Out Of The Salt Shaker And Into The World

He is Lord, He is God. He is Jesus

2010-04-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

Today I attended the 11am service at Morning Star Baptist Church. I almost didnt't go because I felt that I like I didn't have the proper attire for church.I almost allowed that to become an excuse and Lately I have been a bit withdrawn spiritually. I felt as if I have been asleep in Christ. I felt as if I was in the valley. I felt and today I was awakend revived moved..I had a breakthrough.Never again will I let not having the right attire for church stop me from going to church. I went to church with a zipped up hoodie and jeans and came back out w/ an amazing breakthrough. The day you decide to stay home because you think you don't have the proper attire for church could be the day you miss out on your breakthrough.

Real Talk: Ever Feel Like You Don't Know Whether or Not You hear God Calling You?

2010-03-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."em> 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Lately it has become a constant struggle as to whether or not If I'm really hearing God. I feel like I try so hard to hear his voice that I end up missing his call. As a young person in Christ, I am so eager for God to use me, but it has been quite fustrating for me because I felt that if I would continue to improve who I am as a christian CONSTANTLY I would know for sure what God wanted from me. It's like I was almost trying to be perfect. Can you believe that?..forgetting that we all fall short of the Glory. I feel as though I've been patient enough for long just for God to use me that I started to get impatient and fustrated and felt kind of hopeless. But after having being ministered to today this week I'm focusing on 1 Samuel 3, the entire chapter and let my prayer be "Lord hear I am, A willing and open vessel -Use me" I challenge you to pray the same here and be still in the Lord and allow him to continue to do a great work in you In Jesus name. Be blessed Saints!

Real Talk: Change is never easy, And Growing is a Proccess

2010-02-09T07:43:00.000-08:00
I don't have a quote or a scripture to start off with like I usually do because to day I prefere to do this quit differently. In the past months I haven't blogged like I had oh so promised and challenged to myself that I would. I thought to myslef that if I became a good blogger I would be glorifiying God.Like that was going to take me higer spiritual. Here's what I've learned, I don't choose when to Glorify God and how. God himself finds his own way to use me to glorify him. For so long I kept trying so hard to be this "perfect" christian. I felt like if I wasn't doing everything right spiritually then I was doing something wrong. As a young adult in Christ one eager to do what he/she can for Christ and in Christ. And that's good but it doesn't mean that everything that you want to be in Christ and everything that you want to do in Christ you have to do it alone. God didn't call those of us to be in Christ just so we can accept his son Jesus and then have us figure it out on our own. NEVER! In Matthew 11: 28-30 Jesus says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” So for those of you who have been trying so hard to be EVERYTHING that you think you should be in Christ now,Don't rush it. Continue live your daily aware of who you and taking care of the things for today. Don't worry about tomorrow or the next. Your future is in God's Hand " For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:11-13

P.S.For those of you who don't cosider yourselves spiritual or a believer of God...Know that you to don't have to let YOU get the best of you. You are also able to live day by day w/o feeling as if you have to become the person you want to be in One day. Wether you want to believe it or not God knows your future. He has it taken care of. He knows already the day you decide to give your life over Him. I dare you to trust just a little bit and see if he won't come through for you!

REAL TALK: WHEN GOD MOVES

2009-09-12T22:12:00.000-07:00
For the longest time when I use to wake up and go about my day I use to think that if nothing miraculous or something out of the ordinary did not occur, God was not moving. Now how preposterous does that sound? As I type this up I have realized that God is ALWAYS moving in our lives. We don't have to see or feel God moving in our lives at all times. Hence "For we live by faith and not by sight" - 2 Corinthians 5:7

There are times in our lives when everything is going wrong and nothing seems to be going right some of us who are believers assume that God has forgotten about you. "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrew 13:5)And that's not the case. I found out from my own personal experiences that even in the mist of all chaos if I put forth the effort to reach out to God and to acknowledge him and put my trust in him God will reach back to me. And God will move in anyway he chooses to. Whether that move maybe his peace, love, call to fast etc. The question is will you be or are you spiritually mature enough to accept the nature of God's move in your life?

God does not always move the way we think he ought to move. he moves in a certain way in our lives so that we may know it is God alone and no one else.

I encourage you all to find out how God moves your in life and allow yourself to get know God on another level!

Peace,love,and God bless! Pe

Real Talk: What are your distractions in Life?

2009-08-20T11:17:00.000-07:00
"For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him." - Colossians 1: 16-17

I believe that God is calling me and you to a deeper level. last night I prayed to God and said that whatever it is that he wanted me to give up I would. And He told me to give up my distractions! And I have alot of distractions. my own thoughts, friends, family , job, cell phone, twitter, myspace, facebook etc, so forth and so on. Sometimes when we tell God that we will give up whatever it is to get that other level we don't realize what it is that we would be giving up! And now that I am in acknowledgement of what my distractions are I realize that not only have those things been a distraction to me, but I haven't been putting into perspective what my priorities are. Sometimes we think God is first in our lives until acknowledge our distractions. So with that being said, my question to you is what do you plan on doing about your distraction so God can be the head in your life again? you might need to take out the bible and read the word, pray, ask God for forgivessness.. do whatever it takes in jesus Christ according to the word to put away your distractions and Put God back where he's suppose to be in your life.#1

Much Love, sis in Christ ~Milca

Daily Devotional : Freedom isn't Free - Milan Ford

2009-07-28T14:51:00.000-07:00
Freedom Isn't Free
Milan Ford
Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to hear Ravi Zacharias, a renown Christian apologist, speak at an event located right outside of Atlanta, Georgia. The purpose of the event was to discuss the power and influence today's media has on popular culture.
During his 30-40 minute presentation, he made this one incredible statement; one that will remain with me for quite a while:

"...without TRUTH, education is moved to the skeptical, spirituality is moved to the mystical, and art is moved to the sensual."

