The Music Corner

The Protestant Reformation

2012-02-28T01:20:00.000-05:00

Martin Luther has stood as a hero in the eyes of many Protestants over the centuries. His works and words have been carefully studied and shown to be a beacon of direction and foundational truths to the believer. He was a man who stood by his convictions, and in doing so is still impacting the world today. As Luther observed the corruptions within the church, it lead him to write 95 theses based out of the book of Romans addressing the corruptions in which he observed, and things the church was doing that was not in the Bible. Immediately the Protestant Reformation impacted the entire world as they knew it. As Luther was called time and again to recant his writings and teachings, he stood by what he believed. As a result he was excommunicated from the Catholic Church, and sent into exile with the permission from the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to kill Luther without consequence. The events leading up to Luther’s unction to write The 95 Theses was mainly church corruption among the clergy. There was much political unrest, and abuse of power. Bishops sitting in the councils profited because they had bought and sold positions, and were not willing to give them up. Likewise, bishops and priests turned the monasteries into a center of relaxed and living in leisure with their many wives and children. Luther was especially mortified at the fact that indulgences were being sold, and that it went toward freeing a soul from purgatory. He was even more appalled that they money was going toward debts of corrupt clergy who had purchased their position, and the rebuilding of St. Peter’s cathedral. Since the fall of Constantinople, events were changing the worldview of Western Europe. Advances were being made, and as a result the church was feeling the impact of new philosophical outlooks. New forms of being Christian were emerging, and called for the reformation of existing doctrines and practices. The ancient feudal system was also declining, and monarchies were starting to form. The ideas of Protestant Christianity differs from Catholicism in that, Protestants look to Jesus, while Catholicism looks mainly to self. One of Luther’s main arguments is, “justification through faith alone.” His ideas and convictions came straight from the Bible; it was the only authority in his life. Luther struggled with good works, while Catholicism believes they are meritorious, Protestants believe, they have come by the way of the cross of Christ, with no merits or works to claim, only grace. The same with Salvation, Protestants believe they are saved as a result of divine grace, unconditionally. Catholicism believes Salvation is received at baptism, but may be lost by sin, but can be regained by penance. Sacraments in Catholicism convey grace by their operation, while it is by means of grace with faith to Protestants. On the basis of Baptism and the Lord Supper, Protestants believe in total emersion, and that the bread and wine represents Christ’s body, and is not actually His real body, and blood. Finally, while priests were forbidden in the Holy Roman Church to marry and have children because they were special, and a mediator, the Protestant faith believes in priesthood of all believers. No mediator is necessary and all can marry. It was through these beliefs, that brought Martin Luther to address and condemn the acts of purgatory, and the selling of indulgences. As Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses on the Wittenberg Castle Church door, impact immediately took place, and thus the Protestant Reformation begins. Not long ago Gutenberg had invented the printing press, and numerous copies of Luther’s convictions were distributed, and it spreads. A wave of rebellion rises among the people as they start to deny church authority, and embark religion on their own. However, it was never Luther’s intent for his movement to become a social rebellion. The Reform traveled to Switzerland and was led by Zwingli, the Church of England compromised and created the Anglican church under Henry VIII. It went to Scotland and soon became Presbyterian under John Knox, John Calvin presented the puritan side of Protestantism. The outcome was not as intended. It took down Europe’s unity, imposed lots of new beliefs, churches started competing, persecutions, and wars took place. In the end it accomplished somewhat the corruption in the church. They counter reformed and reaffirming beliefs and weeding out the corruption.

The Cleft of the Rock

2012-02-23T22:21:00.003-05:00

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." -Psalm 61:2
The Lord gave me the verse above this week, and I have repeated it over and over crying out for God to help me and hide me in the cleft of the rock. Rock is a title or description of God, it is the Hebrew word "tsure." We could read this scripture as, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to yourself, God, the One who is higher than I.
I have pictured this as Mt. Sinai and Moses with the children of Israel. We read in Exodus 19 that God surrounded the mountain with a thick smoke and spoke in an audible voice to the children of Israel. When we go to the rock we hear from God, and meet with Him face to face. We see Him work, we feel His touch as we never have before. But we must want it...desperately.
Whatever is bothering us, we must give it to Jesus. When we go to Him, we should go to Him in surrender. God who is higher than I, that should humble us and reassure us that He can handle what concerns us today. He will hide us in himself, and cover us with His hand. He is the Rock of Ages! He is God all by himself!
I'm hiding in my Savior tonight as I cry out from the very depths of my heart to Him.

Savior who never sleeps, take charge. Let me find in you a quiet place, a place to pillow my head on your chest and hear Your heartbeat, feeling secure knowing you will work things out for me. I believe you will protect me, you are the One who is with me, and answers me when I call out to You. When I go to sleep I trust you will sustain me. My Victory is in You!

His Word Brings Comfort

2012-02-23T13:36:00.004-05:00

"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." Ephesians 1:15-21
Last week I recived a note from a very special person in my life. Some concerns have arisen in my life as of lately, and she took the time to write me a sweet note reassuring me that everything will be okay. I have read this note over and over because it reminds me that everything is going to be okay. Then I got to thinking, that is exactly what God's Word is in our lives. When we are facing hard circumstances, we can turn to His Word and read it over and over and be assured that He cares for us. His Word is comfort, we find His promises in His Word. His Word is special and written as a love letter to us for such a time as this. Whatever your heart needs to hear today, turn to His Word, that's a letter you can always count on.

Obedience

2012-01-30T21:34:00.002-05:00

In the above picture is how the majority of people live, survival mode, especially in this economy. However, we were not created to merely make it, to barely get by. It feels that way at times, but the more I study His Word, the more I am seeing that as we obey Him and submit to His will and walk in His ways everything we need is already given to us. We do not realize the full power we posses as Christians through the Spirit. We live below our means spiritually because we have not yet learned to fully obey and love Jesus. I've been reading Deuteronomy 8 over and over here lately, it talks about obedience. This is something God has been teaching me lately, and something I've had to put into practice over the last several months, and should always walk out. Obedience is more than not doing bad things anymore, we obey with our heart, mind, body, finances, and will (we do have freewill as human beings). Obedience leads to blessing, HE does honor our obedience. As we read in Deuteronomy 8 the context is the children of Israel are on Jordan River with the Promise land in sight. A few verses that jump out is verse 3-4:
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word[a] that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.

Real life comes by feeding on the Word of God. Notice that this is also what Jesus told Satan when he was in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. He referenced scripture, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone!" There it is! God took care of them in the wilderness, 40 years wandering in the desert eating manna and drinking from rocks and other various objects. That's what you call survival mode. But God was humbling them, and in the process made sure they had what they needed. It blows my mind. The promised land was in sight, all they had to do was obey and trust Him.
Obedience calls us to some hard places doesn't it? But be assured, His Word gives us purpose and will in life. There is a promised land still, and though you might be in the wilderness right now, the Lord is taking care of you. Obey Him, thank Him for the manna, stay planted in His Word so that His principles and values form the foundation of all we think and do.
If we love Him we will obey Him. Loving and obeying Jesus is the way of a true disciple. God revealed that to me today in my quiet time.

The Prayer of St. Patrick: Christ in Quiet

2012-01-30T20:45:00.005-05:00

...."be still and know that I am God"....
-Psalm 46

If you have read my blog for some time, back in February and March of last year we started a series on the prayer of St. Patrick. In that prayer we were studying how Christ is our Companion through life. I recently started reading the book again.

One of the many things I have been my whole life is quiet. Ask anyone who really knows you and they will agree, but laugh at the same time because, I'm not that quiet around people I love.
God wants us to be still and quiet before Him. In our hectic day to day lives it's hard for us to do. You take a music lover like myself and there is not a lot of silence. If you're a mom there is not silence in your house. It is in the quietness and silence before the Lord when we can hear Him speak to us. He waits to meet us in the quiet. It is in silence that we discover an "imitation of Christ" who withdrew often to the wilderness or garden to pray and seek His Father.
Do you have a quiet place where you can go to and pray, reflect, and hear from God? The Prayer closet. My Sunday school teacher teaches on this often. I like to think of it in the analogy of Superman.
When we go into our prayer closets it's like we go in as Clark Kent, while in our closets we are being transformed, and we emerge Superman. We are able to emerge Superman because of the the Power of the Holy Spirit living within us, and because of His mercies (look back at the last post!!). When we are quiet before the Lord, and in His Word we allow Him to speak to us and fill us with Himself.
David was a quiet man, he was one who desired to be withdrawn and play his guitar for the sheep, and pray. Jacob was quiet and stayed "among the tents" (Genesis 25). It is those who seek the silence of the cave and the solitude of the desert that make themselves available to the One who comes in quiet and attunes the heart to the subtle ways of the Spirit. The Spirit will speak in the quiet. Just look at the prophets, the prophets quiet, as well as his cry, prepares the way of the Lord! We must make ourselves available, thus the Word will be audible.

Because of His Mercies

2012-01-06T20:06:00.004-05:00

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God..." -Romans 12:1

This passage of scripture has become my life verse. I first came to learn and memorize it when I was 12 years old which amazes me because at 12 I was such a problem child and had so many issues. One would not believe that it was my favorite scripture. However, I believe God planted this very special verse into my heart, and I have continued to hide in my heart for the past 11 years. Little by little He reveals and speaks the depths and mercies of this verse into my life.
With that said, I find it interesting, as we look at verse 1 that the only vocabulary Paul can use to capture the essence of Christianity is the language of sacrifice and transformation. Paul begins with characteristic passion.
Lets start with the first word, "Therefore" wow! That is a word with a lot of power behind it. Therefore is an adverb, meaning it often tells when, where, why, or under what conditions something happens or happened. In our case Paul uses this word on the basis of everything he had previously revealed in his letter to the Romans, not just in what we call chapter 11, but from the very beginning when Paul defined himself as a slave of Jesus. In other words Paul is saying, "On the basis of all you have learned about God, here is how you should live for God."
So what up to this point have we learned about Jesus? What are the mercies He has given us? Just in Romans alone we find this:
the peace of God (1:7)
• the power of the gospel (1:16)
• the kindness and longsuffering of God toward us (2:4)
• a right standing before God (3:21-22)
• the forgiveness of every sin – past, present, and future (4:7-8)
• the hope in God’s glory (5:2)
• the love of God poured out in our hearts (5:5)
• the Holy Spirit (5:5)
• justification by the blood of Christ (5:9)
• salvation from the wrath of God (5:9)
• reconciliation with God (5:10)
• the gift of eternal life (6:23)
• the freedom to bear fruit for God (7:4)
• membership in the family of God (8:14)
• security in our salvation (8:38-39)
• mercy from God (9:23)
• the good news of the gospel (10:17)
God has given us everything. That is why Paul does not begin this chapter on the subject of Christian behavior by saying, "Now there’s one more thing you need to receive from God." Salvation is God’s gift to us. Being a living sacrifice is our gift to God. Because of His mercies we can live for Him! This is very thing Jesus knew when He gave me this verse to treasure in my heart. Though I wasn't exactly living for Him God knew I was going to accept His sweet salvation and I was going to inherit all His mercies so I could live for Him.
We don't emphasize living for Jesus enough do we? We hear a lot of the martyrs, and people of great faith who did die for the name of Christ. You can die a martyr’s death, in one heroic act of faith. Many heroes of the faith have done just that. I support the "Voice of the Martyr's" ministry, I pray everyday for those who are persecuted, and chained because of the their audacious faith for Jesus. God, most likely, will not call most of us to that kind of death. But He is calling all of us to that kind of life! Are you eager to live for Christ?
Paul is not inviting us to a life of deliverance, but of dedication. It makes me think of the old hymn, "Living For Jesus."

Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee;
For Thou, in Thy atonement,
Didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.

Dear Jesus,
Because of your mercies toward me, what can I do other than give myself to you. May I live a daily life for you, holy, and set apart, not for me and my pleasure, but for Yours alone. Thank you that your mercies are new everyday, thank you for your faithfulness. I love you, Jesus. Living for You in Your name.
Amen

The Joy of Christmas Part 2: Worship

2011-12-27T18:44:00.003-05:00

"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[a] and have come to worship him. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy."
-Matthew 2:2,10

Worship originates within the Trinity. God is a worshiping community of one. The three persons of the Trinity continually exist with a ceaseless outpouring of love, communion, and joy. Being made in the image of God we too are ceaseless worshipers pouring ourselves out for something or someone. The question however is, who and how do we worship? When we worship God, we receive joy! As we look at the Christmas story you'll quickly notice how both are happening with all who are involved.
Romans 11:36-12:1 lays out a perfect picture of what worship looks like:

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Worship is what we glory in is what we find passion in, what we love, and what we cherish. We are willing to sacrifice for this glory. We will give up certain things so that we able to glory in what we find glorious. This is our spiritual act of worship.
Mary by far is the best example of receiving joy when worshiping God takes place in her life. We see more intimate details of her life. We read in Luke 1:46-47, "And Mary said, My soul magnifies and extols the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." In this entire passage of scripture, Mary is exalting and worshiping God with what had been done to her. She was full of joy even though she knew what she would have to give up so that she would be able to glory in what she found glorious! Luke 2:19 says that everything that was happening to her she, "quietly treasured in her heart, and thought about them often." Her worship was for God, and God alone. Worship is a lifestyle, Mary and Joseph both sacrificed and gave up so many things so that they were able to glory in what they found glorious thus receiving joy.
Look at the Shepherds. Luke 2 tells us that an Angel appeared to them and "brought news of great joy!" Jesus has been born! Then the armies of Heaven came down singing with joy a song of praise, "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, goodwill to all whom God finds favor in!" The shepherds ran to Bethlehem with worshipful spirits, after all after seeing a host of angels singing who wouldn't be in a worshipful and praising mood? They saw Jesus and worshiped Him, and after doing so they "went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God!" They shepherds left their flocks, they sacrificed their job so they could go glory in what they found glorious. You know the shepherds had long heard the prophecies of the coming Messiah, and there they had seen it with their own eyes!
The Wise Men in Matthew 2:2 said, "We have seen His star as it arose and we have come to worship Him. And when they saw the star they were filled with joy! When they entered the house where Jesus was with His mother, they fell down and worshiped Him." Just like with the shepherds the magi had long heard, and studied the prophecies of the Messiah coming. They watched for signs in the sky (this is a whole other tangent for another day), and then came the day when they saw it, prophecies were being fulfilled, joy, worship! The Magi traveled many miles, that probably took days so they could come worship Jesus. They sacrificed so they could glory in what they found glorious. Also keep in mind that it was Herod too, that told the wise men, let me know where Jesus is so I too can worship Him. But the worship from Herod was not true worship. He was not sacrificing anything, he did not find glory in Jesus, if anything he worshiped himself, and other things that take the place of God, knows as idolatry (which is another tangent for another day).
Then there are 2 prophets who are rarely looked at or recognized at the Christmas season. Simeon and Anna, what beautiful people.

The Prophecy of Simeon

"25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
30 I have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for all people.
32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

The Prophecy of Anna

36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four.[a] She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem."

Both of these prophets worshiped God with their lives, and were especially full of joy upon finally meeting Jesus who they had long waited for.
So the ultimate question is this Christmas season and all year long who or what are you worshiping with your life? Who is the object of your affection? Who or what do you sacrifice for? What are you giving up to glory in what you find glorious? Is it drugs, alcohol, porn, profane language, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality? None of that really brings you joy. It's like a Herod kind of worship. He wanted to find Jesus so he could kill him. Find Jesus! Is there room in your heart for Him? Our worship reflects our lives, what does your life look like?
Oh worship the King!

The Joy of Christmas

2011-12-27T09:27:00.001-05:00

"May you be filled with JOY always thanking the Father who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and He has brought us into the Kingdom of His dear Son."
-Colossians 1:11-13

The joyous music of Christmas is by far the best of all. From the first Christmas, when a choir of angels sang praises to God, calling for peace, and good will on earth on this joyous occasion, music has been a significant part in the telling and celebration of Jesus’ birth and story. This Christmas I hope you have made a joyful noise unto the Lord. He is worthy of our praise and worship. The good thing about Jesus is He goes beyond just the Christmas season.
Jesus has come to bring joy! True joy comes from Jesus. You cannot seek Jesus and not find joy!
Jesus is joy because it is through Him that we are able to be called children of God. He came to be the light of the World, and teach those who would follow Him to be lights in this World. It is because of Jesus that THE way was provided to Heaven, that the grip and power of sin lost its grip on man, and death was overcome!(John 16:33)
In a sermon I was listening to recently, Pastor Stephen Davey, of Colonial Baptist Church put it this way using The Chronicles of Narnia as an illustration. "Why must the Lion of Judah come? Because earth is in the grip of winter; of continual winter, without ever the joy of Christmas. Ah, but Mr. Beaver says to the children who have stumbled into the drama of Narnia, “Aslan is on the move.” Already there are signs of a coming rescue – there are evidences of springtime, a resurrection, and a new creation."
Jesus brings Christmas and a promise. You see the manger points to the promise of the cross, redemption for man; life. The promise that just as He came as a baby, that He will come again for His children and take them home to be with Him forever. He promised He will always be with us, because we know Jesus we can have joy no matter what circumstance comes our way. It is the same joy that caused Nehemiah to write, "...the joy of the Lord is my strength!"(8:10) Believers can have profound contentment, serenity, and peace no matter what happens. We must depend on His strength, rather than our own. Joy does not come from anything tangible. We cannot rely on what we experience to give us joy, but on Christ within us. His joy is greater than life's trials. We are strong in the Lord's Victory!
Is there room in your heart for Him?

I Want to be a Jellyfish!

2011-12-04T22:32:00.001-05:00

"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. You can make plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail. How can we understand the road we travel? It is the Lord who directs our steps. Human plans no matter how wise or well advised, cannot stand against the Lord." -Proverbs

On the way to church this morning I was listening to K-Love on the radio. I was actually more or less flipping around trying to find some good music to sing along with. During a little break the maker of Veggie Tales came on the program, they were promoting a new DVD he has out telling the story of Christmas. He recently changed his business name from "Big Idea" to "Jellyfish." When asked why, this is the story:

"Because jellyfish can’t choose their own course. They can’t locomote. They can go up a little, they can go down a little. But overall, they’re completely dependent on the current to carry them wherever they’re supposed to be. For a jellyfish to make a 20-year plan would be ridiculous. An act of ultimate hubris. And so it is with us. Rather than crafting their little plans and laboring to force things to go “their way,” Phil and his new cohorts at Jellyfish are committed to seeking and following God’s direction, each and every day – committed to staying in the “current” of God’s will, and letting Him carry them where they need to be. No long range plans, unless they come directly from God."

I shouted, "Amen!" What a true statement. I get so aggravated in interviews especially when I am asked where I see myself 5-10, 20 years down the road. I stumble on that question every time, because I don't know. I don't think that far ahead. Never have. I'm not one of those chicks whose had her wedding planned since age 6. I have lived my life one day at a time. I do not live by schedules, of course I have to be in class at a certain time and church other things like that, but outside of that I don't schedule every minute of my life.
My pastor encouraged our church today to Remember who we are in Christ. He addressed the truth that we are totally dependent on God. We cannot do life successfully without Him. That's the entire point, Phil Vischer is trying to make in his brief testimony above. He is the reason I even get a job interview, and a job, and whatever He might entrust me with. He knows that if I depend on Him with what He gives, it will be in good hands because I'm looking to Him for guidance and leadership in how to handle it.
Be a jellyfish, and remember who you are in Christ, the lesson for today.
I leave you with this, one of my favorite people:
PS: (watch the waffles one too!)

Unity: The Body

2011-11-26T18:28:00.001-05:00

"For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love."
-Ephesians 4:16

If someone asked what is the first essential of the Christian's walk, holiness would be one of the first things to come to mind. God did choose us in Christ that we should be holy. Ephesians 4:2-16 seem to outline and show that the first characteristic of a worthy walk is unity. What is the primary necessity for wholeness and health in a human body? It is the harmonious functioning of all the organs of the body. A displacement of even an insignificant organ or the maladjustment of any parts of the body can cause disease and disability.
In the Church, the Body of Christ, spiritual health is dependent upon the harmonious functioning of all the members. We read this in Ephesians 4:2-16:

"...with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift...And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Through baptism with the Spirit the believer is united to Christ, the Head, and to every other member of the Body in an indissoluble bond, which unity is maintained by the indwelling Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
I have often thought when I think about the Church, the choir and pastor are the voices, the nursery workers and teachers are the arms of God, the staff is like the back that supports the church...we all play such a important part. No one is any less or any more. When we allow God to direct our lives we will make us fit perfectly in with the others. But also remember from the last post that we need to constantly renew ourselves in the Lord before we can reach this point.

Unity: Spiritual Renewal

2011-11-25T18:35:00.001-05:00

"BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body]. It is like the dew of [lofty] Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly]."
-Psalm 133

Unity comes from the Greek word, "henotes" "heis" meaning one and "henos" meaning of one. It is speaking of oneness, it is a state of oneness or being in harmony and accord. Christians should be united in temper and affection, and not be split up. The Spirit in the body has created a basic unity that nothing can destroy.
Here is the big point I am trying to make in this series. If Christians are going to impact the world for Christ, we must be in unity first. Not see "eye to eye" on everything particularly, but rather have regard with one another in mind. That we all belong to Christ, and are filled with Him, and focused on ONE LORD! This is one of the reasons I am starting the Doctrine series I am, (which you are invited by the way, click on the tab for more info.) I feel like so many Christians do not know Doctrine, or understand it, and the effects it can have on your life as a believer. We all need to get on the same page. I mentioned in the last post, our union with Christ is the basis for unity with one another.
We have to continually renew ourselves so that we don't experience spiritual lethargy or dissatisfaction and end up blaming the preacher or whoever for their troubles. Pastor Rick Warren laid out the following steps of renewal, keep in mind that without the first all the others are impossible.

1. Personal Renewal (love God)- Unity with Christ! Everything begins with a renewed passion for Jesus as our greatest treasure and object of worship. It occurs as we take time everyday to study the Word, pray, sing, and connect with Jesus. Unplug from the things that drain you and allow God to renew your strength. This renews our hearts and minds to keep pressing on.

2. Relational Renewal (love others)- Unity with others. Once we have personal renewal with Jesus the first effect is that we have new hope for people and pursue them in love. This allows us to be authentic around others and simply be in loving community where we are known.

3. Missional Renewal (love the mission)- Unity with other. Once we have personal renewal and relational renewal, it results in that God's people want to be in mission together doing what God commands the church. Without personal renewal, a church cannot have relational renewal. Without both, a church has not life or unity that allows them to press on their mission with God together.

4. Church Renewal (love the brothers and sisters)- this is fruit of personal, relational, and missional renewal. The church experiences grace internally, and new passion for lost people externally. People trust their leaders within the church and one another more. They see themselves as a unified community.

One awesome thing about Doctrine is that is all ties in together. They interweave and sustain the other, all the points of doctrine point to the other. Unity points to the Doctrine of: Trinity, Imaging Christ, The Church, and Worship, and ultimately, The Kingdom of God!
More so, everything about our lives point back to God, it's all about God, He sustains life; the very reason we breathe. We do not belong to this world, we are not dependent on this world, the world can't tell me anything, it cannot renew me. Everything comes from the Father, Our Father in Heaven. Creator.
Go be renewed!

Unity: Spiritual Growth

2011-11-23T18:40:00.001-05:00

This is the first of a mini series on Unity. This will carry us to Sunday, when we will begin Advent. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! Yes, I will post something on Thanksgiving. In the meantime let's get started on Unity and Spiritual Growth.

Koinoina is the Greek word that means communion by intimate participation; the trust of one another, sharing of material goods, and harmony rather than hostility. The word is used frequently in the New Testament of the Bible to describe the relationship within the early Christian Church as well as the act of breaking bread in the manner which Christ prescribed during the Passover meal. As a result the word is used within the Christian Church to participate, as Paul says, in the Communion of - in this manner it identifies the idealised state of fellowship and community that should exist - Communion. We need to experience Koinoina love with God, with each other, and in the church. The foundation for a Koinoina church is found in Ephesians 3:14-19:

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth

"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

We should pray this for our church family. Only when we love each other will God be able to work in our church. But first and foremost we must love God with a Koinoina love. Our union with Christ is the basis for unity with one another. Union with Christ results in Spiritual Growth, this is how we become one in the Lord, resulting in oneness with our brothers and sisters. In Acts 2:41-42 we find four essential ingredients of Christian growth.

