There is so much confusion going around right now. The lies that are being spoken and heard are so sly that even the church seems to be moved by the slippery words of the enemy. Words that bring confusion and distrust, words that cause division and distraction, words that breed a heart of drama and even words that steal the one thing that makes us different.
How can life be so hard when really 85% of the troubles in our life have to do with life and not God? When 75% of our situations in life are situational and will go away in a matter of days or maybe even years. If life is truly that bad then why are their so many people with lives that are in shambles and they are searching everywhere for an answer and they just need to look up?
Lately I've read several posts, articles, and even had conversations with people who have little or no faith in a higher power. They believe that as long as we are good people and we are trying to do good in the world that we have succeeded in life. Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with doing good and wanting to do good, but the Bible says that there is nothing good under heaven that is not given by God. So to believe in good we must also believe in God because there is no way that we are just good because of who we are. We are only good through the power of the cross and the grace through His blood.
With that said I've came to this conclusion.... I'm Standing. No matter what anyone else says I know what is right and what is wrong. I know where my life once was without God and even though in peoples eyes it looked great, it wasn't. We can hide like pretty little porcelain dolls that don't react to anything but when we get into a situation when we feel like we are falling all we will do is shatter because in ourselves we don't have the strength to be lifted up on eagles wings.
Most people think that when you look at peoples lives who are standing strong on what they believe that they're lives are just a bed of roses. That they have no issues, that they don't have their own hidden secrets that hang in the closet never to be worn. In the closet they stay as a reminder of what God has done but not of what or who they are.
The lie of the enemy is quick to tell us that we have it worse then anyone else. Quick to think that life is greener on the other side of the fence but I'm here standing because I know that the other side of the fence is what brings adultery to the married man who sees a woman that is not his wife, fornication to the two young kids who spent to much time alone together, and death to the young girl who just went to the party to hang out with friends and instead wasn't strong enough to stay away from the drugs, drinking, smoking, and found herself in the middle of a drug deal gone wrong.
Without God in our lives we can't overcome the bad in this world. We are not protected by the situations that come our way but we are always promised a restful nights sleep when we trust, a heart full of love if we truly look to Him for the love, and an understanding that no matter what happens in our lives that if we are walking with God that we know we will see Him.
I'm standing.... I am going to do what is right and stand for the good things and without God I don't know what that is. With Him I know that I will be warm in the middle of a storming battle outside and no matter what the doctor tells me the great physician says I'm healed. Sometimes being healed is a mind thing and it is a matter of faith.
I'm standing, trusting, walking, and breathing the Jesus name message I live for. I am far from perfect and far from having a perfect bed of roses life, but I choose to live with Jesus with my head in the sky. I want to see the beauty that Jesus sees and I want to express the love that He has.
In the last days the Word says there will be many Antichrists and that there will be many false prophets. It is time for us to be intentional on the good things in life and stand firm on the solid rock, Jesus.
Love like you've never loved before, praise like you've never praised before, read the Word like you've never read before, pray like you've never prayed before.... the time has came for the church to become intentional about standing. Don't let yourself be swayed by the lies of the enemy stand knowing what is written and what you are living for. There are many voices but their is only one that is important.
April 4, 2012
March 27, 2012
Loss can bring revival....
This last week my family lost a very sweet woman. My Aunt Sharon passed on Monday March 19th after 8 1/2 years of battling cancer. She trusted in God's hand and strength, which gave her 8 1/2 more years with her family and brought her through the most trying times. Auntie Sharon was truly a woman of faith.
In the mist of all this sorrow and grief I have seen the true importance of showing the light of God through every trial of our life. Keeping our faith in the Creator and showing the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God is in control and the same God who spoke the universe into existence can turn all things for good. No matter what the situation, no matter how grime the news, God can make a horrible situation good.
Today as I write this I don't want to go on and on about the thoughts in my head. I want to say this... Sharon A. Fries will forever be missed. Her bright warming smile and warm gentle touch will be missed as a physical comfort and reminder of what it means to be a true woman of faith. Never once did she complain to people about having cancer.
I pray that this time of loss can be a time of revival for the soul of all. That in the mist of heart ache we can stand knowing that if today should be our day to leave this world that we will be going to a place where tears should be no more and rejoicing should be ever more.
In all things we should be able to see the good and the good in this situation is that my Aunt no longer has to suffer and her reward is now at hand. She was a woman of faith and believed until she took her last breath that her God was able to heal. No bitterness over took her as she threw up by the hour, she still believed in the healing God. That is the kind of faith that I want and that is the kind of love I want for my Lord.
May we all be reminded in the importance of where we put our trust and in whom we follow.
Many hugs to you all!
