Insecurity to IN SECURITY!

Break Free: The Challenge!

2014-01-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

2014 is only a few days young and I don't want to be a victim of insanity- doing the same things and expecting different results- this year will be different!

Below is an outline/challenge I composed for myself and for some of my close brothers. Obviously certain things may not apply to all, but my hope and prayer is that it will serve as an example for others as they continue to seek God in their own personal lives. Christian men are under attack daily; it's time to be real and authentic.

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(1 Corinthians 16:13) - Be on your guard stand firm in the faith be men of courage be strong

Authority + Leadership = Integrity

Authority- Ability to make decisions based on what’s right, not based on the influence of other people.

Leadership- Pulling out of people what has been impressed upon them.

--Timotheus Pope, Men’s Time, Impact Break Free 2013.

Integrity- Derived from the Latin root- integer meaning WHOLE- A person who is whole is undivided. A man of integrity is the same man in public as he is in private.

“Integrity Trumps Hypocrisy and Complacency”

Authority in Action (Daniel Chapter 1)

1) Decision (vs. 8-10)

2) Challenge/Accountability (vs. 11-14)

3) Results (vs. 15)

4) Influence/Impact (vs. 16)

5) Spiritual Growth/God’s Blessing (vs. 17)

Leadership in Action (Paul’s Leadership to Timothy- 2 Timothy Ch. 2 [Whole Book])

Runs from Iniquity:

(2 Tim. 2:19)

Fights for Purity:

(2 Tim. 2:20-22).

Reject Passivity (Numbers 13)

1) Remove my “BUT” from the analysis (vs. 27-28).

2) Regain a proper image of myself (vs. 33)

3) Remember what God has said (vs. 1-2).

--Pastor Brian Edmonds, 12/30/13, Impact Break Free 2013

(vs. 30-32)- Despite what others were saying, Caleb rejected passivity and fear by ultimately trusting God.

Purity

Ø Job 31:1-4; 9-12 (Lust)

Ø Psalm 119:37 (Porn)

Turn my eyes from worthless things,

and give me life through your word.

Ø 1 Corinthians 6:12 (Porn)

You say, "I am allowed to do anything"- but not everything is good for you. And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything.

Ø 1 Corinthians 6:18

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Ø 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Respect for Women

1 Tim. 5:2-

“Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.”

Guarding my heart/not moving ahead of God in regards to relationships

“I want my heart so protected by God, that I don’t have to wonder or worry whether it is guarded or not.”

Proverbs 4:23- Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.

Philippians 4:6-7- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Accountability

James 5:16- Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

Proverbs 27:17-As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Truly “Breaking Free” in 2014

“Jesus as God’s general contractor, is looking at our lives…There are some things deeply and fundamentally wrong with us. But fortunately, He has not come to bring mere aesthetic changes, but systemic restoration.”

-Pastor Eric Mason, Manhood Restored, 42.

We must not seek to change surface level issues by what type of job we have, the leadership positions we have, or popularity that we receive. We must not let accomplishments hinder us from confronting the deeper issues within us. WE must be willing to take a look at the deeper level issues on our lives. For example, porn addiction was the surface level issue for me, but wanting acceptance and finding my identity was the real deep level issue. Once I became aware of the deeper level (acceptance), the surface level (porn, addiction) diminished.

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

6 Month Challenge!

1) Read at least 3 books

Example:

Manhood Restored, Eric Mason (Currently Reading)

Kingdom Man, Tony Evans

Surfing for God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle, Michael John Cusick (Great Book!!)

Boundaries in Dating, Henry Cloud and John Townsend

No More Excuses, Tony Evans

Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp

Explicit Gospel, Matt Chandler

Desiring God, John Piper

**The books should complement your time in the WORD, not substitute it!

2) Ask the Lord what things may be hindering you from seeking Him to your fullest; ask for the grace to refrain from those things while you are seeking Him more.

My example: Staying away from dating or relationships. Work toward strengthening friendships rather than pursuing relationships. Working toward getting out of comfort zones, rather than finding comfort in relationships.

Other examples:

Staying away from Entertainment that isn’t edifying

Staying away from certain friends

Staying away from certain environments

3) Meeting Regularly for Prayer, Discussion, Etc!

Impact13 Break Free!

2014-01-06T21:00:00.002-08:00

This past Impact Movement National Conference (http://impactmovement.org/) was my 4th conference in 6 years. I believe each conference provided a different and unique experience, but this year was BY FAR my favorite Impact conference.

In the next following days/weeks I plan on going more in depth about specific aspects I learned at the conference in a series entitled, "Break Free" based on the conference theme. However, here are some brief highlights from this year's conference.

God truly answered a prayer. Since my freshman year of college, it has been my goal and prayer to bring students from my university to the conference. By God's grace, 8 students including myself were able to attend! God provided us with the funds to fully financially support one student and pay for one student's transportation fee!! God is GOOD!

This year's conference was also different in past years' because of my involvement with the conference. I was tremendously blessed in many areas to serve at this conference including writing a monologue for the national campaign promo video, a college representative of the Google Hangout sessions, shared my testimony in the main session called the Freedom Seat, and was one of the Outreach trainers/facilitators. I was truly honored and humbled to serve in those areas; however, it truly pulled me out of my comfort zones in several ways.

Here is one of the many convicting phrases I heard from the conference this year:

"We seek answers, but don't seek Jesus. Jesus will not come second to our answers"
--Timotheus Pope, Men's Time.

We can get so accustomed to asking God for a sign or a specific answer; however, if we just seek Jesus and Jesus alone, our answer will ultimately be revealed. Often times we are waiting for a sign that fits what WE want, opposed to the standard Christ has set.

This is a very brief overview, but stay tuned with me as I start this series.

above picture from http://impactmovement.org/

below picture taken by http://facebook.com/regina.a.lowery

God's Timing Part 1: A Look into the Life of Joseph

2013-10-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

"Don't ask God for blessings that you

may not be ready for..."

