Word of the Day: There's A Lesson To Be Learned From....Your Hair?

That's right! I said it! There's a lesson to be learned from your hair! Luke 12:7 says that the very hairs on our head are numbered. There are some very interesting facts about hair that not everyone knows. Did you know that the hair on your head is made up of dead cells? You wouldn't think so, but it's true. All the hair on the human body is made of up dead cells. God, in his infinite wisdom, used those dead cells for a purpose. For example, the hair on a person's head is used to help keep a person warm since body escapes from the head. Eyelashes are used to keep dust and other particles out of a person's eyes. Now bear with me here, because I have a point!

A person really can learn a lot about their spiritual walk from their hair. Don't laugh because it's true! Every person in the body of Christ has dealt with issues of sin since they were born. Psalm 51:5 tells us that were were born into iniquity. So it's inevitable that sin and death become part of our lives. As we grow and get older, we make decisions that aren't always beneficial to ourselves or the people around us. Most of the time we end up saying "Why did I do that?" or "I am seriously gonna regret this!" I have done this before myself, but there is good news!

How many of you like your hair? How many of you think that you have a beautiful head of hair? Well, God is very wise and chose to take something that should be bad and use it for something beautiful! Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." God can take all of the bad stuff we do and make something beautiful out of it, and here's why! There are tiny little blood vessels at the base of each hair follicle. It's only when the hair breaks through the skin that the hair dies. The good news is that even though we sin on a daily basis, we are covered by the blood of Jesus! Hebrews 9:13-14 says "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

So the next time you look in the mirror and see your hair, whether you are having a bad hair day or your hair is looking great, just remember that God can use the "dead cells" we produce for something beautiful!

The Least of These

How many of you, in your walk with God, have felt like you haven't made a difference? Have you ever felt like you are the insignificant one? Do you sometimes feel you don't have what it takes to make a difference?

All too often, believers in God feel that their help has gone unnoticed or that they haven't been of help to anyone. They often feel like the "least of these."

How many of you know who Gideon is? Let me tell you a little something about Gideon. Israel was under oppression by the Midianites. When God asked for Gideon to help deliver Israel out of the hands of the Midianites, Gideon told him that his clan was the weakest, and he was the lowest one in his family.

How many of you know who David is? The Lord sent Samuel to anoint a new king for Israel. He sent him to the house of Jesse of Bethlehem. When Samuel arrived, he saw Eliab, a tall and strong man, but God told him not to take his appearance into consideration. So Jesse continued to bring out his finest sons and presented them to Samuel, but God continued to reject them. When Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other sons, Jesse said that his other son was out tending the sheep. Jesse hadn't even taken his youngest son into consideration.

So what happened with Gideon and David? Well, Gideon recruited 32,000 men to help him fight the Midianites but God sent away most of the men, leaving Gideon with only 300 men to fight the Midianites. With God's help and instruction, Gideon and those 300 men defeated the Midianites! David was anointed and the Spirit of the Lord stayed with him. David went on to prove his true strength and worth by defeating Goliath with just a sling and 3 small stones.

If you take a look at both of these men, they were considered the least of these. Gideon's clan was the weakest and he was the least in his family. Jesse didn't even present David to Samuel when Samuel was looking for the future king. Yet both of these men did great things in God! God used these men in mighty ways.

What people don't realize is that God had already equipped both of these men for the tasks ahead of them. "Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to Him..." -Hebrews 13:20-21. God equips his people for the work that lies ahead of them, but sometimes we fail to realize that we have everything we already need. When the Lord asked Gideon to save Israel from the Midianites, the first thing he said was "Go in the strength you have..." (Judges 6:14). A friend of mine talked last week about a word like this. He quoted Numbers 13:30 which says, "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, 'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we are more than able to do so.'" I agree with what my friend said, that "sometimes we feel like a drop in a bucket, but it only takes one drop to create a ripple effect." We may only be one person, but all it takes is one person doing the will of God to do great things!