In the mist of all this sorrow and grief I have seen the true importance of showing the light of God through every trial of our life. Keeping our faith in the Creator and showing the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God is in control and the same God who spoke the universe into existence can turn all things for good. No matter what the situation, no matter how grime the news, God can make a horrible situation good.
Today as I write this I don't want to go on and on about the thoughts in my head. I want to say this... Sharon A. Fries will forever be missed. Her bright warming smile and warm gentle touch will be missed as a physical comfort and reminder of what it means to be a true woman of faith. Never once did she complain to people about having cancer.
I pray that this time of loss can be a time of revival for the soul of all. That in the mist of heart ache we can stand knowing that if today should be our day to leave this world that we will be going to a place where tears should be no more and rejoicing should be ever more.
In all things we should be able to see the good and the good in this situation is that my Aunt no longer has to suffer and her reward is now at hand. She was a woman of faith and believed until she took her last breath that her God was able to heal. No bitterness over took her as she threw up by the hour, she still believed in the healing God. That is the kind of faith that I want and that is the kind of love I want for my Lord.
Many hugs to you all!
March 13, 2012
God knows we didn't give up....
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Proverbs 13:4 (KJV)
Ever felt like you just kept trying and you never got anywhere? This thought is in my head today regarding the common used saying, "I'm trying... God knows I'm trying".
Growing up as an athlete I learned a lot about persistence and determination. I learned that few will give you the benefit of the doubt and even fewer will give you third chances if even seconds. If you are going to do something you give it your 110% and go down fighting because people won't give you what you don't deserve.
Living for God I have found this to be true as well. When we have to say "I'm trying... God knows I'm trying" is usually when we need to justify ourselves or defend our actions. It is then that we are really not giving it are all and we feel we need to make an excuse for our mistake or our lack of diligence.
So I've found that when I'm truly giving all to God and doing all I can then He will do the rest. I don't want to be a sluggard and just keep wanting and wanting but never receiving because I will not be diligent.
Sometimes we can try so hard to defend our weaknesses and never defend those things in our lives that matter. We become a sluggard who desires all the right things but we never get anywhere because the things that will make us fat we are not willing to be diligent for.
It is time for us to arise and say I'm not going to think anymore. As an athlete they tell you that when your legs feel like rubber that you push through it and don't give in. Well when you feel like you can't take anymore in life I encourage you to push through because you will find the strength of God when you truly become diligent. The scripture does say that you will run and not grow weary.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
I believe that waiting is really not a matter of sitting there and doing nothing. It is a matter of going through in God's strength and knowing that soon He will reward your diligence and give you the strength.
If we keep going through life thinking that it just isn't God's time we will just be a sluggard who desires but has nothing. Instead of the diligent soul that gets fat because they wouldn't give up.
By faith we pray for healing and we ask for wisdom but we won't be diligent when we need to wait and trust He will come through. We just give up and become the soul that just desires and has nothing.
God will give you the strength to go through it if you keep fighting for what is right and doing the right things. Don't give up on the promises and the blessings of God.
I believe God wants to make you fat He wants to give you all the desires of your heart but sometimes we give up the fight to easy. In the world we don't want to get fat but in God we should desire to be fat with all that which is good for our spiritual walk.
I pray today as you read this that God increases your strength to be diligent for the things of God. That He will bless your faithfulness and that He will give you strength to mount up on eagles wings. It is God's desire for you to see what He sees from the heights that only and eagle can go but for Him to give that to you and make you fat like He desires that means we must be able to say "We tried and it paid off... God knows we didn't give up".
Proverbs 13:4 (KJV)
Ever felt like you just kept trying and you never got anywhere? This thought is in my head today regarding the common used saying, "I'm trying... God knows I'm trying".
Growing up as an athlete I learned a lot about persistence and determination. I learned that few will give you the benefit of the doubt and even fewer will give you third chances if even seconds. If you are going to do something you give it your 110% and go down fighting because people won't give you what you don't deserve.
Living for God I have found this to be true as well. When we have to say "I'm trying... God knows I'm trying" is usually when we need to justify ourselves or defend our actions. It is then that we are really not giving it are all and we feel we need to make an excuse for our mistake or our lack of diligence.
So I've found that when I'm truly giving all to God and doing all I can then He will do the rest. I don't want to be a sluggard and just keep wanting and wanting but never receiving because I will not be diligent.
Sometimes we can try so hard to defend our weaknesses and never defend those things in our lives that matter. We become a sluggard who desires all the right things but we never get anywhere because the things that will make us fat we are not willing to be diligent for.