"So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

Baptism. "Those who accepted his message were baptized." In one day, in the city of Jerusalem, 3,000 new believers were baptized into the Christian faith. Moreso, this was just 50 days after the execution of Jesus! That was courageous.

Listening and learning. "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching." The apostles taught these 3,000 new believers the biblical truths about life. We can never understand ourselves, the world, or God's purposes in history apart from the Word of God.

Fellowship. "They devoted themselves to the fellowship..." (Koinoina) These 3,000 new Christians began to love one another and share with one another. Strangers became brothers. A crowd of 3,000 from all walks and cultures of life became one in Christ. They shared problems and needs, they prayed together.

Worship. "They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread and to prayer." They did communion, remembering what Christ had done for them.

Now go be a verb....

Don't Plagerize Life

2011-11-22T04:05:00.001-05:00

One of the things I struggle with in life is comparing myself to others, and not in a "I'm better than you" way, it's more of a "I wish I were like them" way. I think it's okay to admire things in people, and they be a role model for you, but when it comes to life there is a reason everything happens, there a reason you are you. This is something the Lord is teaching me. When we compare ourselves to other people we set ourselves up for failure. It is then that we take our eyes off of Jesus and His unique plan for our life. We try to mold ourselves into this other person we are not suppose to be. Since this is not the plan for our life, we fail and end up hurting ourselves.
Be who God made you to be, that plan that God has set before you is your standard. You wouldn't plagerize on a paper, because you would be failed. So don't plagerize in life. When you base your life on Christ's standards you can't fail. A woman I admire told me not long ago that, "Just because people are older than you don't mean they have it all figured out, and that life is any easier. It just means we have more experience and know a little more." So you see even in people you admire, their life isn't perfect.
We read in Philipians 1:6 that "God, that began a good work in you, will continue his work until it is finished on the day when Jesus comes back again." He keeps working on us. We aren't going to be perfect until Heaven. We can never live up or accomplish on earth the work that is being done in us. We need our perspective to be changed. Start looking at ourselves through God's eyes, we do that by reading the Bible which contains the mind of God. We start looking at ourselves as masterpieces of the creator. Show some hubris about your life. It's okay to be you. Am I where I hoped to be? NO! But God has a plan, and in the plan isn't laying back waiting for the Lord to just give me things, it's getting up and going. It's action. This is where the admiration and role model/mentor thing can be beneficial. While not trying to be them, how did they get to where they are today? What can they help apply to your life to get you back on the right path if you're not where you need to be?
Enjoy life, and the people who are in it. Make the most of every day. Continue to life your life the way God intended for you to. Be still and listen.

Are you Nicodemus?

2011-11-20T01:25:00.001-05:00

Shackled by a heavy burden, beneath a load of guilt and shame. Then the hand of Jesus touched me, now I am no longer the same. He touched me, oh He touched me, and oh the joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole.

Today I celebrate my spiritual birthday. 9 years ago today Jesus rescued me and saved my soul. It's been quite a journey looking back. Along the way I have doubted, I deviated, I have stumbled, and fallen; but I am thankful to be able to tell you today that I know that I know I am saved. Not just because I can look back on this date, but because of what the last post covered. It's a covenant relationship. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
My testimony continues to change because God continues to change me. Over the last 9 years I have faced difficult circumstances, choices, and changes of all kinds. I'm thankful that I can look at this day last year and see that since then I have grown even more as a Christian.
As I sit here and reflect on my past, somewhat and think about my Savior the story of Nicodemus comes to mind. We find his story over in John 3:1-15.

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 3Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" 5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Nicodemus was a highly respected Jewish Pharisee, one of the prominent members of the high council. He was intrigued by the authority of Jesus and the miracles he was doing. Nicodemus was wanting to find out who he really was. Jesus challenged him with the need to be born again, if he wished to be in the Kingdom of God. While the gospel doesn't give us Nicodemus' response, we read later on in the gospel of John that he strongly argued that Jesus should have a fair trail (7:50). After Jesus was crucified, he bought expensive perfume ointment for Jesus' burial, and even assisted Joseph of Arimathea in burying Him (19:39-42). In a sense, Nicodemus appears to be an example of a Jewish Pharisee who came to believe in Jesus and was willing to express that commitment publicly after Jesus' death.
In this passage of scripture the words "born again" are the Greek words, "anagennao", "anonthen gennao." These two related concepts mean to be born again signifying a change from one state of being into another. Rather than a physical change, a person's spirit is renewed or comes alive by the work of the Holy Spirit.
I love what 1 Peter 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..." When we become born again believers by accepting Jesus as our Savior, we have an "ever living hope" in our hearts. The same hope that I believe made Job cry out, "I know my Redeemer Lives!" That was the only hope Job had to hold onto; it's all we have to hold onto.
When we are born again we do not belong to this earth anymore. John 3:31 proclaims, "He Who comes from above (heaven) is [far] above all [others]; he who comes from the earth belongs to the earth, and talks the language of earth [his words are from an earthly standpoint]. He Who comes from heaven is [far] above all others [far superior to all others in prominence and in excellence]."
Friend, do you know Jesus? Are you a Nicodemus in search of answers? I'll share my spiritual birthday with you. Don't reject God's calling. A relationship with Jesus is so personal. Just look at the picture of Him and Nicodemus talking, that's how it feels, you might not be able to see him, but He is there, and you can feel Him. Let Him touch you today just like He touched me 9 years ago today, and still touches me. You'll never be the same!
Because He lives......

God Pursues You: Covenant

2011-11-19T22:56:00.001-05:00

The Christian story begins with creation in harmony, unity, and peace; and it ends with a restored creation. Between these two bookends is the drama of redemption. The covenants are major acts of this drama. Christ’s work is intimately related to and fulfills each of the five covenants that God initiated in the Old Testament.Covenants are about God’s activity and intention to redeem us, and the covenants tell us about ourselves—our condition, our brokenness, our dignity, our role as images of God, our suffering, and our calling.
A covenant is a life and death relationship with God on His terms. The Greek word, "diatheke" refers to a person's last will and testament or to other solemn agreements involving benefits and responsibilities to all involved parties. In the New Testament, the word is often used as an equivalent to the Hebrew word "berith", especially in theological contexts. It is a binding agreement, a contract between at least two parties. It is an important defining concept in the relationship between God and His people.
God makes six major covenants in the Bible:
1. Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:26–2:3)
2. Noah and his family (Gen. 9:8–17)
3. Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 12:1–3; 17:1–14; 22:16–18)
4. Moses and the Israelites (Ex. 19:5–6; 3:4–10; 6:7)
5. David and the Kingdom of Israel (2 Sam. 7:8–19)
6. Jesus and the Church (Matt. 26:28; 16:17–19)
The purpose of these covenants was to address the problem of the human race. The claim that God has solved that problem with the establishment of His covenants is echoed across the Old Testament. The covenants are the story of God’s uncaused, gracious, and generous love. God is under no obligation to rescue humans and the world, but chooses to do so and takes the initiative to bring it about. For each of these covenants, it is helpful to highlight five special features:
1. The covenant mediator (the person God makes the covenant with) and his covenant role (whom the mediator represents).
2. The blessings promised in the covenant.
3. The conditions (or curses) of the covenant.
4. The “sign” by which the covenant will be celebrated and remembered.
5. The “form” that God’s family takes as a result of the covenant.

What Is the Adamic Covenant?
The covenant with Adam (Gen. 1:26–2:3; Hos. 6:7). The word “covenant” isn’t used, but the story of Adam and Eve is told in covenantal language. Adam is the covenant mediator in his role as husband. God promises blessings—that their union will be fruitful and their offspring will fill the earth and rule over it. God establishes a sign by which the covenant will be remembered and celebrated—the Sabbath, the seventh day of rest. And God imposes one condition that they must keep to fulfill their obligation under the covenant—that they not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God attaches a curse for disobedience—that they will surely die. By this covenant, God’s family assumes the form of the marriage bond between husband and wife.  

What Is the Noahic Covenant?
The covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:8–17). The word “covenant” is used in the case of Noah, as God promises never again to destroy the world by flood. The covenant is made with all humanity, through the mediator, Noah, in his role as the father of his family. The covenant includes blessings to Noah and his family (that they will be fruitful and fill the earth) and conditions that must be obeyed (not to drink the blood of any animals, not to shed human blood). The sign of the covenant is the rainbow in the sky. By this covenant, God’s people assume the form of a domestic household, an extended family.
What Is the Abrahamic Covenant?

The covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3; 17:1–14; 22:16–18). God swears to give Abraham a great land and to bless his descendants, who will become a great nation. God makes the covenant with the mediator Abraham in his representative role as chieftain. God promises the blessings of land and great nationhood for his descendants, and through them to bless all the nations of the earth. The sign of the covenant is the mark of circumcision. Circumcision is also the condition that Abraham and his descendants must obey in order to keep the covenant. By this covenant, God’s family takes a “tribal” form.

What Is the Mosaic Covenant?
The covenant with Moses (Ex. 3:4–10; 6:7; 19:5–6). By this covenant, made with the mediator Moses in his representative role as the judge and liberator of Israel, God swears to be Israel’s God and Israel swears to worship no other but the Lord God alone. The blessings promised are that they will be God’s precious and chosen people. The conditions of the covenant are that they must keep God’s Law and commandments. The covenant sign is the Passover, which each year commemorates Israel’s birth as a nation. By this covenant, God’s family assumes the form of a “holy nation, a kingdom of priests.” 
What Is the Davidic Covenant?
The covenant with David (2 Sam. 7:8–19). God promises to establish the mediator David’s “house” or kingdom forever, through David’s heir, who will also build a temple to God’s name. To David in his role as king, God promises to make David’s son his son and to punish him if he does wrong but never take away his royal throne: “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever.” Through the blessings of this kingdom God promises to give wisdom to all the nations. The sign of the covenant will be the throne and temple to be built by David’s son, Solomon. By this covenant, God’s family grows to take the form of a royal empire, a national kingdom.  

What Is the New Covenant?
The New Covenant of Jesus (Matt. 16:17–19; 26:28). The sixth and final covenant is made by the mediator Jesus, who by his cross and resurrection assumes the role of royal high priest and fulfills all the promises God made in the previous covenants. The prophets, especially Isaiah and Jeremiah, had taught Israel to hope for a Messiah who would bring “a new covenant,” through which God’s law would be written on men’s and women’s hearts (see Jer. 31:31–34; Heb. 8:8–12). The conditions of the covenant are that men and women believe in Jesus, be baptized, eat and drink his flesh and blood in remembrance at communion, and live by all that he taught. The Lord’s Supper is the sign of the New Covenant. By this covenant, God establishes his family in its final form as a universal (katholicos or “catholic” in Greek) worldwide kingdom, which Jesus calls his Church.

The question now is, will you take part in God's covenant and enter into a relationship with Him? He pursues you on a daily basis, and will never give up on you. You see because God is hesed. He is our Father. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, “The entire history of God’s covenantal relationship with Israel can be summarized in terms of hesed.” Hesed is God’s loving kindness—the consistent, ever-faithful, relentless, constantly pursuing, lavish, extravagant, unrestrained, one-way love of God. It is often translated as covenant love, loving kindness, mercy, steadfast love, loyal love, devotion, commitment, or reliability. Hesed turns up regularly in the Old Testament, particularly in the Psalms. It is typically translated “love” and sometimes translated as “mercy” (Ps. 23:6). However, hesed has a much narrower definition than the English term “love” conveys. In the Hebrew Scriptures, hesed refers to a sort of love that has been promised and is owed—that is, covenant love—as in Hosea 11:1: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” Covenant love is the love God promised to give to his covenant people, and which they in turn were to respond to in kind, loving God with all their hearts, minds, and strength. Hesed does not suggest some kind of generic love of everyone.
Make today the beginning of your relationship with God.

The Christian Woman

2011-11-18T21:33:00.001-05:00

As a friend and I were talking the other day, it's hard to find devotionals for women that don't leak and pour estrogen off the page. But this isn't a estrogen filled post, it's not intended to be at least.
I have never been married, and I'm only 22 so there isn't much I can say about being a woman, or a married woman at that. But I can at least speak to the girls, who are becoming women and encourage them as they become who God wants them to be. We are all still on the path to becoming what God wants us to be. Young and old. We continue to learn.
First and foremost I have to stress, respect yourself. This is hard for me too. You are a child of the King. I see so many young girls disrespect their bodies and put revealing pictures of themselves on facebook and try to draw outward attention. Whatever means you have to take, respect yourself, you don't belong to yourself. You are property of God. If you know Doctrine, then you know that we are to image Christ, and we are to be good stewards of our bodies. It all belongs to God. From the clothes we wear to the make up we put on. God can help us with this. He doesn't command us to do something then leave us to do the best we can. More so, God bought us with a high price, He will train us and take control of our lives. We as human fleshly beings are to weak to control our lives, we must be controlled by the Spirit. The one who will teach us to live, and the one who bridles our tongue.
Lately, I have really been studying about the tongue and our words, in relation to James. We all have to watch our mouth, but I believe more so we as Christian women should watch what we say. There are many times when we want to express ourselves especially in a group setting, we feel the need to put our 2 cent in. We have to give our opinion, especially when something upsets us. This is also otherwise known as, gossip.
I remember in the summer of 2008, my pastor did a sermon series on the family. One Sunday he did an entire sermon on wives, and I will never forget this quote, as it still resonates with me still: "Women should never be known for speaking her mind." It's true. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." Earlier in this same passage of scripture Peter encourages us women to live a godly life, because in doing so it will speak to those around us better than any words. They will be won over by watching our pure, godly behavior. When our lives honor Christ, even silence is eloquent. I believe as Christ followers, we are identified as having a quiet spirit. Jesus had a quiet spirit here on earth, especially in his last hours here before crucified. We are to live quietly before the Father, allowing His voice to always be heard. We can sing, and we can pray, but we must find the time to have silence. There is no better way to quench the natural strength of your old nature than by silencing it. Guarding the tongue. As we become more aware of the presence of God withing you, you will see how He is able to keep your words, thoughts, and desires in check. It's a process.
We must walk cautiously through life. As Thomas Manton put it, "You carry a sinning heart within you. As long as there is fuel for a temptation, we cannot be secure; the man who has gunpowder with him will be afraid of sparks."

Lessons from Sweet Potatoes

2011-11-14T19:23:00.001-05:00

"Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
-John 4:35-38

Fall is the harvest season for crops. Jesus used agricultural illustrations a lot to illustrate the Kingdom and what it meant to be a Christian. Recently, a friend of mine was telling me how he and his son harvested their sweet potatoes this week. They got huge ones, medium sized ones, and small ones all from the same vine, and boy were they dirty! Potatoes are not ready to harvest until the vine dies. Until Christ, who is the vine died we were ill prepared for harvest. There are different levels of Spiritual maturity in the varying sizes. My friend noticed that smaller potatoes were offshoots of the larger potatoes which were connected directly to the vine. Some of us are called to a higher calling, and are thus responsible for smaller potatoes; we depend on the larger potatoes. No matter what size, we are all covered in dirt until we are washed in Christ's blood.
Since Adam and Eve, humans have wanted to be the (God), or a large potato (more influence and power). No one wants to be a small potato. However, farmers propigate smaller potatoes for new plants. The larger potatoes are harvested (elected), washed (saved/justified), preserved (sanctified) until they are eaten (called out). It is then that they fulfill their calling and give nourishment to others (The Great Commission). Small potatoes are done the same way, but are not used to feed others. They grow others (church planter, ministry developer) out of their plant will grow a few huge potatoes, a lot of average sized, and a few small, and the cycle continues.
Don't covet the gifts of the huge potatoes, don't be jealous of the average potatoes, and be content as a small potato if you are one. You may never be well known, or part of a souffle, but be the root to the vine.

Rock and Worship

2011-11-12T17:46:00.001-05:00

Last night some friends and I went to the Rock and Worship concert at Bojangles Arena here in Charlotte. We were mainly there for our favorite band, "Disciple." (www.disciplerocks.com) It was totally worth $10.00 to see them perform their song,"Rise Up" they killed it! They did a few more too. The song is about Christians rising up together, and it totally rocks.

There were some other bands there as well that I liked, Jars of Clay, Mercy Me, Hawk Nelson, just to name a few. Mercy Me did a good show too. It was very powerful at the end. The lead singer for Mercy Me spoke straight to our hearts and challenged us to stand out from the World, to be the change because the world isn't changing much. Just as we were singing with Disciple, "Rise Up" lets rise up as Christians and give the world Jesus, a change not even Obama can give you! I vote for that kind of change! I vote for Jesus.
It was also during his talk that I was reminded that I am a sinner saved by grace. We tend to forget that don't we Christians? It is nothing that we did to deserve to be saved or to keep it, it is only grace and the love of Jesus that keeps me. It's about my Savior loving me where I am, and never leaving me no matter how much I screw up.
After it was all said and done, we got to meet Disciple!

We were one of the last ones out of the arena. On our way out though, my heart sank when I saw this:

I don't know if you can tell, this is the arena and on the floor is trash! TRASH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS! Left by Christians who were just challenged to be the change and make a difference, and they leave this?! Are you kidding me? Why because someone else will do it? Seriously? What kind of testimony is that to the world? To the workers who work their? A Christian concert and we leave our trash on the floor like we live in a barn? It's not like you were drunk and didn't know you had trash on the floor. It made me so mad. I was embarrassed mostly.
Anyway, just had to blow that steam off! Afterward my friends and I headed over to Waffle House about midnight and ate and hung out. I'm thankful for friends, and for the good times we are able to share.
Go change the world.

Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T14:22:00.001-05:00

This is a picture of my cousin, Ben on the far left. This was at a fellow Marine's funeral over in Tennessee. Ben is Corporal Ben Wiley. I am so proud of him. I love this picture.

Happy Veterans Day. I'm honored to say that I am related to Veteran's and am very proud of each one of them. To every Veteran out there, Thank you! For your service, dedication, and sacrifice.
Today I did something different. I stopped by a grave yard and visited each grave with a flag. Just to read the names and branch of service and be respectful in not forgetting that they lived once and sacrificed a lot on my behalf. I took some pictures, I am fascinated with older tombstones too. It's always interesting to read inscriptions on the stones. Many are theologically and doctrinally off base, especially when it comes to calling them angels now, and sleeping in Jesus. But I try not to get worked up about it. I'll explain more later, because it does matter. Here are a few of the pictures:

I don't know how these people died, I don't know if they knew Jesus or not. I do know the Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us by dying in our place. He battled every sin on the cross, and won victoriously. We are redeemed through His blood. We are saved by His blood. That is why we cannot identify with angels. We are higher than the angels, the Bible says, and we are crowned with glory and honor. The angels cannot sing the song of redemption that we can sing as Christians. They don't need Christ's shed blood, they have not been bought with a price. When we die, we are very much alive, whether we go to Hell or Heaven...it's your choice. We do not sleep when we die. I love what that tombstone said about preparing for death eternity. We will all face it one day, why not choose Jesus now? Why not start living for Him now?
Thank God for His sacrifice. The sacrifice of His son. Thank Jesus for His sacrifice. The sacrifice of His life, for you! If that isn't love, I don't know what is. He makes a covenant with us. Though we betray Him, He still pursues us in a heart of love. Just like with the soldier, and those Americans who spit hate about America and war, these soldiers fight for your right to do that. It almost doesn't make any sense.
Lord protect our military.

True Repentance

2011-11-05T22:34:00.000-04:00

Lately, I've been learned a lot about repentance. I dare say many of us know what true repentance is. It's been something I have struggled with always. I was talking to my sister one day this week and told her about the work God has done in my life lately. In response she said, "so it was a true repentance." Then the light went off! So that's repentance!!
I'm not going into great detail, but I will tell you that true repentance has everything to do with Jesus living in you. It means possessing His Spirit only and laying down and turning from the things which are not of Him, and running into His grace. The things I thought I had once repented of really just hung around because I hadn't fully decided that I was turning from that lifestyle, I still liked the idea of it. That is not repentance, that's called confessing. Huge difference. Confessing is acknowledging that you did it, your sorry, but then you go out and do it again. The reason you did it again is because you didn't truly repent. Repentance is getting rid of everything that stimulates that lust and idolatry in your heart. It's hating the sin you are living in or committing. It's asking God to take away that desire, and put in you His desires for your life.
I am the image of God. I bear His image as a human being. I am to mirror Him, and reflect Him as Holy as I can. I am a broken mirror, however, because of sin. But God is putting me back together everyday so that I can reflect who He is and bear His image clearly and perfectly once more. Jesus is normal, and what we would be like without sin. I have to keep stripping off my old nature and put on the brand new nature that is being renewed, DAILY! I have to ask myself before I do anything, "What will this reflect about Jesus?" In my music, in my love, in my thoughts, in my words, in my actions. A life that images God is not glorifying me, but God. Circumstances can be redeemed by God to reflect that glory of God. We are made to image God, and it is where my joy is rooted, in mirroring Jesus! I was not made to find joy in the things of this world, but in everyday mirroring Jesus and allowing Him to glue the broken mirror so that I can mirror Him more. If what you are chasing after is not imaging Jesus, or making the best name for Jesus if you are a professed Christian, you've got some repenting and life changing decisions to do.
When we can grasp the truth that our lives are really all about Jesus it changes our whole outlook on life. We do not belong to ourselves, we were bought for a high price. We do not live for ourselves. When we understand that it's all about Jesus, the scriptures make a lot of sense. When we understand His love for us, when we set our thoughts on the things of Him. Where is your mind and heart? Are they set on the things of Jesus, or the things of this world? Make Jesus the King of your heart.

......my life worth nothing.....

2011-10-31T17:40:00.001-04:00

"But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus- the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love."
-Acts 20:24

The beginning of the church as we see in Acts and a continuation of Jesus' ministry. We are united in the Holy Spirit in proclaiming the gospel. We can contrast this with the Tower of Babel in Genesis where the people wanted to build a tower to the heavens and stay united with each other. God was not pleased and it was there that He confused their language and sent them to separate nations. So now we see in Acts where God is now uniting us in His Spirit and speak the common language of the gospel. Everything that happens in the church is because of the Holy Spirit, and the people who are led by the Holy Spirit. It is not just some tradition.
However it is easy to get off track in our ministries because we do still live under the curse of sin and our focus tends to shift off God. Here is what it looks like:

This is the same attitude that Satan had against God. I'm good, my throne will be higher than God's, Worship ME!
Here is what another attitude we can posses, and note it's better to be here than above. This is where a lot of Christians are because it is default, it's easy to slip into.

Lastly this is where we should strive to be at in our ministries and lives.

Today is Reformation day, it was this day 494 years ago, Martin Luther sparked the Protestant Reformation by nailing the 95 Thesis on the door of the chapel of Wittenburg.
John Wesley preached his final sermon on February 17, 1791, in the borough of Lambeth. His text was Isaiah 55:6, "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on Him while He is near." The next day he fell ill and and went to bed. On March 2nd, he turned to his friends and family who were gathered around his deathbed. He said to them, "The best of all is, God is with us. Farewell, farewell." In the same way, here in Acts 20, Paul senses his life and ministry are coming to a close.
Paul says that his ministry for God is going to cost him everything. He knows that with every footstep he goes deeper into danger, hardship, and affliction. The Holy Spirit has been preparing him for the road ahead. This is what Jesus meant when He said, "I am the vine and you are branches. Apart from me you can do NOTHING." This aspect of ministry expects us to be deeply rooted in Jesus, and rely on Him as the life source.

Vladimir Lenin, the first head of the Soviet Union, used to say that communists are "dead men on furlough." As revolutionaries, they should view themselves as already dead, so that they would be ready to die at any moment. That is how Paul saw himself, and that is how all committed Christians should see themselves: dead men and dead women on furlough. We should want nothing but to see God exalted!

So get rooted, live in the Power of God! Being sheep requires sacrifice. Continue living the books of Acts out. Continue in Jesus' ministry.