Now more than ever before, we are living in an age where matters of faith and morality differ from person to person. What has long been considered true is now (in the eyes of many) debatable, while those things that we have always believed to be false or in contrast to our faith, are now being adopted and accepted as cultural norms.

This reversal of truth unfortunately exists within today's Body of Christ as well.
As a result of our individual and collective life pursuits (money, relationships, position, etc.), many of us at times have thrown aside the principles of our faith to pursue a sense of FREEDOM that is completely void of His truth. For some odd reason, we have bought into the lie that the freedoms we want to experience in Christ as believers, can come about without certain rules and boundaries.
We have created a generation of believers who now have a longing for the mystical to occur in their life, rather than embracing the truths behind sowing and reaping. We want to gain, but refuse any pain associated with it. We want to earn, but refuse to learn what is necessary to do so.

As believers, we really have this FREEDOM thing all messed up.
Isn't it interesting that the very first time the word "free" is mentioned in the Bible, God follows it up with a boundary for that freedom to occur:
Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. - Genesis 2:15-17.

Here we see God from the very beginning, providing mankind with instructions on how he can flourish FREELY within the garden He provided, along with the BOUNDARIES he needed to observe in order to live and succeed. While the Bible is full of these kinds of examples, we can learn even more about how God wants us to properly balance our freedoms as believers by looking at His creation.
Take a river for example.

A river is a body of water that is in constant movement, capable of sustaining life because of a flow of fresh water. Isn't it ironic that free flowing rivers are typically surrounding by a variety of boundaries.

Whether they consist of rocks or dry land, these boundaries help keep the water focused and flowing productively. However, whenever a river exists without any boundaries, it is no longer a river.

It becomes a swamp.
Today, if you are confused or at times find yourself upset with God because your life has begun to look like a swampland, rather than a river of living water, remember this one undeniable TRUTH:

God will never answer prayers that would enable us to live more independently of Him.
The freedom God provides us as believers to walk in is in fact not free at all.
It requires boundaries. May we all commit to establishing some today.

Real Talk- Accomplishments in Christ

2009-07-24T09:19:00.000-07:00
Many of us have been saved for quit sometime now and still struggle trying to figure out where we stand in christ. I've been saved for two and half yrs and I am still trying find myself in Christ, still trying to find my own voice. I see great people among me @ Morning Star Baptist Church and have seen what they have accomplished in Christ thus far which makes me want to furthermore engage myself in the word and figure out what is it that I can accomplish in Christ. This blog (by the help of a good friend and who I also consider a mentor Sandra Brown was the one that encouraged me to start this blog) is my very own and first ministry. So I'm hoping that through this blog I can build God's trust and be faithful w/ this one of many task that I have in Christ I can reach to accomplish. What do you wish to accomplish in christ?

Non -Believers: would you dare to imagine what you could accomplish if you were in christ?

*I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

2009-07-23T09:04:00.000-07:00
I know that lately it has been a while since I've posted anything new. I love the fact that I have this book (OUT OF THE SALT SHAKER AND INTO THE WORLD) to share on this blog. But I've realized that I haven't attended to this blog like I should and my hope is that I just don't make this blog about this book but to also make it about who Jesus and to be able to connect through others beyond the context of this book. Me being away froom the blog for a while has made me realized that I just don't want to stay within the context of this book as it does re-late to the Gospel of Jesus Christ but I am now going to begin sharing other thoughts and emothiions that we as Christians and Non Christians have. The only difference between the world and God's people is Jesus and he's able to touch us all. So as I continue to my journey w/ this blog I hope that the change that will occur within this blog will be for the better to the glory of One God, One Savior, And One Redeemer! May God be with you all and Thank You for taking time out your day to check in!!! Peace, Love, and God Bless!!!

Love Your sister in Christ,
-Milca

Practicing The Presence Of Christ: Seeing People As Jesus Sees Them

2009-06-18T10:45:00.000-07:00
"Being a Christian means taking risk - risking that our love will be rejected, misunderstood or even ignored" - Rebecca M. Pippert

Not too long ago, I use to believe that practicing the presence of Christ was only done through praise and worship and it's definitely a great way. When praises go up, Blessings come down. But praise and worship is just one way of practicing his presence. In this chapter of the book it's been revealed to me that we can be in the presence of christ just by being there for someone who is seeking God or if God is seeking them. It can be a friend, family member or a stranger. Usually it's never really about us but it's about who we can reach through simply offering an ear to listen, a heart that's open, and a mind like jesus,hence pondering what would jesus do? So the next time next time you come across a friend, family member or even a stranger that seems like they need someone to talk to or is in need of help, see them as Jesus would and don't be afraid to let God use you to let the power of the holy spirit guide you!

