Archive for October, 2010


What is a Blessed Life?

Filed Under: Crysta Fox's Journal by Crysta Fox — 1 Comment
October 27, 2010

Sometimes in life, when things aren’t going your way and you begin to wonder if you’re blessed or cursed, look to the word of God and find out what the Lord says. The bible does not teach or reveal that a person is considered blessed based on the presence of material possessions or perfect scenarios. For instance, there are no passages that say “blessed is the person who has their dream house; blessed is the person who has an abundance of gold and silver; blessed is the person who is offered a new, high-paying job.” Nor does the word of God say the opposite if these things aren’t present: “cursed is the person who is short on money; cursed is the person who can’t find a job; cursed is the person who lives in meager dwellings.”

So what does it mean to be blessed? Before that can be answered, it must be defined. The word ‘blessed’ comes from a German word ‘bletsian’ meaning ‘blood’ – the reference being back to Old Testament sacrifices. The English-speaking church chose to use the word ‘bless’ as a translation for the Greek ‘eulogeitos’, the meaning of which is explained below. This Greek word actually provides the English word ‘eulogy’: ‘eu’ means “good” and ‘logy’ means “word” – hence the meaning of eulogy is literally ‘a good word’.

This Greek word ‘eulogeitos’ was chosen by the New Testament writers as the nearest equivalent word they had for the contextual meaning for the Old Testament Hebrew word ‘barak’, which literally means ‘to kneel’.

Eujlogevw Eulogeo (yoo-log-eh’-o) / blessed means: to praise, celebrate with praises, to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers, to cause to prosper, to make happy, favored of God.

When you read the word of God, there are many passages that describe what constitutes a “BLESSED” life. What the world tends to have us believe is that material possessions, wealth, power and prosperity are the signs of a blessed life; although the world prefers to use the term “lucky.” God’s word though, declares that His people are blessed before they receive anything, not because of it. Jacob received the blessing of his father, but if you look at his life after he received that blessing, he faced the fear of death because Esau, his brother, wanted to kill him for stealing the blessing. He was a blessed man despite what his current and upcoming circumstances in Haran looked like.

How do you know you’re blessed? What does a blessed life really look like? Here are a few examples to help you gain a better understanding:

Job 5:17 – Blessed (happy/favored) is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Psalm 1:1 – Blessed (happy/favored) is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of the sinners or sit in the seat of mockers

Psalm 32:2 – Blessed (happy/favored) is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Psalms 40:4 – Blessed (happy/favored) is the man who makes the Lord God his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

Proverbs 3:13 – Blessed (happy/favored) is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding.

Proverbs 28:14 – Blessed (happy/favored) is the man who fears the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:7 – Blessed (happy/favored) is the man who trusts the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.

Matthew 11:6 – Blessed (happy/favored) is the man who does not fall away on account of Me.

James 1:2 – Blessed (happy/favored) is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

There are, of course, more scriptural examples of how God’s word defines a blessed life. It’s important to know that when someone says to you or when you say to someone else, “have a blessed day / be blessed”, what is actually being proclaimed. This makes quite a difference when you go through life, especially when you’re facing difficult times. You are blessed, despite what all outward appearances reveal and bank statements reflect.

YOU ARE BLESSED!

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5 Blunders Adults Make When Engaging Teens

Filed Under: Sheeri Mitchell's Journal by Sheeri Mitchell — 1 Comment
October 27, 2010

Of all the age groups I have ever had the privilege of mentoring, by far my favorite group is teenagers. Babies and toddlers give unconditional love and believe nearly everything you tell them, but they often cannot articulate their feelings beyond whining and crying. Grade-school-aged children and most middle schoolers are hilariously goofy, but one can only take so many fart and booger jokes.

Although high school students and beginning college students are often full of themselves – convinced they have all the answers – they are closer to having to stand on and defend their developing faith. Faced with choices that will determine their life’s trajectory, many begin to understand – perhaps for the first time – the significance of the habits they have developed or of the skills they have neglected to hone. In that moment where they realize they must leave behind the childishness of their early years and begin to think and act like the men and women God has called them to be, when they find themselves on the cusp of adulthood, full of promise and unlimited potential, poised to take command of the rest of their lives, it is here that they are most likely to be open to a mentor or a parent who will share and model authentic faith.

