Jesus Walks With Me - Life enlightenment in Christ

Resting in Peace part 1

2015-07-21T15:16:00.002-04:00

They say rest in peace when people pass away but what about the rest you should be entered into today? How will you know how to suddenly rest in peace if you don't make a habit of letting God take control Now? When it's time to go, you should be confident your work was complete, your house is in order and most of all that you're going with your Best Friends the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and are used to communing with them wherever you go already. You know where you're going when you leave here. Without a doubt. That's the greatest peace of all and He says we need to have it now. Don't wait until that last breath is drawn to take seriously eternity. And don't get it wrong, resting in the Lord doesn't mean you don't work hard or do hard work it just mean the work doesn't get to you and it only makes you better. And when the time comes, your rest in the grave will be worth it for it. What would YOU be resting from if you were to go today? What have you committed your life to? Is it worth it? Let your obituary be in mind as much as your resume, not just what you're doing but the legacy you're leaving behind.

Who is good but God

2015-07-21T14:56:00.000-04:00

People really argue over whether they are "good" enough? What does that even mean? No matter how good you think you are or how well-meaning, everyone has been affected by the same internal problem that leads one to lie, cheat, steal and even wish dead the very people who have only done right by you. That's a human issue and it's called having the nature to sin. And it's why we are not to judge others and think proudly of ourselves but we should be more than happy to trust God to bring us through any and all of our conflicts by touching us internally. If you think you can live a life perfectly on your own, even managing to not be struggling with bad habits, addiction and vices or dealing with horrible relationships with people in your life or getting things done but always feeling like you're lacking or wanting to be different than what media presents you but seeing no other way or even not being affected by crime and injustice and the legal system, take me to whatever planet you come from because it's not earth. I am human and I need Jesus. Period. I love myself enough to admit that I am not good enough and that God always is. This is why righteousness is a gift not something we earn, it's all Him we just do not measure up we are imperfect and are born beautiful but without comprehension of the value of being holy or knowledge of our purpose of resting in Him and not taking on the weight of the world. We take that on but He wants us to just rely on and grow through Him and His might. Being connected to Him makes all the difference in the way we are able to live life He makes all things possible if we let Him. The Father's calling is great. Answer.

Ready for the unknown?

2015-06-15T17:28:00.001-04:00

Im not posting this to say go get married and have children besides I think too many ppl come on here and post about relationships as if there aren't soooo many single, God-fearing, goal-driven ppl in this world who dont know if they'll ever even meet someone they could accomplish building a future with. I'm just posting for the concept. The principle. Of not blocking out opportunities to be blessed and move forward in your life. The marriage and family thing is not for everybody though many would benefit from it and can relate to it in some way but the point is the fact that so many feel a need to hide from it As well as from many other things in life just because of fear of the unknown when, as with all things, fear is a thief of progress and a promise of failure before you can even start. Truth is, some things Are scary and frightening but God is with you for each step of the way and He wants you to trust in Him so fear has no place with you just faith and your journey is not given to you all at once so feeling overwhelmed with the gravity of the vision is unnecessary and what you need for it will be provided beforehand but some will just have to be learned along the way. So no, don't jump in blindly. But don't stand still in the dark. Come out, come out wherever you are and answer the call He's placed on your life. One thing you can never regret is being in God's will.

You can't be prepared for the future if you never start today. You're preparing for Something, either failure or success. Choose success.

Take a look

2015-04-17T15:34:00.003-04:00

I say this because I care. No judgment. No scorn. But heed my words do not take them lightly. You need to change things. Reevaluate some things within yourself. Your views and mindset. Your ideas, fears, goals and intent. These friends you have, you are not trying to let go of, I get it but look at their lifestyles. Look at what you do when you are together. Look at what you sacrifice and compromise for them look at how you've hurt others and yourself in the process of your commitment to them. Look at all the opportunities you've lost in life, all the problems you've caused, money you've lost and the amazing moments you've given up to spend time with them. Look in the mirror at the person you've become. Not just how you look but how you see. Look at the lifestyle you are being held in as you hold onto them in your life. You may think many things are mostly harmless. But a little harm goes a mighty long way. And many mistakes and disappointments sadly beget lifelong regrets and remorse. There are things you can't get back things you can't change things you can't control. But I've always just wanted better for you. And I know, if you just choose it, you will have better.

Opportunities

2015-03-11T14:10:00.003-04:00

REALationships Part 2: THE DISCUSSION!
Let's keep it REAL—Relationships are difficult! This FRIDAY, March 13th, at 7PM, we're hosting THE DISCUSSION - a panel of singles, along with dating and married couples, answering your toughest questions about sex, dating and being single. We received over one hundred questions from you and will be answering them this Friday! Don’t forget to share on social media and invite a friend! #REALationships

PRAY - The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's Latest Album!If you haven't already, DOWNLOAD and share the latest album from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir on iTunes. These powerful songs are for believers and nonbelievers alike, and they are full of the hope, grace and love that can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. https://itun.es/us/jFJH5

FOLLOW US:
Missing out on the latest news and updates? Follow us on social media @MVMNTbk and join the conversation by using #MVMNTbk! Read blogs, watch videos and more on our website: www.mvmntbk.org.

CALLING ALL MEN! - The Bowery MissionWe have an exciting opportunity for you to participate in an outreach for the homeless with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Men’s Ministry at the Bowery Missionon Saturday, March 21st, from 8am – 1 pm. You MUST sign up to participate, so if you are interested, just simply reply to this email with your name and phone number. Someone will reach out to you with further details in the days to come.

