A Forgiving Heart

  In this life, there will be people who will come across your path who will hurt you.  Unfortunately, getting hurt is simply inevitable, and moving past those hurts can be challenging. Although it can be challenging to forgive those who have hurt you, you can move forward in forgiveness. The greatest example of forgiveness happened over 2,000 years ago, as Jesus hung on a old-rugged cross.  After being repeatedly beaten, mocked, and bruised for something He hadn't done, He asked God to forgive those who committed these acts against Him. It goes without saying, that none of us have gone through anything remotely as cruel as what was done to Jesus; so why is it so challenging to forgive? Jesus tells us why He asked God to forgive them- "They know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Could it be that some of those who have hurt you, simply didn't know what they were doing? Romans 7:15 says, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing." What I have found to be true in my own life, is that I allow those hurtful thoughts to run free in my mind. As a result, it revives those negative feelings of hurt all over again. What are you doing with the thoughts of negativity, as they try to consume your mind?  Are you entertaining them or are you casting them down with the word of God? These are all questions we should ask ourselves on a daily basis. It is very necessary to evaluate your thought process, and it may just scare you when you find out what you are thinking about! I had to ask myself, why I was reliving an ordeal that happened six years ago. The truth of the matter is, that we all have said or done something that we wish we hadn't. The remaining truth is, that we can't change those things we have done in our past. Once we become born-again believers, we are new creatures and all things are passed away, behold made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). God desires for us to have a forgiving heart.  He doesn't want us walking in unforgiveness, bitterness or strife. All that unforgiveness does is hold you in bondage,and that is contrary to God's will for your life. The bible says, Jesus came so that we would have life and life more abundantly.  There is no abundant life in unforgiveness, because it can eventually start to affect your health and make you sick. Pray for a forgiving heart and do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Remember, that blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7). We all need a little mercy in our lives-Don't you think. It's FALL time (Forgive and let live)!

The Hi-Jacking!

Have you noticed that whenever a "hijacking" takes place, the plane is always in the air? We hear about airplanes being hijacked all the time, but I wonder how many of us really think about the term "hijacked". Hijacked means to illegally seize an aircraft, ship, or vehicle, that is in transit and force it to go to a different destination or use it for ones's own purposes. How many times has this happened to us? I'm sure you can think of a time that you started off in one direction but ended up in a totally different one. Or when you have prayed and wondered if God even heard your prayer. It may just be that a hijacking in the spirit has taken place. The thing about a hijacking is that they usually take place when the airplane is reaching its altitude. As soon as the plane is in auto pilot, they want to come in and hijack the airplane so that they can crash it. In Daniel 10:12, the angel tells Daniel the first day he prayed God heard him. Well if God heard him-what happened? Daniel 10:13 says, "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia." You mean to tell me Daniel's prayer was hijacked? Yes, for 21 days by the prince of Persia. That had to be a serious prayer, prayed by a serious saint, If it took Michael, one of the chief princes, to come and help the angel! This shows how persistent these hijacking spirits are, and we need to be just as persistent. The prayer was headed up and just when it was about to reach its altitude, the hijackers show up and try to crash the airplane! When Jesus was on the boat with the disciples, the storm raged just as Jesus had fallen asleep. Luke 8:22-23 says, "One day Jesus said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side of the lake.' So they got into a boat and set out.  As they sailed, he fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger." The storm raged and frightened the disciples, but Jesus, when awakened, commanded it to behave. First notice that Jesus spoke "let us go", then while in transit, Jesus went to sleep! Hijackers always come when there is motion; when you are trying to get somewhere; when there is a goal you are trying to reach; or when you are at the point of smooth sailing. It may seem like Jesus has fallen asleep while your ship or airplane is being hijacked, don't worry, because as long as you've got Jesus on the flight- it's all good! 

So, What Exactly Are You Saying?

Examining ourselves can sometimes be challenging, especially, in the beginning of your walk with God. Although no one wants to walk in the wrong spirit, it does happen. A prayer that I have grown to pray on a regular basis is, "Lord show me myself, and help me to walk in the right spirit." The challenge with this is that if your loins aren't girded up, your feelings may get a little hurt! The apostle Paul put it this way in Romans 7:15 (NIV), "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not, but what I hate I do." I found out in a hurry, by praying that prayer, that God had plenty of work to do in me! The bible tells us that, He that has BEGUN a work in you shall complete it even until the day of Jesus Christ. In other words, you are a work in progress until Jesus Christ returns and all things are perfected. One thing that God really brought to my attention about myself were the words that I would speak, which resulted from what I was thinking. So a man thinketh, so is he! Once a thought enters your mind it will eventually make its way out of your mouth, bringing forth its fruit. In the book of Genesis, God SAID let there be light and there was light. God SAID! God SAID! God said! Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Let me go a little further, James tells us in chapter 3:7-8, "All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." So, not only is it (your tongue) powerful, but is full of deadly poison.

