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February 29, 2012
January 24, 2012
Waiting on God
Often times I have to remind myself that I am NOT God and that I am subject to Him and not the other way around. One of the things that I struggle with and pray that someday I overcome is trying to "understand" His timing.
I guess that's the main problem, trying to understand, I have come to a point where I am trying not to "understand" God any more. I love Him, I serve Him and I trust Him, and I think it's better that I don't understand His ways. Why would I want to serve a God I figured out? wouldn't that be boring and it wouldn't defeat the purpose of Him being God? Knowing that He is God and that He is good allows me to trust Him and let Him do what He does best, which is make all things work out in HIS timing.
God is amazing, He is not a procrastinator although sometimes we may feel He is taking forever to get something done. He does everything ON TIME, let's keep in mind that our clocks are not syncronized so what may seem as the "wrong" time if it's in His time then that's the right time.
Oh who understands His way? No one and if you want to save time don't even try, let Him be God and do things His way. Remember we are the creation and He is the creator, if you are going to trust anyone with your life, trust Him.
I guess that's the main problem, trying to understand, I have come to a point where I am trying not to "understand" God any more. I love Him, I serve Him and I trust Him, and I think it's better that I don't understand His ways. Why would I want to serve a God I figured out? wouldn't that be boring and it wouldn't defeat the purpose of Him being God? Knowing that He is God and that He is good allows me to trust Him and let Him do what He does best, which is make all things work out in HIS timing.
God is amazing, He is not a procrastinator although sometimes we may feel He is taking forever to get something done. He does everything ON TIME, let's keep in mind that our clocks are not syncronized so what may seem as the "wrong" time if it's in His time then that's the right time.
Oh who understands His way? No one and if you want to save time don't even try, let Him be God and do things His way. Remember we are the creation and He is the creator, if you are going to trust anyone with your life, trust Him.
September 24, 2011
The love of many will grow cold...
The love of many will grow cold...
It's been a few months since this phrase has been repeating in my head and I cannot ignore it. In the book of Revelation we find Jesus speaking about several churches but one stands out to me, the church of Laodicea. He says to them:
"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." ESV Revelation 3:15-16
Now here's a different version
"I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot-far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit." The Message Rev 3:15-16
Those are some harsh words but what plays over in my head is when He says, I would rather you be cold or hot. Think about what that means, someone who is hot is someone who is after God's heart. They are living holy and are seeking after Him, seeking to please Him. They are truly in love with God and desiring His presence. They are ready to do whatever necessary to have God, to capture His attention. Now someone who is cold is the opposite, they are in the world, living life, telling God blatantly "I want nothing to do with You; I am going to do me now; I don't need You/trust You/believe in You; Leave me alone." Jesus rather you be cold than lukewarm, here is why.
Someone who is lukewarm thinks they know God, they think that they have what it takes to get into heaven. They play church and they are great at it, they attend every service, they raise their hands during praise and worship and they even pray. But they are indifferent about God's presence, they are so numb that they don't feel Him, they have played church for so long they have become desensitized and are no longer capable of feeling God. Not only are they not capable, they don't care to feel His presence. You see it is lukewarm Christians that are keeping cold people from coming to Christ. That is why Jesus says, I rather you be cold because at least if you are cold when I come near you, you are able to react.
This scares me, I don't ever want to become lukewarm. I don't ever want to become indifferent about Him. I want to know when He is the room and when He is not. I want to know that I am doing everything in my power to please Him, to seek Him. I want to long for Him, I want to need Him. The thought of living a life without God scares me. Hell doesn't scare me, burning for all eternity does not scare me, what scares me is not having Him for all eternity, not feeling Him.
I want to give Him my all, I do not want to do this Christian life half-heartily and I certainly do not want my love for Him to grow cold.
If you have grown lukewarm, there is still hope. Here is what He says:
"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anything hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches" Revelation 3:19-22
It's been a few months since this phrase has been repeating in my head and I cannot ignore it. In the book of Revelation we find Jesus speaking about several churches but one stands out to me, the church of Laodicea. He says to them:
"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." ESV Revelation 3:15-16
Now here's a different version
"I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot-far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit." The Message Rev 3:15-16
Those are some harsh words but what plays over in my head is when He says, I would rather you be cold or hot. Think about what that means, someone who is hot is someone who is after God's heart. They are living holy and are seeking after Him, seeking to please Him. They are truly in love with God and desiring His presence. They are ready to do whatever necessary to have God, to capture His attention. Now someone who is cold is the opposite, they are in the world, living life, telling God blatantly "I want nothing to do with You; I am going to do me now; I don't need You/trust You/believe in You; Leave me alone." Jesus rather you be cold than lukewarm, here is why.
