THE TRUTH OF ALISSA LYNNE
by Alissa Lynne - Purple Butterfly of Christ
Chapter 8 - Building a Relationship with God
Thankful – Just Me
God is in charge of all of
our lives. He holds all power in His hands. We as Christians have a
tendency to “beat down” other Christians or non-believers. What happen to
loving God and spreading His love? Calling others out of their name with
“colorful” adjectives or plain simple cruel words such as dumb or stupid,
either way where is the love? Giving the word of God to an unsaved or
saved person is NOT enough – when you give the word of God – use love.
When Jesus gave His words,
they were not full of anger or hate for the person but for the sin, we are
so hard on others, remember to be careful of judging. Jesus is an example
of love – pure unconditional love and we need to show the same thing for
our fellow human beings. There are people in need of our help and we walk
right past them. We automatically assume that we can not make a
difference, but if we would all try to make a difference, that is where
the difference comes from. We have neighbors that we can not stand because
of our experiences, when was the last time we said hello to them in
pleasant voice and just being pleasant. My mom used to teach me to get
people with my kindness. Most people expect people to just ignore us or to
be just plain mean, but a little kindness goes a long way. So if you say
good morning or a warm comment every time you see them, eventually they
will start to warm up to you. The world is a cold place and it is up to us
as Christians to warm it up with the love of the Lord. Do you only say
“Have a blessed day” to those that you know are saved – or do you say it
to everyone. Just because someone is not a believer does not mean that
they are not entitled to a blessed day. We have to remember that we are to
shine for Christ all the time and though some people do try our patience,
just look at it this way – we are getting more patience as we deal with
them. We are blessed and highly favored – why are we afraid to speak up
and let the world know that we are not taking it lying down any more – we
all need to STAND for Christ. Too many times because people do not see our
way, we give up on them entirely – it is not our job to convict it is just
our job to inform in a loving and Christian way. It appears to me that the
Christian way is changing and I am wondering where it is going and why!!!
Our God is still the same as yesterday, today and tomorrow – so why are
Christians changing so much. Think about it my sisters and brothers – LET
US STAND for the Lord and what is right in His eyes and love one another.
I guess that is why I try to encourage and love my sisters and a brother
for God is just the same with me. Please take the time to show love to all
human beings. We need to show love and let God convict those who we
minister to. Some of our job is to give His word, Praise Him, Trust Him,
and Love All!
We go through life and
prepare for the worse and pray for the best. I believe that we should
prepare for the best and pray for the worst. When bad things happen or
come at us, we need to pray for strength, for it rains on the just as it
does the unjust and we are not above trials and tribulations. We have to
remember that as we go through things in life that those things make us
stronger in God and to rely on Him to get us through the situation.
Whether it is the pain of the past, or the pain of the present, whether it
is people we have to deal with or people we feel we can not deal with, no
matter what the trials/tribulation/storm that we are going through it will
strengthen us while we are going through it. We are being prepared for the
best instead of praying for the best. We are being prepared to come out of
the storm with no scars and praising God during and after the storm.
For every situation I am in –
there is someone worse off than I am – struggling more than I am – the
saved and unsaved. We have to be content in our lives and not be concerned
for what we have and do not have for we are here in the land of the living
and God is with us always. We are to be thankful for all things that we
are blessed to have. God provides for us and we need to be thankful for
what He provides us. I am so thankful for God reminding me not to look at
others and want what they have for I do not know what they have been
through to get that and God may have something better for me in store. We
have to remember that no matter what is going on in our lives – God wants
the best for us and from us. We have to give Jesus our best for God always
gives us His best. I smile because the God I serve even though I fall
short many times – God is always there.
I have read several things in
the past about people and pain – we have to remember that God removes all
pain and that if we hold onto the pain it will eat us alive. I have seen
writings from being raped, neglect, and anger to just down right hurting
pain in the heart. God is with us and we have to remember to stand with
the Lord in all things that we go through and do. He will never leave nor
forsake us so as we take steps that we are afraid to take remember that
through it all God is with us and He is always with us. When it seems like
the darkest times – God is there doing things that we do not always see
but He will reveal in the end.
So many times people say to
me why does this happen to me and why do that happen to me? It rains on
the just as well as the unjust and I believe that because we are children
of God – the enemy wants us more and will throw things on us. We as human
beings – saved and the unsaved – are given a choice – life situations hit
us and the outcome depends on us – if we decide to be defeated by it than
that is what happens – if we allow the things that happen to us to defeat
us then we are going to always feel as if life does not matter – but if we
fight against it and rage against the storm and Praise God during the
storm and come through the storm – then we are going to always be
VICTORIOUS!!! We have to decide how we are going to handle life – it is
given to us but where it goes is up to us for God has given each of us
free will and it is our choice on how we handle our life. We can fight the
storms with Jesus doing it for us, or we can choose to lose the fight and
curl up in the corner with our heads down – what kind of life is that!!!
I praise God for the shelter
from the storm and the peace in my heart during the storm. God is good all
the time and all the time God is good. I thank God every day of my life!!!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!
Asking God
I John 5:14-15 “Now this
is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according
to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we
ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
So many times we go to God
and ask for things that we know He is not going to do. You should stop
asking to hit the lottery – gambling is that of God? People thank God when
they hit the numbers, I do not believe that is of God. God does not
condone gambling. We have churches doing bingos and things like that; God
does not need that money raised by gambling. Gambling is gambling – duh –
bingo is gambling!! Anyhow, when we go to God in prayer for things, we
need to make sure what we are requesting is in line with what He wants for
us. We have a tendency to ask God for things before we are ready for them.
For example, we pray to God for a man or woman that He has for you,
which are fine, do not put a time frame on it; ask Him to send that
person when He wants too. God will answer us but you might not be ready
for that man/woman and mess it up. Or you pray for a new house, not one
you can afford to live in on a daily basis. I used to believe we need to
be specific in prayer and watch what you ask for as you might get it.
Well I have changed that
train of thought, I ask God to give me what He feels I need. I ask Him not
for “wants” anymore, for as long as God gives me what He feels I need all
my wants are taken care of - God loves us and just as we do our children
He does for us. We take care of our children and sometimes our children
are so well behaved, we surprise them with something we know they would
like, they did not ask for it but we know our children, (if we love them,
we know them), we knew they would love it. God is the same with us, He
knows us better than we know ourselves,
and so it we ask for our needs forget our wants, be good children.
He will take care of all our needs and all our wants! As we get closer to
Him, our needs and wants will be in accordance with His will for us
anyhow!
Your Vow to Jesus
Matthew 5:33-37 “Again
you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear
falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do
not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the
earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city
of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot
make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’
‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
Here is another aspect of
this scripture. How about “promises/vows” that we make to God? We will
promise God that we will do whatever He wants if He brings us out of the
mess we are in, usually it is a huge mess we created because we did not
listen to Him in the first place. God loves us and has our best interest
in His heart and hands. He wants us to lean on Him, to trust Him, to love
Him as He loves us. So why do we say things to Him that we do not mean,
see if you make a promise or vow to God, you will keep it – you will in
the end of it all keep it. I have a family member who years ago promised
God that if God would allow everything to be okay at the doctor’s that he
would give his life over to Christ. Well God made sure it was all fine,
this person has yet to turn his life over to God. Nothing has been right
for this person since, the ‘funny’ thing is he knows it; wonderful thing
is he is starting to Let Go and Let God!! We can not make promises to
Jesus and not expect to keep them, as in the end, every knee shall bow and
every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. I am thankful that
God is not like us in keeping our word to others and to Him. I am glad
that He is way above us and keeps His word to us each and every day!!!!
Keeping Your Word
Matthew 5:33-37 “Again you have heard
that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall
perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all:
neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His
footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor
shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or
black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is
more than these is from the evil one.”
God keeps His word to us; we
do not have to doubt His word as He always comes through with His
word/promises. We should do the same, we should mean what we say and keep
our words, and we should not have to say “we promise or we swear”. Our
word should be enough for people to trust what we say. We have a tendency
to not trust people and what they say – is it because of them or because
of us. Do we not trust others or ourselves, I have to believe that it is a
little from column A and a little from column B. We need to take a look
inside ourselves and let it go – whatever it is and learn to trust. We
hold onto our hurt too much, we need to trust Jesus and move forward. We
need to trust Jesus and give 100% of our heart to Jesus and those around
us. It is time for us to truly love our neighbors and trust God to speak
to our hearts to tell us of those who are untrustworthy. We are to be
Christ-like at all times – as hard as it is – we still need to strive to
be Christ like. Love our neighbors and keep our word to all especially to
Christ.