One word can change the whole meaning of a statement. For example, It bothers me when I am late going somewhere. I understand that there are some times that you will be late, because things can happen. But because I try to examine myself regularly, I can tell when it is getting out of control, so I try to nip it in the bud fast. Well, in the course of self-examination, I spoke, "I have to do better." Well-my spirit didn't set right with the statement, and I pondered it for a moment. After pondering the statement for a while, I spoke, " I WILL DO BETTER!" One word changed the whole meaning of this statement. I have to do better was in my heart, and there's nothing wrong with that, but at some point we must tame our mouths to speak those things that are not as though they were. 

The following is an excerpt from Beth McLendon, Inspirational-Prayers website (Inspirational-Prayers.com). This website has a large number of prayers and inspiration, if  you are interested in reading some of them.  

We begin with Isaiah 14:12-15 in the New King James Version. This passage is about Lucifer's rebellion against God. Lucifer is the one we now call Satan. As you read the passage, see if you can pick out the two Power Words that Satan used to establish his rebellion against God. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest side of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.” Did you catch the two power words that Lucifer used to seal his determination against God? They are the words “I will.”

Pay attention to the words that are coming out of your mouth. It may just be your words that's poisoning your life-marriage, finances, spiritual growth, and/or your relationships. Instead of asking what's in your wallet, ask yourself what's in your mouth!

Embracing Celibacy: Part I

I’m sure most of you have heard the saying, “The best things come to those who wait!” Those use to be the last words I wanted to hear. After all, we are living in a “popcorn” generation, where everything comes almost instantly. The rapid advancement of technology is teaching not only our kids, but us, that we shouldn’t have to wait for anything.  I believe that we have inherited, what I will call, the JG Wentworth syndrome: “It’s mine and I want it now!” I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that is not how life often works. Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV) says, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” What this scripture tells me is that someone before JG Wentworth, had this same ideology. It didn’t work for them and it won’t work for you either!

Sex before marriage is outside the will of God.  The bible teaches us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19, NIV). Our bodies were never meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:13).  When we indulge in sexual activity before marriage, we commit sin against our own bodies. The bible, therefore, warns to flee all sexual immorality. We know that the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and she became pregnant with Jesus. I believe it’s also important to note that Joseph did not touch her until Jesus was born. “But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus” (Matthew 1:25). You mean to tell me Joseph had to wait even after they were married? Yep. Joseph waited until Jesus was born before he touched his wife. For me, this showed Mary’s body being used as a temple of the Holy Spirit!

There is a blessing waiting for you.  The story of Ruth is one of my favorite stories.  It depicts how one decision can change the rest of your life and even affect the lives of others. Little did Ruth know that there was a blessing waiting for her on the other side of her decision! Ruth 2:11-12 (NIV) reads: Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth’s decision to leave everything that was familiar to her to pursue something totally unfamiliar, I’m sure, was uncomfortable for her. But because of her love for Naomi, she went. As a result, she received her blessing-Boaz! Although there are many reasons why people say they have premarital sex, the bottom line is that we are fulfilling the desires of the flesh and not of the spirit. The bible tells us to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh. “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5, NIV). You cannot serve two masters; you will either love the one or hate the other (Matthew 6:24).  

You are worth the wait.  I believe that this has been the hardest thing for me to really get. You are worth the wait, ladies! The bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”  Did you know that if a butterfly comes out of its cocoon too early it will die? Did you know that you have flowers that die in the winter but will bloom again in the summer?  Did you know that David did not immediately take the throne as king? Jacob WORKED 7 years for Rachael’s hand! “So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her” (Genesis 29:20, NIV). God is so awesome that you don’t even have to look for him, he will find you. Proverbs 18:22 reads: “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD!” If your husband hasn’t found you yet, maybe God still has him in surgery! 

How can I Travel In His Will?

Before becoming a born-again believer, I use to always say that I had to stop doing this and stop doing that.  I found myself trying to abruptly stop fornicating, using bad language, listening to secular music, etc.  For me, none of this worked and I found myself back in the same place I'd started.  After a few times of this, I was almost tempted to just give up, but then decided I would try one last thing. It wasn't that I didn't want to walk in God's will or stop doing the things I was doing, I just didn't know how. I knew in my heart that I'd missed it somehow. There was something I was missing, but I didn't understand what it was. I didn't know anything else to do, but cry out to Him. I knew If I didn't change my ways, I would end up in hell.  I don't know about you, but I sweat a lot here on earth! Hell was the last place I wanted to make my final destination! After trying everything I knew how, I began crying out to God to save me from my sins. Night after night, I would lie in the bed and cry myself to sleep, thinking of where I would go if He was to call me home. It wasn't a Cindy Trim or Juanita Bynum type of prayer, but it was from my heart.  That's what God wants is our heart.  God looks at our hearts and motives, so it's best to keep it real with God!  My prayer went a little something like this:

"God you promised me. You promised me! If I don't stop these things that I am doing, I am going to hell. God I don't want to be separated from you for eternity.  God are you listening to me?  Have you forgotten about me?  I know that I haven't done all the right things, but I need You.  I don't know what else to do.  Everything that I have tried to do has failed and I can't go on living like this anymore.  My soul is longing for You and no matter what man I have in my life, he still doesn't fulfill this hunger in me. God forgive me! Help me!  I can't do this by myself.  God do you hear me?" 