Group post : Prayer Request

2009-06-08T09:26:00.001-07:00
Hey everyone, I know it's been a while since I've posted anything new. Lately I have been feeling spiritually WORN-OUT!!! and I just want to ask everybody if they can please keep me in their prayers so that I may continue to be encouraged in the Lord.

Love always your sister in Christ,
- Milca

Tye Tribbett: The Doctrine of Feeling

2009-05-29T12:41:00.000-07:00
This video of Tye Tribbett really ministered to me and I wanted to share this with you all and I hope you all are blessed by it!

Have you been offering God your limited resources?

2009-05-08T08:07:00.000-07:00
"The presence of Christ bring us his power and ability to use our limited resources in limitless ways"

The book gave a great example out of the bible in the book Mark 6 how God can use our limited resources and make them limitless.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."

But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"
How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish."

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

This got me to thinking about the numerous I've probably had to offer God my limited resources but had not because in my mind limited resources meant impossibility. Again..the word has proved my doubts and negative thoughts wrong! Now that you and I know that we both can offer him our limited resources it would have to be up to us to give it up to him and to trust and to believe that God is a God who can truly not only make nothing out of something but make limited limitless. Don't be afraid to step out on faith and ask God to use what you have. You have a God that can NEVER FAIL! that's why his name is jehovah Jireh- yours and mine provider! Continue to live your life in abundance, to full, till it over flows! Be Blessed!

(Daily Devotional) Harmony

2009-05-07T08:27:00.000-07:00
By: Brenda Gittens

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And the LORD has pronounced his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 133).

There may be many reading this devotional today. You may be a Pastor, Minister, Choir or Praise & Worship Team member, Worship Leader, Soloist, Psalmist, a Worshiper and Praiser in the congregation, or someone who just loves to sing!

You may be someone who knows exactly what it means to sing or hear a song being sung harmonically; one that's pleasing to the ear. I happen to be a person that if I hear a song sung around me that's supposed to be in harmony and it's not, I will most likely start singing at least one of the missing parts! It will just come out of my mouth.

When we hear the word "harmony" the first thing that usually comes to mind is music and singing, but it's not for only that. It could be used for more than just in a musical format. As the body of Christ, it's what we need to get along! To be in harmony is to come together in agreement, in one accord, a pleasing arrangement and combination of God's people bonded together.

Just like voices blending for harmony in a song, we have to do the same. As brothers and sisters in the body, it should be present among us, exist in our relationships, and prevalent in our churches.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9).

The church was built by Christ as a place for harmony and unity, a place for His people to unite in celebration and love. This kind of harmony is pleasing to the Lord's ear and eye, and He rejoices in it! We can rejoice also, for nothing can be better, more wonderful, and more pleasant than us dwelling together in the love of the Lord!

For a long time, we have witnessed and experienced very little of this kind of unity and harmony among the body. But we have experienced the disunity and disharmony that does exist among us. The only way we as God's people are going to fully experience and walk in His blessings is by coming to a place of real, true humility in the Lord, esteeming others higher than ourselves, and moving the harmony beyond our song that we sing on a Sunday morning!

Let's walk together in "harmony" which is also unity!

Why is it that some Us of that are saved are afraid to talk about sin and judge others on based on it?

2009-04-27T08:06:00.000-07:00
Lately I've been doing some thinking and I've realized that some people are uncomfortable talking about sin. And I can understand why because sin is a touchy subject. And people are afraid to be judged by others and sin is a personal matter. Why is it that some of us are so quick to judge others based on their sin? Is it because we're insecure? Or is it because some has been there and done that and it's no longer one's problem problem but someone elses?

* " Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge." - James 4:11

I'm thinking about it now and there have been some individuals in my life who I have judged pretty harshly based on the circumstanced and now regret it because I was acting on emotions.

* "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." - Matthew 7:2

Everybody has fallen short of the glory and I believe it is our job as Christians to encourage one another regardless of what the sin is. Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we maybe saved. And God had enough mercy on us to sacrifice his one and only son so that we may be washed by his blood.

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

* " For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment" - James 2: 13

1.Do you think that sin needs to be addressed more within the church?

2. How do you think that we can be more open and less judgemental towards someone who has sinned probably just needs someone to talk to?

Forgiveness & Sin Part 2 - Forgiveness

2009-04-16T07:34:00.000-07:00
Forgiveness - He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends - proverbs 17:9

Have you ever declared that you have forgiven a certain someone in the name of Jesus and find your actions contradicting what you have declared? There have been times in my life (or maybe yours) where there were people that I absolutely did not and thought that I could never forgive and forgave!..There are some still some people now who I've asked God to help me forgive and I find myself questioning if I've really forgiven them. It takes a lot to forgive someone. Especially in certain predicaments some might find it hard to forgive someone. For instance, one might find it hard to forgive someone who might have murdered a loved one. It would have to take the Love of God in one's self to sincerely forgive a murderer. And I believe that's just how great the Love of God is along with his word.