What Do You Do to Draw Others to Jesus?
It really bothered me that
those that choose not to worship Jesus as their personal Savior really do
not see the church as the church used to be viewed. So many churches are
conforming to the world and not the world conforming to the church. Why do
we have to have the secular music songs in the church? Why do we have to
reach out to the world with their music? So we draw them to church with
the music of hip hop and then we get them in church and provide hip hop
and pray that they hear the word of God. But once the minister starts to
preach the true word of God, they are not listening or they have left
because “the show” is over. So what do the ministers do now to keep the
young people, they sink and yes I mean to say sink to their level, and
start using street language in their sermons.
Okay, look the church has
always been looking to reach the young people and how did they get the
young people into the church – the parents. The parents brought their
children; we are thinking to reach the adults that we need to reach the
children – NOT!!! We need to reach the adults they are the head of the
house and the ones in charge of things. So how do we reach the adults, not
by music, but the word of God. The true word of God. We sing songs in
church to evoke the spirit of the Lord into the service; the Holy Spirit
draws them in. I have heard from people, well it is just music; it does
not do anything…WHAT IS THAT MESS?? Okay so if that is true, the worship
songs we sing at church means nothing for it is just music and it does not
do anything. Ridiculous – do you see where I am going with that? The music
we play in the church is to usher in God’s spirit, not the happiness of
those in the seat because they are be bopping to the music for that used
to be their song back in the day??!!!
We need the old school
ministers back who were afraid of Jesus not the collection plate being
empty. We need those ministers, who are not afraid to say that Jesus loves
you and accepts you, but you need to change, you need to commit and have a
relationship with the Lord. Where are the ministers that will speak the
word of God because they cared about your very soul?
Matthew 25:34-46
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come,
ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye
gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and
ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick,
and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and
clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison,
and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say
unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on
the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
for the devil and his angels:
42 For I
was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no
drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took
me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye
visited me not.
44 Then shall they also
answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a
stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying,
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of
these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these
shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life
eternal.
We are to draw men unto Jesus
by our actions. How are we to reach the unsaved when they are walking
around worried about their bills, and how they are going to provide for
their family? We have to reach the need of the unsaved and draw them in.
For if you are hungry, you are not listening to what people are saying, if
your electric is going to be shut off, you are not listening to what
people are saying to you about the Lord and trusting Jesus. If your son is
out there on the streets selling drugs and providing the money for the
home, you are not listening to the church for you are worried if you son
is going to come home that night. We have to reach out to people and help
them.
So many churches are
concerned about building bigger churches but what about meeting the needs
of the congregation. There are churches that are not reaching out to their
congregation unless they are paying a huge tithe each week. We have to
reach those that need us; there are tons of homeless people here in the
USA – who need a hand up not a handout. We have tons of children waiting
for families that just need love and a safe place to live. We have tons of
people strung out on drugs or some kind of addiction that just need
someone to pray with them and believe in them. We have tons of people who
feel that they are useless or worthless wanting to end their lives that
just need to hear a kind word. Where are we to give that to them? When was
the last time that you saw a homeless person and helped them? Some of them
are just down because of things in their life that could be you. They made
some choices that have landed them in that situation, what happen to
loving them?
I remember back in the day
that there were tons of churches giving back to the community, you knew
that this church gave food on certain days and other churches had clothes
and other churches would let you sleep there at night. I am sad to say
that Pittsburgh is not like it used to be and it is discouraging. I
remember back in the day, in the heart of the black neighborhood, a big
tent went up and there was a revival right there in the middle of the
neighborhood. There were people changing their lives right there. Those
revivals are no longer held outside but inside of the church and not as
many are being saved. The very same pastor who used to conduct those is
now sitting high in his own church that is huge and untouchable. I feel
for those ministers who forget where God brought them from. We need to
remember that if it was not for the grace of God – we would be so lost. We
need to reach out to our sisters and brothers.
We are expected to be Holy
for that is what He requires us to do, He would not say we could if we
could not; we are our biggest hold up on that. I have to encourage you to
surround yourself with things of holiness, and get into His word!! God is
too good not to be in His word and get to know Him better. The enemy will
try to deter you but get into the word anyhow; the benefits are too great
not too.
Do Not Judge
1 John 2:24-27 “Let
that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If
that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also
shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise
that he hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written
unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have
received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:
but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is
no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”
Many times we have heard from
ministers, pastors, and Christians – “Come as you are” But do you really
mean it? Do you accept anyone into your church with open arms; do you
minister or help anyone with open arms? We should accept anyone seeking
God, who cares where their life is currently. None of us are perfect, God
works on us daily! He does for all of us!!
If someone comes to the
church in inappropriate attire, do not turn them away by rude remarks or
comments, or by beating them up with how they should be. Show them the
love of Christ and encourage them to continue to come to church, God will
change them. Plus you never know their life circumstances, for example I
was staying with my aunt after the fire in my house, I did not have many
dresses before the fire and since my main clothing closet was on the 2nd
floor – those clothes where gone, and the clothes in my bedroom on
the first floor were all smoke damaged. So I had no dresses, I barely had
clothes, but I wanted to go to church, I wore jeans until I could afford a
dress. I grew up with the belief that a woman is a woman – hence the dress
to church. So when someone comes to church in pants, shirt too revealing,
skirt too short, fill their heart with the love of Christ in you and God
will do the rest.
Jesus came to save all of us
regardless of our career choices, our lifestyles, our hearts and our
minds. If someone is open enough to accept Jesus into their heart, and
allows himself to be filled with the Holy Spirit, God will change them if
they allow Him to do so. They have to be willing and we have to be
available to help those in need of our assistance – always with love,
never with malice or self reasoning behind our actions. We can not judge
people by their lifestyle, we as Christians must testify of God’s goodness
to us and we must open our hearts to help those in need without judging,
we also need to remember that God will send any of His people to do His
will – saved and the unsaved. We as Christians need to have not only an
open heart but an open mind!!! God will make the changes in a person’s
life as they are convicted by His Holy Spirit and His words – just as He
did for us.
God convicted my heart with
quitting smoking as I started to see my body as a temple to God.
So many times we judge people
before God has started working on the person – we should save the judging
for Jesus not for us – we should love and love all!!! We judge too much
and we jump to conclusions when we should just be there for someone.
My life has not always been
pretty – God has brought me through so much – and it took my ex-husband
leaving me to truly 100% bring me to Christ. Why – because I thought I had
it all – I thought I had the best of the best: a husband, a son, a pet, a
house, two cars, good jobs – not the best marriage but we were still
together. Well then he left – I lost my mind, temporary lost my house (due
to the fire), lost my mom, almost lost my son (he was having difficult
times since his dad left), and God stepped in and saved me. He held me in
His arms, and let me cry all night long about my life, and ever since that
day, I have been committed to living my life the way Jesus wants me to do.
He loved me when I did not love myself and I am eternally grateful. I
thought I had it all but guess what – I had no life – as I did not have
Jesus. Now that I have Jesus in my life, I am so much more at peace and I
am so much happier. I am not the only one who is happy either – my son is
happy – he has a much calmer life and we are working on our relationship
together.
NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS
COVER – GOD CAN CHANGE ANYONE – INCLUDING ME - SAVE THE JUDGING FOR JESUS
– LOVE – LOVE – LOVE – LOVE – OPEN HEARTS AND OPEN MINDS!!!!!!!!!
