occur.
- At the end of the movie(here is the spoiler)Eli recites the Bible verbatim from Genesis to Revelations. He was able to do this because he read the "book" everyday for 30 years. EVERYDAY for 30 years.
There are many more that I can come up with but I will stop here. I won't even touch the moral struggles that Eli has in my attempt to demote from the status of a "Christian" movie. My proof for this not being a Christian movie lies in the fact that although this character protected the Bible with his very life and quoted from it, was "divinely" protected he was not in pursuit of Jesus Christ. Its just that simple....1 John 2:24-27 (NLT):
So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit,and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
or how about 1 John 4:1-3:
Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
If this were a Christian movie, the truth of the gospel would have been all up and through!!! To call anything Christian it must first adn foremost identify with CHRIST! And if this were a Christian movie even the themes that were used would have also lined up with the character and image of Jesus Christ. It is undeniable that most movies are made with the purpose of making the viewer think and to convey a message. I looked up the writer and the directors of this movie and they all say the same thing: THIS MOVIE IS NOT INTENDED FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. As a matter of fact, one of the directors is an atheist (http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2010/01/the-hughes-brothers-on-the-book-of-eli-dethroning-avatar-and-tiger-woods.html.
Someone was telling me the other day "Its just a movie. No one takes it seriously." For some, yes it is just a movie. They watch it, go home, go to bed and the end. But you reading this can attest with me that any movie that has had any kind of message has inspired people to do more, live better, try new things. It is all a matter of perception and many Christians have taken this movie and made it into something that it is not! I don't know if some are inspired to live as better Christians or if they read their Bible's more because of this movie. It could be that some believe that this is some sort of mass form of evangelism. I don't know what the deal is but I know what its not. So Christian people...PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT THE BOOK OF ELI IS A CHRISTIAN MOVIE. PLEASE STOP LEADING PEOPLE ASTRAY JUST AS YOU HAVE BEEN LEAD ASTRAY IN YOUR MIND TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY WAY THAT THIS MOVIE CAN BENEFIT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. THIS MOVIE DOES NOTHING TO ADVANCE THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN ITS MESSAGE AND IT DOES NOT GIVE LIGHT TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. I know some of you will disagree wholeheartedly with me about this but THERE IS NO POWER IN THE BIBLE OUTSIDE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, OUTSIDE OF JESUS CHRIST. THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN AS A GUIDE FOR WHO...CHRISTIANS AND THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED TO DO WHAT....SAVE SOULS!!! 2 Corinthians 3:3 - Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
Most, if not all, of what was referenced in this movie concerning the Bible was found in the Old Testament with no references to the new. To this day whenever the old covenant is read the same veil that covers the face of Moses covers the mind so that it does not understand the truth. The veil can ONLY be lifted by believing in Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:12-14). This movie has accomplished just that (veiled minds to the truth) for the non believers and unfortunately for some believers just the same.
You guys, don't be so blind as to think that just because someone or something gives reference to the Bible that they respect or promote your Savior or your Christian lifestyle! To many, whether they believe its contents or not, the Bible is a relic and that is all that it will ever be. We don't worship relics, we don't worship and live for books but to live is Christ. I am not trying to dissuade anyone from going to see this movie(heck I went and saw the movie) but what I aim to do is to keep things in proper perspective for you in the event that you choose to see the movie or you have already tucked this one away as The Passion of The Christ part 2 (I know that is an extreme comparison but you get my point).
The Devil would love for you to cross back over to the world's side in anyway that he can get you there. He is working through the media (movies, books, radio, music, etc.) Don't get sucked in but be sober and vigilant because your enemy the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He wants to devour your faith and belief in Christ. He wants you to believe that there are many ways to God. He wants you to get lost on a vain "spiritual" journey leading to Nowheresville. BE alert...be watchful...but don't be fooled.
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
With Love in Christ!
There have been some rave reviews about this movie among the Christian community. It has been heralded as a "must see" for Christians. My puzzled response to that statement every time is why...no seriously WHY?
My husband and I went to see the movie the second night that it was out. It was defnitely not my first choice but I went along with it anyway. For those of you who don't quite know what the movie is about here is brief synopsis http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1037705/synopsis:
Eli (Denzel Washington) has been on a journey for 30 years, walking west across America after a cataclysmic war that turned the earth into a total wasteland. The world has become a lawless civilization where people must kill or be killed. The barren roads belong to gangs of cutthroats who rob and kill for water, a pair of shoes, a lighter, or just for fun. Eli is a peaceful man who only acts in self defense, and becomes a warrior with unbelievable killing skills when he is challenged. After the war and the "Big Flash", Eli was guided by a higher power to a hidden book and given the task of protecting the book and taking it to its final destination. Eli guards the book with his life, because he knows that the book is the only hope that humanity has for its future.
If you are looking for entertainment value, shootouts, fight scences, knife wielding with somewhat of a decent plot and a nice twist at the end then this movie will accomplish its purpose for you. Even if you are looking to explore an enlightened life path you may be inspired. However, if you are looking to find a message that is of any real intrinisic Christian value you will need to keep it moving. Now, this is not a bash on this movie. I actually found it entertaining because I like movies with action and that keep you wonderning "now how is he going to get out of this one," but as I watched this movie, I could not help but have a lump sitting in the pit of my stomach. Its like I could sense what effect it would have in the Christian community. Some days later, that feeling seems to have been confirmed.
The problem that I have is not with the movie itself. People of the world make movies to entertain and chock full of worldly messages. The problem that I have is how this movie has been received and perceived by those that call themselves Christians. I will hi light a few themes that would have some believe this.
- Eli's book is the Bible
- Eli quotes from the Bible (even before he slays like 20 men)
- Eli supposedly hears a voice that comes from within that leads and guides him (much like the Holy Spirit.) He admits that it is not his voice but just calls it a "voice." The voice also tells him that he will make it to his destination and being protected.
- Eli seems to be divinely protected. As he is being shot at it appears that bullets are repelled and have no power over him and he fights with an almost "supernatural" strength. Even when he is shot at nearly point blank range in the abdomen, although weakened, he survives.
- Eli is a very meek and humble man in attitude and appearance (but he will cut you if you mess with him so BACK UP)
- Eli refuses to have sex with a beautiful young woman
- Eli even seems to have a constant prophetic type of "knowing" about situations that occur.