See you next Friday, March 13TH!

MVMNT

The Brooklyn Tabernacle
17 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

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Illuminati?

2015-03-11T14:01:00.001-04:00

A lot of people, for years, have been going crazy claiming certain entertainers/musicians are part of a secret society. Many others are angered or altogether unfazed by the claim. I can't speak about who is part of what and even if I could, it'd be of no affect; we are only responsible to God for the lives we live individually so figuring out if someone has "sold their soul*," as they say, is of no relevance. All I do know is a lot of music IS satanic. Now, some church people are used to hearing "satanic" in reference to many things, whether the things truly be evil or not and, therefore, some may feel the term is just a broad, outdated way to keep people from doing anything remotely close to having fun. Sure many people try to force their own ideology and preferences and legalism on others but this is not that; beloved brethren, people of God, children of the Lord... Wake up lest you be fooled. And make a mockery. The truth is, while you may not be making a decision to serve the devil just by listening to certain songs, that doesn't change the nature of the song or that there are people in this world who have made a fully conscious decision to go the wrong way (including those called satanists) who the music you are indulging may very well have been made by. So how is holding onto the unrighteousness an example of you serving God? Pay attention to the attitudes certain music triggers in you and others. Pay attention to the ways certain music makes you dance. Pay attention to the beliefs certain songs subtlety instill in your psyche. God's Word is clear.

* God still has the ultimate power and any evil agenda is not for us to fear only the Most High is to be feared. He is mighty to save, not just when WE need but also for those who turned the wrong way! The real issue is the power you give them by feeding into the frenzy as if they are so mighty. You can't fight evil that way. Always keep in mind what God has said for us to do.

The enemy always wants more

2015-03-10T16:37:00.002-04:00

The thing about the wrong path is, those who want you on it will never have enough. They will always want to pull you down even further. And it may be hard sometimes to be able to tell what is right if wrong looks or feels good. That's why you need to really know God and His will for your life so that you will have a focus and standard to not deter from. What is right for you makes sense but may not always seem like it makes sense and may not always be fun but that's why you have to be smart and have clarity you don't wanna fall into the traps the reality is what is wrong for you truly has to offer only a future of remorse.

2015-03-10T04:14:00.001-04:00

Love doesn't last and causes pain? And emotions only cloud love, they say, your love can't be trusted.. it's all chemical reactions and doesn't really mean nothing. But if you're so close to somebody that you have developed all these chemicals and have been physical enough to be releasing all these things, your body is doing what God designed it to. It is not your body that is wrong but you. For growing so intimately close to someone you are not even sure of being with. God made these chemicals to be a part of a true relationship. They are not the enemy. Your seeming inability to wait for love is. Always rushing in. Just for the highs and thrill of it. Or looking for someone to complete thee. Lust holds no weight to love. Grow up.

Standards and Relationships

2015-03-03T17:11:00.003-05:00

People may want perfection but most don't literally expect it and know we are far from perfect ourselves. Still, that's why they say, "I can do bad all by myself," there's nothing wrong with having standards you want to uphold and attain for yourself, as well as with a partner. I don't need you to be my rock Jesus has that covered and I don't need you to be my world because I'm already building mine; I know for some reason a lot of people misconceive that when you want a certain kind of man or seek to see a man in their true position in the Christian view, it's just weak/lost women who seek to be taken care of but that's just not at all what it's about. Christian women are purposeful we do not intend to spend years just hanging with any random guy but to be creating a future together with who we are supposed to be with. We desire real genuine relationship and to always be leading in God's way and to specifically be paving the way for potential marriage which we respect the value of. Marriage is not a goal just in itself but it should be when actually in a relationship. You don't actually date to marry you don't just literally get with someone to find a spouse but when you have someone you do want to be with, someone you love, you don't say you want to be with them just to be there but to really be with them. How am I with you if we can't even speak to the doctors for each other if one of us ends up in the hospital. How are we really together if, in the eyes of God and the law, we are single. A lot of guys may not see themselves ever stepping down to one knee to make a proposition of engaging in becoming one. But then, what are you there for? Either way, I do expect a head, a leader, someone not easily swayed, a dude whose personality is enduring, whose character is developing, heart is diligent and mind is sharp. A real strong man and not just for the fact that he lifts lol that's a really good and important strength but the greatest strength is love and that's what this is about. I need My man to be strong not because I need to be controlled by him.. but for his own self. I need him to be who he really is and do what he says he will. I absolutely want him to be respectable. And in my relation to him, I need to be able to be who I am which IS a person who respects. If he wants to be in my life, I need to be able to rely on him, not because I can't handle my own but because I need to be able to trust him and to entrust him with his place in it. Of course I desire a man who can better me but most of all I expect to be with a man who can better himself.