Love - Love - Love
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that
ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We have to love one another. I know
that God does not like sin but we have to remember that we are to love another
that is including the unsaved, those that do not know the Lord. We have to even
love those that are full of so much righteousness that they forget where the
Lord has brought them. We have to be careful to not prevent someone to coming to
know the Lord. We know what is right and wrong and we can say to someone that
they are wrong but remember God is going to do the same to you. I was out there
sleeping with whomever I wanted to sleep with, drinking and smoking like I
thought I was grown enough to do. The love of God and the Word of God convicted
me and nope I do not sleep around, I do not drink, I stopped smoking, swearing
and a bunch of other stuff. I am far from perfect but God's love is perfect and
I am learning more and more each day. I believe that we are to as fishermen of
men, draw people to the Lord and allow the word of God to minister to them to
change their ways. Now do not get me wrong - should a minister be in the pulpit
not preaching the word of God or watering down the word of God - NOPE!! I know
that we are to talk to each other and minister each other but beating people up
about how they are is not going to turn them to Jesus. All it is going to do is
make them feel guilty and run faster into the world to hide. Let us remember
that Jesus is love and He is the one that is so full of love for us each and
every day! We need to remember to love one another and to remember the golden
rule!!!
Contentment in Life
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I
will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is
my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Are you happy in your life? Do you
look around and smile at your life?
We are blessed just to be alive. So
many times we see what others have and want it for ourselves. We are to look at
what we have and be happy with it – to be content with our lives and not want
someone else’s life or things. People used to see my ex do stuff for me and tell
me how much they want a man like him – little did they know how cruel he was at
home. We never know what someone else is going through.
God gives us only what we can
handle in all aspects of our lives, mentally, emotionally, and financially. God
has in His wondrous way given us the opportunities and placed the path in front
of us for a happy, content, fulfilling life all we have to do is trust in God,
place our faith in His will for our lives and do not stray from it.
If we want to be happy for the rest
of our life, put Jesus first in all things. Trusting God to take care of it all
and have faith that he will despite what comes our way. We will still be content,
happy and rejoicing in Jesus.
I Corinthians 13:6-7 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things,
believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.
Praise
Psalm 106:1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his
mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 111:1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly
of the upright, and in the congregation.
We should just worship Him for all
that He does for us…He loves us despite our actions and the way that we are, He
loves us – ALL OF US. He loves the unsaved just as much as the saved – it is the
sin of the saved and unsaved that God does not like. I praise God for showing us
such compassion and mercy, where we have a huge tendency not to show compassion
or mercy to our fellow human beings – we are quick to judge and think things of
untruth about each other instead of loving one another. I am thankful to God
that He is slow to anger for if He was not – I would be lost forever!!! I praise
God for His encouragement to me and for His unconditional love for me.
Romans 5:2-7 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience,
experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love
of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man
some would even dare to die.
While we are going through what we
are going through, God is walking with us, never leaving nor forsaking us. He
has the whole world in His hands!!! God knows all and sees all – Praises to God
who will answer my prayers and your prayers at the same time, if it is His will!
No Weapon - Pray
Isaiah 54:17 No
weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that
shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the
heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me,
saith the LORD.
No matter what comes against
us, it will not prosper or succeed. God will see us through. You know you
are on the right track when things start coming at you real hard and
heavy.
I have to fight to follow
Jesus…I am verbal about it…I know that for me I have to keep my mind on
Him at all times…which means I do not listen to anything but gospel
music…I study and I praise Him at all times. I keep my mind on God.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice
evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is
the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
So many times people
underestimate what Satan is capable of doing. When Satan left heaven, he
took ⅓ of heaven with him. So let’s say there was 1,000 angels, 333
angels went with him. These are angels who know God…were in the presence
of God and they still left. Satan is a liar and there is no good in him,
but he is a convincing liar. We have to remember that and arm ourselves
with the armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on
the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of
the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2 Corinthians 6:6-8 By
pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost,
by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the
armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and
dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers ...
We can not allow Satan to
take control of our minds. Our minds must remain on God at all times. We
should surround ourselves with things that are holy and keep in the word
of God at all times. We have to keep our minds on the Lord at all times or
do our best for He will strengthen us to get through every day!!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice
evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is
the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Remember my brothers and
sisters….God is with us always…He will never leave nor forsake us…we just
need to STAND!!!
God Bless and remember that
we are blessed and highly favored!!
We have to get a spirit of
Praise! We have to understand that God is going to keep us going! We have
to praise the Lord while we have the breath to do so. God is moving
everyone – come on, get with Jesus, and feel the power of the Lord in your
life.
I have to say that it is sad
what I have seen in the Christian community. We need to pray for the
unsaved and for Christians. There are people out there with so much hate
in their hearts and will go to the Christian message boards just to cause
confusion, now we know that confusion is nothing but the enemy running
wild. Instead of giving the word of God back to these people, Christians
or so-called Christians are slinging mud back at them. I was so hurt to
see this. I know that we are living in the last and evil days, but it
still touches my heart to know that some are so against the word of God
and some of "us" are just as bad.
I am praying much for those that are attending churches are spiritually
dead. Churches that are giving "Cotton Candy" sermons, ministers
not living right or teaching right, so called Christians that are so far
into the world, that you only know they are a Christian when you say Thank
you Jesus and they say Praise the Lord - well they whisper it. We are
coming to a point where there is no way to tell True Christians from not
so true Christians except for the discerning Holy Ghost whom dwells in us.
It is time for those of us
with a voice to speak up. We are saying we need a revival and asking God
to bring us to that, but God helps those that step out on faith. We need
to stop talking about it and do it. We need to pray for our sisters and
brothers who are lost. I have read so many things in the past that makes
my stomach sick.
We are letting our children
act grown before their time, because we want to "get our grove on". What
is that? We are to be what GOD has called us to be and not what we THINK
He wants us to be. One of the reasons I have opened up my web site to
others, why I am doing the radio blog, why we are doing the bible study is
to reach out to others. We are so busy thinking about where God might take
us instead of moving forward in what He has told us to do. We are so busy
worried about how much we can make instead of letting God handle our
finances. I have been getting so much "push back" from some family members
because of where God is taking me and I am not listening to it any more, I
am moving forward in Jesus and I am glad to see that I have some sisters
and brothers moving in Jesus too.
I wanted to say to those
sisters that are out there struggling with their marriage, their
singleness, their jobs, their kids; or whatever their issue is you best
believe there is a sister somewhere who can relate. We are Christian
women not of the world we are special! We need to reach out to our sisters
and bring them closer into the fold of Jesus with the love of the Lord.
This life is not about what we can have but about Jesus.
I am reaching out to all my
sisters and encouraging them to share their story, it will bring you
closer to Jesus and it will touch someone's heart. I know that God has
blessed me with a life full of mess and guess what; I am going to share it
with the entire world so that if nothing else ONE sister will be able to
stand a little taller knowing that God did it for me and He will do it for
them.
My sisters I sit here singing
the praises of God - why? HE IS MY PROVIDER! I have nothing to
worry about and nothing to fear! I know that God will take care of it.
Though people are always saying God is their provider when was the last
time they let it go and concentrate on Jesus! God has called us to walk by
faith and I am going to walk by faith! I am singing and I am praising God.
I could be sitting here worried but God has blessed me many times over. I
am standing and I pray that my sisters stand.
My sisters we need to praise
the Lord more than we do. Even at work I scream inside and write it out on
paper…PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD – HALLEJUAH GOD IS
ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL MY NEEDS – NOT SOME OF THEM BUT ALL OF MY NEEDS!
I AM A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT HE WILL NOT DO
FOR ME! My sisters no matter where we are in life, we need to praise the
Lord at all times – I love the Lord and I am not going to shut up!
The enemy is attacking big
time but guess what – he is not getting my mind with his dumb thoughts –
my mind and heart are here to serve the Lord – I shall always praise the
Lord – no more depression, no more sickness, no more financial issues for
me – my God is there for me and He will keep me! I am singing the praises
of God for all eternity.
We are going to praise until
God shows this world that He is in charge. I know that God is going to
move THIS DAY! I trust the Lord in all things and I know that NO MATTER
WHAT GOES ON IN THIS LIFE – GOD HAS MY BACK – GOD HAS MY FRONT – GOD HAS
MY ENTIRE LIFE SURROUNDED! PRAISE GOD MY SISTERS!
Miracles are coming and
blessing of peace, love, and joy will show up when you praise the Lord
with all your heart!
We have to give God praise at
all time - pray and praise go hand in hand. We have to be in the word of
God, we have to talk to Him (prayer) and we have to worship Him - there is
no other way to make it through this life without it.
