Do You Have A Sense Of Urgency

A couple of weeks ago one of our pastors had us spend some time looking at the story in Mark 2:1-12. It’s a story of four men who brought their friend to Jesus for healing. This story is special because these friends loved and cared for their paralyzed friend so much that when they saw that they could not get through the crowds they carried him up to the roof and then dug a hole through the roof to lower him down to Jesus.

Our pastor explained, “They didn’t want to see their friend suffering any more. They were determined to get their friend to Jesus because they were convinced that Jesus could heal him. They didn’t let the crowds stop them. They were creative. They were committed and determined to go to any length to get him to Jesus. Getting their friend to Jesus was their focus.”
Then he purposed some practical application questions to us and I purpose them now to you.

• Who has God put in your life that you need to bring to Jesus?
• Do you care enough to take initiative? Will you drive them to church, bible study, or a small group?
• Are you convinced that Jesus is the only way? If you think that there is another way then you will not have a sense of urgency.
• Are you willing to be creative?

I think that out of all of the questions above the one that hit me the most was the third question and comment. If we truly believe that Jesus is the ONLY Way, the Truth, and the Life then we should have the same desire and urgency that our heavenly Father has, that none should perish, but that they too should repent and turn to God (Jesus) for salvation. (2 Peter 3:9)

Our sense of urgency to see souls saved should come from knowing what the Word of God says is the destiny of those who refuse to believe in Christ Jesus. The Word says:

“..But whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18)

“There will be a day of judgment for all unbelievers, those who rejected the Truth and refused to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from His glorious power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

Our urgency should come from knowing that HELL IS REAL and it is where all unbelievers go when they die. (Luke 12:5 & 16:23, Matthew 10:28 & 23:33)

This urgency for saving the lost should NOT come from a condemning, judgmental, or religious spirit. It should could from a Spirit of love and patience. Our Lord was loving and patient with us as He drew us to Himself. It was His kindness, mercy, grace and PATIENCE that actually led us to repentance. We must remember that the same Holy Spirit that drew us to Him is the same Holy Spirit that will draw others around us to Him too. We are not the ones who save anyone. No one can come to Jesus unless it is the Spirit that draws them to Him. Bringing someone to Christ usually is a process. Our job is simply to be a ready and willing vessel that the Lord can use. (Romans 2:4, John 6:44)

It very important for us to remember that we are in a spiritual battle. We are battling against unseen forces of darkness that do not want to let go of these people’s souls. The Word says that the enemy has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand the message about the glory of Christ. They often times consider the message of the cross foolish. Therefore we must use wisdom and patience when ministering to unbelievers, asking the Lord to give us the Words to speak, to know when to speak, and when to keep a cover over our mouth. (2 Corinthians 4:4, John 6:44, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 2 Corinthians 2:16-17)

A close friend recently said to me, “We don’t have to cram the bible down people’s throats”. I agree, however I do believe that we can spoon feed them and allow them to taste the Word without saying all the time, “The bible says” or “In Matthew 6:25-27...” All we have to do is speak the Word of God into their lives in normal conversation and trust the Lord’s promise to not allow His Word to return void. Then we should pray over the seed, that it not be stolen, but that it would be watered and cultivated by the Holy Spirit. But no matter what we can be sure of this, that even if some refuse to obey or receive the Good News, our godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by our pure and reverent lives. (Isaiah 55:10-11, Matthew 13:18-23, 1 Peter 3:1-2)

I believe with all my heart that our lives will be the most affective witness to the unbeliever and to those who are searching for Truth. Most need to see to believe. What is that they need to see? They need to see the love of Christ flowing in our lives. They need to see us serving and caring for others. They need to hear words full of faith, words that encourage and edify. How we react to life’s problems, trials, and tests will also be a witness to them of where our faith and hope lies. When they see that in the middle of life’s storms we are immovable and still praising God regardless of our circumstances, they will be inspired and influenced by our faith. I love Psalm 40:1-3. My favorite part of these verses is the part that says, “Many will SEE what He has done and be amazed. They WILL PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE LORD.” You see it’s because of what others see that God has done or is doing in our lives that they too will put their trust in the Lord. Our friends and family remember who we were when we were in the world so our life in Christ will be the most convincing testimony of Jesus’ faithfulness to save and change those who put their trust in Him. (1 Peter 3:1-2, Philippians 1:27)

If we are convinced that the Bible is the infallible Word of God then there should be that sense of urgency that the pastor spoke of and that the four men had to bring their suffering friend to Jesus for deliverance. We should make the most of every opportunity that the Holy Spirit provides us to share the Good News with those He has put in our lives. We shouldn’t be ashamed of our faith in Jesus or minimize it because we don’t want to offend anyone or want to be politically correct. We have been given the responsibility of being ambassadors for Christ. We should never be ashamed to acknowledge Jesus. God wants to make His appeal to the lost and the backslidden through us. We are speaking for Christ when we say “Come back to God!” We are His messengers entrusted with the Good News. We know the way to have eternal life and right standing with God so we must tell others without fear of persecution. There should be a sense of urgency to bring people to Christ because we know that their souls are at stake. (Matthew 10:32, 38 & 39, 2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Lord teach us to be living witnesses for You. Let us not be afraid of persecution. When fear or inadequacy come against us remind us that you have anointed us to share the Gospel with the world. Help us to speak boldly for Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.

Awake & Worship

“Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Psalms 150:6

Good Morning my friends..

I want to encourage you to wake up in the morning and before your mind gets cluttered with thoughts of all you have to do, before your coffee, and maybe even before your shower turn on a worship song and prepare your heart for the day. Awake to worship Christ Jesus.

This morning the Holy Spirit woke us up and gave us a new day. He has blessed all of us with a fresh start..a new beginning..a do over. Yesterday is the past. Today is truly a present, a gift from God. Give this day back to Him by giving Him your first fruit offering of praise and worship.

He has been watching over us all night. We are the apple of His eye. We can never imagine how many wonderful and precious thoughts He’s had for us just last night alone. We are alive because He has willed it. He has a plan to use us in so many ways to bring glory to His kingdom. So wake up this morning and worship Him. Wake your spirit up to praising Jesus! Wake up with an attitude of worship! He is worthy!

