Oh How I Have Missed You

Dear my fellow readers,

Oh, how I have missed you. It's been such a long time since I have written a post for you. I do apologize greatly for this. But I want you to know that you have been on my mind the whole time I've been away.

So that you will know the reason of my absence. I will gladly tell you. I have not an internet service where I can freely post as I once used to. And because of that, I have been hindered in sharing with you here on this site.

I have decided to, on availability, to share wisdom when I can.  Days like today, as I am at school making up hours, I have a little free time to share my heart with you. I plan to take advantage of that. The post will not be as frequent. But when I blog, I promise you I will make you aware of it.

I pray that God has been continuously been blessing and keeping you in your heart, mind, body, soul, and your home. I pray that whatever challenges you have been facing, that you have been strengthened by His Holy Spirit to face them. Remember that you are overcomers in the Lord. You will hear from me very soon. Blessings to you all.

Erica

Where Does the Lord Want You?

"Poverty is not necessarily an issue to solve; it is an opportunity to serve. As we go through each day, our heart's cry should be, Lord, where would you have me give, serve, and invest myself to bring hope to the poor?" 

~Orphan Justice author, Johnny Carr

Over the past couple of days, I've learned something about the Savior that I never knew. I learned about His purpose for being called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23). Warren W. Wiersbe said it best in his book, "The Wonderful names of Jesus". He stated that Nazareth was a despised and rejected place. It had a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles. Nazareth, despised by men, was glorified by Jesus Christ because He identified Himself with it. Jesus of Nazareth identified Himself with publicans and sinners, the unwanted, and the outcasts.

I believe that it can be rightly said that Jesus identified Himself with poverty and the poor (1 Corinthians 8:9). A synonym for the word poverty is insufficiency. A definition for the word poor is deficient or lacking in something. If you read the scripture above, you will see that Jesus served a purpose in identifying Himself with the poor. The poor were lacking in something. But when Jesus identified with them, He became to them what they lacked. He made them complete. The poverty of the people in Jesus' day became the opportunity Jesus needed to serve. Wherever He saw the need, He was there. When we study the life of Jesus, we see that God had a purpose for sending His only Son (John 3:16). He saw the need of His people. God placed Jesus right where He needed to be.

There are children today who live in poverty all across the world. Just like you and I, they need someone to identify with them. They need someone to meet their need. Can you recall a time in your life when you were poor and in poverty? It could have been physical, spiritual or emotional. When someone came to meet your need, how did you feel? For me, I felt relief. To identify with children in poverty is to say that you desire to meet their need.

In the quote above, there are listed several ways you can identify with these children: giving, serving, investing, and bringing hope. Where does the Lord want you? Sponsor a child today. Identify with them in their time of need.

#compassionbloggers

The Face of Innocence

 

He stands looking. Unaware of his stare, his mind is running with so many thoughts. Need fills his eyes. As I look at him, he looks back at me. "What are you saying to me?", I wonder. Your voice I cannot hear. But your eyes, your eyes are doing the talking. I see before me, the face of innocence.

"You precious child." I think to myself. Somehow, from the look on his face, I can sense the need that he has. It's as if, I already know. "He needs a sponsor". He needs someone who cares. He needs hope. He needs love.

 

I relate back to my own children. I recall times when I looked at them, stared into their eyes, and knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that they needed me. That's when I wanted to help them in every way that I could. I desired within my heart to give them hope. And just like my children's eyes, this little guys eyes scream out the need to be loved. What looks as a silent whisper is more of a desperate cry. Underneath, the smudge-stained shirt is a heart that beats. A heart that longs for affection. And when you wipe away the dirt from his face, again you shall see that face. The one that speaks of innocence.

 

I realize that he didn't choose the life that he is living. But yet, he lives. He walks, he talks, he plays. He's human like you and me. And like you and me, he has a need. Like the many others I've seen, I'm not able to ignore the fact that he has a need. And although, I can't help them all, I can help one. Will you help him? Don't pretend that you can't see his need. He needs you. Become his sponsor today. Nuture this face of innocence. Click the link below.

#compassionbloggers

 

Compassion International

  

Three Things About One Word:

Hope

She wanted to quit. And when I say quit, I mean that she wanted to give up and die. But why couldn't she do it? What was keeping her from taking her own life? Her answer was found in this one word......Hope.

As I complete my second assignment for Blog Month, my mind goes back to the many children living in poverty who feel like the girl in the story. But because of the many hearts, like that of Jesus, there are those who care enough to reach out to these children and provide them with hope. 

So what is hope?

Hope is a place. A place of safety and security. It's a place where, when the world seems to be falling apart around you, you can go and feel safe. A place of peace. A place where you find the covering of warmth that provides the security needed that can't be found anywhere else. You ball up like an infant in your mother's womb. Hope is where you find refuge.

I ask that you will close your eyes and imagine yourself as this child in this place of hope. Can you see yourself lying there? You're balled up like an infant in your mother's womb, covered under the warmth of hope. You lie there thinking of a better tomorrow. You lie there thinking of all the things you desire happening in your life right now. You see yourself having meals placed before you each day. Because at this present moment, you are hungry from not having eaten in two days. You see yourself able for the first time getting proper medical care when you get sick. Because at this present moment, your family cannot afford it at all. You see yourself wearing a shirt and a pair of pants. A pair of shoes even, because at this present moment, you're walking around in only your underwear and barefoot.