Over the years that I have mentored, listened to, and laughed with the teenagers in my life, I have also learned a great deal from each one of them – both what I should do and what I should never do if I desire to maintain a healthy relationship, based on mutual respect with the potential to last a lifetime. I humbly share my list of blunders with you. I hope it blesses you and the teenagers in your life.

Blunder #1: Lecturing

No one enjoys a one-sided conversation in which they’ve been relegated to the role of non-stop listener. For the mature adult patiently listening to some know-it-all bluster on and on without reprieve is next to impossible. For most teenagers, who characteristically have shorter attention spans, it is impossible. Polite teenagers will silently tune out while remaining bodily present. The less than polite will simply get up and leave. And who can blame them?

Before you launch into your next great speech, try asking open-ended questions that will require a thoughtful response. My rule of thumb is if I find myself speaking more than three sentences without interruption, then I’m probably talking too much.

Blunder #2: Offering Unwelcome Advice

When was the last time you asked a teenager (or anyone for that matter), “I have an opinion about that. Would you like to hear it?” When was the last time you waited to be asked for your thoughts before you offered them?

Even though the exact right advice might be on the tip of your tongue, exercise self-control. Wait to be asked for your opinion, or ask permission to offer it first. Teenagers’ biggest complaint is adults’ lack of respect for their personhood. Nothing shouts “I don’t respect you!” like clobbering someone over the head with your unsolicited opinion.

Blunder #3 Proposing Pat Answers

I remember confiding in a relative about a problem I was facing as a young woman of 20. Her entire answer to me was, “Let go and let God.” It was the single most useless piece of solicited advice I believe I have ever received. She might as well have said, “Don’t worry. Be happy.” I was emotionally and physically exhausted from having just poured out my soul to her. And all she had to offer was some non-sequiter platitude. Fail.

If you find what you hear to be overwhelming, tragic, or simply ridiculous, take your cues from the emotional state of the person talking. Again, open-ended questions can’t go wrong here (unless of course they’ve already been answered and you weren’t listening). Sometimes restating to the person what they’ve said can help you to better understand the significance of the problem, as well as how to pray for that person.

Blunder #4 Trying To Sound “Cool” Or “Hip”

Here’s a hint: If “Cool” or “Hip” is in your vocabulary, you’re probably neither. Teenagers are experts at spotting fakes. If you don’t instinctively listen to the same music they listen to, dress the way they dress, or use the same slang they do, then don’t pretend that you do. You won’t fool anyone. And you’ll embarrass everyone. How does the saying go? There’s no fool like an old fool? Just make sure it’s not you.

Be yourself. Or as my husband likes to say, “Do you.” Rock your Jesus the way you do. If folks find your brand appealing, great. If not, great. Authenticity speaks louder and more convincingly than any falsehood.

Blunder #5 Neglecting To Pray And Fast

Incest, rape, divorce, infidelity, fornication, homosexuality, physical abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, witchcraft, cutting, bullying, pornography – today’s teens are exposed to much more at younger ages than their counterparts from decades past. Don’t be foolish enough to think you can walk into their lives with all the remedies to their life-long dramas as though you’re Ward Cleaver in an episode of “Leave It To Beaver.” The enemy will not only beat you down, but send you home bloody and naked.

In these last days, the enemy has become bolder. We believers must be equally as bold for the Kingdom. If you have not adopted the spiritual discipline of studying God’s word, praying and fasting, do so now. Our Lord came to set the captives free. If you are going to serve in the conquering army, if you’re going to venture into enemy territory and take back prized possessions, you had better be disciplined enough to stay the course and empowered to outlast the battle.

Even once this series is complete, this list will never be comprehensive. If you have blunders to share, in Our Forums or comment section, please tell us about them as well as what you learned from them. We look forward to hearing from you. Blunders #6 through #10 to follow.

Be blessed Family!