These words have echoed in my mind like a broken record lately. Lately I have found myself repeating these words, because trying to stay in my lane and not move ahead of God's timing on certain things has been a struggle. My college graduation is soon approaching and I am anticipating what will happen post-graduation. Where will I be? What will I be doing? etc.

For the past four years I have clearly seen how God has "networked" for me; opportunities and blessings have come when I simply have stayed "still." Yes, by God's grace I am sure I played a small role in those blessings, but ultimately it was God. I can't dispute or argue against that. I always say that God networking is 10 times more effective than the networking we could do; however we can't automatically assume that God has "got us," while we throw our faithfulness, commitment, and reverence for Him out the window.

The story of Joseph has always been one of my favorite stories in the Bible. In Genesis 37:5, Joseph has his first dream revealing that he would one day reign or rule over many, including his family. This is a lofty dream for a 17 year old boy at the time, especially a boy who tended over his father's flock, and not to mention his family would be considered as foreigners. To no surprise, his dream came along with doubt (from his father) and anger (from his brothers).

Later in Chapter 37, Joseph brothers plotted to sell him in slavery to Egypt, and convince their father that Joseph had been killed by an animal. In chapter 39 Joseph, was purchased by Potiphar, captain of the guard to Pharaoh (also known as, the king of Egypt). Genesis 39:2 says, "The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master." It was so obvious that God was with Joseph that even Potiphar himself realized it, and soon made Joseph his personal attendant. As a result, the Bible says that the Lord began to bless Potiphar's household for Joseph's sake.

However, there is more drama to the story. Potiphar's wife began to look lustfully at Joseph and demands him to sleep with her. Ultimately Potiphar's wife failed to seduce Joseph, who resisted her temptation by saying it would be a sin against God. Notice he didn't say that it would be a sin against Potiphar, himself, or Potiphar's wife, ultimately it would be a sin against God. Instead of Joseph's integrity convicting Potiphar's wife it only angered her and she falsely accused Joseph of attempting to rape her. As a result Joseph was wrongly thrown into prison, BUT Genesis 39:21 says, "But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love." God was ultimately in control.

If we proceed to Genesis chapter 40 Joseph meets two prisoners in prison and interprets dreams that both prisoners had. Essentially, Joseph was able to interpret the dreams and in vs. 14 asked one of the prisoners that when he get's his old job back to mention his name to Pharaoh, so he might let Joseph out of prison. However, in verse 23, we see that the ex-prisoner. forgot all about Joseph, never giving him a thought.

It wasn't until TWO YEARS when Joseph was recognized for his skill of interpreting dreams. It wasn't recognized until Pharaoh himself needed his dream interpreted. Joseph's skill wasn't recognized until God said it was time to be recognized.

The story continues, but there is an amazing example of God's timing and sovereignty. When Joseph was a teenage his dream was revealed to him. God revealed that dream to Joseph; it wasn't a coincidence. It's interesting how the dream was shown to him, but God never revealed the timing for when the dream was going to take place. Throughout Joseph's life God was continually with him, even in lower job descriptions and low circumstances, Joseph was able to flourish by the grace of God.

One thing I find amazing through this story is that Joseph's skill of interpreting dreams had to be first used for prisoners in prison before it could be used for a king in his kingdom. Ultimately his skill further gave credibility to his dream. Joseph eventually became a ruler over many and finally reconciled with his brothers, but I can't help to believe that God was preparing Joseph for his dream. I am pretty sure Joseph matured over the years or gained insight over the years that would allow him to be effective as a ruler.

So why is this story relevant? There may be some people who are just ready to graduate right now and dive into careers. There may be some people who have held on for a dream for a very long time and just are not sure when it will happen. There may be some of us that has an amazing talent or skill that hasn't been recognized yet. Remember that God's timing is different from our timing. Honor Him, and watch Him make your dreams become a reality.

"You can make plans,but the Lord's purpose will prevail."-- Proverbs 19:21

Christian Dating Blogs

2013-08-23T20:51:00.002-07:00

Christian dating seems to get more and more popular. It seems as if so many young believers are seeking and wondering how they can attract that godly man or woman. Popular Christian dating blogs have also been on the rise allowing many individuals to finally seek and ask the questions they have been desperately wanting to know. Although I believe these blogs have the best intentions in mind, I am beginning to worry that people are heavily relying on these blogs rather than....God.

I think Colossians 2:20-23 sums it up beautifully,

20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Paul is basically warning us that making rules and forcing ourselves to stay away from certain practices would never formulate the maturity necessary to be successful in our spiritual lives. Which brings me to my next point.

Christian Dating blogs seem to be popular lately, but be careful. Just because certain aspects worked for one couple doesn't mean it is your personal conviction as well. Let God be the standard not someone's relationship. Don't be so focused on your relationship looking like a good "image" that you start implementing things when God has not even directed or convicted you on those things!

Boundaries are extremely important in a relationship, especially physical limits, but I know many young couples who are refusing to hug, hold hands, kiss, etc. until they are married, because of something they read on a blog. But what happens when/if they do hold hands, or hug, or kiss? Does that mean they are not strong enough? Does that mean they are not "good" Christians? Or could it simply mean that God didn't convict them about making their decision?

Please don't get it twisted, I'm not "condemning" Christian dating blogs. I am just stating some things I have noticed with some of my fellow brothers and sisters.

A good friend of mine once said that, "we have to remember that we are seeking love from falling people in a fallen world." I couldn't agree anymore. So instead of continuously focusing on a list of do's and don'ts are we able to truly accept the other person for who they are, flaws and all.

The purpose of this post is NOT to attack these blogs, I think many of them truly put Christ at the forefront of relationships. I am just simply encouraging young believers to not get so consumed with these blogs that we ultimately forget God. Learning to grow in love, developing self-control, asking for wisdom, being led by the Holy Spirit is essentially what we should be striving for.