It is time for us to arise and say I'm not going to think anymore. As an athlete they tell you that when your legs feel like rubber that you push through it and don't give in. Well when you feel like you can't take anymore in life I encourage you to push through because you will find the strength of God when you truly become diligent. The scripture does say that you will run and not grow weary.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
I believe that waiting is really not a matter of sitting there and doing nothing. It is a matter of going through in God's strength and knowing that soon He will reward your diligence and give you the strength.
If we keep going through life thinking that it just isn't God's time we will just be a sluggard who desires but has nothing. Instead of the diligent soul that gets fat because they wouldn't give up.
By faith we pray for healing and we ask for wisdom but we won't be diligent when we need to wait and trust He will come through. We just give up and become the soul that just desires and has nothing.
God will give you the strength to go through it if you keep fighting for what is right and doing the right things. Don't give up on the promises and the blessings of God.
I believe God wants to make you fat He wants to give you all the desires of your heart but sometimes we give up the fight to easy. In the world we don't want to get fat but in God we should desire to be fat with all that which is good for our spiritual walk.
I pray today as you read this that God increases your strength to be diligent for the things of God. That He will bless your faithfulness and that He will give you strength to mount up on eagles wings. It is God's desire for you to see what He sees from the heights that only and eagle can go but for Him to give that to you and make you fat like He desires that means we must be able to say "We tried and it paid off... God knows we didn't give up".
March 9, 2012
Be like a turtle...
Today I was reminded of a statement my cousin shared with me. She said "you need to be like a turtle and let the uncontrollable situations roll off your back". In her words she was telling me that no matter what was said or done that if I couldn't control it I shouldn't take it on. Truth is... most things in life we can't control unless it is our own reaction.
No matter what you are doing in life you have situations that are thrown your way that do nothing but fill you up with unneeded water. Sometimes we just need to be like a turtle and let the water that is thrown at us roll off our back. Remember you can't always change things that come your way so why carry them. Be like a turtle let it roll off your back and move on.
So that is my words of wisdom for the day... don't let situations get you down. If a turtle's back was any other way it would just collect water but instead it is designed in a way that it just rolls off. So be a like a turtle today... let nothing get you down or make you feel the wait of the world (water).
Jesus said to trust in him and He will supply. He said come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. He said his arm is not to short and He is always near.
God can give you the ability to let the water just run off your back. Today is the day when Facebook looks positive and situations don't affect you the way they use to. Sometimes a situation is only as bad as we make it out to be.
Be reminded... Be a Turtle!
No matter what you are doing in life you have situations that are thrown your way that do nothing but fill you up with unneeded water. Sometimes we just need to be like a turtle and let the water that is thrown at us roll off our back. Remember you can't always change things that come your way so why carry them. Be like a turtle let it roll off your back and move on.
So that is my words of wisdom for the day... don't let situations get you down. If a turtle's back was any other way it would just collect water but instead it is designed in a way that it just rolls off. So be a like a turtle today... let nothing get you down or make you feel the wait of the world (water).
Jesus said to trust in him and He will supply. He said come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. He said his arm is not to short and He is always near.
God can give you the ability to let the water just run off your back. Today is the day when Facebook looks positive and situations don't affect you the way they use to. Sometimes a situation is only as bad as we make it out to be.
Be reminded... Be a Turtle!
Don't be like this turtle and allow life to go from water to sand! :)
Let it all roll off your back and never make you feel like you're about to give in!
March 2, 2012
For The Sake Of The Call... Night 1
This weekend we are having a Native Ministers conference called... For The Sake Of The Call. Last night was the start of it and it was a true success and blessing. I came to realize quickly the true love, passion, and loyalty our District has. As we are blessed to have the guest speaker Bro. Chavis and his wife Sis. Chavis we were also blessed with many other godly men and women who are in our own district.
As I stood at the front door greeting people who came in last night I was amazed at the true depth our district is blessed with when it comes to godly examples. I use the word depth but I truly don't think that is the proper word but the only one that comes to my mind at this time. We have so many who truly have given their life and time to give to the kingdom of God.
Last night was a great start to a wonderful weekend. Brother Chavis preached a very powerful message on the importance of knowing the Father's grace and mercy on our lives. Remembering where He brought us from and how he gave us a second chance. We may not have deserved that but how He loves us so much that He gave it to us in love for us. He spoke some powerful words from the Word of God and that was "God does not take pleasure in destroying us".
I was blessed by the Word last night and will take this powerful revelation with me. I will live it and remember just where he brought me from.
My life wasn't full of drugs, alcohol, and sex, in fact I wasn't involved in any but my life was filled with an idle god. The older I got the less I believed in God and truly at one place in my life I didn't believe there was a God. As I look back to that time in my life I am ashamed and think how much love God had when I hated Him. It puts a new concept on loving the unlovable. I was the unlovable one... I may not have sinned in ways that people could see but in my heart I committed the unforgivable sin if I would have known Him. Oh how grateful I am for His hand to reach passed the miry clay and into a life who was unworthy of His presence. A young girl who thought she was ok because of success, popularity, and outer blessings.