One day you know that when you get a sponsor, things will look a little brighter. Hope has now become the feeling you have inside. You smile because hope has made things look better for you. This hope of a brighter future, you carry everyday in your heart. Lying there in hope, a tear streams down your face. Hope has made you feel that there is someone out there who cares enough for you to become your sponsor. Now, you have decided that no matter what, you will look and wait on that day you too will hear the good news. Hope has given you an anticipation with expectation. You lift yourself from that place. You can now face your days with confidence. Hope has given you three things: a place of safety, a feeling of joy, and expectation.



Open your eyes. You have just imagined yourself as this little child. Now imagine yourself becoming a sponsor of a child like the one you pictured yourself being. There are many children like the one you became all across the world today who are living in hope. The hope of having a sponsor. Will you become one who will play a part in giving them an expectation? Sponsor a child today. Take part in their hope. Click the link below.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,

says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

(Jeremiah 29:11)

 

Compassion International

 

 

 

#compassionbloggers

 



 


"The Same Clothes Every Week"

A Word of Encouragement to My Childhood Self

This is not the picture of me in the pink sailor shirt and purple pants. It is however, the closest picture I could find of me as a little girl.

It was my favorite outfit. A pink sailor-type shirt and the cutest purple pants (at least I thought). Here I am, twelve years old in the sixth grade, just trying to make some friends.  I was already as quiet as a mouse. My face, broken out with acne. And let's not forget, the biggest glasses with the thickest lenses you have ever seen. Hey, I'm just a girl trying to make friends.

Being the new kid was never easy for me. All of the stares from your classmates. I see them as I go to my new assigned seat, lean in and whisper God knows what to each other. The whole time their eyes are fixated upon me. "Are they talking about me?"  I wonder to myself. "They don't even know me." I say. But after a few days, I was fine. The ice of being the new kid had been broken.

Now months have gone by. The class and I are outside for our break. And all of a sudden the words hit me smack in my face. "Erica, you wear the same clothes every week!" As if I didn't know this already. How could she say such a thing? Did she not notice that it didn't bother me that I wore the same clothes every week (or did it?) Did it not occur to her that maybe my mom couldn't afford to buy all of those Designer clothes that she always wore?

Truth be told, I was already uncomfortable with having to wear the same clothes every week. And the fact that she said something about it, made me feel even more uncomfortable. "If only I could get just one new outfit." I thought within myself. Talk about the pressure of fitting in. The pressure of being accepted and liked. Talk about being in a situation that you're too young to do anything about.

I'm much older now. Guess what? I still wear the same clothes every week. But there's a difference in me today than when I was twelve. Somewhere in all those years, Jesus Christ found me. He gave me a new outlook on material things. He spoke comforting words to me. He told me to be content with food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8). Jesus showed me that what was more important was me, not what I wore.

Although I've never thought about it before, I wonder what I would say to my twelve-year-old-self, knowing what I know today. I believe that I would tell her exactly what Jesus told me. In fact, He still tells me these comforting words today. I would say, "Don't listen to her, Erica. She doesn't know what she's doing. She's just a kid. Besides, greater is the one inside of you than he who is in the world. And He says that you are beautiful. He says that you are more important to Him than what you wear." "So what if you wear the same clothes every week. The most important thing is that you have clothes. There are other children in the world who may not have that." "Put a smile on your face, Erica. You are blessed."

Today, I think about my sponsored child and the many that are around the world, even in my own neighborhood that may be going through the same thing. I imagine what they must feel having words such as the ones spoken to me being spoken to them. I pray for their little hearts. Oh that God would keep my sponsored child in perfect peach as she grows up in the life that she's been given. I pray that God helps her to understand and to know that it is not about what she wears. The most important thing to God is she and that no matter what she has or has not to wear, she is still blessed by an Almighty God.

What about you? What did you face growing up as a child that you wish that you could go back and give him/her the words of wisdom that you now know that would help him/her through that time?

 

"Having food and raiment

let us be therewith content."

(1 Timothy 6:8)

Sponsor a Child today.

This post was written as part of an assignment that I receive each month in a mission and partnership with Compassion International to help get children who live in poverty sponsored. Will you join me and the many others? Help us reach our goal of getting 3,160 children sponsored this month. It will be the best thing you will have ever done.

Sponsor a child who has been waiting over six months for a sponsor.

 

• Waiting 339 days            

                   
  

  Gabriel

  Indonesia

  12/27/2005

  Sponsor Me
  Learn More

 

      

• Waiting 339 days
  
  
  Seraphine
  Togo
  9/17/2006
  Sponsor Me
  Learn More

 

      

• Waiting 309 days
  
  
  Wans
  Haiti
  9/13/2003
  Sponsor Me
  Learn More

 

      

• Waiting 216 days
  
  
  Anghela
  Bolivia
  7/9/2009
  Sponsor Me
  Learn More

• When you sponsor a child in poverty, your sponsored child will be linked directly to you. Your sponsored child will know your name and you will be able to write letters to each other.
• View More Children
• Search for Children

Compassion International
#compassionbloggers

Thinking of You

Dear my fellow readers,

I have been a long time not having made a post. But each and every day you have been on my mind. I feel that I should write today to let you know. I have been without a well functioning computer. This has served to make it challenging for me to write. I do however have fresh posts waiting to be published.