The Motto!

2013-06-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

"Always have the mindset that you would rather have 1 person apply what you say rather than 1 million applause what you say. I want to be effective not just entertaining. This is service to God more than just performance for man. At the end of the day...

This is ministry, minus me!"

Why You Shouldn't Date Everyone You Meet

2013-05-20T19:04:00.002-07:00

There is approximately 7 million people in the world today. Many of which who will possess many qualities we share and find attractive. It is nearly inevitable that we will meet many people who interest us. However, we can't date or marry everyone who we find attractive, unless we are Solomon (he had 700 wives lol). My point is that even though we may come across many people we like or find attractive, it doesn't necessarily mean they are the right person to pursue a relationship with.

Many followers of Christ who are considering dating have heard the scripture "do not be unequally yolked" (2 Corinthians 6:14). It is a fairly popular verse and is referenced many times in regards to dating. Although it is referenced and preached a lot, sometimes many Christians overlook it. Why? Because of this dangerous thing called, feelings. Feelings can allow us to make many temporary decisions that can result in many long term consequences. That is why it is vitally imperative that we pray for wisdom and discernment and actively take heed from the Holy Spirit. He will guide us to help us distinguish our feelings from His promptings.

Through my past experiences, I have seen firsthand how my feelings have allowed me to make premature decisions in regards to pursuing a relationship with someone. A very vivid example stems from a young lady pretending to want to know more about God, only as a means to get close to me. It only resulted in disappointment as I realized that we were definitely going in different directions. From my past experiences it is my prayer and hope that I encourage someone with this post.

Believe it or not, godly characteristics in a person are attractive to individuals who aren't even looking for God. As the saying goes, "Some people want a godly man/woman, but don't want God."

The problem is that those who have this mindset never draw near to God, but only end up drawing near to you. You unfortunately become their substitute for God. As a result this adds pressure on you because as soon as you make a mistake, they associate your mistakes as a characteristic and quality of God. So you then feel as if your every move and action has to "perfect" in order for them to "see" God. This is unfair to you and to the other person involved; it is unhealthy. We can't base our knowledge of God, based of the errors of other people. In essence people may always fail us, but God will never fail us. It hurts my heart that so many people are so opposed to the things of God, because a Christian made a mistake and hurt them (mistakes are inevitable). This may occur possibly, because the person never had a true, personal relationship with God. As a result, they are not able to identify God's perfect presence from human's needing grace for their errors. This brings me to my next point.

Some individuals may be placed in your life for you to witness to them, not necessarily date them. A young lady may need to see an example of a trustworthy man, a young man may need to know how true acceptance feels from a woman. This is possible to display without dating them. Ultimately if people are broken and "dead" in their spiritual life they need to see the true reason behind your caring qualities. Essentially it means they need to see Christ!

World Wide Web

2013-05-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

Its been about 2 and a half weeks since I released "World Wide Web," a spoken word video highlighting my struggle, but ultimately my freedom from pornography addiction. This video was made possible by The Good Fight Studios located in Waterford, Wisconsin.

Two years ago I wrote a blog post in regards to the deadly addiction (http://cedricdhoard.blogspot.com/2011/03/lust-p-word.html), but this poem was truly two years in the making.

"World Wide Web" purposely conveys two meanings. Not only is the title reflective of what the internet is most popularly referred to, but it is also a play on words conveying how the enemy uses a "web" to trap his "prey" worldwide.

Below is a few lines of the poem:

"Consider when a spider weaves its web; it is made out of silk one of the most valuable fabrics in the world representing status and power, but the true purpose of this web is to entrap prey so that they can be devoured. So in other words, what appears to captivate, can actually hold you captive. It’s funny how something seemingly attractive, can actually make you inactive."

This poem was ultimately inspired by a book I read this past summer, entitled, "Surfing For God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle" by Michael John Cusick. The book influenced the writing process for the poem to focus on three areas that porn can affect: 1) Emotional 2) Physical and 3) Spiritual. I think the book did a great job of discussing all three areas. Through the book I was also able to understand and realize that we can't "train our flesh" to overcome addiction.
Will power or "training" our flesh to overcome sin is not the way to do it. For how can we train something to do right when it is naturally at war with the Holy Spirit? There are numerous occasions in the Bible that address how our flesh goes against the purpose of the Spirit (Romans 8:5-8; Galatians 5:16-17). True heart conviction and recognition of Christ's forgiving grace is necessary. We can't hopelessly fight battles with will power that could eventually be won by surrendering to God and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Recently I was contacted by the author in regards to my poem. In short, he shared my poem at a Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado as a way to impact and inspire other men. God has also used the poem in other mighty ways. I am so thankful to be a small part of His bigger plan.

I am extremely passionate about this subject and my prayer is that this video will further shed light on an issue I know is still alive and active. People wonder if I am ever embarrassed by being transparent about this issue, but I feel as if God is using my transparency to reach those who may be struggling with this issue. I also do not feel embarrassed, because I am a product of God' grace and redemptive power. There is freedom from addiction through Christ! He offers a way of escape from this "World Wide Web."

"Way of Purity" picture from:
http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/static/uploads/courses/header_images/way-of-purity.gif

Spoken Words

2013-03-03T20:42:00.001-08:00

God has amazing ways of revealing things to you. This past weekend is no different. Recently, God revealed some aspects regarding my past that I was finally able to internalize. I am so thankful for His mercy and sovereignty, so I had to write about it. The gift and passion I have for spoken word is definitely for a higher purpose beyond myself.

When I was younger I was enrolled into speech classes. Much of my pre-school years I remember spending much time in classes to better improve my speech and pronunciation. This may seem normal considering my age, but I was also told by dentists and doctors that I would have a lisp and that it would cause problems for me as I grew older. Even to this day I have extra tissue on the bottom of my tongue.