I am thankful for that message last night and for the reminder of the love of the Father. I'm also thankful today for all the wonderful ministers from our district who came to support the conference and the ministry of the native people. We are truly blessed and I never want to forget that.
Thank you Brother and Sister Chavis, Brother Fortalaza (unsure on correct spelling), Brother and Sister Stower, Brother and Sister Wittmeier (Kenora), and Brother and Sister Wittmeier (Thunder Bay). Also thank you to those from the Kenora church who came as well as those who came from other areas. May God bless you all for your giving heart and servant hood.
As I stood at the front door greeting people who came in last night I was amazed at the true depth our district is blessed with when it comes to godly examples. I use the word depth but I truly don't think that is the proper word but the only one that comes to my mind at this time. We have so many who truly have given their life and time to give to the kingdom of God.
Last night was a great start to a wonderful weekend. Brother Chavis preached a very powerful message on the importance of knowing the Father's grace and mercy on our lives. Remembering where He brought us from and how he gave us a second chance. We may not have deserved that but how He loves us so much that He gave it to us in love for us. He spoke some powerful words from the Word of God and that was "God does not take pleasure in destroying us".
I was blessed by the Word last night and will take this powerful revelation with me. I will live it and remember just where he brought me from.
My life wasn't full of drugs, alcohol, and sex, in fact I wasn't involved in any but my life was filled with an idle god. The older I got the less I believed in God and truly at one place in my life I didn't believe there was a God. As I look back to that time in my life I am ashamed and think how much love God had when I hated Him. It puts a new concept on loving the unlovable. I was the unlovable one... I may not have sinned in ways that people could see but in my heart I committed the unforgivable sin if I would have known Him. Oh how grateful I am for His hand to reach passed the miry clay and into a life who was unworthy of His presence. A young girl who thought she was ok because of success, popularity, and outer blessings.
I am thankful for that message last night and for the reminder of the love of the Father. I'm also thankful today for all the wonderful ministers from our district who came to support the conference and the ministry of the native people. We are truly blessed and I never want to forget that.
Thank you Brother and Sister Chavis, Brother Fortalaza (unsure on correct spelling), Brother and Sister Stower, Brother and Sister Wittmeier (Kenora), and Brother and Sister Wittmeier (Thunder Bay). Also thank you to those from the Kenora church who came as well as those who came from other areas. May God bless you all for your giving heart and servant hood.
February 29, 2012
Comforter and the Healer...
Pray for Healing and Comfort
Acts 3:6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I non; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
In years passed I knew no one close to me who had died, no one who was battling a terminal illness, and very few I knew who had lost loved ones. Since that time of innocence I've seen much loss, experienced my own heartache of terminal illness, and seen many broken by the unknown of why. In that time I've never felt as strong about helping the grieving as I do now. Not because of my own heartache but because of the revelation the Lord has given me through the Word.
We often pray for healing for the external need as Peter did in Acts and many others throughout the Word. But what about when those prayers are not answered? What happens to those who spend hours praying and never see the fruit of those prayers?
I was praying about this the other day and God brought me back to my time of need of healing. We so often pray for the actual sickness in someones life and for a restoration of the body but Jesus said after He healed the sick and lame that they were made "whole". Makes me think that when we pray for the the sick and their needs sometimes there is some internal healing that needs to come too.
My heart goes out to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one and even those who know their days are few. We will never understand the reason of God for the Word even says "lean not unto your own understanding". In our own understanding we can't make sense of it all but when we lean on the comfort of the comforter and the healing of the healer we can get through the tough times. Go to the God who is the comforter and the healer... go to Jesus.
In a world that is filled with grief and sorrow we are in desperate need of the comforter and healer. Why both? Because without an internal healing we can't receive the comfort we so need and with out the true complete healing we can't get passed the reasons why.
Today when you are praying I ask for you to pray for the hurting in your life and for those who are deep in grief and can't get passed it. God brings us to our lowest places and shows Himself worthy in them, but we must pray that those who are angry don't allow themselves to put up a wall and never receive all they can from the Comforter.
Prayer is a powerful weapon that God gives us to use in battle. We know that in the last days that much sickness will come but that doesn't mean that we stop praying for the healer and comforter to work His miracles. God is in the healing business but sometimes we forget to pray for the WHOLE healing. Sometimes it is even us who needs the healing of internal for those who are hurting around us so that we can be the light of Christ in the mist of the trial.
February 27, 2012
This is the Day...
