Exercise-A Spiritual Discipline!

I recently decided to kick myself in the butt and get back to working out regularly. While deciding to do so I wanted to find scripture that would give me that extra PUSH (the right heart) to do so!

The Word says:

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 

1 Corinthians 6:19–20

            Many people use that verse to remind themselves or others not to have premarital sex or to take good care of their bodies (which is great!) but did you realize that that scripture is also a reminder and warning against vanity?

            While exercise can be a form of worship that requires spiritual discipline, we have to be careful of who we are worshipping while working out-ourselves or God. 

“Our goal in exercise should not be to improve the quality of our bodies so that other people will notice and admire us. Rather, the goal of exercising should be to improve our physical health so we will possess more physical energy that we can devote to spiritual goals. 
”

- Anonymous

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 NIV

So here's the challenge:

A. Start working out as a form of worship. Develop that physical discipline to grow in spiritual discipline. Honor God.

Exercise daily in God-no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. 

1 Timothy 4:8 Message Bible

-OR-

B. Continue working out but not to please others or yourself, but to honor God.

Now am I trying to win favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bondservant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

<3  Love you!  

Physical Discipline 
          VS.
         Vanity

Handicapped

Lately, I’ve been feeling a constant feeling of hopelessness and inadequacy concerning all the things I am called to do. Joyce Meyers says, “When we attempt works of the flesh, we use up our own energy trying to do what only God can do. Works of the flesh produce frustration and work in direct opposition to grace. We really cannot live with a little of each because they cancel each other out. Each time I feel frustrated I remind myself I am not receiving grace (God’s energy) for the task at hand.”

I see now, that I’m constantly trying to do things for the Kingdom but in my own might. I’m worn out. Totally worn out. There’s always something that reminds me of my inability. I stumbled across this verse and understand the feeling I am experiencing:

So I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

‘My grace is enough; it’s all you need. 
My strength comes into its own in your weakness (inability to produce results).’

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size-abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Message

It’s good to know that I’m not the only one feeling “handicapped” or paralyzed. Paul did too.

Gloria Copeland says, “You see, everywhere Paul went, he preached the gospel and every time he preached, he destroyed a little more of Satan’s kingdom. So, Satan sent a messenger, an evil spirit, to stop him. Yet, God said his grace (His favor) is enough. In other words, when Paul didn’t have enough human strength to overcome, God’s miracle-working power was sufficient for him. It enabled him to be an overcomer in spite of his weakness. Don’t allow the devil to talk you out of your victory. Throw tradition aside and dare to believe the Word of God. Fight the fight of faith, and just like the Apostle Paul, you will see the salvation of the Lord.”

Weakness is not a bad thing. Like Paul, I thought it was. I too asked God to take it away. So did Jesus, but he finished his statement with “but never-the-less, your will be done.” Every time we do something for the kingdom the enemy is threatened. So we should take suffering as a compliment. We are becoming more like Christ. We go through exactly what Christ goes through.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17

The enemy isn’t sending his angels to those who aren’t a threat to him. No, he leaves them alone. But he has a warrant out for all the “Goose Chasers” (followers of the Holy Spirit) for their destruction.

Yet we know:

 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.  

2 Corinthians 4: 8 NIV

So I guess my question to you is, “Is there a warrant out for you? Are you doing damage to his kingdom?”

A HUGE thanks to Alyssa and Jodi who helped me come to this conclusion! I'm not 100% yet.. but I'm getting there! Love you guys and thanks for the prayers! I'll always be about my Father's business! <3

Jodi

 

Alyssa

"If I was a rich girl"

As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”

Jesus looked him hard in the eye-and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.”

The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go. Mark 10:17, 21-22

My small group from church is studying the book Radical by David Platt. Platt challenges his readers to take their faith back from the American Dream. He challenges believers to live in this world, but not of it-ignoring what culture says and doing what Jesus says.

One blind spot of American and even American Christianity that he exposes is materialism. Our culture says:

Get more.

The more you have the happier you’ll be.

 The more expensive it is, the better person you are.

 Use only your spare time and spare money for others.

Don’t get me wrong, wealth is not evil in it’s self. Even Rick Warren says, “wealth isn’t sinful but NOT using it 4 good is”. The blind spot in most of America is the inability to have a heart for the poor.

