I'm Gonna Let It Shine

Hey Guys!

I have an interesting word to share that God has been showing me for a little while in little glimpses. It finally all came together yesterday, and I wanted to share it with you!

I recently had two incredible experiences that are near and dear to my heart. Not too long ago during the night, I had woken up from a deep, peaceful sleep. I had been spending a lot of time with God and enjoying the time in his presence. I had been listening to worship music on the radio and taking in all the beauty of it. Well, this night when I had awoken, it wasn't because I was restless. I heard a noise around me. I opened my eyes and waited for my vision to clear. All around me I heard singing, and it wasn't just any singing! I hear the words from Chris Tomlin's song, Good Father! Sweet, beautiful voices were singing ".....the tender whisper of love in the dead of night." I called out "Hello?" and the singing stopped. I looked all around the house, but could not find any source of the music. No stereo was playing, and everyone else in the house was still asleep. Then just this last week, I had the strangest dream about Michael W. Smith. He was there in my dream, and he was singing. However, when he started singing, the Holy Spirit was there, and it's like it was singing over me while I slept. Both of these experiences were truly special for me because I knew that God was watching over me while I slept. It reminded me of a passage that I read just a couple weeks ago from Psalms. "By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me." Now, as I was thinking about this last dream I had, God started reminding me of all these amazing Christian songs that talk about the stars: A Million Lights by Michael W Smith, Stars by Skillet, The Promise- by Plus One... I couldn't figure out why He was placing these songs on my heart so strongly. Then God reminded me that my name means "a star." I was getting all of these little puzzle pieces from God but couldn't quite put them together or figure out what He was trying to show me with this. So I began to look up scriptures about the stars, and found that there were numerous scriptures!

Psalm 147:4- He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 

Psalm 136:7- He made the great lights; His love endures forever.

Psalm 148:3- Praise Him. Sun and moon. Praise Him. All you shining stars. 

Psalm 19:1- The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Job 22:12- Is not God in the heights of Heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars!

So I asked God again, "God, why are you showing me all these things? Even though they are seemingly connected, what is it you are trying to tell me? Now, yesterday I was watching a video on YouTube called What You Lost Will Be Found by Dephne Madyara. I decided to watch this because of an experience that my mom and I had been going through over the last ten plus years with my family over an inheritance my dad had left us. I was listening to Dephne talk about the donkeys of Kish and how what was lost will be returned to you just like the donkeys were returned to Kish. I kept thinking about how this whole experience was hard on my mom and I, and how my family was hurting us by doing this. Then, BOOM! The last puzzle piece fell into place! In the middle of this video, God showed me this little bitty clip from one of Tyler Perry's stage productions. In this clip, this woman was dancing across the stage singing "What's done in the dark comes to the light." As I put all the pieces together of what God was telling me, it all made sense! 

Guys, the world has taught us to fear darkness...that darkness is bad. If you look this up online, you will find a word for it: Nyctophobia. When you look on Wikipedia, it defines Nyctophobia as a phobia characterized by a severe fear of the dark. It is triggered by the brain's disfigured perception of what would, or could, happen in a dark environment. I can relate to this because I have a fear of going outside at night after several bad experiences. Shady things tend to happen after the sun goes down. So, why do you suppose people fear the dark? What is it about the dark that makes people pull out their flashlights or take someone with them to be safe? The answer is simple: Because we can't see clearly in the dark and sometimes walk completely blind. It's not the dark that scares us. We simply fear what we cannot see. This is the same in our daily lives. We all too often refer to the trials we go through as "dark times." We give those trials a name, "darkness," and then we turn it into our own personal prison cell. We give power to something that has no power over us. It's like our own "Spiritual Nyctophobia." I was listening to a clip from Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church, and he said that he used to give credit to the devil for things that God was trying to do in his life, and he would try to pray them away. There are things that we will experience in this life that are the works of evil. No one is immune from them, BUT we can bow down to it and give into the fear, OR we can call it out and we can say "I see you for what you are! You are trying to mess with my life, but I am a child of God! As long as I have God, you will never be in control." 

A great example of this is Paul and Silas's journey. 

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.

Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into a literal prison! However, instead of going into a place of fear and despair over their situation, they sat in the jail cell, giving praise to God and worshiping him! Then at midnight, in the literal and spiritual darkest hour, God set them free from their prison! 

