I believe that every married couple should have a “thing.” Something that they do together on a regular basis that’s fun, entertaining, relaxing, and just plain silly! Well, my husband and I have several “things,” but one of them is American Idol.

I know what some Christians will say - American Idol is idol worship. But, I truly don’t think it’s any more idol worship than a football game or any other sport. I do think that, like sports, people can turn it into idol worship, but that is a whole different topic…and I digress.

My husband and I were watching this week’s American Idol and were shocked to hear the most controversial name in the world mentioned on one of the most popular TVs shows nation wide. No, that name was not Michael Jackson - It was Jesus Christ!

In our home we have a running joke. Whenever we hear someone say the Lord’s name on network TV, we always stop and look at each other - “Oooh, can you say Jesus Christ on Television?”

Why is it a joke? Because you can say Mother Nature, you can say the Creator, you can even say God, but you say Jesus, and people start looking at you a little funny!

Why is His name so controversial? Because it is the name above all other names. It is the name that separates Christianity from all other religions on the earth. Yeah, we can all say we believe in God, but the name Jesus reminds people that we AREN’T all worshiping the same God as they would like to pretend.

So, when two separate guest performers on this week’s American Idol showed up praising the name of Jesus, my husband reminded me that OUR God will find a way to be glorified.

He’ll creep into the world’s system when they least expect it, and remind Him who He really is.

Dolly Parton sang a beautiful song from her new CD called Jesus and Gravity:

‘Cause I’ve got
Somethin’ lifting me up
Somethin’ holding me down
Somethin’ to give me wings and
Somethin’ to keep my feet on the ground
I’ve got all I need,
Jesus and gravity

But I’m as bad as anyone
Taking all these blessings in my life for granted one by one
When I start to thinkin’ it’s all me
Well somethin’ comes along and knocks me right back on my knees…

On top of that, another guest performance by the Clark Brothers stepped out to show their faith and worship the name of Jesus. Their rendition of “This Little Light of Mine” included the old Gospel song “Jesus on the mainline, tell Him what you want!”

Oh, let me tell you, I was glued to the screen waiting for Seacrest to run on the stage and drag them all off by their ears lol!

Of course, I’m sure that FOX and the American Idol producers received their share of mail over the past week, but I know that I was definitely blessed! In fact, this week when things weren’t going as well as I would have liked, my husband looked at me and said,

“Well, you’ve got Jesus and gravity - Right!”

I couldn’t help but smile.

Today’s Scripture:

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain.
I lay down and slept,
yet I woke up in safety,
for the Lord was watching over me.
I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
who surround me on every side. ~Psalm 3: 3-6 (NLT)

Today’s Meditation:

Heavenly Father, I trust You to be my Shield in every area of my life.
I know that I don’t have to constantly watch my back,
because You love me and will watch it for me.
Last night, I laid my head on the pillow.
I was asleep, unaware and powerless.
And yet, I awoke this morning to a new day.
Alive because You kept me alive.
Safe because You kept me safe.
So, today and everyday, I choose not to fear.
Why? Because You love me,
and I am learning to trust Your love.

Other Things You May Like:

• Discover how to renew your mind through Christian meditations in this short Bible Study
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Peace

I find it here
sitting in the Presence
of nothing less than
My God.

The gentle breeze of Your Love
glides across my face.

Your warm Son
sheds light on places
I thought could never reflect
You…

Your glory
Your love
Your peace

But they do
They reflect your Light

And now
Finally…
Finally, my daunting darkness has been replaced
by Your loving Light

And it covers me

I thought You Light would mock me…
Reveal my weaknesses
Make an open show
of my faults

And yet,
It covers me

It covers me
Until there is no more of me…
Only You.

Your Light has found me
and I will abide within it
Forever.

Copyright 2008 www.hem-of-his-garment-bible-study.org
Please do NOT use without permission.

I’ve decided to start keeping a Christian faith healing journal. I am going to use it to chronicle my the healing journey that God is leading me on.

I was actually very leery of doing this online because I did not want it to cause people to question God’s ability to perform instantaneous healing miracles. But, I feel God leading me to do this because there are so many Christians who are so confused about the nature of faith healing. They think that if they were not instantly pain and symptom free the moment they prayed that God did not heal them.

That is not so.