When Stephen and I got married, my mother told us there were three keys to living well off that she wish she had known. She said-tithing, saving, and giving to the poor. She said if we'd do those three things, we’d ALWAYS be taken care of.

Back then, I thought, “Okay cool. Tithe-CHECK! Save-CHECK! But give to the poor? Regularly? Okay I guess so.”

I didn’t have a heart for the poor. Platt says, “Yet, while caring for the poor is not the basis of our salvation, this does not mean that our use of wealth is totally disconnected from our salvation. Indeed, caring for the poor (among other things) is evidence of our salvation. According to Jesus, you can tell someone is a follower of Christ by the fruit of his or her life, and the writers of the New Testament show us that the fruit of faith in Christ involves material concern for the poor.”

Yet, it’s so hard in our culture. The lure is strong. We are constantly tempted to get more than we need. And then we have to get more things in order to care for the excess things we already have. “It’s a constant battle to resist the temptation to have more luxuries, to acquire more stuff, and to live out the gospel in the middle of an American dream that identifies success as moving up the ladder, getting the bigger house, the nicer car, the better clothes, the finer food, and acquiring more things.”

I’ll admit, usually at a conference, concert, or service that takes time to ask for money for kids or a foundation… I’d think, “gee can’t wait until this part is over so we can get back to such and such”.

That’s not a heart for the poor. These are our brothers and sisters of faith that I can’t wait until they stop talking about. That’s rude. That’s not love.   

When I studied in the Dominican Republic, I got a taste of what it feels like to give freely. I didn’t have much room in my suitcase so I decided I was going to give the ladies of the house a few of my garments. I gave them a few. Their thankfulness gave me a natural high so I went back in my room to grab more things. Then more things. Then more things. I didn’t want the high to end. Eventually I didn’t have much left to give. I initially had 2 months of clothes and left with roughly two outfits (if that). It was THE best feeling in the world. It let me know (just as the verse says) nothing should be off limits to God and giving is what sets us free from the deadly nature of wealth and possessions.

I want to be like the lady of Luke 21 who gave what she’d miss. I don’t want to give my leftovers. I want to give what I can’t afford. My all.

So I’ll pose this question for you-How much is enough?

Blind Leading The Blind

These past few weeks, I’ve been praying and asking God to lead me to someone who can mentor me as a wife. When I was single, I had somewhat of a mentor, Hareldau, and now that I am married I feel a strong need to be held accountable by someone who has expertise in the area I want to grow.

I feel it’s one of the areas that many people fail to do-ask for help. Perry Noble of New Spring Church said, “Refusing to ask for help is nothing more than pride–period! For some reason it has become taboo (especially in the church) to ask for help; after all, if you do THAT then people may think you are weak."

It’s a sad thought when I think about how much MORE we could be growing as individuals if we just asked someone experienced  in our area to mentor us.  In actuality, I think most people have a heart and desire to advance, but they think they must suffer and figure everything out of their own (or at least I did). I’m learning that’s not wise. What’s wise is to have someone experienced so you can learn from their mistakes and move on to other challenges/avenues.

                 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire  wise counsel. Proverbs 1:5

                   Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory. Proverbs 11:14

Let me remind your there is a difference between mentorship and fellowship. We know how important it is to have fellowship. The right fellowship keeps you surrounded by people on one accord and serves as accountability, encouragement, and relationship. We still need fellowship. People fighting the same battles we’re fighting, holding us accountable, praying, etc.

Mentorship, on the other hand, is with someone who has been where you’ve been and has gotten where you want to be. They, aren’t perfect, but have gained wisdom in the exact area in which you’d like to. So if you are called to be an artist-you find an experienced artist. If you are called to be a pastor-then you find an experienced pastor. If you are called to sing (cough cough :))-then you find an experienced singer. Etc etc. I was called to be a wife (a good one), so I prayed for a happy, successful wife who I know that has experienced some of the same hardships I will (or have) experienced. A mentor keeps you in check and lets you know what you're experiencing isn’t uncommon, and guides you into truth.Growth. 

 This verse kept coming to mind when I thought about asking someone to be my regular wife mentor:

     When a blind man leads a blind man, they both end up in the ditch. Matthew 15:14

I guess the point is there is a high price to pay when you go forth in your calling without guidance or counsel or the WRONG guidance. It's like the blind leading the blind. So what is the wrong guidance? The wrong guidance could be:

(a) Someone who has no experience in the area you’re trying to grow.