Let’s worship Him because He has saved and changed us! We are not the same any more because the Spirit of God lives in us. Rejoice this morning. Let’s be determined to not let anything steal our joy today. No matter what!

Rejoice and worship Him because He is awesome and faithful! He has never left us or forsaken us. We have the power of the Holy Spirit that has helped us through all of our problems, test, trials, and persecution. Praise Him!!

Worship Him because He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He is Holy! He is our Salvation..our Hope..our Beloved. Let us turn your ears to heaven and listen to the voice of the Spirit. He longs to fellowship with us. He will inhabit our praises.

Make your sacrifice of praise this morning. Lift your hands where ever you are at and turn your gaze to heaven and worship Him.

He’s a worship song that has become one of my favorites.. Mary Mary – I worship you

Will You Be Obedient & Tell Them?

“When the watchmen sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths." Ezekiel 33:3-6

There will be times that the Lord will prompt you to speak a loving word of correction, warning, or even rebuke to others. Perhaps it is a brother or sister in the Lord that is not living a life worthy of their calling or has strayed off the narrow path. It could be a lost soul that needs to know that Jesus died for their sins and if they do not confess and repent of their sins and believe in Christ they will die and go to hell. My question to you is will you be obedient and tell them or will you say it’s none of my business Lord? It's not my place.

Don’t allow yourself to be conformed to the world’s way and its customs. (Romans 12:2)The world does not care about the eternal souls of men. They do not have the Spirit of God and the love of Christ in them so they do not understand the things of the Spirit. But we do and we must watch out for one another and also hold each other accountable. We must speak the truth of God’s Word to each other. It is our responsibility as servants of the Most of God to be watchmen and watchwomen for one another, helping each other to stay on the narrow road. This does not mean that we are to become sin spotters going around trying to spot sin in our brothers and sisters lives to call them out on it. No..what I am talking about is lovingly watching each others back. If you see your brother or sister slipping away from the truth, being drawn into sin or disobedience and the Lord tells you to talk to them then go quickly and address the situation in love. Don't wait when the Lord tells you to go.

We all know it is not easy to give someone a word of correction, warning, or rebuke but our heavenly Father said through Ezekiel that we are to warn others when we see the enemy coming. We are to sound an alarm to warn the people. The alarm is our mouth. I plead with you don’t turn your back on your brother or sister when you see that they are heading down the wrong path and are in disobedience to God. Don’t say it is not your business, because IT IS! Lovingly remind them what the Word of God says about their situation, circumstances, attitude or actions. If they refuse to listen and ignore the warning then they will suffer the consequences. But if we see that someone is surely headed for destruction or is even only ‘a little’ involved in sin or disobedience and we don’t warn them then we are responsible for their bondage and even their spiritual death. (Ezekiel 33:6) Remember also that it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17)

Imagine how the prophet Nathan felt when the Lord had him go to King David and talk to him about the murder of Uriah. He presented a story to the king about an injustice that was done to a poor man and King David became angry at the offender in the story and said that he deserved to die. He ordered for the poor man to be repayed for what was stolen. The Prophet Nathan immediately revealed that the man in the story was King David himself. He rebuked King David and told him that his sins were rooted in dissatisfaction with God's blessings. David just couldn't be satisfied with what God had given him (his own wives) he had to take more (another man's wife). King David repented immediately and Nathan the Prophet encouraged him by saying his sins were forgiven, although there would still be consequences for his disobedience and sin (the death of their unborn child and rebellion in his household). (2 Samuel 12:1-15)

It’s not easy to tell another believer that they are sin or are compromising their faith. Perhaps it is not easy because we don’t want to offend anyone. We want to be liked. We may even fear that the person will get angry with us, but we can not fear what man will say or do, instead we must fear the Lord and do His will at all times. We can not try to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people is our goal then we will not be able to be Christ’s servants and responsible watchmen. (Galatians 1:10)

If our Lord says, "Please tell them that their foul and abusive language, telling obscene stories and coarse jokes and foolish talk are not for them", then tell them in love.(Ephesians 5:4). If our Lord says, "Please tell your sister that her life of fornication and adulterous relationships is not pleasing to Me. This sin is against her own body and Me. Leave this lifestyle and turn back to Me", then do it promptly. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 7:1-2) Do it immediately when the Lord says, "Share the love of Christ and tell this thirsty soul about the life giving water of Jesus Christ. Tell them that they will thirst no more if they will drink from the Living Water, but if they continue down this destructive path they will surely die in their sin."

Do not hesitate trust the Lord. We can be sure that whoever brings a sinner back will have saved that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. (James 5:19-20)An open rebuke is better than hidden love! (Proverbs 27:5) Love will move you to point out a person’s failings because you know the consequences. Your love for them will want to see them living in the light. The rebuke will benefit the recipient, whether they seem to have received it or not. Our job as watchmen is to sound the alarm. It’s up to them if they heed the warning or not. (Ezekiel 33:4-5)

May our Lord help us to watch out for one another. May we be obedient and go at once when prompted by the Spirit to speak the truth in love. Give us eyes to see when we and others are under attack. Help us to sound the alarm with all the Love that you have put in our hearts for the truth of God’s Word. Help us to do your will even if that means being rejected or persecuted. In Jesus name..Amen.

Declaring My Love

I am not boasting when I say that I am truly blessed and highly favored of God. I know that I have found favor with God because our Lord has blessed me with my beautiful family. They motivate and encourage me. Each one of them is a wonderful gift from Him with a specific plan and purpose. I am grateful to our Lord for entrusting them to me and allowing me to be apart of His divine plan for their lives.

As I began to see all the Valentine’s Day promos I decided that I really needed to mediate more on love and the true meaning of it. Of course I began reading and studying 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

The Holy Spirit immediately began to ever so lovingly show me the areas that I need to mature in so that I can better show love to those closest to me. I am now more than ever so determined to show my family the love that is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

I want to begin by making a public declaration of my love for them. So this is my Valentine’s Day card to you guys.