Due to trouble of speech, I grew up to be self-conscious and insecure about my voice. I actually didn't like my voice. I didn't like how it sounded, to me my voice was just drawn out, slow, and robotic. So to solve the problem, I decided that being quiet was the best option. I remember purposely not speaking, because of the insecurity I faced with my voice. I was naturally shy when I was younger, so my added choice of not speaking contributed to my insecurity. Of course by that time I was at an age when I was expected to speak when adults or others talked to me. My parents would always patiently encourage me to break free from my comfort zone, but fear and insecurity choked the reality of seeming like I could break free. BUT...

I still remember one situation very clearly. I was at church, and a lady asked me something. Instead of speaking out I just simply nodded my head. The lady proceeded to say that she heard my "rattles." Basically it was a smart way of saying that she could hear my head rattling louder than my voice. This comment further fueled my insecurity, but it also fueled me to overcome.

Now looking back, the internal battle I faced with my voice was a major factor to my insecurities in high school. By God's grace I was finally able to receive true salvation and develop a relationship with Christ before my journey into college. As several people know my first poem I ever wrote or shared was in a mandatory speech class in college. I was faced with one of my biggest obstacles, but I knew I could do all things through Christ who gives me strength! To make a long story short, God has blessed me with the opportunity to share my gift of poetry to many churches, people, and venues. He also has allowed me to SPEAK to youth and adults alike. I don't brag when I share this, but it is only to give glory to an all-powerful God who had a unique plan beyond what I thought was my reality.

My gift couldn't be revealed until my complete source of confidence came from an all-powerful God. Despite my confidence, that doesn't mean I don't feel nervous or insecure, but now I know where my insecurity lies. Like the blog says. I went from Insecurity to In Security.

New Nature

2012-12-21T20:21:00.003-08:00

²¹Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²²throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

--( Eph. 4:21-24).

New Nature, is a spoken word CD that God has blessed me to complete. The beautiful and amazing thing about a blessing is that it is intended to go through you to others. I discovered this gift for spoken word while taking a speech class one semester in college, but little did I know that God was using this class to further grow my passion for poetry as well as a way to bring about His glory. In the span of a year God has taken this hobby of mine and used it as a ministry to share His truth. My confidence in Christ has grown considerably through the opportunities He has given me, but I am thankful and honored to know that I can glorify Him as well as impact others in the process.

^{I want to give a special thanks to Dennis Mcmurray, Jr. Without your help, this CD project wouldn't be possible. Thanks for your gifts and support bro!}

"God has a plan for you. A specific plan. One thing to do to discover that specific plan is to examine your passions, abilities, personality, and experiences, then uncover where those four converge. This will help to reveal the plan God has destined you for. God has also given you the authority you need to perform that plan well."

--(Tony Evans, Kingdom Man pg. 91)

Faith Worth Fighting For

2012-12-20T18:11:00.003-08:00

I am learning that the word "Faith" should be treated very much like the word "Love." Sometimes we tend to use faith loosely. We say we have it, but our actions convey whether or not we are truly operating under it. If our faith is real, it will be evident by our behavior. In other words, do we behave what we believe?

For example, 2 Peter 1:5b-11 says,

Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, ⁶and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, ⁷and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

⁸The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

¹⁰So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. ¹¹Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In verses 5-9, the scriptures highlight examples of behavior that should supplement and complement our faith. These behaviors indicate that sometimes faith must go beyond our belief. In other words, if faith is to be completely utilized to its fullest extent it must coincide with our actions; they must walk together. However, these actions don't just come automatically or "robotically," they require work, diligence, perseverance, etc. For instance, when I first accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior that didn't automatically make me exempt from sin or growth, as a matter of fact it never will. Despite this truth, God still gives us extra help by providing us His Holy Spirit. By way of the Holy Spirit, God gives us the fortitude to continue to learn and grow.

With that being said, Salvation doesn't RELY on our good performance (actions/behaviors), but Salvation should RESULT in changed behavior and actions. As I stated earlier, even as followers of Christ that does not mean we are excluded from sin and growth in our lives, and Peter understood this perfectly in verse 10. He tells us to, "work hard to prove you really are among those God has called and chosen." Yes, saying we have "faith" is one thing, but now let's prove it.

For a major source of an encouragement earlier in this chapter, 2 Peter 1:3-4 says,

³By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. ⁴And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

We don't provide the assets to live a godly life but God does. Isn't it encouraging to know that He shares with us His divine nature! So let us continue to work hard to prove that we are truly one of God's chosen. This is truly a Faith Worth Fighting For!

Behind the Mic

2012-10-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

"When you see someone perform/minister behind a mic. Realize that your only capturing one facet of them. Don't assume squat. Pray regardless."

This was one of the more thought-provoking statuses that came across my Facebook newsfeed this weekend. It came from one of my favorite poets and big inspiration for my poetry, Ezekiel Azonwu.

This a very profound statement, highlighting the fact that we sometimes make certain judgements about people based on immediate things we can see. However, we must be mindful that when anyone is behind a mic (poet, singer, preacher, speaker, etc.) that we are only experiencing one aspect of that person.

-1Timothy 5:24-25 says,

"Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgement. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light."

To get a fuller context of this passage, Paul was warning Timothy about being in a hurry to choose church leaders. As the scriptures highlight, some sins may be overlooked, but just because we can't see the sins doesn't mean that the sin is not present.

I am not suggesting that we closely scrutinize and attempt to magnify a person's every move and actions, but let us be directed by wisdom and discernment.

I like what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:1-4. He says,

"So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. ²Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. ³As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. ⁴My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide."

Paul and Apollos were prominent spiritual leaders during their time, but they humbly identified themselves as mere servants for their true Master- God. Paul wasn't concerned about the praise or approval from other people, he wasn't even concerned about his own judgements. Yes, he admitted that his motives were right; however, only God knows a person's heart!

What a great attitude and mindset to have whenever God allows us to use our talents and gifts!

Everybody is Getting Married!

2012-08-02T07:49:00.001-07:00

You can't tell me this isn't God!...