I'm convinced today that no matter what the weather and no matter what the storm I will be thankful for the day that I have. The other day I spoke about good thoughts and keeping my mind on track so that it can't become the enemies play ground. I'm grateful today and everyday that I remember that because it makes days seem so much more enjoyable. Even the snow seems beautiful in its cold nature.
My thought for the day...This is the day that the Lord has made... will YOU rejoice and be glad in it?
So often the situations of the day can cause us a little trouble. The weather can get our mood a little blue, the sun can be just a little to bright, and sometimes the things waiting for you at home can be a little to real.
Today is a beautiful day and it is the one that God has made... I will rejoice in it because it is another day to be able to thank God for life. It is another day to bring a sick person some encouragement, another day that I can help a co-worker bandage up a cut, another day that I can bake some cookies for my neighbors who need to see someone cares, another day to sing unto the Lord a great song of worship when no one is watching, just another day to give back the blessings that I've so unworthily been given.
What a day to realize just how beautiful the day really is. Today is the day to rejoice don't wait until tomorrow to give back to God the beauty that He has given you. I know for myself I'm not going to just look at it as just another day but look at it as being "THE DAY" that the Lord has made. It is special in its ways, special in its beauty, and special in its results.
Not another day but the day to rejoice and be glad in.
My thought for the day...This is the day that the Lord has made... will YOU rejoice and be glad in it?
So often the situations of the day can cause us a little trouble. The weather can get our mood a little blue, the sun can be just a little to bright, and sometimes the things waiting for you at home can be a little to real.
Today is a beautiful day and it is the one that God has made... I will rejoice in it because it is another day to be able to thank God for life. It is another day to bring a sick person some encouragement, another day that I can help a co-worker bandage up a cut, another day that I can bake some cookies for my neighbors who need to see someone cares, another day to sing unto the Lord a great song of worship when no one is watching, just another day to give back the blessings that I've so unworthily been given.
What a day to realize just how beautiful the day really is. Today is the day to rejoice don't wait until tomorrow to give back to God the beauty that He has given you. I know for myself I'm not going to just look at it as just another day but look at it as being "THE DAY" that the Lord has made. It is special in its ways, special in its beauty, and special in its results.
Not another day but the day to rejoice and be glad in.
February 24, 2012
Mind full...
This morning I woke up to a mind that was full of way to much stuff. It was bogged down by things of the passed, things of no value, and things that I'm trying to make sense of but can't. As I'm writing this I've came down to one truth and one thought....
I Cor 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
No matter what I must remember this truth of the Word of God. No thought in my head should ever be that of confusion. It must be that of a sound mind. When I get to the place where I find myself confused or full of thoughts I must... pray and clear my thoughts.
Our minds are such a powerful tool that can truly become the playground of the enemy. If I'm not careful with the thoughts that I allow to swarm in my head I will become a puppet to the emotional roller coaster that the enemy wants me to be in.
So what am I saying? I'm saying don't allow your mind to be full of confusion and idle to the thoughts that are NOT true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report. (Phil 4:8) When we can get our minds off the things that are of importance we can be taken away from a sound mind.
Today I challenge you to think of the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report. Focus on the things that are of value and you will find the peace that God desires for us to live in.
I guess this is just my thought for the day. Hope it blesses you and reminds you to keep your thoughts of things that will keep your day filled with smiles.
I Cor 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
No matter what I must remember this truth of the Word of God. No thought in my head should ever be that of confusion. It must be that of a sound mind. When I get to the place where I find myself confused or full of thoughts I must... pray and clear my thoughts.
Our minds are such a powerful tool that can truly become the playground of the enemy. If I'm not careful with the thoughts that I allow to swarm in my head I will become a puppet to the emotional roller coaster that the enemy wants me to be in.
So what am I saying? I'm saying don't allow your mind to be full of confusion and idle to the thoughts that are NOT true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report. (Phil 4:8) When we can get our minds off the things that are of importance we can be taken away from a sound mind.
Today I challenge you to think of the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report. Focus on the things that are of value and you will find the peace that God desires for us to live in.
I guess this is just my thought for the day. Hope it blesses you and reminds you to keep your thoughts of things that will keep your day filled with smiles.
February 20, 2012
The role of the family...
This weekend I was able to be with the Central Canadian District for their 2012 Youth Convention. Which doesn't say much being that I'm a part of the district, but my ability to go was a blessing. This year I was able to take my Pastor's son and daughter to their very first district event without their parents. To me that is an honor as most parents, I know, don't let their children just go with anyone.
With that said I was reminded three times this weekend on the importance of the parents role in a child's life. I say parents, plural, because God designed the family to be balanced and that is to have a father and a mother.