Someone who is lukewarm thinks they know God, they think that they have what it takes to get into heaven. They play church and they are great at it, they attend every service, they raise their hands during praise and worship and they even pray. But they are indifferent about God's presence, they are so numb that they don't feel Him, they have played church for so long they have become desensitized and are no longer capable of feeling God. Not only are they not capable, they don't care to feel His presence. You see it is lukewarm Christians that are keeping cold people from coming to Christ. That is why Jesus says, I rather you be cold because at least if you are cold when I come near you, you are able to react.
This scares me, I don't ever want to become lukewarm. I don't ever want to become indifferent about Him. I want to know when He is the room and when He is not. I want to know that I am doing everything in my power to please Him, to seek Him. I want to long for Him, I want to need Him. The thought of living a life without God scares me. Hell doesn't scare me, burning for all eternity does not scare me, what scares me is not having Him for all eternity, not feeling Him.
I want to give Him my all, I do not want to do this Christian life half-heartily and I certainly do not want my love for Him to grow cold.
If you have grown lukewarm, there is still hope. Here is what He says:
"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anything hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches" Revelation 3:19-22
August 17, 2011
Loving Him Back
The word of God says that we love Him because He first loved us. God loved you while you were in your mess, He loves you the way you are but when He comes into your life He brings change. There are days when I wonder how can a Holy God love me? How could He want me? I am a sinner and even after I asked Him to become Lord of my life I continue to fall and make mistakes. Sometimes I feel like I couldn't possibly love Him back.
The hardest part for me is admitting that someone could love me enough to die for me, that the creator of the universe would love me enough to give all that He has to have me. My mind cannot understand why would He send His ONLY Son for me. There are times when I feel worthless, I evaluate my life and I feel like a complete failure. But His love abounds, He reminds me who I am and what I mean to Him daily. I am His beloved, I am the one He loves and continues to love even when I fall short of His Glory.
Loving Him back is the easiest and the most challenging thing I have ever had to do. How could I not love the One who died for me? How could I resist Him? How could I refuse to answer His call? I have tried, I have run away, I have ignored His voice only to find myself in His arms.
We need to learn to love Him back, we need to learn to respond to His love. We are capable of loving Him back only because He first loved us. Had He not sent Jesus to die on a cross and pay our debt we couldn't love Him back, our sins would hold us back, our guilt and shame would keep us bound but it's His love that sets us free. Free to love, free to dance for Him and sing to Him.
I challenge you to love Him back, even when you think you are not worthy, especially when you feel like you don't deserve His love just LOVE HIM BACK!!! Learn to see yourself the way He sees you, He sees you and He falls deeper in love with you. He sees you and He counts the sacrifice made on the cross well worth it. He sees you and He doesn't regret creating you.
The hardest part for me is admitting that someone could love me enough to die for me, that the creator of the universe would love me enough to give all that He has to have me. My mind cannot understand why would He send His ONLY Son for me. There are times when I feel worthless, I evaluate my life and I feel like a complete failure. But His love abounds, He reminds me who I am and what I mean to Him daily. I am His beloved, I am the one He loves and continues to love even when I fall short of His Glory.
Loving Him back is the easiest and the most challenging thing I have ever had to do. How could I not love the One who died for me? How could I resist Him? How could I refuse to answer His call? I have tried, I have run away, I have ignored His voice only to find myself in His arms.
We need to learn to love Him back, we need to learn to respond to His love. We are capable of loving Him back only because He first loved us. Had He not sent Jesus to die on a cross and pay our debt we couldn't love Him back, our sins would hold us back, our guilt and shame would keep us bound but it's His love that sets us free. Free to love, free to dance for Him and sing to Him.
I challenge you to love Him back, even when you think you are not worthy, especially when you feel like you don't deserve His love just LOVE HIM BACK!!! Learn to see yourself the way He sees you, He sees you and He falls deeper in love with you. He sees you and He counts the sacrifice made on the cross well worth it. He sees you and He doesn't regret creating you.