Last week or so I went to church for this monthly youth council meeting to plan for upcoming events regarding the youth, but God had other plans. For some reason myself and this other lady also apart of the youth council board could not find where the meeting took place, and ironically no one was there to direct us.

So in the midst of our waiting we began to talk. The conversation first centered around VBS the past week, and how God had done amazing things within the youth during that week. However, interestingly and seemingly randomly the conversation then turned its focus on MARRIAGE.

Marriage must be the theme of the summer. A couple friends from highschool were recently married, engagements coming left and right, weddings coming left and right...Marriage seems to be where its at?!

As the conversation progressed, this lady said something that truly stuck with me. She said,

"one of the most uncomfortable positions a believer can be in, is realizing that they married someone outside of the will God has for them."

How do we know God's will for us exactly? Well one sure way is to check our emotions.

Song of Solomon (Songs) 2:7 says..."not to awaken love until the time is right."

Obviously feelings of love can create strong emotions, but feelings aren't enough to support a long lasting relationship. This particular passage specifically tells us to WAIT! We cannot force romance to do the job commitment was made to do.

God's will is essentially keeping in line with God's will. How do we do that? By keeping Him FIRST! God must be the center-piece of your relationship. And if God is the center-piece of a relationship, than those two people in a relationship have to be passionately concerned about their individual relationship with God.

I am not going to go into much detail about what to look for, and how do you know if someone is the right one. Right now I don't believe that is my position to do so, and as I continue to grow I truly believe God will answer those specific questions if we seek and ask Him.

As I continue to understand God's character more, the more I discover just how orderly God is. He is a God of order and everything is done in an orderly PROCESS. I love that word! Process truly brings about progress. So don't bypass the process of a relationship (friendship) and let the relationship naturally progress in the Lord's timing!

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Matthew 6:33-34

New Living Translation (NLT)

³³Seek the Kingdom of God^[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Proverbs 3:5-6

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Also, check out this short video from a friend. I think the message is truly relevant and on time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fjGNDFfXp2o

Successful Ministry vs. Ministering Successfully

2012-05-25T20:41:00.002-07:00

Successful Ministry or Ministering Successfully- more than just words being switched around, or a "catchy" title, I believe there is a major difference and distinction between these two phrases. In fact in order to have a successful ministry, we must learn to minister successfully.

This year I have an amazing opportunity of helping lead a new Bible study ministry on my college campus. It has been a great experience socially and spiritually, which required a teachable attitude and much faithfulness. A while back I actually saw the phrase "Are you concerned about having a successful ministry or are you concerned about ministering successfully?" on facebook, and I really began thinking about this major distinction.

Now in writing this, I am not saying that EVERY Christian is called to be a pastor, rapper, singer, speaker, author, etc. Truth of the matter is God has not called everyone to start a ministry; however, we are still called to MINISTER. We are called to go and make disciples of Jesus Christ (See, Matthew 28:18-19). As a result of our relationship with Christ; however, our life goals or careers may have to change in order for us to carry out his will for us. The moment we accept Christ is the time ministry starts, whether interacting with others, entering a college classroom, and so on. Our life, our character, our morals, our beliefs should reflect that of Jesus Christ.

Looking deeper into the idea of ministering successfully I believe there are 4 passages of scripture which are great blueprints for the operation and functioning of ministry. Obviously, MANY passages in the Bible could greatly pertain to ministry, but these are just a few I thought were relevant:

2 Cor. 4:1-18, 2 Cor. 5:11-21, 1 Tim. 1:12-17, 2 Tim. 4:1-8. Based on these particular passages I came up with several points that ministry should incorporate.

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1) Ministry should always promote and proclaim the truth.

(2 Cor. 4:1-2- NLT)

"Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don't try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the TRUTH before God, and all who are honest know this."

An important thing to remember is that we stand in the presence of God, meaning that He hears our every word. We must strive to promote the truth of the Gospel, even if the truth we proclaim doesn't always please listening ears.

2) Ministry should be consistent and reliable with the Word of God.

(2 Cor. 4:2- NLT)

"We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don't try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the TRUTH before God, and all who are honest know this."

(2 Timothy 3:16-17- NLT)

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."

This is pretty much an echo from point number one, but obviously it is virtually impossible to do ministry without the word of God. Essentially God's Word is what equips and utilizes us to complete the work God has given us.

3) Ministry should introduce people to Christ, not merely yourself.

(2 Cor. 4: 5-6- NLT)

"You see, we don't go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus' sake."

Paul's main focus of preaching was JESUS CHRIST. Considering the fact Paul wrote most of the New Testament books, his message was always about Christ, and not his accomplishments, abilities, and attributes.

In my opinion, I feel as if this could become a major struggle amongst individuals in ministry. By God's grace, some of us have been given incredible gifts, talents, testimonies, insight, etc. It is a natural tendency to take great pride in our various gifts, but we can't let pride override our true purpose and goal. Remember the Gospel message has not changed, God does not "need" our gifts in order to make the message more effective or powerful. The power of the Gospel message (Jesus Christ) is the reason why our gifts and talents flourish (See, 1 Cor. 12:1-11).

4) Ministry minded people strive to have a sincere heart, and do not brag about their spectacular ministry.

(2 Cor. 5:11-12- NLT)

"Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart."

(1 Cor. 13:1-3- NLT)

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing."

These passages say it ALL! Without love and a sincere heart our work in the ministry means nothing. A great question to ask is, are we impacting people or just merely impressing them?

5) Ministry minded individuals are more concerned with being an example, rather than creating an image.

(1 Tim. 1:15- NLT)

"This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners'-- and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinner. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life."

Again Paul addresses us with so much realness and authenticity. Paul shared his past and his failure so that others would have hope also. He didn't address us like he "had it all together," in fact he refers himself as "the worst sinner of them all." In our ministry can people see our transparency and authenticity?