Oneism

2011-10-30T23:20:00.002-04:00

"Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen."
-Romans 1:25

By Paul’s definition, our world, our nation, our city is predominantly pagan. People are very spiritual. What Paul is saying is that there is the truth and the lie: those are the options.
Peter Jones, who has a doctorate in theology, he calls this “oneism and twoism,” so I’ll give him credit here. Oneism is the lie. It goes all the way back to Genesis 1. Satan comes to Adam and Eve and says, “You don’t need God. You can be God.” That’s oneism. Oneism says that essentially all of reality, spiritual and physical, exists in one circle. That there is no distinction between Creator and creation. This is the root of pantheism, that all of the world is divine, and panantheism, that the world as we know contains God as his body. This eliminates distinctions – that’s the whole point. The goal is to get everything in the circle. Everything is one. There are some people who profess to be Christians who even now are encouraging oneism.
The goal is one reality. That means you get rid of the distinction between the Creator, God, and creation, and now God and creation are one. You also are working there for one materialism. That means there’s no distinction between mankind and the rest of creation. This leads to radical environmental rights activism and secular atheism. That’s why when a family builds a home a radical environmental rights activist burns it down. “Why do they do that?” Because they believe that the tree has just as much right to live as the family. They see them as one. They don’t see a distinction.
Again, the point in Genesis 1 is that there are distinctions. There are distinctions between God the Creator and his creation, between humanity as God’s image-bearers, men and women, and animals and plants and fish and birds and beasts. There’s a distinction between night and day. There’s a distinction between land and water. There are distinctions. In oneism the goal is to eradicate all distinctions and bring everything together as one in the circle.
This also leads to one morality. There is no distinction between good and evil. There’s no God outside of the circle that says, “That’s wrong.” We call this postmodernism. So it’s not truth and error. It’s not darkness and light. It’s not lies and truth. It’s perspective and ideology and cultural opinion. This leads as well to one gender. There’s no distinction between men and women. So that’s transgenderism, lesbianism, homosexuality.
The effort as well is for one religion. That means we have to get rid of Jesus because he keeps saying he’s God. And the other religions don’t believe that so Jesus is in the way. Let’s let him be a nice teacher, a moral example – but not God and Savior. We need one religion. That would help everything.
Also it leads to one spirituality. There is no such thing as God and Satan and angels and demons. In books like The Golden Compass they’re all angels, even the demons. This also leads to one divinity, so that there is no distinction between God and us. We’re all one in the circle. That means we don’t look out to God, we look into self. We look for the spark of the divine within. This is American spiritism. “My hope is not in God; I am God. God is in me. I’m part of the divine life force. I’m part of the created order. I’m part of the cosmic energy of the world.” This is the new spirituality.
The Dalai Lama, he said some years ago, “The world used to believe that there were two” – here’s what he said. “We now know there is one.” It’s oneism.
When you see witches, Wicca, get together in a coven in a circle. Most of paganism involves as its symbol the circle. When people get together for interfaith multi-religious worship they gather in a prayer and meditative circle. It’s all oneism. It’s all paganism. It’s all collapsing the distinctions between Creator and creation. And that’s what it is.
We have to be very careful my friends and family. Do not easily trade the truth for a lie. Stay in the Word, it will guide you, it will help you. If your life is not lining up with what the Bible clearly teaches, it isn't Jesus' fault, there is something wrong with you, and I encourage you to take a good long hard look at you and repent. Don't fall into this trap of One-ism. There is a creator God who loves you. He is Creator and we are His creation. We are to worship Him alone.
Now, the alternative, obviously, according to Romans 1 to oneism, is twoism. There is God, and everything that God has made. This is the foundation of a Christian worldview. This is the foundation of how we interpret reality. If you miss this you will not think as a Christian. You will not think biblically. You’ll be a pagan. You’ll still be spiritual. You might even be religious. You might even seek to be moral. But you won’t know the God of the Bible. We'll look more into that later on this week. For now, think on this.

None But Jesus

2011-10-29T17:30:00.001-04:00

Today I was in the grocery store with my mom and the song by The Rolling Stones, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" came on the radio. Prior to walking into the store this lady took my parking place and gave me the finger. I was not happy, it was hard for me to scream Jesus loves you at that moment. My Aunt is always encouraging me to find my inner peace with Jesus. Anyway. Today's generation carries around the philosophy that they can get anything and everything they want. Whether by help of government, stealing...whatever. But as I listened to this song I was reminded of the doctrine of Idolatry. You see many times we pray and ask and want for our idols, things that we Worship more than we Worship God. We get frustrated with God when He doesn't give this particular thing to us; He says NO. God answered your prayer in saying no, it isn't unanswered. He is saying no because He knows it is our idol, even when we don't know it yet or realize it. It's really scary when we hit this place in our lives because it puts us in a spiritual funk, and darkness. We become so angry at God, and all God was trying to do was help you keep Him number 1 in your life because He LOVES YOU!
Oh that we would pray and would know that He, God our creator and sustainer of life is all we need, that He would be all we desire, and want, and cherish. What more could you ask for? What more could you need? When you have Jesus, you have everything!! For all of God's promises have been fullfilled in Him. That is why we say "Amen" when we give glory to God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:20) When was Jesus not enough? He is everything! But we cease to draw near to Him. Yet, Christ is the very reason we live and breathe, we would have nothing apart from Him.
So I guess the whole lesson here is next time you don't get what you want just take a minute and thank God and draw nearer to Him. It's hard, I know. But God doesn't hate you, He LOVES YOU! He is teaching us to look more like Him, and it is then that your true joy will be found and rooted, not in another car, or job status, or money, or anything this world can give.

Father,
That we would desire you, that you would draw us close to you. No one else but you will do for me. You are all I want. Thank you for keeping our idols away from us, you alone deserve our Worship. Help us to see your hand. We love you, you are everything.
In your name, Jesus.
Amen

Secular

2011-10-26T09:36:00.000-04:00

"Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts."
-2 Timothy 2:22

Last night at the Addiction Ministry, God convicted me of the music I listen too. God just spoke and challenged me to rethink what I listen too. Ultimately, does the music I listen too support Jesus or the sex, drug, and rock and roll life style? Is the music I listen too make me want to worship Jesus or have more of the desire to live the lifestyle of sex, and drugs, and rock and roll? Do I want to give up my rockin' awesome music? No! However, I want to worship Jesus. And I know listening to the radio station I listen to does not glorify Jesus. I get embarrassed at some of the things they talk about and mention. And I know if affects the way I think and talk. I don't think I need to pray about it, God told me and there ain't no praying about it. I guess what I need to pray for is the strength to not listen to it. I love my music. I love my jams. But it is causing me to stumble and not honor God. Ask yourself this question: "Should Christians support people who laugh at our beliefs and values?"
I don't know about you but I want God to use me, I want my life to be pleasing to Him. When we back up one verse in 2 Timothy 2:21 we read:
‎"If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for His purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work." Are we really making ourselves pure when we sing about killing ourselves, and doing drugs, and having sex, and saying every cuss word on God's green earth? Singing is a utensil God has given us to worship Him, not sing about the things mentioned above. After all, what goes in must come out, right? YES! That is why Paul is writing Timothy saying, "Run! Run, from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right....enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts." Running away is considered cowardly. But wise people realize that removing themselves physically from temptation is very wise. We belong to God! We do not belong to the world or what it offers us. It's hard. But God will give you the strength to press on, and keep working on you till you are all He wants you to be. Till we look like Him. That's what the whole Christian life is about, to be like Him. To enjoy what He gives us, not what the world wants to give us to enjoy. It might be you'll have to quit listening to music for a while. It might kill me, but if it means I have to do that to glorify God I'll do it. I won't lie, Christian music isn't exactly rockin' out there, I know. Just something to think about.

Blinded By Darkness

2011-10-25T09:51:00.001-04:00

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see!

If there is one thing I have learned about people, it is this: People want to remain in their dark world because they do not want their sins exposed. Darkness covers our sins, and blinds us to the fact that we need a Savior. The light makes people face who they really are.
Jesus said He was the light of the world. We too are the light of the world, because the Holy Spirit lives within us.
I have noticed that many times after Jesus healed he told the people to go home and tell what had just happened. However, the healed didn't want to go home, they wanted to stay with Jesus and hang out with Him. It's not that Jesus didn't want them to follow Him, but Jesus knew that these people had a testimony. Unbelievers will know we are Christians by our love, yes. But they will also know we are Christians by our testimony which can only be heard if we go and tell, not just hang out with those like us. Jesus knew and understood this truth and that is why when He healed he said Go and tell, not just hang with me, I know what I did for you.
The simple truth is this, we have eternity with Jesus. We don't have forever with those who surround us that are unbelievers. God has placed you where you are for a reason. Some of us want to be missionaries to other countries, and pray for other countries, and are all for sending Bibles to Colombia, but can we really be called a missionary if we won't even go across the street? In a sense we let the darkness continue to blind us. Keep faced toward the light.

True Faith

2011-10-15T22:36:00.000-04:00

"Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." -James 5:10-11

Most of you who read my blog often or know me personally know that Job in the Bible is my biblical hero. In his story we learn to trust God even when we don't understand. The essence of the story is true faith; and accepting all that life brings without all the answers as to why it happened. After all knowing God is better than knowing answers, right? God is not arbitary or uncaring, and pain is not always a punishment.
There are 3 things Job had to learn, we need to learn them as well: waiting, yielding, and hoping. All 3 of these things build our faith, and they build on each other. We build our faith by facing things head on...that's something my adopted Jesus mom keeps telling me. Many of us would rather sit in ashes with torn clothes and gnashing of teeth and feel sorry for ourself, it's normal. But after a while, it's time to get back up and execute your faith trusting that everything is going to work out to the will of God. Stay faithful to Him.
It's our human nature to question things, and in our world of instant we cannot stand to wait. In Jobs case he didn't get a direct answer at all. God actually answered him with questions about Himself, THE ALMIGHTY. What's more God waited to speak at the end of the book. As God spoke from the whirlwind to Job, Job was being reminded who he was talking to. As we wait on the Lord in our circumstances we learn to yield to the Lord. As God spoke to Job he was trying to get Job to submit to His power and authority over his life. Yielding is being willing to do whatever God wants, we serve God for who He is, not for what we feel. As we yield, God begins to direct our steps, and take us His way, and it is then that we see a speck of hope. In the entire book of Job my favorite verse is found, it is the only hopeful words spoken by Job in his time of testing.
"For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He [the Last One] will stand upon the earth. And after my skin, even this body, has been destroyed, then from my flesh or without it I shall see God, Whom I, even I, shall see for myself and on my side! And my eyes shall behold Him, and not as a stranger! My heart pines away and is consumed within me." Job 19:25-27
Hoping is remembering that God does love us, and that is more Powerful than anything we will ever face (John 16:33). We also must remember that that God hurts when we hurt. So genuinely so that he got personally involved in our struggle- He became a man and suffered and died for us.

SUFFERING IS HELPFUL WHEN:
We turn to God for understanding, endurance, and deliverance.

We ask important questions we might not take time to think about in our normal routine.

We let it prepare us to identify with and comfort others who suffer.

We are open to being helped by others who are obeying God.

We realize we can identify with what Christ suffered on the cross for us.

SUFFERING IS HARMFUL WHEN:
We become hardened and reject God.

We refuse to ask any questions and miss any lessons that might be good for us.

We allow it to make us self-centered and selfish.

We withdraw from the help others can give.

We accuse God of being unjust and perhaps lead others to reject Him.

We refuse to be open to any changes in our lives.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I am willing to wait, yield, and hope in you. You are my God; THE ALMIGHTY. You are everything to me. You knew my beginning, you see every step I take, you know my end. You planned everyday of my life. You lead me. My life is like a piece of music in your hand. You compose my up and downs. Nothing in my life takes you by surprise. Thank you for the valley's that feed me, thank you for the mountaintops that show me your Majesty. Keep me humble, Father. I love you. You are my God, you are my Savior. You are always the answer. In your Name.
Amen

Simple Obedience

2011-10-14T20:41:00.001-04:00

"Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what He had taught....there is really one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it-and I won't take it away from her." -Luke 10:39, 42

Today I was thinking about the story of Mary and her alabaster jar. Mary had simple obedience. If there one is excessive thing we should do in our lives, we should be excessively obedient. When you think about it, what do we excessively do instead of obey? We worry a lot. We ask for comfort, however, do we realize that that we are at the edge of the fountain but just refuse to drink of it? When we worry we are not still and quiet before the Most High so that He can be heard. Mary came quietly before Jesus bringing all she could give Jesus. Mary gave Jesus everything that was valuable to her to praise and worship her Lord.
Alabaster was a costly offering, historically it was given to a daughter by her Jewish parents for her dowery. On her wedding night the perfume was to be poured out upon her husband's feet at the time of the marriage consummation. It was similar to the act of submission performed by Ruth at the instruction of Naomi to Boaz at the treshing floor. Mary's giving her very own dowery was a statement of complete love and devotion submission and obedience.
Mary obeyed the Holy Spirit when directed to anoint Jesus by giving her best. She was criticised by the church for doing this act. They thought she should have sold it for the poor. However, the church did not realize nor did they see that her act was of worship, and obedience. We cannot stop obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit even when others speak evil against us.
When we are still and quiet in His presence we learn His voice. This is something God has been putting me through lately. Though I have been quiet my whole life, God has been teaching me how to not only be quiet but listen for His voice. To quiet my thoughts, and emotions. It's hard! Things make me so mad sometimes and I have to express it to someone because we woman are emotional and have to tell.
Live in peace. Be still and quiet. Give Jesus all your attention; be Mary. What is your Alabaster jar?

Where r u? Part 3: Come Back

2011-10-07T18:32:00.000-04:00

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
-John 14:3

The other day I noticed I made a error in my spelling. I spelled "stayed" instead of "strayed." When I noticed this mistake I began to think, the only difference in these 2 words is the letter, "r." Where r you? Do you know Jesus? Are you in the sheep fold of Jesus? It matters. John 10 tells us that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in Heaven. The only way to get to Heaven is through Jesus. The only way to get to where you need to be is through Jesus. Jesus say's in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." I learned something several years ago, you have to tell someone they are lost or they will never know it. Is where you are now a safe place to be? Are you walking in the truth? Are you hearing the truth preached? Are you being challenged, and spiritually fed? Are you continuously having to surrender your life and will and way to Jesus? Are you totally dependent on Jesus? You should be experiencing all of these things.
Come back to Jesus! Allow Him to bring you back to Him. Quit fighting! Let your Creator do with you as He planned long ago. Come back to the truth.

Praise the Lord!

2011-10-02T22:36:00.000-04:00

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
Psalm 103:1-2

Today in my Sunday School class at my church I became very convicted by the truth that I don't nearly give God the praise He rightly deserves. As a friend prayed this morning we just merely "try to make it." But we were not created to just "make it," the scriptures say we are more than conquerors! We have so much to be thankful for. In the last few minutes of class we just sat still in the presence of God, at His throne worshiping, and verbally expressing our thankfulness to Him. In the service later on the story of the 10 lepers came to mind.
Luke 17:11-19
New Living Translation (NLT)
Ten Healed of Leprosy:

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”[a] And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.[b]”

Only 1 leper came back to thank Jesus and worship Him for what He had done. Many times when we read this story we look down our noses at the other 9 thinking, "how dare they!" However, what we do not realize is, often times we are the other 9. We become so self consumed and that we deserve what God gives us. How dare we! Oh that we would be like Job, my Biblical hero. He couldn't understand why he had been through what he had just went through, then God spoke from a whirlwind the longest unbroken speech, and Job said, "Shut my mouth! I take back everything I said."
From the moment we wake up in the morning we should start thanking Jesus. Thank you for every breath, for waking me up, for another day, for creation telling His story, for a roof over our head, for the bed we will get out of, for the blankets that will cover us to keep us warm, for the breakfast we will eat, for the coffee we will drink all day, the list could go on and on and on. He is so faithful to us...and when the sun goes down at night we still sing His praises. He is everything!
Thankfulness sustains joy and blessing, it begins when my sense of entitlement ends. We must have an awareness of Jesus presence-focusing on Him. We must have a realization of what He has given us. All in all, when was Jesus not enough for us? HE is EVERYTHING! The gifts we receive are more about the giver than the gift itself! When we become aware of our inadequacies, we see God's sufficiency; we are more thankful.
Do not wait for a perfectly quiet time when you can lock yourself in your room and be alone. The very moment you feel drawn toward God is the moment to turn toward Him. Do this when you are driving, dressing, getting your hair done, eating, when conversations become boring....occupy every spare moment with Jesus. From the moment you get up to when you go to bed you will still not be done describing and blessing and thanking Jesus. I promise. I love the verse in John 21:25 "Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written."

Return to Me: Part 2- He Brings Us Back

2011-09-30T23:03:00.002-04:00

Often times in the Bible we are referred to as the sheep of God’s pasture, and that Jesus is our Shepherd. I was reading in the book of Ezekiel the other night. As some of you know, I’m reading through the Bible in 90 days again. Anyway, Ezekiel has become a favorite book of Bible of mine. Chapter 34 is about God being our Shepherd bringing us back to the sheepfold.

Ezekiel 34:12-16
New Living Translation (NLT)
12 I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 13 I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. 14 Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. 16 I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!

Isn't it a beautiful picture of Jesus coming and looking for the ones who strayed? So many times when we are out in the wilderness we cry saying God left us, and He doesn't love us anymore; that He is trying to kill us. But it this really the truth? If He didn't love us, He wouldn't come looking for us, He wouldn't bring us HOME, He wouldn't clean us up and strengthen us. We leave Jesus, He never leaves us. He gives us peace.
The truth is that many of us need to find ourselves prostrate at the Throne of God in repentance, myself included. The things that we think we desire are the things that often times lead us astray. Do you know what The Throne is? It is the alter! If you want to shaken and brought to a humble place in your life you find yourself at the alter where you enter the presence of God. It is a place of sacrifice, surrender, and transparency. Often what we offer God is not what He wants. He usually wants that which you dread giving Him. It is Issac, the well-beloved, that He wants you to give up. It is what comes between you and Him, thus why it leads us astray, our eyes are off Jesus.....The alter....it is where we sacrifice the things that we think define us, and where we pick Him up and HE defines us. We must keep bringing ourselves before Him.
I love the hymn written by Henry Williams Baker, "The King of Love my Shepherd Is." Henry Baker worked on a book of hymns that would reflect the grandeur of majestic worship. The first edition was published in 1861, entitled Hymns Ancient and Modern. He had labored for many years and so earnestly over every hymn, editing, amending and deleting words, some called it Hymns Asked for and Mutilated. Eventually, it became the leading hymnbook in the Anglican church, going through many revisions and selling over 150 million copies. "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" didn't appear until the 1868 revision, in the appendix.
When Henry passed away in 1877, his friend, John Ellerton, reported that his last words were from this poignant hymn:

"Perverse and foolish oft I stayed,

But yet in love He sought me,

And on His shoulder gently laid,

And home, rejoicing, brought me."

1. "The King of love my Shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am His,

And He is mine forever.

2. Where streams of living water flow

My ransomed soul He leadeth;

And where the verdant pastures grow,

With food celestial feedeth.

4. In death's dark vale I fear no ill

With Thee, dear Lord beside me;

Thy rod and staff my comfort still,

Thy cross before to guide me.

5. And so through all the length of days,

They goodness faileth never.

Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise,

Within Thy house forever."

How God Works In The World

2011-09-28T17:50:00.000-04:00

"Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan."
-Ephesians 1:11

Does everything in the world take place according to the will of God? Questions such as these relate to, and address the providence of God, and thus you have proposed a theological question. Apparently the founders of the state of Colorado believed that everything takes place according to God's will. The state motto affirms: Nil sine Numine, "Nothing without providence." The state seal pictures the all-seeing eye of God. Can we today believe that everything in our state, nation, and world fits into the divine plan> Are God's eternal purposes actually being achieved in our perplexed world?
God's purposes in the world often include judgement as well as evident progress. Whether we can or cannot see them, the Creator's plans are being realized through general laws of nature, specific historical events, organisms and the inner will of human beings. In some areas God's will is accomplished decretively, in some preceptively, and in others permissively. It is also important that we remember that God is not physical but spiritual; not dead, but living; not passive, but active; not impersonal, but personal. As a personal Spirit, God has intellect, emotions, and will. By virtue of these powers he can enjoy fellowship with persons created in his likeness. The living God acts in accord with his essential characteristics or attributes. Everything in the world happens and takes place according to the will of God. His plan will be fulfilled whether through evil, good, or both. Nothing in the world happens without Him knowing about it.
God has a will, but we as humans have our will what we want done. First, lets take a look at how God carries His will out in the world, and what He works through. We'll use the story of Esther as an example of how God worked in that story. Remember in this story, we see the hand, and fingerprints of God everywhere, however, we never read the name of God in the book anywhere.

GODS ACTION:

NATURAL ORDER- God set into action through creation a normal working of his universe. He also revealed his expectations of people through his Word and people consciences.

MIRACLES- God breaks into the natural order to respond to the expressed needs of people.

PROVIDENCE- God overrules the natural order to accomplish an act that people may or may not have requested.

As we see in the story of Esther, God gave Esther natural beauty, in turn Esther planned a way to save her people. God then allowed Esther to speak to the King, and gave her favor with the king because of her beauty. The people prayed and fasted. God allowed Mordecai to overhear a plot. Mordecai trusted God to accomplish what was impossible in human terms.

ACTION WE CAN TAKE

PLAN- We make plans based on that order and dependability of God's creation. We know and obey His Words.

PRAY- We ask God to intervene in certain situations while realizing that our knowledge and perspective are limited.

TRUST & OBEY- We can trust that God is in control even when the circumstances may not seem to indicate He is.

However, we are human and we make mistakes, and we don't always pray in the will of God, or trust and obey Him. So here are some mistakes we can make.

MISTAKES WE CAN MAKE

DISOBEY- We can violate the natural order, and disobey God's commands.

DEMAND- We can assume that we understand what is needed and expect God to agree and answer our prayers that way.

DESPAIR- We can assume that God doesn't answer prayer or respond to our needs and live as though there is nothing but the natural order.

Remember that God has a purpose and plan for the situations He places us in. He put is there to serve Him. As in Esther's case, this involves risking your security. We have to be willing to let God be our ultimate security.

I Would Be True

2011-09-26T23:40:00.002-04:00

"So the last will be first, and the first will be last. I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."
-Matthew 20:16, 21:31-32

I wanted to share a thought I had the other day. Matthew has been a great book to be in this past week studying and reading. A theme that I noticed in the book of Matthew is the fact that we are equal. Jesus tells his disciples the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Each worker earned a denarius, the workers who came at the 11th hour and the workers who had been there all day. It's showing God's grace too. Only by the grace of God are we where we are today. Even in the worst circumstance of life, God is good to us. The book of Nehemiah has also become a favorite of mine to read and study, I call it "the joyful book." In chapter 9 it talks about how for three hours the book of law was taught to them, then for another three hours they confessed their sin! That verse has always moved me. But as I thought about it more and more, the Addiction Ministry I go to came to mind. From the outside, people may consider the ones in the addiction ministry to be pretty messed up and no chance of ever being a "suitable" Christian. In other words some high Christians who think they are better than those of us with problems judge us and look down there noses at us. However, what people and these Christians don't realize is that the people in the addiction ministry are right where God wants them, they are at a humbling place in their lives. People who hit rock bottom like a lot of us in this ministry have no where but up to go. They are broken, and have repentant hearts. To be able to confess to each other our shortcomings is huge! It puts us in a place where all we can do it love and support each other, we know our weaknesses. We have no room to judge each other because again like it says in Matthew we have a plank in our eye which makes it impossible to remove the speck of dust from our neighbors eye. It is also being true to ourselves, to each other, and to God. We don't hide who we are, we come before God and each other asking for prayer and for guidance and help. Not many people can admit they need help.
In thinking about all of this the hymn written by Howard A. Walter in 1906, "I Would Be True" has been going over and over in my mind. Here are the lyrics. My Aunt challenged me and all my cousins to consider this song the cousin code, the ponder it's lyrics and remain true to each other. I believe as a body of believers it is important that we stay true to each other as well.

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.

I would be faithful through each passing moment;
I would be constantly in touch with God;
I would be strong to follow where He leads me;
I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.

Who is so low that I am not his brother?
Who is so high that I’ve no path to him?
Who is so poor I may not feel his hunger?
Who is so rich I may not pity him?

Who is so hurt I may not know his heartache?
Who sings for joy my heart may never share?
Who in God’s heav’n has passed beyond my vision?
Who to hell’s depths where I may never fare?

May none, then, call on me for understanding,
May none, then, turn to me for help in pain,
And drain alone his bitter cup of sorrow,
Or find he knocks upon my heart in vain.

When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
Acts 11:23

Return to Me: Part 1 Coming Back!