I just have to say that we
need to praise God instead of crying about the things in our lives - sure,
we can cry but we need to praise Him - He is calling for His people to
praise Him. I know that when the praises go up - the blessings come down.
Not always money either - even though that is nice, but blessings of
peace, love, and joy to name a few is so much better than money! He is
moving His people to another level and we need to praise Him and get where
He wants His people to be. We are children of the Most High God - what do
we have to fear - NOTHING AT ALL!
It is a shame what some do or
say, in the name of Jesus, who have tons of people following them and even
show that they are not doing as God intended and yet people are blinded by
the "cotton candy" sermons and services. I pray for all our sisters and
brothers to see the Light of Jesus in some one and stop following these
false prophets! I think we are so quick to fall for the "fix it quick"
ways to get to God instead of working/building/cultivating a relationship
with the Lord and listening to His Spirit that dwells in us. We are to
take heed to the times and those that are false prophets, call them on the
carpet when they are preaching or living outside of God. As Paul did, he
called those out that were doing things in public against
God and supposed to be walking in Christ.
I have been reading so much
from people who just do not listen to Christians because of the mess they
see on TV with those that are begging for money or taking the word of God
out of context for their gain. I have been trying to reach out to people
whom just HATE Christians because some of the things that Christians have
said to them have hurt them. I am just praying much that the True
Christians ask to be blessed with more Holy Boldness and stand up for the
Lord in ALL SITUATIONS!
How can we sit quietly
waiting for something to happen? I cannot be quiet anymore and I speak to
whomever I see. I am not an evangelist, preacher, minister, or any of
those other titles; I am a woman of God who loves the Lord, who just wants
to see all that she meets to know the Lord! God is good and we should
shout it out! No more just being a Christian on Sundays or the privacy of
your home, it is time to scream it from the top of our lungs wherever we
go and say how much God has changed our very lives and how His love can
change others! We need to stop judging those that are not in Christ and
love them. We need to start calling those in the ministry on the things
that they are doing outside of the Lord because the world looks to them as
our leaders/spokesperson and let me tell you - NONE of them is my
spokesperson for I have my own mouthpiece and know the word of God.
It is time to speak the truth
and know God's word as we know our name. We should not guess at things but
know that we know that we know. I have heard people say that something is
coming and God is going to do some thing wonderful. I believe that some
thing is coming - it is SALVATION for the lost - some of those that are
acting lukewarm are going to come to the Lord with a fire inside that is
burning for the Lord. The fire is gone from many Christians and it is time
for those that are losing or lost the fire to be re-fresh and renewed in
Jesus. God is just too good to sit down on.
I have seen Him move for
others and for me in the past, He is still the same, and He is not going
to leave me. God is showing me that He is with me regardless of what comes
at me. The peace I feel comes only from Him and praising Him. I love it,
it is my testimony - sure, I am short in cash BUT MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN
THAT! Praise the Lord!
We are going to praise God
until HE CHANGES THINGS! He is in control - He will do what I need and
give me a testimony out of this world. See God is so good - He has
prepared me for a bumpy ride this month but - God is with me and it will
not be that bumpy and I am going to have a testimony out of this world -
God will get the glory in ALL OF MY LIFE! I have been too quiet for too
long - I am decreasing and asking God to increase!
There is a Praise Party going
on and it is never going to stop! We need to stand for the Lord regardless
of what is going on in our lives. Watch the miracles come, watch the joy
come, watch the peace come, watch the moving of the Lord - God is about to
do some serious work. I do not know about anyone else but I can feel it
and I know that it will work to glorify Him and in turn I shall be blessed
even more than I am now! Hallelujah praises to God, my sisters!
I know if He is moving here -
He is moving everywhere - if you are down today - praise the Lord and let
Him bring you out – if find that you cannot get out of it and need
encouragement - email this sister - I will call you tonight and we will
praise the Lord until a change in mood comes!!
We need to be there for each
other! I am serious too - I will sing, pray, shout, whatever it takes to
get my sisters to praise the Lord and feel good in life and know that God
is with us! Praise the Lord! I am so excited - Praise the Lord!
So many times Christians go
to church to be entertained. I am not into being entertained when I go to
church. The pastor/minister/elder or whoever is giving the message does
not have to pump me up to praise Jesus. I have attended churches and
services where people have to “pump” up the crowd. As Christians we should
be on fire for Jesus all the time, we should have praise for Him at all
time. No one should have to “fire” you up for Jesus.
I believe that “seasoned”
Christians should know to bring Him with you and get the service
started…one thing is for sure the Holy Spirit is “catchy”.
I have seen some churches
entertain so much to the point that the “word” given by whomever is
delivering the message that day is so “watered down”. Why are they afraid
to make the congregation angry with the word of God? If you give me a
message from God and it happens to cut me because I am guilty of it…good…I
am looking to please God not man. So many times our pastors and church
leaders do not want to offend because they do not want to offend the
“paying” members. It reminds me of the scene in a movie, where the one
Bishop is telling the Bishop of the church that their membership was low
and if they did not increase their membership, no funds would come their
way. Hummm, now how does that really make sense, if you church membership
is down is not that when you need the money the most. Are we not in this
to help each other, are we not in this to worship God and be Christ-like?
So many times so many politics come into the church and the business of
God is lost. It is no secret that I am not a fan of “mega-churches”. I
will give them this, they are big, they make a joyful noise, and some of
them even do the work of God. I said some of them…there are a lot more who
are out there for the money and the money only, they make a joyful noise
unto the people not the Lord. It is a shame that they are like that but I
pray for those churches for they have reached so many people and have a
chance to make a huge difference in the community and to lead so many to
Christ. I pray for big churches with huge congregations that God will
bless them to do the true will of God.
I pray for churches all over
the world, for Satan is always attacking the church and the people of God.
I pray for each of you and that God will lead and direct your every step.
The World and Christians – Be In It Not Of It!
John 15:18-19 If the world hate you, ye
know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the
world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 17:13-16 And now come I to thee; and
these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled
in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them,
because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray
not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am
not of the world.
Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the
grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
I Corinthians 2:11-16 For what man knoweth the
things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the
things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received,
not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might
know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we
speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural
man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he
himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that
he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
James 4:3-7 Ye ask, and receive not,
because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye
adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world
is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is
the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit
that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore
he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you.
I John 2:14-16 I have written unto you,
fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have
written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God
abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world,
neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of
the Father, but is of the world.
I John 4:3-6 And every spirit that
confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should
come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little
children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you,
than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they
of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth
God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the
spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
I Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy
I have been reading things and seeing how people think that we can still
do things of the world that we used to do. I have seen where it is
acceptable to have sex with someone because you are eventually going to be
married. I have seen where it is acceptable to continue to listen to the
worldly music, watch worldly television. I am not talking about those of
the world who are not walking with Jesus; I am talking about Christians
who say that they love the Lord. I am talking about Christians who are
still sleeping with someone who is not their spouse, who still goes to the
clubs, who are still dressing inappropriately with short skirts and
revealing tops. I am talking about those that are mean and nasty all the
time, never having a kind word to say to anyone. I am talking to those
that are still just in the world, doing all kinds of worldly things
finding and trying to justify what they are doing. I am not perfect
either. We have to remember that we are accountable for all that we do. We
have to remember that we are being watched – not just by man but by God. I
know that sometimes we forget but everything we do even if someone does
not see it, God sees it. I know that there are people sneaking around
doing things that they are hiding and praying no one finds out, but God
sees you and knows that you are doing it. We are required to walk Holy and
be Holy and live the life that God has called us to do. It may seem at
times that it is hard but if we have the faith of a grain of a mustard
seed – not a mustard seed but the grain of a mustard seed – we can move
those mountains out the way! (Matthew 17:19-21)
We are so quick to say that
God is working on me – well God has been trying to work on us but we have
been ignoring what He is telling us to do.
We have to stop and listen and then change what He tells us to change. I
was guilty of waiting for some miracle to happen for God to change me. He
will if I shut my mouth and do as He says, He will if I just open up and
change what needs to change.
God is here for us but we have to know that we are to give up the things
that are not pertaining to Him and not of Him. We have to leave the things
of the world behind for they can hinder us in our future. “Remember that
it is for your future that your present must line up with God.”