"Spare Time"

2015-03-03T17:09:00.003-05:00

You do children a disservice by allowing them to believe the meaning of life is indulging in entertainment. I liked the beginning of Matilda where she was always reading and doing "strange" things.. She enjoyed it, it was fun. But there were entertaining books.. And as they watched television, who's to really say there's Nothing they could have learned so the fact is, it's not about whether your eyes are on a book or a television set but that you enlarge the span of your knowledge, you step out of your comfort zone and take what is being offered to you, you build relationships in the real world and you put the skills you learn into practice in your life Immediately. Also, it pays to get up and do more... Stretch to allow purpose to be fulfilled and not to just be appeasing your boredom of fleshly laziness. While watching television, watch a different channel browse new programs and instead of just laughing or rehashing the stories, try also making notes of things you Learned. Your thoughts while you view are Important. What is your entertainment teaching youu? What attitudes are the media that you use beginning to form within you? Same for when you read. And while you view, multitask. They used to say you should do something during commercials, like wash dishes or work on a load of laundry or some other household chore/cleaning or have a mini workout or some other productive task but nowadays people rarely have to see commercials. What we Should do more of now, however, is view With our family. That's what's rare now. Spend time speaking to each other, connecting, sharing and simply being in close proximity. Closeness is a thing that should not be taken for granted. I cherish the memories of just sitting on a couch with my father's arm around me. We didn't have to be sitting there for hours but the point is it even meant a lot to us both for him to just have come over and been there. Invite someone to view with you or respectfully invite yourself to view with someone. Same with reading, read a book to or with someone. Regardless of age. Enrich someone Else's life enrich your lives Together. Book clubs existed for a reason. God made us all differently and it's beautiful to read the same text and hear all the various messages that may have come through with it. Also, it's a great way to bond as well as teach and learn. Just writing about this has been such a blessing for me. I leave you all to ponder the very many ways you can add more blessings into your lives if you'd just take your face out the phone and tablet and computer for a second. I know we all lead busy lives and may even rarely have time for such entertainment and that these devices have become a major tool for "communication" and resource for information but the point is that's why the little moments matter all the more. And they surely add up over time. You don't want to look back on all the times you were out with a loved one but remember having just been on the phone the whole time. So for yourself and the children in our lives, it truly pays to have intention in our every action and to make the most of the moments we are relaxing with a comedy on Netflix or scrolling through Instagram by making it about something bigger. There's always a bigger picture if we look to God; He will bring us out of ourselves enough to give us exactly what we truly need. And, for that, I thank You!

BAE (before Anyone else)?

2015-02-04T15:59:00.001-05:00

You need not focus on the doings of a person you're in relationship with. No matter Who you are with, you need to focus on the Betterment of Your doings. If your biggest success and focus in life is your relationship with bae, you have no idea how much you're not winning right now. Your relationship can only benefit from you taking care of that you need to individually that is how you can be better with each other. But even more, God and the world want to know who You are, not just who you are as defined by your romantic relationship. Aspire even higher and see what Else He has for you and most of all, find life in Christ.

Dear me I once was and me I sometimes have wished to be again,

2015-02-04T15:48:00.004-05:00

Do not, for anybody or anything, lose sight of Who and what's important. Pray in all things. Keep the same drive that got you into all the sports & activities you have been. Don't just long for friends and growth in Christ; Find a church! You have more power in your life than you are accepting. What little rights you do have to your life, don't take for granted. Your choices affect your future. Make them good ones make it a good one. Don't keep relationships that make you bitter or pessimistic or judgmental or Conflicted. And for God's sake leave these time-wasting heart-breaking guys alone. Besides, you have the greatest man at home waiting for you... But not forever. Love your father while you have him, love him harder. Do even more together. Because he is one of your best friends and the things that get in the way of that are so irrelevant and will eat you when it's too late. Don't give your mom a hard time by staying out they worked hard to make a home for you to be in bed at night. And I know you're just trying to explore the world but there's a better way. And God will always provide it if you let His way be yours. Get so much closer to him. Know how very Loved you are, not liked or flattered, Loved..cared for, intimately known, with too many sacrifices to count made for you, for you to be alive and well and free and successful. No matter how overlooked and insignificant your presence, interests and needs sometimes seem. Focus in on the good, expand on it. Because you have a beautiful life regardless of the day-to-day imperfections. Appreciate it all anyway because nothing lasts forever and it is all what we make it. Life is short, they say. Love the people and opportunities time brings because all things come and go in time. And I know you struggle with having a bit too much knowledge to know what to do with but keep that thirst for it and just keep writing and praying just keep your heart protected in a good place. Don't sway in the pressure grow in it. And as dad would say, Mookie I love you I'm proud of you and I'm expecting great things from you. These things come in time and little by little you're getting there. Now, I must go cry because I miss him so much but you, you live in the peace and wisdom and power only God can give, don't leave me with pieces to pick up from your slack and laxness. Never compromise never settle you know whats right now do it. Don't follow your emotions but do always respect the sensitivity you have toward others'. Say what's on your mind more but only when it's something edifying. God gave you that mouth and your words could save somebody's life. Don't worry about who didn't wanna listen you just say what He put on your heart to share. You'll never go wrong with Him. Take it even further than going only where He leads by remembering wherever you go, take Him with you, actively engage his presence, walk with his joy, represent him to all his creation. You all need him just as much as the next person and keep praying for ppl He hears you Jesus literally is a lifesaver He will always go in and help He wants them even more than you want them to have Him and He will amaze you with how swiftly He proves it. I can't go back to the past but I can determine how many more pieces id be left picking up in the future so I dedicate this to the me I am and will be.

Reclaim your Name

2015-02-04T13:39:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, the place you find someone is the very place you've lost yourself. Sometimes, the goals we chase run us down. Sometimes, we lose our lives in living. Sometimes, love is tainted by emotions, what is best gets overlooked versus what feels best. Sometimes, we let our hopes team up with our fears and lead us down a path prematurely, one not meant for us, to achieve what we believe is. But in the midst of it all, God is still God. Even when you forget who you are, if who you are is His, He will help you reclaim your name for His glory.