To my husband,

I’ve never told you this because I did not remember it. But the Lord reminded just last night one of my prayer request when I was at the school for really bad girls. I prayed for you. I prayed for a true husband that would love me with all of his heart. I prayed that he would put his family first and would be determined to succeed. I see now that you are that man.

I have never experienced such love before. You have showed me over and over again that our family is first. I have seen you make so many sacrifices to give us what we need. But the most prevalent sacrifice I have seen you make was on the day that you got baptized. Your public declaration of faith and service to Christ to me was also your public declaration of your love for us. To me I saw the old husband go down under the water and I see a new and improved priest rise up full of love and determination to make a difference in this world. In serving Him you have learned and are learning daily how to serve us. Thank you for laying down your life and your will to serve Christ Jesus and our family. This is the greatest sign of love. You make me proud to be your wife.

To my children,

I love you all so much. I don’t think that there are really words to describe it. Each one of you has been given to me as a special gift from our Lord to lovingly care for. From the first day that I knew you were being formed in my womb I knew that I had found favor in God’s eye because He entrusted his precious treasure to me. You are His treasure.
Everyday I pray and ask the Holy Spirit to make me the best mom that I can be for you. I go into God’s throne room asking that He would bless you and keep you safe all the days of your life. I ask Him to draw you close to Him and give you a desire to know Him personally. He has been faithful to answer my prayer. I see Him speaking to you and you are hearing His voice. What joy this brings me to see you acknowledge the Word of God. You make me proud to be your mother.

Each of your personalities is different and needed in our home. You bring flavor and laughter to my life. Even when you fight and argue sometimes I smile to myself (I said sometimes) and I say. “Lord these kids are driving me crazy.” But I love the craziness of our home. Thank you for being my kids.

I love you soooooo much.

Then last but not least. To the Lover of my Soul,

Although there will never be enough words to say how truly grateful I am to You let me try. Lord hear my heart. Thank you…thank you for loving me first. You never gave up on me even when I did not love you. You chased me down with love. Then other times you just sat back and waited for me to come home.

You have taught me the true meaning of love. You are Love. Only in knowing You and receiving your Love can anyone truly ever learn to love. Praise God..

Thank you for your blessings which are showered down on me. You have changed my heart. In fact I believe that you actually gave me a whole new one. This heart loves You and longs to serve You all the days of my life. That is my purpose. To be Your handmaiden. That is the only way that I can show You how much I love You. I give you my life and my will. Everything I am belongs to you. My gifts and talents are Yours to do with as you please. Accept this willing sacrifice Lord..My life here it is, I lay it down on your alter of love. Consume me with your fire and purify me.

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness in loving me, I love You…

A Soul Is Saved! Rejoice!

"There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:9

My whole being has been rejoicing since last night. I am overflowing with joy and standing in awe of our God's majesty. When the Lord is calling you and looking for you He will find you. He does not leave us alone without hope. He answers us when we cry out to Him. Our Lord will never reject a broken and repentant heart. He accepts the sacrifice of a broken spirit laid down at His feet. Thank you Jesus!!

As many of you know I founded a ministry called WeUsed2bu. It is a Christian girl/woman advice site. I have been co-laboring in this minsitry with my partner and dear friend, Deana Colon aka Saved by Faith, for almost a year. We get questions from women seeking advice and counsel for their lives all the time. We had no idea how much our Lord would use this site to impact and influence other women's lives.

Recently a young women found us online and befriended us on our WeUsed2bu MySpace. She explained that she lived in Ft.Lauderdale and that she just recently started attending Calvary Chapel Ft.Lauderdale. She went on to say that she found the church big and felt a little lost and asked if we had any suggestions. I emailed her and encouraged her to get involved in small groups and women bible studies. I also explained that I too attend Calvary and would love to meet her there this Wednesday night. So last night I had the priviledge of meeting up with her at church.

We got to talk and listened to the service together. It was very apparent that the Holy Spirit was working on her heart and confirming to her what she already knew, that she needed to lay her life down at Jesus feet. At the end of the study when Pastor Bob gave the altar call we immediately went right up rejoicing and crying tears of joy and excitement. I am so honored that the Lord allowed me and WeUsed2bu to be apart of this divine appointment. Glory be to God.

Melissa sent us her testimony and I will be sharing that here with you tomorrow. Please keep our new sister in your prayers and if anyone has anything that they would like to say to her please post it here.

Enclosing I would just like to encourage whoever it is that is afraid of stepping out and doing what our Lord has put on your heart to stop making excuses. He has given you a dream and a vision to help change the lives of others around you. You were saved to be used by Him to be a blessing to others. Don't despise small beginnings because that is where He will teach you to be faithful and diligent in your service to Him and others. You just have to be courageous and step out in faith.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who loved Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

You Have Something To Say

Several weeks ago I was invited to share my story on a site called Power Up Love. Power Up Love is a site where real people are sharing real stories, about how Love has really impacted and changed their lives. I went ahead and shared my story with their readers last week. I am trusting God to bring the right people who need to read my story to their site. I know that it will help someone to know that they are not alone and that God is no respector of persons, what He has done for me He will do for them.

What about you? I know you have something to say. A God story. A praise report. A story of deliverance.

You have something to say that someone needs to hear. Don't be ashamed or afraid to share your story of how our Lord delivered you from whatever it is. I had been in and out of jail since I was a young teenager and eventaully ended up in prison because I was so rebellious and full of rage. I was on drugs, involved in gangs, rude, angry, selfish, a thief, and so many other ugly things. I am not happy about who I was, but I am no longer ashamed.

I am one of God's many trophies of grace. He saved me and cleaned me up. He washed away all of my sins and gave me a solid foundation to build my life on, Jesus Christ. Today I share my story without fear. I don't care what the religious Pharisees of today think or what the self-righteous Christian says. I live for Jesus, not for man.

We can not not allow the enemy to try to hold us back by making me us feel that we are worthless because of our past. We have to be sure and confident of who we are in Christ Jesus. I know that I have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, so have you. Our sins are at the bottom of the ocean to be remembered no more. We are no longer worthless and lost. We are children of the most High God saved to serve and help save the lost. We do this by sharing our stories.