We must get rid of all those things that we are holding so tight so that
God can move in our lives as He sees fit. If we want a financial blessing,
we need to stop spending as if we are running out of time. We need to cut
the cards up and depend on Jesus to take care of us. We need to seek His
face and live right and watch the blessings come. If we want a spouse, we
need to stop searching on our own. Place Jesus in the forefront of our
lives and get out the bars, clubs and what not, let the Lord direct your
life and here comes your spouse. You want peace and joy; seek the face of
Jesus not the face of those around you or the joys of this world. God is
the only way; Jesus is the truth and the light! We must seek ye first the
kingdom of God, our heart’s desire should be to please Him and watch the
blessings flow. We will walk in the favor of the Lord always!
Why I Am Always Talking Against “Meism” and “Prosperity” Sermons
So many times people come at
me about this minister or that minister and tell me how wonderful they
are. I listen to why they love that minister and why they believe it is
the truth. I just smile and give them the reason of what I believe. See
the ministers who preach these kinds of sermons are misleading to the
people who listen to these sermons. They are not telling them that this
life is full of trouble; they are not telling them that God says we shall
suffering in the name of Jesus. When these kinds of speeches are going up,
it is coming back voided, there is nothing to hold onto, no foundation in
this kind of empty message. It is okay to preach about prosperity but take
it from the direction of God. We shall have things on this earth that are
beauty and we can have prosperity, many men who loved God FIRST did have
this in the bible. God blesses His people with monetary blessings as well
as spiritual blessings. We have to understand that God is to come first,
not ourselves, it is not about us. It is about God! God is to be the head
of our lives, nothing else. We are to worship God in truth; we are to love
God with our whole heart. We are to praise Him at all times; we are to
love Him with all we have. We are to take joy in praising God and serving
God, not think it is a chore. We are to understand that the riches of this
world are NOTHING compared to what we will have in Heaven with God.When we
get into the meism of sermons; we forget that this is not about us, that
it is about the Lord. Many of those professing Christianity do not want to
hear the Truth!
Therefore, what is wrong with
this kind of preaching, the issue with the focus is that it is not on
Jesus, it is not on the glory of God but the glorification of self, the
glorification of man. It is no longer about the Lord but about those that
serve Him. We should be about our Father’s business not our business.
There are men and women in the ministry in the ministry for all the wrong
reasons. Sure every now and then in their sermon they say something on
point, but if the reason why they are giving the message is because of
keeping up the giving of the people and not for saving souls, their agenda
is not God’s agenda, it is their own agenda.
It is simple how to NOT
fall into this trap. These verses are three of many. I picked these verses
because they are the ones that we all know but so rarely follow and if we
would follow these verses, we would save ourselves so much.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.
I Peter 1:15-16
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be
ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and
lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all
thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
But here is another one that will help understand why we need to know
these verses and why we need to read the word of God…
Galatians 5:16-26
16 This
I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh.
17 For
the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:
and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the
things that ye would.
18 But
if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies,
21 Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you
before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And
they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts.
25 If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let
us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one
another.
James 4:2-4
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye
fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss,
that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world
is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is
the enemy of God.
We are doing things that are not of God, we are doing things that God will
punish us for, but how can we live as He calls us to do if we do not study
His word, how do we fight all the evil presented to us if we do not read
and live His word.
We can attend bible studies, we can listen to the reading of the bible
every day on line, we can read all kinds of versions of the word, all
kinds of handouts on the word. HOWEVER, if we do not apply what we read to
our lives, we are just as lost as those that do not even read the word of
God. I have heard so many people give so many excuses as to why they do
not read the word and even why they do not apply it to their life. If you
do not read the word, if you keep not following what it says to do, you
are going to hear some words that you are not going to want to hear from
the Lord, you are going to fall and be lost from God for all eternity.
Ephesians 5:4-6
4 Neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient:
but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know,
that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for
because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience.
I Corinthians 6:8-10
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your
brethren.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall
not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of
God.
It is so important to all to read the word of God, to know it in your
heart, to be able to rely on it in your time of need or in someone else's
time of need. It is not just for our good but for all those around us. I
have been talking to friends and stuff about the word of God and just
trusting in Jesus. We are to witness to each other; we are to bring new
sheep to the flock, by witnessing to others. How can we do this, if we do
not know God’s word, if we do not follow His word?
We need to separate ourselves from the world and be in it but not of it.
We can hang out with the unsaved to witness to them, but they are not to
be our best friends, at some point if you are associating with an unsaved
person, hanging out with them all the time, someone is going to be
converted, because birds of a feather flock together. If you are not
changing them, they are changing you. I want to see my Jesus face and the
love in His eyes for me, not the Wrath of Jesus. I bet the Wrath of Jesus
is worse than the Wrath of Linda Jean (My mom).
I pray that each of you come to have a personal relationship with the Lord
and if you do not have one, that you draw closer to the Lord for ALL
THINGS in your life.
I Peter 1:14-16
14 As obedient children, not fashioning
yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written,
Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Matthew 6:32-34
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles
seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these
things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for
the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto
the day is the evil thereof.
God is with us and we can
resist temptation. The enemy, satan, is out to take us to hell with him.
Some people forget satan is not in charge of hell, God is. Satan will be
one of the persons in torture in hell; he is not to be in charge of it as
some try to make us think. He (satan) has the power of the air for now,
and we need to know our enemy and know that he is real. We have to realize
that he has no power over us, that we have all power for we are in Christ.
Jesus arose from the dead with all power in his hands. We are more than
conquers because of Christ; we have the victory in all things. People
should not take pride in saying or using the excuse, “the devil made me do
it” as he may put the thought in your mind but it is you who did it. God
will give us a way out if we seek Him and we can resist the devil. We are
to not give into the plans of the enemy for the human race.
This reminds me of a
conversation with a female I know. She explained to me that she cannot go
without sex for more than two weeks and she is a Christian. I told her
that yes she can for the Lord is strong and will give her the power to
resist, but she said that she could not. I cry for our sisters who believe
this and think that God will not strengthen you to get past those stages.
It may not be an easy resistance for you, but it can be done. I think so
many times we give into our flesh desires and say that the enemy got to
us, but sometimes I believe that it is us that get to us. As the scripture
says – I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13 – King James version) The scripture does not say some
things or some times – it says I can do ALL things – which include
resisting temptation. I believe that sometimes we give WAY TOO much
credit to the enemy that we do many things on our own, we are to live a
holy life, and though we fall short on many occasions, we are still to
live holy.
There is no question in my
mind that we can resist temptation, for God said that if we abide in His
word, then He is with us. We as Christians need to build a
relationship with the Lord and to trust His word and Him to do what His
word says. We are blessed beyond our understanding of our blessings.
We are special and loved by
God. We are too quick sometimes to give things that are precious to us. We
will give a man our love that does not deserve it and if he is sent from
God, he will wait for it. Just because you are engaged does not make it
right either, as he is still not your husband and you will have to answer
to God for that sin. We are quick to say I know I am going to marry this
man, and give him a piece of ourselves and when the relationship falls
through, the first thing you think back to is how it fell apart and you
should have never given him “some”. My sisters let us learn from other’s
mistakes, do not think it will not happen to you because you are
different. We are different in some manners but human nature is human
nature to all. Please pay attention to those sisters who have been where
you have been, seek their counsel and direction. Talk to them and take it
to the Lord in prayer. God is with you always and He will direct your
path. There is so many scriptures to back me up on this but I am going to
leave you with one of my favorites that keeps me in line all the time.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two
masters for either he will hate the one, and love the other or else he
will hold to the one; and despise the other. Ye can not serve God and
mam-mon.