2011-09-24T01:27:00.001-04:00

Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.’
-Zechariah 1:3

For the past few days, God has been burning this message on my heart. I feel like so many people need to hear it. There is so much doubt in the world, so much hopelessness, hurt, bitterness...the list could go on, and the excuses as to why we do not return to the Lord. But it's time to come back! Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is calling!
There are many Christians who have wandered away from the Lord. Satan wants us to believe, that once we have fallen away, there is no way back. But this simply is not true. Do not be discouraged by your mistakes, but keep coming back to Christ over and over. Jesus tells a parable in Luke 15:11-24, which illustrates how God longs for us to return to Him if we have wandered away in sin. The parable tells of a son who took his inheritance and went away from his father into a far country and wasted his inheritance in riotous living (He went to Vegas). He became destitute and hired out to feed pigs. He became so hungry he even wanted to eat what the pigs ate. He decided to go back to his father and hire out as one of his hired servants. Verse 20 says:

"And he arose and came back to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him."

In this parable the father represents God. Christ gave us this parable to show how anxious God is to have us come back if we have wandered away from him in sin. God will run to us with open arms if we will only come back to Him. I’m often reminded of the beautiful words penned by Henry Baker, “The King of Love,” in it he writes,
“Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, But yet in love he sought me
And on his shoulder gently laid, And home rejoicing brought me.”
Is Jesus calling you to return to Him? If you have wandered away, God, your Father, is waiting for you to come back to Him. He dearly wants you to come back! Maybe you haven't even come to the Father at all. Now is the time! Jesus can always be found, when you seek Him, you will find Him. GO!

Be a John the Baptist

2011-09-23T21:04:00.000-04:00

In his book, "The Seeking Heart," Fenelon writes "I am inspired by John the Baptist who completely forgot himself that he might think only of Christ. He pointed to Christ with his whole life. What an example he sets before you!"
John the Baptist's ministry was all about preparing the way for Jesus. In almost any crowd, John the Baptist would be called unique. He wore odd clothes, ate strange food, and preached an unusual message. He would not have agreed with the habit we have of evaluating people by how the dress-or by how they act. He would have insisted that we listen to what he had to say. What John wanted to do more than anything was to obey God, and he wasn't afraid to ask others to do the same. John realized he had a special role to play in the world. His job was to tell the world that the Savior was about to arrive, and John was totally committed to this purpose. John's message still applies to us today, in that not only do we need to "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!" but we need to be like him in preparing the way for others to do the same. Maybe we should be more like the disciples and John the Baptist in our churches. Preparing the way instead of getting in the way, clearing the way instead of throwing more of the world in front of lost people. This is why we need to be different. Live our lives that shows that Jesus, not lives that point to ourselves or what we did, but what Jesus did in us. We can't blend in with the World, how will lost people find us if we blend in? In reading Matthew last night I came across this verse Matthew 21:31-32:

Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

We need to be showing people the right way to live. John was fleshing out Jesus, we need to flesh out Jesus. God does not guarantee and easy or safe life to those who serve Him. Jesus offended people with the truth of His Father. The Father showed them their sin, people don't want to hear they are sinners, or not good people. Doing what God desires is the greatest possible life investment. Life here on earth will be hard, but thank the Lord that for the Christian we aren't staying here long, great is our reward in Heaven. In the meantime standing for the TRUTH is more important than life itself. John 8:32 says, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." I know that to be true, and again as of recently.
What are some way you can clear and prepare the way so that people you encounter in your life will encounter Jesus? Are you standing out from the world? Are you telling the world about Jesus? Are you bearing fruit? Have you repented? The Kingdom of Heaven is near! Be a John the Baptist!

Living the Christian Life According to Spongebob

2011-09-22T12:47:00.001-04:00

Yesterday afternoon I watched an episode of Spongebob Squarepants, most of the time the show wears me out it's so dumb and annoying, but this particular interest caught my attention because it lined up so well with the way a Christian is deceived, but also how we should act. The character of Plankton was trying to teach Spongebob how to be assertive, he tries to manipulate SpongeBob into becoming aggressive and mean in order to get more out of life. SpongeBob discovers that just because people obey you they don’t necessarily respect you. Besides, it’s just more fun to be nice to people and have them like you. Watch this clip. http://spongebob.nick.com/videos/clip/walking-small-clip.html
In this clip Plankton is like Satan, he tempts us with good things to get our attention and get us interested. As Plankton is trying to teach Spongebob how to be assertive and get his way and the things he wants, Spongebob takes everything Plankton says the wrong way and ends up being nice to people anyway. At the end of the episode, Plankton is in the fetal position on the ground yelling I can't take so much kindness, I've have to leave.

So the lesson we can learn from Spongebob, for once is to watch out for Satan and his evil ways. Don't be tempted with the better things. Jesus always gives His children the best. Once Satan has you hooked he'll start reeling you in. That's why like a sponge too, we have to be absorbent of the Word of God and His truths. When we are not full of His Word, we dry up and we are not useful. Satan has to flee at the name if Jesus. He has to flee when we act like Christian people, He can't stand when we act like Jesus.

Be kind to one another, love one another, care for one another, pray for one another.

Lessons

2011-09-20T23:44:00.000-04:00

I remember several years ago, I was in 5th or 6th grade, I would play out in the woods till dark. One day I decided I that I would put a newly learned verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" to the test. I still had a childlike faith. So I picked up two sticks and started rubbing them together trying to start a fire because I was cold..and I was in the woods. I said that verse over and over and over and prayed and prayed. But no fire. It baffled me for days, weeks, and months, even years why God didn't come through, I had the faith, I was praying, I was saying scripture...then it occurred to me not long ago. I was in the woods, around houses. can you imagine the catastrophe had God allowed a fire to start? I was out there for hours rubbing those two sticks together, I even got my friends to start praying. I guess it's kind of a lesson. God sees catastrophe ahead when we don't. He knows what is best, He sees our faith, he answers our prayers. The lesson is this, God sees catastrophe ahead when we don't. He knows what is best, He sees our faith, he answers our prayers. I did so many stupid things that year thinking I was using my faith to benefit me best. There was a whole summer I spent building a raft out of scrap wood so I could float to the other side of a pond. I was sure that if Peter could walk on water and Jesus could walk on water I had enough faith it get out there on my raft that was full of holes. Thankfully, while getting the raft to the pond, it got stuck in a ditch and I never made it to the pond. Had I made it, I would have surely drowned. Also, being in the ditches of life aren't that bad, that is another lesson. We loose things in the ditch that need to stay in the ditch and not come back up with us.

Truth Relearned

2011-09-19T00:30:00.003-04:00

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:32

'You don't realize how much you miss the truth until it is presented to you again, and it penetrates your heart." These are the words I uttered today as I left church this morning. Where do I begin? Satan has absolutely attacked me all week from all sides. I feel like I've been through a war zone. But honestly, I feel like that is one of things we should be okay with, as long as He is attacking us, we are doing something he doesn't like. So if Satan hasn't attacked you in a while start worrying. Satan was going to make sure I didn't come to church this morning. People laugh when I say it's an accomplishment that I made it to church, but they do not realize how many sleepless nights I endure fighting Satan, and how many Sunday mornings too. Of all morning this morning my hair would not do right, my callic in my hair would not lay down of all days, it would be on Sunday. However, I was so excited to be going to church this morning worshiping with my family that 100 reasons couldn't keep me from going. I would show up in my night clothes if it came to it. There is nothing like your church family. I'm thankful for them, and it was such a blessing to worship the Lord again with them today. There is nothing like God's truth and power being preached to a dry and thirsty soul as mine has been.
Oh if I could explain and describe the joy and happiness that overflowed in me today. The happiness to be home. I go to an incredible Sunday School teacher, and class. I sing in an incredible choir, it's the sound of Heaven. I have a pastor who loves his church, who intermingles with his people and leads them to the truth. I serve a God who loves me, who is truth, He is everything. When we seek Him, we find Him. He is our Savior.
Seek Him today. Learn His ways. Learn His voice. Learn His discipline. Learn His love.

Addictions and Facebook

2011-09-16T00:14:00.000-04:00

"Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead- and Christ will give you light."
Ephesians 5:14

After reading a devotional that I get daily on my e-mail I read this comment from a fellow reader who was touched by the devotional. It was about finding no condemnation in ourselves because we belong to Jesus.

“Can’t express what this means to me today. I haven’t spent “be still” time with God for so long now; it used to be something I did every morning after waking up. Nowadays Facebook has taken the place of my time with Him. Today I felt Him asking gently, “Don’t get on Facebook, not yet.” So I sat propped up against my pillows & talked to Him from my heart about where my life is & how I thought I’d missed His leading in my life. I’ve made choices that I’m not proud of & I have weighed myself down with guilt & shame, but through it all I know He’s never left me. I felt lighter in spirit as I got up to get ready for work. A few minutes later, I heard the Word in my spirit “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Joy & peace flooded my soul! When I did eventually check Facebook & saw the devotional for today, I felt like I could fly! What a Love He has for us! Thank you!”

So many times a day many of us find that we condemn ourselves, and listen to the voices in our heads, and it’s because we are not spending that still quiet time with Jesus every morning. I speak for myself when I say the last I do when I go to bed is read my e-mail and chat on facebook, and the first thing I do when I wake up is reach for my computer to check my e-mail and my Facebook. It’s kinda lame. Facebook is just an addiction I cannot break for some strange reason. It’s really bad. I’ve tried doing Facebook fasts, I’ve tried deactivating my account, I’ve tried hiding my computer (brilliant idea since I know where I put it).
Every Tuesday night I go to my churches Addiction Ministry. I’m not ashamed to tell you. God has brought me a long way since being in this group. I have learned so much, and I am so thankful for the people who support me in prayer and love. I’m thankful for my adopted dad that got me involved and takes me every Tuesday night. I'm also thankful for my adopted mom who cooks a good meal on Tuesdays before we go. It’s life changing. At these meetings we learn what addictions specifically are and how we can break them. We just learn the Word of God, because that’s what our Hearts need, they are trying to get us set up for getting interested in God’s Word and how it transforms us. We then break up into groups, and we talk about what we learned and share what is on our hearts. We don’t sit in a circle and say, “Hi my name is Allison Baker and I’m a crack head.” Do some of us admit we have a problem? Yes. But the majority of the time, it takes a while for a person to open up about it.
The thing I want to run home for you tonight, and emphasize on is being in God’s Word. I challenge myself to read the Bible in 90 Days, right now I’m behind. Some days I can’t bring myself to read my Bible. I think about doing it all day, and I never do it. Then there are days when the Bible is all I am in. Here is why THE WORD is SO important to be in, and these are points that were made Tuesday that spoke to me.
1. If we are not sanctifying (set apart as or declare as holy) the Word of God in our lives we are opposing ourselves!
2. Addiction is the symptom. The real issue is idolatry.
3. What is in your life (or was there) that takes the place God is suppose to have?
4. When we keep returning to sin
Stop and think
Recognize it, and hate it!
Discern what is going on.
What do addictions look like? Some of these might surprise you. Addictions are not just limited too drugs and alcohol. Do you recognize any of these in you?

Alcohol, caffeine/sugar, compulsive behaviors such as: cleaning, dieting, lying, and exercise, credit cards, prescription medication, work, video games, TV, internet, facebook, talking, sports, shopping, gambling, male/female dependency.

In Isaiah 44 we see a story of a man who took his focus off of God, and set his heart on things that were not of God. But there is hope, because we read in the following verses that there is a redeemer who cleans us up and forgives us and loves us still. Oh what a Savior.
Isaiah 44:21-23

21 “Pay attention, O (Your Name Here),
for you are my servant, O (Your Name Here).
I, the LORD, made you,
and I will not forget you.
22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud.
I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist.
Oh, return to me,
for I have paid the price to set you free.”
23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done this wondrous thing.
Shout for joy, O depths of the earth!
Break into song,
O mountains and forests and every tree!
For the LORD has redeemed (Your Name Here)
and is glorified in (Your Name Here).

Here are some questions you can ask yourself, if you answer with anyone other than God, you need to check out who you are ultimately worshipping.
1. Who created me?
2. Whom do I ultimately trust?
3. To whom do I look for security and happiness?
4. To whom do I look for ultimate trust?
5. Who is in charge of my future?

So I have a proposition to those of you who are on facebook and feel like you might be on there too much, and it is cutting into your quite and still time with Jesus to do something with me. Starting Monday, September 19, 2011 I’m going to do a 40 day Facebook fast, and try to limit myself on e-mail. October 28, 2011 will be day 40. Sometimes all it takes is breaking the habit, and finding a social life outside of facebook, maybe.

Facebook is my crack. That might offend some people, but it’s reality. So visit the tab at the top labeled "40 Day Facebook Fast" for further information. Hope you will consider doing it with me.

Critical Monster

2011-09-15T15:23:00.000-04:00

I posted this last year, but this truth has rung true for me again and I felt like I needed to share it again.God is convicting me today, who is praying for me!! Oh my word. Wheew!
I realize that sometimes I am very critical of people, in the devotion for My Utmost For His Highest, "Beware of Criticizing Others." It's a pride problem; hubris. Uh-oh...so guilty. We all have expectations from people, and how the church should run. Lately, I've heard a lot of criticism about the church, and I will confess that I have taken part in nit picking and saying things about my church. But it's not right, at all. It's down right shameful and a disgrace to our Father. I never saw it as being judgmental though, but that is exactly what it is. Oswald Chambers says when we get that way, "It is impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical mood. Jesus’ instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, “Don’t.” The average Christian is the most piercingly critical individual known. Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of people, but in the spiritual realm nothing is accomplished by it. The effect of criticism is the dividing up of the strengths of the one being criticized. The Holy Spirit is the only one in the proper position to criticize, and He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical mood. Criticism serves to make you harsh, vindictive, and cruel, and leaves you with the soothing and flattering idea that you are somehow superior to others. Jesus says that as His disciple you should cultivate a temperament that is never critical. This will not happen quickly but must be developed over a span of time. You must constantly beware of anything that causes you to think of yourself as a superior person. What is more, There is no escaping the penetrating search of my life by Jesus. If I see the little speck in your eye, it means that I have a plank of timber in my own. Every wrong thing that I see in you, God finds in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself ." That really bites...yikes! Every last one of you reading this post is guilty of finding fault in others. But the difference is how we react to it. This is something that I have really been struggling with lately. My family had to remind me that sometimes we just have to put our spiritual blinders on to the things that we don't particularly agree with. We can't go looking for trouble. If something happens talk to someone, keep it in perspective. Don't blow things way out of proportion.
I was reading in Nehemiah 9:3 "The Book of the Law of the Lord their God was read to them for 3 hours. Then for three more hours they took turns confessing their sins and worshiping the Lord their God." I was very moved by this verse. Just last Thursday I was in church being preached too all day. I loved it! How cool to be in the presence of our brothers and sisters in Christ confessing to each other our shortcomings, and failures. I think we become more real to the other person when we can open up like that. All of a sudden we realize we don't have any place to criticize each other, but rather encourage and build each other up. Just like when we are together and study God's word in church, the alter call is meant for confession. Reading and studying God's word should precede confession because God can show us where we are sinning. I'm glad that once again I have been convicted of this, and for the people who pray for me. I am thankful that even though I act monsterous they still love me. So ya'll keep praying for me, and I'm praying for you!

How to Determine Your Calling

2011-09-14T10:40:00.000-04:00

When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we are instantly called into ministry. We read in Acts 1:8 "But when the Holy Spirit (what we receive when we are saved) has come upon you, YOU will receive POWER and will tell people about me everywhere." I recently heard a pastor put it this way, "Missions is that which we are. It's not an option." So we know that we are to share Jesus at all times, but how to we determine our exact calling and our exact ministry. We will quickly learn that Jesus wasn't joking with his disciples when He said leave everything you own and follow me. We have to at times exchange our comfort to be a blessing. It is part of the humbling experience. Humble your heart before the Lord.He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. ~ Psalm 25:9Humility is an absolute necessity for a teachable, moldable heart. To discover our calling, we must be willing to set our agendas aside and surrender to God's. We cannot have a predetermined plan and then invite God to complete our plan. We need to ask, "What are you calling me to do right where you have me?"It is in the things that make us miserable that we can make our ministry, we can be apart of making this misery not so miserable for someone else. We can create a solution, affect our culture. Examine your life experiences and current circumstances.And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to His purpose. ~ Romans 8:28God uses our life experiences (family, education, vocation, spiritual gifts, trials, etc.) to mold us, train us, and equip us. Sometimes the very things we want to hide - the horrible trials we want to forget - are the very things that God wants to use the most. We are afflicted. We suffer trials. We surrender and lean on God. When we do, we come out the other side victorious SO THAT Jesus Christ is manifest in us, and SO THAT God may be glorified. NOTHING is a mistake that happens in our lives. Nothing is worthless. Nothing is insignificant. Everything has value. God uses it all to mold us and shape us for our calling.Apply your gifts, talents and abilities.Gifts and abilities will give you the strongest indication of what your calling is because He will match your calling with your capabilities. He equips those He calls.In determining your calling, look at your gifts: What are you good at and what are you not good at? What gets you going…what brings out your passion? How do people respond when you act in your giftedness?We have to be able to put the WRONG influences and people out, and let the RIGHT ones in. I was recently challenged to name 5 people in my life that influence me. These 5 people act as voices, and determine my choices. Praise God, I could name 5 RIGHT people who influence and impact my life for the greater good. These people will help you take a stand against the enemies against God. Satan is alive and well, he is always plotting always looking to bring you down. I've recently been on a down headed in the complete wrong direction running from God and where He wanted me to be. I was angry, and Satan was happy. There is an enemy out out to destruct, and keep us from what God has planned for us to do in the ministry He has called us too. Satan does not want to see people come to Christ. It is so important that we Read, study and pray God's Word.As we seek God's calling on our lives, God will direct our steps, and He will confirm what He says. The most common way He does this is through His Word. He will direct, guide, lead us, and He will then confirm what He just directed. He can also use other avenues like pastors, friends, and Bible study to direct us or even things in the culture around us.It all comes down to the center of your being, your HEART. What do we put in our hearts? Do you have a hoarding heart like I wrote about in my last post? What do you need to let go of? Recognize the sin, and the lies from Satan. Only God's Word will show and expose the lie. Trust in God's timing and in His answer.God will lead you to do things that require you to TRUST in Him and in His timing. They will always be perfectly orchestrated and timed to display His honor and glory.If you are trying to decide between two decisions in your life, ask if one can be done easily and in my own strength? This is probably NOT the one He has planned for you and it certainly won't be the one that will bring HIM the most glory. The more you need God to do a task, the more you will need to rely on Him, and the more effective you will be. If you feel rushed, hurried, unorganized, anxious, and lack an inner peace, these are VERY BIG signs that you are not in His Will or it is NOT in His timing!!I just experienced all these signs this week in running from the ministry God wanted me in. I was miserable. He said, "Return to Me!"

Hoarder in my Heart, Joy in my Heart

2011-09-12T23:21:00.000-04:00

Tonight's post is simple, because God is simple and He speaks to us through things that are simple. Tonight my sister and I were watching Hoarders. We love that show because it makes up feel better about ourselves, if that makes sense. We were talking about the show, and other things that were bothering me. I told my sister, "You know, our hearts are like Hoarders." My sister and I never want to be a hoarder like we see in TV, but how many times do we not let things go in our heart? We all come to Jesus with messy hearts, and He cleans us up. Then we keep looking forward, and stop looking back trusting Jesus till the end. My adopted mom puts it this way, "We have to make up our minds to be delivered, and to have joy in our hearts." I pray today that what ever you are holding in you heart you will let Jesus take it and clean you up. We use a lot of energy when we relive offenses over and over, it leads us to bitterness. When we become grateful people for what Jesus has done for us, our gratitude sustains joy, and the Holy Spirit will allow you to relive and sustain that joy. Give it all to Him, clean out. Sleep peacefully tonight.

Object of My Affection

2011-09-09T22:24:00.000-04:00

"If Jesus was the only object of your affection you would be entirely concerned with Him alone." -FenelonWhen you really think about this quote it convicts you. What is the object of your affection? Who is the object of your affection? So many times we so easily come to fault with making the wrong things the object of our affection, in church especially. We end up committing Idolatry. The Websters dictionary defines Idolatry as this:Definition of IDOLATRY1: the worship of a physical object as a god2: immoderate attachment or devotion to something Pastors can even do this. We have to be really careful who and what becomes the object of our affection at church. It's easy for pastors to make ministry the object of their affection. Church members can easily begin to worship a pastor more than they worship God. In truth, every sin is an idol problem. We don't realize that we make other things the object of our affection, that's the scary part. We must constantly keep our thoughts fixed on God, and meditate on Him throughout the day, even at church. It can even be as simple as music, where we worship the music more than we do who we are singing about. When Jesus is the object of our affection it results in our focus being in the right place and Jesus becomes our Everything again. When was He not ever enough for us? Things that seem uncertain will be more certain when Jesus is leading us, when all of our focus is on Him. And what concerns us, health issues, work issues, church issues won't concern us as much anymore because we have found the peace of God, and the will of the Father in our lives because He is the center and object of who we are and live for. Many times we pray out of the will of God because we are concerned with ourselves and what we want, it becomes the object of our affection. There are times that when people say I'm praying for you, it makes me sick to my stomach to hear those words. I feel we use that word so loosely at times. What needs to change to where Jesus is the only object of your affection?

NewSpring Leadership Conference

2011-09-09T13:12:00.000-04:00

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.-Luke 12:48
Yesterday was a day of Jesus Immersion for me and few friends of mine. We traveled down to Anderson, SC for a leadership conference at NewSpring Church. Check out who was there preaching!

Perry Noble, Pastor of NewSpring Church, Anderson, SC

My Pastor, Steven Furtick, Elevation Church, Charlotte, NC

Pastor Craig Groeschel, lifechurch.tv, Edmond, OK

Pastor Andy Stanley, North Point Community Church, Atlanta, GA

Pastor Jud Wilhite, Central Christian Church, Las Vegas, NV

Pastor Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA

Pastor Judah Smith, The City Church, Seattle, WA

All these men are great men of God, they are, I believe, some of the best pastors in the world. I'll speak more in this in just a minute, but first I want to point something out about the verse above, Luke 12:48. This verse is about responsibility, it's about leadership. It has nothing to do with how much money you have been given, or anything like that. What have you been given? What are you doing about it? I have been given much, and I am doing much. At this leadership conference these pastors that I heard have been given much and entrusted with much, and they are doing much, and much more. They are reaching those that the traditional church wouldn't reach with 39 and 1/2 inch pole.

This brings me back to my life verse Romans 12:1-2, "1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." These men have continued to renew their mind and not stay in the formality of the traditional so that they will be able to take the calling God has put on their life so that God's perfect will would be fulfilled. What is God's will? 1. That when He gives people a task to do, they do it, and 2. The great commission, Go and Tell. The message is still the same, but the delivery has to change. That is what these great men have accomplished. There is nothing wrong with the traditional church, everyone is different. But, we have to understand that we all have the same goal, we are all preaching, we are all trying to reach people for Jesus.One of the core things we have to learn in our churches, whether traditional, modern...is that we have to make a difference, and not constantly try to get a point across to people. Often times when we make a point it pushes the people we are trying to reach away. We must earn the respect of people through compassion and love on people. No one can compete with our love and compassion. Christians are known as the most compassionate people, however, we can also be known for how we act and treat each other in the church. What kind of message does it send people when we fight and bicker and gossip and put each other down? Why would anyone want to be apart of that? I know we aren't perfect, and we do get on each others nerves at times. But we posses a different kind of love, and we have to tap into it everyday, it's the love of Jesus. These men have a passion to change the world, I have a passion to change the world, and I think everyone who was at this leadership conference has a passion to change the world. Jesus has put that passion inside of us. It was such a rich blessing to be spiritually renewed and Jesus Immersed yesterday. We were in session from 8:30-6:00, preaching all day, it's fantastic! And it was fun! Preaching doesn't have to be this serious thing, church should be a fun place, but not in the way of programs and activities. Was Jesus always serious? No. I will post more about this conference and things I learned, and other things I have outlined about the kind of theology we hold. For now, think on this. Plan to go next year! Start saving your pennies!