All of these days that I have not been able to write, I have felt as if I have been missing something. I've been missing you. Periodically, however, I do take out time to spend focused and much needed time in the Father's presence. This time though, has been due to a malfunctioning computer.

I am working on coming up with another way for me to be able to post on the blog site. Today, I am posting from my phone. I wanted you to know I was thinking of you. Be looking for an upcoming post. Sooner than you think will you hear from me again.

I leave you with this........ I pray that God blesses you and keeps you and causes His countenance to shine down upon you.

With love in Christ,

Erica

A Blessing with Your Name On It

Get Ready

Every Sunday in our worship service as we take up offering, we sing a song called "God's Got a Blessing".

"Get ready for your blessing. Get ready for your miracle!

God's got a blessing with your (my) name on it!"

 

Upon singing this song one Sunday morning not too long ago, it's like I kept hearing God speak to my heart. And what He was saying was "Prepare yourself!" I mean, in so many words, that's what the song says right? I heard the question, "If I have a blessing with your name on it, what are you doing to receive it? Prepare yourself!" Wow!

 

The Bible says that God calls us by our name.

 

"But now, thus says the LORD, who

created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you,

O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name; You are Mine."

(Isaiah 43:1)

 

When Samuel was a young boy under the care of Eli the Priest, while sleeping, he heard the calling of his name (1 Samuel 3:3-10). This happened on more than one occasion. And each time, he thought that Eli was the one calling him. But Eli stated that he was not the one calling Samuel. He told him that it was God calling him. Eli told Samuel that the next time he heard the voice calling to answer Him. Upon further reading, we find that Samuel did just as he was told. God told Samuel that very day of something that He was going to do.

 

In these particular verses of scripture, you will see that God did not prophesy a blessing to Samuel that day. But the point that is being made is that He called Samuel by name. Friend, God does the same with you. He calls you by name. He calls you to bless you. God has a blessing with your name on it. What will you do to receive it? As my heart pondered over this question, I began to see all of the things that I could do to prepare myself for what God has for me. I want what He has for me. If my name is on it then it is mine. It wasn't meant for anyone else but me. My name is on it.

 

I write to tell you today that the blessing God has for you has your name on it. Seek His face. Ask God to show you the way in which He wants you to prepare to receive it. Cultivate the good ground for the seed of the blessing to be planted. Your harvest awaits! This blessing has come to make you rich in the things of God (Proverbs 10:22). Do you not want it? I believe that you do. And if you are like me, there are days when it seems that God couldn't want to bless you. In all your shortcomings, failures, and mistakes. But just like me, friend, you are wrong.

 

We are not supposed to focus on what is before us. We are not to try to figure out the how's and why's. No, that is to be left up to God. If He is the One saying that He is blessing you, who are you to say that He's not? "Prepare yourself!" Leave the rest to God.  There is a part you have to do. And as you do your part, trust and believe, God is going to do His. Receive the blessing.

 

"Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times,

"Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered,

"Speak, for Your servant hears."

(1 Samuel 3:10)

 

 

 



 



The Lives of Others

" 'Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,' says the Lord GOD. ' Therefore turn and live!' " (Ezekiel 18:31-32)

 

God has a reason for everything that takes place in life. He's the only God who can take your bad and turn it around for your good (Romans 8:28). He's the only God who, when you repent and confess your sins unto Him, has the power through His grace and mercy to forgive and remember them no more (Ezekiel 18:22). So then you should also know that He has a reason for your life.

 

Upon spending time with God, I discovered something profound about the scriptures above. We as children of God have a duty to cast away our transgressions. Not only do we have the duty unto ourselves, we also have the duty of warning others of theirs that they may do the same. The object of it all is to bring about the needed repentance that springs forth to life. All throughout His word, we see where God is concerned with our lives.

 

But God doesn't stop at just being concerned with our lives. The Bible says that He blesses us in order that we may be a blessing to someone else. Now you might say, "How is warning someone of their transgressions blessing them?" Because, my friend, in doing so, you offer them life. You offer them the chance to live and not die. Just as God has blessed you with life through your repentance of sins, He desires to do the same for others.

 

I don't know about you, but I have no pleasure in walking around knowing that I'm in God's kingdom and the very person that I sit next to may be in the kingdom of Satan. They are on their way to hell.  That gives me no thrill whatsoever. As hardhearted as people may be, they still have the chance to have life. God has given the choice to everyone. And He uses willing vessels to extend that chance to even the lowest of the lowest on earth. It's not our decision to choose who will be in God's kingdom. God already knows those whom He has called. He just wants us to be available in going to them when He says go. Yes, I'm saying we are to be concerned with the lives of others.

 

"For why should you die? Why should they die?" Why should they die because we fail not to tell them about Christ. We have every opportunity to let people know of the abundant life God has granted to them freely through Jesus Christ. Why not tell them? I remember a time in my life when I used to say that some people will never change. Then one day, I realized I was wrong for saying that. I counted God out instead of counting Him in. God is the only one who has the power to change anyone. Each time we open up our mouths to warn our brothers and sisters, unbelievers and the like, we offer them the chance at life. Make sure that you are giving them the uncompromised word of God. Your opinions is not what they need. The Word of God works. Give life, Share life, Live life, Love life.