June 30, 2011
Trying to please a Holy God
I have tried to serve God. I have spent most of my time trying to serve Him, trying to please Him, trying to make Him proud. But that's exactly what has kept me far from Him, I been trying so hard to do things in my own strengths not realizing that I cannot do it on my own, I cannot please a perfect God with my imperfect ways. My righteousness are but filthy rags to Him, I don't have the right to present myself before His presence because of all the "good" I have done. I have the right to present myself before His presence because of all that Jesus did on the cross.
I cannot please God, I cannot serve Him, I cannot make Him proud. I cannot do anything on my own, it is Christ in me who is able to please the Father, He is able to serve Him and make Him proud. It is when I stop trying to do things in my own strength that I allow Him to act through me. I am but dust, I am but a creation, the master piece of my maker.
Why don't we just stop trying to please a Holy God and just allow Him to work in us. We are humans and we will fall, we will sin and things will not go as planned but in our weakness His strength is perfected. We find Him at the end of ourselves. It is only when we realize that there is nothing we can do that He begins to move.
I cannot please God, I cannot serve Him, I cannot make Him proud. I cannot do anything on my own, it is Christ in me who is able to please the Father, He is able to serve Him and make Him proud. It is when I stop trying to do things in my own strength that I allow Him to act through me. I am but dust, I am but a creation, the master piece of my maker.
Why don't we just stop trying to please a Holy God and just allow Him to work in us. We are humans and we will fall, we will sin and things will not go as planned but in our weakness His strength is perfected. We find Him at the end of ourselves. It is only when we realize that there is nothing we can do that He begins to move.
June 29, 2011
Dear...
Dear Church,
I come to you hoping to find a place where I can worship freely without having to think about the person next to me. I come to you wanting to be free to cry out to God and not have to worry about offending or scaring those around me. I come to you hoping to make you my safe haven, the place I come to when my world is falling apart. I come to you expecting to find God inside...
Dear People of God,
I come to you broken and scared, not knowing who to trust and what to believe in. I call you my brothers and my sisters hoping to find in you what I didn't find in my natural family. I come to you unashamed to worship a wonderful God not worrying about fitting in but just being myself. I come to you showing you my true colors believing that you will accept me just as God has accepted me...
Unfortunately the Church and the so called people of God have failed my expectations, but I guess that's my fault for believing people could be perfect. If I can't be perfect why would I expect anyone else Christian or none Christian to be perfect. I come to church and I am judge for worshipping a wonderful God, I offend some people with my desperate cries for mercy. The place I once thought I could make my safe haven has become the place I try staying away from because I'll get hurt. I show my true colors only to find out that if the colors do not fit their particular taste I will not be accepted. Sometimes it is easier to find God in the world than it is to find Him inside the church.
I come to you hoping to find a place where I can worship freely without having to think about the person next to me. I come to you wanting to be free to cry out to God and not have to worry about offending or scaring those around me. I come to you hoping to make you my safe haven, the place I come to when my world is falling apart. I come to you expecting to find God inside...
Dear People of God,
I come to you broken and scared, not knowing who to trust and what to believe in. I call you my brothers and my sisters hoping to find in you what I didn't find in my natural family. I come to you unashamed to worship a wonderful God not worrying about fitting in but just being myself. I come to you showing you my true colors believing that you will accept me just as God has accepted me...
Unfortunately the Church and the so called people of God have failed my expectations, but I guess that's my fault for believing people could be perfect. If I can't be perfect why would I expect anyone else Christian or none Christian to be perfect. I come to church and I am judge for worshipping a wonderful God, I offend some people with my desperate cries for mercy. The place I once thought I could make my safe haven has become the place I try staying away from because I'll get hurt. I show my true colors only to find out that if the colors do not fit their particular taste I will not be accepted. Sometimes it is easier to find God in the world than it is to find Him inside the church.
February 10, 2011
Worthy God
We come to God with a preconceived notion of who He is and what He is like but just because we have read of Him it does not mean we know Him. If we have read our bibles we know that He is a God who loves us, one who sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins.
We have also read of all the miracles, signs and wonders He is capable of performing. We feed ourselves with head knowledge and sad enough we are satisfied by knowing of Him but never getting to know Him. We come to Him thinking that because He is God He doesn't need the praises of sinners like you or me and you are right He does not need our praises, our pathetic excuse of worship, He deserves it.