The Ministry of Listening, The Power of Listening

2011-09-05T17:04:00.000-04:00

"Be silent, and know that I am God!" -Psalm 46:10

Most of you know that I am a very quiet person, maybe not so much when I'm hanging with my friends, but over all I am a very quiet person. Some people may see my quietness as a weakness, or that I'm stuck up and snobbish, and at times it does bother me that I don't always know what to say, or have the ability to just strike up a conversation. However, I've come to the conclusion many times in my life that there are just no words in certain situations, and all you can really do it sit in the presence of God, silent, allowing Him to speak His ministering words to you. It is a gift to be able to be quiet, many people struggle with holding their tongue, and watching what they say. Even in the Bible we see that Peter had this exact problem. My pastors wife, Mrs. Holly Furtick, preached on Peter and this weakness of his this past weekend. He said the wrong thing at the wrong time. I know a lot of people who talk to much, there is a limit to my tolerance level for this. But I just smile politely and listen. We all need someone to listen to us. Listening is ministry in itself...in it comes great power. I have both listened and talked to people about problems, and their listening made a huge difference in my life, and saved my life, literally. My weakness of being quiet, is actually a strength that is under control. When we are quiet, it is then that God will clear the path at just the right time for you to say the right thing. James 1:19-26 is the perfect passage to use on the points I want to make.James warns us in verse 19 to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Listening leads to obedience; obedience happens by listening. How do you know what God wants you to do if you are never quiet enough to listen for His voice? When we obey from listening, God blesses us. (v. 23-25) Learning comes from listening. I have sat alone in the silence of the Lord's discipline, but in the stillness and silence at His feet I have learned His voice, and that His ways are better than mine. I have learned that even in what seems to be the darkest night, His hand is with me. I have learned that I am in the right position prostrate at the feet of Jesus. I know personally for me I learn so much by just listening to conversations. When we learn and listen to people and study them we can better minister to them.It is said by one of the great philosophers,Epictetus, "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak." God always has purpose in His creation, and how He created it.In closing, meditate on the song below, listen closely to the lyrics on this rainy labor day. Find someone who you can listen to this week, someone who needs a listening ear. You may be quiet just like me, or you might have the gift of having the right words to say, but always remember that Jesus is always the right word to say. The name of Jesus in itself is peace, and comfort.

KA-BOOOOMMMMMMMM!!

2011-09-04T21:14:00.001-04:00

"IN THE beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth. By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible."-Genesis 1:1, Hebrews 11:3 Amplified BibleToday I went to Wal-Mart of the glow in the dark stars that you can put in your room and at night when you turn the lights out, the stars will glow. Since I was a little girl, I have loved these glow in the dark stars. After finding them, they were a little more than I thought they would be. Other than that, I turned the package over to read this....

"THE BIG BAG THEORY" Millions of billions of years. There is so much wrong with that. So we'll just start with the star factor. Can I tell you something really easy to understand? The Big Bang didn't happen, just like when I open this package of stars they aren't going to hang themselves, they need a hanger; someone to hang them. You dig? Stars have such significance in the Bible too. Do you really think a "big bang" could set the world in motion and create such magnificence? Are you really going to fall for that? KABOOM! Onomatopoeia. To say the least I was very ashamed to buy this package of stars supporting the Big Bang Theory. I both wanted to laugh out loud and cry upon reading the back of this star package, then I wanted to preach a sermon, so that's why I'm writing this on my blog. The problem with millions of billions of years is this: If you believe in millions and billions of years you have to believe in life before Adam and Eve i.e. neanderthals, and monkeys becoming men...however that works. So upon believing that you then have sin in the world because there is already life apart from God, neanderthals are killing for food, so you have murder. When God created he said it was very good, therefore in believing in millions and billions of years undermines the Bible's teaching on death, and on the character of God. (For more on this visit www.answersingenesis.org)Now, back to stars. What does the Bible say about stars? The Bible does make a surprising number of references to signs in the heavens. Both Old and New Testaments assume that what happens up there matters. If we are interested in following the counsel of the Bible, we must hold a distinction in mind. Astrology assumes that stars are causes of earthly events. The Bible assumes that they can be messages about earthly events. It may be useful to think of this as a thermometer distinction. A thermometer can tell you if it's hot or cold, but it can't make you hot or cold. There is a big difference between a sign and an active agent. This is the difference between "astrology" and what the Bible holds forth.Several striking passages on this issue were written by David. David is a towering Biblical figure. A fierce warrior, a revered king who was himself deeply reverent. Highly intelligent and wonderfully poetic, he wrote much of the Book of Psalms and some of the most beautiful passages of scripture. Among these is Psalm 19, where David extols God's handiwork in the stars. But he doesn't only extol, he tells us that the stars bear a message. Watch his choice of verbs....

1 ...The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world...

David chose verb after verb which says that the stars communicate. An intriguing passage. But isn't it just poetry? Isn't David just speaking with a poet's elegant symbolism? The apostle Paul didn't think so. In The Book of Romans, Chapter 10, Paul is addressing the question: had the Jews of Christ's day heard that Messiah had come? He answers the question by saying that of course they had heard. He then quotes David to make his point!

17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they [the Jews] not hear? Of course they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

Note the structure of Paul's argument. Paul is taking the position that something has happened in the stars which indicated to the Jews of his time that the Messiah had come. As we shall see, the apostle Peter elsewhere forcefully makes the same argument. Of course, this argument has exactly no force unless something had happened in the stars. The fact that both men employed this line of reasoning shows they are making the same assumption. They assumed that their listeners were aware of celestial phenomena associated with Christ. It's our quest to determine what those phenomena were. (For more information about stars and Jesus visit www.bethlehemstar.net) What's more, what about the star that showed the Wise Men the way to Jesus? Did it just go KaBOOM! too? Stars, and the universe and creations is so much more than just a Bang. The only thing I can agree on with the Big Bang Theory is this: God said it, and BANG, KABOOM it happened. :)Well talk more about Creation later. Let this sink in.

Shadows at Midnight

2011-09-01T17:29:00.000-04:00

"But you are a chosen people [son, daughter], a royal priesthood, a holy nation [son, daughter], God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." -1 Peter 2:9Last night and into this morning, I was faced with a lot of doubting thoughts. Am I denying myself things I need? Have I really been deceiving myself? Have I been burying myself so deep in my work and things I do to avoid hurts and sorrows? Is God really not enough for me? These thoughts were not easy to think, were they true? But gosh, I think about all the songs we sing about our Savior, and think of all He has brought me through. Why would I want to feel the pain? Have I not thought about it enough? There is no where I would rather be than hiding in Jesus and His work and ministry. Am I wrong for that? Is He really not the answer? What can man do for me? I'd Rather have Jesus than anything. Are things ever going to stop bothering me? I don't know. I do know that God is truth, and He is my everything regardless of what people might say or observe. He is, as my sister said this morning, "Jesus...my Healer, my Hope, my Strength, my God, my Joy, my Peace, my Rock, my Fortress, my Shield, my Portion, my Deliverer, my Refuge, my All in All, my King, my Everything, my Comfort, my Help, my Redeemer, my Friend, my Savior, my Salvation...there aren't enough words to describe Him..." The shadow of doubt surrounded me. But do you know why it did? Because I turned away from the light. I started thinking about what I can do to fix myself, what am I going to do, how am I going to do it? What about this, that? What if this? It stressed me out ya'll! When we cast the shadow of doubt in our minds we then block the light of God's truth in our hearts. I needed to turn back toward the light. You see, we were created to live in the Light, by focusing in what God thinks about us. Jesus is the light of the world. (John 8:12) "Whoever FOLLOWS me will never walk in darkness." Am I a messed up person? Yeah. Since I was born, and thank the Lord for people who have been patient with me my whole life. However, when we FOLLOW Jesus closely in our thoughts, we find our confidence in Him. As we shift the focus from our feelings of inadequacy, and feelings in general, and all the crap we possess as human beings, and things we have been through, when we shift them to His promises of all-sufficiency, we can exchange our lack of self-confidence with lasting God-confidence. In doing so our lives become a witness. Call me crazy all you want, if you aren't a Christian you can't understand this. You've got to want it bad, and I want it bad so Jesus is the Answer to my mystifying life everyday. He understands me better than even I understand myself. I don't know why I do the things I do, or think the things I do, or have experienced the things I have, but I can tell you it's apart of a plan, and God is at the center of that plan, so why not trust the plan maker? Why not? God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. (C.S. Lewis). God allows us to experience the hardest times so we can say for HIS glory, "God is faithful, and his promises are true." Feelings will always change, there is no absolute, truth is absolute, never changing, that is our God; truth is truth, it never changes.When you feel inadequate, remember you are chosen (Isaiah 43:10)When you feel unstable or unable, God says you ARE able. (Habakkuk 3:19)When you feel unworthy, remember you are Loved by the King! (Isaiah 43:4)

Grace

2011-08-29T22:37:00.002-04:00

"You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out He hates all of the same people you do." -Anne Lamott

God has been teaching me a lot about grace especially in the past week reading through the Bible in 90 days again. Many times in my life I feel like when another "Christian" if that is really what they are treats me so bad I wish God's wrath on them, but they too remain his Children covered by his grace and mercy and blood. I guess that's why he commands that we love and pray for those who hurt us because we are just as guilty as the people who offend us. I read things in the Bible and I don't understand how God can be "okay" with what just happened, such as Jacob stealing Esau's birthright and blessing. Esau got mad! He wanted to kill Jacob. But aren't we all Esau? We don't understand how God can still love that person because we sure don't at the moment. But that isn't God's character, and aren't you glad?! What is essentially comes down to is viewing each other as siblings. Do siblings fight? Yes! But we make up and get on with life, we are each others keeper.
Here is how a Christian brother of mine put it, when Jesus is the focus of a church and when God is blessing and growing His kingdom through and in that church there is little time for the members to belittle and attack others in the body of Christ, especially from the pulpit. As Christians, as children of God, we should view on another as siblings. To be quick to defend one another, to feel free to disagree but never disown, tear down, or criticize each other out of envy, anger, or simple misinformation. Godly accountability, and church disciplines are all designed to be executed out of love and are surely lacking in today's church. However, too often what is not lacking is dishonor, pride, and envy. May the Holy Spirit convict us all of our shameful attacks on our spiritual brothers and sisters.

The Importance of Christian Knowledge

2011-08-29T20:40:00.003-04:00

"And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it." -1 Peter 3:15

According to Charles Malik says we as Christians face two tasks in our evangelism, and that is, "saving the soul and saving the mind." In other words converting people not only spiritually but intellectually. The church is lagging dangerously behind in the part of being intellectual. In 1980 Mr. Malik rose to the podium to deliver the inaugural address at the dedication of the new Billy Graham Center on the campus of Wheaton College. In his speech he stated the following:

I must be frank with you: the greatest danger confronting American evangelical Christianity is the danger of anti-intellectualism. The mind in its greatest and deepest reaches is not cared for enough. But intellectual nurture cannot take place apart from profound immersion for a period of years in the history of thought and the spirit. People who are in a hurry to get out of the university and start earning money or serving the church or preaching the gospel have not idea of the infinite value of spending years of leisure conversing with the greatest minds and souls of the past, ripening and sharpening and enlarging their powers of thinking. The result is that the arena of creative thinking is vacated and abdicated to the enemy. Who among evangelicals can stand up to the great secular scholars on their own terms of scholarship? Who among evangelical scholars is quoted as a normative source by the greatest secular authorities on history of philosophy or psychology or sociology or politics? Does the evangelical mode of thinking have the slightest chance of becoming the dominate mode in the great universities of Europe and America that stamp our entire civilization with their spirit and ideas? For the sake of greater effectiveness in witnessing to Jesus Christ, as well as for their own sakes, evangelicals cannot afford to keep on living on the periphery of responsible intellectual existence.

Our churches are unfortunately overly populated with people whose minds, as Christians, are going to waste. As Malik observed, they may be spiritually regenerate, but their minds have not been converted; they still think like nonbelievers. What will be the theological understanding, the evangelistic courage, the cultural penetration of such a church? What is being read by Christians? Self-help books filled with slogans, simplistic moralizing, lots of stories and pictures, and inadequate diagnoses of the problems facing the reader. What is NOT being read are books that equip people to develop a well-reasoned, theological understanding of the Christian faith and to assume their role in the broader work of the Kingdom of God. Among these books include the Bible. 74% of American Adults claim to be Christians, however only 14% read the Bible.
Theology is the very core of what is means to be Christians who are committed to joining the mission of God. Exploring our beliefs and how we form them isn't just important for a personal relationship with God but also for the way we explain God to others. Theology is the literally the study of God, and it is worth of study and careful reflection. All theology serves the mission of God. It is the reason why we do theology. So what is it going to take to become a generation who is not illiterate especially in Christianity? It affects the mission of the church, because the mission of the church is to spread the gospel, but is the gospel simply a message about how to get to Heaven? Or does it also hold a message for the here and now that radically changes how we should live? We can't live an authentic Christian life without the knowledge of theology, or knowledge of the Bible. We have no excuse for being illiterate, look at where we live! America! Even though our economy sucks, and we have disgraced God in every way, shape, and form, we have access to a whole Bible, we have internet, we have books of all kinds, we have prominent schools, we have churches on every corner. So what's the problem?

Prison Ministry

2011-08-28T20:52:00.002-04:00

This whole weekend I have been in Columbia, SC on the mission field in prisons. Satan wants you to think that it's going to be scary and something bad might happen, but can I tell you, the only thing bad happening when Satan is telling you that, is Satan! Satan will kill you quicker than the mafia. At first I was excited, but I was also apprehensive because I was kind of by myself. My adopted dad was going to be there, but he wasn't in any of my groups, and I just wasn't sure. He (adopted dad) has been on me about this for at least a year now, and praise God I finally was able to go, and I'm addicted to it. I must also add and tell you what a special person my adopted dad is, especially in the basis of this ministry. He and his wife adopted me into their family last summer, and I was cool with that, and I do love them both. Pretty soon he had me plugged into our churches Addiction Ministry which he also serves in. As I have been going to these meetings I have learned so much, I have grown so much in my walk with Christ, and have been able to overcome a lot of "addictions" somewhat, but not only that apply a lot of the life skill teachings to my life. He has been such an encouragement to my life, he has set me straight in most situations, and has listened to my every problem. The Lord puts people like my adopted dad into our path so that we might experience life more abundantly and have opportunities such as experienced this weekend. You also meet new people, it's funny as people meet me they want to adopt me. I'm just surrounded by words of life, love, and hope, but most importantly other people who love Jesus like I do and who will help me come to know him better.
I am so glad I was able to go on this trip and experience all the worship services I did. I dare say that the church meetings in prison are more alive than many of our churches outside the prison walls. These inmates aren't stupid, they know the Word, they know Jesus and what an honor and privilege to to be in there with them for a short time loving on them, praying over them, encouraging them, and speaking words of life over them. I cannot hardly describe what I have witnessed this weekend. It has touched my heart so deeply. Everyone should experience this just once, it will change your life and inspire you. The best one was this morning, we were in a maximum security center for girls and women. Again, just so many tears. There were probably about 50-70 women in the gym where they meet for church on Sunday. We started out singing God is good all the time, Bless the Lord at all times. So often we forget that Jesus too is with our Christian brothers and sisters who are locked up, He loves them just as He loves me. God was there, and there was such peace. I was so honored to be there, and worship with those who are really persecuted. Can you imagine being a Christian in prison? Do you know how made fun of they are? I looked across the room and the only word that would come to mind was, "Beautiful." Every single one. I kept thinking of these verses:

1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles[a] or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved."

Romans 13:11-13
"This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see."

Romans 15:20
"My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else."

Matthew 9:12-13
"When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’[a] For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

We were there for them. We were there to preach Jesus and His saving power, and His saving grace, and His blood that will cover their sins. I don't know what they were in for, but I do know that "no sin is so deep that he is not deeper still." (Corrie Ten Boom) His blood saved a wretch like me, and his blood reaches the murderer, his blood reaches the child abuser, the sex offenders, the crack heads, the stealer's..etc. etc. But it is also about Repentance, allowing God to cover that sin with his blood. The other day I said a really bad word, a word I have no business saying but it just flew out of my mouth, then I got this image. I got this image of my Saviors blood covering that nasty word that fell from the same mouth that praises Him, and it broke my heart, and I thought, "God, your blood is too precious for it to be covering such a sin." I was so ashamed, but that is the power of His blood, and that is why the cross was so painful because every sin was laid on Jesus.
Oh Christians that we would become more determined in who we share Jesus with, that we would be more serious about our relationship with Jesus. That we wouldn't take anything for granted. I saw girls in the facility that were my age this morning, do you know how heart wrenching that was? That could have easily been me had it not been for the grace of God, Praise God!
We are going again in December, and I pray, pray, PRAY that I can go again. What a blessing! Pray for Safer Communities, and for the leaders in Columbia that we would continue to have access to these facilities in sharing Jesus. Satan was attacking every one of us. But our mission was accomplished until December.

New Life Event with Safer Communities- Midlands

2011-08-27T08:49:00.004-04:00

We arrived in Columbia, SC about 3:00, and we checked into our hotel. My room consists of a king sized bed, and a flat screen TV! That is luxury! It is my prayer that this weekend will be a weekend of spiritual growth.
Last night the service I was in is called Midlands which is a Juvenile Detention Center for boys ages 11-17. I had been to the Midlands before with Student Worship from FBCIT, and had experienced all that goes on there. However, tonight was different, in that in was more one on one with the boys, and more in the real side of things. I was not with a bunch of students trying to get them in order and participating, and all being a leader there involves, don't get me wrong though, I love all of those kids, and I am grateful for every opportunity I have to be a leader among them, and a friend. On this trip I am what they call a prayer warrior. I'm always praying, I pray over where we are going, I prayed over chairs last night that these boys would be sitting in. I prayed that they would receive and hear the Word, that they would become the men God wants them to be.
19 boys were there in attendance, and all received Bibles. I looked at their faces and focused in on one and prayed specifically for him the whole service. He stood out to me he was serious about this, he sat on the edge of his seat hanging on to every word, listening intently. You could see conviction fall on each face. What precious boys, I wanted to hug them all, because I saw such potential in every one of them. Of the 19 boys 12-14 were saved last night. I wish you could have been in the room, and saw how hands flew up, and how they wanted to make sure we saw them, there are no words to describe that moment. Tears weld up in my eyes. God allowed me to pray with 3 of them for their needs and just join in praising God with them. I wrote their names on my hand, so I could copy them in my Bible and continue to pray for them. But you know that's exactly what our Father does, He writes our name on His hand, and He loves us so much. The boy I was praying for specifically did receive Christ and thanked everyone on the team for coming, he was so humbled and grateful. Many times what these boys need, and people like them just need the ministry of personal touch, when I prayed with these boys I held their hand, and put my other hand on their shoulder drawing them in almost like a hug. But it wasn't me, it was Jesus hugging them, and Jesus holding their hand, I was just the vessel. We read a lot in the Bible about the personal touch of Jesus. Did Jesus need to touch people to heal them? Of course not, all he had to do was speak and it was done. Jesus knew we as humans need affection, and a personal touch from the Lord.
The music, "Christ Song" was there ministering as well. What a ministry they have been to me personally. You can visit there website at www.christsongministry.org
The leader of the group, Bobby McGee has quite a powerful story.
I'm looking forward to seeing what today holds. Continue to pray for the whole team here in Columbia, pray for Safer Communities which is based out of Monroe, NC helping people with addictions to prisoners.

Why, God?

2011-08-24T21:47:00.002-04:00

When I lived in Wilmington, things were going pretty well. We all bump along in life, but some of the bumps make you sick and nauseous and ready to get off this ride of life. I loved Wilmington, I had friends, I loved my church, I was playing in worship band using my talents for God, I had a job, I had a bank account with a little money, I had plans. However, when you are a preachers kid things don't go as planned, EVER. We had to move away to Charlotte. You all know my testimony. I kept asking God why. I was pretty happy. Since I have lived in Charlotte, it's been a very hard journey, things haven't been easy or like they were in Wilmington. I've not worked much with the economy being the way it is, my bank account was closed, just various things along the way that make me say, "I wish I were still in Wilmington." But then I stop and think, and get out of the emotional moment and think about all the blessings God has given since living here in Charlotte. I think of all the wonderful friendships I have, I think of the wonderful churches I belong to, and the mission trips I've been able to go on. I think of my college experience and my instructors who have become such great mentors and friends in my life. I think of the life changing experience I had last semester specifically in my theatre class. Everything builds on each other. And while, no, Charlotte isn't Wilmington, it is part of my life story. I have grown so much in my walk with Jesus. I have been challenged with His word. God has taken me deeper, and how shown me the way of the cross through these heartaches and trials. Fenelon wrote that we should let the ups and downs of our spiritual lives come and go. If we were always down, we would become hard hearted and discouraged. However, there are seasons where God lets us catch our breath. It's all about dying to ourselves. When I get out of the way, and submit and yield to the will of God, I will still suffer, but I will know that God has me right where he wants me and will take care of me, and provide my every need. We tend to forget the faithfulness of God. He is faithful.
I would not be who I am today had I not been through what I have. We have to be broken people before God can fix us the way he wants us to look. But even more than that, we have to be willing to let him fix us; be fully surrendered.

The Tree of Life in The Garden of Eden

2011-08-24T13:13:00.002-04:00

So as of Monday, I am reading through the Bible in 90 days again. I think I will make this a yearly thing. Monday evening as I started reading in Genesis, I picked up on things that I had somewhat missed in all my years of reading the Bible. As many people have stressed in my life, you are never done learning about the Bible, and God and His divineness, and supernaturalness. Hebrews tells us that the Word is alive and active! That in meaning there is always something to learn. So here is what I learned Monday night through my tired eyes.
There were 2 trees placed in the center of the Garden of Eden. One was called, The Tree of Life, and the other, The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. You see, when Satan tempted Eve, he asked, "Can you eat from all these trees?" Eve replied, we can eat from them all but the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God didn't exclude the tree of Life. Only after Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil did God say, we (meaning He and Jesus, The trinity) must banish them from this garden because the they had access to the tree of life, meaning we would live forever in the knowledge of good and evil. That was not God's plan, because up until the moment that Adam and Eve sinned everything that God had created was perfect. God was walking in the Garden with Adam and Eve. When they knew they had sinned. They felt shame in their nakedness, and covered themselves with fig leaves, and lets get real ya'll fig leaves is not the best idea man had to cover themselves, uumm do you think fig leaves give you a rash maybe? I think so. Adam and Eve heard God walking in the Garden, and they hid because they were naked, why hide, didn't God see them naked all this time? (Just a thought, haha). God had to set things right, he made better clothes for them, but when he banished them from the Garden he did it for the purpose that they would not eat of the tree of life. God has always wanted to be with us in a perfect world. Had they eaten from the tree of life, we would have lived forever in sin. It is then that we see the first picture of salvation, when God gives Adam and Eve animal skins to cover up their "sin", and thus our need for Jesus, and why we read all in the Old Testament the need of animal sacrifices and bloodshed. That is why Jesus came, to pay a debt that we could never pay, but mercy set all of us free, Jesus suffered that we may be whole and out of the very grip of death. We live forever through Him. No one is higher, no one is greater, and no name is sweeter than the name of Jesus. He is the hope of glory for our souls. Let Him fill you with life and hope today.

Why does the Church Exist in the World?

2011-08-21T20:31:00.002-04:00

The world stands on the brink of disaster. Its need for the church is more evident than in more optimistic times. Christians know the Lord has called them out from the world to send them on an urgent mission. But many are confused as to the precise nature of their task. Is it social work or evangelism, or both?
I read in the Charlotte Disturber this morning. Apart from the murders, rapes, missing persons, and Britney Spears coming to town, I was disturbed yet again by a church news article. Right smack on the front headlines "Churches putting out the diversity worship mat. Their mission: Comeback of the neighborhood church." So why did this disturb me? Well, you should read the article. There were a few things in the article that bothered me. It's been my prayer that would not allow me to get stuck in my ways at church. To not get upset when I don't get to sit where I want, to bear with music, and other such things. One thing that we MUST learn as Christians is that the church doesn't not exist only for us. We are not the center of attention, it's not all about us at all. If you were to visit my church, you will learn after a while that in our "Code" that we need your seat. "We will not cater to personal preference in our mission to reach this city. We are more concerned wit hthe people we are trying to reach than the people we are trying to keep." It's not about us as Christians, we know the truth. Here are some power verses for you:

1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles[a] or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved."

Romans 13:11-13
"This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see."

Romans 15:20
"My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else."