So guys, why do you think I have been telling you all these things! I started out talking about the stars and songs, and my experiences, but what does that have to do with all of this? 

This right here is why!

John 1:5- The light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it!

John 8:12- Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 

Guys, God gives us all of these physical and spiritual examples to show us that we don't need to be afraid. We can stand upon the word of God, but God also shows us the moon and the stars... The moon and the stars are there to show us that even though it may look like we are surrounded by darkness, we will be lights in the darkness and it will not overcome us! My name means "a star" and it reminds me that if God an hold all these stars in place, he certainly has a hold on me! Those experiences I had during the night show us that God sings over us in the night to comfort us, protect us, and let us know we are not alone! We don't have to be afraid! 

Violence or Passion

How many of you have heard this expression: "the violence of my affections"... This morning when I really thought about that statement, it didn't sit well within my heart. I know what it means in the context of this statement, however, when you look at both definitions of the word violence, it's not good either way. The first definition: behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. The second definition: strength of emotion or an unpleasant or destructive natural force. Both of these definitions imply that the word has negative connotations to it. After thinking about this, my first thought was: that's not how God's love is! Most people think of fear, brutality, and death when violence is mentioned. 1 John 4:18 says this: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out all fear." When you look at the Bible's definition of love, you can see the clear differences. For example, you can see in 1 Corinthians 13:4 that it describes love as "not easily angered." When you go down to verse 7, it says that "love always protects..." whereas the word violence insinuates the opposite: full of anger and danger. Now, I want you all to think about this: there is another word that describes depth and intensity of emotion. Can anyone guess what that is?

Passion. Most people when they think of the word passion, they think of romance or someone who is very enthusiastic about their job, hobbies, etc. There really isn't any negative connotations to this word, and I will tell you why. Here are the two definitions of passion. The first is: strong and barely controllable emotion. The second is: the suffering and death of Jesus. Think about that! I want you to think about what that really means. To one who doesn't understand why Jesus died in the cross for our sins, they would look at that second definition and say that it has so many negative connotations. "Jesus died, so how is that a good thing?" I will tell you why! Because Jesus endured through the VIOLENCE and death to save us from the same eternal suffering! It was one horrible moment in time for Him that would save us all from an eternal suffering of that same magnitude! John 15:13 says that there is NO GREATER love than to lay down one's life for a friend.

So HERE is the difference between these two words: though both entail suffering, VIOLENCE IS death! It is in the present and it seeks to steal, kill, and destroy! PASSION WAS the death that brought us EVERLASTING LIFE! John3:16- "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

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!

Word of the Day- Let Go and Let God

Luke 22:42- "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Jesus held onto hope that there was another way to save everyone. Surely, no one would want to do what he did. But Jesus left the choice up to God. Jesus came to God and basically asked him if there was another way to save mankind, yet he did not impose his will.

How many of you hold onto things when you really should let go? Jesus held onto hope, but he still chose to follow the will of God. Just imagine if Jesus held onto the fear of pain and death so much so that he decided not to die on the cross for us. Where would we be now? It's so easy to hold onto things that feel or seem better to us. For  widows who lost their spouse, they may be holding onto their anger towards God for taking their loved one. For any lonely person out there, it could be holding onto someone, or the hope of someone, that God never intended them to be with. For any driven and ambitious person, they may hold onto dreams and goals that were never a part of God's will. While these things seem great to us, and we question God why we can't have them, we never question why God doesn't want these things for us. When God said that he had "plans to prosper and not harm you," that is his promise to give you the best that he has to offer you, and that which is best for you. Because God never breaks his word, it means that he may not want you to "be with that guy" or "sing in that band" or "remain in that state of grief." What makes all of this difficult on us is that God gave us free will. God is a gentleman, and he will never force something on you that you don't want. However, when you say that you want God's will but still have an iron grip on what you want, you are tying God's hands. God can't move in your life when you don't give him the option to remove what you don't need or what may hurt you. I don't know if any of you, when you were in junior high, had to go through the classes about the consequences of drinking, but I did. When the officer came in to talk to us, we of course covered all the consequences of drinking and driving. The officer wanted us to actually have a visual understanding what of it was like for a drunk person, so we all had to try on the beer goggles. Now, most of us were just getting a kick out of trying to walk with the goggles on. Some of us veered so far off the straight line that we were running into desks or each other. This is exactly what we are like when we hold onto something too tight. We become so "drunk" on our wants, desires, and/or emotions that we start veering off the path that God wants us to walk down, and we start running into things that hurt us, or we run into other people that are wandering around just as aimlessly. It all comes down to trust! We love God, yet for some reason, we still have a hard time trusting that he knows what is best for us. The thing about love though is that "it always protects (God), always trusts (us)..." (1 Cor. 13:7)

So today, let go and let God! God has wonderful things in store for you!