This weekend God showed me a beautiful picture of the role of the family and of the church and its role as the mother towards the Father. The best way for me to describe this is by explaining my role as a child to my parents.
Most people don't know that when growing up my mom was a stay at home mom. She did this until I was old enough to go to preschool and then at that point she went back to school to become a teacher.
I learned at a young age to respect my mother's authority in my life. She was the one who was with me for most of the day so for me to ever mature and grow I needed to have a constant teacher, ironic enough that was my mother and her later occupation in life. Now that authority didn't make her like my father or the head of the house, she was and always will be still my mother. When she told me not to do things I knew that I should respect her because she had my best interests at heart. Don't get me wrong I'm sure I was mad at her when it hurt my feelings but I still knew that I was to obey my parents and those who they had put to watch over me.
I was raised that you respected your father AND your mother (Exodus 20:12) as well as all that have the rule over you (Hebrews 13:17). That included my teachers, adults, parents of friends who I played with, police officers, and anyone who was given the "responsibility" of my safety or watching over me. I knew better than to be disrespectful or to ever play the "you are not the boss of me" card or my favorite "you're not my mother".
Everyone who my parents gave permission to watch me as a child was given the authority to "boss" me. I was to listen to those people and if I didn't well I can't remember a lot of those times so I must have learned fast.
Now God reminded me of this as the role of the church. The Word calls us the bride which any bride that has children becomes a mother. The church is the mother of the saints but that does not displace the role of the Father in our lives. Even though my mom was the one who had to discipline us the most didn't displace the importance of my dad or make me think that I could play my parents. I always knew that TOGETHER they were a force that was teaching me to become a child that the family could be proud of. Not just my mom be proud of me but my dad as well.
Why did my mom have to discipline us? Because the whole.... "you wait until your father gets home" isn't good for the relationship with a child and their father. If the only thing my dad ever did was discipline me I would have really not liked having my dad around nor would I have respected my mom or wanted her to be around. So instead my mom handled the issues when they happened and that taught us two things. 1) You are to respect whoever is watching you and listen to them and 2) my parents were not there in my life to make life miserable or to be dictators. They were there to teach me and to help me not make mistakes that could cause harm to my future. They together helped me become a child to be proud of. Which I must add is still a working progress... I still need to respect my parents and respect them as they don't lose the role as parents in my life.
So what am I saying here. I'm saying... the role of a father and a mother are important to work together, as one flesh (Gen 2:24). Not to take away or to add to either side or confuse the headship in anyway. They are to work together to build and mold godly children of God who understand and know who it is that they are serving/pleasing.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, she was his mother, but He was first and for most to please HIS Father. That didn't take away from the role of Mary in His life and didn't make her less of an authority in His upbringing but working together they built up who He was as a man. With the spirit of God our parents help us become who God truly desires for us to be. Just like the church with the spirit helps us become the child of Christ that we are called to be.
I am expected to obey the authority that God places in my life. The mother, which is the church.... that includes my pastor and my brothers and sisters in the Lord who give me godly counsel (Psalms 1:1). If I am to ever grow into the child of God that I am called to be I must obey those who have been given the authority over me. Who are watching over my soul and responsible for leading me. I must learn to listen to godly counsel and take it even if it is to discipline me.
WHY? Because I will never understand or fear my Father, Jesus Christ, the right way without obeying my mother, the church, in my life. How can you know what the Father wants but through the one who is training you up WITH the Father? That one to be spoken of is the mother, the church.
For example if a mother does not have the respect or authority over her children, in a healthy way, then she will bring all discipline to the father and make him the bad guy all the time. Which in the long run will cause dis function in the relationship with the child and their father. If we as the church do not teach our children in the church, the saints of God, about what pleases the Father we will cause an unhealthy relationship with the Father when correction or judgement come from Him OR we will become their savior/ Father and confuse the roles. This will cause the body, family, to be divided and not of one accord or as one flesh (Phil 2:2). The church will be then battling with the Father, Jesus Christ and we will never be fulfilling the will of God.
Another thing that God revealed to me this weekend was the role the mother has in teaching her children what is pleasing to the father. As a young girl I knew that if I was to ever get pregnant that it would break my dad's heart. I knew that if I stayed away from premarital sex that I would be pleasing both my earthly father, who didn't want me to have a child out of wedlock and the responsibility of that, as well as my heavenly father, who didn't want me to have to pay the consequence to sin either. With that said you can imagine that my dad didn't have the sex talk with me but through my mother I knew what my dad expected of me. Of course there were things he told me that he didn't want me to do but not everything was so clear or spoken. In stead learned that if I desired to please my father and be the daughter that I knew he had raised me to be I needed to search him out and watched how he talked with people. I listened to my mom and the things she would say that my dad didn't like as well as in conversation hear him say to others things he believed in or didn't. I didn't do this because I wanted to be someone I wasn't I did this because I wanted to PLEASE my dad. I wanted him to be proud of me and to be the daughter that I knew he deserved.