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Daily Walking Word: He Chose You

Filed Under: Walking Faithfully's Journal by Walking Faithfully — Leave a comment
October 27, 2010

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you,” John 15:16

Twice in John 15, Jesus tells His disciples that whatever you ask in His name they will receive.  The first time in John 15:7, He tells them that if they abide in Him and His words are in them that whatever they ask it will be done.  And in John 15:16, He lets them know that this wasn’t there choice but His – to have them as disciples.  He ordained them.  And, they would produce fruit and it will remain and whatever they asked it will be given.

We have been chosen.  We didn’t choose this life.  God gave us our spouses, kids, jobs, home, and everything that is apart of the call of our lives.  He has ordained us to produce great fruit.  And, the fruit we produce shall remain forever.

Whatever we ask will be given.  Now, this is a hefty promise.  We are to go out and produce fruit.  We are to do our Father’s will.  And, as a “reward,” He will do whatever we ask so that God will be glorified in that others will know from our ministry that God is who we say He is.  Be careful what we ask so it’s in right alignment.

But, above all don’t be afraid to ask for the ridiculous, miraculous, weird, and out of this world.  Do what He tells us to do.  Be the branch in Him and bear fruit.  Do it today!

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“…and the two shall become one flesh…”

Filed Under: Charles Perkins' Journal by Charles Perkins — 1 Comment
October 27, 2010

“If I get married, I’m supposed to only have sex with one person for the rest of my life?” “I don’t know if I could have sex with the same person for the rest of my life.” “Men are predators by nature. We CAN’T be monogamous.” “Having sex with the same person for the rest of my life would be sooooo boring.”

Questions and statements like these are pretty common today. People use this train of thought as an excuse not to get married or remain unfaithful in their commitment. They have convinced themselves that no one person could possibly fulfill their sexual needs. And they are probably right. When you are only thinking about your own needs getting met, no one can live up to your expectations, just as you can’t live up to anyone else’s expectations. Self-centeredness is impossible to satisfy.

The idea that you have to have multiple sexual partners to be satisfied is an illusion. First of all, let me say that most of the time, sex is good. There is no argument there. It’s the “after sex” where the problem starts. As long as I have been a man, and that’s been a long time, men, while enjoying the actual act, generally feel empty and unfulfilled once it is over. That is why they often disrespect the woman they have just been with. They go from woman to woman thinking that it will get better, but, it doesn’t. So, women become “catch action.” The woman becomes “something to do” until something better comes along…like him getting up and making a lame excuse as to why he has to leave as soon as it is over. And I don’t think I have ever met a woman who truly enjoys being simply a “booty call” in someone’s address book. Or, to put it more bluntly, when I was younger, a man might refer to a woman as “peanut butter…because she spreads so easily.”

Sex is not bad. It is indeed good. God gave it to us as a means of both procreation and as a means of expressing love. When sex becomes the goal, an end in itself, then it is a problem. People who make sex a goal will not be satisfied very long if at all. We get back to the self centeredness. They are looking for someone to satisfy their needs. When you are seeking sex just for the sex, you are all about yourself. You might as well masturbate. That is all you are using the other person for- your self gratification.

The thing that makes sex in marriage so great is that it is not the goal any longer. It is a means to a goal. Love, intimacy, closeness, oneness…these are goals. Sex becomes a part of an overall lifestyle of love, romance and intimacy. As your relationship becomes more intimate, you love going to sleep together and waking up beside each other. The touch of her skin as she lays close in your arms, the warmth of his breath on the back of your neck, the way you fit perfectly into each others’ arms, these are things you grow to appreciate. You, quite simply, love the way your spouse smells on you. When sex becomes the natural result of the love that you share, the intimacy that you have, the oneness that you have developed, it doesn’t grow old…EVER.

When you learn to make love to each other 24 hours a day, in big ways, in little ways, but, always, sex becomes a part of the overall love affair. It doesn’t become the whole thing. Sex is no longer a “performance.” It is an expression. Instead of seeking self gratification, you begin to truly enjoy one another. You please one another rather than yourself. Even during those times when you can’t have sex, you can still make love. The way you think about each other. The way you look at each other. The ways you touch one another. The way you connect with one another. Making love is a continual process that goes way beyond sex. Foreplay is a lifestyle. Romance is a state of mind.