Word of the Day- To Fear or Not To Fear?

Psalm 16:8- I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

We are not of this world. We were never meant for this world. Death was never part of the picture. Sin was a completely foreign concept. Fear was never even a part of our vocabulary. However, when we were no longer ignorant of the ways of good and evil, we nailed the lids on our coffin, we fought against flesh and blood, and fear was no longer just a word. Most people forget that Jesus is always at our right hand. Here is a perfect example: most people, when they were really little, were afraid of the dark, mostly because they were afraid that something they couldn't see would get them...aka The Boogeyman. So when you were afraid, mom or dad would come to comfort you, and suddenly the dark wasn't scary anymore. You had someone there to protect you from the dark and all the monsters hiding in your closet or under your bed. Let me tell you something: nothing about that has changed. You may be older in this world, but you are still a child of God. So if you know in your heart that Jesus is with you at your right hand, then why do you still walk in fear? Jesus does not walk with you so that you would still be afraid. Fear holds you back from being who God intended you to be. When Jesus died on the cross, he bought back our life for us. He bought back our freedom from sin. He bought back our fearlessness. If you went to the store and bought something life-changing and the store owner tried to take back what you paid good money for, wouldn't you be upset?

John 16:33- "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

1 John 4:18- There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear...

Jesus' love for you is perfect. You know that Jesus loves you... we go through trials and sorrows so that we may grow and thrive. So every time you face a trial, know that Jesus is with you, just like your parents were when you were afraid of the dark. Their love and protection drove away your fears, so let Jesus' love and protection cover you and drive away your fear. Don't take the fear back. Just take Jesus' hand and find your courage and your strength!

Psalm 27:1- The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?

Word of the Day- The Scent of Life and Death

2 Corinthians 2:16-  To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life...

In this world, those who live for the world don't understand the ways of those who are saved. When you live for the world, giving up sinful ways is like death. Since the beginning of time, God has been portrayed as an ogre in the sky who is ready to strike you down if you sin. For those who don't understand who God really is, they see any belief in him as pointless or crazy. A relationship with God isn't viewed as a relationship with God. It is viewed as slavery. God gave us free will. What we as believers need to do is show others the difference between "the freedom to sin" and "the freedom from sin." Show the difference between love and judgement.

"If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy? If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?" -Zedd

Word of the Day- No Comparison

Sometimes you feel like you are behind... like those around you know something that you don't... People sometimes feel that way when it comes to their relationship with God. They look at their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and suddenly, they are comparing their relationship with God with those around them. Now, I have done this myself, so I am guilty as charged. But here is a great way to look at it: consider yourself married to God. In a marriage, what may work for one couple, may not work for another. Each marriage is different, and has it's own way of functioning. And in your walk/relationship with God, treat it like you would a marriage. So in this sense, considering that we are the bridegroom, we should "submit to our husband" (Eph 5:22).

Philippians 2:12-13- “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his purpose.”

Word of the Day- The Purpose In Knowing Your Purpose

Jeremiah 29:11- "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Begin each day as if it were on purpose. You know why you should? You should because you HAVE a purpose. Don't let the struggles in life bring you down. Every day that you wake up is another day that you have a purpose, and each day has a purpose of it's own. And always remember that God is there for you every day, every step of the way.

Deuteronomy 31:6- "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Word of the Day- Knowing Your Authority

Matthew 16:15-19- He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 

Never doubt your authority! This is something that I have been learning about. I was talking to a friend of mine about this very same thing. I felt like I had no authority over certain things happening in my life. I had began to feel like my authority wasn't existent or that I had done something wrong. But the truth is that it was never gone. When Jesus died on the cross, the authority that we lost when we fell into sin was given back to us. So if you are like me, feeling like you don't have the authority, remember it has always been there for you! 