 I was right where God wanted me. I was at that place where the bubbles burst-brokenness-I can't do anything without You, Lord!  The bible says that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us.  It is not by any strength of our own that we are able to do anything. It's through Him that we move, breathe and have our being! We travel towards the will of God when we begin to solely rely on Him for our every need. His word tells us that we should not put anything before Him, but in all our ways acknowledge Him, and He promises to direct our paths. When we began to allow our steps to be ordered by the Lord, we travel towards His will and our will becomes more and more faint.

What are your children learning at school?

I recently ran across a few very disturbing articles that prompted me to blog about it. I cannot stress enough how important it is for Christians to get up and see what's going on. It is time to take inventory in our homes, schools, and on our jobs.  Apparently, an elementary math teacher in Mississauga, Ontario, took it upon herself to impose her homosexual views on her students. According to reports, Alicia Gunn, uses her math class to teach at least 4-5 students to accept homosexuality.  Gunn, who is married to another woman, uses what she calls "social justice" to carry out her deceitful mission. Why is this deceitful you ask? It's deceitful because the parents know nothing about it! ("For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.")

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

How dare you Alicia Gunn, take it upon yourself to instill something of this nature into someone's child without their permission? God calls homosexuality...sin and if a person chooses to raise their child up in the admiration of God, you have no right to do otherwise. Shame on us as Christians to stand by and allow such injustices to continue on! Shame on us! Shame on us! God has given us POWER to trample scorpions and snakes, yet we deny that power. ("Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."). Shame on us! We are becoming watered-down. God said that we are the salt of the earth, but what good is it if it loses its flavor? ("Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."-Mat 5:13)

Jesus knew who He was ("I and the Father are one") and He knew His purpose ("I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows").  Are we understanding who we are? Are we understanding our purpose? 

Next, another middle school teacher, Courtney Spruill, is suspended for fifteen days for teaching her students how to twerk. Why should a middle school teacher be teaching students how to use their bodies in such a seductive way?  Is this okay with you parents? Do you want a spirit of seduction indwelling in your child?

A 55 year-old math teacher at Auckland Grammar school, was sentenced to nine months' supervision and 80 hours of community work for masturbating in class after watching porn. This is a sure gateway to let demonic spirits into the schools.

A teacher at Faith Academy was caught having sex with a student and is facing a felony charge. Did you know that the age of consent is now 16 in the state of Alabama? That's right! The LAW says that your 16-year old can have consensual sex at 16.  God's word calls any consent without marriage-SIN. So now the law is giving our children permission to go out here and sin against God's word. Will the real saints please stand!!!!

These are just a few stories that I found disturbing; there are plenty more. When are we going to say enough is enough?  It is our responsibility as parents to raise our children up in the knowledge of God. "Teach a child in the way he should go and when he gets old he will not depart from it." Again, I ask you Christians--Do you know what your children are learning in school?

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lesbian-i-use-math-class-to-teach-young-kids-about-homosexuality-so-i-can-h

http://club937.com/florida-middle-school-teacher-suspended-for-teaching-students-how-to-twerk/

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/69949138/Teacher-caught-in-lewd-act-in-class-revealed-as-being-from-Auckland-Grammar

http://www.fox10tv.com/story/29876859/breaking-former-faith-academy-teacher-arrested

WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING IN YOUR HAND?

If you have ever played cards, you know that you don't always get the hand you want.  I remember playing cards and being dealt the worse hand known to man.  I looked at my partner and I said, "I'm not playing this!  I could call everyone in this room with this hand!" Just as I was about to throw in my hand, my partner said, "Hey! Don't forget you have a partner." 

As I was driving my eldest son to school, I began elaborating on how my current situation could end.  In doing so, I began thinking to myself, "These attacks just won't stop, God. I feel like I'm losing this battle." So what do you do when the hand that you are holding, looks like garbage? Or when you are being pressed on every side? Or when you try your best to do what is pleasing to God but the attacks get stronger? Or what about when those tears you held back for so long, began streaming down your face? 

What if, while we are asking God all these questions, He has a question for us? Exodus 4:2 says, "Then the Lord asked him, What's that in your hand?" God already knew what was in his hand; Moses just didn't realize what he had. We must realize and really understand that we are in a real war, with a read adversary, with a real motive to take us out.  However, we must also realize that we have a partner! A partner who knows what He is doing; who never sleeps nor slumbers.  Don't throw in your hand because of how it looks. Put on your poker face and learn how to play the cards that you were dealt.  It's not about the cards you're holding, but who you are partners with and what you will do with the cards you are holding.