This concept applies with our Heavenly Father. God doesn't have to speak to me everything He doesn't want me to do. I, as His child, need to listen to what He speaks to others, which can either be by my brothers and sisters in the church (mother), or even by what He spoke through His Word. Why do I do this... I do it so that I can PLEASE my Heavenly Father.
I'm so grateful for this revelation this weekend and so thankful to understand the role that I play in my own walk as well as others. My responsibility as a brother or a sister to those who are in the body of God is just as important as those that are in my home church. The picture is so much bigger and no matter if I'm at a Youth Convention or a Sunday night service I must make sure that what I'm teaching to others is the truth.
It's time to be the mother and to realize that we are hear to teach the children of God our brothers and sister to PLEASE the Father. To work WITH the Father through the Holy Spirit to help every soul become one with the body and one with their love.
With that said I was reminded three times this weekend on the importance of the parents role in a child's life. I say parents, plural, because God designed the family to be balanced and that is to have a father and a mother.
This weekend God showed me a beautiful picture of the role of the family and of the church and its role as the mother towards the Father. The best way for me to describe this is by explaining my role as a child to my parents.
Most people don't know that when growing up my mom was a stay at home mom. She did this until I was old enough to go to preschool and then at that point she went back to school to become a teacher.
I learned at a young age to respect my mother's authority in my life. She was the one who was with me for most of the day so for me to ever mature and grow I needed to have a constant teacher, ironic enough that was my mother and her later occupation in life. Now that authority didn't make her like my father or the head of the house, she was and always will be still my mother. When she told me not to do things I knew that I should respect her because she had my best interests at heart. Don't get me wrong I'm sure I was mad at her when it hurt my feelings but I still knew that I was to obey my parents and those who they had put to watch over me.
I was raised that you respected your father AND your mother (Exodus 20:12) as well as all that have the rule over you (Hebrews 13:17). That included my teachers, adults, parents of friends who I played with, police officers, and anyone who was given the "responsibility" of my safety or watching over me. I knew better than to be disrespectful or to ever play the "you are not the boss of me" card or my favorite "you're not my mother".
Everyone who my parents gave permission to watch me as a child was given the authority to "boss" me. I was to listen to those people and if I didn't well I can't remember a lot of those times so I must have learned fast.
Now God reminded me of this as the role of the church. The Word calls us the bride which any bride that has children becomes a mother. The church is the mother of the saints but that does not displace the role of the Father in our lives. Even though my mom was the one who had to discipline us the most didn't displace the importance of my dad or make me think that I could play my parents. I always knew that TOGETHER they were a force that was teaching me to become a child that the family could be proud of. Not just my mom be proud of me but my dad as well.
Why did my mom have to discipline us? Because the whole.... "you wait until your father gets home" isn't good for the relationship with a child and their father. If the only thing my dad ever did was discipline me I would have really not liked having my dad around nor would I have respected my mom or wanted her to be around. So instead my mom handled the issues when they happened and that taught us two things. 1) You are to respect whoever is watching you and listen to them and 2) my parents were not there in my life to make life miserable or to be dictators. They were there to teach me and to help me not make mistakes that could cause harm to my future. They together helped me become a child to be proud of. Which I must add is still a working progress... I still need to respect my parents and respect them as they don't lose the role as parents in my life.
So what am I saying here. I'm saying... the role of a father and a mother are important to work together, as one flesh (Gen 2:24). Not to take away or to add to either side or confuse the headship in anyway. They are to work together to build and mold godly children of God who understand and know who it is that they are serving/pleasing.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, she was his mother, but He was first and for most to please HIS Father. That didn't take away from the role of Mary in His life and didn't make her less of an authority in His upbringing but working together they built up who He was as a man. With the spirit of God our parents help us become who God truly desires for us to be. Just like the church with the spirit helps us become the child of Christ that we are called to be.
I am expected to obey the authority that God places in my life. The mother, which is the church.... that includes my pastor and my brothers and sisters in the Lord who give me godly counsel (Psalms 1:1). If I am to ever grow into the child of God that I am called to be I must obey those who have been given the authority over me. Who are watching over my soul and responsible for leading me. I must learn to listen to godly counsel and take it even if it is to discipline me.
WHY? Because I will never understand or fear my Father, Jesus Christ, the right way without obeying my mother, the church, in my life. How can you know what the Father wants but through the one who is training you up WITH the Father? That one to be spoken of is the mother, the church.