Our generation has gotten so use to entertainment and being entertained. We go to church thinking it's a circus, wondering what trick God will do for us today. What foolish creatures we are! Do we not know to whose house we go to every Sunday? Do we not realize in the presence of whom we are when we go to church? Well that is if HE is ever invited in. Church has become such an exclusive club, God does not meet the requirements to become a member.
We go to church once a week thinking we are doing God a favor by showing up for a few hours on Sunday but forgetting all about Him the next 6 days. As if Jesus only takes attendance on Sundays. I'm sorry to inform you Christianity is a lifestyle, a full-time job.
Like they say go hard or go home, in this case is surrender all or go to hell, not that I am sending you there it is your actions that have won you a free ticket with no way out. Let's stop pretending hell is not real, let's stop fooling ourselves by thinking that as long as we are good we won't go to hell. Good by whose standards, yours or God's? God will not be fooled, He will not be mocked.
Just because Jesus came to fulfill the law it does not make His commandments void. He said "you shall have no other god before me" and He meant it, and just to be clear a god is anything that takes His place. He commanded us not to steal or kill but we steal and kill our neighbors dreams and hopes when we gossip and speak bad about them.
To love your God with all of your heart, soul and strength and love your neighbor as you love yourself those are the greatest commandments. But many of us fall short, we might confess we love God but prove ourselves liars when we don't love our neighbors. You cannot love God if you don't love your neighbor. He said love Me with all and He meant all, not a portion. He wants it all and if you are not going to give it all then don't give anything because for Him half of something or nothing are the same thing.
We have also read of all the miracles, signs and wonders He is capable of performing. We feed ourselves with head knowledge and sad enough we are satisfied by knowing of Him but never getting to know Him. We come to Him thinking that because He is God He doesn't need the praises of sinners like you or me and you are right He does not need our praises, our pathetic excuse of worship, He deserves it.
Our generation has gotten so use to entertainment and being entertained. We go to church thinking it's a circus, wondering what trick God will do for us today. What foolish creatures we are! Do we not know to whose house we go to every Sunday? Do we not realize in the presence of whom we are when we go to church? Well that is if HE is ever invited in. Church has become such an exclusive club, God does not meet the requirements to become a member.
We go to church once a week thinking we are doing God a favor by showing up for a few hours on Sunday but forgetting all about Him the next 6 days. As if Jesus only takes attendance on Sundays. I'm sorry to inform you Christianity is a lifestyle, a full-time job.
Like they say go hard or go home, in this case is surrender all or go to hell, not that I am sending you there it is your actions that have won you a free ticket with no way out. Let's stop pretending hell is not real, let's stop fooling ourselves by thinking that as long as we are good we won't go to hell. Good by whose standards, yours or God's? God will not be fooled, He will not be mocked.
Just because Jesus came to fulfill the law it does not make His commandments void. He said "you shall have no other god before me" and He meant it, and just to be clear a god is anything that takes His place. He commanded us not to steal or kill but we steal and kill our neighbors dreams and hopes when we gossip and speak bad about them.
To love your God with all of your heart, soul and strength and love your neighbor as you love yourself those are the greatest commandments. But many of us fall short, we might confess we love God but prove ourselves liars when we don't love our neighbors. You cannot love God if you don't love your neighbor. He said love Me with all and He meant all, not a portion. He wants it all and if you are not going to give it all then don't give anything because for Him half of something or nothing are the same thing.
January 18, 2011
Be like Me!
God has called us to be like Him, time and time again we read this, the first words He spoke in regards to men were "let's make men in our image" in our likeness, let's make him like us. And so He formed us in His image, nothing more and nothing less, He made us just like Him. Then He commands us to be like Him, to do good for He is good, to be holy for He is holy, to love one another for He is love, to show mercies for He is merciful, to be faithful because He is faith, to be righteous for He is righteous. He wants us to be like Him because it is only when we become like Him that we are able to abide in His presence.
"For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy..."
Leviticus 11:44
December 16, 2010
Organ Failure
Don't you just hate it when you are sick? When your head hurts? or for some people when their heart is not working the way it should? or when the liver fails? or when you need some type of organ transplant because the one you have just isn't cutting it. Don't you hate it when people die because something in their body refused to work the way GOD intended it to work? We hear countless stories of people who come together in an effort to find the cure of an illness and to increase the awareness of a disease.