When I began this blog, it was supposed to be a way for me to have a spiritual journal, a place to share things I don't actually have people to talk with about, which would allow people to witness what Christ is doing in me for themselves...a way to show a Christian's life, not the storybook type of life we create in our own minds but the reality of what it means to follow Jesus, with all of the ins and outs, so that I could show the raw beauty as triumphs and that this would be an ultimate witness and legacy.
Yet, I, like most, have allowed the things of this world to distract me time and again on a daily basis and I lose balance in my day-to-day responsibilities.

My last post was written 3 years and 4 months ago. 3 years prior to the passing of my father. 9/16/46-10/19/14. They say the dash is what counts, the time where the person made their mark and impression in this earth and memories in the hearts of loved ones. He lived a phenomenal dash. And just as I am grateful to identify myself in Christ, I am proud to identify myself as the daughter of my dad. He was the best father anybody could have ever had. I promise you this man was amazing. But the biggest blessing of all is to know that he is now more alive than ever. Thus, having dealt with the many emotions and inner struggles that come from losing a beloved, I am all the more at the conclusion that I need to live while I am living. I've made many mistakes and bad decisions over the course of the nearly 26 years I've been here. All negative choices have negative effects. But I am confident in the faithfulness and redemption of the Lord. My life has been far from perfect but what has always made all the difference is the knowledge that focusing on God changes everything and is the key to life. I have always felt a duty to honor God, those who love me, and my very own self in having a good name a name that holds weight, not because it is boasted but because it comes with good and godly reports. His report is what matters. And as we come to know Him more and continually choose to keep Him first, He grants the growth opportunities. So, we must welcome them and face them as if we know our goal. Don't get scared when you see a struggle, don't falter, the prize is still the same. And the greatest prize we can have in this life is a relationship with Him and those people He blesses us to come across and live with. These are not just the greatest prizes but the great commands.

If you proclaim the goodness and righteousness of the Lord, people are looking at you to be walking in it. This is a true responsibility not only to Him and yourself but to your fellow people, to be an example of godly living. But being human, many have fallen short and gotten caught up in some things. Ppl go around complaining churches are full of hypocrites because your life Needs to match the Word you share. But if you're one of them struggling to believe, don't look at anybody to be your god don't let them be the extent of your knowledge and relationship with Him don't have full faith in anyone but God let Him show you for Himself how it's done. Experience His goodness for YOURself. And when you really have, you won't want to depart from it. Don't let your fellow man keep you from getting closer to Your Creator yooou've gotta go get God for youuu!

They say people never change but how many of us feel like the same person we used to be? Nobody is even the same from day to day you're moving in a direction, whether positive or negative you're on a road that shifts as you make your day to day decisions. It turns as you meet people and let people go. It gets rerouted as you face disappointments, disagreements and confusions. And it's all a part of growing. Your path is no one else's even if some people have stayed with you along the ride. Individualism means we all came in this world on our own and will leave at our own time as well. That's something we can't change. And sometimes you might feel empty and lonely and frustrated when you can't fill a void with a person but there's also a place where you can be at peace with it come to terms and be ok with it and that's kinda where I'm at. God fills the gaps beautifully if you let Him, it's His place. He will take you where you're meant to go when you are abiding in Him. And your destiny and purpose has no gender The Lord has goals for you to achieve for His Kingdom not just for the earth it doesn't matter if you are man or woman He wants you to be as great as you can be in Him. And sometimes where you're going won't include marriage in your lifetime maybe that's why all your relationships are failing maybe it's not you or them but that it's distracting from where yall really need to be. Relationships mess up for all sorts of reasons. And ppl try to counsel each other thru it but not all counsel is of God. Some people are all messed up in the head. Stop assuming all women act one way and all men act another. Sin is a human problem, period. If you want some real success and freedom give it all to God.

Please be aware. The devil wants to destroy you and will do any possible thing to try to drag you to hell. Literally any possible thing. And you don't have to believe he exists I know a lot of people don't but guess what his attacks Do come your way regardless. And it doesn't have to feel like one, a lot of times it's things that look and feel beautiful but only lead to your DESTRUCTION. He's not gonna stop based on the work you do for The Lord there's no amount you can do to exempt you even Jesus was tempted. All the more, as you're leading people to Christ the enemy has all the more reason to try to bring you down, corrupt your influence your name and your credibility and the perception of your faith to those who already struggle to believe.

In Google we trust??

2011-10-09T22:50:00.002-04:00

Let me get one thing straight right away; this post isn't really about Google at all. Google's just part of my larger point. Answer this one question: What are the sources of all of your knowledge? Consider your sources when you think you are wise. What if everything you thought you knew was a lie? We believe Google knows everything...but who makes Google? Last I thought, it was God who knows everything! One thing He told us for certain is to know that we are not on this earth for the here and now because this is temporary. We are living for the next life, eternity. This earth IS coming to an end and while we do not want to give into hype and fanaticism about WHEN, we can't neglect that we SHOULD be WATCHING daily! Do not get caught up in false popular beliefs & all of your day-to-day obligations to the point where you forget this truth and its significance! Many things have to take place and it is written how imperative it is to not be swayed in your faith and to not be deceived by false reports. To know the truth, you must stay in the Truth. Do not formulate opinions based on this world's way of thinking.