We have to remember that we are
either serving God or the enemy. There is no serving God and self, for it is
written…
Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art
neither cold nor hot; I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
It is plain and clear, we cannot be
½ way or as my mom used to say, ride the fence with God. Of course you are
better when serving God for He is the one who keeps all things well. God loves
us so much and He does it all for us. What is amazing to me is that He makes it
so that we all wake up in the morning and go about our day regardless of whom we
serve for the enemy has no power – God has all power. The thing for me is that
God keeps me in peace and joy when all else around me is bad, no one but Jesus
keeps me in my perfect peace. I look at the things God does for me and He does
so much, for I feel so unworthy but I praise God for His favor. So many times we
look at God’s favor/blessings in material ways, we need to remember that God’s
favor/blessings can be material things but the best favor/blessings come to us
in spiritual blessings/favor, I will take peace and joy over money, new cars,
and new things. We have to stop thinking about blessings and favor in the
material ways. So many are preaching “prosperity” sermons and though that is
nice that is not what God is all about, the message of “serve God & get rich”
needs to die. So many people are not hearing the true word of God and I pray for
them daily, there are so many are not being led by the Holy Spirit, whom is God.
I came across a website that has classified ads for church leaders and positions
in the church. I kind of got past the aspect of placing an ad for a pastor or to
get church help, but the part that bothered me was the fact that one ad was
asking for a music director, the ad said they wanted songs picked prior to
service so the words are displayed on the monitor. So what happens if/when the
Holy Spirit places another song on the director’s heart, will they be fired
because the words were not on the monitor? I guess for me to attend a church
that is so full of order so that man is in charge of the service and not God, is
just not for me. I truly believe being led by the Spirit in all things and pray
that more Christians are led that way!
My sisters and brothers let me
encourage you to know the word of God, know the voice of God and to FOLLOW IT!!!
1 Peter 1:13-16 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end
for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in
your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
How do we live holy, we live
holy by surrounding ourselves with things that are Holy. We are to have
our thoughts on Jesus, have our minds on Jesus.
Psalm 19:14 Let the
words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy
sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
We are trying to live a life
of holiness and wonder why our lives are in turmoil, we are holding onto
old things, we are doing old things and not letting go. We are still
living in the world and not letting go. God has said that we are not to be
of this world. We are not to hold onto those things of this world. We are
to surround ourselves of things that improve our relationship with the
Lord. I know that a lot of us do not think changing our dress or what we
listen to in music or what we watch on television makes a difference, but
it does. We surround ourselves of things that are of the world, such as
the television shows we watch, the music we listen to, and the places that
we go. We are saying to ourselves that I am a Christian and it does not
matter because “I know who I am”, but does the world know who you are?
We as Christians need to take
a stand and speak loud. We should not bite our tongues at work when things
come up and Christian views are needed, I said needed, does not mean it is
wanted but needed. Why should we sit and talk to our friends at work about
God and whisper what we are saying. They do not whisper about their night
out of drinking with their friends, we should not whisper about how
wonderful and Holy Spirit filled church was on Sunday. I am so tired of
biting my tongue and sitting back saying the politically correct thing –
THOSE DAYS ARE OVER – We should speak the truth – the truth about God.
We are allowing ministers and
pastors to fill our heads up with prosperity this and wealth that, not
that we can not have these things, but what happened to the sermons
telling us that if we do not live right we are going to hell. Those
sermons are gone because we are now in a place where Christians want to
“feel good”. They do not want to hear that having sex and not being
married is wrong, they do not want to know that yelling and cussing at
people is wrong, they do not want to know that going on the internet and
sneaking around on their wife/husband is wrong, they do not want to know
that lying is wrong. They do not want to know the truth. What do some
pastors do, they give them what they want to hear to keep the money
rolling in.
Matthew 16:24-28 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will
save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his
angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily
I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of
death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Why is it okay to allow
pastors to live double lives, to stand before us giving us the word of God
and not even remotely trying to live it. We are held accountable for each
other; it is our responsibility to help each other. Why are we not holding
those that say they are Christians accountable for their actions? If a
pastor is gay, or sleeping with tons of women in the church, forgive him,
love him but sit him down until things are worked out. What is so wrong
with that, some churches – not all – still do that – if a young man
appeared to be gay – the mothers of the church stepped in to talk to his
parents and to him in love.
We are required to love one
another but that does not mean we accept the behavior – we love the person
and rebuke the behavior.
So many times I have heard,
well I am not an “in the face Christian” or “I am not one to say anything”
– well who should? We have to stand up for Jesus as He stood up for us. We
have to stop the madness that is going on in churches. We have to remember
that the street is for the street – we did not use to rely on the music to
get people to come to church – going to church was not going to see a
show. The music that we hear at church is to usher in the spirit of the
Lord, not the multitude of people. We are conforming to the world and
inviting the enemy into service. One minister preach about how some
ministers are using the language/slang of today to reach the young people.
Why it that we are conforming to the world, the world should be conforming
to us! We should be setting the example for the world, the world should
respect the church and its members but it is not doing so. Why? If our
lives reflected a light in the dark world and not being dark as the world
or if our talk reflected one of love and Jesus, and if our dress reflected
that of someone holy, and if we were a shining example of Jesus in all
manners in our lives, we would draw men unto Jesus, as He said we would.
We are the light of this world and we are to live the life so that those
that see us will want to know more about Jesus. We will encourage them to
attend a church that is preaching the word of God. When they attend the
church, the preached word will pierce their hearts and change their ways.
We have become too laid back in our ways of reaching out to those in need,
but why is that? It is because of us!!!
So many times we allow those
things in our past to have a hold on us, once you have come to Jesus and
repented of your past and committed your life to Jesus – let it go move on
past it. Do not allow it to occupy your mind. You are allowing the enemy
to work on you and move you in ways that you should not move. I had a
conversation with a friend of mine; we have to stop “fitting” Jesus into
our lives and make Him the head of our lives. We have to stop reciting the
word of God and live the word of God. Is it easy, nope – it is hard, but
God is with us and He shall never leave nor forsake us.
So many times I heard or read
that people are seeking God and can not hear Him. If you are seeking God
and not hearing God, turn off the world around you. Turn off the music,
put the kids to bed, turn off the television, and turn off the cell phone.
Get down on the floor and turn over your heart – block out the world and
let Jesus come in and DO NOT MOVE UNTIL HE DOES. You need to have the
desire in your heart to hear His voice speaking to you. We have to be
still to hear Jesus speaking to us. We have to listen when He is speaking.
We have to really stop fitting God into our lives and give complete
control to Him. It is much easier than it sounds and you know you are on
the right path when all kinds of things come up against you when you go to
spend time alone with the Lord. Rebuke the enemy when that happens and
call on Jesus. All the pain, all the hurt, all the fear and all the misery
will leave you, we are our biggest problem. If we can commit to going to
work every day, why can’t we commit to going to the Lord all the time? If
we can commit to going to the gym, why can’t we commit to going to the
Lord all the time? If we can commit going to get our hair/nails done, why
can’t we commit to spending time with the Lord every day? We can
acknowledge God is who takes care of us, but we cannot acknowledge Him in
our every day life. You want a better life, you want things to stop
bothering you, you want the things of this world to just roll off your
back, you want the pain of the past to be gone, you want to forgive
yourself and be a better person, you want to live the scriptures and not
just recite them, then commit your life to the Lord completely – HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP with the Lord, the kind of relationship that you do not do a
thing without Him. We think God is not going to hear us – God hears us but
sometimes we need to hear ourselves first!! There are tons of scriptures
that I can give but let me challenge you on this…
Want a better relationship
with the Lord…want to know Jesus’ voice when you hear it…want a better
life…do this…
Spend at least an hour when
your wake up in the morning and at least an hour before going to bed
praying, reading the word and just worshiping the Lord. Humm an hour, well
look rearrange things, give up the television, or the extra hour of sleep
– manage your day. You will feel so much better in your life. Mind you,
the enemy is going to hate this and start to come at you – IGNORE IT!!
Keep praising God and keep doing the hour. God will bless you with His
presence and His peace!! I know that He will because He did it for me.
There is going to come a time
when Jesus comes back and takes some of us up – I pray that you are in
that number. I am praying that I am in that number. God is good and the
things that He provides for us is just so awesome so I know that being
with Him for all eternity has to be beyond my wildest hopes and dreams.
Why is it so hard to do what
God says to do? Why do we fight so much against the will of God? Hummm…it
is plain and simple in the Bible…
Ephesians 6:11-13
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye
may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be
able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Remember when we are coming
up against things – we have to remember that we are not coming up against
the person, we are not coming against the issue, we are not coming up
against world but we are coming up against the enemy. So that person in
our face making us angry, hurting us, or just being mean is not the
person, it is the person being used by the enemy. The enemy that is coming
at us. So how do we fight the enemy? We fight the enemy with the word of
God, with the love of Jesus, with the power of the Lord.