You Were Born For Such A Time As This

There are times I have often wondered, "What is my purpose?" There may be a time in life where it feels like nothing is happening, where it feels like you aren't making a difference, where you honestly wonder if you should be here in the first place... It's so easy in times of trouble to just give up and not even try anymore. Or, there is one of the most common lies that we believe: "I'm too much of a sinner for God to use me." Wrong! Where is the buzzer when you need it? Let me be the first to tell you that I have recently been feeling like nothing is happening in my life, I have felt like I haven't been making a difference, and depression has made me wonder why I am here in the first place. That is never a good place to be for anyone! I can, however, tell you that you do indeed have a purpose, and your purpose is 100% absolutely vital!

Each one of us are members of the body of Christ... we all together make up the body. Now for example, the human body has ten toes... Did you know that if a person loses their big toe, the ability to balance well goes up by 40%? So naturally, all other toes and several other muscles have to compensate for a missing toe, but even then, a person's body will no longer function at 100%. 1 Corinthians 12:21-25 says this: And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those member of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those member of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable part have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. Therefore, you, as a member of the body of Christ, have a purpose that no one else can replace! Esther was a wonderful woman of God. She was once known as Hadassah, and she lived with her cousin because she no longer had a mother and father. She, of all the young women taken to the palace, found favor in the eyes of the king. It was Esther, one single young woman of Jewish origins that helped save the Jewish nation. In times when she could have been found out, God protected her. In times when she could have died, God saved her. God's hand was on Esther because she was fulfilling the purpose that God had given her.

God reassures us many times in His word just how valued we are to him. Many of us sometimes need to just understand our value because when we do, we feel we can fulfill our purpose. Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. We are masterpieces! God does not make junk! Even Psalm 139:14 says that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." God made you to be something special, and before you were even born, he had a purpose for you! No matter how we view ourselves or our purpose, it is all a part of God's plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says this: "For I know the plans I have for you," declared the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." If you trust God with your life, then trust also that he has a purpose for you and that it is blessed!

Now, we all know that if something is not of God, then it must be of Satan. Satan, or Lucifer, was an angel of God, however, he became a fallen angel when pride overtook him. The problem that people have is that they give him more power than what he actually has. People don't see that he is just a created being. God created him beautifully and he knew it... Just before he fell from Heaven, he wanted to be looked at and admired. Well not much as changed. He wanted to be looked at then, and he wants to be looked at now. So, the whole world has given him a spotlight, and he uses it to distract us from our purpose. Some are aware of what he is and some are not. It is easy for him to distract because he can come in any form. 1 Corinthians 11:14 says, "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." Satan will do anything to distract people from their purpose because he knows that we have one. Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Well, for Satan, that just won't work. The bible has a good example of distraction. Nehemiah 6:1-4 says this: When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—  Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. God does want to be seen, and he wants people to focus on him and his purpose for them, but he will not force people to focus on him or follow a purpose. Satan however will do just about anything to get you to look his way. So keep your eyes on God, and Satan will no longer have an audience!

Satan is commonly referred to in the bible as the Father of Lies. There is indeed a very good reason! John 8:44 talks much about this. There is no truth in him. That being said, if there is no truth in him, he will feed you any lie necessary so that he can use it to his advantage. It is important to recognize the lies from the Father of lies. When it comes to your purpose, it is very important! Lies are Satan's most important distraction. Here are some common lies of Satan:

1. Satan can distract you from your purpose by simply trying to make you believe you don't have one. We have already learned though that each one of us does have a purpose, so don't fall into that trap!

2. Satan can distract you from your purpose by making you believe that you are beyond forgiveness, and that if you are beyond forgiveness, then God can't use you. If you honestly believe that you are too much of a sinner and beyond forgiveness, take a look at Paul. He was once known as Saul of Tarsus. Now, "Saul' was a persecutor of Christians. He was a violent man, and had any Christians he came across killed. However, God came to "Saul" on the road to Damascus and blinded him, but his vision was later restored by Ananias of Damascus. Upon regaining his vision, he proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God and shared the word of God wherever he went. In fact, he wrote several books of the Bible which you now read today!