*Matthew 18:21-22 - - ->Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy‑seven times.

Believers/Non-Believers: What do you think it means to forgive someone?.

Daily Devotional - Ressurection- Find hope in his glory!

2009-04-15T23:12:00.000-07:00
The work of Christ's incomparable sacrifice was made perfect and complete in His miraculous resurrection. It was an act that will impact souls into eternity - and yet, the power of His resurrection is available for us to live by each and every day.

The miracle of Jesus' resurrection offers a profound message of hope and victory for Christians who call on His name in every aspect of their lives...It offers hope in times of doubt, encouragement in times of trouble and peace that passeth all understanding in every situation.

When an individual is pursuing a God given dream or desire it is the confidence that comes from a life fulfilled by Christ and His resurrection power that propels them into their destiny. Sometimes, when a person has been hurt or abused, is overwhelmed by despair, or feels rejected or abandoned, their capacity to dream shrivels and dies. Hope feels impossible. Their will to live is gone. A resurrection is necessary!

Sponsor AdIn John 11, the Scriptures tell the story of Jesus' dear friends, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Lazarus died, and by the time Jesus reached His friends' home, Lazarus's body had already been buried. Martha and Mary were in deep mourning for their brother. But Martha had a hope...in Jesus:

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. (vs. 21 - 22)

Here Martha was asserting her own faith and hope in Jesus. She knew that no power on earth could bring back her beloved brother...but that Jesus only had to "ask of God," for His will to be accomplished. And she was right; Jesus was able to raise Lazarus with His mighty command: "Lazarus, come forth." (vs. 43)

Then Jesus gave credit where it was due: Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (vs. 41)

"The glory of God," is available for us to "see" and experience no matter where we are in life or what we are going through. As we have faith in the miracle-working power of Christ to resurrect our spirits, our dreams, and our lives and believe, we too can "come forth" in victory, as Lazarus did -- and as Jesus himself did soon after, on his own resurrection day.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). Through Him, the victory and hope of resurrection is yours today, too! So look to Christ's resurrection power to find hope and victory in every season of your life.

And remember - to God be the Glory!

Pastor Paula White

FORGIVENESS & SIN PT 1- SIN

2009-04-09T22:44:00.000-07:00
Lately I have been going through A LOT . I was thinking about everything that I have been going through and finally came to the realization that I am strongly struggling with sin and forgiveness. And so I figured that if I am struggling with this then so is someone else. And so I'm hoping someone or just one can know that someone else out there can re-late.

Sin - "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want" - Galatians 5:17

Before I came to christ, whenever I had sinned it never bothered me, I couldn't of cared less. There were still somethings that I knew better than to do. it was what I was able to get away with and wanted to do was what mattered to me. And what's so messed up about sin is that it makes you think that what's wrong is right because of how pleasurable or justified it is or seems to the flesh since the flesh is of sinful nature. When your so use to being an automatic sinner it's hard to turn off. An automatic sinner doesn't think twice about what he/she is doing wrong because he/she has gotten use to doing whatever that sin was. (AND IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL THE SIN IS) I always thought wrong was right when wrong was just plain old wrong!When I came to christ it just seemed like the more I tried to stay away from what was wrong the harder it seemed for me to control my flesh.

Romans 7: 15-22 - - ->I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law;

When I came to christ it just seemed like the more I tried to stay away from what was wrong the harder it seemed for me to control my flesh. I eventually stopped doing what I use to do but then a couple times I'd find myself caught up and it would HIT ME HARD!!!!..I'd get real sad and disgusted and disappointed with myself. I'd beat myself up over whatever it is I had just done and go back to step 1 in trying to recover the faith that I had left in me that wasn't damaged. I've realized its not easy trying to control the flesh the way I thought it would be. the bible says "for sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace" (Roman 6:14) and God's grace is truly over me.

Remember that just because you are in christ it doesn't mean that you are excused from sin. You are STILL HUMAN. Your STILL FLESH AND BLOOD!!!!!. Yes you might or have already made some mistakes here there, BUT YOUR FAITH IS STILL GROWING. You've made some decision that you either knew wasn't the right one or just wasn't sure about BUT YOUR FAITH IS STILL GROWING. You had to live to die but remember NOW you are living to die right Trust Who God is and not just what he can do.

Roman 8: 13- 17 - - -> For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Believers: Do you think sin can help you understand your faith better? (THERE ARE NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWERS. EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINIONS)

Non-Believers : What is your take on sin?

Group post # 2 : Something that I wanted to share

2009-03-27T21:19:00.000-07:00
I"m signed up for paula's white daily devotionals and this one devotional that I had recieved gave me great encouragement and just wanted to post it and hope that it encourages you as well.

Face the Music

Milan Ford

So I'm driving home from work the other day, and decided to turn the radio on to a local gospel music station. Something (I have to admit) I rarely do.They were playing a popular praise and worship song from recording artist Israel Houghton entitled, Friend Of God. Great song. Incredible message.