Accountability and Influence

2011-09-28T08:52:00.000-04:00

Good morning! This is my first time blogging on a bus. I just had something on my mind for a while now. Do you feel responsible for the way your actions influence others to think, feel and behave? I do. I realize that not everyone has the same convictions whenever I engage in day-to-day conversation. Take a moment to think of someone else and what you are doing to better or worsen their future (which is now, as they say, after all) with the things you are just doing for yourself. What means nothing to you could be life or death for someone else. Today, let's live intentionally and be responsible and accountable for our influence. The only time I ever care what people think of me negatively is when I am concerned their false belief will lead them astray. We have power to leave a positive impact and that should be one of our main focuses as believers, not controlling people but taking control over what we give the public to believe about ourselves. I'm not talking about image; I mean influence and taking each moment you can today and every day to make sure you are being that light and salt of the earth.

Who has the better job?

2011-09-08T19:32:00.000-04:00

Work of the Lord and us, His children: Love

Qualifications, Requirements, Responsibilities
You have to have the love of Him in you in order to give it. If you love Him, you obey His statutes/commandments. Be led of the Spirit. To love is to abide, cover/protect/nurture, come in agreement with/unite/connect, forgive, cast out fear, train up and even chastise when necessary/appropriate. It also means you want the best for another and support them. You give your last piece of bread to them when they need it because you consider them over yourself. You are flexible in your plans in order to assist them. If you have an enemy and they say bad things about you, you don't get in their face, you turn and ignore and say a silent prayer for them. Even if someone doesn't ask you to do anything for them, you cheerfully anticipate the ways you can make the day a little brighter for someone else. Always giving, meaning you think nothing of a reward when making these voluntary gestures. Never critical but always honest. You sympathize. You empathize. No one is a stranger. You don't tempt or pressure or play games with someone in order to persuade or convince them (trick them) into doing something just to benefit you, especially something wrong. You are grateful for all you have and are comfortable congratulating others, never envying. You communicate openly (holding nothing back, harboring no resentment, listening), respectfully, often. Rejoice over righteousness and truth; there is no glory in wrongdoing. You stand firm through the thick and thin and hold true to Him and all you say you love. Know no limits. Conquer all. Fulfill promises. Build functional, lasting relationships. Show honor. Preach the gospel throughout the earth and make disciples. Visit inmates. Be welcoming and hospitable. Clothe the needy. Help and heal the sick. Promote peace. Speak life. Be an example and a pillar, as the light and salt of the earth. Take the time to be a friend. Give so[me]one a job...(LOL).

Salary & Benefits
Know the Father. Value is given to what may have been shiny but was meaningless without love. Bring a brother (spiritual brother, or sister, not only your genetic family) to Christ. Experience true love, in its full capacity, not simply the worldly definition of what love is. Cover a multitude of sins. Have a family. Have peace. Break strongholds. Grow in the faith. Resist the wiles of the devil. Have life and joy. Come out on top! Keep faith and hope. Gain true friends. Overcome evil with good. Experience miracles. Be rewarded by God. Be a better you. Be wise. Have strong foundations, the strongest. Assurance of salvation. Walk in the light. Be like Jesus. Gives a new meaning to forever. Teaches others how to love. Teaches others they can be loved. Freedom. Guidance. Trust and trustworthiness. Passion and purpose. Forgiveness (because you can't be forgiven unless you forgive). Grace. Beauty for ashes redemption and restoration. Fulfill promises. Share in glory. Fulfill the law. Defeat pain and suffering with power of holiness. Experience God's love and become instruments of His love to a lost and loveless world. Progress in the world but most of all, progress in the kingdom. Long life and daily needs met. Being loved back. They help confirm that our faith is not in vain. Confidence and answered prayer.

John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
More on benefits of love, excerpted from southsidebc.org:

·         Do you have that assurance that the Spirit of God is dwelling within you?

·         Does Christ feel at home in your heart?

·         Is your communion with the Lord fruitful or fractured?
Do you realise that you can grieve the Holy Spirit of God? How? “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph 4:31-32).

Conclusion:     Have you noticed that as we come to the end of this chapter that each member of the Triune Godhead is involved in your “love life?” You see, God the Father commands us to love one another, God the Son gave His life on the cross, the supreme example of love, and God the Holy Spirit lives within us to provide the love we need (Rom 5:5). To abide in love is to abide in God, and to abide in God is to abide in love. This is the secret of victorious Christian living! But is it the secret of your life?

Work of the Enemy: Steal. Kill. Destroy.

Qualifications, Requirements, Responsibilities
Rejoice in flesh/physical/worldly, rather than spirit. Sow seeds of doubt. Torture, tempt, torment and taunt. Be selfish, critical and backstabbing. Watch someone suffer and do nothing to help, in fact, be glad. Condemn. Broaden the road with generalizations and obscure, loosened standards. Choose favorites and put people against one another. Lie and deceive, including lies of omission (leaving stuff out, sugarcoating, white lies). Skew perspective of purpose, value & truth and lead people to bargain/compromise over what they should not. Never allow unity. Speak curses and doom. Spew hatred. Instill fear. Mislead. Feast on evil. Go into open doors and break things. Hunt and chase down prey. Create distractions. Cloud emotions and thoughts and judgments. Instigate. Turn the focus on self. Boast. Walk about like a roaring lion, seeking whom you may devour. Put others down/discourage and gossip. Cause mayhem and confusion. Oppress. Live wickedly, in darkness and death. Build strongholds. Rebel, sin, disobey, disrespect. Pint fingers and blame. Reinforce dread.