 

"Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?"

says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn away

from his ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23)

 

Look For Opportunities to Tell Them About Christ

Principle #5

 

 

Me: "You mean to tell me that you used to persecute Christians who lived and spoke for Jesus Christ, and now you yourself is a Christian?

Paul: Yes, that is what I am saying. In my writings I considered myself the chief of sinners. I unknowingly persecuted Jesus Christ. Here it is, He died to save sinners....and I......I took every opportunity I could to persecute them. And all the while I was  persecuting them, I was persecuting Him. It wasn't until that day that He met me on that road in my travels. That day I realized the error of my ways. That day turned my whole life around. And just as I took every opportunity to persecute His saints, I then took every opportunity to tell people about Christ.

Paul, the chief of sinners, looked for opportunities to tell people about Jesus Christ. He became all things to all men that he may save some. He humbled himself so to where upon any opportunity he had, he told and spoke of his Lord and Savior. Friends, this brings us to our last and final principle of the 5 Important Principles for Ministry: "Look for opportunities to tell people about Christ."

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance,

that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,

of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)

I am currently a student on the journey to obtain a license in Cosmetology. All of my life I have been obsessed with the world of beauty. Not so that it consumes me. But I love the creative side that comes with it. And the finished product of a hairstyle or makeover excites me. Being a student places me around a lot of people saved and unsaved. And with that, I hear and see a lot. But while I'm there, my eyes and ears are always open for an opportunity to share Jesus Christ. Being that I know all too well what having Him in your life can do for you, I seek to willingly share Him with others. It's my calling. It's what I was created for. I was chosen by God for such a time as this (John 15:16).

In order for us to tell people about Jesus, we must first have a personal relationship with Him ourselves. We must first know Him (John 17:3). Can you imagine trying to tell someone about somebody that you don't know? What would you look like? I suspect a person who is puzzled, searching for words to describe the person and not knowing really what to say. A wasted effort if you ask me. But when you know someone, you will have no problem in telling the other person about that person. Why? Because you know. It's like having a friend that you've known for a long time. You guys have laughed and cried together. You gone places together. You've shared your most personal thoughts with one another. You've confided and still do confide in each other. When you think about that person that you've known for so long, the opportunity to tell someone about him or her is a delight.

It's the same way with Jesus Christ. The Bible says that we are to be ready in and out of season to tell someone the Good News. There is so much of creation that need to know about Him and what He died for in order that they may receive. He died that they may have life. And when we tell someone about Jesus, we are speaking into them life. Every word of God is a seed that once it is released, has been sown to bring about a dynamic change. When you start talking about Jesus, an atmosphere comes about that is beyond anyone's explanation. It is meant to be that way for the purpose of bringing light and life into another individual who may be living in darkness.

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.

The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

(John 6:63)

Children of God should never turn away from an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus. We have been freely given life. And God raises us up in order that we may be used by Him to freely give it to someone else. God is all about His kingdom. He's all about redeeming His creation back unto Him. Nothing is more precious to Him than you and I. We have no clue as to what people go through on a daily basis. Yet, those who have a relationship with Jesus know all to well what speaking of Him can do for one's soul. What He did for you, He desires to do it for someone else.

God has given His children the tongue of the learned, that we may be able to speak a word in season to those who are weary (Isaiah 50:4). Once you become a child of God, it becomes your duty to lift up the name of His Son. For in lifting up that name, all men will be drawn unto Him. Finding common ground, avoiding a know-it-all attitude, making others feel accepted, being sensitive to their needs and concerns and last but not least, looking for opportunities to tell them about Christ is what effective ministry is all about. Although God richly gives us material things to enjoy, He is not concerned with these things as much as He is concerned with His people. Remember, he who saves a soul is wise.

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood,

and His name is called The Word of God.

(Revelation 19:13)

 

Be Sensitive to Their Needs and Concerns

Principle #4

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.............Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
(Romans 12:10,15)

Today, we will be talking about principle #4, Be sensitive to their needs and concerns. I believe that principle #3 and #4 go hand-in-hand.  I believe that people feel accepted even more when you become sensitive to their needs and concerns. God made us emotional beings. Although we are not to be controlled by our emotions, they do help us sympathize with our neighbor. It's a "relation" thing. And in order to effectively minister to people, you must be able to relate in some way to them.

Let's look at the life of Jesus. Hebrews 4:15 says that we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses. Jesus was at all points tempted just as we are. Yet He was without sin. The important factor here though is that Jesus was created for that purpose. God had to make His word become flesh, send Him to the earth, and walk as we walked so that He could redeem us back to Himself. He knew that for that to take place, we needed to be lead by example. God is not a hypocritical God. And He desires that we be not hypocritical people. Even though our walk in life may be different from one another, at one point over time, we have all had the same experiences to which, revealed or shared, somebody will be able to relate. Our many experiences are what enable us to be sensitive with the needs and concerns of others. They enable us to share with them how we were able to overcome. How we were able to press through. They enable us to share how we are able to keep going in life even though we have gone through what we have gone through.