After listening to the song, and having somewhat of a party in my minivan at the thought of an awesome God, creator of all the universe, who has chosen to love us, be mindful of us, and to even go so far as to call us His friend, I was quite saddened by the song that came on next.
This time, by a totally different artist.I promise you...the artist must have named 'the devil' at least 32 times throughout the whole song, before I finally decided to shut it off. The essence of the song was to encourage believers to 'take back' everything 'the devil' stole from us as believers.

Now although there is plenty room for some form of theological debate as to why the artist felt it necessary to pen a song with such a purpose, I couldn't help but wonder if the essence and design of praise and worship is to help believers like you and I become fixated on the name and nature of God...
...rather than His defeated foe.
In addition to the spoken word of God, one of the most powerful tools you and I have to help align our faith and relationship with God is through praise. Our ability to become consumed with His character and attributes is essential to our growth in Him.
The content of our praise should always reflect our faith in Him. The content of our worship should also always reflect our maturity in Him. Without His heart at the core of our lives, our songs will begin to be set on things and concerns that God (to be quite honest) may not even be concerned about.
Like prayer, praise and worship is not a time for us to try updating an all-knowing God about our private concerns and pains. But rather it is a tool to become completely engaged with Him and His perspective regarding our lives.
So why do I bring that up? How is that at all relevant? (I'm glad you asked...)
News flash: We Are Free!

We are free from the bondage of man.We are free from the bondage of sin.We are no longer defeated. e are no longer scorned.We are no longer cast down. Our lives, as well as our songs of praise, have to always reflect our renewed position in Christ.

Colossians 3:2-3 states to "set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died (in Christ) and your life is hidden with Christ in God." This passage is a clear reminder that there is nothing you and I face in this life that can surpass the incredible liberty we now have as believers in Christ!

I encourage us all today to begin to face the music. Let's all take a strong examination of the songs we embrace and sing as praise and worship. We must all mature to the point that His message can never be lost or exchanged for an exciting or soulful melody.
I think Dick Gregory said it best. As a panelist one year for Tavis Smiley's State Of The Black Union, he said something I will never forget:
"...my momma was so busy telling me about the devil, I became a grown man before I found out the beauty of God."

Let's show the world together how much we've grown.Today, let's face the music.

What is Holiness?

2009-03-17T20:43:00.000-07:00
"Holiness from God 's perspective, is intimately connected to How we treat people. Holiness is rooted in relationship" - Rebecca M. Pippert

For sometime now I've always questioned what holiness really was and what it meant for me to be holy as a young adult. I figured that if I knew what not to do then it would be easy for me to be holy; which I don't think that I had fully grasped the idea of what it meant to be holy. And now that I've read this chapter about holiness I have a new perspective on what it means to be holy. And one thing that the book made me realize was that even though jesus was holy, Jesus didn't seperate himself from those who had sinned and those who were sick because both desired jesus. An example that the book gave was Luke 7:36-50 : - - ->"Then one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him. And he went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat. And behold a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table of the pharisee's house, brought an alabastor flask of fragrant oil and stood at his feet behind him weeping; and she began to wash his feet with her tears, and wiped them with with the hair of her head; and she kissed his feet and anointed them with frangrant oil"

I think now a days most of us that are saved have to decided to kind of keep ourselves away from those who are not holy as we would like to think we are. I know that those you that are saved either have a friend or know someone that is not saved and living in sin and being holy doesn't have to mean turning your back on that person living in sin but still being able to see the God in that person to care for them the way jesus would. How we treat others will reflect our holiness. So holiness isn't just about what you shouldn't be doing but what you should be doing as a christian.

"So we must ask ourselves, Do I identify enough? Do I welcome people or am I a member of the holy huddle, the local God squad? Do I bring around people of various beliefs and morels? Do I love the unlovely? Or, on the other hand am I different enough? Am I christ like? Do I bring this aspect of christ's holiness of his moral standards, of the fruit of the spirit to my relationships? Or out of my sincere desire to identify and to love, have I become culture-accomodating?" -Rebecca M. Pippert

What do you think?

2009-03-10T12:29:00.000-07:00
" We discussed her inability to get along with her parents, among other perosnal problems. When I asked how her faith in Christ affected her decision to leave home, I was disappointed ( though not surprised) by her impoverished understanding of what it meant to be a Christian. At no point did she seem cognizant that following Christ involoved letting him be the Lord in her life; she just described her faith in Jesus as a "neat feeling in my heart". As we talked about who Jesus Christ is and how he is Lord as well as Savior, she decided she wasn't willing for him to have that much control, though she fully believed in Christ." - Rebecca M. Pippert.

After reading this, the end of this quote hit me really hard. It dawned on me that there alot of Christians who believed in God just like Cathy but didn't want God taking over.

Any thought's or feelings about this?

What's Controlling you?