Salary & Benefits
Eternal damnation and separation from God

Now, we know love is the best work but is also a lot of work, so much that we can believe that the enemy often does a way better job with his agenda than we do ours but never more than God. For it is written, Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Let us be wise, not blame our spouses, children and workloads for our negligence. This is not a time to follow everyone else like you don't already know better. It's time to be there for your kids and families, time to make things right. It is the little things that make a person lose their footing. You can't be too tired to do right. You can't be doing right UNTIL so & so did you wrong. No, do right all the time! If we can't be real with our own selves about our actions, mistakes, attitudes and intentions, we can't do anything for anybody else. While we are all into our own selves, the enemy doesn't want to take just one person out...the devil would like nothing better than to tear down a whole family though losing that one person...that's his victory, not one lost soul but affecting all hose people that person influences because one person doing the right thing can influence everything to go the right way. Stop looking for excuses! Don't tell people right from wrong and then go and do wrong. You know better; do better! Let us keep hope. Without hope, what do we have? Do you feel like you and/or your family's in hell already? Are they and/or you dead, spiritually? If yes, even so, you all are not a lost cause. As long as a person has breath, they can receive that new beginning, this redemption most people don't fully understand about, the freedom many shrug off because they don't believe they need...I know I'm not perfect but I know I've met Jesus...in a real way, just only spiritually since we are still in this world...I did nothing special to have that...I had the same doubts and confusions as any human, but I knew what I knew and that was that He is real. They have to stay in your prayers and be exposed to real love and truth, outside of what they've been taught by the streets, society, media. See, it's the same Spirit (Holy Spirit) that captures all our hearts...if anyone can be saved, that means you all can.

Wisdom in a Dream - Submission, Obedience, Guilt

2011-07-19T10:46:00.004-04:00

A lot of ppl are going around thinking they're not loved bcuz it's not being shown in the way they think it must be shown.
A lot of ppl are living with tons of guilt every day, unnecessarily. They feel useless.
A lot of ppl are walking around judgmentally & critical of others.They never consider others.
A lot of ppl are down and out, lost and dazed and confused, not knowing where they belong or even who they are, or, more importantly, whose they are.
All because our eyes are closed and we do not know what it means to submit, to obey, to respect, nope, we do not do those. We even get offended at the very idea, at the very sound of it.
The wisest man to have ever lived gained his wisdom in a dream (1 Kings :4-13). Then, he heard about the importance, significance and power of obedience: Verse 14 says, And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
This king with authority, power, responsibility and all of the wisdom in the world still had to submit to and obey God. Why would we think it is okay for us to not and why would we find a problem with submitting to (respecting) our spouses, whom we vow to commit to for life? Why would we think it is okay to disrespect one another? Let us value one another in the way Solomon did in verses 8 and 9: "Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
Because, even if we do not literally govern others, we must govern ourselves accordingly and are still in the presence of great people God has chosen to be here, in our lives, homes, schools, communities and churches. So, let us have a godly mind, communication and consideration for one another in all of our actions and interactions.

Nobody knows what to say

2011-07-19T09:55:00.007-04:00

Everyone has responsibilities. Everyone has struggles. We all fight to make it through each and every day.
Nobody knows what to say about death (including miscarriage and abortion), heartache, marriage (and its almost-inevitable counterpart, divorce), unemployment/economic crises, abuse in all of its forms, immigration, affording a home, government spending/debts, the military, politics and policies, corruption in the workplace, poor customer service and scarce personal contact when seeking customer service, disabilities/handicaps, illness, law enforcement, state vs. federal, safety vs. security vs. privacy vs. personal freedom and rights vs. advanced technological influences, etc.

These issues affect us all but we all respond differently and do not know what to say to others about the situations when it hits them or even to explain ours if we feel the need to share with someone. What words will comfort or reassure you? What words will motivate you? What knowledge do you need? What encouragement would actually be very unhelpful? This is different for everyone; I've met some seemingly expert communicators, still, it all comes down to the way we compartmentalize things. If, in your mind, everything has a condition, truth is relative, and that is where the ultimate deception/confusion begins. Some things need to be black and white, wrong or right, etc. and I believe it should be these most important things, essential to the healthy growth of our families and the communities we live in. Instead, the little things take our attention and we suffer where it matters most.

Suddenly, your ministry is meaningless as well as your church attendance but you make time to send a check in once a month? Suddenly, our children's educational and recreational needs mean zilch but we can spend hundreds of dollars per month on fast food, jewelry and electronic devices (computers/laptops, phones, iPods)?
Suddenly, as new people are coming to know the Lord each day, some who have already known Him lose interest in godly counsel and read books by worldly celebrities that have profanity in the very title of the books? Suddenly, it doesn't really matter if someone lacks respectability, personal integrity, intelligence, common sense and a relationship with the Lord, just as long as they do everything you ask of them and serve you with a smile, making you feel good?
We, as a people, have grown dull and dumb. We show partiality with one another and when we see people, we do not see them for themselves but for what they can do for us! Those with some sense see the dirt we do but, instead of confronting, confessing and praying, we gossip and talk behind each other's backs. This solves nothing and, in fact, creates more problems, none the least of which are bitterness, distrust and division.