Why then is it that the church has become so comfortable and indifferent about the body of Christ acting as independent entities? We are called the BODY of CHRIST. Look at yourself you are made of many parts, arms, legs, feet, toes, fingers, eyes, nose, you get the picture. You are not complete if you are missing a leg or an arm or an eye, you need all that to make you. Why then do we insist on being independent christians? independent believers? We are only called to be independent of the world and its fleshly desires but we are called to be dependent on each other for all of us together make the body of Christ, His bride.
When will we understand that we cannot function independently of one another. Just like if my liver fails and I don't get appropriate medical attention I will die. It is the same if a part of the body of Christ is failing the entire body will suffer. I am not a part of church that goes by a certain name, when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour I became part of the body of Christ. That body is made up by many people, not just one ministry, not just one church. I might go to one church but I am a member, you and I are members, vital parts of the body of Christ.
You, make a difference. Whether you are making a positive, negative or no difference, you are affecting the body. Stop making excuses for your laziness and start doing what you were intended to do. We are ONE body with ONE voice and ONE purpose and our sole mission in life is to bring as many lives to Christ as we possibly can. We might not see the harvest, but it is our responsibility to plant the seeds.
Christ died for the WORLD. GOD gave His only Son for the world, so let's give Him what He died for, let's give Him the world.
Why then is it that the church has become so comfortable and indifferent about the body of Christ acting as independent entities? We are called the BODY of CHRIST. Look at yourself you are made of many parts, arms, legs, feet, toes, fingers, eyes, nose, you get the picture. You are not complete if you are missing a leg or an arm or an eye, you need all that to make you. Why then do we insist on being independent christians? independent believers? We are only called to be independent of the world and its fleshly desires but we are called to be dependent on each other for all of us together make the body of Christ, His bride.
When will we understand that we cannot function independently of one another. Just like if my liver fails and I don't get appropriate medical attention I will die. It is the same if a part of the body of Christ is failing the entire body will suffer. I am not a part of church that goes by a certain name, when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour I became part of the body of Christ. That body is made up by many people, not just one ministry, not just one church. I might go to one church but I am a member, you and I are members, vital parts of the body of Christ.
You, make a difference. Whether you are making a positive, negative or no difference, you are affecting the body. Stop making excuses for your laziness and start doing what you were intended to do. We are ONE body with ONE voice and ONE purpose and our sole mission in life is to bring as many lives to Christ as we possibly can. We might not see the harvest, but it is our responsibility to plant the seeds.
Christ died for the WORLD. GOD gave His only Son for the world, so let's give Him what He died for, let's give Him the world.
December 15, 2010
New Garments
The day I died for you, I took your filthy garments and exchanged them for clothing worthy of royalty. You no longer need to dress as a beggar, for I have made you heir of a great King.
What are you doing trying to wear your old filthy garments? Do you not know that the day you called Me into your heart, I clothed you with My majesty? I made you one with Me and thus one with the Father. Why do you then insist on dressing like a beggar?
I took your shame that you may have My glory. I took your pain that you may have My joy. I took your illness that you may have My wholeness. I took your anxiety that you may have My peace. I took your loneliness that you maybe feel My Love.
I carried your sins, I stood in for your judgment that you may be reconciled with the Father. Don't refuse the garments that I now give you, please wear them for they were made specially for you.
They are holy garments for when you come into My presence. They are garments of praise for when you want to please My heart. They are garments of prayer for when you want to get My attention and they are garments of humility for when you want Me to find your irresistible. They are garments of holiness so you can behold My face.
What are you doing trying to wear your old filthy garments? Do you not know that the day you called Me into your heart, I clothed you with My majesty? I made you one with Me and thus one with the Father. Why do you then insist on dressing like a beggar?
I took your shame that you may have My glory. I took your pain that you may have My joy. I took your illness that you may have My wholeness. I took your anxiety that you may have My peace. I took your loneliness that you maybe feel My Love.
I carried your sins, I stood in for your judgment that you may be reconciled with the Father. Don't refuse the garments that I now give you, please wear them for they were made specially for you.
They are holy garments for when you come into My presence. They are garments of praise for when you want to please My heart. They are garments of prayer for when you want to get My attention and they are garments of humility for when you want Me to find your irresistible. They are garments of holiness so you can behold My face.
written 04.08.10
by: Ana Martinez
Glory
"For GOD to be GOD, He must care about His own glory. God must prize Himself above all else, for to prize anything or anyone else more highly than Himself would compromise His worth---and therefore imply that He is not GOD after all."