Remember that love is a choice. Desiring someone is also a choice. You can desire someone as deeply as you want to. When you chose to desire your spouse at that deepest level, there is no room for anyone else in your bed and you don’t want to be in anyone else’s bed. It’s up to you to CONTROL your choices.

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Daily Walking Word: Ask for Anything

Filed Under: Walking Faithfully's Journal by Walking Faithfully — Leave a comment
October 26, 2010

Do you pray?  Are you skeptical when you pray at times that God will answer your prayers in the positive?  During these times, we are scared that God’s will for our lives is radically different than our own.  We feel that if we pray for the miraculous that nothing will happen and the answer will be no.

We are not as confident in our prayers as we need to be.  Jesus says that if we ask in His name He will do it!  No for real, Jesus says in John 14:14, “Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it!”  Jesus said if we ask for N. E. Thang (anything) in His name, He will do it.  Why?  Because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father.

He tells us He loves us and anything we ask He will do it because He loves us.  He will do it.  He will do it.  He will do it.  He will do it.  Did you hear?  He will do it.  Yes, He will do it!  All we need to do is ask.  So, start asking now, child of God.  Yep, right now!  Ask.

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Do You Have Fly Time?

Filed Under: Andrea Wiley's Journal by Andrea Wiley — 1 Comment
October 26, 2010

Several years ago, when I was going through a challenging time, my mentor, author, and First Lady, P. Bunny Wilson, shared a practice with me that literally transformed my life.  She calls it FLY time.  FLY is an acronym that stands for First Love, Yes!   In Revelation 2:2-4, Jesus tells the church at Ephesus that He knows their works and labor for His sake, however, He goes on to say:  “Nevertheless, this I have against you, that you have left your First Love.”  FLY time simply calls us to say yes to God, our first love, and put Him first, every morning.

We were created to have intimacy with God.  Let’s go back to the beginning.  In Genesis 2:25, Adam and Eve were naked before God and were not ashamed.  God’s intention for us has always been to have a deep, unrestricted intimacy with Him, with nothing between us.   God created us to interact with Him on a personal, intimate basis.  Sin destroys the intimate communion God originally designed for us to enjoy.  It creates a painful emotional distance between us and God. In Genesis 3:8, after Adam and Eve sinned, when they heard God walking around the garden, they hid themselves.  Seeking to commune with Him daily through the Holy Spirit, restores that communion.  In Psalm 23, God tells us that He leads us beside still waters and restores our soul.

We must stay continually connected to our “power source” so that we remain energized to do His work.  You see, if we are not working in His power and strength, we will soon get burned out, discouraged and disconnected

FLY time, in essence, is tithing our time back to God.  It is offering an even more precious commodity than our money.  It is offering ourselves totally surrendered and available for God to accomplish His purpose in our lives. It’s not about you! God created you for His pleasure and purposes; for intimacy with Himself.  Developing that relationship should be your top priority.

For example, I’m up on average for 16 to 17 hours a day.  So, I get up early enough to spend an hour and a half every morning maintaining that vital connection to God.  Now, before you say:  ‘It doesn’t take all that.  I can talk to God throughout the day, or I can pray and read the Word at night,’ let’s examine the importance of starting your day with God.

  • First, if you’re like me, at the end of a busy day, I’m exhausted, just wiped out.  I would attempt to read the Bible at night with one eye open.  Soon the Bible would be reading me.  Like bread, that’s fresh in the morning, by night it’s stale and so are we after a hectic day.  It was hard for me to get up early at first until I saw the immense peace and blessings that flowed from it.  Now, I look forward to it.  It is, without question, the best part of my day.

O, God.  You are my God.  Early I will seek You; My soul thirsts for   You, my flesh longs for You, Psalm 63:1

  • We are our freshest and best in the morning.  We expect God’s best.  Why not give Him our best?  Our best requires sacrifice!
  • Seeking God first thing in the morning makes him your top priority of the day and if you don’t prioritize your day, your day will prioritize you!  If God is first every day, there’s nothing that can bump Him off your schedule.
  • Probably the most important reason to start your day in God’s presence is because this is where spiritual greatness is born.  Jesus Himself started His day in prayer to God because this was His power source.  This is where He went to be directed, restored and replenished.