For example if a mother does not have the respect or authority over her children, in a healthy way, then she will bring all discipline to the father and make him the bad guy all the time. Which in the long run will cause dis function in the relationship with the child and their father. If we as the church do not teach our children in the church, the saints of God, about what pleases the Father we will cause an unhealthy relationship with the Father when correction or judgement come from Him OR we will become their savior/ Father and confuse the roles. This will cause the body, family, to be divided and not of one accord or as one flesh (Phil 2:2). The church will be then battling with the Father, Jesus Christ and we will never be fulfilling the will of God.
Another thing that God revealed to me this weekend was the role the mother has in teaching her children what is pleasing to the father. As a young girl I knew that if I was to ever get pregnant that it would break my dad's heart. I knew that if I stayed away from premarital sex that I would be pleasing both my earthly father, who didn't want me to have a child out of wedlock and the responsibility of that, as well as my heavenly father, who didn't want me to have to pay the consequence to sin either. With that said you can imagine that my dad didn't have the sex talk with me but through my mother I knew what my dad expected of me. Of course there were things he told me that he didn't want me to do but not everything was so clear or spoken. In stead learned that if I desired to please my father and be the daughter that I knew he had raised me to be I needed to search him out and watched how he talked with people. I listened to my mom and the things she would say that my dad didn't like as well as in conversation hear him say to others things he believed in or didn't. I didn't do this because I wanted to be someone I wasn't I did this because I wanted to PLEASE my dad. I wanted him to be proud of me and to be the daughter that I knew he deserved.
This concept applies with our Heavenly Father. God doesn't have to speak to me everything He doesn't want me to do. I, as His child, need to listen to what He speaks to others, which can either be by my brothers and sisters in the church (mother), or even by what He spoke through His Word. Why do I do this... I do it so that I can PLEASE my Heavenly Father.
I'm so grateful for this revelation this weekend and so thankful to understand the role that I play in my own walk as well as others. My responsibility as a brother or a sister to those who are in the body of God is just as important as those that are in my home church. The picture is so much bigger and no matter if I'm at a Youth Convention or a Sunday night service I must make sure that what I'm teaching to others is the truth.
It's time to be the mother and to realize that we are hear to teach the children of God our brothers and sister to PLEASE the Father. To work WITH the Father through the Holy Spirit to help every soul become one with the body and one with their love.
February 15, 2012
Just a little love..
It hurt me to see all the posts yesterday on Facebook regarding Valentines Day being an overrated holiday and people verbally showing there dislike for the holiday with words of true hatred. So here is my turn to speak my mind on the holiday of love....
....Yesterday was the day of love. A day when Hallmark makes a killing on their $3.00 cards, floral shops go crazy from all the deliveries of millions of roses, and single people sit complaining about there current relationship statues as if no one can really recognize that their true hate of this commercialised holiday is not because of its racket but because it is hard to get passed ones self to truly have a heart of compassion for those who have something we don't have.
As I looked through all my friends and family that are on my friends list and those who were showing and sending love to others. I see a young mother of two who is my age and is currently spending Valentines Day away from the man she loves who is at War fighting for my freedom, my Cousins and Aunt who just lost my Uncle, my Cousins who are trying to enjoy every minute they have with my Aunt who received news that her cancer has taken over in her body, and many friends who are far from their loved ones. Now did these people write hateful things about this day that has brought up so much hurt and pain, no. Instead these people are expressing their love for their missing and lost loved ones. They are enjoying the day they have and the life they have to express to others their true gratefulness for love.
OK so now I'm off my soap box. I know that everyone battles their own way and that each person handles situations differently but I'm here to express to my readers that each day is to short to live with such a negative outlook even if it was just for one day that is about commercialism. There is no sin in showing love to someone in the appropriate way. Plus what wasted energy on something that has no eternal value whatsoever.
If you are really living for God... life isn't worth wasting on worthless emotions. Life isn't that bad when you are not leaning on your own strength to get you through and your own love to express to others. Just a little faith will move a mountain and I'm here to say that just a little of God's love could heal a nation.
Just a little of your strength goes a long way when you mix it with God's... its when you put in a lot of your strength and expect God to put in the rest that you really fail. It's time to evaluate the feelings we have that make us hate or have great anger towards. Why do I feel this way and why have I turned something that could be good into something that is bad? What is it that has made me feel so alone and disappointed in life? And lastly why do I feel that this has anything to do with me?
Christ put everyone else before himself and sometimes we need to learn to take care of ourselves but to not be focused on ourselves. Just a little love can go a long way if we only would turn it towards others...
February 14, 2012
We have been called to a mission... will you carry it out!
missionsplural of mis·sion (Noun)
| Noun: |
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