Matt Redman (Facedown)
December 14, 2010
Still
"in quietness and confidence shall be your strength..." Isaiah 30:15
I stumbled upon this verse earlier this week and honestly I don't think it was a coincidence. What I have learned is that I cannot always be doing, I cannot always be talking, sometimes I need to learn to just be quiet, be still. It is then that I can hear His voice and allow Him to move and do as He pleases. It is only when I am still, quiet and confident that He will do something, that He is able to move, not because He can't move simply that He won't. If He is going to do something on your behalf, He makes it known that its by His power alone that it was done. He does not share His glory with any one or anything. So He'll wait for you to surrender. He'll wait for you to get tired of doing things your way before He acts.
written 04.01.09
Ana Martinez
November 16, 2010
33
Sin was the cause of death of Jesus Christ, not that He sinned but because of our sins He died (& rose again). He was as much God as He was man, He lived a holy life, He never sinned, He couldn't for He was the lamb who's blood must be shed. He was only 33 years old when He died, at the prime of His life. He had just started His ministry. He was baptized by His cousin, John the baptist. After being baptized the Spirit lead Him to the wilderness to be tempted for 40 days. It took 33 years of training to prepare Him for His calling. 33 years of living holy and loving every one including His enemies. 33 years trusting the Father, 33 years being dependent on Him.
Sometimes I think we forget that Jesus was human. Yes He is the Son of God, He is God but He is also human. He became human for you and for me. So that He could know our struggles, so that He could be our intercessor, for how can you be an intercessor if you don't know what it's like to be in certain situation. He has felt loneliness, He knows what is it to be talked about, mocked and bullied. He knows what it is like to be hungry and to have a need. He knows what it is to be human, to be weak and desperate.
Jesus was a young man when He died, only 33 years old. He spent His entire life preparing for His ministry a great and wonderful but short ministry. We might have a calling in life but none of us know how long our training will be before we actually start walking in it. We can be called to have a wonderful ministry but like Jesus, for we are no better, have to be molded and trained.
He died young so that you don't have to die before your time. He became sin so that we don't have to pay the wages of sin (death). He did it ALL. There's nothing you and I can do to add to what He accomplished at the cross. The only thing left is for us to come to Him with an open heart, one that stands naked before its creator and says, "Here I am, use me, mold me, train me"
November 5, 2010
Being Fruitful On The Tree of Life
This world is in need of change, but it won't come from a great book, a new invention, or a cure of a disease. It will come by men and women pouring themselves out of everything that is within and lifting up holy hands and crying out to God for a complete infilling of His Spirit! -M. Morrissey
I sit here today writing this, short or long I do not know. For a long time now I have been dealing with the Words of Jesus and how He refers to us in the Gospels as branches, bearing either good or bad fruit. To bear fruit a branch must be connected to the tree, once the branch is broken off it is given a certain amount of time before it dies; the branch cannot survive unless it remains connect to the tree. The beautiful thing about this life is that God has created everything, as long as it remains pure in its context, to support the word of God. I raise a question to continually ponder upon, can a branch on an apple tree yield oranges? Absolutely not! So why is it that so many Christians have continually failed to receive the fruits of the Tree of Life, Jesus Christ! Simply put, they are not connected to that Tree of Life but are connect to another tree.
Upon some trees there sits an abundant amount of branches but they are all supported by the trunk. I want to chuck a random fact your way, according to Arbor Foundation Report, a mature leafy tree can produce up to enough oxygen in a single season that will support the oxygen intake for ten people in an entire year. What are you doing when God places you in a season of growth, causing you to yield what is going to affect hundreds, tens, or even one person a year. The whole heavens rejoice over one person accepting Jesus Christ as, Lord and Savior (Luke 15:10). If tree branches never produce leafs than oxygen would never be created and the world would die. Likewise, if we as Christians don’t allow what God has called us to produce to come forth from our lives this generation and the many others to come will simply die.