I encourage you to not be afraid to share your testimony. Don't allow what you went through to be in vain. Allow our Lord to use these experiences to help others. We defeat the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. We lay down our own lives when we share it with others. (Revelation 12:11)

You have something to say... Don't quench the Holy Spirit of God when He is directing you to speak to someone in love. This is not of yourself. It is not about you. It is about the person that needs to hear what God wants to say through you. Open your mouth, do not be afraid. The Lord will give you the Words to speak and when He does it will be annointed with His power to heal, deliver, and confirm. He will give you courage if you will only allow Him to have His way. Be his conduit.

From The Archives: Unforgiveness

This is one that I needed to revisit and check myself. If I don't listen to the Holy Spirit and reject the 'Woe is me' attitude I will allow unforgiveness to settle inside my heart. It's not worth my prayer life and relationship with our Lord being hindered. Let us all remember to be quick to forgive. It's for our own good. Let's leave it in God's hands.

Unforgiveness

Has someone offended you or said something hurtful? Perhaps someone has betrayed or abandoned you? For your own good you must let it go!

Unforgiveness in your heart will only cause sickness and disease in your body. It takes so much energy to constantly think on how someone has wronged you. You do not want to let bitterness and resentment root deep in your heart because it will affect every relationship in your life. Your may even develop a terrible attitude and your countenance can change.

Forgiving someone who has hurt you is a choice. Sometimes you have to choose daily to forgive the offense, until you are at a point where it isn’t always popping up in your head. The bottom line is “It Is A CHOICE!” If you do not let it go and forgive your offender your relationship with the Lord will be hindered. In fact if you refuse to forgive our Heavenly Father will not forgive you either. (Matthew 6:14-15) Don’t continue to hold grudges. You are only hurting your own spiritual growth. (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13)

Don’t think of ways to get back at them. Instead pray for them. Pray for God to help them. (1 Peter 3:9) Circumstances can change drastically and one day your enemies may need you.

One of my favorite stories in the bible is the story of Joseph, the dreamer. His brothers were so jealous of his relationship with their father. They were always talking about him behind is back. They hated him. They even plotted to tell kill him but instead they sold him into slavery. His own family! Talk about abandonment and betrayal. He was hurt and lonely. But he allowed God to use him where he was at and continued moving forward in life. The Lord raised him up to a position of power. He was made him second in command to the Pharaoh. When there was a great famine in the land his brothers had to go Egypt to get food. So there they are in front of the one they betrayed trying to buy food, but they did not recognize him. This was Joseph’s chance to pay them back, but he didn’t. Joseph had forgiven his brothers and brought his family there to be with him during the famine. This is the example we should follow. (Genesis 37-47)

Unforgiveness is too heavy of a load to carry. Let our Lord have this hurt, this offense. He wants to carry your burdens for you. He wants you to give Him all of your worries and concerns because He cares for you and He is always thinking about you. (1 Peter 5:14) Make a choice today to be free from the bondage of unforgiveness.

Let It Roll Off Your Back

" An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all types of sins.” Proverbs 29:22

I used to be full of anger, easily offended, and constantly fighting. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the renewing of my mind with the Word of God over the years, I have conquered anger issues that used to control my moods and emotions. However, I find myself still getting bent out of shape over situations that I just can’t change or people who don’t change. Although I do not react the way I used to, I hate that I still get so angry.

Let me clarify, I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. I am not a time bomb waiting to go off. For the most part I am a pretty chill and easy going person. I’m the first to make excuses for others offenses, trying to see the best in them, and trying to see their point of view. I am also very long suffering and patient. I really don’t care if I am talked about or persecuted because I know that my Lord was too, so I don’t take it personal.

However, recently the enemy has attacked me where it hurts the most, with my family. I see my children facing situations that they don’t deserve. I see my loved ones being tempted and persecuted. My first reaction is anger. Then there is an internal battle between my old nature and my new nature. They war within me each wanting to resolve the situation in their own way. I wish I could say that all the time the new nature wins, but that would be a lie. Sometimes I quickly retort with words of anger, without even thinking.

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” James 1:19-20

I have learned by experience that if I am lead by the emotion of anger I will only make matters worse. Instead of acting out foolishly I have learned and am still learning to give the situation to the Lord and I trust Him to have His way.

Through tears I pray for God’s mercy and grace. Then I sit back and I pray for those that hurt me or those I love. My prayer is always for God to have mercy on them, to help them, and draw them to Jesus. He gives me the power and the willingness to want to forgive them. Then I am full of peace as I trust Him to work it out for our good and for His glory. It is always so amazing to me that He turns my anger into sorrow and compassion for our offender. I KNOW that is a God thing for sure.

Anger is a natural emotion. We will get angry sometimes, but what matters is that when we are angry that we do not sin and that we do not go to bed with that anger still lurking inside of us.

“Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27

Recently my pastor taught on anger. The two things that still stand out in my mind that he said are, “Don’t be angry about the things you can’t change. You’re angry for no reason. And don’t get angry about the things you CAN change.”

When I heard him say this I chuckled to myself because is just makes so much sense to me. It’s so simple and yet so profound. It was an on time Word that I needed to hear. I am determined to apply these words of wisdom to my own life and would encourage you to do the same. We will avoid so much unnecessary drama if we do not react in anger but instead we learn to let things roll right off our backs.

Harboring anger will only lead to malice, wrath, bitterness, clamor, slander, resentment, and unforgivness. It will have a huge snowball affect in our lives and will hinder our relationship with God and others. If we sit and really think about it, it’s silly and pointless to get angry about things that we can’t change because what’s done is done. You can’t change it and getting angry isn’t going to help the situation. Getting angry will usually make the situation worse. We may say things that we don’t mean or we may do something that can’t be undone. Dealing with our problems in anger most certainly will have regrettable repercussions.


However, in some situations we have the power to change the problem. Rather than getting angry and adding to the problem we can make a difference and seek change. Instead of anger being our guiding emotion let us be inspired by the Holy Spirit and full of determination to transform our problems.