2009-03-02T08:18:00.000-08:00
"Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve the Lord, serve him in sincerity and truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River and in egypt. Serve the Lord!" - Joshua 24:14 (NKJV)

"The Last thing Jack said to me was " I hate being controlled by my anger". Ah, there's the rub Jack, because whatever controls us really is our god-even if we hate ." "Well I sure need to be controlled by a better god than this" Jack replied as he left". - Rebecca M. Pippert

For the longest time since I could remember fear had taken over apart of my life. Where fear affected me in one area of my life , It hindered me in another. It wasn't until this year when becuase of the fear I had I ended up heartbroken over something I was hoping God for. And I realized that It wasn't God that kept me from receiving what I wanted from him. It was the fear within me that kept me from what I wanted. Even though I knew that the bible says that I wrestle not against flesh and blood, That's what I found myself wrestling against (myself). I was afraid to allow myself to move so that God could move. I didn't have in mind that God was keeping his word and that I just had to put one foot in front of the other so that when he saw that I move, he'll move and that He'd make a way. I didn't trust God's word to come to pass and I wasn't proclaiming his word over the fear I had. Sometimes it takes one getting broken hearted or in a broken situation to realize that something needs to be done and how it needs to be done. So this whole year for me has been about stepping out of fear of my own thoughts and other, myself . If I can keep mind that I am to fear God alone and remember that If God raise jesus from the dead then he can raise my situation.

Believers/Non-Believers: What has been controlling you over the years? What has been keeping you from your destiny?

My Advice: Find a scripture in the bible which re-lates to your issue/situation and speak it over your life to remind yourself that it's not over till God says it's over!..the devil is a liar!

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and Lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11: 29-30 (NKJV)

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." -Matthew 16:24-25 (NKJV)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

Group Question : As you find yourself growing more in christ, How do you feel about who you are in christ and do you think your doing well?

2009-02-24T10:39:00.000-08:00
For me to personally answer that question I must admit, that I've made some mistake, I've had some failures and setbacks in my life but it has all worked for my good even when I didn't think it would . I feel like I've been stretched out, shaped and reformed time after time and it's part of the process. I'm at the point in my life where my faith is stronger and growing in such a strength where I know that even in the mist of my calamity I have a friend in jesus who has been my redeemer, my salvation, my righteousness, my sancitifcation, my delieverer, my saving grace, so forth and so on that even when my situation has caused my faith to become as small as a mustard seed I can still have the power and the authority to say to this mountain be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea because I am the head and not the tail. So to answer the question, I think I'm doing alright in christ, the more you keep pressing on and moving forward the more God will reveal himself to you. He will give you the anwser to your question. Bishop Noel Jones said " He has been known to be 4 days late but still be an on time God"

Non Believers : How do you feel about who you are now and do you think your doing well?

A word of encouragement : Don't ever let your situation keep you from your victory. Just remember that if God can raise Jesus from the dead, He can raise your situation!

here are some encouraging scripures.

-Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5

-Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.1 Thessalonians 5:11

-Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.Proverbs 12:25

-In the day of my trouble I will call on You, for You will answer me. Psalm 86:7

-When he arrived and saw what grace (favor) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart. Acts 11:23

-And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line [the loafers, the disorderly, and the unruly]; encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybody [always keeping your temper]. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Would You Be Disturbed If Jesus Were Here Today?

2009-02-20T10:51:00.000-08:00
"Jesus put people into crisis by compelling them to do something. He commanded Peter to lower his nets for a catch of fish after he had caught nothing all night. He told the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions. He told the Samaritan woman, who he knew was living with another man, to go call her husband. He insisted that John Baptize him when doing so would violate John's understanding of the Messiah. He told the Pharasaical lawyer, who was far more interested in debate and discussion than obedience, to do what he understood and not to talk about it." - Rebecca M. Pippet

If Jesus was here today he'd be the only person I'd ever want to be around with and at the same time I know that Jesus would like to see me being much more self sacrifical. And the only thing that would fustrate me knowing who I am, I'd think that I'd be doing everything to be self sacrificial materialistic wise when It has to go deeper than that. I think most of us that are in christ struggle with self sacrificial because just when we think we have given it all up to God, God knows that there's still more of you that you can sacrifice unto him. And sometimes God will allow you to go through so much so that you are stripped and broken so that you can see just how much more you can give unto him. God wants all of you just like he wants you to have all of him within yourself. For the scriptures says to love the lord your God will all heart, soul and might (Deuteronomy 6:5). So again I ask this question to both Believers and non-believers----Would you be Disturbed If Jesus were here today?

Off Topic- A Word Just for you

2009-02-12T08:05:00.000-08:00
"The people of Jesus day thought that holy men were unapproachable. But Jesus work was in the marketplace. He made people feel welcome and that they had a place. His life was a constant demonstration that there are only two things that matter in this life: God and people. They are the only things that last forever". - Rebecca M. Pippert

This quote reads three things. 1) Jesus 's choice to meet people where they were 2) A reminder to those of us who are in christ to keep striving to become more like Jesus and 3) Remembering that God called chose those of us that are in christ so that through us he may use to do his worksc so that he can call on more.

Believers: I know that there are those of you out there that is longing and desiring to have your own ministry one day and see God use you in a way that you dare imagine. But it has seem like lately things aren't going the way you think they should when you have obstacles from the Left and right, front and back coming your way but I am here to tell you myself and just testify for a minute and let you know that those obstacles didn't come to break you! but to make you. There's a reason why God allowed you to go through so much, and still make it. I know went way off topic but I felt it in my spirit to speak what I know. You don't need to find a man or woman to help you get to your destiny. because you don't need anybody boasting about how far they brought you. your time will come when he will place you in your destiny and his spirit and annoiting shall be upon you.