- At the end of the movie(here is the spoiler)Eli recites the Bible verbatim from Genesis to Revelations. He was able to do this because he read the "book" everyday for 30 years. EVERYDAY for 30 years.
There are many more that I can come up with but I will stop here. I won't even touch the moral struggles that Eli has in my attempt to demote from the status of a "Christian" movie. My proof for this not being a Christian movie lies in the fact that although this character protected the Bible with his very life and quoted from it, was "divinely" protected he was not in pursuit of Jesus Christ. Its just that simple....1 John 2:24-27 (NLT):
So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit,and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
or how about 1 John 4:1-3:
Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
If this were a Christian movie, the truth of the gospel would have been all up and through!!! To call anything Christian it must first adn foremost identify with CHRIST! And if this were a Christian movie even the themes that were used would have also lined up with the character and image of Jesus Christ. It is undeniable that most movies are made with the purpose of making the viewer think and to convey a message. I looked up the writer and the directors of this movie and they all say the same thing: THIS MOVIE IS NOT INTENDED FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. As a matter of fact, one of the directors is an atheist (http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2010/01/the-hughes-brothers-on-the-book-of-eli-dethroning-avatar-and-tiger-woods.html.
Someone was telling me the other day "Its just a movie. No one takes it seriously." For some, yes it is just a movie. They watch it, go home, go to bed and the end. But you reading this can attest with me that any movie that has had any kind of message has inspired people to do more, live better, try new things. It is all a matter of perception and many Christians have taken this movie and made it into something that it is not! I don't know if some are inspired to live as better Christians or if they read their Bible's more because of this movie. It could be that some believe that this is some sort of mass form of evangelism. I don't know what the deal is but I know what its not. So Christian people...PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT THE BOOK OF ELI IS A CHRISTIAN MOVIE. PLEASE STOP LEADING PEOPLE ASTRAY JUST AS YOU HAVE BEEN LEAD ASTRAY IN YOUR MIND TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY WAY THAT THIS MOVIE CAN BENEFIT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. THIS MOVIE DOES NOTHING TO ADVANCE THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN ITS MESSAGE AND IT DOES NOT GIVE LIGHT TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. I know some of you will disagree wholeheartedly with me about this but THERE IS NO POWER IN THE BIBLE OUTSIDE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, OUTSIDE OF JESUS CHRIST. THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN AS A GUIDE FOR WHO...CHRISTIANS AND THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED TO DO WHAT....SAVE SOULS!!! 2 Corinthians 3:3 - Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
Most, if not all, of what was referenced in this movie concerning the Bible was found in the Old Testament with no references to the new. To this day whenever the old covenant is read the same veil that covers the face of Moses covers the mind so that it does not understand the truth. The veil can ONLY be lifted by believing in Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:12-14). This movie has accomplished just that (veiled minds to the truth) for the non believers and unfortunately for some believers just the same.
You guys, don't be so blind as to think that just because someone or something gives reference to the Bible that they respect or promote your Savior or your Christian lifestyle! To many, whether they believe its contents or not, the Bible is a relic and that is all that it will ever be. We don't worship relics, we don't worship and live for books but to live is Christ. I am not trying to dissuade anyone from going to see this movie(heck I went and saw the movie) but what I aim to do is to keep things in proper perspective for you in the event that you choose to see the movie or you have already tucked this one away as The Passion of The Christ part 2 (I know that is an extreme comparison but you get my point).
The Devil would love for you to cross back over to the world's side in anyway that he can get you there. He is working through the media (movies, books, radio, music, etc.) Don't get sucked in but be sober and vigilant because your enemy the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He wants to devour your faith and belief in Christ. He wants you to believe that there are many ways to God. He wants you to get lost on a vain "spiritual" journey leading to Nowheresville. BE alert...be watchful...but don't be fooled.
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
With Love in Christ!
Monday, January 11, 2010
On a lighter note....
I believe I am about ready to be a mother. Not pregnant, yet. But I am getting that motherly itch. Every time I see kids, especially babies, I get all gooey and silly on the inside. Does this mean I am ready for kids? Of course not, that is never a good indicator if you are ready for parenthood. But I have talked it over with my husband and he just says "Surprise Me." So I guess that means he's ready too...lol. I do believe the Lord wants us to be fruitful and multiply so LET THE MULTIPLICATION BEGIN!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!
We Fall Prey...
You know how easy it is to spread a rumor? We have all, at some point in our lives, either been a victim of a rumor or the spreader of the rumor. It spreads like gangrene and it doesn't matter how many supporting facts there are to disprove that rumor, there are always some that would rather take the rumor as the truth instead of the cold hard facts. It seems to be the same with "false doctrine."
It goes like this...a well known "Christian" figure (preacher, teacher, evangelist, prophet) comes on the scence talking about what God has revealed to them. More times than not, this person has gathered quite a nice size following has gained a significant amount of trust from these followers. Okay, so they go on preaching concerning their revelation or what thus saith the Lord. It is different. Its something most of the people have never heard before. To some something just doesn't seem quite right and there are questions raised in their minds. To others, they go right along with it because they trust in this person so much that everything they say MUST be of God. Now don't get me wrong, there are some that hold to the truths of the Gospel and most of the time what Lord speaks to them lines up with Scripture. Needless to say, these are those that are truly being led by the Spirit of God. I am not speaking of these. So back to my point....these strange and unbiblical teachings begin to spread like wildfire with no one to extinguish them.
What we are left with are well meaning believers in Jesus Christ who are being led to believe lies! At first thought, one would think "there is no way that the people who are being led astray could know the Word of God or even be led of His Spirit." One would think that statement is true. But how do you explain those believers that have are walking with the Lord and know what Scripture says and are born again but still choose to go along with it? Let me just say this, what I have found is that it is very easy to get caught up with certain things. The reason why we allow ourselves to get caught up could be to be accepted by others or as I stated above, there is so much trust in the deliverer of certain messages that it is difficult for us to separate what we know is truth in support of that person. Anyone that takes a man's/woman's word over the Word of Christ IS JUST DOWNRIGHT IN ERROR. AND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT. IF YOU ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE LEADING AND PROMPTING OF THE HOLY GHOST AND FOLLOWING CHRIST YOU ARE FOLLOWING AFTER FLESH. It does not matter how well meaning that person is, it is your/OUR responsibility as disciples of the Lord to make Him(Jesus Christ) the final authority on all matters. So I would suggest to you that you make it your life's urgent matter to get with Jesus and get with Him good. Learn to discern and hear and know His voice when He speaks. Read His Word and learn how it relates to believers today. Let God minister to you first and foremost so when you hear preaching from others and when someone speaks a Word of prophecy you will know if it is from the Lord or some other spirit.