There's an epidemic going around where people are claiming themselves to be independent. To me, this is such a deception of the enemy. First, we depend on God for the breath of life. Second, we depend on our parents to take care of us when we are little. Third, we depend on other people to help us make a way to take care of our own families. And last but not least, when we get into a situation that we think is beyond our control, we depend on somebody to help us find a way out. How else can this happen if we are all independent and insensitive to those around us? It wouldn't.

The greatest example we have to look to is God. He's concerned about us all. The fact that the Word of God states that we were created in His image tells me (and you too) that we are to be concerned with each other as well. It's time for effective ministry. Finding common ground, avoiding a know-it-all attitude, making others feel accepted, and being sensitive to their needs and concerns are tools that will lead a soul to Christ. He that wins a soul is wise.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

and he who wins souls is wise.

(Proverbs 11:30)

Make People Feel Accepted

Principle #3

 

She walks into the room of unfamiliar faces. "Lord, I don't see anyone here that I know. And all of these people look so worldly." She thought. "Nevertheless, You didn't call me to be a judge. This is not about me. I am here for You. Forgive me of thinking such things about Your creation. I am here to speak Your word. I pray that You will do what You need to do through me, today. In Jesus name." Her eyes fix upon the first person she sees. Immediately she walks over with her hand extended to introduce herself. The smile on her face is genuine. Her heart skips a beat. Chills run through her body as she realizes the privilege she's been given to spread God's love. The aroma she gives off is one of love and acceptance.

 

We have all watched the series called "The Bible" by now I'm sure. There is a scene in there where Jesus comes to Matthew the tax collector, and begins telling the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). As he gets to what the tax collector says, Matthew's mouth is moving just as Jesus is speaking. He says, "God, be merciful to me, I'm a sinner!" The tears roll down Matthew's face. Jesus looks at Matthew, extends His hand, and says, "Come!"  This scene is one of the most moving scenes in the series to me. Because it shows Jesus' acceptance of Matthew. He cast no judgment whatsoever. He only welcomed him. It brings me to the third important principle of Ministry. We are to make people feel accepted.

 

I recall a moment in my sixth grade year of school. I didn't have many clothes growing up then. So every week, I wore the same things over and over. Then one day, I got something new. I felt cute in it. I was late getting to class that day. So when I walked in to go to my seat, I heard a girl whisper to another girl, "She finally got some new clothes!" Not only was what she said hearable, it was also visible. She turned around and covered her mouth with her hand. And I saw her. That moment has forever been imprinted on my heart. I was not accepted by this little girl. Her name was Jillian.

 

We as Christians must be careful the judgment we pass on people whether we know them or not. It's not our job to look down our noses at other people. Again, we once used to be where they are. It's a wonder that God allows us to have experiences such as the one I had in sixth grade. Granted, it wasn't the only one. But I learned from those experiences. That experienced shaped me. I learned how I never wanted to make other people feel.....unaccepted. And I realize now that such moments are acts of the enemy.

 

The enemy wanted me to remember that moment and forever be bitter and hurt by it. But I realize now that God used it and worked it out for my good. That moment taught me to never judge a book by it's cover. For a long time, I wouldn't eat blueberries because of the way that they looked. They didn't look like they were good. Just recently in my life, I decided to take a bite into one. Oh the goodness of that blueberry. I should have been ashamed of myself for missing out on all that goodness all those years. Now they are my favorite. I have accepted them.

 

In life, we are going to come across all kinds of people from all walks of life. We may even entertain angels unawares. But if we are going to reach the multitudes for God's kingdom, we must make people feel accepted. People don't want to walk through the doors of your church and one of your members has her nosed turned up at them because of the way they are dressed. Who died and made her Jesus? Exactly......no one. God's greatest commandments are that we love Him first with our hearts, minds, bodies, souls, and strength. The second is to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We are to do unto others as we would want done unto us.

 

We all want to feel accepted. The ones who are supposed to do this the more are those called by God's name. To find common ground, to not act as a know-it-all, and to make people feel accepted is what we as Christians have been called to do. We must get busy if our ministry is going to be effective.

 

 

 

Mr. or Mrs. Know-it-all

Principle #2

The other day, I blogged about how God revealed to me the 5 Important Principles for Ministry. I stated that the #1 principle was that we should find common ground with those we come in contact. Today, we will be discussing principle #2, Avoid a know-it-all attitude. 

"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among

you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think........."

(Romans 12:3)

Have you ever met someone who thinks that they know everything? It's hard for you to tell them anything. It's even hard for you to communicate with them. It's as if their ears have been closed so that they hear noone's voice but their own. In God's eyes, that is bad for ministry. Now let's get something straight. The word ministry here does not mean that you have to be a Minister (with a title). When you become a child of God, you automatically become a minister. You become a minister of the truth. Your everyday life that you live before people is a ministry. Your ministry. With your life you minister to those you come in contact with on a daily basis. 

If your life is anything like mine, from living alone, with the everyday hustle of being a wife and parenting children we discover that we do not know it all. There is something new to be learned everyday. There is another task that you and I become responsible for carrying out. We have not arrived nor will we ever arrive to the Know-it-all stage. To me, that's the beauty in being a child of God. 