Let's be real, this issue starts in the home, which is why I mention situations that hit home - family, finances, etc.

We see this earth drawing to a close and all I can say is,
Get your house in order and show some respect to all who paved a way for you, keeping in mind that your actions today will, not only, shape your life story but affect the lives of your children and their children as well.

Let us learn from the Garden of Eden. There were many trees but two of the trees, two of the rooted foundations that supplied fruit, were called, respectively, "Tree of Life" and "Tree of Knowledge of good and evil." If we continually choose to "take in knowledge" and indulge in self-righteousness rather than choosing grace, love, faith, redemption, imputed righteousness/justification, freedom from the law, and true life, we are dying. If you take fruit from the Tree of Life instead of from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you are wise. It's not that knowledge is bad, either. You must know a lot if you know how to live and that's the kind of knowledge we need, not to fill up on secular intelligence. Don't be lost in the forest of this world. Stand as a tree, firmly rooted in Christ and placed in the world to grow and produce spiritual fruit. We can produce (give birth to) fruit of the Spirit when we have planted in us bear (carry) the seed of faith and seal of the Holy Spirit. What kind of seeds are you carrying? What kind of fruit are you producing? Will your harvest be beautiful?!?

("Beautiful Ending," performed by Barlow Girl, subtitled in Portuguese)

I've been bought.

2011-05-11T21:20:00.000-04:00

And so have you.

1 Corinthians 6:20:

Douay-Rheims Bible
For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body.

Weymouth New Testament
And you are not your own, for you have been redeemed at infinite cost. Therefore glorify God in your bodies.

When I hear some of the same songs playing everywhere and see everyone dancing to it and singing it and just enjoying it, I may get a notion to search for the lyrics...because, more times than not, most of the words are not at all easy to understand.
What I often find is that the song says NOTHING. Still, everybody seems to be loving it, blinded by a beat. They give their time, energy, thoughts, bodies (dancing) and money to this music. They feed off of it and feel energized and relevant to the time we are in. Yet, this is acting like they've been bought..by the music makers...when we've all been bought by Jesus Christ. I can't help but care what my music says. You all should as well. & this goes deeper than music because the message is about not following a trend just because it's trendy...but instead, PURPOSELY seeking to glorify God at all times.

"Off [Your] Schedule" may be His "Right On Time"

2011-05-07T15:40:00.001-04:00

In the same way you should obey your parents but not honor their wishes if they want you to do something wrong and you know better, you should be flexible to the needs of others but know when to say no for the better. Sometimes, a car battery needs charging and you want to drive someone somewhere but if you do, you will both be walking right back once the car stops working. Sometimes, someone needs you to do a major favor for them and rudely waits until the last minute to even ask but it would still be best to say yes. Use wisdom to know when to say yes and when to say no. It is good to be able to bend your schedule for others but it is also good to make sure you are not falling into a pattern of going to others even at the wrong time even when you already know it is a bad time just because you know they will always fulfill your requests.

We all need to learn to respect one another when making requests and demands and to keep in mind that, no matter where you go, there will be someone who requires something of you that you may not necessarily feel like you should have to give but still should.

Joyce Meyer said, "Every miracle Jesus did, He did when He was on His way somewhere and got interrupted by somebody."

&
I was recently watching some show, maybe The Cosby Show, and a character said, "Oh, I don't mind being disturbed. Life is full of disturbances."

Still,

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 KJV)

What a lesson to learn, to never think that being put off of your schedule means that you are not on His schedule. There is something great to do at every turn for the kingdom, whether you planned on it or not. & I'm convinced that if we stay in tune with God and pray without ceasing, we will come to know when something's coming

Heart...Love!

2011-05-02T09:56:00.000-04:00

A message for all of you..about life, love, relationships, holding on, letting go and meeting the right one for you! ♥ Read more

The Duggars May or May not be Quiverfull but here's what I have to say

2011-04-29T17:51:00.002-04:00

The blog, No Longer Quivering, is about one woman's desire to shed light on all things Quiverfull, as she was a member and now feels like she's escaped (the movement and lifestyle as a whole as well as the abuse often incurred). I found her when I was searching for stuff on if the Duggars ever went to Sight & Sound theaters. I did not find anything saying they had but did find a lot of criticism of their family and accusations that they are Quiverfull. That is not what I really want to talk about, though, because I have no information on that. What I wanted to speak on is that her website also has a poll asking the following question:

Do you personally know of a man who became a better husband as a result of his wife's submissive behavior?

Yes ~ I have seen it happen.I have never personally witnessed such a transformation, but I still believe it is possible.No ~ this is an evil myth which destroys husband/wife relationships.

There are 4,212 votes and 3,100 (about 74%) voted for that last choice.

I find that people who are outside of situations become increasingly angry, bitter and hostile in their ASSUMPTIONS based off of their own poor relationships and experiences. If a wife is submissive to her husband, she is not necessarily dumb, archaic or doing it simply to make him feel better and change for the better! Some do feel as if, that is their duty and if they follow in it, he has to follow suit...eventually. Yet, how about the fact that, just because one person is outside of their spousal role does not mean the other should change to suit them, neither to be submissive nor to dominate! If you want to be a submissive wife and your husband is a jerk, don't have a belief that changing yourself to meet them is any better than staying true to yourself and expecting them to change. And, don't judge submission as weakness. We all come in different personalities and therefore, have different ways of expressing ourselves in our marital relationships. What's respectful and respectable with your spouse can be unheard of and unacceptable to someone else. Submission looks different on every wife but if the Bible says its right, I believe that no matter what form its shaped in, it looks GOOD on every wife.
I, too, have seen many abusive and seemingly pointless marriage relationships that are just contradictions and an oxymoron where one person tolerates certain things from their spouse that they should not do and would not if they knew how to get away or if they believed they should leave. They waste years thinking they have to stick it out and submit but see no change. You did make vows but submit does not mean shut up and sit down and serve me out of obligation. It means to love and cherish and it means do not be a doormat but be willing to sacrifice when times come.