The point I am trying to make in all of this is: Don't get caught up in things just because that is what everyone else is going with. 1 John 4:1 tells us to not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. Test the spirit to see whether it be from God.
I am really probably the last person that needs to be speaking about this. In reality it may be coming more out of frustration than anything so take what I say for a grain of salt but please do remember that we are walking this walk and living this life to Christ (or at least we should be). Let me repeat...TO CHRIST! That is one thing no one should get twisted. Don't be decieved by every teaching and wave of doctrine that comes your way. Pray and ask the Lord to help you discern one way or the other. We have too much of a responsibilty on this earth as believers to be walking around believing lies and being decieved. 2 Timothy 3 talks about there being some that will not only be deceivers but they will be deceived themselves as well. I believe God wants to make a final impact on this earth before He returns and we have to be "sober and vigilant" enough in the truth to even think about being a witness for Jesus Christ.
I ask that you pray for me. Just pray that the Lord will saturate me in HIS truth and that I will be bold enough to speak against the lies of the devil as the Spirit leads me to do so. And to not reflect in my attitude how bummed I am about this all. :-(
Yall I love Jesus...I just don't understand why people (who claim to be His) would try and take anything from Him...okay..I'm done.
It goes like this...a well known "Christian" figure (preacher, teacher, evangelist, prophet) comes on the scence talking about what God has revealed to them. More times than not, this person has gathered quite a nice size following has gained a significant amount of trust from these followers. Okay, so they go on preaching concerning their revelation or what thus saith the Lord. It is different. Its something most of the people have never heard before. To some something just doesn't seem quite right and there are questions raised in their minds. To others, they go right along with it because they trust in this person so much that everything they say MUST be of God. Now don't get me wrong, there are some that hold to the truths of the Gospel and most of the time what Lord speaks to them lines up with Scripture. Needless to say, these are those that are truly being led by the Spirit of God. I am not speaking of these. So back to my point....these strange and unbiblical teachings begin to spread like wildfire with no one to extinguish them.
What we are left with are well meaning believers in Jesus Christ who are being led to believe lies! At first thought, one would think "there is no way that the people who are being led astray could know the Word of God or even be led of His Spirit." One would think that statement is true. But how do you explain those believers that have are walking with the Lord and know what Scripture says and are born again but still choose to go along with it? Let me just say this, what I have found is that it is very easy to get caught up with certain things. The reason why we allow ourselves to get caught up could be to be accepted by others or as I stated above, there is so much trust in the deliverer of certain messages that it is difficult for us to separate what we know is truth in support of that person. Anyone that takes a man's/woman's word over the Word of Christ IS JUST DOWNRIGHT IN ERROR. AND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT. IF YOU ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE LEADING AND PROMPTING OF THE HOLY GHOST AND FOLLOWING CHRIST YOU ARE FOLLOWING AFTER FLESH. It does not matter how well meaning that person is, it is your/OUR responsibility as disciples of the Lord to make Him(Jesus Christ) the final authority on all matters. So I would suggest to you that you make it your life's urgent matter to get with Jesus and get with Him good. Learn to discern and hear and know His voice when He speaks. Read His Word and learn how it relates to believers today. Let God minister to you first and foremost so when you hear preaching from others and when someone speaks a Word of prophecy you will know if it is from the Lord or some other spirit.
The point I am trying to make in all of this is: Don't get caught up in things just because that is what everyone else is going with. 1 John 4:1 tells us to not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. Test the spirit to see whether it be from God.
I am really probably the last person that needs to be speaking about this. In reality it may be coming more out of frustration than anything so take what I say for a grain of salt but please do remember that we are walking this walk and living this life to Christ (or at least we should be). Let me repeat...TO CHRIST! That is one thing no one should get twisted. Don't be decieved by every teaching and wave of doctrine that comes your way. Pray and ask the Lord to help you discern one way or the other. We have too much of a responsibilty on this earth as believers to be walking around believing lies and being decieved. 2 Timothy 3 talks about there being some that will not only be deceivers but they will be deceived themselves as well. I believe God wants to make a final impact on this earth before He returns and we have to be "sober and vigilant" enough in the truth to even think about being a witness for Jesus Christ.
I ask that you pray for me. Just pray that the Lord will saturate me in HIS truth and that I will be bold enough to speak against the lies of the devil as the Spirit leads me to do so. And to not reflect in my attitude how bummed I am about this all. :-(
Yall I love Jesus...I just don't understand why people (who claim to be His) would try and take anything from Him...okay..I'm done.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I am NOT defeated
My last blog was an honest depiction of how I was feeling at the moment. I felt, in a way, a little defeated. Self defeated. I had allowed myself to be so consumed with myself that I was denying the truth of God operating in my life. While I do not believe that I was wrong for sharing what I was feeling at that time, I dare not allow it to be depicted as though my walk with Christ is not enjoyable to me. Anytime you focus so much on what is going on around you, you begin to become desensitized to the voice of God and you give the flesh leeway. You are able to become stressed out or over emotional or confused easily. Isaish 26:3 says that He will keep us in perfect peace if our minds are stayed on Him because we trust in Him. So, anytime negative thoughts begin to rise up and you want to throw a pity party for yourself, think about what Christ went through for you. He took on the shame of the cross so that you would not have to. The veil was rent so that we could boldly approach the throne of grace. If we can approach His throne boldy then how much more should we be able to live in boldness for Him just the same. God wants us to be confident to come to Him. He does not want us to shy away from Him FOR WHATEVER REASON. THERE IS NO EXCUSE THAT CAN BE GIVEN AS TO WHY WE CAN'T APPROACH GOD AS A FATHER, AS A FRIEND.