When Paul said that he became all things to all men, I picture him humbling himself and bringing himself to the level of those he was trying to reach. In so many words, he confesses that he didn't know it all. In fact, I believe that in order for him to be effective he had to study and observe the people. He had to become accustomed to their likes and dislikes. He had to find out what was effective in leading them to Jesus Christ. And he did all of this without compromising his relationship with Jesus Christ. 

The important thing to remember about this principle is this, we once used to be where the people we come in contact with, who don't know Christ are. Just as God has raised you up to a higher level in your walk with Him, He is now using you to bring up someone else. In order to do that, your eyes have to be open to the possibility of learning the things that you don't know while effectively equipping the other person with the things you do know. 

God states that with the merciful, He will show Himself merciful. One who confesses to know it all is not one who walks in mercy. Brothers and sisters, this thing ought not be so. 

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

in which you once walked according to the course of this world.......

(Ephesians 2:1-2)

Things in Common

Principle #1

Paul: "For though I was free from all men, I made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak."

Me: "What do you mean, Mr. Paul?"

Paul: "I became all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."

Me: "But how do you become all things to all men? I don't quite understand."

The more and more I read the verses of 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, the more I wanted to know what he meant. This was one of the many sayings in which Paul had intrigued me. If it was effective, I wanted to know about it. My life depended on it. After all, I wanted to fulfill my calling. How do you become all things to all men? "God, please reveal this to meeeeeeeee!" was my heart's cry.

That's when He told me. After much study and much asking, He finally told me. I am to become what people need at the time of their need. That's it! But wait.......How do I do that? What does that look like? What does that really mean, God?" I desired more clarification. Can you see me looking up to the heavens? My Father above had stirred my heart to want to know more about reaching His people. I had to ask. And He had to answer me.

One day before I went to class. This was not too long ago. I asked God once again. How do I become all things to all people. I know that I am to become what they need. But I needed to understand this elementary style. So I read the notes of my study bible. I look the verses up in other translations. And behold, there it was. My answer, titled in the footnotes of another bible translation, "Five Important Principles for Ministry". The clarification I needed had come.

I found out that day that in order for me to become what people needed, I had to find common ground with them. This entails things that I could relate to them on. Children, school, movies, etc. Whatever God opened the door of discussion to as long as it was in His scope of approval. So on this particular school night, I brought my dinner in the container in the picture above. As I was in the break room heating up the food, I noticed that a classmate of mine had brought the same container. I made a mental note of it. But that was as far as it went for me. I didn't think much of it at the time. I did, however ask her what she had cooked. But my mind was somewhere else. I was also preparing materials for Vacation Bible School. I quickly ate my food so that I would have time to print out some paperwork in the library.

The next morning upon opening my eyes, I immediately got what God was showing me by allowing my classmate and I to have the same exact container that night. He was showing me the principle of having things in common with the people that I am in contact. It's amazing the things God can use to get your attention. It's amazing what He uses to teach you valuable lessons. As simple as that little container is, it had a big impact on the lesson He taught me. Believe it or not, this is how conversations get started. No one wants to talk with someone that they have nothing in common with. Can you imagine how the conversation would go? Nevertheless, you will never know what you have in common with someone unless you open the door of communication to find out. This is what I believe Paul did as he became all things to all people. He asked questions. He studied and observed them. He looked for doors of opportunity.  And though this is just one principle, I desire to share the others with you in the days to come. Blessings.





Out of the Abundance

Matters of the Heart

Did you know that "heart" is a five letter word? Take your hand and hold it out in front of you. Now spell out word heart using a letter per finger. Did you get a revelation from this exercise? Well if you didn't I, I did.

A few years back during morning worship service, one of my sisters in Christ made a mention about the word heart. The word that she gave was powerful. But for me, God took it a step further. The exercise that you did was what He had me do. And what He showed me then was this...........what you do with your hands comes from your heart. This simple yet, powerful lesson stuck with me. As anything that God reveals to His children, when what He speaks to your heart is for you, you will not forget it. Praise God! What you do with your hands is just one matter of the heart. The other matter is what you speak.

The word of God tells us that we are to keep our hearts with all diligence for out of it springs the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). Let's face it, things come up. Family members die, people lose jobs, words are spoken that hurt to the heart and so on. Everyday there is an issue. Yet, with all of this, we have been commanded by God to keep our hearts. With every command, many of us want to know why? What is the big issue with keeping my heart? Well, let's look at what Proverbs 27:19 says, "As in water reflects the face, so a man's heart reveals the man." Friend, the abundance of your heart speaks to those you encounter and it tells them what you are all about.

God gives a warning in His word that we shall know a tree by it's fruit. Evil trees cannot bear good fruit and good trees cannot bear evil fruit. This is talking about the things that we do. As so it is with our words. Matthew 12:34 states that evil people cannot speak good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Our words reveal to others the condition of our hearts. What are the matters of your heart? What un-forgiveness are you harboring that is causing you to speak bitterly of someone else? When those issues that God warned us about spring up, what are you speaking from your mouth as you deal with them?

Do you know that your heart is a representation of a garden before God. In your heart He has promised to plant the seed of His word that you may bear the fruit of that seed. The seed that He planted, dear friend, is the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus died so that you could have an abundant life. Now I want you to think about it. As a matter-of-fact, just close your eyes and visualize what that abundant life in Jesus Christ looks like. Reflect on what He has told you in His word as to the promises He has made of His kingdom. What do you see? Now picture that being in your heart. How awesome is that vision!