6) Ministry minded individuals pursue knowledge, rather than pursue power.

(2 Tim. 4:3-5)

"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you."

This passage sums up all the points beautifully, but as ministry minded individuals we should always lead people to the knowledge of God, and not control them with power and myths.

Thank you all for reading. The list could go on and on. By all means please feel free to comment, provide feedback, and continue the list yourself. Love!

Knowing your Role (#TeamJesus...Literally)

2012-05-22T09:33:00.001-07:00

You hear a lot of times in sports about different players having specific roles on their teams. Most of the time these players have to perform their specific roles so that the "Best" player can perform his/her specific role. We as Christians have a specific role also...

"Been learning that as Christians its not our job to change people, that is the Holy Spirit's job. We plant the seed, and add a lil' water, but God is what makes something grow. We cannot let frustration override our ministry. Do your job, let the Holy Spirit do His."

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NLT)

I planted the seeds in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God's workers. And you are God's fields. You are God's building.

2012-05-22T09:06:00.002-07:00

"God chooses different paths for different people. Embrace your path and use faith to walk it."

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

We can make our plans,

but the LORD determines our steps.

Faithless Forgetfulness

2012-04-14T08:30:00.001-07:00

2 Chronicles 16:7-10

"7 At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram. 8 Don’t you remember what happened to the Ethiopians[a] and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers?[b] At that time you relied on the Lord, and he handed them over to you. 9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”

10 Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison and put him in stocks. At that time Asa also began to oppress some of his people."

Wow, so much is packed into these three verses found in 2 Chronicles 16. According to these verses King Asa displayed great faith at one time, but what happened? As a matter of fact, this is the same King Asa in 2 Chronicles 15:15 whose nation, "earnestly sought after God, and they found Him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side."

Sadly, I definitely can see myself in this scenario. How for a while I can display that faith which could move mountains, and then all of a sudden my faith gets choked by the worries and difficulties of life. Sometimes faith doesn't always come naturally, in most instances faith takes much commitment, practice, and patience. Sometimes we have to regularly remind ourselves of what God has done for us in past events.

Wavering faith seemed to be King Asa's biggest issue; however, a much more glaring issue is present. Look at how King Asa responded when confronted by the Prophet Hanani. Asa threw Hanani into prison, revealing the true state of his heart. How do we respond when we are confronted about our sin? Do we deny it with pride, rage, and anger? Or do we accept it with humbleness, sincerity, and repentance?

King Asa's heart was hardened, 2 Chronicles 16:12-13 says, "12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord's help but turned only to his physicians. 13 So he died in the forty-first year of his reign"....

Asa carried his bitterness and pride all the way to his grave! We must remember that an effort to follow God's plan will always bring positive results.

James 1:5-8

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. ⁶But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Jeremiah 29:11

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

MAN-UP! (Man of Character)

2012-02-06T10:33:00.000-08:00

Here is the scenario:

Boy meets girl, boy approaches girl, girl rejects boy, boy disrespects girl.

Funny? But we have all seen this scenario before.

Men approaching a young lady expecting a certain outcome, but when the desired outcome doesn't come into formation or agreement; the true colors/character is revealed! I can identify with this scenario personally, because I used to do it too. Today, it seems like a huge phenomenon of men using their Christianity as a means for people to notice them as "special" or "different," however they are not allowing their relationship with God as a means for transformation and character molding.

Men, if we actually allowed our relationship/knowledge of God to be used to transform our character into the likeness of Christ, instead of using it as a means and a way to attract women; we would be unstoppable! Not only would our character change, but I believe the world around us would change as well!

Check this, 1 Timothy 5:2 (New Living Translation) says:

"Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters."

Since women are either going to be older or younger than us, we have a responsibility to cover and protect them. Regardless if they are our significant other or not, we still have an obligation to treat them as if they were members of our own family!

The challenge/question I want to leave to any man that reads this, including myself is this:

Does the persona we want women/people to see an authentic representation of our actual character?

Right vs. Easy

2011-10-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

More than the tension between doing what is right vs. wrong. I find the tension more between doing what is right vs. what is "easy."

Sometimes the right choice is not always easy, but it is necessary. There has to come that point when decisions must be made to further grow in your relationship with God. Are these decisions easy? In some cases, of course not! However, they will save us from more heartache and pain opposed to if we didn't make the correct decision.

Pray over your "feelings," and truly give your thoughts to God (2 Cor. 10:5; Phil. 4:8). Our feelings can influence us in making those "easy" decisions instead of the right decisions. (Guard your HEART!!).

.....

Why am I saying this, because if I claim that I am striving to be the man God has purposed me to be, then I have to make those tough decisions.

Even if my feelings don't "feel good," How hard am I willing to drop to my knees and ask God what it is that HE want?? No one said that life was going to be "easy," but Christ did say that He will give us a satisfying life (John 10:10).

What are we going to do, Do what is EASY or do what is RIGHT?!

"Every Christian is a Continuing Education Program."

2011-08-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

The above title was part of a phrase I read today of a footnote found in my Bible. The footnote was addressing Colossians 3:10.

I find it so very true and very important to understand and remember. The more we learn to know Christ, His work, and His character; the more we are being transformed to think like Him. Many Christians will agree with me I am sure, but we must remember that this is a lifelong PROCESS, never an instant aspect.

"Growth is a journey, never a destination." Think about it. Even though we are followers of God, we can never be like God. We need Him to function, so "falling" is just part of the process. If we never made mistakes, never had shortcomings, and downfalls, how could we ever learn from them?

Let's compare it to that of a baby. When a baby first begins to walk, we don't expect the baby to just begin leaping. No, the baby first starts with a process of walking. Yes, the baby may fall a few times, however; he/she gets back up again, and continues the process.

Proverbs 24: 16 says, "The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked." Notice that the rigtheous and wicked BOTH fell, but what set them apart was that the righteous GOT UP.