There is no reason to be ashamed before God..after all, He innocently suffered the shame of the cross. Be repentant YES but ashamed NO!!!! That is a trick of the enemy and definitely not conducive to a relationship with God.
So in all....I am NOT defeated you guys. I have no plans of turning my back on God but at times I tend to focus on the things that are of no value to me. I tend to think a lot about what people think of me when in actuality they aren't even worried about me. I allow the enemy to toy with my emotions and it causes me to separate myself from my brothers and sisters because I am under the impression that I am not good enough or not deep like they are...it is ALL FUTILE, believe me, and has nothing to do with the Lord....so I send notice to the devil today that YOU HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED HERE. I AM NOT DEFEATED AND AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.
little i still loves big U. I can't do this without you Lord...
There is no reason to be ashamed before God..after all, He innocently suffered the shame of the cross. Be repentant YES but ashamed NO!!!! That is a trick of the enemy and definitely not conducive to a relationship with God.
So in all....I am NOT defeated you guys. I have no plans of turning my back on God but at times I tend to focus on the things that are of no value to me. I tend to think a lot about what people think of me when in actuality they aren't even worried about me. I allow the enemy to toy with my emotions and it causes me to separate myself from my brothers and sisters because I am under the impression that I am not good enough or not deep like they are...it is ALL FUTILE, believe me, and has nothing to do with the Lord....so I send notice to the devil today that YOU HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED HERE. I AM NOT DEFEATED AND AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.
little i still loves big U. I can't do this without you Lord...
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
On my Heart
Can I have a love relationship with you Lord? My only and true first love you are but my love for you at times seems to be misdirected....all the while I know your passion for me grows deeper.
I heard someone say that you never forget your first love....but how is it that our hearts can still be turned aside from you Lord? You HAVE singed my conscience and tattooed my mind. I mean you are all that I talk about and all that I think about but I desire that my heart be captured all over again. Remember? Like the first time. I honestly want, no, need you to ooze from every pour and be knit in every fiber of my being.
My soul thirsts for you in a dry and weary land where no water is.
Lord there is no water here. There is no water in this well. I feel as though I have run dry. So what else is there to do but to redig the wells and search for more water? Lord I am searching, longing for a word from you that will spark what was once in me but I haven't found it yet. So my search continues....but Lord I am getting weary. I try and do what I think is right but still I am not fulfilled. I read (your Word), I pray, I read books and blogs and listen to sermons about getting closer Lord closer...because after all you said that if I draw nigh unto you that you would draw nigh unto me? You said that right? So..WHERE ARE YOU? WHY DO I FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THIS WALK? WHY DO I QUESTION EVERYTHING THAT I SEE NOW LORD? WHY? Don't get me wrong, I have never doubted you nor your Word...NEVER. As a matter of fact that seems to be my only source of real life but Lord I know there is something I am missing Lord...so what am I missing? The Spirit of God lives in me (check), I am pursuing holiness in my everyday life (check), I am trusting you the best way I know how but there is something about you or about this walk or whatever that just seems to escape me...
It seems that I have complicated a relationship that used to be so simple, so pure. My self consciousness has distanced you some so I go through the motions so that people won't know how I struggle with you at times. They don't know when I go to talk with you I don't have many words but a grieving heart that remembers the conversations we used to have. I used to be confident in our relationship...but now...my devotions have failed me. I have begun to feel the weight of a chore. Almost like a HAVE to and not a WANT to. But here is the thing...YOU HAVE NOT CHANGED! YOU HAVE NOT MOVED ON ME! YOU WERE THE SAME GOD THAT I MET WHEN I WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD. THE SAME GOD THE FORGAVE ME EVEN WHEN I KNOW I WASN'T DOING RIGHT BY YOU. YOU NEVER STOPPED LOVING ME AND DRAWING ME TO YOU EVEN WHEN I WAS A FORNICATOR, A DRUNKARD, A LIAR, A MANIPULATOR...A MISFIT. But now Lord...now that I am not any of those things anymore it seems as though I have lost a hold of our fellowship and our time together. Why do I shy away?
I hear you say, even now, that I cannot be righteous apart from Christ. That my righteousness is in Christ..so as I try to be what I have been made through Christ apart from Christ I will always feel the weight of a chore. I have not come to place a burden on you but that you might be free to live for me...to live in me.
Okay Lord so I ask that you free me...TODAY...of my chore and grant to me your pleasure in prayer and in reading your Word and even in fellowship with others(which has unfortunately become the biggest burden to me). Let none of these take place in my life as an obligation but as a joy. CONSISTENTLY. Teach me again how to pray as your Spirit guides and tutor me in your Word Lord and show me how to appreciate and love others as brothers and sisters and not as strangers. I'll live in you....I want to live in you. Just show me how Lord...
With ALL sincerety and out of a pure (yet broken) heart,
latika
i love U i love U i love U i love U i love U i love U i love U.............little i loves big U.
I heard someone say that you never forget your first love....but how is it that our hearts can still be turned aside from you Lord? You HAVE singed my conscience and tattooed my mind. I mean you are all that I talk about and all that I think about but I desire that my heart be captured all over again. Remember? Like the first time. I honestly want, no, need you to ooze from every pour and be knit in every fiber of my being.
My soul thirsts for you in a dry and weary land where no water is.
Lord there is no water here. There is no water in this well. I feel as though I have run dry. So what else is there to do but to redig the wells and search for more water? Lord I am searching, longing for a word from you that will spark what was once in me but I haven't found it yet. So my search continues....but Lord I am getting weary. I try and do what I think is right but still I am not fulfilled. I read (your Word), I pray, I read books and blogs and listen to sermons about getting closer Lord closer...because after all you said that if I draw nigh unto you that you would draw nigh unto me? You said that right? So..WHERE ARE YOU? WHY DO I FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THIS WALK? WHY DO I QUESTION EVERYTHING THAT I SEE NOW LORD? WHY? Don't get me wrong, I have never doubted you nor your Word...NEVER. As a matter of fact that seems to be my only source of real life but Lord I know there is something I am missing Lord...so what am I missing? The Spirit of God lives in me (check), I am pursuing holiness in my everyday life (check), I am trusting you the best way I know how but there is something about you or about this walk or whatever that just seems to escape me...