Anger is pointless. Let it roll of your back and don’t allow anything to steal your joy and peace.

From The Archives: Pray Much For Others

Our prayer life should not consist solely of seeking God on behalf our own needs. It is our responsibility to compassionately pray and intercede on behalf of the needs of others as well. Look at Paul’s instructions to Timothy regarding interceding for others.

“Here are my directions: Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all He is going to do for them. Pray in this way for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking much about the Lord. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he longs for all to be saved and to understand this truth; That God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, himself man, is between them to bring them together, by giving his life for all mankind. ” (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

We are called to be intercessors praying for the salvation of the lost, for those in authority over us and in positions of great responsibility, and also for other Christians. (Ephesians 6:18) Our prayers guided by the Holy Spirit and full of faith will make a difference in the lives of others and in the world.

James 5:16-18 says, “The prayers of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results. Elijah was as completely human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and one half years! Then he prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again.” (1 Kings 17:1-7, 18:36-39)

The Lord wants to use us to intercede on behalf of others who have not yet come to know Him. Our prayer should be for God to have mercy on them and for those satanic blinders to be removed from their eyes so that they can see how much God truly loves them and wants to save them. We should pray for them to realize that they are sinners in need of a Savior and that God’s kindness to them has been meant to lead them to repentance.

It is in our best interest to pray for our president and our government. We want to be governed wisely and for God’s will to be done in our country. Praying for those directly in authority over us such as our managers, bosses, and owners is vital to the condition of our daily work environment. Your prayers for the company and its employees will help prosper everyone there spiritually and financially.

Someone right now needs us to stand in the gap for them. Maybe it’s our friend who lost faith, our boss who is going through a divorce and is losing their children, or our widowed landlady who is full of bitterness. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to use us to intercede of behalf of whoever God puts on our heart.

Lord thank you for the privilege we have to come before you not only for our own needs but on behalf of the needs of others. Fill our hearts with compassion and confidence to pray for those around us and in authority over us. We know that our faith filled prayers will help change people’s lives now and forever. Thank you for the power of prayer. In Jesus name..Amen.

Instructions On How To Minister To Others

Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord and if anyone asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way. (1 Peter 3:15)

We all have friends and family that we long to be delivered from the hands of the enemy. The Lord has put it on our hearts to want to see them receive the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and start living life more abundantly. With the power of the Holy Spirit we can lovingly and gently lead our confused or blinded loved ones to the Lord. However, it is important to remember that we are to minister to them with a meek, gentle, and patient attitude. They will be more willing to receive what we have to say if we are truly courteous and respectful. (1 Peter 3:15)

The Holy Spirit will give us direction, wisdom, and discernment as to how we are to handle each individual situation. Asking the Lord to give us the words to speak when we are trying to share the gospel is a must. This person needs more of Christ and less of us. If we are lead by the Spirit of Love then when the opportunity presents it’s self we will make the most of it by being wise and allowing our conversation to be gracious as well as sensible. Then we will have the right answers for them. (Colossians 4:5-6)

Remember that we are not in a battle against flesh and blood, but against unseen spirits that influence and manipulate anyone who is not careful. The enemy does not want to allow these precious souls to be freed from the bondage that he has them in. He will try to create an atmosphere of division and confusion. Therefore we must be careful, wise as serpents but gentle as doves avoiding getting into quarrels or arguments with those we are trying to help. For when we are angry we give a foothold to the devil. (Matthew 10:16, Titus 3:2, James 5:8, Ephesians 4:27)

Through Paul, the Holy Spirit gave Timothy very specific instructions as to how to minister to those who were confused about the truth.

2 Timothy 3:23-26 says, Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish arguments which only upset people and make them angry. God’s people should not be quarrelsome; they must be gentle, patient teachers of those who are wrong. Be humble when you are trying to teach those who are mixed up concerning the truth. For if you talk meekly and courteously to them they are more likely, with God’s help, to turn away from their wrong ideas and believe what is true. Then they will come to their senses and escape from Satan’s trap of slavery to sin which he uses to catch them whenever he likes, and then they can begin doing the will of God.

Let us also follow these instructions and share the Word of God humbly, patiently, and courteously so that we may bring glory to God.

Lord, please help us to be patient and gentle when ministering to others. Give us the wisdom, self control, and words to speak that will help these individual receive the Truth. Please don’t allow their hearts to be hardened. Let them see Christ in us and let them desire to know Him also. In Jesus name. Amen.

Serving One Another

Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s to whom all power as been given, got on his hands and knees and washed his disciples feet because he loved them. He wanted to show them that because of His love for them He was willing to serve them to the point of getting down and dirty. He wanted them to understand that if they were to be leaders then they too would have to be willing to humble themselves and loving serve others.

(Matthew 13:1 & 4) Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. Rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

He wasn’t afraid of what people thought of him. He stripped down and got to work. His Father had given all things into His hands. He had come from God and was going to God. He knew who He was and the power given to him and yet he was still willing to serve them to the point of washing their feet like the lowliest servant would do. This is true love and true leadership. This is the example that he longs for us to follow.

(Matthew 13:12-17) After washing their feet he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Master’ and ‘Lord’, and you do well to say it, for it is true. And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you out to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you.”

A true leader is also a servant. If Jesus is willing to serve, than we too as his servants must be willing to serve Him and others with a humble and meek heart. It does not matter what leadership responsibilities we have, our notoriety, or what our reputation maybe. If we are to be effective leaders than we must chose to serve others with a loving and compassionate heart.

What if we are called on by the church to help distribute food to the poor, minister in the prison, help out in children’s ministry, maybe even clean up a bathroom? Would we be willing to sacrifice our time? How would our attitude be? Could we do it lovingly?

How about at home? How do we serve our family? Do we feel because we have contributed that our work, our part is done? What if more was required? Do we serve in our own home without expecting something in return or needing recognition for our sacrifice? I truly believe with all my heart that ministry begins at home. If we are willing to serve outside of the home with sincere hopes of helping change someone’s life, then how much more should we be willing to serve our own family with those same hopes and expectations? May our Lord help us to be leaders willing to serve with a loving heart.