Matthew 9:12-13
"When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’[a] For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

We as Christians have been placed in this world for one reason, and that is to evangelize to a lost world the Good News and truth of Jesus Christ. The attitudes that accompany evangelistic discourse are: boasting in Jesus, being a servant, loving, obligated, and graciousness. His Word is not bound by format. Our mission is exactly what my pastor, Steven Furtick preached on this weekend. We point the way, and clear the path! We point others we encounter to Jesus, not programs or people. As a result of this action we see changed lives because we told people about Jesus. The church, the body of Christ contains Christ, that's why we are called the body of Christ, and that's why it is SSSOO important that we bring people to Jesus. Because when Jesus sees people like me, he doesn't call me because he knows my past, or what I'm going to do to disappoint him, he calls according to the potential he sees in us, and creates in us.
Who do we reach? From the least to the greatest, cultures of all kinds, educated and uneducated. Where is the good news heard? All nations! to the ends of the Earth! wherever you are, where His name has never been heard. The people responsible to this is you, it's me. When we become filled with the Holy Spirit, you will receive power to go and preach the Word!
I'm not saying that Christians don't need the church, and should never go back because they already know Jesus. But we shouldn't become so possessive and unwilling to change, just hanging in our cliques...it's a problem in many churches. Really, many discerning people have become disenchanted with the institutional church. However, Christians need the church as a vital agency through which to express their love for God and each other and to fulfill sharable objectives such as: The Church....
1. publicly baptizes the believer portraying the action Jesus taught and showed.
2. provides for the believers lifelong learning of apostolic doctrine.
3. stimulates loving fellowship with other on the basis of common faith in Jesus Christ, not educational, racial or social status.
4. supplies a responsible taking of the Lord's Supper, identifying with the crucified and risen Lord.
5. encourages the believer's participation in united prayer.
6. trains each member in the use of his spiritual gifts for the benefit of all members.

I think the key ingredient we MUST possess as a church and body of believers is love. Jesus couldn't stress it enough. Love, Love, Love! All you need is love, Love is all you need! (Who sang that?) Love your neighbor as yourself. What was that whole article about in the Charlotte Observer?! The comeback of the neighborhood church! Love your neighbors, reach out to your neighbors. We have a real problem with that in the church at times. We let things, mess, Satan, get in our relationships and destroy them. We need to always love each other. My Aunt tells me, it doesn't matter if you don't like them, but you have to love them. I can't love with Allison love, I must love with Jesus love. It's the Jesus love that allows me to love all people, and it bothers some, but it's okay. I'd rather bother you with love, than with hate.
If you are not involved in your church, start being a servant. No sense in sitting in your seat bored. Contribute to the work that has to be done, be the reason the church exists in the World.

Die Daily

2011-08-16T20:50:00.002-04:00

Fenelon wrote in one of his letters that, many think "dying to themselves" is what causes them so much pain. However, in actuality, because part of you still lives is what causes the problem. Let all that is not born of God with you die. Learn to accept your weaknesses, and see who you are so that God can heal you. If we die a little bit everyday of our life, how completely will these daily deaths destroy the power of your final dying. Essentially, when we die to ourselves daily, daily God will fill us with His peace, because God is peace-even the heaviest cross must be carried in peace.
Do not resist dying to yourself. Volunteer for your own death, God heads straight for that which we are most reluctant to give up. He seeks to destroy your old nature, and it does hurt, but remember that pain is only felt where there is life. He takes away so that He might be your supply. He owns it all.

A few thoughts I've been having over the last few days has been based on music, hymns, things of that nature, of course. When we sing about dying our minds tend to wonder toward a physical death, but how about we change that? Maybe next time we sing about death, we sing about the death we must die everyday and run to Jesus!! Here are just a few songs I've been thinking of specifically to this thought:
Chris Rice' song: Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye,
Go in peace and laugh on Glory's side...and
Fly to Jesus,
Fly to Jesus,
Fly to Jesus and live!

When we are buried in baptism, that is the final heartbeat of ourselves, we are kissing all the things of this world goodbye and fixing our eyes on our Savior and running to Him! He is our peace!

Fernando Ortega: Give Me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus

Again when I am pulled out of that baptismal water I am buried in Christ and risen to new life, you run to Jesus.

You get the picture?

We must die daily, and nothing we do, it's all Jesus transforming us, we just have to let Him and not resist.

Another thought has been people who want to take their lives, suicide. They aren't all to wrong that they need to die, just not in the manner that they are thinking. Something is missing from their lives, and they aren't happy with themselves, they need Jesus. I know that's pretty graphic, welcome to my mind.

Think on these things.

While You Were Sleeping

2011-08-14T01:35:00.003-04:00

Last Friday as I was visiting my Grandmama in Kingsport, TN, I got up and got the paper from the porch. I did not know that the Kingsport Times News would contain such an article that would leave me sleepless as tonight, and somewhat of a haunting thought that the future of our churches are diminishing. What a shame! Here are some quick facts I'd like to share with you that I read in this article which by the way this is from a Methodist standpoint, an article based on Methodist church interview:

-In the next five to ten years, 1/3 of all churches across all denominations will close.

-In the last 10 years in the United Methodist Kingsport district, membership, and numbers of professions of faith and attendance all have declined and 8 United Methodist churches have closed.

-Statistics say that 74% of people in Sullivan Co. don't attend church on Sunday morning. The population of Kingsport according to a 2010 census was 156,823.

Stunning. Heartbreaking.
The article goes on to explain that, the district superintendent of the United Methodist church is stepping up, because these statistics too bother him as they do me. He and a team of leaders are launching its first new congregation in 60 years!!!!! May I emphasize 60 years. What is going on? They hope to solve the problem of people not coming to church on Sunday morning and adding a Saturday night service. There is nothing wrong with that, my church offers that, but they are looking at it the wrong way. You see, people stay away from church because of CHURCH! Until, you the Christian become the change you want to see, there ain't gonna be change. It doesn't matter what you do to try to attract people, if you aren't real, they're not coming. We fire our pastors, a save our seats, we speak only to those we know. What's not to love about church? I can say all this stuff too, I'm a Preachers Kid. I'm tired of hearing these kinds of statistics. Do we really make our guests feel welcome? Do we make them feel comfortable? It's embarrassing. We've taken our eyes off Jesus, and we've put them on ourselves. If our eyes were on Jesus we would be carrying out His great commission to GO and TELL! Not huddle in your church building and fight, throw your preacher out, decide what the color of the carpet is going to be, etc. etc. It's sad when a church closes it's doors, but sadly a lot of churches are started in vain and defiance. It's not started to reach people, it's started to accommodate opinions. But God doesn't care about our opinions, He instead commands for His children to obey Him. Do we obey Him? Look at Matthew 7:13-21

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually obey my Father in heaven will enter.

Don't miss what God has commanded us to do. Don't allow Satan to take over our churches. Stand up Christian! Be a light in this world! Stand for what is right, point people to the cross. Forget all denominational boundaries, God doesn't see those. All He sees is the blood of His son being poured over our sinful mistakes. Don't miss Jesus. Wake up Christians! We've slept far to long in our church buildings! Wake up and don't allow another day, hour, or minute to pass without you telling someone that there is hope in this world.

The Seeking Heart

2011-08-13T00:15:00.003-04:00

A few weekends ago my Aunt Linda gave me a book called, "The Seeking Heart" it is a book compiled of letters written by a Frenchman by the name of Fenelon. His name has stood for spiritual depth and insight for 300 years. Seeking Christians throughout the years have turned to his writings for their quest of a deeper walk with Christ. This book is not for baby Christians, it is for people who have been walking with the Lord for quite sometime. My Aunt felt like I was ready for it. His works are challenging, they are for the devout and understanding Christian.
It is my prayer that I would always have a seeking heart after my Father, and creator. And not just seek with my heart, but seek HIS HEART. We can always trust His heart when we don't understand things, or trace His hand in things.
So I pray that if you already are not, that you will seek God. That you will allow Him to soften your heart, and that you will humble yourself to a place where God can began to mold you and craft you into the person He wants for you to be. It's going to be challenging and hard, but seek His heart with your whole heart.

Beautiful

2011-08-12T23:10:00.002-04:00

Tonight I went to a thing at my church Elevation where the guys were honoring the girls. It was so refreshing to see. Car doors were being opened, cars valeted, being waited on, a sweet hand written note, decorations, being ushered to our seats! They told us we were beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, pretty, fantastic....It was fantastic! They honored us by speaking life into us. On top of it all, we were all dressed up! We also had our pictures taken all dressed up. However, I skipped that because 1 I was by myself, 2 I felt ugly and fat and 3 girls were driving me crazy...just sayin ya'll. I never went to prom, I've never really dated, so tonight was some what special in that though it wasn't really a "date" thing I felt like I was being treated as if I were on a date. I don't remember ever being honored in that manner by a guy. I can't tell you if a man as ever respectfully told me I was beautiful. A lot has to do with my self image, I've ALWAYS ALWAYS struggled with my outlook about myself. This will shock many but I have always wanted to be somewhat sophisticated, and elegant, I love women who are that and I want to be like them so bad. But I need help getting in touch with my feminine side...that might include not watching smack down any more I don't know. I've always wanted to learn how to ball room dance.
It's somewhat hard for me to know what to do and how to function in a relationship with a guy because I don't know. My experience with men has not been so great in the past, but I know that God the perfect mate for me out there, and I even prayed that tonight that I would meet him, or that he would continue to prepare my heart for meeting that special someone he has for me.
I bought a book written by the speaker that spoke tonight. It's called "12 Questions you Ask Before you Get Married." I am looking forward to reading this and am going to make my cousins read it because it's important....heck I might even write a post about it on here! Our generation is taking marriage to lightly, if at all. And I would just love it if we saw more and more of what took place tonight at Elevation. Brothers being kinder to their sisters, men holding doors, boys showing girls honor. Boys honoring themselves. It's all about giving ourselves to God and allowing Him to use us. It's about us making God the center of who we are. Because when God is the center, we will know how to love like him, and honor like him, and respect and care like him. It matters. So if there are any guys reading this, #1 yes I'm available, #2 take this as a challenge to make the women that are already in your life (your mom, sister, grandma, aunts) show them honor, and respect.
Ladies: Know you are beautiful because God made you, and because God uses you. You are beautiful because of how you honor people in your life, and the choices you make. True beauty is found within, and it is Jesus that is within you. Keep being beautiful.

Creatio Ex Nihilo

2011-08-11T17:37:00.003-04:00

"In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth."
-Genesis 1:1

In 1215, the Catholic church spread temporal creatio ex nihilio as official church doctrine at the Fourth Lateran Council, declaring God to be "Creator of all things, visible and invisible,...who, by his almighty power, from the beginning of time has created both orders in the same way out of nothing." God brought the universe into being without a material cause.
There is no preexistent material, only God who created.
"In the Beginning"- bereshith indicates absolute beginning used equally in Isaiah 46:10.
"Create"- bara, a word used only with god as its subject and which does not presuppose a material 'substratum.'
"The Heavens and the Earth"- eth hassamayim we'eth ha'arets, this is a Hebrew expression for the totality of the world, or universe.
Darwin in his "Origin of the Species" has other ideas. There are some questions to ask, and answer. What is natural selection? Can mutations be beneficial? Do animals really change from one kind to another kind? Are we still evolving? Philosophically speaking toward naturalism, nature or matter is all that exists. Everything CAN and MUST be explained by TIME+CHANCE+LAWS OF NATURE working on matter. Some key questions to consider are, when did DNA information come into existence? How did DNA information get changed and argumented?

In the end, natural selection can explain the survival of the fittest, but NOT the arrival of the fittest, which is the REAL question.
We'll be digging more into this, so stick around, this is important to know. However before we go digging it's important to get our doctrine and theology straight. Does Everything come from God? You see the doctrine of creation does not describe an event. It points to the situation of creatureliness and to its correlate, the divine creativity. Our very existence from day to day is utterly dependent on God, and that is the sole point of the Christian doctrine of creation. So at this point, I'm going to give you homework, whether you do it or not, I can't control but I would urge you to do it because if you're going to need to know this knowledge, I promise you. This is all apart of defending your faith! BTW: You can highlight the questions and paste them into word and print so your hand doesn't get tired of writing. ;) I'm going to present a question and give you scripture references to go look up based on the question:

A. Did the Universe, including matter, have a beginning?
Gen. 1:1, Ps. 90:2, Jn. 1:1-3

B. Did the stuff (raw material) of the universe arise spontaneously out of nothing, or did it come from God?
Gen. 1:1-2, Rom. 11:36, 2 Cor. 5:18, Heb. 11:3, 1 Cor. 11:12

C. Are all things "out of" God by a process of emanation or by a free act of God's will expressed in His word?
Ps. 33:6,9; 148:5, Jn. 1:1-3, Heb. 11:3

D. In addition to the initial creative act (Gen. 1:1-2, the immediate creation ex nihilo), what other creative acts are mentioned? List the things said to be created or made on each day (Gen. 1:3-2:3, mediate creation.)

E. Did God employ any existing materials in creating the various things of Gen. 1:3-2:3? (See Gen. 2:7 and consider why the term "make" is employed synonymously with "create" in these passages.)

F. How many times does "after it's own kind" occur in Gen. 1 and 2? How would you define "kind"? With which if any, of the following scientific classifications would you identify kinds of Genesis?
Kingdom Order Genus
Phylum Family Species
Class

G. How much time elapsed between the mediate creative acts? How long were the days? How long were days before the 4th day and after the 4th day?
Ex. 20:11, Gen. 2:4, Josh. 24:7, 2 Chron. 15:3, Lev. 25:8, 2 Pet. 3:8, Jer. 6:1-6, Ezek. 7:7-10, Ps. 90:5-6

In conclusion to all of this, can we believe that God is in complete control of the forces of our universe now, if he was not at its origin? Is matter evil in itself? Is the physical body evil in itself? (1 Tim. 4:4-5 and 1 Cor. 3:21-2). Should you regard any person, animal, or thing as your highest object of concern? On the other hand, should you despise any person, animal or thing God created?

Jesus is Comfort

2011-08-11T17:04:00.002-04:00

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort."
2 Corinthians 1:3

Yesterday I drove my grandma a nursing home in Monroe to see her friend from church that had recently gone into the nursing home. It's a real joy to be in the presence of older people and hear them talk about the Lord. For so many years I was under the impression that all old people knew Jesus and were saved. But that is not the case, my eyes were opened to this truth when I was on a mission trip to Detroit, MI in 2008. We did a concert at a nursing home and several people accepted Jesus as their Savior that day. It blew my mind! Yesterday as my grandma and I were sitting in her friends room, her friend said "I love Jesus so much, but I just wish I could see so I could read my Bible. I can't see, I love God's Word." So my grandma volunteered me to read some scripture. So I did. Of course this ladies Bible was the KJV and version I have never been able to read or understand, so I stumbled on words and had a hard time somewhat. They both loved it though, and as I mentioned in a previous post, it is my prayer that God would continue to use me a vessel being poured out till there is nothing left. She was so comforted by God's word. Even elderly people need comfort still. How many times do you turn to God's word for comfort? Let the elderly teach you. I would encourage you to seek out an older person and read some scripture to them, both of you will get a blessing out of it.

Isaiah 46:4 (NIV) “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

Proverbs 16:31 (NIV) “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous
life.”

Leviticus 19:32 “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly.”

Job 32:7 “Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.”

Isaiah 46:3b-4a LB I have created you and cared for you since you were born. I will be your God through all your lifetime, Yes, even when your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you.”

Psalms 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

Deut. 32:7a Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations.

Psalms 92:14a they shall still bring forth fruit in old age

Psalms 71:9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength
faileth.

Psalms 7l:17-18 Oh God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I
declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake
me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
NIV Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your
marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

Job 12:12 (NASB) Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding.”

Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,
and to give his life a ransom for many.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Following Jesus through Baptism

2011-08-11T15:55:00.004-04:00

“Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ."
-Acts 10:47-48

This past weekend, and this weekend coming up my Pastor, Steven Furtick of Elevation Church here in Charlotte has been preaching our series "Follow." He gave all of our campuses an opportunity to be baptized spontaneously. 1,426 people responded to this opportunity. 1,426 ran to Jesus, deciding to obey and follow their savior in believers baptism.

Do you know why the verse above happened? Because of Acts 10:9 "The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon..." Because Peter prayed. Do you know why 1,426 received Christ and were baptized? Because Elevation church and their leaders prayed asking God move and intervene in lives, to change lives. We pray in audacious faith believing that God is going to move.

Pastor Steven will be teaching what it means to follow Jesus, and one of the ways we do that is through baptism. We read in Matthew 3:13-17 that:

"Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Baptism did not originate with Christianity. Actually, Jews used it in the conversion of Gentiles to Judaism. However, Christians adopted the practice of baptism because of what we just read in Matthew above, and because He commanded it. It is used to publicly profess faith in Jesus, and what He has done for them through His death on the cross.

Some of the points pastor Steven made is that in our time we have watered down baptism (pun intended, haha.) We have made it a denominational tradition rather than a Biblical command. We've made it our parents' decision instead of our decision, and it's become optional. Jesus expects our obedience, not our opinions, and the right time to do the right thing is right now.

I can't wait to see what God is going to do in this upcoming weekend. I'm so thankful to be apart of this move of God, and how He has His hand on Elevation Church. I hope to see you out there, if you need to be baptized now is the time to do it.

Pour You out till There is Nothing Left!

2011-08-10T00:17:00.004-04:00

It has been my prayer lately that God would use me as much as he can to where when I'm old and close to the end of my life there is absolutely nothing more I can give. I didn't expect that he would allow me to be poured out so much lately though, but he has. I am thankful for the opportunities he gives me to pour Him out into others through my life.
For the past 2 weeks I've been taking care of my Grandmama in Tennessee. I poured out all I had into helping my Grandmama and doing things she needed help with. I cleaned, and cooked, drove her around, painted her fingernails, worked in the yard, played her favorite game...and it was all such a blessing.
When I got home from taking care of her, I continued to pour myself out into my brother, and my adopted son from church. Most think I'm way to young to be adopting anyone, and I have to say I agree, but I enjoy spending time with these guys and pouring my love out on them, and showing them that Jesus is the way.
I pour out myself in the prayers I pray for my family, and friends.

We should always be pouring ourselves out, pour out till there is nothing left. We can't keep Jesus, and his wisdom, and His love to ourselves. We must always reach out to everyone around us.
But you know what the cool part is? When there is nothing left, we belong to the one who is a fountain of everlasting strength, He is living water, One who is our rock and shelter and will fill us with Himself until He is finished using us here on Earth. But we must choose to refuel on Him, and feast on His living word which is the bread of life. If we don't refuel or renew ourselves we will become useless and not as effective.

So find someone to pour yourself out into today. Show them the love of Jesus, be compassionate, be kind in manner and deed. When there is nothing left, find yourself in God's word so you can continue to be a vessel.

Support Group

2011-07-14T22:10:00.003-04:00

One of my weak points is being overly emotional, and blowing things out of proportion, and I give up. I have frequent anxiety attacks at times, and I can be really messed up in controlling my emotions. This is not all the time, just every once in a while. So because of these factors in my life I have found it effective to form a support group of people who I check in with and talk to often. These people help me see perspective, and help get my thinking back in proportion, they encourage me, and don't allow me to slack off. They hold me accountable to things. I go to them for advise, and guidance; It is wise, I believe, to allow only a few people speak into your life. I use my own discernment, but also like another opinion.
These people challenge me, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. They help me when I've run out of gas, or locked my keys in the car. I'm truly thankful for not only the help they willingly give me, but I'm thankful for their influence, and how they keep me leveled out and reasonable. I don't know where I would be without these people. I love each of them, and are thankful for their presence in my life.
I think we all need support groups, all of us have times when we need a support group. They don't need to be huge. I have 5 main people I go to consistently. I try to check in with at least one of them a day. It's what works for me personally. So far they haven't had to bail me out of jail....hahaha!!! They would probably leave me there for my own good.
So here's a shout out to my support group! S H O U T!!!!! Thank you for helping me. You're the best! And so loved and appreciated. They keep loving me in the times I hate myself.

Suicide

2011-07-14T14:00:00.002-04:00

Since my struggle with this awful problem, and my survival, it is my goal to reach out to those who are in this helpless state of mind and show them the love of Christ, and that hope still exists even when it looks like the darkest hour of life. I struggled with these thoughts as a non-Christian and baby believer. Suicide is a frame of mind, it is more than just an action. The mind must be renewed and changed through the message and Hope of God's word, and His power that is put in us through the Holy Spirit.
Can you be a Christian and consider taking your own life? If asked this question, I would answer yes. Though the Bible doesn't give a simple here is what God says specifically answer, the Bible does give helpful principles to stand on. One thing about life and someone contemplating suicide is that it's messy. There is no simple way apart from Jesus to try to manage or explain it. Believe it or not there is a prophet in the Bible who cursed the day he was born, "my life has been filled with nothing but trouble, sorrow, and shame!" this prophet exclaims as he pours his heart to God. If you said Job, not quite, it's Jeremiah! The weeping prophet.
The one thing all suicidal people lack is hope. People wonder how Christians can loose hope when they know the one who is Hope. This matter is hard to explain, but in simple terms, the fact of the matter is Christian who face the thought of suicide have fallen by the way side, no longer reading their Bible or Praying. They allow Satan to rob them of the Hope they find in Christ. In the addiction ministry we call this becoming bewitched by Satan. There is one mission Satan has in His limited time here on Earth and that is to kill, steal and destroy, Christians and all. He is a liar and cheater. Do not listen to the lies he whispers in your ear. While suicide is not an unforgivable sin, it doesn't take away the severity of the pride, and selfishness, and hateful act of killing yourself. Do you know what suicide says to God? It says, "Look, God, you goofed when you let me slip into this world. So I'm going to correct your mistake." One trespasses on Holy ground when they play God like that.
Things can get better, sometimes all it takes is time. Again, this is a good place to start worshiping God; praise Him in the storm. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It's like cutting your leg off because your little toe hurts. God cares about your pain, even when no one else seems to care. I love the hymn, "Because He Lives." In the times that I am feeling like I cannot face another day I sing the hymn. "Because He lives I can face tomorrow, all fear is gone because He lives, He holds the future, and life is worth living Because He lives."
Oh Christian, that you would stand firm in God's truth and promises for your life that is found in Jesus. That you would be the example to the lost. That you would learn to resist the devil with the Sword of the Spirit, and cloth yourself in the armor of Christ. I'm not saying you cannot have these thoughts, but we have been called to something better, something higher. We have hope. There is always hope! Hope is not optimism. Optimism is faith in humans and human potential. Hope is rooted in someone beyond ourselves. How is relinquishing control over life in the sense of entrusting the future to this Holy One who offers nothing more than a promise. We do not cling to hope trying to manage. That is not hope at all. That is merely an attempt to control, to maintain the status quo which inevitably ends in death. "So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13
According to American Association of Suicidology" in 2007 there were 34,598 suicides in the United States, broken down that equals, 94.8 suicides a day=1 suicide every 15 minutes. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death, the 3rd among teens. This is 100% preventable. I pray that Christians will rise to the occasion and help.

A time to Grow

2011-07-14T13:12:00.002-04:00

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

After this summer semester that I am currently in right now I will not be able to go back to school for a while. However, though some of you may think it's sad, I feel like this time away from school will be a gift from God, and what He wants for my life right now. In my time away from school I hope to keep learning and growing. I plan to resume my study of theology, and read as much as I can. In my time at school I hardly have any time to read the material I want to read. So now is the time. In talking to my sister and some friends, we have come to the common ground that a lot of us don't have jobs because there are important things to see too. The end is near, many need to hear. There is much to learn, and through it all God is going to take care of us.
At the beginning of the semester I was talking to my Theatre Appreciation professor about me not being able to keep going to Central Piedmont. I expressed to her that I felt like God allows us to be in places for a while to learn something or experience something special, then He moves us. My college has been such a special place for me to grow and experience new things. Last semester was so special, and I feel like God is going to place me somewhere else when he can continue to use me. Like I said, there is much work to be done. Jesus said in Luke 10:2 "The Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." It's so true. Our nation does not see this.
I heard it said over 4th of July weekend, "How about America Bless God for a change." You know how we can bless God? Do His work, listen to His voice. There is a time to grow, and a time to harvest. In my time away from school I plan to do both.

Stepping Out

2011-07-14T11:54:00.004-04:00

I do my best thinking in the shower, I do not know why but I have come to decide I'm hanging a white board above the shower so when Jesus starts talking to me and revealing things to me I can start writing! I have so much I want to share! I am also excited to be blogging from my new house in my new living room in the perfect spot, my little thoughtful corner...