Non Believers : God can use you before you even decide to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Don't be surprised if he's led to my blog! for a :-D

*This post feel way off topic to me but I guess when the holy spirit leads one to speak a word it must be spoken. May The Lord bless you and keep you!

OPENNESS AND IDENTIFICATION

2009-02-10T11:07:00.000-08:00
"In Jesus, then, we have our model for how to relate to the world, and it is a model of opennes and identification"
-Rebecca M. Pippert

There are two keywords in that quote. "Openness and identification". Jesus demonstrated both through out his ministry. Jesus knowing who he was he allowed himself to be open to others. The book uses a great example from the bible in mark 14.

In verses 32-37 its says " Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and he said to them " My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch". He went a little farther, and fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said "Abba, father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will" Then he came and found them sleeping, and said to peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could not watch not one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak"

Even Jesus himself wasn't afraid to show that yes even me the great I am have been through temptation and even then he was still open to want others to minister to him. He wasn't afraid to show apart of him that others would of tried to hide becuase he knew who he was. But what I love more is the fact that he was so open. I know that now a days its not easy to be open about what one goes through. I can personally admit that for me its not easy for me to share what I go through but I understand that the reason why I go through what I go through for two reason. 1. That God alone may be Glorified and 2. That I can testify so that believers and non believers can know that there is someone who understands and can re-late. Everyone's testimony is different but there's always someone who can re-late in some way.

Believers: Don't be afraid to show a side of you that is human!..Jesus did!!!..God became flesh so that me might re-late to us so that we might re-late to others!. Who knowes who you could save or even bless by just being open w/ others.

*Galatians 6:2-3 "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself"

Non-Believers: Don't be afraid to to be open to God. Being open to him is the best thing ever!..he can be all that you need and more!

*Hebrew 3:15- As has just been said:
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.

Speaking about the Gospel

2009-02-04T21:19:00.000-08:00
" Finally, I saw that I had a problem talking about God naturally. I was fine until the topic of religion came up. Suddenly I felt as if I needed to sound spiritual, and instead of listening I would panic because I couldn't remember any scripture verses." - Rebecca M. Pippert

When I first read that quote when I was reading the book I was in total shock because I thought that no else EVER felt the same. There were numerous times when I myself had been afraid to speak about God in a natural setting outside of church. I just thought that it was odd; but I also felt uneasy about talking about God because I always felt like I didn't have complete knowledge about the gospel. And I'm sure that's how many of you probably feel right now. If there's anything I have learned is that going to word (Bible) to look up answers and seeing what Jesus has to say really helps. Going back to the word increases your knowledge about the gospel.

Believers: Don't ever feel like your not sufficient enough to speak of the gospel. There are many ways one can express their knowledge of the gospel because either way the Glory all belongs to God.

Non-Believers: what do you think about the Gospel? What comes to your mind?

1 PETER 1:23 NKJ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever

The Spirit of Fear

2009-02-03T21:00:00.000-08:00
"Whatever you fear (or supremely respect) the most you will serve" - Rebecca M. Pippert

To be quite honest, I feel like if somebody were to know anything about fear that somebody ought to be me. For so long fear has been apart of my life. Hindering me in so many ways that I realize now. My education, relationships, how I envisioned myself etc., it affected me so much. I was scared on the inside but not on the outside. It's easy when everything on the outside seems well and quaint. But on the inside, years of fears were locked up. Fear hindered me so much that I didn't even think that I could start my blog!. Isn't that sad!..but true. I heard Pastor Creflo Dollar say once " Fear is a negative form of faith" and I believe it's true. When you imagine or think the worst of is what you will come to see manifest. Monday night I made up my mind to not let fear keep me in bondage anymore. Dreams have no room for fear.

Non - believer/believers - my advice to you all, take it from someone who knowes well, fear nothing but the The Lord God himself, for the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom. Those of you who have dreams that people might call crazy and call you foolish for, keep that dream alive. Because that dream can be the dream that can make a difference one day.

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you." Luke 17:5-6 (NIV)

-Be Blessed!

"Grappling With God"

2009-02-01T17:22:00.000-08:00
"Still her initial disdain and negativity toward Christianity intimidated me. I thought that perhaps God was seeking her. What I didn't see was that her badgering me with questions, her coming to my study, even her hostility and anger were signs that she was grappling with God" -Rebecca Manely Pippert

In this quote Rebecca M. Pippert is talking about a woman by the name of Mary who was a non believer and had a strong negative outlook towards christianity and was attending Rebecca's bible study because of her curiousity. According to the quote mary badgering rebecca with questions and her hate and hostility towards God and attending bible study were signs that mary was grappling with God. I personally think that someone doesn't have to be mad at God to be grappling w/ God . I believe that an individual can be a believer and a non believer and still find themselves grappling w/ God and asking questions. Even I find myself still asking questions and seeking answers.

Non-Believers: Do you think those signs are true?