It seems that I have complicated a relationship that used to be so simple, so pure. My self consciousness has distanced you some so I go through the motions so that people won't know how I struggle with you at times. They don't know when I go to talk with you I don't have many words but a grieving heart that remembers the conversations we used to have. I used to be confident in our relationship...but now...my devotions have failed me. I have begun to feel the weight of a chore. Almost like a HAVE to and not a WANT to. But here is the thing...YOU HAVE NOT CHANGED! YOU HAVE NOT MOVED ON ME! YOU WERE THE SAME GOD THAT I MET WHEN I WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD. THE SAME GOD THE FORGAVE ME EVEN WHEN I KNOW I WASN'T DOING RIGHT BY YOU. YOU NEVER STOPPED LOVING ME AND DRAWING ME TO YOU EVEN WHEN I WAS A FORNICATOR, A DRUNKARD, A LIAR, A MANIPULATOR...A MISFIT. But now Lord...now that I am not any of those things anymore it seems as though I have lost a hold of our fellowship and our time together. Why do I shy away?
I hear you say, even now, that I cannot be righteous apart from Christ. That my righteousness is in Christ..so as I try to be what I have been made through Christ apart from Christ I will always feel the weight of a chore. I have not come to place a burden on you but that you might be free to live for me...to live in me.
Okay Lord so I ask that you free me...TODAY...of my chore and grant to me your pleasure in prayer and in reading your Word and even in fellowship with others(which has unfortunately become the biggest burden to me). Let none of these take place in my life as an obligation but as a joy. CONSISTENTLY. Teach me again how to pray as your Spirit guides and tutor me in your Word Lord and show me how to appreciate and love others as brothers and sisters and not as strangers. I'll live in you....I want to live in you. Just show me how Lord...
With ALL sincerety and out of a pure (yet broken) heart,
latika
i love U i love U i love U i love U i love U i love U i love U.............little i loves big U.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Why Brian Welch Walked Away
Why did God put us on this earth? I believe He put us here to love us.
This is an awesome testimony of God's love.
This is an awesome testimony of God's love.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Learning so much....
Now as touching things offered to idols, we all have knowledge. But knowledge puffeth up but chrity edifiteh. And if any man thinketh he know anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. - 1 Corinthian 8:1-3
How true is this?!! Man how true this is. I will tell you, there is something about this Christian walk that both puffs up and edifies. It is the people that usually puff up and it is the God in us the has the ability to edify. I don't know about you but it seems we all reach a point in our walk when we think we have a handle on the things of God. We become caught up with church doctrine and sometimes forget that it is the Word of God that is the final authority but we put so much emphasis on what the church believes. Now don't get me wrong, it is a good thing to have a set of beliefs by which to govern yourself by so long as they are rooted in the Word but even then, some of the the doctrine that arises is based on what we think the Word is saying. Most of the interpretations that we have about the Word of God comes from some of the traditional things that we have been taught down the line and we become denominational converts instead of born again believers.
So what am I learning...I am learning that loving God and being loved by Him is really all that matters. And if we claim to love God we WILL love our brothers and sisters. For all of the law is fulfilled in one word and that is to love thy neighbor as thyself. I am not saying that it is okay to be in doctrinal error (learning that there is a lot of that too) and that we should accept anything but what I am saying is doctrine puffs up but love builds up. Doctrine at times confuses but love just makes sense. When we love each other we will not become offended so easily because we know we have each other's best interest as heart. But in the end it is ALL about Christ. Love says I love you enough to make sure that in everything you do you are honoring our Lord.
Not only that but I am learning A LOT and I mean A LOT about how the devil works with his backwards behind. I am becoming more and more aware of the methods he uses to keep us as far as we can possibly get from God. And this is the thing, he doesn't even care about you devoting your life and actions to him but so long as he can keep you in a place that you will never experience true freedom in Christ, if he can get you to hang out in the middle (lukewarm) he is good. But the farther away he can entice you the better. That is why we have to be careful of the small things that capture our affections because God is a jealous God (yes Oprah! He is jealous for us and not of us). And most of all HE LOVES US..OH HOW HE LOVES US like she says below:
And I love you too!
Peace and Blessings
TikaStar*
How true is this?!! Man how true this is. I will tell you, there is something about this Christian walk that both puffs up and edifies. It is the people that usually puff up and it is the God in us the has the ability to edify. I don't know about you but it seems we all reach a point in our walk when we think we have a handle on the things of God. We become caught up with church doctrine and sometimes forget that it is the Word of God that is the final authority but we put so much emphasis on what the church believes. Now don't get me wrong, it is a good thing to have a set of beliefs by which to govern yourself by so long as they are rooted in the Word but even then, some of the the doctrine that arises is based on what we think the Word is saying. Most of the interpretations that we have about the Word of God comes from some of the traditional things that we have been taught down the line and we become denominational converts instead of born again believers.
So what am I learning...I am learning that loving God and being loved by Him is really all that matters. And if we claim to love God we WILL love our brothers and sisters. For all of the law is fulfilled in one word and that is to love thy neighbor as thyself. I am not saying that it is okay to be in doctrinal error (learning that there is a lot of that too) and that we should accept anything but what I am saying is doctrine puffs up but love builds up. Doctrine at times confuses but love just makes sense. When we love each other we will not become offended so easily because we know we have each other's best interest as heart. But in the end it is ALL about Christ. Love says I love you enough to make sure that in everything you do you are honoring our Lord.
Not only that but I am learning A LOT and I mean A LOT about how the devil works with his backwards behind. I am becoming more and more aware of the methods he uses to keep us as far as we can possibly get from God. And this is the thing, he doesn't even care about you devoting your life and actions to him but so long as he can keep you in a place that you will never experience true freedom in Christ, if he can get you to hang out in the middle (lukewarm) he is good. But the farther away he can entice you the better. That is why we have to be careful of the small things that capture our affections because God is a jealous God (yes Oprah! He is jealous for us and not of us). And most of all HE LOVES US..OH HOW HE LOVES US like she says below:
And I love you too!
Peace and Blessings
TikaStar*
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Relationship....
The most important thing that we could possibly EVER obtain in life is a realtionship with God. We were redeemed by His blood to spend eternity with Him in heaven when at one point in time that completely impossible. But God made it possible becuase it was important to Him to reconcile His creation to himself. ALL of His creation...and that includes me and YES you too!!!