"Religious" and "super spiritual" people will downplay their downfalls and struggles. But maybe those of you reading this, maybe you are not struggling with anything. I don't know? But whether your relationship with God is strong or whether it is a continuous struggle, once we feel like we can't grow and work on ourselves, or once we feel so guilty and feel like God can't forgive us for our sins; that is the moment where it becomes most dangerous. There is always something to learn!

"It takes practice, ongoing review, patience, and concentration to keep in line with His will." --footnote in Bible.

Colossians 3:10

New Living Translation (NLT)

^"10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him."

Bitterness/ Forgiveness

2011-08-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

Matthew 6:14-16

New Living Translation (NLT).

¹⁴ “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."

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Well then....I guess I could end this post right now.......

For real though! Forgiveness is tough, honestly holding on to bitterness is the "Easy" thing to do. But what a convicting verse, "If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Translation: That includes all of us! No one is exempt from God's forgiveness! Think of it this way, when we make a choice not to forgive others, we are basically neglecting the fact that we are ALL sinners in need of God's forgiveness(Grace). We forgive, because God through Christ forgave us first! (Ephesians 4:32).

The biggest lie Satan can trick us into believing is that forgiving others somehow makes us weak. Ironically not forgiving others leave us in more pain than we felt previously. It's like holding your hand onto a hot stove...if you want to relieve yourself from the pain, you have to LET GO.

A common misconception people have is that forgiveness gives the person that hurt us, "power" over us. No, actually forgiveness frees us from the bondage of bitterness. Bondage is something that binds us, we are held down, we can't move! The bondage of bitterness holds us and prevents us from moving forward, but forgiveness frees us, and allows us to move ahead!

Unfortunately however, circumstances and situations don't make forgiveness easy. I am referring to circumstances such as continually being lied to, being sexually abused, verbally abused, etc. Honestly, people have experienced so much pain and hurt in ways I can't comprehend. Many times I can't even fathom the thought of forgiveness. However, everyone has experienced pain, and unfortunately people make bad decisions everyday based on their pain and bitterness they have not properly dealt with.

Consider this quote from former American World Peace Activist, Norman Cousins. He says that, "Life is an adventure in forgiveness." How true is that! Pretty much for the rest of our lives we are going to have to make that choice to forgive others.

Just like we have hurt people, and just as others have hurt us. One thing remains true. God is yearning for a relationship with EVERYONE! You never know how much power forgiving someone can truly have, not only in your life, but as well in the lives of those who hurt us.

Ephesians 4:32

New Living Translation (NLT)

^"32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

To understand the power of forgiveness further, please watch the videos below!

Get Off Facebook!

2011-08-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

The title got cha didn't it lol?? This is not a post bashing Facebook or anything of that nature, this is simply a Part 2 to a recent post I wrote about taking a look at ourselves and our true motives--- > ( http://cedricdhoard.blogspot.com/2011/08/look-at-me-look-at-meno-really-take.html ).

Recently I wrote about how God convicted me about a dangerous aspect in my life. I was beginning to feel like I needed recognition for the "things" I was doing. In truth, however; doing outward things (performance) just so people can recognize us destroys our intimacy with God. Our deeds are not really about Him, but for other people to SEE them. So, with this all in mind, how could it possibly relate to Facebook??

Facebook is a great way to socialize, network, and connect with people. There is no doubt about that, but is it truly possible that Facebook can somehow prevent us from seeing the true reality about ourselves??

You seem to hear about it everyday, someone on cyber space creating a whole new persona about themselves. People getting so excited about the number friends or followers they have, people liking your statuses, commenting on photos, etc...

But lets get a little more personal. Those everyday people liking all our statuses, giving us praises; they only see the outward "things" we do, but what if they could really see us? Our struggles, our heart issues, our thoughts! Don't take it out of context. I am not saying that everything people put on facebook should be meticulously scrutinized, but maybe its time for us to step back and take a look at a few things:

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*Is who I present myself on Facebook really the real me?

*Has facebook taken time from other important things I need to work on?

*From all the hundreds and thousands of friends we have on Facebook, how many of them are viable friendships? Or could there possibly be a real friendship we need to rebuild?

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These are just a few questions to think about. Again I am not saying Facebook is "BAD," in fact this very moment as I am writing this, I am also logged on to Facebook lol. However, ALWAYS be willing to examine yourself, accept conviction, and allow God to reveal things to you.

Galatians 6:3-4

New King James Version (NKJV)

^"3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another."

Look at Me, Look at Me!!...(No really take a look at yourself!)

2011-08-05T01:27:00.000-07:00

So for a while I have been feeling some type of need that I need to prove something...like I needed to be recognized!

One word: Dangerous!! When you really think about it, God's standard is sooo HIGH that are righteous deeds compared to Him are considered to be "filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6). Christ died so that we wouldn't have to prove ourselves by the deeds we do, so why do we continue to fall in this trap of yearning to be recognized?!

Consider the Pharisees, the religious leaders mentioned in the Bible. These religious leaders were more concerned about outward deeds more than the very important truth that Christ was the SAVIOR, in turn their yearning for self-recognition translated into their quest to crucify Christ....

God revealed this to me as I was talking to a friend about why I had this strange feeling of somehow trying to "prove" something. She said that it becomes dangerous when we, "fail to realize that it isn't about whether or not you [say] the most about Him but rather if you actually live your life according to His desires."

Wow, how quickly my focus/motives became so consumed with ~~ME!~~...But who are we???

Ephesians 2:8-9

New King James Version (NKJV)

"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that NOT OF YOURSELVES; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Beware of the habit of doing things based on performance for God FOR people. Doing things just so people can recognize us destroys our intimacy with God, because its no longer about Him, but people. That is why we are feeling like we have to always prove something, when in reality God is saying...my Grace is ALL you NEED!

Pride

2011-07-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

* The feeling that I always need to be recognized for the things I do, or the things I accomplish. The satisfaction of accomplishing something that I love is not enough for me.