For example, seeking marriage advice from a single man or woman. Or asking for leadership counsel from someone who has never led.

            -OR-

(b) Someone who may be experienced, but is not bearing fruit.

John 15:15 says, Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

-OR-

(c) Someone who is not going to commit to REGULARLY holding you accountable, uplifting you, challenging you, encouraging you, and walking you into truth.

I’ve found that asking God to reveal the perfect person is the best option!

Fellowship is great. We need that. We also need mentorship.

Generation After Generation-No more!

The Word says:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

For those who know me, they know I am in love with God and FULLY support my church and Pastor, Pastor Steven Furtick. He is an awesome man of God with audacious faith and if I seem to over quote Him too much sorry! It’s nice to have a Pastor, who is human, yet fully surrendered and used by God.

All this to say, this past weekend, He preached an awesome sermon on the resistance. He refers to the resistance as anything that sort of numbs/paralyzes you and keeps you from the fullness God has for you. He uses the story of Moses and Pharaoh to illustrate how the resistance operates. He lists the following four things as the schemes of the enemy/resistance. The Resistance says:

1.   Stay in Egypt (meaning stay in your sin, bondage, or brokenness)

2.   Don’t go too far (If he can’t get you to stay in your sin, he’ll get you to a comfortable place of complacency.)

3.   Don’t take anyone with you (if he can’t get you to stay in your sin or go forth in faith, he’ll get you to become a hoarder. Not reproducing. Leaving others in need behind.)

                       And the all to infamous....

4.    Leave your herd behind (meaning if he can’t get you to do the three above he’ll get you to hold onto the things you don’t want to sacrifice).

This all parallels with Exodus 3:16-19. I invite you to read it.

Mainly my sister’s visit was a reminder that we have strongholds and generational curses we need to come against in prayer and fasting. In all our might, we can’t overcome them by simply ignoring them-using will power. We have to use Jesus’ might, because He’s already overcome it.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:13-18

I invite you to ask God to expose your sin or areas in which you have not fully surrendered.

It may not be as overt as something such as a sexual addiction or lying. Maybe it may be something like vanity or manipulation. Maybe laziness or being a terrible steward over your money, gifts, or talents. Or maybe pride or denial. Maybe selfishness or hoarding.

Believe me, what God shows you may not be too comfortable, but without it’s exposure you’re falling into the plans of the resistance. Remember the enemy will try to get you to stay in your sin, keep you from venturing off in your faith, keep you from taking others with you, or even keep you from sacrificing your idols. Without the exposure, you have the chance of being kept in bondage to your shortcomings.

Grace Covenant Church of DC says, “When Jesus said ‘it is finished,’ he made it possible for all who trust in him to move from being bound and barren to being free and fruitful...living life to the full. He sets us free from fear, anxiety, anger, chronic business failure and things like these which amount to relational dysfunction, generational issues, addictions and habitual sins so that nothing has a hold on us except him. He sets us free to serve the purpose for which we were born...free to do the good works which he prepared for us in advance.”

            Let’s get free and STAY freee! :)

Originals

I wrote a new song called "Originals" (below). I was inspired by a verse that gave me reassurance that there is no one else like me. If I continue to compare myself to others. I'll always be disappointed, because I'm the only Arsena. No one else has my calling, gifts, or anointing. I'm an original. 

That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. Galatians 5:25-26 

I hope this song embeds this truth in your heart-there is no one else like you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Psalm 139: 13-16

Oh yes you shaped me first inside, then out;

you formed me in my mother's womb.

I thank you, High God--you're breathtaking!

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration--what a creation!

You know me inside and out,

you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

how I was sculpted from nothing into something,

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

Pastor Steven of Elevation Church says, "Insecurities are an insult to God". God knew what he was doing when he created us. Begin to walk in your calling-only you have it.

I hope you enjoy the song-it's for you! <3

Gently Restore

Romans 5:15 How much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!