I agree with some of the comments on the poll, such as the one below, except that it takes the position of submission being synonymous with having low self-esteem! It reads:

A fourth option would have been nice. I've never seen it, and I don't believe it's possible for wifely submission to improve the husband, but I think it is possible for it not to destroy the relationship. My mom was all about wifely submission when I was young - little surprise, raised as she was with abuse and domination in everything. But my dad wouldn't have it. He let her know he needed her support, and her opinions, whether he agreed with them or not. What's a good submissive wife to do, when her husband wants her to speak her mind?!

My mom still defers to dad's opinion a lot, will second-guess herself, and constantly apologizes when things aren't perfect - to the point that it actually frustrates dad, because he's not expecting perfect. But she does make decisions, and do her own things, and enjoy herself without worrying if she's allowed to. My dad's a rare person, and he helped heal a lot of my mom's wounds from her childhood. I wish there were more people like him, and I hope I'm half as good as he is."

A little more that I found on my Duggar search was a blog post on Alternet. A clip of it reads:
““Our bodies are meant to be a living sacrifice,” write the Hesses. Or, as Mary Pride, in another of the movement’s founding texts, The Way Home: Beyond Feminism, Back to Reality, puts it, “My body is not my own.” This rebuttal of the feminist health text Our Bodies, Ourselves is deliberate.” (Joyce, Nation, p. 11).

Why is it that we do not know that the Bible said this way beforehand? Before any of these books were written and statements were made!

"I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
wrote Paul in Romans 12.

On that note, I have one last statement based off of a silly comment I saw under on one of the posts I read that day. Here goes:

It's "funny" to me that people like to say that women in the adult film industry are strong and independent. Yeah, independent of smarts & a heart. Yeah, strong enough to not care when you rip theirs out. Ha, selfish jerks will look for any means to promote their selfish desires being fulfilled and not even see themselves for how silly they are! I don't want to sound arrogant but let me say, the two worlds we live in (physical/carnal and spiritual/heavenly) are never clearer to me than when you see respect for family and love being attacked versus respect for selfishness and illicit sex.

Speak Up : Student Story

2011-04-23T13:40:00.002-04:00

Beth Sheeran - Freedom of Speech on College Campuses

Beth Sheeran was a nursing student at Spokane Falls Community College in 2008 when she spearheaded an effort by a Christian club on campus to sponsor a pro-life event. She had almost completed the extensive preparations when she learned the college was shutting down the event. Her determination to know why brought her face-to-face with the sometimes absurd objections of the faculty and administrators (“Washington is a pro-choice state, and we can’t use school grounds for a pro-life display.”) and their very real determination to silence free speech on campus. She and other club members were threatened with expulsion, should they so much as hand out flyers with pro-life themes.
Realizing that “the abuse of authority would also shut doors to the Gospel,” and worried that fear for their education might keep many Christian students from speaking the truth, Beth reluctantly decided to file a suit against the school district whose policies were being enforced at Spokane Falls and other colleges and universities throughout the area. The Alliance Defense Fund represented her, and the district soon settled the case, agreeing to change its restrictive speech policies and restore the First Amendment protections of all students.
Read more

Understand what "instead" means - He was us and we are Him

2011-04-09T12:15:00.002-04:00

I had a crazy dream this week. Well, I have a crazy dream every night but this one was right in with the rest of the crazies. Either way, I had a big moment upon awakening, something I already knew was explained further:
Jesus died as us. He was us. He is us if we are in Him. He became all that we were inside, the plague that is sin and the condemnation, even though He was still Himself, He literally was Christina and everyone else who has turned to Him for salvation. He stood up for us as us, to redeem us and grab justice by its throat, even though it included suffering blows in our stead!
If we believe that He lived as us and died for us, we can believe that we can live as He lived before He died and even more with the knowledge that He has overcome the world and we each have a call to ministry..we can live as we should have always lived and prepare to live even better in the next life since we believe He lives again.

What do you think about all of this?

Roots

2011-02-05T16:17:00.001-05:00

What seeds are being planted when you have an argument with your parents? When you slander against a neighbor? What ideas, suggestions and frames of thought are being formed when you allow your heart to be infiltrated by evil devices? When you let an inch result in a mile being taken? When the depths of your soul are bombarded by a mass of secular influences due to the people you wish to impress, not with the glory of God but with how great you can be solo? You don't live alone; God made today and woke you up in it. Let us choose our steps with the knowledge that He has paved a way...and it doesn't go against His Word.

I heard it said, by James Robison, "If the devil can't get you to do wrong, he'll try to get you to do right wrong and you miss out on the best things doing good things."

As much as we do, we could do better if we took the time to do things purposefully, especially in the way we communicate.

"Let your light shine/Never stray/Never let it disappear/Let the world see/How you glow/For reasons they don't yet know...Let your light shine a rainbow from here"