* I am hurt, and I can't accept the fact that the very person who hurt me is now getting praise from others. They don't know this person like I know them.

* I have been the top of my class since middle school, graduated with a full-ride scholarship. My peers and family are no where on my level. All they would do is bring me down.

..............................................................................

Bitterness, jealousy, selfishness, revenge, unforgiveness, ungratefulness etc.! What do all of these have in common? They each have an element of PRIDE. Maybe the above scenarios sound familiar in our own lives. Perhaps, we have never flat out said those things, but they could very well be in our thoughts. Pride has very much to do with our thoughts and how we perceive ourselves.

The first scenario regarding recognition is definitely familiar to me. Recently I have seen an ugly area in my life where I am feeling the need to be recognized for things I do. From a human perspective we all may have different definitions of what pride is, but because I believe Christ DIED so He could SAVE ME (that is enough reason to correct our pride), and because I believe the Bible to be true; here is a clear definition of what pride is: Pride is being motivated by our own desires while refusing to acknowledge our dependence upon Him. Pride is also a deceiver, making us believe we DESERVE higher than we should....(E.g: Satan deceiving Adam and Eve) .

Consider Isaiah 14:13, where it talks about how Satan wanted to be like "The Most High." Now I don't think that all people who may struggle with pride intentionally think they are above God, however pride can make us lose focus of some very important truths! Here are 2 ways of battling pride.

(The following "Truths" were found from "Relationships: A Mess Worth Making" by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp).

Truth 1 (Identity): Identity is who we are. We are all sinners in desperate NEED of a Savior. No matter how you look at it, this makes everyone in common! On this earth we are all sinners interacting with other sinners.

Truth 2 (Worship): Worship is essentially acknowledging who God is. God is love, God is Sovereign. God created US. God sent His Son as a Savior.

So we must remember who we are, and remember who God is; under the basis of what Christ did. When we remember this, we can overcome pride.

Ephesians 2:8-10 sums it up beautifully:

^"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

Verses dealing with Pride:

http://encouragingbiblequotes.com/versespridea.html

Relationships start with YOU!

2011-07-18T21:45:00.000-07:00

It has been a little while since I have last updated the blog with a new post, but as the goal with every post, my hope is that this will be a blessing to anyone who reads it. More importantly I pray it is pleasing in God's sight. I am merely just writing what God has revealed to me.

Here we go, everyone's favorite subject right? Relationships lol. This is not a post where I describe what qualities I would like in a young lady or venting about how good women are lacking. No, I would like to challenge myself and others to focus on one very important aspect regarding relationships: Ourselves!!

You see it countless times, individuals brag about how they can OBTAIN a relationship, but ironically they can't seem to MAINTAIN a relationship.

That is the problem sometimes. Individuals break up and blame the other person for the mistakes made and never take the necessary time look at themselves. Unfortunately they go through this cycle of one relationship after another, always assuming it is the other person's fault. However, it is time to go back to basic Grade School math...
What (or WHO)is the common denominator?...

Consider these wise words I have learned from my mother, "If you learn how to become unselfish and admit your mistakes, any relationship you are in has potential to grow." In other words, if you are willing to work on yourself, watch your expectations of others decrease. Your expectations of others become more realistic!

Matthew 7:3-5 says it all!

"3 And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye." (NLT).

S * X

2011-06-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

You think we are driven in a Sex-Driven Society? I would say so! Recently God has been revealing to me the power sexual immorality truly has over society. If you may have thought God never had a clear answer for sexual related stuff (Like I did), needless to say you are mistaken. Hmmm, God has much to say about sexual immorality. Here is a few examples of what God says about sexual immorality...

Throughout the Old Testament, sexual immorality is used to refer to the Spiritual unfaithfulness Israel showed to God. (Eg: Hosea and Ezekiel). In Leviticus Chapter 18, God gives Israel forbidden sexual practices. Why? Many of the surrounding pagan nations thrived on sexual relations...even sexual abuse amongst family members. God warned Israel about these practices, and made clear the consequences if they were to practice them. Hmm, consequences like what you may ask?...

When David fell into sexual immorality with Bathsheba (2 Samuel Chap. 11 and 12), God forgave him, but there was a consequence. What was the consequence? His child born from Bathsheba died AND generational curses of sexual abuse occurred within David's family. (See 2 Samuel Chap. 13).

1 Cor. 5, Paul talks about sexual immorality in the church that no one WITHIN the church has addressed AND almost every book in the New Testament addresses sexual immorality...

Look around today, Tv thrives off sex, Music nowadays isn't considered "music" if sex is not involved, many "great" men falling into traps related to sex...YOO SEX is SACRED.

Comprehend this: God compares marriage between a man and a wife to that of Christ Jesus and the Church. Essentially marriage is supposed to model Christ's relationship with the Church (see Ephesians 5). Who is the Church? Follower's of Christ-- aka people. The Bible also clearly mentions that SEX is for marriage...

Now comprehend this: Earlier I mentioned that God uses sexual immorality as examples to describe the spiritual UNFAITHFULNESS of Israel-- aka people.

I am so passionate in writing about this because I don't want to see this become a barrier for so many people, including myself . Please look at the scriptures I made reference to and view it for yourself. God's word is much more powerful than mine!

Awhile back in another post I discussed about my struggle against pornography, (http://cedricdhoard.blogspot.com/2011/03/lust-p-word.html) and how it created other issues within me. When God tells us to stay away from sexual immorality (sex, pornography, perverse talk, etc). It is not meant to punish us, but keep us away from the power it holds. God shows that sex is extremely SACRED.

If you feel like there is no hope at all dealing with Lust, that is a straight up lie. God never condemns us, only convicts! There may be consequences, but He is also a restorer! Feeling hopeless? Please follow the link below. It greatly encourage me, and I hope it encourages anyone who read this post.

Also take a look at this: http://www.singleness.org/lust.shtml