Everybody's abundance may not look like the one you envisioned. That's because God desires that vision of abundance for you. But as He has said in His word, it will only come by you keeping your heart with all diligence. Things of the world cannot be allowed in your garden. Your heart is the place that was only meant for God's Word. Friend, if God's word is not in abundance in your heart, then my prayer for you today is that God will reveal to you the abundance of your heart. I pray His Holy Spirit will show you what you have in abundance. And if it is not the word of God, then you have work to do in cultivating your garden.

Our words are meant to glorify the Lord. Our actions our thoughts, everything springs from the abundance of our heart. I pray that yours will be an abundance to speak good and bear the good fruit of God's word. Blessings.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting."

(Psalm 139:23-24)

He Looks at Your Faith - Part 2

Clarification

The other day I wrote a post about faith being accounted as righteousness before God. In this post, I stated that God does not look at your works, but your faith. After I made this post, I had a sister in Christ inbox me with the scriptures coming from "James 2:14-18".

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reading over these verses, I felt led to clarify some things about my previous post. Let me first say, that I do not object to anything in these verses or the fact that my sister in Christ felt led to share them with me. It is the word of the living God. In fact, I thank her for them. It shows me that she cares enough about me that she wants me to not be in error of God's word. Friend, she is doing what she has been ordained to do.

I'm going to ask that you will read over these verses one more time before you proceed to reading the rest of this post. The verses above help clarify why God accounted Abraham's faith to him as righteousness. When God told Abraham that He would give Him an heir, Abraham believed him (Genesis 15:6). But Abraham also had to do something. Abraham, at the appointed time, had to sleep with Sarah. It was then that she conceived Isaac, the promised heir. Abraham's faith in God led him to do the works that led to the conception of Isaac.

This matter of works is a totally different matter than the one I discussed in my previous post. However, for you to have the full understanding of it is just as important. In both matters of faith, God still looks at your faith and not your works. One has to do with you believing in God to make you righteous rather than you thinking that you have to do everything right or by the book. It has to do with you not allowing the enemy the room to make you think that you are a worthless person because you make a mistake. The other has to do with you believing in God and your faith in God causes you to keep yourself pure before God.

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. And what James is saying in the scriptures above coincides with that. Your faith in God drives you to live the righteous life that Jesus died for you to live. Your faith in God drives you to want to be the best that you can be before God. Even if you make a mistake, you repent, get up, dust off, and keep going............by faith. My brother, my sister, every work that you do before the eyes of our Father in heaven will not be perfect. But the fact that you have faith in Him allows him not to look at your works. He looks at your faith for the reason why you do the works.

Abraham's faith in God had to show that he believed in God. Put it this way, I don't believe you or I would be confessing to be a child of God while the things we do and say scream everything but a child of God. Your faith in God produces the fruit of that faith. When you love God, you will obey God. When God is the driving force of your faith, you will have works. You will change the way you talk, walk, think and act. Yes, faith without works is dead. But the predominant factor here is this........God does not want you to think that the things you do is what makes you righteous before Him. Your faith.......your faith is what He sees above everything else. Your faith in why you live the way you live and do what you do to glorify Him is what He sees. Again I say, God looks at your faith.

Blessings,

A Name for Yourself

The Tower of  Babel

Sitting one day in our front living room, I read a story to my nephew. It was "The Story of the Tower of Babel". Now I have heard this story told many times. I've heard it being spoken of in the sermons of pastors. And I guess, I never paid attention to enlightenment of it. But on this one particular day, this story came alive to me. I began to understand it's meaning.

Have you ever gotten the idea to create something? How did it make you feel? Could some of the feelings you felt be excitement, happy, joyful? I bet you couldn't wait to get started. You gathered your materials and put together your strategies. You wrote down your start-to-finish. Pretty soon you had a finished product. How did you feel about your finished creation? Did you cherish it? Did you love it? I would even say that you didn't even let anything happen to it, did you?

Friend, the way you felt about your creation is the same way that God felt when he created you. The book of Genesis 1:31 states clearly that God saw everything that He created and it was "good". However,  after the fall of man (Adam) things changed. The hearts of God's creation became evil. They began to worship themselves rather than God. His name became no longer important as they sought to make a name for themselves. This is the case with the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).

Now the whole earth had one language and one speech...........and they said, "Come let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves..........." (vs. 1-4).

 

 

The creation of God had discovered their liberty and freedom. But instead of worshipping God and building up His name, they decided that they would build up their own name. They wanted to be able to say that they did it. God was left out. Or was He? If you continue to read the chapter, you will see that God came down to see what they were doing. And as we know, God was not pleased. His creation making a name for themselves? As loving and merciful as He is, this was something He could not allow to happen. So He confused their language.

 

Are there any of you reading this post who feel a slight conviction by this story? Well I have a confession to make.......it convicted me. If I may be truthful here, I check my blog page all of the time just to see if someone I associate with has left a comment or something on one of my posts. Sometimes I get discouraged when I see not one response. I have to admit that I had to examine myself and my motive for this page. The discouragement was so heavy that I felt as if the Holy Spirit said to me, that I was trying to build a name for myself.