3. Satan can distract you by pointing out your "so-called flaws" so that you focus more about what is supposedly wrong with you than focusing on Jesus and your purpose. This is a difficult one for me, and I struggle with it a lot. This, for many people, could be a number of different things. It could be a struggle with physical appearances, it could be a physical or mental disability, or many other things. For me, right now, Satan is trying to tell me that I am not smart enough to write devotionals, and that what I have written down is stupid. That no one will read these. Wrong! Let's take a look at it this way though: Moses had a stutter and his brother Aaron had to speak for him. Abraham was very old in age... Zacheus was a short little man, David was just a boy but he defeated a giant. The thing about these "so-called flaws" are that they are no more than lies. While we are flawed because of sin, God does not make junk, and He calls anyone that he wants to to do his work despite what the "world" thinks about it. What we need to realize is that lies are just that: lies. Lies are always changing to suit the situation, but Truth is from God and it is absolute! Nothing can change the truth!

If you can recognize the lies, it is easy to not let them distract you or keep you from your purpose. The first thing you should do is ask yourself: "Is that of God?" "Is that how God feels about me?" "Is this really true?" The Holy Spirit will always guide you and give you answers to these question, but if you need reassurance that you can see, go to the Word. If you find that any of the answers are not of God, here what you can do: James 4:7 says,  "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Martin Luther King Jr., a wise man, once said “If a man is called to be a street sweeper... He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” Whatever your purpose is, whether it be a street sweeper or a CEO of a major company, do it well and as unto the Lord. Throw yourself so much into your purpose and focus so much on God that, in this, you will resist the devil and he must flee!

Remember brothers and sisters in Christ, you are called according to his purpose, and he does have a purpose for you! If you are unsure of or are confused on what your purpose is, then pray to God and ask! God is not an author of confusion, so he will always bring clarity!

"...Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" -Esther 4:14 (NKJV)

Mini Devotional: Thoughts are Prayers

This has been on my mind a lot lately... I keep asking myself: Can your thoughts be considered prayers? There are times where, in my mind, I subconsciously ask God for certain things and realize later that in my own way I was praying. Then I started thinking: Does God take these random thoughts as prayers? You know, I believe he does! Psalm 139:2 says, "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar." If God knows your every thought, he knows that sometimes you send out prayers without physically speaking them out. In many scriptures in the bible, (Psalm 44:21, Luke 16:15, Acts 15:8) it talks about God knowing our hearts. Because God knows our hearts, he completely understands the intent behind our thoughts. Someone once told me that to pray to God, you have to physically speak it out, but I don't believe that is so. God does know our every thought and listens to what we have to say whether we speak it out, and just say it in our minds. Just know that God hears your prayers and takes every one of them into account! He does hear you! :) Take comfort and peace in that! :)

Conflicted about Conflict

 If you're anything like me, timid, shy, slightly reserved... then I know how you would react to conflict. If you're anything like me, conflict is something you try to avoid because you are a tender spirit and don't want to be hurt, but also because you are just scared of conflict. Unfortunately, life does not hand us easy roads to walk down, and God never intended life to be easy. In fact, he allows us to go through trials so that we can come out stronger and better on the other side.

Most recently, I lost a dear friend of mine due to conflict... My mother and I have been mentors to her for years. She always asked us to hold her accountable if we saw her starting to go down a bad path. Well, my mother saw some questionable things on Facebook from my friend, so she questioned her about it, and used a little bit of tough love. However, you can be the nicest person in the world and say something as nicely as possible, and it still doesn't go over so well. That is why I don't like conflict. There's always that possibility of things going wrong, which makes it hard. That is why I am doing this devotional. I struggle with conflict, and can be a "peace at any cost" kind of person, which won't help others and definitely won't help me. Every time I confront someone, I cry, questioning if I did the right thing. So I prayed to God that he would help me find a balance... to not be too harsh, but not too gentle. Matthew 10:16 says, "...Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." So this devotional is about dealing with fears of conflict and how to go about dealing with conflict in the right way. 