So, throughout my faith healing journal, I am going to list the different areas God is working on in my personal healing journey, and how He is restoring me to health. I will include any treatments that I am experiencing and the ups and downs that go along with those as well.

I am going to try and be as honest and vulnerable as possible here, in an effort to give you a real glimpse into one Christian’s healing journey.

I pray that it give you the strength and faith to follow God along on your own journey as He leads you back to living in His divine health.

God Bless!

Ameerah

She asked me, “Ameerah, how do I develop a passion for studying the Bible?”

This question really caught my attention because I too have struggled with this issue. In fact, I think all Christians who are willing to be honest with themselves will admit that they too have wrestled with it.

We want to want to study God’s Word, but, for some reason, the passion and zeal for studying the Bible just isn’t there. Then, we feel guilty for not studying as much as we know we should.

So, how Do you develop a passion for reading the Bible?

You read it when you have NO passion to do it what so ever!

One of the key things that we as Christians must remember is that we are 3 part beings:

1. We are a spirit
2. We have a soul (mind, will and emotions)
3. And we live in a body (our fleshly nature).

Sometimes we forget that we still have a fleshly nature. That flesh does not like anything that has anything to do with God. In fact, there have been times when I would try to praise God or read the Word, and my flesh would revolt so badly that I literally felt physical pain!

But, the only way to crucify the flesh and deprive it of its power is to starve it and feed your spirit. That means doing the things that will build up your spirit man - Especially when you don’t feel like doing them!

Why?

Because if we don’t do them before we feel like it, then we will NEVER feel like it - Period.

So, whether you feel like you need more passion for praise and worship or for studying the Bible, there is only one solution:

Do It While You Have Not Passion…And the Passion Will Come!

God Bless!
Ameerah

Today’s Scripture:

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ~Galatians 6:8-9

Today’s Meditation:

I do not sow to my flesh.
I deprive my flesh of strength by starving it
and instead, I feed my spirit.
And, since I chose to feed my spirit,
I shall live forever with my Father in heaven.
I do not let myself become frustrated in my efforts to please God.
I act on God’s Word and the leadings of His Holy Spirit.
I do the work that God has given me to do in this world
By Faith.
When I do the sowing, God does the growing.
And I will reap the harvest that He has for me
because I refuse to give up!

Free Bible Study On the Power of Using Christian Meditations.

Today’s Scripture Focus:

Then the word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations^. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth. But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. ~Jeremiah 1:4-6 (AMP)

I have to be totally honest with you - Without the help of the Holy Spirit, I can be a bit of a perfectionist. In fact, sometimes, no matter how hard I work at something or how much success I’m having, all I can see are my shortcomings and glaring imperfections.

But, praise God, that’s not what He sees when He looks at me. He’s not staring at my Pitfalls - He’s staring at my Potential!

And that’s exactly what He sees when He looks at you too!

Satan likes for us to get all hung up on what we think we can’t do. He wants us to be so focused on our flaws that they are all we can see. Why? Because if we are too busy looking at us, we will forget to stop, and look up at Jesus.

Our enemy wants us so wrapped up in the problem -Us - that we miss out on the solution - God.

You know, God showed me something a while back. In that passage that we just read in Jeremiah, God said “Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument].”

Before you were even created, God didn’t just know you - He approved of you. In all of your imperfections, the One who knows you better than anyone else on this earth approves of YOU.

Each of us has a special calling in Christ. Still, most Christians feel too unworthy and inadequate to even attempt the great things that God has for them to do.

But, God did not call you ignorant to your shortcomings. He was not surprised to find out that you stutter or that you’re afraid of speaking in public.

So, knowing your flaws, why would He chose you? Because He knew when He created you that He would be enough to cover them. He knew that, by His Spirit, you could do anything He had for you to do.

Now, if God approves of you, don’t you think it is time you finally approved of yourself? If He believes in you, isn’t it time you started believing in yourself?

Lord, Help each of us stop looking at our flaws,
and start looking at Your immense power working within us!

Today’s Scripture:

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.~James 2:19-22

Today’s Christian Meditation:

Today, I will put my faith into ACTION.
I will not just say that I believe but I will act on those beliefs.
I will listen for the voice of God,
and act on the Leadings of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, lead me and guide me this day to be like my father Abraham
who used his works to make his faith perfect before you.
That I too may be called
A Friend of God.

Click Here For a Free Bible Study On Using Christian Meditations.