What does that all mean, it
means we have to be in the word – we have to know God for ourselves. We
cannot rely on what others say to us. I remember someone saying to me,
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me.” I used to listen to people say that and think okay fine, but once
I started having a relationship with the Lord by following…
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Matthew 6:33-34
33 But seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore
no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the
things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
I have found that I stopped
attending church and playing church and have begun to worshiping the Lord
and fellowshipping with my sisters and brothers in church. I love my
church family for it is encouraging to attend church service and praise
God with people who love the Lord with their whole heart. I thank God for
my church home and kind of sad about having to leave it one day, but I am
getting a solid foundation in the word by attending my home church and I
know that God will bless.
We have to be mindful of what
we are taught by our pastors, ministers, speakers, and teachers. We have
to listen to the words that are coming out of people and then grab the
bible to read it for ourselves. When the pastor/minister/speaker is
speaking and giving scripture write it down, write down what they are
talking about. When you go back later and read the entire chapter that the
verses are located in, you can see for yourself if they were using the
scripture in the right context, that my dear friends is called studying
the word. We are to study for ourselves to know God. Jesus said that His
people would know His voice, well remember this…
John 10:25-30
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my
Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to
pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
We are to know His voice so
that we do not follow those that are not in line with the Lord. We have to
study His word. He tells us over and over again of false prophets, people
who are not sent by Him. We have to have a relationship with God.
1 John 4
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ
is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that
confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should
come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are
of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he
that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are
of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth
them.
6 We are
of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not
us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
To know the voice of God
means we have to have a relationship with God. We have to know Him for
ourselves, not by what others tell us, but for ourselves.
We have to stop “playing
saved” and live saved. We have to stop with the excuses for ourselves and
others but hold each other accountable. We have to remember that we are to
live holy as He lived holy. He would not ask this of us if we could not do
it. We have to surround ourselves with things that are holy without
surrounding ourselves with things of the flesh. Turn off that music and
radio and talk to the Lord instead, turn off the television and open the
bible. Turn off the lights and fall on your face and humble yourself –
commit to Jesus with all your heart!
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my
people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,
and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
It is very important to
remember that He is talking to His people, we are His people, we are
called by His name – we are to humble ourselves and pray, seek Him, and
turn from our wicked ways. The order of this is very important. When we
are approaching God we need to be humble, we must pray, and seek Him, AND
turn from our wicked ways. We have to turn from our wicked ways but we
cannot do that without Him. We need the strength of the Lord to turn from
our wicked ways. What are our wicked ways…?
Ephesians 5:3-8
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once
named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that
no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater,
hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words:
for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore
partakers with them.
8 For ye were
sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of
light:
1 Corinthians 6:8-10
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9 Know ye not that
the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived:
neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor
abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:20-21
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as
I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall
not inherit the kingdom of God.
Well that covers them all and
it is plain that if you are a partaker in any of that – you shall not
inherit the kingdom of God. So many are following the new thing that God
will forgive you – yes God is a forgiving God but once you know the truth
you are expected to abide by it not excuse your living with it. We have to
understand that it does not say if you do some of this or all of this, if
you do any of those things, you will not inherit the kingdom of God. You
can go to church every single day but if you are committing adultery, you
are not going to inherit the kingdom. That means you are to live a Holy
life – a holy life in Jesus! We need to stop making excuses for ourselves.
I know that I want to see
Jesus’ face so that means that I have to live as He wants me to live –
which is holy, so that means I need to have a relationship with Him to do
so. I want to encourage you to look at your relationship with the Lord and
look at how you react to things, are you always becoming extremely angry,
easily to angry, no patience, no understanding, fussing at those around
you, and filled with worry, stressed out? If you are – you need to get
closer to the Lord. Jesus will take it all for us, as the song says Jesus
Paid It All, He did not just pay some of it, part of it or just a little
bit – He paid it all!!! Praise God for we are healed and we are blessed!
God is with us but are we with God!!! If we are – stand! I am not ashamed
of the Jesus for if I am ashamed now, He will be ashamed of me on judgment
day!!!
Holiness Is Not an Option For the Growing Christian
It is so amazing how many
Christians will excuse away their current lifestyles, saying that God will
understand. My heart goes out to all those that are not even attempting to
flee temptation and walk as God called us to walk, Holy! There are so many
that say that we cannot do that, so why try, or that God did not call us
to do it. These are the same Christians that I see who are struggling
every day with the simple things of life. If you allow yourself to be in
the world and of the world, then you are going to struggle with things
that you should not struggle.
We have come to the point of
taking the scriptures and turning them to suit what is going on in a
person’s life. It is a shame how we excuse our lifestyles to fit what WE
want to do into what we BELIEVE God wants us to do.
God is a wonderful, AWESOME,
and loving God, but He is a just God. If we continue to walk as we see fit
and not as God sees fit, we are going to go to that ugly pit of Hell along
with the enemy for all eternity.
Some people believe that the
enemy is not real, or that we will not go to Hell if we just believe in
Jesus. It says in God’s word that if you do not follow His commandments,
if you do not live holy, if you are of the world and not of Him, headed to
Hell.
Now let us say that I am
wrong and misinterpreting the word of God, if it was as easy as saying I
believe and half way trying live right, what is the point of Jesus coming
to save us from our sins, He would have been wasting His time. He would
just have sent a message saying, “Try to be good and I will bring you home
to me” If that is the case why tell us to live the life that He wants us
to live. If you love the Lord, we are to follow all His commandments and
trust in the Lord for all things.
We are so quick to excuse our
walk in this life with the mistakes by saying it is okay – NO IT IS NOT
OKAY! We are to stop the sin, repent and STOP DOING IT! Many people love
David because of all the errors he made and God still loved him. Well,
David made many BIG errors and God still loved him, for David repented and
NEVER REPEATED THAT SIN AGAIN.
Let us say that you are
sleeping with a man that is not your husband, realize that it is wrong –
STOP IT, REPENT, AND NEVER DO IT AGAIN. If you keep sleeping with him,
then you are not sorry for that sin. Why is it we do not accept that
behavior from people we know, but expect God to accept that. We will kick
friends to the curb for minor things that they do that offend us, we will
spank our children for not listening to us because we told them the same
thing repeatedly, yet they still do it. WHAT ABOUT GOD! We do this to Him
and then excuse it away saying God is good and loving, He will never make
us pay for He loves us too much.
My dear friend that is the
enemy coming at you once again, you need to read the word of God again.
People died in the Old and New Testament for not listening to the
direction that God has given. If your heart is not in the right place,
then you are not going to even begin to live as God wants you to live. If
you are not studying the word of God for yourself, instead relying on the
message preached on Sunday you are not going to live, as God wants you to
live. If you do not stop, doing all those things that you KNOW is wrong
you are not going to live, as God wants you to live. We have to remember
that we are to live, as God wants us to do.
God did not say serve Him
with half of your heart, He said serve Him with all of your heart. If you
serve God with all of your heart, you will be able to resist those things
that are not of God. If you fall down, sure, we will get up, but we have
to repent and never do it again. God did not tell us these things if we
cannot do it. Jesus is coming back, prepare your heart and live your life
as if He is standing in front of you because He is!
We should live our lives, as
God wants us to do. We are in the world but should not be of the world and
should “separate” ourselves accordingly.
I Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former
lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye
holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for
I am holy.
Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the
grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
I have talked to a few
Christians that believe that “come as you are” is how we are to be for the
rest of our lives in Christ. It is true that Jesus accepts us for who we
are but we have to make sure that we are building a relationship with the
Lord and as we build a relationship with Him, we will find ourselves
changing. We will find that our desire is to please God and not please man
or ourselves. We will find that our way of thinking and how we perceive
things will change; we will find that we are growing. We will grow from
babes in the Lord to stronger faith, stronger relationship in the Lord.
I have heard people say,
“Jesus is working on me”. Yes, Jesus is working on all of us, but we have
to strive to live a holy life. God would not say that we could if we could
not do so.