Now, in the morning, having risen a long while before daybreak, He went out and departed to a solitary place and there, He prayed, Mark 1:35

  • Starting the day with God sets the tone for your day. Starting everyday with God sets the tone for your life!

Now, that we’ve hopefully settled the necessity of giving God the first part of your day, let’s move on to the seven components of FLY time.

1)     WORSHIP – Worship is not part of your life, it is your life.  We were created for God’s pleasure and worship brings Him pleasure.  Worship is reverence, extravagant respect and devotion to God. Pouring yourself out to God pleases Him.  When we fulfill our purpose of worship our spirit is refreshed because that is the way God designed it.  John 4:23 says: “The hour is coming when true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.”  God seeks people who will worship Him according to the truth of the Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is in your worship that you receive revelation knowledge and power.

2)     PRAISE – Psalm 150 says: “Let everything that have breath praise the Lord!”  1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  Even in tough times, give thanks and praise knowing that God is in control and He will work everything together for good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  When I think of how much God loves me that He sent His only begotten Son to die so that I may have everlasting life (John 3:16), I’m just overflowing with thanks and praise. When I let my mind wrap around the fact that He spoke everything that exists into existence with such precision and magnificence (the solar system, the eco system, the human body, etc.), I am just in awe.  There is nothing too hard for God.  Praise puts our focus on God and His awesome power, not our problems.

3)     CONFESS AND REPENT – 1John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  That is His promise to us.  Willful sin short circuits your faith and affects your intimate relationship with God because feelings of guilt creep in. Confession allows us to keep unbroken communion with God. There are no attempted secrets.  Everything is out in the open.  (As if we could ever hide anything from God in the first place.)

4)     PRAYER – 1Thessalonians 5:17 says: “Pray without ceasing.”  This is how you communicate with God.  It must become instinctual and automatic whenever you meet trials and when you need direction, which is every day.  Prayer is the biggest timesaver.  Since God knows everything, ask Him to direct your steps.  He wants to answer your prayer.  You have but to ask. Mathew 7:7 says:  “Ask and it shall be given to you.  Seek and you shall find.  Knock and it shall be opened to you.”  Pray not only for yourself but intercede on behalf of others.  Remember, the prayers of the righteous availeth much.  More important, prayer gives us God’s perspective on any situation.  Prayer is where you will do your most effective warfare.  Fight your battles on your knees and win every time.  Prayer works!

5)     MEDITATE IN THE WORD - Don’t just read the Bible, devour it!  Memorize it!  Psalm 119:11 says: “Thy Word I have hid in my heart that I shall not sin against Thee.”  Joshua 1:9-10 “The Word of the Law shall not depart from your mouth.  You shall meditate in it day and night.  Then you shall make your way prosperous. Then you shall have good success.”  Meditating in the Word is God’s promise for success.   Hebrews 4:12 says “the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  So, in this marvelous Word, you will not only learn who God is but you will also see who you are and if you’re like me, you’ll see some things that you won’t like at all and you’ll be forced to deal with them.  In John 8:31-32 Jesus says “If you abide in my Word, you are my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”  Trying to live without studying His word is like trying to put together a complex piece of machinery without the instruction manual and guess what?  It just doesn’t work!

6)     LISTEN – Sit and listen to God’s still small voice.  Psalm 46:10 says: “Be still and know that I am God.” God’s voice won’t compete with any other voices so shut down your mind and thoughts so you can hear the voice of God.  Jesus said: “My sheep know my voice.”  When someone first told me that God told them to do something, I thought.  ‘I’ve never heard God talk to me like that.’  Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, we cannot hear from God.  You are to listen humbly, submissively and completely dependent upon the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s truth to you.  If you are unsure if the Holy Spirit is in you, please read the section called: The Most Important Thing.  There is no mistaking when you’ve heard from God.  You get an unction in your spirit that is undeniable and even if it’s something you don’t want to do, you will have a sense of peace.  God’s voice will always line up with His Word.  Hearing God speak to us is life’s greatest blessing.