This semester, more than ever at my school, I have been stepping out boldly in my faith proclaiming that Jesus is the way. This is so important to understand, and I hope what I am about to lay out here will make sense to you. These are wonderful insightful things to think about I feel. Also know that whatever I say, I say with experience; the whole been there done that, learned now I'm teaching you. ;)
When we step out in faith God blesses us, and gives us honor. My sister and I were talking about this. This is what she said, "Each time you step out in faith you grow spiritually. Your character grows, your perserverance deepens, it all comes with obedience and faith and being a light in this dark world." It's so true.
However, some of us are trapped in this mind set where we struggle with stepping out boldly, so how to do we get this level of boldness? Quite simply, through worship. Fixing our thoughts on lifting God up higher in our lives. When we begin the lift God higher in our lives, and acknowledge that He is Lord of all we understand why we must boldly proclaim Him. When we get off the throne, and exalt Him above everything are going through He is then able to have His way in our lives. When we experience His work in our lives we are then able to say with boldness my God is the way.
So many times we sit in our sin and addiction content almost and wait for God to do something. The sin and addiction isn't going to work for itself, you have to take the initiative to start worshiping God, recognizing that He is stronger, and will take care of you through everything. Then you can step out in faith, and God will bless you and start to heal you of whatever problem you have. He loves His children. It's not Him that isn't doing anything for you, it's you that isn't doing anything for you. It's you that keeps yourself on the throne of your heart. Jesus is the only way, get to know Him. I many times when people start to make progress in overcoming problems and addictions it's because they are entering unfamiliar territory, but if you know Jesus, and you know His word, what is there to fear? Nothing! When you experience and know God's word and what He is doing in your life you can't help but worship Him, you can't help but tell others that Jesus is the way.
So wherever you are at today in your life, what do you need to do so that you can start stepping out in boldness? Do you need to worship Him more? Do you need to yield to Him more? I have learned to yield to the yoke of the Lord; but I also know that in Matthew Jesus says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I've learned that there is always hope. I have sat alone in the silence of the Lord's discipline, but in the stillness and silence at His feet I have learned His voice, and that His ways are better than mine. I have learned that even in what seems to be the darkest night, His hand is with me. I have learned that I am in the right position prostrate at the feet of Jesus.
I'll close with the lyrics from a song I've been singing all week, I have attached the MP3 as well, lift Jesus Higher in your life and see the results.

"Stronger"
Hillsong
Verse 1:
There is Love
That came for us
Humbled to a sinner’s cross
You broke my shame and sinfulness
You rose again victorious

Verse 2:
Faithfulness none can deny
Through the storm
And through the fire
There is truth that sets me free
Jesus Christ who lives in me

Chorus:
You are stronger
You are stronger
Sin is broken
You have saved me
It is written
Christ is risen
Jesus You are Lord of all

Verse 3:
No beginning and no end
You’re my hope and my defence
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the cross

Bridge:
So let Your Name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher
Be lifted higher

Trust and Obey

2011-07-09T07:00:00.002-04:00

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you."
-Psalm 84:11-12

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

In 1887, just following an evangelistic meeting held by Dwight L. Moody, a young man stood to share his story in an after-service testimony meeting. As he was speaking, it became clear to many that he knew little about the Bible or acceptable Christian doctrine. His closing lines, however, spoke volumes to seasoned and new believers alike: I'm not quite sure. But I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey. It was then that Daniel Towner was so struck by the power of those simple words that he quickly jotted them down, then delivered them to John Sammis, who developed the lyrics to Trust and Obey. Towner composed the music and the song quickly became a favorite.
My Grandmama and I were talking about this simple truth just last week. When we just trust Him and obey Him, He will take care of us. I was telling my grandmama how, when we moved last week God gave me the perfect hours to work last week at my job. We were working about 15 hour days in the heat consecutively, then instead of me having to work 8-9 hours in a shift God saw fit to re-arrange my schedule to work 3 and 4 hour days. He goes ahead of our steps and paves the way, if we just trust and obey. He will do His part, if we do our part. Don't you think that it is us as human beings that make our life difficult? God asks us to do simple things, trust and obey...for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus.
What do you need to trust and obey God for?

4th of July Parade!

2011-07-07T22:09:00.003-04:00

Monday I was in a Parade! It was so much fun! I haven't been in a parade before. I was proud to be representing my church, Elevation, and an eGroup of Elevation called, "Vertigo." I held the sign for them, and walked in front as 4 other guys followed me playing their self made instruments. Vertigo is a stomp team, they play drum beats on buckets and whatever they can get a sound out of, and believe me they sound really good. This group originated at First Baptist Church-IT, they went on Mission Trips with Student Worship. Wherever they go, they are a hit! Give someone a beat and they are going to move!! I LOVE IT!
One of cool things about this group dropping some beats is that they will always get someones attention. Through this aspect we were able to tell people about Jesus and invite them to church, or just raise their interest in what Elevation Church is.
However, it was sad that there were only 2 churches represented at the 4th of July parade in Indian Trail of all the churches on every corner it seems. What an opportunity to represent Jesus and the talents He has given us! What an opportunity to enlighten people that there is a church that is interested in have you to their church.

Anyway, all in all it was a really good time. We walked 3 miles in all, then I ate Bojangles, so whatever weight I lost walking, I gained it right back! haha! There were a lot of "Elevators" in the crowed yelling, we go there! It was so fun! I think we were the hit, something new a different. How cool!

So, come on out to Elevation and see what we are about, you won't walk away disappointed. And be in a parade when you can. Good advertising. :)

Wherever You Go

2011-07-07T21:46:00.003-04:00

"Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
-Joshua 1:9

10 years ago or so, my youth leader Mrs. Patsy Surles gave me this little pillow hanger. Mrs. Patsy had a huge impact on my life in the developing years of my life. This verse has meant a lot in my life, this pillow has hung on my door in all the different places we have lived reminding me that "the Lord is with me wherever I go." In the context of this verse we read that Joshua's new job consisted of leading more than 2 million people into a strange new land and conquering it! Without God new things can be frightening. God assured Joshua He would be with him, so He is with us when we face new challenges.
It's been challenging for me personally to move as much as we have. I've been uprooted and taken away from my friends and job and home, but through it all God has always been with me, He will never leave me. I've had to do new a lot. New job, new area, new school, new friends, new house, etc. But one thing has remained strong and true in my life, and that is that the Lord is my rock and I have nothing to fear. He has been with me in my darkest hour, He has been with me on the mountain top. My God, the one true God will never fail you.
Jesus promises us in His great commission to us that, "I am with you always, even to the end of age." (Matthew 28:19) So whatever you are facing today, no matter how hard or how easy it may seem God is with you. He is cheering you on! He is giving you His Holy Spirit so that you can overcome every challenge you face. Put your faith in Him.

Time is in His Hands

2011-07-07T21:15:00.002-04:00

"And Isaiah said, This is the sign to you from the Lord that He will do the thing He has promised: shall the shadow [denoting the time of day] go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps? Hezekiah answered, It is an easy matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps; so let the shadow go back ten steps."
-2 Kings 20:9-10

Over a 100 year period of Judah's history (732-640 BC), Hezekiah was the only faithful king; what a difference he made! It was because of his faith and prayer that God healed him and saved his city. There are times that our faith can put us in the minority, but you can make a difference and bring change to any situation if your faith and prayers are sincere directed to the One and only God. We see here in the verse above that God made time go back! There are many examples in the Bible where God messes with time, it's so cool! He made the sun stand still one day.
There is something my sister told me one day and I have held on to this truth ever since then. I'm thankful for her influence in my life. She is my special Jesus sister. After telling her that I don't have time to get all I need to get done, done. That I was having a hard time getting my Bible read in the morning. She said "Allison, God will give you the time you need to get all you need to get done, you just have to ask Him, and He will honor you for putting Him first in your day with the time to do things; after all He does hold time in His hands." How true, ya'll! You see when we have the faith, praying to the one true God who created time, He supernaturally gives it to us, and that's why we call Him awesome God. That is why we call Him Creator King, How great is our God? For age to age He stands! He is the Beginning and the End. His name is above every name, He is worthy of our praise because of His awesomeness.
Next time you catch yourself saying, "I wish I had more time." Remember, you do have more time, just ask, no wishing involved, you my fellow Christian brother and sister have direct access to the King Himself. Time is in His hands.

How to Write a Song

2011-06-21T11:49:00.004-04:00

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him."
-Psalm 40

I started writing songs and music when I was 14. I believe it is a gift. I started out writing goofy songs, then God moved my heart and I began to write music for Him and the things I had experienced in life. Writing music has been a theraputic thing for me in understanding heart ache. I'm glad God inspires it because other words without Him in my music it would be whiney and depressing...like a country song. Jesus is everything in my music he gives it all to me. I'm very thankful for this gift.
Many of you have probably wanted to write a song but were not sure where to begin, or what song structure looks like. Recently, in my communication class I had to give a demonstration speech, and I chose to speak about writing a song, then I figured since my website is called the music corner, and I have all this knowledge I'd let you in on it too.
There are many ways to write a song, I consider song writing an art; you find what works for you and express it in your own way. But here is how a song comes about for me, and really I hope you are not dissappointed because it's not like God raptures me to Heaven then drops me back on Earth with a song, though it does feel that way sometimes.
There have been many nights where I am so desperate to hear from Jesus because I have felt so low. Most of the time God wakes me up or sends me to bed with an idea then wakes me up. It's a testing thing I've come to learn; whether I will get up or not. I've also learned to keep paper and pens at my bedside. The longest a song has ever taken me to write has been an hour. It's hop skippady jump when God is in it. He sings over me when He gives me a song, just like the verse I have here on the main page, "By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me..." I love to sing back to Him the love He sings over me.
Every song starts with a thought. What do you want to write about? What is an emotion or thought you want to convey? What inspires you? What do you enjoy in life? What makes you feel like you could randomly bust out into song about? Things that inspire me are: Creation- the ocean, the beach, sunsets, sunrises etc.
As far as structure goes, I always start with a title then you write your first verse, then your chorus. The chorus is going to be the main idea of the entire song, this is what will be sung the most in your song, and you may consider integrading the title of your song within the lyric of the chorus. You want to stay to a minimum of 3 verses other wise your song is going to get very long and you will loose your audience unless you're awesome like Lynard Skynard or any of the greats like that and can write a song like Free Bird with awesome guitar solos and riffs. There is a part of the song called the bridge, you can normally identify the bridge by a key change, this normally ties the song up but it's not a requirement. Bridges are really huge in country songs because that's when the man or woman either get killed or come back.

Once you have your lyrics down it's time to put some music to it. Be sure that you stay in one key, it's okay to change keys but keep the chords in their families. For example: in the key of G you want to stick with these chords, G, C, D, Em. The key you write in determines a lot in how the song is perceived. Writing in a major key will depict normallacy, and happy, where as if you write in a minor key it will depict sadness...it's kinda mellow. Country songs are written in minor keys a lot of times, for example Brad Paisleys "Whisky Lullaby" if you write about people killing themselves it's not going to be in a major key, it's not a normal or happy event....just saying.
Finally comes the time to put it on the staff! Normally I sit at a piano and do this part. It's very time consuming if you're not a well developed piano player...I'm trying to be. This is where people can know the melody of your song and can figure out how it goes. You can also buy software such as Finale Notepad which I use sometimes. I prefer sitting at a piano and making music with my fingers live! I hope this has encouraged you in wanting to write your own song, or getting an idea of what the song writing process looks like. Who knows you might be the next huge song writer in Nashville!

You Can Do It!

2011-06-20T00:39:00.002-04:00

In my one of my favorite theatre productions, "My Fair Lady," Eliza Doolittle is trying to learn how to be a proper lady. Her teacher, Henry Higgins, is teaching her how to speak like a lady, dress like a lady, carry herself, and dress like a lady. The speaking part is a little tricky...."the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" is what Eliza has to learn to say properly. Many times Eliza felt like giving up, she didn't see the potential in herself that Professor Higgins saw; because the eminent linguistics professor, treated her like a lady, she began living up to his expectations.
I have come to realize that sometimes my managers at work are hard on me sometimes because I make excuses for why I may slack off and not live up the the fullest potential they see in me. We don't realize our own potential that's why others have to bring it out of us. We all need potential and word's of life spoken into our lives. I was telling someone earlier today, it's kinda like we are all interconnected. The people who speak life into you have people who speak life into them, so it's a never ending cycle. The people you speak life into will in turn speak life into other people. I find it most amusing.
I'm so thankful, and love the people who have impacted my life in this way. Who will not accept the lesser I have to give because it's not my best. I'm thankful for the teachers who bring out the best in me and make me strive to do well in their class and be all I can be in my work. I'm thankful for my English instructor who, though I had never written a 6-8 page paper before she didn't expect any less of me because she knew I could do it. I'm thankful for my Reading instructor who I had my first semester in college still check up on me and make sure I am giving it my all. She keeps me straight. And I'm thankful for my theatre appreciation instructor whose class changed my life, and she changed my life. It's amazing what you can learn just watching people, and how the littlest comment can make such a huge impact. I'm thankful for my sister, and good friend who has become like my sister....she is my sister in Christ. I'm thankful for her example in my life and how she tells me all the time that I can do it.
There is not one person alive who is not full of potential. It doesn't matter if your daddy told you your worth or not, we all have a good loving and caring daddy in Heaven who wants to give you great things in life, He wants you to gain the promised land, but we reject Him. It's like I was talking about in the Oedipus post, He controls all of our destinies...we just have to receive it through Him.
So friend reading this post, I'm telling you today, "YOU CAN DO IT!" There is potential for your life no matter how hopeless it looks. You don't get to control your destiny, only God has that territory, and I'm telling you He has great plans for your life. We have to get still and listen for His voice, we have to pray. As my theatre appreciation instructor puts it..."You gotta go to Moscow!" In other words, you gotta get up off the coach and do something, you can't just remain idle and expect something incredible to happen. You have to go to where it's at, and it's going to be hard, but that's just life it's hard but I promise if you do it in the name of Jesus you will reap a harvest for what you have sown. You can do it!

Lessons from Oedipus

2011-06-15T10:00:00.002-04:00

I think Oedipus has become a favorite of mine. I call him, "Oh-Edipus," but really the O is silent. Haha, one of the funny things about being homeschooled through high school was when I came across words I didn't know how to pronounce I just sounded them out and did the best I could. It's kinda pitiful...I guess that's why I've loved college so much, I have a teacher in the room.
I first learned of Oedipus and watched the play in my Theatre Appreciation class last semester. I loved that class, and my professor...awesomeness. Anyway, I'm sure you're tired of me talking about Theatre Appreciation class all the time, it was very life changing for me and in the way I percived life, which for me is HUGE!

Some of the themes in Oedipus are, the limits of free will, and willingness to ignore the truth. Oedipus is considered to be a tragedy play. Typically the protagonist of a tragedy commits some terrible crime without realizing how foolish and arrogant he has been. As he slowly realizes his error, the world crumbles around him. Aristotle, one of my favored philosophers, argued that tragedy cleansed the heart through pity and terror, purging us of our petty concerns and worries by making us aware that there can be nobility in suffering. This is called "catharsis."

One of the things I fear in life is that I'm not going to ever be the woman God called me to be, that I will never do what He really planned for my life. I feel like I'm going to mess up my life and get off track from God's will and absolutely no hope will be left. How prideful! It's like I'm telling God that little me can mess Him up in His perfect will; I'm saying "God there is no way you can fix me or get me back on the right track."

This is where Oedipus messed up. The god's prophecied that Oedipus would kill his father, and sleep with his mother. Well no one would want that to come true, so Oedipus tries to run from his fate, however, it continuously catches up with him. In the end Oedipus does fulfill the prophecy, he does kill his father, and ends up not only sleeping with his mama but is married to her! I call this, "Oh Snap!" This story is meant to show that error and disaster can happen to anyone, that human beings are relatively powerless before fate, and the gods, and that cautious humility is the best attitude toward life.

So the lesson is, God, the one and only God who is over all, has a plan for every life. We can be in the wrong place because we do have free will but it doesn't change what God wants for you.

He Came to Me

2011-06-12T22:18:00.002-04:00

One of things that we notice most about Jesus' ministry here on Earth is that He met people where they were. He did not expect people to come to Him for help, they didn't know they needed Him. Jesus came to their level and met them in where they were.
This morning, I trained for my new Volunteer job at Elevation as a Greeter. In the time's I have visited Elevation, the whole experience has been incredible from the parking lot to the service. One of the things they tell us is you are preaching a sermon in the parking lot, people start to form their opinions from the moment they pull in the parking lot. It has meant so much in the times that people have come to greet me where I was and say it's so good to see you today, I'm glad you came to church! We as greeters are encouraged to speak words of blessing over people. We all need words of life spoken over us, our weeks are filled with enough people putting us down and slandering us. The last place people need to feel slighted is church especially coming off of a hard work week. This is called, Being Like Jesus. We are being Jesus to people, we are meeting them where they are and welcoming them into the house of God in a caring manner.
I am so excited to be apart of this move of God. I never want to be caught cold on the pew. As long as I have air in my lungs I'm going to be serving God somewhere, I'm going to be reaching out to someone, I'm going to be praying. I will actively serve in the Kingdom of God until I die, and I pray if I ever do become idle in serving the Lord someone will give me a kick in the rear end and tell me to get back in the game.
Jesus came to me, and continues to meet me where I am. In the same way I hope to be the person who will encourage someone in the parking lot to where all guards and walls come down and they meet Jesus. Oh What a Savior!

It's a Habit

2011-06-12T13:51:00.002-04:00

Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters

a poem by Portia Nelson, published in her book

There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery

Chapter I

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk

I fall in.

I am lost ... I am helpless.

It isn't my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter II

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don't see it.

I fall in again.

I can't believe I am in the same place.

But, it isn't my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in ... it's a habit ... but,

my eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

Chapter IV

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

Chapter V

I walk down another street.

The guest pastor at my church, Elevation, used this poem as a sermon illustration. How many of us can claim this autobiography as our own? I know I can, currently I am stuck in chapter 3, but I hope that will be changing soon. This poem is very diverse in that it can not only apply to our own personal lives, but it can apply to things like our relationships, our jobs, our finances, even the church! That's on of the things I love about Elevation Church. It's in chapter 5, they have seen that what the church has always done doesn't mean it will continue to work today as generations change. That is the whole reason the book of Acts is called God's Unfinished book. The church is still being built, and becoming. The book of Acts is God's Holy Spirit with us, and that it is still with us empowering us to continue the work of God, and sometimes that empowerment leads us down a different street so that we can meet new people and encounter different things.

Wherever we are at in this autobiography, don't allow those pot holes to get you, find a different street! Get away from the things that pull you down and away. It's all about creating a new groove that will better serve us. The potholes can be so deadly, and self destructive; no doubt I've walked away with a few scars.

Kick the habit!

How Deep Can I Drink?

2011-06-08T11:00:00.003-04:00

"If grace is an ocean we're all sinking"

The story is found in John 4, the story of the woman at the well. There are many things we can learn from this story, and many different perspectives can be seen. However, there is one central and key lesson, and that is Jesus is our living water.
We are all that woman at the well because we are all in need of grace, love, and forgiveness, and that is exactly what the living water represents. Jesus crossed all barriers to get to this woman, and that is what He does with you and I. This woman was a Samaritan! Jews did not talk to Samaritans...but Jesus did.
At the same time we have to realize that in order to receive that living water our sins have to be exposed. Later on in the chapter, Jesus calls her out on what she had done. He didn't condemn her, but He said I know all these things about you but drink of me and my living water and you'll never thirst again!
The story is told of a boy who grew up in an impoverished home. There were so many children that they all had to share food and drink from the same cup of milk. If you remember growing up and having to share a drink with brothers and sisters I'm sure you can relate. One day this little boy got sick and had to be in the hospital for a while. One morning, the nurse came in to the boys room with a big glass of milk. After staring at the glass for a few minutes the boy asked the nurse, "How deep can I drink?" The nurse in response said, "You can have it all!" That's what Jesus says to us when He offers His living water-we can have it all! We can have all the grace we need, we can have all the love we need, we can have all the forgiveness we need all we have to do it take it.
Many of us don't do this. We go through life thinking we can handle life, we don't need Jesus and His living water. Yes, you do! We have to come to a place where we humble ourselves in the sight of a Holy God and say, "I can't do it, I can't live life without the one who gives me Living water." The hymn, "I Need Thee Every Hour" comes to mind. How could you not need Jesus every hour? Are you kidding me? How deep are you willing to drink? How deep do you want to go with Jesus? If grace is an ocean we're all sinking.

Great is Thy Faithfulness: A Story of Hope...My Story

2011-05-31T23:12:00.003-04:00

"I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline: Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord’s demands. Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may be hope at last. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them and accept the insults of their enemies."
Lamentations 3:20-30

The Lord has laid it on my heart to share my story with you of the past few years of my life. I have been in a time of fervent testing, but in that testing seeing the Faithfulness of God. This is my story of hope, and I hope it will encourage you.

My dad is a pastor. The End. Just kidding, but the whole pastor part should tip you off as to what a hard life it's been. In the late summer of 2007 we were asked to leave the church that we had been at for 4 years. We were voted out by the church, and as we were living in the parsonage, we lost our home as well. So within a matter of minutes my family not only lost jobs, we lost a home. Around Christmas we had to officially be out of the parsonage. So with no where else to go we moved in with my Grandma here in Charlotte. We had literally threw all our stuff in storage. We lived with my Grandma for about a year. During this time it was so hard on all of us. Ya'll wanna know why I'm so messed up, it's because of church people and their issues. This was the second church that threw us out of the church and out of a home. At the time of this last ordeal I was 18. I missed my friends, I missed my band, I missed everything. I was never really angry at God this go round, the last time I can honestly say I turned my back on Him.
In the new year of 2008 I got plugged into First Baptist Church Indian Trail which was so scary at first. Where we came from maybe 20 came Sunday morning, then I come to FBCIT, a 3,000 member church. Culture Shock. I process of healing began to once more take place. I got plugged into choir, and student choir, and serve mainly in the Worship Arts department.
Meanwhile, we're still living at my grandmas 3 of 4 of us still have no jobs. I was still trying to finish High School as well.
Christmas 2008 we were surprised with the gift of a new home. An apartment in Charlotte where we could have some of our things back and be in a place of our own comfortably enough. I was starting college Spring Semester of 2009 at Central Piedmont Community College.
Great is His Faithfulness.
The first few semesters of school my parents and other people I could hitch a ride from took me to school as I did not have a car. I've been asking for a car since I was 12? HaHa! That was before I moved to Charlotte with all the people who think they have to speed because they live in "race city" with the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is really in Concord. Anyway. Christmas 2009 I got a car. A family car that my great Aunt, then my Grandmama drove came to me...Lucy the Lumina. A beat up 92 Chevy, but I love it for the family history it has.
Great is His Faithfulness.
Rejection letters from churches have continued to flow in the past couple of years. It was such a debate in my head whether to continue following my parents in ministry or to try and get out on my own and get settled as I continue my studies at CPCC. We still live in the apartment, but are so grateful to have a place to live and have our things, our own beds, my favorite possession. However, apartment living with 4 adults plus a dog is not ideal, we need more space. We still have things in storage both here and Wilmington! For the past several months we have been looking at houses as it's a good a time as ever to buy a house. We have been like the show on HGTV-House Hunters. Just last week we found out an offer we made on a house was accepted, and we should be moving into our new home at the end of June!!
Great is His Faithfulness.
All I have needed, His hand will provide, Morning by morning new mercies I see. He's always been faithful to me.
I love the scripture in Lamentations above. I will never forget what I've been through, but I will also never forget His faithfulness. I'm 22 years old, a young age, and I have already learned so much in depending on the Lord for strength, and his mercies that are new every morning. I have learned to yield to the yoke of the Lord; but I also know that in Matthew Jesus says that His yoke is and His burden is light. I've learned that there is always hope. I have sat alone in the silence of the Lord's discipline, but in the stillness and silence at His feet I have learned His voice, and that His ways are better than mine. I have learned that even in what seems to be the darkest night, His hand is with me. I have learned that I am in the right position prostrate at the feet of Jesus. I've learned that when people strike me in the face or insult that they are insulting Jesus, and that what seems to hurt me through peoples words and actions hurt the Father more than they hurt me.
Whatever your need, God is faithful. Only trust Him. All you need, His hand will provide.