We are to stand out and be
different as both verses above state; we are to live holy as a living
sacrifice. We are not to say we love Jesus, and continue to get drunk, do
drugs, sleep with people who are not our spouses, cuss/swear, smoke
cigarettes, talk about each other, lie, cheat, beat each other down with
our words and actions. Husbands should love their wives and not beat them
up; wives should treat their husband as the man God has called them to be.
Parents are to parent their children and children are to obey their
parents. These things should stop, as we get closer to God the more we
want them to change.
When I hear someone excuse
away something that they are doing, that means to me that they are not
ready to give up that fleshy part of their lives and that they need to get
closer to God. I hear people say that we fall short in God, and we do, but
that should not be the excuse as to why we do what we do. We are to fight
against the fleshy things and move towards the love of Jesus.
The Changes in My Life that
Has Me Trying to Walk as God Would Have Me to Walk…
How My Dress Code, Submission
to the Lord and Future Husband All Came to Work Together…
I think back to July 17, 2005
when I walked to the front of the church and committed my life to walk
with Jesus. I did not have any dresses so I went to church in pants; I
came as I was, but the minute I had money to buy some clothes to wear to
church, I went out and bought dresses to wear. Now I wear only dresses and
skirts. I believe that for me, it keeps me where I need to be in the Lord
and always mindful that I am a lady. Now that is me and what I feel is
right with my walk in the Lord. I have come to realize that in my pants, I
was more masculine and not willing to give up that “independence” that I
had within myself. I am a strong believer that a woman should submit
herself to her husband as if for nothing else, someone has to be in
charge, two people cannot be in charge. I know many women do not feel that
way and are married, but someone has to be in charge and in my readings of
the bible, that person is the man, as he is the head of the household.
Therefore, as I get closer to the Lord and the more I submit myself to the
Lord, the easier in my mind it seems to submit myself unto my future
husband. My mindset in that manner has changed, all from changing my dress
and submitting myself to the Lord.
How I have perceived
presenting my body as a living sacrifice to God…
I do not know about you but
Romans 12:1-3 speaks volumes to me. As I started studying the word of God
and attending church service on a sincere level, I have come to see that
we are to present ourselves correctly to God.
I came to God again, in July
of 2005 but I did not come to have a relationship with the Lord until the
end of February 2006. I had been through some things at that point, and
was still seeking the truth and something to satisfy the desires that I
had inside of me for answers to my life. Therefore, I attend church on
more consistent bases; I read the word of God more and prayed more. I was
getting closer to the Lord and striving for His will for me.
I found that I could not
listen to secular music any more – none of it for it was not glorifying to
God. I know that some find that there is nothing wrong with it and that is
their choice for them but I personally do not see how I can live my life
holy and still listen to it. Most songs are self-glorifying. If they are
not singing about the glory of God and to His glory, I do not want to
listen to it. I have even got to the point that some music, which is
considered gospel music, I do not listen to because it is not glorifying
to God but the person singing it. (Sorry, I just cannot get into any
artist who uses old songs and tries to mix in gospel words to it – just
does not sound like a song of gospel to me.) For me, I cannot live holy
half way, I have to strive to live holy 100% and God did not say it would
be easy to do so.
I have found that I cannot
watch a lot of television any more because it does nothing but waste my
time. I have found that I am more active in trying to find good things for
my son and myself to do. I spend more time writing about the Lord and
seeking His face.
I used to smoke cigarettes,
and after 25 years of smoking cigarettes and three years of smoking 2
packs a day, the Lord delivered me from smoking. I used to drink wine and
cuss up a storm, but God has changed my desires to start acting like the
woman that He has called me to be. I know that many Christians think that
drinking wine is all right and maybe for them it is. I know that we are
not to be drunk on anything and since I know for me that all it takes is
one drink, I stay away from it. I find it funny that people see issues
with smoking but have no problem with wine. By the way, Jesus may have
made the wine but it did not say that He drank it and became intoxicated
on it.
Here I say I still have
“flesh issues” and used to say God is not done with me yet on.
I am striving to be holy and
to live my life according to the will of God and I am thankful that He is
with me always despite my stupid ways. I have some serious areas that need
to be worked on and pray that I kill the flesh inside of me and allow God
to shine through me. I know that it has improved and I need to pray and
fast on these things to get to where I need to be. I have a temper that is
out of this world when I do not feel well or when I am tired. It is one of
the major things that I need to stop giving into and turn over to God. I
am not sitting here saying God is not through with me yet or excusing it
away. I know it is a problem and I know that the problem starts with me. I
thank God for having the patience to deal with me in this area and I pray
that I stop being stubborn and give it all over to Him as He wants me to
do so. I know that the more I seek His face, the closer to Him I will get
and the more I will see a change in me in the areas that need changed! So
please continue to lift me up in prayer and remember to stop excusing
yourself and live up to what God wants in your life. If you take a step
towards Him, He will be there with you every single step of the way!
Be Mindful
Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye
have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the
God of peace shall be with you.”
Be mindful of what you put on
your mind, you are your environment. If you are listening to music full of
sexual manner, no wonder your thoughts are thinking of what you could do
to that cutie pie you see. Now of course some of it is our human nature,
my point is to surround yourself with things of Holiness, as these things
will help you resist temptations that come your way.
Many people keep putting off
church until tomorrow and putting off getting to know God. People take for
granted that we have tomorrow to get our lives together. None of us are
promised tomorrow, none of us are promised not only tomorrow, the next
hour, the next minute, or the next second. We have to stop living
like there is plenty of time later to get to know Jesus. We should live
each day as if our Lord and Savior are coming back that day. We do not
know when He is coming and those that are telling us that they know when
He is coming – they are lying to you. No one knows the hour or the day
that He will come again. We need to live each day as if He is standing in
front of us asking us what we are doing. We need to live our lives like we
are thankful to have another day to love each other, to have God love us
and walk with us – in our hearts. We need to live each day as if it is our
last day to show Jesus how much we love him, does not matter how we feel
or what we are going through, we need to just live our lives as if He is
standing right there in front of us. So many times I think that I have
forgotten what I learned from Him, some of the things that He has shown
me, I have let myself forget, instead of embracing it and loving the life
that I have and I am living. I am learning more each day to appreciate all
that He shows me and all that He has provided for me. I think that we
sometimes forget all that He does for us, I think that is important for us
not to forget that, but sometimes life has it so just do not pay attention
– we need to pay attention to all that Jesus does for us and to be happy
with life as it is and thankful that He has does supply all our needs!! I
am not sure where God will lead us and where He is taking us, but we need
to let Him take us there and to appreciate all that He gives us and all
that life gives us. God will direct our steps and move us where He wants
us to be moved to if we allow Him to direct our lives. We have to not just
go and do – we need to listen to what God says to do. We need to learn to
stop and listen to what the Lord says. If we are unsure of what He says we
need to stop and not move until we truly hear from Him.
I will leave you with
this…please see life with the BIG PICTURE frame and do not look at life to
the tip of your nose; you just might miss something spectacular!!!! God
has shown me the Big Picture of my life because life does not stop at the
tip of my nose, we have to remember as Christians there is more to living
for Christ than what is in front of our faces, God knows all before it is
even into existence, He has a plan and direction for our lives and
sometimes we will miss out on the blessings of life if we limit ourselves
with the blinders of life and thinking inside the box, we need to live
outside the box and we have to have open vision to see His vision of our
lives!!! I encourage each of you to stop and listen to His call on your
life and may you allow God to guide and direct your every move!!!!
Psalm 118
O give thanks unto the LORD;
for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say,
that his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his
mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his
mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD
answered me, and set me in a large place.
The LORD is on my side; I
will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them
that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It
is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better
to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. All nations
compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them. They
compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the
LORD I will destroy them. They compassed me about like bees: they are
quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy
them. Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped
me. The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The
voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous:
the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
The right hand of the LORD is
exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. I shall not die, but
live, and declare the works of the LORD. The LORD hath chastened me sore:
but he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of
righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate
of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee: for
thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the
builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the
LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD
hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O
LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that
cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of
the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice
with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will
praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the
LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Published by: Alissa Lynne – Verona, PA
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without written permission from the author, except for the
inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
Copyright © 2007 Alissa Lynne – Purple Butterfly of Christ - All rights
reserved
First Edition, 2007
Published in the United States of America
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