7)  OBEY!  – Immediately.   Faith without works is dead.  Delayed obedience is disobedience.  Charles Stanley says: “Obey God and leave all the consequences up to Him.”  Think about it.  Who better to handle the consequences of your actions than the all knowing, all powerful, loving God of the universe, Who has your best interest at heart? Once you truly understand how unconditionally God loves you, you’ll find it much easier to obey.

And there you have it.  Seven steps to a deeper relationship with God.  Remember, this takes time and begins with one important step; accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life, John 3:16

Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks.  He won’t force His way in, though.  You must open the door and let Him in.  Once you believe in your heart that Christ died for your sins, you may pray the prayer of salvation: “Lord, Jesus, come into my life.  Forgive me of my sins.  I believe you died and rose from the dead for me.  Save me and be Lord of my life. Amen.”

If you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, Romans 10:9

Now, the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Counselor and Comforter sent by God, will come to live inside you and enable you to live the life God has created you to live.  You can’t do this apart from Him.

However, when He, the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all truth…,”  John 16:13

In order to FLY (First Love, Yes!) you must DIE (Death to an Independent Existence) apart from God.

Just imagine what you could accomplish if you were to FLY every day.  Now, imagine what your family can accomplish… your friends, community…  I’m just crazy enough to believe that we can start a FLY movement.  Imagine people all over the world waking up to spend time with God, turning off the TV, radio, internet and i-pods in order to hear that still small voice that won’t compete with the voices of the culture.  Imagine people answering the call, moving in their purpose and blessing other people.  We could wipe out hunger, eradicate AIDS, do away with homelessness, reverse the horrible statistics in our community and transform this world into the Kingdom God created it to be all because we said yes to our First Love.

Recommended books for FLY time:

Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young

Intimacy With The Almighty by Charles Swindoll

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Humility, Beauty of Holiness by Andrew Murray

The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible by Nelson Bibles

Bait Of Satan:Living Free From the Deadly Trap of Offense by John Bevere

The Purpose Driven® Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren

On Being a Servant of God by Warren Wiersbe

A Call to Die: A 40 Day Journey of Fasting from the World & Feasting on God by David Nasser

A Place of Quiet Rest: Finding Intimacy with God Through a Daily Devotional Life by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

How to Hear From God: Learn to Know His Voice and Make the Right Decisions by Joyce Meyer

Most Important Person On Earth by Dr. Myles Munroe

Living the Extraordinary Life: Nine Principles to Discover It by Charles Stanley

This Present Darkness by Frank Perretti

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Daily Walking Word: Get Cleansed

Filed Under: Walking Faithfully's Journal by Walking Faithfully — Leave a comment
October 25, 2010

“No,” Peter protested, “You will never wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “But if I don’t wash you, you won’t belong to me,” John 13:8

Jesus is the only way to salvation.  If someone has not been cleansed by Jesus, they are not His.  Everyone walking around as a good person may be “good” but they are not of Jesus.  They may claim they are but unless Jesus has cleaned them they do not belong to Him.

We need to know that Jesus is the only way to salvation.  We need to know that many will tell us they are “good” but they do not belong to Jesus.  Watch and listen and observe; don’t assume everyone has taken the steps to be cleaned by Jesus, even those who are serving in the church with you.  We should also make sure our children are making the steps to allow Jesus to clean them and belong to Him; because unless we show our children the way, our children can miss out on having a relationship with Jesus themselves.

So, child of God have you been cleansed by Jesus?  Allow Jesus to cleanse your feet today.  Has your family and friends been cleansed?  Have those around you been cleansed?  Ask God, He will tell you.  And, pray for those who have not and even for those who have; because the enemy is busy trying to make us forget that this is our only way to salvation.  Do it today!  Do it now!

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Be Seasoned, Not Salty!