Lord, thank you for setting these examples for us to follow. They help humble us and put our lives into perceptive. Give us the heart of a servant. We long to follow your example and serve others in love. We reject any feelings of pride or superiority that may try to hinder our hearts from being more subservient. We thank you. In Jesus. Amen.

Praying for Believers

Paul prayed constantly for believers and he said that he never stopped giving thanks for them. He had great love for all of the saints and desired for them to grow in the knowledge of our Savior. He wanted them to be prepared for service and to bring glory to the Lord with all that they did, so he not only taught them but he interceded on their behalf.

Ephesians 1:15-23 and Colossians 1:9-13 tells us what he prayed. Let us be faithful to pray on behalf of the saints also. When interceding on behalf of one another let us remember Paul’s example.

He prayed for:

Ø Them to have wisdom- Wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all that he has done for them. For God to make them wise about spiritual things. (Ephesians 1:17, Colossians 1:9)
Ø That the eyes of their understanding be opened- To know..
1) What is the hope of their calling in Christ and for God to help them understand what He wants them to do.
2) That God has been made rich because we who are Christ’s have been given to him.
3) How incredibly great His power is to help those who believe in Him. It’s the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead! (Ephesians 1:18-19, Colossians 1:9)
Ø Them to live to please the Lord- That the way they lived their daily lives would always please the Lord and honor him. That they would always be doing good, kind things for others, while all the same time learning to know God better and better. (Colossians 1:10)
Ø Them to be filled with His mighty glorious strength – So that they will be able to be long suffering and patient, to keep going no matter what happens. (Colossians 1:11)
Ø To be full of joy and thankful- To always be full of the joy of the Lord and always thankful to the Father who has made us fit to share all the wonderful things that belong to those who live in the Kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:12)

We may not know others specific situations or needs but we know that we all have the same basic needs. This is an excellent guide to follow when praying for others.

Lord, thank you for giving us a blueprint that we can use when we pray on behalf of other believers. When we come into your presence interceding give us the Words to speak and remind us of the examples that you have given us in your Word. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that puts the desire on our heart to pray for others. In Jesus name..Amen.

Pray Much For Others

Our prayer life should not consist solely of seeking God on behalf our own needs. It is our responsibility to compassionately pray and intercede on behalf of the needs of others as well. Look at Paul’s instructions to Timothy regarding interceding for others.

“Here are my directions: Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all He is going to do for them. Pray in this way for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking much about the Lord. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he longs for all to be saved and to understand this truth; That God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, himself man, is between them to bring them together, by giving his life for all mankind. ” (2 Timothy 2:1-6)

We are called to be intercessors praying for the salvation of the lost, for those in authority over us and in positions of great responsibility, and also for other Christians. (Ephesians 6:18) Our prayers guided by the Holy Spirit and full of faith will make a difference in the lives of others and in the world.

James 5:16-18 says, “The prayers of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results. Elijah was as completely human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and one half years! Then he prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again.” (1 Kings 17:1-7, 18:36-39)

The Lord wants to use us to intercede on behalf of others who have not yet come to know Him. Our prayer should be for God to have mercy on them and for those satanic blinders to be removed from their eyes so that they can see how much God truly loves them and wants to save them. We should pray for them to realize that they are sinners in need of a Savior and that God’s kindness to them has been meant to lead them to repentance.

It is in our best interest to pray for our president and our government. We want to be governed wisely and for God’s will to be done in our country. Praying for those directly in authority over us such as our managers, bosses, and owners is vital to the condition of our daily work environment. Your prayers for the company and its employees will help prosper everyone there spiritually and financially.

Someone right now needs us to stand in the gap for them. Maybe it’s our friend who lost faith, our boss who is going through a divorce and is losing their children, or our widowed landlady who is full of bitterness. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to use us to intercede of behalf of whoever God puts on our heart.

Lord thank you for the privilege we have to come before you not only for our own needs but on behalf of the needs of others. Fill our hearts with compassion and confidence to pray for those around us and in authority over us. We know that our faith filled prayers will help change people’s lives now and forever. Thank you for the power of prayer. In Jesus name..Amen.

God's Will For Your Life

These are crucial times. We must not take our salvation, our blessings, and the Holy Spirit for granted. We need to be about our Father’s business. Not just sometimes, all the time! We were lost in sin, serving our selves and the enemy, on our way to hell before we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. We should now spend each day that we have left here on this earth renewing our minds and serving God by spreading the Gospel. That is our purpose and His will for our new lives in Christ Jesus.

“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” Hebrews 9:14

We need to follow the example of the early believers who lived by the Word of God. They were distinguished by their unconditional love, separation from the world, and childlike obedience to Jesus Christ teachings. They were on fire for the Lord. They did not just speak great things they lived them! They turned the world upside down. (Acts 17:6) They shared their faith even if it meant persecution and their physical death. They understood that the Gospel needed to be preached at all cost because people’s souls are at stake.

When need that same fire! Many professing Christians today do nothing to benefit the Kingdom once they have been saved and then go around criticizing those who long to please him. We can not be content with remaining babies in the Lord and always needing someone to feed us. We can not continue to live selfish lives in disobedience to God full of bondage partying, drinking, smoking, back biting, and so on. We are called to live to a higher standard. People should be able to see the difference between us and the world. Some of us are so caught up trying to accumulate material things, riches, fame, or success that we have pushed God’s will to the back burner. We don’t have time for Him or those that He wants to use us to save. Remember Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters” “For what will it profit if a man gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matthew 6:24, Mark 8:36)

According to The Way of the Master ministry 150,000 people die every 24 hours-most without the Savior. Statistics show that only 5% of Christians reach out to the lost. This is so sad! As believers it’s time to step up. The world needs to see God’s love in and through us. They need to see Christians that are loving, patient, giving, compassionate, and self sacrificing. If they see these attributes in us, God’s attributes, they will be drawn to us. They will be drawn to Jesus in us. They will want that Peace and Hope that we have. They will come to know the Lord because of the light that we shine.