Fear of Conflict
 Joshua 1:9- "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” If I haven't said, it before, I'll say it now: no one likes conflict. There are a great many things that can cause conflict, whether purposefully or by accident. However, God never intended for us to be scared of anything. People can be scared of spiders, heights, conflict, etc., but fear is still fear and it can be a crippling emotion to deal with. 2 Timothy 1:7 says: God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. I believe that fear of conflict comes from not realizing the authority that God gave us, and Satan would love nothing more than to make us cower in fear and ultimately, submit to that fear. When we submit to that fear, we give our authority over to Satan. As humans, we give Satan too much authority and glorification, and fail to realize that he is just a created being. As children of God, Satan has no authority over our lives, but he would certainly like us to think so! So just like in Joshua 1:9, know that the Lord is with you, and he will help you face your fear. He will always be with you and help you! 

How To Deal With Conflict and Hold Others Accountable In A Christ-like Manner
 First off, this is a perfect example of what NOT to do: Jonah 1:1-3 says: The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Now, there are many reasons people don't want to deal with conflict. Sometimes, out of our own desires to escape conflict, we don't see that God may have a purpose in it. Just imagine what might have happened if Jonah hadn't gone to Nineveh. Granted he was swallowed by a whale, but beyond that... What do you think would have happened to both the people of Nineveh and Jonah? God, in his infinite love, didn't want the people of Nineveh to perish. He wanted to give them a chance. However, God had a lesson for Jonah as well. It's important for us to trust God and understand that everything happens for a reason. Though we don't always like the situations that God puts us in or allows us to go through, there is a reason for it and it will be beneficial in the end. Granted, you do need to choose your battles wisely and not just come out, ready to strike at any little sign of conflict. Some things can be let go of... for example, don't go trying to speak nice to someone who is threatening to deck you. Pick your battles wisely, and have the wisdom to know when to speak and when to stay silent.

James 1:19- Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; Sometimes, when faced with conflict, we don't know what to say, we say things the wrong way, or we say things that shouldn't be said at all.  The art of speech is a very difficult thing to master in everyday situations, but even harder to master when it comes to conflict. Proverbs 15:1 says: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. What you say in a conflict is of great importance. Matthew 12:37 says, "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." In other words, if your words are good and right, you won't have any problems, but if your words are bad and wrong, you automatically set yourself up for failure! When we speak to people, regardless of their reaction toward us, we should speak with gentleness, and love. Colossians 4:6 says: Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Galatians 6:1-2-  Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. God wants us to hold each other accountable for the things we do. We all makes mistakes and sin on a regular basis, so it isn't up to us to point fingers, but without someone to lovingly show us when we mess up, no one would be able to learn or grow from those messes. However, when going into a conversation that involves holding someone accountable, it has to be done carefully. Matthew 18:15-17 says, "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector." Titus was appointed the task of teaching the people of Crete how to teach each other and what must be taught. Titus 2:7-8, 11-15 says:  "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us... For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you." When I wrote to my friend, the one I mentioned earlier, about how she was acting, not just in general, but towards my mother, I was sad because I didn't want to have to tell my friend that she wasn't behaving appropriately, but I knew that if I didn't say something, it would let her know that how she treated my mother was okay. Sometimes for the sake of others, we must step forward and say something so that they may learn from these things in the future. Like Titus says, we should set an example in everything we do, understanding that we help to shape each other. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." 

Conflict and holding others accountable are two things that are never easy to deal with, but it's best that we know what to do when we are faced with it. Understand that God has a reason for everything, including conflict, and know that he won't leave you alone in any situation! Just pray for God to guide you and you will do great! :)














 

Your REAL Worth and Why Satan Hates It!

I was watching an interview the other day with Shahrukh Khan and Anushka Sharma from a popular Bollywood movie, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. In the interview, Anushka asked Shahrukh if bits of who Shahrukh is comes through in his characters. This is what he said:

 "I am uncomfortable being Shahrukh Khan. I don't like being me. I like being someone else. People who are unhappy with themselves, I think they become actors... Every morning I wake up not wanting to be me. I look at people who are comfortable with themselves and think 'God what a wonderful life they have,' yet I have this desire to be someone else every moment of my life."

When I heard this, it made me really sad. It felt nice to know that I wasn't alone in how I had felt, especially since it was coming from a big name actor, yet it still made me sad. How insecure can one person be when they don't want to be themselves, when they don't like who they are? With me, it's a combination of many things: looks, aspects of my personality, hobbies and likes, etc. There were times that I would sit down in prayer and ask God, "God, help me to see myself through your eyes." I was only seeing through my eyes, and the eyes of the world. I couldn't see too much beauty in myself.