This is not intended to form a religion, idea, or any other type of doctrine. I am simply expressing the length, width, and depth of a revelation that has been developing and is continually developing even as I write. Any words that men write should never replace the words of God that rest within the Holy Bible. I remember the quote I wrote as God spoke into my heart; a person could write a million books and still fail to define the fullness of one biblical scripture. This is meant to illuminate our hearts and minds as Christians and allow many, as I myself have seen, the severe need that we as Christians must meet. We must become the supply of life the world needs and the best way of doing this is to become a branch filled with. THE FRUITS OF HIS SPIRIT!
written by Michael Morrissey
November 3, 2010
A Beautiful and Elegant Countenance
Please visit the following website: http://www.elegantwoman.org/a-beautiful-and-elegant-countenance.html
and read the following post entitled: A Beautiful and Elegant Countenance.
and read the following post entitled: A Beautiful and Elegant Countenance.
October 19, 2010
America
My beloved nation is under the judgement of God and she doesn't know it. How many of us Christians are crying out to God, "Oh Father that my nation may turn to You, let her heart go back to You, that she may be once again a nation under God." Our prayers are being answered but like everything in life there are not being answer in the way we would want it. It would be great if something supernatural happened and the hearts of people just turned back to God, but that's not how He works. His plans are greater than our plans and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.
I often find myself praying for my wonderful nation that is America. She was founded as a nation under God, a nation that trusted in the Lord, how did we get so far from Him? We have rebelled against our God by worshiping other idols. An idol is anything that takes your focus off God, so that could be a job, material possessions, family (it's not bad to love your family we are commanded to love one another but we are not to replace God with our family), TV, etc.
In the book of Amos Israel is being corrected, God is trying to bring them back to Him and this is what He says:
He wants us back and so we are going through financial difficulties and we are going through everything we are going through because He is trying to get our attention but it breaks my heart because He is saying to us "I cause the market to crash, the housing crisis was a waking call yet you did not turn to Me"
How long till this nation turns back to GOD. America when will you realize that you were a nation dedicated to God, therefore you are His whether you like it or not, you were created/formed as a nation under the God Almighty. How blessed are we to be His possession! All I can pray is God let Your will be done concerning my nation, I plead for mercy on her behalf.
I often find myself praying for my wonderful nation that is America. She was founded as a nation under God, a nation that trusted in the Lord, how did we get so far from Him? We have rebelled against our God by worshiping other idols. An idol is anything that takes your focus off God, so that could be a job, material possessions, family (it's not bad to love your family we are commanded to love one another but we are not to replace God with our family), TV, etc.
In the book of Amos Israel is being corrected, God is trying to bring them back to Him and this is what He says:
6 “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,
and lack of bread in all your places,
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
when there were yet three months to the harvest;
I would send rain on one city,
and send no rain on another city;
one field would have rain,
and the field on which it did not rain would wither;
to drink water, and would not be satisfied;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
your many gardens and your vineyards,
your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
I killed your young men with the sword,
and carried away your horses,
and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”
and declares to man what is his thought,
who makes the morning darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth—
the Lord, the God of hosts, is His name!
He wants us back and so we are going through financial difficulties and we are going through everything we are going through because He is trying to get our attention but it breaks my heart because He is saying to us "I cause the market to crash, the housing crisis was a waking call yet you did not turn to Me"
How long till this nation turns back to GOD. America when will you realize that you were a nation dedicated to God, therefore you are His whether you like it or not, you were created/formed as a nation under the God Almighty. How blessed are we to be His possession! All I can pray is God let Your will be done concerning my nation, I plead for mercy on her behalf.
October 14, 2010
Let Us Return
Come, and let us return to the LORD;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
Hosea 6:1
How many times have you been wounded and in pain and your last thought is of returning to the God of Love. Our pain is so strong we direct our attention everywhere but His throne, why? Why are we so stubborn? His word says that if we go to Him, He will come to us, like the rain He will come to us. Is that not something to rejoice about? I know not all of us like rain but think of a really hot summer day, humidity is at 100%, there are no clouds in the sky and the sun is right on top of you, if you are like me you are going to wish for rain. And when that rain comes it will be refreshing, that's what Hosea means when he says, "...He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth" (Hosea6:3)
We serve a loving God and if we turn to Him, He will surely turn to us. But sometimes it is the state of our heart that keeps Him away. How would you feel if God told you:
O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
O Judah, what shall I do to you?
For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,
and like the early dew it goes away.