It’s time rise up and be serious about our salvation and our commit to serve the Lord. The harvest is plentiful by the workers are few. Like our pastor recently said “Get off the fence”. Someone needs to hear your story. Someone needs you to pray for them. Someone needs YOU to lead them to the Savior. (Matthew 9:37-38)

Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit which equips us to fulfill your calling on our lives. We want to be used by you to save lost souls. Open our eyes to see every opportunity that comes our way to present the gospel and give us the courage to share our faith. In Jesus name..Amen.

A Cry For Help

Yesterday as I was I was working on our WeUsed2bu Girl Advice MySpace ministry answering a girl who seemed to be so angry and hurt. Her page is full of demonic images. It seems that that there is no reaching her. Then I noticed one little banner on her page which reads..

“Sometimes people put up walls, not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to try to tear them down.”

In all of that darkness there was one small cry for help. That one small sign let me see the little girl in her hiding. She is crying out for love. I wonder what she is going through in her life. What has happened along the way that has caused her to hide in darkness? Then immediately compassion flooded my heart. I desperately wanted to save her. I felt like my response to her was vital to her life. I prayed, “Lord please give me the words to speak to her. Only you can save and heal her hurt. Bring her back to you.” I felt His love flowing through me to answer her.

I try my hardest not to judge or lose hope when I see some of these girls’ pages. They seem so far away from God. Sometimes I feel like we will never reach them, or they will never accept Our Love. Finding this banner on this page consumed with darkness has given me a new hope to keep pressing forward and sharing the Word of God. I am reminded that His Word will not return void, but it will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent out. (Isaiah 55:11)

The Lord does not want us to look at people and judge or assume that they are unsaveable or hopeless. There will be people that will cross our path that will be angry, hurt, and miserable with their lives. They may not be kind to us. We may think that they are way to far gone or lost, but maybe they are just looking to see if anyone will notice that they are dying inside. Maybe they just need to hear some encouraging Words to keep moving on with their lives.

Jesus said, “This is My commandment, that you love one another; as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)As Christians we need to be compassionate and understanding. We are called to love one another. Not to just say that we love people but showing our love by reaching out to those that are hurting, sick, in prison, hungry, and are in need. God’s love in us will help tear down those walls that they have built around their heart. With every Word that we speak to them and act of kindness bricks are removed and the heart becomes vulnerable again because they are given hope.

You don’t really know what those around you are really going through inside their minds and heart. Be determined to be conduits of God’s love. Speak words of life to those closest to you. Take every chance you get to be an encourager and lift people up.

Lord, thank you for loving us. Because You have loved us we can now truly love others. Let compassion flood our hearts. Give us the Words to speak to those people that you put in our path. Let us be a tool of encouragement to our families, friends, and associates. In Jesus name..Amen

We Need Each Other

I have learned that in order for me to fulfill God’s calling on my life I need strong Christian brothers and sisters to help keep me accountable in my service to God and my family. I have been blessed to have strong godly women to love me, chastise me, comfort me, question me, encourage, and edify me in the Lord. These women love the Lord and are committed to serve Him in love and truth. I see the evidence of Christ’s love in their lives and service. When I have a problem or I need advice I can email or call them to seek wise counsel and prayer. The best part is that they keep it real. They are not going to tell me what they think I want to hear. They give me counsel or correction based on the Word of God.

We all need Christian accountability to help keep us on the narrow road that leads to life. Traveling this road is not easy. It requires sacrifice, a life committed to service, struggle against your flesh and sin, constant reevaluation of our priorities, and so on. Thanks be to God that we are not called to do this Christian journey on our own. As believers we are called to love and serve each other. In fact we ARE part of each other. The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So is it with the body of Christ. All of us together are Christ’s body, and each of us is part of it. If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. We have a responsibility to help one another run this race. (1 Corinthians 12:12, 12:27, 12:26)

If you do not already have an accountability partner, group, or mentor I urge to pray for God to lead you to the person or persons that He would have you walk with. Every believer needs at to have at least one other Christian that they can confide in, pray with, and listen to. The more involved we get in our church the more opportunities arise to meet other strong believers who will love and support us. I think Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says it best, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”

Accountability is not to judge each other. Matthew 7 says, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” Accountability is being responsible for one’s actions. When we see another brother or sister straying away from the path of Truth it is our responsibility to in love help bring that person back onto the right path. I think it’s also important to humbly remember that we too can fall into sin. Galatians 6:1-2 says “If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”

And lets us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities… (Hebrews 10:24)

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another.. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Do not be deceived we are not strong enough to do this on our own! We need each other. May God lead you to other Christians who will not be afraid to keep it real with you.

Enclosing I would like to thank Rhonda Clarke, Sonia Gonzalez, Raeanne Hance, Doree Colon, Deana Colon, and most of all my husband. Thank you for not letting me give up and for not giving up on me. Thank you for believing in me when no one else would. Your prayers, counsel, and love are always cherished. I love you all dearly! Xoxo’s

Saved For Service

Do you realize that the Lord saved you for service? Your salvation isn’t all about you. It’s about God using you to help spread the gospel. EVERYONE is called to minister the gospel not just the teachers, preachers, and missionaries. All of us! It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives helping others. (Ephesians 2:10) The Lord says “Before I made you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart for a special work.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

Jesus said to his followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15) The Good News is the Gospel message of salvation. Some us will plant the seed, some will water the plant, but God will make the plant grow. (1 Corinthians 3:5-6) We must offer our selves as living sacrifices to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. (Romans 12:1)

Jesus said, “Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve and to give my life.” (Matthew 20:28) We have to warn the wicked. We have to tell our loved ones about Jesus Christ. We are running out of time! We are in the end days! If you know that someone is on their way to hell and you don’t share the gospel with them then their blood is on your hands. I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom; Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage people. (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

We are not called to be selfish pew warmers. We are not called to be Sunday and Wednesday Christians going to church to get our little feel good fix. We want God to give us a word. We want God to bless US. What is that? What are we doing? One day God will compare how much time we spent helping ourselves with how much time we spent helping others. Each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God…Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God. Jesus said, “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live. The truth is that God will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves. (Romans 14:10,12, Mark 8:35, Romans 2:8)

We will discover through serving the Lord and others the real meaning of our lives. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of Christ’s body. This makes you more significant because of what you are a part of. God has blessed you with spiritual gifts so that you can more effectively serve others.