Now this devotional is just as much for me as anyone else, because I have to take this into consideration myself. I quickly figured out why we feel so insecure about ourselves. I read this quote from a fabulous book called Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge, and it said, "The wounds you have received come to you for a purpose from the one who knows all you are meant to be and fears you." Wow! Though I know many people know that their insecurities are just lies from Satan, I don't think it really sinks in. I was listening to Kat Kerr and she was talking about some scripture from Ezekiel 28 which goes perfectly with this. Ezekiel 28:12-14 says, "You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones." Then in Ezekiel 28:17 it says, "Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor..." If you look at the world now, take a moment to think about what beauty means to the world. Women strive to attain the beauty of models found in magazines. Men strive to attain the muscular stature of men in the movies and on tv. Beauty standards have changed so much over the years, that they have literally become impossible to obtain. People have spent millions of dollars in the quest to obtain beauty and some have died. But even then, it's not all about physical beauty. Satan was also known for his wisdom. People have insecurities about their personality as well as their intelligence. It's easy to see that, based on this scripture, Satan knew all about beauty and it went to his head. So because he was cast out of Heaven for this, he sought revenge on the very creations that God so deeply loved: His children.

My dad always says to be on a regular basis, "If you ain't who you are, you are who you ain't." In other words, if you act like someone you're not, you eventually become that person, and it wasn't God's desire for you to dislike yourself so much that you would change who he created you to be. Genesis 3:10 says, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." That is how many people act today. They hide behind a façade because they are afraid of being emotionally naked, of being exactly who God created and intended them to be. Have you ever noticed though, that the more you try to hide who you are and become someone else, the worse things become? Sure for awhile, it may help, but it changes who you are emotionally and not for the better. I want you to take Matthew 16:25 and look at it in a different perspective, based on beauty. It says in Matthew 16:25, "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it..." It is very true, in this sense. When you work so hard to be someone else, you lose the very essence of who God intended you to be.

Now, would it help you to know that you are all ready perfect just as you are? Would it help you if you were told the TRUTH instead of a lie? Psalm 8:3-5 has both the question we ask, and the answer that God gives. Psalm 8:3-5 says, When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor." Wow! God loves us so much that he made us so beautifully! Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. 1 Peter 3:3-4 talks about this! It says: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 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."

Look at the scripture above and you will see the word "worth". Most people believe that worth is based on physical beauty. There are people who are so beautiful on the outside, but their hearts are cold and calloused. Therefore, physical beauty has little to do with our worth, because it says in the bible that we will know a person by their "fruit". God has clearly shown in one scripture how he values us. In Matthew 6:26 it says, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" It's so easy to fall into the trap of, "I'm not good enough" or "I'm not valuable". However, if you trust God, and let him do work in you, he can restore your wounded heart; the lies that Satan has told you about your beauty and worth. And he can help you to see yourself how you really are! A good scripture for this would be Isaiah 54:11-12. I am changing one word in it though so that you can look at in for your own perspective. Instead of using "afflicted city", use "afflicted heart". Isaiah 54:11-12, "Afflicted heart, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones."

Trust that God has your back in the battle of your worth! :) Just a few days ago, I was feeling really down. I felt a little too weird because of certain aspects of my personality and certain things that I liked. I was beginning to feel like I should start closing these areas of my life off from other people so that I couldn't get picked on or hurt. I got on Facebook the next night. On Facebook there is this neat application called Message From God. It said I had a new message. I opened it and this is what it said: "Today we believe God wants you to know that you are unique and precious. When you try to value yourself for being the best in something, you are bound to fail. Even Olympic champions are the best only for a few years. You are precious to God not because there is no one better than you, but because you are a unique creation of mind, body, and spirit- there is no one else like you,- and that is exactly what makes you so indescribably precious." I was almost in tears. My eyes started to water because I knew at that moment that God was really speaking to me through this app on Facebook. He was letting me know that I am precious and valuable and he was contradicting the lies that were stirring inside my head. I know that if God shared this message with me, surely he wants you to believe it as well. God will fight for you in any battle that you are facing! Jeremiah 30:16-17 says, " 'But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord..." 

Trust him, believe in him, and he will give you what you need :) Amen!