Hosea 6:4
Replace Ephraim and Judah and use your name instead, "O Ana, what shall I do to you? for your faithfulness is like a morning cloud" those are really harsh words. He longs for a faithful relationship with you. Just like we expect our husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend to be faithful to us, He expects and demands the same from us. He will not be fooled if you only give Him lip service He can tell where your heart is and if it's not completely surrendered to Him, He doesn't want your pitiful acts of "righteousness". Instead He says to you, "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6). Let's not focus so much on what the world is going to say and let's focus on what God is going to say about us. The Pharisees followed the law, they were devoted (at least they appeared to be), they fasted and prayed but they did it so others would see, they were looking for the praise of men and not of God. Let's not be like the Pharisees, let us live surrendered lives, lives that please God. Let our praise and honor come from God and not man. For it is written, "woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets" Luke 6:26
Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts,
"Return to Me, says the LORD of hosts,
"and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 1
September 21, 2010
Metro Praise
Metro Praise Grand Opening!!
Title of the message
Great worship
A passionate pastor
&
Beautiful people
They had a full house all the glory to God!
After service they spend some time hanging out
they cafe called "Mission Cafe" they sell all types of goodies and the money goes to support missions, what a great idea :)
September 16, 2010
Lady Malinda Prince Sapp
Lady MaLinda Sapp
I watched her homegoing service via the internet this afternoon and it was beautiful. So many great stories about Lady MaLinda were shared; she was an incredible women of God and she will be missed. The world might say that she lost her battle against cancer, but I assure you she didn't lose anything. We serve a God that knows all things, there's nothing that happens without Him knowing.
As I watched the service a women took the stage and what she said was so powerful, she said "What do you do when God doesn't do what you want Him to do? What do you when you feel He has disappointed you?" she went on to say how do you go back to this God? and that my friends struck me.
First of all who are we to ask such question, God is God and regardless of what happens or does not happen He is worthy to be praise. But let's be honest we have all been in this place where we feel like God has not come through (at least not the way we expected Him to), there's a sense of disappointment. We placed all of our faith in Him and we are hurt when He apparently doesn't show up. Oh how foolish of us, how easily we forget His goodness and His words, after all it was Him who said "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5
Oh my soul will put its trust on You!!! For You alone are the source of my strength, You alone my God hold my world in Your hands and I will trust You and You will quiet down my soul with Your Love!!! In my darkest moments and in my driest season I will choose to worship You, I will declare Your goodness and Your greatness. There's no one like You my Lord and my Saviour!!!
| MaLinda Sapp funeral: Jonathan Dunn performs "Here I Am" |
September 12, 2010
Love Defined
How many of us have ever been in love or at least thought we were in love?
That's just a way the dictionary defines love. Now let me tell you how God defines love. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Love was defined at the cross, where innocent blood was shed for the world. God manifested His love for the world at the cross. He did not withhold anything back but gave it all, He gave His only Son. He is not like us, He didn't give us His leftovers, He gave us ALL He had, He gave us His ONLY Son.
I don't know about you but that's LOVE!!! There's no greater love than this, you can search for it and trust me you will NOT find it. No other human being can give you this type of love. God's love is everlasting, it was given to us while we were still sinners.
Oh the LOVE of GOD, so perfect, so honest and real. He will never leave you because something better came along. God is faithful, He will never cheat on you with anyone else, He will always think you are beautiful. He will never do anything to harm you (although sometimes you might hurt, He will never do anything to hurt you). He takes everything (the good, the bad and the ugly) and He turns it into something beautiful.
LOVE: an intense feeling of deep affection; a great interest and pleasure in something.
That's just a way the dictionary defines love. Now let me tell you how God defines love. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Love was defined at the cross, where innocent blood was shed for the world. God manifested His love for the world at the cross. He did not withhold anything back but gave it all, He gave His only Son. He is not like us, He didn't give us His leftovers, He gave us ALL He had, He gave us His ONLY Son.
I don't know about you but that's LOVE!!! There's no greater love than this, you can search for it and trust me you will NOT find it. No other human being can give you this type of love. God's love is everlasting, it was given to us while we were still sinners.
Oh the LOVE of GOD, so perfect, so honest and real. He will never leave you because something better came along. God is faithful, He will never cheat on you with anyone else, He will always think you are beautiful. He will never do anything to harm you (although sometimes you might hurt, He will never do anything to hurt you). He takes everything (the good, the bad and the ugly) and He turns it into something beautiful.
GOD'S LOVE IS PERFECT
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