Charles Spurgeon, also know as the “Prince of Preachers”, once said, “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.” As Christian we must be concerned about the salvation of souls. Our love for each other proves that we have gone from death to life. So let us be useful in service to God. (1 John 3:14, Romans 7:4)

God's Spirit Lives In You

When you received Jesus as your Savior the Spirit of God came to dwell in you. We who believe are carefully joined together with Christ as parts of a beautiful, constantly growing temple of God. We are His home. God’s Spirit is not far away. He is in you and with you all the time!

Take a moment and really let that sink in…

God’s Spirit lives in you! You are the temple of God!

If you truly meditate on this Word it should be life changing. We are supposed to keep God’s home holy and clean. We are not to defile or spoil it. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) Knowing that God lives in us should really help us be more accountable and aware of what we do, say, think, where we go, and who we spend time with. We do not belong to our selves. God bought us with a high price. So we MUST honor God with our bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Smoking, drinking, doing drugs, going to sinful places, listening to sinful music, and watching in appropriate shows or movies defile the temple of God. His Spirit lives in you offering you help and guidance in this life. His Spirit encourages you when you need comfort. So don’t ignore the Holy Spirit when he is nudging on your heart to stop what you are about to do.

You see the Holy Spirit is constantly trying to do a work in and thru us. His Spirit in us is what helps us to express Jesus’ actions and attitudes in our lives. He is God’s fire dwelling in the believer. The Holy Spirit has emotions. Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” Or another translation reads “Do not GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” We bring the Holy Spirit sorrow when we act out in sinful manner and when we follow our own worldly desires.

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did. (1 John 2:6) We are to follow God’s example in everything we do because we are his children. We need to try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord by reading the Word constantly. The Word of God will help us remain pure by showing us what is wrong in our life so that we are constantly changing and becoming more like Christ. (Ephesians 5:1-13)

And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice, the kind God will accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good, pleasing, and perfect His will really is. (Romans 12:1-2)

Forgive us Holy Spirit for causing you sorrow. Remind us constantly that you are with us and in us. Let us be lead by your Spirit Lord and help us to bring your name glory in everything we say and do..In Jesus name.. Amen…

Jesus Freak!

When you decide to follow Jesus with all of your heart those closest to you will notice. All of a sudden you talk different. You have become more aware of the things that come out of your mouth. You no longer want to hang out in those places that will cause you temptation or ruins your testimony. You are truly different!

You now have a desire to please God so you begin to reevaluate your life. This process can often be difficult. Your friends and family may not understand. They may not even agree. So don’t be surprised if you are being persecuted from those closest to you. You may be called extreme or a Jesus Freak. Some may even feel the need to bring up what the old you was up to just months, weeks, or even days before you surrendered to Christ Jesus.

Don’t be discouraged! Jesus was persecuted and we will be persecuted too because we belong to Him. (John 15:20) Keep diligently doing God's will. You will no longer be spending the rest of your life chasing after evil desires. You have had enough in the past of the evil things the godless enjoy- sex, sin, lust, getting drunk, wild parties, drinking bouts, and the worship of idols, and the other terrible sins.

Of course your former friends will be very surprised when you don’t eagerly join them any more in the wicked things they do, and the will laugh at you in contempt and scorn. But just remember that they must face the Judge of all, living and dead. They will be punished for the way they have lived. Thank God daily for your salvation. (1 Peter 4:3-5)

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.

Be a strong living testimony for all your friends and family to see. Walk in love and pray for them constantly. Be prepared at all times to give an account of why you believe the way you do in a gentle and respectful manner. (1 Peter 3:8) Remember that our Lord called you to Him so that He could use you to minister His love to others. Don't be ashamed to be a Jesus Freak!

May God give you strength and courage on your journey to becoming His vessel of honor.

Unforgiveness

Has someone offended you or said something hurtful? Perhaps someone has betrayed or abandoned you? For your own good you must let it go!

Unforgiveness in your heart will only cause sickness and disease in your body. It takes so much energy to constantly think on how someone has wronged you. You do not want to let bitterness and resentment root deep in your heart because it will affect every relationship in your life. Your may even develop a terrible attitude and your countenance can change.

Forgiving someone who has hurt you is a choice. Sometimes you have to choose daily to forgive the offense, until you are at a point where it isn’t always popping up in your head. The bottom line is “It Is A CHOICE!” If you do not let it go and forgive your offender your relationship with the Lord will be hindered. In fact if you refuse to forgive our Heavenly Father will not forgive you either. (Matthew 6:14-15) Don’t continue to hold grudges. You are only hurting your own spiritual growth. (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13)

Don’t think of ways to get back at them. Instead pray for them. Pray for God to help them. (1 Peter 3:9) Circumstances can change drastically and one day your enemies may need you.

One of my favorite stories in the bible is the story of Joseph, the dreamer. His brothers were so jealous of his relationship with their father. They were always talking about him behind is back. They hated him. They even plotted to tell kill him but instead they sold him into slavery. His own family! Talk about abandonment and betrayal. He was hurt and lonely. But he allowed God to use him where he was at and continued moving forward in life. The Lord raised him up to a position of power. He was made him second in command to the Pharaoh. When there was a great famine in the land his brothers had to go Egypt to get food. So there they are in front of the one they betrayed trying to buy food, but they did not recognize him. This was Joseph’s chance to pay them back, but he didn’t. Joseph had forgiven his brothers and brought his family there to be with him during the famine. This is the example we should follow. (Genesis 37-47)

Unforgiveness is too heavy of a load to carry. Let our Lord have this hurt, this offense. He wants to carry your burdens for you. He wants you to give Him all of your worries and concerns because He cares for you and He is always thinking about you. (1 Peter 5:14) Make a choice today to be free from the bondage of unforgiveness.