Believers: Don't ever feel like its not ok to have questions and have curiousity about your own faith. Don't forget that as we are in christ we are forever growing and changing being perfected in our Lord and Savior jesus christ.

-Be Blessed!

Is it possible to determine who is spiritual open?

2009-01-29T14:46:00.000-08:00
I personally think that in some cases you can. If you really know somebody it's easy to know if they are spiritually open. But to not really know who someone is and how they feel about christianity its hard to tell. What do you think?

Non-believers: if you were or are spiritually open do you think someone who is a believer should be able to tell that you are spiritually open?

"SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY" - TD JAKES

2009-01-28T09:01:00.000-08:00
As a young adult in my early 20's I can admit that I have had a fear of talking about my faith with non-believers. Rebecca Mannely Pippert shared in this book about how her fear of not being able to give the gospel all at the same time and at that moment meant to her that she wasn't evangelizing. And I think a lot of us who are believers feel like that sometimes. And when some of us try to share the gospel w/ a non-believer we end up feeling the need to lay it all out for them due to that fear of not properly evanglizing the way we think we should. And we forget how overwhelming the gospel can be on someone who is a non believer.

To the believers: Rebecca Manley Pippert said " It wasn't that I never spoke about my faith; in retrospect, however, I was far too paranoid about people's responses to me and consequently too silent. But one thing hindered me from speaking: I felt that unless I gave a person the whole ball of wax, all at one time, then I wasn't "evangelizing". So when my friends at the University of Barcelona said they were curious about my faith and begain asking questions I thought, isn't that amazing! And I wasn't even evangelizing!"

I think that rebecca felt as long as she wasn't saying anything she didn't have to worry about being put on the spot about her faith and some of us are in that same situation today. I think it is possible that even in our fear God will guide us and order our steps even when we don't realize it.

To the non believers: don't be afraid to be curious about our faith and ask questions it will benefit both the reciever and the giver!

***Please feel free to comment on this one because I feel like a lot can be said on this***

-Be blessed!

THE DESIRE TO WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO OTHERS AND THE NEED TO WANT TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

2009-01-27T08:24:00.000-08:00
It has come to my realization that those of us that are christians want to be sensitive to others who aren't saved and not in christ but also want to speak of the gospel to them but don't know how to go about that. And the first chapter of this book talks about that. I'm not gonna lie, I have been scared at times to share the gospel w/ those who are not believers, afraid that I might offend them some how and forgetting that non-believers can be pushed away when some us who are believers try to push religion upon them. And we can't do that. Its not fair. But what we can do is have a round about way if not telling them but showing them who we are in christ. But lets also remember to keep it real. Meaning lets not act like just because those of us that are christians are perfect. Sometimes we gotta let people see our imperfections (so that they can see that we can relate to them) as who we are in christ and know that we gotta work on what's wrong w/ us but at the same time let God to continue to perfect us and not have this "holier than thou attitude".

To the believers: lets not forget that WE ARE HUMAN!!! and that we are flesh and blood just like jesus was. And that he was made flesh so that jesus could relate and touch everyone. We forget that although we are christians we are human who feel and fear, feel and desire, feel and sin sometimes in our own ignorance but we learn to confess those sins and ask the lord for forgiveness and learn from what we did wrong. So don't be afraid to show that your human. But learn to also control negative emotions, thoughts and desires.
*1 john 1: 8-9 " If say that we have no sin we decieve ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness"

To the non believers: I know that it can be a drag when someone is trying to force religion upon you..although I have grown up in the church all my life I still didn't know who christ was personally until I made the decision to accept him into my life. Please understand that nobody can force you to walk w/ christ. That's your decision. The only thing that those who believe
In christ can do who are among you is share who they are in christ w/ you and hopefully lead you into the same walk that they are on because they love you and know that if christ wasn't the best thing that has happened to them they wouldn't try to get you on that same path. I just pray that you are open to the idea of walking w/ christ. And I pray that you continue to follow my blog and that you get something out of this blog. Hopefully christ! :) all you gotta do is ask God for the forgivessness of your sins and confess with your mouth that jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!..(Romans 10:8-9) that is when your ready.

Be blessed!

Out Of The Salt Shaker And into The World

2009-01-24T19:38:00.000-08:00
This book by Rebecca Maneley Pippert is a book which first came out around 1979 and then came out again in 1999 and was revised and expanded and for me to be reading this book now in 2009 10yrs later is a blessing. As a young person and a woman of God through this book I am learning who Christ is all over again and rekindeling my relationship with the Lord. Sometimes as Christians when we first get saved and baptized we are on fire for christ and then for a while after months and years go by that fire seems to die down and we get so caught up in everything else in our lives we sometimes don't realizes how much the fire has died down in our relationship with the Lord. And so far reading this book I have realized that its time for that fire to come back. It's time for me to take the time to want and need the Lord again wanting to love him as much as I wanted to before. So to anyone who ends up reading this maybe this bless you and encourage you in christ to rekindel that fire that you once had and now is lost because there's no better time than now than to seek him with all heart, mind, body and soul for the bible says in the NIV in Matthew 7:7-8 says

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks recieves; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened"

-Be blessed!