“I discovered how little I had to do to deserve and receive the love of God and that He loved me more than I had ever imagined. Suddenly, instead of fearing and denying all of my real or imagined shortcomings, I could embrace my humanness. I could see God pursuing me through it and in spite of it”. -Michael W. Smith

This statement illustrates a true understanding of God’s grace. After reading this, I can honestly say I don’t think my mind fully grasps the concept of grace. Deeply rooted, I believe my system still operates on works and fails to acknowledge there is no checklist of spiritual maturity.

Brennan Manning said, “Most of us believe in God’s grace-in theory. But somehow we can’t seem to apply it in our daily lives. We continue to see Him as a small-minded bookkeeper, tallying our failures and successes on a score sheet.”

Yet God gives us His grace, willingly, no matter what we’ve done. He expects us to fail more than we do.

Brennan Manning’s “Ragamuffin Gospel” is a great meditation book on God’s grace and how to apply it to our daily lives. Manning suggests we lose the put-together person we’ve created and become transparent. Without transparency and without grace, we live by the law. Keeping the law sounds admirable. But contrary to what most of us have heard, attempting to follow the law is not intended to make us closer to God. Rather, its purpose is to show us how far we are away from Him. If we live by legalism (a list of do’s and don’ts, ways to appease others, or a put together image), we measure our successes using what God designed to show only our failures (Romans 5:20)! We’ll always feel condemned if we do that! That is why we no longer live by the law but by grace.

For what the law was powerless to do, because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. Romans 8:3

It’s an area where I too am looking to obtain discernment. If you have questions such as “How do we live by grace?” or “As Christ followers, how do we know what we can and cannot partake in?” or maybe “Isn’t my sinfulness gone when I surrender”? etc, I have two challenges for you (and myself).

The first challenge is to read aloud and confess Romans 8 until God fully reveals to you what it means to live by grace as a disciplined Christ-follower.

My second challenge is to avidly seek God concerning an individual you can show grace using the following verse as a guideline:

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. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor (Galatians 6:1-6).

These are great steps to embracing our humanness and demonstrating the grace God has given to us. 

We must learn to truly trust God and not our own might. :)

Promises

I heard a sermon by Pastor Judah Smith who shared a great interpretation of the story of Joseph that led me to study the story of his children: Jacob and Esau. His sermon illustrated God’s love for us and prompted me to ingrain God’s promises in my heart.

I believe our faith is oftentimes derailed because we are unaware of God’s promises. So I’ve taken it upon myself to record the promises I come across in the Word. I try to remind myself not to view the Bible as a book of stories; it’s a book of our ancestors. Once we give our lives to Christ we are adopted into His family and the Bible is no longer just a story, it’s our inheritance-God’s promises to His children.

So before I list some of the many promises, I’ll give a quick recap on the story of Jacob and Esau and how Jacob and Esau’s relationship is a mirror of our own relationship with Christ.

Jacob and Esau were twins. When the time came for their mother, Rebekah, to give birth, Esau (the first born) came out with his brother Jacob clutching his heel. Esau, as the first-born, was given many birthrights (as it was custom) but one day when Esau was extremely hungry he gave Jacob his birth right in exchange for a bowl of stew.

When their father, Issac, became sick and ready to die he ordered Esau to hunt and cook his last meal and there he would privately bless him as the first-born. Rebekah, who was fonder of Jacob, overheard the conversation and told Jacob to pose as Esau to receive the family blessing. Jacob did so and their father, Issac, unknowingly blessed Jacob.

Esau was furious and plotted to kill Jacob and Jacob fled the country. Many years later, God ordered Jacob to go back home, yet unexpectedly, Esau welcomed him with open arms (Paraphrased Genesis 25:19-35:29).

Isn’t this what God did for us? Gave us the blessing in place of his first born (one and only son) who deserved it? Why yes. We received the blessing despite our failures, weaknesses, and sin-just like Jacob. We are Jacob. Esau is Jesus.

Just like Jacob, we didn’t get what we deserved. We got blessings. So we can take Jacob’s life and receive promises for ourselves.

Here are the promises I am claiming:   

-Although we were born into sin, we were given the birthrights of the firstborn, God’s one and only son, Jesus. We have received the family inheritance (Genesis 28:13-15).

-We are given a right relationship with God and therefore should no longer be ashamed of our past sin, inadequacies, or short fallings. God has given us His favor.

-Oftentimes, unaware where and why, God will send us out on faith, but He will always prepare the way (Genesis 32:1-2).