It is one thing to be redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ but it is a total different matter altogether to garner a relationship with Him. It is easy to, as some practice, say a prayer and ask Jesus into your heart. It may even be easy to for others to be fire baptized with His Holy Ghost and speak in an unknown tongue but at some point in each of these lives....the challenge comes with actually having a relationship with Jesus. We can hold on to the manifestations, the fruit of the Spirit displayed in us and even the works that animate our faith but to be in a close relationship with The Father...OH MY!! How does one do that?
I wish OH how I wish I had a formula to recite that would solve this for us but the truth is I do not. What I do know and what I can tell you is this...a relationship is first built on these things:
1. The blood of Jesus Christ and the power that it has to save us from death and sin
2. Continual trust and faith in God
3. The Holy Ghost (His power not ours)
4. Prayer (open and constant communication)
5. Obedience to His will through His Word
6. A willing heart and mind
7. MOST IMPORTANT...HIS GRACE!!!!
That acutally almost sounds like a formula but not really. These are merely precursors but only a few. Also, understand this...God pursues us! God wants and longs to have a relationship with us. He doesn't just want to save our souls but He wants to talk to us and teach us and show us His love. We can know these things all day long and we can know about the character of God as much as we would like but I believe He wants us to not just know these things but to actually experience them first hand! I believe it is His will for us.
This relationship that I speak of is so about LOVE at that. His sacrifice for us was based on love. His resurrection was based on love. And everything else that He does is based on love but without the relationship we cannot know or even experience His love. There is a secular song that comes to mind that goes a little something like this:
I needed the shelter of someone's arms
I needed someone to share my ups and downs
AND THERE YOU WERE
With sweet love and devotion
deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you
HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU!
I am NOT trying to spiritualize a secular song but thats just what came to mind for the moment. Psalms 91:4 says "He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings you shall take refuge." HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU! 1 Peter 5:7 says that we can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU! Romans 5:8 says while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU! Eyes have not seen, ear have not heard nor has it entered into the hearts of man the things that God has prepared for those that love Him. HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU!
As I write this I am reminded to not give up and to keep pursuing God no matter how I feel or how hard things seem to get. I KNOW I love Him and I am even more certain that He loves me. All I can say is that God is awesome and a relationship with Him, no matter how hard it seems it is to obtain, is well worth it...your life depends on it and that is no exaggeration.
So there you go...
God IS Love (1 John 4:8)
It is one thing to be redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ but it is a total different matter altogether to garner a relationship with Him. It is easy to, as some practice, say a prayer and ask Jesus into your heart. It may even be easy to for others to be fire baptized with His Holy Ghost and speak in an unknown tongue but at some point in each of these lives....the challenge comes with actually having a relationship with Jesus. We can hold on to the manifestations, the fruit of the Spirit displayed in us and even the works that animate our faith but to be in a close relationship with The Father...OH MY!! How does one do that?
I wish OH how I wish I had a formula to recite that would solve this for us but the truth is I do not. What I do know and what I can tell you is this...a relationship is first built on these things:
1. The blood of Jesus Christ and the power that it has to save us from death and sin
2. Continual trust and faith in God
3. The Holy Ghost (His power not ours)
4. Prayer (open and constant communication)
5. Obedience to His will through His Word
6. A willing heart and mind
7. MOST IMPORTANT...HIS GRACE!!!!
That acutally almost sounds like a formula but not really. These are merely precursors but only a few. Also, understand this...God pursues us! God wants and longs to have a relationship with us. He doesn't just want to save our souls but He wants to talk to us and teach us and show us His love. We can know these things all day long and we can know about the character of God as much as we would like but I believe He wants us to not just know these things but to actually experience them first hand! I believe it is His will for us.
This relationship that I speak of is so about LOVE at that. His sacrifice for us was based on love. His resurrection was based on love. And everything else that He does is based on love but without the relationship we cannot know or even experience His love. There is a secular song that comes to mind that goes a little something like this:
I needed the shelter of someone's arms
I needed someone to share my ups and downs
AND THERE YOU WERE
With sweet love and devotion
deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you
HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU!
I am NOT trying to spiritualize a secular song but thats just what came to mind for the moment. Psalms 91:4 says "He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings you shall take refuge." HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU! 1 Peter 5:7 says that we can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU! Romans 5:8 says while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU! Eyes have not seen, ear have not heard nor has it entered into the hearts of man the things that God has prepared for those that love Him. HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU!
As I write this I am reminded to not give up and to keep pursuing God no matter how I feel or how hard things seem to get. I KNOW I love Him and I am even more certain that He loves me. All I can say is that God is awesome and a relationship with Him, no matter how hard it seems it is to obtain, is well worth it...your life depends on it and that is no exaggeration.
So there you go...
God IS Love (1 John 4:8)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Transformed by the Holy Ghost!
The Holy Ghost leads and guides into all truth....that is if we follow Him. We must allow our hearts to be surrendered to God's will in order to allow the Spirit of God in us to direct us into His way. The familiar scripture Prover 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. People of God, do you realize that this is a promise? By His Spirit He led the children of Israel out of Egypt. At that time He was manifested in a cloud and pillar of fire but today He lives in us. So how much more direction and guidance should we have in the Holy Ghost. And not only that but Jesus sits in a position of authority interceding on our behalf in all things.
Okay, so to the point at hand...being transformed by the Holy Ghost.
Ephesians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
It is the by the Spirit of God that we are transformed and not just transformed into better people per se but into the likeness of Christ. The more the Spirit has His way in our lives more we look like Jesus, the more of His glory we reflect. This glory transcends into every area of our lives.
Case in point: I got married 4 days ago. A mere four days ago. I have barely tasted the joys AND the woes (so they say) of marriage. Prior to the "I do's" I felt I was pretty well equipped for marriage. I know the expectations but I have to admit, I was not 100% sure if I wanted to submit to those expectations right away. I felt that it would all be a learning process and something that I could work on while in the marriage. Well dear friends...God had a better idea. I believe that there was no way that God would allow me to botch what He had put together. Now, don't get me wrong, I have been seeking God to help me with this transition...sincerely not wanting to go into the marriage with the mindset that I had above but I didn't have enough faith to believe that God could transform my mindset immediately but accepted the fact that it would all come about gradually. Everything in me has changed and quickly at that has it been done. I WANT to be submissive AND obedient to my husband. I WANT to allow him to be the man AND the priest of our household. I WANT to do everything that is required of me as a wife as outlined in the word. My whole outlook has changed, my heart has been changed. I AM a wife reflecting the glory of God in marriage and by His Spirit I will continue to be.