You may forget sometimes who God has called you to be, but don't worry! He will always be there to remind you! "So I will always remind you of these things even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have." -2 Peter 1:12

Peter, The Waves, The Sirens, and The Truth

Another thought that has been on my mind the last few days that I want to talk about....The story of Peter walking on the water toward Jesus is very commonly used. Most people know it well. Now, the one thing about this story that is focused on is why Peter looked at the waves and away from Jesus. Fear... Fear caused Peter to look away from Jesus, and he began to sink. BUT if you think about it for a moment, those waves represent so much more than fear... and fear is not the only reason why people look at the waves. Those waves represent the world and everything that we struggle with. Ephesians 6:12 says "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Temptation, lies, etc., all have a way of stealing our attention. And it would be so easy to give in to them because it's what the world does. Every single day, we battle against a world dead set on making us conform, which is what the bible warns us against in Romans 12:2. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." A good example that I can give you comes from this book that I read recently called The Siren. Most of you know what sirens are. These people are out on the water in a boat, and they hear this beautiful singing. It calls to them, and they have to get to it no matter what. All these people go up to the main deck and begin to throw themselves overboard. Only when they are in the water, drowning, do they realize where they are and what they have done. They fight and fight to save themselves but they can't. They all drown. Those waves, the sin, temptation, lies... they all come in the form of a siren because if we knew their real purpose or intention, and the consequences, we wouldn't have any part of it. The part where all of this gets really difficult is when we know what we face... we don't know what form it will take, but we know that it's out there waiting for us. When Peter walked out on the water toward Jesus, he didn't know what to expect, but he stepped out of the boat anyway. When we put ourselves in Peter's position, we realize that we are walking on those waves everyday toward Jesus. We don't just face fear, but sin, temptation, lies, conformity... all of it. And to be honest, sometimes it is so hard to keep our focus on Jesus because we are human. We stumble, we fall, we make mistakes. While being human isn't an excuse for us to sin or give into sin, it does happen. Those waves are right there beside us and behind us, and they can crash down in front of us trying to block our path. It's impossible to NOT see the waves, but whether or not we choose to turn our heads toward them is another story.

BUT, here's the thing!!! A friend of mine recently talked about these two verses, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about them. There is a solution. The reason why I am talking about all this is because of an experience I had today. I was presented with a choice. I could have taken the wrong path and given into temptation. And, I must confess that it was tempting. I was at odds with myself because part of me wanted to, and the other part of me knew that it wasn't a good idea. That's when this first verse popped into my mind. James 4:7 says "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." There is a reason why Jesus wanted Peter to keep his eyes on Him. The reason is that there is the world, and there is God and Jesus. There's no other place for us to look. If we aren't looking at God and Jesus, we are looking at the world, and the world offers us no solutions! When we submit ourselves to God, we submit ourselves to the truth and His will. God's will for us is perfect. He protects us from evil and harm. AND not only that but, John 8:31-32 says, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." The waves and the things of this world come in the form of a lie! Satan wants to draw you in, and he is willing to deceive you at any extent to make you stumble. They don't call him the father of lies for nothing. However, when you submit to God and stay in his word, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free! Satan will not be able to stick around Boom!

Word of the Day- All My Single (Not Really Single, Secretly Married) Ladies! :)

Attention all my single ladies!! I know that many of us want to be wonderful wives someday! How many of you have prayed for God to prepare you for your future husband? I have prayed this many times, because it is my desire to be the best wife that I can be someday. Well, what if I told you that you can prepare yourself to be an amazing wife by learning with the husband that you already have? Ephesians 5:22 instructs wives to submit to their husbands. What if I told you that you are already married? Lol :) Feel free to check out your marriage license if you don't believe me! Here is my own personal copy: Isaiah 54:5- "For you maker is your husband- the Lord Almighty is His name- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all earth." 

Here's the thing though... Most people believe that they are emotionally and physically ready to say "I do," but find that they aren't spiritually ready. It takes more than two people for a marriage to work. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (NLT) 

Here are some good tips that us single ladies can use with our current husband ;)

1.) Good communication with your husband is a must! (Matthew 6:6- But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.)

2.) Make sure that you always spend quality time with your husband! (Matthew 6:33- But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.)

3.) Always have faith in your husband- that He will always be there for you, love you, and take care of you! (Hebrews 11:6-  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.)

Now we all are gonna have our days where it becomes difficult! I mean let's face it: no relationship is perfect! God's love for us is perfect though! A great way for us to start each day is by submitting the day to God when you first wake up in the morning :) Ask God what His will is for your day. He will never steer you wrong! Just take this marriage one day at a time! Drawing closer to God and giving each day to Him will be so fulfilling! It will prepare you spiritually, and you will find that you are already in the most wonderful, romantic, joyful relationship ever!