-God will give us the desires of our heart. Do not become weary (Genesis 29: 28-30).

-Because of who we are, others may treat us unfairly or try to take advantage of us, but God has given us favor. Endure. He will still prosper us (Genesis 31:38-42).

-We will be spiritually mature and fit, fighting the flesh, just as Jacob did when he wrestled with God. If we don’t let go, God will bless us (Genesis 25-32).

-Jesus (our Esau) loves us and holds no grudges. He welcomes us home with open arms. He forgives us with love and grace we don’t deserve.

I’m glad I didn’t get what I deserved, but what Jesus deserved. Let's hold onto these promises :) 

Ash Wednesday!

Today is Ash Wednesday. A day (originally from the Catholic tradition) that marks a time of confession and repentance to God.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, which is a 40 day fast. For this fast, it is the custom to choose one thing that keeps you from focusing on God. It could be food, social networking sites, a habit, or maybe even a person/people, etc. During this time, Monday-Saturday, you are to abstain from those things in an attempt to concentrate on God and how you can better serve Him.

The most important aspect of Lent is confession. Without this aspect (and a twist of repentance) Lent is nearly pointless.

Mark Batterson refers to this time as a "deep cleaning." He says "just as carpets need a deep cleaning every once in a while, so do we spiritually." 
 
As I type on my way to a 5-day trip in the wilderness (lol), I'll confess I haven't been as encouraging to my husband as I'd like to be, so my "fast" is abstaining from short-temperedness, rude, or thoughtless remarks or comments to everyone, especially my husband. 

Whatever you choose should be an area you confess you have not be strong in and look to improve upon.

With that said, Happy Ash Wednesday! Let the fasting begin! :)    

Receiver or Reproducer?

Rick Warren said it first….“It’s not about you”

Let these verses of Galatians 5:9-23 soak in:

It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our loves, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard-things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

A friend pointed this verse out to me as we shared how we are both dealing with ridding ourselves of are own selfishness. In this scripture, we see the bondage of selfishness and the need to take the focus off ourselves. But what does a life of selflessness look like?

You see, God created us of course to bring Him glory but He created us to focus our lives on people.

Before Jesus left, He commissioned His disciples (and us), Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.”

Our mission in life should be to make disciples. I’m reading Radical by David Platt. I’d like to share an excerpt with you where he poses the question “Are you a receiver or reproducer of God’s Word?” Read the following as he distinguishes between the two:

“We are, by nature, receivers. Even if we have a desire to learn God’s Word, we still listen from a default self-centered mind-set that is always asking, What can I get out of this? But as we have seen, this is unbiblical Christianity. What if we changed the question whenever we gathered to learn God’s Word? What if we began to think, How can I listen to his Word so that I am equipped to teach this Word to others?

This changes everything. All of a sudden the pen and the paper come out. Note taking is not the measure of how committed we are to making disciples, but if we are hearing God’s Word taught in order to teach others, then we want to get it down as best we can. When we realize we have responsibility to teach the Word, it changes everything about how we hear the Word.

It also changes who hears the Word. Now the Word that is being preached in a worship gathering or taught in a small-group setting is subsequently being translated into contexts and spheres of influence represented all across a church. God’s Word is no longer just being heard in a building; it is being multiplied throughout a community. It is multiplying because the people of God are no longer listening as if His Word it intended to stop with them. They are now living as if God’s Word is intended to spread through them.”

I’ve struggled trying to get my mind around the idea “it’s not about me”. I first heard that statement by Rick Warren and although I have come to terms with it, I don’t think many have surrendered to 

the fact that it’s not about them.

Living a life chasing the wild goose is not about pursuing Christ when you have time or when it feels right or when it makes you look good. When we neglect to love and share what we love with the people we encounter everyday, we neglect Jesus’ commission and instruction to us.

A familiar scripture Matthew 7:21-23 says Knowing the correct password-saying ‘Master, Master’, for instance-isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience-doing what my Father wills. I can see it now-at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying “Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.

Let's not miss the boat by serving ourselves.

<3

"I Get Out"

 If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been in the book of Genesis lately. I love the stories of Genesis. It's so amazing how you see hints of Jesus Christ even in the Old Testament. 

I love the book of Genesis so much that I almost over looked a conviction concerning belief in what God has promised us and not conforming to this world.