There is no way to explain how God chooses to do His work but I am confident that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus...and by all means I will not stand to be in His way. His will is above my will and His ways GREATER than my ways.
It is just so crazy to see how God truly does direct your paths when you put Him first. Just to see how He pulls all the pieces of the puzzle together and when you look back in hindsight you see just what He was doing. God goave the provision in every stage of our relationship. He gave us EVERYTHING that we needed to make it from one stage to the next.....He has transformed us from glory to glory into the mold that He fashioned for us and I am loving every minute of it.
Ephesians 3:17 says were the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and yall I can honestly say that I have never felt so free in my life. Marriage (between a man & a woman) is a wonderful thing. It is ordained by God to accomplish His will in the earth. Gotta Love It!!!
And let me tell you this, the Holy Ghost has the power to change EVERYTHING in your life. Just get a hold of the Lord Jesus Christ and don't let go. Allow Him to capture your heart and captivate minds and submit and commit your life to Him and watch the wonderful things He will do. Mark 9:22b-23 says "but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
In Love With Him,
Mrs. Tillis
Okay, so to the point at hand...being transformed by the Holy Ghost.
Ephesians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
It is the by the Spirit of God that we are transformed and not just transformed into better people per se but into the likeness of Christ. The more the Spirit has His way in our lives more we look like Jesus, the more of His glory we reflect. This glory transcends into every area of our lives.
Case in point: I got married 4 days ago. A mere four days ago. I have barely tasted the joys AND the woes (so they say) of marriage. Prior to the "I do's" I felt I was pretty well equipped for marriage. I know the expectations but I have to admit, I was not 100% sure if I wanted to submit to those expectations right away. I felt that it would all be a learning process and something that I could work on while in the marriage. Well dear friends...God had a better idea. I believe that there was no way that God would allow me to botch what He had put together. Now, don't get me wrong, I have been seeking God to help me with this transition...sincerely not wanting to go into the marriage with the mindset that I had above but I didn't have enough faith to believe that God could transform my mindset immediately but accepted the fact that it would all come about gradually. Everything in me has changed and quickly at that has it been done. I WANT to be submissive AND obedient to my husband. I WANT to allow him to be the man AND the priest of our household. I WANT to do everything that is required of me as a wife as outlined in the word. My whole outlook has changed, my heart has been changed. I AM a wife reflecting the glory of God in marriage and by His Spirit I will continue to be.
There is no way to explain how God chooses to do His work but I am confident that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus...and by all means I will not stand to be in His way. His will is above my will and His ways GREATER than my ways.
It is just so crazy to see how God truly does direct your paths when you put Him first. Just to see how He pulls all the pieces of the puzzle together and when you look back in hindsight you see just what He was doing. God goave the provision in every stage of our relationship. He gave us EVERYTHING that we needed to make it from one stage to the next.....He has transformed us from glory to glory into the mold that He fashioned for us and I am loving every minute of it.
Ephesians 3:17 says were the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and yall I can honestly say that I have never felt so free in my life. Marriage (between a man & a woman) is a wonderful thing. It is ordained by God to accomplish His will in the earth. Gotta Love It!!!
And let me tell you this, the Holy Ghost has the power to change EVERYTHING in your life. Just get a hold of the Lord Jesus Christ and don't let go. Allow Him to capture your heart and captivate minds and submit and commit your life to Him and watch the wonderful things He will do. Mark 9:22b-23 says "but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
In Love With Him,
Mrs. Tillis
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
MARRIED!!!
Guess what?!! I am soo married and so extremely excited and my heart is definitely glad. I can't really explain the feeling but it tops the list as one of the best experiences of my life. I am looking forward to being a wife. Not just any wife but the best wife I can be for Rashid.
So EXTRA EXCITED!
Mrs. Tillis
So EXTRA EXCITED!
Mrs. Tillis
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Influences and Expectations
Have you seen me? Are you familiar with me? Do you know what I look like? Can you tell me what's in my heart? Have I made myself unknowable to you? Am I not who you remember me to be? Am I not who I should be? Who you want me to be? You see, I struggle with my identity because I'm trying to find the line between who I am and what God has made me to be. God made me...HE made me. All of me and He knows every hair on my head. He knows what's in my heart and what's on my head. He knows me and I am convinced of that but I wish He would clearly make me known to me. The influences and expectations surround me seek to form me and make me into what they feel I should be but I don't feel like that's me. I am me..whoever I am....and sometimes I feel like I can be alright with me until they tell me that's not who I'm really supposed to be.
I guess my prayer in this here is, "Lord, teach me to be me and who YOU made me to be. Help me to understand me and make amends with your Spirit that lives in me. I think I may try too hard to maintain the uniqueness that I know is me but where is the line drawn between my what's flesh and what's you in me. I read your Word and I believe I know your way but sometimes I don't feel that I am doing it right...I don't want to disappoint you or let you down. I know you enough to know what things in me that aren't anything like you and I know me enough to identify those things. But Lord, what about my personality and my temperment and the way I process things? The things that I honestly feel are a part of who and how you made me? Sometimes I feel that everything about me is wrong. What I choose to say and the way I choose to say it. How I feel sometimes and the way I choose to express it. Whose mold should I fit in? I say yours but is your mold for me the same as she or he? Have you customized us or are we all the same...should we all be the same. Now I agree we should be like minded as believers as in to say that we should have the mind of Christ but does that mean we will conform to each other? There is a difference in conforming to you but we tend to conform to the earthly examples we see. We are prey to influence and expectations and sometimes I am afraid that the influence may be godly and the expectation as well but the measuring stick we set according to man's standard's and not your heavenly standard. Compared to you Jesus we all fall short and I am fine with that. You are SUPREME and I am right glad about it but Lord I want to be me....in You of course, but me. Not the sinful, carnal disobedient me but the silly, goofy and laid back me. The me that smiles during praise & worship and the me that loves to hear your name. The me that loves people but may not open up to them right away. The me that is innovative and creative and loves new ideas. The me that understands ignorance but does not accept it. The me that wants to be cool but not ay the expense of mine or anyone else's soul. The me that just wants to know you more and more as YOU influence me according to YOUR expectation. As you have assigned us all an assignment and a purpose, haven't you also given us everything that we need to bring it to completion? Doesn't that mean my purpose will require me to be a certain way and differentiatied from the person that sits next to me? Honestly, I don't want to be like everybody else.