Responsibility

2011-05-31T11:41:00.002-04:00

Being responsible can have it's ups and downs. I've always considered myself to be responsible. Have I always made responsible decisions? No. But I have always tried to reach a level of maturity to where people can trust me to do things. Ironically, responsibility can sometimes keep you from other responsibilities you have and it can get very aggravating! Take for example: This morning I had to go back to school, my class starts at 9:00. I worked last night at my job, and worked at my house packing boxes and other things. Also this week I've been taking care of my cousins dog, and I take care of my dog too. So I let myself sleep in a little bit because I really needed it. Ended up not being a responsible decision because I still had to take care of dogs and get to class by 9. I was late for class, but the dogs are okay. haha!
There are times it's hard to juggle it all, and I guess more than anything we continue to learn as we go. Like parenting. So, I want to encourage all the people who have taken initiative to be responsible, and not give up when it's hard to be responsible. More or less here I'm talking to myself because I get discouraged and fed up when I seem to be the only responsible one in the room, and when no one else steps up to the plate. Just think of yourself as sowing seeds of love and kindness, and continue to sow your seed with confidence. You're not alone, look to the Lord for the strength and time to get all you need to get done, done. Remember our Creator, God, hold's time in His hand, and ALL of our strength comes from the Lord! Just ask. I've never known God to say no when we depend on Him for His strength, and when we acknowledge that time is in His hands.
Being responsible is a good character trait, one that not a lot of people have. It seems to be up to everyone else to show some responsibility. Don't become the "everyone else" gang.

I Will Pour Out My Spirit

2011-05-29T20:17:00.002-04:00

"‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams."
Acts 2:17

Church, my brotha's and my sista's, I believe we are living in the last days. My sister and I talk about it often. We don't know the day or the hour, but God does; and Jesus is so ready to come get His children and I can't help but imagine Jesus sitting on the edge of His throne just waiting for God to tell Him, "Go get 'em! Bring them home!" What I'm about to lay out here is very true...no I won't be predicting dates...but I can tell you what the verse about tells us in Acts is very true. Prophesy will happen, visions will be seen, and dreams will be dreamed. I want to talk about the Holy Spirit in this post, as apart of our "The Power of the Church" series. I believe His Spirit is in face being poured out on all, and I particularly believe it is being poured out through the arts. Another thing my sister and I were talking about. Just today I have been overwhelmed with all the inspiration of writing I need to get busy on; I have felt such an anointing and urgency to get as much as I can on paper. It's like God is pouring out heavy because so many need to hear.
I had what I call a divine dream last night. I have debated whether or not to share this, but you can call me crazy if you want...I promise I've been taking my medication...haha! But truthfully and honestly I had a dream last night, and it's a dream that when I woke up I had to write it down because I knew in my spirit that is was straight from God Himself. Even as I was writing it down it almost read like scripture, it was the Voice of God...I guess since we are so still and quiet when we sleep, He can speak. This dream has shook me all day, it has had me searching scripture trying to interpret it, and understand what God is trying to convey. I've not been able to take my mind off of it, it's been like a conviction. Here is the dream:

I dreamed of what seemed to be 2 moons or planets. One was red and seemed to be of fire and Satan was standing on top of it. The other was white, with what appeared to be Jesus on a white horse on top. I was watching all this from my window. In between the 2 moons or planets, there was a huge cloud the color of a rainbow, but it was also dark, and God was in the rainbow, or dark cloud. It was called the mercy seat, for from it He judged the nations. He raged in His judgement; to see what humans had done to His creation and how they rejected His son's blood. For the Son's blood reaches everyone, and every nation. His wrath would light up the sky and shake the world. The stars would fall out of place, and some would revolve around the cloud which was indwelt by God.

This is what I wrote when I got up this morning. All I could think of was a verse found somewhere, I figured one of the major or minor prophets in the Bible where it said your sons and daughters will prophecy and dream dreams and see visions. I had no idea what it meant. At first I thought it was showing the 2 forces of power on the earth, the battle of good and evil. I looked up in my concordance the word "prophesy" and it directed me to Joel 2:28, as I began to read the entire second chapter of Joel it started lining up with my dream and I was tripping out! Have you read Joel 2 lately?!
We will start with verse 2, be sure to pull your Bible too.
2 It is a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of thick clouds and deep blackness.

10 The earth quakes as they advance,
and the heavens tremble.
The sun and moon grow dark,
and the stars no longer shine.

“Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike.

31 The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and terrible[f] day of the Lord arrives.

The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. -Revelation 4:3

Do you see how this aligns with my dream?! And it's not like I sat and read Joel last night and dreamed because it was fresh on my brain. I've not read Joel since last year when I read the Bible in 90 days. So what is the message of Joel and my dream, and what does the Holy Spirit have to do with this?
The message is this. There is a deadline, a deadline for the people of every tribe nation and tongue to turn to, and turn back to God. In Joel the people of Judah were living evil, rebellious lives. Joel reminded then that those who ignored God would one day face God's wrath. God judges sin. But we don't have to live in sin, we can be forgiven. Jesus' blood reaches everyone, and this is where the pouring out of the Spirit is essential to the empowering of the church. We need to spend less time bickering in the church and set out on a mission as a body of believers to reach the nations to Jesus Christ so Judgement will not come upon them. It's coming, and it's not Satan that judges, it's God who pours out wrath. It's not okay to accept, it should break our hearts. Do you know how precious the gift of the Spirit is?! In Israel, the empowering gift of God's Spirit had previously been given only to select individuals such as priests, judges, kings, and prophets. But a time was coming when the Spirit would be given to every one of God's people, regardless or age, gender, or race. It is a fulfillment of Moses' wish that every Israelite might be a prophet (Num. 11:29), all would prophesy and see visions. In Acts 2, Peter expands this promise to include people from all over the known world who were gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:39; Gal. 3:28).
The Spirit is God the 3rd person Trinity. Y'all fasten your seatbelts, don't unbuckle until the end of this post. You've been warned. Peter's powerful message in Acts is an alert to opportunity. In Acts 2 Peter quotes the prophet Joel, who prophesied of the Spirit, and that He would be poured out on all people, Jews and Gentiles. As a result the ability to minister is not limited to young or aged but is extended to all generations. Notice that Peter changes the "and afterward" to "in the last days." Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, adapts Joel's prophecy to the present age of the Spirit-an age that begins, with the outpouring of the Spirit of God. Tongues are not mentioned, rather the gift of prophecy is referred to. Prophecy is the ability to declare the Word of God. They are equipped by the Spirit to tell forth the Word of God with power. And I'm here to declare to you today that a day of Judgment is coming, and it's going to be here before you know it, and without the blood of Jesus covering your sin filled life you are going to a place where, if you thought the world was bad you haven't seen anything yet. But I'm also here to declare to you that "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!" The age of the church, the age of the Spirit, is an era of faith. When men and woman believe what God has said and invite Him to be the Lord of their lives, they will be filled with the Spirit. The age of the Spirit will begin with the outpouring of the Spirit. It will end when the sun is darkened and the moon turned to blood. However, clearly, these dire events did not take place on the day of Pentecost. These events will take place in the future (now):

27 "For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man[a] comes."
29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken."

A day is coming when God's signs will appear on the earth and in the heaven's above. We are so close to the end, but there are still so many who need to hear the message of Jesus and the power of His blood and love. His Spirit is continuing to be poured out and will continue until the Great Tribulation, it is up to the church to spread the word and touch lives, so that those lives will be filled with life in Christ through the Spirit and touch other lives. The Spirit is like another character in this story of life, "A Divine Drama" the Author who knows and loves the people he created, he wrote himself into the play. He has left the visible stage, but He remains behind in an unseen way, leading, and guiding, and strengthening his people. Receive His spirit today.

The Power of Now

2011-05-26T11:29:00.002-04:00

Watch me tie this into the power of the church! Yeah, I'm that awesome. HAHA!
Over the past week my faith has really been tried and tested. A friend of mine the other day said, "Before God elevates you, He tests you." It is so true, and makes sense. How can you survive higher levels in life if you can't handel what you have now? One of the things I've been doing is asking the "What if" question. Through this time of testing, I've been thankful for the people who have taken the time to pour their word of advise and encouragement in me. Without it, I probably would have given up a long time ago. It's a bad habit of mine. As I have pondered on my friends words and advice something that has kept coming back to mind is, believing in the power of now. There is nothing I can do about my past, somedays I hate what I've been through and have done to myself, but then there are days that I am thankful for the pain, and what I've been through. It's made me more appreciative of the simple things in life, such as just sitting and having a conversation with a friend somewhere. We don't have to do anything special, just to be in the presence of someone I like and love means the world. Likewise, there is nothing I can really do to change my future until I believe in the power of now. What I do today will determine my reach for tomorrow. We can control now, and we can control the decisions we make. We reap what we sow, whether good or bad. Magnifying your past, and worrying about your future gets you nowhere! Some of us have to take life second by second because we don't know what's going to happen or how to plan.
SO how does this tie into the church?
It's quite simple, there are many of us who don't "feel" like it's time to get involved with church. Then there are some who don't feel they can possiably make an eternal impact today. The same goes for putting off salvation! We want to keep having a good time and not live under any rules or expectations. (Wow, that statement alone will take a whole blog post!) The point it, there is power in now for the church. Every second of the day someone needs us for something. Remember how we were talking about Barnabas, and his encouragement? Because he reached out and encouraged people, they trusted him and began to listen to him...Barnabas made eternal impact by believing in the power of now.
So what's it gonna be ya'll? You gonna lay on the couch another day and feel you have nothing to offer, or that all hope is lost? Hope is never lost. Hope is a precious commodity. It is not some warm and fuzzy idea about progress. Hope is not optimism. Optimism is faith in humans and human potential. Hope is rooted in someone beyond ourselves who has demonstrated that possibilities exist beyond both our abilities and our imagination. Hope is relinquishing control over life in the sense of entrusting the future to this holy one who offers us nothing more than a promise. Sometimes things look hopeless through a human perspective. But we do have hope, we believe in the birth of our Savior, we believe in His life, we believe in His resurrection and so we are prisoners of hope. What an image! We do not cling to hope, trying to manage. That is not hope at all. That is merely an attempt to control, to maintain the status quo which inevitably ends in death.

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13

Generate Power: Pray for and Encourage Each Other

2011-05-23T20:35:00.004-04:00

"One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus."
-Acts 13:2-4

Writing on my blog makes me so happy! So, lately, I've been studying through the book of Acts. Acts, is still being written today, as the church continues to progress. It is important that every Christian know the power they possess through the Spirit. But more importantly than that, I believe every Christian has a responsibility to pray over and for each other. Remember in the last post we looked all through the book of Acts, instances where things happened as a result of prayer. In our key verse for today, because a group of men were worshiping they heard from God, and were told to "dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work." After fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out to do the work. We should do the same for each other. Prayer is an essential element in God's plan for His children, it's part of God's strategy for touching and changing the world.
Barnabas was known as an encourager. Think about the people who really matter in your life. Chances are, many of them are encourager's who have found ways to help you keep going. Lately, I've been having to dig myself out of a hole I buried myself in. I've been SO thankful for the encourager's in my life these past few days to hang in there. I ran into one of them at lunch today, it was so good to see her! We talked for a while, I've also been in close contact with two of my former teachers who have to literally talk to me everyday and assure me that I am going to make it. That's who Barnabas was. He was the kind that wouldn't give up on you. His actions were crucial to the early church. God used his actions and relationship with Paul and Mark when they were on the brink of failing. It's not unchristian to struggle with discouragement, it happens to all of us. We are surrounded by people we can encourage.
Our main source of power is the Holy Spirit which is activated by the action of prayer. Next post, we'll take a closer look at the Holy Spirit, for now go encourage someone. Pray for others. Love on others. After all we all bite off more than we can chew sometimes. We were not created to be alone, and do things alone.

Generate Power: Pray

2011-05-16T14:14:00.002-04:00

"They all met together continually for prayer..."
Acts 1:14

Not long ago I did a series on prayer, if you look back in the December archives, the series was entitled "How Effective is Prayer?" You may find it helpful to look back and refresh your mind on what prayer really is. Sometimes it's easy to loose sight of understanding how important this is in our Christian lives and what God expects of us.
We remain in a constant dependence on God. In order to accomplish God's purposes in the world, it requires us to devote ourselves to relentless prayer in the church. Prayer demonstrates our selflessness and God's self-centeredness. When we come to realize that it is impossible for us to accomplish His purposes in our own strength, we express our dependence upon God through prayer. When you read the story of the early church in the book of Acts, for some prayer was fundamental, rather than being supplemental. They were dependent on God's power. Every major breakthrough for the church in the book of Acts came as a direct result of prayer. Please observe, and pull out your Bible.

1. Acts 4:4
But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children.

Happened as a result of:

Acts 3:1
Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.

2. Acts 4:31
After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Happened as a result of:

Acts 4:29
And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.

3. Acts 6:7
So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Happened as a result of:

Acts 6:3-4
And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

4. Acts 8:1-4
Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

Persecution Scatters the Believers

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
Philip Preaches in Samaria

4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.

Happened as a result of:

Acts 7:59-60
As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

5. Acts 9:18
Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

Happened as a result of:

Acts 9:13
“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!

6. Acts 10:47-48
“Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

Happened as a result of:

Acts 10:9
The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon.

7. Acts 16:33
Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.

Happened as a result of:

Acts 16:25
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

If we want to make disciples in all the nations, then we will need to pray. Notice in these verses above that when the believers prayed the did not ask God to remove the problem, rather they asked that He would help them deal with it. No matter what our circumstances, we should praise God. Others may come to know Christ because of our example. It's like ripples in a pond, the gospel starts in the center, and each wave touches the next, spreading wider and farther. The early church started by touching each other, who in turn touched others until all felt the movement. This is how we change the world.

There is Power in the Name of Jesus

2011-05-15T11:38:00.003-04:00

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8

There is a key word in this verse. If you guessed POWER you are correct! Notice what's cool about this context of the word 'power'; that you will receive power to change the world. A strategy for the church to change the world is laid out in Acts 1:1-14, when the church deviates from this strategy the church becomes ineffective. The book of Acts is a continuation of Jesus' ministry with Jesus' power being invested in believers who are possessed by Jesus, indwelt by Holy Spirit, manifest the life and power of God the Father. This is what we call authentic Christianity.
Jesus says in the verse above that "you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth." Recently, a pastor I listen to preached on this verse while I was preparing for this series on the power of the church, ironic how God works. There are 3 dimensions of people mentioned in this verse: Jerusalem referring to the people who have grown up in church and around all the "religious people" yet, have never come to make a decision for themselves about Jesus; they have been riding the wave of their parents and grandparents. Then there are those who have have been living in Judea or Vegas, as the pastor described it. Buried up to their neck in sin, living the sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle. Finally, there are those living in Samaria; people who feel so far from God, circumstances and hurts have taken them from the Father's side. The pastor gave us a visual using the Grand Canyon, it's like these people are standing on the edge of the cliff and feel miles and miles from the Savior. Jesus wants us to reach these people, and to the ends of the earth can even be in our own churches, right here on this blog. We have to power to reach these people, even those to the end of the earth in other tribes and nations, to those who have never heard.
Those of us who have grown up in church, which would include myself, you'll recall the hymns we sing include lyrics containing message of the power of God. I was just singing "There is a Fountain" this morning in my quiet time and sang about the power in verse 3:
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood Shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God Be saved, to sin no more:
Be saved, and sin no more, Be saved, and sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God Be saved, to sin no more.

His blood saves everyone! What's even more His blood continues to save those of us who already believe, He saves us from ourselves everyday. The Power of His blood is strong enough to save to the ends of the Earth.
How about this hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus Name! Penned by Edward Perronet, this hymn has earned him an indelible place in the history of church music, and in missionary history. Missionary to India, Rev. E. P. Scott wrote of trying to reach a savage tribe in the Indian subcontinent. While over there he met a large party of warriors who surrounded him, their spears pointed at his heart. Expecting to die at any moment, Scott took out his violin, breathed a prayer, closed his eyes, and began singing, "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name!" When he reached the words, "Let every kindred, every tribe," he opened his eyes. There stood the warriors, some in tears, every spear lowered. Scott spent the next two years evangelizing the tribe. There is power in the name of Jesus, and we have a responsibility as believers to exhibit that power and change the world. Hope you will join me on this mission.

This is the launching of a series about the Power of the Church based on the book of Acts. The series title will be "This is How We Change the World: Authentic Christianity." I will be outlining how the church changes the world, and how the book of Acts is still being written to this very hour.
Activate your power and pray! I will post on this tomorrow.

Humble Yourselves

2011-05-13T23:15:00.002-04:00

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
-James 4:10

Humbleness is the opposite of pride. God has been talking to me a lot about being humble, and he has certainly continued to humble me, and keep me humble over my short life. In reading the book, Radical written by David Platt, He challenges Christians to give up the "American Dream." The whole idea of health, wealth, and prosperity and surrender fully to a holy God with all that we really have and say "take me, and use me." He'll humble you alright. Is it worth it? Yes. I speak from experience, so hear me out.
First and foremost, I've never had a lot, I'm only 22 so life is just getting started, hard to believe with all that I've gone through in life. However, I've always had a roof over my head, and enough food to eat. I got my first job at a hospital as a stock clerk, I loved my job and I made a little more than minimum wage. I was far from having my life together, but I was making an honest paycheck. So fast forward to today. I'm working at McDonald's at minimum wage probably a job most consider low. I can laugh now...I guess, but in my job search for nearly 4 years I kept saying, "No, I'm not going to work at McDonald's! I have excellent work experience, an incredible resume, I have an education...etc." I filled out thousands of applications, I was off the couch knocking on doors, calling people, applying for the jobs that would pay good and get me on the way to living a comfortable life on my own. But I had to humble myself...rather God had to humble Allison.
Here's what I've learned. There's nothing wrong with having a lot of material things, if God has blessed you in that department praise the Lord. But maybe we were made for more than just accumulating worldly treasures. God has humbled me in giving me a job at McDonald's, and he has shown me in more ways in one why I am suppose to be there. And after all, didn't our Savior, Jesus humble himself by coming to live among people like us? To die a humble death on a cross stripped of everything. That's what God wants from us. When it's just you and God what does he see? When he strips away everything you hide behind, does he see a reflection of himself, or does he see arrogance and pride? That's all that matters. He can only use those who humble themselves in the sight of himself, and then, and only then will he raise us up. We have to come back to the truth that it is not all about us.
God spoke to me one Monday not long ago as I went to pick my paycheck up. Actually, He has said this on a few occasions. Each time gets louder though. He said, "Allison, (he knows my name) You work in a place that needs to know, experience, see, enjoy, and feel my love. You are here because people need hope, and a good example of my love. Your actions convey my love. I have chosen you to work here because you are willing to humble yourself and allow me to shine through you. You are not here by mistake, these people need you." Those were His words. At that moment one of my co-workers came in to get her check bawling...in tears and I was given an opportunity to do just what the Lord had talked to me about. I work unto the Lord.
Whether God has already humbled you, are you are in the midst of being humbled hang in there, it's not easy or pleasurable...sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do. Life is not fair. But God has a purpose and plan, and until we humble ourselves God will never be able to fully use our lives to it's fullest potential in and through Him.

Give Love Away

2011-05-10T14:27:00.005-04:00

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:16-18

Today I hit the streets of Charlotte in a mission to "Give Love Away." In the summer of 2009, I went on a "Give Love Away" tour mission trip to Dallas, Texas. Without saying much we'll just say that trip was disappointing, but God still used us, and now today I'm still trying to give Jesus' love away. I'm thinking from now on I will do this once a week, a give love away day and I invite anyone who wants to join me to join me. I told God that if He gave me a job I would use the money I made to spread his name to my surroundings and wherever He wants me to go. So that's what I'm doing.
I went by my work, McDonald's where we LOVE to see you smile! I ordered 4 burgers and had my people put them in individual bags and I put tracts in the bags. I also had water in a cooler as today is very HOT!
In addition, I prayed for every church I passed, which so far has been 6. I specifically prayed that the church would continue serving the Lord in truth. To turn their hearts towards Christ, that they would start fulfilling the great commission. That if there is pride and arrogance in the pews that it would leave and people would repent. I also prayed that people in that church would accept others because of God's great love for them.
My response was gratefullness which really surprised me, because everyone feels entitled these days. I gave water away to people working outside picking up trash, stuff like that. Some people turned me down and I guess thought I was a stupid white girl, who knows. I ended up going to the rougher part of town...Smiles and pepper spray right? God protected me. But that is where Jesus needs to be heard, not in comfortable nice neighborhoods persay.
Right now my mission field is my college I feel. I have prayed even before starting there that God would use me in my school to encourage others, be a friend to the friendless, and be available in whatever way God wants to use me there. God has used me at Central Piedmont, and I am so grateful. Not only have I had the chance to impact others, but I have others impact me. It's simple stuff really, you don't have to throw the Bible up under people and be annoying to people in your "religious" life. The aim is to be cool with people, not scare them away with trying to be better than them. Just a little word of advise. The mission field is all around us.

Pride

2011-05-08T19:07:00.003-04:00

"Through pride the devil became the devil. Pride leads to every vice, it's the complete anti-God state of mind." -C.S. Lewis

One of things I love about Spring and Summer other than pollen and sneezing every 3 seconds is being able outside after being in hibernation for the winter. I enjoy getting up and going out on the deck and listen to creation wake up and "talk" to each other. I'll take my Bible with me and whatever book I'm reading and sit and meditate on things. For a while now I've known I wanted to write on pride but have been waiting for God to reveal what about pride to write. I started to really think about it in Theatre Appreciation class (what else is new right? I told you that class changed my life). We watched "Oedipus", and my professor kinda lectured that Oedipus' major character flaw was pride. Then I got to thinking, pride sneaks up on us sometimes and we don't even know it's pride that is affecting certain areas of our lives.
Pride is referred to as one of the seven deadly sins. Why? Well like C.S. Lewis states in the above quote, "through pride the devil became the devil." We often use Isaiah 14:12-15 as a parallel to Satan:

"How you are fallen from Heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, 'I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.'

It is dangerous territory to trod when we start trying to be higher than God. So this morning as I sat on my deck I was thinking about the book I just finished reading called, "Radical Together." And I was thinking about the selfish pride we possess in our churches today. I asked God to lead somewhere in the Bible this morning that shows an example of pride. So God lead me to Genesis 11, the story of the tower of Babel. I want to focus on verse 4-6 which states:

"Let's build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies-a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep is from scattering all over the world." But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. "Look!" he said. "If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them!"

The tower of Bable was a great human accomplishment. But it was a monument to the people themselves rather than to God; it was to their greatness. But isn't that exactly what is happening in some of our churches? We have become so self-centered. We organize OUR churches as if God exists to meet OUR needs, cater to OUR comforts, and appeal to OUR preferences. Discussions in the church revolve around what WE WANT rather than what HE WILLS. The church becomes a means of self-entertainment and a monument to self-sufficiency. We need to realize that as a church; a body of believers, it is impossible for us to accomplish his purpose in our own strength.
So often, churches do not want to invite others in because it is THEIR church, there is no room for an outsider. They built a tower so it would bring them together and keep them from scattering all over the world. However, that was not God's plan. I've never really understood why God would see this as a bad thing, that nothing would be impossible for them. You see as followers of Christ, our dependency is in Christ our Savior. He delights in showing his glory by giving us everything we need for the accomplishment of his purpose. When we see ourselves as completely dependent, desperate children of God who love exclusively for him, then we will give ourselves in total abandonment to him for his great purpose in the world: the declaration of his gospel and the demonstration of his glory to all the peoples of the earth. We want to stay comfortable in our churches speaking the same language, but God is saying, "No! You need to go and scatter throughout the world and take my name to the streets!" Get off the pew, get off the couch, and go!
We need to also pray, one way to get rid of pride is to humble yourself before an Almighty God and realize He doesn't need you, that is why we are dependent on Him. He is the one who sustains and upholds our lives. Humbled by the reality of a self-existent, self-sustaining, self-sufficient God, chooses us. God does not need you, God does not need me, not my church, our conferences, conventions, programs, building...none of it. Do you know why God involves us in his grand, global purpose? Because He loves us, and has chosen to show his power through us.
A.W. Tozer wrote a book entitled, The Knowledge of the Holy, in it he writes this:

Almighty God, just because He is almighty, needs no support. The picture of a nervous, ingratiating God fawning over men to win their favor is not a pleasant one; yet if we look at the popular conception of God that is precisely what we see. Twentieth-century Christianity has put God on charity. So lofty is our opinion of ourselves that we find it quite easy, not to say enjoyable, to believe that we are necessary to God...

I'll close with a quote from a pastor I like, Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He challenges my thinking. This is important for people understand: "Insecurity is not humility. Confidence is not pride. Don't let religion make you timid. Be bold in Jesus."