Abraham was instructed to leave his country and to go to a land that God would show him. God promised Him, I’ll make you a great nation and bless you. I’ll make you famous; you’ll be a blessing. I’ll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I’ll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed by you. And Abraham believed and left.

Obviously Abraham had faith enough to trust in God, leave everything behind, and go to … well he didn’t know where to go. Just that he was to go and that God would give him a huge family.

Abraham knew God’s promise, however, his wife Sarah could not conceive a child so Sarah urged Abraham to sleep with the maid so that she could have a child. In that day, this was the custom. It was expected of a woman who could not have children to give their female servant to her husband in order to produce an heir. So because of this custom and the desire to have a child, Abraham agreed and they conceived Ishmael through their servant Hagar.

So what’s the problem? There doesn’t seem to be a problem--only a solution for the barren woman, who would then raise the child to start the nation God had promised Abraham.

Reading through the chapter, everything seems A-OK but many fail to realize this was a pivotal moment where Abraham, a mighty man of faith, had trouble believing God’s promise and began thinking up creative ways to manipulate events to have a child. 

I am learning, that it is so important to make sure we don’t take matters into our own hands and try to put the puzzle together for a promise that God has made. We are to let Him do the impossible even when we can’t see how. Proverbs 3:5 says Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen to God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God.

That’s the thing about trust and faith. It’s often not logical and definitely not in accordance to the custom. Learning to unlearn the customs of the world that stunt our faith is imperative. On the day of Pentecost, Paul shouted Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture (Acts 2:40) (Even Lauryn Hill said the same thing-Unplugged 2.0 “I Get Out” lol).

Romans 12:2 says Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God.  You’ll be changed from the inside out.  

I believe it can be a challenging task not to look like this world but to be in it. We have to work, eat, and even sleep like everyone else. The good news is we can do those things as a sacrifice to God. Romans 12:1-2 So here’s what you are to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life—and place it before God as an offering.

Often times, like Abraham, with good intentions, we stunt our faith and have to wait longer for a promise simply because we were impatient. Ouch.

So my mental “note of the day” is to chill… let God… pray.. trust… believe.. and chill some more. Lol 

Let's be rebels-for Christ. 

Stain of Sin

Through studying I have found a painful truth that explains womankind’s sometimes seemingly insanity. Buckle up.

Genesis 3:16 says, And you will desire to control your husband, and he will rule over you.” Now although not everyone is married, I believe there’s a legit finding.

Because of sin, God cursed the serpent, mankind, and the Earth. Many people seem to know the curse of intense pain in childbirth for women, but many people disregard the curse of woman’s desire to control man.

Over the years, I’ve heard various women state things such as “Well things just get done better if I do them.”,  “I like to call the shots. If it doesn’t work out I can only blame myself”, “I just want him to do what I say”, “If he doesn’t call by such and such time; it’s over.” etc etc. The list goes on. Blah. Blah. Blah.

I’ve realized, men and women don’t butt heads because men are stupid (while seemingly true), think differently (God made man and woman different to fit together as a puzzle), or because they don’t care; it’s because of woman’s deep-rooted desire to control man. It’s an old-age-stain of sin that is prominent and brings strife between man and woman daily.

Physically, women are the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7). 1 Peter 3:7 in the Message Bible says As women they lack some of man’s advantages. While men and women are equal, men have more of an advantage than women simply because man was created for God’s glory and woman was created for man’s glory (1 Corinthians 11:7). The helper.

Believe you and me, after studying this, I was beyond perturbed. What? Created for man’s glory? Umm… okay. This is where submission comes into the equation. Something I’m working on…. 

However, Proverbs 14:1 says the wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one pulls it down with her own hands.

In reading the Word, I always wondered why in the world the scriptures always refer to watching out for women who trap, take advantage of, or seduce men. I thought, “Umm… what about men?”… Now it is clear, the scriptures are referring to the behavior women exert to be in control because they are under the curse (which tempts them to use manipulation, the silent-treatment, nagging,or withholding of sex, etc).

So the painful truth is women are under a curse that brings strife between man and woman. While men have their own curse to deal with, we, as women and men of God need to come together in submission to God to help one another. Men: Lead. Women: Uplift. It’s a hard task…. But we have great examples for men and women in the bible. <3