 

I love God. I am grateful to Him for everything that He has done. Creation speaks of His beauty. I also love to write. At this point in my life, my life is completely consumed with my Father. The reason I started this page was that I could express my love for Him. I freely want to share with the world what an awesome God we serve. I find though that I must be careful by not losing my focus. It's about my Creator, not me. I feel privileged that my eyes are able to see and that my ears are able to hear.  

 

Gospel recording singer J. Moss has a song called, "We Must Praise". This song speaks of us using our every part of our bodies to praise God. This one particular verse of the song says...... "If I were a writer, I would use a pencil...." My blog to me is my pencil. What, my friend, are you using? Are you using it to lift up God's name or are you using it to make a name for yourself? I don't believe that the people of the Tower of Babel would have even attempted to make a name for themselves if they even considered the fact that God would separate them by confusing their language. This moment to me was one of God's ultimate test. One of the many that mankind failed.

 

How about your test? If God were to come down to see what you were doing with what He's given you, will you be found building up His name or yours. This story of the tower came alive to me because as simple and corny as it sounds, I realized where they got the word babbling from. Can you imagine being able to understand your neighbor one day and the next day you have not a clue as to what he or she is saying. If God did that then, what will He do now?

 

God wants to be glorified in everything that you or I do. Any time we do anything other than that, we are making a name for ourselves. The latter part of the song says this......."Since I'm a Believer, I use everything". 



He Looks at Your Faith

"And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:6)

In the day-to-day of living life, how often do we find ourselves struggling with the fact of what we have done and have not done? Does it ever get us to the point where we feel as if we know not what else to do? Do we ever find ourselves throwing up our hands to God in the sense to give up when we feel as if we've failed? We struggle with doing this and that because we think within our own minds that God requires all of these things from us. Well today I have good news for you........Your struggle is OVER!

 

During my studies this morning, God showed me something very profound about the life of Abraham. At this particular time in Abraham's life God instructed him to go forth to a land that he would give him to possess. He had promised him to give him descendant's as numerous as the stars. God promised him an heir. But Abraham didn't see how this would happen because he had no children. Abraham stated to God that God hadn't given him any offspring. He was childless. Let's pause right there and look at what Abraham said............"You have given me no offspring." From this verse, the first thing I learned is that Abraham knew where his blessings came from. He knew that whatever he received came from God. Even though he was a childless man at the moment, He knew that God was the one who could give him children.

 

Although this is not the major point of my post today. It was one that I felt needed to be stated to bring me into the point of this post. God promised Abraham that his heir would come from his own body. And when we read Genesis 15:6, we see that Abraham believed God and that his belief was accounted to him for righteousness. Abraham's belief in God was based on his faith in God. In other words, Abraham's faith made God count him as pure, sinless, and holy before Himself. God did not evaluate Abraham as righteous because everything he did was right, but because he had faith in God's ability to make him righteous. (Spirit-filled Student Life Bible, Word Wealth, pg.24)

 

I recall a time in my life where I used to be really hard on myself for not doing things right before God. I allowed the enemy to bring me into condemnation. It made me feel worthless and powerless. Then one day as I was spending time with the Holy Spirit, He showed me that it was not about the things that I did, but about my faith in the "One" who died to make me righteous. It was not about the fact that I had to keep the law, but about the "One" who came, fulfilled the law, died and rose again. It was about my faith in Jesus Christ. That revelation came to me in the year 2010.

 

I love the fact that God loves us so much that He reminds us of things that He has already spoken to us. Apparently, I must have forgotten and lost sight of this simple truth. God had to give me a gentle reminder through the life of Abraham. As He has spoken this to me, friend, He is also speaking to you. What is God saying? "My son, my daughter, I do not look at your works. I look at your faith."

 

Here, fellow reader, is the greatest example of this revelation that I can give you as God gave it to me. I will bet that you never thought about the reason why God says that He will remember your sin no more. In our day we refer to that as Him throwing our sin in the "Sea of Forgetfulness". I'm not sure we have even grasped the power that is within this fact. It's simple, yet profound. When we come to God in wholehearted repentance, He forgives our sin and forgets that we ever committed it. Why? You ask. Why would he? He does this because He is not looking at our works. He's looking at the fact that we believed in Him enough to realize that the act we committed was against Him. We believed in Him enough to kneel before Him to repent and ask for His forgiveness. He's looking at our faith.

 

It takes faith to believe in God, for without it, we wouldn't be able to please Him (Hebrews 11;6). For us to come to Him in repentance says to Him that we believe in Him. So therefore with that, God is pleased. Just as Abraham's faith made him pure before God, and it was accounted to Him for righteousness..........our faith does the same. It is our faith that keeps us pure. It is the fact that we acknowledged Jesus as being the Head of our lives. No work that we can ever do will account for much before God. The only work we need is the working of faith. For when He looks down from heaven and see that we are confessing the name of His Son, Jesus, He sees our faith.

 

What work are you trying to do for God today? Is it a work of doing things right before God in hopes that He sees your work. Or, are you working your faith, that He will look down from heaven and be pleased? Child of God, don't worry about doing everything right. God looks at your faith.