Filed Under: Linda Antwi's Journal by Linda Antwi — Leave a comment
October 25, 2010

“Everyone will be salted with fire,” Mark 9:49

I read this recently and it reminded me that not everything goes to my “plan” and thank God for that because had He given me EVERYTHING according to my 5 and 10 year plan, I would not have been ready.  When I was 19, I thought I had it all planned out. I knew who I was, what I wanted and how I was going to get there…boy was I wrong.  Although, I can’t honestly tell you that I enjoy the trials and tribulations, you know, the hard times.  What I can honestly say, is that in hindsight, I can appreciate what the lessons are.

It amazes me who I have become and who HE is ultimately leading me to be.  I remember not too long ago, small things would stir me up and bend me out of shape.  Now, I have smaller reactions and tend to see most things as “jar half full”.  I recently was told by a person that I was dating that I needed to stop believing in “a perfect world” and that he was from the real world and had street sense.  I pondered that for days and then in my quiet time with God, HE revealed to me that I was to continue to have joy and peace in an imperfect world and I was not to let the “salt of the fire” make me salty.  It made so much sense to me.

When we become hardened by our tests, God can not use us as easily.  HE then has to break the hardened exterior, to get to us what he wants and for some, that can be a lifetime.  I don’t want that to be me.  I want to learn and grow in HIM.  The peace in my spirit that comes from knowing HE’s got me…priceless!

Don’t be salty, be seasoned!

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Daily Walking Word: Choose God’s Praises

Filed Under: Walking Faithfully's Journal by Walking Faithfully — Leave a comment
October 24, 2010

Leaders today are straddling the fence.  God doesn’t want straddlers.  He accuses you of not choosing Him when you straddle.  Please God, not man.  Accept God’s praises, not mans.  It is hard but we will be rewarded greatly for You, Lord, when we please God.  We should please God so that God will honor us.  Please God (choose good) don’t please man.

God will praise you for your faithful service.  Jesus was not happy when He looked around at the people following Him during Passover and noticed that they were acting like they didn’t know Him.  And, these people were there at every miracle, healing, and anointing that Jesus did.  But, when they were around others, they acted as if they knew not.  So, it is written in John 12:43, “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Praises of men are fleeting.  But, praises of God are eternal through infinity and beyond. Therefore, child of God choose that which is right.  Don’t straddle the fence.  Choose the praises of God, today

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Happy Holidays

Filed Under: Dianne Shorte's Journal by Dianne Shorte — Leave a comment
October 24, 2010

The holidays are my favorite time of year.  The months between November and January are filled with parties and holiday cheer.  I love the colorful lights, the beautiful and elaborate decorations, the holiday parties and the fellowship.   Thanksgiving is the most special of the holidays for me because it is filled with food, friends and family while Christmas is purely magical to me because I get the privilege of giving gifts to those I love and to others who are in need.  Every year I spend more money than I want to spend giving gifts but at the end of the day, I am very happy that I am able to give.  The bible says that it is better to give than to receive but most of us don’t really agree with the bible in practice. We are pretty certain that it is much better to receive.

Sadly, there will be many breakups between now and Christmas.  Statistics show that relationships end during this time of year for a myriad of reasons.  People who do not want to commit to a relationship or buy a gift for the person they are spending time will end those relationships before the holiday season and some very important relationships (marriages) will end during this season as well.  Why?  Some will end because the pressure to be happy during the holidays is too much to handle if they are in a season of struggle; others will end because of unrealistic expectations related to giving and receiving.  But all relationships will suffer if there is the presence of spirit of “Selfishness.”

Selfishness is an enemy that will destroy the best of relationships and is the archenemy to giving.  But the irony here is when you give from your heart you will receive.  My prayer for us all this holiday season is that we give of ourselves. Give someone the gift of time.  Help a friend move,  babysit their children; spend a day just listening to a friend vent; take someone shopping and buy a secret gift and have it shipped to them without a card.  Think of others more than you think of yourself  for the holidays.

The bible asks us to give our time, talent and our treasure.  This holiday season while you decorate your home and hang your lights – stop and ask yourself, what have I given to others – who have I helped? How can God use me this season?

Happy Holidays!

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