I know you know where my heart is. I pray that the meditations therein be acceptable in your sight.
I guess my prayer in this here is, "Lord, teach me to be me and who YOU made me to be. Help me to understand me and make amends with your Spirit that lives in me. I think I may try too hard to maintain the uniqueness that I know is me but where is the line drawn between my what's flesh and what's you in me. I read your Word and I believe I know your way but sometimes I don't feel that I am doing it right...I don't want to disappoint you or let you down. I know you enough to know what things in me that aren't anything like you and I know me enough to identify those things. But Lord, what about my personality and my temperment and the way I process things? The things that I honestly feel are a part of who and how you made me? Sometimes I feel that everything about me is wrong. What I choose to say and the way I choose to say it. How I feel sometimes and the way I choose to express it. Whose mold should I fit in? I say yours but is your mold for me the same as she or he? Have you customized us or are we all the same...should we all be the same. Now I agree we should be like minded as believers as in to say that we should have the mind of Christ but does that mean we will conform to each other? There is a difference in conforming to you but we tend to conform to the earthly examples we see. We are prey to influence and expectations and sometimes I am afraid that the influence may be godly and the expectation as well but the measuring stick we set according to man's standard's and not your heavenly standard. Compared to you Jesus we all fall short and I am fine with that. You are SUPREME and I am right glad about it but Lord I want to be me....in You of course, but me. Not the sinful, carnal disobedient me but the silly, goofy and laid back me. The me that smiles during praise & worship and the me that loves to hear your name. The me that loves people but may not open up to them right away. The me that is innovative and creative and loves new ideas. The me that understands ignorance but does not accept it. The me that wants to be cool but not ay the expense of mine or anyone else's soul. The me that just wants to know you more and more as YOU influence me according to YOUR expectation. As you have assigned us all an assignment and a purpose, haven't you also given us everything that we need to bring it to completion? Doesn't that mean my purpose will require me to be a certain way and differentiatied from the person that sits next to me? Honestly, I don't want to be like everybody else.
I know you know where my heart is. I pray that the meditations therein be acceptable in your sight.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Curse of Laziness
There is a disease that plagues many. It comes in unexpectantly and claims its victims slowly. It holds the mind captive and causes the body to fall into shambles. It is the counterproductive force to progress. Dreams have been thwarted by it, relationships slandered because of it and lives brought to ruin through it. Nobody likes it yet so many embrace it.
We call this disease....LAZINESS!
Laziness presupposes that work is laborious and anything that takes energy and effort is shunned. It is a condition of the mind that says I am fixed to do nothing and to take no action. I am satisfied with complacency and even when I am not I resolve to do NOTHING!
Oh but the danger lies even further in that we deceive ourselves so to the point that we believe we deserve the "privilege" of laziness. Have you said to yourself, "This has been such a long day, I deserve to do nothing" or "I do so much that this one time won't make a difference?" We get to the point that we pack so many things into our lives that we become over busy (which is also a disease to be mentioned) and eventually crash into laziness. We go from one extreme to the next without any consideration for priority or importance and life becomes and unbalanced bowl of meaninglessness.
There is no fight in you when you are lazy. There is no self control. There is no hope. No vision. No dream. No plan of action. No course for progress or growth. The Bible says that laziness or sluggardness will cause poverty to pounce on you like a bandit. Why be pounced? Why be taken advantage of? Why give in any longer? It is a fight against the mind and a battle against the body so make up in your mind today that laziness WILL NOT have its way.
Laziness, my dear friends, is a tool from Satan himself to keep us from the will of God. And I admit that I have falen prey to such a grave sin. Putting off for tomorrow what should be done today and sadly today has quickly lengthened in time. Tomorrow is not promised and another may never be given to us again. There is no room for laziness in the Kingdom of God but only room for pressing towards the Kingdom. I don't ask for your forgiveness but I ask for your prayers as we battle and war together. For the Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force. We need to arise and fight for the promise and do ourselves an injustice to give the battle away before it has even begun!
Awake thou oh sleeper and arise from the dead and Christ will give thee light! See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but undestanding what the will of the Lord is. - Ephesians 5:14-17
We call this disease....LAZINESS!
Laziness presupposes that work is laborious and anything that takes energy and effort is shunned. It is a condition of the mind that says I am fixed to do nothing and to take no action. I am satisfied with complacency and even when I am not I resolve to do NOTHING!
Oh but the danger lies even further in that we deceive ourselves so to the point that we believe we deserve the "privilege" of laziness. Have you said to yourself, "This has been such a long day, I deserve to do nothing" or "I do so much that this one time won't make a difference?" We get to the point that we pack so many things into our lives that we become over busy (which is also a disease to be mentioned) and eventually crash into laziness. We go from one extreme to the next without any consideration for priority or importance and life becomes and unbalanced bowl of meaninglessness.
There is no fight in you when you are lazy. There is no self control. There is no hope. No vision. No dream. No plan of action. No course for progress or growth. The Bible says that laziness or sluggardness will cause poverty to pounce on you like a bandit. Why be pounced? Why be taken advantage of? Why give in any longer? It is a fight against the mind and a battle against the body so make up in your mind today that laziness WILL NOT have its way.
Laziness, my dear friends, is a tool from Satan himself to keep us from the will of God. And I admit that I have falen prey to such a grave sin. Putting off for tomorrow what should be done today and sadly today has quickly lengthened in time. Tomorrow is not promised and another may never be given to us again. There is no room for laziness in the Kingdom of God but only room for pressing towards the Kingdom. I don't ask for your forgiveness but I ask for your prayers as we battle and war together. For the Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force. We need to arise and fight for the promise and do ourselves an injustice to give the battle away before it has even begun!
Awake thou oh sleeper and arise from the dead and Christ will give thee light! See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but undestanding what the will of the Lord is. - Ephesians 5:14-17
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